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Growing up, my grandmother was a very influential figure in my life. Many summers were spent at her home in South Alabama swimming in her pool, tending to her extensive vegetable and rose gardens and making homemade bread and cookies in the kitchen.
“Fefe” — short for Felicia — as we affectionately called her, kept a steady flow of magazines in her home. She was one of the first subscribers to George, the magazine founded by JFK Jr., with whom she was enamored. She was always bookmarking her favorite designs and recipes and tearing out features and columns from publications like Martha Stewart Living. She used to jot notes in the margins and drop them in the mail to me throughout different stages of my life. Shortly before her death a couple of years ago, when family members cleaned out her home, they found stacks of Southern Living magazines dated back to the early 1980s.
In our over-digitized world, consuming words and images on a page feels very different from the experience we have with our devices. Print is sentimental and has staying power.
My professional experience with print began at my college newspaper and my first job out of school was working for a newspaper in Virginia.
In local author Kathy Izard’s newest book Trust the Whisper she encourages you to answer quiet callings that tell you to do something unexpected. I felt a persistent nudge to bring a new publication to Charlotte! It is an honor for me to do so.
In this issue we go inside a beautiful guest house in Myers Park, into the atelier of Colombian-born fashion designer Daniel Gonzalez and behind the story of the Isabella Santos Foundation.
My goal is to produce something beautiful and inspirational. I want to provide meaningful content that is reflective of both the fresh perspectives and sustaining character of the vibrant people in our community. We want our readers to know and appreciate what motivates our city’s most interesting people.
Thank you for being here!
September 2024
PUBLISHER
Liz Brown | liz.brown@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Carroll Walton | carroll.walton@citylifestyle.com
PUBLICATION DIRECTOR
Katherine Bode | katherine.bode@citylifestyle.com
COPY EDITOR
Cate Stern
INTERN
Sally Sozzi
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Catherine Ruth Kelly
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Amanda Anderson, Justin Brown, Chris Edwards, Kathryn King, Angelo Merendino
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Matthew Endersbe
LAYOUT DESIGNER Jayme Emery
LIZ BROWN, PUBLISHER @QUEENCITYMAG
Fashion designer Daniel Gonzalez traces his transition from ballroom dance costumes to classic fall line.
Losing her 7-year-old daughter to neuroblastoma primed Erin Santos-Primis to champion her cause.
Cottage Charm
Charlotte couple asks longtime friend and established interior designer to infuse color, character into guesthouse. Featured 12 18 24
Charlotte interior designer Hobby Sherman mixes contemporary art by Diane Lightsey with traditional pieces to give this beautiful guest house “Cottage Charm.”
Chris Edwards
Whether reconfiguring existing spaces, adding new rooms, or changing floor plans, our design and build process elevates your remodeling experience while transforming your house into a place you lovingly call home.
1: Elizabeth Anne Russell, center, leads the Charlotte School of Etiquette’s first class of students. 2-3: Myers Park residents celebrate a Fourth of July parade and festivities. 4: Donors from the Isabella Santos Foundation enjoy a tapas-style cooking class with Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen.
5: Stefanie Lippard, Jessie and Alston Mann, Rachel and Andy Lee toast Madelyn’s Fund’s “Drink Pink.” 6: Some of the summer’s cutest Baby Bundles volunteers. 7: Cyclists take to the streets in 24 Hours of Booty in Myers Park.
Madelyn's Fund is a nonprofit that helps raise awareness and funds for families navigating the challenges of the NICU. Rachel Lee, the co-founder of Madelyn's Fund, and Renata Gasparian are thrilled to share limited edition pieces, designed to celebrate the spirit behind the nonprofit. On Sept. 19 they will host a fashion event in which 20% of all sales will go directly to supporting Madelyn's Fund. For more information, visit @ madelynsfund or @renata_gasparian on Instagram.
Support ArtPop's 4th annual Upcycled Fashion Show & Fundraiser on September 14th from 6-9pm at the Sullenberger Aviation Museum. You don't want to miss this exciting event! Thirteen talented Upcycle designers have transformed ArtPop artist billboards into couture fashion to showcase on the runway. Proceeds benefit arts education, community outreach, student scholarships and the ArtPop mentorship program.
