YOUR TRUSTED LOCAL BUTCHER SHOP & MARKET
[SINCE 1978]
For nearly five decades, we’ve proudly served our neighbors with fresh meats, everyday essentials, competitive gas prices, and a friendly smile. Whether you’re firing up the grill, filling your tank, or grabbing your morning coffee, Shop N Save has what you need – right when you need it.
Our main location at 1105 Mecklenburg Highway has been our flagship store for 47 years. The adage of “you can’t judge a book by its cover” applies to Shop N Save Market. Shop with us at our recently added second butcher shop location to see and feel our customer-focused experience and selections.
We offer, among many other items: Expert Butchers – Hand-cut meats, custom orders, and top-quality selections you can trust. Everyday Essentials – Snacks, drinks, household items, and more – fast and convenient. Old-School Local Service – Friendly, local, and here for you since 1978.
Local Products - Produced by local vendors.
Two locations, one great convenience.
1105 Mecklenburg Highway Mooresville, NC 28115
(704)-664-2155
Mon. to Fri. 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Sat. and Sun. 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM
356 Morrison Plantation Pky, Suite B1 Mooresville, NC 28117
(980)-447-8077
Tues. to Fri. 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM Sat. 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Closed Sun. and Mon.
Shop_N_Save_Markets
for
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‘Lake Norman’s Best’ keeps getting better
The votes are in, the numbers have been tallied, and the results boil down to this indisputable fact: the Lake Norman area has a wonderfully talented, thriving small business community bringing you the absolute best in everything. We here at Lake Norman CURRENTS should know, because we’ve just put the bow on our annual “Lake Norman’s Best Readers Choice Awards” for 2025. Like each year before it, the variety and caliber of our winners just keep getting better.
Also indisputable: our perennial award winners are not to be trifled with – there’s a reason our readers return to these wells time after time. If you’ve never celebrated a special event with a steak dinner or experienced the lively bar scene at Epic Chophouse in Mooresville, our readers are telling you it’s time. Year after year, this downtown Main Street restaurant is consistently our hands-down winner for “Best Steak,” setting the standard in our area for fine dining.
The same thing goes for our “Best Italian Cuisine” category. In the small town of Troutman (a moniker that may not hold true for much longer for better or for worse), the Pellegrino brothers have brought not just their gift of Italian cooking and imaginative riffs on traditional recipes to our region, but they’ve also imported a hefty portion of old-fashioned customer service and a strong family-oriented vibe with Pellegrino’s Trattoria. You’ve waited long enough to try it, and honestly, I’m not sure what you’re waiting for – they can’t wait to meet you and welcome you to the fold.
There is also a freshman class of first-time award winners in this year’s contest. While it’s hard to believe some of these have not popped up on our readers’ radar until now, it’s not difficult to see why they’ve finally registered. From our “Best Bakery” Patisserie Café in Mooresville, to our “Best Cocktail” (and another fun bar scene) at Barrel & Fork and “Best Brewery” at Lost Worlds Brewing Company in Cornelius, the Lake Norman region’s culinary and beverage delights are unequaled. For the full listing of our winners – everything from cosmetic and aesthetic services to lawn care – turn to Page 29 to review the winners in each of our 35 distinct categories. And you’re welcome. We’ve just given you a strong start to your “to-do” list to tackle before next year’s voting.
We’ve got plenty more beyond our award winners to share with you this month. You’ll read about a lovely sensory garden at Mooresville’s Public Library that’s the beneficiary of a refresh thanks to the Mooresville Garden Club. We’ll also give you a little background on Scot and Janie Slusarick, the delightful and gregarious couple behind Davidson’s The Rumor Mill, Honeysuckle Home and Gigi’s Gelato. And don’t miss the recipe for Lemon Gooey Butter Cake on Page 52. Using lemon cake mix and more butter than should be consumed in a month’s worth of recipes, you may just start drooling while reading the ingredients list alone. But hey, I think my mom told me once that calories from yellow food don’t count, and it’s topped with fresh berries, so it’s got to be good for you, right? Enjoy!
— LH Lori Helms Editor Lori@LNCurrents.com
Advertising Director Publisher
MacAdam Smith Mac@LNCurrents.com
Sharon Simpson Sharon@LNCurrents.com
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Event Coordinator
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Contributing Writers
Trevor Burton
Kathy Dicken
Mickey Dunaway
Allison Futterman
Karel Bond Lucander
Stella Mackler
Kenyon Stanley
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17039 Kenton Drive, Suite 200 P Cornelius, NC 28031
Fall Festival at the Lake!
Calling All LKN Residents To Celebrate Vine by Viridien’s Newest Location!
Viridien has been proud to serve the Lake Norman area for over 40 years, helping families, homeowners, and design lovers create beautiful outdoor spaces they love. First known as The Fire House Casual Living Store, we’ve been part of the Charlotte community since 1981. In 2022, we rebranded to Viridien Patio + Fireplace, a shorter, simpler name, but still with the same owner, great customer service, and the best selection of quality outdoor products in the Carolinas.
Our new concept store, Vine By Viridien, redefines outdoor living with a curated selection of high-quality, design-forward furniture. This includes the exclusive Vine Outdoor product line, developed in collaboration with the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), blending cutting-edge creativity with exceptional craftsmanship to deliver pieces that balance style, durability, and comfort.
Conveniently located off exit 28 on I-77, our showroom features over 20 outdoor furniture collections, including sleek teak dining sets, eco-sustainable poly lumber pieces, lightweight powder-coated aluminum options, and classic all-weather wicker designs. With more than 20 frame styles and 8 in-stock cushion colors to choose from, you can mix and match pieces to create a personalized look that’s ready right away; no long lead times required.
We’re excited to bring the D’Vine Viridien experience closer to home for residents of Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Mooresville, and beyond. Lake dwellers are invited to join us for the first in a series of community events, featuring complimentary grilling classes, fun games and activities for the kids, and a grand giveaway for one lucky attendee.
Mark your calendar! Our Fall Festival is Saturday, September 6th from 11 AM to 3 PM, and you’re invited!
Vine by Viridien 19409 Statesville Rd | Cornelius NC, 28031
Come explore the stunning new showroom, meet our team, and enjoy a fun-filled day designed with the whole community in mind. This family-friendly event will feature:
Live Grill Demonstration by Ernie’s BBQ
• Get inspired by outdoor cooking at its best
• Local Grill Master Ernie’s of Ernie’s Smokehouse has something very special planned for the day - live classes with a bunch of grill recipes to wow your friends and family.
• Enjoy tasty bites as Ernie prepares food straight off the grill https://erniesbbq.com/
Mocktails, Cocktails & Craft Beer
Enjoy the event with complimentary beverage from our very own Viridien Mixologist
Say hello to our Outdoor Kitchens
Installed in a Day program! Meet an expert and start planning your custom outdoor kitchen, built around your space, your style, and your needs.
