Midtown Magazine

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HISTORIC

RALEIGH

73 amazing gifts for everyone on your list • 8 holiday disaster stories you have to read • 4 recipes sure to impress • 4 perfect getaway ski spots • 14 pairs of musthave jeans • 5 tips to wear red lipstick

no v e m b e r / d e c ember

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Putting a Name to a Place

DOsAND of holiday DON’TS decorating

a note FROM the publisher Publisher/Editor Jill Futch Advertising Sales Jill Futch | Julie Shaw | Jimmy Orban Creative Director Travis Aptt Graphic Design Heath Hilliker | Jennifer Casey Contributing Writers Christa Gala | Kate Turgeon | Dan Bain Illyse Lane | Jenni Hart | Page Leggett Carter & Laura Dalton | Kurt Dusterberg Dave Droschak | Elie Rossetti-Serraino Darcy Brennan-Huante | Joseph Ellis Katherine Williams | Fiquet Bailey-Swain Tracy Barlow

jill futch

Publisher/Editor

Your opinions matter to us. Let us know what you think of this issue of Midtown Magazine.

Please email jill@midtownmag.com with your comments.

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Midtown Magazine 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. Midtown Magazine will not knowingly accept any real estate advertising in violation of U.S. equal opportunity law.

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GRILLING, SK YDIVING, BEER, APPS, MUSIC, MOVIES & MORE!

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Midtown Magazine 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.

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family. Please be sure to read the heartwarming adventure on page 94 about Tonya Sloan, who recently was united with her biological father; this story has a happy ending.

Speaking of holidays, are you tired of the same old decorating?

On page 84, local shop owners and interior designers give their list of Do’s and Don’ts to help you change things up a bit.

Finally, thank you for reading us in 2013. Please keep your comments and suggestions coming: we do love to hear from you.

Happy and Safe Holidays!

UT -O NG LL DI PU ED DE W UI G

Yes, it’s the holiday season – and most of us are going full speed. We hope you’ll slow down a bit this season and enjoy family, friends and all the other blessings this time of year brings. Above all, please be safe, happy and healthy.

Have you ever wondered how Thanksgiving became a holiday? If you turn to page 56 you will discover how one relatively unknown young woman, Sarah Hale, never gave up on her cause and made Thanksgiving what it is today.

Dan Bain explores the names behind famous places around town on page 110, perfect conversation starters for visiting relatives. Bain also contributed a piece on holiday mishaps and disasters. This should give you a little perspective when it comes to creating the “perfect” holiday anything.

The holidays are all about

Distribution Manager Jeff Prince

FALL

‘Tis The Season!

Photography Jennifer Robertson Photography Sean Junqueira Photography

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contents n o vember/ decem ber

features 46 Holiday Disasters: Best When Shared

The Gift That Keeps on Giving.

56 Same day, all the States

Do you know about the American who convinced Lincoln to make Thanksgiving a national holiday?

70 destination ski

Whether you love the great outdoors or you just need an occasional break from the winter blahs, a blanket of snow is within reach.

84 the dos and don’ts of holiday decorating

Midtown shares a few unique “Dos” and “Don’ts” to help you through the holiday season.

During this season of giving, North Raleigh’s Tanya Sloan reminds us that some of our most cherished gifts are worth the wait.

94 Worth the Wait

Historic Raleigh: Putting a Name to a Place 110

The stories behind the names of historic Raleigh.

118 Angels Among Us

Sometimes, just by purchasing that perfect Christmas present, you can help give a gift to someone else. Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School explains how.

The physicians at Duke Raleigh Hospital’s Emergency Department are ready for anything.

On High Alert 134

91

the best holiday gift guide ever!

The ultimate solution for your holiday shopping!

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2013

contents novem ber/ decem ber

2013

departments 26 on the scene 32 Midtown reviews 54 bain’s beat 82 calendar 92 DIY Workshop 100 ask elie 101 in style: jeans 106 new to you: silver and gold 108 beauty style 126 midtown downtown 138 living well 140 healthy you 150 midtown mingles 154 do this better

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ON THE[SCENE] >>>TASTE

by Kate Turgeon

photography by sean junqueira

Pies, please Pie Bird bakes holiday sweetness For Pie Bird chef Ruby Arthur, Thanksgiving is a “really ridiculous” time of year. With dark blond hair separated into two braids, the 25-year old stands behind the counter of the popular Raleigh eatery and grins thinking about the days just before the holiday.

“We make anywhere from 300 to 500 pies. This restaurant is covered in pie,” laughs Arthur, who is wearing a green and blue t-shirt with the words “Love God, Love People, Serve the World.”

Since its opening in 2011 Pie Bird has become a Raleigh mainstay for desserts such as honey and sea salt pie, chocolate cream pie (pictured below) and coconut cream pie, recipes from owner Sheila Duncan, who decorated the restaurant with a playful nod to 1960s London.

At the holidays, Pie Bird’s customers often opt for pumpkin, sweet potato, pecan and apple pies (pictured right.)

“We tend to not do plain apple pies. We do caramel apple pie, which is better,” says Arthur with conviction. “I make homemade caramel and pour it on the apples.”

Other popular pies include crack pie (think oatmeal cookie crust with chess filling) and s’mores pie. The “all shook up” pie was created by Arthur and named in honor of Elvis Presley. It features an Oreo cookie crust, bananas, peanut butter pie filling and homemade marshmallows.

your holiday pie Hoping for a Thanksgiving or Christmas day dessert from Pie Bird? They suggest that you call ahead.

If you’re making a holiday pie at home, Pie Bird owner Sheila Duncan and chef Ruby Arthur have suggestions for the perfect pie. First, they say, start with a recipe and if you’re new to baking pies, there’s no shame in using a pre-made crust.

If you’re making your own crust, use cold butter or lard. “Take the flour and butter … don’t mix it together. Layer it, fold it. You want to see peasized clumps of butter,” says Duncan.

One last tip: Pumpkin is an easy pie to make, while apple pies are much trickier.

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ON THE[SCENE] >>>tech

by Dan Bain

photography © lg.com

Graded on the Curve LG Announces World’s First Curved OLED TV How about an IMAX-like experience for Christmas? The LG 55EA9800 promises just that, plus some cool technology, to boot.

It starts with the Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) display, the first of its kind in the US market. The technology uses an organic substance that glows when an electric current passes through it, eliminating the need for a backlight and reducing the thickness and weight of the unit. It also yields true blacks, switching off individual pixels without any ambient glow from a backlight.

This process results in a higher contrast ratio compared to LCD TVs – LG goes so far as to call it “infinite” contrast.

The light also passes through a color refiner and uses 4 Color Pixel technology with an unfiltered white to offer brighter, more accurate HD images with 1080p color and clarity. On top of that, the 55-inch screen is

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curved, keeping a viewer’s eyes equidistant from all parts of the screen for improved depth and an immersive viewing experience.

Combine all of this with Cinema 3D technology, smart TV functionality with file-sharing, Dolby Digital sound, and optional voice control, and this unprecedented entertainment experience is sure to be on any tech-lover’s wish list. Of course, new technology tends to cost more, and this TV is no exception – the suggested starting price is $9999.99. Next year, maybe?

ON THE[SCENE] >>>style

by Elie Rossetti-Serraino

closet full of clothes and nothing to wear!

All women face the same dilemma: Why is it that I tend to always wear the same things? I have a big, assorted closet but I only wear 20-30% of the clothes at the most, even after a big purge of old clothing and a few shopping sprees.

The reason is that your closet is like a microcosm where you have many friends you love and admire, but then you always hang out with the ones that are the most easygoing and who you are more comfortable with and can be yourself around.

That is why we buy nice things that we think can get along with the rest of the wardrobe we own, but they end up not ‘clicking’ after all.

Here is a useful and easy-to-remember list of things you can keep in mind while shopping: Mood: Think psychology of the colors. What is likely to be your mood lately? Yes, mood affects the style and the colors you pick to wear from your closet.

A friend of mine said that when she is not in a relationship she wears all grays, browns and black, but dating make her wear more feminine colors, regardless of the season, such as pink and white.

Maintenance: Do not buy many dry cleaning only items or silks and cottons that require pressing after washing them.

I have way too many super-nice cotton poplin pants in the cutest colors last summer that I didn’t wear, thinking “oh no, if I wash them I won’t have time to iron them before my trip.” (They have been sitting unworn all summer in the closet.)

Comfort: In the store fitting room you are trying on a really nice top, but I suggest you close your eyes for a moment: is the garment soft at the touch of your skin, and can you move your arm in a 360 degree movement with ease?

Timing Your Lifestyle: How many boss or client meetings or job interviews can you have in a short amount of time? Buy more of what you need this week or the next, never for the next month or the next six months – unless it is for an upcoming wedding.

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Matching Capability: When you are in a store and you are split 50/50 on two items you like, choose based on which one will be an easy match with things you have already. It is also a trick of travelling pros: the more garments you have that match to each other, the easier it is to pack for a trip.

Forecasting Fit: If you are about to buy a dress that fits just right but it is for events in the future after you come back from a getaway, think if it will still fit comfortably after the vacation.

I have two pair of designer jeans I like very much, but I put them in “not a good fit after a vacay or a weekend with my mom cooking” section of my closet.

ON THE[SCENE] >>>arts

Musician Divided Hannah Ruth Christian is a talented musician who loves to teach and travel. Right now, she’s preparing for both.

Some dads show their daughters how to throw a baseball or change the oil in their car. Hannah Ruth Christian’s dad taught her about music. She began singing with her dad at age six at church, and he gave Christian her first guitar when she was 15. They both perform publicly.

“It definitely means a lot to both of us,” says Christian, 26, a musician, songwriter and student who goes by Hannah Ruth professionally and recently played at Lincoln Theatre 32 | midtownmag.com

by Christa Gala

in Raleigh. “It’s been our main form of bonding for as long as I can remember. We’ve always been able to share and relate through music.”

In fact, Christian says she can’t imagine not relating through music. When she’s not tutoring kids in guitar and Mandarin Chinese or attending Wake Tech, you might glimpse her in a local coffee shop, head down and writing earnestly.

“I don’t know how to express what I’m feeling unless it’s through music,” she says. “One of my biggest influences is Bob Dylan. I love the way he’s so simple in his musical style and so emotional in his music, yet his lyrics are so poetic and masterful. I try to write in that sort of style. I try to play music in a way that people can really experience it with me and see what I’m feeling. I feel like a lot of music these days is just more about the dance beat.”

Christian will play for an Interact fundraising benefit in April and also plays occasionally at The Big Easy in Raleigh. She’s also played at venues in China and Los Angeles.

If China seems a little random, that’s because music didn’t actually take her to China. Christian spent two years there from 2009 to 2011 teaching English to kids ages three to 16. She was introduced to the country through two mission trips with her church.

“I decided I wanted to get to know the culture better and three-week trips were not long enough for me,” says Christian. She describes herself as “intermediately fluent” and is still taking Chinese language classes herself.

As for the future, it could hold anything. Christian loves music, but she also loves teaching and traveling.

She only returned to the US from China to get her bachelor’s degree, which will make her a more marketable teacher overseas. Once she finishes her associate’s degree at Wake Tech, she’d like to transfer to UNC-Chapel Hill or UNC-Greensboro to study international business with a concentration in Mandarin. At least that’s one option.

She’d also love to pursue music full-time. “That’s where it’s hard,” says Christian, whose music has been compared to Ingrid Michaelson’s. “I feel like I have my hand in so many pots right now, it’s really hard to focus. But I still have to eat every day, and I still have to pay my car insurance and pay for gas. I honestly wish every day I could just play music. I think that as long as I live I will continue to pursue my music and see what happens.”

Her musical goal now is to circulate her music to local stations; currently it’s available on Reverbnation. com. She also plans to make a video to accompany online downloads.

“With music, I think people are more drawn to video with song than they are to just the song. I want to get something out there that will be a bit more appealing,” Christian says. “I’m always trying to push it because you never know if you’re going to get that big break.”

ON THE[SCENE] >>>sports photograph © Drew Carter

by Dave Droschak

Super Bowl in 2003 and the Hurricanes pulled off one of the more amazing stories in sports history by winning the Stanley Cup in 2006.

But unlike consistent and reliable championship caliber college basketball programs Duke and North Carolina, we’ve all been reminded just how fleeting professional sports success can be – and how fun Monday morning quarterbacking is.

The Hornets were relocated to New Orleans, and since getting a second NBA expansion franchise in Charlotte, the Bobcats have been a colossal disaster for a decade, running through six head coaches and losing their final 23 games en route to a league-record 7-59 season in 2010-11.

Maybe the return of the name “Hornets” in 2014 will provide some much needed karma.

Meanwhile, the Panthers have recorded just photograph © Dave Droschak

When will we win again?

North Carolina’s professional sports teams have struggled with consistent winning I guess we can’t complain too much that recent performances of North Carolina’s professional sports teams – the Hurricanes, Panthers and Bobcats – have left many Tar Heel transplants siding with some of their “former” teams.

Remember the days when all we had to cheer for were the RaleighDurham Skyhawks and Raleigh Bullfrogs? Both franchises folded after just one season.

So there was optimism and pride across the state when the NBA landed in the Queen City 25 years ago with the expansion Charlotte Hornets, and the NFL and NHL soon followed with the Panthers in 1995 and the Canes two years later.

Then we got spoiled. The Hornets were a playoff contender with the likes of Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning, the Panthers played in the 34 | midtownmag.com

four winning seasons in 18 years, and started 1-3 this fall. The team is 15-33 since defensive star Julius Peppers signed a six-year contract with Chicago.

The Hurricanes have missed the playoffs six of seven seasons since winning the Cup in 2006, and all predictions have this year’s version of the Canes at the bottom of the standings yet again.

So what’s gone so wrong for OUR teams?

For the most part, all three have drafted poorly over the last decade and have not developed the talent on hand. There have also been bad contracts, poor coaching hires and firings, and underachieving players.

But don’t feel like we are on an island. There are plenty of other sports fans, in numerous cities across the country, who feel as if their loyal cheers are being met with poor performances. Tune in to the sports talk shows in New York and Philadelphia for a few minutes if you don’t believe me.

Is there hope for the near future? If we are talking championships, probably not. But professional sports is cyclical by nature, and as baseball announcer Bob Prince used to say as I was growing up, “The more you lose the closer you come to winning, and the more you win the closer you come to losing.”

Think about it for a second … and it may ease your pain and offer renewed optimism as a professional sports fan in North Carolina.

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movies

midtown

reviews

movies

The Wolf of Wall Street

Frozen

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

lone survivor

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Matthew McConaughey Rated: R Opens: 11/15/2013 Plot: Martin Scorsese reteams with Leonardo DiCaprio to tell the true story of Jordan Belfort and his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the high life, to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government.

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson Rated: PG-13 Opens: 11/22/2013 Plot: Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark take a “Victor’s Tour” of the districts, and President Snow plots their downfall during preparations for The Quarter Quell, which only occurs every 25 years in celebration of the Capitol’s victory over the districts.

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

Starring: Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, Christina Applegate Rated: Not Yet Rated Opens: 12/20/2013 Plot: Will Ferrell returns to the role of Ron Burgundy in Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, which finds the popular San Diego television newsman pulling up stakes with co-anchor and now wife Veronica (Christina Applegate), his intrepid reporter Brian (Paul Rudd), the overenthusiastic sports reporter Champ (David Koechner), and imbecilic weatherman Brick (Steve Carell) in order to move to New York City and launch the first ever 24-hour news network. Adam McKay, who directed the original, returns as well to helm this comedy. *Opening dates and ratings are subject to change.

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Starring: Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, Idina Menzel Rated: PG Opens: 11/27/2013 Plot: Fearless optimist Anna teams up with rugged mountain man Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven in an epic journey in a race to find Anna’s sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter.

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Ben Foster, Eric Bana Rated: R Opens: 12/27/2013 Plot: Based on the failed June 28th, 2005 mission “Operation Red Wings”.

Four members of SEAL Team 10 were tasked with the mission to capture or kill notorious Taliban leader Ahmad Shahd. Marcus Luttrell was the only member of his team to survive.

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midtown

reviews

music

music

The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (Eminem) Release Date: 11/5/2013

Midnight Memories (One Direction) Release Date: 11/25/2013

Eminem’s eighth studio album, The Marshall Mathers LP 2, is his first solo album in over three years. Conceived as a sequel to the album The Marshall Mathers LP, the artwork features Eminem’s childhood home in northeast Detroit, which has recently been put up for auction.

British pop juggernaut One Direction announced Midnight Memories, their third album in two years, will be released on November 25th. Since forming in 2010, the group’s two albums (Up All Night and Take Me Home) have debuted atop the Billboard 200.

ARTPOP (Lady Gaga) Release Date: 11/11/2013 ARTPOP is the fourth studio album by Lady Gaga. The recording of the album began in 2011 while Gaga was on tour promoting Born This Way and after the cancellation in 2013 until the second week of October. The album includes production by DJ White Shadow, Madeon, Rick Rubin, Zedd, will.i.am and Gaga herself.

Exit Smiles (Cheap Time) Release Date: 11/26/2013

Britney Jean (Britney Spears) Release Date: 12/3/2013

Nashville’s punk warlords Cheap Time soldier on, delivering their fourth studio album. Produced once again by Jeffrey Novak at his home studio, Exit Smiles builds off the sound of 2012’s Wallpaper Music, employing sharper production and more expansive songwriting.

Britney Spears’ 8th studio album is named Britney Jean – the name her family calls her – and she says it’s her most personal album to date. Produced with will.i.am, Spears co-wrote every track, including a song about her most recent split with Jason Trawick in January. *Release dates are subject to change.

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midtown

reviews Great Lakes Nosferatu

Cottonwood Pumpkin Ale

Great Lakes Brewing Company

Foothills Brewing

Beer Advocate

86 Beer Advocate

Founders Curmudgeon Old Ale

Founders Brewing Company

Bells Best Brown Ale

Clown Shoes Genghis Pecan

Bells Brewery

Ipswich Ale Brewery

89

85 Beer Advocate

DRAFT

best served in:

77 LIGHTEST to DARKEST

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BY david eddleman, Wine Manager – Total Wine & More

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beer beer

8% abv

5.3% abv

9.8% abv

5.8% abv

7% abv

Cleveland, Ohio

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Kalamazoo, Michigan

Ipswich, Massachusetts

Often referred to as Burning River Pale Ale’s big brother, this ale is remarkably balanced for such a highly hopped beer.

A rich, deep red color makes this beer go perfectly with the autumn season.

This crisp, dry ale uses cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger brewed with real pumpkin and a blend of North American and British malts to give Mom’s pumpkin pie some serious competition. A fall favorite skillfully brewed by Foothills.

$10.99/four-pack

$8.99/six-pack

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Brewed with an intense focus on the malt bill creating a very strong, rich, malty characteristic and a sweetness indicative of its cousin the barleywine.

Excellent balance in this beer, making it deceptively smooth and drinkable at 9.8% alcohol by volume.

$12.99/four-pack

A smooth, toasty brown ale, Best Brown Ale is a mainstay in a fall and winter lineup. With hints of caramel and cocoa, the malt body has the depth to stand up to cool weather, but does not come across as heavy. This balancing act is aided by the generous use of American hops.

The spiritual successor of Pecan Pie Porter, Genghis Pecan has a wonderful flavor of roasted pecans, caramelized sugar, dark chocolate & sweet malts. Made with 200 lbs of pecans per batch, it finishes rich and creamy with a lingering pie taste.

$9.99/six-pack

$6.99/22oz bottle

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wine

midtown

reviews

wine

BY david eddleman, Wine Manager – Total Wine & More

Courtney Benham Chardonnay Reserve

Robert Moncuit Brut

Alouette Pinot Noir

Winzer Krems Blauer Zweiglt Privat

93

Amici Cabernet Sauvignon

92

ing

Wine & Spirits

best served in:

Beverage Tast Institute

Napa Valley, California

Light straw in color, this wine has aromas of ripe tropical fruit with toasty oak and honey. Very rich, creamy layered flavors of ripe mango, peaches, honey and oak. Aged 10 months in French oak.

Oak, Tropical, Vanilla, Full-bodied

$24.99/bottle

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Champagne, France

Savory aspects of umami turn bright, like sun warming limestone. It has focus and amplitude at once, slightly creamy, slightly leesy, completely energizing.

Top 100 Wines, Wine and Spirits Magazine Dry, Apple, Pear, Light-bodied

$44.99/bottle

Sonoma County, California

Krems, Austria

Napa Valley, California

Belle Glos Wines winemaker Joseph Wagner has crafted another stunning Pinot Noir. Aromas of cranberry, red apple, toasty cinnamon and vanilla hint at the flavors to come. On the palate, bright fruit and light tannins round out the wine nicely.

Strawberry, Vanilla, Medium-bodied

An elegant wine with intense, deep cherry fruit flavors. A touch of spice notes finishing with soft, easy tannins.

Due to the advantageous Kremstal vineyard site, this red exhibits northern climate elegance combined with the temperament of the south.

Elegant, Cherry, Medium-bodied

Handcrafted and produced in tiny quantities, this delicious Napa Valley Cab is ready to drink. Dark cassis and blackberry fruit flavors take center stage on the palate, while a dollop of French oak adds vanilla and spice on the smooth finish.

