Charlotte Magazine December 2021 by Morris Media Network

Digging the Gold Line p. 18

A 1940s Christmas on Tryon p. 32

Uptown on the Half Shell p. 37

2021

Faces Charlototf e SPECIAL AD SECTION

INCLUDING

JOE BRUNO

and 7 others who made a difference in 2021

CHARLOTTEANS OF THE YEAR

The Present of My Dad’s Past By Jesse Soloff

DECEMBER 2021

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CONTENTS CHARLOTTE / DECEMBER 2021 / VOL. 26, NUMBER 12

Features 76

CHARLOTTEANS OF THE YEAR The ones who made a difference in 2021 BY TAYLOR BOWLER, ALLISON BRADEN, GREG LACOUR, JEN TOTA McGIVNEY, AND CARROLL WALTON

78 80 82 84 86 88

JOE BRUNO CMPD ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL STAFF GREG JACKSON PAT’S PLACE DR. STEPHANIE MURPHY A SERVICE INDUSTRY TRIO: JOSSIE LUKACIK, WYNEE BERMUDEZ, AND 5TH STREET GROUP

Plus 58 72

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE Gifts that tell a story THE STUFF WE CARRY A holiday story about the gifts we salvage from years and lives past

ON THE COVER: Joe Bruno of WSOC-TV. Photograph by Rusty Williams. ON THIS PAGE: Detail of Noodle Scarves by Kat Sánchez Standfield from Fiberess. Photograph by Chris Edwards. DECEMBER 2021 // CHARLOTTE

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12 21 CONTENTS IN EVERY ISSUE 10 From the Editor 12

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112 You Are Here

RICK HOVIS; LAURA SUMRAK; GLYN A STANLEY PHOTOGRAPHY; OLLY YUNG

THE GUIDE 108 Seen The city’s best party pics

THE BUZZ 15 Life Lessons Charlie Petrizzo left a lucrative banking career to bestow the gift of Labs 18

Transit The second phase of the city’s Gold Line streetcar

THE GOOD LIFE 23 Culture Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa events throughout the city 28

Style Michelle Castelloe adds kids’ apparel and accessories to her retail bag

Room We Love A dated Foxcroft kitchen gets a light and airy makeover

Building History Christmastime in the city, from the 1940s to today

Hot Listings Cozy homes near the city center

FOOD + DRINK 37 Now Open Caroline’s Oyster Bar anchors uptown’s newest luxury hotel 40

Local Flavor Heirloom restaurant expands to Belmont

On the Line Chef Ken Aponte of ALCHEMY at C3Lab

Recipe Billy Sunday’s Advice From a Narwhal

Bite-Sized News Foodie tidbits on a small plate

Restaurant Guide Where to find the best steak in Charlotte

Beer Three local brews that have become holiday classics

DECEMBER 2021 // CHARLOTTE

Volume 26, Number 12 F RO M T H E E D I TO R

HOUSE OF BRUNO

During another hard time, the 2021 Charlotteans of the Year got down to the business of helping

DECEMBER 2021

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PUBLISHER Allison Hollins ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Andy Smith ADVERTISING SALES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Gail Dougherty, David Hughes

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

ADVERTISING SERVICE COORDINATOR Tonya Ray EDITORIAL EDITOR Greg Lacour LIFESTYLE EDITOR Taylor Bowler COPY EDITOR/FACT-CHECKER Allison Braden CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Cristina Bolling, Allison Futterman, Tom Hanchett, Jen Tota McGivney, Jesse Soloff, Carroll Walton ART & PHOTOGRAPHY ART DIRECTOR Jane Fields CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Kenty Chung, Daniel Coston, Chris Edwards, Rick Hovis, Herman Nicholson, Peter Taylor, Rusty Williams, Olly Yung CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR Shaw Nielsen DIGITAL CONTENT COORDINATOR Kendra Kuhar

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LOGAN CYRUS

HE LOOKS AWFULLY SHARP and GQ-dapper on the cover, doesn’t he? We’ve grown accustomed to seeing Joe Bruno like this. He shows up mostly on TV, where he’s Charlotte’s most celebrated local reporter, and on Twitter, where the man apparently spends all of his time when he’s not on camera or, on occasion, asleep. I meet Joe on a weekday in September and in a humbler setting: the House of Pizza on Central Avenue near Eastway Drive, which has been around forever. He rolls in wearing shorts and a 704 Shop T-shirt. Why here? A few years ago, Joe bought HoP pies as a reward for friends who helped him move. Plus, he says, “They have great cheesesteaks”— quite a compliment from someone who grew up within an hour’s drive of South Street in Philly. If customers recognize him, they don’t show it. So, interrupted only by the server, we talk about how he spent much of the spring: engaged in a multi-week act of public service that warrants his place among our 2021 Charlotteans of the Year. In March, when manufacturers began to issue a flood of COVID vaccine doses, Joe didn’t just pass on general information about their availability. “I just realized how difficult it was for some people just to make an appointment—they were checking websites at all hours of the day, and they couldn’t find anything,” he tells me. “I thought, I have some time. I’ll use my platform and just post right away whenever I see vaccines are available. And eventually, local pharmacies and other places saw what I was doing and realized they could get the word out through me. They would email me and text me like, ‘Hey, I have 25 doses of Moderna. This is how people GREG LACOUR greg.lacour@charlottemagazine.com sign up.’” Under normal circumstances, we wouldn’t award a COTY to a reporter, whose job is to relay information. But this went far beyond a journalist’s job description. Our winners, whose stories begin on page 76, vaulted above their obligations in 2021—all, in some way, in response to the virus. Dr. Stephanie Murphy of Atrium Health continues to lead a team that, in the span of one week last year, she assembled to provide hospital-level care in patients’ homes. Greg Jackson, who leads a community nonprofit called Heal Charlotte, responded to a wave of evictions with an audacious housing plan. Restaurant owners pooled resources to pay for employee benefits. The staffers at the city’s animal shelter wouldn’t let any more pets than usual go unadopted. They saw needs and did what they could to meet them. Simple, but not easy. “I’m just happy to help people,” Joe said before we left House of Pizza. Then he went back to work.

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ONLINE EXTRAS, EVENTS, AND CONVERSATIONS

REACT

Responses to the October issue of Charlotte magazine

I am picking up this book from Park Road (Books) tomorrow. Ordered it after reading your article, which was powerful. Facebook comment from Ann Doss Helms

This town has so much history! And a wonderful kid friendly park with a double decker Carousel. Facebook comment from Bree Gandy Devine a great place to walk-but the businesses are only going to last a little while than [sic] it’s back to the citizens to keep footing the bill Facebook comment from Chuck Johnson

ON THE WEB Want more to read? Check out these popular stories on charlottemagazine.com. 1.

Another fantastic and really important article, CB! This will touch many people. Facebook comment from Carrie Blum Johnsen

,” p. 30 To: “Stockings, Parachutes, and Artists,” And for folks looking for a fun outing it’s on the artwalksCLT.com Art Walks in South End, Charlotte Facebook comment by Tom Low To: “The Great Fall Scavenger Hunt,” p. 48 @CharlotteMag offers the best list of unexpected #Clt joy and insider tips I have seen lately. Tweet from @SDosier Loved this article!! Hope to see this become an annual thing each fall. Instagram post from @queencityvoyager Sounds like a #bikeclt challenge! Tweet from @CLTBikeCommuter To: “Kannapolis Resurrected,” p. 70 I couldn’t stop reading this story aloud to my husband. So interesting and well-written. Thanks for telling it @jen_mcgivney! Tweet from @caitlin_mullen I’d love to read more stories about these small towns, like Belmont, Cramerton, Gastonia, Mt Holly, Mint Hill….such neat little towns. Facebook comment from Mary Zio

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

Must-Try Breakfasts and Brunches in Charlotte: 2021 7 Haunted Houses & Trails Within an Hour of Charlotte Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes Near Charlotte: 2021

Special: The Mick pic On the evening of Sept. 29, Mick Jagger—whom some other publications thought it necessary to identify as “the lead singer of the Rolling Stones”—stopped by the Thirsty Beaver in Plaza Midwood for a beer. Jagger posted a photo to his Instagram account the next morning, before the Stones played Bank of America Stadium that night. Charlotte lost its mind. Mick? At the BEAVER? A few choice comments on our own IG repost of the now-immortal image: @cbbusygrizzly: I love how this bar told all the developers around to SUCK IT @moore_movesfitness: Never know who you’ll see at the Beaver @blkbridalbliss: In the cut, chillin’. @mskaylanc: Can’t help but wonder ... did the people to the left realize it was Mick and they were just being respectful or were they clueless? @erikminman: Damn. Now this place is gonna get even more busy.

Charlotte magazine’s tablet edition is available via the Apple Newsstand and at magzter.com.

COURTESY; SHUTTERSTOCK

To: “Life Lessons: Dr. Chuck Edwards,” p. 13 What an incredible story that hits close to home. Thank you Cristina Breen Bolling for sharing your skill and compassion to write this. Facebook comment from Claire Beimesch

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INSIDE: LIFE LESSONS / TRANSIT

BUZZ

THE

WHAT MATTERS NOW IN THE CITY

LI F E L E SS O N S

CHARLIE PETRIZZO

He survived two near-fatal accidents before his 18th birthday, then left a lucrative banking career to bestow the gift of Labs BY ALLISON FUTTERMAN PHOTOGRAPHS BY RICK HOVIS

CHARLIE PETRIZZO was 16 in the summer of 1979, painting houses for a summer job in Staten Island, New York, where he grew up. The last thing he remembers is a Supertramp song that blared from a transistor radio as he repositioned an aluminum ladder. Then he felt what he describes as the sensation of his eyeballs being sucked out of his face. He had bumped a power line with the ladder. The accident left him with third-degree burns, permanent scarring, and chronic pain—and was his second near-death experience. When he was 5, he was hit by a car and suffered massive brain trauma. Petrizzo eventually made a full recovery. Then came the power line accident. Petrizzo ultimately recovered from his burns, thanks in part to emotional support from the family’s Labrador retriever mix, Toby. He began a successful career as a bank executive and moved to Charlotte from New Jersey in late 2000 for a position at Wachovia. But years later, he fell into a deep depression. He began to question his purpose and whether he’d made a mistake by moving. Petrizzo left his banking job and, with his wife, Sandy, founded Project2Heal, a nonprofit that breeds, nurtures, and socializes Labs to donate to service dog organizations. Based in Waxhaw, where the Petrizzos live, Project2Heal reduces the time and cost for a person in need to get a service dog. It’s hard to keep up with demand; Petrizzo, 58, says he asks his partner organizations how many puppies they think they’ll need, and the answer usually comes back: As many as you DECEMBER 2021 // CHARLOTTE

THE BUZZ can give us. “I believe the real reason God sent us down here,” he says, “was to start Project2Heal.” What follows is Petrizzo in his own words, lightly edited for length and clarity. I WOULD NOT WISH A BURN on my worst enemy. When I was burned 40 years ago, they would do the debriding of the dead or burnt skin while the patient was awake. I had this done every day for the first four or five weeks. Prior to a debridement session, they would give me an injection of morphine. It doesn’t make a difference when you’re having strips of dead skin pulled off your body with tweezers.

Charlie Petrizzo with his wife, Sandy, and one of their Labs.

MY EMOTIONAL SAVIOR was a Lab mix, Toby. He was my companion, and he was right there with me when I was stuck at home and couldn’t go anywhere. I GOT a structured settlement annuity. Starting eight years after the accident, I’ve gotten a check every month—for the past 30 years. The payments go up over time. It’s for the rest of my life. That settlement is what made me start looking at mutual funds and learning about money, and I wound up loving economics. I FELT LIKE AN OGRE, with scars all over me. I wore a hat in college to cover the scars on my head. I would always get there early each semester to meet the professor. The priest (at a Catholic university) told me to take my hat off, and I told him I couldn’t. He told me I had to take it off or leave. So I left. I was so upset, I was crying from embarrassment. Some of my frat brothers came up to him after class and explained about my situation. The next time I saw the priest, he apologized to me.

AS I LEARNED ABOUT ANNUITIES, there was an advertisement for customer service positions at Prudential mutual funds. I interviewed and got the job. I quickly went from running the operation for a third-party broker dealer to being brought down to Charlotte to build an annuity program at First Union Bank. I would fly back home every weekend. After a few years, I was asked if I wanted to take a position as director of sales, marketing, and product development, which required me to be at the home office in Charlotte. (Ed.: Wachovia and First Union merged in 2001.) I LEFT WACHOVIA IN 2003. I was the national sales manager for the Annuity Group. We had the largest bank annuity program in the country. I was making deep into the high six figures. I REMEMBER being in executive meetings and trying to find the edge of a door to rub my muscles against because my back and neck pain was so bad. My chronic pain was part of the reason I left the corporate world, but I was also going through a bad depression. My father-in-law had died, and my mother was very sick. It was a horrible time. To try to help me with the depression, my wife got me a Lab. I WAS DOING ONLINE SEARCHES. … There are still very many service dog organizations that search through shelters to find the diamonds in the rough. Meanwhile, the cost and time it took for a person in need to receive a service dog continued to climb. I recognized that the love I had for that specific breed could be used to serve the many service dog organizations that did not have a breeding program. I WAS TRAINED BY SALLY BELL, who is arguably the world’s best breeder of Labs. She was my mentor. Breeding is an art and a science. What will define a dog as an adult is about one-third who the mother and father are—the genetics—and twothirds what the puppy experiences during its most important phase of life, which is birth to 12 to 16 weeks. The art is knowing which dogs to put together. IT COST HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of dollars to build this 3 acres. But Sandy and I work as volunteers. We don’t take a salary for anything.

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

THE DOGS WE USE FOR BREEDING live in “chaperone” homes. All we ask is that they bring them in for breeding three times. After that, the dog is theirs to keep—and they get an incredible pet. We donate 50 to 60 dogs per year and have about 26 partner organizations we work with. OUR DOGS HAVE GONE to children with autism, juvenile diabetes, spina bifida, and cerebral palsy. We also partner with dog service organizations that serve veterans with PTSD and mobility issues. Our success rate with veterans with PTSD is 70%-75%. The industry rate is about 50%. I want to help reduce veteran suicides. WE HAVE A SCHOOL OUTREACH program. Aside from being able to pet the dogs and learning about soft touches, the students can read to them. And we incorporate the dogs into lessons about history, geography, and science. We’ve also worked with local corporations to bring the dogs for stress-down days, where the employees can interact with our puppies. Another place we bring them is to nursing homes for the residents to enjoy. The nursing home programs are free. THE LETTERS WE GET are unbelievable. There are so many stories. There were twins with disabilities who had no friends. They got one of our puppies, and the dad would go in the backyard and kick a ball around with the dog. Some kids in the neighborhood saw the dog and wanted to play with it. Now the kids have friends. I’VE MET SOME OF OUR RECIPIENTS. One guy was a Marine. He had big muscles and a USMC tattoo. He put his hand on my shoulder and said, “Sir, I was a trigger pull away from taking my life. Thank you. I know he (one of our Labs) is going to take great care of me, and I promise you that I’ll take great care of him.” AT TIMES, I’ve wondered if we were really making a difference. When he said that, I turned to Sandy and said, “We don’t need to wonder if we’re making a difference anymore.” I don’t worry about how I look anymore, because I have a purpose. ALLISON FUTTERMAN is a freelance writer in Charlotte. She can be reached at aliwrites10@ gmail.com.

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THE BUZZ

T R AN S I T

THE WAY FORWARD FOR CHARLOTTE’S STREETCAR The second phase of the city’s Gold Line, which connects east and west Charlotte, opened in August. Here’s what you should know BY GREG LACOUR

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

RIDING THE GOLD LINE

I pick a good day, or perhaps a bad one for public transit ridership: a bright, temperate Sunday afternoon in late September. We depart from Sunnyside Avenue in Elizabeth at 12:40 p.m. with a modest crowd of about 15. Compared to the Blue Line, it’s a slower, more pleasant ride, with more to look at—the historic properties and Independence Park along Hawthorne; the commotion among the businesses on Elizabeth Avenue, Central Piedmont Community College, and Trade Street uptown; and the Mosaic Village near JCSU once you pass I-277. After a stop at the university, the line reaches its current western terminus, French Street and Beatties Ford, at 1:15. The crowd of 15 has dwindled to three. Some marketing work left to do, clearly, but everything with this project takes far longer than it’s supposed to. The train slides into its turnaround, takes five minutes to reorient itself, picks me back up, and heads back east toward uptown. Continued on page 20

LOGAN CYRUS

ANYONE WHO’S LIVED IN CHARLOTTE for, say, five years or less might not remember when arguments over funding for “the streetcar project” dominated Charlotte politics. The discussions started in 2002, as soon as city leaders floated the idea of a train that would link the east and west sides through uptown. But they reached peak temperature during the mayoral tenure of Anthony Foxx from 2009 until 2013, when he left to become U.S. Secretary of Transportation. Foxx grew up on the west side, and he and his allies said the proposed Gold Line would accomplish two main goals: It’d be a boon for the city’s transit system and a critical tool for economic development in areas that city and business leaders had neglected for decades. Several City Council members doubted growth projections—they often referred to the project as “the train to nowhere”—and worried that it would force them to raise the city’s property tax rate to pay for it. (It didn’t.) Nonetheless, the first phase of the three-stage project, the mile and a half from the Transit Center to Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center, opened in 2015. Three years later, Foxx took a job as chief policy officer at Lyft. On Aug. 30, after six years of aggravating construction that included the notorious Hawthorne Lane bridge, the second phase, the heart of the Gold Line, opened as well. The line isn’t finished yet; the city’s still looking for money to pay for the third phase, which would complete the planned 10-mile route. But for the first time, a rail line does connect the east and west sides, from Sunnyside Avenue in Elizabeth through uptown to French Street, near Johnson C. Smith University in Biddleville. Here are some Gold Line facts, what it’s like to ride it, and excerpts of an interview with Foxx in September.

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THE BUZZ

GOLD LINE FACTS

INTERVIEW:

ANTHONY FOXX

PHASE 2 LENGTH: 4 miles in total, the 1.5 miles of Phase 1 and an additional 2.5 miles to the east and west.

COST: $150 million, $75 million each from city capital funds and the Federal Transit Administration. (Phase 1, which opened in 2015, cost $37 million, $25 million from the federal government, the rest from the city.) FARE: Free through 2021, then the standard Charlotte Area Transit System fare of $2.20 for a one-way ticket. HOW LONG BETWEEN TRAINS? 15 to 20 minutes. WAIT, THE CARS LOOK DIFFERENT. Correct. From 2015 until the extended line opened, CATS used vintage-style replica trolley cars for the Gold Line. Beginning in August, the agency switched to six Siemens S70 light rail vehicles, similar to those on the northsouth Blue Line from Interstate 485 to UNC Charlotte. TOTAL PROJECT LENGTH: 10 miles, from the Rosa Parks Place Community Transit Center off Beatties Ford Road near the I-77/85 interchange to the Eastland CTC at Central Avenue and North Sharon Amity Road. NUMBER OF STOPS: 35 (18 will be added to the original 17). COST: Undetermined. PROJECTED COMPLETION: Unknown. WHY? The Gold Line is intended as an efficient, affordable way for residents on the east and west sides, many of whom depend on public transit, to get from their homes to uptown and connect with the rest of the CATS system. It’s also expected to boost economic development in parts of town that government and business have neglected for decades. Finally, it’s a critical part of the 2030 Transit Corridor System Plan, an ambitious effort to build a linked mass transit system throughout the Charlotte area, including Matthews and Lake Norman, by 2030.

CHARLOTTE MAGAZINE: The morning Phase 2 opened, you tweeted, “Welcome, Charlotte streetcar. It’s a long story.” You caught a lot of heat for your Gold Line advocacy when you were mayor. What’s it like to see it realized? ANTHONY FOXX: These things are always tough politically because you’re articulating a mode of transit that people can’t see, touch, and feel at the time. I remember that the light rail line was very controversial. This one was close to my heart because when I came into the role of mayor and looked at the city’s tax base, 75% was coming from the southeastern wedge, and the rest of the city was kind of sucking wind. It was unusual to see the city promoting a transportation project in these areas. Some called it the “streetcar to nowhere.” I think there were socioeconomic and perhaps even racial undertones to some of that. So it was tough, because you’re talking to somebody who grew up in the city that made integration work. And it was hard to endure a lot of that. CM: Is there concern on your part that the access the Gold Line will provide to the west and east sides might accelerate the displacement of people who live there?

drove past Wayne’s, and the green meat in Wayne’s, to get to the grocery store. I think a lot of people who were criticizing this project would have a lot more credibility if they spent a couple of nights on the west side and bought their food there and lived there. It’s a different experience, and until you’ve lived it, it’s really hard to understand it. CM: What should elected officials here think about when they consider funding for Phase 3?

CM: And the alternative is the status quo.