Joe and Katy Kindred, husband and wife partners behind Kindred, Hello, Sailor, and Milkbread restaurants, are proud to announce the opening of Albertine in the new Duke Energy Plaza (525 S Tryon St) in Uptown Charlotte this month. Albertine will open adjacent to its Uptown M ilkbread location, their popular casual all-day café. Under the direction of chef Joe Kindred, Albertine will serve contemporary cuisine inspired by the greater Mediterranean basin and the dynamic American South.
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HIS TRANSFORMATION FROM THE GLITZ OF MAKING
HIS
ARTICLE BY CARROLL WALTON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMANDA ANDERSON
Charlotte fashion designer Daniel Gonzalez, 33, moved to the U.S. at age 9 with his parents and brother Felipe from Pereira, Colombia. His father, whose company transported coffee and bananas, was convinced by a family friend he’d find better opportunities in America.
The family moved to Miami first, but their father wanted to assimilate to a new culture, not one where many spoke exclusively Spanish. So the Gonzalez family moved to Gastonia and soon thereafter Charlotte.
Here Daniel and Felipe found their niche in Mexican-based Folklorico dancing, before switching to ballroom. While Felipe went on to become director and co-founder of Dancing With The Stars Charlotte, a competition pairing professionals with locals to benefit breast cancer patients, Daniel used his interest in dance to discover his true passion – designing clothes.
My dance partner needed an outfit, and I asked my mother if she could help me. That was the first garment I ever made. The dress was a black body suit we sourced from Lebo's. We sewed black Lycra panels to the front and covered the whole skirt in peacock feathers. We rhinestoned it in blues and greens, like a peacock feather. It was really chic and sparkly, and it was different than what everybody else was doing. When our dance teachers, who lived in New York, saw the dress, they told me, “You need to continue.”
HOW DID YOU GO FROM DANCE ATTIRE TO MAKING EVERYDAY CLOTHES?
One of the clients I had made some dance garments for was married to Swedish golfer Robert Karlsson. They were going to the Ryder Cup, and she asked if I would make a ball gown for her. Her stipulation was that I make it out of silk. I started researching silk and fell in love with the way it's made, how strong it is, how good it is for your skin. I fell in love with this idea of producing garments made from exquisite materials.
WHEN DID YOU SHIFT YOUR FOCUS TO READY-TO-WEAR?
My dance projects stopped during COVID because no one was competing. I needed to pivot. With a little bit of backing from my family, I launched my first ready-to-wear collection. My mentality was, let's give people the best possible material I can, make sure it fits perfectly and spoil people in gorgeous material. We started creating gowns for debutante balls, custom bridal gowns, mother-of-the-bride gowns and other special occasions.
WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT YOUR FALL WINTER COLLECTION?
It’s our first comprehensive collection, which we're going to sell straight to consumers. We're introducing them into some boutiques. We have ready to wear,
that’s all really fine material: really fine cotton, really fine silk, and really fine viscose. We also use some tweeds, baby alpaca and cashmere. We've only made 20 of each piece, so there's an exclusivity to it. The other side of our business is our bespoke and made to order, where anything you like you can have a custom made in your size and color choice. If you dream up a gown – “Oh, I love this Christian Dior from the 50s” - we use that as inspiration, and I'll draw something new for you.
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE PERSON TO DRESS?
I like women who appreciate real quality. I love to dress people who understand the difference between dressing for yourself and dressing for others. I want people to have fun and enjoy their personality instead of dressing for approval.
HOW DID YOU GO FROM THE BOLD LOOK OF BALLROOM DANCE TO MORE CLASSIC SILHOUETTES?
I love working with rhinestones and sequins, but I've done that for close to 15 years. This is a reset for me, a recalibration in my life.
HOW DOES YOUR COLOMBIAN HERITAGE SHOW UP IN YOUR CLOTHING?
Everything is really timeless silhouettes, but I like to play with explosions of color. When people hear my story and see the bright chartreuse and the hot pink next to the black and the taupe, they can see my story visibly, which is really cool. This new collection is a bit more serious, but it also has a really beautiful play on color.