Intense, Blackberry, Vanilla, Full-bodied

$24.99/bottle

$17.99/bottle

$44.99/bottle

midtown

reviews

apps

apps

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Canary • Free

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e’ve all experienced them. They’re not pleasant at the time, but often are funny to remember. I’m talking about holiday disasters, and we asked our readers to submit the stories of their temporary misery. Perhaps in the spirit of Schadenfreude, they’ll make all of us feel less stressed out this season – or at the very least, not alone. So read on, enjoy, and remind yourself that no matter how bad things might seem over the holidays, you always have other people’s worries to keep you entertained. Happy Holidays!

At least it wasn’t so expensive It was my first Thanksgiving as a single mother. I had no family in Minnesota other than my three boys – Tim, then 13 years old; Ian, 10; and Bret, nine. We would do something different for Thanksgiving, I thought, savoring the unfamiliar taste of freedom. I would not spend hours in the kitchen stuffing a turkey, rolling out piecrust, whipping potatoes, or making cream sauce. We would go out to dinner. We would have a nice, civilized holiday meal together, with pleasant conversation between three well-dressed, courteous sons and their gracious, unfrazzled mother. We would be deliciously untraditional and go to Sammy D’s, a justly famous Italian restaurant within walking distance of our house.

This was important, as we did not have a car at the time.

“Won’t it be awfully expensive, Mom?” Tim asked. He and his brothers understood far too well our straitened finances, and were careful never to ask for anything that might put a strain on them.

“Well,” I rationalized, “buying a turkey and all the stuff that goes with it is expensive, too. And we deserve a treat. Thanksgiving doesn’t happen every day.”

So, on Thanksgiving Day, we all dressed up. I put on the pretty wool dress that I rarely had the opportunity to wear, as social occasions for us were rare these days. The boys put on dress shirts, nice pants, and sweaters. Then we all put on the heavy snorkel parkas that are essential in Minneapolis in late November and walked out in search of lasagna, Caesar salad and Italian pastries. I might even treat myself to a glass of wine, I thought.

We were in a party mood as we walked the mile from our house to the miniature downtown area near the university, known to generations of “U” students as Dinkytown. And here was Sammy D’s – dark and deserted. It had not occurred to me to call ahead; Sammy D’s was never closed. Except today.

“It’s all right, Mom,” the boys assured me. “We’ll go over to Bridgeman’s. We like Bridgeman’s.” We walked down the block and midtownmag.com| 47

crossed the street, but we could tell from a block away that Bridgeman’s was closed, too. So was every place else in Dinkytown.

“McDonald’s?” I asked in desperation. Closed.

“Burger King?” Closed. Even Gray’s Drugstore was closed. No one but us was on the streets. Everyone was home eating turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie.

The boys kept their brave faces, but I could see that they were getting cold and tired, as well as hungry. We had skipped lunch in anticipation of an early and huge dinner. “Look, Mom!” Ian exclaimed. “The House of Hansen is open!”

“Maybe we can buy some food there and we’ll go home and I’ll make dinner,” I said gratefully. If I could buy some hamburger, even, I thought, I could make us a dinner to be thankful for. I was a good and inventive cook. It wouldn’t be Sammy D’s, but it would be good food. We went inside the tiny store, happy to be out of the cold wind and, selfishly, to know that there were a few other people who were not cozily ensconced with their families around tables heaped with holiday food.

The House of Hansen had no meat, not even hamburger.

No chicken. fresh or even frozen vegetables.

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have turkey TV dinners,” Bret said. “We can still have turkey for Thanksgiving.”

And that is what we did. We bought four turkey TV dinners, complete with mashed potatoes and gravy and nondescript vegetables. We bought a frozen pumpkin pie.

We walked home as the wind got icier, carrying a hint of sleet. We cooked the TV dinners and the pie, and ate them at the dining room table.

“It’s an adventure,” I told the boys.

“We’ll tell our grandchildren about it someday,” they chorused in response. It was our standard family mantra for disastrous situations. There was laughter, even though sometimes it was forced and weak, in every situation.

And I was thankful that I had three good-humored, kind, and generous boys who could laugh with me through the worst Thanksgiving ever.

But did they make you sit at the kids’ table?

When I was 12, I made the Thanksgiving cupcakes with Karo corn syrup instead of the corn oil that the recipe called for. They were flat like pancakes, and tasted like

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molasses. I think I ate most of them.

For a few decades after that, being the youngest of four siblings in my family, I was always entrusted with rolls and paper products. The year I was assigned an actual dish, corn pudding, I think, I doubled the recipe – but didn’t double the cooking time. When we were ready to go to the Christmas feast at my sister’s, it was still a huge vat of chunky yellow goo. So all I could offer was the cupcakes I had made (I was trying to make a good impression by bringing two things).

But my family, so unforgiving, was still suspicious of my baking efforts and lack of common sense – so they went largely uneaten by my siblings, although my nieces and my kid liked them. So did I. My holiday cupcakes comprise at least 10 pounds of my total body weight.

The year after that, I brought green bean casserole, which turned out beautifully. I handed off to my brother-in-law (the chef in our family at Christmas time), who dropped the whole 9x13 glass dish, and that was that.

No one seemed especially upset or disappointed, although my sister did, on my behalf, make a big fuss over how beautiful the casserole looked splattered on her hardwood floors. Secretly, I think my brother-in-law dropped it on purpose. He is not fond of canned casseroles, anyway.

Last year, my brother-in-law assigned me some sort of foodie cranberry relish that contained strange ingredients, including shredded orange peel and some weird spice I refused to buy.

After googling and consulting my Facebook foodie friends, I made a relish and brought it. After 30 years, my bring-your-own-dish curse had a happy ending. Everyone loved it! That means I’ll get a more difficult assignment this year.

Frankly, I wish I could still bring the crescent rolls and paper products, but my nieces – now in their 20s – have claimed that privilege. You gotta grow up sometime, I guess, and bring the big-people food. I’m just grateful it’s not at my house.

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Could be worse; could be spiders Our cut tree had a bug infestation that hatched out in the house. Instead of gifts under the tree, we had rings of flipped-up duct tape all around the base to catch the critters as they crawled out. It was horrible!

Could be worse; could be … never mind In 2007, we purchased a Christmas tree at a farmers’ market.

When we put it up, I noticed a couple of dead spiders fall to the carpet, but didn’t think too much of it considering we’d just brought a tree into the house! That kind of thing was normal, right?

Not normal, considering that a few days later the spider babies hatched. Evidently there were spider eggs in the tree. When we looked closely, we saw tiny spiders all over the trunk and branches of the Fraser fir. It wasn’t a pretty sight – my husband and me frantically removing the ornaments and lights before Christmas as the kids looked on and whined/cried about why the tree had to go. It was getting close to the holiday, and the whole ordeal was something I didn’t want to go through again. I figured we’d be fine with the stockings, poinsettias and a small, table-size tree decoration. I figured wrong.

My nana and children led the charge for a new tree, so I gave in and just let them have their way – all the way to Target for an artificial tree with color lights. (Up to that point I had always put up a tree like the ones I grew up with – fresh Fraser fir, with white lights.) Sure, the tree was out of my comfort zone, but the spiders had been way worse.

For me, one of the most interesting things that happened was when I called my mom to tell her about it. The ever-positive, see-the-bright-side person she is, said to me, “Oh, that’s good luck. Haven’t you heard of the legend of the Christmas spider?” The Christmas spider. Um, no. I hadn’t heard of it! And I was feeling anything but lucky.

The worst part was that my seven-year-old daughter gave her school buddy a present in a gift bag that had been under the original tree. She handed it to the girl and said, “There may be spiders in here. I’m not sure.” Yep. Merry Christmas, friend, there could be a spider in there!

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Don’t try it ‘til you knock

A long time ago, when my husband and I were still dating but pretty serious, we decided to spend Christmas Eve at his house so I could meet his large extended family. It was always a big party.

At one point, I excused myself from the festivities to find the little girls’ room.

Imagine my surprise when I opened the unlocked door to find the husband of one of my husband’s cousins, finishing up in there – standing up, naked from the waist down, and making good use of the Charmin. Of course, my scream drew even more attention to the situation.

The couple ended up divorcing shortly thereafter, and I can’t say I wasn’t a little happy that I wouldn’t have to see him on any more holidays.

Did you also mistake the homeless shelter for a Holiday Inn? It was Christmas morning, and we were traveling from one family member’s home to another, across the state.

We hadn’t planned well, and knew we would need to stop somewhere to eat on our three-hour drive.

We assumed we would be making do with whatever we could find at an open convenience store along the highway. When we stopped at an exit we were excited to see a Golden Corral open for business; this was going to be much better than chips and a

candy bar from a gas station!

When we got inside, a couple of employees greeted us warmly and wished us a very merry Christmas, telling us how happy they were that we could join them for the holiday. We got our food and proceeded to the cashier, only to discover there was no cashier. We found out the meal was free, because the only reason they were open was to feed the homeless for Christmas! There we were in our nice clothes, having arrived in a nice car, to take advantage of a charity event.

We found the manager, apologized profusely, gave him a donation, and left with red faces.

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He sees you when you’re sleepy

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This happened one December when my twins were 13 months and my oldest was three years old. I chose not to stop at a grocery store on the way home one evening, only to realize over dinner that we were out of milk, which we would need the next morning. Usually after dinner, we would start our bedtime routine. The girls would play while I cleaned up, then we headed upstairs for bath and bedtime. Not that night.

The closest grocery store was more than 10 minutes away. I figured I would be cutting it close, but we could make it. Until I couldn’t find my keys. I threw a fit, cussing and fussing as I looked. No keys anywhere, and I was running out of time. Finally, I found them hanging on the hook where they belonged.

I finally got everyone strapped in, to the store, unstrapped, and strapped back into the stroller, then rushed into the store in the middle of the night. (Okay, it was actually only 7:15, but it felt like much later to me since I hadn’t been “out” that late in more than three years.)

We got into the store, when what to my wondering eyes should appear, but Santa. Publix was having their holiday extravaganza. I’m not sure that’s actually what they called it, but there were special savings all over the store, men in suits (not Santa suits) looking very important, and free samples everywhere. “There’s even shrimp!” Great. I was hoping to spend less time in the store than it actually took to get there.

Santa tried to coax my three-year-old daughter to him, and I encouraged this behavior, to no avail. That’s okay though, ‘cause I really just wanted to get my milk and get out. I turned toward the deli department with my double stroller and shopping cart in tandem, and there were at least 100 people standing there. Seemed there’d been a little choral singing going on. We’d just missed the songs, and the crowd was beginning to disperse. It was like the State Fair. I couldn’t move, much less negotiate the stroller and cart.

I finally made my way out of the crowd and filled my shopping cart with much more than I came for before heading back home with three sleepy girls, four gallons of milk, and visions of sugar plums dancing in my head.

The flower in the wind One Christmas in the 80s, my mom gave me one of those ridiculous dancing flowers that were the rage at the time – those plastic abominations that stood in a pot and smiled, twitching around as if dancing when music was played close to them. It didn’t take long for my three brothers and me to figure out the flower would react to not just 52 | midtownmag.com

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music, but any sound made in close proximity, including some of our favorite noises – those created by the expulsion of excess gas from our bodies.

This discovery brought a whole new level of Christmas joy to four immature boys, and we spent most of the day running up to the flower whenever one of us felt some oncoming flatulence. The others would watch in anticipation as the primary offender silently backed up to that poor, defenseless flower, then unleashed his full fury in an attempt to make the flower twitch and spin as if repulsed by what had just happened.

My parents had long since stopped trying to rein in our gastric immaturity at family get-togethers, but there was one inviolate rule – don’t let Nana find out. My dad just couldn’t handle the stress of his elderly mother, an unforgiving nag with very stern ideas on the proper behavior of children, witnessing the worst moments of his own progeny. So we tried our best to have our fun well out of range of her hearing and vision, setting the flower on an end table in a sitting room where she never went – except when she had to walk through it to get to the bathroom.

That’s where she was when the youngest of the brothers felt another flowery moment coming on, and came running into the sitting room. As he backed up to the end table, he couldn’t see the bathroom door open, but another brother and I could. We watched in horror as Nana came shuffling out and looked quizzically over at our little brother, sticking his posterior in the face of the dancing flower. It seemed to happen in slow motion, and as we watched, we resigned ourselves to fate, knowing there was nothing we could do to stop what was about to happen, and simply giving in. All we could do was try not to laugh as our little brother proudly released a loud torrent of flatulence, never suspecting he had the one witness we all knew we should never have for such shenanigans.

After it was all over, Nana asked me about the flower.

I told her it moves when it hears music. “But he made a different noise, didn’t he?” she asked.

“You could say that,” I answered as my other brother coughed to cover his laughter.

“He … ‘passed wind,’ as my brothers used to say,” she asserted.

I couldn’t believe it. Nana wasn’t quite as naïve as we’d thought! Sure, she didn’t get the terminology quite right, but she knew what it was, and she didn’t seem upset.

Nana had had brothers of her own, and she understood! It was a Christmas miracle….

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bain’s beat

Crank’s Giving Why This Day is for the Birds

A

by Dan bain, Turmudgeon, danbain07@gmail.com

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m I the sole dissenter when it comes to Thanksgiving? People complain about the crassness of Christmas, but it seems to me the holiday that’s rife with hypocrisy, is the one that comes about a month before. I have great memories of it and I still enjoy celebrating it, but it’s time we all took a good look at the day. Like an undercooked batch of stuffing that’s teeming with bacteria, there’s a whole lot of ugly just under the aromatic surface of Thanksgiving.

Let’s start with the first Thanksgiving – sort of a harvest feast between the Mayflower Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians. It’s said that after their first year at Plymouth Rock, half of the Pilgrims had died, so the survivors held a feast to give thanks for still being around. Does this strike anyone else as being just the least bit insensitive? “Thank

you, God, for letting those other guys die horrible deaths. Pass the oysters, please.” Also, the remaining half would likely have died off, too, if it hadn’t been for the Wampanoag sharing their venison and teaching the Pilgrims how to cultivate the land. So how did the Puritans thank them? With disease, theft, murder and enslavement – generally in that order. It was sorta like inviting your neighbors for turkey dinner and waiting for them to nod off in a tryptophan-induced haze, then slitting their throats, selling their kids and claiming their yards as your own. Beware of bleaks bearing gifts, Squanto.

And how do we celebrate Thanksgiving today?

Supposedly, we set it aside as a day to express gratitude – which is my biggest problem. Just like love on Valentine’s Day, the idea of a positive emotion being reduced to one token day is absurd to me. We ought

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be thankful every stinkin’ day of the year.

And are we even truly thankful on Thanksgiving? Is there even any reverence to the day? Look around at any large get-together on the fourth Thursday in November, and you’re likely to see at least six of the seven deadly sins at work. Gluttony and Greed are the most obvious, not to mention the most hypocritical – we’re allegedly giving thanks for our bounty, so we make a point of wasting a good bit of it.

Seriously. We’ve made this day about overeating; that theme permeates our culture. Who doesn’t joke about it?

People eat way more than they need at the first meal on Thursday, to the point of bragging about who ate the most.

And more waste comes later – I don’t know anyone who hasn’t discovered, early in the new year, some long-forgotten leftovers at the back of the fridge.

Sloth is evident when the food prep is taking place. There’s at least one goldbricker in every family – the pig who refused to help the little red hen plant, harvest, grind or mix the wheat, but is sure as heck first in line when it comes time to eat the bread.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, look around at all of your siblings, cousins and other assorteds, and think about who was nowhere to be found while you were slaving over the stove. Now that you’ve noticed, does it make you mad? That’s Wrath, an unavoidable sin whenever families reunite.

Come to think of it, families seem to revel in two more of the seven – Pride and Envy. Don’t even try to tell me you haven’t felt at least one of those in the presence of the family members from your generation. It’s called sibling rivalry, and it applies just as easily to cousins and in-laws.

I love my family, but I know as surely as we get together for a holiday, there will be fights. Come to one of our gigantic Thanksgivings, and you’re more likely to be counting curses than blessings.

I’m not casting judgment; that’s just the way it is with families. All I’m saying is, it’s hypocritical to pretend otherwise, and Thanksgiving is a great opportunity to practice that hypocrisy. I suspect that the majority of people attending big Thanksgiving get-togethers will be most thankful for leaving at the

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end of the day.

On top of all this, there are people who complain about Christmas somehow “eclipsing” Thanksgiving.

They’re mad about the early onslaught of decorations, carols and sales that supposedly put people into a Christmas frame of mind before Thanksgiving has a chance to get its share of the spotlight.

I’m sorry, but Thanksgiving was never meant to be anything but second fiddle.

Face it – this day is lucky to even be considered part of the big holiday season. It’s a holiday with no gifts or lights, one animated feature, and one song (two, if you include Adam Sandler’s). All it has is a parade in the morning and a big turkey dinner in the afternoon, along with some football.

But guess what? Christmas has all of those things, too.

Yet there are people out there who want to “take back Thanksgiving.” No lie. They seem to think we should put Thanksgiving on some sort of pedestal.

Even the name of their movement is hypocritical; they call it “Respect the Bird.” I’m sorry – respect? How much do you respect a thing that you’re simply fattening up so you can kill and eat it?

To the other extreme lies PETA, not only asking us to stop eating turkey, but going so far as to ask the town of Turkey, Texas to change its name.

Again, I’m not kidding.

Two years ago, PETA sent a letter to Turkey’s mayor, requesting that the town rename itself “Tofurky” for the day, and offering a “delicious, healthy vegan holiday feast” to the residents in return.

That’s a direct quote from the letter, and I’m pretty sure the word “vegan” can be combined with any of those other four words to form four different oxymorons.

I’m sorry if I seem to be incapable of catching the Thanksgiving spirit.

Believe it or not, I still enjoy the day.

I love getting up to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, I enjoy the get-togethers, and I appreciate most of the food. I hope everyone reading this – as well as everyone not reading it – has a great holiday.

I simply believe we need some perspective if we’re to get through this day every year with our stomachs, hearts and minds intact. Not to mention our souls. midtownmag.com| 55

On the

Same Day,

in all the States

Sarah Hale &Thanksgiving

By Kate Turgeon

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DID YOU EVER unwittingly name your child after a great American?

Yeah, me neither.

Okay, maybe I did. When our daughter was born my husband and I decided on the name Sara-Hale, Sara for his grandmother and Hale for my grandparents.

It’s one of those double names that Southerners and people who want to really pack a punch into a first name are fond of.

When our Sara-Hale was about five years old a friend gave us a children’s book titled Thank you, Sarah!.

The friend, who stumbled onto the book in a store, mentioned how neat it was that we named our daughter after the woman who, get this, saved Thanksgiving.

Until then I thought pilgrims, Native Americans and large boats were responsible. After all, Thanksgiving had been a holiday since that famous harvest feast in 1621, right?

Wrong.

We read the book and discovered that Sarah Hale (first name Sarah, last name Hale) was responsible for lobbying to make Thanksgiving a national holiday.

The daughter of a disabled Revolutionary War veteran, Sarah Josepha Buell Hale was a mother of five, a widow and a writer, too. She began her professional career as editor of Ladies Magazine, a journal published in Boston by the Rev. John Blake and later published by Louis Antoine Godey under the name Lady’s Book. As history tells it, she was the first female magazine editor.

And she made her mark on American history by writing.

She would have been a baby in 1789 when George Washington declared the last Thursday in November a “day of thanksgiving and prayer.” Even before his declaration, it was mostly a day of prayer rather than family gatherings. By the 1820s, as Hale began her movement for a national holiday, only some states, mostly in New England, were celebrating Thanksgiving.

Hale, who grew her magazine’s subscriptions from 10,000 to 150,000 during her tenure, wrote in favor of schools for girls, playgrounds and historical monuments. midtownmag.com | 57

She also wrote about Thanksgiving. Because of her work, some states made Thanksgiving a holiday. But Hale kept on writing in the hope that the entire country would celebrate on the same day.

When her magazine articles and the letters she urged her readers to write didn’t work, she wrote letters to presidents of the United States. Zachary Taylor said no to her request. Millard Fillmore? No. Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan said no, too. Over the course of more than 30 years, Hale, a woman who didn’t even have the right to vote, pushed for what she believed would be a great American holiday.

She wrote to President Abraham Lincoln. Her handwritten letter dated September 28th, 1863 was later transcribed and annotated by the Lincoln Studies Center in Illinois. According to the center, she wrote:

“Permit me … to request a few minutes of your precious time, while laying before you a subject of deep interest to myself and – as I trust – even to the President of our Republic, of some importance. The subject is to have the day of our annual Thanksgiving made a National and fixed Union Festival.

“You may have observed that, for some years past, there has been an increasing interest felt in our land to have the Thanksgiving held on the same day, in all the States; it now needs National recognition and authorative fixation, only, to become permanently, an American custom and institution.

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Sara-Hale (seen here celebrating Thanksgiving at school) was named for members of her family, but ended up sharing a name with a great American her parents hadn't heard of until a friend gave them a children's book about Thanksgiving.

Thank you, Sarah is a children's book by Laurie Halse Anderson about Sarah Josepha Buell Hale, a mother, magazine editor and the woman who wrote letter after letter until she persuaded an American president to make Thanksgiving a national holiday.

