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Mooresville, Denver, Lincolnton, Statesville, Maiden, Shelby, Mount Holly, Hickory, Winston Salem, West Jefferson, Wilkesboro, Yadkinville, Pilot Mountain, and Mount Airy
If it’s August, it’s time to share what you, dear readers, have selected as the annual Best of Lake Norman CURRENTS award winners. It’s a “who’s who” of the region’s most remarkable restaurants, dazzling designers, pet pamperers, master massage therapists and glamorous gift shops.
Lake Norman has so much to offer, and it just keeps getting better year after year – which makes it that much more difficult when August rolls around and there can be only one winner in each category. It’s tempting to want to add categories as our towns continue to grow and thrive, but it’s important to keep this list as exclusive as it’s come to be known and not dilute it with what would be some interesting – but far from popular – categories. For instance, here are some of the ideas we’ve kicked around but ultimately rejected, mostly out of fear that we wouldn’t receive a single nomination (for obvious reasons):
• Best Stretch of I-77
• Best Major Intersection
• Best Quiet Cove (who on earth would want to dime out their secret place to park and swing off an anchor?)
• Best Road Construction Project
• Best Homeowners Association
• Best Carpool Line
• Best Town Board of Commissioners Meeting (Editor’s Note: as a former municipal government wonk, I would vote for Huntersville’s as the one Most Likely for a Food Fight to Break Out; Davidson’s as the one Most Likely for an Impromptu Group Hug; and Mooresville’s as the one for Best Odds for Yet Another Massive Development Project)
Yep, our towns certainly have it all ... the great and the not-so-grand. But we did stumble across something that everyone needs to know and would likely agree upon: a one-time category called Best Use of Personalized Stationery. Trevor Burton, our brilliant wine connoisseur and commentator, received a heartfelt, handwritten note from a reader to thank him for a recent article. She wrote:
I always enjoy reading your columns in CURRENTS and have saved a few since moving here in 2015. One of these was an article about Le Train Bleu. Recently, my husband and I were in Paris (on a Paris — Normandy cruise) and we went to Le Train Bleu. Since we had meals on the ship, we only had cocktails, but we had a wonderful time. The place is beyond beautiful! We told several people on the cruise who were extending in Paris following the cruise and hopefully some of them will go there. The waiter was amazed that “his restaurant” was written up in a magazine in the U.S. Thanks for the review. A votre santé – Dottie Kosicki
Not only was it kind of her to reach out personally to Mr. Burton, but we stand amazed that the art of a handwritten note (in cursive, nonetheless) has not completely disappeared and thank her for taking the few minutes it took out of her day to send her thoughts this way.
Come to think of it, maybe there is one category we should add, because the voting would be easy to tabulate. It’s unanimous, Lake Norman CURRENTS has the Best Readership Imaginable.
— LH
Co-Editor
Lori Helms Lori@LNCurrents.com
MacAdam Smith Mac@LNCurrents.com
Advertising Director
Sharon Simpson Sharon@LNCurrents.com
Co-Editor
Tony Ricciardelli Tony@LNCurrents.com
Advertising Sales Executives
Carole Lambert Carole@LNCurrents.com
Beth Packard Beth@LNCurrents.com
Trisha Robinson Trisha@LNCurrents.com
Event Coordinator
Publisher Social Media Specialist
Alison Smith Alison@LNCurrents.com
Lauren Platts social@lncurrents.com
Design & Production idesign2, inc
Contributing Writers
Becky Aijala
Trevor Burton
Kathy Dicken
Mickey Dunaway
Bek Mitchell-Kidd
Lara Tumer
Allie Spencer
Contributing Photographers
Jon Beyerle
Lisa Crates
Lake Norman CURRENTS is a monthly publication available through direct-mail home delivery to the most affluent Lake Norman residents. It also is available at area Harris Teeter supermarkets, as well as various Chambers of Commerce, real estate offices and specialty businesses.
The entire contents of this publication are protected under copyright. Unauthorized use of any editorial or advertising content in any form is strictly prohibited. Lake Norman CURRENTS magazine is wholly owned by Oasis Magazines, Inc.
Mission Statement: Lake Norman CURRENTS magazine will embody the character, the voice and the spirit of its readers, its leaders and its advertisers. It will connect the people of Lake Norman through inspiring, entertaining and informative content, photography and design; all of which capture the elements of a well-lived life on and around the community known as Lake Norman.
For the last seven years, Freedom Boat Club has sponsored “Big Day at the Lake” – an annual event that matches Lake Norman boaters with “Bigs & Littles” who participate in the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program. The goal of the event is three-fold: a day of fun on Lake Norman, a chance to recruit program mentors (Bigs) for program participants (Littles) and to raise money for the organization’s mentoring program.
The Big Day event regularly includes 60-75 Lake Norman boat hosts and serves nearly 100 Bigs and Littles for the day. Freedom Boat Club not only financially supports this event with corporate sponsorship dollars, but also encourages its members to participate. Nearly 40% of the event’s “boat hosts” are Freedom Boat Club members.
“This was supposed to be just a summer job,” says Jeff Weir, chuckling as he reflects on the last 10 years. Man, was he wrong.
That’s how long ago Weir agreed to help his father, Perry, establish Freedom Boat Club in Cornelius at the WaterStreet Seaport. His father’s goal was to offer easy access to a variety of watercraft without the burden and responsibility of actually owning the equipment outright. Purchasing a membership with the fledgling business meant none of the headaches of boat ownership – payments, insurance, storage, cleaning and maintenance costs – and all of the fun of a worry-free day on the lake with top-of-the-line equipment.
Five years in, and Freedom Boat Club was not only surviving but thriving ... and multiplying. The Weirs then opened a location on Lake Wylie, after which the club began to quickly expand to other spots throughout 2017 and 2018. Next came a North Harbor Club location in Davidson, then a Westport location on the other side of the lake. Weir says last year was their first year at Skipper’s Landing in the Mooresville/Troutman area off Perth Road, and there is yet another location in the works now.
To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Freedom Boat Club Lake Norman is renewing its commitment to give back even more. They will continue to focus on supporting BBBS and Big Day at the Lake, and will add support of local law enforcement on boating safety initiatives.
All told, across all locations, Weir says they have about 100 boats in their fleet and those boat types run the gamut. Their largest and most popular are the double-decker pontoon boats with a slide.
“We were the first club on the lake to offer those,” Weir says. Also in the fleet are name brand vessels such as Bennington and Harris pontoons, Brunswicks, Sea Rays and Malibu surf boats. And as part of the sizeable Brunswick network of boat clubs, Freedom Boat Club members have reciprocal privileges with about 400 clubs worldwide. Locally, there are about 100 boats for the club’s approximately 1,000 members.
Ten years on, and Weir’s father has finally realized his full-time retirement dreams. Now Weir and his son, Zach (the club’s head of operations), and daughters Brianna, Olivia and Ava, have truly made this a three-generation family effort.
