Midtown Magazine

FALL

FASHION iphone VERSUS droid

S E P T E MBER/OCTOBER

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2010

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a note FROM THE

PUBLISHER

Fabulous Fall!

One of my favorite quotes is: “It’s what we do in the worst of times that tells who we really are.”

I’m not sure who said it, but for me it’s a reminder that when we face adversity that’s out of our control, we can at least control how we respond.

Still, it isn’t easy to make lemonade out of life’s lemons. In “Rising Above Grief ” (p.48) meet Louise McLarryCreech, a mother who 23 years ago turned overwhelming grief into a mission to find a cure for cancer. Her story is inspiring.

Most of us know someone who has lost a job in the last few years; some may still be looking. That’s adversity. One of my favorite writers, Dan Bain, author of Midtown’s regular column Bain’s Beat, understands this adversity. In “Collecting Unenjoyment,” (p.52) he shares insight on his own unemployment and what we should never say to the unemployed. This piece has a happy ending. Dan was offered a great job just before press time; I decided to print his column because of its message on handling adversity.

I am also excited to tell you about Dan Bain’s book A Nay for Effort: Lessons from the School of Life (p.54). His collection of essays on his role as husband and father is published and available.

Due in large part to some fantastic photo sessions, for this issue we decided to print Midtown with two different covers, much like publishers do in the national market. The insides are all the same, but if you pick up more than one copy, you may notice the covers are different.

We hope you enjoy it!

One of my favorite things about fall is football, and, let’s face it, football isn’t football without tailgating. If you agree, check out “It’s Tailgatin’ Time” (p.66); Ladyfingers Caterers shares its most coveted recipes to help you take your tailgating party to the next level with real food.

And now the clock is ticking; it’s time to cast your ballot for the Midtown Diamond Awards (p.130). Vote for your favorite local spots – from the best place to get your caffeine fix to best place to buy bling.

We want to hear from you!

Finally, join me and my family for the North Hills 5k Run/Walk Saturday September 11th at Trinity Baptist Church. The race supports North Raleigh Ministries, a great organization that helps many families going through adversity.

I hope to hear from you and see you!

Gina Pearce Stephens

Publisher/Partner Midtown, Cary Living, Pinehurst & Southern Weddings gstephens@midtownmag.com

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER publisher/partner advertising sales

creative director graphic design

contributing writers

photography

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gina stephens sarah oglesby dolan myra gammon travis aptt heath murray jennifer casey christa gala kate turgeon dan bain illyse lane jenni hart page leggett april maness kristy stevenson darcy brennan-huante fiquet bailey carter & laura dalton kelly ferrara dr. andrew wells dr. boris gvetkovski patrick fitzgerald dean mckinney & joy watson april maness photography jennifer robertson photography

subscription inquiries call 919.782.4710 or visit midtownmag.com

Printed on 100% Recycled Paper

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.

4818 Six Forks Road, Suite 204 Raleigh, NC 27609 Phone 919.782.4710, Fax 919.782.4763 www.midtownmag.com 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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contents september/october

2010

features 36 the value of social media

How the onset is changing the way we do business.

42 your well deserved bonus

Identify crisis. Multiple personalities.

Torn in too many directions. No, it’s not your friend and her midlife crisis.

It’s your bonus room. And it needs some serious help.

48 rising above grief

Louise McLarry-Creech leads an incredible journey filled with grief, pain and ultimately, purpose.

58 the caring kitchen

Serving others by derving dinner.

66 it’s tailgatin’ time

Duke, Carolina or State? Whoever it

may be, we’ve got your pre-game cravings covered!

74 smarter, healthier,

happier children?

Better sleep may be the secret.

80 the good fit

How a well-made bra can be your breast friend.

86 parks on the rise

If you haven’t checked out Raleigh’s public parks lately, you should.

92 festivals to fall for

Five fall festivals that you may have never heard of.

110 When Will Power Alone Won’t Work

Duke Raleigh’s Weight Loss Surgery Program offers those patients the possibility of drastic weight loss...if they’re willing to make big life changes.

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Fall fashion

Decadent features and bold artistic patterns will be what stands out this season Special thanks to Christobal Perez of Azul Photography for our cover photo and stylist Elie Serraino.

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contents SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

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departments 52 bain’s beat 54 book review 56 wine review 64 calendar 78 talk of the town 84 beauty 98 fall things to do Midtown meets Downtown 100 interactive laughter 102 iphone versus droid 104 memorial gets its voice 108 mark your calendars 114 healthy you 127 mingles

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chef mario

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These are perfect for layering or paired with a cinched belt around the waist or leggings – it’s a great look.

You can breathe a sigh of relief that this fall your comfy cable knit sweater will actually be fashionable – chunky textured knits are in.

Animal print: especially prints in leopard, tiger and cheetah. Whether it’s an animal print dress paired with a solid camel sweater or just an accent piece such as leopard gloves, it’s a great way to spice up neutrals or anything black. The color palette for this season is classic with camels and tans, light browns and grays.

Trends for the fall take a step away from the bold color palettes of past seasons and move toward a more sophisticated glamour. Decadent features and bold artistic patterns will be what stands out this season.

FALL FASH I

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Bottom line: If you love the classics with a little edge or a vintage twist, this will be the season for you!

Leather is still hanging around this season, but moving to pants and skirts. It’s also showing up in embellishments, such as fitted pants with leather patches.

As for jewelry, little is out and the bigger the better is in! Oversized pendants on chains are what we saw on designer runways. Especially trendy are pendants with lots of rhinestones.

With cold weather it seems that furs are always in, but this fall fur is everywhere. Whether it’s a faux furlined collar, hood or an all-over fox vest, luscious furs are it this season.

You can easily dress fur up or down for any occasion.

H ION FINDS photography By azul photography introduction by Elisabetta Rossetti-Serraino

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Dress; Sweater; Boots – Monkees of Raleigh Cuff; Necklace; Earrings; Square tiger’s eye ring – The Elaine Miller Collection Gold chain necklace; Clutch – Charlotte’s Gold topaz ring – Diamonds Direct Crabtree

Pants; Sweater; Top; Fur vest – Tyler House Gold chain & round gold ring; Diamond engagement ring & band – Diamonds Direct Crabtree Earrings; Oval gold ring – The Elaine Miller Collection Gold bracelet – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry

Suit; Tie; Pocket square – Varsity Men’s Wear Watch; Ring – Diamonds Direct Crabtree 28 | midtownmag.com

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Pants; Sweater – Varisty Men’s Wear Ring – Diamonds Direct Crabtree Watch – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Glasses – Charlotte’s

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Dress; Purse – C.T. Weekends Shoes – Kristen’s Shoe Boutique Pearl necklaces; Broach; Square solitare ring – The Elaine Miller Collection Cuff; Square black ring with diamonds; Pearl earrings; Square diamond ring – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry

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Charlotte’s

Jacket; Pants; Top; Boots – Vermillion Clutch; Rings; Necklace – Charlotte’s Earrings – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry

Hayley’s Boutique

Charlotte’s

Charlotte’s

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Dress – Hayley’s Boutique Glasses; Chain with oval rhinestone pendant – Charlotte’s Chain with square pendant; Earrings – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Square pendant white topaz necklace – Diamond’s Direct Crabtree Rings; Cuffs – The Elaine Miller Collection

Blazer; Sweater; Pants; Pocket square – Varsity Men’s Wear Watch – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Ring – Diamonds Direct Crabtree Trench, hat and scarf (Vintage)

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Pants; Shirt – Cool Sweats Purse; Key necklace; Earrings – Charlotte’s Shoes – Kristen’s Shoe Boutique Diamond necklaces and rings – Diamonds Direct Crabtree Watch – Bailey’s Fine Jewelers

(top left) Beige and clear strand of beads with broach – The Elaine Miller Collection Silver chain necklace with square pendant – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Gold chain necklace (3 strands) – Diamonds Direct Crabtree Gold square gem necklace and earrings – Charlotte’s (bottom left) Three strands of pearls (white, silver and black with studded clasp) – The Elaine Miller Collection Watch, square black ring with diamonds, bead bracelet – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Diamond engagement ring, diamond band, square diamond ring – Diamonds Direct Crabtree Costume diamond studs, black ring with white square center, necklace with pendant – Charlotte’s

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Dress – Certain Things Shoes – Monkees of Raleigh Purse; Pearl ring; Pearl bracelet; Black square ring with white center – Charlotte’s White pearl necklace with studded clasp, small tight strand of pearls – The Elaine Miller Collection Long strand of Pearls; Earrings; Watch; Black square ring; Black bead bracelets – Bailey’s Fine Jewelers

Dress; Scarf; Purse – gena chandler Shoes – Kristen’s Shoe Boutique Pearl Necklace & Rings – The Elaine Miller Collection Watch; Earrings – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry

Thanks to Amanda Williams with Prudential York Simpson Underwood for providing us with their gorgeous home to use as a backdrop for our fall fashion shoot. “924 Cowper Drive – A 1930’s revival home in the heart of Hayes Barton.

Expereince stately elegance in this new home with classic character. Enjoy the park view, and first floor master bedroon suite as the living and dining rooms lead you into a fabulous gourmet kitchen with breakfast room. There is a huge family room overlooking a covered patio and backyard. This truly is a wonderful floorplan for entertaining. Other features include a butler’s pantry and four fireplaces! Offered at $1,795,000”. Amanda Williams, Prudential York Simpson Underwood; 919-270-7680.

Balenciaga 10th anniversary bag in stamped lizard – Vermillion

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SPECIAL THANKS Christobal Perez Azul Photography www.azulphotography.com Elie Rossetti-Serraino Fashion Stylist, Trends Analyst & Photo Styling www.eliephotostylist.com

Luxe Makeup Styling Fiquet Bailey, Owner www.luxeapothecary.com Von Kekel Aveda Salon Spa Lacey Justus & Heidi Rasberry

the triangle’s best retailers Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Certain Things Charlotte’s Cool Sweats C.T. Weekends Diamonds Direct Crabtree The Elaine Miller Collection

gena chandler Hayley’s Boutique Kristen’s Shoe Boutique Monkees of Raleigh Tyler House Varsity Men’s Wear Vermillion

Jill Davis Wardrobe Assistant (left to right): Kelsi Dagger – Monkees of Raleigh, Bettye Muller; French Sole; Dani Black; Bettye Muller – Kristen’s Shoe Boutique

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THE VALUE OF SOCIAL MEDIA H o w T H e o n s e T I s C H a n g I n g T H e w ay w e D o B u s I n e s s

BY KRISTY STEVENSON

A few years ago, social media was a fringe technology without mainstream acceptance. But it has since evolved into an essential tool that helps defi ne many businesses. Bonner Gaylord, 32, General Manager of North Hills in Midtown, utilizes social networking for both business and personal relationships, with little to no differentiation. “That is actually one of the unique features of social media,” he says, “it connects personal contacts to a business purpose and business contacts in a more personal way.”

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In its most basic sense, social media is a shift in how people discover, read, and share news and information. It’s a fusion of ‘social’ and ‘tech,’ transforming broadcast media monologues into social media dialogues for the co-creation of value via web-based tools. Early social media began in generalized online communities such as Geocities and Tripod, focusing on bringing people together through chat rooms and the sharing of personal data via easy-touse and inexpensive webpages. By the time current services became internet mainstream, MySpace was reportedly getting more hits than Google. Today, Facebook is the largest social networking site in the world with over 500 million users, and it is estimated that there are 200+ active sites utilizing a wide variety of social networking models. Let’s take a look at a few.

Facebook North Hills was quick to jump on the social media bandwagon with NH Kids, a series of complimentary children’s activities on the Commons. In place since April of this year, their summer attendance has seen over 3500 kids and 2750 adults at daily activities and event kiddie corners. A typical morning of open play draws close to 100 people for fun and camaraderie. Facebook (www.facebook.com/ NHKids) is the primary outlet through which North Hills funnels information about these programs and activities – $0 was spent on advertising. “The program was an immediate success on day one; that would not have happened without social networking,” says Gaylord.

“One of the components we find most useful is the ability to receive feedback and questions through the same medium we use to communicate,” says NH Kids Program Coordinator Brie Kietzman.

The Facebook page of the Midtown Farmer’s Market (www. facebook.com/pages/North-Hills-Farmers-Market/79187620575) – also held at North Hills – has been viewed more by those who already attend and are seeking updates than those wishing to learn about events. Since the Market put more effort into drawing new clientele, however, they have seen fans increase by almost 30 percent and the number of active users nearly double.

Twitter Marketing Strategist Brian McDonald, 42, feels that Twitter (twitter.com) is his most viable communication channel. Locating a business contact through Brightkite.com, McDonald then sends a greeting while being in another part of town. The tweets lead to an exchange of information, then a move to email and more private conversation, and eventual sponsorship where he’s able to launch a new Wi-Fi service at an industry event. Using the direct real-time information and feedback allows him to have a business conversation that otherwise may have not taken place. “Social media puts a lot of data at your fingertips that is searchable,” says McDonald. “It gives us the chance to grab the ear of a customer for a while. We have to engage them as best we can; otherwise they will move onto the next interesting thing.”

To stay abreast, McDonald frequents Twitter more often than Facebook or LinkedIn because, like newspaper headlines, it’s easy to scan Twitter streams. As everything is real time, gone are the days of getting yesterday’s news in today’s paper. “I’m a big scanner and tend to search for keywords that spark my interest,” he says. “I click through to articles of interest to read and sometimes share.” midtownmag.com midtownmag.com| | xx 33

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Meetup Juliet Jarvis, 41, lives by the motto ‘It is never too late to be fabulous.’ To that end, this Interface Design Lead who works out of her home lost 65 pounds by joining Meetup (www.meetup.com).

With the majority of her day spent communicating over the phone or via instant messenger, Jarvis craved face-to-face interaction with real people. “Meetup is essentially the way I stay sane,” she says.

Transitioning from a self-proclaimed hermit to on the go almost every night, Jarvis joined and then started organizing a Meetup hiking group that gets together two to three times per week. “I expanded my friendships one hundred times over – and lost weight in the process,” she says.

Meetup provides the social stimulation Jarvis is not able to get in her line of work. Among other outings, she’s taken to hiking, tubing and kayaking – and also enjoys a rousing game night with friends – all compliments of Meetup’s network. She’s led over 100 hikes in the last year and a half, and had never hiked a day in her life before that. “Losing the weight was a bonus,” Jarvis says, “but I feel better and am more productive, while doing something that’s good for me both personally and professionally.”

Ning As a trustee of inSide919 (inside919.ning.com) – a Ning site – Creative Director Anora McGaha, 52, strengthened her online relationships almost immediately. “I easily look up people who friends talked about and see what we have in common, then readily connect with them,” she says. Introducing herself to a local marketing whiz through his inSide919 profile, McGaha set up a lunch and

volunteered for a project that would give her a jump-start in guerrilla marketing via social media and online resources. “I learned so much from that experience that I was able to offer new services that began to bring in more income,” she says. Other contract and blogging assignments have also come from Ning connections.

McGaha still searches for people with similar interests or skills and reaches out to them. “The focus on getting to know each other as individuals first, versus leading with sales pitches, is actually helping us make deeper, more valuable connections,” she says. And the potential for referrals is high as McGaha estimates 50 percent of her time is devoted to a project assigned through the 919. Today, she knows over 100 people in different industries by name because of her affiliation and without being a member of another networking group.

Blogs & Podcasts Other popular components of social media include blogging and podcasting. Award-winning author/speaker Beverly Mahone (www. talk2bev.blogspot.com), 52, does both and suggests that companies cultivate a social media strategy as part of their overall marketing plan. “We sometimes forget the key word in social networking is ‘social,’” she says. “We are there to open communication channels and engage others in topics of interest.” Recent podcasts like ‘Social Media for Grownups’ pull listeners into the dialogue and give them a platform to respond.

Last year, Mahone’s firm launched a Women’s Social Media Summit to expound on her radio show themes and take discussions outside the box. The event spurred session exchanges and educa-

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tion, a reveal of men’s perceptions on social marketing, and the keynote address was delivered by The FlyLady, Marla Cilley. “Among other discussion topics, this year’s event will feature the how-to’s of video marketing and using social media tools to promote your book,” says Mahone. As a testament to the event’s growth, the 2010 Summit received over 200 panel applicants – and two of those selected are coming from last year’s audience.

Leaving Your Mark Grappling with the question of how to get in on distributing their name to the masses, business ventures of all shapes and sizes are now experimenting with social media marketing. “The small business can truly compete by staying closer to customers and responding to their needs, while large companies are giving customers more attention than ever before,” says success coach Martin Brossman (www.pronetworkingonline.com), 51, who does social media consulting and training. Marketing traditionally focuses on the four ‘Ps’: product, price, placement and promotion. Social media hitches its star to the fifth and most important component: people. Brossman advises making sure your message is not counterproductive to your brand; effective use requires behavioral change from old school ways. “You must learn to relate at a personal level online, and only bring relevant content to the table,” he says. In other words, resist the urge to spam. Give customers something of value instead of just pumping out noise because the rostrum is free.

To build a strong clientele, consider the reasons you’ve friended or followed contacts, and emulate the added value they bring to your life or career.

Second Annual All Women’s Social Media Summit Saturday, October 30, 2010 Durham Arts Council • 9am-4pm • Why do women network differently than men?

• How do I determine who I should be connected to on social networking sites?

• What’s the best way to market my business with little or no money?

• What’s the downside of social media?

• How do I get the most out of Twitter and Facebook?

• How do I target specific demographics with social media?

• How can I attract more website visitors?

• Do I need a blog and why?

Top female social media experts in the Southeast will answer questions on how to leverage social networking as a valuable tool in starting and growing your business.

To register, visit: womenssocialmediasummit2010.eventbrite.com

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chef mario

recipes chef mario copy darcy brennan-huante Photography april maness photography

An Apple A DAY (and a properly packed school lunch)

keeps the doctor away!

Remember the days of having your mom pack your lunch for school and excitedly anticipating what was inside? Your favorite dessert perhaps, or a special note on your napkin? (I’ve found hubbies enjoy notes in their lunches just as much as the kids.) But regardless of what you found inside, a home-packed lunch always makes school lunchtime a little extra special – as long as it’s really stuff that you’d eat and not just trade with your friends, that is! Lunchtime is one of the few consistent meals that children eat away from home and with the questionable cafeteria nutrition due to school budget cuts, this is one meal we’d be smart to maintain control over. However, that makes us responsible for making sure all we are providing is love and nutrition for lunch and not inadvertently setting our kids up for a trip to the doctor!