… it has occurred to me that a proclamation from the President of the United States would be the best, surest and most fitting method of National Appointment …”

In the letter she cited governors and naval commanders who gave her request “the most kind approval.” She concluded her letter to the president with final lines that read: “with profound respect” followed by “yours truly” and her signature.

Lincoln said yes. As the Civil War was being fought, he approved Hale’s request and, on October 3rd, 1863, declared the fourth Thursday in November as national Thanksgiving.

Each year I read the Thanksgiving book by Laurie Halse Anderson about Sarah Hale to my Sara-Hale. When we named her, we named her after her family members. But we love that she shares a little something (besides an October carolina 1 9/27/13 4:11 PM birthday) with avascular_nd.pdf woman who helped change history.

Since we read the book, relatives have clipped articles and sent magazines (even old ones!) that feature Sarah Hale. It’s making for a packed memory book. Some other things we’ve learned about America’s notable Sarah Hale: •

Sarah Hale’s husband died from pneumonia when she was pregnant with their fifth child. Anderson wrote in her book that Hale wore black mourning dresses for the rest of her life.

•

Sarah Hale wrote poems, novels and even Mary Had a Little Lamb. According to many stories about her life, she often wrote at night after her children went to bed.

•

According to a Life magazine special report titled Remarkable American Women, Sarah Hale “for 40 years … gently, crisply guided women to see their roles as important.”

•

Hale worked until retirement at age 89; she died on April 30, 1879 at age 90.

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chef mario

It’s Party Time!

Get ready to break out the nice linens and all the dishware you only use for guests and special occasions and get your table set to impress! Presentation is everything as you eat with your eyes first, so feast on these fabulous recipes to make your holiday events memorable in all the right ways!

Have a Happy Holiday Season and Joyous New Year!

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copy darcy brennan-huante Photography april maness photography

Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes

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Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes 16-20 Servings Ingredients 8 oz cream cheese, softened 1 Tbsp truffle oil

salt and pepper to taste 16-20 large but bite sized cherry tomatoes 16-20 basil leaves wooden skewers Directions 1. Whip together cream cheese and truffle oil 2. Season with salt and pepper 3. Place in a piping bag with star tip 4. Cut the tomato in half, then cut a little slice off the top of one tomato half so it will be able to stand up without rolling over (this will make it easier to pipe your cream cheese filling) 5. Carefully pipe the cream cheese filling onto the tomato half 6. Top with the other half of the tomato then secure with skewer 7. Place basil leaf through the skewer to rest on top of the tomato comfortable soles_nd.pdf

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Apple Whohaas with Candied Walnut 16-20 Servings Crumble Ingredients ¾ cup flour 2 tsp cinnamon ½ tsp nutmeg ½ cup brown sugar 3 Tbsp sugar 1 cup chopped walnuts 1 stick butter, cut into chunks Directions 1. Combine all ingredients together 2. Using your hands, mash everything together until the butter is mixed in and the mixture is chunky

Short Bread Ingredients 3 sticks cold butter, cut into chunks Tip: Cut butter into chunks, then put it in the freezer. Gather the rest of the ingredients and pull butter from freezer when ready.

4 cups flour 1 cup brown sugar 1 tsp salt Directions 1. In a mixer using the paddle attachment, mix together the flour and brown sugar 2. Add the COLD butter and mix until it looks like sand and the butter is peasized chunks 3. Sprinkle and smooth the mixture into a large glass dish or baking pan with deep sides (15'' by 10'' or larger) 4. Press into pan and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Apple Filling Ingredients 2 ½ sticks butter, melted 4 lbs apples 1 ¹�³ cup sugar 4 Tbsp flour Directions 1. Melt butter and set aside 2. Mix flour and sugar and set aside 3. Peel, core and slice apples

To Assemble and Bake Sprinkle half of the sugar and flour mixture over warm shortbread. Then add the apples. Evenly smooth out the apples and sprinkle with the rest of the sugar and flour mixture. Drizzle with the butter, then top with the crumble. Bake in a 350 degree oven for approximately 50 minutes to an hour, or until apples are tender and golden. Let rest and cool, then cut into bars. Top with whipped cream and candied walnuts.

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Candied

Walnuts 16-20 Servings

Warning – HOT HOT HOT! You will be working with molten sugar! Please use caution. Can be messy and does not work well in high humidity. May not be good for the kids!

Ingredients 2 cups sugar 1 cup water 12 large whole walnuts 1 large bowl of ice

water, larger than pot

for your sugar 1 cantaloupe, cut in half

for the stand

wooden skewers

wood spoon Directions 1. Line your work area with plastic wrap (it will make clean up much easier!)

2. Place sugar and water into a pot and bring to a boil. Do not stir.

3. Reduce to a simmer, and let cook until sugar becomes the color of pancake syrup 4. *Work Quickly & Cautiously* Remove pot of sugar from the heat and place entire pot in the ice bath, stirring the sugar with a wooden spoon until it starts to cool and thicken. Remove from the ice bath.

5. Using a drilling motion, carefully skewer the walnut in the middle and dip into the sugar (if you can work the skewer into the natural crevice it may be easier). Pull out slowly and let drip to form the sword, then stick the skewer into the cantaloupe to harden and cool.

6. When sugar hardens, take nut from skewer and use as garnish (or a tasty snack!)

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Roasted Tomato Olive Cheese Cake 16 Servings, One 8'' cake Roasted Tomato Olive Salsa Ingredients 4 - 14oz cans diced tomatoes, drained 1 cup shallots, sliced 2 Tbsp garlic, minced 2 Tbsp olive oil 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar 1 Tbsp honey 2 lemons, zested and juiced 1 Tbsp capers, minced ½ cup kalamata olives 2 tsp fresh rosemary, minced 1 Tbsp fresh basil, chopped 1 Tbsp fresh dill, minced 1 Tbsp fresh parsley, minced

Salt and pepper Directions 1. Add everything into a bowl and mix well 2. Spread tomato mixture on a foil lined sheet pan 3. Roast in a 350 degree oven for about 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes 4. Cook until juices have reduced and salsa is a thick consistency

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Cheese Cake Ingredients 1 lb softened cream cheese 2 eggs 2 cups roasted tomato olive salsa (cooked) 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard 2 Tbsp lemon juice

Salt and pepper to taste For the garnish on top 1 cup sour cream and remaining tomato

olive salsa Directions 1. Whip together the softened cream cheese and eggs until mixed well 2. Fold in the roasted tomato olive salsa, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt and pepper 3. Spray an 8 inch cake pan with cooking spray and line with parchment paper or foil 4. Pour cheese cake into the cake pan and bake for 15-20 minutes or until cheese cake is set 5. Cool and turn out cake onto a serving platter 6. Smear top with sour cream and then place remaining salsa on the outer ring of the cheese cake as garnish 7. Serve with crackers and crispies

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Kielbasa Presents with Marmalade Mustard 16 Servings Ingredients 16 1 ½ inch slices of kielbasa 8 1oz frozen dough balls (proof

and bake dinner rolls) cut in

half, thawed and proofed Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees 2. Take each chunk of dough and roll between your hands to make a long dough ribbon 3. Wrap each kielbasa chunk like a present – start at the top, cross over at the bottom and pulls the ends up. Then create two small loops at the top and pinch them together to form a ‘bow’.

4. Place on foil-lined sheet pan and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes or until dough is golden brown 5. Serve with marmalade mustard

Marmalade Mustard Makes approximately 2 cups

Ingredients 1 cup Dijon mustard ½ cup whole grain mustard ½ cup orange marmalade Directions Combine Dijon mustard, whole grain mustard and marmalade and mix well.

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photography © Snowshoe Mountain Resort

Ski DESTINATION

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Need a blast of cold air and a blanket of snow?

Here’s a few ideas to get you out on the slopes.

By Kurt Dusterberg

Whether you love the great outdoors or you just need an occasional break from the winter blahs, a blanket of snow has a lure of its own. While a nice snowfall is a hit-or-miss proposition in the Triangle, there are plenty of options for half-day drives that will put you on the slopes the same afternoon.

Best of all, you don’t need to be an expert. Whether you’re into skiing and snowboarding, or you just prefer tubing and taking in nature’s beauty, there are resorts that offer a variety of activities to fill your days. And if you have teens or toddlers, the resorts are ready for you. They have programs for child care as well as ski instruction for all ages.

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Ski DESTINATION

Wintergreen Resort Hours from Raleigh

4

Cost: Weekday rates: 9am-close: $60 8-hour session: $50 4-hour session: $40 5pm-close: $35

Weekends: 9am-close: $82 8-hour session: $72 4-hour session: $62 5pm-close: $35

Wintergreen, Virginia

Lodging: Each overnight stay at the resort includes an 8-hour session lift ticket for the next day. Guests also receive full access to the resort’s Aquatics and Fitness Center. A variety of hotel chains are available nearby.

Tubing: If you want to go tubing, The Plunge is three football fields long, and ten stories high. You’ll take the Plunge at speeds near 30mph. And of course, there’s a conveyer lift to bring you back to the top.

Got kids? Kids can take part in 75-minute group lessons or private instruction ranging from 75 minutes to six hours.

There’s also a Discover Skiing and Snowboarding class. Indoor child care options are available for ages two-12.

What else?

Ridgely’s Fun Park is a family-friendly area where kids can simply play in the snow. There’s a mini-tubing carousel, tunnels and a teepee where kids can warm up and make smores.

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photography © wintergreen Resort

Ski DESTINATION

Winterplace Resort Ghent, West Virginia

Hours from Raleigh

4

under

Lodging: The Resort at Glade Springs offers a variety of options and price ranges, as well as fine dining and casual dining choices. Some overnight stays include free lift tickets. There are numerous hotels in nearby Beckley.

Tubing: Two super carpet lifts whisk tubers back to the top of the run.

Snow tubing tickets are sold separately, but you can purchase an “add-on’ for your ski lift ticket. For kids, there is a 44-inch height requirement.

Cost: Monday-Friday: Daytime: $48 Nightime: $32 Weekend: Daytime: $64 Nightime: $44

Got kids? The SkiWee program offers specialized instruction, with children divided by age and ability. The ages range from four to seven, and group sizes are no more than eight. It’s an all-day program, with lunch and snacks. Child care is available for children up to four years old.

What else?

Looking for a challenge? Nose Dive is a black diamond slope with a name that serves as a warning. For the experienced skiers and boarders only.

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photography © winterplace Resort

Snowshoe Hours from Raleigh

6

Snowshoe, West Virginia

Lodging:

Visitors have an extensive variety of accomodations to choose from in the Village, with parking included.

Cost: Monday-Friday: $48 Weekend: $84 Holiday: $89

Tubing:

Enjoy five lanes of six-story runs. Located in Silver Creek, tubing tickets are sold in two-hour increments and the runs stay open after dark.

Got kids? Kids World activities are separated into a four to six age group and a seven-12 group. The younger group learns to ski in the morning and engages in other activities in the afternoon, while the older kids spend the day on the slopes. Both sessions are six and a half hours.

What else?

Snowshoe offers guided snowmobile tours, including trips through the backcountry wilderness. Tours last either one or two hours, and some are suitable for children to ride as passengers. photography Š Snowshoe Mountain Resort

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Ski DESTINATION

Sugar Mountain

Banner Elk, NC

Hours from Raleigh

4

under

Lodging: A variety of private rental and realty options are available for lodging, as well as bed & breakfasts and hotels.

Tubing: Sugar Mountain Golf Course serves as the base for tubing fun. The lanes are groomed and run 700 feet.

Sessions run just under two hours, and there are lights for night tubing.

Got kids? The Sugar Bear Ski

School is for kids age five-10, running from 10am to 3pm.

For older kids (seven to 14), the Polar Bear Snowboard School runs at the same time. A child care center is available too.

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Cost: Monday-Friday: $41 Weekend: $68 Nightime: $25-$32 Holiday: $68

What else?

Sugarfest runs the weekend of Dec. 13th-15th.

1994 Olympic Gold medalist Diann Roffe teaches a clinic, and 1992 figure skating silver medalist Paul Wylie performs and hosts a clinic. The resort has a 10,000-square-foot ice skating rink.

photography Š sugar mountain Resort

Cam Ward Carolina’s playoff aspirations took a hard hit last March when the long-time starting goaltender was lost for the season with a sprained MCL. Ward is healthy again, and he’s got a little extra motivation.

With the 2014 Winter Olympics looming in February 2014 in Sochi, Russia, Ward was overlooked for Team Canada’s Olympic Orientation Camp.

He could still make the team – if he has a strong first half of the NHL season.

“I think that’s motivation,” Ward said. “I was disappointed to be left off the list for the summer evaluation camp. If I can use that as adding more fire to the fire that already exists, then I’m going to do so.

Hopefully I’m going to get off to a great start and hopefully be in consideration. If I’m in consideration, I know the Hurricanes are doing well.”

Former Boston Bruins goaltender Anton Khudobin is Carolina’s new backup. He will challenge Ward for playing time.

Can the Canes Raise their Game?

The Hurricanes are hoping new players will change their playoff fortunes

By Kurt Dusterberg photogrpahy By Gregg Forwerck, Carolina Hurricanes

F

or Carolina Hurricanes fans, the memory of winning the Stanley Cup is receding in the rearview mirror.

It was eight seasons ago – 2005-06 – when Rod Brind’Amour captained the Canes to the NHL’s pinnacle. The moment was unrivaled in local sports history, the first major league sports title in the Triangle.

Unfortunately, times have been lean for Canes fans ever since. The franchise has reached the playoffs just once in the seven years since the Cup came to town. So what can we expect from the 2013-14 Hurricanes? Can they make their first playoff appearance since 2009? Here are five issues that will determine whether the Hurricanes make the playoffs.

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Staying healthy Keeping your key players on the ice is important for every team, but it’s especially true for Carolina. The roster is not especially deep with goalscoring NHL forwards, and the defense lacks a shutdown player. A rash of injuries would really take a bite out of the Hurricanes roster. Last season, the Canes got off to an impressive 15-9-1 start, then began to fade quickly after Ward’s injury.

Carolina already took a hit when veteran defenseman Joni Pitkanen was lost for the season with a broken heel, and forward Tuomo Ruutu started the year on the injured list. The team can’t afford too many more losses like those if they want to reach the playoffs.

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Forging an identity Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford and coach Kirk Muller have said they want the team to be tougher to play against. That means playing physical hockey and being tough to beat in crunch time. In the season opener, they squandered a 2-0 third-period lead and lost 3-2 in overtime. That can’t continue to happen.

If the Hurricanes are to become a playoff contender, it will start with the leadership. Captain Eric Staal and alternate captains Jordan Staal and Tim Gleason are big, strong players in the prime of their careers. They can set a tone for the rest of the team to follow.

Depth scoring The Hurricanes need more productivity from the secondary scorers, the players who don’t play on the top two scoring lines. This season, it appears they have some options in place.

Radek Dvorak, a 17-year veteran, has a bit of a scoring knack even at age 36, while former Buffalo forward Nathan Gerbe is a skillful forward who might rediscover his scoring touch after battling injuries the past couple seasons. Dvorak, with 1,200 NHL games under his belt, should also add some leadership to the locker room.

The Hurricanes hope they have another long-term point producer in center Elias Lindholm, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft. He’s just 18 years old, but if he develops quickly, he would be a nice addition to the scoring ranks.

Coaching Muller is in his third season with Carolina. He replaced former coach Paul Maurice in midseason in 2011-12, then coached an abbreviated campaign after last year’s NHL work stoppage. The Hurricanes missed the playoffs both seasons.

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to put his stamp on the team.

Muller is a bright coaching mind, without question. After a 19-year NHL career, he spent five seasons as an assistant with the Montreal Canadiens before joining Carolina. Now he needs to lead Carolina to the playoffs, or at least to the very brink. He can’t allow the team to suffer another freefall, like last year’s stretch when the Hurricanes lost 17 of 19 games.

All NHL teams are playing in new, expanded divisions this season. Carolina will miss the old Southeast Division that included weaker teams like Tampa Bay, Florida and Atlanta/Winnipeg. The Hurricanes now play in the Metropolitan Division with Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington, Columbus, New Jersey, the New York Rangers and New York Islanders. That means a heavier concentration of games against some of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.

The Hurricanes have reason to be hopeful. In addition to the other newcomers, three new defenseman made the roster – Andrej Sekera, Ron Hainsey and Mike Komisarek.

Two more, 2012 first-round pick Ryan Murphy and Brett Bellemore, will earn some ice time as well. That’s a lot of change for one season.

“They’re good, solid NHL players who are going to make us better,” said Eric Staal. “There’s a good feeling in the room with the group we have. Everyone seems comfortable and confident.

Now it’s about going out and getting off to a good start.”

If Carolina can make a splash early, Hurricanes fans will have reason for excitement when the calendar turns to spring. But there’s not much margin for missteps.

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calendar ofevents

November/December 2013

Remember, Remember The First Of November Exhibit Through November 31 Local Color Gallery | 22 Glenwood Avenue www.localcoloraleigh.com

K-5 Information Mornings for Prospective Parents November 5, 25 | 9:15-11am December 3, 9, 16 | 9:15-11am The Raleigh School | www.raleighschool.org

Brian Ulrich: Copia – Retail, Thrift, and Dark Stores, 2001–2011 Through January 5, 2014 North Carolina Museum of Art | Raleigh www.ncartmuseum.org

Fundraiser Sale at The Green Chair Project – PREVIEW NIGHT November 7 | The Green Chair Project Raleigh | www.thegreenchair.org

Porsche by Design: Seducing Speed Through January 20, 2014 North Carolina Museum of Art | Raleigh www.ncartmuseum.org Reveal: Portraits by Carrie Levy Through January 26, 2014 North Carolina Museum of Art | Raleigh www.ncartmuseum.org Outsiders: Facing the Camera Through January 26, 2014 North Carolina Museum of Art | Raleigh www.ncartmuseum.org Masterworks from the Chrysler Museum Through February 7, 2014 North Carolina Museum of Art | Raleigh www.ncartmuseum.org Preschool Information Sessions for Prospective Parents November 1, 15 | 9-10:15am Dececember 6, 13 | 9-10:15am November 5, 19 | 1-2:15pm December 3, 10 | 1-2:15pm The Raleigh School | www.raleighschool.org

Paint Along Art Class November 9, 23 & December 7, 21 10am-12pm | 6801 Falls of Neuse Road www.kidzcelebrate.com SIGHTS AND SOUNDS ON SUNDAYS November 10 | 3pm North Carolina Museum of Art | Raleigh www.ncartmuseum.org

Admissions Open House November 7 | 7pm | St. David’s School Raleigh | www.sdsw.org

2nd Annual Artists and Authors Showcase November 10 | 1-4pm | Bosetti Art Tile Studio and Showroom | Historic Boylan Heights | http://bit.ly/2013ShowcaseInfo

Paint & Sip Art Class November 7, 21 & December 5, 19 | 7-9pm 6801 Falls of Neuse Road | Raleigh www.kidzcelebrate.com

Ghost the musical November 12-17 | Durham Performing Arts Center | www.DPACnc.com

Western Wake Artists’ Studio Tour November 8-10 | www.wwast.org

Celebrity Bartender Event Series November 13 & December 8 | 5-9pm Zinda New Asian | www.zindaraleigh.com

Fundraiser Sale at The Green Chair Project – OPEN TO the PUBLIC November 8-10 | The Green Chair Project Raleigh | www.thegreenchair.org CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSES November 8, 9, 10 & December 6, 7, 8 Affordable Chic Shops | 919.846.0676 www.affordablechicshops.com Pet-a-Palooza November 9 | 11am-4pm www.lafayettevillageraleigh.com Family Fun Saturday November 9, 23 | 10am & 1pm North Carolina Museum of Art | Raleigh www.ncartmuseum.org

ArtSource’s Annual Holiday Showcase November 14 | 7-9pm | ArtSource 4351-107 The Circle @ North Hills Street Raleigh | www.artsource-raleigh.com HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE November 16, 17 | Hunt & Gather Fine Estate Furnishings | 8724 Glenwood Avenue www.huntandgathernc.com Kidz Night Out November 16 & December 14 | 6-10pm 6801 Falls of Neuse Road | Raleigh www.kidzcelebrate.com Five Points Christmas Open House November 17 | 1-5pm www.adlibantiqueshop.com group tour and information session (Pre-K and Kindergarten) November 20 | 9:30am | St. David’s School Raleigh | www.sdsw.org Classic Cars, Classic Cocktails November 20 | 7pm North Carolina Museum of Art | Raleigh www.ncartmum.org 9th Annual Stone Soup November 20 White Memorial Presbyterian Church 1704 Oberlin Road | Raleigh www.urbanmin.org/stone-soup-2013