Live Under the Oaks
ft. Queen City Siren, 6-8p
Birkdale Village / Huntersville, NC
Live at 11
ft. The Unknown Artist Band, 5:30p - 9p (Ballantyne’s Backyard)
Trapt performing at Angry Troll Brewing, Elkin NC. Doors 7:30p, Tickets available through Eventbrite https://fb.me/e/150A1NENo
LangTree Live
ft. Justin Mintun and Goodfoot Down, 6:30 - 9p
LangTree Lake Norman / Mooresville, NC
2nd Fri Street Fest
ft. Kids in America, 6p - 10p, Oak Street Mill Cornelius
Live Under the Oaks
ft. Dani Kerr, 6 - 8p
Birkdale Village / Huntersville, NC
2nd Saturday Street Fest
Statesville, ft. Friends Band (opener) & Rockie Lynne (headliner), 2p - 7p, Downtown Statesville
Mid-Summer BBQ Bash
ft. James Tucker (band), 6p - 9p
GhostFace Beer Lab (downtown Mooresville)
LangTree Live
ft. Black Glass, 6:30 - 9p
LangTree Lake Norman / Mooresville, NC
Live Under the Oaks
ft. Friends Band, 6 - 8p
Birkdale Village / Huntersville, NC
Rock The Lot
ft. John Sullivan and Friends 4 - 7p,
GhostFace Beer Lab (Super Sunday Funday)
LangTree Live
ft. Love Tribe, 6:30 - 9p
LangTree Lake Norman / Mooresville, NC
Live Under the Oaks
ft. Classically Rockin, 6 - 8p
Birkdale Village / Huntersville, NC
LangTree Live
ft. Pluto for Planet, 6:30 - 9p
LangTree Lake Norman / Mooresville, NC
Live at 11
ft. N-SPIRE, 5:30p - 9p
Ballantyne’s Backyard
Live Under the Oaks
Birkdale, ft. Grievous Angels, 6 - 8p
Birkdale Village / Huntersville, NC
by
Aijala
Next time you enter the cavernous Main Street Antiques Mall in Mooresville, make a beeline for the far wall, where you’ll discover the Joy House booth, a bright, brand new gift shop stocked with goodies, all made or designed by adults with special needs. There are T-shirts, mugs and bags with uplifting messages, as well as signature candles, hand-crafted treats and original artwork, including paintings by North Carolina artist Blake Henkel.
Cornelius residents Todd Hess, a general contractor, and his wife, Jill Hess, a full-time nurse, are the proud owners of the store – the second venue of its kind – which provides these vendors with the opportunity to become more self-sufficient and feel appreciated for who they are.
“Our purpose is to showcase the beautiful talents of all these beautiful people,” says Jill. “We love what they do.”
The magical story of how Joy House “East” came to be, starts almost three years ago, when Jill saw a snippet on the national news about the Truitt family in Colorado. She learned how, with the help of their community, Joe and Marla Truitt had built a separate home in their own back yard for their exuberant son, Seth, who has Down syndrome, to fulfill his dream of living independently. They called it Joy House, and soon opened a shop by the same name, selling items using Seth’s joyful designs, as well as the work of others, who’d found them through word of mouth.
Back in North Carolina, Jill was touched by the story. Months later,
the magic started to happen. Coincidentally, Todd had bought tickets to a concert in Colorado for their anniversary. At dinner, someone they’d just met recommended a place for brunch the next day, and they made reservations. Arriving early (“That never happens,” Jill says), they strolled around the Estes Park neighborhood, and wandered into a store. That store turned out to be Joy House.
The place felt familiar, and when Jill read the vendors’ bios, she remembered the television news clip she’d seen. Both she and Todd were so impressed, they went back after brunch and bought an item from each vendor. Marla Truitt was so impressed by their enthusiasm that she wrote to thank them, and friendships were forged. “It felt like all the stars aligned,” says Jill.
Their goal eventually is to open more locations, as well as a distribution center, providing jobs and another way for adults with special needs to become more financially independent.
“It really helps the families, too,” says Todd.
For now, their focus is to attract additional local vendors, and you might find Jill at the booth on a Saturday.
“There’s so much negativity in the world, and this feels so good,” she says.
For about the last five years, the Town of Davidson Police Department has participated at a local level in the national Dog Walker Watch program, and just recently held another training event for interested applicants.
The program – part of the National Night Out organization – encourages neighbors “to assist local law enforcement as extra eyes and ears while out walking their dog. The program enhances the partnership between police and community while providing resources for neighbors to be more aware and how to effectively observe and report suspicious activity.”
On any given day at any given hour (and in any kind of weather), law enforcement officials say there are likely dozens of our neighbors walking their dogs. In Davidson, many of these folks are now trained by the police department to look less at their phones while out with their dog and more at their surroundings, watching for any suspicious behavior or activity that can be reported in order to keep their neighborhoods safe.
Anyone can register with Dog Walker Watch – you don’t need to live in Davidson. Learn more at www.natw.org/dog-walker-watch/.
... Mooresville has a “dog in the fight” so to speak when it comes to notoriety for municipal police departments. The Mooresville Police Department was recently recognized for Best Facebook Presence in the nationwide Government Social Media 2023 Golden Post Awards. The award honors outstanding use of social media by government agencies, and in MPD’s case, it recognizes the department’s efforts to effectively engage with the community through a series of public service announcements.
It started back in 2022 when the department noticed an increase in the number of calls about animals left unattended in vehicles. That spawned a series of Facebook public service announcements featuring MPD’s first and only therapy dog, Ella, to help educate the community on this important issue. The “Ella Says” campaign spawned a series of “meet and greet” events with Ella and her handler, Tiffany Rivera, campaign posts and flyers available on the MPD Facebook page, even a coloring contest last year.
Ella currently works with Rivera in MPD Dispatch, “providing a calming presence for telecommunicators, officers and staff.”
Animals are near and dear to the hearts of many of our readers, so here’s an opportunity to support a local nonprofit interested in promoting animal welfare.
Rescue Ranch in Statesville is holding its annual “Boots, Buckles & Bourbon” fundraising dinner later this month, and tickets are now on sale if you want to get in on the fun.
The Preserve at Southern Distilling Company in Statesville will be the place to be Saturday, Aug. 26, from 7 to 10 p.m., for an evening to include dinner presented by Outback Steakhouse as well as drinks, live music, a silent auction, raffles, animal “meet and greet” events and more. Attendees are encouraged to wear their favorite cowboy boots and hats while pitching in to help Rescue Ranch meet its mission of responsible pet ownership.
Rescue Ranch is a nonprofit animal welfare organization founded by Krissie Newman and NASCAR driver Ryan Newman. The 87-acre facility offers school, Scout and camp programs, birthday parties and private tours, which promote humane education through hands-on learning. For tickets to the dinner or to learn more, visit www.rescueranch.com, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
The stork makes the most deliveries in the month of August. If you’re expecting a new little bundle or are an excited grandparent-to-be, find something extra special for that new special someone at Cela Baby in Cornelius.
