Cary Living Magazine

J A N UA RY | F E B R UA RY 2 0 1 6

Wedding

guide GOWNS, VENUES, FOOD, REGISTRIES, PLANNING AND MORE!

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HEALTH & FITNESS IN THE NEW YEAR

publisher

a n o t e from the

Publisher/EDITOR Sioux Watson Advertising Sales Kathleen Moran | Charis Painter | Sioux Watson Michelle Palladino | Ashley Carter Creative Director Travis Aptt Graphic Design Jennifer Heinser | Lori Lay Contributing Writers Dan Bain | Carol Wills | Dave Droschak Corbie Hill | Julie Johnson | Carla Turchetti Adam Sobsey | Heather Mallory | Paul Savery Karlie Justus Marlowe | Rachel Vashon

Happy New Year! Our team here at the offices of Cary Living Magazine has an exciting editorial year lined up for our readers and advertisers, and we are anxious to get started. By the time you are reading this letter our favorite creative director (and the glue that keeps us all together), Travis Aptt, will be a new father, and probably out on paternity leave for a while. We promise to post pictures of the new office bundle of joy.

It’s an annual cycle; there is always a big bump in memberships at gyms and fitness centers during January. All clubs benefit financially from the New Year’s resolutions that folks optimistically make every January. Our health and fitness section explores some ways to get your body fit, and your mind and soul as well. Be sure to read how owning a pet helps you to stay healthy – and if you don’t already have a pet, go straight to your local shelter and adopt one!

In this issue we bring you a planning guide for the new modern bride, and three real life stories of how local couples met and eventually tied the knot. There are also unusual

venues, registry ideas and lots of lovely wedding gowns! We asked readers to send in some of their most breathtaking wedding photos and the response was fantastic!

Need to commit to a worthwhile local nonprofit in your spare time?

Why not consider helping The Carying Place, a nonprofit based in Cary that assists homeless families with children, with your time or money. In this issue’s regular “Giving Back” column we take a look at this great organization that helps working families get back into a home of their own again.

Love it or hate it? Since Valentine’s Day is upon us, we spoke to people on the street and asked them what special things they do on their own or with a partner on Valentine’s Day, and two local couples share secrets to their long and happy marriages.

Enjoy the issue, and as always send me ideas for future stories and tell me what you liked in this one!

Sioux Sioux Watson Publisher/Editor

Your opinions matter to us. Let us know what you think of this issue of Cary Living.

Please email sioux@caryliving.com with your comments.

Photographers Davies Photography | Rob Kinnan Photography Dave Gill Photography Distribution manager Joe Lizana

Cary Living is published six times annually. Any reproduction in part or in whole of any part of this publication is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.

Cary Living is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photography or art. Unsolicited material is welcome and is considered intended for publication. Such material will become the property of the magazine and will be subject to editing.

Material will be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. Cary Living will not knowingly accept any real estate advertising in violation of US equal opportunity law.

Subscriptions 6 print issues (1 year) only $20 Available online via paypal ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 4818 Six Forks Road, Suite 204 Raleigh, NC 27609 Phone 919.782.4710, Fax 919.782.4763 www.caryliving.com

CARYLIVING

Photo © Brandon Humes with Southern Love Studios

JA NU A RY | F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 6

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features 32 buying a wEDDING GOWN Tips for that stressful gown search.

36 venues We look at three venues you will surely want to consider booking for your fairytale day.

40 nuptuals noshing The newest trends in catering, from a professional.

44 LOCAL COUPLES Three local couples create a beautiful source of inspiration.

50 alternative registires We are over blenders and toaster ovens too. Here are a few ideas for a registry that will create a lifetime of memories.

58 departments

52 the heart of cary Did you know you could plan a wedding without leaving downtown Cary? We did. But now we’ll share.

56 Running Do you run? Then this is for you.

Do you want to be a runner? Then this is for you too!

58 Clean eating What is clean eating? It sounds harder than it is!

62 benefits of pet ownership We all know how good it is to come home to a happy, wagging tail, but the benefits are richer than that.

64 CUPID ON THE STREET Local couples talk Valentines.

08 | Beauty tips 10 | Beer & Barrel 12 | giving back 14 | healthy you 16 | the interview 18 | the locals know 20 | Raising the Bar 22 | sports Scene 24 | sunday supper 26 | technology scene 28 | wares & wearables 30 | wine review 68 | out & about

Special thanks to Kate Pope Photography for our cover image www.katepope.com

beautytips Inspira Breast Implants

Micropeel Treatment The No. 1 treatment I recommend to everyone right now is the micropeel! It’s quick, there’s no downtime, and you look fabulous almost immediately afterwards. The micropeel is a great corrective peel that combines dermaplaning, chemical exfoliation and cryogenic therapy, and it helps reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, laxity, dullness and skin imperfections. I can’t say enough about my love for this treatment. Synergy Micropeel is available by appointment. $175.

I am so glad I took the plunge for my new cleavage. I felt so confident at all of the holiday parties I attended, and the photos people posted on social media were proof I made the right choice. A breast augmentation isn’t for everyone, but if you’ve been thinking about it, I love how the Inspira implants feel and look.

Consult with a trusted plastic surgeon in your area. $5,000-$7,000.

My Favorite Things ring in the new year with these must-haves!

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens may be the classics of favorite things, but I have a more modern selection that I’ve collected throughout the year. My favorite things – varying in cost – are my go-to items when asked for recommendations from friends and family, and now I want to share them with YOU for the year ahead! by anna churchill, Synergy Spa, Aesthetics & Wellness, feelsynergy.com

NeoStrata Glycolic Foaming Face Wash This face wash is a potent, pH-balanced cleanser, with the key ingredient being glycolic acid – an essential element to quality skin care. I recommend this to both men and women, because of the smoothing and pore-reducing effects of regular usage. For even better results, put a couple of pumps of this cleanser on your Clarisonic and let the glycolic acid do its magic! Available on neostrata.com or with participating retailers. $40.

Now Diffuser with Essential Oils I love my Now Diffuser, not only for how it makes me feel, but also how fresh my home and office now smell. At home I use a relaxing blend, and at the office I use an air purifying blend.

When looking for a blend of essential oils to use, consider using peppermint, eucalyptus, sweet orange and lavender. Find online or at participating retailers. $30-40.

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Belstar Cuvée Rosé This delicious and crisp rosé has never let me down. I always have a bottle on hand (what a good-looking bottle it is), and I find it makes the perfect host gift. According to a study by the University of Reading in the UK, drinking one to three glasses of bubbly a week “may counteract the memory loss associated with aging, and could help delay the onset of degenerative brain disorders, such as dementia.”

Well, cheers to that! Find at Taylor’s Wine or Seaboard Wine on special order. $11-18. L

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beer&barrel the brewhouse AT NEUSE River Brewing Company.

Newbie Breweries The Class of 2015

The tasting room at Fainting Goat Brewing Company in Fuquay-Varina, the newest brewery in the Triangle – for now.

// By julie johnson

Spurred by the rising popularity of craft beer, the number of breweries in North Carolina has grown from a handful in the nineties to over 150 today. In the Triangle alone, seven new brewing companies opened in 2015, bringing the total to 39.

Can our region sustain that many new breweries? Their founders certainly think so, each one confident that their distinctive beers, style traditions, neighborhood focus or ambiance will give them a niche that appeals to customers.

Here, briefly, is the class of 2015, roughly from oldest to youngest, and the qualities that make each one stand out:

Bull Durham Beer Company, located inside the Durham Athletic Park, promises to “serve Durham Bulls fans the freshest beer of any ballpark in America.” Brewmaster Sebastian Wolfram hails from Bavaria where he worked at the stellar Ayinger Brewery, among others, before a stint at Natty Greene’s: expect German-style beers, scrupulously brewed.

Conveniently sited next to Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, YesterYears Brewery has a retro feel and gives a conscious nod to a simpler time between the forties and the sixties, in tribute to founder David Larsen’s father.

Joining the scene in Raleigh, Neuse River Brewing Company (518 Pershing Road) concentrates on the two hottest craft categories: India pale ales and Belgian-style beers. Their Down River series is dedicated to the most eccentric Belgian brews, fermented with wild yeast and souring bacteria, and aged in wooden barrels.

Regulator Brewing Company takes its inspiration from the eponymous pre-Revolutionary agrarian movement, buying at least 75% of its ingredients from local farms. Regulator is a nanobrewery, with no taproom: their three flagship beers and seasonal are only available at a few Hillsborough bars.

Compass Rose (3201 Northside Drive, Raleigh) gives 10 | caryliving.com

North Raleigh residents their first convenient craft brewery.

John Coulter, one of the three founders, hopes that the location will bring in locals from all walks of life. He adds, “We feel that the size and openness of our taproom sets us apart from other breweries and is the perfect setting for large groups like wedding receptions, parties and reunions.”

Downtown Fuquay-Varina now supports two new brewing companies in addition to long-established Aviator, turning this small town into a craft beer destination. Lincoln Brewing Company (2912 N Main Street) opened first, the latest enterprise of Richard Camos, who already operates pizza restaurants, tap rooms and bottle shops in the Triangle area.

Fainting Goat Brewing Company (330 S Main Street) opened in the fall. Despite its small size, the nanobrewery produces an eclectic range of flagship beers, including their Traditional Noble Hopped Hefeweizen, Pomegranate Tart Witbier, 90 Minute Mosaic hopped American pale ale, and Belgian Tripel, with a pecan maple porter and a chocolate ale in rotation. Co-owner Tim Reichert says, “We offer a generously sized tasting room with large bar, outdoor patio, and gas fire pit.”

Explore these breweries soon: at the rate things are going, they won’t be the newbies very long. L

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givingback

Photos courtesy of The Carying Place

The Carying Place Breaking the Cycle of Poverty for Homeless Working Families // By Carla turchetti

FOR ANYONE WHO IS READING THIS MAGAZINE SEATED on a comfortable piece of furniture in a home with the lights on and the heat running, the concept of homeless families struggling to survive is a foreign one. But the staff and volunteers of The Carying Place say it is a story that is all too familiar to them.

“A lot of people are a paycheck or two away from experiencing great financial difficulty,” says Leslie Covington, Executive Director at The Carying Place, a nonprofit based in Cary that assists homeless families with children. “We call them the hidden homeless,” Leslie says.

And she says it is easy for these homeless families to get lost in a part of the country that is growing and thriving and winning awards for being such a great place to live.

“It’s elite, there’s money and plenty of money to spare and everybody is prosperous,” Leslie says.“But there are regular people who are mixed in, and they are the folks experiencing things like single parents having to be in the hospital missing work, therefore missing pay, therefore losing their house. They seem hidden; you don’t realize they are there, but they actually are.”

Leslie says by the time families come to The Carying Place to ask for help, they have already confronted the most desperate of situations – they have no place to live.

“The survival instinct kicks in and folks try to figure out what to do next,” Leslie says. “They count on family and friends, and a lot are ashamed of what’s going on with them.

They end up in their cars or trying to live in hotels until they get their feet back on the ground.”

For families who qualify for open spots, The Carying Place owns transitional housing properties where they can live for free with utilities paid for four months as participants in the program.