AF: When you get on a bus to go to the central transfer station, the whole idea is that you can get anywhere in the city on it, and our fixed-rail system should have that same kind of nimbleness to it. ... We have to think in terms of the interconnectivity throughout the city. One of the things that I’ve always thought about transit is that it’s one of the ways in which we have these casual interactions with people that we would never interact with on our own. Had we not done this project, another concern or fear I would have had is that we’d have a two-tier transit system: a bus for the poor folks and fixed rail for everybody else. That’s no way to run a city.

AF: Right. Growing up, my grandparents drove across town to get groceries. They

GREG LACOUR is the editor of this magazine.

AF: Absolutely, it’s a concern. I think the countervailing consideration was that these corridors had for decades been on the decline, and the people there, like my grandparents, deserve to have decent access to food, prescription medicine, dry cleaners, basic community services. But a lot of those services and retail activities just never found their way there. So there’s an important balance to be struck. I’m happy to see that there’s an effort to utilize land trusts on the west side. I think that is a critical factor.

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

LOGAN CYRUS

NUMBER OF STOPS: 17 (11 added to the original six).

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INSIDE: CULTURE / STYLE / ROOM WE LOVE / HISTORY / REAL ESTATE

THE

MAKING THE MOST OUT OF LIVING HERE

Jazz singer and actor Leslie Odom Jr. will perform at Knight Theater on Dec. 13.

COURTESY TONY DURAN

CU LT U R E

Holiday Happenings A look at 2021’s Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa events throughout the Charlotte area BY ANDY SMITH

DECEMBER 2021 // CHARLOTTE

THE GOOD LIFE

Odom’s Jazzy Christmas Comes to Uptown

Leslie Odom Jr. at Belk Theater during the Blumenthal’s Celebrating Big Dreams 25th Anniversary Celebration in 2017.

WHEN LESLIE ODOM JR. released his first Christmas album in 2016, he had just ended his Tony-winning run on Broadway as Hamilton’s Aaron Burr. That record topped Billboard’s U.S. Jazz charts and prompted a second holiday LP released last year: The Christmas Album. Now his aptly titled The Christmas Tour stops at Knight Theater Dec. 13. It’s one of several Christmas offerings from Blumenthal Performing Arts this year. A merry breakdown: Charlotte Ballet: The Nutcracker (Dec. 3-26, Belk Theater) Charlotte Symphony’s Handel Messiah (Dec. 3-5, Knight Theater’)

Jim Brickman: The Gift of Christmas (Dec. 6, Knight Theater) The Jazz Room: Holiday Edition (Dec. 9-10, Booth Playhouse) Charlotte Symphony’s Magic of Christmas (Dec. 10-19, Knight Theater) Cirque De Noel (Dec. 29-30, Belk Theater)

IT BEGAN on a foggy December night three years ago. Mooresville resident Kevin Shea’s family and neighbors, who live on the northern portion of Lake Norman, planned to board their boats and head to a Christmas light boat parade that evening. When visibility was too low to cross Highway 150, the group had an idea: Let’s do our own parade up here. Organizers of the first-ever Northern Lights of Lake Norman Boat Parade aimed for 10 boats. They hosted 21 that first year. “The second year, even though it was a virtual event for the public, had 31 boats,” Shea says today, “and people streamed from Germany, the U.K., and Egypt.” The 2019 event raised money for the Barium Springs Home for Children in Statesville—with no registration fee for participants, just suggested donations. This year’s parade benefits Tunnel to Towers, which helps the families of first responders, and homeless outreach group Hope of Mooresville. As the event grows, so does the effort to outfit boats with the largest and merriest decorations possible. Shea uses nearly 12,000 lights on his, and he tops his double-decker vessel with a large inflatable helicopter piloted by Santa himself. “The funny thing is, I sent out an email to people last year to say we were considering canceling,” Shea says. “I got an overwhelming, ‘Please don’t. We look forward to this and need this right now.’ And we’ve gotten the same message this year. The growth of the event just isn’t stopping.” This year’s public viewing area is at Stumpy Creek Park (160 Stumpy Creek Road, Mooresville). Check facebook.com/northernlightsoflakenorman for more updates.

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

COURTESY BLUMENTHAL ARTS (1); COURTESY

Ferry Christmas: Lake Norman’s Christmas Boat Parade

The Hasidic pop-rock duo 8th Day, which consists of brothers Shmuel and Bentzion Marcus.

Chabad of Charlotte Goes Big (Again) for Hanukkah EVERY YEAR, members of Charlotte’s Jewish community look forward to Chabad of Charlotte’s Hanukkah programming. Last December, the community erected a massive menorah made out of scissor-lifts in the Dick’s Sporting Goods parking lot at SouthPark. “We try to do something different every year,” says Rabbi Shlomo Cohen. “Last year was the huge scissor-lift menorah; this year, we’re hosting a huge concert.” Hanukkah begins a little earlier than usual this year, on Nov. 28, and lasts through Dec. 6. As of press time, internationally known Hasidic poprock group 8th Day was to perform at Symphony Park in SouthPark on the first day of Hanukkah. One of the band’s most popular tunes, “Ya’alili,” has garnered more than 7 million views on YouTube. The concert is just the beginning of the 2021 programming for Chabad of Charlotte, with more to come on its site, chabadnc.org.

COURTESY

Other Hanukkah Programming BALLANTYNE JEWISH CENTER does its usual Stonecrest Menorah Lighting at Stonecrest Shopping Center on Nov. 29, and another annual celebration takes them even further south. On Dec. 1, the center hosts a large menorah lighting in downtown Waxhaw. The event also includes food, music, and crafts.

Among a bevy of celebrations, THE SANDRA AND LEON LEVINE JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER hosts an event Dec. 4 that’s modeled after the Netflix baking show Nailed It! Families work together in three kitchen competitions to create Hanukkah-themed confections.

The Ballantyne Jewish Center organizes Hanukkah events at Stonecrest Shopping Center and in downtown Waxhaw.

DECEMBER 2021 // CHARLOTTE

THE GOOD LIFE

Kojo Bey of the Charlottebased therapeutic drumming nonprofit Drums 4 Life at the Gantt Center in 2016.

Gantt Center Brings Back Kwanzaa Celebration

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

Other Kwanzaa Programming KITOKOS hosts an Annual Kwanzaa Celebration on Dec. 4 at its Cabarrus Avenue location in Concord. The Concord retailer, which also has a Concord Mills location, specializes in African jewelry, clothing, and other accessories. Expect food, live music, vendors, and the store’s massive collection of African-made outfits.

KWANZAA CHARLOTTE hosts citywide events on each day of the celebration. The Kwanzaa Organizing Committee has organized events surrounding the holiday for 37 years. Events include workshops on Kwanzaa concepts, with events facilitated by music group and nonprofit A Sign of the Times, which performs music, dance, and spoken word involving the history of the African diaspora.

COURTESY THE GANTT CENTER

KWANZAA debuted in 1966 as a specifically African American holiday, to last from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, formerly the Afro-American Cultural Center, was founded eight years later. Prior events have included hands-on art workshops, performances, public conversations, and more. As of press time, the Gantt Center had yet to finalize its 2021 offerings, but past events have emphasized the seven principles of Kwanzaa: Umoja (Unity); Kujichagulia (Self-Determination); Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility); Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics); Nia (Purpose); Kuumba (Creativity); and Imani (Faith). Check ganttcenter.org for programming updates.

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THE GOOD LIFE

ST YL E

Michelle Castelloe

Moxie Mercantile’s founder expands with a sister store, Betty, and adds kids’ apparel and accessories to her retail bag BY TAYLOR BOWLER PHOTOGRAPHS BY OLLY YUNG

AS A CHILD, Michelle Castelloe would pretend to ring things up on her grandparents’ antique cash register at her imaginary store. She pictured herself as a shopkeeper, and her grandfather often used the word “moxie” to describe her. “He was born in Maine, and there’s a soda there called Moxie,” Castelloe explains. “It’s awful, but he drank it all the time. He used to use that word to describe me—somebody who’s got some guts, who’s brave, who’s willing to take a risk. I always knew I’d use the word ‘moxie’ in my brand.” It stayed with her through a winding career, from a seemingly comfortable corporate position to the fulfillment of her dream to own her own boutique. In 2015, Castelloe opened Moxie Mercantile in an old bungalow in Commonwealth. The boutique, which began with three employees, sold women’s apparel and home accessories, plus a mix of vintage finds and jewelry by local artisans. Three years later, she opened a second store in Davidson. In May 2021, Castelloe opened her third and largest location in a 2,700-squarefoot space in downtown Matthews. Five months after that, she opened her fourth store, a boutique called Betty,

in the former City Supply Co. space on Thomas Avenue in Commonwealth. “It came along faster than I was expecting,” Castelloe says. “It feels kind of like having Irish twins with the Matthews location.” Betty by Moxie Mercantile focuses on children’s clothing, adult apparel, toys, gifts, and eco-friendly brands like Sanctuary Clothing, Ophelia and Indigo, Kind Roots, and Zestt Organics. The store’s name is a tribute to 87-year-old Betty Ziegler Mims, who owned Bride’s House of Originals, which occupied Moxie’s Commonwealth location before she sold the building to Castelloe.

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

The title of shopkeeper didn’t come easily, though. Castelloe studied sociology and criminology at the University of New Hampshire, but, instead of going to law school, became a flight attendant for United Airlines. After she and her husband, Clifton, settled in Charlotte, she spent more than 20 years in the corporate world and held a number of positions at the clothing retailer Anthropologie, including visual manager and brand director. She also had four daughters, who now range in age from 8 to 17. “It became kind of a joke,” she says. “Every time I had a baby, I got a promotion.”

Moxie’s store in downtown Matthews sells apparel, home décor, and vintage treasures (left).

Michelle Castelloe (opposite) at Moxie Mercantile’s Matthews location. Her newest boutique, Betty, is in Commonwealth and sells children's clothing, toys, and gifts (above), with eco-friendly brands like Zestt Organics (right).

Her salary provided a comfortable life for her family of six, but Castelloe wasn’t fulfilled. She continued to work for Anthropologie after she opened the first store but decided to move on after a company restructure in 2017. “I wasn’t doing anything 100%,” she says. “My heart was at Moxie. I was trying to be a parent, a corporate brand director, and run a small business. I worked with a life coach because I was terrified to leave the safety net of the corporate world.” Castelloe remained at Anthropologie through the Davidson store’s grand opening in 2018, then finally made the leap to full-time shopkeeper in 2019. Business

was good. She’d even bought the building on Commonwealth Avenue that housed Moxie’s flagship location as a real estate investment. “I didn’t need to take a salary because I stayed at Anthropologie until 2019, so we had enough to get through the pandemic,” she says. In addition to her retail ventures, Castelloe launched a consulting firm called Moxie Huddle to help nurture artists and business owners. “I work with small makers and creators who don’t have the business savvy and don’t get paid enough,” she says. “I love to see them succeed and get their margins where they need to be, not just doing it as a hobby.”

Today that little girl who dreamt of being a shopkeeper employs a team of 26, mentors three to four artists a year, and manages four stores. “I’m pretty darn liberal and believe we’re here for the common good,” she says. “It’s a tough place to navigate, when you risk losing business over asking people to wear masks. But I’m teaching my kids through what we’re doing. And this brand is curated by me, so if I compromise my authenticity in any way, you’ll see it in the brand.”

TAYLOR BOWLER is lifestyle editor of this magazine. DECEMBER 2021 // CHARLOTTE

RO O M W E LOV E

Revival in Blue

Designer Brooke Cole brings new light into a dated Foxcroft kitchen

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

WHEN BROOKE COLE’S CLIENTS purchased their 1950s ranch, they initially planned to tear it down and build custom. “They started to realize the existing home had a great footprint,” says Cole, principal designer and owner of Brooke Cole Interiors. The couple, who’d recently become empty-nesters, worked with architect Christopher Hensley from Meyer Greeson Paullin Benson Architecture to reconfigure the floor plan and enlisted the team at Four Oaks Builders to gut the house. They brought Cole on to design the interior, which included a kitchen that hadn’t been updated since the 1980s. “The 8-foot ceilings were a challenge,” she says, “but we made it feel bright and airy with light colors and statement lighting.” —Taylor Bowler

COURTESY LAURA SUMRAK

THE GOOD LIFE

SKY’S THE LIMIT The Four Oaks crew knocked down walls to open up the space between the kitchen and living area, relocated the plumbing, and put down new hardwoods to match what was already there. Cole installed quartzite countertops and a Carrara marble backsplash in a herringbone pattern. “The pattern worked because we had tiny spaces around the window frames to squeeze in the tile,” she says. She painted the cabinets in Benjamin Moore’s White Dove and chose polished nickel handles. “Hardware acts like jewelry in a home,” she says, “and this is a warm, silver tone that sparkles.”

A PATCH OF BLUE Cole selected a soft blue Lee Jofa fabric for the Roman shades. “The husband loves to garden, and I fell in love with the botanical nature of the print,” she says. “That fabric determined the color palette.” The Wesley Hall barstools are upholstered in stain-proof performance leather and add another pop of blue to the kitchen. “Without the blue, the room is boring. It’s a classic white kitchen, but that could be anywhere. Blue is what ties this kitchen together.”

LIGHT AND BRIGHT Cole painted the walls in Sherwin-Williams’ Repose Gray to make the room feel bigger and brighter. The 8-foot ceilings are lower than in most new builds today, so she chose 14-inch milk glass pendant lights from Restoration Hardware to make a statement without overwhelming the space. “Kids and pets can mess up furniture, but nobody’s touching your light fixtures,” she says. “I love to splurge on statement lighting. It lifts your eye up and gives you that ‘wow’ factor.”

DECEMBER 2021 // CHARLOTTE

THE GOOD LIFE

B U I L D I N G H I STO RY

It’s Christmastime in the City What uptown has lost and gained, from the 1940s to today BY TOM HANCHETT

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

to stay. But I remember when it stood empty and open to the weather, a victim of America’s rush to the suburbs; who’d ever want to stay in an old downtown hotel? Thankfully, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission designated the 1929 structure as a landmark in 1988. That helped spark investors’ interest in its rebirth. Run your eye southward from the Mayfair down the right side of Tryon Street toward the heart of town. I see a jewelry store, a flower shop, and then the big sign of Haverty’s Furniture. Haverty’s still sells sofas and dining tables, of course, but its stores are out near suburban Carolina Place and Northlake malls rather than downtown. Half a block beyond Haverty’s, can you spy a sixstory structure with lights along its top? That was Ivey’s Department Store, which competed with Belk for decades until Dillard’s bought it. Today, it’s filled Continued on page 34

(Above) Tryon and Sixth streets at Christmas, circa 1940.

COURTESY MILLICAN PICTORIAL MUSEUM

CITIES ARE TRANSFORMATION MACHINES. They’re always changing. Usually, it happens a little at a time. An old building comes down, and a new one goes up. Ditchdiggers replace a stretch of curb and sidewalk. A spindly tree inches skyward. It’s not until you look back that you grasp the cumulative effect. So take a careful look at the photo above. Can you pick out anything from today’s Charlotte? Anything at all? It’s Christmastime, right around World War II. The cars are rounded specimens, today considered classics but then just everyday transportation. The decorations strung across the street look almost handmade, composed of individual light bulbs rather than the color-shifting LED wonders that slick up Tryon Street in 2021. To the right, can you make out the sign for the Mayfair Hotel? That’s now The Dunhill on North Tryon at Sixth Street. It’s once again a stylish place

See Our Holiday Traditions

in a New Light

This holiday season, experience over 265 years of pasts and presents in Winston-Salem. Find inspiration on a charming horse-drawn carriage ride under a million twinkling lights at Tanglewood Park’s Festival of Lights. Discover 18th and 19th century Moravian holiday traditions at Old Salem Museums & Gardens. Relish the warm glow of a Victorian Christmas at Körner’s Folly by candlelight. Admire Roaring ‘20s festive decor while touring Reynolda House Museum of American Art. Winston-Salem lights up the holidays like none other.

Book your holiday hotel getaway today at VisitWinstonSalem.com

THE GOOD LIFE

Present-day holiday lights at Trade and Tryon.

with street-level restaurants, including fancy 5Church, with condos and a minihotel above. To the left, the exuberant marquee of the Carolina Theatre stands out, even though it’s partly obscured by “VERA LEE Junior Miss Frocks.” One of the Thin Man comedy films is playing, with snappy repartee by William Powell and Myrna Loy. The Carolina closed in 1978 during the suburban exodus, and it would stand vacant for more than 40 years. Fortunately, the Landmarks Commission stepped in again. When wrecking crews demolished the front part of the structure, HLC helped get the terra cotta façade carefully disassembled and stored.

Sometime during 2022, it’ll be reassembled in a new glass lobby as Foundation for the Carolinas remakes the theater into a glittering venue for lectures and events. If you stroll downtown to admire the holiday lights this December, you’ll see a vastly different North Tryon Street than in 1940. Shopping is almost gone, unlikely to return in the age of Amazon. But restaurants, rarities in the 1940s, abound in these blocks. The cacophony of lighted signs has vanished. But a canopy of trees now shades the sidewalks. For all its transformations, Tryon Street is once again Charlotte’s comingtogether place. Office workers and LYNX riders venture back by day; theatergo-

ers and nightclubbers converge at night. Friends visiting Charlotte? Take them for a jaunt uptown, a museum visit, a meal— especially under the holiday lights. Says Robert Krumbine of Charlotte Center City Partners, which installs the decorations these days: “Everything feels a little bigger, a little brighter—a place of warmth, wonder, and magic.”

BUILDING HISTORY is a monthly series that highlights Charlotte’s historic buildings. Tom Hanchett, a local historian since 1981, is the author of Sorting Out the New South City: Race, Class, and Urban Development in Charlotte and former staff historian at the Levine Museum of the New South. Follow him on Twitter at @historysouth.

R E AL E STAT E

Hot Listings

1113 MYRTLE AVE. $1,399,000 DILWORTH The main level of this two-story red brick home has white oak hardwood floors and 10-foot ceilings. The gourmet kitchen has custom wood cabinetry, Thermador appliances, and an oversized island with seating for four. 4 BD, 3.5 BA, 3,095 sq. ft., Helen Adams Realty, helenadamsrealty.com

3700 BENARD AVE. $520,000 NODA High ceilings, wide hallways, and hardwood floors give character to this classic bungalow. The living room has a gas fireplace and French doors that open to the dining room. 3 BD, 2 BA, 1,567 sq. ft., Dickens Mitchener & Associates, dickensmitchener.com

437 STATE ST. $875,000 SEVERSVILLE This threestory Craftsman has a two-car garage and finished basement suited for a home gym or bonus room. The primary suite’s balcony overlooks a turf-covered, fenced backyard. 4 BD, 3.5 BA, 3,685 sq. ft., Savvy + Co., savvyandcompany.com

Homes available as of Sept. 30, 2021.

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

2409 KENMORE AVE. $945,000 ELIZABETH Cobalt-blue shingles and a rocking chair front porch add charm to this arts and crafts-style home. The chef’s kitchen has stainless steel appliances, custom cabinets, and quartz countertops, and the great room opens to a screened-in porch and a stone patio. 5 BD, 3.5 BA, 2,985 sq. ft., Allen Tate Realtors, allentate.com

AUSTIN CAINE/CHARLOTTE CENTER CITY PARTNERS; COURTESY

Cozy homes near the city center. —Taylor Bowler

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FOOD DRINK

INSIDE: NOW OPEN / LOCAL FLAVOR / ON THE LINE / RECIPE / BITE-SIZED NEWS / RESTAURANTS / BEER

EXPLORE THE TASTES OF CHARLOTTE

The Seafood Tagliatelle is a mix of shrimp, clams, mussels, tomatoes, and Parmesan white wine sauce tossed in ribbons of fresh pasta.

COURTESY JW MARRIOTT CHARLOTTE

N OW O P E N

REEL THEM IN

TKTKTKTKTKt

Caroline’s Oyster Bar anchors uptown’s newest luxury hotel BY TAYLOR BOWLER

FOR CLOSE TO TWO YEARS, uptown restaurants have struggled without the lunchtime crowds and expense account holders that once filled their tables. But construction has continued on skyscrapers and mixed-use office buildings like the Ally Charlotte Center, which houses the JW Marriott that opened in August. The 22-story hotel has three dining options: Dean’s Italian Steakhouse on the ground floor, Aura Rooftop Bar on the fifth floor, and

DECEMBER 2021 // CHARLOTTE

FOOD+DRINK

(Above) The Seaweed Salad is a mix of edible seaweed, romaine, pickled red onion, and cucumber. Caroline’s Seafood Plateau (right) has two tiers of oysters, jumbo Gulf shrimp, and king crab.

CAROLINE’S OYSTER BAR

Hours: 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday Bar until 12 a.m. 4 p.m.-12 a.m. Friday-Saturday Bar until 1 a.m. 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Sunday Bar until 11 p.m.

