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11/26/2008 9:38:43 AM
Is Cosmetic Surgery on your Holiday Wish List? Toys for Tots
Beauty, BOTOX® & Bloodys
Bring a new unwrapped toy by our office by Dec. 15th and receive a
Join us for a morning of beauty...
$50.00 BOTOx® Gift Certificate
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Saturday, december 6th 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Skincare promotions, incentives on Botox® and Juvederm® as well as bloody marys & hors D’oeuvres. Limited Space - Please RSVP
Holiday Open house
701 Ne w/ p
Wednesday, December 10th Drop by our office between 3-7 pm for refreshments and meet our Doctors & Staff, established patients welcome to join us as well... Gift Certificates, incentive pricing for surgery, skincare packages and Botox® or juvederm®. remember to bring an unwrapped toy for toys for tots!
Virtu
16 6 Ma
Metrolina Plastic Surgery
10620 park road, suite 102 • charlotte, nc 28210 • 704.541.7654 • 800.294.5842 • fax 704.542.8314
2 5 B
Define Yourself... It is our sincere desire to fulfill your individual needs and help you achieve natural results. We are committed to personal attention, respect, confidentiality, and professionalism. As we strive for excellence, we never lose our enthusiasm for exceeding your expectations. *
Dr. Edward J.Bednar *
1104 3b S
Dr. Broc Pratt
metrolinaplastic.com 2
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hELEN aDAMS rEALTY Responsiveness. Consistency.
Accountability. Reliability. We Provide the Highest UPTOWN
DILWORTH
701 North Church From $500’s New brick townhomes in 4th Ward w/ private elevators & rooftop terraces.
Royal Court From $200’s New condos with all the upgrades in a prime location, blocks to Uptown.
MYERS PARK
DILWORTH
Virtual Tour
1625 Myers Park Dr. $1,580,000 6 bedroom / 4 full & 1 half baths Margaretta Leary / MLS# 808839
DILWORTH
1104 Dilworth Crescent Row $570,000 3 bedroom / 2 full & 1 half baths Susan Nolton / MLS# 815242 MYERS PARK
257 Queens Rd. $489,000 2 bedroom / 2 full baths Ann Wood / MLS# 802204
WESLEY HEIGHTS
Ready to Move In Now!
MIDWOOD
729 Templeton Ave. $1,299,000 5 bedroom / 3 full & 2 half baths Louis Schulhofer / MLS# 795651
3021 Belvedere Ave. $1,100,000 3 bedroom / 3 full & 1 half baths Jerry Smith / MLS# 815254
EASTOVER
MYERS PARK
Virtual Tour
1931 Providence Rd. $840,000 4 bedroom / 3 full baths Debe Maxwell / MLS# 800019
3125 Pinehurst Pl. $815,000 4 bedroom / 3 full & 1 half bath Kevin Thompson / MLS# 774134
DILWORTH
2231 Winthrop Ave. $550,000 3 bedroom / 3 full baths Stan Perry / MLS# 815092
1715 Queens Rd. $3,545,000 5 bedroom / 6 full & 2 half baths Ann Wood / MLS# 719568
MYERS PARK
2244 Colony Rd. $998,000 4 bedroom / 3 full & 1 half bath Ann Wood / MLS# 810197
Virtual Tour
300 W. 5th St. # 618 $540,000 2 bedroom / 2 full baths Kim Walton / MLS# 789506
UPTOWN
Virtual Tour
127 N. Tryon St. #509 $950,000 2 bedroom / 3 full baths Kim Walton / MLS# 807123 MYERS PARK
DILWORTH
Virtual Tour
2230 Sharon Rd. $609,000 4 bedroom / 2 full baths Ann Wood / MLS# 799348
2033 Lyndhurst Ave. $718,900 3 bedroom / 2 full & 1 half bath Sharon Blalock / MLS# 768447
UPTOWN
MIDWOOD
2200 Belvedere Ave. $525,000 4 bedroom / 2 full & 1 half bath Rosalyn Corder / MLS# 793162
MYERS PARK
2112 Hassell Pl. $515,000 3 bedroom / 2 full & 1 half bath Elaine Henderson / MLS# 815588
UPTOWN
THE ARTS DISTRICT
3004 Clemson Ave. $463,900 4 bedroom / 2 full baths James Scruggs / MLS# 771391
MYERS PARK
ELIZABETH
Skybridge Terrace From $100’s Towns at The Grove From $339K Urban condos with skybridge terraces Pool & fitness center, high ceilings, & amazing skyline & treetop views. 2-car garages. Exceptional location!
Virtual Tour
MYERS PARK
2951 Hanson Dr. $899,999 5 bedroom / 3 full & 1 half bath Brandon Ruby / MLS# 815214
Level of Personal Service.
2 0 0 7
Visit our Center City Sales Center at 237 S. Tryon St.
718 W. Trade St. #703 $350,000 2 bedroom / 2 full baths Kevin Thompson / MLS# 781828
VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO SEE ALL OPEN HOUSES.
1.866.534.9745 VISIT US: UPTOWN - 237 S. Tryon December 08.indd 3
helenadamsrealty.com 3 uptown www.uptownclt.com
ELIZABETH
BALLANTYNE
LAKE NORMAN 11/24/2008 2:08:09 PM
DISCOVER DISCOVER DISCOVER
SOUTH END END SOUTH SOUTH END discover-southend.com discover-southend.com discover-southend.com
Whyshop shop Why shop Why the theordinary ordinary the ordinary Shop Shopthe the the Shop extraordinary extraordinary extraordinary 4
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11/24/2008 3:04:29 PM
LIVE
IN
YOUR
ELEMENT
find your element
where modern architecture breaks away from condo living
E L E M E N T
A T
C R A I G
A V E N U E
W H E R E M O D E R N A R C H I T E CT U R E B R E A K S A WAY F R O M C O N D O L I V I N G
SOLD
PENDING
PENDING
High performance, single-family residences 10 to 15 foot ceilings Covered parking Secure outdoor living spaces
2300 to 3000 sf Low $400’s to low $500’s Green buildings with HBH and Energy Star certifications
RUSTY GIBBS 704.345.8209 rusty@cobaltdbs.com Office 704.334.0772 1430 S Mint Street Suite 105A
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O N LY 4 U N I T S R E M A I N I N G December 08.indd 5
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All Brick Townhomes With A Two Car, Attached Garage In Uptown!
Enjoy The Best Value Per Square Foot In Uptown From The Upper $200’s • Located in the popular Gateway Center Area of 4th Ward • 1,704 Sq.ft. • 3 levels • 3 to 4 bedrooms • 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 baths 2-car attached garage • Huge great room • Dining room • Eat in kitchen • Study •Walk in closets • And so much more!
Phone: 704.334.0375
Sun. – Mon. 1 - 6, Tues. – Sat. 10 - 6 Prices, offers and financing are subject to change without notice. See sales representative for details.
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ryanhomes.com 11/24/2008 2:08:11 PM
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pictures: fenix fotography
never far from the action
The best thing that’s happened to Time Warner Arena since it was plopped down on East Trade Street? The Checkers. Going to a game is cheap, hassle-free, and fun, the new American way, and we were there to capture it in all its glory on opening night. Ice hockey is much better in person than on TV, and the beer is ice cold when you’re enjoying an evening in the cheap seats up close.
home ice
enjoying the game
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few too many of those cheap beers
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EPICENTRE *BEHIND FLEMINGS
& COFFEE
LOUNGE
THE START OF A GREAT DAY ... OR THE END OF ONE! EXOTIC MARTINIS, WINE, GOURMET COFFEE
FREE
Expires: 12/31/08
12oz . coffee Valid only in the PJ’s location listed below. Limit one per customer, nontransferable. Coupon must be surrendered. No copies. No cash/credit back.
Expires: 12/31/08
FREE PASTRY with purchase of Espresso, Latte, or Capuchino. Valid only in the PJ’s location listed below. Limit one per customer, nontransferable. Coupon must be surrendered. No copies. No cash/credit back.
Expires: 12/31/08
50% OFF
TAPAS
after 5pm
Valid only in the PJ’s location listed below. Limit one per customer, nontransferable. Coupon must be surrendered. No copies. No cash/credit back.
T H E E P I C E N T R E - 2 1 0 E . T R A D E S T R E E T - B U I L D I N G C - 1 S T www.uptownclt.com F L O O R - C uptown H A R L O T T 9E , N C P 704.688.0366 E DON@PJSCHARLOTTE.COM WWW.PJSCHARLOTTE.COM
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When your feet feel good You feel good
Foot Solutions Metropolitan Kitchen & Bath Sally’s Optical Secrets p Zoli - Z2 Wall Mounted Vanity. p “A Store Like No Other in Made to order comfort shoes for men. You choose the style, color, Lattice Wood Countertop Town!” Specializing in Exclusive leather and sole. with glass overlay. Includes bowl, Eyewear for Men and Women All lengths and widths available. countertop, stainless support & chrome hardware. $25 off your first purchase! Sally’s Optical Secrets Sally Broadway Foot Solutions Metropolitan Kitchen & Bath Licensed Optician and Owner 1235 East Boulevard 1719 South Blvd. 1419 East Boulevard #C 704.335.4070 704.334.2002 704.342.0123 Kenilworth Commons Shopping Center metropolitanbuilders.com sallysoptical.com
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The finest offerings from our Uptown retailers
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Urban Pet We can order most foods at no charge!
Urban Pet 4149 Park Road Park Road Shopping Center (704) 644-7019 urbanpetcharlotte.com
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Nova’s Bakery Nova’s award winning assortment of fresh baked European breads, pastries, premium coffe and tea all make perfect holiday gifts.
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Nova’s Bakery 1511 Central Avenue novasbakery.com 704.333.5566
Blossom Shop Flowers can enrich your life in so many ways! Visit one of our three locations in Charlotte, and we’ll be happy to show you how. 2242 Park Rd. 704.376.3526 617 Providence Rd. 704.372.4447 100 N. Tryon St.- 704.373.1090 Shops at Founders Hall blossomshopflorist.com
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Charlotte Plastic Surgery When you feel comfortable in your own skin, everyone notices. Charlotte Plastic Surgery offers the most advanced skincare solutions, performed by licensed aestheticians. Charlotte Plastic Surgery 2215 Randolph Road charlotteplasticsurgery.com 704.372.6846
q
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11/24/2008 2:08:51 PM
clusive
e in nooffers tions, ans.
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* North Carolina native Ryan Sumner is Creative Director of Fenix Fotography. Though Sumner’s been shooting in the Queen City professionally for years, he spent nearly a decade as a designer at the Levine Museum until he set up his studio last year in NoDa’s historic Highland Mill. This month Ryan’s work appears in “Food,” “The Seen,” and “Conversation.”
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Charlotte native Matt Kokenes is no stranger to the mediasales business in the Queen City. As the newest member of the Uptown team, Matt’s focus is on ensuring that our advertisers achieve outstanding results. This month Matt shows off his softer side by writing about his trip to the senior citizen center with his dog Dasha.
Celina Marann Mincey is an emerging artist in many forms. She is the editor of Central Speak, a community magazine. As a singer/songwriter, she is beginning to perform locally while completing an album in the studio. Capturing people with a lens as well as with words, Celina is a freelance photographer and dabbles in oil painting. This month Celina gets dirty with Bob Young of Hands On Charlotte.
name: Little Shiva species: mutant here for: the smell of ink on paper interests: juxtaposition, transformation, mystery, clarity, the process of becoming, images and design contributions to this issue: table of contents website: littleshiva.com
All the things Zoë Balsamo is, organized, fashionable and on time, are all the things our editor is not. That’s why as the Director of Sales she has made such a positive impact in such a short period of time. Zoë has made Plaza-Midwood her home and her new husband Sal has made an honest woman out of her. If you’re lucky enough to get a call or visit from Zoë, make sure you make the meeting--you’ll be glad you did.
Sheri Joseph is a true Uptown mama. If she isn’t chasing after her two young sons, Sheri is writing for our blog, working on her first book, volunteering, or hanging out with her husband, MJ. She is originally from Texas and knows the best Texas ribs and margaritas in town can be found at her house. When she’s not scouring the city for her next article she can be found at home eating bon-bons with her children locked in a closet.
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11/24/2008 2:09:00 PM
COMPLETE COMPASSIONATE WOMEN’S CARE Here in Your Neighborhood
At Randolph OB/GYN, we provide compassionate, comprehensive healthcare for all ages – adolescence to menopause. We offer a variety of gynecological and obstetrical services, including exams, screenings, infertility medicine, routine and high-risk pregnancy care and minimally invasive surgery. Beyond your own personal physician, you’ll also benefit from the varied specialties of our entire team.
Jim McGuire has been doing commercial and fashion photography as well as video since 1986. Clients include fashion designer Otilio Salazar, GQ and Modern Bride. His work has been printed in Japan, Italy, Venezuela, Turkey and Holland. Jim has lived in Plaza-Midwood since 1985 and is known for throwing outrageous parties like CARNEVIL. To top it all off, he’s a father, too! See Jim’s photography in this month’s fashion layout and online at jimmcguire.com.
Freelance writer Andy Graves spent his childhood and teenage years on a small, muddy dairy farm in upstate New York. He came by higher education in Helsinki, Finland; Baltimore, Maryland; Cork, Ireland; and Buffalo, New York. When pressed about what he does for a living, he will explain that he is a hobo. This is not as much a lie as he would have you believe. Feel free to invite him to dinner.
Writer and Editor David A. Moore has more than 15 years of journalism experience. In addition to his work with “Elmwood Park” for Uptown, Moore has written for Atlanta Magazine and Creative Loafing, to name a few. He’s interviewed such personalities as John Travolta and Melissa Etheridge among many others. In years past, he’s worked as an editor for such publications as Jezebel, Q-Notes and Southern Voice.