12 | caryliving.com

“That is usually what people are looking for, but the most important thing is not the transitional housing piece,” Leslie says. “Our biggest mission is helping people learn better financial management, learning how to budget and follow that budget. Learning to cut things out that they simply have to cut out, because they just don’t fit.

Sometimes you can’t get to where you want to get to when you’re still spending money on McDonald’s every night.”

Clients of The Carying Place attend weekly sessions where volunteers help teach them life skills, including managing their finances. Because, Leslie says, without the proper knowledge, homeless working families aren’t very successful at getting back on track.

“A lot of times what’s happening is, they are pouring their money in a hole,” Leslie says. “They aren’t able to come out. Let’s say you do have an apartment but you were evicted because you were out of work for illness or another crisis. Now you have to pay back the hospital and those stacks of bills. You end up not being able to dig your way out of it. “ At the weekly sessions, volunteers help families figure out how to live on the salaries they make and look for strategies for paying off old bills while making and keeping enough money to move forward. They carefully examine each family’s receipts to pinpoint which expenses were necessary and which were not.

Housing those families and providing utilities and education is an expensive proposition for The Carying Place.

“We rely on the kindness and the good hearts of grants, of corporations of foundations, of families who have heard about The Carying Place and have the ability to give in either big amounts or small amounts, whatever it takes,” Leslie says.

Annual organized fundraisers include an auction event, a road race and an annual campaign. The Carying Place has assisted 350 families to date, but there are another 250 families on the wait list hoping to receive services.

The Carying Place is committed to promoting self-sufficiency among the working homeless to try and help them break the cycle of poverty.

“Unfortunately, homelessness is not going anywhere,” Leslie says. “It does get worse as times goes by, but we’re chipping away at it one family at a time. And we’re teaching those families how to fish instead of giving them a fish.” L

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www.thecaryingplace.org

491 James Jackson Avenue | Cary 919.462.1800

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healthyyou

Just Breathe

BY Sangini Rane, Apex physical Therapy

AND WHILE YOU’RE AT IT, BLOW UP A BALLOON...

Breathing seems like the most natural thing to do – you just inhale, exhale and repeat the process all day long. We are hardly aware of it despite the fact that we do it roughly 14 times every minute. Yet, most of us may be doing it all wrong. And this inefficient breathing pattern may be compromising your mobility, raising your stress level and undermining your performance in the gym and in everyday life. A faulty breathing pattern means that other muscles, such as your neck or back muscles (called accessory muscles), will pick up the slack. The overuse of these muscles can lead to neck pain, jaw pain, headaches, referred pain in the shoulder, low back pain and much more.

The diaphragm, our main breathing muscle, is shaped like a dome. When we inhale, it flattens out and lowers to allow air in. When we exhale, it domes up to push the air out. When it is not working properly, chances are that it is not positioned optimally and more often than not, it stays flat versus being domed up like a parachute. This is especially true on the left, with the heart pressing down on it on the left, the left diaphragm has a harder time doming up to push the air out. As a

14 | caryliving.com

result, we often see the left chest wall slightly hyperinflated while the right upper chest wall has a harder time getting air in. You may see this asymmetry in the mirror. Does your left ribcage stick out a little further than the right? Join the crowd!

This normal asymmetry also locks us into a “rightward pattern” as both the larger liver and the right diaphragm constantly pulls us to the right. We begin to lose our ability to shift our weight equally from side to side. This creates problems, as the human body was not designed to remain fixed on one side. It’s designed for reciprocal, alternating movements such as walking, crawling and climbing. Loss of this reciprocity also affects our ability to breathe effectively. When we cannot use our diaphragm the way it was designed, we lose our core stability.

If you can understand how powerful breathing patterns can be, you will realize that these can affect the whole body. That is why practitioners of the Postural Restoration Institute put such an important focus on breathing patterns and diaphragm function to treat all kinds of problems ranging from low back pain, neck and jaw pain to shoulder pain and overuse injuries. One powerful technique they use is blowing up a balloon to restore the optimal position of the diaphragm. And a lot of folks in the athletic world are paying attention. Many major and minor league teams around the country now have their athletes doing just that. L

The information on this page is provided by the advertiser mentioned above to the public.

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Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht // By Sioux Watson

MAYOR WEINBRECHT HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN CARY leadership roles for years, and successfully ran for mayor in 2008. Since becoming mayor he has blogged weekly the details of all his mayoral duties at Cary town meetings, leaving an elaborate trail of publicly accessible notes on running the popular town in a remarkably transparent and compelling way.

A thoroughly modern mayor, he is married, has launched two daughters into the world and maintains his day job as a software engineer at SAS Institute in Cary. He confesses to a super healthy active lifestyle that includes eating well and exercising for fun and fitness by playing tennis, running, bicycling and working out on his home commercial grade exercise equipment.

Q1: When were/are you happiest?

Our family gathers for holidays such as Thanksgiving, and in the middle of the chaos of family being all together is the time I am the happiest.

mocks me for this and teases me for my predictability, but it is always the same: oatmeal, toast and orange juice every morning.

Q6: What is your favorite word?

Q2: What is the trait you wish you had?

I often wish I could be more persuasive; when I am trying to get someone to understand an idea and why it may be the better way to go, I wish my power of persuasion was better.

Q3: What is top of your bucket list?

I never thought I had a bucket list, but I am a big tennis guy and I would love to attend all the major grand slam tennis tournaments.

I have already been to the US Open in New York a few times. For our 30th anniversary, in 2017, my wife and I already have plans to go to the French Open in Paris, and after that I’d love to go to Wimbledon and the Australian Open.

Q4: What is your most treasured possession?

After we lost our house to a fire in 2002, I quickly realized photos and videos of my family are my most treasured items. While the house was burning, and Cary firemen were running through the house, they grabbed pictures off the walls and saved many family pictures – for which I am so grateful.

Q5: What is your favorite breakfast food?

For decades I have eaten the same thing for breakfast. My family 16 | caryliving.com

My favorite word is “relax”, and I have had to learn to schedule time to relax. Early on in being the mayor, I had a town clerk who scheduled an appointment with me under false pretenses.

She started the meeting saying she was actually having a little intervention with me, as I was working seven days a week and she feared I would burn out unless I started finding time to take a break from work. Since then I always schedule at least 30 minutes a day to relax, even if it is just to watch a TV program.

Q7: What makes you unhappy?

In my position I sometimes get criticism, and if it is based on something true I can handle it. But many times the criticism is based on a lie, and this makes me so unhappy, when people rail against me because of lies or untruths.

Q8: Who would play you in the film of your life?

Tom Hanks. I love most of his films and admire him.

Q9: What is your guiltiest pleasure?

Bacon cheeseburgers, I like to eat a bacon cheeseburger at least once a week. Cary has many good burger restaurants...of course there’s the Hurricane Grill and I also like BurgerFi, among many others.

Photo © Rob Kinnan Photography

theinterview

Q10: Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

Tom Hanks, Patrick and John McEnroe, and my wife’s favorite author Diana Gabaldon.

Q11: What song would you like played at your funeral?

What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong.

Q12: What do you do to relax?

Well, I am very obsessive about exercise; exercising is a way to relax for me. At a recent health check my doctor said she had good news and bad news. “The good news is, all your numbers are very good; the bad news is, you are addicted to endorphins.”

Q13: What vacation spot do you return to again and again?

Hilton Head, because I can do all of the things I love to do in one day by dinner time.

I start the day by playing tennis for two hours. Then, I can bike Hilton Head Island for several hours around the island, get back home and then run an hour around the shoe-shaped island. It is my perfect vacation spot.

Q14: What is something that people would be surprised to know about you?

I start each day by getting up between 5-6am, do 300 crunches, some weightlifting, and then get ready for work.

““

Ataarecent recent health health check At checkmy mydoctor doctor said she she had had good said good news newsand andbad bad NEWS. The good news is your numbers NEWS. “The good news is, your numbers arevery very good; good, the isis you are the bad badnews news, you are addicted to endorphins. are addicted to endorphins.”

Q15: What did you want to be when you were growing up?

””

A college professor. I ended up as a high school teacher for a while as I originally got a BS in mathematics, before going back to NC State and getting another degree in computer science.

Q16: What is the most important lesson life has taught you?

I grew up with a single parent who was an alcoholic, and I was angry and unhappy in high school. I felt antisocial and was bullied by other kids. At 16 I was on my own and working fulltime. If I had known then that I would later become a successful person, family man and mayor of a town, I would have been better able to believe in myself. What I learned from this early life is to be humble, be honest and to believe in yourself. L

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thelocalsknow

The Chocolate Boutique // Story & photos By DavE DrosChak

NUTS, BEER AND CHOCOLATE. SOUNDS LIKE a party.

Well, at times it is at The Chocolate Boutique in West Park Village off Chapel Hill Road.

The Chocolate Boutique isn’t exactly your run-of-the-mill confection factory. Owner Kesha Dozier has created an atmosphere of fun in which a large portion of her business is centered around customized chocolate parties for kids, companies – even girls looking for a night on the town. And during the upcoming Valentine’s Day week it’s a series of date nights.

“We like to say ‘from four to 92’ because we’ve had those ages and everything in-between,” said Dozier, whose first store in North Raleigh was founded five years ago.

“And we’re unique because we pair chocolates with wine and beer,” she added. “We feature a special wine of the week based on the truffles and chocolates we’re making at the time.

We also work with a local brewery to pair some white chocolates with something like a blonde beer.”

Making your own chocolate creations from more than 1,200 chocolate molds is not only fun, but the Belgian and Swiss candies taste so darn good.

“We have molds from spark plugs to high heel shoes, and during Valentine’s Day there are cupids and hearts in every single size you can think of to pour chocolate into,” Dozier said.

Coming out of the holiday season, Dozier and her husband Maurice have little time to relax, calling Valentine’s Day “the single most important day of the year in the chocolate world.”

She says sales during that day alone usually total five 18 | caryliving.com

to 11 percent of her annual business, with the entire week accounting for approximately 15 percent in a good year.

“It is a madhouse of chocolate being made and sold … coupled with lots of fun,” Dozier said.

“Unfortunately, my husband and I don’t look at Valentine’s Day the way we used to,” she added with a chuckle. “We just celebrate it in a much different way. We look forward to everyone getting chocolate and February 15 coming, and then we can go out for dinner…if we’re still standing.”

The 43-year-old Dozier says she has always been a big fan of chocolate. “I had been in corporate America for many years and I said before I died I wanted to do something I loved. And luckily chocolate makes everyone else happy, too.”

Besides all of the tasty treats artfully displayed, another attention grabber in the store is a massive multi-tiered fondue fountain nicknamed Flo by the store’s Facebook fans.

“She is the 12th one like her in the country and the only one in the state of North Carolina,” Dozier said. “Two flavors at one time can flow, so you can do dark chocolate with peanut butter or if you are a Tar Heel fan you can do blue and white.”

Dozier rents Flo for weddings or corporate functions. L

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raisingthebar

Not The Breast Outcome we’ve got answers to your legal questions

Q

Three months before my wife left me, she had breast enhancement surgery. We financed her surgery with a home equity line of credit. Now that we are divorcing, who is responsible for this debt?

