QC Exclusive - No. 35 - 2016 Issue 7 - The Sporting Issue

The Quintessential Charlotte Magazine

Vol. 5 | N o. 7

THE SPORTING & CONSERVATION ISSUE

CAROLINA WILD As the National Park Service celebrates its centennial, we revel in the natural beauty of the Carolinas’ Blue Ridge, Piedmont, and Lowcountry.

OCT/NOV 2016

PLUS

Bob Timberlake / Ruard Veltman / Stoke / Charles Jurney / Ayisha McMillan Cravotta Blue Blaze / Yvonne Boesel / Grove Park / Lorusso’s Legendary Cocktail / Hike Crowders A spectacularly colorful autumn view from the Blue Ridge Mountain Club

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The exclusives 136 Carolina Wild Celebrate NC’s natural beauty as the national parks turn 100

144 Bob Timberlake The artist’s connection to his hometown of Lexington, NC

150 Finished Dog Attend class with renowned dog trainer Charles Jurney

156 Dollar’s Pride Dr. Luke Dollar and National Geographic’s Big Cats Initiative

162 Coastal Empire Douglas Stratton captures the beauty of the Lowcountry

Coop, a retriever in training at Charlie Jurney’s Beaverdam Kennels. ”Finished Dog” story on pg. 150.

Photo by Jamey Price.

OCT/NOV 2016 CAROLINA WILD

The DEPARTMENTs

OCT/NOV 2016 CAROLINA WILD

70

Cover photo courtesy of Blue Ridge Mountain Club | www.brmountainclub.com

The CULTURE Arts & Style

136 110

144

Yvonne Boesel • 46 The New Line • 52 Bridging The Divide • 58 Ringed History • 62 Natural History • 66

The SPREAD Food & Drink

Stoke • 70 Crafting Paths • 78 Rooster’s Quail • 84 B&G Langtree Chop • 86 The Broken Spoke • 88 Legends of the Fall • 90

162

46

The FOLIO

Home & Design Aeronautical Leisure • 92 Hand-Painted Spaces • 98 Curated • 104 Details Juxtapose • 106 New Old • 108 Wherever Home Is • 110

90

The Explored

126

Travel & Sporting

The Grove Park • 116 Higher Ground • 122 Dove Lessons • 126 Crowders • 130 Western Waters • 132

52

Note • 20 | Eventist • 31 | Exclusives • 136 | Index • 170 | Stockists • 170

18 • qcexclusive.com • OCT/NOV 2016

Cover photo courtesy of Blue Ridge Mountain Club | www.brmountainclub.com

The NOTE

O

Our 2016 sporting and conservation issue is a very special edition! This year our country celebrated 100 years of the National Park Service. This novel idea was at its genesis a strictly American ideal ­— a show of greatness and of public ownership that set a standard for the rest of the world. But, it’s been a century since its establishment, and many of us take a lot of the natural opportunities that exist locally and regionally for granted. So, in the following pages we tried to share our favorite images and stories from the Carolina wild to remind you of how great we have it here, from the access that Charlotte’s locale gives us to the beauty that surrounds. You can see an epic photo essay of our favorite images of North Carolina’s national parks, forests, and wilderness areas taken by some of the most talented photographers in the state. Explore the importance of coastal conservation in Douglas Stratton’s pictorial entitled Coastal Empire. Have a conversation with the legendary watercolorist and sportsman Bob Timberlake. Visit the waters around Grand Teton and Yellowstone with members of the QC Exclusive team. Meet local National Geographic conservationist Luke Dollar and learn about his efforts to protect big cats. Readers can also go on an opening day dove hunt, hike Crowder’s Mountain, meet Lake Norman dog trainer Charles Jurney, elevate in Highlands, North Carolina and so much more.

There’s more than just sporting and conservation in this issue though. Our culture section features a fantastic interview with Ayisha McMillan-Cravotta on the new line in ballet as well as art by Yvonne Boesel and Matt Steele. New restaurant Stoke brings a delicious menu and amazing atmosphere to Marriott City Center while the brewery Blue Blaze shines in West End. Lauren Clement renovates an airplane hanger while Corey Miller tells the story of renowned architect Ruard Veltman. We hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as we enjoyed curating it and until next time, get out there and enjoy fall!

Best, Brett Barter, Publisher Jon-Paul Grice, Editor

20 • qcexclusive.com • OCT/NOV 2016

OCT/NOV 2016 CAROLINA WILD

QC Exclusive publisher Brett Barter and editor JP Grice fly fishing in Pisgah National Forest. Celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the National Parks with us by enjoying a photo essay exploring North Carolina’s wild public lands. Essay by the talented Carolina photographers Tommy White, Justin Costner, and Jamey Price begins on pg.136

EST. 2011

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E X PA N D A B L E D I A M O N D B R AC E L E T S

fall in love

EST. 2011

our team PUBLISHERS Brett Barter Jon-Paul Grice SALES Kathleen Hands Fern Howerin EDITORIAL Corey Miller Sunny Hubler EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Leslie Brooks Jenny Cosgrove Margaret Graton Margo Jacobs Jordan Lax Eleanor Merrell Brianna Melanson

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24 • qcexclusive.com • OCT/NOV 2016

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EST. 2011

Contact Us FEEDBACK We welcome your feedback — both positive and negative — and believe it is very valuable in our constant pursuit to be better as a publication. We encourage all of our readers to contact us with any critiques, compliments, or questions by email at info@qcexclusive.com.