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Beaujolais Nouveau Wine Dinner November 21 | 6:30pm Saint-Jacques French Cuisine www.saintjacquesfrenchcuisine.com Monthly Wine Walks November 21 & December 19 | 6-9pm www.lafayettevillageraleigh.com Rockabilly Retro Friday November 22 | 5:30pm North Carolina Museum of Art | Raleigh www.ncartmuseum.org Saint Saviour’s Center Fall Fundraiser November 22 | The Contemporary Art Museum | 409 West Martin Street | Raleigh rholdstock@gmail.com 12th Annual Collectors Gala November 23 | 6pm | Artspace | Raleigh www.artspacenc.org Fourth Annual “Country for Kids” Concert November 23 | 7pm | Durham Performing Arts Center | www.DPACnc.com Tree lighting and Visits from santa November 23 | 4-8pm | North Hills Commons | www.northhillsevents.com Straight No Chaser November 24 | 7pm | Durham Performing Arts Center | www.DPACnc.com Estate Tag Sale of Prominent Multi-Generational Raleigh Estate November 29, 30 & December 1 1700 Oberlin Road | Raleigh Trolley on Saturdays November 30 & December 7, 14, 21 12-5pm | North Hills www.northhillsevents.com santa claus at bruegger’s November 30 & December 1, 7-8, 14-15, 21-22 | 12-3pm | North Hills www.northhillsevents.com

DECEMBER

NOVEMBER African American Artisans in North Carolina Lecture November 21 | 7pm | 160 South Saint Mary’s Street | Raleigh | 919.833.3431

Christmas Tree Lot Open November 29-December 24 www.lafayettevillageraleigh.com MIchael mcdonald December 1 | 7pm | Durham Performing Arts Center | www.DPACnc.com

33rd annual holiday Lighting O’ the Grove December 8 | 7pm | Saint Mary’s School 900 Hillsborough Street | www.sms.edu natalie cole December 10 | 7:30pm | Durham Performing Arts Center | www.DPACnc.com

Cooking Class December 3 | 4:30pm Saint-Jacques French Cuisine www.saintjacquesfrenchcuisine.com

Pictures with Santa December 12-13 | December 19-20 December 14 & 21 | December 15 & 22 www.lafayettevillageraleigh.com

How the Grinch Stole Christmas December 3-8 | Durham Performing Arts Center | www.DPACnc.com

Enloe Charity Ball December 14 l 7-11pm l Marbles Kids Museum | Raleigh l www.enloestuco.com

group tour and information session (Middle and Upper School) December 4 | 9:30am | St. David’s School Raleigh | www.sdsw.org

A Doll Christmas December 14 | 9-11am | Polk House 537 N. Blount Street | Raleigh Polkhouse2@bellsouth.net

ADORE’s annual Bling! night December 5 | 6-9pm | 8111 Creedmoor Road | Raleigh | www.adoreboutiques.com

Gingerbread Party December 14 | 11am-1pm 6801 Falls of Neuse Road | Raleigh www.kidzcelebrate.com

Information Evening for K-5 Prospective Parents December 5 | 7-9pm | The Raleigh School www.raleighschool.org

CITY BALlet’s 21st annual production of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” December 14-15 | Enloe High School 128 Clarendon Crescent | Raleigh www.city-ballet.com

11th annual Holiday Shoppe December 5-7 | Cary Academy | Cary www.caryacademy.org/holidayshoppe 7th Annual SISTERS Exhibition Runs December 6-28 | Local Color Gallery www.localcoloraleigh.com fall concert December 6 & 7 | Saint Mary’s School | 900 Hillsborough Street Raleigh | www.sms.edu “A Colonial Christmas” Open House December 7 | 11am-4pm | 728 W. Hargett Street | Raleigh | www.joellane.org Pets in the Plaza December 7 | 11am-3pm www.lafayettevillageraleigh.com Lighting of the Tree December 7 | 6-9pm www.lafayettevillageraleigh.com

Carolina Ballet’s The Nutcracker December 14-15 | Durham Performing Arts Center | www.DPACnc.com The Raleigh Ringers Holiday Concerts December 15-16 | www.rr.org The Glory of Christmas

by Unity Choir December 15 | 3pm December 18 | 7:30pm Long View Center | 118 S. Person Street Raleigh | www.unitytriangle.org A Christmas Carol December 19-22 | Durham Performing Arts Center | www.DPACnc.com

Have an important event? We would love to hear about it. Please send the details of your calendar events to: jill@midtownmag.com. midtownmag.com | 83

the

s O D You don’t have to box yourself in with traditional Thanksgiving, Christmas or Hannukah decorations – although we all have our favorites.

What about simply creating an inviting winter retreat for friends and family? Repurposing things you already have and adding a few fun things you’ve never considered?

Here, Midtown shares a few unique “Dos” to get you started as well as several tired “Don’ts” you might want to retire this year.

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and

dono’fts Holiday

Decorating by christa gala

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DOs

don’ts



“I love a look curated from nature that doesn’t cost a thing – pine cones displayed in bowls or used as placecard holders. Nandina branches or holly branches with their abundant red berries this time of year are a fast floral display and great alternative to buying poinsettias.



“Pomegranates and clementines and other seasonal fruit looks festive this time of year piled high in a basket on a countertop. A full layer of cranberries on a shallow plate with tea lights tucked in amongst the berries makes a lovely centerpiece.”



On paper chains: “Instead of using construction paper, I love chains fashioned from repurposed newspapers or old books that can no longer be used. Old book pages can also be used to make origami or pinwheel -like ornaments and hanging paper garlands; rolled pages can be glued en masse on top of a wreath form. You can use other elements like twine to hang the ornaments to tie into the natural theme.”

 Inflatable outdoor Christmas decorations.

~ Carole Marcotte, Owner of Form & Function

DOs

Hinge, owner of Revival Antiques in Raleigh,  Jodie says she decorates her store by first organizing items by theme or color. It’s a great way to light a fire under your imagination.

 “By choosing themes for the store that most

people can recreate at home such as traditional red and green, silver and crystal and a rustic theme incorporating burlap textures and birds, we not only give people varied design inspiration, but we make it easy to add new holiday elements that will mix in with existing décor,” says Hinge.



Ribbon and fresh greens help unify looks.

don’ts

 You don’t have to use everything you have. “Avoid a scattered or clut-

tered look. Don’t be afraid to edit your holiday décor; not every item has to be used each year. By resisting the urge to decorate every surface, what you put effort into will be highlighted even more,” says Hinge.

~ Jodie Hinge, Owner of Revival Antiques

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DOs

 Thoughtful wrapping makes any gift a treat to unwrap.

Kristine Ashwood, executive director of Ten Thousand Villages in Cameron Village, a nonprofit fair trade retail market featuring gifts from other countries, uses handmade paper and twine for packages.

don’ts

 Leave your outside decorations up after the second week in January, adds Ashwood. We second that!

~ Kristine Ashwood, Executive Director of Ten Thousand Villages

s O D

the holidays into multiple rooms  Bring “You shouldn’t have to go to just one room to get into

the holiday spirit,” says Abbott Tompkins, managing partner of Hunt & Gather Fine Estate Furnishings on Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh. “A basket of fall gourds and a few bright leaves with a cinnamon stick in the bottom makes a simple nod to this special time of year.

“A simple vase of fresh-cut greens in several rooms will bring the scent of live evergreen into the house if artificial trees and garlands are your standard,” Tompkins continues.

“Re-cutting the stems just a half-inch each week will keep them smelling fresh for a surprisingly long time.”

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 Group in threes or fives

“If adding a grouping of candles to a table or mantle, group them in threes or fives and vary the heights and front-to-back placement.

Remember that three is for style, five is for impact,” says Tompkins.

don’ts



Tompkins avoids what he calls “Mesh Monsters” “Three years ago, pliable open weave mesh in bright holiday colors was introduced to the marketplace. I’m a firm believer that less is more when it comes to mesh. No need to create what seems like a fun and trendy blossom of multi-colored mesh on your dining table, front door or mailbox the size of a Volkswagen.”



“Don’t kill yourself with perfect,” says Tompkins. “Do what’s right for you and be happy with what you’ve done. All the holiday magic on TV takes tons of time and teams of people to pull off, and a budget to probably break the bank.”



Don’t use plastic or silk flowers. “Sugared fruit is great, but not the plastic fruit your great-grandmother had,” adds Tompkins.

are a must in any shape,  “Crystals color or form,” says Tompkins.

“Everybody loves bling!”

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~ Abbott Tompkins, Managing Partner of Hunt & Gather Fine Estate Furnishings on Glenwood Avenue

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DOs

 Use light...

Libby Wojcik, owner of adLib Antiques on Fairview Road in Raleigh, loves using candles in every room during the holidays. “That glow of light adds such a warm touch,” she says. “And think outside the box – a flower arrangement with candle holders on either side of the table is boring. I just lined up six antique pottery wine bottles down the middle of a table and put one flower in each for an easy, yet gorgeous look.”

 Relax...

“You don’t have to do it all or be everything to everyone,” says Wojcik. “Give yourself permission to relax and enjoy this special season. Put on some beautiful music, sip a glass of wine, and enjoy the process of making your home reflect you!”



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Laugh…

“The funny mistakes we make are what make family memories. I remember one year when my entire family was coming for Thanksgiving. The house was perfect, the table set. I put the turkey in the oven early, but I forgot to turn on the oven. Needless to say, our dinner was a bit late,” says Wojcik. ~ Libby Wojcik, Owner of adLib Antiques

don’ts

 Compromise your aesthetic

Your home is where you feel comfortable; it’s a reflection of you, so don’t bend to conform to what the world says it should look like, says Beth Lindsey, co-owner with Susan LaFera of BeyondBlue Interiors, with a brand-new showroom at The Lassiter in North Hills as well as a location in Cary.

“Decorate any room in your house; don’t feel limited to just the main entertainment areas,” says Lindsey. “Be sure your holiday theme reflects your everyday decorating style. Aim for a relaxed, minimal holiday theme. Also, remember that traditions are an midtownmag.com | 89

important part of the holidays and honor them with your annual holiday decorating.”

 Don’t limit your-

self to red and green, says Lindsey.

“Select colors that reflect your design personality and complement the background canvas of your home.”

~ Beth Lindsey, Co-Owner of BeyondBlue Interiors

DOs

 Update from year to year

Sallie Jackson, co-owner of Affordable Chic in Raleigh with Dianne Thomson and Wright Jackson, located off Lynn Road in the Hidden Valley Plaza, says customers often come in this time of year to buy a few new ornaments or accessories from the 18 vendors the shop features. A few tips:

 Update your tree or trees with two to three new styles of ornaments.

 Bring back that amazing

aroma of Christmas with your favorite recipe for simmering potpourri.

 Update your door wreath with some new ribbon and tiny lights.

 Use your creches and

collections in new and different places and ways.

 Use REAL candles in the dining room. ~ Sallie Jackson, Co-Owner of Affordable Chic

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DOs

outside the box when it comes to  Think natural elements

Utilize all kinds of natural elements, says Amy Lowe, interior designer for Hunt & Gather on Bernard Street in Raleigh, including burlap, linen, parchment, feathers and antlers, not to mention mirror or mercury glass. “A combination of these materials adds interest to fresh or silk greenery in arrangements or on trees. Add in with existing ornaments for a fresh look.”

white lights. “An easy accent – use on  Use topiaries, wreaths, grapevine balls and branches to create a warm atmosphere,” says Lowe.

~ Amy Lowe, Interior Designer, Hunt & Gather (Bernard Street)

If it feels like a chore…

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Then you won’t want to decorate at all. We all have enough chores, don’t we? Invite one or two friends or a big group to join in. Make it a nostress occasion (invite folks after dinner) to just relax and have a little fun opening up those plastic bins and cardboard boxes while laughing and sipping wine.

Hinge reminds us: “The most successful decorating allows your home to remain your home and not look like the pages in a catalog.”

Bob Drake, with Trig Modern, a modern furniture, kitchen and lighting showroom on Jones Street in Raleigh, decided there shouldn’t be any Dos or Don’ts for holiday decorating.

“I love when people pull out the stops to decorate, no matter what the season,” says Drake.

“I’m planning to have my first Christmas tree this year. I’m going to load it up with new ornaments, family ornaments, flea market ornaments and the old fashioned C7 colorful lights!”

Abbott Tompkins of Hunt & Gather on Glenwood adds: “Do what you can and have the kids and your friends lend a hand so it’s easier on you. Get the little table that didn’t sell at your garage sale and paint it bright red and put it on the porch with evergreen boughs, an ornament or two and a tiny snowman, and I bet it makes you smile every time you come home.”

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photography © stacy cathey

diy workshop

Merry your Mantle

By Christa Gala and Stacy Cathey

Y

ou have to gussy up your mantle for the holidays; it is the focal point of the room, after all. But instead of just hanging stockings, why not have a little fun using what you already have?

We did just that. Okay, we bought a few things, but this DIY project cost under $20 and took us just a few hours (most of that time was spent arranging and rearranging until we got a look we were happy with).

Step 1 Turn up the holiday tunes and make a little hot cocoa (or something stronger). This is your time.

Step 2 Clear the mantle. To create your “base,” cut your fabric into about 50 strips, 6 to 8 inches long and about two fingers wide.

Make sure your fabric is two-sided. We repurposed white curtain sheers.

Step 3 Tie the fabric strips (just one knot) around your light strand, interspersing them along the strand and letting the tails hang off. We used a lot of strips to create a soft, full look. The fabric hides the cord and softens the glow of your lights.

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You’ll need: • Fabric: Tulle, lace, anything you like • One strand of white lights with white cording (not green) • Floral stems: Longstemmed berries, pinecones, branches, metal-inspired • Ornaments • Fishing line • Clear thumbtacks

Step 4 Now, get your floral stems (purchase from any craft store) and arrange them around and underneath the lights much like you would a flower arrangement. Don’t cut your stems too short; longer stems will add bulk and help your lights stay in place.

Step 5 Select a few fun ornaments and hang them at varying lengths with fishing line, securing the line to the mantle with a clear thumbtack. Added bonus: the clear thumbtacks keep your lights and stems in place on the mantle.

Step 6 Repurpose candlestick holders, vases and urns as ornament stands to showcase your favorite trimmings. We wanted color and whimsy, but you could opt for an understated traditional look or feature a few pieces made by the kids – to show them you really do like them. (The ornaments, not the kids).

Step 7 Don’t forget the wreath. We had fun undoing one of last year’s wreaths and nestling new items within the branches – silk poinsettia leaves, ornaments, a reindeer, pine cones, floral stems. Experiment!

What about the stockings? Yes, we thought of that. Try something different and hang them on the banister this year. Above is our “before” and “after.” We’d love to see yours. >> Have questions or suggestions? Email us at diamonds@midtownmag.com.

worth the

wait

During this season of giving, North Raleigh’s Tanya Sloan reminds us that some of our most cherished gifts are worth the wait.

By Illyse Lane

Two years ago, when Tanya Sloan’s flight landed in Oahu, Hawaii, she couldn’t get off the airplane fast enough. After all, she knew what was waiting for her on the other end of the jetway.

But for you to understand her eagerness, you have to understand her journey. A journey that began in Oahu on October 30th, 1968.

It was on that day that Tanya Sloan was born. And it was four days after that when her adoptive family came to take her home.

Questions Answered Shortly after, Tanya and her family relocated to Jacksonville, 94 | midtownmag.com

North Carolina, where she had the typical childhood, with her adoption never discussed. It was actually only by accident that Tanya discovered she was adopted; a discovery she made when she was 19 years old after finding her Decree of Adoption in her mother’s bureau. “It was a different era,” says Tanya. “My parents never wanted me to know. They wanted me to feel that I was theirs.”

And Tanya did feel as though she belonged. “I was happy, with a great family, and I felt loved,” says Tanya.

And none of that changed when she found out that she was adopted.

However, even with that sense of belonging, Tanya couldn’t deny that finding out she was adopted helped to

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Mackinley and Matthew enjoy a walk on the beach with Grandpa Blue their first morning in Hawaii.

(left) Blue was a canoe paddling champion as well as champion surfer back in the day.

(Right) just some of the many new cousins Tanya and her family discovered.

ease a small nagging that had been ever present in her mind; something that she had never been able to put her finger on. “I always felt a little bit different.

Maybe it was an intuitive thing. But I was always curious,” recalls Tanya. “I’d look at my parents, and while I looked like them – my father was Samoan and my mother Caucasian – I didn’t really see myself in them.” So while she was surprised by the news, it did confirm what she had always felt, curing her curiosity. And at the time, being a young college student, Tanya was content.

Searching Through Life’s Transitions But in 1996, nearly seven years after that fateful discovery and three years after marrying her husband Scott, Tanya started to wonder about her past.

“We began talking about having children and I realized I didn’t know anything about where I came from. For example, I really didn’t know if I had heart disease in my family. They ask you these things when you go to the doctor. They would ask and I wouldn’t know,” says Tanya.

It was at that moment Tanya decided to look for her birth mother.

“My mom was 100 percent supportive and she gave me all the info she had, which wasn’t much,” says Tanya. And while her adoption files were sealed, there was a procedure in place that allowed Child and Family Services, an organization in Hawaii specializing in a range of family services, to contact the last known address on file.

The search was set in motion and Tanya patiently waited, hoping for a reunion. Finally, almost a year later, there was news. Her birth mother had been located, but she did not want contact. “Of course, I was devastated,” says Tanya. “But I went through the emotions, and I got over it. That’s how I am.”

Accepting the outcome, Tanya and Scott put their energy into building their own family, welcoming daughter Mackinley in 1998 and son Matthew in 2000. But as a young mother, it was difficult for her to deny the tiny tinge in her heart and the voice inside her head. “Within that time I had read lots of books, such as The Girls Who Went Away; I had children of my own, and I understood even more what my birth mother must have gone through,” says Tanya.

With a fresh perspective, Tanya decided to reach out to her birth mother for the second time, hoping for a different response. But once again, she had no interest in connecting. “It did bother me, but I knew I had to let this go,” remembers Tanya.

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passed away. I think there was a part of her that felt alone, like she was on an island and didn’t have that family,” says Scott.

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The Closest Yet With the help of a close cousin, Tanya decided to try and contact her birth mother yet again. She also decided that this time, she’d take a slightly different approach. Instead of going through Child and Family Services, she researched homes for unwed mothers that were open in Oahu around the time she was born. She found one in particular that seemed to be a match. While the home had been long closed, she was able to reach out to The Salvation Army, the organization that had run the home during that time.

She was assigned to caseworker Lois Sellars, who, using her birth mother’s file, was able to guide Tanya in a much more personal manner. “During my last searches, a form letter was sent to my birth mother. With Lois, I was able to write a more meaningful letter,” says Tanya. “I was able to tell her that I didn’t want to disrupt her life; that I understood and I was grateful for the life she had given me. I just wanted her to know how I was feeling. And that I was okay with things.”

The letter resulted in an almost immediate response from Tanya’s biological mother. “She contacted Lois. She was very curious about me. She was excited about the life I had. She wanted to know just what any parent would want to know,” says Tanya. But even with all the interest, Tanya’s birth mother still wasn’t open to a meeting, or sharing any information about herself.

It was the closest they had come to a reunion; therefore, it also took the hardest emotional toll, forcing Tanya to realize she may never get answers to the questions she had about her past. “There was still this piece of me that was missing, but I knew that I had to just accept that I was not going to know where I came from,” says Tanya. “But I know God’s plan for it was to unfold the way it did; it was the way it was meant to be.”

And this is when the real story begins.

An Unexpected Twist In the spring of 2011, Tanya emailed Lois stating that she would not seek contact with her birth mother again.

Something within Lois responded to the tone and finality of Tanya’s note and she was suddenly struck with an idea – finding Tanya’s birth father. “I had some information on Tanya’s birth father based on notes her birth mother made about what she was feeling and her situation when she was in the home,” says Lois. It was information that had not been in Tanya’s file at Child and Family Services, and it could have been just what they needed to make a connection.

While normally, Lois would have waited for the child to propose reaching out to find either birth parent, she knew that if she didn’t suggest it, the opportunity to find Tanya’s birth father could be lost. And she also knew that the birth father’s Hawaiian ancestry could work in her favor. “I just had an inkling that the cultural differences between the mainland and the island might play a positive part in her birth father being receptive,” says Lois. “They are much more family oriented with regards to the extended family – it’s not so much about the nuclear family as it is here on the mainland.”

Tanya immediately agreed to the search. Lois sent a letter to the last known address on file, but a month later, there was still no response. In a last ditch effort, Lois and Tanya decided

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to send one more letter, this time including a photo of Tanya. And once her birth father’s family took a look at that photo, they could not deny that Tanya was a part of their family.

Yet even with strong family resemblance, Tanya’s birth father’s niece – her first cousin, Desiree – wanted to speak with her before disclosing her birth father’s name. And she understood. “Desiree had questions. Also, apparently my birth father was a big deal in Hawaii. He was a surfing champion and his father was one of the original Beach Boys of Waikiki Beach,” says Tanya. “But the whole time, I knew it was right.” And by the end of their two-hour conversation, Desiree felt the same way.

Fifteen years after beginning her search, it appeared that Tanya was closer than ever to a reunion. It was just going to happen with a different parent than she had originally anticipated. “The crazy thing is that Scott said in the very beginning you should just look for your birth father. Every time I was disappointed, he would say that I needed to find my father. I just didn’t know that I could,” says Tanya.