Have you ever saved half your lunch sandwich for a snack on the bus ride home? I know I used to, but now I realize that what I perceived as the “24 hour flu” may have actually been an illness caused from the improper time/temperature handling of my

school lunch, especially if it was packed in a paper bag and hung out in my backpack all day. Therefore school lunch step #1 is to invest in a good insulated lunch bag with ice blocks to keep the goodies cool and out of the danger zone for much longer. Next is to teach your child about food safety and make sure their lunch is eaten within six hours of being packed – and if they want to save a snack for the ride home, make it a snack that doesn’t need any refrigeration!

Of course it doesn’t matter how “safe” it is if your kids won’t eat it, so here are some ideas for fun lunch foods that will make your kids the envy of the chaotic cafeteria!

Safe Lunch Check List a Insulated bag with ice block, frozen and ready to pack a Lunch is properly chilled prior to being packed a Educate the kids on what is okay to save for a snack and what isn’t a Balanced meal with veggies, lean proteins and something sweet

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bbQ chicKen taco Kit Snag a rotisserie chicken from your local supermarket. This lunch just got 10 times easier.

Serves 4 chicken taco Kit 2 cups pulled roasted chicken 1/2 cup BBQ sauce (grab your favorite or ours!)

8 small flour tortillas 1 cup shredded cheese 2 cups shredded lettuce 1/2 cup sour cream in a bowl, toss the chicken with BBQ sauce and place in a container for lunch transport. pack the rest of the fixings in sandwich baggies to assemble at lunchtime. chef Mario’s BBQ sauce Serves 8 1/3 cup brown sugar salt and pepper 6 oz tomato paste 1 cup onion, finely diced 2 cups ketchup 1 tbsp chili powder 3 tbsp cider vinegar 2 tbsp worcestershire 2 tbsp molasses 1 tsp dijon mustard 1 tsp yellow mustard place all ingredients in a bowl; mix well. pour BBQ sauce in a deep oven-ready pan; cover with foil. place in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. remove foil, stir in BBQ sauce and cool. store BBQ sauce in fridge for up to a month and use as desired. cupcaKe Kits No more losing all your frosting before you get to eat it! cupcake Serves 12 3 cups flour 2 cups sugar 1/2 cup cocoa 2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 2 cups hot water 3/4 cup oil 2 tbsp cider vinegar 1 tbsp instant coffee 1 tbsp vanilla preheat oven to 350 degrees. sift the dry ingredients together and set aside (sifting is important to aerate your dry ingredients for baking for best results). combine water, oil, vinegar, coffee and vanilla. add water mixture to dry mixture; whisk just until combined. Divide batter among the

pans or muffin tins and bake until done (about 15-20 minutes for full-sized cupcakes). Do the toothpick check for doneness. if you poke the center of the cupcakes about halfway down the toothpick and it comes out clean (no batter gooeyness clinging to the pick), your cupcakes are done. cream cheese Frosting Serves 8 3/4 pounds of cream cheese 1/2 butter 1 pound powdered sugar 1 tbsp vanilla Whip together the cream cheese & butter in a mixer with a paddle attachment until well creamed. turn mixer to low speed and gradually add the powdered sugar to the mixture.

Be sure to scrape the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. add vanilla and mix well. place about 1/3 cup of the frosting in a sandwich bag and send the cupcake to school with frosting on the side. Just snip the corner and frost your cupcake when you’re ready and enjoy. granola Makes about 3 cups 1 1/2 cups rolled oats *not instant 1/2 cup slivered almonds 1/2 cup cashews 1/2 cup coconut 2 tbsp brown sugar 2 tbsp maple syrup 2 tbsp vegetable oil pinch of salt preheat oven to 250 degrees. in a large bowl, combine oats, nuts, coconut and brown sugar.

Mix well. add the brown sugar, maple syrup, oil and salt. Mix well. pour the mixture on a foil-lined sheet pan and pat into an even single layer. Bake for about 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes to achieve an even golden brown. cool and enjoy! granola can be stored in the freezer for up to a month. *Rolled oats can be found with the oatmeal products in the cereal aisle.

sandWich Kabobs Use your imagination and load up on favorite ingrediants!

Wooden skewers or toothpicks crusty bread sandwich fixings: deli meats, grape tomatoes, spinach or lettuce leaves, olives, cheese, pickles chef Mario’s homemade ranch dressing or favorite sandwich condiments cut the bread and cheese into bite-sized chunks. slice or chunk pickles and fold deli meats in half, then in half again for skewerworthy meats. assemble as desired and serve with condiments of your choice. tip: to serve sauces/condiments on the side, squirt them into plastic sandwich bags and have your child snip the corner tip to make their own little mobile pastry bag for sauce spreading! chef Mario’s homemade ranch Dressing Makes 3 cups 1 cup sour cream 1 cup mayo 3/4 cup half & half 4 tbsp chopped parsley 1 tsp celery seed 1/4 cup lemon juice 2 tbsp dijon mustard 1 tsp granulated garlic 1 tsp dried dill (use 4 tbsp if using fresh dill) salt & pepper to taste Whisk together all ingredients, chill and serve.

peanut butter and Jelly floWers sliced bread peanut butter (or cream cheese) Jelly star or flower-shaped cookie cutters cut bread into 4 flowers. spread peanut butter on 2 flowers and spread jelly on top of peanut butter. take 2 plain flowers of bread and with a small knife, cut a round hole in the center of the bread flower (you’re making the center for the flower) and assemble sandwich flowers. midtownmag.com| 41

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Your Well Deserved

BONUS 42 | midtownmag.com

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S

Identify crisis. Multiple personalities. Torn in too many directions.

No, it’s not your friend and her midlife crisis.

It’s your bonus room.

And it needs some serious help.

BY ILLYSE LANE

For most of us, the bonus room is the workhorse of our home. On any given day, it’s a cross between a home office, a kid’s playroom, a teen hang out, a home gym, an office, and even a guest room. With so many roles, it’s no wonder this room can have design issues, without the special care and distinct identity usually afforded to other rooms in your home.

Well, enough is enough. With a little design and decorating therapy, you can get on the road to recovery and end up with a bonus room full of style that also fits your family’s diverse needs. Are you ready? suItaBle for all aGes anD staGes Let’s face it. Decorating the majority of your home can be a simple matter of deciding what furniture, paint and cabinets you like, as most rooms have a specific, definable function. Then, there’s the bonus room.

“People are often overwhelmed with the bonus room because it’s a room that serves many different purposes,” says Beth Lindsey, co-owner of BeyondBlue Interiors. And when you consider that the specific needs of the bonus room change not only from day to day, such as a playroom and office that transitions to a guest room for visiting grandparents, but from life stage to life stage as your family grows, it can be challenging to figure out exactly how the various design elements should work together.

Instead of being feared, Lindsey recommends that you embrace this multi-functional, multi-purposed room as a more casual extension of your home. It should be designed just as any other room, with a plan and a theme that will incorporate elements from the rest of your home, creating a space suited to your family’s requirements. The key is determining what functions are most important.

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What’s It To You “There is no limit to how many functions a bonus room may serve,” says Nicole Bullard of Remax United. “However, too many functions can lead to disorganized and cluttered space, which can be an issue when trying to enjoy the space as a homeowner and also for potential buyers if choose to sell your home.” You can avoid having a jack-of-too-many-trades room by focusing on the top priorities for your family and then designing a room that incorporates these priorities.

While this sounds easy in theory, it’s not always easy to implement, as this is a room shared and used by every member of the house. “Bonus rooms tend to tell a lot about the personality of the family,” says Betty Eatman of Eatman’s Carpets and Interiors. Because of this, Eatman suggests that homeowners figure out what they want out of the space.” Usually one partner wants the space to be stylish and beautiful, and the other tends to want function only. It makes sense to figure out your top three wants and see how they compare,” she recommends.

So whether it’s a combination game room/hangout/gym, a homework area/TV room or a guest room/playroom/office, it’s entirely possible to create the room you want.

With textures and styles to meet any need, carpet is always a popular choice for bonus rooms. Best sellers at Eatman’s Carpets and Interiors include sophisticated neutrals, stain-hiding stripes, tight modern patterns, plaids and animal skins.

Define Your Style So you’ve prioritized. But don’t rush out to buy furniture, a treadmill and a large TV just yet. Instead, decide on the look of your room. And the possibilities are endless. “Some clients prefer a theme, such as a Wolfpack or Tar Heel room, or a room with a pub-like feel,” says Eatman. Others choose to use colors and patterns for a more modern, contemporary feel.

Either path, the look you choose will not only give your room its “wow” factor, but will also be your guide as you weave design elements for the different zones you’ll establish throughout your room, ultimately pulling it together and making it inviting. “A safari themed room that functions as both a man cave and children’s playroom may have a bar with a zebra or leopard rug.

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Using old trunks, leather ottomans and dark wicker baskets to store remote controls and toys are ways to bring in the theme in a usable way,” suggests Eatman.

You may also decide to take advantage of a new trend in wall covering – digitally printed wall media – and purchase a lifelike photo of the African bush to cover one entire wall of your room. “This innovative product allows you to select unique photography from on-line, royaltyfree photo providers such as iStockphoto,” says Dan Schwab, president of MuralWallz. “Just order the largest size of your selected design and send us the photo. We print the image on wallpaper-like material.” And volia, you’ll be watching the big game while your children play next to giraffes.

CARPET

then DIVIDe… While some types of bonus rooms lend themselves naturally to adding a closet or a window seat to help define the space, it is far more common to have one large room to work with. Which leads us to the milliondollar question. How in the world do you organize the room into functional spaces?

Lindsey has the answer. “Since most bonus rooms aren’t large enough to be divided by visually opaque items like screens, it’s best to divide spaces with items that leave the room open, while logically indicating the different zones,” she says.

101

Carpet is usually the ideal choice for a bonus room, as time is spent on the floor playing board games, watching movies and just hanging out barefoot. Choosing a carpet is figuring out the perfect combination of the actual feel on your feet compared to the practicality that you require, as we all know spills, stains and dirt are just a part of life. Betty Eatman of Eatman’s Carpets and Interiors offers these guidelines for helping you choose the right fit for your family.

Wool $$$ The most durable, also the most expensive. Great at resisting dirt; dirt tends to stay on top and can be vacuumed easily. But wool is not colorfast and will stain if wine or juice is not wiped up immediately.

Nylon/Solution Dyed Nylon $$ Next best fiber behind wool. Solution dyed nylon is great for spills and less likely to stain than regular nylon.

Polyester $ New introductions are almost as good as nylon and usually less expensive. Good for families with kids. Cleans very well; many things that will not come out of a nylon will come out of a poly. midtownmag.com| 45

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One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is through the use of furniture. Through her experience, Lindsey has found that certain pieces work quite well. A few of her favorites: A modern, sectional sofa: Used to establish your seating area, with the back of the sectional dividing the room. Larger sectionals can also double as a guest bed when company comes.

The smaller pieces of the sectional can be reconfigured as the need arises.

A low seating lounge: Placed between two zones allowing people to sit on both sides and participate in activities in two separate areas of the bonus room.

Open shelving units: Can serve double duty by providing visual separation to the nooks within the room and necessary storage.

Bonus room desks: Often more streamlined and airy than traditional home office desks. This desk can be yours alone or it can provide your children with another place to do homework. Does your room have dormer window nooks? If so, this may be the place for a desk and chair.

A small table and chairs: Can be used for playing board games, playing cards, crafts, homework and casual dining. A table with extension leaves is ideal for entertaining.

Easily movable pieces: Perfect for accommodating different purposes. A stylish bar cart, for example, can be pushed aside during the day when the room is used for the kids, and wheeled out in the evenings when the adults take over the bonus room. …and Conquer If you’re successful in the design of your bonus room, it will get a lot of welcomed wear and tear. It’s a good idea to keep this in mind as you shop for furniture and accessories.

“Furniture should be upholstered in family-friendly fabrics that are naturally stain resistant. Slipcovers are also a great option because they can be washed immediately,” recommends Lindsey.

She also suggests investing in wood finishes that are already slightly distressed to relieve the worry over the dings and dents that are bound to happen.

Additionally, having a place for everything is the essential finishing touch that will establish your room as an appealing, multifunctional family area. This becomes especially important if you’re

Escape Without Leaving Home

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How you paint or cover your walls will be fundamental in pulling your bonus room together. While paint and traditional wallpaper can do the job, if you are looking for a creative and more personal way to add pizzazz to your bonus room, it’s time to consider digitally printed wall media, also known as custom printed wall coverings.

“While traditional wallpaper is limited to a repeated pattern, a digitally printed image can span the entire width of the wall,” says Dan Schwab, President of MuralWallz. This means you can recreate that street corner in Paris, those barrels of wine from your favorite winery, your annual fishing or beach spot, and even a bouquet of bright, beautiful wildflowers to enjoy in your bonus room.

And Schwab explains how the process couldn’t be any simpler.

“You select an image from a wide variety of photographer-uploaded content on a royalty free on-line site. Once you have ordered your

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This long and low 24 drawer apothecary style cabinet from Revival Antiques provides the perfect spot to showcase a large flat screen tv.

A modern, comfy sectional is a multi-functional, core piece for any bonus room. This Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams Dr. Pitt sectional can meet any bonus room need.

planning on moving, for a well-organized bonus room can instantly attract homebuyers. “An orderly bonus room allows buyers to come in and imagine what they would use the room for,” says Bullard.

“While they may not want one of the functions you’ve established, simple décor is appealing.”

Local shops, many superstores and some of your favorite on-line sites offer a tremendous selection of organization and storage options that will maximize use of the separate areas you’ve established while creating a clean, picked-up feeling when you walk through the doorway, allowing you to enjoy your space. A space that reflects a feel and identity unique to your family, whether you’re working out, doing work, hearing the giggles of kids hanging out or showing your parents to their temporary weekend home. It’s the bonus room you deserve.

image, send us the photo and we’ll take care of the rest,” he says.

MuralWallz will then print the image onto the wallpaper material, which is installed just like traditional wallpaper. The printed strips run vertically from floor to ceiling and are about 48” wide.

The seams are overlapped and trimmed, resulting in a seam that most people cannot find. Additionally, this custom product that adds a unique look to your room is created with easy removability in mind, leaving no sticky residue.

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Twenty- three years ago, Louise McLarry-Creech was a young mother of three beginning a typical life. Until her 35-year-old husband came home from work early with some news that was anything but typical. And so began her incredible journey filled with grief, pain and ultimately, purpose.

rising above grief By illyse lane

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It’s an unfortunate fact of life. At some point, we’re dealt a bad hand, a set of unforeseen circumstances that rock our world, forcing us to change our plans. And while hundreds of clichés have been spoken about handling adverse situations, it’s not always quite that easy to muster up the strength to move on.

But once in a while, we hear about that person. You know. The one who’s fi gured out how to take something bad and do something good, the one who doesn’t just hang on, but ends up embracing those defi ning moments when life is inevitably altered.

Louise McLarry-Creech had her moment on a summertime afternoon back in 1985, when her husband Mike walked through the door and said, “They think I have colon cancer.” the MoMent everYthing changed There she sat with her four-week-old infant son Ryan while her other two children, fi ve-year-old Kristen and eight-year-old Jason played outside, listening, as her life shifted. “Mike had some problems when I was pregnant, but we fi gured he’d get checked after the baby was born. He was young; we never would have expected it,” says McLarry-Creech.

For a very long time after that moment, life was defi ned as before and after Mike got diagnosed. He passed away in 1987 at the age of 36, leaving her a young widow with three very young children.

At fi rst, McLarry-Creech was overwhelmed with what had transpired. She spent her time feeling her way and trying to hold it together, doing what she had to do to raise her kids. She never suspected that within 10 years, she’d be the force behind a volunteer organization responsible for presenting the area’s largest American Cancer Society (ACS) event. She did not foresee that within 20 years, that event – the Raleigh Roundup – would be the premier annual fundraiser in the southeast, raising an estimated $300,000 in just one night.

“My mom turned her grief into an organization that will hopefully raise enough money to fi nd a cure for cancer,” says McLarry-Creech’s daughter, Kristen McLarry McGowan. “She’s incredible.”

But how, in the darkest of times, did she fi nd the strength to do this? It wasn’t easy and it took time. healing StepS After Mike passed away, McLarry-Creech got by with support of friends, including many of her late husband’s oncologists, who were extremely moved by his death. “Back almost 23 years ago, to have someone die of colon cancer at age 36 was almost unheard of. These oncologists became family,” says McLarry-Creech.

Even more surprising was the request by one oncologist friend, who asked if she would sit on a panel for a nurses’ seminar on caring for the terminally ill, providing the perspective of someone who had lived through the experience. “This was a very tough thing to do. I thought long and hard before I even accepted,” she remembers.

While the event was extremely emotional, it was also extremely healing to be able to share her story. “I recognized that this panel had been a way to help me with my grief and to do something worthwhile,” says McLarry-Creech. “Even with three small children, I recognized that I wanted to get involved and do something to fi ght cancer. It became my mission.” A mission built around eliminating the sadness of losing a child, mother, father, sister, brother, husband, wife or friend to this horrible disease. midtownmag.com| xx

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The original Red Sword Guild invitation, which prompted the attendance of over 100 women.

Making a diFFerence McLarry-Creech quickly moved ahead, immersing herself in volunteer work for the ACS. In 1989, she joined what was then the local board of the ACS, working on fundraising for the Red Sword Ball, an annual gala since 1972 that raised about $30,000 annually. Within a few years, she chaired the event, doubling the amount it made.

While thrilled with the gala’s success, McLarry-Creech couldn’t help but think there had to be a better way. Planning the gala from scratch every year – from fi nding a chairperson, gathering volunteers, aligning with sponsors, securing a venue, promoting and running it – was hard for such a small, revolving group. “I knew that we could fi nd a way to take this to the next level and raise even more money to fi nd a cure,” says McLarry-Creech.

She found a supporter in Katie Titchener Bourdet, Project Director with the ACS, who felt her contagious enthusiasm. Bourdet decided to send McLarry-Creech and two other ladies to the ACS National Gala Training in Dallas with the added bonus of being able to attend Dallas’s Cattle Baron’s Ball, the city’s large ACS fundraiser.

It was an eye opening experience and McLarry-Creech immediately saw the potential. “Of course, everything is big in Texas. At that time, they were running a ball that made a half a million dollars,” she recalls. “To us, that was unbelievable.”