Vine by Viridien
Explore our New Cornelius showroom, exclusively showing our house brand Vine Outdoor - designed in collaboration with SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design). Top Quality Outdoor Furniture at prices that won’t break the bank.
Giveaways & In-Store Promotions
Don’t Miss Viridien’s annual Labor Day Sale starting 8/8/25 Fall Festival Enter to win a $1000 gift card to use at Vine by Viridien
Fun for the Kids
A bouncy house, face painting, and fun games - Perfect for keeping the kids entertained.
Complimentary sweet treats from a local food truck / vendor.
Whether you’re refreshing your patio or just looking for a fun afternoon out, this event is all about bringing the community together. Our team of design consultants and outdoor living experts will be on hand to answer questions, offer inspiration, and help you make the most of your outdoor space.
Come see why Vine by Viridien is your new go-to for outdoor living, right here at the lake.
We can’t wait to welcome you!
Golden Haze of August
Where sunlight softens and artistry shines
1. Kent Stetson White Wine Crossbody/Clutch
2. Mango Vines Handblown Vase
3. Kinzig Elaura Table Lamp 4. Kristen Baird Chenin Necklace 18K
5. Tyler Swain “I’ll Tell You”, 8 x 8 acrylic on panel
6. Kristen Baird Rosewater Earrings 18K
7. Houston Llew Radiate Spiritile
Channel Markers
Movers, Shakers, Style, Shopping, Trends, Happenings and More at Lake Norman
A perfect moment captured in the Mooresville Public Library’s sensory garden.
Spreading the Love
From veterans to our four-legged friends, so many ways to help
compiled by Lori Helms
Showing the L.O.V.
Since its inception in July 2022, L.O.V. (Love Our Veterans) Home Décor & More has been on a mission to serve as many local veterans in need as possible. The thrift store accepts all manner of donations – including clothing, home furnishings, tools, appliances and more – which in turn are sold to the public through the thrift shop, with all funds directly benefiting local veterans with everything from rebuilding an old home, to help with transportation to medical appointments, to assisting with the costs of desperately needed therapies.
The nonprofit recently celebrated a significant milestone – as of press time it has officially provided outreach and support to 82 veterans in the Lake Norman region thanks to the donations, volunteers and shoppers at its thrift store. This far exceeds owners Kevin and Gini Popko’s goal of wanting to serve at least one veteran a month.
Want to drop off an item for donation or do a little thrift shopping?
This 7,500-square-foot shop filled to the rafters with great deals (and currently undergoing even more expansion) is near Untouchables Pizza and Dollar General at the intersection of Highways 150 and 16 (6012-A S. Highway 16, Maiden). Read about the Popkos’ journey in support of veterans at www.loveourveteransinc.com or call 704.966.0174.
Raise a Glass to Raise Funds
Lake Norman Humane in Mooresville has plans for a grand fundraising gala and invites the community to enjoy an unforgettable evening at A Night for Paws on Tuesday, Sept. 30. The evening will begin with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and a program at 7 p.m. There will be live music by the band In By Nine, an open bar, a dinner provided by Choplin’s Restaurant, and silent and live auctions — all while celebrating the incredible, life-saving work of Lake Norman Humane and to raising funds for homeless animals in need of families.
to match the theme for the evening, but that’s optional. To learn more about the mission of Lake Norman Humane and to purchase tickets, visit www.lakenormanhumane.org. The gala will be held at the Lake Norman Humane facility at 2106 Charlotte Highway, Mooresville.
Now Accepting Patients ...
After a little more than two years of construction, Atrium Health Lake Norman has opened the doors of its full-service, more than 170,000-square-foot hospital near the intersection of Statesville Road and Westmoreland Road in Cornelius (1130 Tree of Life Lane). The facility features 36 patient beds, a maternity center, a 24/7 emergency department, two operating rooms, two triage rooms and imaging services (including MRI, CT scan, X-ray, ultrasound and more), as well as laboratory services.
The campus will also include a specialty care center opening in two phases, with the first phase expected to open this fall. It will include care through the Atrium Health Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute, as well as orthopedic care from Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute and outpatient lab services. Learn more about Atrium Health at www.atriumhealth.org.
Call for Artists
The annual Davidson Fall Arts Festival is just around the corner, which means it’s time for the Town of Davidson to accept applications from all artists wishing to display and sell their artwork.
This year’s festival will take place on Saturday, Sept. 13, from 4 to 8 p.m., with applications and registration forms available online on the Town’s official website (www.townofdavidson.org/fallartsfestival). The deadline for artists to submit applications is 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 24.
Tickets are $150 per person or reserve a table for eight for $1,400. Attendees are encouraged to wear their best denim and rhinestones
For questions about the 2025 Davidson Fall Arts Festival, contact Economic Development Director Kim Fleming by email at kfleming@townofdavidson.org or call 704.940.9622.
Scot & Janie Slusarick
‘Be the reason someone smiles today’
by Karel Bond Lucander |
When Scot and Janie Slusarick are vacationing at the beach, you’ll find them sitting side-by-side in their sand chairs with their toes in the surf, reading to each other.
“Mostly books about the beach, by one of Janie’s favorite authors, Dorothea Benton Frank,” Scot says. This romantic pair always celebrates the third of every month – for 14 years and counting. “We were married on August 3rd and on the third of every month, wherever we are, Scot brings me flowers,” Janie says. “The last couple years he got me perennials so I could plant them in the yard.”
Around Lake Norman, you may know the Slusaricks as the owners of three Davidson businesses: Honeysuckle Home, The Rumor Mill Market and Gigi’s Gelato. But when they aren’t going to market, making gelato or greeting customers from behind the counter of one of their shops, you might find these self-proclaimed “foodies” exploring a new place, heading for the Carolina coast or mountains, and enjoying quality time with their young grandchildren — two girls and two boys.
“We have four grandchildren between the ages of three and four,” says Janie. “We try to do something every week with them. I heard a couple say you only have 18 summers with your children, but I also want to have 18 summers with our grandchildren. Every year we go on vacation together, usually around July 4th. This is our fourth trip to the beach and my happy place is on the coast. We’ve been to Charleston and this time we’re going to Hilton Head. And next month, we’re heading to West Virginia for some ‘glamping’ out in the wilderness. Kids need to spend more time off the screen and spend more time generationally,” she says.
They’re also planning their first trip to Walt Disney World with the grandkids later this year. When they visit new places, these epicures often sign up for food tours.
“We do love a good cup of coffee and a good dessert,” Scot says. “We love Cuban coffee. It’s cultural and different than what we normally get.” They’ll also sometimes take cooking classes as part of a tour package. “We went to Italy and made pizzas and took a pasta-making class.”