One stroll through Cela Baby and you’ll see what sets it apart, including clothing and shoes for newborns through toddlers.
“I wanted to have classic, mostly Southern brands that are not necessarily available on the internet or Amazon,” owner Angela Long says. “We offer high-quality fabrics, monogram personalization and a lot of smocking, which is hard to find these days.” They also offer complimentary gift wrapping, a baby gift registry and can ship anywhere. Popular gift items include Kyte Baby sleep sacks, Angel Dear 100% bamboo clothing, Magnetic Me gowns and footies, Little Lovies (animal heads on blanket silkies) and picture frames. Her Jellycat books feature sweet stuffed animals of the stories’ main characters. Cela Baby also has a small corner of baptismal clothing and gifts. Throughout the year, Long hosts various events, such as a silhouette artist creating timeless portraits, a ceramic artisan crafting handprints and footprints on plates and ornaments, and a seasonal appearance by Santa.
She owned a gift shop in Concord before opening Cela Baby in February 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
“We were then shut down on March 23,” Long says. She weathered the shutdown by selling online and offering local delivery or curbside pickup.
The shop’s name – Cela Baby – is an acronym that combines the first names of herself, her husband and two adult daughters. Early in her career, Long was a military contractor for the education division. She was stationed in Germany when the Berlin Wall fell. While there, she also fell in love with a soldier named Lou (now her husband), who brought her to Fort Benning, Georgia. They would live in a few other areas before eventually moving to North Carolina.
Although she is not yet a grandmother, Long is a master gardener who tends to her flowers and plants when she is not at Cela Baby. Also an avid traveler, she heads straight for the baby stores wherever she visits.
“I always drag my husband into them; I did even when we were in London. He is very aware of where all the baby shops are in Charleston.”
When you stop by Cela Baby, be sure to look for the shop’s “boss,” Jac, her precious senior toy poodle.
For more details, visit www.CelaBaby.com.
Seven years ago, we made a decision to move to Cornelius after spending more than 30 years in the Atlanta area. Our motivation was to be closer to our expanding family and to leave the traffic and corporate world behind. To set the stage for our relocation, I need to describe the actual move.
My husband, Jack, was still finishing up his assignment at the U.S. Attorney’s office so the packing and coordination of the move fell on my shoulders. The movers loaded up the last box and I jumped in my car to drive up to Cornelius to be there for their arrival. I made the five-hour trip in a driving rainstorm and was really questioning whether the move was a good idea.
When I arrived in the metro Charlotte area, I made the turn from I-485 to I-77 to be greeted by a huge rainbow over the interstate and sunshine over my new town. It was a sign from above of the wonderful town that we had chosen to move to!
We found exactly what we were hoping for in retirement. We love golf, tennis, hiking, and have made many friends through these activities. We have found a real sense of community with neighbors who are wonderful, helpful and so much fun. Although Covid was a challenge, it gave us a unique opportunity to bond with the folks in our “neighborhood bubble.” We had many “bring your own” driveway get-togethers.
We have been blessed with two grandchildren, Lucas and Hannah, since we moved here. Watching them grow and being a part of their lives is wonderful. We are also very excited about the addition of the Cain Arts Center to Cornelius. It has added another dimension to our community and will provide a great opportunity for performances and education in the arts for our family.
— Sue LessoWhy do you love your community? We would love to hear!
Please email 250 words and a photo to tell us your story! lori@LNCurrents.com
In 2008, I was looking to relocate to the Charlotte area from Ft. Worth, Texas, as part of my career as a flight attendant. I knew what I wanted for this next stage in my life, but wasn’t quite sure where to find it. It was important to me to find a great place with good schools for my two young sons, and I hoped to find somewhere that wasn’t as crowded as Charlotte or the big city I was leaving. I came to find out that Denver absolutely had it all – it checked all the boxes. The schools had wonderful reputations, the still pretty rural setting was just beautiful and the people were very nice and welcoming. While Denver has grown a good bit since I built my home here 15 years ago in a cozy, rather small community with great neighbors, some things haven’t changed. It’s still a fantastic place with a cool small-town vibe and just the right proximity to big city fun in Charlotte. Oh, yeah, and then there’s that lake nearby ...
Beth Garee
Aqua, turquoise, powder, baby, teal, navy, cyan, powder ... the ways to describe different shades of blue are virtually endless.
Almost as endless as the views enjoyed at this beautiful, 5,200-square-foot Lake Norman waterfront home in Mooresville, built by Simonini Custom Homes. It sits on a very private lot in an area off Langtree Road, and from the moment you arrive, it’s basically impossible not to quench your design thirst with an eyeful of blue hues, dictated only by the time of day you get to enjoy them.
“The colors inside the house mimic the lake ... which is this big view of water that you see from the minute you pull into their driveway,” says Wendy Yeakley, owner and lead designer of Homestyles Interior Design. For color inspiration, Yeakley leaned heavily on what was readily at hand –Lake Norman views from essentially every part of the home.
It starts at the entry, with its 10-foot tall, custom iron and glass front doors. Thanks to the home’s layout, the view from there is unobstructed – straight through to the rear of the house and the broad expanse of its lakefront.
“They were designed by the architect to have that wide door opening,” she says, “because the views here are just amazing. From the front step, all you see is water.” Depending on the time of day, the calming mix of blues is met with layers of sunset orange hues. It’s a palette that guided Yeakley through the 18 months of this project, in which she played a role in every aspect of construction elements and selections, right down to the green-blue Kentucky Haze paint on the kitchen island.
“In reality, the colors of blue on the interior are just a continuation of the water colors that you see the minute you walk in this house,” she says. For their new custom home, the
The colors that inspired a lake house’s design
owners hired Yeakley and her firm for her well-known, full-service design skills. They are trained specialists in everything from construction elements such as cabinets and tile down to the last lamp. It’s all done with her client’s input, which Yeakley says focused on building and designing a home that would be their last, and a place for their growing extended family to enjoy for years to come.
“They wanted their interior design to stand the test of time,” she says. “It’s a very family-friendly but well-appointed interior. I would call it high-end design with a casual lake house flair.”
In the primary suite, Yeakley says that high-end design concept included elements such as a focal wall covered in a heavily textured grass cloth layered with metallic accents, as well as custom motorized Roman shades. And then there’s the stunning marble detail in the primary bath. The pattern in the shower is Yeakley’s own, made
To maximize seating for the homeowners’ growing family, Yeakley says the use of sectionals in the living room area was a great way to do that to accommodate the gatherings they expect to have. And when that crowd is not gathering in the dining area with its very welcoming furnishings and custom built-in cabinetry, there is plenty of room for them in the kitchen with its timeless white design.
“White is classic. White is never going to go out of style,” says Yeakley. “There is a trend right now toward more wood tones, however this client wanted white because it will stand the test of time. White is always in style.”