Caroline’s Oyster Bar on the second level. It’s a sign that the once-bustling banking district is on the rebound—and hungry customers are ready to fill those tables again. Caroline’s Oyster Bar has a chic nautical theme that’s nothing like a kitschy crab shack. A custom rope installation by artist Windy Chien surrounds the 360-degree bar in the center of the dining room, and globe pendant lights wrapped in fishing nets hang from the ceiling. An eight-seat raw bar displays the day’s oyster selections, and a mix of high-top tables and circular booths occupies the dining room. On clear nights, glass doors open to a covered patio with natural ipe wood decking and ceiling fans and space heaters that run depending on the season. The craft cocktails aren’t far-reaching or overly imaginative, but the staples are all there.

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

Caroline’s Old Fashioned ($15), with bourbon, vanilla demerara, and black walnut bitters, is their spin on the classic cocktail. The Blueberry Coco-Jito ($14) is a fresh take on a standard mojito. You can also order wine by the glass and a selection of local and regional brews like OMB Hornet’s Nest and Wicked Weed Pernicious IPA. Start with a cold appetizer like the Spicy Tuna Tartare ($18), Scallop Ceviche ($15), or a classic Shrimp Cocktail ($16). If you brought a few friends or you’re celebrating a special occasion, splurge on the Seafood Plateau, a tower of oysters, shrimp, and king crab that comes in three sizes: Petite ($50), Caroline’s ($150), or Grand ($225). And if you came for the oysters, ask your server about the daily selections. The raw bar gets shellfish from Morehead City, Hampstead, and other spots along the Carolina coast.

COURTESY JW MARRIOTT CHARLOTTE

120 E. Stonewall St. carolinesoysterbar.com

COURTESY JW MARRIOTT CHARLOTTE

Guests can see Caroline’s daily oyster selections at the eight-seat raw bar (left) or grab a booth in the dining room (lower left). The BBQ Shrimp (below) comes with crispy grit cakes in a bowl of Creole butter.

Hot appetizers include BBQ Shrimp ($17) and Crab Hush Puppies ($12) that are so good, you might need to order two. If you’re craving something green, the Seaweed Salad ($10) is a refreshing mix of edible seaweed, romaine, pickled red onion, and cucumber. For a larger dish you don’t have to share, try the Lobster Roll ($22) with citrus mayo on a buttered roll. The Halibut Fish & Chips ($26) is a straightforward but not-too-greasy plate of beer-battered halibut with shoestring fries. If you don’t mind prying open a few shells, go for the Steamed PEI Mussels ($22) with a side of toasted sourdough to soak up the garlicky beer sauce. For carnivores, there’s the Brush Creek Ranch 100% Wagyu Burger ($17), with two brisket patties layered with American cheese and pickles.

Caroline’s portions aren’t overwhelming, and the seafood isn’t heavy and deep-fried like a typical beachside shack, so there’s a good chance you’ll have room for dessert. The menu has a predictable but solid lineup of Gooey Butter Cake ($8), Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie ($8), and a Cast Iron Brownie ($8). You can also get a scoop of ice cream at the Golden Cow Creamery on the Tryon Street side of the hotel and take a stroll through uptown. If you don’t have a curfew and you’d rather stay for a nightcap, ride the elevator up to Aura Rooftop. Grab a seat at the bar or on a couch, sip a Negroni or glass of rosé, and take a moment to savor the view of the expanding uptown skyline.

Don’t leave without trying: The BBQ Shrimp ($17) with crispy grit cakes in a bowl of Creole butter.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Fresh seafood can get pricy, so come for High Tide Happy Hour Monday-Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. Select shareable plates and half a dozen oysters are just $8.

TAYLOR BOWLER is lifestyle editor of this magazine. DECEMBER 2021 // CHARLOTTE

FOOD+DRINK

Seth Wilson (left), Heirloom’s general manager and executive chef, with Patrick Murphy, who leads the kitchen at Honeycomb Café.

LO C AL F L AVO R

HEIRLOOM REPLANTED Six months after Scott and Linda Murphy bought one of Charlotte’s most celebrated restaurants, the pandemic forced them to close. But they weren’t about to let it drop. A year and a half later, they’ve moved to Belmont and plan to expand BY TAYLOR BOWLER PHOTOGRAPHS BY KENTY CHUNG

SCOTT AND LINDA MURPHY had never run a restaurant until, two years ago, they bought their first. He’d owned and operated a dental practice in Morganton for more than 30 years, and she worked there as a dental hygienist. They raised three children, whose friends nicknamed the couple “Papa Murph” and “Mama Murph.” Theirs was the house where everyone dropped in for a warm meal. “We always had all the college kids at our table during the holidays,” Linda says. The Murphys had talked about opening a restaurant for about five years. In late 2019, they got their chance: Heirloom, the acclaimed farm-to-fork restaurant on Mountain Island Lake, was for sale. The timing felt right. Their 29-year-old son, Patrick, a graduate of Johnson & Wales University, would work in the kitchen. His best friend and J&W classmate, Seth

Wilson, would be general manager and executive chef. Daughter Megan, a hospital coordinator and part-time interior designer, revamped the dining room. Their youngest son, Ryan, who earned a master’s degree in horticulture from Clemson University, would carry on the restaurant’s agricultural legacy with locally sourced ingredients. The Murphys took over in December, but we all know what happened next. Heirloom first closed on March 14, 2020. Five days later, they made the change dozens of restaurant owners were forced into: Heirloom began to sell meals to go, $10 orders in place of their typical $40 dine-in offerings. Their profits dropped 90%, and in May 2020, they closed permanently. They’d imagined that they eventually would anyway; when they bought it, their idea was to move the

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

restaurant from its somewhat isolated Mountain Island Lake location to a more accessible, walkable neighborhood. They just didn’t realize it would happen so fast. “We couldn’t just close it and leave,” Linda says. They looked in Birkdale and Ballantyne but loved the small-town charm of downtown Belmont’s historic district. In early 2021, they signed the lease on a space in North Main Station on Glenway Street. They also snatched up a former drugstore on Main Street that they’ve transformed into a brunch-focused eatery called Honeycomb Café. Around the corner, next to a yoga studio beside Heirloom’s new dining room, they’re opening what Patrick describes as an “old-school, New Jersey-style” bakery that will serve homemade bread, pastries, coffee, and smoothies.

(Left) Honeycomb Café’s Bumblebee Benny; Heirloom’s North Carolina Red Snapper with squash puree and fennelapple salad (top) and Whole Roasted Cauliflower with verde sauce, chili oil, and garlic crunch (above).

Wilson, 29, who built his résumé in fine dining restaurants in Charleston and New York, will take the lead at Heirloom. He’ll continue to serve the six-course tasting menu, plus a rotation of seasonal entrées like Pickle Fried Chicken and Beer Can Rabbit Ravioli. Guests can still order Mama Murph’s famous cinnamon bread, her great-grandmother’s recipe that became a staple at Heirloom. They’ve also tapped Olivia Bowers, former restaurant manager at the Grand Bohemian Asheville, to manage Heirloom. Chad Whittington will lead the beverage program, which will feature a full beer and wine menu, plus signature cocktails—like a honey-infused cocktail, the proceeds from which will go to the Save the Bees Fund. Heirloom’s interior is a departure from the previous space, which felt like your grandmother’s dining room. The new space has a cleaner, more industrial aesthetic, with espresso-stained concrete, stamped tin ceiling tiles, and seating for 70. Local artist Christian Hunter, owner of Salt Plus Light Pottery, made the plates

and coffee mugs, all different shades of yellow and meant to look like honey. They’ve brought over the sconces from the old Heirloom and decorated the walls with a mix of antique mirrors and old and new artwork. “You don’t just wipe the slate clean,” Wilson says. “We took what we were given and kept what we thought would work.” Patrick, who calls Honeycomb his “favorite child,” will spend most of his time at the all-day café slinging French toast, Bumblebee Bennys, and Japanese Soufflé Pancakes. They’ll also serve breakfast cocktails and Pure Intentions Coffee. The Murphys kept the drugstore’s original counter, barstools, and exposed brick walls and added honeycomb-patterned wallpaper with gold bumblebees to an accent wall. The menus all have a honeybee logo as well. “Honeycomb goes with the brand of Heirloom,” Patrick says. “The bumblebee goes back to our roots; it’s the self-sustaining part of our world.” Toward the end of Main Street, near the railroad tracks, is Ryan’s domain in the

Belmont Community Garden. His raised beds supply some of Heirloom’s fruits, vegetables, and herbs—they source from local farmers, too—and he’s working with the town’s beekeeper to expand the pollinator garden. “Eighty percent of the food we consume is because of (bees),” he says. “We want to educate our guests about what they’re eating. We’re also selling a story.” At press time, Heirloom targeted a late October opening, Honeycomb Café was on track for November, and Bumblebee Bakery planned to open by January. The Murphys say there’s potential to expand even more; they’d love to give Belmont its own farmer’s market and continue to build out the community garden. “We know what a risky move this is, but this has been our dream,” Patrick adds. “If we can open three things in this climate, we can do anything.”

TAYLOR BOWLER is lifestyle editor of this magazine. DECEMBER 2021 // CHARLOTTE

FOOD+DRINK

O N T H E LI N E W I T H

KEN APONTE

ALCHEMY’S head chef never serves the same meal twice BY TAYLOR BOWLER

You might know him from: Napa on Providence, where he was executive chef from 2015 to 2020 Age: 32 Family status: Married with a 3-year-old daughter Hometown: Bayamón, Puerto Rico Currently lives in: Steele Creek

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR APPROACH TO COOKING. I know this isn’t a popular answer, but I don’t necessarily believe in farm-to-fork. I don’t believe the orange tree in my backyard produces the best oranges you’ve ever had. The best oranges in the world come from Florida. Just because it’s local doesn’t mean it’s the best. If I can find it better somewhere else, that’s what I’m going to serve you. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE DINING EXPERIENCE AT ALCHEMY? Our dining room is gorgeous; there are sculptures and a huge glass window that looks out at the art gallery. I don’t know too many art galleries you can eat in. The music is cool, lounge-y, and relaxing, not elevator music you’d hear at Applebee’s. It’ll never be the same experience twice, and I thrive on that. TELL ME ABOUT DEVELOPING A PLANT-FORWARD MENU. We say we’re plant-focused because we want to let people with dietary restrictions know that they’re not an afterthought when they eat here. Everyone has an allergy or dietary restriction in 2021. It shouldn’t be an ordeal if someone can’t have onions. We also serve steak, burgers, poultry, and fish. A lot of things on the menu are vegan, but people don’t know they’re vegan because they’re just good.

THE TOUGH STUFF Chocolate or cheese? Chocolate Coffee or tea? Coffee Beer or wine? Beer Spaghetti and meatballs or spicy noodles? Spaghetti

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

WHAT’S THE MOST CREATIVE DISH YOU’VE EVER MADE? I have a wine dinner coming up; it’s during a gallery exhibition. I’m making a dessert where the paints, canvas, and easel will all be food. I use fondant paper for the canvas, and the easels I make out of chocolate. (The guests) get to paint whatever they want. WHAT DO YOU EAT AT HOME? I eat homestyle food like rice and beans. I try to keep the flash at the restaurant.

Lobster roll or egg roll? Egg roll

WHAT’S ONE CHAIN RESTAURANT YOU’RE NOT ASHAMED TO ADMIT YOU LOVE? Taco Bell. I think chains are fantastic. That’s why they’re chains. They all do something very well.

Comedy or drama? Comedy

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ADULT BEVERAGE? Beer. I’m an IPA drinker.

More money or more free time? More time Street eats or sit-down? Street eats Facebook or Instagram? Instagram

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MEAL TO COOK? I get really bored cooking same thing over and over. The thing I haven’t made yet is my favorite thing to make.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS AN UNDERAPPRECIATED FLAVOR? Bitter. I eat things that are bitter on purpose to remind myself this is a taste than can be utilized.

ANY FOODS YOU WON’T TOUCH? I don’t like eggs. I can’t get over the smell, taste, or texture. WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO OUTSIDE OF WORK? I’m a big kid inside. I paint. I play board games. I cycle. Hockey is my favorite sport; I’ve always wanted to join a league. I try to get my hands in everything. ANY RULES TO LIVE BY IN THE KITCHEN? It’s hospitality, so let’s make people feel special.

COURTESY GLYN A STANLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

WHERE DOES YOUR LOVE OF COOKING COME FROM? The science behind it. I’ve never been obsessed with eating food—I don’t have a primal attraction to food like you’d think a chef would. I’m curious about the technique used to develop a flavor. What happens when fire touches food and changes its composition?

R EC I P E

Billy Sunday’s Advice From A Narwhal BILLY SUNDAY, the Chicago-based bar that opened in Optimist Hall in early 2020, is known for its hand-carved ice, creative glassware, and library of vintage spirits. Mixologist Stephanie Andrews created this Advice From a Narwhal cocktail—a nod to the movie Elf, a longtime favorite of hers—for the holiday menu. “It just encompassed everything that made me happy during the holidays,” she says. “Trips to the Kris Kringle Market for mulled wine, holiday movies, and cocktails with the family.” The base of the cocktail is an aged brandy, and she uses a versatile spiced syrup to enhance the wine: “Egg white and sparkling red wine really bring all the holiday flavors together.” —Taylor Bowler *Recipe yields 1 serving INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

1½ ounces bourbon barrel-aged brandy

1. Combine first five ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake.

½ ounce aquavit ½ ounce lemon juice 1 ounce mulled wine syrup (see sidebar)

2. Add ice and shake again.

1 egg white

3. Single-strain the mixture into a wine glass.

3 ounces sparkling red wine

4. Top with sparkling red wine.

Fresh nutmeg, for garnish

5. Grate fresh nutmeg on top.

MULLED WINE SYRUP: 5 cinnamon sticks 10 cloves 10 allspice berries Peel of one orange 10 green cardamom pods

Foodie Tidbits on a Small Plate Jim Noble, owner of barbecue restaurant NOBLE SMOKE, will open a stall in Optimist Hall in early 2022. Customers will be able to order smoked meats by the pound or in a sandwich, plus savory sides like pan-fried green beans, collards, and mac and cheese.

3 cups sugar 1½ cups water 1. Toast spices and orange peel in a wide saucepan over medium heat. 2. Mix sugar into toasted spices (do not remove from heat). 3. Pour water over spice-sugar mix and whisk to combine. 4. After the sugar has dissolved, remove from heat, cover, and steep for at least two hours and up to overnight. 5. Strain and store in the fridge until needed.

Best Bites Our favorite dish this month, chosen by Charlotte magazine staff HOUSE-MADE PECAN PIE, $8 THE CRUNKLETON PEOPLE GO TO THE Crunkleton to splurge on $15 cocktails and admire the best spirit library in Charlotte. If you work up an appetite, you might order a Wagyu Burger with a side of parmesan garlic & herb fries. When the food and cocktails are this good, dessert is generally an afterthought. But do yourselves a favor and save room, because this cocktail bar has some serious dessert game. The House-Made Pecan Pie, a secret family recipe from Chef Greg Balch’s grandmother, is a mammoth COURTESY

BITE-SIZED STO R I E S

wedge of warm, glistening, golden brown bliss topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, drizzled with candied pecan syrup,

Nashville-style hot chicken chain DAVE’S HOT CHICKEN will open 12 locations in Charlotte over the next five years. Look for the LA-based fast-casual restaurant in South End, Plaza Midwood, Ballantyne, and University. Popular vegan takeout spot VELTREE has relocated to Ballantyne. The new sit-down restaurant serves vegan comfort food like chicken and waffles, fried crab cake sandwiches, yams, and cornbread. DUCKWORTH’S GRILL & TAPHOUSE will open a new location alongside a cocktail bar called The Loft at Duckworth’s in the former Taco Mac space in SouthPark in 2022. Owner Rob Duckworth also plans to open a third LINK & PIN at Arboretum Shopping Center by the end of the year. —Taylor Bowler

and garnished with a smattering of glazed pecans. It’s a good idea to ask for two spoons and share it with your date. But if you want it all for yourself, nobody could blame you. —Taylor Bowler DECEMBER 2021 // CHARLOTTE

FOOD+DRINK

R E STAU R ANT S

Raising the Steaks Celebrate a special occasion with a superb steak dinner

HOLIDAYS ARE A TIME for celebration, and celebrations call for extravagant meals. Whether you want to treat your co-workers, entertain out-of-town guests, or just splurge on a Tuesday night, chances are there’s a steakhouse in your neighborhood. Find some highlights in this month’s restaurant guide. —Taylor Bowler

SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR A FULL DIRECTORY OF RESTAURANT LISTINGS.

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

PETER TAYLOR

(Above) The Dunavant's steak is topped with chimichurri sauce; The Porter’s House steaks (left) are served à la carte.

Dean’s Tomahawk Bone-in Ribeye Chop (right and below).

F E AT U R E D R E STAU R ANT

DEAN’S ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE 128 E. Stonewall St. 704-499-6626

DEAN’S IS AN UPSCALE STEAKHOUSE with an Italian twist— think American wagyu beef served alongside short rib gnocchi and truffled bucatini. The restaurant is on the ground floor of uptown’s 22-story JW Marriott. Sit in the dining room to get a view of the open kitchen or dine on the street-level covered patio. Dinner highlights include Dean’s Tomahawk Bone-in Ribeye Chop and the Italian “Oscar” Filet topped with lump crab, asparagus, and taleggio cream. Choose from more than 250 wines or sip classic cocktails like an Old Fashioned or a Manhattan. If you’re celebrating a special occasion, order a dessert wine and splurge on some Limoncello Pie. DRESSLER’S

8630-1A Lindholm Drive 704-987-1779 Part steakhouse, part upscale American cuisine, dishes are delivered with consistency and a smile, both here and at the Metropolitan Avenue location.

FLATIRON KITCHEN + TAPHOUSE

215 S. Main St., Davidson 704-237-3246 High-quality steaks are a given here, but the seafood and vegetables are treated with the same respect.

COURTESY JW MARRIOTT CHARLOTTE

BEEF ’N BOTTLE

4538 South Blvd. 704-523-9977 An old favorite, this dark, moody steakhouse serves up thick and juicy cuts that you can top with lobster tail, shrimp, scallops, or oysters.

THE DUNAVANT

2322 Dunavant St., Ste. 200 980-335-0125 The signature steak and bottomless fries dinner, which includes bread, a

choice of soup or salad, and the option of four sauces, tastes more expensive than its $32 fixed price.

THE PORTER’S HOUSE

7417 Waverly Walk Ave. 704-930-7878 Feast on thick-cut steaks and classic sides in the sleek dining room or on the patio, and don’t miss the private bourbon room.

131 MAIN

5970 Fairview Road, Ste. 100 704-343-0131 The filet mignon, rib-eye, and NY strip are all aged 35 days, the chef’s bar overlooks the open kitchen, and the covered patio has seating around the fire pit. Additional locations are in Blakeney and Lake Norman.

OAK STEAKHOUSE

4477 Sharon Road, Ste 125 704-954-8900 Chef Bobby Hodge aces steakhouse classics like rib-eye or filet, and be sure to save room for some peanut butter pie for dessert.

STEAK 48

4425 Sharon Road 980-580-4848 Steak is the main attraction, but don’t miss the crispy shrimp deviled eggs, corn crème brulée, and seafood tower.

THE CAPITAL GRILLE

201 N. Tryon St. 704-348-1400 The Charlotte outpost of this upscale steakhouse chain serves classic American fare in a clubby, refined setting.

EDDIE V’S PRIME SEAFOOD

101 S. Tryon St. 704-333-5262 Enjoy a night out in uptown with consistently good seafood and steak, plus a cocktail lounge that features live jazz.

BLT STEAK

110 N. College St. 704-972-4380 Carnivores can feast on filet mignon, rib-eye, porterhouse, hanger steak, or even an Angus burger in this chic restaurant inside the Ritz-Carlton.

THE PALM

6705-B Phillips Place Court 704-552-7256 The legendary chain serves high-end steakhouse fare and seafood in a dining room bedecked with caricatures of famous people.

EPIC CHOPHOUSE

1365 Broadcloth St., Ste. 101, Fort Mill 803-548-3742 Petit filet, aged sirloin, and bone-in rib-eye all taste divine with Chef Jon Spencer’s “next level additions,” which include fried oysters, baby lobster tails, and roasted garlic brie butter.

DEL FRISCO’S DOUBLE EAGLE STEAKHOUSE

4725 Piedmont Row, Ste. 170 704-552-5502 In addition to top-notch steaks and chops, this SouthPark steakhouse has a second-story mezzanine bar and private wine cellar with more than 1,000 types of wine.

DECEMBER 2021 // CHARLOTTE

FOOD+DRINK

Christmas Cheers! We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new beer

HAVE YOU EVER STUFFED a 16-ounce can of craft beer into a stocking? The way it fits is nothing short of Christmas magic. This year, slip one of these in the stocking and leave the other three cans in the fridge overnight to chill. In our last issue, we covered the traditional winter style of stouts. In this roundup, we look at three lighter options for the season. —Andy Smith

SYCAMORE BREWING’S

THE RECIPE: NoDa Brewing calls this IPA with a piney aroma “the perfect beer for the most wonderful time of the year.” Six hop varieties are used to craft each can, and it’s brewed with spruce tips.