She also learned that these big events had permanent volunteer guilds in place behind the scenes, executing every aspect of the event from start to fi nish. Instead of getting twenty women to volunteer, you’d get one hundred. McLarry-Creech was inspired and the concept for the Red Sword Guild (RSG) was born. a dreaM coMe trUe Upon returning home, she went to work, drafting a handful of founding members who are all now honorary lifetime members.

A membership drive gathering was scheduled for February 1996 at the Capital City Club with invitations sent ahead of time, making it looks as if guests were being invited to join an exclusive club.

The marketing worked, and McLarry-Creech’s worries over no one showing up evaporated as more than 100 women appeared.

“Later that year, the RSG presented the Red Sword Ball. And we raised over $100K,” says she.

“Louise remains one of the most dynamic, charismatic women I know. She was the magnet that attracted the amazing volunteers as well as donations,” recalls Bourdet.

For McLarry-Creech, this accomplishment was the beginning of a dream come true. Year after year, the Red Sword Ball continued to grow, and today it’s known as the Raleigh Roundup, an annual, more casual, fun-fi lled western themed event open to the public and held each November, designed to give cancer the boot.

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And while the event requires months of hard work and dedication for just one night, the thought of finding a cure so other families won’t have to experience cancer has served as motivation not only for McLarry-Creech, but also for all the members of the RSG. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s wonderful. My children knew that at Red Sword Ball time they had to share their mom,” says McLarry-Creech.

And they didn’t mind. As a matter of fact, her daughter fondly remembers heading down to convention center every year to help put on some of finishing touches for the event. “It was and still is a part of our lives,” says McGowan.

Moving Forward While Stepping Back While her heart, soul and hard work remain at the foundation of the Red Sword Guild and the Raleigh Roundup, these days McLarryCreech is slowing it down and enjoying life.

This past June, McLarry-Creech celebrated her one-year wedding anniversary with husband Tommy Creech, who understands her connection to the RSG and is extremely supportive. She’s taking the role as the “step back parent” for not only her own children, who are now grown, but with the Guild she launched back in 1996, passing the torch to the next generation, and she is quick to credit all the women she has had the privilege of working with over the years.

And while McLarry-Creech is proud of her accomplishments, she may not realize the true impact she has had, with her positive energy and attitude inspiring women struggling to overcome adversity.

“In 2005 I lost my mother to a fatal heart attack. I suddenly found myself chairing a large fundraiser with a spunky, spirited woman who showed me just what it meant to pick yourself up and turn the bad into good,” says Allison Sheehan, past president of the RSG. “I don’t know anyone who can’t use a little bit of Louise in their life.”

Twenty two years later, Louise McLarry Creech’s family Christmas photo from 1988 still hangs on her refrigerator.

The Raleigh Roundup: Give Cancer the Boot When the Red Sword Guild presents the fifth annual Raleigh Roundup on Friday, November 12th, nearly everyone will attribute its success to Louise McLarry-Creech, who shaped its vision over 20 years ago.

Don’t miss this western gala, complete with food from top area chefs, live entertainment, casino style gaming, mechanical bull riding and live and silent auctions, with all proceeds being donated to the American Cancer Society in its fight against cancer.

The event will be held at the Kerr Scott Building on the NC State Fairgrounds. Tickets are $150 per person, including all food and beverages. Visit raleighroundup.com for more information.

And, for 24 hours a day support, visit the ACS website at www.cancer.org.

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bain’s beat

Collecting Unenjoyment

BY DAN BAIN

I

used to have a day job. Several, in fact.

But I’ve run into a streak of bad luck lately. It started four years ago, when I and numerous colleagues were surprised one morning to find an unexpected meeting with HR added to each of our calendars. We understood, though, once we showed up for the meetings and were greeted by security.

Skulking back to my office with severance check in one hand and empty box in the other, I unfortunately ran into a manager. He’d survived the cuts, but been forced to make some. When I asked, “How’s it going?” by rote, he had the audacity to answer me. As if that weren’t bad enough, his answer was, “Today has been one of the worst days of my professional life.” That was the start of my mental list of The Wrong Things to Say to the Unemployed.

I started a series of temporary assignments, but in 2008 accepted what I thought would be the job where I could retire. Two weeks into it, they announced a merger with a rival – which soon felt more like an acquisition. The new company would eliminate duplicate roles, but those decisions seemed to come from one side only. I had hope, though, when I was assigned to the team

responsible for opening the doors on “Day 1.” I did a ton of up-front work and was laid off on Day 0.

This happened while many companies were laying people off just to survive financially. Mine was doing fine financially; they laid people off simply as a result of the unnecessary merger. This felt like surviving an epidemic only to get run over by a bus.

Doesn’t matter how it happened; dead is dead. And there were a lot of job-seeking corpses in the fall of 2008.

After eight months of searching, I found a contract job that was supposed to last three years, with a chance of becoming permanent. I turned down another opportunity to cast my lot with it. Two weeks into it, the project scope changed; it barely lasted another seven months.

Since then I’ve been searching for a day job while adding to my list from 2006, because people need to know what not to say to us. Saying the wrong thing has a dramatic effect on our internal countdown, something that begins ticking the moment a person loses their job. You never know how one of us will react when it reaches zero, but it’s safe to assume you don’t want to be

there when that happens.

The countdown is a combination of time and money. How long will the severance last? How long will our savings last?

How long will the kids’ college funds last?

How many house payments can we miss before moving to our car?

One thing accelerates the countdown – having someone say something stupid to us. It’s possible to hear something so repugnant it takes us temporarily to zero. To that end, this is my public service announcement: Should you find yourself talking to the unemployed, don’t panic! Calmly maintain eye contact, smile compassionately and avoid saying these things: 1) “Have you found anything yet?”

I know you probably think this question expresses concern, but it only rubs salt in the wound. There are moments – fleeting at best – when we might have forgotten the hell our life has become and briefly have felt human again. Perhaps the sun on our face or the laughter of a nearby child has raised our spirits, until that question reminds us how awful our life has become. One friend grins whenever he asks it, and I could just as

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cheerfully reach across and separate his lips from his face. Besides, there are only two possible answers. If it’s “yes”, we’ll tell you before you ask. If it’s “no”, the conversation has nowhere to go but down.

So please, don’t ask. Look at our faces and the answer will be pretty obvious, anyway.

2) “Try to enjoy your time off until you find something.”

Sure. And you try to enjoy your time in traction, friend.

3) “Do you need anything?”

No, we need many things. Our mortgage paid. Our credit rating back.

To know where the next meal is coming from. A future. But we’re too ashamed to answer honestly. Besides, everyone knows that question is just a way to deflect the inevitable “I would have helped if I’d known” thought you’ll have when you finally read about us in the news.

4) Any phrase that starts off “At least…”

As in, “At least you got an interview” or “At least you were one of the last two candidates.” There is no consolation prize in this contest; it’s all or nothing. Second place is at the end of the line, Pollyanna.

5) Complaints.

No. You don’t get to do that. Nothing short of death, disease or disaster trumps what we’re going through. A bad day at work is a luxury, so enjoy your misery in silence. Telling us how much you hate your job is a very bad idea.

6) A filibuster.

Don’t try it again, Congress. I don’t care which party you’re in; you’re still having a party. You’ve spent trillions on things like road signs and endangered rodents, and now you think about being fiscally responsible? If you remove more of our benefit tiers, we’ll probably have to eat those rodents, anyway. We think in tears, not tiers.

7) “No unemployed candidates will be considered.”

You read that right. It’s appeared in multiple job postings lately. One spokesperson claimed it was a mistake that was removed once it was discovered. Translation: The policy’s well-known inside the company, but we never meant to tell the outside world. Others aren’t even trying to lie; one admitted it’s policy, but rationalized that it’s better to hire candidates who are happily employed. Brilliant logic, Mr. Spock.

That’s the same as saying you’ll have an affair only with someone who’s devoted to their spouse. And on the topic of affairs, you’d better get yours in order before more people discover your vile policy.

So there you have it. Petulant? Yep. Self-absorbed? You bet. Other than that, this probably seemed different from my usual columns. But don’t worry about me; there are people worse off. I’m fortunate enough to earn a little from writing, and I’ve scored some interviews lately. Heck, maybe I’ll be employed again before this is published. If so, I can promise you one thing – two weeks into the new job, I’m hiding under my desk.

Editor’s Note: If you enjoy Bain’s Beat, check out Bain’s book! Laugh your way through 28 life lessons in A Nay for Effort, benefiting schools, teachers and Dan. The book is available for $14 at www. danbain.net.

Dan Bain, Corporate Casualty mail@danbain.net

*At press time, Dan Bain accepted a new job with wonderful company!

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“A Nay for Effort” reviewed By christa gala

Trust me: Author Dan Bain is the guy you hope sits next to you when you’re stuck in the back of the auditorium at a mandatory PTA meeting. Or forced to go to remedial driving class so those points won’t go on your insurance.

Bain would take the pain out of such activities; before you knew it you’d be snorting behind your hand.

Even if you never meet him, you can see what I’m talking about in his newly released book “A Nay for Effort” Lessons from the School of Life, a collection of timely essays. Husband and father to two boys, Bain’s humor is an edgy mix of cynicism and dry observation whether he’s writing about his bungled response to his wife’s pregnancy or how he got a bead out of his kid’s nostril.

Midtown caught up with Dan recently to pick his brain about the writing process, where he gets his ideas, and what his family thinks: Q: You do such a great job taking apart the most mundane things. How does inspiration strike? Do you keep a notebook with you in which to jot things down?

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A: My view of things tends to run a few degrees askew from that of a normal brain, so once I try to reconcile my reaction with the way a well-adapted member of society thinks, inspiration hits. Bottom line – I think too much, and I think about ridiculous things.

Other times, it’s just a matter of remembering something funny that happened. I keep a notebook in my car and I have plenty around the house, but even though I preach that a writer should, I don’t carry one with me. For starters, that would be difficult on a bike or in the shower. But mostly, I just don’t want to become that guy – the eavesdropper, the spy, Henry Higgins writing down every blooming thing Eliza Doolittle said. Plus, if something’s worth remembering, it’s worth remembering. If I hear something that I think is funny but can’t remember it later, then I know I was wrong, and that it wouldn’t have been good enough for the reader to remember, either.

Q. What do your wife and sons think about Dad writing all this stuff down?

A: You’re assuming they know? Heh-heh. This question worries me; I hear it every once in a while and have to think, ‘Am I being a complete jerk to them?’ My in-laws once asked my wife if she’s okay with the way I write about her, like I’m Levi Johnston out blasting her in the tabloids. I hope that’s not the case. I wrote in the acknowledgments that it’s never been my intent to mock her or the boys, and that’s the truth. I would hope no one laughs at their expense, but instead feels pity that they’re stuck with me.

Q. Why give ten percent of sales from “A Nay for Effort” to local schools and organizations?

A. To paraphrase Ebenezer Scrooge – another grump in need of redemption – that includes a great many back-payments, I can assure you. Ideally, it would be wonderful if we could do the same with our total income. Times have been too tight for that, but we’ve always felt that any time we come into money above and beyond our regular income – lottery and game show winnings, that sort of thing – we should automatically deduct ten percent. We can’t miss what we never expected to begin with.

Q. You pull a lot of funny stuff from adversity, and I love your very last line of the book: “The world is hurting. Laugh more.”

Is adversity your muse?

A. Maybe not so much my muse as my catalyst. I don’t know who my muse is yet, but she seems to thrive on adversity. Or maybe I should say absurdity. Whatever you call it, odd things seem to happen to me regularly; why not let other people benefit? Laughter truly can dull pain, after all. I honestly wish the President would include a National Court Jester on his Cabinet, and that companies would hire Chief Morale Officers.

Wouldn’t it make Mondays a little more bearable if someone wandered the cube farms making people laugh? Hey, maybe I could even get a day job again!

Dan Bain is a contributing writer and columnist for Midtown Magazine. To learn more about the book, visit www.danbain.net. midtownmag.com | 55

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wine review

fall-time reds EIGHT GREAT

By Patrick Fitzgerald, store manager, Total wine – north hills

PHOTOGRAPHY BY APRIL MANESS PHOTOGRAPHY

Just as fashion follows the seasons – so does wine. As the days get cooler a rich, fuller-bodied red wine goes perfectly with many fall seasonal dishes. Some wonderful examples might be a full-bodied Cabernet from Napa Valley, or a complex Chateauneuf du Pape from the Rhone Valley of France. Of course there is always a beautifully structured Bordeaux from the world-renowned Pauillac or Margaux appellations, or from the hills of Tuscany, a well-rounded Brunello. All of the wines shown are available at Total Wine at North Hills.

A.

B.

C.

D.

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E.

F.

A. Turnbull 2006 | $39.99 Oakville, Napa, CA – Grown on the estate in Oakville, this is a very tannic Cabernet. It’s almost old-fashioned, a dark, full-bodied wine with earth-herbal notes and a hard, astringent finish.

B. Dom Presidente 2005 | $44.99 Chateauneuf, Rhone, France – Showing some new barrique smells from toasty new oak barrels but loads of garrigue, pepper, black cherry, and currant notes, the medium to full-bodied 2005 is a dense, modern style of Chateauneuf but with plenty of Provencal typicity.

C. Chante Cigale 2004 | $34.99 Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone, France – Deep violet. Very primal, with raw blackberry and cassis scents deepened by tobacco and espresso.

Chewy dark fruit flavors are accented by licorice and bitter chocolate…

Sweetens on the back, finishing with a persistent kirsch flavor.

D. Coldisole 2001 | $59.99 Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy – Fantastic aromas of black cherry, toasted oak and minerals. Full-bodied, with lots of fruit and a long finish…outstanding. A beautiful, powerful wine.

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E. Chappellet 2007 | $59.99 Napa, CA – Very tightly wound, firm and taut, rich and full-bodied, offering intense mineral, blackberry, plum and currant fruit with hints of flowers and sage. Ends with gripping tannins, but on the finish the flavors slowly unwind and expand.

F. Chateau La Bastide Dauzac 2005 | $39.99 Margaux, Bordeaux, France – With lovely black cherry aromas and subtle floral hints, this perennial staff favorite offers beautiful elegant black currant fruit and cedar on the palate. Ready to drink now, this is a terrific value. Second wine of Grand Cru Classe Chateau Dauzac, Margaux.

G. Chateau Haut Bages Liberal 2006 | $54.99 Pauillac, Bordeaux, France – Dark ruby purple in color, with aromas of currant and dried flowers. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a delicious finish. Tight now, but pretty and balanced. Haut-Bages Liberal has become a hot Pauillac estate. Wine Spectator TOP 100.

H. Von Strasser 2005 | $49.99 Diamond Mountain, Napa, CA – The winery’s basic Cab, with no vineyard designation, shares the qualities of the more expensive bottlings. It’s dry and tannic and ultra concentrated in varietal character, with explosive cassis, cherry and new oak flavors.

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serving others by serving dinner Does Cheesy Chicken and Rice sound like the ultimate comfort food to you? What if it came delivered to your door by someone who’s there to congratulate you on the arrival of your newborn? Or to ease the burden if someone in your family is facing a medical crisis?

Comfort food takes on a whole new meaning when you’re facing challenging circumstances. If it’s your turn to make a meal, read on for some helpful suggestions to incorporate into your kitchen routine; even veteran volunteers can use some fresh ideas to simplify the process and provide a meal that feeds both body and spirit.

If you’ve just received the news that a friend or neighbor has given birth, or is entering into a challenging time in their lives, your first question may be, “how can I help?” In fact, it’s often during these trying times that friends rally in the most extraordinary ways.

In recent years, websites have cropped up that are devoted exclusively to the care and support of those who are going through tough times. With names like CaringBridge and CarePages, these online tools enable communication to update large numbers of people on the progress of the patient, and the family’s journey through treatment. Some sites feature customized calendars where you can go to sign up for meals or other ways to lend a hand. Whether you’ve signed up online or you’re part of an organized group in your neighborhood or church, easing the stress of preparing dinner is a great way to show you care.

Tips for the Caring Kitchen Most seasoned caregivers recommend that when providing a meal, you lighten the load of the recipient by sending it in containers that don’t need to be returned. It’s a good idea to keep your pantry stocked with a variety of these containers, in sizes that accommodate single servings as well as meals for a larger family. Keep in mind the types of meals you’re most likely to prepare and buy your containers accordingly (larger rectangles for lasagna or casseroles, deep round containers for soups and stews).

Ask ahead of time if there are any particular dislikes or food allergies and build your menu to avoid them. It’s nice to have three or four favorite dishes that are your basic foundation recipes when you’re making a meal for someone else; these should be relatively quick and easy for you, and require a minimum of preparation midtownmag.com| xx

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effort once they’re delivered. If additional heating will be needed, or you’re sending the meal frozen for later use, remember to provide instructions right on the container.

Less may be more. While every gifted meal is enjoyed and appreciated, many families receive such large quantities of food that some inevitably goes to waste. Try to offer only one to two servings per person in the household, and if scheduling meals for extended periods of time, opt for every other day instead of daily meals.

Remember to consider the individual needs of the family and tailor your meal in a way that’s most helpful. When I’m making a meal with multiple ingredients, like a casserole or soup, I’ll usually include a separate container of buttered noodles or macaroni and cheese for the younger children. It’s an easy add-on that could save the family time and stress at mealtime; I say this as a mom of three finicky eaters! The same goes for spicy or ethnic food that may not appeal to everyone in the family; you should ask ahead of time just to be sure.

Double your recipes. No need to complicate your already busy evening routine by putting together two separate meals. If you’re planning to take a meal to someone else, make sure you don’t neglect your own family in the process. No one at your house is going to be happy to see the good stuff go out the door when they’re left with cheese sandwiches, so buy enough ingredients to make dinner for both families and enlist the help of your older children to transport the provided meal. Then you can all return to enjoy your own meal together; a true win-win!

Be willing to expand your repertoire. Although casseroles and lasagna are probably the most popular donated meals, I’ve decided that a la carte dinners are actually just as easy. While you may use a few more containers, you might try grilled beef tenderloin with twicebaked potatoes and a big, colorful salad. As long as you know your meal is going to be eaten that night, coordinate the delivery time in advance and this kind of meal could be a welcome change after a few nights of baked ziti. If you plan to take a dessert, don’t go overboard.

An entire cake may be too much for an older couple living alone, but a couple of pieces with sliced fresh strawberries on the side would probably go over well.

What if I can barely feed my own family?

Not everyone feels comfortable providing a meal for someone else, and with unpredictable work schedules or extracurricular activities it may just be too daunting to think of cramming more into the dinner hour. But you still want to support your friend or neighbor in a way that’s meaningful and heartfelt. How do you love them? Let me count the ways...