Have a question?

Let us hear it: info@caryliving.com

MeettheCounsel

Deborah Sandlin

Susan Goetcheus

Sandlin Family Law Group www.sandlinfamilylaw.com Certified in the area of family law by the NC State Bar This is paid legal advertisement. The information contained in this article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. No attorney client relationship is created by the publication and reading of this article. All domestic matters are different and all specific questions should be directed to an attorney who can answer those questions and provide legal advice based on your unique circumstances.

20 | caryliving.com

You may be responsible for at least some of the debt owed for your wife’s surgery. While there is no hard and fast rule governing this issue, there is at least one North Carolina case which holds that such a debt is marital. When a debt is determined to be marital, it may be divided between divorcing spouses.

However, in determining how a debt should be allocated between divorcing spouses, the court will consider a variety of factors.

Before I was married, my parents gave me a plot of land adjacent to the family farm. My name is the only one on the deed. After we married, my wife and I built a house on my land. The house is encumbered with a mortgage in both our names. My wife and I are divorcing. Am I in danger of losing the family land?

No. The land is your separate property, since you acquired it prior

to the marriage. The house on the land is marital property, since you and your wife acquired the house during the marriage. The value of the house will be considered with the value of other marital assets in determining how marital assets should be divided ultimately.

My husband and I are divorcing and disagree about who should keep our dog. I love our dog and will take better care of him. Who keeps the dog?

Unfortunately, as the law stands currently, your dog is merely property to be divided with other property in your divorce. Any judicial determination about who keeps the dog will be based on statutory factors relevant to property and not based on your dog’s best interests. Hopefully the law will soon evolve to better reflect the depth of our relationships with our pets.

Shortly after my husband and I separated, I sold a song that I wrote during my one-year marriage.

Is my husband entitled to any of the money I received from the song’s sale?

Since you wrote the song during your marriage, your husband may be entitled to some of the money from the song’s sale. However, how much he may be entitled to receive will depend on various factors, including the fact that you were only married for one year. L

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Photography courtesy of the Carolina Hurricanes

sportscene

A Full Cup Memories of one improbable sports championship // By DAVID DROSCHACK

Has it really been 10 years SINCE the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup? Has it really been a decade since I stretched out my hand from my perch on press row to slap my son “five” after the clock ticked to zero on June 19th, 2006, and the Canes had shocked the hockey world and handed the Triangle quite a lasting sports memory?

At the time working as the lead website writer for the team, I called in a huge favor to secure my teenage son tickets to Game 7. But what were the odds that his seat would be located in the last row and directly below my location along press row? Then again, what were the odds that any of us would live long enough to see the Stanley Cup paraded onto the PNC Arena ice?

“See, that’s what I’m talking about, what a great memory for both of you.

I get goose bumps right now thinking about it,” former Carolina captain 22 | caryliving.com

Rod Brind’Amour said. “It’s a rush – a feeling you just wish everyone could experience in their lifetime.”

The Hurricanes and their fans will begin to remember that remarkable night soon with a series of upcoming 10th anniversary celebrations at the arena. Despite qualifying for the NHL playoffs just once since North Carolina’s only professional sports title, emotions will be high – trust me.

A lifelong hockey junkie growing up in Pittsburgh, tears streamed down my eyes as the Cup – arguably the most prized trophy in all of sports – first made its appearance from the tunnel. Not very professional of me I guess, but I couldn’t help myself.

The second lasting memory I have was heading back to the press room to write my story and having my fingers stick to the keyboard from the champagne baths I encountered in the locker room. I headed to the bathroom

to take a minute to wash up, and to gather my thoughts for a story I wanted to get perfect.

“I get put right back into the memories every time I think about it,” Brind’Amour said. “Every once in a while you’ll catch a different glimpse of something or a different perspective from someone, because there are a lot of people in this town that have some sort of memory from that game. That’s what is great about it; we brought so much joy to so many people. It’s corny, but it’s true.

“And I always get a kick out of people, because everybody says they were there,” laughs Brind’Amour.

Truth be told, I was there, and after writing more than 15,000 stories on people and places for 20 years as a reporter for The Associated Press, it remains the highlight of my career. And a lasting snapshot that will be for sure passed down for generations among Triangle hockey fans. L

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sundaysupper

French Quarter Flare // By Adam Sobsey // Photography By Rob Kinnan Photography

ASK REY ARIAS, THE PROPRIETOR OF REY’S IN Cary, how he emigrated from Cuba to America, and his wife Cecilia (who can often be found in and around the restaurant) pipes in with a joke: “On a raft!”

In fact, he flew. More than 20 years ago, his father entered the Arias family in the Cuban emigration lottery, and the number came up lucky. Rey was soon on a plane to Miami, but it was no easy transition: lottery winners must relinquish their Cuban passports and start over in the US. Each immigrant had to have a sponsor, and his was an aunt in New Orleans. There he began his pursuit of American citizenship, and the American dream, as a busboy. He worked his way up and around some of New Orleans’ finest restaurants, including the city’s Ruth’s Chris steakhouse.

In the mid-nineties, Arias spent a few years opening branches of another steakhouse chain – owned by a fellow entrepreneurial Cuban, in fact – in Texas and Oklahoma.

In San Antonio he met Cecilia, who became his wife.

(Cecilia is from Mexico.)

In 1997, Arias returned to the Ruth’s Chris fold to open their new Cary location. Seven years later, the Cary franchise moved, but instead of moving with them, Arias did something bold: he stayed put and opened his own 24 | caryliving.com

place right on the spot. It was what he had wanted to do all along.

The owner and name of the restaurant changed, but the basics did not: Rey’s, like Ruth’s Chris, remains a steakhouse – “with a French Quarter style,” says his Private Events Director, Christina Reeves. Filets, strips, ribeyes and chops are the main attractions, but the menu features plenty of old-school New Orleans cuisine, which differs from what we sometimes imagine. This is not spice-driven Cajun fare (although Rey’s will blacken fish on request, and the menu offers blackened tuna with a tapenade of pineapple, tomato, red onion, black beans and cilantro – a dish that might have you dreaming a little of Cuba). Instead, it’s a more classical, mellower, Frenchinfluenced cuisine that runs to turtle soup, steak Oscar (the sauce is a hollandaise variation), and the luxurious bananas Foster, which is flambéed at the table.

And that table, candlelit, is in a warm, cozy setting.

Rey’s is “very traditional, with rich woods and colors,” Reeves says, a more romantic update on the old Ruth’s Chris décor. “A lot of people come here for special occasions, but once they get to see how we are, they realize we’re not just a special occasion restaurant.” Over the years, Rey’s has built a large community of regular

clientele, whose tables you’ll often find Rey visiting, making the rounds of his loyal returnees.

As in the dining room, so in the kitchen and office. Arias has many longtime employees, including some who stayed on after Ruth’s Chris left the premises. Reeves says, “It wasn’t where I was; it was who I was with.” She has worked with him for nearly 20 years, ever since she graduated from East Carolina University with a degree in Hospitality Management and Business Administration. The loyalty of people like Reeves is the sign of a restaurant run with heart and humanity.

“He saw me through boyfriends and marriage and being pregnant and kids and divorce,” Reeves says. “He was the first person at the hospital when my twins were born, out there pacing like everybody else. If one of my kids is sick, ‘Okay.’ As long as you get your work done, he trusts you. He gives you his trust from the beginning.”

And he gives you his food: “He feeds us every day,” Reeves says. The so-called “family meal” for staff comes straight from Arias himself – including, sometimes, a homey standby: chicken-feet soup. “It cures cancer,” Reeves says, lovingly.

“He loves to cook,” says Cecilia, Arias’ wife. “He loves to cook for everybody. And Rey has a very personal touch. We have a lot of regular customers. They come back for years. He treats everybody like family.”

Cuban food will sometimes pop up on Rey’s bill of fare for special events, but the restaurant’s menu sticks to its steakhouse and New Orleanian offerings (no chicken-feet soup). While you dream of ropa vieja perhaps appearing someday alongside Oscar Beef Tournedos and Bourbon Street Pork Chops, you can get closer to Arias’ roots with his Sunday Supper recipe for Tortilla Española. It’s easy and simple to prepare, and can be eaten at breakfast or lunch, too.

TORTILLA ESPAÑOLA (Spanish Omelet) INGREDIENTS 4 4 1

medium white potatoes eggs small yellow onion salt olive oil

directions 1. Peel and rinse the potatoes, then dice them small and very thin. Peel the onion and dice it the same way.

2. In a frying pan on low heat, slowly fry the potatoes in the olive oil for 10 minutes; add the onions and fry for 10 more, until golden. Drain the oil, then remove the

potatoes and onions from the pan and set them aside.

3. Beat the eggs, then mix them with the potato-onion mixture. Season with salt to taste.

4. Increase the heat under the pan to medium, and pour in the tortilla mixture. Cook 2-3 minutes; using a plate the same width as the pan, “flip” the tortilla and return it to the pan, inverted.

5. Cook 2 more minutes, slice into pie-shaped wedges and serve promptly. It may be garnished (optional) with sour cream, salsa or grated cheese. L

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REY’S RESTAURANT 1130 Buck Jones Road, Raleigh 919. 380.0122 reysrestaurant.com

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technologyscene

Smart Phone, Smart Car Automatic App Lets Your Car Talk to You // By Dan Bain

They say not to use your smart phone while driving, but there’s at least one app that’s meant to be used behind the wheel. It’s called Automatic, and it works with your car’s on-board computer to provide you with engine diagnostics, fuel efficiency information, emergency crash response, and more.

The app pairs with an adapter that plugs into the standard diagnostics (OBD-II) port on just about any nonelectric US vehicle with a model year of 1996 or later. This allows your smart phone to access the data on your car’s on-board computer – securely and wirelessly. It supports iPhone 5, 5c, 5s, 6, and 6 Plus with iOS 7 and above, plus phones running Android 4.0 and above.

Once Automatic accesses your data, the Wow factor kicks in – the main app can tell you exactly why your 26 | caryliving.com

non-specific “Check Engine” light came on, give you real-time feedback on your driving skills to improve fuel efficiency, locate your car if you forget where you parked it, warn you when your fuel level is low, map out and track your trips, and detect a crash and alert first responders and loved ones immediately afterward.

Automatic also features a gallery of third-party apps that can do any number of useful and/or fun things for you, such as determining the cost of a trip, splitting that cost among carpoolers, tracking business travel expenses, reminding you when parking fines are due, pre-heating your house while you’re still driving, and more.

The adapter costs $99.95, and the Automatic app comes with it. Check for compatibility, find more info, or order Automatic at www.automatic.com. L

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Cozy waresandwearables

FRAAS COZY WORDS SCARF // BeYOUtiful Butterfly, $36

Everything you need to stay warm during the coldest of times in North Carolina.