Patients of Randolph OB/GYN experience a remarkable level of attention, devotion and care. Our experienced physicians take the time to develop a close relationship with the women who entrust us with their care. Our highest priority is our patients and the quality of care they receive.
Experience remarkable women’s care. Charlotte • 704-333-4104 2711 Randolph Road, Suite 512 Cornelius • 704-895-7224 18515 Statesville Road, Suite C-6 www.RandolphOBGYN.com
Our Physicians (Standing L-R, Seated L-R) John McNamara, Phillip Harston, John Culp, David McAllister, Janice Naumann, Philip Jones,Tracy Mann Larson.
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* Belinda SmithSullivan, a native of Chicago currently living in South Carolina, is a culinary student at Johnson & Wales. Her love of cooking provoked her to give up her corporate career to pursue a lifelong dream. When not attending class, she is busy working on her first cookbook. A commerciallyrated pilot and flight instructor, she enjoys exploring the “off the beaten path” culinary world. She has traveled extensively and has lived in France, Kenya and South Africa. 16
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Erin Kasari is the creator and editor of TheLuckyLoop.com; an online directory that promotes and supports Charlotte’s independent, locally owned businesses and non-profit organizations. She’s an avid freelance writer and shopping diva – always on the lookout for great gifts at dime-store prices. Erin has made Charlotte her home for the last eight years and, when not musing on Japanese minimalism, she enjoys being the center of attention of her husband and two dogs.
Chris Wooten is a designer, artist, builder of tree houses, father, and avid traveler who is known for a neurotically meticulous attention to detail. Since the 1990s, Chris has been designing print and interactive solutions with zeal! Modry Design Studio was born after he hooked up with his partner in 2003. For now the company is firmly rooted in NoDa. If you want to talk design, stop by their studio or find them them online at ModryDesignStudio. com
Originally from Atlanta, Joey has made Charlotte his home for six years now. His ‘hood roots and current Uptown lifestyle allow him to relate to just about everyone As fashion editor of Uptown Joey gets to combine all of this into one fun package and each month he strives to bring you something fresh, fun, and inspiring. You can find Joey and his constant companion, Bamboo, at J Studio in South End.
At one time a dancer, choreographer, and aspiring writer, one day Amanda Pagliarini woke up to find herself in a cubicle. Since relocating from DC two years ago, she has found a happy medium as the Sales Manager at Tribble Creative Group. In the off hours you can find her trotting around uptown with her boxer JJ or buried in her laptop working on the next great American novel.
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NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY! HOMES AVAILABLE FROM $100,000 TO $1,000,000
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SELLING CENTER CITY SINCE 2000
Visit me at 218 North College Street allentate.com/nancie.woods 704.608.0964 11/24/2008 2:09:33 PM
vet_ad_uptown.pdf
11/13/08
10:41:37 PM
! Urban Owners Funky Mutts Cool Vets
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Because they are usually good
South End Veterinary Clinic A dogs walk from Dilworth, South End, Uptown and Myers Park
2135 Southend Dr. Suite 106 704.632.8012
You may also find us at: Ballantyne Veterinary Hospital - 704.926.7000 Stonecrest Veterinary Clinic - 704.752.9787 www.uptownclt.com
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11/24/2008 2:09:42 PM
Letter from the editor
Editor/Publisher Todd Trimakas Advertising Zoë Balsamo Matt Kokenes 704.340.8130
I’ve got to stop watching Maria Bartiromo. Every time I turn on CNBC’s financial news she’s there, looking beautiful, speaking eloquently, and explaining very calmly why we’ll all very soon be living outside on the streets of our fine cities, with nothing but dirty cardboard boxes for protection from the elements-that is, if the sorry exodus hasn’t happened already. I get sucked in every time she starts spewing bad financial news, and by the next commercial I have to look outside or run to the Harris Teeter to be sure our American economy has not completely derailed and the pillaging begun. I’m familiar enough with the terms to fool myself into thinking that I understand what’s going on. Collateralized debt obligations. Credit default swaps. Hydrogenated soybean oil. Sure, I get it: we’re screwed, and not in a good way. And what makes
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it all even better is everyone’s predications. In the beginning of 2008 the prognosticators were claiming relief by the end of the first quarter of 2009. Only now it’s more like late ‘09 simply because the “experts” are unable to simply say, “Hell, Maria, I have no clue.” Oftentimes I hear the analysts saying we should somehow be doing something different. Banking is not a good place, lately the auto industry is jinxed, newspapers are out, and the Internet is fading fast. But the light I see at the end of this tunnel is that none of these dire predictions are true, at least not in the terrifying versions spouted on TV. I still use my ATM card, drive to work in an American car, and read the newspaper on the internet--like I did in 2007 and will continue to do into 2009. Yes, some folks will lose their jobs, but, with resilience, perhaps one of them will rebound and go on to start the next Google. And the dude working the drive-thru at McDonald’s? He’ll no longer qualify for a no-money-down loan on that $750,000 Uptown condo, but he’ll survive, too. The good news is that we’re all in this together. Of course some of us will have fancier cardboard boxes than others, but hasn’t that always been the case? Bottom line: despite the tough times, we’ll make it through to the other side, and in enduring this rollercoaster of economic turmoil, we’ll have some good stories to tell our children about the Great Recession of 2008-’10. That said, I’m keeping the boxes we used to move into our new office. They’re nicely corrugated and super-sturdy. ~Todd Trimakas Editor Todd@uptownclt.com
Contributing Editors Joey Hewell (Fashion) Peter Reinhart (Food) Copy Editor Andy Graves Contributors Sheri Joseph Celina Mincey David Moore Little Shiva Chris Wooten Bryan Reed Amanda Pagliarini Belinda Smith-Sullivan Erin Kasari Photography Ryan Sumner Todd Trimakas Jim McGuire Distribution Sean Chesney Office 1600 Fulton Ave., #140 Charlotte, NC 28205 Contact us at info@uptownclt.com Uptown Magazine is a trademark of Uptown Publishing inc., copyright 2008. All rights reserved. Uptown is printed monthly and subscriptions are $25 annually and can be purchased online at uptownclt.com.
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11/24/2008 2:34:00 PM
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party the life
words: sheri joseph
Face it, planning a holiday party can be a pain. All the planning, running around, kitchen work, and expense can take the jingle out of any elf’s bells. Never fear. We met up with Cacky Allen, who has planned events for lots of Charlotte’s bigwigs, and together we cruised through CLT’s Common Market (in Plaza-Midwood, with a second location opening soon in the South End) to create a one-stop shop party in less than 30 minutes and for under $150.
SJ: What are the elements for a successful party? CA: It helps to have a theme because then you can create the food, drinks, and entertainment around it easily. In this case, our theme is “party on the fly.” SJ: I like it. Where do we start? CA: Decide what drinks you’re going to serve. To save money, go with wine, beer, and one signature cocktail or one alcohol that mixes easily, like vodka.
Drinks Izze sodas come in a variety of flavors and are nonalcoholic, but can also be mixed with vodka for a cocktail Odwalla juices are great alone or as mixers - $4 Grab some microbrews, starting with Blowing Rock Ale, Kind or Duck Rabbit beers - $3 to $5 per bottle Good wine options abound--try Kris Pinot Grigio or Castle Rock Pinot Noir - $12 each Eats Wasabi Explosion nuts - $3 BuckWild Kettle Korn - $4 per 9-ounce bag Sweet Tooth trail mix - $1.50 Stacy’s Pita Chips - $1 Carr’s crackers - $2 Organic Multigrain tortilla chips - $3 Peach-mango salsa - $5 Fresh-roasted red-pepper hummus - $3 Assortment of Boar’s Head cheeses--we like horseradish cheddar $7 per lb. Assorted meat pinwheel wraps - $6 for 6 pieces
SJ: What about food? CA: You need things that are easy to pick up, like wraps cut into pinwheels, nuts, cheeses, and dips and chips.
Entertainment Texas Hold ‘Em game - $8
SJ: And entertainment? CA: Sometimes its fun to have some cards out like Texas Hold ‘Em. Or if the guests don’t really know each other, some trivia or “would you rather” types of games can get everyone talking.
The Kitsch Factor Smarties candy necklace - $2 Tabasco-spiced Slim Jim - $1 Shakespearean Insult Gum - $2 U
SJ: And decor? CA: You don’t have to spend a lot of money on decorations. Put together your food in creative ways. Like for this particular theme, put a bunch of Slim Jim beef jerky in a decorative vase or place MoonPies in a big stack on a platter.
You can reach Sheri at sheri.uptown@yahoo.com For more info go to www.uptownclt.com
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design
words: sheri joseph
If putting up your Christmas tree is causing anxiety and sending you to marriage counseling, fear not. We packed a lunch, headed to Pineville, and found Susan Kooiman, who owns the Peppermint Forest Christmas Shop with her husband, Wally. Susan patiently explains how to trim the tree without causing domestic discord. You’ll be channeling your inner Clark Griswold in no time.
the life
SJ: What is the proper way to put lights on a tree? My husband prefers the “toss and stuff” method--essentially throwing the lights on the tree and then stuffing them into the branches. Surely there is a better way? SK: Run an extension cord up the trunk of the tree, begin at the top of the tree, start wrapping strands of lights on the branches, and try to turn the lights so they stand up. Keep going until you get to the bottom of the tree. Of course, if this process is too tedious for you, then we have very realistic, pre-lit trees here in our “forest”! SJ: So now that I have the tree all lit up, what is the next step? SK: Step 2 is the ribbon or garland. Pick out a signature ribbon or two that will coordinate with your furnishings and pull it all together. The ribbon or garland doesn’t have to be traditional Christmas colors, bright red or green. If you have a more contemporary décor, you could go with a lime green ribbon and a garland that has feathers--something that adds interest and pulls everything together. You will need two or three ten-yard bolts of ribbon. SJ: And step three? SK: Put on anything big like any large ornaments you might have. Here at the store, we put a lot of large flowers or decorative items all around the tree for impact. I also think it can be a neat thing to take a traditional tree topper like a star or an angel and put it into the body of the tree to create some interest. SJ: Step four? SK: Put on your ornaments. If you have a collection of twelve or more ornaments, don’t hang them all in one place. Group them together in odd numbers—about three to five--so that the eye will move around the tree. Last, top the tree with a large bow or traditional topper. SJ: Do you have suggestions for readers who might be just starting out and decorating the home for Christmas for the first time? SK: If you don’t have a lot of ornaments, you can fill in the spaces with colored glass balls--they are very affordable and easy to find. Ribbon is also an inexpensive way to take up space. Use different textures and shapes that mimic your home décor. For example, if you have a diamond pattern on your couch, find some ornaments or ribbons that complement the pattern so it all looks coordinated. SJ: Is there a trend you are seeing with tree décor? SK: The outdoor living spaces are popular right now and there are a lot of people who will choose a tree for that area of their homes. I’m noticing that many of the ornaments coming out look more contemporary because that is the style of today’s homes. SJ: Any last tips for the frustrated tree trimmer? SK: Don’t be afraid. Have fun with it. If you need help, come in and see us. Have a Merry Christmas! U
You can reach Sheri at sheri.uptown@yahoo.com For more info go to www.uptownclt.com 24
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11/24/2008 2:09:49 PM
Your Smile, A Window to Your Health
H. Ludwig Saint Jean, DDS, MPH 2034 Randolph Rd, Suite 100 Charlotte, NC 28207 *
*C
We Are Currently Accepting New Patients To schedule an appointment today, call: 704-334-2538 Email Us: Info@charlottemidtowndentistry.com
ZOOM! 速 WHITENING OR AT HOME BLEACHING KITS Offer applies to new patients with full exam, xrays and cleaning. Limitations may apply with treatment needs.
Metropolitan Kitchen & Bath
is located within Metropolitan Design on South in the Historic South End.
Call for an appointment today.