WHAT NEW SENSIBILITY DO YOU BRING CHARLOTTE?
In Charlotte fashion, everybody loves the romantic and feminine. There's a lot of florals and ruffles, which is beautiful, but we provide a sleeker, cleaner look. We do timeless and sophisticated.
WHICH HAVE YOU ENJOYED MORE: BALLROOM DANCING OR FASHION?
I'm having so much more fun doing fashion. There's a certain sacrifice that comes with dancing, physically and mentally. With fashion, I don't have to kill my body and the rewards are making people happy on a daily basis. I have three, four fittings a day, and clients leave feeling happy, proud and ready for their events. That to me is everything.
Gonzalez is the VIP guest speaker at the ArtPop “Upcycled” Fashion Show & Fundraiser on Sept. 14 to benefit arts education. Local artists have been commissioned to transform vinyl ArtPop artist billboards into couture fashion to showcase on the runway.
Gonzalez says fashion gives him a chance to make clients happy on a daily basis.
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Losing her 7-year-old daughter to neuroblastoma primed Erin SantosPrimis to champion her cause
ARTICLE BY CARROLL WALTON
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANGELO MERENDINO, JUSTIN BROWN
Twelve years have passed since Erin Santos-Primis' daughter Isabella died of neuroblastoma, a rare form of pediatric cancer, at 7 years old, lying in her mother's bed.
“We had never gone through this before. I didn’t think about it coming back.”
Erin's other two children are in high school now. She's happily remarried. A foundation her family started with $7,000 raised at a 5K in 2007 has raised more than $14 million.
The Isabella Santos Foundation has funded research to help improve neuroblastoma survival rates from 40 percent to 80 percent for some patients now. They helped build a treatment center at the Levine Children's Hospital, recruit a world-renown cancer specialist and provide a place where patients come from 24 countries. They've made it so Charlotte families don't have to fly to New York for treatment.
Santos-Primis has fought the good fight. And now? She is upping her game. When it seemed like she had
every reason to move on, ISF is expanding. They're aiming to reach hospitals throughout the Carolinas and beyond.
"I don't know if we could ever shut it down," Santos-Primis said. "It would be like she would die all over again."
Isabella was 2 ½ and her brother, Grant, was 1, when she was diagnosed. Tummy and back aches seemed harmless until blood work and an MRI revealed an orange-sized tumor on her adrenal gland.
Isabella was treated for nine months and declared cancer-free. The Santos family released balloons, went to Disney, and Erin got pregnant with her third child.
CONTINUED >
"We had never gone through this before," she said. "I didn't think about it coming back."
When she relapsed, doctors suggested Isabella learn how to meditate to get through difficult treatments. For an hour, as she got chemotherapy, she would concentrate on music.
"She kind of went into a zone and figured out how to get through it," Santos-Primis said.
Between treatments, Isabella became a poster girl — literally — for causes like the Make-a-Wish Foundation, the Ronald McDonald House, and Community Blood Center.
"In the summers, when kids were at the pool, she was walking around the Spectrum Center collecting money," Santos-Primis said. "There was a huge convention in town and there she is, walking around with a coffee can, giving people stickers if they gave her money for the Ronald McDonald house."
Isabella told her mom she wanted to help her friends get better, and she tried for as long as she could. But her cancer kept relapsing - twice more in her brain, once in her bones and finally along her spine. By then, nobody had to say it was the end.
"She was just so calm and at peace with it," SantosPrimis said. "There was no fear. It was eerie but comforting as a parent."
They'd been given a book called "Water Bugs and Dragonflies."
"It's about this family of water bugs that lives in a pond," Santos-Primis said. "Every once in a while, a water bug will climb up a stem and you'll never see it again. It becomes a dragonfly. The dragonflies try to hit the water to come back to the family, but they can't. We had explained to her this crazy story about how we all live together, but
“Our backbone is women with kids. They get it. They’re like, ‘I don’t know what I would do if that were me.’”
eventually you'll go be somewhere beautiful, and we'll all be there someday."
As many times as she's re-told it, SantosPrimis still chokes up by the end.