EDITORIAL Contact JP Grice by phone at 828-773-4922 or email at jp@qcexclusive.com.

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26 • qcexclusive.com • OCT/NOV 2016

The TALENT JAMEY PRICE

SARAH AND BEN COLLIER

Jamey Price is a Charlotte native and professional

This husband and wife team

motorsport photographer

photographs weddings and

who has been published by

editorials with a love for

Autosport, Road & Track,

timeless, artful photography

MAXIM, ESPN and Sports

using film to bring your vision to

Illustrated. Follow him on

life. Visit them online at

Instagram @jameypricephoto

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COREY MILLER

SUNNY HUBLER

A graduate of Appalachian

Sunny is a transplant to

State University and alleged

Charlotte by way of Maine.

film and literature snob, Corey

She is a writer, researcher, and

Miller left a sizable chunk of his

adjunct professor. Her latest

soul in Berlin. He’s just here for

work looks at environmental

the QC beer.

advocacy and nutrition-related health communication.

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EMBY TAYLOR

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them a different perspective to tell stories in a unique way.

STEPHEN PHILPOTT

EMILY DNISTRAN A graduate of East Carolina

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University, Emily is a Carolina

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spending time with her adorable

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studio. Visit him online at www.thephilpott.com.

28 • qcexclusive.com • OCT/NOV 2016

O C T/ N OV 2 01 6

The eventist 10/20/16 - 10/21/16 - An exuberant start to the season, Fall Works is a double feature including the work of Ohad Naharin, coming to Charlotte Ballet for the first time.

Ohad’s Minus 16 has an eclectic score ranging between Dean Martin, mambo, techno and traditional Israeli music. Using improvisation and his signature “Gaga” method, Ohad crafts an experience with elements of spontaneity, while breaking down the barriers between the dancers and audience. Resident Choreographer Dwight Rhoden returns to present his ballet The Groove. Set to 1980s house music, this joyful party ballet is a fitting start to a season of celebration. www.charlotteballet.org PHOTO BY JEFF CRAVOTTA | PROVIDED BY CHARLOTTE BALLET

KINDRED SPIRITS • 36 | GENGHIS KAHN • 38 | FELA! • 40

CHARLOTTE BALLET’S FALL WORKS

FALL WORKS • 31 | BARBER OF SEVILLE • 32 | DYLAN • 34

OCT/NOV 2016 EDITOR’S PICK

The EV ENTIST

OCT/NOv 2016

OCT/NOV 2016 EDITOR’S PICK THE BARBER OF SEVILLE

10/27/16 & 10/30/16 - Opera Carolina will put on the two night show of this classic Rossini opera this fall.

Rossini’s The Barber of Seville is so embedded in popular culture, Bugs Bunny sampled its songs. It’s a madcap romp involving disguises; false identities; and a busybody, matchmaking barber. Multiple suitors are vying for the same woman’s affections in an opera so slapstick, it was suitable material for a cartoon. In the original version, the tunes aren’t looney. They’re lyrical. This comic show is a cartoon-ish adventure that has been sampled across pop culture for years. www.operacarolina.org

DAY OF ABSENCE

10/25/16 - To mark its 10th anniversary, OnQ Productions hosts a conversation at the Levine Museum of the New South about what it means to be working class and the impact of minorities on the workforce. www.museumofthenewsouth.org

and will be shared in advance with participants in a “Know Before You Go” email. Following the epicurean adventure, participants can enjoy a guided tour of the special exhibition Women of Abstract Expressionism. www.mintmuseum.org Charlotte Symphony’s

New South For

Fright at the Knight

The New Southerner

10/27/16 - Pulitzer Prize-winning Charlotte Observer Editorial Cartoonist Kevin Siers will discuss how he approaches his work and share some of his most memorable and thought-provoking cartoons. www.museumofthenewsouth.org

10/28/2016 - Experience the season with Charlotte Symphony at the Knight Theater as they put on the scores from all the classic horror films from John Carpenter’s Halloween, Poltergeist, Stephen King’s IT, Psycho, and more. www.blumenthalarts.org

Taste Of The Mint

Sketching In The Galleries

10/27/16 - Experience pairings of small plates and beverages at Halcyon, Flavors from the Earth. Menus are custom-tailored for the event

10/28/16 - Experience Abstract Expressionist works of art in this special exhibition through sketching. Learn and refine methods and

32 • qcexclusive.com • OCT/NOV 2016

strategies to sketch in the galleries and interpret works of art. www.mintmuseum.org Bootanical at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

10/29/16 - 10/30/16 - Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden will feature Halloween activities and crafts with live music and food. There’s something for all ages and Bootanical will be free with general Garden admission.