Child care or carpool For your friend with a new baby, offer to have her older child spend the afternoon at your house. You could make this a weekly routine until your friend has found her new equilibrium. For a mom or dad battling a health condition, offer to bring the kids home from school, or let them stay with you during doctor appointments or hospital visits. Take your cue from the family and make sure they know the offer stands – but don’t pressure them. Every family has its own unique set of circumstances and some will rely on you more than others.

Errands and odd jobs Recovering from surgery a few years ago, I got a call from a girlfriend: “I’m at Target – what do you need?” After I wiped away the happy tears, I was able to think of a few things I actually did need.

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She brought them to me along with some flowers and a card. If you’re going out anyway, offer to stop by the market, pick up dry cleaning, or drop off a prescription. Let your elderly neighbor know you’re going to the post office and ask her if she needs a book of stamps. Walk the fine line and try not to cross over into “pester” territory, but let others know you’re there for them if they really need you.

Other food favorites If, like me, you still think bringing food is the ultimate caring gesture, it doesn’t mean you have to make dinner. A basket of fresh fruit from the farmer’s market, a loaf of bread or muffins can fill in the gaps when most of the food coming into the house is for the evening meal.

Or call the day before and offer to provide the next day’s breakfast.

A dozen fresh bagels and a couple of tubs of flavored cream cheese delivered to their door at a pre-arranged time is a great way to start a Saturday morning.

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Finally, be prepared to go the distance. Weeks or months after a new baby’s arrival, or a health scare that seems to have resolved, it’s nice to check in after the extended family and other visitors have dwindled, just to let your friends know you’re still thinking about them. In the event of an extended illness or recovery time, those quiet days between treatments or hospital stays can be the most isolating, so stopping by to visit or going to a movie together could be a welcome distraction.

Have you ever heard the saying that, when shared with a friend, all joys are doubled? The opposite is said of sorrows, that when shared they’re cut in half. I think when you throw in a batch of homemade 8/24/10 3:24:57 chip PM chocolate cookies they almost certainly disappear completely.

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color add some

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this fall

By Dean McKinney & Joy Watson Atlantic Avenue Orchid and Garden

After the scorching summer heat has mellowed into crisp mornings and beautiful autumn afternoons, you may notice that your garden is in need of a little sprucing up to look its best for entertaining or just sitting on your patio with a steaming cup of coffee. The addition of some plants with great fall color can make your garden more enjoyable for all.

There are many trees, shrubs and bedding plants that do well in the Raleigh area that can add interesting textures and colors to a fall garden. Some of those are listed here.

1. Burning Bush – (Euonymus alata) is a woody, moderategrowing shrub. This shrub is one of the great beauties of the autumn season. It is distinguished by vibrant scarlet foliage and small red-orange fruit in the fall, as well as unusual corky “wings” which flare out as it branches.

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2. Belgian Mums – A newer addition to the Chrysanthemum family, these mums offer a longer bloom time, sturdier stems and a more compact growth habit. Grown mostly as an annual for fall color.

3. Pyracantha – This moderate growing shrub offers brilliant red berries beginning in the early weeks of fall and carrying well on into winter. There are several varieties and sizes, so finding one to fit your landscape will be simple.

4. Pansies – One of the most common annuals grown in the fall to add pops of color to any garden or planter. They bloom through the winter months and come in a wide array of colors.

5. Maples – October Glory (Acer rubrum) The October Glory Red Maple is one of the best and most popular of the Red Maple Cultivars. October Glory Maples are known for intense fall color and have a medium to fast growth rate.

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6. Ornamental Grasses – Several cultivars are available in many sizes and growth rates. Offer movement and texture to any fall planting as well as a variety of colors and plumes.

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calendar

september/october 2010 Family Date Night at Marbles September 3 | 10am-8pm | Marbles Kids Museum | www.marbleskidsmuseum.org

Grandparents Day at Marbles North Hills Expansion Block Party September 12 | 12-5pm | Marbles Kids Museum | September 17 | 5-10pm | www.marbleskidsmuseum.org www.NorthHillsRaleigh.com

Labor Day September 6

Independence Health-Lifestyle Center for Seniors Grand Opening September 15 | 4-7pm | Independence HealthLifestyle Center | 919.571.0614 | www.independencehealth.org

St. Raphael Paris Fair September 10-11 | St. Raphael’s School | 919.865.5750 | www.saintraphael.org

Wine Dinner at Saint-Jacques USO 6th Annual Freedom Ride September 15 | 6:30pm | Saint-Jacques French September 11 | 8am | Ray Price Harley-Davidson | Cuisine | 919.862.2770 | 919.832.2261 | www.rayprice.com/events www.saintjacquesfrenchcuisine.com North Hills 5k benefiting North Raleigh Ministries September 11 | 9am | Trinity Baptist Church | 919.787.3740 | www.NorthHills5k.com

Viva Las Vegas September 18 | 919.832.5526 | www.clubnewsmaker.net/capitalcardinalclub Miracle League Ride September 18 | 9am | Ray Price Harley-Davidson | 919.832.2261 | http://themiracleleagueride.com Garden Gourmet September 18 | 10am | Marbles Kids Museum | www.marbleskidsmuseum.org

Girls’ Night Out at North Hills September 16 | 6-8pm | www.NorthHillsRaleigh.com Art in the Gardens September 18 | 5pm | Duke Raleigh Gardens | 919.805.1202 | www.dukeraleighhospital.org A Pair to Remember September 17 | 11am-2pm | North Hills Renais“Tarheel Territory” Exhibition sance Hotel | www.APairToRememberRaleigh.com Little Shop of Horrors at North Carolina Theatre & Painting Demonstration September 18-26 | Times vary | 919.831.6950 | September 11-12 | Art Source North Hills | 1-5pm 29th Annual Greek Festival www.nctheatre.com | 919.787.9533 | www.artsource-raleigh.com September 17-19 | Times vary | The Expo Center, NC State Fairgrounds | 919.781.4548 | “MemoryScapes” Opening Fashion Week at North Hills www.holytrinityraleigh.org Exhibition Reception September 12-18 | www.NorthHillsRaleigh.com September 23 | 7pm | ArtSource North Hills | 919.787.9533 | www.artsource-raleigh.com 6th Annual Ray Price Capital City Bike Fest September 24-25 | 10am-10pm | Downtown Raleigh Fayetteville St | http://capitalcitybikefest.com Beethoven’s Triple concerto September 24-25 | 8pm | Meymandi Concert Hall | 919.733.2750 | www.ncsymphony.org

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17th Annual Women’s Distance Festival 5K to Benefit InterAct September 25 | 7am | Halifax Community Center | 919.828.7501 | www.interactofwake.org Gadgets & Gizmos September 26 | 1-3pm | Marbles Kids Museum | www.marbleskidsmuseum.org Elegant and Elemntal October 8-9 | 8pm | Meymandi Concert Hall | French Cooking Class 919.733.2750 | www.ncsymphony.org September 28 | 4:30pm | Saint-Jacques French Cuisine | 919.862.2770 | Triangle Walk/Run for Autism www.saintjacquesfrenchcuisine.com October 9 | 9am-12pm| Moore Square, downtown Raleigh | 800.442.2762 ext. 1106 | Art for Alzeheimer’s WALK www.trianglerunwalkforautism.org September 29 | 11am-2pm | The MarketPlace at Lake Boone Trail | 919.746.7050 | French Wine Dinner Marcia@sarahcare.lakeboonetrail.com October 13 | 6:30pm | Saint-Jacques French Cuisine | 919.862.2770 | First Presbyterians Fabulous www.saintjacquesfrenchcuisine.com Marketplace October 1-2 | Times vary | 919.821.5750 | Art in Music www.fpcraleigh.org October 15 | 12pm | Meymandi Concert Hall | 919.733.2750 | www.ncsymphony.org Cirque de la Symphonie October 1-3 | 3pm and 8pm | Meymandi ConThird Annual Scott-Free Event cert Hall | 919.733.2750 | www.ncsymphony.org October 16 | 6-9pm | Raleigh’s Mirage Night Club | www.scott-free.org Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk October 2 | 9am-1pm | www.NorthHillsRaleigh.com Junior League of Raleigh’s Oktoberfest Arts & Crafts Festival October 2 | 11am-6pm | Our Savior Lutheran Church | www.oslcraleigh.org Fall Arts Fair October 2 | Sertoma Arts Center | jill.brown@raleighnc.gov

A Shopping SPREE! October 21-24 | Times vary daily | Raleigh Convention Center | www.ashoppingspree.org TAKING TEA WITH JANE AUSTEN October 26 | 2:30pm | Lady Bedford’s Tea Parlour & Gift Shoppe in Pinehurst, NC | 910.255.0100 | www.ladybedfords.com

French Cooking Class October 27 | 4:30pm | Saint-Jacques French Cuisine | 919.862.2770 | www.saintjacquesfrenchcuisine.com Halloween Celebration at the Farmer’s Market October 30 | 10am-12pm | www.NorthHillsRaleigh.com Triangle Independent School Consortium Education Fair October 30 | 10am-2pm | Hampton Inn and Suites at Brier Creek | 919.484.0500 Halloween Magic October 30 | 11am and 4pm | Meymandi Concert Hall | 919.733.2750 | www.ncsymphony.org Halloween October 31 Have an important event? We would love to hear about it. Please send the details of your calendar events to: sarah@midtownmag.com.

Spiritual Renewal Weekend at Millbrook United Methodist Church October 8-10 | Millbrook United Methodist Church | 919.217.7718 | www.millbrookumc.org

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IT’S TAILGATIN’ TIME Food & REcipes BY Chef T.J. Donovan at LADYFINGERS CATERERS cupcakes by the cupcake shoppe PHOTOGRAPHY BY APRIL MANESS PHOTOGRAPHY

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MENU • Grilled shrimp boil • Hotdog bar – Roasted tomato ketchup, grain mustard, sweet ‘n hot relish, chili-jalapeno cheese sauce • Hawaiian pork tenderloin with mango chutney • Grilled corn salad • Cast-iron skillet nachos • Italian tomato salad • Grilled potato skins • Fennel and cabbage slaw • Royal banana pudding • Chocolate chip and Mississippi mud cookies

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Grilled Shrimp Boil 12 fresh shrimp (peeled and deveined) 3 ears of corn (cut into 12 1-inch pieces) 1 lb. tiny new potatoes 1 lb. kielbasa sausage (cut into 1- to 2-inch pieces) 3 stalks of celery (cut into 3-inch pieces) 4 lemons (cut into wedges) 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning ¼ cup olive oil Drawn butter

Cast-iron Nachos 1 bag corn tortilla chips 1 can black beans (drained and rinsed) 1 jalapeno (chopped) ¼ cup cilantro (chopped) 3 vine-ripe tomatoes (diced) ½ cup shredded jack cheese ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese 1 teaspoon ground cumin Salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot bring salted water to a boil. Add potatoes, corn and celery and cook until just tender, 5-6 minutes. Set aside to cool. On 12 pre-soaked skewers, thread shrimp, sausage, potatoes, corn and celery; season with olive oil and Old Bay. Grill skewers on a greased rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes or until shrimp are opaque, turning once halfway through.

Garnish with lemon wedges and serve with drawn butter.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat cook beans, jalapeno, tomatoes and cumin for 5-6 minutes or until beans are tender. Season with salt and pepper.

Put tortilla chips in a large cast-iron skillet and pour bean mixture over top. Sprinkle top with cheeses and cover with aluminum foil. Place on grill, off of direct heat, and cook for 3 minutes or until cheese melts.

Remove foil and serve immediately.

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Italian Tomato Salad Ÿ cup olive oil 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar 24 cherry tomatoes (cut in half) ½ cup sliced English cucumber 1 small red onion (roughly chopped) 10 fresh basil leaves (chopped) 1 tablespoon drained capers 2 cups seasoned croutons Whisk oil and vinegar together in a large bowl. Add tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, basil and capers.

Toss to coat and let sit for 2 hours.

Add croutons just before serving and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

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Grilled Potato Skins 3 large Idaho potatoes 12 pieces of bacon (chopped) 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese ¼ cup green onions (chopped) ½ cup sour cream In a 400 degree pre-heated oven bake potatoes for 30 minutes, until just tender. Cut potatoes in half (lengthwise) and scoop out middle, leaving about a ¼-½ inch lip. On a hot grill place potatoes, cut side down, on a greased rack and cook for 1 ½ minutes (just to mark).

Take potatoes off grill. Mix cheese, bacon and green onions in a bowl. Put mixture into dugout part of potatoes and place potatoes back on grill, skin side down and not on direct heat. Cover grill and cook until cheese melts. Garnish with sour cream and serve.

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Mississippi Mud Cookies 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips ½ cup butter (softened) 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 1 ½ cups chopped pecans ½ cup milk chocolate chips 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons miniature marshmallows

Melt semisweet chocolate chips in a microwave at high for 1 minute, stirring every 30 seconds.

Beat butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer, until creamy. add eggs, vanilla and melted chocolate. continue beating until mixed thoroughly. combine flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add chocolate mixture until well blended. add pecans and milk chocolate chips to mix. drop heaping tablespoons of dough onto parchment paper-lined cookie sheets. press 3 marshmallows into each portion of cookie.

Bake in an oven that’s been pre-heated to 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until set. allow to cool and serve. Makes about 3 dozen

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If you’re not a big gamer or you use your smart phone mostly as a phone, you may not realize just how many useful, life-enhancing apps are available, many of which are free or nearly free. Here we highlight a few that seem hand-picked for the Midtown lifestyle.

By jenni hart

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Fashion Glamour Ask a Stylist – This free app, created

by Like.com and Glamour magazine, utilizes the talents of stylists who are on call all times of the day or night, and who endeavor to respond within 10 minutes to your most vexing fashion dilemmas. Imagine being on the verge of buying a new fall dress. You send a photo of it, ask whether your suede ankle boots or crocodile sling-backs would work better with it, and request help with accessories. The stylist responds with recommendations to help you put together the perfect ensemble. What could be more fun – or more completely addicting?!

Style.com – One of the first fashion apps, Style. com offers views from the runway, reviews from the front row, and photos from social events and after-parties. Another feature is the style file blog, providing commentary from pros in the fashion industry.

Stylebook – A steal at only $3.99, Stylebook’s tag line is “closet manager and fashion assistant”. Its functions are nothing less than intoxicating for the true fashionista; picture paper dolls for grown-ups. Simply take photos of all the pieces of your existing wardrobe and save them. Then download photos from the internet, or ones of items you’re viewing in the store, mix and match, add shoes, accessories, and your collections come together in complete outfits. There’s no better way to avoid redundant purchases or to keep from missing a crucial element from an otherwise perfect look.

Beauty ModiFace – Had this app been available in the 1980s, I’m absolutely certain it would have kept me from graduating from high school or college. I may never have left my bedroom – it is that mesmerizing. For an overview of its many tools and functions, visit modiface.com, where you can view tutorials on how to take a photo of

your face and see the endless possibilities based on the effect of various products, procedures, even the unavoidable signs of aging. Not sure if Botox is right for you? Try it out on ModiFace to see what your actual face would look like with the hallmark smoother forehead and softened frown lines. Use HairMixer to try on various hairstyles, Weight Mirror to visualize weight gain or loss, and MakeUp to try on every type of beauty-enhancing cosmetic you could fathom. BFF, Beauty Friend Forever, offers daily beauty tips and customized looks based on the event you’re planning to attend. And NewBeauty is described as a “realistic, anti-aging virtual makeover tool”. Using a photo of yourself, you can choose various surgical procedures such as a face lift or eyelid lift, and see what your face would look like post-surgery.

Hair Makeover – An app to indulge your hair obsession. At $1.99, the investment could save you in the long run from the wrong cut or color, which makes it worth every penny. Using a photo of your face, you can try nearly endless combinations of styles.

Wines If you’re not an oenophile, your secret’s safe when you’re packing one of these nifty apps. Hello Vino is a free application that offers a wealth of wine wisdom for those with a thirst for knowledge.

This app can help you select the perfect wine for a particular occasion, such as a first date or one to give as a gift. You can also use it to find a wine that pairs nicely with the meal you’re serving.

Others that come highly-rated include Clinks, which offers integration with fellow wine lovers via Twitter and Facebook; and Cor.kz, which, at $3.99, features a cellar management option to keep track of your collection. There’s also a consumption history log, where the user can look back over all the wines they’ve consumed and reminisce – apparently this is not considered peculiar behavior for true wine enthusiasts!

Cocktails Are you ready to get your drink on? If so, there are two apps you may find especially fetching.

Flip ‘N Drink, for $3.99, features cocktails selected and tested by the Regans, famed authors of The Joy of Mixology and The Bartender’s Best Friend. With Flip ‘N Drink, you can search by the names of cocktails, or their ingredients, and you get a photo of the cocktail, ingredient list and instructions for mixing. Each concoction comes with recommendations for similar beverages, in “if you like this, you may like this” format. And by the way, if you like Flip ‘N Drink you may also like Cocktails Made Easy, which for $2.99, offers recipes for more than 500 cocktails, which you can rate and email to friends.

Food If you’ve tired of using your smart phone to search for restaurants and want to create some culinary magic in your own cucina, an app called Epicurious Recipes and Shopping List should be your next download. Containing nearly 30,000 recipes, this free app is loved by users for its unique but easy to replicate dishes, although it does get a few dings for the frequent ads (hey, it’s free). And one app that seems almost too good to be true is the iFeast, which cradles the user like a nurturing grandmother from the old country, guiding you through every conceivable step in the planning and preparation of the perfect Thanksgiving meal (I know they didn’t have Thanksgiving in the old country, but work with me). At $2.99, iFeast features classic holiday recipes and a customizable calendar, with tips for things like setting the table and managing to have all of the dishes come to the table at the same time; that’s always my personal Waterloo.

If you’re new to the world of apps, you’ll soon learn there are more apps than there are hours in the day to enjoy them, so proceed with caution. Should you become hopelessly addicted, who knows, there’s probably an app for that.

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Smarter, Healthier, Happier

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Children?

Better sleep may be the secret

BY JENNI HART

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As parents, we know intuitively that sleep is a vital part of our children’s health and well-being. But you may be surprised to learn just how great an impact sleep has on cognitive functioning, mood regulation and school performance. According to the book NurtureShock, published just last year, a study by the National Sleep Foundation found that 90 percent of American parents feel that their children get adequate sleep. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Today’s children, from elementary school through high school, receive one hour less sleep than children 30 years ago; kindergartners, 30 minutes less. Although an hour may seem inconsequential, more and more studies point to the inescapable fact that this lost hour is having a significant impact on the minds and bodies of young people. A number of scientists theorize that sleep issues during the formative years can cause permanent changes in a child’s brain structure; some go so far as to suggest that childhood obesity and issues such as ADHD and mood disorders can be at least partially attributed to chronic sleep deprivation.