Lily pulitzer hart cashmere wrap

Bay Blue pictured. // Ashworth Prim & Proper, $198

The Chill-CHASER package

Pepperment Bark, Chocolate Spoon, Bellagio Gourmet Hot Cocoa, Cookie, Mug. // Chocolate Smiles, $15

Faux Fur Tunic & leather leggings

by THML

MWW Woven Blankets Made in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. // Elizabeth’s Home & Garden, $59

Make sure you have this faux fur tunic and leggings accented by the sweetheart choker, arrowhead, and quartz tassel necklaces on your Christmas list this year and visit us! // Saint Mary’s School, $15-$69

Entro Faux Leather and Sheep’s/Lamb’s Wool Cape // Pink Magnolia Boutique, $49

FITFLOP boots and wool-lined moccasins

“The Cuddler” Snugmoc, Chestnut $100 FitFlop Muk Luk Shorty, Black $170 // BeYOUtiful Butterfly 28 | caryliving.com

Tribal Faux Fur vest

Coffee pictured. // Southern Charm Boutique, $136.99

Artfelts by Cynthia Mollenkopf

100% wool scarf, $120 95% wool poncho, $80 // Cary Gallery of Artists

Ashley by 26 International Multi striped wrap sweater

Snoozies! So Soft Assorted Designs, $12.99 Sequins, $14.99 // The Perfect Piece

// Sophie & Mollie’s, $78

Chaser Vintage SweatShirts

// Halie’s Boutique, $79.95

The Stressless Mayfair recliner

With gentle curves, padded arms and a supple seat, these recliners offer an invitation to pure relaxation. Leather. // Ambiente Modern Furniture, $2,595 caryliving.com | 29

winereview Kestrel Cabernet Sauvignon

Conde de Caralt Blanc de Blancs Brut Cava

Montoya Cabernet Napa Valley

The Calling Chardonnay RRV Dutton Ranch

Solar de Castro Rioja Vendimia Seleccionada, 2009

91 Wine Advocate

Yakima, Washington

Spain

Napa Valley, California

Russian River Valley Sonoma, California

Rioja, Spain

Aromas of black cherries, currants, pomegranate, cranberries, spice, dried herbs, toasted coconut, vanilla and cocoa. The tannins are firm and the finish lingers.

Opens up with an enticing orange blossom bouquet, lively bubble trails and fine mousse. On the palate, the wine is creamy, clean and refreshing. Flavors of apples, citrus, brioche and vanilla resolve with lively mineral notes into a wellbalanced finish.

This elegant and smooth offering from the heart of Napa Valley displays an abundance of blackberry, plum and currant flavors tempered by a hint of toasty oak. A great value for a wine from this prestigious region. Match with grilled steak, lamb or sausage.

Made by world-class winemaker Marco DiGuilio, this wine is backed by subtle hints of oak and crisp flavors of lemon and juicy white nectarine.

A partnership between two friends, sports commentator Jim Nantz and wine entrepreneur Peter Deutsch.

Offers up an enticing nose of balsam wood, leather, Asian spices, lavender, and black cherry. In the glass it is smooth-textured, spicy, incipiently complex, and sweetlyfruited...outstanding volume, impeccable balance, and a lengthy, pure finis.

$21.99/bottle

$14.99/bottle

$29.99/bottle

$18.99/bottle

$17.99/bottle

// By KEVIN GORDON, wine manager total wine & more, Crossroads Shopping Center 30 | caryliving.com

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Photo © Brandon Humes with Southern Love Studios

How exciting to reach the decision to get married. One of the first visions that pop into most new brides-to-be imaginations is what they will be wearing on that auspicious day. Magazines devoted to the latest bridal fashions abound, and unlimited images are available online. There is nothing like going to an actual bridal store and seeing with your own eyes the shades of white and off-white, the fabrics, the textures and dress designs available.

32 | caryliving.com

Buying a

gOwn

by Sioux Watson

W H E N T O S TA R T Wedding planning experts suggest ordering a gown nine to twelve months in advance since many dresses are made to order and come from faraway places like China, where a 15-day Chinese New Year in the spring brings the whole country to a screeching halt. Gowns made in the US, Canada and Europe should be ordered four to seven months in advance. If your budget includes bridal portraits prior to the wedding, most photographers need six to eight weeks to finalize the bridal portrait that is revealed at the reception.

Alterations require multiple fittings and can take weeks.

Some brides gain or lose weight after the original measurements are taken, so getting to wedding day with a perfectly fitting dress is hard work and takes time!

HOW MUCH TO SPEND Very few young couples get to plan a wedding with “money as no object”. Sit down with an interactive wedding budget planner and decide early on what to spend on a dress. Avoid trying on gowns out of your price range to avoid heartbreak! There really are flattering dresses for every figure, and buying a dress in your price range is doable as long as you start early. Some shops have sales with last year’s models or discontinued styles at a fraction of the original price.

Sonja Lawrence of Brides, Etc in Southern Pines wisely shares, “Deciding on a budget will be extremely helpful when dealing with wedding vendors. Knowing your limits helps you not to get overwhelmed with all the choices. Keep in mind, ‘if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing right,’ which means

don’t try to do everything - don’t spread your budget too thin trying to do everything – because you will end up doing it halfway.”

SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS Scheduling an appointment during normal work hours (Monday through Friday from 10am-5pm) allows for a more serene and relaxing atmosphere and individual attention from shop assistants.

Set up appointments with local stores first to put less pressure on yourself that a choice must be made in two days (as in when brides fly to New York City to buy a dress and spend more money than budgeted because they feel pressured to buy a dress, any dress).

Plan to spend one and a half to two hours per appointment.

Smaller boutiques offer more personal service than larger chain stores and not nearly as much pressure. By shopping with your local store you can access their referrals for other wedding vendors like cakes, photographers, florists, etc. Industry locals always know who is the best, most economical, and has a solid positive reputation.

WHO TO BRING ALONG Wedding gown decisions should not be determined by committee. Watch one episode of Say Yes to the Dress and you will understand how a group of shoppers, well intentioned but disparate style seekers, can hijack a bride’s most personal decision. Bring your best friend and your mother at the most; shopping alone for a dress is also fine. Most brides find their dress by process of elimination, whittling down a selection to their top three choices and then honing in on “the one”.

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KEEP AN OPEN MIND TO STYLES Speaking of television programs, just like the hosts of “What Not to Wear”, your bridal gown consultants are experts at what styles look good on different body types. Take pictures of styles you like from magazines to show a consultant what appeals to you, and as long as a dress falls within your price range, be open to flattering styles she recommends for your figure. Often a bride ends up with a dress she loves in a style that previously never occurred to her.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE “PERFECT” DRESS Trends in wedding gowns change, so instead of going with what is the latest craze, focus instead on your personal style and what flatters you the most. The top portion is what most people see and is in most wedding photos, so love the top portion first and foremost. When the gown looks glamorous on you (and you

MUST try it on), and has both modern and traditional elements, you’ve found your timeless gown that will not go out of style.

Years later when looking back at the wedding photos, you’ll still be grateful for your choice.

T H AT ’ S N O T M Y S I Z E ! ( S I Z I N G A N D A LT E R AT I O N S ) It is a mystery to brides why wedding gowns tend to run so small in the sizing. Susan Neville at Traditions by Anna in North Hills says, “Keep in mind bridal gowns run very small compared to everyday wear, so brides should not get hung up on numbers.

Boutiques typically keep just a couple middle-of-the-road sizes in stock for fittings, and use tools like clips to show how a properly fit gown will look,” she continues. “The designer styles we carry typically only take four to seven months to complete.” Lawrence

Photo © Pattie Mims Photography

Photo © Brandon Humes with Southern Love Studios

34 | caryliving.com

Photo © Pattie Mims Photography

Photo © Sarahdipity Photos

Photo © Rebecca Schlieman with Millie Holloman

Photo © Pattie Mims Photography Photo © Brandon Humes of Southern Love Studios

adds, “It doesn’t matter what size your dress label says, unless of course you wear it wrong side out!” What matters most is the fit. If a gown doesn’t fit you properly, it doesn’t matter how much money you spend on the gown.”

O N L I N E P U R C H A S E S ( it didn ’ t look like that in the pictures ! ) Go online and it’s easy and instructive to find examples of women who have had the misfortune of buying a dress online at a “bargain” price only to receive the promised dress in the mail looking NOTHING like the photo. It is a true aphorism with bridal gowns that “you get what you pay for”; when shopping for a wedding dress, you should leave it to the professionals if you care about what you look like on your wedding day! For more information on online scams and counterfeiting issues, go

Photo © Rebecca Mill, The Indie Image

to the American Bridal and Prom Industry Association website: www.abpia.org

C A R I N G F O R A N D P R E S E RV I N G G O W N S Once the wedding is over and you are back from the honeymoon, it’s time to properly deal with the most expensive dress you’ve ever bought. “Preservationists” clean wine and mud stains as well as any invisible stains that may turn brown later on if not cleaned right away. After cleaning, the gown is wrapped in acid-free tissue paper and placed in a museumquality archival box, in order to save for a future family wedding or resale purposes. Check with your bridal gown store or wedding planner about local wedding gown preservationists. Expect to pay $250 and up, depending on the gown, for this service. L

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by Sioux Watson

Photo © Warren McCormack Phtography

Venues

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Photo courtesy of Het Landhuis

Photo © Southern Love Studios

Photo © Warren McCormack Phtography

Het Landhuis, Pittsboro

Dutch entrepreneur Chris Verwoerdt and wife Lisa lived on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill in the late nineties when Chris got it in his head to move to the country. They bought a 62-acre farm with a rundown farmhouse and started renovating. Over the next decade the renovations continued on and off, the farmyard filling up with pet cats, dogs, miniature horses, an Arabian horse, goats and even a rescue donkey. Two family members got married at the farm, and then one day a stranger drove down the driveway and asked if she could have her wedding there. Lisa was intrigued enough to attend a local monthly International Special Events Society meeting, where a wedding planner took her under her wing when she showed her a photo of her farm with its large, impressive barn. So smitten was the wedding planner, who was about to retire, she offered to help organize a “Grand Opening” event as her last hurrah before retiring for good. The Het Landhuis (www.hetlandhuis.com) Grand Opening was held in August 2010 and this past year, their fourth full season, they hosted 26 weddings. Lisa runs the farm and wedding venue business, while Chris continues with his business Starpoint Storage, a document/records management and storage company in Chapel Hill.

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DAVID & LOUISE FLOYD

Photo © 2 and 3 Photography

The Oaks at Salem, Apex

April Maness purchased a five-acre country farmhouse in Apex and built this mansion after spending years as a freelance photographer for Midtown Magazine. Freelance work at weddings led her to start her own wedding venue business, and since 2011 she has been holding weddings and other events in the magnificent setting of The Oaks at Salem, just minutes from downtown Cary. Corporate events, proms, retirement parties and birthday parties are also held there during the week, but most weekends from March to the end of November are prime wedding times, and every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in September and October were solidly booked with weddings this past year, adding up to 70 weddings in 2015.

What sets The Oaks apart from many venues is that it is a full-service venue with two full-time coordinators on site, who handle everything except the catering. Additional perks include an eight-passenger golf cart to transport guests from the parking area, a bridal suite and groom’s retreat on separate floors for changing and photography, chair and table setup and breakdown, and a large tent with fans and heating options for all kinds of weather; the tent extends capacity for parties up to 299 people.