All children wearing costumes will receive free admission. www.dsbg.org Day Of The Dead Cultural Explanation

11/1/16 - Lucila Ruvucalba from the Latin American Coalition hosts a presentation of history, humor and facts about Dia de los Muertos on the official day of the celebration. www.museumofthenewsouth.org

An Evening to Share,

Charlotte NOVEMBER 9TH 6:30 - 9:00 PM AT METROPOLITAN

At the Corner of Charlottetowne Ave. and S. Kings Drive

Give thanks, break bread, toast in the holidays at Metropolitan’s first Friendsgiving. The centerpiece of the evening is an exquisite four-course menu, with wine pairing, prepared by Dressler’s acclaimed Chef Scott. A portion of the proceeds will benefit SHARE Charlotte.

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT METROPOLITANCLT.COM FOOD SERVED BY

The EV ENTIST

OCT/NOv 2016

Music And Museum

11/1/16 - Former Brevard Music Center Director and Music & Museum audience favorite Bruce Murray returns to Charlotte with a Schubertiade!, featuring a set full of glorious works for piano, violin, and cello by Franz Schubert. Joining Bruce on the program will be violinist Rosemary Furniss, wife of Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Music Director Christopher WarrenGreen, and the rising young cellist Christine J. Lee, a veteran of the La Jolla, Marlboro, and Heifetz Institute festivals. www.bechtler.org Dia de Los Muertos

11/1/16 - Levine Museum of the New South will put on their own interpretation of the Mexican Day of the Dead tradition. The celebration

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features traditional foods, folkloric arts and crafts, traditional dances, and fun activities for the kids. www.museumofthenewsouth.org

dramas, CineMint films will get you thinking, discussing, and understanding more about your Latin neighbors and beyond. www.mintmuseum.org

EnRIchMINT

11/2/16 - The 2016 Fall EnrichMINT Forum will be held at the Mint Museum Uptown and will kick off the Mint Museum Auxiliary’s Room to Bloom Celebration featuring keynote speaker, New York City-based fashion designer Lela Rose. www.mintmuseum.org

100 Words Film Festival

Cinemint Latin Film Series

Bob Dylan

11/2/16 - CineMint brings the best of Latin film to Charlotte. With screenings taking place in spring and fall, each program will showcase those films that go unseen by most of America. From thought-provoking documentaries to emotional

11/6/16 - One of the greatest folk musicians of all time is coming to the Queen City. Presented by the Blumenthal and AEG Live, songwriting legend Bob Dylan will take the stage for one night only this fall. www.blumenthalarts.org

11/4/16 - 11/5/16 - The 100 Words Film Festival at the McGlohon Theater at Spirit Square is celebrating concise storytelling. All films chosen deliver a cinematic experience using exactly 100 words. www.blumenthalarts.org

The EV ENTIST

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FRIENDSGIVING

11/9/16 - The Metropolitan will host their first-ever Friendsgiving with ticket proceeds supporting local nonprofit SHARE Charlotte.

In partnership with Dressler’s and West Elm, the Metropolitan invites you to share an evening of delicious food and drink, dÊcor, and company.

Guests will enjoy a four-course meal provided by Dressler’s Chef Scott, complimentary wine and beer, rustic luxe decor provided by West Elm, and music entertainment, all with a view of Charlotte’s skyline. www.metropolitanclt.com Modernism + Film

11/10/16 -The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art screens Away From All Suns, a documentary by Isa Willinger that examines the ruins of 1920 constructivist architecture in

Moscow, Russia. Managing a cast of three unconnected characters, each of whom occupy a revolutionary residence, the film focuses on gender, social upheavals, and human rights. Willinger’s goal is to attract attention to what is left of the buildings’ revolutionary past. www.bechtler.org The Life And Times Of Robert Smalls

11/12/16 - 1/22/17 - From escaped slave to Civil War hero to member of the S.C. House of Representatives, Robert Smalls’ storied trajectory from slavery to freedom is the subject of this multifaceted exhibit. www.museumofthenewsouth.org Charlotte’s Military History

11/13/16 - In honor of Veteran’s Day, popular history speaker David Erd-

man returns to the Duke Mansion to take you on a “visual tour� of places that mark Charlotte’s military past. www.museumofthenewsouth.org Kindred Spirits

11/15/16 - Calling all art and food enthusiasts. Join The Mint Museum and Davidson College for an extra special Kindred Spirits Art & Food Outing in celebration of the amazing Women of Abstract Expressionism exhibition. www.mintmuseum.org Rise Of The New South