THE RECIPE: Using a blonde ale base, Sycamore uses a “caramel-y malt” and infuses notes of sugar cookie dough, honey, and spices into the mix. Last year, they introduced a barrel-aged take that adds more oak and caramel tones to the brew.

HOPPY HOLIDAYS

THE BONA FIDES: The beer currently has a 91% score on BeerAdvocate, which is in the “Outstanding” tier.

OLDE MECKLENBURG BREWERY’S

YULE BOCK

THE RECIPE: Olde Mecklenburg Brewery always looks to beer history for inspiration, and its Yule Bock follows that trend. Yule Bock is a true Weihnachtsbock, or traditional German holiday beer. Barley malts and noble hops create its amber hue. THE HISTORY: The first-ever bock was made by German brewers based in Einbeck in the 1300s. It would be adapted centuries later in Bavaria, where the pronunciation of Einbeck as “ein-Bock” gave the style its name.

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

CHRISTMAS COOKIE ALE

THE CONTROVERSY: It began in 2019, when North Carolina ABC forced Sycamore to pull Christmas Cookie Ale off shelves because of its unapproved label art with 8-bit deer in, uh, NSFW positions. Last year, the labels showcased gingerbread men and women in bondage gear. No word yet on what adultsonly art they have planned for this year.

COURTESY; SHUTTERSTOCK

BEER

NODA BREWING’S

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2021 FAC E S of

CHARLOTTE

PEOPLE ARE WHAT MAKE THIS CITY SPECIAL Charlotteans have a can-do spirit, high standards for quality, and, more often than not, look at their business as a calling. Over the next several pages, we’d like to introduce you to Charlotteans who are at the tops of their respective fields. They work in a variety of industries, but they are united by their commitment to excellence and to the community they—and you—call home. They are the Faces of Charlotte.

CHARLOTTE PLASTIC SURGERY Face of Plastic Surgery CLOSETS BY DESIGN Face of Custom Closet Design ESSENTIAL AESTHETICS AND LASER Face of Aesthetics KOLE’S KEYS REAL ESTATE Face of Women in Real Estate HOBART FINANCIAL Face of Wealth Management PERRY’S DIAMONDS AND ESTATE JEWELRY Face of Diamonds & Estate Jewelry JAN CARLISLE Face of Fort Mill & Tega Cay Real Estate

shutterstock

CRAZY JANE’S Face of Interior Design

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2021 FACES of

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FACE OF PLASTIC SURGERY

CHARLOTTE PLASTIC SURGERY Charlotte Plastic Surgery is the only practice to win Charlotte magazine’s coveted BOB Award for “Best Plastic Surgery Practice” and it’s no wonder—with seven decades of jawdropping transformations under our belt, we have thousands of satisfied clients in the Charlotte area and beyond. Our six highly-skilled, board certified plastic surgeons are nationally and internationally ranked, and even travel the country training other physicians on

the latest treatments and cutting-edge techniques. However, our greatest accomplishment is the satisfaction of our many loyal clients who trust in our proven results and dedicated care so much, they choose us to help them feel their very best. When you choose Charlotte Plastic Surgery, you bloom. 704-372-6846 CharlottePlasticSurgery.com

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2021 FACES of

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FACE OF CUSTOM CLOSET DESIGN

CLOSETS BY DESIGN August marked 17 years of business for Laura VanSickle, co-owner of Charlotte-based Closets by Design. This local entrepreneur, along with her business partner Eric, employs 30 talented designers with a passion for organization so you can live your best, clutter-free life. They have an incredible team: designers with a passion for organization, installers with over a decade of experience, and a talented group of craftsmen who custom cut your entire job on-site in their

local 36,000-square-foot facility. Stop by their showroom off of Westinghouse Boulevard in South Charlotte (1108 Continental Blvd., Suite A) to see the possibilities for custom closets, home offices, wine cellar racks, murphy beds, and pantry organizers that will transform your home and lifestyle—for the better. 704-588-7272 Charlotte.ClosetsByDesign.com

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FACE OF AESTHETICS

ESSENTIAL AESTHETICS AND LASER Not all med spas are created equal. Armed with a new, luxurious, stateof-the-art facility, the most innovative laser technology available, a new permanent makeup studio and ten of the most talented women in the industry, we are prepared to exceed your expectations. Come experience the difference. Kim Kardashian did. 704-625-6567 EALaserCenter.com

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2021 FACES of

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FACE OF WOMEN IN REAL ESTATE

KOLE’S KEYS REAL ESTATE In the real estate industry since 2011, Nykole is a dynamic force to reckon with. Poised with grace, and equipped with continual knowledge of the real estate industry, Nykole is definitely “your key to all things real estate”. After being in the industry for a number of years, she launched Kole’s Keys Real Estate and is now partnered with notable connections to ensure all of your real estate goals will be achieved while ensuring your real estate experience exceeds the “wow” factor. Licensed in NC, SC and GA, plus featured in various magazines, Nykole Wyatt is The Face of Women in Real Estate. 704-439-7478 KolesKeys.com

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FACE OF WEALTH MANAGEMENT

HOBART FINANCIAL

Knowledgeable advice from a team you can trust. That’s what you get when you choose Hobart Financial Group as your financial partner. They use their experience and expertise to help people create the lives they truly want to live. Best of all, the firm’s entire team goes above and beyond to always exceed clients’ expectations. Whether you’re meeting with an advisor for the first time or calling to make changes to your account, you’ll always get the firstclass service you expect from your financial advisor. 888-553-0122 HobartWealth.com

Investment advisory services offered through Hobart Private Capital, LLC, a SEC-Registered Investment Advisor. Insurance services offered separately through Hobart Insurance Services, LLC, an affiliated insurance agency. Securities offered through Cape Securities, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Hobart Private Capital and Hobart Insurance Services are not affiliated with Cape Securities. We do not provide, and no statement contained herein shall constitute, tax or legal advice. You should consult a tax or legal professional on any such matters. This information is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide any investment advice or provide the basis for any investment decisions. You should consult your financial adviser prior to making any decision based on any specific information contained herein. This is an advertisement paid for by Hobart Financial Group.

FACE OF DIAMONDS AND ESTATE JEWELRY

PERRY’S DIAMONDS AND ESTATE JEWELRY Over the past 43 years, Perry’s has established itself as one of the nation’s finest family-owned and operated jewelers to buy, sell, trade, consign, and appraise your fine, antique, vintage, and estate jewelry as well as diamonds and coins. Our knowledgeable staff includes 10 GIA Graduate Gemologists, two FGAs from The Gemological Association of Great Britain, and two master goldsmiths. Perry’s also offers state-of-the-art on-site jewelry and watch repair and custom jewelry design. 704-364-1391 PerrysJewelry.com

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FACE OF FORT MILL & TEGA CAY REAL ESTATE

JAN CARLISLE

Jan was born in Rock Hill, South Carolina and raised in the Tega Cay and Fort Mill areas. Growing up on Lake Wylie in Tega Cay and graduating from Fort Mill High School, many of her cherished childhood memories have driven Jan to want to help others create those memories with their families. Jan began selling real estate full time in 2014 and will work nights and weekends to help you find your dream home. “I work all the time because I love what I do.” With JAN You CAN Buy a Home! 803- 627-7751 CarolinaUnitedRealty.com

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FACE OF INTERIOR DESIGN

CRAZY JANE’S In business since 1996, Crazy Jane’s is a full-service interior design and retail showroom located in Charlotte’s South End Design District. Owner Tom Holley has a varied design and retail background, having served as a director and buyer for luxury boutiques in New York City, Beverly Hills, and San Francisco before settling back in Charlotte. He shops markets in High Point, Atlanta, New York, and Europe to bring his style of sophistication, comfort, and luxury to Charlotte, to the mountains, to the coast and beyond. He offers anything and everything needed for your home, tailored to your lifestyle. There’s never a design fee and shipping and delivery is always free. 704-332-5454 crazyjanesinc.com Custom fabric mask by Jill Seale

Metalsmith Jason Stein creates sculptural statement jewelry from found objects. Necklaces shown (right, from top to bottom) include Temporal Resonance #10 (steel, brass, bronze, and polyester cord), $175; TechnoLithic Remnants #10 (cast iron, sterling silver, enamel, and diamonds), $975; and Techno-Lithic Remnants #8 (bronze, sterling silver, and 23 bead-set yellow sapphires), $750.

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

These four Charlotteans workshop giftworthy keepsakes from others’ discards

CRAFT FOR CHRISTMAS By TAYLOR BOWLER and ANDY SMITH Photographs by CHRIS EDWARDS

DECEMBER 2021 // CHARLOTTE

Jason Stein

Jason Stein Metals

Jason Stein works full time as a bench jeweler at Perry’s Jewelry, where he does custom design, repair, and consultations. In his spare time, he creates what he calls “wearable sculpture”: heavy statement jewelry made with found objects and repurposed materials like nails and screws coated in steel, brass, and bronze. “This isn’t a piece you wear every day,” he says. “You might wear it to a gallery opening to be seen in it, then take it off and hang it on the wall.” Often, clients bring him family heirlooms they want to repurpose. “Sometimes I can’t reuse the gold ... but if someone brought me a pair of Grandpa’s binoculars or Grandma’s sewing needles, could I turn it into a wall piece? Sure.” During a winter residency at Penland School of Craft, Stein used a technique similar to casting to create a decorative tabletop piece with plastic model parts and electroformed copper. “If, say, someone was in the Army Corps of Engineers,” he says, “that would look fantastic on a desk.” See Jason’s work at jasonsteinmetals.com Some items available for purchase through Splop Design: splopdesign.com/artist/jason-stein

Techno-Lithic Remnants #13 necklace made from sterling silver, shibuichi, and natural yellow sapphires, $1,875.

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

DECEMBER 2021 // CHARLOTTE

10-inch Round Crossbody Shoulder Bag customized with faux DMX vinyl record label, $150.

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

Jaianna McCants

JVinylArt

Jaianna McCants first put paint to vinyl a few years back at the suggestion of a friend with a trove of well-worn albums. The experience opened a new artistic practice for the New York native, who depicts her favorite musicians on used records under the moniker JVinylArt and sells them from her web store. The mixedmedia work includes a purple-soaked tribute to Prince; J. Cole's seminal record 2014 Forest Hills Drive, with the real-life street sign created via collage; and shoulder bags dedicated to the likes of DMX (shown) and Marvin Gaye. “People used to get mad at me and said I was ruining usable vinyl,” she says with a laugh. “But sometimes the ones I’m using are scratched, and I tell them I always have the option of taking blank records and adding a cheaper custom label to emulate the real thing.” Over the past two years, McCants has shared her practice at McColl Center workshops. Teaching’s nothing new for her, though. By day, she’s a visual art teacher at Mallard Creek High School. Order bags, custom vinyls, coasters, and more at jvinylart.com

DECEMBER 2021 // CHARLOTTE

Kat Sánchez Standfield

Fiberess At a glance, Kat Sánchez Standfield’s art looks anything but traditional, but the Panama-born artist weaves and knits with techniques older than a High Renaissance fresco. The artist is part of the Goodyear Arts Collective, based at Camp North End. Her wearable “Noodle Scarves” and wall hangings (“Magnified Weavings”) are influenced by “the history of textiles and its intrinsic connection to humanity,” she says. Their appearance as enormous, simplistic knots reflects the age-old utility of fiber. When you examine them closely, you see all the careful twists and turns made by Sánchez Standfield’s hands—similar to those her mother would use to craft a new bouyetta, or traditional Panamanian dress, with each stage of her childhood. Some of her larger pieces appear unspooled and unfinished at the edges, much like the ongoing story of the form. See and purchase Kat's work at fiberess.com

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

Noodle Scarves (multiple scarves and colors shown), $60; Magnified Weavings, price upon request.

DECEMBER 2021 // CHARLOTTE

Gear Goat XCHG consigns items like these Scarpa Boostic Climbing Shoes (size EU 36.5, $39.97), which retail for $129, and Danner Mountain Light Cascade Hiking Boots (men's size 9, $199.97), which retail for $360 (right).

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

Ilan Paltrow

Gear Goat XCHG

Before we visited Gear Goat XCHG in Elizabeth, we asked owner Ilan Paltrow: Do any of your items have a particularly interesting story? “Bicycles from European mountain trails, hiking shoes that have been to Africa, sleeping bags that have kept people warm in snowstorms ... a few minutes in here, and you’ll be wondering what to shoot,” he replied. Paltrow, a former speed skier and entrepreneur originally from Portland, Oregon, founded Charlotte’s only gear consignment shop in 2018. The staff at Gear Goat XCHG, an outdoor equipment and apparel shop, doesn't just sell used materials: They prolong their storied lives with new and custom parts. Their motto: “ReUse + ReLive + ReLove.” For the adventurous and the globetrotters in your life, the “new” descriptor may not be as desirable as “tested.” Many items at Gear Goat XCHG have already gotten others home safely. Visit Gear Goat XCHG at 824 Lamar Ave. Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. geargoatx.com

DECEMBER 2021 // CHARLOTTE

View the catalog of specialty foods at NCSPECIALTYFOODS.ORG/DISH-THIS

N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services | Steve Troxler, Commissioner

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Time to get away for a while! The destinations on the following pages will provide the perfect escape.

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SEA ISLAND: SO MANY REASONS TO VISIT THIS 5-STAR RETREAT

s a private beach resort, Sea Island’s beautiful setting is surrounded by ocean, river and marshes, providing the backdrop for an exceptional array of outdoor activities – and the ultimate getaway for travelers. The only resort in the world to receive four Forbes Five-Star awards for 13 consecutive years, Sea Island is an extraordinary destination for spending time with family and friends and for executive retreats and meetings (world leaders gathered here for a previous G8 Summit). Located on the southeastern coast of Georgia, Sea Island features mild year-round temperatures (January and February are pefect for golf), five miles of private beach, a Beach Club with three pools (there are seven in all at the resort), tennis center, Yacht Club, Shooting School, and children’s programs, as well as three championship golf courses, including Seaside and Plantation, home of the PGA TOUR’s RSM Classic. Sea Island offers over 90 outdoor activities including fishing, boating, sailing, paddle boarding and an abundance of nature-oriented experiences, such as dolphin boat tours, falconry, and up-close visits with owls

and raptors. Including a new and highly popular bowling alley and pub, dining options range from Forbes Five-Star to casual, most of which offer outdoor seating. Accommodation options include 265 rooms and suites at The Cloister, on Sea Island, and 43 rooms and suites and seven cottages at The Lodge, nestled between the Seaside and Plantation golf courses on St. Simons Island. In addition, over 140 cottages are available on Sea Island, ranging from two to eight bedrooms, many with pools, offering the flexibility of a private home while being close to amenities and the beach. The Inn, on nearby St. Simons Island, offers casual accommodations in a select-service setting. In addition to captivating experiences, settings and facilities, Sea Island has been known for generations for providing genuine Southern hospitality to its guests. Sea Island’s Quarter Century Club, which honors team members who have worked in the company 25 years or more, consists of over 100 team members with multiple new inductees in 2022. To learn more, visit Seaisland.com.

SEA ISLAND Plan your trip at seaisland.com or call 866-526-7442

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A WINTER WANDER-LAND RETREAT IN THE LOWCOUNTRY

ocated between Hilton Head, SC and Savannah, GA, (under a 4-hour drive from Charlotte) you’ll find Montage Palmetto Bluff. With 20,000 acres of pristine Lowcountry terrain, Palmetto Bluff encompasses wal ing trails, two vibrant villages, an array of shops and eight delectable restaurants. Upon arrival, most guests surrender their cars and leisurely make their way around the property on the main mode of transportation, bicycle. This unparalleled coastal setting adorned with 100-year-old oak trees and 32 miles of waterfront has an abundance of space to relax and en oy the great outdoors. Miles of serene fresh waterways allow for aya ing, electric boats and fishing. The surrounding tidal estuary of the May River provides ample room for boating, aya ing and fishing amongst the resident population of Atlantic bottlenose dolphin. On land there are no shortage of activities, ac ic laus Signature Golf, tennis, cro uet, pic leball, station sporting clays course, archery, air rifle and a world class Spa Montage are ust the beginning.

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ith this bounty of activity there are also a variety of accommodations to choose from, guest rooms to cottages to illage omes allow for varying degrees of privacy and space. rapped in the warmth of southern hospitality, a getaway to Montage Palmetto Bluff will leave you with a lifetime of memories.

MONTAGE PALMETTO BLUFF Plan your trip at montagepalmettobluff.com or call 888-430-8672

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VISIT WINSTON-SALEM

ight up your holiday season with a getaway to charming WinstonSalem. Experience more than 265 years of historic holiday traditions filled with the spirit of nostalgia, the twilight of candlelight tours, and the excitement of holiday celebrations for the entire family. Discover 18th and 19th century Moravian traditions while strolling the cobblestone sidewalks in historic Old Salem Museums & Gardens and admire the glow of handcrafted Moravian stars illuminating Old Salem’s Heritage Bridge. Marvel at Roaring ‘20s holiday decor while touring Reynolda House Museum of American Art, originally the historic 1917 home of tobacco baron R.J. Reynolds and family. At neighboring Graylyn Estate—historic home-turned-85room-hotel—each of the seven Christmas trees is decorated to reflect the sprawling home’s history. Enjoy the splendor of a Victorian Christmas at Körner’s Folly, an enchanted holiday excursion for more than a century. Built in 1880, this unique home features 22 whimsical rooms decorated with

floor to ceiling garlands, glowing lights, and ornate Christmas trees. ind inspiration on a charming horse-drawn carriage ride under a million twinkling lights at Tanglewood Park’s Festival of Lights—one of the largest holiday light displays in the Southeast. For more information on holiday happenings, events and special holiday hotel getaway packages, visit www.visitwinstonsalem.com/holidays.

VISIT WINSTON-SALEM Plan your trip at visitwinstonsalem.com or call 336.728.4200

the

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

stuff

An old leather jacket from the Village and another era. An ex-archeologist who preserves what she or someone else has dug up. Here’s a holiday story about the gifts we salvage from years and lives past BY JESSE SOLOFF

carry

PHOTOGRAPHS BY HERMAN NICHOLSON

DECEMBER 2021 // CHARLOTTE

Bruce Allan Soloff, 2014.

When my dad bought it, he didn’t even own a motorcycle. But the attitude and spirit that comes with it? He had that for miles. According to legend (my mom), he bought it in the early 1980s as they walked down Eighth Street in Greenwich Village. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the sheen of the leather and reflection of the silver buttons and zippers, and, like a bull, was captivated by its red flannel lining. He wore it as often as he could. Soon after I moved to Charlotte, he and my mom flew up from their new home in Miami for Thanksgiving. I pulled up to the terminal and found him on the curb, wearing the jacket, shivering. He got in, and we hugged across the center console. My hands felt the chill of the leather. He didn’t care how cold he was. He was just happy to have an excuse to put the jacket on again. I treasure it because it was his. It’s what I have left.

LINDSAY PARKER EXCELS at making things reappear—those buried underground for millennia or shoved to the backs of bookshelves, dresser drawers, and coat closets. A former archaeologist, Lindsay once unearthed a pottery shard in the Florida panhandle. The prehistoric artifact was from a pot used to boil water. “What was so significant about it was the patterning,” she says. “It was a pattern I hadn’t seen before. It wasn’t something I that I had seen in my history books or my anthropological books.” That’s what Lindsay loved about archaeology: the “vast beauty” within small items like the pot. She calls it the “stuff,” a humble word she employs with the kind of reverence astronomers use when they gaze into telescopes at the heavens. “When you get down to the heart of what objects are, they’re either tools or they’re completely superfluous,” she says. “And I realized that it was the

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

I REACH INTO THE FAR LEFT of our coat closet until I feel the coarseness of the leather and the cool metal of the buttons and zippers. It’s April, and in the four and a half years since my dad died, the jacket hasn’t seen much daylight. Some days, I take it out, hold it up, and wonder what he would be like if the lung cancer had never come. Other days, I try it on to see if it fits any better than the last time. The first thing you notice when you walk into The Antiquarian, the custom jewelry design shop Lindsay opened four years ago, is the antique jeweler’s bench and tools that dot the surface and walls around it. Chasing hammers and punches and dapping blocks. Files and soldering blocks and polishers. Like the jewelry Lindsay handles and crafts, she’s either inherited or customized most of what you find on her bench. “It’s broken and janky, and I love it,” Lindsay says. She looks toward the bench, where she’s spent hours poring over other people’s jewelry as if it were her own. There’s the ring made from a piece of tanzanite that Frank brought back from Mount Kilimanjaro. There’s Meredith’s pendant—her father collected flashlights, so Lindsay made her a flashlight-shaped pendant as a keepsake after he died, with a bulb made from a small diamond earring he’d given her as a birthday gift. There’s the hair ring, an old Victorian tradition presented as love

COURTESY JESSE SOLOFF

OF ALL THE THINGS I inherited from my dad, Bruce, a strong, steadfast hairline is the one I treasure most. His black leather motorcycle jacket is a close second. Not because I wear it. Shit, I can’t pull off that look. It’s too small, too impractical, and too not-a-white-Toyota Priusthat-is-unmistakably-not-a-Harley.

completely superfluous stuff that I was most interested in, because it was the things that made us human.” Lindsay left archaeology for a job at a startup that supports self-published authors, but she never lost that love for stuff. “Whenever I had a bad day,” she says, “I was like, ‘I’m just going to go work in a jewelry shop.’” Once she had the courage and means to do so, she quit her job in 2013 and worked for four years in a local Charlotte shop. She designed and sold custom jewelry, handled people’s heirlooms, and sold items that could become heirlooms. She eventually realized the connection between the lockets, pendants, and rings she worked with and the tools and knives she’d dug up on excavations: “my drive towards preserving.”