"It's so silly, right?" she said, through tears. "But she was 7."
As hard as the words are to say, Santos-Primis knows the power they hold.
After COVID forced her to cancel their 5K, she hosted a women's coffee in a church basement. They raised $60,000 in one morning.
Meeting women in smaller groups has become a priority. This October 29-31, SantosPrimis is inviting 300 guests each day to Carmel Country Club for an Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter-themed brunch club.
"Women get dressed up and come with their friends and they hear stories that touch their heart," Santos-Primis said. "Our backbone is women with kids. They get it. They're like 'I don't know what I would do if that were me.'"
Her husband, Blair Primis, who is a marketing executive in healthcare, reminded her that even if it feels like "everyone" in Charlotte already knows about ISF after all this time, it's really just a small percentage of people.
"Just to be able to go from 1 percent to 2 percent is $4 million," said Santos-Primis, who said her organization is still focusing on local fundraising efforts. "There's a lot of work we could do to expand here first."
CHARLOTTE COUPLE ASKS LONGTIME FRIEND AND ESTABLISHED INTERIOR DESIGNER TO INFUSE COLOR, CHARACTER INTO GUESTHOUSE.
ARTICLE BY CATHERINE RUTH KELLY
When a client and friend of nearly 30 years approached Charlotte interior designer Hobby Sherman about her new guest cottage, she eagerly accepted. The homeowners wanted the design to blend in with the architectural style of their main house, a 1925 Colonial Revival in the heart of Myers Park.
“Our challenge was to furnish a brand new structure to make it feel old and collected,” Sherman says.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS EDWARDS AND STYLING BY FOUR SEASONS STUDIO
While their home is filled with family heirlooms and antiques, the homeowners envisioned a similar but more relaxed aesthetic in the cottage.
“I’ve always admired the way Hobby mixes traditional design with contemporary touches,” the homeowner says. “She’s so skilled at layering pieces in a way that gives a place personality and charm.”
Sherman, a Richmond native, grew up steeped in Virginia history and surrounded by antiques. Her mother helped run an antiques store and traveled to England each year looking for beautiful furniture and accessories.
“I spent most days after school in the shop surrounded by incredible English antiques,” Sherman says.
After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Sherman enrolled in the Sotheby’s Institute of American Art in New York and spent a year studying fine and decorative arts. That experience led her to jobs with Thomas Jayne Studio, Claremont Furnishing Fabrics and interior designer Charlotte Moss.
“Walking alongside Charlotte Moss while scouring antiques markets in Paris helped train my eye," Sherman says. "Using
“I’ve always admired the way Hobby mixes traditional design with contemporary touches.”
these treasures in clients’ homes was a lesson in layering textiles and objects to create special, beautiful spaces.”
Sherman usually begins with one item that is meaningful to the client - perhaps a textile or a work of art.
“I had been eyeing this wallpaper by Ottoline for years,” the homeowner says. “It’s a small flower pattern and feels playful and cottage-y.”
With a sample in hand, Sherman began to weave the colorful, layered tapestry of the design.
The cozy sitting area is anchored by a cornflower blue sofa flanked by sage green tables. They are accented by books and collectibles, including a red basket
Sherman found at a High Point antique store from noted horticulturist Bunny Mellon’s estate. Sherman found a handpainted Swedish corner cabinet at a Richmond antiques store.
“It’s the small details and special pieces that give a room warmth and interest,” Sherman says.
In the breakfast nook, a square Parsons table is surrounded by French bistro chairs Sherman spotted at the Bon Marché department store in Paris. She accented the wall with an abstract painting from a Charlottesville antiques store.
“It’s this Rothko-esque painting by Diane Lightsey, and the scale and colors were perfect,” Sherman says. “I love
incorporating contemporary artwork with traditional pieces to create an unexpected mix.”
Adjacent to the breakfast area is an antique chest of drawers that's sentimental for the homeowner.
“My dad’s cousin was a renowned interior designer in Charlotte for many years,” the homeowner says. “When he died, everything went to an estate sale in Columbia so I bought several things, including this chest.”
Nestled against a bay of windows, the bed’s soft, tailored linens offer a restful escape for houseguests. Beneath one of the bedside tables sits a favorite piece of the homeowner’s.