In one study conducted by Dr. Avi Sadeh at Tel Aviv University, a group of elementary students were tested with actigraphs, instruments which measure sleep activity. Half the group received one hour less sleep than the other half, for three nights in a row. Following the third night of sleep each child was administered a computer version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, a test widely recognized for being a reliable predictor of academic achievement.

Unsure of what he would discover by measuring merely an hour less sleep for just a three-day period, Dr. Sadeh was surprised to see that the group with less sleep performed at nearly a two-year differential in cognitive maturation and development. In other words, an average sixth grader with a one hour sleep deficit over just three days performed more like an average fourth grader.

A common misconception is that sleep deficits can be made up on the weekend. In multiple studies conducted at sleep centers and universities, tests show that what researchers call a “sleep debt” can also result in a loss of cognitive functioning. In other words, each night of sleep is its own distinct event, and a sleep debt cannot be fully compensated for. The ideal situation for any child – through adolescence – is to go to sleep at very close to the same time every night, including weekends, holidays and summer breaks, and to get a sufficient amount of sleep every single night. Even a 15-minute sleep deficit can result in measurable gaps when tested for various cognitive and motor skills.

The evidence for these recommendations is pretty complex, but basically the premise is that what children learn during the day is held in a sort of temporary storage center in the brain. During the various sleep stages, those newly-learned facts are basically solidified into deeper, more efficient memory centers in the brain. Connections are made that result in a deeper understanding of new concepts, and each stage of sleep plays a unique role in capturing memories. Auditory memories are processed during one sleep stage, motor skills another, and memories with a lot of emotion attached to them are processed during yet another.

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and unpleasant ones appear to be processed in two different regions of the brain. Since the area hardest hit by sleep deprivation is the processing center for pleasant memories, people who don’t get sufficient sleep have more developed, “hard-coded” negative memories, but their good memories seem to fade more quickly; hence the general depressed mood of chronically sleep-deprived individuals.

Another unfolding revelation has to do with hormones and how they’re released and metabolized during sleep. Melatonin, insulin, the various growth hormones – they’re all discharged at specific times during our sleep. Constant interruptions in sleep, or not receiving enough sleep each night to enter through all of the necessary stages, can wreak havoc on our physical health and sense of well-being.

Everyone knows American children struggle with increasing obesity rates. Did you know that sleep deprivation actually stimulates the hormones that trigger appetite, while it suppresses the hormones that signal when you’re full? Evidence for this connection is relatively new, but it may offer promising new insight into the obesity epidemic.

So what do we do with this information? Neurologists and researchers refer to the part of sleep we can control as our “sleep hygiene” and there are a lot of simple steps to ensure that our children are getting enough of the right kind of sleep. And by the way, many of these concepts apply to adults as well; it’s just that the effects are more deeply felt within the developing brain of a child.

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Tips for a Good Night’s Sleep • Determine a reasonable bedtime and wake time and stick to them, even on weekends, holidays and vacations. Base bedtimes on the following recommendations for sleep (totals include naps for children up to age five): - Newborns: 10.5-18 hours - Age 2 months to 1 year: 14-15 hours - Age 1 year to 3 years: 12-14 hours - Age 3 years to 5 years: 11-13 hours - Age 5 years to 12 years: 10-11 hours - Adolescents: 8.5-9.5 hours - Adults: 7-9 hours • Since there is a wide variance in the recommended number of hours, look for cues that your child is getting sufficient sleep. If they wake easily in the morning, have generally balanced moods, perform well in school, and the total number of hours closely resembles the recommended times, they’re probably getting enough.

• Establish and maintain consistent, pleasant bedtime routines, and avoid caffeine and sugary foods 4-6 hours before bedtime (steer clear of caffeine for younger children regardless of the time of day).

• Use caution when it comes to naps for children over the age of five. While occasional short naps are not harmful for older children or adults, excessive sleepiness in a child over the age of five is better remedied through more nighttime sleep.

• Finally, pediatricians and sleep experts agree that too many children are over-scheduled. If your child’s organized activities are impacting his ability to get good sleep, consider cutting back to a more manageable schedule.

It’s understandable when parents say they don’t want to limit their child’s opportunities or prevent them from participating in the sports they love, but that shouldn’t come at the expense of restorative, restful sleep. If your child needs 10 hours, the science is really pointing to the fact that we can’t think of it as a luxury, but as an absolute necessity.

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talk of the town

around town

HERE IS WHAT’S HAPPENING Scott Free

Free Scott In loving memory of Scott Gruder

A gift is most precious when given under no obligation and received without any expectation “Journeys Urging Mammoth Possibilities” dba “Scott-Free” is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt non-profit organization

P.O. Box 19681 Raleigh, NC 27619-9681

Save the Date!

What: The 3rd Annual Scott-Free Event Where: Raleigh’s Mirage Night Club, located at 400 North West Street in Downtown Raleigh When: The Evening of October 16th, from 6-9 pm The Scott-Free Scholarship Foundation is a local nonprofit devoted to sending at-risk children to camp each summer. Scott-Free, along with its camp partners, has secured 125 camp spots to date for North Carolina kids. The event will feature keynote speaker Mayor Charles Meeker. Learn more at www.scott-free.org.

Midtown Artist Continues Success!

A couple of years ago Midtown introduced you to James Dunn, a fabulous guitar player who was on his way to making it big! His second album, The Bed We Made, is now available. The new songs take a hard look at crumbling relationships within a home and the struggle to hold onto those relationships. Dunn’s sound has been compared to Bruce Springsteen many times…check it out, it’s great!

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coming up in the next

Glorious Guest Baths

The holidays will bring family and friends to visit…is your home ready? The guest room looks beautiful, but is the guest bath ready? Midtown will give you ideas for making your guest bath glorious, from completely remodeling the bath to simple changes like luscious towels and accessories.

Holiday Gift Guide

A pull-out shopping guide with great ideas for everyone on your shopping list! From $5 to $5,000, local shops show us the hottest gifts for the 2010 holiday season.

Holiday Fashion

Ideas on the best looks for the holidays! From cocktail dresses to stunning shoes, we’ll show you how to look your best this holiday season!

Family Favorites

Everyone has a dish that they associate with the holiday season – whether it’s your mom’s Thanksgiving dressing or your aunt’s egg nog, we all have one.

Midtown readers share their family favorite recipes!

Holiday Survival Guide

Salons and spas share their secrets for staying healthy and looking beautiful during the hectic holiday season!

Plus lots more…

Wine Review | Chef Mario Bain’s Beat | Calendar of Events Talk of the Town | Healthy You Midtown Mingles | and much more!

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the

D O O G fit A CAN R B E AD D ELL-M W FRIEN A T S W A E HO UR BR O Y E B SON IST

BY KR

EN

Y STEV

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You may be surprised to learn that up to 85 percent of women today are wearing the wrong bra. That’s a huge percentage when you consider that a brassiere is part of your core lingerie and worn on a daily basis. In 2008, Consumer Reports found that 37 percent of women don’t bother to try bras on before purchasing.

Yet, 75 percent reported that they faced a specific challenge related to fit, and 53 percent have never been professionally fitted. Why torture yourself (and “your girls”) this way? The most common reason is that many women are simply not aware of their correct size. Just like your figure, your breasts can change over time due to things like weight loss, weight gain, childbirth and age.

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Signs That You’re Sporting the Wrong Bra • If your bra moves when your arms are raised and the band is not level • If your straps are falling off and the girls are sagging because your band size is too big • If your bra is riding up between your shoulders, again because it’s too big around • If your cups runneth over, it’s time to increase cup size • If your cups dimple, it’s time to decrease cup size • If you have strap indentations on your shoulders • If you’re overly conscious of a bra, endure chafing, skin abrasions or digging • If your breasts are touching, giving you the dreaded uniboob The right bra will give your frame definition – and you’ll tend to look taller, thinner, and better overall. Who doesn’t want that?

Eighty percent of women say they would never go out in public without a bra – so why not make sure it’s the right one? The solution is as easy as indulging in an accurate, quality fitting.

“We’re all about making sure women know how a bra is supposed to fit to give you the best support – and extend the life of the garment,” says Julie Hendricks, owner of J. Alane’s Fine Lingerie and Other Essentials in The Alexan at North Hills. J. Alane’s has been in business for five years, and their staff is trained to provide fittings that ensure customers are happy with their purchase. Known for personal attention to detail, they stock an assortment of bras (including bridal) in band sizes 30-46 and cups from A-K, and also offer special ordering.

Hendricks says a new bra band should be snug when fastened on the outermost hook (and you can then tighten to the second and third hook as the bra ages). For a comfortable fit that doesn’t move, you should only have about a half-inch of give when you tuck your hands under the back of the band. A good fit is like a seesaw: down in the back, up in the front. So your band should be level on your back, or even a little lower on the body. Wires should run all the way around the breast tissue; when you look in a mirror and see where your natural breast line falls, the wire should be behind it. It’s never healthy or comfortable to have anything cutting into tissue.

And in most cases (unless you are going for a plunging neckline with lots of cleavage), the center of your bra should lay flat. With a good fitting garment, the apex of your breast will always fall halfway between your shoulder and your elbow. If you’re hanging lower, you need a new bra.

But there is no magic measurement. “The tape measure is basically just a starting point for a band size,” says Ruth Dowdy, owner of The Bra Patch in Raleigh’s North Market Square. Each country and manufacturer has a different sizing scale, so you may purchase a handful of bras – each in a different size. For this reason, bras are not traditionally a good item to buy online. The fit depends upon how the bra is constructed and how many panels are in the cup. The addition of wire then gives you lift and pulls you to the front.

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The Bra Patch has been in Raleigh for 30 years, and with an inventory ranging from 28A to 56N, their niche is specializing in hard-to-fit sizes and custom fittings. Bridal and formal foundation wear, maternity and nursing bras (up to a J cup), and prosthesis fitting bras for women who have undergone a mastectomy are also part of their appeal. With two certified mastectomy fitters, the store is fully accredited with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. “It’s a very rewarding part of what we do here,” says Dowdy.

The shop also assists many women who have a small torso, but need a large cup to accommodate their size. In an off-the-rack store, that would ultimately mean purchasing a larger band size, resulting in a poor fit and lack of support. “A bra fitting is a very individualized and personalized experience,” says Dowdy, who asserts that 99 percent of women come into her shop not to browse, but for a fitting. “The comment we hear most often is, ‘I didn’t know stores like this still existed,’” she says.

Bra & Panty Primer Oprah’s Bra Revolution taught us that everyone can be sexy, no matter what size you wear. “Heat-molded fabric is one of my biggest sellers because it pulls you in, lifts you up, is lightweight and comfortable,” says Hendricks. But know that you don’t have to sacrifice lace and embroidery for function and support.

Matching panties and control briefs are also often available.

Some experts say you should change bras throughout the week in order to help them maintain their shape and support.

A good sports bra should include cups; those sold at athletic stores often compress breast tissue, which is unhealthy. Pair it with a thin, seamless panty in a moisture-wicking fabric to stay cool and dry during your workout.

Shapewear is stylish in everything from camisoles to Spanx. So if you’re looking for a smooth contour under a clingy jersey dress, it’s easier than ever to refine your look. To find the right garment, bring your dress into your favorite store or boutique and try it on in with shapewear in front of a full-length mirror. “Compression products are also available for women who may have undergone a gastric bypass procedure,” says Dowdy.

Slips are coming back because many of today’s sheer dresses require it. Spanx makes a thin, silky undergarment in nude that gives you another layer beneath your oh-so-bare wardrobe. Thongs and seamless or flat-seem underwear are also all the rage.

Hand-washing is the best way to care for your delicates, although you can use your machine on the gentle cycle. For top loading washers with agitators, a mesh bag is strongly recommended to protect garment straps and hooks. And a laundry product containing citric acid will help keep elastic tight and fresh. Never put bras in a commercial dryer. “If you’re going to invest in good lingerie, take care of it and it will take care of you,” says Hendricks.

Quality undergarments will change the way your clothes look on you. With a good bra under something as basic as a $10 t-shirt, you can look like a million bucks. But the wrong bra beneath an expensive shirt can be a disaster. Consult a professional fitter for your best look.

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5 FALL TRENDS

TO TRY NOW

Update your look this season with the latest beauty trends. Playful hair and makeup lend a fresh vibe to classic fall fashion. When going runway to real life, it is often best to stick to one at a time in order to avoid looking like a fashion victim.

BEAUTY TIPS COURTESY OF FIQUET BAILEY, LUXE

1

Statement nails

update Nails are such an easy way to continues, d tren nail te mat The . your look feeling are you as well as dark colors. If with icure man ch Fren a try ng, a bit dari white a twist. Skip the classic pink and r with a and instead opt for a bold colo tip. contrasting colored or metallic

Check out Fiquet’s blog at: thebeautyofitall.net

OPI “DS Glow” $8.50; available at Target

Chanel Paradoxal $23; available at Chanel counters

Essie Matte About You Matte Finisher $10; available at Luxe HIP L’Oreal Shine Struck Liquid Lip Color in Precarious $11.79; available at Ulta

2

Orange Lips

seen Shades of orange were you all over fall runways. If oraren’t ready to go all out d with ange, ease into the tren that a sheer lipstick or gloss ural lip allows a bit of your nat color to peek through.

Boots No7 Moisture Drench Lipstick in Golden Rose $9.99; available at Target

Anastasia Brow Powder Duo $22; available at Sephora

3

Bold Bro ws

Bigger is better w hen it co brows. P mes to lay up yo ur natura filling in l shape b with bro w powde y r or penci l.

Mac Impeccable Brow Pencil $15; available at Mac counters

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o

Revlon Diamond Bobby Pins $5.99; available at CVS

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Philip B Jet Set Hairspray $18-$30; available at Luxe

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lic Wash lids with metal easyan for es ton r be am edge. to-create look with blend to sh bru ge lar Use a lid. tire en shadow across

Urban Decay Deluxe Eye Shadow in Honey $18; available at Sephora

Becca Jewel Dust in Xantho $24; available at Luxe

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PARKS ON THE

RISE

BY DAN BAIN

If you haven’t checked out Raleigh’s public parks lately, you should. TheBYCity’s Parks DAN BAIN & Recreation Department has been opening and renovating facilities, expanding the scope of recreation available, winning awards and generally rising to the occasion to meet the requests of the parks’ real owners – all of us.

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I

In October 2007, Raleigh voters approved an $88.6 million bond issue for parks and greenway projects; of that, $16.1 million was for the completion of projects approved in a 2003 referendum, $16 million was for greenway development, $15 million was for park land acquisition, $4.9 million was to expand the capacity of existing park/recreational facilities, and $36.6 million was to build new facilities.

The City’s Parks and Recreation Department has been busy in each of those categories and now manages about 9000 acres of land, says Recreation Superintendent Scott Payne. That figure encompasses more than 10 percent of the land within Raleigh’s boundaries and includes 810 parks ranging from small neighborhood parks and community centers to greenway trails and open spaces held for future use.

Backing out the greenway and open spaces, the City’s park system includes 204 parks of various types spanning more than 4100 acres – all for public recreation.

“People should visit the parks; we want them there and we want them to tell us what they think and to be engaged with our park system as much as they can,” says Payne. “It is their system.”

But Payne says many citizens don’t realize these resources are available, and are often surprised at what they find. The City’s parks offer us playgrounds, lakes, trails, baseball fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, community centers, art centers, cultural venues, amphitheaters, rental spaces for special events, educational opportunities, skate parks, inline hockey rinks, swimming pools, disc golf, canoeing, historic sites and more – most of it at no charge. They offer nature’s beauty comingled with human ingenuity, improving our quality of life and giving us an opportunity to partake in fun, positive

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and healthy recreation activities. “We believe if you look at the public health crisis, our parks are assets for people to use to promote active living and healthy lifestyle,” Payne stresses.

Marsh Creek expansion The City has promoted such active living through its commitment to its park system. This was evident at the July 14th dedication of the Marsh Creek Community Center on New Hope Road, complete with giveaways, a youth basketball game, an open house, information sessions on various Parks and Recreation offerings, and a ribbon-cutting attended by City Council Member John Odom.

The 24,000-square-foot community center is state-of-theart and green, utilizing solar-heated water, energy-efficient HVAC systems, daylighting to reduce light usage and drought-resistant landscaping. It includes a fitness room, kitchen, computer lab, art room, public wireless internet access, multi-purpose rooms, locker rooms and a full-sized, air-conditioned gymnasium with true hardwood flooring. Just outside, next to the future site of the aquatics facility, is a barrier-free playground with innovative climbing/playing structures surrounded by sound and touch stations designed to stimulate the senses. “We were very excited with the opening of the community center. We did our first Boundless Playground at that one, removing all barriers for children with disabilities. There’s an all-children’s playground at Laurel Hills Park that was built in 1991, but we know far more now about inclusive playgrounds than we did then,” Payne explains. “We’re working with a group of passionate citizens and

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the Frankie Lemmon Center Foundation to fund a renovation of one where if we were to reach our goal, it would probably be the largest inclusive playground in Wake County, if not the state.”

The rest of Marsh Creek Park has received a facelift, as well.

In May, the facility officially opened its skate park, which Payne calls “a different creature for us.” He says Marsh Creek was the City’s first foray into that sort of recreation facility, where they incorporated skaters into its design phase, including “a good designer who spoke the language.” According to Payne, the skaters have been pleased with the park so far. “You may start seeing some competitions at the skate park; that will add something a little different as well,” he adds. “One of the values of having the community center and full-time staff on site is we now have the presence to have them involved in supporting additional programs.”

Marsh Creek is also home to an outdoor hockey rink, designed specifically for inline skates. Unique when it opened in Raleigh, the rink now has sister facilities in Cary and Apex. Payne says use of the rink has been “fairly consistent.”

With its soft surface and ramped, flowing design, the playground at Marsh Creek Community Center is safe and appropriate for children of all ability levels.

Enrichment and education opportunities In addition to its outstanding recreational offerings, the Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of enrichment activities and educational programs, published every four months in its Leisure Ledger, available at community centers and other park facilities. The City offers programs for all ages in categories such as Adventure, Aquatics, Arts, Athletics, Fitness and Nature. Social programs are also available, as well as educational programs for all

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Greystone Recreation Center, at Lake Boone and Sawmill, offers an indoor playground with a rock wall and unique climbing structure.

ages in numerous subjects, plus a number of seasonal special events.