11/15/16 - The Charlotte Teachers Institute and Levine Museum of the New South present a talk with Dr. Shep McKinley, author and senior lecturer at UNCC, on how Reconstruction shaped the New South. www.museumofthenewsouth.org

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36 • qcexclusive.com • OCT/NOV 2016

The EV ENTIST

OCT/NOv 2016

Bechtler By Night

11/18/16 - Art enthusiasts across the city of Charlotte have made Bechtler By Night the premier art event to look forward to the third Friday of every month. On November 18th the Bechtler will provide a wonderful night of entertainment with their event Design and Shine, where guests can put their own spin on some of the modern artinfluenced jewelry pieces found in their second-floor exhibition, All That Sparkles...20th Century Artists’ Jewelry. www.bechtler.org Charlotte Symphony: Wagner, Strauss, & Bruckner

11/18/16 - 1/19/16 - Presented by the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, the Belk Theater will offer an evening of classical music featuring the works

38 • qcexclusive.com • OCT/NOV 2016

of Wagner, Strauss, and Bruckner.

The performance will be led by world-renowned conductor Christopher Warren-Green. www.charlottesymphony.org Fall Ball In Wonderland

11/19/16 - Join the madness at this Alice and Wonderland themed affair held at Mint Museum Uptown. Enjoy wonderful food and beverages as guests madly dance the night away. www.mintmuseum.org GENGHIS KAHN

11/19/16 - 4/30/17 - Explore the culture, conquests, and heritage of the world’s greatest conqueror when the treasures and stories of Genghis Khan are presented in the Queen City at Discovery Place for the very first time. www.discoveryplace.org

HARVEST DAY

11/19/16 - Celebrate the harvest at the Backcountry Farm. Watch cooks and bakers at work as they prepare a traditional holiday feast in a spirit of Thanksgiving for the season’s harvest. Visit with craftspeople and farm folk as they demonstrate early-American skills and crafts. www.schielemuseum.org THE FAB FOUR

11/19/16 - The Fab Four — The Ultimate Tribute, is elevated far above every other Beatles tribute due to their precise attention-todetail. With uncanny, note-for-note live renditions of Beatles songs, the Fab Four will make you think you are watching the real thing. This incredible stage show includes three costume changes representing every

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OCT/NOv 2016

era of the Beatles’ ever-changing career. This loving tribute to the Beatles has amazed audiences all over the world, including in Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico and Brazil. Hear record-perfect live performances of such classics as “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Yesterday,” “A Day In The Life,” “Penny Lane,” “Here Comes The Sun,” and “Hey Jude.” www.blumenthalarts.org FELA! THE CONCERT

11/20/16 - The sensual, eclectic sounds and powerful lyrics of Fela Kuti, the founding father of Afrobeat, prove why he became one of the world’s most celebrated and rebellious music legends. Set against a soaring canvas of projected images, Fela! The Concert is driven by the electrifying rhythms from a live

40 • qcexclusive.com • OCT/NOV 2016

10-piece Afrobeat band, with nine singers and dancers who bring to life Fela’s provocative spirit. www.blumenthalarts.org

earned unanimous raves and won the 2014 Tony Award® for Best Musical — A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder! www.blumenthalarts.org

A Garden For All Seasons

11/21/16 - This is the third of five exciting programs offered by the Charlotte Garden Club this fall that highlight horticulture and design throughout the Carolinas. Join the Mint for a conversation with botanist and horticulturalist John E. Eisley on “A Garden for All Seasons – Highlights of a Carolina Garden.” www.mintmuseum.org

NOVANT HEALTH THANKSGIVING

A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE

The Sound of Music

AND MURDER

11/24/16 - 11/29/16 - Blumenthal Performing Arts presents The Sound of Music at Belk Theater directed by three-time Tony Award winning Director Jack O’Brien.

11/22/16 - 12/14/16 - Getting away with murder can be so much fun… and there’s no better proof than the knock-‘em-dead hit show that has

DAY PARADE

11/24/16 - Experience the Charlotte tradition that has entertained audiences since 1947. Complete with dance and choral performances, marching bands, floats, balloons and more, this year’s parade will kick off the holiday season, Charlotte-style! novanthealththanksgivingparade.com

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The songs will include all the classics, from “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” to “Edelweiss”. www.blumenthalarts.org TOOLS OF THE CATAWBAS

11/25/16 - Visit Gastonia’s Schiele Museum for an amazing learning experience. Guests will get the opportunity to see the important tools that the Catawba Indians used to hunt, farm, and build shelter. You can even try your hand at shooting a blow gun. www.schielemuseum.org Mannheim Steamroller

11/25/16 - Mannheim Steamroller is the work of producer/composer Chip Davis. In the mid ‘70s, Davis was one of the first composers on the nascent new age scene.