704.334.2002 1719 South Blvd., Suite 1 Charlotte, NC 28203 info@metropolitanbuilders.com www.metropolitanbuilders.com
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beauty
words: sheri joseph
Oh sure, the song says “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”--until you’re faced with an uncomfortable reunion with your ex-boyfriend, or bump into one of the mean girls who made your life miserable in high school. A nice voodoo doll would do, but it’s the holidays and your time is limited. The best revenge? Being as fabulous as possible--no pins necessary. Uptown’s own human guinea pigs have tested this recipe time and again, so it’s as failsafe as Grandma’s Christmas cookies.
the life
1 Part: Makeup * Eyes red from sleepless nights spent pining over the past? No need to show it. Lemon-Aid, from Benefit, takes away any shade of darkness from around your eyes. Our testers used it after a night of extreme salt intake (the effect is similar to tears) and were able to skip concealer. Apply it with a light hand on your brow bone, eyelids, and even beneath the eyes for a refreshed look. Online at Sephora.com - $20 * Just because you’re vengeful doesn’t mean you’re not in the holiday spirit. Try Noir’s Glimmer Liquid Liner. Black works with every eye color and the sparkle makes your eyes pop. Our testers were shocked to discover how easy this was to apply. The secret is the specially designed brush. Jeffre Scott Apothecary, 6432 Rea Road - $15 ½ Part: A Nice Bottom Half * No matter the occasion, premium denim goes with anything. Put together a fab pair with a simple tee or your fave reindeer sweater. Our testers liked the Kasil straight leg jean in the voodoo wash. There’s a little stretch in there so your eggnog sins are forgiven, the length is great for tall people, and the back pockets have the slightest touch of embellishment. Black & Blue, 720 Governor Morrison Street, in South Park - $204 2 Parts: Remember-me Hair * You know that feeling when you’ve just stepped out of the salon? You can get it again with a simple blowout at your favorite salon. Treat yourself, but be prepared for the jealous stares coming your way. No need to go with the salon’s “master stylist” for this procedure--a proper blow dry is something anyone on the floor knows cold. Our testers liked the vibe at T. Reid and Company, 429 East Boulevard - $35 3 Parts: ‘Tude * Get a grip. Things are tough all over and lots of people out there are doing worse than you. Donate your time, talents, or dollars to a local charitable organization. Your heart will soar. What’s more attractive than a woman who has decided to move outside herself and do something for others? Check out who could use your help online at Charity-Charities. org - Free! Gather ingredients, then mix well. U
You can reach Sheri at sheri.uptown@yahoo.com For more info go to www.uptownclt.com 26
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words: matt kokenes
I
suppose it could have been the guilt of many years of a life led mainly to serve only myself--a life of outrageous debauchery that landed me where I currently stood. Standing in a neat column along the left side of the hallway with a dozen other dogs and their owners, my young German shepherd, Dasha, and I nervously awaited our marching orders, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the assisted care facility. Fluorescent lighting. Moaning from a room down the hall. A saddening, institutional odor. The setting had a similar effect on all of us new recruits of the Paws for All pet-therapy class. Owners and their dogs of all ages, sizes, and colors glanced around at the unfamiliar place. My good friend and canine-behavior and training expert Andy Bunn organized the Paws for All organization in the early 90s to train ordinary family pets to provide therapy for those who need it most: from children spending their days in hospitals instead of on playgrounds to lonely seniors living out their twilight years in retirement homes. Dogs in the program must be carefully evaluated, trained, and certified by Therapy Dogs International, the official sanctioning body for therapy dogs, before beginning careers as therapy animals. This class, offered twice each year by Andy’s Paws for All club, is the first step in the training process. Studies have shown that a patient’s blood pressure can be lowered and immune system strengthened as a result of interacting with a companion animal. Oftentimes, residents in hospitals or specialty care facilities become bored or lonely. Canine visits lift their spirits and in some cases reduce or even eliminate the need for antidepressant drugs. An orderly with a food cart filled with empty dinner trays, very much like the ones I remember from grade school cafeterias, moved past us with a curious look, giving wide berth to the group of visiting dogs. At this point I began to doubt how serious I really was about “giving something back,” but a nod from Andy started the group moving carefully together down the hallway. With a deep breath, I approached one doorway after another. All of the residents are bedridden, although some are more mobile than others. When asked, some simply don’t like dogs and would prefer to pass on the visit altogether. But the majority of the residents eagerly welcomed us in for a bit of company, and I quickly realized that this was not a mistake, but luck, or even perhaps a small miracle that had compelled me to bring my dog to this place. I was moved by the dramatic change in the expressions of the facility’s residents as they stroked Dasha’s long black fur. Their smiles would melt a glacier. Some of the patients were more interested in talking with me and less with petting Dasha, and that was just fine--Dasha and I were there as a team, after all. Many of the residents shared memories from decades past, telling stories from long ago about dogs they had once had--Germans shepherds, even. That first visit was great training for both dogs and owners-negotiating tight spaces; remaining calm in the presence of some-
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times loud, strange noises; even riding in an elevator with several other dogs. After an hour or so of interaction between canines, handlers, and facility patients, it was time to say goodbye and let the dogs clock out and call it a night. I was very proud of my “little girl dog,” as I affectionately call her, and aside from one little bratty snap at a happy looking golden retriever, I thought she did a great job. (And she’s sorry, happy golden retriever--she was just nervous. It won’t happen again!) Driving home I thought about what I had just seen, and about giving. I’ve made people that I loved smile with gifts of flowers and jewelry, and I have to say that felt great. I’ve surprised friends and family with unexpected gifts on birthdays or around the tree on
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PET THERAPY
December 25, and that was okay too. What I just offered to a group of total strangers, with Dasha’s help, of course, was something entirely different. It made me feel unbelievably good to my very core, and I’m pretty sure the folks over at the assisted care facility on Hawthorne Lane were glad we showed up that night, too. Dasha and I still have many more visits and a lot of training ahead of us before we can take the test for T.D.I. certification and visit a wider variety of folks in need. I’ve been gently warned that German shepherds are great working dogs, and while it’s well known that they’re dependable in a number of areas (with police, in the military, as guide dogs, etc.), they typically don’t have the best temperament for pet therapy. I know Dasha has it in her, though,
and we’ll work as long and hard as it takes to pass that T.D.I. certification test. At a time of year when there is a lot of effort and thought put into giving, consider the incredibly positive impact you could make on people in a tough place in their lives. All it takes is your dog and a little bit of your time. I know Andy Bunn and his volunteers over at Paws for All will welcome you and your canine. U Paws for All is a club within the Metro Paws Total Canine facility on South Tryon Street, over in Charlotte’s South End. Find more online at metro-paws.com You can reach Matt at matt@uptownclt.com For more info go to www.uptownclt.com www.uptownclt.com
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words: amanda pagliarini
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You meet someone, perhaps you go on a date or two, and they have your phone number. And now you wait. Which insect will they manifest into? Do you have a cricket on your hands? Or do you have a gnat? I only make two distinctions because rarely, and I mean rarely, do you find another comparable species of insect when it comes to communication styles in the dating world. Allow me to explain. The Cricket Oh, the agony of crickets. You know that feeling when you’re sitting back, waiting, hoping, willing someone to call you, text you, email you, send a smoke signal---anything? Similar to the dead of night, all is silent but the mindnumbing singsong of crickets. When you first sense that you might have a cricket on your hands, you can become flooded with attempts to justify it. One guy friend of mine told me that he thought a girl wasn’t returning his calls as a test to determine how truly interested he was. I knew better but was afraid to tell him. A “maybe” with a shrug and a smile was all I could muster. If you and your friends are anything like me and my friends, you might try to weigh the possible scenarios. Perhaps your crush has a hectic schedule? Maybe they’re with someone and don’t want to be rude? The area they’re in doesn’t get adequate cellular service? Their phone could be altogether broken? Wait, maybe it’s YOUR phone that’s broken! That must be it. To test this hypothesis, you have a friend send you a test text message. Nope, it’s not a problem
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with your phone. In the ultimate stretch, you ponder the possibility that an accident has rendered them hospitalized, without the cognitive skills necessary to call. Hey, it’s possible. You decide to put your phone down and walk away from it. You temper your anxiety in your phone’s absence, thinking there could very well be a text message or voicemail just waiting for you when you return. You pick it up and flip it open. Nothing but the time, staring you in the face, almost mocking you. Chirp, chirp. Chirp, chirp. As a woman, I tend to subscribe to the theory often directed to me as a child---don’t speak unless spoken to. So as someone who very, very rarely makes initial contact, I have encountered my share of crickets. During one particularly agonizing bout, after receiving several texts over the course of the day from a girlfriend of mine, I called her and borderline hysterically begged her to stop texting me, because every time my phone vibrated my heart jumped into my throat. Worse than an absence of contact is the absence of response to your contact. You call. You text. You email. And yet you receive no response. A similar justification process begins, this time convincing yourself that your text message must not have gone through, despite the blinding check mark in your “sent” box saying otherwise. In the hours that tick by, the one cricket you started with begins to multiply. By the time a day or two passes, the crickets have multiplied several times over and are now parading down your street. You can’t help but hear them. In fact, they’re becoming deafening. With every call, text message, or email that comes through to you from everyone but the one you’re waiting for, it’s as if the cricket parade stops, allowing them to point and laugh at you, and then it’s back to marching they go. The Gnat The gnat has traditionally been a female role. But for some reason---perhaps my choice of perfume---most of the men I’ve encountered have taken on the form of a gnat. A harmless insect, with neither a sting nor a bite, once around you gnats are seemingly impossible to get out of your face. At first you might simply duck, or shift positions unsuccessfully. You’re forced to swat at them. Before you know it you’re at
your breaking point and CLAP, you smash them between your hands. You might feel remorseful for a moment, yet the peace brought about by their absence soothes your guilt. And so it goes with gnat-human equivalent. They typically start out seeming eager. If you’re a woman, you think, “Wow, this guy is definitely interested,” and you are coyly flattered. If you’re a man, you might sense a small red flag of a potential stage-five clinger---but at this initial phase you likely haven’t slept with her yet and decide to overlook the warning signs and play along, at least until you get laid. So is there a happy medium? Is there a gray area? Yes of course. There is one insect that does not send humans running in the other direction, whose presence can actually bring a smile and feelings of fortune. The luck-bestowing ladybug. Every so often a ladybug will land on you ever so gently, neither demanding attention nor carrying a secret motive. When you notice it, it won’t take off in the other direction. If you don’t notice it, they will wait patiently until you do. One of the few ladybugs that I have had the pleasure of encountering turned out to live right next door to me. Shockingly, at 24---a prime age for a strong demonstration of either gnat or cricket tendencies--he has neither swarmed me, nor chirped a melody of absence after our flirty encounters. Living side by side could provide a potential picnic day for a gnat, but he has wisely, or perhaps strategically, popped up just enough so that when he does, I am happy to see him. When time passes without us bumping into one another, he has actually (gasp!) picked up the phone and expressed interest in spending time with me. It hasn’t hurt him that he’s painfully cute, tenderly thoughtful, and rather fun to hang out with. That said, all of those endearing qualities could have become completely irrelevant had he buzzed around me, or chirped away, far off in the night. You would think that a life so often swarmed by gnats or abandoned by crickets would be able to spot the red and black spots from a mile out. But this young ladybug landed on me so gently, I almost missed him and let him fly away. Instead, true to ladybug form, he sat patiently until I realized the kind of bug I was dealing with. Lucky me. U You can reach Amanda at apagliarini@tribblecreativegroup.com For more info go to www.uptownclt.com www.uptownclt.com 31 uptown
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HELP the little ones
In the shadows of the Center City’s skyscrapers and its luxury high-rise condos lay First Ward Elementary and Irwin Avenue Elementary--Uptown’s two elementary schools. Each weekday, nearly 80,000 commuters pass by these schools, unaware of the issues and the needs of their students. Irwin Avenue Elementary and First Ward Elementary are two of the 27 Title I elementary schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District. Title I schools receive their designation based on the percentage of their student enrollment that qualifies as low-income. For these two schools the statistic is staggering---nearly 86 percent of students live below the poverty line. Poverty is not the only issue with which these children contend. Many of these children also face the reality of living in broken homes. Some live in single-parent households or are being raised by extended 34
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family, while some live with foster families or are homeless altogether. These factors combined with reading and math proficiency scores registering below 90 percent, make the odds of these children’s future success unfavorable. While these circumstances make providing an education to these children more difficult, they are the obstacles that the teachers and their guardians work daily to overcome. But they cannot do it alone. Support from the surrounding community is a critical component in helping the schools and their students to achieve their goals. What these schools need is people’s time, talent, and treasure, says Uptown resident and elementary school mentor, Chuck Sawicki. Sawicki and his wife, Priscilla, have been serving as mentors at Irwin Avenue since retiring in Charlotte from Florida
last year. “People know how tough it is out there and want to do something meaningful,” says Sawicki. The biggest challenge, says First Ward Elementary Principal April Butler, is that people don’t know that we [the schools] are here, and they are not aware of our needs. To bring awareness to the needs of both First Ward and Irwin Avenue and to help provide direction to those who are looking to make a more meaningful contribution, the Sawickis have partnered with the principals and staff of the two elementary schools to establish a needs list, a portion of which is published in this issue of Uptown. The list consists of many ways in which people can contribute their time or other resources to either school. One of the easiest and quickest ways
words: erin kasari
11/24/2008 7:33:54 AM
that nearly everyone can take action is by linking their Harris Teeter VIC card to one of the two schools. By having your card linked, a percentage of the money spent on Harris Teeter brand products will be donated to the school of your choice. Mentoring is a key need for both schools that can be met by those who have even only a little time to offer. These students seek positive role models, says Emily Hasen, Literacy Coordinator at Irwin Avenue, and having someone there for only 20 minutes to eat lunch with them, to talk with them, or to quiz them on their reading has been influential and memorable for my students. And while it doesn’t take a lot of time, says Brian Berry, who has been a mentor at Irwin Avenue for the last 18 months, it is a commitment and it is essential that you fulfill it. Otherwise it is just rejection for the
child. For those who may not be able to commit to a regular mentoring schedule or who may not be comfortable working directly with kids, contributing your talents is another way to make a meaningful impact. Maybe a person can draw or do background scenes for a school play. Everyone has something to give, says Butler. Making a donation toward a specific purpose is yet another way to meet the needs of these schools. For the price of a nice dinner out, your donation can sponsor one Irwin Avenue fifth grader’s trip to Washington, D.C. For many of these students this trip is not only a chance to connect with our country’s history, but it is also an opportunity for these kids to have memorable experiences and expand their horizons in ways that may not otherwise be available to them.
Through this needs list, the Sawickis are hoping to show that whether one takes an active role through mentoring or a passive role through donations, it is ultimately through targeted actions that a difference can be made in the lives of these children. Additionally, they are looking to these actions to be the catalyst for causing a much needed chain-reaction in community volunteerism. “These children don’t need a handout,” says Butler, “they need a hand up.” U Reach Erin at erin@theluckyloop.com For more info go to www.uptownclt.com For more information on volunteering and other ways to get involved in CharlotteMecklenburg Schools, go online to www. cms.k12.nc.us and select “Volunteering in CMS” from the right-side menu.