Finding Yourself A few days after that first conversation, Tanya and Scott huddled in front of their home computer, getting ready to Skype with Desiree and the man she now knew as Blue Makua Jr.; the man she now knew with absolute certainty was her birth father. This would be the first time Tanya and Blue would see each other face to face. “I was never nervous because I knew in my heart and my gut that this was meant to be. It was everything I had been waiting for,” says Tanya.

Not quite technically savvy, Blue was only expecting to see photos of Tanya and the family on the computer. When he walked in and saw Tanya live on the monitor, it was almost more than he could take. “In walked this charismatic man, and he said, ‘aloha my daughter’. I am just staring at him, we’re just staring at each other, and I can see myself.

We both just knew,” says Tanya.

“It took about five seconds of seeing his face and his mannerisms to know that there was zero doubt. It was just amazing,” says Scott. “It was gratifying to see her so happy, that she did have her father.”

The chat didn’t last long; a few minutes into the call, Blue excused himself. Desiree later shared that Blue had gone into the other room and cried; that Blue had always wanted children but he and his wife Marie had not been able to have them; and that he had wished he’d known that Tanya had been born.

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A Journey Ends…

Three months later, in December 2011, Tanya and her family boarded that flight from Raleigh to Oahu. And when the plane finally landed on the island, Scott looked at his wife and asked, “What are you feeling?”

“I told him I couldn’t wait,” remembers Tanya. “I equate it to how I felt when I went skydiving. Some people got nervous before they jumped. I was dragging the guy out of the plane, saying ‘let’s go, I can’t wait’. Getting off that plane, I felt no anxiety, just excitement.”

Tanya made it off the plane and headed down to baggage claim, searching one final time for her birth father.

And then, she spotted him. “We looked at each other, we hugged and it was like I had known him my whole life.

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Moments after Tanya and Blue’s magical first meeting, Scott snapped this photo at the airport. Blue, surrounded by Marie, Matthew, Tanya and Mackinley.

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It was as if I had moved away for a while and I had come home. That’s how strong the connection was. And he felt the same way,” recalls Tanya.

“When they met, it was magical, I can’t explain it,” says Scott. “I get emotional just thinking about it. I was just so proud of Tanya.” …Another Journey Begins Tanya did more than find her birth father on that trip. In the true Aloha Spirit, she discovered an extended family with hundreds of cousins, ready to embrace her, Scott, Mackinley and Matthew as if they had always been a part of each other’s lives. It began the minute they pulled up to the house, as a traditional luau was held in their honor, and continued as they got to know the island from Blue’s perspective. “Everywhere Blue took us, he would say, ‘Come here, I want you to meet my daughter and my grandchildren.’ He was just so happy and so proud, you could see it in his eyes,” says Scott. “Everyone was so happy for him.”

And for Tanya, hearing her aunts and uncles say that she was one of them was a gift that far surpassed anything she had hoped for. “When I was leaving, I said to my Uncle Hono, Blue’s brother, that this was a happy ending. He said that it was a happy beginning, that they would always be there for me, that we were family,” says Tanya.

Coming Home Exchanges such as this made it quite difficult for Tanya to board the return flight home. “I always felt innately that Hawaii was where I was meant to be, but I didn’t know why.

I knew I was born there and I had been to Hawaii many times with Scott over the years. But I had no idea how close I was to my family when I was there. I had walked on Waikiki Beach, right past Blue’s Waikiki Beach Services stand. I had eaten at Duke’s, a restaurant on the beach with pictures of surfers covering the walls. I would stare at those pictures,” remembers Tanya. “Now I know why. I now know some of

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Tanya’s visit to Duke’s during her 2011 trip was a lot different than her first.

Here she is, surrounded by her newly found family.

those pictures are my family – Blue, my grandfather and my uncle.”

This new-found family has become an integral part of the Sloans’ lives, as the four returned to Hawaii this past summer. And while Tanya knows that there will be even more trips planned, her ultimate goal is to eventually end up there; to live in a place surrounded by her family. It’s not in her immediate future, but she’s content knowing that it will happen in due time.

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Tanya wasn’t the only family member feeling blessed by this reunion. Here are a few excerpts from her cousin Desiree’s emails… ….Welcome to our family! I am just so joyful to know now that your prayers all these years and mine this week have been answered, this journey will be one which has withstood a lifetime of not knowing and discovery of all these new blessings...

It was such a joy to be witness of this joyful reunion…it’s going down in history that Blue Makua Jr. met his daughter, Tanya Sloan, on this day September 8, 2011 at his mother’s home in Waimanalo, Hawaii, with you in North Carolina, via Skype…To be able to witness this occasion of you and Blue meeting each other for the first time. I praise God that he orchestrated that moment and it was very special… By the way, I asked uncle who his favorite football team was and he said, “Washington Redskins” – when I told him that was your team too, he said, “See, that’s my daughter!”

Uncle was looking at the pictures you sent him. He looked and looked and didn’t want to put them down. He couldn’t believe it and kept saying,“Yup, that’s my daughter.” He wished he knew, but he’s thankful that the Lord allowed him to be alive and well to meet you and he looks forward to meeting you and your family in person….

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askelie

Elie

For all your answers on things fashion, style and trends

Costumista & Wardrobe Style arbiter

Q

We received a fundraiser event invitation on a beachfront private house. The weather will be nice and comfortable.

It starts at 6pm, but the note on attire says beach casual. Please help with some ideas for my husband, who doesn’t like to be underdressed or feel too warm uncomfortable clothing during a party.

Anonymous Wife, NC

This is a great opportunity for me to also help all the people that will be receiving save-the-dates or invitations for destination and beachfront weddings coming up this spring.

If the invitation says island/casual resort, the gentlemen usually wear a tailored tan linen or cotton unstructured, unlined jacket. The button-down shirt will be lightweight cotton, better if in a pale solid color or small print. White twill pants are my preference over the linen ones, and lately we’ve even seen white jeans for casual resort

destination weddings or chic beach and pool parties like the ones in the Hamptons (worn with very nice light brown leather wingtip oxford shoes).

Give me some ideas on a trendy scarf for this winter – I’m tired of the infinity scarf style.

Alma, Raleigh, NC I’ve just found in a New York vintage store a real rugby club scarf from England, but the stripes are vertical with colors in fashion for this winter – green, grey and orange – making it a bit more feminine than the horizontal stripes version.

I’ve seen the vertical stripes scarf trend here and there on the designer runways for this season for men and women. One more 100 | midtownmag.com

look I really like is the Nordic knit wrap like the Norwegian sweaters currently in fashion.

I’ve looked up the shoe and boot trends for this year and I’m not really thrilled with the tall, over-the-knee boots. Are the ankle Chelsea boots still okay this winter?

Cara, Raleigh, NC Yes they are! If you are tired of the simple style with the elastic tabs on both sides or the zipper, you can look for the more updated Jodpur boots

FollowElie Instagram: EliePhotoStylist Facebook: ArbiterElieGantiarum Twitter: @EliePhotoStyle Vine: Elie Rossetti Serraino Blog: ArbiterEliegantiarum.typepad.com Submit your question info@eliephotostylist.com

version with the ankle strap.

If you choose them in a light brown or tan color, they are like the equestrian short boots but the side horse buckle gives it a preppy look, great also for a polished look for the office at every age. Currently in stores there are also the more biker and punk looking versions in black leather with silver hardware, perfect if you are in your teens, 20s or 30s. I’ve seen them also worn with skirts or winter shorts and heavy tights.

If you want to follow the masculine wardrobe trend pushed by the designers lately, you may like the light brown pair of boots I just bought – they are a full brogue look very much like the classic lace-up style for men, with the wingtip perforated hole design... very British looking, I wear them with grey fresco lana wool pants, a classic white shirt and a plaid or tweed jacket.

(Jeans)

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1. DL1961 – Skinny Hayley’s Boutique/$158

2. Joe’s Jeans – Skinny Ankle Scout & Molly’s/$158

3. Henry & Belle – Skinny Ankle Charlotte’s/$158

4. Liverpool Jeans Company – Skinny C.T. Weekends/$79 5. Articles of Society – Skinny

Dress/$59 6. rag & bone – Skinny

Anna & Alice/$205

7. Miss Me – Bootcut Apricot Lane/$104

8. Christopher Blue – Straight Leg CoolSweats/$150 9. RVCA Whalebone Urban Surf/$64

10. Paige – Skinny HighLine Boutique/$158 11. NYDJ Kristen’s Place/$120 12. Adriano Goldschmied – Slim Boot Saks Fifth Avenue/$175 15

MEN 13. Paige – Straight HighLine Boutique/$189 14. Volcom Brand Jeans – Straight Whalebone Urban Surf/$55 15. Raleigh Denim – Thin Boot Saks Fifth Avenue/$330

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Torn $75.99, adore

St. John Couture $595, Nora & Nicky’s

michael kors $79, Nora & Nicky’s

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jenni kayne $285, dress

kate moss $133, dress

kate spade $100.99, adore

n e w

t o

y o u:

silver

gold a n d

Gold is the color of success, achievement and triumph. Optimistic and positive, gold adds richness and warmth to everything with which it is associated – it illuminates and enhances other things around it. Silver is seen as a glamorous, sophisticated color related to female energy, prosperity and modernity. It is soothing, calming and purifying.

Whether you wear gold or silver, you will be sure to sparkle this holiday season!

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beautystyle

How to Wear Red

Beauty tips courtesy of Fiquet Bailey Swain, Luxe Beauty Boutique liveloveluxe.com Check out Fiquet’s blog at: thebeautyofitall.net

Timeless, glamorous red. Red lips have graced the big screen and red carpets for years, but can you really pull it off? I can’t tell you how many women walk through my door in search of the perfect red lipstick only to question whether or not they are actually brave enough to go for it. The answer is yes!

You can pull red lips off…the key is knowing how to.

1

CHOOSE A SHADE THAT COMPLIMENTS YOUR COLORING.

Warm skin tones (olive) look best in orange, tawny or brown based reds while cool (pink) skin tones look better in blue or pink based berry reds.

2 3 4 5

WHEN IN DOUBT, GO FOR TRUE RED.

APPLY WITH CARE.

Yes, some reds are universally flattering. Classic red is neutral…not too blue or orange. Think American flag red. In my mind, Ellis Red by Ellis Faas is the Holy Grail of reds. It looks great on everyone and comes in full coverage, sheer and gloss.

>>Ellis

This is not the time to put your lipstick on in the car. Nothing looks worse than poorly applied red lipstick. Pair with a coordinating lip liner or apply a lip primer under your lipstick, and always apply with a lip brush. I am really impressed with the quality of Sonia Kashuk brushes for the money. Her retractable lip brush is perfect to keep in your purse.

Red Lipstick, $35, Luxe Beauty Boutique

>>Sonia

Kashuk Retractable Lip Brush, $7.99, Target

BABY STEPS.

Still scared? Try a sheer red lip gloss or stain. Easy to apply on the go and a great gateway into the world of red. I love Becca Cosmetics glosses – they stay put without being sticky. >>Becca

Ultimate Colour Gloss in Hotel California, $24, Luxe Beauty Boutique

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keep it simple.

Let your new red lips be your statement and keep the rest of your makeup simple. This doesn’t mean skip the rest of your face but rather, limit your pallete to neutral shades. Skip bright blush and define cheek bones by sculpting through subtle contouring and highlighting. Dior makes a great trio of powders that are perfect for softly defining features. >>’Diorskin

Nude’ Natural Glow Sculpting Powder, $50, Nordstrom

Historic Raleigh:

Putting a Name to a Place

by Dan Bain

Probably most of us know where the name “Raleigh” came from. It was named for Sir Walter Raleigh, who was largely responsible for the first English settlement in our state – and in the new world in general. He established a colony at Roanoke Island in 1587, which John White founded under his direction as the “Cittie of Raleigh.” That colony disappeared during the three-year span that White spent back in England, but even though we still don’t know what became of The Lost Colony, Raleigh’s name is synonymous with the settling of North Carolina. When it came time to create a permanent state capital in 1792 (more info on that to follow), there could be little argument against the North Carolina General Assembly 110 | midtownmag.com

(NCGA) giving it Raleigh’s name.

B

ut what about other, less well-known names that permeate our city? There are countless streets, parks, buildings, and other landmarks that are too easy to take for granted, never stopping to consider the stories behind their names. We did some research, and here’s what we found out about some of them...

© thehistorytourist.com

Takin’ it to the streets

In 1792, the NCGA appointed nine capital commissioners to select a site for the new capital. They settled on and purchased 400 acres of land belonging to state senator Joel Lane, and hired Sen. William Christmas to survey the tract and lay out the street grid. The four boundary streets were named for compass points: North, South, East, and West. Easy enough, but that left a lot of others in need of names.

The eight streets surrounding the site of the future capitol building were named for North Carolina’s judicial districts: Edenton, Fayetteville, Halifax, Hillsborough, Morgan, New Bern, Salisbury and Wilmington. Four prominent North Carolinians saw their names affixed to additional streets in the grid: House Speaker Stephen Cabarrus, Gov. William R. Davie, the aforementioned Lane, and Senate Speaker William Lenoir.

And nine more streets were named for the capital commissioners who had facilitated the project: James Bloodworth, Thomas Blount, William Johnston Dawson, Frederick Hargett, Gen. Henry William Harrington, Willie Jones, Joseph McDowell, James Martin and Thomas Person.

[Source: Kate Pattison, raleighpublicrecord.com]

The square and the justice

Another facet of the William Christmas plan was the creation of a residential square, approximately bounded by Davie, Person, Morgan and Wilmington Streets. It was mostly used as a gathering space, with numerous informal paths crossing underneath the bountiful oak trees growing there.

Buildings began to appear on the square after 1812, including the integrated Baptist Grove Church. For this reason, the square was nicknamed “Baptist Grove” for a time, but African-American members of the congregation later moved the church off of the square with the condition that it would always be an African-American church.

Eastern Ward School was established there for attendance by anyone with funds for books. The school later became midtownmag.com | 111

the NC Literary, Scientific, and Military Academy, which would perform drills on the square.

During the second half of the 19th century, the square became home to the sleeping quarters for African-American Union soldiers, as well as a temporary farmers market. Planners implemented a more formal design, with cross and diagonal walks. As Hargett and Wilmington Streets’ commercial district expanded toward the square, adjacent properties became both residential and commercial, and the square became Raleigh’s most popular park.

In the 20th century, City Market was established adjacent to the square, and the formal cross design gave way to a series of impromptu paths linking surrounding areas. As Raleigh became more suburban, use of the square began to decline; however, a revitalization effort was responsible for the scheduling of multiple festivals there in the 1970s. The farmers market returned, the cross design was removed, the impromptu paths were made permanent, and schools and museums were established adjacent to the square. Today it’s part of an historic district on the National Register.

When the square was established in 1792, it was named for a statesman who 9:33 empire eats.pdf 1 6/18/13

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© michael schore via flickr

had served as a captain during the Revolutionary War and who had helped to defend Charleston, SC in June 1776. He had lost his plantation and three family members in the War, but had overcome adversity to be elected to the NCGA. He served as the state’s Attorney General from 1782-1991, and was later nominated to the US Supreme Court by President John Adams to replace the deceased Justice James Iredell. Serving as Justice from 1799-1804, Alfred E. Moore was the second – and so far, the last – North AM Carolinian to serve on the Supreme Court.

Moore Square is one of six local historic overlay districts (HOD) in Raleigh.

[Sources: www.raleighnc.gov, www.northcarolinahistory.org]

Moses and the wedding gift

In 1785 – seven years prior to selling North Carolina the land that would become Raleigh – Joel Lane built a

from childbirth in 1821. Moses married her youngest sister, Nancy, in 1824. His health was failing by then, and he didn’t live to see the birth of his fourth child, Margaret.

Moses named Nancy as executor of his estate and guardian of his children, and left funds for a “proper home” for his family. Nancy hired state architect William Nichols, who had remodeled North Carolina’s first State House, to enlarge the four-bedroom house.

Nichols created a huge south side addition, turning Henry and Polly’s wedding gift into an eight-room wonder, inherited by Moses’ son Henry when he reached age 21.

Henry married Martha Hinton, who had four children – Margaret, Moses (who died at age four), Mary and Martha (known as Patty). He operated the land as a corn plantation, and was rumored to have been unkind to

the slaves who worked it for him. When he died in 1875, Martha, Mary and Patty stayed in the house (Margaret lived nearby, with her husband, Dr. William Little), and Martha realized she could no longer operate the land as a farm, selling off most of the equipment.

© wikipedia.com

four-room, one-and-a-half story home for his son Henry and Henry’s new wife, Polly. Henry and Polly eventually had four daughters – Peggy, Temperance, Harriet and Nancy – and owned 14 slaves on 2000 acres, although there’s no indication their property was ever a farm or a plantation.

Henry Lane died in 1797, at age 33.

Polly lived with her daughters until her death, 16 years later. The four daughters inherited the house, land and slaves, but chose to live with their grandfather, Colonel Hinton, at Clay Hill on the Neuse. During that time, their house was rented. In 1817, four years after her mother’s death, Peggy Lane married a man named Moses, and moved back into her family homestead, joined by her three younger sisters.

Moses hailed from a prominent Jewish family in Warrenton, NC, and his marriage to an Episcopalian created tension in his family. His father did not attend the wedding (held at Clay Hill on the Neuse), and Moses later changed the pronunciation of his last name – something that causes confusion to this day.

Moses worked as an attorney, but also chose to run the land around the Lanes’ homestead as a cotton plantation. Peggy had three children – Henry, Ellen and Jacob – before dying of complications

Patty became the family’s salvation when she inherited the homestead from Martha, living there for all 89 years of her life and later sharing it with Margaret Little

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after William passed away. Patty continued to sell the land in parcels through the first half of the 20th century, investing the money and investing in neighborhood development. Her estate was valued at more than $100,000 when she died in 1949, leaving the house to her youngest nephew, Burke Haywood Little.

Little was the last family member to live in the house, leaving it for a nursing home in 1964. His brothers and cousins sold the family homestead to the City of Raleigh in 1968 for $60,000. Local charities raised money to buy furnishing for the house, and 80 percent of the pieces on display are original. Between 1968 and 1979, the property gained several new structures – the Allen Kitchen, Andrew Johnson Birthplace, Badger-Iredell Law Office, and St. Mark’s Chapel – which were moved to the grounds to create a village feel for the park that opened during that time.

In 1972, the house and grounds of Moses Mordecai – pronounced Mor-duh-key rather than Mor-duh-kie – opened to the public as Mordecai Historic Park.

[Source: www.raleighnc.gov]

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© S. Hughes Photography

Land grants for Recreation and education

Richard was born in the Neuse community in 1822, and would grow up to become a sharp businessman and revered philanthropist. In 1907, Marshall DeLancey Haywood wrote of the obelisk marking Richard’s burial spot, “greater monuments – ‘more lasting than brass’ – are the works he left behind.” Those monuments would include NC State University, Peace College, UNC-Greensboro, and North Carolina’s first public park, to name a few.

Richard moved to Raleigh in 1852 to manage the finances of his widowed aunt, Penelope Smith. He and his brother James became involved in a mercantile business with Caswell Belvin, and he kept Aunt Penelope’s capital solvent through the Civil War and Reconstruction. She named him as her main heir, leaving him a large amount of money when she passed. He became wealthier by investing it, along with his own money, mostly in real estate.

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In 1872, he acquired the mortgage for the alreadyclosed Peace Institute, which he wanted to preserve as a seminary for women’s education. He re-charted Peace and offered stock mainly to Presbyterians.

In 1887, he donated 62 acres to be used by the North Carolina College of Agricultural and Mechanic Arts, which later became NC State University. He also donated – with R.T. Gray – the first ten acres of the Normal and Industrial School in Greensboro (now UNC-G), the first and only public North Carolina university founded for women.

Earlier in 1887, Richard had donated 80 acres to Raleigh, adjacent to one of the collegiate sites. It had once been farmland, which he described as a red, rocky cow pasture. He wanted the land to be used for recreation, and hired Wiley A. Howell as a park keeper the following year.

The two of them developed a park, planting some of Richard’s favorite trees – magnolias, cedars and willow oaks – some of which still grow on the land today.

Richard and Howell built bridges over the railroad track and creek that ran through the site, and created a circular pavilion and concrete fountain. Many of the buildings and features were financed by Richard himself. He also built Raleigh’s first swimming pool in 1891. It was used exclusively by men, but before his death in 1895, he designated a second location for a pool for women and girls.

The park continued to flourish even after Richard’s death. A small zoo operated there from 18991938, developers added a miniature train in 1950, and over the years, the park has grown to include a carousel, pedal boats, kiddie boats, concessions, picnic facilities, indoor aquatic center, community center, arts center, ball fields, tennis courts, playground equipment and a theatre. That’s enough to qualify as an amusement park, and according to the National Amusement Park Association, Pullen Park is the 14th oldest amusement park in the world. None of that would have been possible without the grant and vision of Richard Stanhope Pullen.

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[Source: www.raleighnc.gov, www.stoppingpoints.com]

Turning lemons to lemonade on a $1 tract

The untamed land west of Raleigh was first inhabited

by Native Americans, who established trade routes with nearby settlers. These included the Occoneechee Trail and the Pee Dee Trail. The land was opened for settlement in 1774, and much of the surrounding forests were cleared for farming. But early farmers knew little about cultivation, and the soil was eroded and depleted by singlecrop production. By the 1930s, the soil around Crabtree Creek had become practically useless, and farmers were unable to coax cotton out of it during the Depression.