Davis hit the jackpot in 1984 when his first attempt at holiday music, Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, became a huge success thanks to a new age-y take on “Deck The Halls.” Holiday music became a staple of Steamroller’s subsequent releases, with seven Christmas-themed albums and two Halloween-focused records coming out over the course of the next 15 years. www.blumenthalarts.org ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF CHRISTMAS

11/25/16 - 11/26/16 - Latta Plantation will be open both Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving for the annual Christmas living history event.

This is sure to be a highlight of the season. See the circa 1800 plantation home and its surrounding buildings decorated in period holiday decor. www.lattaplantation.org

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OCT/NOv 2016

Winter Wonderland Fair

11/26/16 - More than 100 artists and crafters from the Charlotte region will showcase unique holiday gifts and decorations at the Anne Springs Close Greenway. www.ascgreenway.org IF I COULD TURN BACK THE HANDS OF TIME

11/26/16 - If I could turn back the hands of time, would I? This original production by Narketa Wooten and Todd Burnette is a dramatic rollercoaster that takes you on a ride of scandal, rage, love, deceit, and trust. From the pulpit to the back doors no one can be trusted, not even in God’s house. www.blumenthalarts.org AN EVENING WITH DAVID CROSBY AND FRIENDS

11/29/16 - Legendary singer-songwriter and social justice activist David Crosby is a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, inducted as a member of both the iconic folk-rock band The Byrds — with whom he first rose to stardom — and the iconic Woodstock eradefining group Crosby, Stills & Nash. www.blumenthalarts.org To post an event in a future issue email us: info@qcexclusive.com

44 • qcexclusive.com • OCT/NOV 2016

The CU LTU RE

musings

YVONNE BOESEL Charlotte artist Yvonne Boesel’s impressionistic florals and figures as well as her new fly fishing series showcase her expert balance of chaos and control.

BY SUNNY HUBLER PORTRAITS BY JAMEY PRICE PAINTINGS BY YVONNE BOESEL

HANDMADE • 62 | MUSEUM • 66

MUSINGS • 46 | MARQUEE • 52 | CRAFTED • 58

A RTS & S T Y L E

The CULTURE

The CU LTU RE

musings

W

When it comes to career pursuits, it seems Yvonne Boesel has lived two lives. The Canadian native who grew up in Nashville found herself drawn to science at an early age. She excelled and eventually would earn a Master’s from Vanderbilt in Electrical Engineering before moving to Charlotte with her husband. The two have lived in the Queen City now for nearly three decades.

Given her long background in the science field, a training in the arts wasn’t exactly within Boesel’s wheelhouse.

Yet, she felt pulled in that direction and rather than dabble as a hobby, Boesel wanted to develop real skills and learn from the best. About nine years ago, she took the plunge with an introductory oil painting course in Cornelius and a spark was ignited.

Boesel threw herself in, reading books, taking workshops, and continuing courses to develop her own craft.

In the years that have passed, she has found herself

gathering acclaim and gaining insight into the depth of life as an artist.

For the last six years, Boesel has studied under Charlotte’s renowed Andy Braitman and in 2015, she completed a three month “Artist in Residency” program at his studio. Last year, Boesel was also the winner of the Art with Heart Juried Artist Competition at the Elder Gallery.

Boesel’s medium is oil, and she creates impressionistic canvases spread with thick paint and building layers. She uses brushes and palette knives in her creative process, resulting in an aesthetic she categorizes as a “balance of chaos and control.”

“Painting has impacted me by teaching me to look at the world in new-found ways,” Boesel says. “I am now attuned to color, value, and form in my environment, so much that on occasion, while outside, I truly feel like I am immersed in a painting.”

“I am now attuned to color, value, and form in my environment so much that on occasion, I truly feel like I am immersed in a painting.”

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The CU LTU RE

musings

“Painting has taught me to look at the world in new-found ways.”

With her recent series of paintings featuring the action of fly fishermen — inspired by her husband’s hobby — the viewer experiences that same feeling of transportation, but in reverse: a sense of truly experiencing the cool air and placid lake of Boesel’s painting.

As for what’s next, Boesel says she simply wants to immerse herself continually in the creative journey she’s on, and with all the new experiences it has been bringing. She is also currently brushing up on her art history, studying the thought processes behind various artists’ work.

Boesel’s work can be found at Slate Interiors, Three French Hens, and The Sporting Gent. She also donates to the Safe Alliance Art with Heart Auction, Susan Komen Laugh for a Cure, the HRC NC Gala and Art Unleashed.

FOR A BIT MORE INFO: yvonneboesel.com

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What is your official title, and what does it entail?

I am the Academy Director. That means that I oversee the operations of the training arm of Charlotte Ballet. Here at Charlotte Ballet, the academy is not separate from the larger organization. We are an arm — primarily what we do is provide the highest quality of training in ballet, modern, and jazz to students from ages 3 to 93. And we do this year-round.

Where are you from, and what brought you to Charlotte?

I grew up in Oak Park, Illinois. I was a professional dancer, and I danced with the North Carolina Dance Theatre — what is now Charlotte Ballet — for five years. Before that I had been at Houston Ballet for six years.