Lindsay Parker of The Antiquarian (left) fashions custom jewelry from heirlooms, like the button from Bruce Soloff’s leather jacket that she turned into cufflinks (above). Other items she’s crafted (below, clockwise from top left): a Victorian hair ring; a flashlight pendant; a ring that contains a piece of tanzanite from Mount Kilimanjaro; a wedding suite.

HERMAN NICHOLSON (2); COURTESY LINDSAY PARKER (4)

Lindsay tells me she’s always relieved when she returns pieces to clients. “The thing that I love to do is also the thing that scares me the most. It’s very easy to accidentally ruin a piece of jewelry or break a stone,” she confesses. “And the stuff that I’m working with a lot of the time isn’t necessarily super expensive. The issue is that it’s irreplaceable. There’s one.”

tokens or to commemorate a death, that Lindsay made for a friend. It includes strands from her firstborn. The wedding suite for Amanda and her fiancé consists of six items crafted from family heirlooms, including a necklace from her mother and a diamond ring she inherited from her grandmother, who recently died from COVID. “Basically, when she walked down the aisle,” Lindsay says, “she was wearing multiple generations of women.” I HAND LINDSAY the 6 1/2-pound jacket, and she examines the buttons: the four that accentuate the collar, two each on the shoulders and front pockets, and 12 along the belt loops. I’ve asked her to take four and fashion a pair of cufflinks for

my wedding celebration the next month along with two lapel pins, one each for me and my brother. She’ll use a jeweler’s saw to cut sheet metal in the shape of a circular base before she rounds some wire and solders the two together. From there, she’ll trim off the excess, strip the buttons from the jacket, and set them into the base. These cufflinks and pins will serve a practical purpose at the wedding, but the real reason I want them? I miss my dad. With each year that passes, it gets harder to remember the rasp in his voice, the way he used to call me “Jess,” and that thick head of hair. Memory is an exercise. Sometimes, the little things we hold on to, the stuff, is the weight we need to carry to fight off the forgetting.

ON THE DAY OF THE WEDDING, Kyle and I put on our suits in my hotel room. It’s not always easy for brothers to share feelings with each other. But as he affixes his lapel pin and I place my cufflinks, we share memories about Dad and acknowledge how proud he’d be of the two of us. Throughout the reception, friends ask about the pieces, and I tell them about Dad, share the story, and laugh when I think about the kick he’d get from knowing the leather jacket he impulsively bought 40 years ago had found its way into my wedding. My wife, Katie, is due with our first child next April. I’ll never be as cool as my dad was, but I hope to match him in generosity, attentiveness, and devotion. Someday, I’ll give what Lindsay made for me to our son or daughter and tell them about their Grandpa Bruce. Until then, I’ll be searching for new dress shirts. I have a great pair of cufflinks to go with them. JESSE SOLOFF has lived and worked in Charlotte for 13 years. His previous contributions to Charlotte magazine include the award-winning “Our Last Home,” published in April 2017, and “A Tree Grows” in February 2021. He and his wife, Katie, live in NoDa with their dog, Cali. DECEMBER 2021 // CHARLOTTE

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If 2020 was the year COVID staggered us, 2021 was when we regained some balance. From an inventive doctor, to an activist who created physical space for people in need, to caring stewards of rescue pets, to a resourceful reporter, our Charlotteans of the Year embraced a key to survival: adaptability.

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JOE

BRUNO J

oe Bruno, a 29-year-old reporter for WSOC-TV and something of a local celebrity, struggled to sleep in the first hour of Sunday, March 21. He picked up his iPhone and did what he’d done increasingly for the previous couple of weeks: check pharmacy websites to see if they had doses of the COVID vaccines and available appointments. He found what he was after and—as he does many, many times every day— opened Twitter. “CHARLOTTE: If you are awake, numerous appointments are available at Walgreens this week.” Bruno pasted the URL and hit send at 1:03 a.m. The message reached other insomniacs. “Got one, many thanks! Know which vaccine the local Walgreens have?” @SmokeRing41 replied at 1:09. “It is def a two dose- has been Pfizer but confirm with them,” Bruno tweeted back at 1:12. At 1:18, @SmokeRing41 responded: “#thanksJoe.” Matt Comer, the communications director for the LGBTQ advocacy organization Charlotte Pride, was awake, too. “We saw the tweet and immediately that night got online and got vaccine appointments scheduled after frantically looking to find some in the days prior. Everywhere we had looked or attempted to book had nothing open,” Comer tells me months later via DM. “Honestly, if it hadn’t been for Joe’s tweet that night, we probably wouldn’t have gotten vaccinated as quickly as we were. Joe really did a great service to the local community by keeping tabs on open appointments. Countless people have probably avoided COVID infections because of Joe.”

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

Spring brought the COVID vaccines and a mad scramble to find doses wherever they were. Through his ever-active Twitter account, Charlotte’s most visible TV reporter called the shots By GREG LACOUR Photographs by RUSTY WILLIAMS

Comer thanked him—via Twitter, of course—that afternoon. Bruno replied five minutes later: “Yay! Glad to help.”

e just wanted to help, Bruno tells me in September. Simple as that. “This was a time when everyone was really stressed out, there was a lot of interest in the vaccines, and people were really having a hard time finding them,” he says. “The way I explained to someone else was, ‘I have plenty of time. I don’t have a life. I will use my time to help people get a shot, even if it is extra time on the weekends or when I’m not technically on the clock searching for appointments.’ “My wife is the real trouper on this. She already hates that I’m on my phone all the time anyway, so I was even more

on it then.” He chuckles. “But she loved it as well.” So did his station, and so did a lot of people in Charlotte during those clenched-teeth days in spring when Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson parceled out doses, and providers collected and set up appointments as quickly as they could. Novant and Atrium Health, along with area pharmacies and retailers, tried to get the word out about vaccine availability via news releases and social media. But, especially in March, events and doses moved too quickly. When you found out Walgreens or CVS had them, you had to check their sites to find out which locations had how many. Often, by the time you logged on, they were gone. It was a real-time crisis that demanded specific, real-time informa-

tion. Late in the afternoon of March 12, Bruno tweeted: “Just got a DM from someone who just got off the phone with the Walgreens in Indian Trail. They have some extra COVID-19 vaccines available today for people who are eligible. Give them a call: 704-821-1589.” Reporters typically don’t do things like that. They’ll pass on information from health departments and pharmaceutical companies, but they tend not to practically set up the appointment for you. But over the next six weeks or so—on and off the clock, in Charlotte and on his way to or from family visits in his native Pennsylvania, day or night, at home or office or elsewhere—Bruno checked to see who in the Charlotte area had how many vaccine doses and how to set up appointments, and then he told us. (That’s how I got mine, too.)

runo already was well known in town as a dogged and seemingly tireless reporter, and he earned national acclaim for his door-to-door work in Bladen County during the Ninth Congressional District scandal in 2018 and 2019. But this was something else: to serve as a primary source of literally vital information to an entire city, many of whose anxious residents lay awake in the dark. He might have kept it going for months. But finally, as more people were vaccinated, demand eased. “There was a moment in April—I was at the beach at the time, and I was posting about vaccines being available all day, and I remember the spots were still available by the end of the day,” he says. “That’s when I started to slowly phase out because, within a week or two, it got to the point where you could get a shot anywhere.” Bruno’s back to a life that approaches normal, even though COVID remains

with us and may never leave. He and his wife, Liz, married in November 2020 and live in Plaza Midwood. He still bird-dogs local institutions like the Charlotte City Council and Mecklenburg County commissioners; the day we meet for lunch, he mentions that his workday won’t start until 2:30 p.m. because he has a commissioners’ meeting to cover that evening. He’s committed to the city he adopted in 2014, though, having signed a five-year deal with WSOC in August that will keep him in Charlotte until at least 2026. “There’s something about Charlotte that just draws you in,” he says. “It’s a wonderful place to grow up as an adult in, and it’s a brand-new city. People are from everywhere, and we’re all kind of learning the city together. It feels like there’s something for everyone.” More good news. Thanks, Joe.

GREG LACOUR is the editor of this magazine. DECEMBER 2021 // CHARLOTTE

2021

C H A R LOT T E A N S OF THE YEAR

CMPD ANIMAL CARE

& CONTROL Charlotte consistently steps up to adopt pets who need homes. This is the team that rescues them first By JEN TOTA McGIVNEY Photograph by RUSTY WILLIAMS

n a world of doodles and yorkipoos, Charlotte’s a haven for the dog breeds easier described than named: Scruffy puppers. Blocky-headed wigglebutts. Chonky floofers. When people ask us what kind of dog wags at the end of our leashes, many of us answer with a proud, “He’s a rescue.” Say what you will about our city’s lack of sentiment for the historic and our short attention span for the new. With animals, we’re softies for rescues, ready to commit to the dogs and cats who need second chances at good lives. We owe much of that to the folks at Animal Care & Control. They’ve got a tough job: care for animals they’ll never keep. They’ve created a brilliant solution: create a community of softies like us willing to care for them next. In spring 2020, when COVID restrictions threatened to shut down adoptions from their shelter, on Byrum Drive near the airport, the staff fought to continue them as an essential government service. When people’s attention turned away from pandemic pets this year, they returned that focus to homeless animals through adoption promotions and events. This isn’t normal, Charlotte. It isn’t normal for a municipal animal shelter in the South to qualify as a no-kill shelter. Even though AC&C, with its finite space and resources, must take in every stray and surrendered pet in the county—no matter how big, old, sick, or injured—it still achieved the 90% save rate last year that put them on par with private rescue groups. The average

save rate of all North Carolina shelters, both municipal and private, was 76%. The AC&C staff earned their designation as Charlotteans of the Year—for their dogged (ahem) work and purr-suasive (sorry) tactics to make sure Charlotte’s unofficial animal is the rescue pet.

his year won’t make the national animal rescue highlight reel. While adopters flooded animal shelters in 2020 to find furry pandemic buddies, shelters faced a tougher sell in 2021. Fewer people adopted pets. People caught up on postponed vacations and returned to offices and classrooms. Best Friends Animal Society, a national animal welfare nonprofit, reports that pet adoptions decreased about 4% in 2021. But Charlotte, once again, came through for our rescues. The number of pets adopted from AC&C, a division of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, has risen so far this year. And don’t believe what you hear about people returning pandemic pets, says Melissa Knicely, AC&C’s communications manager—at least not here. The number of pets surrendered by their owners actually decreased. Judging by the longer wait times for veterinarians and groomers throughout the city, anecdotal evidence points to pandemic pets who are settled into their forever homes, healthy and freshly trimmed.

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

However, the save rate ticks down. As I write this, it’s September, and AC&C’s save rate hovers at about 88%. Compared to last year, more stray cats and dogs fill the shelter at AC&C. These animals may have evaded notice last year while more people stayed home, or they may be the result of canceled spay and neuter clinics during 2020’s shutdown. In a way, it’s good news. Most strays begin their best lives when they enter AC&C, where they receive walks and love—and food and vet care—from staff and volunteers. Still, with only so many runs and cages available, more strays bring new challenges. The staff’s tenacity in increasing animal adoptions and decreasing pet surrenders is matched by the creativity of their methods. “We’re a diverse staff, which is a really good thing because we get a lot of different viewpoints,” says animal trainer Danielle Smith. “I don’t think there’s

anything better than a bunch of knowledgeable people having an argument over something they’re passionate about to find the best idea.” Sometimes those ideas are silly, like livestreaming “summer Olympics” with adoptable dogs that competed in sports like treat-finding. Sometimes they’re serious, like earning grants to help people in financial hardship keep their pets or offering senior citizens free adoptions and pet supplies. AC&C has donated insulated dog houses to people who need help keeping their pets warm during cold weather; it’s offered veterinary services for pet parents facing financial challenges; and it’s created 13 microchip checkpoints—at vet offices, dog bars, and groomers—to help lost pets return home faster. This year, AC&C installed a free library outside its front door. Instead of sharing books, they invite the community

to leave pet supplies and food to share with people in need. Maybe, they hope, someone coming to surrender a loved pet might return home with their pet and some help from their neighbors. “One thing that’s really evident in the work that Charlotte-Mecklenburg is doing is helping the humans behind the animals,” says Angela Rovetto, a senior strategist at Best Friends Animal Society. “It’s about the human-animal bond. … It actually increases wellness for people, too.”

nyone who’s rescued a pet understands the guilt of looking back at the animals who still await their new homes. If only we could save all of them. Most of us, though, quickly shift our focus to our own furry family members and try not to think about the ones left behind. This, however, is the crew that lives that mission each day, that works with

hundreds of dogs and cats who wait here at any given time for new homes. They walk them, train them, give them medical care, promote them on livestreams and morning talk shows, and then return these dogs and cats to their runs until their somebody comes. It can be a heartbreaker of a job. Because of the folks at Animal Care & Control, we have our scruffy puppers and blocky-headed wigglebutts and chonky floofers, loved and spoiled as any pet should be. We say that we rescued them, but for thousands of animals each year, this was the team that rescued them first.

JEN TOTA McGIVNEY is a Charlotte writer who has written for SUCCESS Magazine, Our State, and Southern Living. You can reach her at jennifer.mcgivney@gmail.com or on Twitter, @jen_mcgivney. DECEMBER 2021 // CHARLOTTE

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C H A R LOT T E A N S OF THE YEAR

GREG

JACKSON “E

quity,” in social terms, means “fairness.” We hear the word a lot these days, especially in discussions of race and economic justice—it’s the heart of the diversity, equity, and inclusion formula. It has another meaning: essentially, ownership. You buy a house and begin to pay off a 30-year mortgage. Your down payment and monthly principal payments add up to your home equity, which grows with time. Greg Jackson moved to Charlotte in 2010 to be close to family after a rough upbringing in Baltimore and New York. In 2017, inspired by tense but fruitful talks with police during and after the 2016 Keith Lamont Scott protests, he and Antuan Smith founded a nonprofit called Heal Charlotte. Since then, Heal Charlotte has launched youth, housing, and anti-violence programs throughout the city and built partnerships with not only community groups but institutions like Wells Fargo, Lowe’s, and UNC Charlotte. Last year, he began to raise money for a project that aims to transform one of the city’s most violent and impoverished corners—and embraces both meanings of “equity.” Jackson, 38, wants to raise $10 million to buy a 137-room Baymont by Wyndham hotel, near the historically high-crime intersection of Interstate 85 and West Sugar Creek Road, and use it as transitional housing and services for people who need them. COVID has both aggravated the problem and delayed the solution. But Heal Charlotte is close to its first million, and Jackson will keep trying because, he says, “it’s a program that’s for longevity and legacy. “Police officers have a saying: ‘We’re not going to arrest our way out of this situation.’ What I’ve learned as a nonprofit person is, ‘We’re not going to program our way out of this situation,’” he says in September. “I no longer just want to do programs. I want to own the building that we do the programs in, so we can control when we can serve and open the doors and close the doors. … (We) need a key to be able to say, ‘I’m serving today, and there’s nothing you can do about it.’” This is unusual talk for someone who plies social justice terrain. Jackson is an unusual guy. He spent a year in jail in New York after he was caught trying to sell drugs to an undercover cop. Later, in Charlotte, he joined the throngs that howled for justice after an officer shot and killed Scott not far from where Jackson lived, and he turned initial, touchy conversations with police into a continuing relationship with officers and depart-

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

He and his organization, Heal Charlotte, tackle homelessness by raising money to buy land and a building, and by getting to work By GREG LACOUR Photograph by RUSTY WILLIAMS

ment brass. He’s caught grief for it, too, from anti-police activists and friends. It’s common, especially after shocking incidents of violence or injustice or both, for passionate and well-meaning citizens to at least try to start community nonprofits to help young people and poor neighborhoods. Few last. Civic-minded people who yearn for lasting, meaningful change can try to summon the revolution, or they can get to work. Guess which path Jackson’s taken. “Sustainability is what people always talk about when it comes to running programs and rebuilding and revitalizing a community in a neighborhood,” he says. “Ownership and equity—owning a building and owning the land—is just simply the way America operates.” Don’t blame the fish for the dirty pond water they swim in, he says; better to clean the pond. “Buying this hotel—that is how we clean the pond. ... I love all of the people that are … doing the work on the ground. But we need some things that happen in higher places.” Since April 2020, when COVID-related layoffs led to mass evictions, Heal Charlotte has paid for 20 units at the hotel, which Jackson sees as a kind of pilot program for the full campus. As of June 2021, 85 people in 21 families had stayed there. The average stay was seven months. With help from Heal Charlotte’s partner agencies, 43% of the families managed to leave the hotel for permanent housing, the organization says. That’s part of what compelled Harris Hospitality, which owns the hotel, to work with Jackson and offer him a chance to buy if he raises enough money. (It’s almost unheard of for a hotel conglomerate to sell to anyone but another hotel conglomerate.) Sharjeel “Shawn” Ahmad, the company’s operations director, met Jackson through a CMPD community liaison last year. Ahmad, a 29-year-old Pakistani immigrant, was impressed that Jackson didn’t just want to provide temporary housing but help people find permanent homes—along the lines of one of Ahmad’s favorite sayings, the old axiom about giving a man a fish versus teaching him to fish. “These were people who had lost their jobs because of COVID and wanted to make something of themselves,” Ahmad says. “That’s what Greg was doing. He was teaching them how to fish.” GREG LACOUR is the editor of this magazine.