The Resettlement Administration enabled federal and state agencies to buy 5000 acres of this land in 1934, for the development of a recreation area. Jobs were created for site construction under the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration. They built four campsites, plus day-use and picnic facilities, and the Crabtree Creek Recreation Area was opened to the public in 1937.

North Carolina purchased the site for $1, and in the 1940, the NCGA created its first state parks division appropriation, building additional facilities. In 1950, midtownmag.com | 115

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a separate park was established for AfricanAmericans on 1000+ acres of the site, known as Reedy Creek State Park.

Three years later a new governor took office, having been elected on the promise of creating a “better tomorrow” through increased spending and regulation, as well as taking on controversial issues.

He had already served three terms as a US Congressman, striving to protect the tobacco industry and to secure funding for multiple conservation issues within his district. He had served as a county prosecutor and a district attorney, and had been appointed to a US Senate seat for two years after the incumbent had died.

The new governor planned to build more schools and increase teachers’ salaries by ten percent.

He wanted more programs for the mentally ill, motor vehicle inspections, and high school driver’s education. He restructured the State Board of Paroles for fairness and consistency, and urged the state to diversify its economy. He called for a referendum on the sale of alcohol in North Carolina.

In 1954, after the Brown v. Board of Education decision called for the integration of public schools, this governor appointed a 19-member, biracial commission to determine the best way to accomplish that change in North Carolina. When Hurricane Hazel hit later that year to claim 19 lives and wreak $136 million in property damage, this governor called on the national government to declare a state of disaster in North Carolina, and to provide subsequent relief.

Two days after his inauguration, this governor had a heart attack and was hospitalized for four months. He refused to stop working for additional recovery when he returned to the Executive Mansion, instead conducting meetings while bedridden. He never fully recovered, was hospitalized twice more during his term, and died of congestive heart failure after only 22 months in office.

Twelve years later, in 1966, the Crabtree Creek Recreation Area and Reedy Creek State Park were desegregated and united under the late governor’s name, chosen for his conservation efforts, and William B. Umstead State Park was opened.

[Sources: www.ncparks.gov and www.northcarolinahistory.org]

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These are only a few of the stories from Raleigh, barely touching the history of our city’s many landmarks and their namesakes. Space prevents going into detailed history for all of them, but here are short explanations for some of the more commonly heard names: • Cameron Village Shopping Center – Named for Duncan Cameron, owner of the plantation that once stood on that site. In a twist of irony, Cameron Village sits within the boundaries of Oberlin Village, a freedmen community built by James Harris, Oberlin College alumnus and former slave to one Duncan Cameron.

• McKimmon Center for Extension and Continuing Education – Named for Dr. Jane Simpson McKimmon, Raleigh native, Peace Institute and State College alumna, state director of the women’s division of the Farmers institutes, the first state home demonstration agent, director of home economics with the WWI food program, and proponent of continued education.

• Peace Institute/College/University – Named for William Peace, a merchant who made the leading donation of $10,000 toward the 1857 founding of the school, as well as donated eight acres for the campus site.

• Shaw University (originally Raleigh Theological Institute) – Re-named for Elijah Shaw, northern manufacturer who heard about the school’s need for a new location in 1870 when it had outgrown its first building after only a year. He donated $8000 toward the purchase of land in southeastern Raleigh, the site of the present-day university.

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• Rex Hospital – Named for John Rex, the Raleigh tanner whose 1839 will provided for the eventual 1894 establishment of a facility “for the sick and afflicted poor belonging to the City of Raleigh.”

• Dorothea Dix Hospital (now closed) – Named for Dorothea Lynde Dix, activist and lobbyist for reform in the care and treatment of the mentally ill in the mid-1800s.

• Poole Road – Named for William Poole, owner of large tracts of land south of Raleigh.

• Hayes Barton – Named not for a person, but for Sir Walter Raleigh’s English homeplace.

• Jordan Lake – Named for B. Everett Jordan, US Senator from North Carolina.

• Broughton High School – Named for Needham B. Broughton, Raleigh businessman and politician who contributed to and supported Wake County Public Schools.

• Enloe High School – Named for William Gillmore Enloe, Raleigh mayor when the school opened in 1962.

• Carter-Finley Stadium – Named for Wilbert James (Nick) Carter and Harry Clifton Carter, NC State alumni who contributed several hundred thousand dollars toward completion of the stadium, and for Albert Earle Finley, supporter of the NC State athletics program and donor of a Western Boulevard motel to the Wolfpack Club for use as an athletics dormitory.

• Dorton Arena – Named for J.S. Dorton, manager of the North Carolina State Fair beginning in 1937 and director of the state’s War Manpower Commission during World War II, when the State Fair was closed. midtownmag.com | 117

BY Page Leggett

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With the help of the older students, the younger students can choose Christmas gifts with confidence from the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School’s Angel Shop.

Declan Trell remembers it clearly. When the now eighth-grader at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School was in kindergarten, his older buddy’s name was Michael. And when Michael took him to the school’s Angel Shop to shop for his family’s Christmas gifts, he thought he was such a big kid.

For fellow eighth-grader Meghan Kast, being guided by her “kinderbuddy” as she chose the right presents for her family almost eight years ago was a big help. “It was hard making choices at six years old, so I was glad to have someone there,” says Kast. “It was also the first time I had to use money to buy something, so she helped me keep track of my spending.”

Trell and Kast were just following in a school tradition that began 30 years ago at Our Lady of Lourdes; a tradition which children shop for Christmas presents for their families at the school’s seasonal Angel Shop. “The older children accompany their young buddies and help them select gifts,” says Pam Mueller, the school’s admissions director. “The gifts are wrapped and sent home, ready to be placed under the Christmas tree.” And since nothing in the shop costs more than five dollars, it’s simple for the children to calculate how much they are spending.

This year, as the Angel Shop gets ready to open its doors, Trell, Kast, and the rest of the older students are excited to help their younger buddies pick out holiday presents, as well as select gifts for their own families. But they also know that as they shop, they’re doing more than choosing gifts that will bring joy to fellow family members. What makes the Angel Shop unique is that all the proceeds are donated to local charities. “This is a fundraiser that doesn’t benefit the school; it’s a feel-good fundraiser that brings the school, the parish and the community together,” says Angel Shop co-chair Kristin Stewart.

Last year, three charities – Catholic Parish Outreach, Shepherd’s Table Soup Kitchen and the Migrant Farm Workers Ministry – benefitted from the Angel Shop proceeds.

And all were extremely grateful. “Catholic Parish Outreach Food Pantry is the largest food pantry in the Triangle. Over the summer, we fed a record number of over 12,000 people per month,” says director Terry Foley. “These types of gifts midtownmag.com | 119

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Angel Shop volunteers make sure that all students’ family gifts are wrapped and ready to put under the tree.

are very timely and strongly needed. You can buy a week’s worth of groceries for a family for $25. The Our Lady of Lourdes donation helped us buy a lot.”

“We were very blessed to receive the money that we did. We started a treasure chest for the children that come here. We give them a toy, stuffed animal, coloring book or something for them to keep and hold that is their own,” says Ashley DeLappe, director of volunteer services for Shepherd’s Table Soup Kitchen. “I think the Angel Shop is an innovative idea. Students get to shop, plus they know their money is going to help someone else. What a wonderful teaching and giving experience.”

Yet these monetary donations are just the beginning of the giving experience. Consider that in January and February, when Christmas merchandise goes on sale, Angel Shop volunteers scour the stores with a mission of purchasing between 3,000 and 4,000 high quality, low cost items that will be sold in the shop – enough to serve the 350 school families plus the parish families. And while the goal is to sell all the items as gifts come the Christmas season, Stewart and co-chair Shannon Crouse don’t worry if they have leftovers. “We give these gifts to people who need them,” says Stewart. “Bubble baths and soaps go to local nursing homes. Gloves, scarves and clothing may go to Note in the Pocket, an organization that provides clothing to impoverished and homeless children in Wake County. Through the proceeds and these donations, we end up touching many organizations.”

It’s a fact not lost on the students, who embrace the opportunity to help others as they shop for mom, dad, brothers, sisters, grandparents, teachers and pets, and then get hands-on experience as they help deliver the donations to local organizations. “Through the years, I had come to appreciate this special tradition,” says Trell. “ It is a great, complete Christmas package, and to me it is a true example of what Christmas is all about.”

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t h e

b e a u t y O F

G I V I N G

BA C K

By Jenni Hart 122 | midtownmag.com

Donations of food and toys are collected at Blue Water Spa.

Kile Law says she is having a midlife crisis. The Raleigh mother of two and co-owner of Blue Water Spa says being 40-something has meant much more than dreading the visible signs of aging.

“I’m sure I’m not alone in this, but it’s been a time for serious reflection,” she says. “I’ve really been focused on the legacy I want to leave, the lasting impression I want my children to have – not only of me, but about the way we should treat others.”

A midlife crisis, however, doesn’t fully explain Kile’s commitment to leading Blue Water Spa’s charitable efforts since it opened more than 10 years ago. You have to look deeper to learn the motivation behind the contribution of more than $3 million in cash and in-kind donations to the causes she cares so deeply about.

Kile and her husband, Michael Law, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon, established Blue Water Spa in 2003, and from the beginning they realized their medical spa was more than a business:

They saw it as a way to serve their community.

Dr. Law’s father is a retired minister who served in Raleigh for more than 30 years and impressed upon his son the importance of giving back. Kile’s mother, a public school teacher for 48 years, spent the final years of her career teaching in Compton, California, – an area notorious for illegal drugs and gang violence. From her, Kile learned the meaning of sacrifice and the value of helping others.

When her mother passed away several years ago, Kile was devastated. “She was a single mom and a generous, giving person; losing her was very hard,” she says. Kile decided to channel her sadness into doing something positive for others. “I will be the first to admit that this started from purely selfish reasons,” she says. She began by organizing a food drive to benefit the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle (IFFS), a tradition that has since collected more that 150,000 pounds of food. The support from enthusiastic clients and the satisfaction of providing food for holiday meals were energizing and uplifting during such a difficult time, and Kile says she can’t think of a better way to honor her mother’s memory.

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No stranger to hardship, Kile also lost a brother 10 years ago following his long battle with drug addiction. She says his problems began when he was a teenager, when he had no supervision after school and succumbed to the temptation to fill the time with unhealthy activities. “His life was painful, and cut way too short,” she says of her only sibling. From this loss, Kile eventually rallied, eager to find a meaningful way to honor her brother and help prevent other young people from suffering as he did.

She found the Boys and Girls Clubs of Wake County, where children and teens spend afternoons playing games, sharing snacks, making crafts and getting help with homework.

“I describe the atmosphere there as ‘beautiful, organized chaos,’” she says. The children learn to be confident, resilient and resourceful, and she knows the organization is changing lives.

From the low places in her life, Kile grew to see the healing power of giving to others, but she is quick to credit the spa’s loyal clients for making it possible for the small business to give so generously. “I can’t think of a better way to serve our community than to be a force for good,” she says.

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xxxxx

A recipient of Triangle Business Journal’s “A Better World Award” for corporate philanthropy, Blue Water Spa proves that a small business can have a huge impact: •

ore than 150,000 M pounds of food collected for the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle.

•

Inaugural sponsor of the IFFS BackPack Buddies Program, providing weekend meals and snacks for children from food-insecure homes.

•

onations in excess of D $172,000 to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Wake County.

•

F unding to plant more than 70,000 trees through the Trees for the Future organization.

•

Financial and in-kind donations to more than 170 local charities over the past decade.

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Diva

Such a

Fundraiser pits actor against actor for a good cause 126 | midtownmag.com

By Kate Turgeon Photography by Carrie Santiago

The inspiration for “Divas!” came out of a conversation between Amy Flynn and Sandi Sullivan. Discussing the fact that there weren’t enough women’s roles in local theater and there were too many women competing for those few roles, the pair joked that it would be fun to start a “fake fight” among leading ladies to perpetuate gossip. “Those words, ‘fake fight,’ kept running through my head and the idea for ‘Divas!’ was born,” writes Sullivan.

T

o the public, they are contestants. But behind the curtain at Raleigh Little Theatre (RLT) they’re known as wannabes.

In either case, the 12 actors in competition are fundraisers. And each wants to be the diva.

Sure, the word diva has been known to carry a negative connotation. What a diva! (Cue a customary eye roll.) But at RLT the word diva carries a positive connotation, a cha-ching sort of implication. Since its inception in 2004 the Divas! show has raised more than $250,000 for RLT, a community theater that began in 1936.

The Divas! show, which will be held November 9th, is a two-hour cabaret type of performance. Think variety, from comedy to ballads. Each contestant performs two solo numbers, and the entire cast performs together as well. To win the diva crown, a contestant must raise the most money for RLT. midtownmag.com| 127

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“It’s like American Idol, but people vote with money,” says Staci Sabarsky, who got her start in theater at RLT and won the Divas! competition in 2006 with her fundraising know-how and performance of Some Cats Know.

For this year’s show Sabarsky is more of a “mother diva,” helping contestants by giving encouragement and practical ideas for how to win.

The majority of fundraising happens before the show, often online. But it happens offline and at locations such as the box office, too. For example, a $50 ticket purchase may be credited toward a certain contestant’s money-raising effort. Fundraising happens during the show as well as audience members slip money into envelopes marked for their favorite performers.

RLT’s executive director Charles Phaneuf knows that his theater will only hold 300 for the show, which typically sells out.

But with social media and online fundraising tools, such as Razoo, the effort reaches many more potential donors, both in North Carolina and beyond.

“The truth about fundraising is that people give to people.

People are inspired by causes, but people give to other people,” he says.

Divas! fundraising has seen a steady progression during the last nine years. In its first year the show raised about $24,000.

Last year’s total was more than $40,000. The donations are crucial to the community theater, considering that its earned revenue covers only two-thirds of its annual operating costs.

“Arts organizations have had to evolve … what’s happening in our field is there’s less and less government money, foundation money and corporate money,” says Phaneuf. “So really it comes down to [this] – do individuals care enough about these organizations to support them so they continue to thrive?”

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Staci Sabarsky competed in Raleigh Little Theatre’s Divas! twice. She won in 2006. “Even though it’s a competition, everyone is doing it for the same reason: they love this place. If there really is such a thing as a friendly competition, this is one,” she said.

For Phaneuf, Divas! is a fundraiser, but also a fun night complete with hors d’oeuvres, drinks and dessert. “We get people who come just because the show is fun. And it’s got great variety … some new Broadway, some old Broadway, some other. It’s great for theater fans,” he says.

It’s great for the contestants as well as they are able to sing numbers they like while giving back to a theater they care about. For one 2013 contestant, it’s a chance at redemption.

Dennis Poole, known for his role as stepsister Gertrude in RLT’s holiday performance of Cinderella, has been a four-time wannabe, but never a diva.

In his fundraising video, he quips, “I’m tired of being the Mr. Congeniality of Raleigh Little Theatre … everybody around here has started calling me the Susan Lucci of Divas! So no more Mr. Nice Guy.”

Poole is one of 12 contestants vying for the diva crown. To learn more about the event, watch contestant videos or purchase tickets, visit www.raleighlittletheatre.org.

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Molly Paul A Heart for Science Young science enthusiast raises money and awareness for turtles.

By Kate Turgeon

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Molly Paul, founder of Raleigh Aquatic Turtle Adoption (RATA), started the organization for three reasons: to help re-home unwanted pet turtles so they don’t go back into the wild as an invasive species, to educate people about turtles and to raise money for nonprofits that care for turtles. “I don’t want RATA to just be me all the time, I want to incorporate the community,” she says.

I

t’s a Friday afternoon and Molly Paul, 15, walks through the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. She’s in plain clothes, no turtle or fish T-shirts which she often wears to volunteer as a museum junior curator. She’s not wearing a name tag or holding a notebook. There’s nothing to suggest that she’s a young science dynamo, except maybe for the ease with which she moves through the museum.

As she walks by the Coastal North Carolina exhibit on the first floor, a 30-something couple stops her and points to a tank. The woman asks, “Is that alive?” about a turtle sitting on a log. Molly smiles and says, “Yes … it’s a diamond back terrapin” as simply as if someone had asked her for the time or weather.

Little does the couple know that they just got their answer from the current City of Raleigh Youth Conservationist of the Year. And Molly, who is confident, yet soft-spoken and humble, would have been the last person to tell them that. As far as she’s concerned, she’s just the lucky girl who wears waders to stand in fish tanks and clean them.

A sophomore at Saint Mary’s School, Molly first became interested in marine biology when she was in second grade. “I would always want to be doing something so … [my parents] midtownmag.com | 131

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would sign me up for camps and programs,” she said. Molly tried drama, art and other extracurricular activities, but science was what stuck.

In 2006 her family adopted two red-eared slider turtles, Bella and Ella. Molly, who was interested in aquatic life, learned about caring for turtles. She read about the dangers of releasing pet turtles into the wild. And she learned that few organizations rehome pet turtles whose owners who can no longer keep them.

So Molly started her own organization, Raleigh Aquatic Turtle Adoption (RATA).

She operates out of a home office of sorts that’s known as “Lab 15,” named in for the day of the month Molly was born.

“There was a need for helping turtles in our state,” she says.

“It wasn’t just that I thought turtles would be something fun to do. I learned more and more about the problem of the invasive species … and felt I could make a difference with that.”

In the last two years she has raised more than $8,000 for nonprofits that take care of turtles.

She raises money by selling turtleshaped soaps, salts and scrubs that she makes herself. Last year she was named the Junior League of Raleigh’s Young Entrepreneur for A Shopping SPREE! Because of that distinction, she was given a booth at the event to sell her products and raise money for Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve, the NC Museum of Natural Sciences and Heritage Park Community Nature Learning Center.

Molly laughs remembering a frantic phone call she made to her dad during the first day of SPREE! when she realized how much support there was for her cause. “I told him, ‘we’re going to need more soap. Just start making whatever you can,’” she says. She sold out of soaps during her first try.

She returned to the SPREE! in 2013 as an exhibitor, prepared with about a thousand products.

“What I love about SPREE! is

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When Molly Paul sells her turtle-shaped soaps to raise money for nonprofits that care for turtles, she makes sure to do more than just sell soap. For her, it’s a time to ask questions, answer questions and talk to people about turtles. “It’s always nice, and I talk to everyone,” she says.

that there’s a lot of women entrepreneurs and they were really supportive of me,” says Molly. “It’s a good time for me to talk to them and find out how they do things so I can learn.”

As she raises money for nonprofits and promotes awareness about turtles, she’s also exploring the world.

Molly has attended science camps and programs at locations such as Hemlock Bluffs in Cary. She’s traveled to Maine, Texas and California for camps. And last summer she visited Australia, where she studied marine biology and advanced diving as an exchange student.

If you ask her what her career goal is, she doesn’t hesitate to answer: “I’d like to direct an aquarium.”

For now, she’s building toward that goal. In addition to taking honors chemistry, Molly volunteers in the Living Collections department of the museum, as well as the Fish and Invertebrate department. Twice a week she can be found cleaning tanks or helping wherever there’s a need. One of her favorite tasks is standing on a tall ladder and feeding a longnose gar, an eye-catching fish with a long, tubular body.

Her work is attracting attention. She was named an International Young Eco-Hero by Action for Nature and she won the NC Governor’s Award for Youth Conservationist of the Year. While the accolades are certainly nice, her parents are helping her to focus on the process of learning and doing.

“There are so many resources, especially for girls, in this area … for all kinds of interests,” says Molly’s mother, Lara Swanson. “It just happens that her interest is science.

There are many lessons to learn on so many levels.”

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photography Š Ismail Abdelkhalek

on High Alert

The physicians at Duke Raleigh Hospital’s Emergency Department are ready for anything By Page Leggett

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Duke Raleigh Hospital’s 2012 emergency department expansion included the addition of 11 new patient treatment rooms. The rooms are designed to provide patients and family members greater privacy and comfort.

A

ndrew Pickens, MD loves his job.

The former employment lawyer wasn’t much for sitting behind a desk; he realized pretty quickly that lawyering wasn’t what he wanted to do long term. He wanted to follow his dream of practicing medicine. Dr. Pickens needed to be in a fast-moving environment, where he could continue to help people. With a physician father and a good friend from high school who had gone into emergency medicine, the path he needed to take was clear.

So the JD and MBA set out to get an MD and become an emergency physician. “I wanted to care for people when they needed it most,” he says. (Dr. Pickens still gets to put his JD to use. He serves as chairman of the legal committee of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine.)

Dr. Pickens says he and his colleagues in Duke Raleigh Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED) never know what’s going to happen next, and the uncertainty is part of what he likes about the ED. “Every day brings us a new set of patients and circumstances,” he says.

“We deal with a large breadth of patient presentations, and we need to have answers,” he says.

A decision you don’t want to be wrong about

Patients bound for the ED are not expected to have answers, though. And Dr. Pickens says they often worry about whether to make the trip. “We field calls every day from people trying to figure out if they should come to the emergency department,” he says. “I always tell them: ‘If you think that you need to be evaluated by a physician, come in.’”