I did my finishing school training at Houston Ballet also from age 15 to 18. I’ve come full circle because now I oversee an academy that’s quite similar to where I trained.

What has changed in Charlotte since you first arrived? Obviously the company has changed and evolved. What is different about Charlotte Ballet?

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INTERVIEW BY COREY MILLER | PHOTOS BY JAMEY PRICE

Charlotte Ballet’s Academy Director Ayisha McMillan Cravotta never saw herself in a leadership position. She simply never really expected to have the kind of influence she does now because she didn’t know she could. Being an incredibly talented dancer herself, she’s a proponent of ballet tradition…but her experiences have taught her that, sometimes, the trajectory of artistic norms can and should be changed. During the course of our interview, Ayisha discusses the conservative nature of this European tradition, opening up about what it means to be a woman of color — and a big influence — in a Southern city. With her well-deserved influence, Ayisha is dancing the line between preservation and progress beautifully. Take notes, America.

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When I first came here to audition and spent a couple of days with the company, I felt immediately that this would be a nice place to plant my roots and grow, grow with the city.

What has happened is the company has been able to — as more people have been able to move to Charlotte from the outside — connect with people who are helping build a New South, if you will. It’s a cosmopolitan place. That means that our dancers come from our community and that’s marvelous, but we are also active in bringing people in from all over the world. This fact mirrors Charlotte itself. We are this growing mosaic.

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“I would be performing on stages that, just a generation ago, I would not have been allowed on.”

Can you talk about how you’re changing the ballerina experience here at the academy? I understand that the ballerina concept is something deeply entrenched in tradition, but something you hope to change or influence.

Yes! At the academy, we’ve broadened the spectrum of our dress code. I’ve had tremendous help and leadership from Kati Hanlon Mayo to include deeper tones to reflect deeper skin tones in the tights and shoes our students wear. It might sound like a really small detail, but — as a woman of color who has come up in this art form — I understand what a big shift this is in the culture of ballet. When you think about the paradigm of a ballerina, the aesthetic tends to be quite standard because ballet was born as a European art form. It was an art for royalty — people with a lot of means.

That part has changed over time, but

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here in the United States and around the world the basic aesthetic really remains European. So, back to the typical aesthetic: pink tights, pink tutu, pink leotard, down to the pink shoes. It’s called pink, but what does it look a lot like?

Nude. Like skin color.

Right. It looks a lot like skin color.

“Line” is a term that we use a lot in ballet. It’s ingrained in us as part of the aesthetic because it’s how your eyes get from here [pointing to a dancer’s leg] to here [her arm] to here [her head]. There’s really no interruption because her leg looks like her foot, looks like her arm, looks like her head. It’s all very lovely because the line is not broken. It feels natural. Now when you have skin that’s a color like mine or deeper, what happens if you’re wearing pink tights? The line is broken and the

bottom half of the body is immediately divorced from the top. If you’re a woman of color, you’re not going to look as complete, by default. Your line won’t flow as nicely if on the bottom you’re one color and on the top you’re something different. This is not a new idea, though. I didn’t originate it. I know that the Dance Theater of Harlem, for many years, has had its women of color wearing skin-colored pointe shoes and skincolored tights. To me, this shifts our understanding of what is beautiful in ballet, what is acceptable, and what we invite. It took me years to realize how much I disliked wearing pink tights. But why? Deep down, I think I always felt: “This is another sign of how I will never truly fit in in this art form.” You can’t just shift a policy and expect everything to change, but I think that it’s a really great reflection of where we’re going culturally.

You used the term “New South.”

That’s really interesting to me because it brings up a period of Reconstruction. You’re helping to mold students into better artists, but you’re doing it in the South and you’re a woman of color. What does that mean to you?

I appreciate you reminding me of that because it means a great deal to me. Your question reminds me of an article by Earl Calloway, a writer for the Chicago Defender, Chicago’s oldest black-owned newspaper. He was a big champion of mine when I lived in Chicago. He wrote about me coming to the company here as a dancer, back in 2002. He celebrated

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“Our dancers come from our community and that’s marvelous, but we are also active in bringing people in from all over the world. This fact mirrors Charlotte itself. We are this growing mosaic.”

- Ayisha McMillan Cravotta

the fact that I would be performing on stages that, just a generation ago, I would not have been allowed on.

These are stages where my predecessors, black ballerinas like Janet Collins and Raven Wilkinson, could not have gone. There have been times when, sitting in a theater before the people arrive, I swear I’ve felt the ghosts. I swear I’ve felt the ghosts because…there are these high balconies with crude benches… and that’s where they used to put people who looked like me. I’ve been able to perform on these Southern stages, and now I’m in an even more unexpected position. It means so much to be invited here and to be invited into this role — to join in celebration of the changes that have occurred and to be part of making that change.

That’s equal parts sad and inspiring, isn’t it? You’re part of a generation of African Americans

doing some of these things for the first time, yet it’s insane that it has taken this long.