Especially when coupled with Lake Norman’s beautiful blues.
from honed Iceberg marble partnered with a full marble slab for the shower seat.
Denver is a growing, thriving community, and if you haven’t recently ventured to Lake Norman’s western side, you’ll be surprised at the increased activity along Highway 73 and N.C. 16 Business North, where new restaurants, retail stores, health centers and medical facilities, among the many varied enterprises, serve the needs of east Lincon County’s rising population. All that growth comes in response to the popularity of living on the western shores of the lake, and this is where Gary Espin and Mike Luce saw the need and the opportunity to open Lake Norman Music School — a much welcome alternative to driving to Charlotte or to the eastern side of the lake for quality music instruction.
Both Espin and Luce have long-standing musical backgrounds. Espin, a realtor, grew up singing in his high school choir, playing guitar and singing lead vocals in Christian rock and heavy metal bands. Luce, a book broker for libraries and a Kansas native, spent his youth learning to play the guitar, focusing on rock and roll and heavy metal. Moving to Charlotte at 23 years old, Luce auditioned for Espin’s country rock band, 13th Door, and the duo have been making music together for more than two decades.
“We have a passion for the same things,” says Luce, “family, career, the school. We complement each other well.”
Espin and Luce first evaluated the need for local music instruction in 2019, but the pandemic postponed further plans until February 2021 when Lake Norman Music School opened its first studio. “We sectioned off a four-room music school within a portion of my real estate office,” says Espin. “We soon realized that running two businesses within those tight quarters was less than perfect.”
Only a year and a half later, acquiring additional space was mandatory. The result was relocating to a vacant insurance office across the parking lot, which is where Lake Norman Music School now operates. The current facility houses seven rooms for music instruction, with classes offered in piano, electric and acoustic guitar, bass guitar, drums, banjo, ukulele, violin, voice, singing and performing. As word spread of Lake Norman Music School’s student successes and their top-notch instructors, it became obvious that expansion was once again on their radar.
“We realized, only eight months in at this location, that we would outgrow this space,” says Luce, “so we began looking for a spot where we would design and build our own facility.”
The duo delivered 300 letters to business owners along N.C. 16 Business, hoping there was land for sale which would accommodate the future Lake Norman Music School. Eventually, through personal contacts and subsequent introductions to potential sellers, Espin and Luce acquired a two-acre lot adjacent to the Denver Library. Espin and Luce see the location having potential for a mutually beneficial partnership between the two entities. The new building — with the tentative opening sometime in the fall of 2024 — will be a 10-room facility with two large rooms in the center of the building sharing a movable partition that, when retracted, will open a larger space for ensembles and performance training.
“We’re also designing a front porch that will serve as a stage,” says Espin. “Providing outdoor performances is one of our goals.” Espin and Luce are energized by the effort and potential demonstrated by their students and are often amazed and inspired by burgeoning talent. With vetted instructors sharing their expertise (background checks are mandatory), the school offers personalized, quality music instruction. To further enhance the daily lessons, Espin and Luce often make extra time for students to share what they’ve learned and to jam with them. Espin emphasizes that all the classrooms have glass-front doors, and the school’s open-door policy welcomes parent and guardian visits.
www.portcityclub.com
Best Breakfast
Famous Toastery, Mooresville* 134 Mooresville Commons Way, Suite H, Mooresville
www.famoustoastery.com
Best Coffee Waterbean Coffee*
19420 Jetton Road, #105, Cornelius www.waterbeancoffee.com
Pkwy., Suite F, Huntersville www.eezfusion.com
Best Italian Cuisine
Pellegrino’s Trattoria* 275 N. Main Street C, Troutman www.pellegrinostrattoria.com
Best Seafood
The Waterman Fish Bar LKN* 9615 Bailey Road, Cornelius www.watermanclt.com
www.epicchophouse.com
Best Burger North Harbor Club 100 North Harbor Place, Davidson www.northharborclub.com
Best Salad Epic Chophouse 104 S. Main Street, Mooresville www.epicchophouse.com
Best Pizza
Brooklyn South Pizzeria* 19400 Jetton Road, Cornelius www.brooklynsouthpizzeria.com
Best Lunch Spot
The Pickled Peach 202 S. Main Street, Davidson www.thepickledpeach.com
Best Bakery
French Market Café & Gourmet Shop 20920 Torrence Chapel Road, Cornelius www.frenchmarketcafeandtearoom.com
Best Brewery
Ghostface Brewing 215 S. Broad Street, Mooresville www.ghostfacebrewing.com
Best Wine Selection Epic Chophouse 104 S. Main Street, Mooresville www.epicchophouse.com
Best Date Night & Cocktail Epic Chophouse* 104 S. Main Street, Mooresville www.epicchophouse.com
Best Place for Live Music
BoatYard LKN* 18418 Statesville Road, Cornelius www.boatyardlkn.com
Best Sports Bar & Beer Selection
The Kilted Buffalo – Birkdale 8625 Townley Road, Huntersville www.thekiltedbuffalo.com
Best Art Gallery
Mooresville Arts* 103 W. Center Avenue, Mooresville www.mooresvillearts.org
Best Event Venue
Charles Mack Citizen Center 215 N. Main Street, Mooresville www.cmccmooresville.com
Best Summer Camp
Lake Norman Tennis Center 205 Overhill Drive, Mooresville www.lakenormantenniscenter.com
Best Dance Studio
Lake Norman Dance Gallery 443 Williamson Road, Mooresville www.lakenormandancegallery.com
Best Nail Salon
Savvy Salon & Day Spa 20430 W. Catawba Avenue, Cornelius www.savvysalonanddayspa.com
Best Place to Pamper Yourself
Carolina Age Management Institute* 16315 Northcross Dr. Suite A, Huntersville www.carolinaagemanagement.com
Best Med Spa
Carolina Age Management Institute* 16315 Northcross Dr. Suite A, Huntersville www.carolinaagemanagement.com
Best Gift Shop
Home, Heart & Soul 20901 Catawba Avenue, Cornelius www.homeheartandsoul.com
Best Home Décor
Lake Norman Antique Mall 467 E. Plaza Drive, Mooresville @lakenormanantiques on Instagram
Best Women’s Boutique
Nina’s Boutique 21714 Catawba Avenue, Unit A6, Cornelius @ninasboutiquelkn on Instagram
Best Men’s Boutique
The Back Room Men’s Clothier 119 N. Main Street, #102, Mooresville www.thebackroommensclothier.com
Best Pet Services
The Dog House Pet Grooming 115 Plantation Ridge Dr., # 102, Mooresville TheDogHouseLKN on Facebook
Best Place to Work Out
Pure Barre Lake Norman 16815 Cranlyn Road, Suite A, Huntersville www.purebarre.com
Best Public Golf Course Mooresville Golf Club* 205 Golf Course Drive, Mooresville www.mooresvillegolfclub.com
Best Boat Club / Boat Rental
Freedom Boat Club 17505 W. Catawba Avenue, #150, Cornelius www.freedomboatclub.com
Best Marina Lake Norman Marina 6965 N.C. Highway 150, Sherrills Ford www.lakenormanmarina.com
Best Cosmetic / Aesthetic Services
L.A. Skin Studio 174 N. Main Street, Mooresville LASkinStudioAltieri on Facebook
Best Dentist Whalen Dentistry 21025 Catawba Ave Ste 102, Cornelius www.whalendentistry.com
Best Lighting Store Knotty and Board Interiors 20700 N. Main Street, Suite 104, Cornelius www.knottyandboard.com
Best Financial Advisor
Sawyer Insurance and Financial Services 224 N. Main Street, Mooresville www.sawyerinsurance.com
Best Attorney / Legal Services
The McIntosh Law Firm* 209 Delburg Street, Davidson www.mcintoshlawfirm.com
Best Interior Designer Lilly & Grace
138 Village View Dr., Ste. 104, Mooresville www.lillyandgrace.com
Best Landscaping & Outdoor Design Lake Norman Lawn Services*
Huntersville www.lakenormanlawnservices.com
Best Jewelry Store
Jewelers on Main 118 N. Main Street, Mooresville www.jewelersonmain.com
Best Hair Salon
Savvy Salon and Day Spa* 20430 W. Catawba Avenue, Cornelius www.savvysalonanddayspa.com
Best Massage Therapy
Serenity Now Massage Therapy*
18147 W. Catawba Avenue, Cornelius www.serenitynowcornelius.com
If you are a waterfront business on the lake that deals with docks and watercrafts, be sure to ask about Commercial Marine insurance to make sure your business and operations are properly covered. An enjoyable day on or by the water can quickly turn into an adverse situation resulting in damage or destruction of property and injury. A loss could easily exceed millions of dollars – a risk you must properly address.