Additionally, the department offers school-based programs such as After School X-Press and Track Out X-Press, including a variety of educational, artistic and healthy activities for children in grades K-6. Payne says the After School program is offered at 20 locations, and two of the City’s newer community centers – Brier Creek and Barwell Road – were built with elementary schools, either attached to them or inside the actual footprint of the school. “Our school-based programs were a reaction to requests for support for year-round schools,” he says. “Parents were looking for good camp experiences outside of the summer, so we slowly built offerings and now have track-out opportunities.”

The Raleigh Police Department supports these programs, Payne adds, and has a long history of working with Parks and Recreation to ensure that children and other users of the facilities are safe. “We work very closely with the Raleigh Police Department,” he avers. “After they redistricted, we let them know where our camps are and when

they’re running and every district captain responded back. We have a wonderful relationship and the chief is a huge advocate of our park system. Any time an issue is raised they put their resources on it. Any park user can let us know if they have a concern and the police will respond.”

57 within five and one of four Wondering where all of these recreational opportunities are? There are 57 parks within five miles of Midtown, including North Hills,

Optimist Community Center and Pool, Cedar Hills, Greystone Recreation Center with its unique indoor playground, Shelley Lake/Sertoma Arts Center, Marsh Creek and Millbrook Exchange Park – really more of a campus now with its community center, indoor pool, 21 hard-surface tennis courts and future senior center. Additional locations and details are available at www.parks. raleighnc.gov.

This is a great time to look more closely and find out what the City’s parks can do for you and your family. The system is growing to the point of receiving national recognition, as evidenced by Raleigh having been a finalist last year for a gold medal award from the National Recreation and Park Association. Payne says entrants were judged against their peers by population category, meaning Raleigh was competing at the same level with systems like Milwaukee County and the City of Phoenix. “We were very pleased that we were one of four finalists to be recognized as an exceptional park system,” he says. “It’s a reflection on our system and ultimately a reflection back on the citizens who have supported the system for so many years.”

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festiv a

around the state

Summer is slipping away. At last it’s comfortable enough to be outside without toting around a bottle of ice water or swimming in a pool. While there are plenty of ways to spend a fall afternoon in Raleigh, there’s also much to experience within driving distance of Midtown. From oysters at the coast to woolly worm races in the mountains, North Carolina’s charming towns are putting forward their best entertainment, food, artisans and local specialties. And they’re doing it at an affordable price. Admission to some festivals is free; others have a nominal entry fee.

Join Midtown Magazine for a look at five fall festivals that you may have never heard of. With cooler temperatures to enjoy, there’s no better time for an outing that lets you experience your own state in a new way. So get ready to road trip it! Book a room or visit a friend who lives nearby the festival you’re falling for, and enjoy every taste, sound and sight.

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v als to fall for

BY KATE TURGEON

aUtUmN leaves festival October 8-10, 2010 Mt. Airy www.autumnleavesfestival.com Mt. Airy. You’re whistling the theme song and remembering beloved black and white episodes, right? It’s understandable. Who wouldn’t love the Mayberry-like town that Andy Griffith grew up in? But the town known for its Southern charm and link to television history is famous for festivals, too. September brings spirited Mayberry Days, but Mt. Airy struts its stuff in October, too.

The Autumn Leaves Festival showcases the town’s rich musical heritage of old-time bluegrass and gospel music. The other big draw is food for the soul. Think ham biscuits, collards, cornbread, barbecue and hamburgers. We know. You’re hungry already. But are you prepared to take in the pops of fall color? From reds to golds, the impressive foliage is set against a Blue Ridge Mountains backdrop.

While you’re there: Visit the Andy Griffith Museum on Rockford Street or the Old North State Winery and Brewery, located inside a renovated mercantile building in historic downtown.

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Oktoberfest October 8-10, 2010 Hickory www.hickoryoktoberfest.com Beer and brats? Definitely. But Hickory’s Oktoberfest is only getting started. The celebration, which is held in downtown’s Union Square, is known for its wide array of foods. Think New Orleans bisque, French apple tarts, Bavarian strudel and gyros. Beyond the flavors of faraway places, hometown favorites such as barbecue and chicken pot pie tempt both locals and visitors.

Oktoberfest features a selection of juried arts and crafts, and it’s not uncommon to see more than 150 vendors with a variety of products and services. And planners are not forgetting the kiddos; Kidsfest has amusement rides, games and live, family-friendly entertainment.

Three stages are set for regionally and nationally known entertainment. As in previous years, the 25th anniversary of Oktoberfest welcomes the Foothills Oompah Band with polka dancers. Organizers say Oktoberfest is what people enjoy most about fall festivals – food, beverages, entertainment and arts.

While you’re there: See what’s beautiful about western North Carolina’s foothills at Bakers Mountain Park, which is located on the highest point of elevation in Catawba County.

Woolly Worm Festival October 16-17, 2010 Banner Elk www.woollyworm.com Ever watched 1,600 caterpillars inch their way up a three-foot string as they race toward fame? We didn’t think so. But for the folks in Banner Elk, it’s an annual tradition that’s been a family favorite since 1978. At the Woolly Worm festival one speedy winner has the privilege of predicting winter weather, and snagging $1,000 bounty. The event is rooted in folklore about a caterpillar’s 13 segments and how they relate to the 13 weeks of winter. If the worm is mostly black, it will be a harsh winter; brown means a mild season.

In addition to numerous woolly worm races (they race in heats of 20), the festival offers its less-woolly humans a five-mile Woolly Worm Woad Race through the countryside of Avery County and a one-mile Fun Wun. Add performances by dance teams, local entertainment, crafts, food and rides and you have a festival that 94 | midtownmag.com xx

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attracts about 23,000 attendees and 140 vendors each year. It’s $5 to race a woolly worm, but register early because spaces can fill up. In case you’re wondering where to get a woolly worm of your own, we’re told they’re everywhere in the Banner Elk-Sugar Mountain-Beech Mountain area during the fall months.

While you’re there: Consider a visit to Grandfather Mountain for hiking trails, the bridge and the zoo. Or visit the famous Mast General Store in Valle Crucis for its large selection of candy.

NC Oyster Festival October 16-17, 2010 Ocean Isle Beach www.brunswickcountychamber.org Just in case one needs another reason to head to the coast: Oyster Fest! It has been an Ocean Isle Beach tradition for 30 years and is the place to be for fans of the delectable mollusk and people who just love a fun time at the beach. The two-day celebration features an oyster stew cookoff and NC Oyster Shucking contest. Past winners have moved on to compete in the National Oyster Shucking Championship in Maryland, and some have even gone on to compete at the world championship in Galway, Ireland.

And for those beach lovers who dig beach music, the festival has a shag dancing contest. Other attractions include road races (5K, 10K and one-mile fun run), kids’ area (face painting, monkey slide and rock wall), live entertainment, arts and crafts and plenty of non-oyster food. midtownmag.com| 95

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While you’re there: Hungry for Jamaican food? Just over the bridge and on the mainland is The Sugar Shack, a restaurant that’s a favorite of locals looking for coconut shrimp, ribs, Johnny bread and Red Stripe.

Wilson Whirligig November 6-7, 2010 Wilson www.wilsonwhirligigfestival.com What’s made of metal and sits atop a tall pole while spinning whimsy with every breeze? A whirligig of course! In case you’ve a newbie, these moveable art structures created by Vollis Simpson have garnered fame for more than 20 years. Simpson has been featured in People, Time and Southern Living magazines, and his unique folk art has been erected in Atlanta, Raleigh and Baltimore.

To celebrate the whirligigs, which are made at Simpson’s machine shop in nearby Lucama, Wilson welcomes locals and visitors to its annual Whirligig festival. Guests may tour the metal sculptures at various locations including The Wilson Rose Garden, Downtown Wilson, Hickory Grove Park and Windmill Farm.

Whirligigs aren’t the only things spinning in the fall air. The festival includes a Saturday bike tour hosted by the Cyclists of Wilson where bikers can enjoy a scenic route that passes by Simpson’s original workshop. And no festival is complete without some local flavor.

This festival is all about yummy eats, a barbecue cook-off and three stages with entertainment.

While you’re there: Check out The Shoppes at Brentwood for furniture, shoes and more. If you’re hungry try popular eateries such as Parker’s Barbecue, Dick’s Hot Dog Stand or the Wilson Doughnut Shop.

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fal f n at ho e You don’t have to leave town to have fun this fall. Whether it’s a local festival, a concert, a fun run or walking tour, there’s plenty to do close to home. Here’s just a sampling of what’s going on in your own backyard:

Beginning in September, The IMAX Theatre at Marbles Kids Museum gets three new movies: Under the Sea 3D, Pulse: A STOMP Odyssey, and Lewis & Clark: Great Journey West.

While college football’s a given, soccer fans can wrap up the season with the Carolina Railhawks through the end of September, and hockey fans can gear up with Carolina Hurricanes taking to the ice the beginning of October.

Warm up for the North Carolina State Fair with a Raleigh tradition for many families, The Fair at Saint Raphael Catholic Church set for September 10th and 11th. The State Fair rolls into town October 14th through the 24th. And yes, you can fry anything.

Bug Fest from the NC Museum of Natural Sciences: It’s creepy in a good way. Think displays, exhibits and activities. September 11th.

La Fiesta del Pueblo celebrates the family, culture and community of Latin America and the Caribbean. Music, art, cultural exhibits, dance performances, diverse cuisine and children’s activities make this a not to miss. September 11th-12th at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds.

Experience Greek traditions and cuisine at the 29th annual Greek Festival sponsored by Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church with portions of the proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity. September 17th19th at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds Exposition Center.

The North Carolina Theatre presents Little Shop of Horrors at Progress Energy Center September 18th-26th.

Celebrate food, music and culture from around the world at the 25th International Festival of Raleigh, October 1st-3rd at the Raleigh Convention Center.

With multiple venues to enjoy outdoor concerts, enjoy a crisp, cool night. Check out some of the hot bands venturing through town: September 13th: Kings of Leon, Walnut Creek September 17th: Black Crowes, Raleigh Amphitheatre September 22nd: Crosby Stills & Nash, Koka Booth Amphitheatre September 23rd: Lady Antebellum, Koka Booth Amphitheatre October 2nd: Sugarland, Walnut Creek

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Get out and get moving as the Second Empire Grand Prix Fall Series kicks off the fall running season: September 19th: Magnificent Mile, benefiting research for motor neuron disease September 26th: Anna’s Angels 10 Miler & 5K, benefiting Down syndrome research October 9th: Triangle Run/Walk for Autism, benefiting the Autism Society of NC October 23rd: 5K Run for Healthier Babies, benefiting The March of Dimes Hill Ridge Farms’ Fall Harvest and Pumpkin Festival starts September 18th and lasts through November 14th. A family favorite for hayrides, pumpkins, slides, train rides, and mazes. It’s worth the short trip to Youngsville.

It’ll be music to your ears to hear the NC Symphony.

Enjoy the performance with Cirque de la Symphonie October 1st-3rd. Later that month on October 30th, as part of the Young People’s Concert Series, it’s Halloween Magic! featuring a magician, live music and a Halloween parade. Costumes are welcome!

Come take in some of the best holiday shopping in town with the Junior League Shopping Spree! Presented by the Junior League of Raleigh, this indoor event in downtown Raleigh is stocked with plenty of holiday merchandise and a café cooking up recipes from the league’s new cookbook, You’re Invited Back.

October 21st-24th.

First Friday is one of Raleigh’s most popular evening escapes into the art, music and dining scene. Enjoy a free self-guided tour of local art galleries, art studios, museums, retail, restaurants and alternative art venues on the first Friday of every month. Brought to you

by Downtown Raleigh Alliance.

Are you a food and drink enthusiast? If so, the Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours is for you. It offers walking tours of some of the fine dining and eclectic eating destinations in Raleigh. Includes the Capital to Glenwood Walking Tour, the North Carolina Brew & Cue Tour, the Raleigh Chocolate Tour and the North Hills Lunch Tour Saturdays. www.tastecarolina.net.

The Raleigh Pub Crawl & Haunted Adventure Tour is also a walking tour covering approximately one mile.

Almost everyone enjoys a ghost story or an inexplicable tale of the unusual. And when that narrative has as its basis real people, actual places and recorded events, it becomes more enjoyable because it hints at credibility and believability. Running every Saturday through Halloween, the tour starts at 7:30pm. Join in for this fun two-and-a-half hour tour where you obtain special treatment at three to four of downtown Raleigh’s latest, hip and clever bars & pubs! Tour guest must be 21 or older.

The NC Zoo in Asheboro: HOWL-O-Ween features the howls and tales of red wolves on October 16th.

October 23rd-24th, Boo at the Zoo offers games, costume contests and Halloween fun.

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downtown

Interactive Laughter ComedyWorx makes audiences part of the show By dan bain

W

ould you ever consider going to a comedy show that depends on you for direction? Where the entertainers don’t have anything planned ahead of time? Where, as an astonished member of the audience once exclaimed, “They’re completely ad libbing”? If you want to see a great show, you would.

That’s what you can expect of improvisational – or improv – comedy, created on the spot and based on audience suggestions.

The results are often unique, unexpected and outrageously funny. Richard Gardner, owner of downtown improv club ComedyWorx, discovered the art form vacationing in Kansas City more than two decades ago. “I’d always wanted to get into the comedy business, but at the time all I knew was stand-up. That business had already peaked and was on the decline by the time I got to Kansas City and discovered improvisation,” he remembers. “I decided this was something Raleigh needed and something I’d like to do.”

Gardner assembled a troupe of local amateur comedians in 1989 and has been putting on live improv shows in various downtown locations ever since. The club has been operating at its current location, 431 W. Peace Street (at the intersection of Peace and West), for the last 10 years. Every weekend, two teams of comedians compete against each other for points earned from audience response, playing a series of three-minute “games” based on audience suggestions. Each game is a scene, song, monologue, guessing game or other vignette that the comedians make up from those suggestions. The live television show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” features many of the same short-form improv games.

Short-form shows take place at ComedyWorx at 8:30pm every Friday and every Saturday at 4:45pm and 8:30pm, and are aimed at Christa Gala all audiences. By A “referee” ensures that content is appropriate for everyone, enforcing rules in a light-hearted manner to keep all comments

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– whether from performers or audience members – clean. The same rules apply when the troupe takes its shows on the road, performing at remote events. “The shows appeal to a broad demographic and are good for business meetings – there’s no profanity, so you can feel comfortable watching with your boss, and it’s good for families,” Gardner extols. “We frequently have new customers who show up not knowing what to expect and are disappointed when they hear it’s a clean show, then are amazed by the end of the show that it was entertaining in spite of that.”

The rules are relaxed for late shows, however, as the troupe performs uncensored 30-minute scenes starting at 10:30pm every Friday and Saturday. This is Late Night at the Worx, performed in the long-form improv style of clubs in professional circuits such as Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City. Those are the places where comedians hoping to make it big must cut their teeth on improv, and anybody who’s anybody in the comedy business today got their start at one of the many improv clubs there. ComedyWorx, meanwhile, has been the launching point for numerous performers who are currently holding prominent positions at the professional clubs in those cities. Additionally, ComedyWorx alum have gone on to open other venues, such as The Idiot Box in Greensboro.

Back in Raleigh, the club opens its doors about 45 minutes prior to showtime, playing fun, energetic music and selling light snacks, soda, beer and wine. Admission is $10 for the 8:30 shows, $6 for the Saturday matinee and $5 for the late shows (but 8:30 audience members are invited to stay for free). Reservations are recommended at 829-0822.

The club also offers training and team-building via the Worx Training Center, helping individuals hone skills that could help them whether their performing venue is on a stage or in a boardroom. “We teach to performers and corporate types who want to learn how to behave better,” Gardner explains. “People gain important life skills from the workshops; they help improve listening, spontaneity, being in the moment, self-confidence, trusting co-workers and being able to accept ideas that are outside the box or that you didn’t generate.”

In the interest of full disclosure, I should tell you that I’m a ComedyWorx alum. Having performed with them for 11 years before taking a leave of absence in 2008 to write more, I still admire and respect the performers there, but I don’t stand to gain anything by promoting their shows. I do, however, believe that those shows are one of the best entertainment values in Raleigh – affordable, fresh and safe for anything from dates to celebrations to family outings. They are performed by a group of people who respect one another and the audience alike, and strive to put on a new, quality show every time they take the stage. “I like seeing people laugh, and we’ve created a family there,” says Gardner. “A lot of people get a lot out of participating in our programs.” midtownmag.com| 101

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downtown

iPhone versus Droid: Who will win the smartphone war?

By dan bain

R

eady to make the leap into smartphone ownership? If you’re considering buying one for personal use, you’re not alone – according to Technology Writer Paul Gilster, sales of smartphones have grown to the point where they’ve surpassed sales of cellular phones. So you can take comfort in knowing that you’re following the path of a proven trend; the challenge is in knowing which direction to take when the path forks.

Ever the pioneer, Apple blazed a trail early on. The company has a well-crafted brand reputation for hip, cool gadgets, making it a huge favorite. “What the iPhone made much more visible in the market was a telephone that really was a small, portable computer that had excellent software and a wonderful interface, and that let you do stuff that you really couldn’t do on other phones when it appeared,” Gilster explains. “The interface really was a beautiful thing when it came out and people realized how much it does and how much power it brought

to you as far as surfing the web, etc. That has gradually changed as new smartphones have become available.”

Rather than look at the gadgets themselves, Gilster suggests consumers lump the phones into categories by operating systems. The iPhone runs on Apple’s proprietary operating system, iOS. Motorola’s Droid – along with other manufacturers’ models – runs on Google’s open source operating system, Android. This means anybody can use the operating system in their phones, and they are. More and more smartphones are running on Android, creating more choices for the consumer. “Consumers should ask themselves, ‘Do I favor the idea of an open operating system or am I content to go with what Apple controls?’,” Gilster says. “If you’re comfortable with Apple, that’s fine, but I think we’re going to see more from Android because By interested Christa more people are in Gala open phones. It’s becoming a very potent platform.”

While the open source operating system

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has allowed more developers to create applications for Android phones, Gilster says Apple is still winning in terms of the sheer number of apps available. He stresses, though, that it’s important to consider which apps you plan to download and use – it’s not the number of apps that counts, but the number of good apps. “They’re really starting to overlap in terms of what they can do,” he explains. “It’s getting to where you can’t point to one phone and say this one wins clearly in terms of features.”