6304 Old Jenks ROAD | Apex, NC 27523 theoaksatsalem.com 38 | caryliving.com

Photo © Joe Payne Photography

Photo courtesy of The Oaks at Salem

Fire Hall, Cary

Photo © Brandi Nunnery Photography

Timothy and Keisha got married at a Cary fire station just a week after getting engaged. The creative couple – he a fireman and she a Wake County public school teacher – are always thinking outside the box, and their instant wedding was anything but usual. The idea of getting married in a courtroom just wasn’t appealing to either, but they wanted to get married in a week!

As they brainstormed, the idea of using a fire station as a venue idea came out, and they both fell in love with it. Timothy works at Station 1 in Downtown Raleigh, which is way too hectic for even a brief ceremony, so Keisha’s sister made a few calls and “hit the jackpot” with the Cary Fire Department. The day could not have been more perfect, and simple. No decorations, no chairs, no white dress... just beautiful fire trucks in the background, with family and a crew of firemen dressed up in their uniforms; and in the center two love birds excited about spending the rest of their lives together. L

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VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT WAKE COUNTY.

Photo courtesy of Timothy and Keisha

Photo © Brandi Nunnery Photography

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Nuptials Noshing Wow Guests With Next-Level Comfort, Kitsch and Nostalgia

I

By Karlie Justus Marlowe

If food is a love language, the perfect place to turn up the volume is at a wedding reception. Brides and grooms are planning menus meant not only to fill guests up, but to introduce visitors to local specialties, entertain them with one-of-a-kind experiences and even share their history as a couple.

What’s new and next? Wedding industry veteran Lorin Laxton, vice president of the Triangle-based Catering Works, offers up a few tips and tried-and-tasted suggestions.

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Locavore Love “Brides now demand food made with local ingredients not only for freshness and environmental reasons, but also to introduce guests who have traveled in from different locations to local specialties,” said Laxton, who counts local cheese tables, barbeque with both eastern and western sauces, and meats braised in beers from North Carolina breweries like Aviator and Big Boss brewing companies as popular local choices.

“These options give weddings a farmers market feel,” said Laxton. And don’t stop with the food – consider sending guests home with locally grown favors like a peck of North Carolina apples, a jar of local honey or a mixed six-pack of favorite backyard breweries.

What’s Old is New Again Blame it on #ThrowbackThursday – traditional dishes once considered stuffy and dated are making their way back onto menus with a wink and a twist. Think duck a l’orange phyllo bites, crab claws with pink lemonade butter or an old-school Baked Alaska with salted caramel gelato.

Vintage cocktails also make the cut, often crafted with specialty bitters or sweetened vinegars known as shrubs for a Gatsby-era feel. Laxon suggests the Pippin Aperitif, a refreshing cocktail made with apple shrub, dry vermouth, lemon juice and club soda, or the Fitzgerald, made with gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and orange bitters.

“These drinks really reference that Cotton Club era with a classy twist,” said Laxton.

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Finger foods, DIY sandwiches, and miniature menu items like these sliders or S’mores are currently a hot trend. Also, area couples are favoring local brews to compliment the food, from breweries like Aviator Brewing Company.

Mini Mania Small plate stations are a modern riff on old-school buffets, and an opportunity to have fun with comfort foods. Think donut holes with a shot of milk, halfdollar sized grilled cheese sandwiches in a spoonful of tomato soup and crunchy taco bites served with a mini-margarita chaser.

“Mini-sized foods are still on trend and are a great option for cocktail hour because they travel well around the room,” said Laxton, who also suggests sliders as an easy riff on full-sized burgers and sandwiches. Use them to play up geographical areas important to the bride and groom, like North Carolina pork sliders or Catering Works’ Nashville hot chicken sliders with pickles.

Interactive Stations Intriguing live presentations amp up the reception experience and add excitement. Try a s’mores bar that trades in a campfire for a crème brûlée torch, fresh guacamole mixed on demand or oysters shucked to order and served with specialty hot sauces.

Another way to highlight North Carolina seafood in an unforgettable fashion: Catering Works’ smoked scallop with roasted tomatoes and mashed potatoes is presented in a sealed, miniature Mason jar to preserve its signature smoky flavor. When guests open the jars, the smoke is released before the first bite. L

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Photo © Rob Kinnan Photography

LOCAL COUPLES

by Sioux Watson

Photos © Kate Pope Photography (Previously Craven Creative)

Leah and Brian

B

Brian Joseph Mancini and Leah (Lilu) Jael were married on August 30th, 2014 at the Magnolia Manor Planation, a private historic venue located in a rural country farm setting in the Piedmont area. They couldn’t have chosen a more romantic setting. Magnolia Manor is a ca. 1855 Italianate plantation manor house on a secluded 13-acre site near Warrenton. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it’s a working bed and breakfast as well as a popular site for weddings.

Brian and Lilu found Magnolia Manor online while searching for a venue with a barn. Having grown up on a farm, Lilu wanted to have a barn for the dinner-dance following the

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wedding ceremony. Magnolia Manor’s barn was perfect. Brian and Lilu worked together to bring a personal touch to the wedding. They created the two large floral arrangements that surrounded them as they said their vows. They also personalized the table centerpieces for a more vintage rustic feel, with tree slabs and vintage crocheted doilies that Lilu had collected through the years.

The manor also supplied a DJ to work with Brian and Lilu to find just the right music for dancing. “Everybody was dancing all night long,” Lilu remembers.

Their close friend Troy Jacques Jermaine officiated at the

ceremony. Lilu’s dress was a vintage-inspired confection of ivory lace with a champagne-colored lining. Her seven attendants wore dresses of soft pink, ivory, gold and mint green. Lilu made her own reception dress for dancing, which was ivory satin with a pink petticoat.

Brian and Lilu’s daughter Madeleine, who was one and a half at the time, insisted on walking her mother down the aisle, which turned out to be the most memorable part of the ceremony. Both Madeleine and the other flower girl, Natalina, who is Lilu’s goddaughter, wore dresses that Lilu had made of soft pink satin with chiffon overlay and pearl beading.

Flowers for the ceremony were in-season blossoms, including ivory-colored roses and autumn berries that complimented the bride’s dress. The bridesmaids carried parasols instead of bouquets, which were perfect for the hot August temperatures.

Both the rehearsal dinner on the evening before the wedding and the wedding dinner were catered by Magnolia Manor. The rehearsal dinner featured Southern barbecue, and the wedding dinner was a traditional buffet. Wedding favors for the guests were boxes of Buttercrunch – a gift from Brian’s father who owns Mother Myricks, a chocolatier from Vermont.

Brian invited 10 of his childhood friends from all over the United States, from Connecticut to California, to serve as his groomsmen.

“Our whole weekend was a family-oriented event,” Lilu remembers. “We rented a very large house on Lake Gaston and the entire bridal party (and a few guests) stayed with us for a four-day gathering of childhood friends and family. The entire weekend and wedding was a joining of two different groups of friends, and everyone left with new friends and great memories.”

The newlyweds spent two honeymoon weeks in Italy, visiting Rome, Florence, Impruneta and Elba Island. L

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Photos © Tim Harmon Studios

Maya and Chandrakanth

M

Maya Nelson and Chandrakanth Reddy Gudamaralla met when Chandrakanth was studying at NC State for his master’s degree in computer engineering. He is now working as an engineer, and Maya is also working in the IT field. Rituals began for Maya on November 8 with a special bath for the bride. Sesame oil, turmeric powder, besan flour and sandalwood were applied to Maya’s body to give her glowing skin. Then, after a shower, she put on new clothes and recited prayers.

This began a period of time when Maya and Chandrakanth followed a strict vegetarian diet. They pledged

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their wedding vows to each other at 11:51pm on November 12th, 2015, in a traditional Hindu wedding. “According to Hindu beliefs, the consummation of the marriage at night fixed for an auspicious time guarantees a happy, long-lasting married life that is full of understanding and care,” says Maya.

“Two souls unite in a sacred act of fulfillment to bring forth progeny.”

Their wedding took place at the Hindu Society of North Carolina. Chakrapani Garu, of the Sri Venkateswara Temple, officiated at the ceremony. The wedding took place within a sacred altar known as the mandapam. The four pillars of the

mandapam symbolize the four parents of Chandrakanth and Maya and emphasize the vital role their parents have played in raising and supporting them.”

“We had hanging marigold garlands, and hanging torans of mango leaves (symbolizing fertility). It is believed that hanging the mango leaves ensures that the couple will bear many children. The two banana plants symbolize eternal life,” Maya says. “Our wedding garlands were made of chrysanthemums.”

“It is traditional in Hindu weddings for the groom’s family to choose the clothing for the bride,” Maya explains. “My mother-in-law chose my clothing and jewelry. I didn’t even try it on until the day of my wedding. “Hindu weddings are very vibrant with color. My bridal sari was turquoise, pink and gold.

My blouse was an iridescent purple and blue with gold accents.”

“My hair was adorned with a string of jasmine flowers. I didn’t carry a bouquet because it is Telugu tradition to carry kobbari bondam (tender coconut).”

“I felt as if I were living a dream,” says Maya. “My wedding was like a beautiful, vibrant, spiritual dream. Every detail of the wedding served a purpose – from the toe rings Chandrakanth placed on my toes to walking around the havan kund (sacred fire). Perhaps it felt so special because the traditional ceremony embraces the five elements of nature – fire, earth, water, air and the sky.” In one of the rituals of a Hindu marriage, the groom shows the bride the double stars of Vashista and Arundhati, a constellation symbolizing conjugal love and affection.

In the spring of 2016, the newlyweds are planning to travel to India. They especially want to see Shimla and Darjeeling, and possibly even Nepal. Chandrakanth’s relatives are planning to have a celebration for them. L

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Ashley and Tim Morrison T

Photos © Brandi Anderson Photography

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The Cary couple met in the Hope Community Church they attended while still in high school. Tim played in a band during high school and was on the music team at church. Though close in age, they attended different high schools – Tim at Panther Creek and Ashley at Apex High – and didn’t really connect and start dating until his senior year in high school when she was a freshman at NC State.

Tim’s band was called “Days In May”, and the night that he asked Ashley to be his girlfriend, his band had a show at Southland Ballroom in Raleigh. As she walked into the club the band struck up a song called Hey Aly, but changed the lyrics to ‘Hey Ashley’. They continued to be together through college at NC State, getting engaged the last year of school.

Tim grew up in Cary and now works as a paramedic for Cary Area EMS, and Ashley has her own social media marketing company, Abundant Marketing. Straight out of college, she says, “I worked for ‘The Man’ for only eight months and quickly realized I needed to be my own boss.”

They love Cary and really wanted engagement pictures in the heart of town featuring all the iconic backdrops there. Even though they ended up having a destination wedding in Myrtle Beach, It was important to Ashley that she shop locally when purchasing her wedding gown, so she bought it at a Cary bridal store.

The September 2015 wedding took place at The Breakers Resort, where Ashley grew up vacationing with her family. On their weekend the entire East Coast experienced a big storm with high winds, rain, astronomical high tides and flooding.