MARINE LIABILITY INCLUDING MARINA OPERATOR’S LEGAL LIABILITY:
Property Damage & Bodily Injury: Marina Operator’s Legal Liability may protect you if you become legally obligated to pay damages resulting from your operations as a Marina Operator. This coverage could cover costs from damages to property, such as other people’s boats, equipment, cargo, or other items on the boat, as well as bodily injury to other people, while the watercraft is in your care, custody, and control whether it be for repair, storage, mooring, docking, hauling, or fueling.
Dock Property Coverage is a type of insurance that you want to have for losses arising from property damage to your dock, pier, wharfs, or boat slips at your waterfront business.
Your needs are unique to your operations, services, and amenities, so it’s important to customize your marina insurance as some of these additional services may require specific insurance coverage.
So just tell me: do you really need to hear some more advice about weight loss? Well, I think I know your answer, but hear me out. Some of this may be just a bit surprising.
You may have heard about those new weight-loss drugs originally developed for diabetics – Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro – and more are on the way. They’re so popular that there’s a shortage. One presenter joked about them during the Oscars. Only Wegovy is FDA-approved for weight loss so far, and then only for obese patients. The other drugs are prescribed for weight loss, too, but off-label.
These formulations all incorporate a drug called semiglutide. They’re effective for weight loss, and that’s gratifying. But your wallet will lose a lot of weight, too – as much as $15,000 a year. Most insurers do not cover this use. For these drugs to keep working, you’ll very likely have to continue taking them for life.
Semiglutide suppresses appetite by targeting parts of the brain that regulate hunger and cravings, and it prolongs the feeling of fullness after eating. The various brands of drugs that include it come with a long list of potential side effects; some merely unpleasant, some much worse. The most common are gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation. Some users have experienced sagging and old-looking faces, because a portion of the weight loss occurs there, rather than where it’s desired. The risks of pancreatitis, kidney failure and medullary thyroid carcinoma are also elevated, along with gallbladder disease that can occur with fast weight loss.
Federal data says more than 40 percent of American adults are obese; another 30 percent are overweight. Obesity is linked to a couple of hundred diseases, including cancers, heart ailments and kidney disease. You knew that. No wonder we’re preoccupied with it.
About one in four of us make New Year’s resolutions, and losing weight is a perennial front-runner in the annual national survey run by The Economist. What have we figured out about how to keep the January promises about weight loss, and improve the odds that favor a longer and healthier life, without a never-ending shotgun marriage to a new drug?
The medical journal Family Practice published a study that nails part of the problem: often, weight-loss advice from the family doctor is generic and ineffective. The findings were that we general practitioners frequently “lack knowledge and confidence when giving advice for weight loss,” or “mostly give generic advice, which patients report as unhelpful,” or “specific weight-loss recommendations...were rarely evidence-based.” More guidance is needed for the family doctors giving weight-loss advice, that study concluded.
Dr. Zhaoping Li, chief of the division of clinical nutrition at the University of California at Los Angeles, told a reporter that those new drugs can be useful for some but are by no means the answer.
“I don’t want people to lose their attention on the fundamental issue — we really need to help each individual have the best lifestyle for their bodies and themselves,” Li said.
That’s where you and I can have a really useful conversation about what we’re eating and how we’re moving – nutrition and exercise – and set reasonable goals for improvement. Maybe that’s already happening for you, and if so, bravo!
Looking for an excursion close to home? Spending 48 hours in Winston-Salem will ignite curiosity in local history and introduce new adventures, restaurants and shopping in a city just an hour from the Lake Norman area. Squeeze it all in to two days or spread the activities over several visits.
Book a room at Hotel Indigo, a unique boutique hotel in downtown Winston-Salem, housed in the 1928 Pepper Building. The 75-room hotel is four years old and pet friendly with modern amenities. Like all Hotel Indigo properties, its décor and style reflect the local community.
Hotel Indigo’s lobby features an Art-o-mat, a cigarette dispenser transformed into an art vending machine. Art-o-mat was started by Winston-Salem-based artist Clark Whittington in 1997. More than two dozen may be found in the city and hundreds more are all over the United States (and one in Europe). For a small investment of cash ($5 or more), original jewelry, a painting or a sculpture drops down after a choice is made. Each work of art fits within the size of a cigarette box.
Pack
Sir Winston Wine Loft & Restaurant, a long-time Winston-Salem staple, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner on the first floor of Hotel Indigo. Enjoy specialty cocktails and craft beer with dishes such as bourbon BBQ ribs, low country salmon and jambalaya pasta. The hotel is within walking distance of several restaurants. Camino Bakery’s three locations in the city offers bagels, muffins and cinnamon buns to keep you energized for the day. Outdoor seating and authentic Neapolitan pies makes Cugino Forno Pizzeria a good choice for a casual meal. Hungry Palate Bar & Grill’s menu includes flatbreads, build your own macaroni and cheese, meatball hoagies, wings and a wide selection of starters.
Begin at Old Salem Museums & Gardens for a two-to-three-hour self-guided walking tour of the village. Buildings in the village showcase clothing, furniture and tools. Staff are dressed in authentic clothing and answer questions about the original use of the building. Refuel at Muddy Creek Café with paninis, salads and sandwiches. Then head to the Frank L. Horton Museum Center and the
Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, featuring collections from the 1700s and the 1800s.