It is. There’s nothing wrong with tradition. But every art form eventually has to “dance the dance” between preservation of old ways and flourishing in new ways.

Did you like Houston?

I loved Houston.

I only ask because I know some who aren’t sure about Texas as a whole but love the state’s metropolitan areas. What was your experience like outside of those areas?

In Houston: I was living in a bit of a bubble. I was in this world of artists living in a large city with lots of cosmopolitan people coming and going.

Once I stepped outside of my bubble, I started to feel this…sting. I think if I’m not careful, that [artists’ world] will be the only bubble in which I operate in Charlotte.

It sounds terrifying to be in that bubble, the fear of leaving it.

I’ll never forget...I was dating a guy whose family was European, and he brought me to Waco to visit his family. His mom left the house, refusing to meet me because her son had brought a black woman home. I was so shocked. I was in this alternate version of reality that I think my parents had been careful to help shield me from.

And now, you’re in a position where you can make a difference, and that’s what’s so wonderful about what you’re doing here. You have some influence in this city, this Southern city. Did you ever see yourself in this kind of leadership position?

No, I never did. I saw myself behind a desk doing something administrative. I was always the dancer going back into administrators’ offices asking how things worked. I was always curious about it. I even got in trouble once: I was late for rehearsal because I had my nose into something in the marketing department. Having a leadership position in ballet is something I never pictured myself doing because I had never seen anyone like me in this position. When I go to conventions where people like academy directors gather, I’m often the only black woman there. This mold had to be broken. I can only commend and thank all the people who put me here. Someone, at some point, had to say, “Oh, Ayisha could do that job. Let’s get Ayisha to do it.” I’m fortunate that other people realized that before I did.

FOR A BIT MORE INFO: www.charlotteballet.org

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CRAFTED

BRIDGING THE DIVIDE Matthew Steele explores connectivity through sculpture.

BY LESLIE BROOKS PHOTOS BY JAMEY PRICE

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Human ingenuity is perhaps the greatest means through which we seek to connect with one another. If you consider mass media communication and the ease with which we can almost instantaneously connect with another individual on the other side of the globe, it would almost seem that one of life’s greatest mysteries has a simple answer —

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“ There’s a raw vulnerability hidden within humanity’s relentless exploration of industry and architecture.

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we are designed to communicate. In the words of John Donne, “No man is an island.” It is a truth that we take for granted in this age of instant gratification, but luckily Charlotte has designer-turned-sculptor Matthew Steele to remind us of this timeless message.

When Matt began exploring human connection and emotion through a visual language, he was a graphic design student at Indiana University. It was there that he “discovered the parallels” between the woodshop and the designs he generated in Adobe. Matt unearthed an opportunity to “begin the creation process in Adobe and create a tangible product” that he finishes with his hands. He can pair together two ostensibly disparate sets of skills in a way that sings of originality. Don’t be fooled, only a rough template of a project is produced in Adobe, and from there the tedious construction process begins. Once he finishes a piece, the resulting sculpture is a work of art wholly unique, even within the remarkable virtuosity of the Queen City’s talented art scene.

The driving force behind Matt’s art is reflected in his art. When I first stumbled across his sculptures, I described what I saw as imaginative translations of human infrastructure. Each piece espouses purposeful craftsmanship, careful consideration, and a tightly constrained design that communicates an “expression of human intention.” There’s a raw vulnerability hidden within humanity’s relentless exploration of industry and architecture

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over the span of our known history.

Through a visual articulation of this compulsion, Matt creates an internal conversation within a viewer that ultimately draws us back to something deeply pervasive of human existence — connection and our eternal pursuit of it, as individuals and as a society.

As Matt deepens this visual exploration of human emotion, connectivity, and “the transcendence of our greatest obstacles” through his art, Charlotte has the distinct pleasure of watching him grow as an artist. Within the walls of his studio space at the McColl Center for Art + Innovation, there are the tentative beginnings of experimentation, brought to life by opportunities he’s had for projects that “directly communicate with the space” they are designed for. While he intends to stay true to his affinity for graphic design and the woodshop, there seems to be a metamorphosis brewing beneath the surface. It’s unclear where this inspiration will take him, but I suspect the Queen City can expect the same artistry and craftsmanship Matt is celebrated for.

This constant striving toward innovation and growth can only be attributed to the same determination and creativity that has already brought Charlotte a myriad of his imaginative works. I, for one, eagerly wait to experience what will become of the new artwork crafted beneath Matthew Steele’s deft hands.

“Each piece espouses purposeful craftsmanship, careful consideration, and a tightly constrained design that communicates an ‘expression of human intention.’”

FOR A BIT MORE INFO: www.mtsteele.com

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The stump of a tree is an ancient narrator, telling centuries of stories between ringed layers of aged wood. It is this distinct mark of natural origin that has been adeptly replicated by local jeweler Rustic & Main.