“A physician needs to lay eyes on the patient to make a determination,” he says. “A medical decision is not a decision you, the patient, want to be wrong about.”

“Don’t take this on your own shoulders,” he says reassuringly.

In an emergency, you don’t have much time to think ahead. Still, there is an important role patients can play in being prepared. If you walk in to the emergency room, you’re going to go through pre-registration at the front desk, and then you will be triaged. You’ll be asked the basic questions you’d expect to be asked about medical history and allergies.

Be ready with answers to those questions. It will help the staff treating you, and it will ultimately benefit you.

In the midst of an emergency, you may not have all your wits about you. Have a list of your medications – including the dosage – ready. Keep it in your wallet or somewhere else you can reach easily. This emergency reference card should list your primary care doctor, medical problems and any surgeries you’ve had. “Have it ready,” says Dr. Pickens.

“Hand it to the nurse or doctor on duty. It will go a long way in helping us give you the best care possible.”

Patients should also be prepared to be honest – even to uncomfortable questions. You must be candid about drinking, smoking and drug use or any other difficult, but pertinent, information. “It may not seem important to you, but it could be very important to the physician’s decision-making,” says Dr. Pickens. “With health care, you always want to bring as much information as you can and paint as complete a picture as you can.” midtownmag.com| 135

photography © Ismail Abdelkhalek

Duke Raleigh Hospital’s emergency department renovations include a new entrance to create a more accessible and efficient area for patient check-in.

A lot of people are reluctant to come to the ED for something that could turn out to be minor because they fear – not so much bad medical news – but a long wait. “Across the country right now, emergency departments are attempting to minimize wait times,” says Dr. Pickens. “We’re working on that at Duke Raleigh Hospital, and have put in place several processes to expedite care. Our goal is to provide extraordinary care to everyone who comes through our doors.”

Keeping patients informed

“The flow is something we work on every day,” he says. “Some situations are beyond our control. There’s no way to predict who we’ll see and what conditions we’ll be treating or how many patients arrive at any given time.

One thing we can control, though, is making sure that we keep patients informed and updated as to their wait time status while in the waiting room, and at each of the next steps in their visit. If there’s going to be a wait or delay, we let patients know that and explain why.”

The staff also monitors patients while they’re waiting. If someone’s condition worsens, the staff will recognize that and ensure the patient is seen as soon as possible. Getting patients to the appropriate place is a priority for Dr. Pickens and team. “We first determine what needs to be done and how quickly it needs to happen,” he says. “Clearly, the sickest patients must be seen first.”

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In case of emergency…

Have a list ready to share with emergency department staff. Keep it in your purse or wallet for easy reference. Be sure the list includes: • Primary care physician • Pharmacy • All medications you’re on, including the dosage • Medical history • Any surgeries you’ve had • Allergies • Family or friend contact name and number

Duke Raleigh expanded its physical emergency facilities last year to better serve the community. The new features include a redesigned entrance and a more comfortable waiting area for patients and their families, as well as 11 new treatment rooms. These enhancements allow for expedited patient check-in, improved efficiency and an even greater level of privacy and comfort. For the past two years, for a large part of the day, the emergency department has run a rapid evaluation unit in which a physician is present during the triage process. This unit has dramatically increased the department’s ability to provide timely, extraordinary care.

As the emergency department’s medical director for quality improvement, Dr. Pickens is always looking for ways to enhance the experience of patients and their family members.

He notes that health care is in a state of flux now and says, “No one knows exactly what health care will look like 10 or 20 years from now. But we at Duke Raleigh Hospital want to continue to be leaders in the field. Making sure we give patients extraordinary care is always going to be the most important part of our mission.”

“It’s important that we constantly review, assess and maintain the high level of care we’re giving,” he adds.

Emergency department care is never anyone’s first choice.

But Dr. Pickens extends a warm welcome to all the reluctant patients who find themselves unexpectedly needing care and service at Duke Raleigh Hospital’s emergency department.

And he encourages anyone with an emergency – or perceived emergency – to get to the ED at once. “I have seen patients who apologize for coming to the emergency department,” Dr. Pickens says. “I always say, ‘You have nothing to apologize for. This is what we’re here for.’”

To learn more about Duke Raleigh’s Emergency Services, visit www.dukeraleighhospital.org/healthservices/emergency-services. In an emergency, always call 911. For non-emergencies, call 919-954-3000. midtownmag.com| 137

living well & QA

Carter & Laura Dalton GNC, North Hills

This time of year I need a good fat burner more than any other time, but I cannot tolerate stimulants.

Am I just out of luck?

Answering all your questions about health, wellness, supplements and more!

The holiday season leaves me feeling tired, between the change in weather, the shopping and the treats. Is there anything I can do to help me get through?

First, take a good multivitamin with a B-complex in it. B vitamins combat STRESS, which can be ever-present during the next couple of months! Garcinia Cambogia has been getting a lot of press lately, and Georgetown University studies have recently corroborated its success. Garcinia can help keep energy levels up while keeping your body from storing fat – the perfect combo for the nights of holiday shopping, cooking and INDULGING. Take Garcinia 30 minutes before eating, up to three times daily.

Two supplements that have made resurgences due to popular daytime TV shows are raspberry ketones and green coffee bean. Both can help increase energy, promote thermogenesis (fat burning) and aid in controlling appetite by helping to keep blood sugar levels stable. Green coffee bean has 9mg of caffeine (one standard cup of tea has 50mg) so the jitters shouldn’t ever be an issue.

Raspberry ketones also help increase your levels of norepinephrine, the “feel-good hormone”, which can help you keep your cool amidst the lines of people and extended family that you will encounter! Take coffee bean 30 minutes before meals.

Thanksgiving is my worst nightmare when it comes to binging. Is there anything I can take that will help my stomach tell me to put the fork down faster?

There are several stimulant-free options that people have been finding successful in terms of controlling appetite, but it sounds like you are looking for something to make you feel more full so you will stop at one piece of pumpkin pie! Glucomannan is a very popular fiber that expands up to 17 times its size in your stomach. Some folks take it with chitosan, a marine fiber shown to block fat and cholesterol, so you dodge some fat storage as well! Take it 30 minutes before your meal with a large glass of water. Also, always be sure you are getting Send us your questions! enough protein, as lean protein can help you feel gncnorthhills@aol.com satiated longer than carbohydrates can. /Live Well - Live Easy

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healthy you

S u r v i va l G u i d e

the for holiday parties, goodies at the office, and big family dinners. It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but somehow you find yourself running around to find the perfect last-minute gift, rushing to attend the second party of the night, and staying up late to bake your third batch of holiday cookies. Without fail you feel like you’ve gained five pounds, and again your New Year’s resolution is to lose weight.

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core_nd.pdf

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The average holiday weight gain is one pound, according to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine. It noted the pound was not lost after the holidays. That means you are gaining a pound every holiday season. After a few years, those pounds add up.

Make this year different with your own Holiday Survival Guide. Give yourself a break and don’t resist holiday treats.

Identify the triggers that cause you to overeat or skip a workout. Whether it is a lack of sleep or lack of time, manage them by planning ahead. Make short-term realistic goals like going to bed by 10pm for five days in a row. Use them as reinforcement to achieve overall success. You’ll be less likely to overindulge if you are working towards attainable goals. Sign up for a series of exercise classes, schedule an early morning walk with a friend … if you feel a sense of obligation, you are less likely to skip.

Use the 80/20 rule and allow carte blanche 20 percent of the time. The other 80 percent of the time ask yourself if you are really hungry. Could you eat an apple? If the answer is no, you’re not hungry. Taste anything you want to try. Only eat more than one bite of those selections you love. Take small bites then put your fork down and take a sip of your drink between bites. You can socialize at the same time. Recognize when you are actually full and you reduce your chance of going back for seconds … this trick works year-round.

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If you have trouble sticking with your fitness routine from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, come up with a new one.

Don’t say, “I don’t have time.” You do. Just because you can’t make it to the gym, you can get creative and exercise whenever and wherever. Carve out five, 10, 20 minutes each day and utilize exercises unfamiliar to your body. You’ll burn more calories in less time. Start thinking of the mall as your own indoor track. Do an extra lap and reduce your heart rate, blood pressure, and added stress while you shop. Wear a pedometer while you run errands and see how many steps you can accumulate.

Create your own Holiday Survival Guide: Forget the rules and implement a plan tailored for you.

• List your holiday obligations

• Make several short-term goals attainable by New Year’s

• Get creative with exercise

• Eat 80/20 This year you may even lose weight over the holidays!

by Katherine Williams, Owner, CORE Fitness Studio

midtownmag.com| 141

healthy you

Nine Things You Need to Know

For Safe, Effective Laser Hair Removal

BY Tracy Barlow, Registered Nurse Practitioner, Michael Law MD / Blue Water Spa

1

2

No single laser works effectively on all skin types.

The Alexandrite laser has been evaluated as the most effective laser for light to medium skin types and the long pulsed nd yag has been evaluated in medical journals as safest and most effective for darker skin. If the correct laser isn’t used, the treatment won’t work, and could possibly create permanent skin discoloration.

NEVER sign up for a laser “series” or package.

People don’t all require the same number of laser treatments. A reputable laser center will be confident you will come back for laser treatments because you experience great results, and won’t lock you into a contract.

3 Results cannot be guaranteed.

Even medical offices performing thousands of laser treatments monthly with outstanding outcomes cannot guarantee results. Physicians are prohibited from offering guarantees! If a guarantee is offered, it should be brought to the attention of the medical board.

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4 IPL is not a laser and it doesn’t work for hair removal.

There has never been a peer reviewed medical study that determined IPL more effective for hair removal than lasers. IPLs have permanently damaged skin.

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Size matters.

A large spot size allows laser energy to disable even the deepest root of unwanted hair. A large (18 mm) spot means a faster, more effective treatment.

7 Schedule a complimentary consultation and don’t pay up front.

A nurse practitioner or PA will determine which laser frequency will provide the best results for you.

You should never feel pressured to schedule a service, pay up front, or worst of all get financial “pre-approval” for packages that may not be right for you. Do not pre-pay during your consultation. Reputable laser centers don’t offer specials available only the day of your consultation.

Insist on DCD Cooling.

A Dynamic Cooling device (DCD) is the only way to provide consistent cooling to the skin.

A DCD sprays cryogen immediately prior to the laser to cool and protect the skin for the most comfortable treatment.

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9

Check the NC medical board website to learn about the physician who owns and operates the facility.

Smoke evacuators are essential.

Medical studies have demonstrated that laser hair removal releases potentially harmful toxins into the air. The plume, or smoke, created by laser hair removal could be dangerous to both patients and providers. Confirm that smoke evacuators are in use before scheduling a treatment.

There should never be any hesitation about providing the name and specialty of the physician who owns the practice. Laser hair removal is a serious medical treatment. The NC Medical board requires physician oversight.

1

Laser hair removal can be a wonderful, life changing experience for men and women. It can be performed on virtually any area of the body or between sessions, the right laser will keep skin smooth for weeks at a time. Laser hair removal is a medical treatment. Do your research about who you are trusting with your health and well-being. midtownmag.com| 143

healthy you

regaining confidence Women’s hair loss issues

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by Joseph Ellis, Hair Addition Specialist, Master with American Hair Loss Council Raleigh Hair Concepts

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thinning hair. The first sign of hair loss for many women is a widening part.�

The search for answers can be daunting. When a women is experiencing hair loss it affects her life in so many ways and she can feel so alone in the experience. Women need to understand that if they are experiencing hair loss it is not an unusual occurrence. There is an estimated 30 million women in the United States who suffer from hair loss, and this is associated with genetics. The assumption is that if a women is seen with hair loss then she is not healthy. Most people do not assume that she is healthy and just experiencing hair loss through genetics.

It is so important for a women with hair loss to find guidance with understanding all the options for her.

A

s a local women looks for help with her hair loss, she finds the perfect solution for her. For Durema (pictured left), her hair loss began at 27 years of age after her third child and got progressively worse as time went on. While in her mid thirties, she considered herself as having severe hair loss and felt so incomplete, a loss of self confidence because she feared someone was always judging her for her hair loss. Durema tried a lot of things like follicle stimulators and vitamins, but nothing seemed to help her follicles once they had genetically died. She later got help with deciding what her options were and decided to go with the option of non-surgical hair restoration. The greatest thing about this story is that Durema can now hold her head high and be proud of how she looks.

Female pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia, is seen as hair thinning predominantly over the top and sides of the head and is sometimes but not always seen after menopause, although it may begin as early as puberty.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology: “Hereditary thinning or baldness, known as androgenetic alopecia, is the most common cause of hair loss. It affects men and women.

About 80 million people in the United States have hereditary thinning or baldness. When men have hereditary hair loss, they often get a receding hairline.

Women, on the other hand, tend to keep their hairline. They see noticeably

The two main options are surgical and non-surgical hair restoration: For the surgical option, hair is removed from the back of the head and implanted in the hair loss areas, where it will grow. This option is great for the person who does not have a lot of hair loss. You are removing hair from one area and moving it to another. Great strides have been made in the last 10 years for beautifully growing transplanted hair for the right candidates.

Non-surgical options are vast. First, you have DHT prohibited shampoos and products to block the DHT (Dihydrotestosterone), which is a hormone that causes most of the genetic hair loss. It is important to get advice from a hair loss specialist to get the right combination of blockers and stimulators to give you the best results. Hair lasers are great to use alongside a regime of blockers and stimulators. Currently, there are only two to three lasers approved by the FDA; find out about these from your hair loss specialist. Most of the time this will help you keep and strengthen the hair you have left. The next option is a custom made medical-grade cranial hair prosthetic system designed to look like your growing hair. It’s made of hand-tied human hair, bonded with a medical-grade adhesive and rebonded every four to six weeks. It is very light and secure. A client can live life confident and go about her daily activities as if the added hair were her own growing hair.

Swimming, snorkeling and shampooing are all activities she would be able to do. It is similar to what Hollywood does in movies to give the actors a realistic appearance. midtownmag.com| 145

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new aroundtown

North Hills 4020 Market at North Hills Street 919.787.8993 Sun-Thur 11am-10pm Fri-Sat 11am–11pm

Chuy’s to open SECOND NC location at North Hills Founded in Austin, Texas in 1982, Chuy’s owns and operates 43 full-service restaurants across eight states serving a distinct menu of authentic, made-from-scratch Tex-Mex inspired dishes. Chuy’s highly flavorful and freshly prepared fare is served in a fun, eclectic atmosphere, while each location offers a unique look and feel, as expressed by the concept’s motto “If you’ve seen one Chuy’s, you’ve seen one Chuy’s!”.

North Hills 141-111 Park at North Hills Street saxbyscoffee.com Mon-Fri 6:30am-9:30pm Sat 7am-9:30pm Sun 7am-9pm

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North Hills welcomes Saxbys Coffee Lisa and Frank Cariello are opening locations not only in North Hills, but on Hillsborough Street as well. Saxby’s vision is they believe that gourmet coffee is an experience that should elevate your senses. By design, the combination of their award-winning coffee and sophisticated store atmosphere give their customers that experience with every visit to a Saxbys Coffee cafe.

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AM

And the Diamond Goes to…

It’s time for the 2014 Annual Diamond Awards to be announced! Over the past several months you have voted and now it’s time to see who took the Diamond Award home.

Did your favorite win?

New Year’s Resolution

We know you hear this every year. But do you ever stick to your resolutions? Do you make them attainable? Are you going to keep going to the gym after January? This year, make a resolution to stick to your resolution – and we can help.

Do you love Midtown/Raleigh?

We give you reasons why you should. It’s a great place to live and work, and we show you some reasons you’ve probably never thought of before.

Midtown Reviews | Bain’s Beat Calendar of Events Healthy You | Midtown Mingles and much more!

oops!

On page 106 of our September/October issue we incorrectly wrote the designer as “Chenille” rather than “Chanel”.

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H HEALT giving cArE To

THE cArEgivErs 42 page

DRESS RU N To Benefit Mul tiple Charitie WAY PIE s

BY DAN BAIN

CES

W

hat do Christian Dior, psychiatric dogs, and Ridgewood service Shopping Center in common?

One word: have Aptly named Dress. ries a combinatio for a women’s boutique, n of new Dress resale – and thanks to a items and high-end carGreensboro designer recent partnership with a wood store non-profit called ma Cares, the Ridgehas others. With a new line to offer, for has been ablethe help of an individual the benefit of and tagged to provide Dress with donor, ma Cares pieces from r 2 0 1 3thousands at half of o c t o b evarious r /retail couture lines, of new or septembe marked Dress owner less, to raise money for charity.

Pam Mullaney inventory is says the from designers anywhere else that women donated Vuitton, Stella in this area – including can’t find Chanel, Louis McCartney, 1 Chloe, mm 001 cover.indd Christian Prada, runway pieces and Sheri Bodell. “We Dior, Lanvin, market these as ‘Dress Luxe’ back to ma and the proceeds Cares go According for their charities,” she explains. celebrate and to its website, ma Cares improve the “exists to families, veterans quality and animals.” of life for children, ally focuses on three charities Mullaney says Its current for a set period it generbeneficiarie s are: of time.

PATHWAYS A division CENTER of Greensboro temporary Urban Ministry shelter offering search for other to homeless families while housing. ma clothing and Cares donates they food, events meant cleaning supplies, and coordinates to inspire the special residents.

8/23/13 9:56 AM

DRESS CARRIES NEW AND CONSIGNED OUTFITS AND ACCESSORIES DIFFICULT-TO-FIN

BY HIGH-END, D DESIGNER BRANDS.

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g.com

midtownmag.com| 147

grand prixe_nd.pdf

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midtownmingles

Midtown Farmers’ Market Iron Chef Challenge

On September 28th four North Hills chefs (Coquette, The CowFish, Flights and Mia Francesca) competed for the title of Iron Chef of Midtown. The chefs were given two secret ingredients: rabbit and green beans. The CowFish took the award for Best Presentation and The People’s Choice award went to Flights. Stealing the show, Mia Francesca took the honors of Best Overall and Iron Chef of Midtown.

jimmy V celebrity golf classic v gala

Taking place in the Grand Ballroom of the Raleigh Convention Center, the 2013 Jimmy V Celebrity Golf Classic V Gala was an elegant, black tie affair celebrating 20 years of achievements in cancer research by The V Foundation for Cancer Research. Guests enjoyed both silent and live auctions along with one very special message of hope presented by The V Foundation. The V Foundation shared how $100 million raised has turned into over a BILLION dollars in cancer research!

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midtownmingles

season kick-off party for North carolina theatre

Synergy Spa and Aesthetics, sponsors of North Carolina Theatre, hosted a 2013/2014 season kick-off party for the theatre’s donors. The party included complimentary mini spa services and entertainment by Lauren Kennedy and daughter Riley Campbell, stars of the upcoming NCT production of Les Miserables. jrob_nd_SQ.pdf 1 10/16/13 4:04 PM

Trunk show at High Line Boutique

High Line Boutique hosted a Kenda Kist Jewelry Trunk Show on Sunday, September 29th. Kenda is a local jewelry designer who sells her hand crafted pieces in retail shops across the country. She showed some of her classic pieces as well as her fall collection. During the trunk show, High Line Boutique also held a cat food drive for the SPCA of Wake County.

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midtownmingles

SEcond annual Midtown Barks and Recreation

On Sunday, September 22nd, in North Hills East, the Midtown Raleigh Alliance along with Woof Gang Bakery presented the Midtown Barks & Recreation benefitting the SPCA of Wake County.

There were not only events for Fido; there were events for Fido’s owner! Over 400 owners and dogs showed up for this second annual event. A big thanks to WNCN for covering and hosting the event.

Porsche by Design: Seducing Speed opens at NC Museum of Art

On October 10th, the North Carolina Museum of Art held The Porsche Party, a gala to celebrate the opening of their special exhibition, Porsche by Design: Seducing Speed. Signature “Carrera” cocktails were served and the Porsche by Design exhibition was open for guests to view.

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midtownmingles

fall fashion show at cameron village

High-end shoe boutique Rangoni Firenze drew inspiration from the highly esteemed Carolina Ballet for their 2013 Fall Fashion Show. Rangoni partnered with local clothing boutiques to style looks inspired by each of the participating dancers’ personalities and to showcase both new and timeless fashion trends for this fall.

plum hair atelier opens

PLUM Hair Atelier had an exciting evening in September for their official debut to the Raleigh area. The salon was filled with guests, yummy bites, signature cocktails and music, creating a high-energy atmosphere.

WINE, WOMEN AND SHOES

Wine, Women and Shoes, an event to raise funds for Communities in Schools of North Carolina, was held on September 26th at Marbles Kids Museum in downtown Raleigh.

There was wine tasting, a fashion show, a silent auction and a walk-around boutique marketplace.

midtownmag.com | 153

doTHISbetter

Roast a Turkey The bird is bound to pop up on a menu some time during the next two months; here are some tips if you’re the one in charge of preparing it:

for a 20-pounder. Thaw it in the fridge, to be safe.

(carrots, celery, onion, and/or garlic) to add flavor, and cook your dressing on the side.

2. Coat the outside of the turkey with olive

4. Cook the turkey at 350 degrees. If it was a

1. Give it time to defrost. About 4-5 days

or vegetable oil, and wrap it tightly in foil to prevent over-browning.