Luckily for the couple, who wanted the ceremony to be held outdoors on the beach-facing patio, the clouds

parted five minutes before the ceremony and the wedding took place as planned, with the dramatic skyline as a backdrop.

To keep expenses down, the wedding flowers, table arrangements, bouquets, corsages and boutonnières were all made by the bride.

Ashley says she loved her dress, which was a ball gown style with beading on the bodice and a modified sweetheart neckline. The bridesmaids wore navy dresses with coral sashes and shoes, and all the flowers were navy and coral as well.

Sixty-five friends and family gathered to witness the couple’s vows and enjoyed a catered meal indoors after the ceremony. Tim and Ashley honeymooned in the “affordable paradise” city of Fort Myers, Florida and still reside Cary. L

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A special thanks to Randy Taylor Weddings for helping us locate wedding couples and venues for our articles.

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Registry Ideas Modern Couple

by Sioux Watson

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Photo © Kate Hubler Photography

for the

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The modern couple comes in all shapes and sizes in 2016. From first-time-round couples in their 40s, to couples who have multiple marriages behind them, to same-sex couples, to two people who have children first and THEN decide to get hitched; all are the new normal. Traditional registries were designed to help newlyweds who came to marriage straight from the original family home without a pot or pan to their united name.

Today’s modern couple still in their twenties has more than likely already been cohabitating and accumulated enough rudimentary household items to host a dinner party, let alone dinner for two, has betrothed big city dwellers don’t need more stuff to fill their tiny one-bedroom walk-ups; thus couples are adding new twists to the traditional wedding registries in unique ways that offer wedding guests more options than ever to give meaningful and useful wedding gifts.

Melissa and Wade, both in their 40s, met just after Melissa had applied to adopt a child on her own.

A year later, when they were married, the only thing found on the registry on the couple’s wedding blog was a “baby fund”. The wording went something along these lines: “Truly the only thing we ask is your presence at our Big Day. If you insist on giving us a gift, it would be great if you wanted to help us with the expense of bringing a baby to our marriage, whether it be through adoption or an expensive medical procedure.”

AT LEFT, OUR FEATURED LOCAL COUPLE: Sarah (Hagan) Schubert & Jason Schubert Venue: The Stockroom, Raleigh

While it has always been acceptable to give a cash gift to the newlyweds, couples can now spell out the specifics of a honeymoon they would love to have help paying for via an assortment of “honeyfund” websites.

Our creative director Travis Aptt and his wife Ashley planned their honeymoon at an all-inclusive hotel in the Riviera Maya, but wanted to add on some day trips and extra experiences outside of the resort. They used honeyfund.com to let friends and relatives opt to pay for a side trip to Mayan ruins and a snorkeling/diving trip to see tropical fish and sea turtles.

A review on weddingwire about honeyfund.com: “Very easy to set up, and no problems with receiving the money. We advertised it on our wedding page and in our registry announcement with the invitations. We received about $500 (we requested $3,000) on the site.

However, we received over $2,500 from checks and cash at the wedding. It’s a neat idea, but it seems only younger couples are using it and the older family members and friends stick to what they know. “

Local Raleigh couple Greg and Heather decided to use their registry to help raise money for a specific cause they were passionate about, and raised funds for the Human Rights Campaign.

Some websites are geared to couples that wish to raise donations to charity in lieu of gifts. One popular site is the I Do Foundation, where couples can create a registry, chose charitable favors, and purchase charity gift cards to hand to attendants as gifts. The site is “the nation’s first wedding-focused nonprofit”, and has raised over $6.5 million from more than 75,000 couples in the past ten years. L

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PLAN A WEDDING in the Heart of

Downtown Cary...

The bridal magazines are dog-eared and tattered. You have exhausted the web. You have received solicited and unsolicited advice from everyone. Your research is done.

Now, with to-do list in hand, it’s time to head to the heart of downtown Cary to make your wedding purchases.

You can leisurely stroll through the streets of Downtown Cary and find everything you need to make your day truly special.

Choose your rings and gown, book your rehersal dinner, wedding venues, caterer and photographer, and find the flowers, cake and invitations of your dreams – all without the usual stress and hassle.

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Photo Photo © Triad Eve graph y by T nt erry LOCAL CARY COUPLE KAYLEY AND THOMAS at Gregory Vineyards in Angier, NC

Floral background photographed in Cary © Bob Sowa

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FLORISTS RINGS

CARY FLORIST caryflorist.com

GOWNS

STONEHAVEN JEWELRY stonehavenjewelry.com

BRIDES & BOUQUETS brides-and-bouquets.com

LANA ADDISON BRIDAL lanaaddison.com

JOHNSON JEWELERS johnsonsjewelerscary.com

STROTHER FLORAL GALLERY strotherfloralgallery.com

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OTHER VENUES THE MATTHEWS HOUSE matthewshousecary.com

BAKERIES & CATERERS BELLE AT THE JONES HOUSE belleofcary.com

PAGE-WALKER ARTS & HISTORY CENTER townofcary.com

ONCE IN A BLUE MOON BAKERY bluemoonbakery.com

THE MAYTON INN maytoninn.com

NICELY DONE FOOD & BEVERAGE nicelydonefoodandbev.com

ESCENTUELLE escentuelle.com CUTE BUTTONS GIFT & PAPER BOUTIQUE shopcutebuttons.com MICHAEL’S MEMORIES PHOTOGRAPHY & DESIGN michaelsmemories.com CHOCOLATE SMILES CANDY FACTORY chocolatesmilesshop.com

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MAKE A

RuN FOR IT

Become a Runner or a Better Runner in the New Year

By CARLA TURCHETTI

Is 2016 the year you are going to lace up your shoes and run your first 5k? Or do you have some 5ks under your belt already and you think you’d like to run a longer distance, like a half marathon or a full marathon? Here’s some advice for getting from the start to the finish.

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The Starting Line Before you take a step with your feet, take a step with your mind.

“The most important thing is to make the decision this is something you want to do,” says Cid Cardoso, Jr., distance runner, triathlete and owner of Inside-Out Sports stores in Raleigh, Cary and Charlotte. “Visit a specialty store, because they are going to help you get the right pair of shoes and they can give you some guidance as well on groups around your neighborhood or different coaches or training plans.”

Training plans provide a framework for getting into running shape with advice on everything from how far to how often to run.

“It’s pretty easy to find a couch-to-5k training plan online, and those do give beginners some basic instructions or guidelines so that you do eventually get ready for a 5k without necessarily doing too much,” Cid says.

A beginning runner doesn’t need much special equipment. Dress in workout clothes in performance fabrics that are appropriate for the season, and purchase the right footwear.

“A good pair of running shoes and a pair of shoes that are right for the type of gait that you have is one of the first steps,” Cid says.

Self-starters may be fine following a training plan from a book or a website, but there are runners at all levels who prefer to join training groups for structured workouts.

“The big advantage of joining a training group is that you add the social aspect to it,” Cid says. “It becomes more fun and you develop friendships. I’ve been running for more than 30 years but I know that if I am going to meet two of my buddies at 7am on a Sunday morning, if I told them I am going to be there, then am more likely to wake up and be there than if I didn’t.”

There are running groups of all sizes in the area, from ones with hundreds of participants like Raleigh’s Jeff Galloway Run/Walk group, to the small group that runs through Raleigh’s Wakefield neighborhood once a week beginning and ending at D’s Bottle Shop, and plenty of others in-between. Gyms and running stores are other places to look for groups that get together for organized runs.

Stepping It up There is more than one way to increase your mileage.

Cid says you can work toward it simply by increasing the distances you run, but that may not be the most efficient strategy. For a mix of workouts designed to increase distance and speed, he suggests plans found on the Internet or in running books.

“It’s not a personalized plan, but it gives you a guide where you do something like one recovery run, two medium runs and one long run a week,” Cid says. “By running four to five times a week you can be ready to run a half marathon in four to six months.”

Training groups are another place to find runners trying to get to the same distance goal you are. And if you want personalized instruction, there are running coaches who will develop a program just for you based on your fitness level, heart rate and pace.

Ready to Race Most runners reach the point where they are ready to tackle a road race, no matter what the distance. Signing up for a race and adding it to your calendar is a training motivator.

“I run for a lot of different reasons,” Cid says. “It makes me feel better. It makes me a better person. But I know when I sign up for a race, I get more motivated. Now you have a goal and a time frame to work with. If you’re just running, there’s no overall plan or urgency. “

And Cid says racing makes you part of the overall running community.

Kim Reynolds, runner and owner of Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern in Raleigh, agrees that a race is a good starting point.

“Start out slowly and work up to a 5k, “Kim says. “ Just go ahead and go to that first race, and if you like it and it’s something you enjoy, (and I would say 99 percent of people do enjoy that first race), then go to the second.”

In 2003 Kim held a road race to benefit rheumatoid arthritis, which her mother battles. After partnering with Cid, it has grown to become the Second Empire Grand-Prix road racing series. Each year the series features a number of local races, all with charitable components. Runners participate in the races to compete for yearly prizes.

“These awards are not always for the fastest or most elite runners,” Kim says “You may have your average person who runs a nine- or 10- or 11-minute mile, and they ran the races, and they may qualify for the age group awards.”

The awards include a special luncheon at Second Empire.

Why Run? So why would you choose to start running, or start running further?

“I know for me, I get clarity when I run,” Cid says.

“There are days when you are stressed out with job things or family things, and the last thing you want to do is go out for a run. But then I do, and it’s amazing – that in a 40- or 45-minute period, when I am done with the run, I can think so much more clearly. Maybe it’s just that you’re doing something positive or something that you feel is positive, instead of sitting around moping or doing something that could be a little more on the destructive side. There is no doubt in my mind that there is a runner’s high, and it’s not just for people who run fast; it’s for everybody.” L

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CLEAN EATING Here’s the Dirt on What’s Hot in Nutrition

C

By Carla Turchetti

Clean eating isn’t a lifestyle that encourages you to wash your fruits and vegetables really well. Clean eating is a nutritional approach that encourages the consumption of whole foods and grains while eliminating packaged and processed food options.

“Clean eating is about moving forward,” says Betsy Mikolajewski, Registered Licensed Dietician and coowner of Carolina Nutrition Specialists in downtown Raleigh. “Clean eating is about moving forward, choosing differently and observing the outcome.”

And it is a personal journey.

“On your next grocery store visit you may spy an avocado – something you have eaten only in restaurants, but you never actually brought one home.

You don’t even know how to cut it open, but today, you bring one home and a simple Google search teaches you avocado skills,” Betsy says.

Kelly Guess, the other co-owner of Carolina

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Nutrition Specialists, who is also a Registered Licensed Dietician, says clean eating has been sparked by changes in what we find at the grocery store.

“Today’s food is not the same as food from 25 years ago. In order to keep food plentiful and profitable and to gain loyal customers, today’s food is grown with more pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics and hormones.

It is also processed with more sugar, in its many forms, plus more salt, synthetic flavors and colors than ever before. Clean eating addresses these changes by advocating the purchase of food with the least amount of added chemicals, sugar and salt available,” Kelly says.