As an infant in Ohio, Janie was Circleville’s “baby pumpkin queen,” which Scot, who has a theater background, enjoys teasing her about. Both Janie and Scot are effervescent and energetic, so it’s not surprising they enjoy people — talking with them whether they’re traveling out of town or working at one of their businesses.
“We love to meet people and learn about them,” Scot says, and it’s a trait that Janie enjoys with him. “I love to talk with people and hear their success stories,” she says. “I try to learn from others and get golden nuggets. Things they say can have an impact on your life.”
But when the day is done and their business signs read “closed,” to unwind, the Slusaricks play cards and watch shows on Netflix or YouTube. They also garden; Scot tends to his potatoes and zucchinis while Janie waters the flowers and plants. Many deer regularly visit their property, and they enjoy watching them.
“Don’t get too far ahead of what grounds you,” Scot says. “Keep centered through your faith in God to guide you as your anchor. Be the reason that someone smiles today; you have that opportunity.”
photographs courtesy Scot and Janie Slusarick
Whether at the beach, on a buying trip, enjoying time with grandkids or dishing up delicious gelato, the Slusaricks delight in their time together.
Sensory Overload
Library’s
‘secret’
is a treat for the
garden
senses
Just below the parking lot at the Mooresville Public Library, a quiet, fragrant world awaits. Enclosed by brick walls and dotted with herbs, flowers, musical instruments and textures to explore, the library’s sensory garden offers visitors a chance to pause, breathe deeply and to touch, smell and listen.
“This is our sensory garden area,” says Library Director Marian Lytle in a video tour of the space. “It was made possible through the town of Mooresville, with wonderful help from the Mooresville Garden Club. They have been instrumental in making this beautiful.”
The idea for the garden emerged a few years ago when Lytle sought to reimagine a previously planted lower courtyard. With help from COVID relief funds and support from the town of Mooresville, the space was transformed into a vibrant sensory experience.
“With this project, we built a wall, raised the ground level and this is all our color area,” Lytle says. “Wonderful, fun things that will elicit color all spring, summer and into the fall. To my right is our touch area — soft lamb’s ears, prickly hen and chicks. Then, to our left is the smells — the herbs, the Carolina jasmine, wonderful things like that. We have installed great sound equipment, and then on the walls you see some touch and feel things for tactile.”
To bring the garden’s plantings to life, the library turned to the Mooresville Garden Club, a civic group founded in 1948. Barb Besecker is the group’s current president.
“The Mooresville Garden Club began in 1948, so we have a really, really long history of doing philanthropic activities in and around Mooresville,” Besecker says. “A lot of tree planting, a lot of bulbs were planted in our history.”
Visitors wandering within the garden will feel the velvety leaves of lamb’s ear, smell the rich aroma of lavender and rosemary, and catch sight of Carolina jasmine woven through the plant beds. Every part of the garden was chosen with intention.
“Its intention is to provide opportunities to learn about things that one may not see or hear every day,” Besecker says. “The touch, the feeling — the feeling of being in a garden is very calm, (and) the smell of the garden, there are smells that you don’t get in non-nature areas.”
The design invites curiosity, but the space itself remains somewhat hidden — tucked down a level from the main entrance, giving it a peaceful, almost secret courtyard feel, and an intimate learning environment.
“There are a lot of children in America that don’t have access to a lot of things,” Besecker says. “I believe that learning about nature and plants is really critical to learn how things feel, how they make noises, the touch of a plant.”
Besecker often finds families and children exploring the garden and invites them to help her maintain it. She brings child-sized garden gloves and tools when she comes to do monthly maintenance, inviting kids to dig alongside the club members.
“I always take a small little gardening bag, and I have little kid gardening gloves and a little kid trowel and digger, and I walk up to them and I say, ‘Would you like to work with the garden club? Here’s a digger. Why don’t you put these gloves on?’ And it’s so sweet.”
by Stella Mackler photographs courtesy Barb Besecker
Members of the Mooresville Garden Club have breathed new life into the public library’s sensory garden.
The Mooresville Public Library sensory garden is at 304 S. Main Street. Learn more about the Mooresville Garden Club by following its activities on Facebook.
A Summer’s End Soliloquy
by Lori Helms
I understand.
To all you parents out there, facing the throes of summer break winding down and the thrill(?) of the new school year winding up, I understand. I’ve been there. It’s going to be okay. Just keep your eye on the prize (a child – to whom you’re still speaking – returned to a welcoming classroom) and you’ll get through this.
After all, remember how optimistically it started ...
You had big plans for the summer, I know you did. I remember how it went. As the mom of a former school-aged child, I vividly remember that last day of the school year, and not only because of how excited I was for my son (as well as every single one of his teachers) for him to walk out of school for the last time until August. For me, it meant the end – for a while – of the weekday power struggle between me and my son. A detente, if you will, between two incredibly strong forces: the will of a mother who wanted nothing more than a little cooperation, and the even stronger will of a child who appeared to want nothing more than to be less than cooperative.
Remember? There were going to be no more alarm clocks, no more questionably nutritious lunches forgotten on the kitchen counter, no more carpooling with 3-4 kids with various hygiene standards, no more homework battles. There would be casual morning routines, days spent relaxing at the neighborhood pool with other moms and their kids and more than a couple of family road trips.
But it wasn’t going to be all fun and games. You also weren’t going to let your student succumb to the dreaded “summer slide” – what educators call that potential loss of learning due to summer break. You were going to have a few hours each day dedicated to some reading
time or maybe to work on a subject your child struggled with during the school year. You were going to make more nutritious lunches, maybe even lean into the ever-elusive family dinner each night.
Yeah, big plans.
And now, about eight weeks later, what do you honestly have to show for it? If your summer went anything like the way it did for most of us mere mortal moms, it resembled nothing close to what you planned. Those casual mornings and nutritional lunches turned into a daily routine of a kid that wanted to eat cereal in front of the television and loved to stand in front of the fridge at lunch, both doors wide open, and announce that “there’s nothing to eat in here!” when he’s staring at shelves chocked full of fruits, snack veggies, and sandwich or wrap ingredients. Can’t fool me. What he really meant to holler was, “I don’t want to prepare anything there is to eat in here!”
Time at the pool was relaxing, until it wasn’t. My son – with the attention span of a gnat – announced it was boring about a week into break and found a new battle of wills to engage in when he also announced that on cloudy days, he wasn’t going to wear sunscreen. That’s one hill I was willing to die on. Mom – 1, Kid – 15.
Well, know that I know — you tried. Now you’re just thankful to get through another contentious trip to find some back-to-school clothes your child will deign to wear (the same pairs of basketball shorts he’ll wear straight through winter – with black socks) and work through a school supply list that appears to have been meant for his entire fifth grade class. It’ll all be okay shortly. Your summer break battle will end, and a new school year skirmish will begin.
You tried. I understand.