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words: belinda smith-sullivan pictures: fenix fotography
F
or those who haven’t noticed, women chefs are making cracks in the glass ceilings of restaurant kitchens, redefining what was traditionally thought to be a man’s domain. Can they stand the heat? You bet--and they are not about to get out of the kitchen! You have only to look at the enrollment in culinary schools like Johnson & Wales, the Art Institute, and Central Piedmont Community College. According to the admissions offices, women make up approximately 46 percent of the enrollment in culinary programs, and 87 percent in baking and pastry programs. Moreover, every year those numbers are increasing.
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cracks in the kitchen’s ceiling
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R
ecently I spoke with several of these dynamic female chefs and restaurateurs. Imagine spending every day living out your dream. These women are doing just that. While each was inspired in a different way, they have this in common: a passion and vision for the business of food. Bonnie Warford and Tricia Maddrey are sisters and owners of Carpe Diem Restaurant and Lounge, in Elizabeth. Bonnie manages the business and Tricia is the in-house pastry chef. Everyone told them they would not make it--that they lacked the experience. However, they were willing to sacrifice and make the necessary changes in order to survive. According to Bonnie, “We are both proud of the good reputation we have established. We have a good product and our customers know what to expect when they dine here. Our food is well prepared and consistent.� Of course, there
mcninch house
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have also been some hiccups along the way, as Carpe Diem has moved three times during its 19 years in business. Despite this, their customers have remained loyal. They are members of the Slow Food movement and incorporate as much regional
produce and meats into their menu as they can without sacrificing quality. Alice Waters, the famous Berkeley, Calif., chef who created the landmark restaurant Chez Panisse, is an ongoing source of inspiration to these sisters. Their advice to anyone considering
the business? “Research, research, research. Do not underestimate the business side of the restaurant business.” Says Bonnie, “I like my job. I like creating a work atmosphere and hiring people who are willing to work hard.” Tessia Harmon is Chef de Cuisine for the
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LIGHT RAIL STATION
Westin Hotel, in Uptown Charlotte, where she manages a kitchen staff of 17. Originally from Wooster, Mass., she started cooking at age 15 and attended the Culinary Institute of America, in Hyde Park, N.Y. Before coming to the Westin, she was the pastry chef at Zebra and worked at Peter James Townhouse. Says Harmon, “The chef who has had the most influence on me is Todd Kelly, former Chef de Cuisine at the Westin, and current Executive Chef at the Hilton Netherland Plaza, in Cincinnati. His palate is a gift from God. He has a way of opening your eyes to new flavors and new techniques. I can’t rave enough about him.” Harmon’s most defining moments: “Cooking for Julia Child and winning the Charlotte Shout Pastry Competition in 2005 and 2006.” When asked what obstacles she faced, she says, “There were obstacles but I never let them get in my way. I let everyone know I could do everything the guys could do--and in most instances I could do it better.” Had she not pursued a culinary career, she would have become
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sushi at nikko
an architect. “I come from a very creative family. I’m happiest when I’m being creative.” Her advice to new and upcoming female chefs: “Get into a restaurant. Make sure you are okay with the hours and everything that is involved. Above all, don’t let them see you sweat.” Joanna Nix, owner of Nikko Japanese Restaurant, is the self-proclaimed “Sushi
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Mama” of Charlotte. Customers go to her restaurant in search of sushi therapy, where she creates special dishes for them. The success of her restaurant is built on the philosophy of making everyone who walks through the door feel special. Joanna came to the United States from Korea, where she worked in her parents’ sushi restaurant.
Although she wanted to become a comedian, she needed to work when she got here. However, no one would hire her into the male-dominated domain of sushi. She finally talked an employer into letting her work for him without pay. After just one week he was so impressed with her talent that he started paying her.
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“Charlotte’s best ethnic restaurant” ~ The Charlotte Observer
“The Greek Diet is one of the healthiest ways to eat!” ~ Harvard Public Health
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greekislesrestuarant.com Joanna and her husband opened Nikko almost eleven years ago. There is also a location in Ballantyne. When asked what she is most proud of, she says, “The quality of the food we serve and my team.” Her advice: “Believe in yourself, be passionate, and go crazy with it!” What about her dream of becoming a comedian? Every night you can see Joanna performing--singing, dancing, and telling jokes--on a stage built especially for her in Nikko’s main dining room. Lupie Duran is owner of Lupie’s Café, on Monroe Road, a mile outside Uptown Charlotte. Proud of her made-from-scratch fare, she values her customers and their loyalty to her. She grew up in the Thompson Orphanage, in Charlotte, and says, “I was inspired by a nice lady named Lillie May White, the orphanage cook, who took me under her wing and taught me how to cook.” A permanent and well known fixture in the neighborhood and throughout the city, Lupie’s has been in the same location for 21 years. It was not easy for her to get her business off the ground. Everyone told her she would never make it. She held onto the
belief that you can do anything and open any door in your lifetime--you just have to have the guts! “I’ve had a lot good friends who helped me along the way.” Lupie’s now has a second location, in Huntersville, run by her daughter Larkin. Ellen Davis is owner of McNinch House Restaurant, in the historic Fourth Ward. It is a 100-year-old house that was once home to the former mayor of Charlotte. Davis purchased the house, which is on the National Register of Historic Homes, with the intention of turning it into a supper club. The former floral arranger was looking for a career change and wanted a more relaxed lifestyle. Before she purchased McNinch House, it had fallen into disrepair. It took Davis several years to restore it back to the original condition. “They told me I’d never make it--they gave me six months.” McNinch House is in its twentieth year. Davis is proudest of her employees--all but one has been with her for over twelve years. Julia Child inspired her. “I liked the way she could turn simple food into an elegant production.” Regarding McNinch House, she says, “My only regret is that I
have not taken the time to look at and enjoy the improvements I’ve made to the house. Other than that, I would not change a thing. Experience and failure is a good teacher. I’m living my dream!” U Reach Belinda at bms705@students.jwu.edu For more info go to www.uptownclt.com
u Resources 1535 Elizabeth Ave. 704.377.7976 u 1300 South Blvd., Suite F. 704.370.0100 u 601 South College St. 704.335.2064 u 2718 Monroe Rd. 704.374.1232 u 511 North Church St. 704.332.6159 www.uptownclt.com
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Kinnik
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www.uptownclt.com words: bryan reed uptown pictures: enid valu photography
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kinnik It’s about 10 o’clock on a Monday night in early September and, perhaps in spite of logic, the Thirsty Beaver is packed to the gills. The Central Avenue dive bar with the well-stocked jukebox and no-cover policy is hosting The Donkeys, a California-based pop-rock band signed to the healthy indie label Dead Oceans. And on top of that, it’s the eve of the release of the band’s harmony-laden sophomore disc, Living On The Other Side. And yes, this is Charlotte. Though it’s considered a third-tier city by national booking agencies, Crown Town’s gotten a boost in the past few years, thanks in no small part to a loose collective of local musicians called Kinnikinnik. That the collective, which booked and promoted that Donkeys show in September could fill a venue—unorthodox though it might be—on a Monday night with a small West Coast band as headliner is testament to the influence Kinnikinnik has on Charlotte’s music scene. Two months later, I’m sitting at a wobbly table in Common Market with Eric Deines and Bo White, two of Kinnikinnik’s most vital members—co-presidents, they joke as if this were a business. Over pint bottles of Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown Ale, the soul of Kinnikinnik begins to take shape. www.uptownclt.com
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riginally conceived by White as an imprint to put on small batches of self-released CD-Rs, Kinnikinnik was born with the 2004 release of White’s debut, The Grocery EP. He culled the palindrome from a street sign near Fairbanks, Alaska, that appears in a photo, an old snapshot from a fondly remembered trip he took with his grandparents during his early teenage years. Kinnikinnik, the label, was born. At first it was difficult to spread the imprint beyond White’s immediate circle. “Why would you put out a CD-R with somebody you’d never heard of?” asks White. “CD-Rs you can’t really mass distribute it. It’s more of a local deal.” And so it remains. To date, the Kinnikinnik stamp has graced 17 releases all from local artists. In fact, the farthest afield Kinnikinnik’s signings reach is Winston-Salem duo The Saint Peter Pocket Veto. White has helmed the recording of almost all the Kinnikinnik bands—the exception being Bob Fields,
Charlottean Casey Malone’s ambient solo project, which receives particular notes of affection from both White and Deines. “Kinnikinnik is really kind of a sleeper thing,” says White. “It was really just Calabi Yau and bands I was in, and then Eric spotted it.” It’s now a full-time project for both. Deines, a reporter for Cabarrus County’s Independent Tribune uses his time between interviews and writing to scour the Web for news on new bands and empty tour dates. White, as per his job description as an audio architect at Muzak, spends his whole day listening to new music. Kinnikinnik is never far from the fore.
previous page clockwise from left: black congo // calabi // the donkeys clockwise from above: black congo // dj george // the donkeys
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When Deines joined forces with White a few months after his own 2005 move to Charlotte from Indiana, he brought with him an uninhibited approach to booking that has served the collective— and Charlotte—surprisingly well. Noticing that, as often as not, bands touring the Southeast often had a gap to fill between Georgia and Washington, D.C., Deines decided to go after the bands he wanted to see, figuring the worst case was they’d say no. “I just didn’t underestimate the powers of MySpace, you know what I mean? I was from above: extra golden // calabi
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just like, ‘Why not just MySpace a band that I’m into?’” he asks. His philosophy seems to have worked. A particularly notable example was the booking of New Zealand’s Ruby Suns earlier this year. Between the time Deines and White booked the show for the Yau Haus, Ruby Suns signed to the heavyweight indie label Sub Pop, and released an EP which was greeted with a “Best New Music” tag by the tastemaking website PitchforkMedia.com. Out of necessity, the show was moved, at the last minute, to the long-standing Westside club The Milestone. “We were like, ‘Holy shit, there’s gonna be a lot of people at my house,’” says White. “I had already had a few noise complaints and things like that, and then they sent their rider which had their stage layout and things like that. It’s not too uncommon for bands playing venues, but I was like, ‘Man, I don’t have eight direct boxes or whatever.’ It was pretty elaborate.” When he and Deines met, White’s experience with booking was mostly due to his work finding shows for his own band, Calabi Yau—the wiry, noisy counterpart to his straightforward solo work. After moving the band from Rock Hill to Charlotte in 2005, White began
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hosting bands at his home, dubbed the Yau Haus, when club shows were unavailable. Deines added his own home, Chalet 2000, to the list of potential venues. Kinnikinnik had grown its event-planning arm, adding depth to the group’s impact on the local music community, but making it much harder to define. “I don’t think it would work just by itself as a CD-R label if we weren’t booking shows,” says White. “And I don’t think, if we were just booking shows, it would be as fun as it is.” Deines has a name for exactly what Kinnikinnik is. “I call it a ‘fabel’—a fake record label,” he explains. It certainly hasn’t been a money-making venture for the collective, but it has afforded the opportunity to bring out-of-town bands to Charlotte when they would have otherwise skipped over, and it’s provided a vehicle for documenting the progress of this handful of local musicians. But that’s not to say Kinnikinnik hasn’t gotten any tastes of success. Aside from packed houses at events, Kinnikinnik records have sold in small numbers. But that isn’t the group’s measure for success. “I think if we get it done, it’s successful,” says White. “Some stuff has sold a lot. Yardwork has sold over 250 copies, and that’s a lot to me. And that’s going to keep going, too. Some stuff is just meant for limited release. Stuff like my early solo stuff and Bob Fields’s first disc, it’s more like a marker of where we were at that time. And we’re already so much better than we were at that time. So it’s probably best that people not really hear it.” Deines adds with a laugh, “Where it says ‘out of print’ on the site, it’s for the best.” In large part, he’s referencing his own band, Black Congo NC, which since its incepabove: ruby with leloup tion has developed into a live force to 52
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be reckoned with, meshing Afrobeat with electronic textures and a solid foundation of pop structures. In many ways, Black Congo is the quintessential Kinnikinnik band, drawing members form disparate projects and influences, culling members from the out-jazz outfit Tenspeed, DJ George Brazil (neé Ryan Miller, a founding member of BCNC) and White, whose predilections for skewed melodies find their way into his guitar lines. Still, though, says Deines, Black Congo has yet to produce a recording that really captures the band’s live essence. And they’re running out of time, as Deines prepares to move back to Bloomington, Ind., for a publicist job with the record label triumvirate Secretly Canadian, Jagjaguwar, and Dead Oceans. But he assures me, and White, and presumably himself, “I plan to use whatever contacts I make to benefit what’s going on here.” Indeed, he’s already booked this year’s Kinnikinnik Winter Warm-Up at Chalet 2000, for December 6, and has more Charlotte shows planned well beyond his date of departure. As the Kinnikinnik “fabel” unfolds, it stays true to the moral Deines lays out, off the cuff—“Variety is the spice of life.” There are no boundaries of genre when White and Deines approach a band to join the collective, or to play a show. They just try to match that particular band with the right venues. Maybe a rock ‘n’ roll show at the Thirsty Beaver, a loud, raucous event at the Milestone or a more out-minded project at Patchwerk Playhaus, the back room of Century Vintage on Central Avenue. It’s all about letting projects reach their own modest goals. White sums it up when describing his production techniques. “I’m not doing anything crazy when I record,” he says. “I’m just trying not to mess up the band’s sound. Right now, that’s a measure of success for me, if I can not ruin the band’s sound and then get it to where they have a physical copy to sell at shows.” Neither could be more satisfied with the work they’ve put into this project. “It’s probably been like the best experience I’ve had, to date,” says Deines. “It’s probably been one of my best decisions to come and put my efforts and resources toward this.” They encourage anyone to do likewise: start a band, find a way to book shows with bands you like, and, by proxy, help raise Charlotte’s profile among touring bands. Says White, “If you have a vision and you put work into it, you’ll eventually get to a point where somebody’s going to get it.” U You can reach Bryan at bryan.c.reed@gmail.com For more info go to www.uptownclt.com
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conversation Hands On Charlotte Executive Director Bob Young believes that while many people want the opportunity to be a force for good, when it comes to prospects for volunteering, they often have a hard time finding the right fit or making long-term commitments. After speaking with him recently, I decided this indecision and inability to act was such a common problem that the condition deserves a place in medical literature. I created the following entry.