Reynolda Historic District – gardens, house, museum and village –is a half-day excursion. The Reynolda House Museum of American Art, with permanent and rotating exhibits, is within the Reynolda House, the former 64-room home to Katharine and Richard Joshua Reynolds, founder of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. Treat yourself to May Way Dumplings, Penny Path Café & Crêpe Shop, Theodore’s Bar and Market, and Dough-Joes in between tours. Shop at the area’s newest bookstore, The Bookhouse, and its oldest women and children’s store, McCalls.
Winston-Salem’s extensive greenway system allows walkers and cyclists to see various neighborhoods throughout the city. Sign up for a segway or an electric bicycle tour with Triad ECO Adventures (TEA). The guide explains the equipment and makes sure everyone feels comfortable throughout the ride. The Moravian Cookies Trail Tour, offered weekly on a climate-controlled trolley, is a great option for groups who want to learn and eat cookies. Water enthusiasts can take paddleboard lessons on Salem Lake through TEA.
Evenings in Winston-Salem provide many options. Get tickets to a game – Dash is the city’s Minor League Baseball Team. Spend the night at ROAR, sampling various items in the food hall, playing on the indoor sports simulators, miniature golf course or relaxing in the lounge and rooftop bar. Check the schedule at a/perture cinema, a nonprofit theater, or Bowman Gray Stadium for a car race.
• “Smith & Libby: Two Rings, Seven Months, One Bullet” exhibit at the Reynolda House Museum of American Art will be on display Sept. 9 through Dec. 31. The exhibition is devoted to the tragic death of Smith Reynolds, son of Katharine and R.J. Reynolds. www.reynolda.org/museum/exhibitions/smith-andlibby/
• Carolina Classic Fair, the second largest fair in the state, is Sept. 29 to Oct. 8 at Winston-Salem Fairgrounds. Over 10 days, guests enjoy agricultural exhibits, carnival rides, food, live music, rodeos and more. www.carolinaclassicfair.com
• Piedmont Craftsmen Fair is Nov. 18 and 19 at the Benton Convention Center. More than 100 local and regional artists showcase one-of-a-kind works in clay, fibers, glass, leather, metal, mixed media, photography, printmaking and wood. www.piedmontcraftsmen.org/fair/
For more information, visitwinstonsalem.com.
*Winston-Salem’s attractions offer ramps and paved walkways for people who use wheelchairs or walkers. Due to the age of some buildings and grounds, check with specific businesses to ask what accommodations are available to make the area accessible.
Left, the city skyline viewed from Old Salem; below, the Reynolda House; right, trendy (and pet friendly) Hotel Indigo.
I should have written this column for the July dog-themed issue, but since procrastination is my number one personal skill, I am a month late. So, with that lead-in, I trust you are still happy to read my experiences and recollections about our canine friends.
But first, let’s take a journey to visit the walls in my small house in Bailey’s Glen. As HAHs – “Hawaiians at Heart” – most walls of our house are decorated with photos and artifacts from the major islands of Hawaii: Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island of Hawaii. It’s a collection of Hawaiian quilts on a wall in our master bedroom. My dear wife decided we needed to move those quilts and bring them out into some of the main walls of the house. As you can imagine, I was thrilled. I just love hanging pictures – it’s right up there with hanging blinds.
Moving those quilts from the master bedroom created a blank wall, and I suggested that we turn that blank space into a “dog wall.” Surprisingly, my wife agreed. I prefer walls filled with pictures or artifacts; however, the “boss of walls” generally likes one to two images per wall. We reached a compromise. She can have fewer pictures in her bedroom, and I can have a dog wall in my bedroom. Compromise is good, especially when both sides win.
On to dogs ... August is the time for “dog days.” Most Southerners think it is called that because it is hot and humid enough to steam a pot of shrimp without a stove. Therefore, the only appropriate thing to do in such conditions is to lie under the ceiling fan with your dog. Wrong.
According to National Geographic, “Instead, the dog days refer to Sirius, the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major ... and is said to represent one of Orion’s hunting dogs.”
I am sticking with my Southern learning about “dog days.” Regardless, any month is good for writing about the amazing reciprocal nature of love and dogs.
That dog-wall I mentioned earlier has nine pictures of the dogs my wife and I have loved during our marriage and one image of Honeybee, the best Beagle the Almighty ever put on this Earth to hunt south Alabama cottontails.
Alabama dogs: there is Napoleon, a Bassett, and Major, a Yellow Lab who was so big a friend said he should have at least been a Colonel. And there is Snickers, a Chocolate Lab we inherited from our son.
If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die, I want to go where they went.
– Will Rogers
Kentucky dogs: Kentucky Coal Dust or Coal, our magnificent Black Lab, who weighed 60 pounds at six months. His heart gave out when he was 10, but not before he stole an apple from the kitchen side table that morning. There is Rufus, another Chocolate Lab we inherited from our son. Not smart, but the sweetest and most lovable of all our dogs. There’s also Khaki, a Kentucky Golden Retriever whose golden strands of weightless hair floated everywhere until we finally called them condiments. Coal, Khaki and Rufus lived together with us, and all slept on our bed.
North Carolina Brittanys: Boomer, and his mother, Chloe. Boomer is the smartest of all our dogs and the most inquisitive, and the best (or worst) counter-surfer. We were gifted his mother, an award winner in the show ring and field trials when the pandemic hit our breeder hard. Chloe was nine; she is now 13. Chloe is the first female dog we have owned. Sweetness, intelligence and elfish behaviors are Chloe’s significant traits. Chloe has taught us that an older adopted dog’s incredible amount of love is worth a few more vet visits and the knowledge of the rush of her end days to come.
If you have loved and been loved by canines in your lifetime, I know you also have hundreds of pictures of them. Frame a few and choose a wall so that each time you go by, you are reminded of the precious gift given to us by the Almighty.
Are dogs angels among us? Who am I to contradict it?
Building and preserving generational wealth is a common goal for many families. It involves accumulating assets and ensuring their preservation and growth across multiple generations. However, safeguarding generational wealth requires careful planning and implementation of effective strategies to protect it from various risks and challenges. Following are some key strategies for protecting and preserving generational wealth:
Estate Planning: An essential aspect of protecting generational wealth is comprehensive estate planning. This includes creating wills, trusts and power of attorney documents to ensure a smooth transfer of assets to future generations. Proper estate planning helps minimize taxes, avoids probate and provides clear guidelines for asset distribution.
Asset Protection: Shielding assets from potential threats is vital. Establishing legal structures such as family limited partnerships, limited liability companies or trusts can provide protection against lawsuits, creditors and other financial risks. Professional advice from attorneys specializing in asset protection is recommended to determine the most suitable options.
Insurance: Insurance plays a critical role in protecting generational wealth. Adequate coverage, including life, disability, property and liability insurance, helps mitigate potential risks. Regularly reviewing and updating insurance policies is essential to ensure coverage aligns with current asset values and potential risks.