You
We
What Your Boat Says About You ;)
12 floating stereotypes of Lake Norman (that might offend you slightly)
by Kenyon Stanley
Lake Norman isn’t just water — it’s a 32,000-acre floating social experiment. And your boat? That’s your résumé, your dating profile and your midlife crisis all rolled into one. We at Details Matter say this with love, sarcasm and firsthand experience. We’ve lived every life this lake offers. We were once jet-ski menaces. Then wakeboard snobs. Now? Most of us proudly pilot pontoons — floating La-Z-Boys with cupholders, Bluetooth speakers and existential crises.
We’ve docked in every cove from Stumpy Creek to that weird corner behind Queen’s Landing where the geese run things now. So yes, we’re mocking everyone — including ourselves.
Also worth noting: not every person on this list arrives with a boat ... but the boat type is still there. Their energy floats ashore before they do. You know the ones.
So, with affection and mild judgment, here are 12 brutally honest Lake Norman boater personality types. If you feel attacked, it’s probably accurate. And if you don’t? Congrats. You might just be the reason the rest of us carry extra dock lines.
WE ALL KNOW ONE OF THESE FOLKS
1. The Pontoon Owner
AKA: President of the Lake Norman Floating Dad Bod Club
You bought the boat for “family time,” but let’s be honest. You just wanted a floating couch where pants are optional.
Power move: Tying up six pontoons deep and not knowing anyone past the second boat.
Secret shame: You’ve Googled “Can mold cause memory loss?” more than once.
2. The Wakeboat Captain
AKA: The Soundtrack to Your Sunday Hangover
You financed a small yacht to tow teenagers who no longer speak to you. Your boat is louder than your parenting.
Power move: Tapping the throttle like it owes you money.
Secret shame: You talk about ballast settings like they’re love languages. They’re not.
3. The Jet Ski Owner (or Borrower)
AKA: The Chaos Goblin
You wear a life vest that smells like gas station sushi and treat the lake like a video game.
Power move: Making a wake, then jumping it yourself like a caffeinated dolphin.
Secret shame: It’s your brother’s Sea-Doo. The tags expired in 2021.
4. The Yacht Owner
AKA: The LKN Overcompensator
You could’ve bought a lake house. Instead, you brought a cruise ship to a cove party.
Power move: Parking your dinghy inside your jet ski garage.
Secret shame: You don’t know how to drive it. You just stand at the wheel and vibe.
5. The Rental Warrior
AKA: Captain of Temporary Insanity You’re here for one weekend but determined to create a lifetime of lake trauma.
Power move: Leaving Safe Harbor with the bumpers still down, Spotify on shuffle and no one at the wheel.
Secret shame: You tipped the dock guy with a Wetzel’s Pretzel coupon.
6. The Boat Club Member
AKA: Time-Share Tugboat Commander
You don’t own the boat, but your Instagram doesn’t need to know that.
Power move: Blasting yacht rock at 9:01 a.m. like you’ve had that slip since ’05.
Secret shame: You’ve called the dockmaster for help. Twice. Today.
7. The Non-Waver
AKA: Preston of The Peninsula
This is Lake Norman. We wave. But you? You cruise by like waving voids your mortgage.
Power move: Holding a bourbon tumbler while ignoring a child’s double-arm wave.
Secret shame: You almost waved once — and still haven’t forgiven yourself.
8. The Center Console Fisherman
AKA: Captain Grumpy
You hate noise. You hate waves. You hate us. But mostly, you fish.
Power move: Launching before sunrise and shaming anyone who didn’t.
Secret shame: You haven’t caught a fish since Obama was in office.
9. The Deck Boat Owner
AKA: The Indecision Specialist
You couldn’t choose between a pontoon and a wake boat. So, you got this.
Power move: Explaining — again — why you didn’t get a pontoon.
Secret shame: You miss your SeaRay every day.
10. The Kayaker or Paddleboarder
AKA: The Organic Obstacle
You drift with intention … directly into the boat channel.
Power move: Blocking traffic mid-crossing like you’re saving the turtles.
Secret shame: You had to Uber back after drifting from The Point to Denver.
11. The Craigslist Special Owner
AKA: The Float-and-Pray Enthusiast
You paid $1,200 and called it “vintage.” Everyone else calls it “a liability.”
Power move: Lighting a cigarette while fueling up.
Secret shame: The boat’s titled to your cousin. Who disappeared in 2014.
12. The Tied-Up Flirt
AKA: The LKN Cove Clinger
You don’t drive. You don’t dock. You just vibe … aggressively. Power move: Offering shots from a bottle you didn’t bring.
Secret shame: You haven’t seen your anchor since Memorial Day 2022.
Lake Norman is big enough for all of us — just barely. Whether you’re zipping from Denver to Davidson like a caffeinated squirrel or floating near the sandbar with a soggy Publix sub and a half-charged JBL, your boat says something. Sometimes it whispers. Sometimes it screams.
And sometimes it smells like a bachelor party wrapped in wet towels and sealed in a dock box since last July.
If you didn’t recognize yourself in at least one of these types … well, that’s impressive. Or delusional.
Well, folks ... that’s a wrap! Another nomination and voting process to recognize our favorite Lake Norman-area businesses is in the books, and we can’t wait for you to see the results. All of us here at Lake Norman CURRENTS extend a heartfelt thanks to our readers, without whom this contest would not be possible. We asked you to turn out the vote for your favorites, and you truly made your voices heard. Can’t wait to do it all again next year!
Best Cosmetic/Aesthetic Services
Carolina Age Management Institute www.carolinaagemanagement.com
Best Massage Therapy
Serenity Now Massage Therapy www.serenitynowmassageandwellness.com
Best Gift Shop
The Village Store www.facebook.com/thevillagestore
Best Home Décor
Knotty and Board Interiors www.knottyandboard.com
Best Women’s Boutique
Nina’s Boutique @ninasboutiquelkn on Instagram
Best Men’s Clothier
The Back Room www.thebackroommensclothier.com
Best Place to Work Out
Lake Norman Family Branch YMCA www.ymcacharlotte.org
Best Public Golf Course
Mooresville Golf Club www.mooresvillegolfclub.com
Best Landscaping Company
Lake Norman Lawn Services www.lakenormanlawnservices.com
Best Attorney/Legal Services
The McIntosh Law Firm www.mcintoshlawfirm.com
Expanding ‘The Mission’
Mooresville nonprofit extends its reach and programs
by Stella Mackler
Photographs courtesy The Christian Mission
New doors and new chapters are opening for The Christian Mission at 919 North Main Street in downtown Mooresville. The crisis assistance and community betterment organization has officially moved into a larger facility — and with it, a wider vision for walking people from crisis to stability.
“We just opened on May 1 in our new facility,” says Amy Freeze, the director of development for the organization. “Our other facility was very small, very old and it was limited in the services that we were able to offer.”