That leaves convenience as a selling point – and that’s where Apple could lose its top spot. So far the iPhone offers only AT&T contracts, while Androids can run on any network, Gilster says. That’s fine if someone is happy with AT&T, but he’s also heard stirrings that AT&T is considering capping data. This may or may not be a problem for iPhone users, depending on how much they want to use their devices to download data. For some reason, he says, Droids are already used to download more data, anyway.

Another inconvenience associated with the iPhone is its recent antenna issues; there have been countless complaints of signal degradation and dropped calls when the device is held a certain way. Gilster says Apple first responded that it was due to a software glitch, then offered free cases to iPhone 4 users in order to prevent their hands from making contact with a questionable part of the device. “That’s not convincing everybody,” Gilster maintains. “I don’t think this has been resolved yet. Consumer Reports is saying be cautious before you buy one of these and I agree with that. I wouldn’t recommend the iPhone for sure until we know what the outcome with the antenna’s going to be.”

Gilster says the iPhone started off with the edge in this battle, thanks to its software and reputation as the device to get, but recent convenience issues are causing people to look harder at the Droid X and other Android-based devices. Users aren’t locked into a single phone, manufacturer or network with an Android phone, but there’s also mild concern that multiple carriers could cause fragmentation – something that has yet to slow sales. Another small strike against Android is the lower screen resolution on the Droid, but Gilster says it’s close enough that it hasn’t harmed sales, either. While it all comes down to personal preference, he expects to see the Android market growing in the next few years. “I don’t know if they’re winning yet – it’s still very competitive, but we’re seeing enough growth on the Android side to make Google’s bid very viable,” he says. “It’s an ongoing battle and we can’t pick a winner yet, but we have a lot of competitive choices out there for consumers and that’s always a good place to be.”

In other words, the true winner of this war will be the customers. midtownmag.com| 103

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© suzie t at flickr.com

downtown

MEMORIAL GETS ITS VOICE Grassroots movement delivers bells to NC State bell tower

By Kristy Stevenson

S

ince its dedication in 1949, NC State University’s Memorial Bell Tower has stood as a symbol of the university as well as a memorial to alumni who gave their lives in WWI. But not many know that construction based on the original bell tower blueprint was never completed – and this vertical icon actually has no bells in it at all. The design architect likened the tower to a sentinel lighthouse that would help NC State’s lost soldiers who died in the war find their way home. Because of the Depression, however, funding dwindled and the full design potential was never realized. Items that never made it to the current tower include: bells, a bell playing console, glass clock faces and a staircase to the belfry. Falling back on a ‘plan B,’ students and the Alumni Memorial Committee raised enough money to install a temporary speaker system to ring in the tower until real bells could be financed.

Fast forward to 2008 when Matthew Robbins, a graduate student in architecture,

shares his zeal for completing the structure by founding the FINISH THE [BELL] TOWER movement on campus. The campaign’s website (bells.ncsu.edu) features an extensive history of the memorial as well as a fly-through side-byside rendering of the tower as it was designed in 1920 compared to the one that exists today.

To students, the Bell Tower is a landmark – to alumni it’s a memorial and sacred ground – but to Robbins, it’s a passion. “The memorial is incomplete as it stands,” he says. “People are moved by the story; it never stops being fruitful.”

Already entrenched in the tower’s history as part of his thesis project, Robbins launched the initiative and the Traditions Commission (part of the executive branch of NCSU’s Student Government) adopted it shortly thereafter.

The Commission was put into place to study the university’s traditions and history, and

By Christa Gala to actively promote and preserve the things that define the NC State experience. Chandler Thompson – current head of the Commission

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Upper portion of the dedication tablet placed inside the Memorial Bell Tower in 1948. The prose behind the wreath is the second half of the first stanza of the poem “Bivouac of the Dead.”

© Ed Funkhouser

and campus liaison between organizers and the student body – spent an entire semester exploring the Bell Tower ethos. “Traditions at NC State are important to me,” says Thompson, “and the tower is our most recognizable tradition.”

Today, the Memorial Bell Tower is recognized as a gateway tying Raleigh’s political and business hub to the university realm of research, innovation and vision for tomorrow. In a greater way, it represents both the city’s and university’s shared commitment to our veterans and proud history. “It’s rich, mysterious story captivates anyone who works with the project, and bringing its past to light is incredibly rewarding,” says Jay Dawkins, President of the NCSU Class of 2010.

Dawkins’ class, in conjunction with campus-wide fundraising and alumni support, raised over $50,000 toward the purchase of the second largest bell in a full 54-carillon set (as called for in the original design). “Leaving it unfinished would send the wrong message,” he says. Individuals who donated at least $210 will even see their name cast in bronze on the 2010 bell. As a student-led enterprise, no university funding is designated for this venture. Since graduating, Robbins and Dawkins continue to spearhead the project; the Commission’s objective is now to unite the student body as well as alumni in support of the tower campaign as the effort moves forward. “Jay and I are in this for the long haul,” assures Robbins. “It didn’t happen right the first time, and we’re not about to let history repeat itself.”

Now, for the first time in 70 years, efforts are back on track to give the memorial its voice. Though many attempts were made to purchase bells through the years, all fell short. “This project is unique in that the fundraising efforts are led by students and supported by NC State’s Annual Giving staff. They are fully funded separately by university donors, so 100 percent of every dollar that is raised goes straight into the fund to purchase bells,” says Dawkins. With all monies going toward the tower and carillon construction, organizers have worked hard to be as transparent as possible.

Seed money provided by the Freemasons launched a FINISH THE [BELL] TOWER t-shirt fundraiser that ignited interest across campus. “The university’s office of Annual Giving and Alumni Association have been tremendously

Campaign logo superimposed over the top of 1920 tower blueprint.

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supportive,” says Dawkins, “working odd hours to help out at student events and going above and beyond to make sure every donor has a wonderful giving experience.”

McDonald York, the construction company that built part of the tower decades ago, gave a challenge-match gift of $5000. And the NCSU Athletic Department helped by committing $17,000 in ticket sales from the homecoming football game and UNC-Chapel Hill showdown.

To save on costs, the Traditions Commission is now synchronizing their efforts with a university renovation of the Tower. When the false ceiling inside the tower is removed, it will make way for bells to be installed. The original builders actually left 50 six-inch square holes in the interior platforms with the intent that bells would one day pass through them. As the economy temporarily stalled the renovation, the campaign was granted that much more time to fundraise. And now that the price of bronze has dropped, money raised can go further than expected. After addressing design challenges with university engineers and bell companies, the 2010 bell will be cast and brought to campus as fundraising efforts continue.

The timeframe for the remainder of the project depends upon the pace of donations. Enthusiasm from the class of 2011 and other organizations is already brewing, and organizers would like to see the momentum continue. An itemized pricelist is available, giving individuals and corporate sponsors the opportunity to

The innovative 1920 Bell Tower design; original blueprint is kept in the Masonic cornerstone of the tower.

1923 Tower completed 1923 to Tower 95% ofcompleted original design, to 95% 44ofbells original remain design, 44 bells remain

1922 Meneely bell frame 1922and Meneely first 10 bell of frame 54 bronze and bells first 10 of 54 bronze bells

1922 Seth Thomas Tower 1922 Clockdrive, Seth Thomas mercury Tower pendulum Clockdrive, mercury pendulum

© MATTHEW ROBBINS

1922 Meneely Clavier1922 Chimestand Meneely Clavier Chimestand

1921 Demarcation 1921 Demarcation

INT. EAST ELEVATIONG INT. ALTERNATE EAST ELEVATIONG PRESENTALTERNATE DAY [PLANNED PRESENT BUT NOT DAY [PLANNED CONSTRUCTED BUT NOT DUR CONSTRUCTED TO GREAT DEPRESSION] DUR TO GREAT DEPRESSION]

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contribute towards specific bells which start at a few hundred dollars.

It would be ideal to mount a set of six bells all at once as they would complete a five-note chime plus one low note to mark the hour. The rest of the carillon could then be added a little at a time as finances allow. Until the 2010 bell can be installed in the tower, the plan is to mount it on wheels so it can be rolled out for events such as homecoming and big games while housing it in a prominent location on campus. “If we can work out the logistics of putting it in DH Hill Library, we’ll display it where students, alumni, and the public can come see it and touch it,” says Dawkins.

Organizers point out that the tower’s completion, now within sight, would honor the service of those who laid down their lives in the fight for liberty. Most who have already contributed have done so because they feel passionate about this cause and want to see their monies in action. “People want to bring their kids here 10 or 15 years from now and say, ‘Mommy and Daddy helped make this happen,’” says Robbins. To get involved, visit the website or contact organizers (matthew.c.robbins@ gmail.com, jay.dawkins@gmail.com) directly.

“One day soon the tower will sing with its true voice, and its sound will permeate the neighborhoods, businesses, classes and open spaces that define our city and university,” says Dawkins. “We can all do our part to make that a reality.”

The Bell Tower as it currently exists on campus; a semantron simulates bell sounds.

1948 Tower “Completed” 1948to Tower 58% “Completed” of original design. to 58% Work of original Ends design. Work Ends

1948 Schumerich Electronic 1948 Schumerich Carillon – Electronic 23 semantra Carillon rods – 23 semantra rods 1986 Maas Rowe Carillon 1986 –Maas 246 semantra Rowe Carillon rods – 246 semantra rods

1926 Demarcation [10 1926 years Demarcation of no work][10 years of no work]

© MATTHEW ROBBINS

1938 IBM Clockdrive1938 IBM Clockdrive

1924 Demarcation 1924 Demarcation

1921 Demarcation 1921 Demarcation 1949 Shrine Room altered 1949 Shrine and covered Room altered and covered

EAST ELEVATION – PRESENT EAST ELEVATION DAY [COMPLETED – PRESENT AFTER DAY [COMPLETED GREAT DEPRESSION AFTER BY GREAT WPA]DEPRESSION BY WPA]

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downtown

calendars

MARK YOUr

2010 Raleigh Christmas Parade

The 66th annual Raleigh Christmas Parade will kickoff the holiday season November 20th. The parade is the largest parade between Atlanta and Washington, DC. Over 60,000 turn out to watch the parade as it weaves its way through downtown. The parade will start at 9:30, but plan on getting there early for a front row seat – it usually lasts about two and a half hours.

The 1.4 mile parade route begins on Hillsborough Street at St. Mary’s Street and proceeds to the State Capitol. It then turns right onto Salisbury Street, left onto Morgan Street, right onto Fayetteville Street and continues to Lenior Street, where it disbands.

If you dreamed of having your own float in the Raleigh Christmas parade, there’s still time; applications are due by September 17th. For more information visit www.grma.org/christmas-parade or contact Jennifer Bradshaw at 755-9235.

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it’s... pandemonium The creators of STOMP have taken their concept to a new level with PANDEMONIUM: THE LOST AND FOUND ORCHESTRA. The show is coming to Raleigh as part of a tour that begins September 16th and includes only a handful of cities, including Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles and Boston.

Where STOMP created rhythm with everyday objects, PANDEMONIUM transforms everyday objects into a plethora of invented instruments. Performed by the LFO (Lost and Found Orchestra), PANDEMONIUM recreates every section of a symphony orchestra, using musical saws, bottles, whirly toys and traffic cones. Out of chaos is found an orchestra.

In each city a 30-member local choir will contribute vocals. The Concert Singers of Cary have been selected to join the show for the eight performances in Raleigh. Luke Cresswell, one of the creators, serves as onstage conductor of the 50+ member company and will perform in PANDEMONIUM.

Tickets to the Raleigh performances September 28th through October 3rd are $20-$61; all tickets on Tuesday night, September 28th are $31.

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When Will Power Alone Won’t Work For some people, diet and exercise aren’t enough.

Duke Raleigh’s Weight Loss Surgery Program offers those patients the possibility of drastic weight loss...if they’re willing to make big life changes.

By page leggett

When weight loss is not just a preference (“It would be nice to go from a size eight to a size six before my high school reunion”) but an imperative, Dr. Jin Yoo is the man to see.

Dr. Yoo is the medical director of the weight loss surgery program at Duke Raleigh Hospital. He’s not anyone’s first stop on a path to weight loss, but he is often patients’ last, best hope.

The service (and it is, as you’ll see, much more than just a surgical procedure) he and his colleagues offer is no “silver bullet,” he says. But, it can be life-altering. And, life-saving.

“There’s nothing magical about what we do here,” Dr. Yoo says. “Surgery is just a tool to help patients get from Point A to Point B in a safe manner.”

The Road to Wellness Before a patient can be considered for weight loss surgery, he or she must meet the National Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines to qualify. That is, he or she must have a body mass index (BMI) of equal to or greater than 35 and must have at least two obesity-related illnesses or a BMI of 40 or greater, regardless of obesity-related

illnesses. Those might include high blood pressure, type II diabetes, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis or chronic liver disease.

In addition, the patient must have tried – and failed at – medical approaches for weight loss, including programs such as Weight Watchers and pharmacological aids.

When other avenues have been exhausted – and when someone’s health is at stake – that’s when Dr. Yoo comes in.

The first step in most bariatric programs, including Duke Raleigh’s, is an educational seminar. This is not a private meeting with a physician, but a lecture for an audience of potential patients on the medical complications of obesity, the surgical options available and the obligation the patient has to his or her success.

After the seminar, prospective patients fill out an application.

After that’s been reviewed, a meeting is scheduled with Dr. Yoo.

But, there’s more to this than the surgeon. There’s a multidisciplinary medical team working together to help ensure success.

Dr. Yoo works with a team of psychologists and dieticians specializing in weight loss surgery who evaluate each patient comprehensively to provide individualized care for each patient.Undergoing

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weight loss surgery is a major commitment with life-changing benefits. Prior to surgery, it is imperative that the procedures are being performed safely and in patients who are well-prepared for the lifestyle changes that are needed after surgery.

Preparation is Everything Before surgery, Dr. Yoo and his team help determine if a patient is medically, psychologically and physically ready. For example, if a patient has uncontrolled hypertension, he or she must be put on appropriate medication before surgery.

A staff dietician will help patients alter their diets before surgery. “We want patients to understand that proper exercise and a healthy diet are the cornerstones of long-term success. If a patient has bad eating habits, those have to be addressed before surgery,” Dr. Yoo said. And, the staff will work with patients to begin a preop exercise regimen, too. “After surgery, patients need to focus on their recovery,” he said. “That’s not the time to begin a new diet or exercise plan.”

Psychologists on staff help ensure that patients are emotionally prepared for the life changes.

“Depression is a fairly common diagnosis for patients suffering from obesity,” Dr. Yoo explained. “If depression – or any psychological illness – is present, it must be treated before surgery. There is a big life adjustment as a result of the dramatic change that results from this surgery. If a person isn’t psychologically ready, they will not be successful in the long-term. Our psychologists help make sure patients are ready to maximize their chance of success.”

If a pre-existing psychological or physical condition isn’t addressed and treated before surgery, it’s all too easy for a patient to slip back into those familiar habits. “If you snack or graze all day, if you’re a big sweet eater, if you drink a lot of sodas – these are all patterns that indicate that you may not do well after the operation,” Dr. Yoo said.

“There is no crystal ball to tell us which patients will and will not do well, but how patients do during their first year is predictive of how they will do for the rest of their lives,” he said. “So, we work very hard to prepare patients for success right from the start,” Dr. Yoo said.

By the time Dr. Yoo sees patients, most of them have been considering and researching weight loss surgery for about two years. “Patients are generally already well-educated when they come to me,” he said.

Patients are not just educated on what’s required before they can qualify for this surgery. They generally know which of the surgical options they want. Dr. Yoo is inclined to let the patient decide which route to go. He’ll offer an opinion, but believes that this decision is generally best left to the patient.

Multiple choice Perhaps the most familiar of the surgical options is the Roux-enY gastric bypass. Dr. Yoo calls it the “gold standard of bariatric surgery” but notes, “That’s not because it’s the best option for everyone. It’s because it’s the operation that’s been performed the longest, and it’s one of the most well-studied of the procedures.” midtownmag.com| xx

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Dr. Jin Yoo, medical director of the weight loss surgery program at Duke Raleigh Hospital

With gastric bypass, surgeons create a new stomach pouch about the size of a golf ball to restrict food intake, and also bypass 25 to 33 percent of the small bowel to decrease the ability to absorb calories and nutrients from food. Weight loss happens very rapidly in the first year after surgery. “Patients lose 90 percent of all the weight they will lose from the surgery during that first year,” Dr. Yoo said.

“The mechanism by which weight loss occurs during the first year after surgery is not entirely understood. Restriction on food intake and less calorie absorption play a role; but, there is also a metabolic/hormonal effect that takes place.”

“But after a year, your body reaches a new set point, and the rapid weight loss stops” he cautions. “From then on, it’s up to the patient.” Patients can maintain their weight loss and continue to lose the additional 10 percent weight loss attributable to surgery with proper exercise and food choices. With bariatric surgery, the patient definitely plays an important role in the success – or failure.

With another procedure – adjustable gastric banding – the weight comes off slower. Patients will reach their peak weight loss at the two- to three-year mark. In this procedure, doctors place a silastic band around the junction between the stomach and esophagus to create a “virtual pouch.” The band’s tightness needs to be adjusted over time via a saline injection. During the first year, it may require six adjustments. The second post-op year, it may need two or three tune-ups. Three years out, and beyond, it may be just once or twice a year. Closer follow-up is required with gastric banding than with bypass surgery to achieve a similar degree of weight loss.

What’s the L atest?

Sleeve gastrectomy is what Dr. Yoo calls the “new kid on the block.” With this operation, three-fourths of the stomach is removed, and doctors create a tubularized stomach unlikely to stretch.

Removing this much of the stomach also eliminates a hormone produced there, called ghrelin, that triggers appetite. (“If your ghrelin levels are high, then you’re hungry all the time,” Dr. Yoo says.)

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The final option is what Dr. Yoo calls the “Mac daddy” of the surgical options. Duodenal switch offers the highest chance of significant weight loss, but it comes at a price of having a slightly higher risk of complications than the others.

In this procedure, surgeons create a tubular stomach, similar to what they do in a sleeve gastrectomy. But, they also bypass 75 percent of the small bowel to add a more malabsorptive component than the gastric bypass. This procedure is usually recommended for patients with a BMI of greater than or equal to 60. Locally, this procedure is only currently offered at Durham Regional Hospital, where Dr. Yoo also sees patients.

Complications may include increased risk of malnutrition, iron deficiencies and increased frequency of bowel movements.

The duodenal switch and the sleeve gastrectomy cannot be reversed, since both involve removing part of the stomach.

The gastric bypass and gastric banding surgeries are reversible.