Volunphobia
More than half of all Charlotteans suffer from this disorder. It is characterized by a desire to be of service, but that desire is suppressed by the fear of a making a volunteer commitment. Common symptoms include: u Frequent inquiries into possible opportunities u Difficulty finding organizations of interest u An inability to choose a volunteer activity u Procrastination u Anxiety u Avoidance or lack of follow-through u Frustration u Feelings of inadequacy
bob young www.uptownclt.com 57 uptown words: celina mincey
pictures: fenix fotography
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S
Sufferers of “volunphobia” often feel stuck in a cycle. They renew their dedicated search for the perfect volunteer role, conduct hours of research, perhaps even brave making a phone call or two. Chronic cases sometimes get as far as securing an application, but typically do not get beyond that step. Fear takes over. “What if the time commitment is overwhelming? I don’t have time for training! Do I really have anything to offer the people I’d be serving? What if I’m not any good? What if I get tired of it and resent having to go?” The brochures and applications join a growing pile. “Maybe next year.” If you or a loved one is prone to volunphobia, here’s the place to turn: Hands On Charlotte. This local organization provides a surefire way to fill your need to hands on charlotte volunteers volunteer without activating your
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symptoms. Their model allows you to: u Volunteer as little or as often as you like with no long-term commitments u Try a variety of different volunteer opportunities u Follow your own interests u Volunteer at convenient times u Peruse a massive selection of organizations Here’s how it works. Hands On Charlotte gathers a large pool of volunteers. Several thousand are active at all times. Members of Hands On Charlotte simply attend a single initial training session, requiring about 45 minutes of their time, which familiarizes them with the procedures for volunteering. After just this one session and a background check, members peruse the different volunteer opportunities that Hands On Charlotte coordinates and then pick one to sign up for. Most nonprofit organizations require a certain level of volunteer commitment in order to consistently deliver their programs. Organizations come to Hands On Charlotte with their needs. For instance, let’s say a local organization--we’ll call it Kid Smart--wants to hold a tutoring program two nights a week. Kid Smart cannot advertise the program and have children show up
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if they can’t guarantee having tutors on site. They need a certain number each Tuesday and Thursday night. In a traditional model, Kid Smart would have to seek out volunteers and get them to make a biweekly commitment for the duration of the program. Despite your interest in tutoring, it might be tough to find Kid Smart and even more difficult to commit to showing up every Tuesday and Thursday evening. By partnering with Hands On Charlotte, organizations alleviate their own stress as well as the anxiety of potential volunteers. In our example, Hands On Charlotte advertises Kid
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isn’t pressured to be there each time. Through Hands On Charlotte, you could offer to tutor on just one Tuesday. You try it out, helping Kid Smart achieve its goals for that evening. Plus, you don’t go alone. You’re always with a group of Hands On Charlotte volunteers, no matter which activity you try. (Do you feel your volunphobia receding?) If you have a good experience, you can always sign up for another night, but you aren’t locked in to doing so. Now that all you volunphobes can rest assured there is hope for your volunteer aspirations, let’s learn more about the
Plus, you don’t go alone. You’re always with a group of Hands On Charlotte volunteers, no matter which activity you try. (Do you feel your volunphobia receding?) Smart’s need for tutors on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Since Hands On Charlotte has so many potential volunteers, it is not difficult to ensure that they can deliver the needed amount of tutors each week to the organization. The idea is that it can be a different assortment of volunteers each week as long as Kid Smart gets the help it needs. Kid Smart no longer has to convince someone to take on the entire tutoring schedule, and one person
organization that’s set your mind at ease. Hands On Charlotte organizes 70 to 90 projects per month, but only employs four people. How can so few accomplish so much? Bob Young explains that they structure their organization to empower people as close to a grassroots level as they can. Every project Hands On Charlotte manages has a volunteer project coordinator. Typically, this is someone who began as a volunteer, just testing the waters, www.uptownclt.com
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but who then found a cause, organization, or type of work that he or she particularly enjoyed. The volunteer then took on the role of coordinator for that experience. Having received a little additional training, this person is then responsible for coordinating the set of volunteers for their assigned project. This system allows four people to run 90 projects, because they don’t have to be on site dealing with the unique demands of each individual project. In addition, volunteers who have fully recovered from volunphobia and who are now ready to take on a larger role are empowered to do so. In effect, Hands On Charlotte can grow as big as the investment people are willing to put into it. And that’s exactly what the organization plans to do. When I asked Young about his organization’s vision for the future, he had a lot to say. Young feels that Hands On Charlotte is going to be able to capitalize on the dynamic energy of the recent election. “There is a re-energized sense of involvement, more people feel a need to be engaged and serve their community.” Hands On Charlotte wants to utilize this energy to elevate their goal from “empowering random acts of kindness” to “coordinating acts of change.” Young says his staff realizes that when looking at larger issues hands on charlotte volunteers
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like illiteracy, AIDS, homelessness, or dropout rates you have to look at creating a larger, coordinated effort in order to make real impact. They expect that a lot of current members, as well as newcomers to Hands On Charlotte, will now desire to be a part of a more coordinated, purposeful effort much more effective at addressing some of these larger-scale issues. Hands On Charlotte will be asking, “How can we, as an organization of citizens, make a difference?” They see their future role as helping people realize the impact they can have as a committed group.
N
ow, before I go further, I want to make sure you aren’t letting Bob Young’s vision activate your volunphobia symptoms. They will continue with the important work they’re currently doing: assisting organizations to fill their volunteer needs while letting individuals be “consumers of volunteer experiences.” This is an important part of the organization’s larger goals because it is a powerful way to enroll new volunteers and to assist each individual in finding his or her niche. However, at the same time, Hands On Charlotte sees a next logical step for them. As the organization cultivates more and more members, and as some of those members come to desire a more consistent level of involvement, Hands On directs that desire
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to action. “As our city grows, we don’t want to see it be divided, whether it be by Latino/Black/White, or by socioeconomic status, et cetera. We want to explore how we can use volunteers as a bridge to make Charlotte one city, and therefore a stronger place,” says Young. To do this, he envisions taking the Hands On Charlotte model of making connections between various people and organizations and focusing it on a particular neighborhood. Often, there is a variety of resources that are very helpful—job training, childcare assistance, health clinics—but they might be difficult to discover, or they may be so spread around the area that it is prohibitive for a person to utilize them. Young imagines the results of Hands On Charlotte directing a portion of its volunteer network to one community. “We could help organizations already there enhance their mission. We could ask those community members what things they need nearby to make their neighborhood work, and then use our connections to set up those types of services. Because we are a nimble organization and our volunteers themselves are empowered, we are not tied down. We have a great opportunity to create collaborations that focus on community building.” It’s a worthy vision and one that makes sense, since Hands On Charlotte is essentially already about building community. The volunteers themselves have an opportunity not only to network with one another, but also to make connections in the communities they serve. In fact, these social opportunities are often the reason people initially come to Hands On Charlotte. In all this talk about serving needs, I had to ask Bob Young what the needs of Hands On Charlotte are. He did not hesitate. “We need awareness. We need people to know what we do and who we are. Really, anyone who hands on charlotte volunteers has either time or a particular
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expertise, we can connect them with an opportunity.” This goes for big corporations too. One ingenious way Hands On Charlotte funds itself is by being a consultant of all things volunteer. Corporations often want to realize a vision of corporate citizenship, wants its employees to be involved in serving the community. However, it is difficult for them to set up an appropriate opportunity “in house.” Hands On Charlotte are the experts. They already have the contacts and know the needs of organizations that a corporation could help. They also have an understanding of the logistics of setting up a workday for a large group of people, such as necessary supplies and effective planning for the day. Hands On Charlotte will arrange the entire experience and all the corporation has to do is show up ready to work. This is a win for everyone involved. Hands On Charlotte helps one of its partner organizations accomplish a lot in one day. They also assist a large group of corporate employees meet their volunteering goals. The company fulfills its service objectives, and Hands On Charlotte gets a stipend to help with day–to-day costs. “The beauty of it,” says Bob Young, “is that I can’t think of any person, nonprofit organization, or company that can’t find a valuable way to work with us. Whether you have skill, time, money, or connections, all of those are better when added to an organization that is already functioning effectively. Hands On Charlotte is about bringing those things together to make something positive happen. Our potential is endless.” U You can reach Celina at celinamincey@yahoo.com For more info go to www.uptownclt.com No more excuses! The perfect cure for volunphobia is here. Go online to HandsOnCharlotte.org or call 704.333.7471 to sign up for your one-time-only, 45-minute welcome session and begin your new life as a fulfilled volunteer!
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11/24/2008 7:38:17 AM
David Aaron Moore is well known to readers of Uptown -- he’s now in his third year of penning the popular ongoing fictional column “Elmwood Park.” A native Charlottean, Moore recently signed a contract with History Press to pen a collection of nonfiction short stories entitled, “Charlotte: Murder, Mystery and Mayhem.” In this new book, he recalls the dark side of the city, with a collection of chilling tales that explore a span of time covering nearly a hundred years of horrifying history. Why were no individuals ever convicted of the lynch mob killing of Joe McNeely in 1913? What became of Nellie Freeman, a young woman who nearly decapitated her husband with a straight razor in 1926? Who stuffed the body of an elderly widow in a long-forgotten mausoleum in 1959? Are there really ghosts of Camp Green infantrymen, the doughboys of World War I, still roaming the wooded area that once served as a training camp? Was pilot error the reason 71 passengers lost their lives on Eastern Airlines Flight 212 when it fell to earth on a foggy morning in 1974? These stories are just a sampling of what’s included in the book, currently available at booksellers locally and available online nationally through Amazon. Exclusive to Uptown is this segment from “Charlotte: Murder, Mystery and Mayhem.”