Now, the mission not only has more room, but new partnerships and programs to match. Two other agencies — the Iredell County Partnership for Young Children and NCWorks — are housed in the same building, allowing for more holistic support under one roof.
“We really have like a one-stop shop for babies to seniors,” Freeze says.
The organization’s programs are divided into three “buckets”: crisis assistance, stabilization and individual betterment. Crisis assistance covers essentials such as food, rent and utility support.
“Last year, we prevented 810 individuals from becoming homeless, and we prevented 820 utility shut-offs,” Freeze says. “That was double the number from the year before.”
The food pantry, organized like a grocery store, distributed $1.5 million worth of food last year.
“Clients come in and they can choose what they like,” Freeze says. “It offers people a lot more dignity, just like you and I would go and shop.”
There’s also a store where clients use points to choose clothing and household items.
“A piece of clothing might be one point, a lamp might be five points,” she says. “They just manage their points amount.”
Stabilization — the second bucket — provides case management
for families in need, assisting with goal-setting, transportation and navigating additional aid.
“We also have a Senior Companions program,” Freeze says. “We pack food boxes three times a month for our seniors that can’t get here to the pantry, and we deliver those to those seniors.” That delivery also serves as a wellness check.
“If they [deliverers] see that something needs to be repaired or maintained, they kind of come back and let us know,” Freeze says.
Individual betterment — the third bucket — focuses on life skills. A 10-week course covers everything from budgeting and financial literacy to car maintenance, all thanks to a local partnership with Christian Brothers Automotive.
“They also talk about mental health. They talk about conflict resolution,” Freeze says. “Last year was the first year that they started and they had 53 participants.”
The new building has allowed the mission to expand its computer lab, host more classes and work closely with partners like NCWorks to help clients apply for jobs and learn basic tech skills.
Freeze, who joined the organization just three months ago, was drawn in by its mission.
“We talk a lot about crisis to stability,” she said. “It’s not just a BandAid. They really walk through that process of getting to stability… so it’s more transformative.”
In an area where resources can be scarce and the need continues to grow, The Christian Mission serves as a vital hub.
“There aren’t other resources here doing this kind of work,” Freeze says. “If we weren’t here, these folks would have nowhere to go.”
Volunteers are the engine that keeps the services of The Christian Mission moving forward - and expanding.
Making the
“The kitchen went from a closed concept to an open concept ... “
Designer Michelle McKoy successfully translated what was once a traditionally styled kitchen into a vision of transitional, more modern design.
‘Transition’
Davidson kitchen remodel departs from traditional design
by Lori Helms
photography courtesy Serena Apostal
The words “traditional” and “transitional” aren’t separated by all that much in the dictionary, relatively speaking. But in the world of design, they might as well be in completely separate languages. I suppose that makes Michelle McKoy of Michelle McKoy Designs quite the linguist, as she skillfully translated a traditionally designed kitchen for a Davidson homeowner into a vision of transitional — minimalistic design with a modern feel — perfection.
“The outcome was exactly what she was looking for,” McKoy says of her client’s plan for her revamped and expanded kitchen. “The kitchen went from a closed concept to an open concept ... it wasn’t the perfect renovation as far as process, but it turned out beautifully.”
That comment about the process is a bit of an understatement, to say the least. Coupled with a very serious health challenge her client faced mid-demolition was the discovery of the accumulation of water under the home that had to be remediated before any work could continue. McKoy says the project that should have taken just three months turned into a six-month slog, finally finishing in late fall 2024. She believes it was absolutely worth it, however, as she says her client “is over the moon” with the results.
McKoy says her client’s goal was to really open up the space and to use more muted colors that would provide her with a timeless, creamy white kitchen. To achieve the look, McKoy used a combination of tumbled subway ceramic tile and marble for wall and backsplash areas, as well as Taj Mahal stone on the countertops to maximize the creams and browns each of those materials display.
Unique to the countertops is its “leathered” finish – achieved by removing the traditional layer of polish to the point that you can feel the texture of the stone, but without compromising how the stone will wear over time.
“If there is a vein going through the stone, you can actually feel it,” McKoy says. “It’s one of my favorite ways to use countertops.” She’s also quite fond of the driftwood light fixture she found for the kitchen table – “I told her if I had had a place for it in my house, she never would have seen it.”
For all the emphasis on natural, muted tones, her client was emphatic about wanting to use some form of polished nickel (rather than the more popular trend toward brass or gold-toned accents) for the kitchen hardware. McKoy found just the right transitional touches of “bling” — the drawer pulls have delicate but ornate details, but the kitchen’s Waterstone faucet is the showcase piece. She says this kitchen also is one of her recent projects that is bucking another trend – pendant lights.
“I’ve done three kitchens in a row now without pendant lights over the island,” she says. “People are looking for that cleaner look.” McKoy says if your kitchen ceilings are quite high, then pendant lights do make sense. But since this home had a nine-foot ceiling, she says LED trim lights – sitting virtually flush with the ceiling – were the better, more visually appealing choice.
McKoy says she leaned on a handful of trusted vendors and contractors to complete the remodel. Those include A Cut Above Stone Works in Mooresville for the countertops, cabinets from DCI Home Resource in Charlotte, and plumbing and high-end appliances from Ferguson Home in Mooresville.
Above, designer Michelle McKoy is particularly fond of the driftwood light fixture. Below, McKoy also brought updates to the family’s drop zone near the kitchen and a nook with a wine cooler, as well as using polished nickel kitchen hardware such as this Waterstone faucet.
FABULOUS OPPORTUNITY DOWNTOWN CORNELIUS ON SOUTH MAIN STREET
Only steps away from The Cain Arts Center and the sought after neighborhood of Antiquity. Amazing visibility in this vibrant Lake Norman location. 30 mins from Charlotte/Douglas International Airport. 25 miles to Uptown Charlotte to enjoy sporting events, restaurants, concerts and so much more. Property was a bakery/lunch spot and has kitchen facilities. Property goes through to Oak street in the rear.
Debbie Monroe Broker/Realtor®, Lake Norman Realty
“Because Experience Counts”
Serving Lake Norman for nearly 38 Years. 704-533-0444 | debbiem@lakenormanrealty.com
Limitless
For the area’s 55+ adults who place no limits on living their best lives!
Ann Nivens is Ms. North Carolina Senior America 2025.
Sassy
Senior
One day, Mooresville resident Ann Nivens was approached at the beach by a stranger. The woman was complimentary and suggested Nivens compete in the Ms. North Carolina Senior America pageant. Nivens had never heard of the senior pageant, but decided to look into it. She applied, was accepted to the competition and went on to be named the first runner up in 2024.
She enjoyed the experience and received a great deal of positive feedback, which led her to compete again this year. Contestants were judged in several categories, including interview, philosophy of life, evening gown and talent/creativity.