DECEMBER 2021 // CHARLOTTE

2021

C H A R LOT T E A N S OF THE YEAR

PAT’S

PLACE C

OVID forced schools, businesses, and other public venues to lock down. Pat’s Place didn’t have that luxury. Charlotte’s only child advocacy center has to get children into its offices on East Boulevard for forensic interviews. Those are the sensitive conversations between children and social workers that lay the foundation for the nonprofit to rescue children from abusive, often dangerous home situations and place them into better ones. “So much of our model involves faceto-face interaction with kids and their parents and helping them feel safe and comfortable,” says Executive Director Andrew Oliver. “So how do you do that behind a mask or over Zoom? We would make plans for how we would do that

Charlotte’s child advocacy center found new ways to help abuse victims, even during the storm of COVID By CARROLL WALTON Photographs by RUSTY WILLIAMS

safely and then get new CDC guidance, and we would revise those plans. It’s been a constant effort to do things the right way and safely.” Nearly two years after COVID forced everyone to adjust, the 17-year-old organization has discovered that those revisions not only worked but led them to devise other tools—in fundraising and programs—that will help sustain Pat’s Place for years to come and, ultimately, help even more children who suffer from physical and sexual abuse in their homes. In March, Pat’s Place launched a program called “Child Safety Matters” in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Nearly 2,000 children from kindergarten through fifth grade learned how to assert and protect themselves from

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

potential harm at home. It also produced a 30-minute educational video, now a fixture on its website. In April, Pat’s Place launched a threemonth public awareness campaign, “Everyday Heroes,” that targeted media outlets and digital billboards throughout the city. Its goals were to heighten public awareness of child abuse and human trafficking, and to raise money. Everyday Heroes raised $94,000, nearly as much as Pat’s Place usually raises in a quarter, at a time when the organization had to cancel or modify its three annual fundraising events. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to make the impact that we’re making on children and their families in the community,” says Kelli Wood, who oversees

(Far left) Cassandra Rondel Asencio, a bilingual program coordinator at Pat’s Place, watches her children in the play area. (Left and below) Client services specialist Tajia Ashli Linen with her fiancé, Melvin Haynes III, and children.

the social workers who conduct forensic interviews. “It’s not us alone. It’s a partnership. It’s a coordinated response with our community. The more that people know that abuse happens everywhere, hopefully the more likely they are to feel empowered to either make a report or to ask questions.” The initiatives helped the staff at Pat’s Place as they continued to figure out how to conduct interviews with children as COVID circumstances changed. They’d already confronted an unsettling consequence of lockdown: a drop in referrals from Charlotte-Mecklenburg police and Mecklenburg County Social Services, from 60 to 70 per month before COVID to 40 to 50 for the first four months or so after lockdown began. “That’s not because child abuse stopped,” Oliver says. “Children were actually more at risk. And when we did see cases, the cases were more severe— children that had been exposed on a prolonged basis to their abuser and didn’t have access to safe people in their lives that they could turn to for help.” Pat’s Place responded to the crisis by changing their interview methods. At the height of lockdown, social workers placed the child in one room and the interviewer in another as police and

social services representatives watched a remote video feed. Once enough adults were vaccinated, the child, family member, and interviewer could be in the same room if the adults wore masks and distanced themselves. The practices allowed Pat’s Place to maintain its pre-pandemic disclosure rate—the percentage of children who confirm cases of abuse—of 80%. “I think children had become accustomed to utilizing a virtual platform,” says Wood, the director of response services. Lockdowns placed even more pressure on social workers because remote learning kept teachers from direct access to students, often the way they detect signs of abuse. Just as important, no one at Pat’s Place contracted COVID. Even before the pandemic, Pat’s Place worked to help establish the CharMeck Family Justice Center, or “Umbrella Center,” a community resource for vic-

tims of human trafficking and child, domestic, and elder abuse expected to open in late 2023. A similar center that Guilford County opened in Greensboro in 2015 contributed to an 88% reduction in domestic violence homicides from 2016 through mid-2019, Oliver says. “For 10,000 victims of violence and abuse a year, it will ensure that they have an easier path to get the help that they need to survive,” he says. “It is a reimagining of public safety. And it’s a resource not only for victims; it’s for all of those who serve them, because we are going to surround detectives with advocates who can help those families navigate the process. And it will make medical providers’ jobs so much easier and more efficient.” CARROLL R. WALTON, a former sportswriter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, is a freelance writer in Charlotte. DECEMBER 2021 // CHARLOTTE

2021

C H A R LOT T E A N S OF THE YEAR

DR. STEPHANIE

MURPHY 86

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

The medical director of Atrium Health’s Hospital at Home program steers one of the country’s largest hospital systems toward a more comfortable model of care By ALLISON BRADEN Photograph by RUSTY WILLIAMS

efore COVID, Atrium Health’s hospitalist group devised a plan to offer hospital-level care at patients’ homes. The team researched similar programs and discovered that Atrium already had a strong foundation: Carolinas Medical Center’s robust Transition Clinic prioritized proactive care and used a virtual platform, while the Mobile Integrated Health program had a workforce trained to provide advanced therapies at home. But the health care system still faced a gargantuan task to get the program up and running, and the need was never quite desperate enough. Until March 2020. Stephanie Murphy, a hospitalist, doctor of internal medicine, and the director of the Transition Clinic, led

the effort to put the idea into practice in record time. Patients in the program monitor their vitals with home kits and interact with their care teams anytime through an app. Physicians make virtual rounds, while paramedics visit patients in person daily to check labs and provide oxygen and IV medicines. Murphy had to train and coordinate providers, paramedics, and nurses and adapt the hospital’s infrastructure to an unfamiliar model of patient care—all amid unprecedented demands on the health care system and a climate of fear and uncertainty. She did it in less than a week. “It was a massive leap for a very large corporation,” Murphy says. She credits Atrium’s leadership for putting their faith in the hospitalist group, which consists of physicians who provide care exclusively in a hospital setting. Nearly two years after COVID took hold, Murphy’s schedule is still a whirlwind. (“I feel like the Tasmanian Devil,” she says.) She builds partnerships with a growing range of providers and analyzes the program, always on the lookout for operational details to improve. Plus, she still sees patients through both Hospital at Home and the Transition Clinic. “It still hasn’t occurred to me that we’re in 2021,” she says. “That said, I would say that 2021 has been, believe it or not, even more tiring than 2020.” The pandemic’s duration has battered morale. Fatigue has set in. “There’s a lot of emotion in it,” Murphy says. “We’ve actually gotten a lot more, in my eyes, respectful and understanding of the need for rest.” (She escapes by spending time with her partner and three rescue dogs at Lake Norman, near her home.) Perpetually short on time and resources, Hospital at Home has nevertheless had a profound effect. “Being in an unfamiliar place when you’re sick is very difficult for patients, particularly our older patients,” Murphy explains. “As much as we try to make the hospital a comfortable location for our patients, you and I both know there’s no bed like your own.” By early September, the virtual hospital had treated almost 59,000 patients. Murphy, 41, who has worked at Atrium since 2011, coauthored a study this year that found “we were delivering safe, quick, high-quality care to an appropriate patient population,” and future research will compare the outcomes to inpatient care. But what stands out to the veteran doctor are individual cases. “We took care of an elderly gentleman whose wife was on hospice, and he would not have been able to be with her because of the level of care he was requiring,” she recalls. “He was able to be in his home with his wife and his daughter, who was their caretaker, during her last days.” Murphy never expected her career to include a pandemic, but the unfamiliar terrain didn’t shake her characteristic approach. “I’ve always thought of myself as somebody who likes to think about things differently. Somebody who isn’t afraid to to make a change for the betterment of patient care, of the health system, of the community at large,” Murphy says. “So this gave me an opportunity to really do that in a way that I never thought I could.” ALLISON BRADEN is a contributing editor for this magazine. DECEMBER 2021 // CHARLOTTE

CHARLOTTE’S

SERVICE

2021

C H A R LOT T E A N S OF THE YEAR

JOSSIE

astry chef Jossie Lukacik opened Sweet Spot Studio in 2018 to host classes and workshops for amateur and professional bakers. But the Oakwold studio also houses a commercial kitchen where local bakers who couldn’t otherwise afford to rent a workspace can bake their confections for a flat monthly rate. As a small-business owner, it’s a struggle Lukacik knows well. “I couldn’t get my business going until I got a space, and I couldn’t get a space until I got my business going,” she says. “That’s the catch-22 in the food business.” Lukacik took the shared kitchen approach as a way to pay her rent as she launched her bakery in 2015. She started with

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

four tenants, but when she opened Sweet Spot Studio in 2018 and was able to expand, she went up to 12. At the onset of the pandemic, she opened her kitchen to six more tenants on the verge of losing their businesses. Today, she has a 75% retention rate and a roster that includes Whisk & Wood Bakery, A.H. Wright Baking Co., Bake Mohr Sweets, and many others who once relied on pop-ups and farmers markets to stay afloat. Many commissary kitchens charge a $25 hourly rate, which makes it difficult for small bakeries to gain traction. Lukacik charges a flat base rate of $350 per month. Tenants get 24-hour access to double-stack commercial convection ovens, a 30-quart floor mixer, professional KitchenAid mixers, induction burners, and more. “If it’s Christmas, your rent shouldn’t go up because you have a bigger month; you’ll never be able to get ahead,” she says. “It doesn’t do me any good to run someone out of business in the first two months.” And she hasn’t. If a tenant couldn’t pay rent during the pandemic, Lukacik let them pay it back when they could. She stopped paying herself a salary, and she and her husband, a software developer, scaled back their lifestyle. “Sometimes he wishes I wouldn’t be as generous,” she laughs. “But as long as I’m able to cover my expenses, I’d rather us all come out of it together. From the beginning, it was, ‘How can I make it through this and carry as many people with me as I can?’” Lukacik continues to employ a staff of six (three fulltime, three part-time), and, unlike others in the food and drink sector, she’s never had staffing issues. “I give every perk outside of money to make my employees stay,” she says. “They give me 110%, and they’re not going anywhere. There are things you can do to treat your employees well that go farther than money.” Though she regularly has to turn tenants away, Lukacik plans to keep the commissary kitchen indefinitely and remains committed to helping as many small businesses as she can. “If there weren’t shareduse kitchens, the majority of my tenants wouldn’t be in business,” she says. “Beyond the financial side of it, there’s the aspect of community. It’s become very clear to me in this niche of small baking businesses that we can’t do it without each other.”

COURTESY TORI CORDOVA PHOTOGRAPHY

LUKACIK

INDUSTRY

In another devastating year for the food and drink sector, these folks advocated for Charlotte’s independent restaurants, chefs, and service workers By TAYLOR BOWLER

2021

C H A R LOT T E A N S OF THE YEAR

WYNEE

BERMUDEZ

COURTESY CHRIS RODARTE

ynee Bermudez downloaded TikTok in late 2019 to share videos she shot on her iPhone with her friends and followers. It was an extension of her blog, Wynee’s World, which focuses on food and travel, as well as a creative outlet during the stay-athome order. She posted her takeout recommendations to TikTok with voiceovers and music, and by June 2020, she had about 200 followers. Then she posted an 11-second video of birria tacos from Maria’s Mexican Restaurant. Less than 24 hours later, it went viral. “I owe a lot of my success to how personable the app is,” Bermudez says. “Instagram is way more curated; it’s a highlight reel. With TikTok, the most random stuff goes viral. For me, it only took one video.” By September, the 28-year-old influencer had more than 86,000 followers and the video more than a million views. Maria’s menu even lists this dish “as featured on TikTok.” Bermudez has continued to feature local spots like Zio Casual Italian and Another Food Truck?! on the @wyneesworld account, much to the delight of their owners. They know that when a restaurant gets the Wynee Bermudez treatment, customers follow. Bermudez, a social media manager at Yellow Duck Marketing, began exploring Charlotte restaurants when she moved back to her home state in 2018 as a way to get familiar with the city. She keeps a running list of restaurants she wants to try; when she goes, she takes notes and rates each on a scale of one to five stars. These days, she gets regular invites to media events where meals are comped (which she always discloses to her followers). But if it’s a smaller, independent restaurant on her list, she goes on her own dime. It’s a refreshing shift from influencers who’ve garnered a reputation for accepting free trips and meals in exchange for media coverage. While the word “influencer” often conjures up images of teen trendsetters, mommy bloggers, and well-dressed pets, Bermudez embraces it. “I feel like so many people use that word in a negative way,” she says. “But with TikTok, the fact is, it gets people in the door at restaurants.” It’s why she prioritizes Black-owned businesses, food trucks, and family-owned eateries—even more than gaining followers. Her reach goes beyond just Charlotte, too. Visitors from South Carolina and Georgia have eaten at Maria’s because

they saw Wynee on TikTok. Bermudez doesn’t claim to have the breadth of knowledge or attention to detail of a traditional food critic, but she recognizes that has a similar authority with her Gen-Z followers. “Most people gravitate toward people they can relate to,” she says. “They don’t always know the restaurant critic or follow them on social media, but they feel like they know the influencer.” Bermudez says her TikTok fame has inspired a goal to someday have a TV show centered around eating different foods and meeting chefs and restaurant owners. But for now, she’s thrilled to use her influencer status to boost deserving restaurants that need it most. “It warms my heart when a restaurant owner reaches out and says they had a great week,” she says. “The best possible outcome is when a restaurant gets a spark they haven’t seen before—or in a long time—because some customers saw them on TikTok.” Continued on next page DECEMBER 2021 // CHARLOTTE

CHARLOTTE’S

SERVICE INDUSTRY

2021

C H A R LOT T E A N S OF THE YEAR

5TH STREET

GROUP

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

(Left to right) CEO Patrick Whalen with partners Jamie Lynch and Alejandro Torio.

It’s a departure from restaurants like The Jimmy, which offered a $1,000 signing bonus to attract employees. “It’s like HBO,” Whalen says. “It’s free for the first month, but then you’re paying $30 a month. We have to change the business from the inside out.” Instead, he aims to attract career-oriented people like 5Church’s general manager, who started as an intern. If more restaurants don’t make similar investments in their staff, he fears it could be the end of independent restaurants. “We’ll all be eating at Applebee’s sooner or later,” he says. “That scares me the most.” TAYLOR BOWLER is lifestyle editor of this magazine.

COURTESY 5TH STREET GROUP

n a year when restaurants were consistently shortstaffed and hard pressed to pay employees a living wage, one restaurant group decided they could do better. 5th Street Group, whose portfolio includes 5Church and La Belle Helene, introduced “Tip the Kitchen” to increase tips for back-of-house staff like dishwashers and line cooks, who don’t get the same visibility as servers. They’ve remained 90% staffed since February 2021. “It’s an opportunity for guests to show appreciation to the kitchen for the experience,” says CEO Patrick Whalen. “It’s optional, just like gratuity, but the societal obligation isn’t the same.” On each guest check, they include a line for the staff that prepares food and washes dishes. As of late September, Whalen says about 20% of guests participate. Tip the Kitchen has allowed 5th Street to avoid raising prices, as many independent restaurants have done to stay afloat. “If I eliminate tipping and raise prices 25%, I’m alienating a huge part of my customers,” Whalen says. “If there’s a way to bring more total revenue into a restaurant without obligating people to pay more, I get the best of both worlds.” 5th Street, which was mid-construction on two restaurants at the start of the pandemic, still managed to open three restaurants in the last year. Whalen says they’ve signed a lease on a second space in Nashville, and at press time, he was wrapping up a deal in Denver. He plans to carry out Tip the Kitchen at each one. “I could have kept this (business model) to myself and kept my restaurants fully staffed,” he says, “but I want to change this industry. This is all I will ever do, and I want this business to do better.” Whalen, along with partners Jamie Lynch and Alejandro Torio, also committed to matching collective kitchen tips at each of their restaurants up to $500 per day. They provide health benefits to all management positions and offer incentives like Panthers tickets and additional time off to hourly employees. 5th Street’s minimum wage for tipped employees is $5 an hour, but Whalen says they all make $15 an hour minimum, guaranteed. “Our lowest paid employee makes $25 an hour in reality,” he says, “even the dishwasher who started a month ago.”

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2021 CHARLOT TE

FIVE STAR AWARD WINNERS REAL ESTATE AGENTS

MORTGAGE PROFESSIONALS

Five Star Professional partnered with Charlotte magazine to identify real estate, mortgage and insurance professionals in the Charlotte area who deliver outstanding service and client satisfaction. The Five Star Professional research team surveyed homebuyers, home sellers and industry peers, and analyzed online consumer evaluations. Survey respondents rated their service professional on criteria such as overall satisfaction and whether they would recommend the provider to a friend. The research methodology allows no more than 7% of professionals in each category to receive the award.

RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING Real Estate Agents, Mortgage Professionals and Home/Auto Insurance Professionals RISING STAR AWARD WINNERS Meet the next wave of outstanding real estate agents and mortgage professionals in the Charlotte area! Five Star Professional’s research team contacted real estate and mortgage industry veterans and consumers to identify up-and-coming professionals in the industry. Rising Star award winners are held in high regard by their peers and mentors and have received a qualifying nomination for the award. Evaluators were asked to identify a real estate agent or mortgage professional who has been in the industry for five years or less and embodies professional excellence, exhibits superior customer service and shows great potential to excel in their profession. All Rising Star award winners must be actively licensed, satisfy minimum production criteria and have a favorable regulatory history to be eligible for award consideration.

RESEARCH — How Our Winners Are Chosen • The 2021 Five Star Real Estate Agents, Mortgage Professionals and Home/Auto Insurance Professionals do not pay a fee to be included in the research or the final lists. • Each professional is screened against state governing bodies to verify that licenses are current and no disciplinary actions are pending. • The inclusion of a real estate agent, mortgage professional or insurance professional on the final list should not be construed as an endorsement by Five Star Professional or Charlotte magazine.

Determination of Award Winners Professionals who satisfied each of the following objective criteria were named a 2021 Charlotte-area Five Star Real Estate Agent, Five Star Mortgage Professional or Five Star Home/Auto Insurance Professional: Evaluation Criteria: 1. Qualifying rating. Eligibility Criteria: 2. Holds an active license and employed in their field for a minimum of three years.

3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review. 4. Satisfies minimum production on a one-year and three-year basis. 5. Successful completion of a Blue Ribbon Panel review.

Real estate agents, mortgage professionals and home/auto insurance professionals are pooled only with other candidates from their profession. The final list of 2021 Charlotte-area Five Star award winners is a select group, representing approximately 1% of real estate agents, 2% of mortgage professionals and 1% of home/auto insurance professionals in the area. To see the full list of winners, visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.

HOME/AUTO INSURANCE PROFESSIONALS

FIVE STAR PROFESSIONAL PROPRIETARY RESEARCH PROCESS Nomination of Candidates The Five Star Professional research team surveyed homebuyers, home sellers and industry peers, and analyzed online consumer evaluations to identify professionals that excel in key attributes of customer service.

Evaluation Score Using our scoring algorithm, each nominee is given an evaluation score based on surveys in our database. High scorers are named candidates.

Candidate Submission of Business Information Candidates must complete either an online or over-the-phone interview.

Eligibility Criteria Candidates must be in the industry for at least five years, have a favorable regulatory history and meet minimum production thresholds.

Blue Ribbon Panel A Blue Ribbon panel of industry experts reviews the final list of candidates.

Final Selection Less than 7% of professionals in the market are selected.

2021 LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM — F S - 1

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Scott Hartis Broker, Realtor, Lic. 202179 2021 Winner

eXp Realty 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 200 • Charlotte, NC 28216 Phone: 704-756-7862 • Cell: 704-756-7862 scott@hartispropertyexperts.com • www.hartispropertyexperts.com Photograph credit thanks to: Emily Decker F S - 2 — LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM

With my perfect transition process, I help professionals move up in Charlotte’s communities. The process incorporates guiding you through selling your current house for a maximum return on investment and buying your next home with minimal struggle. I also help and mentor real estate agents on how to grow their business while maintaining a work-life balance, which often eludes full-time, professional real estate agents.

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Anne Brade Broker, Realtor, CLHMS, CRS, ABR® Thirteen-Year Winner

RE/MAX Executive 12104 Copper Way, Suite 100 • Charlotte, NC 28277 Phone: 704-650-4951 • anne@annebrade.com • teambrade.com Facebook: @TeamBrade • linkedin.com/in/annebrade

Thank you again to my clients who nominated me for the Five Star Real Estate Agent award for the 13th year! It is an honor to be a trusted real estate advisor and provide counsel for your property investments. Excellent service is my focus, so you can make the best investment possible!

LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM — F S - 3

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Scott Pridemore Founder, Team Leader, CRS, CLHMS Twelve-Year Winner

Pridemore Properties 316 E Worthington Avenue • Charlotte, NC 28203 Phone: 704-562-0792 • scott@pridemoremail.com www.pridemoreproperties.com

As a founding agent for Compass Charlotte, Scott enjoys creating clients for life and building lasting relationships with his buyer and seller clients. In fact, his clients say it best because 80% of his business has come from client referrals and repeat business. He attributes his successes to loyal clientele and a consistent commitment to exceptional customer service standards. Scott says, “A satisfied client is not enough. It’s about constantly striving to produce results beyond the ordinary.” Scott has found new and unique ways to guide his clients through this constantly changing real estate market. He has developed an aggressive marketing plan to get listings sold and has put together a team of top-producing real estate agents who are leaders in the marketplace.

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REAL ESTATE AGENTS

Debra A. Lipszyc Founder, Broker, Listing Specialist, Realtor

YEAR WINNER Left to right: Micah Cassell; Two-year winner Debra Lipszyc; Brian Lipszyc; (Not pictured: Webb Bunch)

Partnering With You To Find Your Dream “Haven!”

We are grateful for your trust and confidence in the Dream Haven Group. “Haven,” by definition, is a safe and comforting place such as a home. Our group embraces this definition, cultivates loyal relationships and always keeps your best interests at heart. We partner with you every step of the way to find a home — your haven — where you’ll make new friends and celebrate life! Whether we’re helping a first-time homebuyer, someone moving to our vibrant cities of Charlotte or Myrtle Beach (or surrounding locations) parents selling and downsizing or a family looking to live near the beach, we will find you that “haven!” We thank you and look forward to partnering with you in the future!

1244 East Boulevard • Charlotte, NC 28203 Phone: 980-277-1192 debbie@dreamhavengroup.com www.dreamhavengroupclt.com

FIVE STAR REAL ESTATE AGENT AWARD WINNER

LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM — F S - 5

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REAL ESTATE AGENTS

Debbie Kempter CRS, GRI, SRES®, ABR®, CLHMS, ASP®

Providing the Personalized Service You Deserve • Proud recipient of the North Carolina Real Estate Commission 2013 Phillip T. Fisher Scholarship award for outstanding academic achievement in the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) program Debbie Kempter is a native New Yorker who has called Charlotte home since 1996. She was raised with a strong work ethic, a close-knit family and an inherited artistic ability, which together help her provide superior service to clients. Debbie’s outgoing personality, excellent communication and listening skills and extensive real estate education allow her to get along well with all parties, resulting in smooth transactions and very happy clients. Licensed since 2005, Debbie is very proud of the “alphabet soup” after her name! Earning these designations shows a commitment to knowledge and excellence in her field, which allows her to work with a wide range of buyers and sellers. Debbie is honored to receive the Five Star Real Estate Agent award for the 11th time and is very grateful that over 95% of her business comes from referrals.