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S She was born Nellie Ellis Green on October 31, 1906, in Rutherford County to Robert Greene and Junie Etta Bridges. For a brief period in 1926, she would make all of Charlotte stand up and take notice. It was her marriage to Alton Freeman, and the outcome of that union, that would thrust her into the public spotlight. Alton was the son of farmer Adolphus Freeman and his wife Nannie. Born in Berryhill Township in 1903, he was the youngest—and clearly the most spoiled—of all the eight Freeman children. Exactly how Nellie and Alton met isn’t known. What is known is that they were married only briefly, around five months, beginning sometime in late 1925 and ending abruptly on the evening of May 22, 1926, when Nellie admits that she killed Alton—albeit accidentally, she claims—by slashing him in the throat and nearly decapitating him. Before things all came to a head, Nellie had been working at Nebel Knitting Mills, where she worked up to ten hours a day, bringing home less than fifteen dollars a week, much of which Alton would take from her. According To Nellie, Alton had been chasing other women, refusing to find a job, and was planning to leave her. A convicted auto thief, he announced that day that he was going to steal some whiskey to fund his getaway from her. Although it never came up during the trial, Nellie confided later in life that Alton was also attempting to force her to sleep with other men to bring in more money. Nellie insisted she loved Alton despite all of his shortcomings. Both Alton’s mother and Nellie attempted to dissuade the young man from his plans, to no avail. When she was alone with Alton, she once again begged him to stay. When he rebuked her advances, she pulled out a straight razor and took a swipe at his throat. She claimed she didn’t know how sharp the
executing a woman, especially a white woman, was seen as particularly abhorrent. Nellie would spend the next two months in jail before announcing her plea of not guilty and finally going to trial in midJuly, 1926. During the trial, Nellie was seen laughing and joking with reporters and her attorneys. Public fascination around her grew rapidly as she became an instant media celebrity. The Charlotte News and Charlotte Observer take up her cause in earnest, labeling her “pretty little Nellie Freeman,” “the childlike murderess” and “the forlorn, little waif.” Attention is shown to nearly every detail of Nellie Freeman, even down to her choice of fashions: “Neatly garbed in a white dress of some attractive design with a close-fitting, orange-colored hat and…scarf to match…looking unusually dainty in her white dress, silk scarf and chic new pink hat..” Obviously, both the press and the public were smitten with Nellie. Said a report from the Charlotte News: “Public Sentiment was not aroused in indignation, but rather took the turn of a sympathetic wonder at what a girl would do in an effort to relieve the situation. None condoned her act as justified, but her petite frame and audacity stood her in good steed, as far as the man on the street was concerned.” In addition to being a car thief, it was also revealed that Alton has been married twice before and never divorced. During the trial, Nellie’s attorneys brought in psychiatrists to testify that Nellie is not guilty by reason of temporary insanity. Dr. John Davidson declared that she “has the mind of a six-year-old child.” Other doctors confirmed “evidence of hereditary insanity.” Further holding up their case, defense attorneys claimed that even though she seemingly grasped the English language, she was
Nevertheless, the turbulent life of one Alton Freeman was snuffed out in one deft swoop. Police arrived to find him in a pool of blood, dying in his mother’s arms in the kitchen of the house on Camp Green Street. blade was, and only meant to scare him and teach him a lesson. Nevertheless, the turbulent life of one Alton Freeman was snuffed out in one deft swoop. Police arrived to find him in a pool of blood, dying in his mother’s arms in the kitchen of the house on Camp Green Street. What followed could only be described as a circus. America in the 1920s saw women as inferior and weakminded, given to sudden fits of hysteria and bouts of insanity, therefore not in control of their own faculties. How could a smallminded, weak individual be held responsible for such an act? Ironic that Nellie’s first words to police when they arrived upon the scene were “I’m 19 years old and I weigh less than 90 pounds.” Another point in her favor was that the thought of 66
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totally ignorant of arithmetic, which was evidence of “a lack of originality [and only] a parrot like mechanical ability.” From upper crust society to her fellow mill workers, the spectacle continued as masses poured into the courtroom to watch the testimony unfold. Courthouse vendors sold tiny commemorative gold-plated razor pins with Nellie’s name emblazoned on them. “The blade is movable, as is appropriate with a Nellie Freeman razor, and swings loose.” Ten days after the trial began, the jury returned with a verdict of not guilty. Church workers and wealthy philanthropists rallied to Nellie’s aid in an effort to help her begin life anew. Prosecutors, however, didn’t buy the claim of insanity. “I think the killing of Alton Freeman is one of the most
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flagrant, most volatile in my experience,” said prosecutor’s assistant J.D. McCall. “There verdict was laughable and ridiculous. There was no excuse for the slaying, whatever…if women like her are turned absolutely loose on the public, no man is safe.” Afterwards, Nellie sent word to presiding Judge Michael Schenck. “I want to keep the razor and the dress,” she reportedly said. “But I don’t want to talk about the trial anymore. I want to forget, if I can, the painful incidents of the past two months, and talking about it only recalls it to mind. I hope the Freemans didn’t feel too hard towards me. I didn’t mean to do it.” And forget she did. For all intents and purposes, Nellie Freeman vanished into history. At least from the public eye. And despite J.D. McCall’s claim that no man would be safe with Nellie free, she proved him wrong. Within a matter of days, Nellie went to stay with relatives in Kentucky. On October 26, 1926, Nellie married Samuel R. Hatley in Louisville, Kentucky. For a while, they made their home in Concord, with Samuel’s parents. They had their first son, Robert, on July 24, 1927. “When they first got married my father was a weaver in a mill,” recalls Robert Hatley, his voice cracking as he remembers those difficult early days during the depression. “We moved all
over the place because he had to go where he could find work. We lived in Ranlo, Kings Mountain and Cherryville.” By 1930, the family would be back in Charlotte, living off State Street in the Wesley Heights neighborhood. Two other children would follow, both sons—Tim in 1930, and Merle in 1936. The woman who once attracted so much attention as Nellie Freeman, the notorious “Razor Girl,” now wanted nothing more than a quiet life with a loving husband and family. She even told the 1930 census taker that her marriage to Hatley was her first, and her maiden name was Ellis, rather than Green—she made no further reference to her former married name. “You couldn’t have had a better mom,” says Robert. “She took us to church every Sunday. She would take us for trolley rides.” Despite the passage of time and the change in location and name, not everybody forgot about the spectacle surrounding the death of Alton Freeman. “One day I was playing outside and another kid told me that my mother had killed somebody,” Robert recollects. “I asked her about it and she said I was too young to understand and that she would tell me about it someday. She never did. She just didn’t want to talk about it.” Robert would never know much of the details of his mother’s life before marriage to his father until after her death. At the age of sixty-four, on May 22, 1969, Nellie Ellis Green Freeman Hatley would die of congestive heart failure in Charlotte’s Mercy Hospital. She spent more than forty happy years with Samuel Hatley, and never hurt another soul. And despite the fact it was Nellie’s hand that took Alton’s life, she apparently maintained a relationship with his parents well after his death. “She would take us to visit this elderly couple in the North Davidson area on the trolley,” says Robert Hatley. “I remember we visited a few times. It was always as though she wanted to show them the children she had and the life she had. I never knew their names, but there seemed to be a genuine affection between them. I’m convinced that was the Freemans.” And, as it turns out, there were more forces than just the press, the public, the jury and the defense attorneys on Nellie’s side. “Daddy told me while she was in jail that she said somebody came to visit her one night and asked her to tell him everything that happened,” Robert says. “She couldn’t see who it was because he sat back in the shadows. She thought she recognized the voice, though.” It was only back in the courtroom that Nellie realized who had come to talk with her the night before: former Charlotte Judge Michael Schenck, who presided over the entire case. U You can reach David at davidmoore@post.com For more info go to www.uptownclt.com Moore will sign copies of the book at NOFO on Liz on Saturday, December 13, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. NOFO on Liz is located at 1609 Elizabeth Avenue. For more details, call 704.444.9002.
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blue notes ruffle dress: century vintage shoes: christian dior booties vest: stylist’s own necklace: black jet lariat hat: century vintage
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pictures: jim mcguire | jimmcguire.com makeup: chris lanston hair / stylist: joey hewell | jstudiosalon.com clothes: century vintage shoes / bags / accessories: sloan & step by sloan | stepbysloan.com models: wilhelmina-evolution | evolutionmt.com
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lace dress: century vintage boots: via stiga bag: “the blake� by kooba earrings: heidi daus
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dress: century vintage boots: century vintage
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Circles
CLARICE PICKS UP HER PHONE ON THE THIRD RING “Clarice, dear, it’s Adria. I’m downstairs in the car waiting for you.” “Adria!” Clarice responds, glancing at the clock. “You’re so perfectly prompt. I’ll be right down.” Clarice snatches up her handbag and does a quick doublecheck in the mirror by the door, just to make sure the hair and makeup are all properly in place. She locks the door behind her and dashes down the stairs to the Fifth Street entrance of her building. Waiting by the curb is a striking but somewhat ominouslooking black and silver Mercedes Maybach. The right rear door swings open automatically, as if opened by some otherworldly presence. Clarice stands frozen in her steps, mesmerized. A slender hand extends from the opened door, beckoning her forward. Within a split second, Adria’s face leans into view. “Darling, what are you doing? Get in the car.” Clarice snaps out of her state of semi-somnambulance. She steps to car and climbs in. “Sorry,” she says breathlessly. “The self-opening door kind of caught me off guard and I wasn’t sure it was your car.” “I thought perhaps you were taken aback by the sheer pomposity of this machine,” Adria chuckles. “Pomposity? If you don’t like it why do you ride around it?” “It makes me feel safe. At the same time I think it says a bit much about you to who you pass on the street. Perhaps more than they need, or want, to know.” “You’re right there. It says you have more money than God. Maybe you should get a Dodge Caravan,” Clarice laughs. Adria motions for Clarice to close the door. “Be a dear and tell the driver our destination, please.” Clarice tucks her feet tightly next to the seat and pulls the passenger door closed. She leans forward to talk with the chauffeur, who is dressed from head to toe in black, including a cap and sunglasses. “Are you familiar with the Elizabeth neighborhood?” she asks. “Yes ma’am.” “That’s where we’re going. To Louise Avenue, just off Seventh Street, right across the corner from Eighth. The big yellow house.” “Very good, ma’am.” “Thank you Russ,” Adria chimes in. “Just get us there in one piece.” “No worries,” Mrs. Setzler.” Adria presses a button on the door beside her and a privacy
words: david moore
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wall extends from the inside front seat, cutting off the driver from his two passengers. “Were you planning on some serious gossip, Mrs. Setzler?” “Dear, I know there’s an age difference here, but I would prefer it if you call me Adria.” She grasps Clarice’s hand tightly and repeats her name slowly. “Ah-dree-uh. Please?” Clarice nods. “Adria. No problem.” “Thank you. First of all, who are we having dinner with?” “My friends Marshall and Ryan.” “Oh how exciting!” Adria says, as she claps her hands together and a grin spreads across her face. “Are they a gay couple?” “I think they’re working on it,” Clarice replies indifferently. “You mean they’re trying to become gay? How fascinating. I’ve always loved the gays.” Clarice peers at Adria through narrowed eyes. “No. They’re working on being a couple. As far as I know they’re both gays--I mean gay.” “It sounds like a very interesting evening we have lined up, dear. You were telling me how important it is that I meet this Marshall. Why is that?” “He met your brother Raymond the same time I did. And he’s also a bit of a buff on your family history. Not too mention he’s very smart, and he was shot by that crazy nephew of yours a couple of years back when he took his sisters hostage.” “By marriage only, and even then a little removed some,” Adria says with a wince. “Those Campbells were always trouble.” The car drifts slowly through Uptown, crossing the intersection of Trade and Tryon and continuing east past the transit center and a plethora of buildings in progress. “My! Things certainly have changed since I was a little girl growing up here,” Adria reminisces. “I hardly recognize much anymore. It’s gone from a medium-sized town to a fairly sizable city.” The driver makes a left turn on McDowell and heads for Seventh Street, where he promptly turns right. The two sit silently for a few moments as they pass by Central Piedmont’s stadium and a number of drab parking lots. When they cross over Charlottetowne Avenue Adria suddenly springs back to life. “What is Charlottetowne Avenue? What happened to Independence Boulevard?” “They moved it that way a little bit,” Clarice chuckles, pointing to the rear of the car as the intersection disappears
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behind them. “After they tore down the old Charlottetowne Mall it was decided to rename this stretch of Independence after the mall. I think everybody was a little confused about that one.” The car slows to a stop and makes the left turn on to Louise. “I’ve always thought this was one of the city’s most beautiful neighborhoods,” Adria remarks. Clarice nods in agreement and points towards Marshall’s old, two-story bungalow. “That’s where we’re going.” Adria peers through the window of the car and catches sight of Marshall and Ryan on the front porch, both with drinks in hand. “And those two handsome young fellows -- that’s who we’re having dinner with?” “Yes,” Clarice nods. The car rolls to a stop and both doors open automatically. This time, however, driver Russ exits from his control seat to offer a hand to his employer. Adria pushes it away. “I’m fine Russ. Go have some fun for a couple of hours. I’ll call you when I need you.” Marshall puts his drink on the porch banister and turns to Ryan. “Not a white hair out of place,” he says with a hint of merriment. “It’s such a contrast to the black Chanel suit. You know who she is?” “Not a clue,” Ryan responds matter-of-factly. “I grew up in Hawaii, remember?” “She’s the oldest living remnant of one of Charlotte’s most respected and notorious families, the Setzlers. Let’s go meet her.” Marshall and Ryan bound down the steps and across the short walk to meet Clarice and Adria as they emerge from the limo. “Marsh!” Clarice calls out, as she wraps her arms around his waist. “So good to see you again.” “And you too, as always.” “Ryan,” Clarice nods in his direction. “You look great. Glad you’re here.” The right corner of Ryan’s mouth curls up in a knowing smile. “Thanks.” Adria is smoothing her hands over her jacket and then her pants, making sure there isn’t a wrinkle in sight. She’s patiently waiting for the group of friends to get past the pleasantries and down to a proper introduction. She feels Clarice reach for her hand. “Marshall Steiner and Ryan Wu,” she announces. “This is Adria Owens Setzler.” Adria extends a hand to Marshall, who grasps it firmly in return. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Setzler.” “And you, too. But please, call me Adria, Marshall. Clarice talked about you the whole way over here.” “I hope it was good.” “Nothing but.” Adria turns her attention to Ryan. “What a good-looking man you are, Ryan,” she says, reaching for his hand. “I was just telling Clarice that as we pulled up.” “Thank you Adria,” he says with a tinge of embarrassment. 78
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“Let’s all go inside, shall we? The foursome amble their way back across the walkway and up the stairs to the porch. Marshall opens the door for his friends while Ryan scoops up the drinks he and Marshall had been nursing on the front porch earlier. Ryan files in behind them, placing the drinks on the mantelpiece above the fireplace. “Thanks Ryan.” says Marshall. “What can I get you ladies to drink?” “I’ll have a regular martini with two olives,” Clarice replies. “Adria?” “I’d like a Ramos Gin Fizz,” she says with a big grin. Marshall’s face goes blank. “A what?” “It’s called a Ramos Gin Fizz,” Adria explains. “Besides the gin, there’s lemon juice, lime juice, egg white, sugar, cream, orange flower water, and soda water.” “That’s a tall order, Adria. But I’m sure I can figure it out with my handy bartender’s guide,” he laughs. “You guys chat while I go concoct. I’ll be back shortly.” Marshall disappears into the kitchen while Clarice and Adria take a seat on the large overstuffed couch opposite Ryan, who’s sitting in Marshall’s favorite chair, a weathered, brown-leather bomber-style chair from the 1940s. “So Ryan,” Adria begins. “Tell me about yourself. What do you do?” “I’m a sales agent at a Mercedes dealership in Pineville,” he explains. “Really?” Adria turns her gaze in Clarice’s direction. “Clarice, is that the same dealership where you---” “Yes,” Clarice replies. “It is.” Ryan looks back and forth between Clarice and Adria. “Remember the guy who held us up and took the Smart Car?” Clarice asks. “That’s Adria’s brother. She’s asked me to help her find him.” Ryan looks dumbfounded. “Are you serious? Is this some kind of bizarre coincidence?” “Life is not full of many coincidences, Ryan,” says Adria. “I did track down Clarice because I think my insane brother is fixated on her. Clarice wanted me to meet Marshall. Those were both intentional. That my brother swiped a car from your dealership... well, I’d call that a coincidence. I hope you’ll forgive him.” Ryan laughs. “I’m sure I can find it in my heart somewhere.” Marshall returns to the room, drinks in hand. “One martini, two olives. One Ramos Gin Fizz, shaken for two minutes, ice added and shaken for two more then topped off with soda water.” “Amazing!” Adria exclaims. “I knew you could do it.” Marshall reaches for the two drinks on the mantelpiece, handing one off to Ryan and keeping the other for himself. He leans against the arm of the chair Ryan is seated in. “Alright Adria. Tell me all about your unhinged brother and we’ll see if I can help Clarice track him down.” U You can reach David at davidmoore@post.com Read the stories leading up to this one online at uptownclt.com
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11/24/2008 7:40:24 AM
Dining and Nightlife Guide AMERICAN Alexander Michael’s – $ 401 W. 9th St. 704.332.6789 Brevard Court Sundries – $ 145 Brevard Court 704.342.4700 Camilles – $ 1518 E. 3rd St. 704.342.4606 Cans – $ 500 W. 5th St. 704.940.0200 Cedar Street Tavern – $ 120 N. Cedar St. 704.333.3448 Champions – $ 100 W. Trade St. - Marriott Hotel 704.333.9000 Comet Grill – $ 2224 Park Rd. 704.371.4300 Cosmos Cafe – $ 300 N. College St. 704.372.3553 Dogwood Cafe – $ 138 Brevard Court 704.376.8353 East Boulevard Grill – $ 1601 East Blvd. 704.332.2414 Ember Grille – $$$ 601 S. College St. WestinHotel 704.335.2064 Fenwick’s – $ 511 Providence Rd. 704.333.2750 Fox and Hound – $ 330 N. Tryon St. 704.333.4113 French Quarter – $ 321 S. Church St. 704.377.7415 The Graduate – $ 1308 E. The Plaza 704.332.8566 John’s Country Kitchen – $ 1518 Central Ave. 704.333.9551 Pike’s Soda Shop – $ 1930 Camden Rd. 704.372.0097 Presto Bar and Grill – $ 445 W. Trade St. 704.334.7088 Providence Café – $ $ 829 Providence R d. 704.376.2008 Providence Road Sundries – $ 1522 Providence Rd. 704.366.4467 Rock Bottom – $ 401 N. Tryon St. 704.334.2739 Selwyn Pub – $ 2801 Selwyn Ave. 704.333.3443 Simmons Fourth Ward Restaurant – $ 516 N. Graham St. 704.334.6640 Something Classic Café – $ 715 Providence Rd. 704.347.3666 South 21 – $ 3101 E. Independence Blvd. 704.377.4509 Southend Brewery – $$ 2100 South Blvd. 704.358.4677 Stool Pigeons – $ 214 N. Church St. 704.358.3788 The Gin Mill South End – $ 1411 S. Tryon St. 704.373.0782 The Graduate – $ 123 W. Trade St. 704.358.3024 The Penguin – $ 1921 Commonwealth Ave. 704.375.6959 The Philosopher’s Stone – $ 1958 E. Seventh St. 704.350.1331 The Pub – $ 710 West Trade St. 704.333.9818 Thomas Street Tavern – $ 1218 Thomas Ave. 704.376.1622 Tic Toc Coffeeshop – $ 512 N. Tryon St. 704.375.5750 Union Grille – $ 222 E 3rd St. – Hilton Towers 704.331.4360 Vinnie’s Sardine – $ 1714 South Blvd. 704-332-0006 Zack’s Hamburgers – $ 4009 South Blvd. 704.525.1720
AMERICAN MODERN 131 Main – $$ 1315 East Blvd. 300 East – $$ 300 East Blvd.