“I knew what to expect this time,” says Nivens. One aspect of the pageant she relished was getting to know the other women. “All the ladies were wonderful and everyone was supportive. We developed a friendship and a sisterhood.”
This time, she won — and in May, she was crowned Ms. North Carolina Senior America 2025. Nivens will next go on to compete in the Ms. Senior America Pageant, which will be held this October in Atlantic City. Becoming Ms. Senior North Carolina is the latest achievement in Nivens’ interesting and accomplished life.
She was an educator for many years, starting as a teacher and eventually becoming a principal. After retiring in 2010, she went on to serve as interim principal for 21 Charlotte area schools for 10 years.
Although she no longer works in education, Nivens continues her efforts to better the lives of children — now in the capacity of a guard-
ian ad litum. As such, she represents the best interest of children who are involved in legal proceedings. She’s there to advocate for the best interest of the child and to be their voice in court. For Nivens, it’s a natural extension of the caring she had during her educational career.
“When I worked in schools, my heart always went out to the kids in difficult situations, especially those who were neglected or abused,” she says.
She also serves the community in her latest endeavor, as the new President of the Mooresville/Lake Norman Rotary Club. As a member of the club, she enjoyed attending their events. So when she was approached about becoming president, she decided it was something she would pursue. As president, she’s excited about their upcoming community service projects, and confident they’ll have a very impactful year.
As if that’s not enough, Nivens is also a talented musician and singer. She’s been playing the drums since fifth grade, was an all-state drummer, and starting playing in rock bands in her teens. She displayed her musical skills during the talent portion of the pageant. No doubt, it contributed to her success. Nivens currently performs as a singer and drummer at local venues. She also plays for charities at no charge, as well as donates all her tips to children’s charities.
by Allison Futterman photographs courtesy Ann Nivens
Mooresville woman named Ms. North Carolina Senior America
Ann Nivens displayed both beauty and talent (she’s a genius on the drums) at this year’s pageant.
or Getting Old? Getting Older
A Coffee Conversation
by Mickey Dunaway
With the hardware in my body, sometimes I feel like Steve Austin. You remember him — The Six Million Dollar Man? On days like today when the rain is pouring in buckets off my aluminum patio cover, the hardware in my knees and back remind me in no uncertain terms that I am getting older. And it causes me to ponder the question: Am I getting older or getting old?
I have concluded that getting older is a function of the number of days we have inhabited this planet. Getting old is a frame of mind. Let me give you an example.
When Clint Eastwood was asked in 2024 about his secret to continued success regardless of his age, he said: “My secret has been the same since 1959: staying busy. I never let the old man into the house. I’ve had to drag him out because he was already comfortably settled, bothering me all the time, leaving no space for anything other than nostalgia.”
As a professor, I started out with classes full of students. As the classes passed, sometimes — if a student desired it — we became colleagues seeking the same goals for students in their schools. And often, again if they desired it, I became a mentor to whom they could go. They knew I had been where they desired to be as a school leader. Most often, we would meet for coffee to discuss an issue they had back in
their home school. Funny how conversations in coffee shops seem to free us up to talk.
Such was the case last weekend when I met for coffee with a former UNCC Master’s student from 2007 or thereabouts. We met at a coffeehouse midway between our homes, and we talked and talked and talked for hours over our large Café Americanos. We talked about our families, past classes together, our futures and the issues we faced — me about retirement, and she about a situation she was having at a school.
After we talked out our concerns and interests, we hugged goodbye (we do that in the South) and promised to have coffee again soon.
As I drove the 10 minutes back home, I realized I still had all the lessons I had learned as a school principal 30 years ago and as a professor teaching and sharing those lessons to excited UNCC graduate students who aspired to take on the toughest job in public education. I was the same age when I left home, but I was, for these hours, my former self — principal, professor and mentor.
And as I pulled into my driveway, I said a “Thank You” to the Almighty for keeping me younger than my age and reminding me to not stop now!
How the Big Beautiful Bill (BBB) Impacts Your Estate Plan
For more than 99% of Americans, the Big Beautiful Bill (BBB) has little to no effect on their estate plans. The federal estate and gift tax exemption, which is the total amount a person can transfer during their lifetime and at their death without incurring federal tax, was already set at $13.99 million per individual this year under Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This Act was scheduled to expire at the end of the year, which would have reduced the exclusion amount back to the original $5 million limit (adjusted for inflation to about $7.5 million). However, the BBB now makes the exemption amount “permanent” at $15 million, adjusted annually for inflation. For married couples, this amount is simply doubled.
A quick Google search reveals that less than one quarter of one percent of all American households have a net worth of $30 million or more. For these individuals and families, vigilant tax planning remains crucial, and there are many strategies available to minimize the impact of potential gift and estate taxation.
In North Carolina, state estate tax concerns are not an issue, as the state repealed its inheritance tax more than
10 years ago. For the rest of us, while we may not need to worry about gift and estate tax issues, the importance of having a thorough and thoughtful estate plan in place for everyone over 18 in your family remains unchanged. If you choose not to set up an estate plan, the state has a plan for you, which involves court intervention, facilitation and costs. These plans often require urgent legal services, increased time and emotional strain during times of illness or death, which are already stressful for families.
We encourage you to contact an experienced estate planning attorney today to create or update your estate plan and avoid unnecessary complications and costs.
Leah B. Trowbridge is an Estate Planning Attorney with The McIntosh Law Firm, P.C. Contact her at 704.892.1699 or at www. mcintoshlawfirm.com/ attorneys/leah-b-trowbridge/.
Audiology
Living Well
Your local resource for health and wellness services near you
PHC – Lake Norman Ears, Nose & Throat
Megan Mathis-Webb, AuD
Susie Riggs, AuD
Caroline Millsaps, AuD
140 Gateway Blvd. Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-664-9638
Cardiology
PHC – Heart & Vascular
Jips Zachariah, MD
Naveed Rajper, MD 359 Williamson Road Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-235-1829
Dermatology
PHC – Mooresville Dermatology
Center
Naomi Simon, MD
Kristin Prochaska, PA-C
Gina Noble, PA-C
Julia Parsons, PA-C
Susan Stevens, RN, BSN 128 Medical Park Road, Suite 201 Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-235-1827
PHC- Lake Norman Dermatology
Joel Sugarman, MD FAAD
Allison Hanley, PA-C
Melissa Moser, PA-C
Betsy Benton, PA-C
140 Leaning Oak Drive, Suite 101 Mooresville, NC 28117
704-658-9730
PHC – Wolfe Dermatology
Steven F. Wolfe, MD
Molly Small, PA-C 114 Gateway Blvd., Unit D Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-663-2085
Riva Dermatology
“Imagine your skin at its Best!”