Professional Guidance: Engaging the services of financial advisors, estate planning attorneys and tax professionals is crucial for effective wealth protection. These experts can provide valuable insights, help navigate complex legal and tax frameworks, and offer tailored strategies based on individual family needs.
Protecting generational wealth requires a proactive and comprehensive approach. By implementing the strategies mentioned above, families can enhance their chances of preserving and growing their assets across generations. Remember, each family’s circumstances are unique, and seeking professional advice is essential to develop a personalized plan that aligns with your specific goals and circumstances. With careful planning, education and the right guidance, generational wealth can withstand the test of time, ensuring a secure financial future for your family.
Let me begin with a small vignette to set the context. Many years ago, I used to travel a lot to the United Kingdom to visit family or on business. On one trip, aboard a British-based carrier, I was asked by the flight attendant if I wanted a glass of wine; what a foolish question. He also asked if I preferred English or French wine. Then, after looking around furtively, he whispered in my ear that I should choose the French wine as the English version was pretty dreadful. I eagerly followed his advice, to my great pleasure.
My, how times have changed. Once, it would have been great for any English sparkling wine to be compared to its better-known counterparts from Champagne. However, in recent years, British grapes have been beating their French rivals in blind tastings. The reasons for this are manifold. Average temperatures throughout the English growing season have warmed by one degree Celsius between 1999 and 2018. This has improved growing conditions in the traditionally colder nation. South-facing slopes and selective planting ensure the best possible exposure to the English sunshine (yes, there is sunshine in England). The result is that grapes gradually achieve an ideal level of ripeness before harvest – good for making wine.
All this could be dismissed as marketing hype. But there is proof in the pudding. Those famous White Cliffs of Dover are just a continuation of the famed soil of Champagne. And, most of all, the prestigious Champagne producer, Taittinger, has invested in a former Kent apple orchard to produce sparkling wine. Taittinger is the epitome of fine Champagne production and its venture into the south coast of England is significant.
Another example would be from Germany. The steep, southern facing vineyards in Germany have long been viewed as the northernmost latitude that could produce decent wine. One of the stars from
these vineyards has been Eiswein, or “Ice Wine.” Individual grapes are picked when they are half frozen and have a little “noble rot” on their skins. Today, Eisweins are increasingly difficult to produce. The number of winegrowers able to produce Eiswein in Germany has dwindled in recent years. According to the German Wine Institute, in 2020 only one winemaker in all of Germany was reported to have harvested Eiswein.
A final example borders on the heretical. Wine growers in the Bordeaux region of France have guarded their wine blendings with an almost chauvinistic, religious fervor. A red Bordeaux blended wine is traditionally composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with smaller portions of Malbec and Petit Verdot and, very occasionally, Carménère.
Gasp! Four new red grape varieties had been chosen to help Bordeaux wine producers adapt to climate change. They have been approved by (second gasp) France’s national appellation body, INAO. The new red varieties are Touriga Nacional, Marselan, Castets and Arinarnoa. They were selected for their unique potential to mitigate the impact of climate change without diluting the identity of Bordeaux wines. Potentially useful characteristics include naturally high acidity, structure or strong aromatics, as well as good resistance against specific vine diseases, from mildew to grey rot.
So, change is happening in the world of wine. In the future, expect to see English sparkling wine at your wine merchant. As wine producing latitudes head north, expect to see more German red wines, especially Pinot Noir or “Spätburgunder” in German. And it will be interesting to see what effect the new grapes have on Bordeaux’ famous wines. So, stay tuned and keep exploring.
Summer is the season for citrus. That’s why we love an ice-cold lemonade on a hot day, or a slice of Key Lime Pie at the end of a light summer meal. So good! But when you add a hint of salt to a zingy citrus pie, you’ve got perfection; the perfect summer pie that is – Atlantic Beach Pie.
In Chef Bill Smith’s Atlantic Beach Pie, the hint of salt comes from a saltine cracker crust. Yep, good ol’ saltines. That salty hint perfectly balances out the sweetness of this pie’s silky lemon-lime filling. Add some fresh whipped cream to the top, and there is nothing better on a hot summer evening.
When creating this pie, Smith was inspired by the lemon pie served at the seafood restaurants of his North Carolina childhood; thus the name, Atlantic Beach Pie.
The hardest part of making this pie is having the patience to let it cool completely. All told, the pie needs to cool at room temperature before chilling; a total of three hours until totally set. But believe me when I say, it’s well worth the wait.
Servings: 8
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 35 minutes
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.
by Kathy Dicken photography by Kathy Dicken
Ingredients:
1-½ cups finely crushed saltine crackers (from 1 sleeve, about 37 crackers)
6 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
3 Tbsp. granulated sugar
1 large egg white, lightly beaten
1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
4 large egg yolks
¼ cup fresh lime juice (from 2 large limes)
¼ cup fresh lemon juice (from 2 lemons)
1-½ cups heavy whipping cream
¼ cup powdered sugar
Lemon and lime zests, for garnish
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Crush saltines in a zip-top bag with a rolling pin. Stir together crushed crackers, melted butter, sugar and egg white in a medium bowl until combined. Transfer mixture to a 9-inch glass pie plate; firmly press (I use the bottom of a juice glass) on bottom and sides. Freeze for 10 minutes. Bake in a preheated oven until the crust is lightly browned, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; cool slightly, about 10 minutes.
While the crust bakes, make the filling. Whisk together condensed milk and egg yolks until smooth. Whisk in lime juice and lemon juice until combined. Pour lime mixture into a warm crust. Shield edges of pie with aluminum foil before baking at 350°F until the center is just set, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; cool for 1 hour. Refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours.
When you are ready to serve, make your whipped cream. Beat cream and powdered sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. Spread whipped cream topping over chilled pie, leaving about a ½-inch border of custard showing around the crust. Garnish with lemon and lime zests, if desired.
ne·o·ter·ic /nē 'terik/ adjective: new or modern; recent. noun: a person who advocates new ideas.
It’s August in North Carolina. The heat is debilitating and hydration is a priority. If a tall glass of ice-cold suds wets your whistle, there are options. Craft breweries are popular and popping up throughout the area, and there doesn’t seem to be a lack of patronage at the local brew houses. Independently owned craft brewing offers the brewer a license for creativity, with the freedom to develop unique flavors and brewing techniques. The variation of styles, genres and tastes are countless. For unique and frosty hop and barley creations, check out Neoteric Brewing Co. in Huntersville.
Mike Tessari is a Philadelphia native who, at an early age, was eager to serve his community. In high school, Tessari was a volunteer firefighter. When he arrived in Charlotte in 2011, he taught a fire protection program at Central Piedmont Community College and, later, earned his EMT certification which led to a position as a medic with the Charlotte Rescue Squad. He received a bachelor’s degree in
emergency and disaster management and became involved with the Metrolina Preparedness Coalition, where he worked on operations and logistics. During the pandemic, Tessari was stockpiling supplies to fight COVID-19 in 13 counties. During this time, Tessari attended virtual brewer’s conferences and obtained his certification from the World Brewing Academy at the Siebel Institute of Technology.