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704.343.0131 704.332.6507
Bentley’s on 27 – $$$ 201 S. College St. Fl. 27 704.343.9201 (Charlotte Plaza Building) Bonterra Restaurant – $$$ 1829 Cleveland Ave. 704.333.9463 Carpe Diem – $$$ 1535 Elizabeth Ave. 704.377.7976 City Tavern – $$ 1514 East Blvd. 704.343.2489 City Tavern – $$ 214 N. Tryon St. 704.334.6688 Custom Shop – $$$ 1601 Elizabeth Ave. 704.333.3396 Fig Tree – $$$ 1601 E. Seventh St. 704.332.3322 Harry & Jeans 201 S. Tryon St. 704.333.4300 Lulu – $$ 1911 Central Ave. 704.376.2242 McNinch House – $$$ 511 N. Church St. 704.332.6159 Mimosa Grill – $$ 301 S. Tryon St. 704.343.0700 Monticello – $$ 235 N. Tryon St. – Dunhill Hotel 704.342.1193 Pewter Rose Bistro – $$ 1820 South Blvd. 704.332.8149 Ratcliffe on the Green – $$ 435 S. Tryon St. 704.358.9898 Taverna 100 – $$$ 100 N. Tryon St. – Founder’s Hall 704.344.0515 Zown Restaurant – $$ 710 W. Trade St. 704.379.7555 Zink – $$ 201 N. Tryon St. 704.444.9001
ASIAN 88 China Bistro – $ 1620 E. 4th St. 704.335.0288 Cherry Blossom – $ 2001 E. 7th St. 704.376.0880 China King – $ 128 Brevard Ct. 704.334-7770 China Queen Buffet – $ 127 N. Tryon St. Ste 3 704.377.1928 China Saute – $ 2214 Park Rd 704.333.1116 Creation – $ 1221-A The Plaza 704.372.2561 Cuisine Malaya – $ 1411 Elizabeth Ave. 704.372.0766 Dim Sum – $ 2920 Central Ave. 704.569.1128 Eggroll King – $ 8907 Steelechase Dr. 704.372.6401 Emperor Chinese – $ 337 S. Kings Dr. 704.333.2688 Fortune Cookie – $ 208 East Independence Blvd. 704.377.1388 Fujiyama – $ 320 S. Tryon St. 704.334.5158 Fuse Box – $ 227 W. Trade St. 704.376.8885 Ginbu 401 – $ 401 Providence Rd. 704.372.2288 Great Wok – $ 718 W Trade St. Ste M 704.333.0080 Ho Ho China Bistro – $ 1742 Lombardy Cir. 704.376.0807 Hong Kong – $ 1713 Central Ave. 704.376.6818 Koko – $ 6609 Elfreda Rd. 704.338.6869 Monsoon Thai Cuisine – $ 2801 South Blvd. 704.523.6778 Orient Express – $ 3200 N Graham St. 704.332.6255 Pho An Hoa – $ 4832 Central Ave. 704.537.2595 Pho Hoa – $ 3000 Central Ave. 704.536.7110 SOHO Bistro – $ 214 N Tryon St. 704.333.5189
Thai Taste – $ 324 East Blvd. 704.332.0001 Taipei Express – $ 731 Providence Rd. 704.334.2288 Tin Tin Box & Noodles – $ 101 N. Tryon St. 704.377.3223 Zen Asian Fusion – $ 1716 Kenilworth Ave. 704.358.9688
BAKERY Cloud 9 Confections – $ 201 S. College St. Suite 270 Great Harvest Bread – $ 901 S. Kings Dr. Marguerite’s Bakery – $ 2424 N. Davidson St. Nova’s Bakery – $ 1511 Central Ave. Panera Bread – $ 601 Providence Rd.
704.334.7554 704.333.0431 704.675.5756 704.333.5566 704.374.0581
BARBEQUE Art’s Barbecue – $ 900 E. Morehead St. 704.334.9424 Jolina Tex Mex & BBQ – $ 500 S. College St. 704.375.0994 Mac’s Speed Shop – $ 2511 South Blvd. 704.522.6227 Rib Palace – $ 1300 Central Ave. 704.333.8841
BREAKFAST Art’s Barbecue – $ 900 E. Morehead St. 704.334.9424 Coffee Cup – $ 914 S. Clarkson St. 704.375.8855 Einstein Brothers – $ 201 S. Tryon St. 704.332.4015 Einstein Brothers – $ 1501 South Blvd. 704.333.4370 IHOP – $ 2715 E. Independence Blvd. 704.334.9502 Monticello – $$ 235 N. Tryon St. – Dunhill Hotel 704.342.1193 Owen’s Bagel & Deli – $ 2041 South Blvd. 704.333.5385 Tic Toc Coffeeshop – $ 512 N. Tryon St. 704.375.5750
BRITISH Big Ben’s Pub – $ 801 Providence R d.
704.334.6338
CAJUN & CREOLE Boudreaux’s Louisiana Kitchen – $ 501 E. 36th St. 704.331.9898 Cajun Queen – $$ 1800 E 7th St. 704.377.9017
C A R I B B E A N Anntony’s Caribbean Cafe – $ 2001 E. 7th St. 704.342.0749 Austin’s Caribbean Cuisine – $ 345 S. Kings Dr. 704.331.8778
CHINESE 88 China Bistro – $ 1620 E. 4th St. 704.335.0288 Vanloi Chinese Barbecue – $ 3101 Central Ave. 704.566.8808 Wok Express – $ 601 S. Kings Dr. 704.375.1122
COFFEESHOPS Caribou Coffee – $ 100 N. Tryon St.
Dilworth Coffee – $ 1235 East Blvd # B, 704.358.8003 330 S Tryon St, 704.334.4575 Dilworth Playhouse Cafe – $ 1427 South Blvd. 704.632.0336 Einstein Brothers – $ $ - 201 S. Tryon St. 704.332.4015 Einstein Brothers – $ 1501 South Blvd. 704.333.4370 Java Passage – $ 101 W. Worthington 704.277.6558 Jump N Joe’s Java Joint – $ 105 E. Morehead St. 704.372.3217 La Tea Da’s – $ 1942 E. 7th St. 704.372.9599 Nova’s Bakery – $ 1511 Central Ave. 704.333.5566 SK Netcafe – $ 1425 Elizabeth Ave. 704.334.1523 Starbucks – $ 545 Providence Rd. 704.372.1591 Starbucks – $ 101 S. Tryon St. 704.374.9519 Tic Toc Coffeeshop – $ 512 N. Tryon St. 704.375.5750
DELI Adams 7th Street Market – $ 401 Hawthorne Ln. 704.334.0001 Art’s Barbecue – $ 900 E. Morehead St. 704.334.9424 Common Market – $ 2007 Commonwealth Ave. 704.334-6209 Dikadee’s Deli – $ 1419 East Blvd. 704.333.3354 Dogwood Cafe – $ 138 Brevard Court 704.376.8353 Fresco Cafe & Deli – $ 3642 Moultrie St. 704.376.5777 Grand Central Deli – $ 101 N. Tryon St. 704.348.7032 Great Harvest Bread Co. – $ 901 S. Kings Dr. 704.333.0431 Groucho’s Deli – $ 201 N. Tryon St. 704.342.0030 Halfpenny’s – $ 30 Two First Union Ctr. 704.342.9697 Jersey Mike’s Subs – $ 128 S. Tryon St. 704.343.0006 Jersey Mike’s Subs – $ 1408 East Blvd. 704.295.9155 Jersey Mikes Subs – $ 2001 E. 7th St. 704.375.1985 Jump N Joe’s Java Joint – $ 105 E. Morehead St. 704.372.3217 Laurel Market South – $ 1515 South Blvd. 704.334.2185 Leo’s Delicatessen – $ 1421 Elizabeth Ave. 704.375.2400 Li’l Dino – $ 401 S. Tryon St. 704.342.0560 Matt’s Chicago Dog – $ 425 S. Tryon St. 704.333.3650 Owen’s Bagel & Deli – $ 2041 South Blvd. 704.333.5385 Panera Bread – $ 601 Providence Rd. 704.374.0581 Philadelphia Deli – $ 1025 S. Kings Dr. 704.333.4489 Phil’s Tavern – $ 105 E. Fifth St. 704.347.0035 Rainbow Café – $ 400 South Tryon 704.332.8918 Reid’s – $ 225 E. 7th St. 704.377.1312 Ri-Ra Irish Pub – $ 208 N. Tryon St 704.333.5554 Salvador Deli – $ N. Davidson St. 704.334.2344 Sammy’s Deli – $ 1113 Pecan Ave. 704.376.1956
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Dining and Nightlife Guide Sandwich Club – $ 525 N. Tryon St. Sandwich Club – $ 435 S. Tryon St. Substation II - $ 1601 South Blvd 1941 E. 7th St.
704.334.0133 704.344.1975 704-332-3100 704-358-8100
DESSERT Ben & Jerry’s – $ 507 Providence Rd. 704.333.1003 Dairy Queen – $ 1431 Central Ave. 704.377.4294 Dolce Ristorante – $$ 1710 Kenilworth Ave. 704.332.7525 Luce Ristorante – $$ 214 N. Tryon St. – Hearst Plaza 704.344.9222 Monticello – $$ 235 N. Tryon St.– Dunhill Hotel 704.342.1193
ECLECTIC The Melting Pot – $$$ 901 S. Kings Dr. Stuite 140-B 704.548.2431 Therapy Cafe – $ 401 N. Tryon St. 704.333.1353 The Fig Tree – $$ 1601 E. 7th St. 704.332.3322
FRENCH Terra – $$ 545-B Providence Rd.
704.332.1886
GREEK Greek Isles – $$ 200 E. Bland St. Showmars – $ 2004 East 7th St. Showmars – $ 214 N. Tryon St.
704.444.9000 704.376.0565 704.333.5833
INDIAN Copper – $$ 311 East Blvd. Maharani – $ 901 S. Kings Dr. Suruchi’s – $ 129 W. Trade St.