“For many decades we have been manipulating our food to be easy and fast,” Betsy says. “In the process we got lost. We forgot the subtle flavors of the avocado. We forgot the sweetness of the apple. We forgot the texture of a real tomato right off the vine.”

Is Clean Food Organic?

So if you want to embrace clean eating, do your food choices have to be organic?

“The best way to do this is to buy certified organic foods and prepare them at home,” Kelly says. “Organic food cannot be grown with synthetic pesticides, herbicides, hormones or antibiotics. It can’t be processed using irradiation or genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which are plants designed to survive large doses of pesticides and herbicides during the growing process. The more organic foods you add to your diet, the less synthetic chemicals end up in your body, which is the idea behind clean.”

Kelly recommends always buying organic dairy products like milk, butter and cheese. She also recommends purchasing pasture-raised meat and eggs because the cows and chickens eat grass instead of grain. She says in this country soybeans, corn, white potatoes, sugar beets, alfalfa, canola, papaya and summer squash are mostly GMO, so she advises clients to purchase organic versions.

And when it comes to produce, Kelly subscribes to the lists compiled by the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

The EWG Dirty Produce List (buy organically): Apples Celery Cherry Tomatoes Cucumbers Grapes Nectarines Peaches Potatoes

Snap Peas Spinach Strawberries Sweet Bell Peppers Hot Peppers Collards Kale Potatoes

The EWG Clean Fifteen (can buy conventionally) Asparagus Avocado Cabbage Cantaloupe Cauliflower Eggplant Grapefruit Kiwi

Mango Mango Onion Papaya Pineapple Sweet Corn Frozen Sweet Peas Sweet Potatoes

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Some foods – like grapes, pineapple and asparagus – can help you maintain a clean eating lifestyle.

But I’m Too Busy to Eat Clean!

Betsy and Kelly say menu planning is key for busy people to stop relying on cardboard boxes for their food. They say meals can be assembled and the slow cooker can be used to produce clean meals. And there are clean convenience foods.

“There are so many pre-cut, pre-prepared and pre-cooked items in the grocery stores these days,” Betsy says. “We enjoy taking clients to their usual grocery store and introducing them to items that are fast and nourishing.”

Farm to Table When it comes to eating out, Clean Eating and the Farm-to-Table concept become intertwined.

“Farm-to-table is interested in decreasing the process that occurs between harvesting and consumption,” Betsy says.

Restaurants like Farm Table in Wake Forest believe in preparing dishes made from seasonal ingredients purchased from local sources.

Guests are more knowledgeable and informed about the food and are curious about where it comes from,” says Laszlo Lukacsi, partner and owner at Farm Table. “I have always been a big believer in local trade, which usually translates into a handshake with the local farmers. The one and only thing that matters is quality. We are able to inspect the product and visit the farms. Working closely brings joy and fun.”

And it’s part of the current food journey.

“The clean food path is open-ended,” Betsy says. “It’s the process of reconnecting to the idea that what we eat matters. It’s an exploration back to our roots when we ate whole foods, because that was all there was.” L

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SANDLIN FAMILY LAW GROUP

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Your Prescription:

Take One Dog Per Day Dogs may protect us from poor health

By Paul Savery

T

There are 78 million dogs in the USA. There can be no argument that dogs are man’s best friend.

Dogs actually prefer humans to their own species, and they are extraordinarily devoted to their human companions. The special affection between humans and dogs is obviously reciprocated. Americans spend around $60 billion a year on their pets, and the largest proportion of that vast sum is lavished on dogs.

As dogs improve your social life, they can be a cure for lonely hearts. Studies show that loneliness and social isolation are very bad for your mental and physical health. Human contact increases exponentially when you are out walking the dog. There are times when I am out walking my dogs and I don’t get very far. Children and adults stop me to ask questions about

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the dogs, and soon we are chatting away.

Dog owners generally feel more satisfied with their social, physical and emotional states than those without a dog. Many people turn to a dog when experiencing emotional distress. Research shows most people are convinced their dog genuinely loves them more than their human partner! Another study found that dog owners who relied on their dogs for social fulfillment report they were “less depressed, less lonely, had higher self-esteem, were happier, and tended to experience less perceived stress.” Dogs have funny habits and silly tricks which produce laughter, which is indeed the best medicine.

Dogs may protect us from poor health. Studies have shown that dog owners are significantly less likely

to die in the year after a heart attack than non-dog owners. The companionship of dogs may produce a natural high. When interacting and exchanging gazes, both dogs and their owners experience rushes of “feel-good” hormones, such as oxytocin and dopamine, in their brains (these are the same chemicals released when we interact with human babies). Researchers found oxytocin levels increased between both dog and owner when the gaze was held for at least five minutes. Young children born into households with a dog have a lower risk of developing asthma and allergies.

Some people complain that a big disadvantage with dog ownership is the need to walk the dog on a regular basis, but this is in fact a great advantage because you are forced to get out of the house and get routine exercise. There are days when I am not in the mood for a walk, but my eager dogs won’t let me be a slacker. My insistent dogs are my personal “fitness coaches”.

Researchers found that the majority of dog owners who take their pets for regular walks easily meet the federal criteria for regular moderate or vigorous exercise. Another study senior citizens who walk their dogs have a more regular exercise routine and are more physically fit than the elderly who walk with other people.

The health care industry recognizes the important role of dogs in the healing process. Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT), often known as pet therapy, is a growing sector. A certified AAT dog acts as a volunteer in the community, visiting people in hospitals and nursing homes and brightening their days. Research shows that AAT is an effective psychotherapeutic intervention that reduces stress and depression. The well-trained dog also provides a sense of companionship that can combat feelings of isolation in the patient.

This facilitates healing and rehabilitation.

Helping Paws International is a nonprofit AAT organization based in Raleigh.

While the majority of their current assisted therapy dogs are rescued racing greyhounds, they accept all breeds of dogs.

The Pets at Duke is another AAT program that works with cancer patients through the Duke Cancer Patient Support Program.

The recipient of AAT does not own the dog or permanently live with it. On the other hand, a service dog belongs solely to the person with a disability or illness.

Traditionally, service dogs, which are highly trained, have been used for people who are blind, deaf or have other physical disabilities, and help people achieve greater independence. Recently they’ve shown promise for people with psychological problems as well, including depression, bipolar disorder, autism, and especially PTSD.

The distinction between service animals and emotionalsupport animals baffles many people. An emotional-support animal (ESA) is defined by the government as an untrained companion of any species that provides solace to someone with a disability, such as anxiety or depression.

We can look to a future when your doctor prescribes, for whatever ails you, a dog once a day for the rest of your life. L

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Cupid on the Street

by Rachel Vachon

Marie

Celebrating Valentine’s Day since Kindergarten “I like to relax and get my nails done and go to the spa. I have candlelight dinner. And the best part is when you have a bubblebath and have the candles on the tub. That’s something that’s so sweet and so romantic and people will do it for a while and then they’ll stop, but my husband said if you start something you should continue it; otherwise it’s starting from the beginning.”

Pat & Bernie Married 37 years

“Everyday is Valentine’s Day for us. It’s not once a year, it’s every day.” – Bernie “This Valentine’s Day will be a special one because he just survived open heart surgery. So this one is special, just like every day has been special since that.” – Pat

Scarlett and Rodney 34 years

“When we had little kids we’d make it special and I’d decorate and stuff like that. [We’d] always make the cutout cookies –the heart-shaped cookies – and frost them and bring them to school for the parties…I would always decorate and have to have the Valentine’s napkins and plates.”

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Katie

17 years old “I’m usually in school. I like the crafts and I like being that little kid who gives her class Valentines. I definitely like cards, stuffed animals and candy. I’m a hopeless romantic, so I love Valentine’s Day.”

Shaharia and Sharmeen

Less than a year

“I’m a Bangladeshi…This Valentine’s will be very special for us. The thing is, we are childhood friends. Our country is very conservative, so we had to face many problems and family problems. They don’t accept our kind of relationship and certain things. So we had to convince everyone. There are some challenges, like from her family there was pressure to get married…So I also tried to be a friend of her family.

Later on I convinced my family, and my mom, to give them a proposal to give their daughter to our family in arrangement.

They did. So I went back home last January and we got married… This Valentine’s Day will be our first, and it is very exciting. We might go on a cruise or something.”

Marley

17 years old “Usually we have school on Valentine’s Day. I wake up and then my dad always has a mug full of candy and a teddy bear waiting on the kitchen counter for us to see every year.

And then we get the huge heart chocolate [boxes].”

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Dan “I’ve been living by myself, so I don’t have a lot of stories. The last one, I went to a really nice dinner. I tried rack of lamb for the very first time. It was really, really good. I guess that’s what it is for me, as a guy, is putting yourself out on a limb for a while and trying something new.”

Jackie

Buying for her grandkids for 16 years “I buy stuff for my grandchildren. We don’t do anything special, I just try to find something that they want...and I buy them some candy.”

Kenneth and Eileen 17 years

We actually spend our day at home. We don’t go out.

We used to, but the older we get the lines are too long and there’s nothing different with the food. So we have fun cooking at home. It’s whatever we feel like, but it’s nothing that I make on a daily or weekly basis. I just search the Internet and find something special and [we] spend it that way…We would sometimes exchange memorable moments.”

Lee “We’re in the food business, so we’re usually working. Most [people] think you usually have to go to dinner and things like that, so that’s what we usually see.”

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Anonymous Dating for 2 years

“[Valentine’s Day] is our anniversary. It will be two years next Valentine’s Day. I kind of met her through a mutual friend and I started tutoring her in chemistry, and we became friends and started dating. I made dinner for her and made it official.”

Saltana “I celebrate it with my family, my husband and my two kids. It’s like regular days, but we just enjoy the day. We went to Italy, say six years ago. That was a very, very good one.” L

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SHOP local

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Cary, Apex, Morrisville, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs support locally-owned, independent businesses

Cary, Apex, Morrisville, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs support locally-owned, independent businesses

SHOP local

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sightings Photos © Rob Kinnan Photography

Cary invasion basketball

On November 7th Cary Invasion won 95-88 over Durham. The Invasion plays its home games on Kay Yow Court at the Herbert Young Center in downtown Cary, also known as “Area 51”. The schedule can be found at caryinvasion.trblproball.com.

Photos © TeeWayne Photography

witch way day

The 5th Annual Witch Way Day Charity Golf Tournament was held on October 30th at the Lochmere Golf Club. The tournament raises money for Wags4Tags (wags4tags.org), a North Carolina charity whose mission is “Uniting our psychologically and emotionally impaired Veterans across North Carolina with trained Companion, Emotional Support Dogs rescued from kill shelters so the two can heal in unconditional love, trust and loyalty.” Approximately 150 women dressed in Halloween costumes played golf for fun and prizes while supporting a great cause.

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Photos © Dave Gill

nutcracker ballet

In early December the Holly Spring High School dance department students began dress rehearsals began for Nutcracker, under the interpretive direction of dance instructor Laura Stauderman. In this version, when Clara falls asleep she dreams of finding her lost nutcracker while visiting the world and sampling the dances of many nations. The shows took place at the Holly Springs High School auditorium.