"Hobby found this antique tole stack of books that opens for storage,” the homeowner says. “It’s one of a kind and so interesting — a perfect example of what makes her work full of personality.”
The guest cottage doubles as a pool house and has a full kitchen for entertaining.
“We couldn’t be happier with the way Hobby curated such a comfortable, welcoming space for our family and friends,” the homeowner says. “It feels like it’s been here forever.”
ARTICLE BY LIZ BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATHRYN KING, LIZ BROWN
QUEEN CITY, I’M HONORED TO SHARE YOUR STORIES
My husband, Mike, and I have been married for 12 years. We met in Washington, D.C. and moved to Charlotte in 2013. We have three children, Lily, 9, Lee, 7, and Caroline, 2. We are a musical family: Lily and I play piano, Mike plays guitar, Lee plays cello and Caroline sings along.
The bar at O-Ku, for drinks and sushi, or Barrington’s, for its intimate feel and rhubarb cobbler.
I was born on Feb. 29, so I only have a birthday every four years. In fact, I am only 10 years old!
During COVID, I took up a new hobby: birding! I love watching osprey, red-winged blackbirds, and herons in Avalon, N.J. where we go to the beach every summer.
Red-winged blackbird by Liz Brown
I believe in signs from loved ones passed, like Laura Lynne Jackson suggests in her book “Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe.” I take comfort that my beloved grandmother, who passed in 2022, sends me signs daily.
Established as the premier destination for men’s luxury fashion in Charlotte, the store offers bespoke made-to-measure tailoring, ready-to-wear, and personalized customer service with a focus on quality and craftsmanship. They cater to a vast array of clientele with their curated selection of suits, shirts, and accessories.
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SEPTEMBER 1ST - 8TH
Disney’s The Lion King
Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N Tryon St.
Disney’s The Lion King, winner of six Tony Awards, returns to the Belk Theater. Tony Award-winning director Julie Taymor brings to life a story filled with hope and adventure set against an amazing backdrop of stunning visuals. The Lion King also features some of Broadway’s most recognizable music, crafted by Tony Award-winning artists Elton John and Tim Rice.
SEPTEMBER 6TH - 8TH
Yiasou Greek Festival
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 600 East Boulevard
From dance performances and live music to shopping, cultural events, and a kids playland, the Yiasou Greek Festival has something for each member of the family. Live entertainment is the centerpiece of the festival; listen to nationally known Greek bands; view dance performances and cultural reenactments from members of the Greek community; attend lectures and learn about Greek history.
SEPTEMBER 7TH
Duke’s Mayo Classic: North Carolina State Wolfpack vs. Tennessee Volunteers
Bank of America Stadium | 7:30 PM
Enjoy the chance to kick off the college football season without having to drive out of town to see bigtime programs clash in the Duke’s Mayo Classic. The ACC’s N.C. State Wolfpack face off against the SEC’s Tennessee Volunteers in the first meeting between the schools in 12 years and only the fifth meeting all-time.
SEPTEMBER 20TH - 22ND Festival in the Park Freedom Park
60TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL IN THE PARK. Since 1964, Festival in the Park has been bringing good music, good art and good times to Charlotteans and visitors from around the world. Time: Friday: 4-9 p.m., Saturday: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m., Sunday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
SEPTEMBER 24TH - 29TH
Charlotte Film Festival
The Independent Picture House, 4237 Raleigh St
The Charlotte Film Festival was created to give both established and emerging filmmakers a weekend festival to showcase their works for industry peers and avid enthusiasts of independent film. Over the years, the Festival has grown to include state-of-the-art venues, attracting filmmakers from around the world as well as industry professionals, corporate sponsorships, and a dedicated audience.
SEPTEMBER 28TH
Wine & Food Festival
Symphony Park, 4400 Sharon Rd. | 1:00 PM
Come out and enjoy what more than 100,000 guests in Charlotte have enjoyed over the years. Taste hundreds of local, national, and international wines, along with beers and spirits in a relaxed setting. The Wines are Fine, just served in a fun environment. Noon admission for VIP ticketholders.