General Dermatology for the Family, Botox, Fillers, Laser/IPL & more
Kerry Shafran, MD, FAAD
Lindsay Jayson, MPAS, PA-C
Erin Dice, MPAS, PA-C
Ashley Noone, MPAP, PA-C
Nikki Leahy, MSBS, PA-C
Mari Klos, CMA, LME 704-896-8837
Cornelius, Mooresville, Denver www.Rivaderm.com
Ears, Nose and Throat
PHC – Lake Norman Ears, Nose, & Throat
Keith Meetze, MD
Thomas Warren, MD
Herb Wettreich, MD
Fred New, Jr., ANP 140 Gateway Blvd. Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-664-9638
Endocrinology
PHC- Endocrinology
Elaine Sunderlin, MD
Emylee Brown, PA-C
170 Medical Park Road, Floor 3 Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-664-9506
Family Medicine
PHC – Nabors Family Medicine
Emily Nabors, MD 142 Professional Park Drive Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-696-2083
PHC – Lake Norman Family Medicine
Timothy A. Barker, MD
Bruce L. Seaton, DO
Amanda H. Bailey, DO
Kyle Babinski, DO
Bilal Khan, DO
Sherard Spangler, PA
357 Williamson Road
Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-664-7328
PHC – Sailview Family Medicine
Tiana Losinski, MD
Alexander Watson, DNP
206 Joe V. Knox Ave. Suite J Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-360-4801
PHC – Fairview Family Medicine
Golnar Lashgari, MD
Erica Vollano, FNP-BC
146 Medical Park Road, Suite 210 Mooresville, NC 28117 •704-235-0300
PHC - Troutman Family Medicine
Amrish C. Patel, MD
Janeal Bowers, FNP
Kimberly Whiton, FNP
Jeanne Pierce, PA-C
154 S Main Troutman, NC 28166 • 704-528-9903
Gastroenterology
PHC – Gastroenterology
Brandon Marion, MD
Aerielle Sibert, PA-C
359 Williamson Road
Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-878-2021
PHC –Comprehensive Digestive
Care Center
Vivek Trivedi, MD
Venu Gangireddy, MD
Tiedre Palmer, FNP-C
359 Williamson Road Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-878-2021
PHC- Gastroenterology
Laila Menon, MD
Gabrielle Miller, PA-C
170 Medical Park Road, Floor 3 Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-664-9506
Internal Medicine
PHC – Fox Internal Medicine
Jessica Fox, DO
Stephanie Michel, PA-C
435 East Statesville Avenue
Mooresville, NC 28115 • 704-663-5056
PHC – Internal Medicine & Weight Management
Manish G. Patel, MD
Julie Abney, PA
Andrea Brock, PA-C
128 Medical Park Road, Suite 101 Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-658-1001
PHC – Lake Norman Internal Medicine
John C. Gatlin, MD
Swathi Talla, MD
548 Williamson Road, Suite 6 Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-660-5520
Mental Health Services
PHC-Mastor Mental Health
Jason E. Mastor, MD
Kristin C. Brown, PA-C
Megan I. Flott, PA-C
Diana J. Remenar, PA-C
206 Joe V. Knox Ave. Suite F Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-662-6500
Neurology
PHC – Neurology & Sleep Medicine
Dharmen S. Shah, MD
359 Williamson Road Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-873-1100
PHC – Lake Norman Neurology
Andrew J. Braunstein, DO
Ryan Conrad, MD
Craig D. DuBois, MD
Roderick Elias, MD
124 Professional Park Dr, Ste A Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-662-3077
PHC – Lake Norman Neurology
Andrew J. Braunstein, DO
Ryan Conrad, MD
Craig D. DuBois, MD
Roderick Elias, MD
9735 Kincey Avenue, Ste 203 Huntersville, NC 28078 • 704-766-9050
Obstetrics/Gynecology
PHC – Lake Norman OB/GYN
James Al-Hussaini, MD
Laura Arigo, MD
Grant Miller, MD
James Wilson, MD
Nicole S. Wellbaum, MD
NailaRashida Frye, MD
Krisandra Edwards, FNP-C
Alyssa Clay, DNP, FNP-C
131 Medical Park Road, Suite 102 Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-663-1282
Oncology
Southern Oncology Specialists
William Mitchell, MD
Poras Patel, MD
46 Medical Park Rd, Suite 212 Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-659-7850
Orthopaedic Surgery
PHC – Piedmont Bone & Joint
Brett L. Feldman, MD
Alex Seldomridge III, MD
Travis Eason, MD
Julie Glener, MD
Kim Lefreniere, PA-C
359 Williamson Road
Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-235-1829
Orthopedic Surgery – Spine
PHC – Piedmont Bone & Joint
Alex Seldomridge, III, MD
359 Williamson Road
Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-235-1838
Pain Managment
PHC – Pain & Spine Center
Harsh Govil, MD, MPH
Nathan Barkley, FNP-C
Samuel Sackenheim, NP-C
April Hatfield, FNP-C
Gracie Kern, PA-C
359 Williamson Road Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-235-1829
Physical Medicine & Rehab
PHC - Spine & Sports Medicine
John Lesher, MD, MPH
170 Medical Park Road, Suite 302 Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-664-9506
PULMONOLOGY
PHC –Pulmonology
Enrique Ordaz MD
Jose Perez MD
Ahmed Elnaggar, MD
Vishal Patel, MD
170 Medical Park Road, Suite 201, Mooresville NC 28117 • 704-838-8240
Rheumatology
PHC – Rheumatology
Sean M. Fahey, MD
Dijana Christianson, DO
Janice Clayton, FNP-C
128 Medical Park Road, Suite 101 Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-658-1001
Citrusy Bliss
By Kathy Dicken Photograph courtesy Kathy Dicken
Lemon Gooey Butter Cake
On a hot Carolina summer day, lemonade is the ultimate thirst quencher. But when you crave a sweet, refreshing treat, nothing beats Lemon Gooey Butter Cake. This delightful dessert is part lemon cheesecake, part lemon pound cake and 100% pure citrusy bliss.
Decadently delicious and perfectly balanced between sweet and tangy, this Lemon Gooey Butter Cake is a true delight and couldn’t be easier to make. Just grab a store-bought lemon cake mix for the base, top it with a gooey, tangy cream cheese layer and pop it into the oven. That’s it!
If you’ve had other gooey butter cakes, you know they can be super sweet. But here, the lemon zest and lemon extract perfectly balance that sweetness, delivering a delightfully tart zing. Finish it off with a sprinkle of powdered sugar and your favorite summer berries for a perfect sweet and tangy warmweather dessert.
Servings: 12
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
Cake Layer
1 lemon cake mix (15.25 oz.)
1 egg
8 Tbsp. butter (1 stick), melted
½ tsp. lemon extract
½ tsp. lemon zest
Cream Cheese Layer
1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese at room temp.
2 eggs
1 tsp. lemon extract
1 tsp. lemon zest
8 Tbsp. butter (1 stick), melted
2 cups confectioners’ sugar, and more for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray. Mix all cake layer ingredients in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until well blended. Pat into the bottom of a prepared baking pan.