Dr. Yoo said less than one percent of patients have their procedure reversed for reasons that include malnutrition caused by drastic weight loss or patient dissatisfaction.

All four procedures are performed laproscopically to minimize the patient’s stay in the hospital. Dr. Yoo also offers a “scarless” approach which is called single-site laparoscopic surgery.

Risks associated with all four surgical procedures include those inherent with general anesthesia and undergoing abdominal surgery such as stroke, heart attack, pneumonia and blood clots. The risk for any one of these complications are very low at less than one to two percent. Your surgeon will also discuss any procedure-specific risks prior to your surgery.

Perhaps the most important factor in success or failure, though, is the patient’s willingness and ability to make big changes in his or her life.

Dr. Yoo likens the entire process (for it is a process and not just a surgical procedure) to a marriage. The decision to undergo weight loss surgery is a major life commitment. Just like marriage, the individual must work on his or her “relationship” every day, including maintaining proper exercise and diet habits.

“This is a marriage to a new you,” said Dr. Yoo. “It’s the long-term, daily commitment that will separate a successful patient from those that are not.”

And, just as in a marriage, the results are worth the effort.

Want to learn more?

Many insurance companies want to see documented attempts at weight loss for six months before approving bariatric surgery. Dr. Yoo advises patients to consult with their insurance companies before scheduling an appointment.

To learn more, call 919.862.2715 or email WeightLossSurgeryatRaleigh@notes.duke.edu.

To register for a seminar, call toll-free, 866.637.0711.

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Beating the Heat with Phytoestrogens by carter & laura dalton, GNC at North Hills

Hopefully by the time you’re reading this, the blazing heat of this summer will have passed.

Can you imagine having to live with it year-round, sometimes not knowing from moment to moment when another heat wave will crop up? Well, there are thousands of women who do. They are women in the throes of Menopause.

This “natural progression of life” can bring with it not only the dreaded “hot flashes,” but also mood swings, weight gain, fatigue, headaches, bloating, heart palpitations, insomnia, decreased sex drive, loss of concentration, urinary incontinence, vaginal dryness, joint pain, hair loss and skin changes. For so many women it can be a time of terrible frustration, anxiety and depression.

The above symptoms begin as perimenopause, and can last for YEARS (just what you wanted to hear, I know). Once menopause is over, the diminished supply of estrogen increases the likelihood of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. You see, while estrogen is important for reproduction, it also acts on many systems in the

body: the bladder, breasts, skin, bones, arteries, heart, liver and brain. So “the Change”, as it is sweetly dubbed, really does affect ALL of you.

Finding Relief Women turn to various methods – HRT, bioidenticals, natural supplementation – to help alleviate the unpleasant side effects. We are going to focus on a particular group of nutritional supplements that have been studied for their effects on menopausal symptoms. They are known as “phytoestrogens”.*

Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring substances in plants that can influence the function of estrogen in the body. Although they can alleviate some menopausal symptoms by affecting estrogen activity, phytoestrogens are not “real” estrogens – they are not the same estrogens produced by our bodies. In bodies with low estrogen, as in menopause, empty estrogen receptors can accept phytoestrogens, which have a weak pro-estrogen effect, and relieve menopause symptoms. Unlike synthetic estrogens, which get stored in fat and

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stay in our bodies for a long time, phytoestrogens only work on the precursors to estrogen. Popular phytoestrogens used for menopausal relief are: Soy – Soybeans contain isoflavones, a form of estrogen which may help relieve hot flashes and protect against osteoporosis. (25mg-50mg soy isoflavones daily.) Note: To get the most from soy, you need to be able to digest it, which is why it’s always good to include a probiotic. Probiotics, such as acidophilus, are responsible for helping to convert isoflavones into their most usable and effective forms.

Black Cohosh – Black cohosh also contains isoflavones, helping to regulate temperature, strengthen bones, and provide vaginal lubrication. Many women swear by black cohosh’s ability to relieve the discomfort caused by hot flashes and night sweats. (20mg-60mg, 3X daily) Red Clover – According to research, red clover isoflavone supplements have been shown to have a significant positive effect on the rate of bone loss, improve cardiovascular health, and may offer some protective effect against breast and endometrial cancer. There is also evidence which suggests that red clover isoflavones decrease the incidence of hot flashes and help alleviate water retention.

Evening primrose oil – The oil of evening primrose is very rich in essential fatty acids, which are necessary for the body to complete numerous functions including insulin absorption, regulating the heart, and regulating mood as well as reducing hot flashes, breast tenderness and inflammation. Often taken with vitamin E to prevent oxidation. (500mg-3000mg daily).

Other vitamins and herbs recommended as potentially beneficial in reducing menopausal symptoms include Dong Quai (500mg-1000mg, 2X daily), Ginseng (100mg-500mg, 3X daily), Vitex Agnus Castus (chasteberry), vitamin C (1000mg2000mg), vitamin E (400iu), B-complex vitamins, progesterone cream and DHEA. Nutrition You may already be getting some phytoestrogens from your diet. Aim for these foods (choose a variety!) which are high in phytoestrogens: flaxseed oil, olive oil, whole grains, edible seeds (flax, sesame, sunflower, quinoa), legumes, leafy greens, seaweed, fruits (cherries, grapes, apples, pears, peaches, plums, berries, apricots, rosehips), garlic and onions.

As you might imagine, EXERCISE is also vital to controlling the effects of menopause. It can lift mood and maintain bone density, both of which can really be compromised at this time.

Every body is different; you may need to try a few different things, each for a month or two, to see what may work; there are some supplements which combine several phytoestrogens.

Commit yourself to taking them daily so you’ll have a true picture of what is working for you, and get ready to need that extra blanket in the coming months! *If you have a history of estrogen-positive breast cancer, talk with your doctor before beginning any hormone supplementation program. midtownmag.com | 115

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Fall Hair: Colors to Crave

by Kelly Ferrara, David Wade Salon

In a few weeks, the heat and humidity will be a distant memory, leaving us with only good hair days. It’s the perfect time to be inspired by the vibrant colors of the season and have some fun with hair color.

Taking advantage of color can elevate your entire look, adding noticeable depth and shine.

This fall is all about rich colors, complimenting the even richer palettes we’ve seen in clothing.

While the platinum blond of summer is carrying over to the cooler weather, multi-dimensional, golden blond (think Jennifer Anniston) is always in season. For brunettes, shades are deeper, with rich chocolates (think Megan Fox) the rage. Expect to see hints of plum or a few caramel strands around

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the face. Redheads are embracing the copper and oranges of fall (think actual leaf patterns) to stand out and add brilliance.

Whether you’re contemplating color for the first time or your hair has been every shade under the summertime sun, it’s always beneficial to sit down with your colorist and discuss what you want to achieve. During your consultation, try not to get hung up on the types of color that you often read about, such as demi, semi and permanent. Instead talk about what look you ultimately want, for your hair type, condition, current color and the amount of time you’re willing to invest in upkeep will all play a role in determining what’s right for you.

Your skin tone should also be considered when choosing a color, as it’s critical that what you like works with your coloring. An experienced colorist will be able to guide you, making sure that the color you crave is a possibility. And don’t forget to bring pictures of hair color you both like and dislike.

While we all think we speak the same descriptive language, a picture is really worth a thousand words and can help ensure you get what you want.

So what should you want? If you’re new to color and want to freshen your look, a gloss or glaze may be a good first step. It can add endless shine and with the addition of a splash of color, a bit of shimmer. A glaze is also a great option for perking up naturally fading hair color that may have been washed out by the summer heat or for covering a little gray.

When it comes to those pesky grays, how much time and effort you want to invest is extremely important. Some women don’t mind a few strands peeping through. Some women want not even a speck. Your colorist should work with you to determine if a glaze, all-over color, or a combination of highlights and lowlights may be the best course of action.

The place for those highlights and lowlights has shifted, as the trend is putting them underneath the surface to see pops of color, not at the part where the roots grow in. This allows you to go longer between appointments, maximizing your time and money and giving you a less streaky, more blended look.

And while traditional foils are still used for application, hand painting between foils and around the face to diffuse even more color is absolutely in.

Regardless of shade, investing in products that can prolong your color is imperative. Sulfate-free products specifically designed for color-treated hair are the way to go, ensuring that your color holds until your next appointment. And the added benefit of good products? Ending any excuse for a bad hair day.

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Orthodontics Today

by DR. Andrew wells, hart & wells orthodontics

A healthy, radiant smile is an invaluable asset in life. It can brighten a room and signal warmth and affection to those we interact with every day. At the same time, the health of our teeth and gums can also impact our long-term systemic cardiovascular health and ability to chew and enjoy food. Orthodontics can play a major role in achieving a healthy smile to last a lifetime. Here are some tips to help you navigate through decisions surrounding your family’s orthodontic care.

An orthodontist is a dentist who has had an additional two to three years of special training to evaluate and treat not only the alignment, esthetics and function of the teeth but also of the jaws, face and profile. When choosing an orthodontist, consider visiting one who has met the rigorous testing requirements and been certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. An orthodontist can make improvements in the front-to-back, transverse, and vertical positions of the upper and lower jaws, chin, lips and teeth. These improvements should be planned in a way to optimize both facial esthetics and fit of the bite. When a proper occlusion is achieved, then the long-term health of the enamel, bone and gum support and jaw joints is maximized. When an orthodontist takes into account 118 | midtownmag.com

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all aspects of the teeth and jaws through careful treatment planning at the appropriate time, then life-changing improvements to the face, smile and bite can be realized.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends age seven for a first visit to the orthodontist. There are a number of patterns of growth and development of the teeth and jaws that can and should be improved during a first phase of treatment, usually between the ages of 7 and 10. These patterns include severe crowding or spacing, problems with the eruption of permanent teeth, crossbites, underbites, protrusion of teeth, deep bites, and thumb sucking habits to name a few.

However, recent long-term studies conducted at UNC have shown that some phase I treatments are less necessary than previously believed. It is important to visit your orthodontist early enough to let you know which malocclusions need to be treated early and which simply need to be monitored until the proper time in growth and development of the teeth.

When the proper time for orthodontics arrives, there are a number of different types of treatment options that exist. Fixed braces, with either metal or esthetic brackets, remain the standard of care and are the most versatile option to achieve the highest level improvements in alignment and fit of the bite. When esthetics during treatment are a significant concern, removable clear tray aligner options (e.g. InvisalignÂŽ) exist for certain alignment issues, but many orthodontists agree that they cannot improve all malocclusions to the same level as fixed braces. New advances have also been made in the technology of braces placed on the back side of teeth, lingual braces, that make this an esthetic option in certain situations. Your orthodontist can help you determine which treatment option is right for you.

You may hear about certain adjunctive orthodontic treatment modalities during a visit to the orthodontist. While removable functional appliances and headgear still have a place in certain treatment plans, there is a growing tendency to use appliances that are entirely attached within the mouth to improve the fit of the bite in a way that is less obtrusive and less dependent on patient compliance (e.g. Herbst, Forsus™, etc.). Also, the growing use of mini implants or temporary anchorage devices (TADs) have allowed orthodontists to improve more severe malocclusions that previously would have required jaw surgery (open bites, asymmetries, space closure of missing teeth, etc.). Even diode lasers have found a place in orthodontic treatment to help manage soft tissues during and after braces.

Orthodontics can truly be life changing. The impact upon the esthetics and long-term health of the teeth, face and smile can be amazing. The impact upon the self-esteem and self-concept of someone who has realized these amazing improvements is invariably priceless. We invite you to visit us, or any of the area’s fine orthodontists, to learn how we can help you realize your dreams for a healthy, radiant smile to last a lifetime! midtownmag.com| midtownmag.com|119 xx

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Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

by Dr. Boris Cvetkovski, MD, GastroIntestinal Healthcare

Do you avoid eating your favorite foods because of how you feel afterwards? Do you notice that you cough or clear your throat after meals? Do you ever wake up at night coughing or with a sour taste? If so, you may be one of millions of people who suffer from Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).

GERD is a common disorder where stomach acid or contents come back up into the esophagus, the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. The esophagus is not capable of tolerating acidic contents. As a result, the lining of esophagus can be damaged. This damage can range from minor irritation to ulcers to scar tissue that can narrow the opening of the esophagus and affect the ability to swallow food.

The most common symptom of GERD is heartburn. Heartburn is an uncomfortable, burning sensation in the middle of the chest. Other symptoms of GERD include chest pain, difficulty swallowing food, cough, hoarse voice and shortness of breath.

Diet is a major contributing factor to GERD. Unfortunately, many of the foods that we all enjoy may lead to reflux symptoms. These include tomato-based or citrus products, fried foods, chocolate, coffee or alcohol. Obesity and smoking are also common contributing factors to

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GERD. In many cases, smoking cessation or weight loss in an overweight person with GERD will result in symptom relief. A hiatus hernia may also contribute to GERD. This is a common defect in the muscle that normally acts as a valve to prevent stomach contents from refluxing back into the esophagus.

A potential consequence of long-standing GERD is Barrett’s esophagus. Barrett’s esophagus is a disorder where the lining of the esophagus has been altered, presumably from acid exposure. This change increases the risk of cancer of the esophagus. People who have documented Barrett’s esophagus usually have periodic evaluations to check for potentially worrisome changes.

Numerous over-the-counter and prescription medications are available to treat GERD. I initially recommend conservative measures, including dietary modification, smoking cessation and weight reduction if overweight. Millions of people have benefited from medications available for treating GERD. There is also an option of antireflux surgery. This is a procedure where a weakening between the esophagus and stomach can be surgically tightened to reduce reflux.

If you have frequent or recurrent GERD symptoms, I recommend that you discuss them with your health care provider. Assessment and treatment of GERD has made significant advances recently. Treatment of GERD is available and can result in significant improvement in quality of life.

Dr. Cvetkosvki is co-owner of GastroIntestinal Healthcare. He attended Cornell University and New York University School of Medicine, and completed residency training in Internal Medical at NYU Medical Center and fellowships at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center/ Cornell University Medical Center. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and has been practicing medicine since 1998. He is a Diplomate of both the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a member of the American Gastroenterological Association, American Society for Gastroenterological Endoscopy, and the American College of Gastroenterology.

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sangria & shopping!

Luxe, in North Hills, held a special Sangria & Shopping event on July 22nd from 4-6pm.

Guests enjoyed sangria as they shopped and saved 25% off storewide!

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“After Party” at midtown place

Midtown Place held its quarterly “After Party” for future brides on Wednesday, August 18th. Thirty-three brides and their guests mingled with the top wedding/event professionals in the industry. Midtown Place is a collaboration of 11 unique event-based businesses working in one building. Guests who attended the party gathered valuable advice and information about their future weddings. The “After Party” is an invitation only function for a select number of brides. To find out about the next “After Party” or if you wish to chat with businesses in the house, please visit www.midtownplace.net.

Want your event featured in our mingles? Call

April Maness (919) 621-8529

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Second Empire Grand Prix 2010 Series The Winners Luncheon for the Grand Prix 2010 series was held on July 17th at Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern in Raleigh. A wonderful lunch was served and enjoyed by guests.

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3RD ANNUAL • 2011 WE WANT YOUR OPINION! IN THE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011 MIDTOWN MAGAZINE, WE WILL HONOR OUR READERS’ FAVORITE MIDTOWN PLACES AND THINGS WITH THE “DIAMOND AWARDS”.

YOU CAN EMAIL US, SNAIL MAIL US, VISIT OUR WEBSITE OR FAX US YOUR FAVORITES!

FOOD: BEST PLACE FOR A ROMANTIC DINNER __________________________

BEST PLACE TO WATCH THE BIG GAME _________________________

BEST ALTERATIONS _________________________

BEST PLACE TO WIND DOWN AFTER WORK _________________________

BEST PLACE TO DE-AGE _________________________

BEST PLACE TO SWEAT _________________________

BEST PLACE TO BUY FLOWERS _________________________

BEST PLACE TO GRAB A BEER _________________________

BEST WAY TO ENTERTAIN THE KIDS ON A RAINY DAY _________________________

BEST OVERALL PAMPERING _________________________

BEST PLACE TO GET YOUR CAFFEINE FIX _________________________

BEST LATE-NIGHT SPOT _________________________

BEST STEAK _________________________

BEST PLACE TO IMPRESS A DATE _________________________

BEST PLACE TO SATISFY A SWEET TOOTH _________________________

BEST PLACE TO SEE A SHOW OR FLICK _________________________

BEST TAKE OUT _________________________

BEST PLACE TO GO OUTSIDE OF MIDTOWN OR ON A WEEKEND GET-AWAY _________________________

BEST SPOT FOR A POWER LUNCH _________________________ BEST POSH PATIO DINING _________________________

BEST WAIT STAFF _________________________

SHOPPING/BEAUTY (MENS & WOMENS): FRIENDLIEST CUSTOMER SERVICE _________________________

WINNING WINE LIST _________________________ MOST UNIQUE COCKTAIL _________________________ MOST KID-FRIENDLY DINING _________________________

FAVORITE PLACE FOR A BLOW OUT _________________________ MOST UNIQUE SPA TREATMENT _________________________ BEST RELAXATION/WAITING ROOM _________________________ BEST PLACE TO GET A NEW COIFFE _________________________ BEST PLACE TO BUY ESTATE JEWELRY _________________________ BEST PLACE TO BUY HOTTEST “IT” JEWELRY _________________________

BEST PLACE TO FIND UNIQUE BRANDS OF CLOTHING _________________________

BEST PLACE TO SPLURGE _________________________

BEST SHOES _________________________

LIVING: BEST ADDRESS (TO LIVE) _________________________

ENTERTAINMENT: BEST PLACE FOR LIVE MUSIC _________________________

BEST PLACE TO GET YOUR “BLING” (REAL OR COSTUME) _________________________

BEST PLACE TO GO IN YOUR RUNNING SHOES _________________________

BEST SPOT FOR WI-FI _________________________

BEST PLACE TO BUY HIM/HER A GIFT _________________________

FAVORITE PEOPLE-WATCHING SPOT _________________________

BEST PLACE TO READ MIDTOWN MAGAZINE _________________________

BEST PLACE TO BUY FLOWERS _________________________

BEST PLACE TO WALK THE DOG _________________________

BEST GUYS/GIRLS OUTING _________________________

BEST PLACE FOR A FINISHING TOUCH TO AN OUTFIT _________________________

BEST PLACE TO DONATE YOUR TIME _________________________

4818 SIX FORKS ROAD • SUITE 204 • RALEIGH NC 27609 FAX: 919.782.4763 | EMAIL: DIAMONDS@MIDTOWNMAG.COM

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