YEAR WINNER

222 Baldwin Avenue • Charlotte, NC 28204 Phone: 704-264-9608 • debbiekempter@prostead.com www.debbiekempter.com

Eleven-year winner Debbie Kempter, Broker, Realtor FIVE STAR REAL ESTATE AGENT AWARD WINNER

Kathy Norman Realtor, Broker, ABR®, SPS

Licensed in North and South Carolina • Native Charlottean with incredible local insights • Accredited Buyer’s Representative • Strategic Pricing Specialist

With over 25 years of experience in sales and marketing, Kathy Norman is well-equipped to provide you with the best possible real estate experience. She has a strong work ethic and a true passion for helping people, which has led her to become a consistent top producer in the Charlotte area. As a full-service Realtor, Kathy can help anyone. From first-time homebuyers and sellers to downsizers, she’ll find the perfect solution for your current stage in life. For a superior real estate experience, give Kathy a call today!

YEAR WINNER

5925 Carnegie Boulevard, Suite 250 • Charlotte, NC 28209 Phone: 704-609-3728 kathy@kathynormanhomes.com www.kathynormanhomes.com

Twelve-year winner Kathy Norman FIVE STAR REAL ESTATE AGENT AWARD WINNER

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REAL ESTATE AGENTS

Cathy Burns Broker, Realtor

Experience and Professionalism Count! • Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist™, Certified Relocation Agent and certified mentor • Consistently ranked in the top 5% of real estate brokers in the greater Charlotte region I’ve won the Five Star Real Estate Agent award for 15 years in a row – wow! I am blown away by my clients’ continued support! I am passionate about this industry and am honored to be entrusted with helping others achieve their real estate goals. I invite you to put my market savvy to work for you! My vision is to be a real estate advisor of choice and trusted community partner, and I achieve this through my core values: Integrity: I will do the right thing, at the right time, in the right situation for my clients and my community. Commitment: I will continually improve my knowledge and skills to ensure excellence in all facets of my day-to-day operations and service to my clients and my community. Professionalism: I will display the highest level of excellence in my industry and will back up this image by delivering solutions and unparalleled service.

YEAR WINNER

3440 Toringdon Way, Suite 205 • Charlotte, NC 28277 Cell: 704-307-3839 cathy@cathyburns.com • www.cathyburns.com

Fifteen-year winner Cathy Burns, Broker, Realtor FIVE STAR REAL ESTATE AGENT AWARD WINNER

The Fishers Real Estate • Family owned and operated • Over 50 years of combined experience

YEAR WINNER Left to right: 2021 Rising Star Real Estate Agent Mark Rubenstein; Two-year winner Kay Fisher; Two-year winner Brian Fisher; Lauren Barker

Founded by Brian and Kay Fisher, our team offers years of experience in general brokerage, new home sales and construction. We are proud that 90% of our business comes from repeat clients and referrals from clients, friends, family or other real estate agents and industry peers. A reputationbased business holds us accountable for providing the best experience for our clients. We believe by being good stewards, our clients’ trust, financial investment and well-being grow.

Keller Williams Realty 19721 Bethel Church Road • Cornelius, NC 28031 Phone: 704-363-5120 • Phone: 704-363-8254 kay@thefishersrealestate.com • www.thefishersrealestate.com FIVE STAR REAL ESTATE AGENT AWARD WINNER

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REAL ESTATE AGENTS

Mike Soden Homes Broker-in-Charge

Helping Families Make the Right Move • Exceptional negotiator and marketing specialist with a focus on Waxhaw, Marvin, Weddington and Ballantyne areas • 16 years’ experience as a Charlotte-area broker, consistently performing as firm’s top annual producer

Photo 4” wide by 6” high at 300 dpi. Maximum of 6 people.

Mike Soden is a real estate broker licensed in both North and South Carolina. As a 10-year winner of the Five Star Real Estate Agent award, Mike is among the top 1% of Charlotte-area real estate agents. He and his wife relocated to Charlotte from Chicago in 2006. They love raising their two daughters in Charlotte with everything that it has to offer. With 16 years of real estate experience in Charlotte and a marketing degree from the University of IllinoisUrbana, Mike’s business savvy and depth of market knowledge are a tremendous asset to anyone searching for the right Realtor. Mike explains, “My approach is to provide consistent and reliable service with a professional attitude, but most importantly, to take the time to understand all of my clients’ needs.”

Prestige Properties of the Carolinas

YEAR WINNER Ten-year winner Mike Soden

105F Waxhaw Professional Park Drive Waxhaw, NC 28173 • Phone: 704-621-2314 mike@mikesodenhomes.com mikesodenhomes.com

FIVE STAR REAL ESTATE AGENT AWARD WINNER

Tijuana Evans Owner, Broker, Realtor, Lic. 199572

“Believe and You Shall Benefit” — Tijuana Evans • Awarded most improved for gross commission income • Received several achievement awards for grossed closed units and volume • Recognized as a top listing agent • Won the leadership award • Broker-in-charge at Prime 1 Realty, LLC Tijuana Evans is a seasoned Realtor, broker and proud owner of Prime 1 Realty. She offers many years of experience assisting clients to meet their real estate goals. She is thoroughly equipped to locate, sell and negotiate transactions for all real estate property. She has received many awards for her outstanding performance and continues to be a top-producing agent. She recognizes the value of honesty, quality and efficient service and takes personal ownership in meeting your real estate needs. You can be assured that she is the support you need while buying or selling your home or investment property! 1443 E 7th Street, Suite 205 • Charlotte, NC 28204 Phone: 704-777-1793 • Phone: 888-351-7772 tevanssells4u@yahoo.com • www.prime-1-realty.com #prime1realty

2021 winner Tijuana Evans FIVE STAR REAL ESTATE AGENT AWARD WINNER

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REAL ESTATE AGENTS

Jamie Milam Realtor

Impacting Lives One Home at a Time • Part of the Keller Williams Luxury International Division • Licensed in North and South Carolina and while working with buyers and sellers, she specializes as a listing agent Jamie works with buyers, sellers and investors in the greater Charlotte area. An excellent client experience is of utmost importance to Jamie and she aims to provide a positive and memorable experience each time. While working with both buyers and sellers, her marketing degree is a key differentiating factor in specializing in listings. Jamie received the Rising Star Real Estate Agent award in 2021, Charlotte Real Producer’s Rising Star award in 2020 and was named a Rookie of the Year candidate by Canopy MLS in 2019. When she is not serving clients, she enjoys a good book, red wine, time at the beach and watching the Carolina Panthers with her son. 5925 Carnegie Boulevard, Suite 250 Charlotte, NC 28209 Phone: 704-426-3885 • Office: 704-966-9184 jamiemilam@kw.com • orendahomegroup.com @orendahomegroup 2021 Rising Star Real Estate Agent Jamie Milam

Each office is independently owned and operated. RISING STAR REAL ESTATE AGENT AWARD WINNER

Kara West Realtor, Lic. 293269

Let’s Go Home Exploring! • eXp Realty Icon Agent award • Licensed in North Carolina and South Carolina

2021 Rising Star Real Estate Agent Kara West

Before she even became a North and South Carolina agent, Kara West was constantly being asked to show newcomers around Charlotte. She has always loved learning as much as she could about Charlotte, and her journey to becoming an agent just naturally kind of happened. While she likes to keep it fun by doing neighborhood and community events, she also loves to educate buyers and sellers with events, such as “Should I Stay or Should I Sell?” And her upcoming “ Buyers, Burgers and Brews” event. Along with spending time with her family, Kara loves exploring Charlotte’s hiking trails, coffee shops and restaurants, and of course, showing people around! 3440 Toringdon Way Suite 205 • Charlotte, NC 28277 • Phone: 704-222-3084 kara.west@exprealty.com • www.facebook.com/KaraWestExpRealty #karawestexprealty • #karawestsellshomes

RISING STAR REAL ESTATE AGENT AWARD WINNER

LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM — F S - 9

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

REAL ESTATE AGENTS

Maureen Roberge

Robin Husney

Owner, Broker

ABR®, e-PRO®, Broker, Realtor

LKNHomes.com 17115 Kenton Drive, Suite 202A Cornelius, NC 28031 Phone: 704-323-9222 maureen@LKNHomes.com www.LKNHomes.com

YEAR WINNER

Lake Norman Leader in Real Estate

• 2009 – 2012 and 2014 – 2021 Five Star Real Estate Agent • GRI: Graduate, Realtor Institute • CRS: Certified Residential Specialist • Integrity and enthusiasm

7810 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Ste. 103 Charlotte, NC 28277 Phone: 704-517-6370 robin@robinhusney.com www.robinhusney.com

Serving the Carolinas

YEAR WINNER

• Multimillion-dollar producing agent • National Association of Realtors member • North and South Carolina Associations of Realtors member

Maureen Roberge, a broker and owner of LKNHomes.com and LKN Commercial, has won numerous awards and holds multiple industry accreditations. Maureen strives to expand her knowledge of the industry by completing a multitude of certifications and memberships. She is always excited to be a part of the real estate process for many families. Her core values include maintaining relationships and providing top-notch service to her clients. With Maureen’s team of experts, you will truly see and feel the difference.

Robin Husney is an extremely dedicated, hardworking agent who consistently exceeds her clients’ expectations. Her keen negotiation skills, responsiveness and years of customer service experience set her apart as a broker in the Greater Charlotte area. She has particular expertise in assisting sellers with getting their homes market-ready, utilizing professional stagers and photographers and helping her clients arrive at the best listing price. She thrives when showing buyers around the town she is so proud to call home. Robin’s goal is to deliver nothing less than 100% satisfaction to her clients.

FIVE STAR REAL ESTATE AGENT AWARD WINNER

Sylvia Hefferon

Beth Gionis

Realtor, Broker, GRI CRS

Realtor, Broker

Prostead Realty 222 Baldwin Avenue Charlotte, NC 28204 Phone: 704-609-6653 Beth@SellingCharlotteRealEstate.com SellingCharlotteRealEstate.com

12104 Copper Way, Suite 100 Charlotte, NC 28277 Phone: 704-564-3458 sylvia@sylviahefferon.com www.sylviahefferon.com

YEAR WINNER

At Your Side Every Step of the Way

• Thirty-plus years of experience selling in Charlotte • Assisting both buyers and sellers with their real estate needs • RE/MAX Hall of Fame Award winner As a Charlotte-area real estate professional for over 30 years, I know the importance of understanding your unique situation. From finding answers to your questions to addressing your concerns and discussing your options honestly, my goal is to make your real estate experience as pleasant as possible. Listening to and keeping you informed while protecting your best interests are essential facets of my service. I know the market, and I know the business, but most importantly, I know how to put your needs first. FIVE STAR REAL ESTATE AGENT AWARD WINNER

F S - 10 — LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM

YEAR WINNER

Ready to Meet Your Real Estate Needs!

• Strategic Pricing Specialist • Strategic Negotiation Specialist • Among approximately 1% of real estate agents to win the Five Star Real Estate Agent award in the Charlotte area for 12 years Beth is known for working diligently and tirelessly to get her clients the highest possible return on their investment. She is an effective communicator and is well respected and liked by her industry peers and vendors. Her current and past clients refer her to their friends and family and call on her repeatedly. FIVE STAR REAL ESTATE AGENT AWARD WINNER

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

REAL ESTATE AGENTS

Nadine Wynn

Matt Sarver

Realtor, Broker, ABR®, CLHMS, SFR®

Realtor

19721 Bethel Church Road Cornelius, NC 28031 Phone: 704-806-6711 nadine@teamnadine.com www.alakehome.com #TeamNadine

YEAR WINNER

Your Real Estate Solution

After being an RN for over 23 years, I switched careers in 2003 to residential real estate sales, following in my father’s footsteps. I am very proud that Team Nadine now has a total sales volume of over $382 million since 2003. Currently, I am honored to be chosen as the cultural ambassador, representing the Carolinas region of Keller Williams International in 2021 out of almost 10,000 Keller Williams agents. I’m a recipient of the 2020 Golden Eagle Award, which is one of the highest honors bestowed upon any Keller Williams agent. I am a 12-year winner of the Five Star Real Estate Agent award featured in Charlotte magazine. I am one of 43 real estate agents to be honored with the Five Star Real Estate Agent award for 12 years. I have been recognized in the Lake Norman area as one of the top 50 women Realtors in 2019 and 2020. I’m a 10-time BOLD graduate. I’m a Keller Williams University certified instructor and Carolina’s educational system instructor for North Carolina and South Carolina for Keller Williams Realty.

Keller Williams Realty 19721 Bethel Church Road Cornelius, NC 28031 Phone: 704-506-2323 matt@thesarvergroup.com www.thesarvergroup.com

The Sarver Group

YEAR WINNER

• Serving clients’ real estate needs since 2005 • Full-time listing manager, closing coordinator and marketing team member • Relocation specialist • Luxury home specialist • Over 1,000 homes sold that are worth over $350 million I would like to thank my clients for putting their trust in The Sarver Group! We strive to make the homebuying and selling process as simple and stress-free as possible. Whether you are looking to sell or buy a home in the Lake Norman and Charlotte surrounding areas, you can be sure The Sarver Group will exceed your real estate expectations! We would like to recognize our team members who are Rising Star Real Estate Agent award winners: Aaron Dworsky, Leah Phillips, Evan Todd, Jereme Bennett-Stone, Sue Zimmerman and Lexi Paas.

FIVE STAR REAL ESTATE AGENT AWARD WINNER

Dana Parker Burleson

Danielle Edwards

Broker, Realtor, Lic. 199666

Realtor, Broker, ABR®, SPS, CLHMS

12104 Copper Way, Suite 100 Charlotte, NC 28277 Phone: 704-604-2999 drivendanielle@gmail.com soldondanielle.com @danielle_your_realtor

1920 E 7th Street Charlotte, NC 28204 Phone: 704-641-3281 danapb@carolina.rr.com

YEAR WINNER

Experience Counts When Picking the Right Real Estate Broker

• A Top producer for over 20 years servicing both North and South Carolina • Extensive experience working with both buyers and sellers • Two-year Five Star Real Estate Agent award winner Dana believes it all comes down to hiring the right real estate agent with a proven track record to help buyers and sellers be successful. Her number one priority is always customer satisfaction. She says, “I work hard for my clients and believe that my success comes from my ability to multitask, being a good listener and the ability to think on my feet. I am grateful every time someone entrusts me to help them buy or sell a home, whether it is a repeat client, a referral client or someone I just met.” FIVE STAR REAL ESTATE AGENT AWARD WINNER

Exceeding Expectations From Sign to Sold for 15 Years!

YEAR WINNER

• 100% Club, 2015 – 2018 • Platinum Club, 2019 – 2021 • RE/MAX Hall of Fame (inducted in 2020) • Diamond Team, 2020 and 2021 • RE/MAX Global Marketing winner, 2015 Danielle Edwards is committed to providing an unprecedented level of expertise that ensures her clients successfully achieve their personal real estate goals. Through her passion and unlimited energy, she clearly distinguishes herself with proven results while creating a fully engaging, fun and impressive experience. From each transaction, Danielle will proudly donate to either the Charlotte Humane Society or the Charlotte Levine Children’s Hospital. FIVE STAR REAL ESTATE AGENT AWARD WINNER

LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM — F S - 11

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

REAL ESTATE AGENTS

Maureen O’Keefe

Sarah Rutkowski

Realtor, Broker

Broker, Realtor, ABR®, SPS

Executive 12104 Copper Way, Suite 100 Charlotte, NC 28277 Office: 704-926-2542 Cell: 704-777-0356 sarah@soldbysarah.com soldbysarah.com

3624 Country Club Drive Gastonia, NC 28056 Phone: 704-616-8442 runway2realestate@gmail.com May Your Home Always Be Too Small To Hold All Your Friends! • “A great negotiator; she made the whole process so easy for us” – Joel H. • “Has a great eye for presenting your house in the best possible light and goes overboard to create an amazing listing” – Mike H. • “Highly recommended for anyone, especially military veterans” – Alec T. Meet Maureen O’Keefe, a results-driven Realtor who assists clients buying and selling real estate in North and South Carolina. She is the daughter of a veteran, a certified Military Relocation Professional and holds the NAR C2EX – a commitment to excellence certification. A design background enables Maureen to stage homes, using exciting presentation techniques to maximize a home’s marketability and exposure. She understands her buyers’ needs and desires, finding new/custom homes, established homes with renovation opportunities or move-in ready homes that suit their every dream!

YEAR WINNER

• 18 years with RE/MAX Executive • Constant communication • Excellent attention to detail • Aggressive strategies for success in this hot market, whether you are buying or selling • Licensed in North and South Carolina Thank you to all my clients for this opportunity and for trusting in me with the sale or purchase of your home. I am so blessed to work with wonderful clients daily. My passion for real estate and integrity will continue to shine. I am so proud to be part of this elite group as a Five Star Real Estate Agent award winner. Thank you!

FIVE STAR REAL ESTATE AGENT AWARD WINNER

Anna Granger

Suzanne J. Becker

Realtor, Owner, Broker-in-Charge, MBA, ABR®, e-PRO®, SPS, SFR®

Broker, Realtor, ABR®, GRI, SRES®, Lic. 191032

4410 Mint Hill Village Lane, Suite 202 Mint Hill, NC 28227 Phone: 704-650-5707 annagrangerhomes@gmail.com www.1stchoicepropertiesinc.com

YEAR WINNER

Lead With Integrity

Helping You Make the Right Move!

3440 Toringdon Way, Suite 205 Charlotte, NC 28277 Phone: 704-609-7359 suzanne.becker@exprealty.com

YEAR WINNER

As Always, Thank You for Your Business!

Licensed in North and South Carolina. Lic. 214639.

• Graduate, Realtor Institute (GRI) • Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) • Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES®) Suzanne is a native Charlottean and grew up in the Foxcroft neighborhood in South Charlotte. She is a graduate of Myers Park High School and UNC-Chapel Hill with a B.A. degree and double major in communications and studio art. Upon graduation, she started her career in marketing and sales within the insurance industry, but had always had a burning desire to use her creative talent to serve others. Getting her real estate license in 2000 was a natural transition with her educational background, and she had truly found her passion for helping others. She has been a consistent top producer for the last 20-plus years. Her experience in the industry, along with her history and knowledge of the area, provides a unique perspective and value-added benefit to her clients.

FIVE STAR REAL ESTATE AGENT AWARD WINNER

• Licensed and full-time real estate professional since 2004 • Ownership of process, quick follow-up, knowledge and experience • Named one of the 10 best real estate agents to work with in North Carolina by the American Institute of Real Estate Professionals • Multimillion-dollar producer Thank you to all my clients for your continued business, confidence, trust and referrals. To all my associates and business partners: Thank you! You are a vital part of my business, and I greatly appreciate your outstanding, reliable service!

F S - 12 — LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

REAL ESTATE AGENTS

The Zahn Group Real Estate Broker

Rob Bilbro Broker, Lic. 279074

eXp Realty Keller Williams — South Park 5925 Carnegie Boulevard, Suite 250 Charlotte, NC 28209 Phone: 704-737-0440 molly@mollyzahn.com www.thezahngroup.com

3440 Toringdon Way, Suite 205 Charlotte, NC 28277 Phone: 704-402-4503 robbilbro@gmail.com

The Zahn Group

YEAR WINNER

• Experienced in selling, buying and investing in North and South Carolina • Customer-centered and personalized service

• 2021 Five Star Real Estate Agent award winner • eXp ICON Agent Award, 2019, 2020, 2021

The Zahn Group is a small, dynamic real estate team led by Molly Zahn Harrison. Molly has been in real estate in Charlotte since 2005 and is a top producer at Keller Williams Realty. The Zahn Group’s business is based on high-level customer service, integrity and care for its clients. They largely focus on the South Charlotte area as well as urban living around Charlotte’s Uptown, South End and Arts Districts. The Zahn Group prides itself on a high volume of repeat business and referrals. They believe in being your real estate professionals for life!

Being a trusted guide, advisor and friend to my clients is the basis for my entire business. My clients know that I work hard to protect and guide them through the process of buying or selling their homes, so they readily tell friends, family and coworkers about our experiences together and about the value of my services. 100% of my business comes from referrals and return clients, which has helped me to reach the top 2% of all agents in the Charlotte metro area according to MLS.

FIVE STAR REAL ESTATE AGENT AWARD WINNER

Kristen Bernard

Alexis Hughes

Realtor

YEAR WINNER

Realtor, Lic. 296781

5925 Carnegie Boulevard, Suite 250 Charlotte, NC 28209 Phone: 704-300-0855 kristenbernard@kw.com kristen.localcharlottehomes.com

10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 200 Charlotte, NC 28216 Phone: 704-773-2117 Alexis.Hughes@exprealty.com www.alexishughes.exprealty.com

It’s More Than Real Estate — It’s Your Life

Where Excellence Is a Standard

As a former elementary school teacher, Kristen Bernard understands the importance of connecting with her clients and communicating effectively. She prides herself on her ability to earn the trust of her clients in order to guide them through making informed decisions on their own. A specialist in residential real estate, she understands that buying or selling a home prompts many questions and concerns for clients. Kristen will address those questions with her expert market knowledge and educate her clients on the real estate process, so their concerns become things of the past.