Tessari had been improving his home brewing skills for several years prior to opening his brewery.
“I enjoyed developing new recipes and gaining relevant knowledge,” says Tessari. “For me, it was enjoyable, a means of unwinding and alleviating stress.”
In 2021, in a fund-raising event sponsored by Sugar Creek Brewery, Tessari entered his Doppel Bock brew in a competitive, blind-tasting event and was awarded the title of Favored Beer. The success further inspired Tessari to open his own brewery. He secured financing, procured the required permits and licensing, leased a property and went to work renovating his current location in Market Square shopping center off Gilead Road in Huntersville.
Neoteric Brewing Co. opened on Black Friday, 2022 with equipment limitations. The staff, including Tessari, his wife Alex, and one employee worked long days seven days per week during those first months of operation.
“We’ve come a long way,” says Tessari. “We now have six tanks, each with a 217-gallon capacity. On any given day, we have 14 different beers on tap, and we’re introducing a new beer every week.” Additional brews include Black Stratacaster IPA (best seller), Simcoe Shakedown (IPA Red), Bock Jaw Bock (Doppelbock), Smokey Shadows Porter (American), High Czech Pilsner (Czech) and Cantina Kickback Lager (Mexican), to name a few. Wine, mimosas and other beverages including non-alcoholic choices are available.
The Tessaris believe their employees have much to offer and, in turn, they provide them with a positive and inspiring work environment.
“Our employees are knowledgeable and encouraged to learn how to brew beer,” says Tessari. “We develop new flavors together and brew together. In fact, one of my em-
ployees pitched a lavender lager to me, and we developed a recipe. Another employee, an artist, designed our logo and provides our artwork, while another helps with marketing. Two employees are working toward their beer server certification, and we have one certified beer judge.”
Neoteric Brewing Co. boasts a 2,200-squarefoot taproom and a separate space for meetings and events. The patio has plenty of outdoor seating. Killingtons Restaurant & Pub provides the food, and there’s music on the patio. The brewery is family-friendly and has board and card games available to borrow in the taproom as well. Leashed dogs are welcome in the taproom. Trivia contests are held on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m.
Tessari credits Sugar Creek Brewing Company and Hoptown Brewing Co. for sharing their expertise and teaching him a thing or two about brewery operations.
“Brewers are the coolest people,” says Tessari. “They’re always there to lend advice and support.”
For more information about Neoteric Brewery, call 704.727.0051 or visit www.neotericbrewing.com.
217-gallon custom-built brewing tanks
Neoteric owners, Mike and Alex Tessari
Lake Norman residents for more than a decade, the dynamic duo and their two children were looking for a restaurant for sale so they could create an environment where wonderful meals are served with a side of community building.
“My wife and I have dreamed about the day that we could open a restaurant,” says Titus. “With our culinary backgrounds, knowing that food is not always readily available to all, and our passion for connecting people, a restaurant always made so much sense.”
Working with a variety of local vendors to keep the doors open during the transition, Christina’s priority was to ensure employees did not miss a day of income as a result of the change in operations.
No strangers to caring about others, the Bartolottas founded and ran The Lotta Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting at-risk Lake Norman families experiencing food insecurity and in need of a hand-up. “For nearly 10 years, we helped thousands of people and it was the joy of our hearts,” says Titus.
Rise Café focuses on quality ingredients, exceptional service and a welcoming atmosphere. Plenty of staples are on the morning menu
such as omelets, a variety of “Benedicts” including crab and fiesta versions, and house specialty headliners including corned beef hash and country fried steak.
“If I answer what my favorite menu item is, my kids will be upset that I didn’t pick either of their dishes,” says Christina, who has a culinary degree from the Art Institute of Charlotte. “So, I’m just going to say people are gravitating toward the chicken and waffles with house-made spicy syrup, because they enjoy the textural contrast between the crispy chicken and fluffy waffle while having a savory, sweet and spicy flavor experience. Additionally, the burger with bacon jam and caramelized onions seems to be a hit.”
With a tag line of “Food So Good You Want To Wake Up,” the philosophy is simply fresh food, prepared well, served by friendly folks.
“We just want a place where good quality, real food that is fresh can be served … but we are praying that the feeding of the body aligns with the feeding of the souls,” Christina says. “All are welcome here, and all are loved. We just want to represent God well and be a safe space for folks to connect and just be.”
Audiology
PHC – Lake Norman Ear, Nose & Throat
Megan Mathis-Webb, AuD
Susie Riggs, AuD
Del L. Hawk, Au.D
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
Sarah Carlock, MD
Kristin Prochaska, PA-C
Gina Noble, PA-C
Heather Hollandsworth, FNP
Susan Stevens, RN, BSN
128 Medical Park Road, Suite 201 Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-235-1827
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 Ear, 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
170 Medical Park Road, Floor 3
Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-664-9506
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
Heather C. Kompanik, MD
Bruce L. Seaton, DO
Amanda H. Bailey, DO
Kyle Babinski, DO
Sherard Spangler, PA
357 Williamson Road Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-664-7328
PHC – Sailview Family Medicine
Tiana Losinski, MD
206 Joe V. Knox Ave. Suite J Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-360-4801
PHC – Fairview Family Medicine
Golnar Lashgari, MD
Jennifer Scharbius, MD
150 Fairview Road, Suite 210 Mooresville, NC 28117 •704-235-0300
PHC - Troutman Family Medicine
Amrish C. Patel, MD
Janeal Bowers, FNP
Kimberly Whiton, FNP
Kelly Buchholz, FNP
154 S Main Troutman, NC 28166 • 704-528-9903
Gastroenterology
PHC – Gastroenterology
Brandon Marion, MD
April Lockman, NP
359 Williamson Road Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-878-2021
PHC –Comprehensive Digestive Care Center
Vivek Trivedi, MD
Tiedre Palmer, FNP-C
359 Williamson Road Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-878-2021
PHC- Gastroenterology
Laila Menon, MD
Gabrielle Miller, NP
170 Medical Park Road, Floor 3 Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-664-9506
Internal Medicine
PHC – Fox Internal Medicine
Jessica Fox, DO
Jacqueline Swope, FNP
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
LuAnne V. Gatlin, 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
Douglas Jeffery, 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
Douglas Jeffery, 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
Katie Collins, DO
Grant Miller, MD
James Wilson, MD
Nicole S. Wellbaum, MD
NailaRashida Frye, MD
Coral Bruss, ANP-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
Scott Brandon, MD
Brett L. Feldman, MD
Alex Seldomridge III, 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
James Murphy, MD
April Hatfield, FNP-C
359 Williamson Road
Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-235-1829
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
128 Medical Park Road, Suite 101
Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-658-1001