3. Avoid over-stuffing

in order to cook the bird more evenly. Loosely fill it with aromatic veggies

Throw a Better Spiral Could there be some pick-up gridiron games in your future?

You can be your family’s star QB with these simple steps:

frozen bird, allow 20 minutes per pound. If it was fresh, 10-15 minutes per pound should suffice.

5. Once the bird is in the oven, leave that

door closed! Temperature

1. Grip the football with your ring finger and pinky crossing the laces and your thumb and pointer finger in an “L” shape with your pointer finger over a seam and your thumb underneath the laces.

154 | midtownmag.com

fluctuations contribute to a dry turkey. Open the oven once – about 45 minutes before you think the turkey will be finished – and remove the foil from the breast.

6. Check the turkey’s and stuffing’s

temperature after you remove it from the oven – the thigh should be 165 degrees, and the stuffing should be at least that warm.

2. Turn 90 degrees away from your target, toward your throwing side (if you throw right-handed, face right). Point your opposite foot (pivot foot) toward your target.

3. Keep the ball near your ear until it’s time to throw, then wind back, move your arm forward in an arc, and release with your fingertips, about midway through the arc. Use the rest of your body as momentum, stepping forward with your pivot foot.

Keep a Better Resolution It’s almost time to think about 2014 resolutions. To stick with them, visualize success – as well as these tips: 1. Be specific and realistic. Keep goals measurable – state how much money you want to save for next Christmas, or how many pounds you want to lose before summer. You know what you’re capable of, so don’t set yourself up for disappointment with unattainable goals or too many resolutions.

2. Stay reminded. Write down your resolutions, and keep the written list where you will see it regularly. This will also encourage a support network, as other people see it.

3. Go gradual. If you want to lose 50 pounds, focus on that goal in 10-pound increments. Track and review your progress, and each time you hit a milestone, celebrate or reward yourself – just don’t make the reward the thing you’re trying to avoid, i.e., a sleeve of cookies after losing 10 pounds.

4. Replace bad habits with good ones. Trying to spend less money? Do something free, like visiting a park, whenever you normally would have had mall time. Quitting smoking? Each time you get the urge, munch on a carrot stick or go brush your teeth. Focus on the positive things you can do.

Sources: foodnetwork.com, wikiHow, eHow.com

By dan bain

01. Pura Vida Bracelets $5 and up Whalebone Urban Surf A great stocking stuffer and a great cause as well!

Pura Vida provides jobs to artisans in Costa Rica and a percentage of their sales go to different charities around the globe.

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02. Tory Burch Kiernan Boot $495 Monkee’s of Raleigh It's the must-have riding boot of the season! Its classic silhouette makes it a staple in every wardrobe. It will make a statement with every outfit!

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03. Lady Primrose $22 and up Dianne Thomson at Affordable Chic Shops Pamper yourself or a friend with a gift of Lady Primrose luxury fragrances and bath products.

Presentation is lovely, lavish, luscious and luxurious.

04. Vegan Wristlets $24.99 ADORE Designer Resale Boutique, North Raleigh A place for everything! Vegan wristlets in a variety of colors...numerous sections for everything; phone, cards, keys and cash.

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05. Red Toolbox Kits $49.99 Marbles Kids Museum Red Toolbox features an innovative concept of woodwork with specially-designed tools and kits that let kids create woodworking projects with their parents.

06. Easyclean Sonicare Toothbrush $80 Renaissance Dental Center Includes 2 toothbrush heads and a 2-year warranty. Get a healthier mouth with gentle technology. Santa can't promise a White Christmas but the Doctors at Renaissance Dental Center can!!

07. Soap Rocks $12/each Oxford Green Hand hewn soaps in gem-like shapes. Scented or fragrance free. Amazing color selections. USA made.

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08. Henhouse Linens Homewood Nursery Henhouse Linens by Raleigh designer Katherine Poole. Mix, match and layer to create many looks! Beautifully washable. No ironing required.

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09. Southern Tide ¼ Zip Pullover $99.50 High Line Boutique Carefully designed for the best fit and durability, you will find the prewashed combed cotton fabric and careful stitching put this garment in a class by itself.

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10. Customizable Gift Basket $66 (pictured) Skin Sense, a day spa Give the gift of relaxation with a customizable gift basket from our spa boutique – the perfect addition to a Skin Sense gift card!

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11. Steak Knives Set $79 Trig Modern This set of six steak knives is a great piece of sculpture for your table when not in use.

12. Merck Family’s Old World Christmas Affordable Chic Shops Mouth-blown fine glass ornaments. Dogs, cats, North Carolina, travel and other selected styles revived in the European style. America's favorites!

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13. Blue Water Spa Clinical Skin Care Blue Water Spa The ideal way to keep skin young looking, firm and free of blemishes. Custom products for all skin types. Complimentary samples available.

14. Vintage Inspired Hobnail Candles $29 Luxe Beauty Boutique Intensely fragrant and available in a wide array of scents.

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15. Wine Breather Carafe $50 Beyond Blue Interiors The Wine Breather Carafe redefines fun from the bottom up! Watch the dramatic cascade of wine on the decanter walls as you empty an entire bottle. It's easy to use and looks great.

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16. Vintage Turquoise Navajo Cuff $625 adLib Antiques This turquoise and sterling vintage Navajo cuff will make both a timeless and a unique gift.

17. Elixir Ultime 24-Carat Regimen $166.50 Modern Enhancement Salon Day Spa Includes sublime cleansing oil shampoo, a beautifying masque treatment and enriching scented oils for all-over nourishment, leaving your hair smooth with glamorous shine.

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18. Jeweled Coffee Tumbler $14.99 Saxbys Coffee Be the envy of your friends drinking your coffee from this jeweled tumbler.

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19. Indo Board Balance/Cross Trainer $144.95 Whalebone Urban Surf These balance trainers help you stay in shape for surfing, skating, snowboarding, wakeboarding, etc. They are a great exercise tool for the whole family, working your core muscles. Board comes with roller and instructional DVD.

20. Leather 24kt Gold Plated Bracelet $122 Scout & Molly's This stylishly cool, but oh-so-chic bracelet features genuine leather woven between 24kt gold plated rings. This look could be pulled off by the most sophisticated couture woman or someone with a bit of rocker edge!

21. Oak Leaf Copper Bowl $59 Ten Thousand Villages Hold the glow of autumn leaves in this bowl; fall foliage is forged in iron and finished in luminescent copper.

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22. Collard Greens $55-$85/each Oxford Green Adorable ties and bow ties packaged with extra Southern charm. USA made.

23. "Taryn" Necklaces $88 Dress Our best selling "Taryn" necklace features a handdyed carved medallion with a chunky tassel on a heavy 18kt gold-plated chain.

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24. Cleansing Creme $40 PLUM Hair Atelier This detergent-free one-step cleanser uses 100% biodegradable ingredients to remove dirt and oil while preserving shine and color. For more info visit purelyperfect.com.

25. Seda France Candles $30 Hunt & Gather, Bernard Street Inspiration springs from the classic French design element that is over 200 years old. "The packaging of Seda France candles is so charming, they don't even need gift wrapping." -- Oprah.

26. Hunter Rain Boots $140 Main & Taylor We have the fashion colors for the season as well as the classic favorites, and the Hunter Boot socks make perfect stocking stuffers.

27. Juvéderm® Blue Water Spa Achieve beautiful and natural-looking results. Blue Water Spa is the top provider of Juvéderm® in the Triangle. It can be used to fill lips or unwanted lines and wrinkles.

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28. Shawlsmith London Scarves $35-$90 Anna & Alice The perfect holiday gift for you or that special person. Available in a multitude of solids, prints and metallics.

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29. California Cashmere $238 CoolSweats Subtle Luxury Novelty Stitch Cowl Sweater – the "California Cashmere" sweater in a classic swing fit that is lightweight, soft and comfy.

30. Raleigh Rocks Glasses $44/set of four Form & Function Unique, customized glasses featuring Raleigh's skyline.

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31. Mighty Purse $99 Charlotte's As seen on The Today Show. The Mighty Purse is the perfect gift for any fashionable girl on the go.

The Mighty Purse has a hidden USB charging cable for your smartphone or computer USB port and is available in a variety of colors.

32. The Nutcracker City Ballet Share the magic of the holiday season with tickets to City Ballet's Nutcracker on December 14th and 15th at Enloe High School. For more info visit city-ballet.com.

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33. Custom Gift Baskets $30 and up Tin Roof Teas Custom gift baskets for any tea or honey lover!

Choose from a selection of accessories, teas and local honeys.

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34. Neocutis $99 The Spa at Lafayette Give the gift of perfect skin care. Get a Neocutis gift set containing 15ml Hyalis, JournĂŠe, Bio Cream and full-size Cleanser.

35. Personalized Necklace $1,890 Bailey's Fine Jewelry This beautiful Heather B. Moore personalized necklace is the perfect gift this Christmas – show someone how much you care!

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36. Mazza Moonstone Diamond Earrings The Elaine Miller Collection Give her a timeless accessory to match any occassion with these Mazza moonstone diamond earrings.

Elainemillercollection.com or 919.571.8888 for more details.

37. Italian Designed Necklace The Elaine Miller Collection Dare to be different with this exquisite Italian designed long, 14k gold coin necklace.

Elainemillercollection.com or 919.571.8888 for more details.

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38. Meghan Browne Style Necklace $48 Apricot Lane Meghan Browne Style is thrilled to offer exquisite collections that are a skillful mix of playful sophistication that will enhance your wardrobe and personal style.

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39. Opal and Diamond Pendant $4,350 Reliable Jewelry Ladies' opal and diamond pendant features a rectangular-shaped Australian opal weighing 10.70 carats surrounded by .80 carats of round diamonds.

40. Topaz and Citrine Ring The Elaine Miller Collection Surprise her with a statement piece as gorgeous as she is with this Italian design smokey topaz and citrine ring with diamond accents.

Elainemillercollection.com or 919.571.8888 for more details.

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41. Diamond Halo Pendant Price varies per total carat weight.

Diamonds Direct Crabtree This stunning diamond halo pendant is a classic beauty. Available in white, yellow or rose gold and platinum.

42. TAG Heuer Watch $3,900 Fink's Jewelers Men's TAG Heuer Carrera certified chronometer watch in stainless steel with a silvered dial on an alligator strap.

43. Vintage Waterfall Cocktail Ring $1,200 Hunt and Gather Fine Estate Furnishings, Glenwood Ave. Show that someone special how much they mean to you with this 14kt diamond and sapphire vintage Waterfall cocktail ring.

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44. Elizabeth Locke Earrings The Elaine Miller Collection Sweep her off her feet with these Elizabeth Locke 19kt gold earrings featuring crystal clear Venetian glass. Elainemillercollection.com or 919.571.8888 for more details.

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45. David Yurman Bracelet $3,800 Fink's Jewelers From the Labyrinth collection by David Yurman, designs with diamonds in sterling silver and 18kt yellow gold. Single-loop bracelet shown. Pendant, Hoop earrings and rings also available.

46. Stainless Steel Jewelry $150 and up Hamilton Hill Jewelry Steel Yourself. Starting at only $150, stainless steel jewelry makes a priceless style statement.

With and without stones, for women and men.

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47. Latisse $79 (regular $120) Blue Water Spa Latissse is FDA approved to provide longer, thicker eyelashes. Blue Water Spa is the top provider of Latisse in the Traingle.

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48. Baratza Burr Coffee Grinder $125 Jubala Village Coffee The best industry grinder out there and can be used for drip coffee or home espresso. Stop by the shop and we can show you how easy it is to use.

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49. Vance Kitira Candles $6.25 and up The Wright Place at Affordable Chic Shops Tapers, pillars, large and small pears, timber poured and very reasonable! Many colors to choose from.

50. Tagua Earrings $39 Ten Thousand Villages Rich colors of the forest, in dyed tagua nut disks. Also known as “vegetable ivory”, tagua is produced by a palm-like tree in South America.

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51. Prada Leather Handbag $1,570-$1,870 Sax Fifth Avenue Prada’s new Saffiano leather handbags bring together elegance with contemporary form and function. The Saffiano bag offers pops of color, and classic colors to integrate into any wardrobe.

52. Wine Opener and Preserver $59.99 Total Wine & More Electric wine opener and preserver on a handsome charging base. Elegant brushed stainless accents with two wine stoppers and a foil cutter.

53 . PurseN $54-$64 Kristen's Shoe Boutique Great jewelry organizer! Separate compartments for storage of various pieces of jewelry. Many patterns and colors to choose from. The perfect gift!

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54. Echo $45 Kristen's Place Knit hat with built-in headphones. Many color combinations to choose from. Great for all ages.

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55. Moroccan Oil Mark Christopher Salon Keep your hair healthy this holiday season with Moroccan Oil. Entire line now available.

56. Lauren – Ombre $128 Hayley's Boutique The Legendary Lauren – functional wallet by day and stylish clutch by night. She is known for her carry-all attitude and total cool factor.

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57. Mywalit Kelly Bag $300 Ora Designers and Fine Jewelers An explosion of color, creativity & elegance in Italian leather. Ora...gift ware for your Santa list.

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58. Garcinia Cambogia $24.99 GNC, North Hills Very popular with Dr. Oz. Helps with weight loss and appetite control. Retails for $34.99. On sale for November and December.

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59. Parisian Sandrine Giraud Jewelry C.T. Weekends Contemporary and fun, Parisian Sandrine Giraud’s versatile jewelry can be twisted and reconstructed to compliment any look.

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60. Armillary Sphere $68 Revival Antiques and Accessories Unique home décor items make the perfect gift!

Consider this stylish black iron armillary sphere.

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61. Mineral Makeup Blue Water Spa Mineral makeup can make your skin look flawless. Safe for all skin types, won't clog pores. Blue Water Spa provides color matching for the perfect shade. Buy two makeup bases or blush and get third at half price.

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62. Monaco Clutch $64.95 Comfortable Soles With an optional crossbody or wristlet strap, the Monaco clutch by Baggallini is the perfect holiday gift for anyone's style!

63. Infinity Scarf $35 Saint Mary's School Get this monogrammed infinity scarf at shop 1842 at Saint Mary’s School. Many patterns to choose from. Instagram shop1842.

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64. Man Bust $500 Oxford Green Unique and traditional garden and home sculptures. USA made.

65. Custom Wood Monograms Price Varies Southern Accents at Affordable Chic Shops Custom monograms are the hottest holiday décor trend for 2013. Add a touch of elegance to your front door with a custom wreath & monogram.

66. A Christmas Carol Tickets Theatre in the Park Give the gift of entertainment with tickets to see A Christmas Carol at Memorial Auditorium December 12th-15th or the DPAC December 19th-22nd. For more info visit theatreinthepark.com.

67. Prepared Dinner Packages $185 and up Chef Mario’s, Inc Chef prepared dinners for a week from Chef Mario’s, Inc!

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68. Custom Pet Portraits $125 and up Design Studios at Affordable Chic Shops Betty Dunham's "JJ" golden retriever, 8" x 10" acrylic on canvas. Also offering original landscapes, seascapes and still life. Available for commissioned work.

69. Giddy Gal Swim Creations $143 and up The Spa at Lafayette Explore your inner Pin-Up Girl with vintage-inspired swimwear.

70. Antique English Tea Set $350 The Wright Place at Affordable Chic Shops Five piece Antique English Tea Set, mint condition, silver on copper.

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71. Wedding Gowns Runway Brides The season's newest bridal color – blush! Silk chiffon gown with radiant sparkle crystals. Friends and family can share in gifting your dream dress with our Gown Registry.

72. China Bracelets and Belts $159-$179 each Oxford Green Leather and China accessories. Upcycled and recycled with vintage china dishes. Each is one-ofa-kind, made in the USA. Bracelets and cufflinks also available.

73. Burberry Duffle $581 Nora and Nicky's Designer Resale Travel this holiday season in style! This Burberry duffle is crafted of signature Haymarket check canvas and premium leather.

history and elegance with a selection of cuisine that is as exquisitely unique as it is delicious.

Sunset Slush of North Raleigh Italian Ice is a delicious, guilt-free way to enjoy dessert. Purchase $25 in gift cards and get a $5 bonus gift card. Purchase $50 and receive a box of chocolate covered pretzels!

FOOD & DRINK Empire Eats Wrap up an Empire Eats gift card, valid at all our locations: The Pit, The Raleigh Times, The Morning Times, Sitti, Gravy and The Pit in Durham!

Eschelon Experiences Give the gift of food with a gift card to one of our five restaurant concepts; Mura @ North Hills, Sono Japanese Restuarant, The Oxford Gastropub, Cameron Bar and Grill and Zinda New Asian. Buy them in the restaurants or online at eschelonhospitality.com/index.php/store.

Mia Francesca At Mia Francesca Trattoria Italian Restaurant, our chefs bring you what true Northern Italian casual fine dining is. Our ever-changing menu is always made-from-scratch Italian sauces, pastas & dishes.

MIDTOWN GRILLE Enjoy regionally-inspired, creative cuisine in an intimate dining setting or a cocktail after work in the heart of North Hills.

SAINT-JACQUES The South of France is only minutes away! Join Lil Lacassange and his talented staff for a delightful French meal at one of their two locations: Raleigh (Falls of Neuse Road) or Gibsonville (between Greensboro and Burlington).

Second Empire Offering a holiday (and everyday) dining experience that combines an atmosphere of classical

Village Grill Let the Village Grill host your holiday party, office party or family get-together in our beautiful private dining room, or let us bring the party to you. Gift cards are available for a great holiday treat!

Wakefield Wine Cellar Give the gift of wine, tapas and good times from the Wakefield Wine Cellar. Free wine tastings every Friday 6-8pm. Live music every Friday and Saturday.

FITNESS Barre Up! Barre Up! offers gift certificates for group BarreAmped and Pilates classes, and private Gyrotonic® and Barre sessions. Gift certificates include a pair of Barre Socks.

CORE Fitness Studio Get a jump start on your NewYear’s resolution!

Personal/small-group training and fitness classes are for all fitness levels in a comfortable and convenient location.

GIFT CARDS $2 have been the most requested item on holiday wish lists for the past six years

Eco Friendly Beauty Bar Looking for guilt-free decadence? We offer a full-service spa experience including facials, sauna, massages, nail care, waxing and more! Buy a $100 gift card and get an additional $20 free!

Hand & Stone Massage Hand & Stone offers expert massage, facial and waxing services seven days a week. Gift cards are available for purchase in person or as easy as a phone call (and they will mail them to you!).

Take some time this holiday season to restore, relax and refresh.

LIVE WELL LONGER Your blueprint to a healthier, fitter life.

Complimentary 30-minute consultation with purchase of January seminar. Visit lwlcoaching.com.

Pulse Pilates Give the gift of fitness for the holidays! Buy a Pulse Pilates gift certificate and start the new year off right!

CLOTHING BRA PATCH Find something sexy for you or your mate. The Bra Patch specializes in hard-to-fit, custom and Le Mystere bras featured on Oprah.

Crabtree Valley Mall Over 220 specialty shops and restaurants – this gift card is sure to please! Available mall hours at guest services, located in center court.

LAMBETH PLASTIC SURGERY Lambeth Plastic Surgery offers clients the seasoned expertise of an accomplished and caring specialist. Not only does Lambeth offer surgical procedures – they do facials, too! Perfect for the holidays, gift certificates for plastic surgery products and services are available for any amount.

BEAUTY

TRAVEL

Blue Water Spa A spa service from Blue Water Spa, voted Best Spa in America, is the ideal holiday gift. Holiday specials include complimentary spa robe with purchase.

BLOCKADE RUNNER Blockade Runner Beach Resort offers rendezvous packages starting at $99 a night. Enjoy oceanfront accommodations, award-winning prix fixe dinner for two, champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries, and breakfast each morning.

DAVIS PLASTIC SURGERY Give yourself a gift and discover a new you! Let Davis Plastic Surgery assist you in obtaining the physical appearance you are striving for!

MASSAGE ENVY 'Tis the season to relax! Give the gift of wellness and relief with a massage or facial gift card. Visit MassageEnvyRDU.com to find the nearest location.

PINEHURST RESORT There's nothing like the gift of relaxation! Treat the one you love to The Spa at Pinehurst, a haven for tranquility in the Sandhills of North Carolina.

Gift cards are available at ShopPinehurst.com or call 800.487.4653.

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THE SPA AT LAFAYETTE Experience the ultimate oasis of relaxation. Gift cards are available for indulgent facials and expert massages. Enjoy for yourself before the holidays and give as gifts for post-holiday love.

Synergy Spa & Aesthetics This holiday give the gift of relaxation and rejuvenation with a gift certificate to Synergy Spa & Aesthetics. From December 1st-24th receive a complimentary manicure gift certificate with every $150 gift certificate purchased in person, over the phone or online at www.feelsynergy.com.

ENTERTAINMENT THREE BEARS ACRES Gift certificates for a day of fun! Give a child who has everything a day of laughter and great memories. Call 919.609.9967 or visit www. threebearsacres.com for more info.

20-50%

Purchases made with a gift card are between

is the most common gift card amount given

higher than the average purchase price.