704.333.0063 704.370.2824 704.372.7333
Carrabba’s Italian Grill – $$ 1520 South Blvd. 704.377.2458 Coco Osteria – $$ 214 N. Tryon St.–Hearst Plaza 704.344.8878 Dolce Ristorante – $$ 1710 Kenilworth Ave. 704.332.7525 Fig Tree – $$$ 1601 E. 7th St. 704.332.3322 Frankie’s Italian Grille – $$ 800 E. Morehead St. 704.358.8004 Hawthorne’s NY Pizza – $ 1701 E. 7th St. 704.358.9339 Intermezzo Pizzeria & Café – $ 1427 E. 10th St. 704.347.2626 Little Italy – $ 2221 Central Ave. 704.375.1625
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L AT I N Cloud 9 Confections – $ 201 S. College St. 704.334.7554 Latorre’s – $$ 118 W. 5th St. 704.377.4448 Coffee Cup – $ 914 S. Clarkson St. 704.375.8855
M E AT & T H R E E Dish – $ 1220 Thomas Ave. 704.344.0343 Mert’s Heart & Soul – $ 214 N. College St. 704.342.4222 Blue – $$$ 214 N. Tryon St. 704.927.2583 Intermezzo Pizzeria & Café – $ 1427 E. 10th Street 704.347.2626
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Luce Ristorante & Bar – $$$ 214 N. Tryon St. – Hearst Plaza 704.344.9222 Mama Ricotta’s – $$ 601 S. Kings Dr. 704.343.0148 Open Kitchen – $ 1318 W. Morehead St. 704.375.7449 Pasta & Provisions – $ 1528 Providence Rd. 704.364.2622 Portofino’s Italian – $$ 3124 Eastway Dr. 704.568.7933 Primo Ristorante – $$ 116 Middleton Dr. 704.334.3346 Cafe Siena – $$ 230 N. College St. 704.602.2750 Salute Ristorante – $$ 613 Providence Rd 704.342.9767 Terra – $$ 545-B Providence Rd. 704.332.1886 Villa Francesca 321 Caldwell St. 704.333.7447 Volare – $$ 1523 Elizabeth Ave. 704.370.0208 Zio Authentic Italian – $$ 116 Middleton Dr. 704.344.0100
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Cabo Fish Taco – $ 3201 N. Davidson St. Johnny Burrito – $ 301 S. Tryon St. La Paz – $$ 1910 South Blvd. Phat Burrito – $ 1537 Camden Rd. Salsarita’s – $ 101 S. Tryon St. Taqueria La Unica – $ 2801 Central Ave.
704.332.8868 704.371.4448 704.372.4168 704.332.7428 704.342.0950 704.347.5115
MIDDLE EASTERN Kabob Grill – $ 1235-B East Blvd.
704.371.8984
OUTDOOR DINING Big Ben’s Pub – $$ 801 Providence Rd. Cans Bar – $ 500 W. 5th St.
704.334.6338 704.940.0200
East Boulevard Grill – $ 1601 East Blvd. 704.332.2414 Ember Grille – $$$ 601 S. College St. - Westin Hotel 704.335.2064 Ri-Ra Irish Pub – $ 208 N. Tryon St 704.333.5554 Sullivan’s – $$$ 1928 South Blvd. 704.335.8228 The Corner Pub – $ 335 N. Graham St. 704.376.2720
PIZZA Brixx – $ 225 East 6th St. 704.347.2749 Donato’s Pizza - $ 718-A West Trade St 704.714.4743 Domino’s Pizza – $ 343 S. Kings Dr. 704.331.9847 Fuel Pizza – $ 214 N. Tryon St. 704.350.1680 Fuel Pizza – $ 1501 Central Ave. 704.376.3835 Hawthorne’s NY 1701 E. 7th St. 704.358.9339 Italian Village Pizza 1225 East Blvd 704.332.2880 Latta Pizza – $ 320 S. Tryon St. 704.333.4015 Papa John’s Pizza – $ 1620 E. 4th St. 704.375.7272 Picasso’s – $ 214 N. Church St. 704.331.0133 Pizza Hut – $ 901 S. Kings Dr. 704.377.7006 Rudino’s Pizza & Grinders – $ 2000 South Blvd. - Atherton Mill 704.333.3124 UNO Chicago Grill – $ 401 S. Tryon St. 704.373.0085 Villa Francesca 321 Caldwell St. 704.333.7447 Zio Authentic Italian – $ 116 Middleton Dr. 704.344.0100
QUICK BITES Bojangles’ – $ 310 E Trade St. 704.335.1804 Boston Market – $ 829 Providence Rd. 704.344.0016 Burger King – $ 310 E. Trade St. 704.334.3312 Chick-fil-A – $ 101 S. Tryon St. 704.344.0222 Chicks Restaurant – $ 320 S. Tryon St. – Latta Arcade 704.358.8212 Church’s – $ 1735 W. Trade St. 704.332.2438 Dairy Queen – $ 1431 Central Ave. 704.377.4294 Domino’s Pizza – $ 343 S. Kings Dr. 704.331.9847 Fuel Pizza – $ 214 N. Tryon St. 704.350.1680 Fuel Pizza – $ 1501 Central Ave. 704.376.3835 Green’s Lunch – $ 309 W. 4th St. 704.332.1786 Mr. K’s – $ 2107 South Blvd. 704.375.4318 Papa John’s Pizza – $ 1620 E. 4th St 704.375.7272
Pasta & Provisions – $ 1528 Providence Rd. 704.364.2622 Pita Pit – $ 214 N. Tryon St. 704.333.5856 Quiznos Sub – $ 127 N. Tryon St. 704.374.9921 Quizno’s – $ 320 S. Tryon St. – Latta Arcade 704.372.8922 Roly Poly Sandwiches – $ 317 S. Church St. 704.332.6375 Sbarro – $ 101 S. Tryon St. 704.332.5005 Simply Subs – $ 212 S. Tryon St. 704.333.0503 Spoons – $ 415 Hawthorne Ln. 704.376.0874 Subway – $ 201 N. Tryon St. 704.333.3302 Wendy’s – $ 211 N. College St. 704.376.8577 Woody’s Chicago Style – $ 320 S. Tryon St. - Latta Arcade 704.334.0010 Zack’s Hamburgers – $ 4009 South Blvd. 704.525.1720
S E A F O O D Aquavina – $$$ 435 S. Tryon St. 704.377.9911 Cabo Fish Taco – $ 3201 N. Davidson St. 704.332.8868 Capital Grille – $$$ 201 N. Tryon St. 704.348.1400 Fig Tree –$$$ 1601 E. Seventh St. 704.332.3322 GW Fins – $$ 525 N. Tryon S 704.716.3467 LaVecchia’s – $$$ 225 E. 6th St. 704.370.6776 McCormick & Schmick’s – $$$ 200 South Tryon St. 704.377.0201 McIntosh’s – $$$ 1812 South Blvd. 704.342.1088 Outback Steakhouse – $$ 704.333.2602 1412 East Blvd.
SOUTHERN & SOUL Lupie’s Cafe – $ 2718 Monroe Rd. 704.374.1232 Mert’s Heart and Soul – $ 214 N. College St 704.342.4222 Price’s Chicken Coop – $ 1614 Camden Rd. 704.333.9866 Savannah Red – $$ 100 W. Trade St. 704.333.9000 Marriott City Center
S P A N I S H Arpa Tapas – $$$ 121 W. Trade St. 704.372.7792 Sole Spanish Grille – $$$ 1608 East blvd.. 704.343.9890
S T E A K H O U S E Beef & Bottle – $$$ 4538 South Blvd. Capital Grille – $$$ 201 N. Tryon St.
704.523.9977 704.348.1400
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Dining and Nightlife Guide LaVecchia’s – $$$ 225 E. 6th St. 704.370.6776 Longhorn Steakhouse – $$ 700 E. Morehead St. 704.332.2300 McIntosh’s – $$$ 1812 South Blvd. 704.342.1088 Morton’s – $$$ 227 W.Trade St.- Carillon bldg. 704.333.2602 Outback Steakhouse – $$ 1412 East Blvd. 704.333.2602 Ruth’s Chris – $$$ 222 S. Tryon St. 704.338.9444 Sullivan’s – $$$ 1928 South Blvd. 704.335.8228
S U S H I Cosmos Cafe – $$ 300 N. College St. Fujo Uptown Bistro – $$ 301 S. College St KO Sushi – $$ 230 S. Tryon St. Nikko – $$ 1300-F South Blvd. Restaurant i – $$ 1524 East Blvd. Ru-San’s Sushi – $$ 2440 Park Rd.
704.372.3553 704.954.0087 704.372.7757 704.370.0100 704.333.8118 704.374.0008
T A P A S Arpa Tapas – $$$ 121 W. Trade St. Cosmos Cafe – $$ 300 N. College St. Town Restaurant – $$ 710 W Trade St.
704.372.7792 704.372.3553 704.379.7555
V E G E T A R I A N Dish – $ 704.344.0343 1220 Thomas Ave. Something Classic Café – $ 715 Providence Rd. 704.347.3666
V I E T N A M E S E Pho An Hoa – $ 4832 Central Ave.
704.537.2595
B A R S Big Ben’s Pub – $$ 801 Providence Rd. Alley Cat – $ 300 N. College St. Amos SouthEnd – $ 1423 S. Tryon St. BAR Charlotte – $ 300 N. College St. Brick & Barrel – $ 200 N. Tryon St. Buckhead Saloon – $ 201 E. 5th St. Cans Bar – $ 500 W. 5th St. Cedar Street Tavern – $ 120 N. Cedar St. Connolly’s on 5th – $ 115 E. 5th St. Cosmos – $$ 300 N. College St. Coyote Ugly – $ 521 N. College St. Crush – $ 300 E. Stonewall St. Dilworth Bar & Grille 911 E. Morehead St.
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704.334.6338 704.375.8765 704.377.6874 704.342.2557 704.370.2808 704.370.0687 704.940.0200 704.333.3448 704.358.9070 704.375.8765 704.347.6869 704.377.1010 704.377.3808
Dilworth Billiards 300 E. Tremont Ave. 704.333.3021 Dixie’s Tavern 301 E. 7th St. 704.374.1700 DoubleDoor Inn 218 E. Independence Blvd. 704.376.1446 Ed’s Tavern 2200 Park Rd. 704.335.0033 Evening Muse 3227 N. Davidson St. 704.376.3737 Fox and Hound – $ 330 N. Tryon St. 704.333.4113 The Graduate – $ 1308 E. The Plaza 704.332.8566 Grand Central Deli – $ 101 N. Tryon St. 704.348.7032 Hartigans Pub – $ 601 S. Ceder St. 704.347.1841 Hawthorne’s NY Pizza – $ 1701 E. 7th St. 704.358.9339 Howl at the Moon – $ 210 E. Trade St. 704.936.4695 Jillian’s SouthEnd – $ 300 E. Bland Street 704.376.4386 Loft 1523 – $$ 1523 Elizabeth Ave. 704.333.5898 Madison’s – $$ 115 Fifth St. 704.299.0580 Morehead Tavern – $ 300 East Morehead St. 704.334.2655 Phil’s Tavern – $ 105 E. Fifth St. 704.347.0035 Picasso’s – $ 214 N. Church St. 704.331.0133 Pravda – $$ 300 N. College St. 704.375.8765 Presto Bar and Grill – $ 445 W. Trade St. 704.334.7088 Ri-Ra Irish Pub – $ 208 N. Tryon St 704.333.5554 Selwyn Pub – $ 2801 Selwyn Ave. 704.333.3443 Southend Brewery – $$ 2100 South Blvd. 704.358.4677 Stool Pigeons – $ 214 N. Church St. 704.358.3788 Suite – $ 210 E. Trade St. 704.999.7934 The Attic – $ 200 N. Tryon St. 704.358.4244 The Corner Pub – $ 335 N. Graham St. 704.376.2720 The Forum – $$ 300 N. College St. 704.375.8765 The Gin Mill – $ 1411 S. Tryon St. 704.373.0782 The Graduate – $ 123 W. Trade St. 704.358.3024 The Penguin – $ 1921 Commonwealth Ave. 704.375.6959 The Pub – $ 710 West Trade St. 704.333.9818 Thomas Street Tavern – $ 1218 Thomas St. 704.376.1622 Tilt – $$ 127 W. Trade St. 704.347.4870 Tremont Music Hall – $ 400 W Tremont Ave. 704.343.9494 Tutto Mondo – $ 1820 South Blvd. 704.332.8149 Tyber Creek Pub – $ 1933 South Blvd. 704.343.2727 Vinnie’s Sardine – $ 1714 South Blvd. 704.332.0006 Visulite Theater – $ 1615 Elizabeth Ave. 704.358.9250 Whiskey River – $ 210 E. Trade St. 704.749.1097 www.uptownclt.com
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Why now is the time to make your move Uptown.
At Centro CityWorks, we’re proud to say that we have led Uptown Charlotte’s residential renaissance, from Gateway Lofts to 10th Street Towns to Trademark. After all, our company was born here. Our offices are right here in the center of the city, near the corner of Trade and Tryon. We love Uptown. And, we’re committed to helping fulfill the vibrant urban vision that’s well on its way to transforming our city’s landscape.
Prices at Quarterside begin in the $140,000s. We invite you to contact us. Come talk with us. And let us show you why right now is perhaps the best time ever to make your move Uptown.
That’s why we’re especially proud to offer Quarterside, our newest exciting neighborhood village – strategically located in the First Ward and adjacent to all the great entertainment and amenities that Uptown has to offer. Quarterside is more than a terrific new community. It’s our way of showing our unbridled confidence in a remarkable city.*
NO ONE BRINGS YOU THE CITY LIKE CENTRO.
We know there’s a lot more growth to come.
704.332.4008. centrocityworks.com 82 uptown www.uptownclt.com *Did you know that over 3,000,000 square feet of office space is currently being built to address the tightest vacancy rates in the country? We kid you not.
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