Photos courtesy of The Center for Volunteer Caregiving

Wake Rake

The Center for Volunteer Caregiving coordinated volunteers to provide yardwork for seniors and adults with disabilities throughout the county on December 12th. Teams serviced 11 yards. Volunteers included FuquayVarina High School’s National Honor Society, the St. Raphael’s Catholic School basketball team in Raleigh, and more. Angela Nelson, CVC Board Member and supervising parent for the SRCS team, said that the Wake Rake project provides a perfect opportunity for off-court teamwork for their basketball players while fulfilling a very important need in the community.

For more info: VolunteerCaregiving.org.

Want your Event featured In sightings?

Contact us to have a photographer attend your event!

kathleen@caryliving.com • 919.782.4710

Photos © Rob Kinnan Photography

stocking stuffing

The Carolina Lily chapter of the National Charity League held it’s 4th Annual Stocking Stuffing event on November 21st. The chapter serves philanthropy organizations throughout the Triangle area. Members of the chapter live in Western Wake County. The stocking helped families in need during this holiday season. To find out more about this philanthropic organization visit carolinalily.nationalcharityleague.org.

Photos © Debby Robinson

Americarna car show

On November 28th nearly 5,000 car lovers turned out to appreciate this line-up. On display were celebrity cars, classic, custom and collector cars at Ingersoll Rand North American Headquarters and Corporate Center in Davidson, NC. The car show supported IGNITE, an innovative community center in Davidson for young adults with high functioning autism (HFA) or Asperger’s Syndrome (AS). IGNITE offers activities, skills training, and educational workshops that foster social, financial, educational, and employment independence for its members.

Photos © Rob Kinnan Photography

tree lighting

On December 5th, Cary held its annual Heart of the Holidays celebration, which includes the tree lighting ceremony. Children dropped off letters to Santa, the 5th annual Gingerbread House competition was judged, teams decorated trees for charity, Santa’s workshops provided craft projects for kids, and the Cary Players presented “Dashing Through the Snow”, a holiday comedy.

Photos © Rob Kinnan Photography

Chinese lantern festival

Koka Booth Amphitheatre was host to the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival for the first time ever this year, from November 28th to January 3rd. The spectacular array of lights included more than 20 displays, each comprised of hundreds of parts and thousands of LED lights. There were also multiple weekend performances by Chinese artisans from Tianyu Culture, the Zigong, Sichuan-based company presenting the festival. caryliving.com | 71

calendar

OF EVENTS

JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2016

Free Tuesday Morning MOVIES The Halle Cultural Arts Center January 5 | 10am-12pm January 19 | 10am-12pm February 2 | 10am-12pm February 16 | 10am-12pm 237 N. Salem Street | Apex thehalle.org Free First Wednesday Movies The Halle Cultural Arts Center January 6 | 7:30-10pm February 3 | 7:30-10pm 237 N. Salem Street | Apex thehalle.org

Bass Lake Photography Club Bass Lake Park January 12 | 7-9pm February 9 | 7-9pm 900 Bass Lake Road | Holly Springs basslakephotoclub.com Holly Springs Garden Club Bass Lake Park January 13 | 7-9pm February 10 | 7-9pm 900 Bass Lake Road | Holly Springs hollyspringsgardenclubnc.com

Three Kings Day Parade Cary Town Hall Campus January 9 | 1-4pm 316 N. Academy Street | Cary diamanteinc.org

South Wake Conservationists Wildlife Club Bass Lake Park January 14 | 7-9pm February 11 | 7-9pm 900 Bass Lake Road | Holly Springs southwakeconservationists.org

The Music of Carole King and James Taylor Holly Springs Cultural Center January 9 | 7:30pm 300 W. Ballentine Street | Holly Springs hollyspringsnc.us

Six String Presents: DAVID LAMOTTE The Cary Theater January 15 | 8pm 122 E. Chatham Street | Cary thecarytheater.com

A BALLERINA’S TALE The Cary Theater January 10 | 2pm January 14 | 7pm 122 E. Chatham Street | Cary thecarytheater.com

Family Dance The Halle Cultural Arts Center January 15 | 7-9pm Fenruary 12 | 7-9pm 237 N. Salem Street | Apex thehalle.org

PRE-SEASON TRACK & FIELD CLINICS January 10 & 24 February 21 & 28 Register at FitandAble.net

TOWN OF CARY’S Martin luther king Jr. DREAMFEST 2016 Downtown Cary January 15-18 & February 6 Page-Walker Arts & History Center Numerous locations townofcary.org

DEATH CAFE Abundance NC at The Plant January 10 | 1:30-3:30pm 220 Lorax Lane | Pittsboro abundancenc.org deathcafe.com Classical Concert Series: Night Music The Halle Cultural Arts Center January 10 | 3-5pm 237 N. Salem Street | Apex thehalle.org Discovering Nature Bass Lake Park January 12 | 10-11:30am February 9 | 10-11:30am 900 Bass Lake Road | Holly Springs hollyspringsnc.us

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MLK, JR. DREAMFEST: AN ARTS TRIBUTE TO MARTIN The Cary Theater January 16 | 7pm 122 E. Chatham Street | Cary thecarytheater.com

Film: SELMA, LORD, SELMA The Cary Theater January 16 | 7pm 122 E. Chatham Street | Cary thecarytheater.com Film: SELMA The Cary Theater January 17 | 2pm 122 E. Chatham Street | Cary thecarytheater.com Celtic Moods and Melodies with Mara Shea and the Elftones Page-Walker Arts & History Center January 17 | 4pm 119 Ambassador Loop | Cary friendsofpagewalker.org Film: THE LAST FIVE YEARS The Cary Theater January 21 | 7pm 122 E. Chatham Street | Cary thecarytheater.com Film: Nine The Cary Theater January 21 | 9pm 122 E. Chatham Street | Cary thecarytheater.com Film: INTO THE WOODS The Cary Theater January 22 | 7pm 122 E. Chatham Street | Cary thecarytheater.com Film: RENT The Cary Theater January 22 | 9:30pm 122 E. Chatham Street | Cary thecarytheater.com Dinner and A Concert Cary Arts Center January 22 | 5:30-7:30pm 101 Dry Avenue | Cary townofcary.org Discovery Series presents Jonathan Daniels: Wire Boy: A Tale of Why Art Matters Holly Springs Cultural Center January 22 | 7:30 pm 300 W. Ballentine Street | Holly Springs hollyspringsnc.us Film: THE PRODUCERS The Cary Theater January 23 | 7pm 122 E. Chatham Street | Cary thecarytheater.com

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FEBRUARY

JANUARY

S M T W T F 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 21 22 24 25 26 27 28 29 31

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Film: VICTOR/VICTORIA The Cary Theater January 23 | 9:30pm 122 E. Chatham Street | Cary thecarytheater.com

EXHIBIT RECEPTION: New Year – New Art Local Color Gallery January 30 | 6-10pm 311 W. Martin Street | Raleigh localcoloraleigh.com

Cary Invasion Basketball Herb Young Community Center January 23 | 7pm 101 Wilkinson Avenue | Cary caryinvasion.trblproball.com

4th Annual Climate Adaptation Conference Central Carolina Community College February 4 | Amuse Bouche keynote interview February 5 | Day-long conference 1105 Kelly Drive | Pittsboro, NC abundancenc.org

Film: LES MISERABLES The Cary Theater January 24 | 2pm 122 E. Chatham Street | Cary thecarytheater.com The Restoration of the Marcus Baxter Dry Portrait Page-Walker Arts & History Center January 26 | 7:30pm 119 Ambassador Loop | Cary friendsofpagewalker.org Film: MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED The Cary Theater January 28 | 7pm 122 E. Chatham Street | Cary thecarytheater.com Film: SOUL BOYS OF THE WESTERN WORLD The Cary Theater January 28 | 9:30pm January 30 | 7pm 122 E. Chatham Street | Cary thecarytheater.com Film: ALL THINGS MUST PASS The Cary Theater January 29 | 7pm January 31 | 2pm 122 E. Chatham Street | Cary thecarytheater.com Film: PINK FLOYD THE WALL The Cary Theater January 29 | 9pm 122 E. Chatham Street | Cary thecarytheater.com Gift Discovery Retreat MacGregor Downs Country Club January 30 | 9am-3pm 430 St. Andrews Lane | Cary eventbrite.com/e/gift-discovery-retreattickets-19656177155 Travis LeDoyt: Tribute to the King Holly Springs Cultural Center January 30 | 3 & 7pm 300 W. Ballentine Street | Holly Springs hollyspringsnc.us

Family Fun Night Holly Springs Cultural Center February 5 | 6-8pm 300 W. Ballentine Street | Holly Springs hollyspringsnc.us Pruning Demo with horticulturist Nelsa Cox The Garden Hut February 6 | 11am 1004 Old Honeycutt Road | Fuquay-Varina NelsasGardenHut.com Crossing Delancey presented by Cary Players The Cary Theater February 12 | 7:30pm 122 E. Chatham Street | Cary thecarytheater.com Discovery Series presents Holly Springs Professionals: “A Night of Dance, Music, Drama and More” Holly Springs Cultural Center February 12 | 7:30pm 300 W. Ballentine Street | Holly Springs hollyspringsnc.us Marty Haggard Holly Springs Cultural Center February 13 | 7:30pm 300 W. Ballentine Street | Holly Springs hollyspringsnc.us JazzLive Concert: Special Valentine’s Day Show The Halle Cultural Arts Center February 13 | 7:30-9pm 237 N. Salem Street | Apex thehalle.org Cary Town Band presents: For All the Seasons Cary Arts Center February 19 | 7:30pm 101 Dry Avenue | Cary carytownband.org

Marvelous Music Series Presidio Brass presents: Sounds of the Cinema Cary Arts Center January 20 | 7:30-9:30pm 101 Dry Avenue | Cary presidiobrass.com Pizza & a Movie The Halle Cultural Arts Center January 28 | 6-8:30pm February 18 | 6-8:30pm 237 N. Salem Street | Apex thehalle.org Carol Stein’s Gardeners Forum: Gardening for Bluebirds The Garden Hut February 20 | 11am 1004 Old Honeycutt Road | Fuquay-Varina NelsasGardenHut.com Classical Concert Series: Concert Singers of Cary presents Classical Love Songs The Halle Cultural Arts Center February 20 | 7:30-9pm 237 N. Salem Street | Apex thehalle.org Raleigh Little Theatre’s Storytellers To Go! Presents: AMERICAN FAIRY TALE

By Judy M. Dove The Halle Cultural Arts Center January 30 | 2-4pm 237 N Salem Street | Apex thehalle.org Brian Reagin Page-Walker Arts & History Center February 21 | 4pm 119 Ambassador Loop | Cary friendsofpagewalker.org Applause! Cary Youth Theatre presents Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing Cary Arts Center February 26 | 7:30pm 101 Dry Avenue | Cary townofcary.org CARY ART LOOP Downtown Cary February 26 | 6pm Multiple venues | Cary caryartloop.org/map

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