• Top 1% at eXp Realty • 2019 humanitarian of the year • 2021 REAL Trends’ Americas Best Real Estate Professional Licensed in both North and South Carolina, Alexis is prepared to help anyone seeking to reside in the Greater Charlotte area. Alexis is experienced in commercial, residential and land real estate transactions. With a high focus on out-of-state relocation clients, she is a matchmaker and ensures a smooth and seamless transition to the Greater Charlotte area. Being highly driven, responsive and knowledgeable are all assets Alexis commands with unprecedented expertise. Alexis is driven with a strong understanding of marketing, which assists her sellers in leveraging the sale of their homes for the highest price possible. Alexis truly believes that “every accomplishment starts with the decision to try,” and she can’t wait to guide you as you accomplish your homebuying or selling dreams!

FIVE STAR REAL ESTATE AGENT AWARD WINNER

RISING STAR REAL ESTATE AGENT AWARD WINNER

• Personal touches, win-win deals and positive results • Achieving results through listening and understanding • Licensed in North and South Carolina

LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM — F S - 13

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

REAL ESTATE AGENTS

Lisa Satterfield

Miranda Edwards

Broker, Realtor, CRS

Realtor, Broker, Lic. 304664

Team Satterfield is comprised of agents who are long-time residents of the Charlotte area. We know and love the “queen city” and look forward to working with you to sell your current home or find your new one. We offer a high level of listing services and would love to show you why what we do works. Our full team is available to meet your schedule, not to try to get you to fit into ours. Making it happen isn’t only our motto but also our reality — let us show you how we can make it happen for you! Lisa is licensed in North and South Carolina.

eXp Realty 10300 Pioneer Mill Road Concord, NC Phone: 704-791-7347 miranda.edwards@exprealty.com cnc.exprealty.com/agents/167038/ miranda+edwards

YEAR WINNER

Keller Williams Ballantyne 3430 Toringdon Way, Suite 200 • Charlotte, NC 28277 Phone: 704-904-4554 • lisa@teamsatterfield.com • teamsatterfield.com FIVE STAR REAL ESTATE AGENT AWARD WINNER

Clients First

Liz Young

• Dedicated to providing exceptional personal service with integrity, creativity and excitement • Multimillion-dollar producer • Native to North Carolina, area expert in selling/buying residential and investor owned property Miranda’s passion is delivering what matters most to her clients. She is remarkable at developing lasting relationships with her clients so that she has a full understanding of their real estate needs and desires. Her communication and responsiveness to not only her clients, but also to fellow agents and vendors are extremely impressive. Miranda exceeds her clients’ expectations with her attention to education, preparation and resources, relieving as much stress off of her clients as possible.

Realtor

• North/South Carolina Realtor with 18-plus years’ experience • Enjoys assisting buyers and sellers As an award-winning Realtor with RE/MAX Executive, I’m thrilled to assist buyers and sellers at all stages of life, achieve their real estate goals. I have extensive knowledge of the communities and neighborhoods in and around Charlotte. From first-time homebuyer subdivisions to luxury neighborhoods, my strategic negotiating skills and dedication to my clients ensure that my buyers and sellers enjoy a smooth and seamless transaction, from the first time we meet to the closing table and beyond.

YEAR WINNER

2901 Coltsgate Road • Charlotte, NC 28211 Cell: 704-578-9513 • Office: 704-540-7500 liz@lizyoungrealtor.com • lizyoungrealtor.com

RISING STAR REAL ESTATE AGENT AWARD WINNER

FIVE STAR REAL ESTATE AGENT AWARD WINNER

Michelle Peck

Broker, Realtor, Certified Military Relocation Specialist, Lic. 291891

• Luxury home specialist

Magnolia Real Estate

“Your heart has to be in the right place — you have to genuinely desire to make a difference in your clients’ lives. — Five Star award winner

• Relocation specialist

Michelle moved to the Lake Norman area over five years ago when her husband retired from over 20 years in the Air Force. Since her relocation to the area, she has enjoyed helping families find their dream home in the area and has become one of Lake Norman’s top 100 agents in 2020. She uses a combination of her relocation experience, both personal and professional, along with her extensive knowledge of the military veteran real estate process. 132 N Cardigan Way, Suite E • Mooresville, NC 28117 Phone: 704-761-8453 • michellepeck@magnolialkn.com www.michelle.viewcharlotteareahouses.com

FIVE STAR REAL ESTATE AGENT AWARD WINNER

Lisa Holden

Realtor, ABR®, Broker-In-Charge, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist™

YEAR WINNER

Lisa has been helping buyers and sellers with their real estate needs for over 20 years! She is a top producer in her market and knows what it takes to get top dollar for her sellers and great deals for her buyers. Lisa will make sure your home is market-ready before listing by staging, marketing and strategically pricing your home. She will help maximize your investment in a short amount of time. Lisa is licensed in North and South Carolina, so if you are looking to buy or sell a home, call Lisa, and she will help you get moving! 839 Kilarney Court • Matthews, NC 28104 Cell: 704-650-0302 • Office: 704-893-2134 lisaholden@holdenrealty.net • holdenrealty.net FIVE STAR REAL ESTATE AGENT AWARD WINNER

F S - 14 — LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE AGENTS PROFESSIONALS MORTGAGE PROFESSIONALS

Karyn L. McAlpin

Lisa Shapiro

Senior Mortgage Planner, NMLS 49612

Senior Mortgage Advisor, NMLS 505392

Fairway Independent Mortgage

18505 Statesville Road, Suite A-01 Cornelius, NC 28031 Phone: 704-754-0192 kmcalpin@mcleanmortgage.com www.karynmcalpin.com #karynmcalpin

13700 Providence Road, Suite 120 Weddington, NC 28104 Phone: 704-458-9898 lshapiro@fairwaymc.com www.shapiroteamloansfairway.com Professional. Trustworthy. Thorough. Detail Oriented.

Trust Me and My Team to Help You Finance Your Next Home!

YEAR WINNER

• 2021 Five Star Mortgage Professional • Mortgage Executive top 1% Loan Originator for 2020 (Scotsman Guide) • 2021 Best of Top Mortgage Brokers in Charlotte (Expertise.com) • Fairway Independent Mortgage Military Mortgage Specialist

• 25-plus years of experience • Conventional, FHA, VA and USDA • Down payment assistance • Love what I do

Senior mortgage planner Lisa Marie Shapiro is a top consultant in her field with over 15 years of mortgage planning experience. She works tirelessly to structure the right loan program to suit client needs. Lisa Marie will walk you through the entire loan process and explain everything you need to know. Let The Shapiro Team get you or your clients into their dream home — the right way!

As a trusted mortgage advisor for more than 25 years, I work with clients to finance their first home, second home, move-up home and/or investment property. NCHFA down payment assistance is one of my most popular programs, in addition to traditional loan products like conventional, FHA, VA and USDA. McLean Mortgage is dedicated and committed to teamwork. This ensures that our clients, our referral partners and every other party in the transaction receive the same high level of service at MMC.

FIVE STAR MORTGAGE PROFESSIONAL AWARD WINNER

To see the full list of winners, visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.

Real Estate Agents

Tiffany Clements Johannes · RE/MAX

Lisa Satterfield · Keller Williams Ballantyne Page 14

Steven Thomas Bueche · Coldwell Banker Realty

All Areas

Kathy Lancaster · Dickens Mitchener Residential Real Estate

Georganna Smith · Prostead Realty

Abigail Renee Baker · Prostead Realty

Jack Marinelli · Helen Adams Realty

Jodi Alison Sosna · Progressive

Dana Parker Burleson · Savvy & Company Page 11

Dayna Beekman · JP & Associates Realtors, Carolina Living

Katharine Allen McFalls · David Hoffman Realty

Jackie Stutts · RE/MAX

Suzanne Coddington · Dickens Mitchener Residential Real Estate

Teresa Giles Sweet · Allen Tate Real Estate

Rhonda T. Copp · RPMS Realty

Juan Carlos Beltran · ERA Real Estate

Lesa McGary · RE/MAX Dianne Taylor McKnight · RE/MAX

Ginny Williams · Keller Williams Realty Charlotte Ballantyne Area

Danielle Edwards · RE/MAX Executive Page 11

Kyle Bender · Scarlett Property Group Wayne E. Bennett · One Home Team Realty

Renee Sain Montgomery · Carolina Peacock Realty

Nadine Wynn · Keller Williams Page 11

Michelle Graves · Realty ONE Group Revolution

Michael Shaun Morgan · RE/MAX Executive

Charlotte

Allen D. Dargins · Realty Resources Of The Carolinas Tijuana Evans · Prime 1 Realty Page 8 Brian Fisher · Keller Williams Lark Norman Page 7 Kay Fisher · Keller Williams Lark Norman Page 7 Beth Gionis · Prostead Realty Page 10

Vivian Munson · Corcoran HM Properties Maureen O’Keefe · Sell and Buy Now Realty, LLC Page 12

Patricia T. Peroulas · ProStead Realty

Linda Granzow · 1st Choice Properties, Inc.

Brigitte Perry · Southern Homes of the Carolina

Marjorie Hedley · Team Scholz Properties Unlimited

Christie Pistolis · Southern Homes of the Carolinas

Belinda Hicks Broderick · Compass

Inna Radko · Keller Williams

Lisa Holden · Holden Realty Page 14

Robyn Dickinson Riordan · Coldwell Banker

Paul W. Jamison · Keller Williams

Maureen Roberge · LKNHomes.com Page 10

Molly Catherine Zostant · Prostead Realty

Kyle Frey · My Townhome Realty

Sherri L. Green · Coldwell Banker Andy Griesinger · Keller Williams

Logan Abrams · RE/MAX Suzanne J. Becker · eXp Realty

Page 12

Lisa Bennett · One Home Team Realty Kristen Bernard · Keller Williams South Park Page 13

Scott Hartis · eXp Realty Page 2 Sylvia Hefferon · RE/MAX Executive

Page 10

Christine Joy Hotham · Helen Adams Realty Karin Blake Hull · RE/MAX Executive

Rob Bilbro · eXp Realty Page 13

Beth Anklin Ivey · Prostead Realty

Sondra Leigh Blaser · ERA Real Estate

Chip Jetton · Cottingham Chalk Realtors

Donna Boyce · RE/MAX Executive

Tracy Josey · Giving Tree Realty

Anne Brade · RE/MAX Executive Page 3

Debbie Kempter · Prostead Realty Page 6

Leigh Bryant · Keller Williams

Deana B. Langley · Coldwell Banker

LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM — F S - 15

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

REAL ESTATE AGENTS

MORTGAGE PROFESSIONALS

HOME/AUTO INSURANCE PROFESSIONALS

To see the full list of winners, visit www.fivestarprofessional.com. Debra A. Lipszyc · Giving Tree Realty Page 5

Betsy Mayer · RE/MAX Mary Beth McIntyre · Belle Properties

Melissa Martin · Southern Homes of the Carolinas Matt Sarver · Keller Williams

Laura L. Miller · RE/MAX

Huntersville

Mark Samuel Munson · Corcoran HM Properties

David DiGioia · DiGioia Realty

Kathy Norman · Keller Williams South Park Page 6

Cheryl Ollis · Coldwell Banker Amy Ross Peterson · Allen Tate Real Estate Scott Pridemore · Compass Page 4

Lenore Prisco · Coldwell Banker Rachel B. Reardon · RE/MAX Maureen Regele · Bon Maison Properties Sarah Rutkowski · RE/MAX Executive Page 12

Julie Tache · Homes With Cachet Sue Valentine-Plyler · Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Page 11

Susan G. Renckens · SGR Realty

Rising Star Real Estate Agents

Huntersville

All Areas

Mortgage Professionals

Michael Joseph Diniz · Keller Williams

Heather M. Aucello · Movement Mortgage

Miranda Edwards · eXp Realty Page 14

Bill Chalfant · loanDepot

Jennifer S. Lambert · Allen Tate Real Estate Ashley Lapointe · RE/MAX

Wisdom H. Stikeleather · Southern Homes of the Carolinas

Alina Lorenzo · Southern Homes of the Carolinas

Sandra H. Dickinson · Crosscountry Mortgage

Matthews

Joseph Russell McMurry · Allen Tate Real Estate

David Matthew Herlocker · Executive Home Lending

Lexi Paas · Keller Williams

Lorri L. Hoffman · Movement Mortgage

Susan Spurrier Chambers · Coldwell Banker Beth Curley · Allen Tate Real Estate

Joseph Santagata · Keller Williams

Mint Hill

Paige Sherrill · NextHome Parmamount

Anna Granger · 1st Choice Properties Page 12

Jennifer Stafford · Team Heidi at eXp Realty Sue Zimmerman · Keller Williams

Monroe

Charlotte

Jennifer Vick · Keller Williams

Mooresville

Aaron H. Dworsky · Keller Williams

Ann Welchans · Pure Real Estate

Angela Cook · Southern Homes of the Carolina

Kimberly Young · Dickens Mitchener Residential Real Estate Liz Young · RE/MAX Page 14

Ann M. Yountz · Keller Williams Molly Zahn Harrison · Keller Williams South Park Page 13

Cornelius Paula F. Birmingham · Allen Tate Real Estate Gretel Howell · Allen Tate Real Estate Renee Keller · Keller Williams

Elizabeth Ashleigh Clark · Highlands Residential Mortgage

Lake Norman

Judy Boyce Chapman · Appleseed Realty

Nicolette Olivier Wiggam · Coldwell Banker Realty

Nick Sempert · Helen Adams Realty

Alexis Hughes · eXp Realty Page 13 Jamie Milam · Keller Williams South Park Page 9

Jennifer King · Lake Realty Christopher Kirkman · RE/MAX Executive Michelle Peck · Magnolia Real Estate Page 14

Waxhaw Katherine Humbert · Helen Adams Realty Robin Husney · Dickens Mitchener Residential Real Estate Page 10

Jan Konetchy · ERA Real Estate Mike Sodden · Prestige Properties Of The Carolinas Page 8

Jeff Furr · Movement Mortgage

Karyn L. McAlpin · McLean Mortgage Corporation Page 15

Karen D. Moravus · Fairway Independent Mortgage Shelly Quinn · Silverton Mortgage Lisa Shapiro · Fairway Independent Mortgage Page 15

Mark Aaron Taylor · Wyndham Capital Mortgage Jeffrey Trout · Uwharrie Bank Mortgage

Leah Nicole Phillips · Keller Williams

George Violante · LendUS

Chris David Phillis · eXp Realty

Rising Star Mortgage Professionals

Mark Rubenstein · Keller Williams Lake Norman Page 7

Bonnie Stroup · Dickens Mitchener Residential Real Estate Elizabeth Hamilton Watkins · Jennifer Vick & Co.

Alex Austin · Executive Home Lending Barb Pilarczyk · Integrity Mortgage Group

Kara West · eXp Realty Page 9

Home/Auto Insurance Professional

Cornelius

Christian Gallardo · Carolinas’s 1st Choice Agency

Weddington

Jereme Bennett Stone · Keller Williams

Cathy Burns · eXp Realty Page 7

Anthony DiGioia · DiGioia Realty

Looking for Other Great Professionals? Go to www.fivestarprofessional.com · Mortgage Professionals · Wealth Managers · Investment Professionals · Home/Auto Insurance Professionals · Real Estate Agents Professionals interested in learning more about Five Star Professional, please call 888-438-5782

REALTOR® is a federally registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a Member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

F S - 16 — LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM

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Upcoming Calendar of Events Submit your event online at charlottemagazine.com/calendar, and look forward to seeing more from these:

BECHTLER JAZZ WITH MARIA HOWELL

DECEMBER 12/3 Vintage Market Days’ ‘A Splendid Christmas’ at Cabarrus Arena & Events Center

with Maria Howell Bechtler Museum of Modern Art 9/10/2021

12/4 4th Annual Wendell Scott Legacy Gala at NASCAR Hall of Fame

1. Ziad Rabie 2. Patrons enjoy the show 3. Maria Howell

12/4 Holiday Trees for Wildlife at Wing Haven 12/14-15 Digital Summit Charlotte at Charlotte Convention Center 12/18 Santa Run 8K & Snowman Dash in uptown

ANNE NEILSON FINE ART

1. Cassandra Richardson, Stuart Coleman Budd 2. Anne Neilson, Cassandra Richardson 3. Meredith Connelly (center) with guests 4. Patrons enjoy the paintings 5. Meredith Connelly, Treazy Treaz, Sydney Duarte 6. Logan Sutton

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

DANIEL COSTON

Microcosm show opening Anne Neilson Fine Art Gallery 9/9/2021

CHARLOTTE SQUAWKS PREVIEW PARTY

Belk Theater 8/18/2021

1. Elizabeth Hindal, Mark Hindal 2. Ward Wellman, Laura Wellman 3. Richard Lancaster, Solestine Lancaster 4. Emma Braisted, Sharon Sullivan 5. Suzanne Fetscher 6. Martin Olsen, Mary C. Curtis

SABOR LATINO

DANIEL COSTON

benefiting LAWA Marriott City Center 9/16/2021

1. Maria Salamanca, Ana Patino 2. Mark Allison, Andres Prussing 3. Eugenia Kolander, Annette Semprit, Jessica Martinez 4. Lisa Dolan, Kelly Wolff, Carlos Salas, Christine Salas

Continued on next page DECEMBER 2021 // CHARLOTTE

109

OPERA CAROLINA

1. Arlene Ferebee, Curtis Walls, Liz Thomas Hollier 2. Julie Bernard, Curtis Walls 3. The Winston and McLain families with Dorothy Counts Scoggins 4. Morgan Winston, Douglas Tappin, Maya McClain 5. Group photo of patrons

Allegro Golf Invitational

Cedarwood Country Club 9/27/2021

1. Julia Sayegh, Donna de Molina, Christine Noelle 2. Donnell Woolford 3. Patrons hit the links 4. The Worrell family tees off 5. Pat Farmer, Jason Schugel

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CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

DANIEL COSTON

Charlotte magazine (ISSN 1083-1444) is published monthly by Morris Communications at 214 W. Tremont Ave., Suite 303, Charlotte NC 28203-5161. Entire contents Copyright © 2021 by Morris Communications. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Periodicals postage paid in Charlotte, NC and additional offices. To subscribe, renew, or change address, go to www.charlottemagazine.com or write to: Charlotte magazine, 214 W. Tremont Ave., Suite 302, Charlotte NC 28203-5161. Subscription rate $19.95 for one year (twelve issues). For renewal or change of address, include the address label from your most recent issue. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Charlotte, P.O. Box 433237, Palm Coast, FL 32143-9616. Unsolicited photographs, illustrations, or articles are submitted at the risk of the photographer/artist/author. Charlotte magazine assumes no liability for the return of unsolicited materials and may use them at its discretion.

I Dream preview party, Belk Theater 9/15/2021

UNCF HOSTING PARTY

led by Kim Henderson (private home) 9/25/2021

1. Tera Black 2. Donna de Molina 3. Party guests 4. Donna Julian, Kim Henderson

DANIEL COSTON; COURTESY

CROSSWORD

BY ANDY SMITH

ANSWERS can be found online at charlottemagazine.com/crossword. DECEMBER 2021 // CHARLOTTE

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YOU ARE HERE Each month, we’ll throw a dart at a map and write about where it lands. LOCATION: 188 N. Trade St., Matthews

hews St., Matt e d a r T . 188 N

Charm for Years

WHEN IT COMES to small-town downtowns, it’s hard to out-charm Matthews. There’s the Carolina Beer Temple, which operates out of a former post office, built in 1939 on North Trade Street. There’s the locally famous 121-year-old Renfrow Hardware across the street, where you can get live chicks or bags of dried “Kritter Korn” to feed the squirrels and chipmunks. On the bustling corner of North Trade and John streets, you can check for bargains at the ZABS Place thrift store, staffed by young people with special needs. If you

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cross the intersection and browse baseball cards at AAA Collectibles, two guys named Jim will help you. Matthews’ downtown has that walkable urban vibe that people crave these days and a mix of shops and restaurants— some of which have been around for decades, others that bring a brand-new buzz. It floods with produce buyers who come every Saturday to the Matthews Farmers Market. A 1988 Charlotte Observer headline posed a question that, 33 years later,

CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // DECEMBER 2021

seems laughable: “Can Matthews keep its charm?” It reads, in part: “Other Matthews town leaders and merchants also have become concerned, enough so that the town council is considering spending $29,500 to study ways to preserve the downtown’s historic flavor.” Archives don’t reveal whether the council greenlit the study. If it did, it was money well spent. If they didn’t, perhaps Matthews’ charm could not be stopped. —Cristina Bolling

SHAW NIELSEN; CRISTINA BOLLING

From the Saturday farmers market to bags of Kritter Korn, downtown Matthews brings the quaint

$3000 value

4521 Sharon Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211

(704) 532-9041

Ofﬁcial Jeweler of the Carolina Panthers

Charlotte Magazine December 2021

Articles inside

You Are Here

Local Flavor

Restaurant Guide

On the Line

Now Open

Room We Love

Hot Listings

Style

Culture

Life Lessons

Connect

Transit

Building History