Rinse bowl and add all cream cheese layer ingredients except sugar. Mix with an electric hand mixer until well blended. Add sugar and mix again until just combined. Pour over the cake layer in the pan and spread evenly. Bake at 350 degrees for 4045 minutes or until top is golden brown.
Cool completely before cutting into squares and garnishing with confectioners’ sugar and fresh berries.
Note: Salted or unsalted butter may be used.
Kathy Dicken lives in Huntersville and is the author of The Tasty Bits food blog. For more meal ideas that are simple and delicious, you can follow her blog at www.thetastybits.com or on Instagram @thetastybits.
PALOMA Small Bites & Craft Cocktails
Where Miami and the Mediterranean meet Mooresville
by Lori Helms photographs courtesy Valentino Paniz
You know you’ve struck true cocktail and culinary gold when you come across a place where the menu items taste just as wonderful as they look. That’s exactly what you’ll find should you wander into Paloma in Mooresville – a small plates and craft cocktail destination with a decidedly laid-back vibe.
“We wanted to do something different, something that didn’t exist in Mooresville,” says owner Valentino Paniz. He’s part of a group that already has Mexican and Cuban dining establishments in the Lake Norman area – Burrito Loco and Havana 33 in Mooresville, Juan Loco in Cornelius and a Latin fusion cuisine spot called Verde in Huntersville.
“We knew we didn’t want to do another Mexican concept,” Paniz says, since he believes Mooresville is basically saturated with those options. “We wanted something with a very different atmosphere.”
Stepping inside Paloma, it’s immediately apparent that “different” has been achieved. Paniz says they were going for a mix of a Mediterranean and Miami feel, which he’s pulled off by decorating in very light and airy colors – a combination of shades from a white, peach and green color palette. And while the comfortable, relaxing décor might be what first pulls you in, the small plates and cocktail menu will be what makes you stay for a spell.
“People really do love coming in for sharables,” says Paniz. Those include such dishes as saffron meatballs, Korean pork belly bao buns
or the visually stunning smoked salmon deviled eggs (the chef soaks the eggs in beet juice to achieve their beautiful fuchsia color). But there is more to the menu than just sharables. You’ll also find flatbreads and sandwiches, as well as some entrée options that include a grilled hanger steak served with Paloma fries, arugula, malt aioli and a truffle demi-glace, or smoked Gouda grits with andouille sausage, wild mushrooms, English peas, Creole cream sauce and a piquillo pepper piperade.
And the craft cocktails are almost too beautiful to consume – but the flavors will demand that you do. Whether it’s the Golden Apricot (made with Aged Rum Brugal 1888, apricot puree, pineapple juice, lime juice and simple syrup) or the Lavender Delight (a concoction of infused gin, Luxardo maraschino liquor, lavender syrup, lemon juice and orange bitters), each drink’s visual appeal is as equally powerful as its flavor.
Grab some friends for sharables at Paloma, 279 Williamson Road, Suite G in Mooresville, open daily at 4 p.m., and serving brunch/lunch Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Learn more at www.palomacocktails.com or call 980.479.1756.
Above, the Golden Apricot cocktail; left, the brunch menu’s Acai Bowl; below, the Heirloom Tomato & Burrata starter plate.
Paloma’s Lavender Delight cocktail.
Italy’s Wine Soul – Tuscany
And the grape at its roots
by Trevor Burton
courtesy Trevor Burton
It’s impossible to discuss the wines of Tuscany without discussing the contribution of one grape, Sangiovese. Equally impossible is to evade Italy’s two top wine rankings: DOC and DOCG.
Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) specifies the production area and methods for each wine, with DOCG wines having an additional “garantita,” or guarantee, by the Italian government. They are of especially high quality. Each DOCG-labeled wine must pass a wine quality tasting panel, while DOC wines must merely be grown and made in accordance with the rules of a particular region.
Take Chianti (DOC) for example, Tuscany’s most famous wine. It’s made predominantly from the Sangiovese grape, and is a wine high in tannins which shrieks for a food pairing. Fortunately, we’re in Italy and I’m going to go to my go-to dish at an Italian restaurant, pasta with Bolognese sauce. I’ve never been disappointed.
Then there is a higher classification, DOCG wine. Chianti Classico is made from still more Sangiovese ... always Sangiovese. This wine is notable because it has an insignia of a “Black Rooster” on the bottle’s neck. In Italian, that’s “Gallo Nero.” There’s a story around the Gallo Nero but that’s for another time.
Then there are the sub-regions of Tuscany, in which Sangiovese still stars. One of the sub-regions is centered in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montepulciano. The wine, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, is made primarily from a clone of the Sangiovese grape — known locally as Prugnolo Gentile. The wine is a DOCG. And, therein, lies a tale.
I was in the Tuscan town of Lucca, looking for a local (non-touristy) restaurant to have lunch. I found one, a couple of blocks off the main drag. I sat down and ordered some local dish and a half bottle of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. As time went on, one thing led to another — including a second half bottle of wine for my lunch partner and me. I figured that the bus I arrived on would wait for me, as it had done for other passengers at other stops. Lunch finished, I hurried back to the bus, only to see it departing. I was stranded in Lucca!
What saved me was an English-speaking attendant at the window of the local bus terminal. I took a local bus to the town of Pisa — yes,
I saw the leaning tower — then changed buses and took another bus to Livorno and the safety and comfort of my cruise ship. In retrospect, the local transport that I took was the high point of my day. It was a day of mixing and conversation with real Tuscan people.
As an aside, never confuse the town of Montepulciano with the grape of the same name. Many less than honorable restaurants have wine such as an overpriced Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, with the hope that clients will confuse one with the other and will order a bottle of wine. Be aware.
Then there is a wine that some people claim as Italy’s best wine, Brunello Di Montalcino. Yes, Sangiovese, one more time. Brunello is made with a specific clone of Sangiovese known as Sangiovese Grosso. Located in the south of Tuscany, Montalcino is warmer with lower average annual rainfall than the rest of the region, which gives the area’s Sangiovese grapes longer to ripen, resulting in wines that are rich, tannic and more full-bodied.
Brunello Di Montalcino is, of course, a DOCG classified wine. Brunello di Montalcino wines must age at least two years to receive Brunello di Montalcino DOCG status. They are typically aged at least five to six years. After aging, the tannins become softer, which is why the best Brunellos are aged at least 10 years. Try a bottle.
So, there you have it. Almost all Tuscany’s wines are made from the Sangiovese grape. Sangiovese really is the soul of the Tuscany region. Enjoy some Sangiovese wines.
That half-bottle of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
photograph
MICHAEL B. JORDAN PHOTOGRAPHED IN NEW YORK CITY
CHEVRON COLLECTION