Founded in 2015, Rustic & Main produces the epitome of hand-crafted goods in the form of men’s rings. Coming from a place of high principle and quality, each ring is a light, durable, and significant piece carved by the well-worn hands of owner Mike Yarbrough.

Respect for antiquity and craftsmanship unearthed Rustic & Main.

Ringed History Mike Yarbrough’s reclaimed wooden rings for men are brimming with artistry and made with history.

BY JENNY COSGROVE | PORTRAITS BY JAMEY PRICE RING PHOTOS COURTESY OF RUSTIC & MAIN

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Mike, a software developer by day, has cultivated an affinity for wood since childhood. He loved trees, as most sprightly young boys do, but he also loved history. “Whenever I’d read an historic account, I would wonder what wood was used on that boat or in that rifle,” Mike reminisces. “Even an old chair might be made of four types of wood or more, each chosen for its natural characteristics as well as beauty.”

It is Mike’s unyielding respect for antiquity and craftsmanship that unearthed his ring-making endeavor Rustic & Main.

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“Whenever I’d read an historic account, I would wonder what wood was used on that boat or in that rifle.”

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With a strong foundation of sentimentality, Mike incorporates meaning and nostalgia into every ring through a careful selection of material. His most popular ring is crafted from the deck wood of the USS North Carolina, a WWII battleship. The ship was commissioned just prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor and would go on to lead every major naval offensive in WWII. Other media include elk antler, wood from a WWII rifle, and coffee from the 1950s.

Integrating these materials into the ring is a labor-intensive process requiring nimble hands, a creative mind, and a passionate heart. But the effort pays off in spades. Mike’s final product is an immaculate piece of wood art with dynamic palettes and history as rich as the tint of its wood. Demand for the artful craft continues to grow, and Mike plans on expanding offerings, possibly to include women’s jewelry, soon.

Rustic & Main is the perfect addition to Charlotte’s wood-craft culture.

Mike Yarbrough is redefining the ring with grandiose historical character and affordable class.

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FOR A BIT MORE INFO: www.rusticandmain.com

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Natural HISTORY

A bastion of education concerned with the natural world, the Schiele continues to expand its own horizons while expanding those of curious Carolinians.

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BY BRIANNA MELANSON | PHOTOS BY JAMEY PRICE

The Schiele Museum of Natural History has significantly expanded since it was first opened by R.M. Schiele in 1961. It began as a small natural history collection and has transformed into grand exhibits, both permanent and temporary, as the museum site grew.

Visitors will observe a wide array of objects from all over North America in a North Carolina Natural History exhibit, mineral collections, a paleontology area, a wildlife hall, and other captivating exhibits.

The museum’s newest addition is the 360 degree digital planetarium,

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but the ever-growing outdoor displays and nature trail have also become a major attraction during the warmer months.

The Schiele offers a learning experience removed from the offerings of metropolitan Charlotte. With rural surroundings in Gastonia complementing the museum’s themes, the Schiele is well poised to emphasize the natural world. Its plot of land is a

peaceful place for local wildlife, like Cooper’s Hawks, to make their nests.

R.M. Schiele and his wife donated rock, bug, and Native American art collections to the citizens in Gaston County in return for a museum.

Schiele selected the farmland location for the museum in 1960, and the museum has been a Charlotte-area favorite ever since. His museum continues to thrive today within the same small town community, too, thanks to the thoughtful curation of Executive Director Dr. Ann Tippit, a doctor of anthropology and archaeology. She began working at the museum in 1988, and her oversight

“We bring in the cultural side of human beings and their role in the world but also show how the Earth and its systems impact humans.”

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“ We still have the same core mission as Mr. Schiele when we talk about the natural world and natural history.

has been instrumental in expanding the museum’s scope in several directions. “We still have the same core mission as Mr. Schiele when we talk about the natural world and natural history,” she explains. “With this as our focus, we bring in the cultural side of human beings and their role in the world — how they are not only an impact on the Earth, but also how the Earth and its systems impact humans.”

The community has made a great investment in the museum, just as the museum has helped preserve community. It’s a destination too, though: The museum attracts students and families from multiple counties. The Schiele is not only a convenient, educational trip, but it’s also one that promotes health and wellness. The outdoor exhibits and nature trail welcome all — they’re completely wheelchair accessible and visitors can bring their dogs along. Guests often walk or run the slightly less-than-a-mile trail, stopping at the exhibits along the way to relax and watch the turtles in the pond, or the food growing in the Memorial Garden. The playground and rock garden is an entertaining place for children, and the Indian Village and Stone Age Heritage Site offer both education and playful novelty.

Gastonia’s Schiele Museum of Natural History is constantly changing, growing, and being updated to satisfy the region’s educational needs. Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city and breathe in the museum’s natural atmosphere and history.

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FOR A BIT MORE INFO: www.schielemuseum.org

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Teaming with Charlotte’s Marriott, Chef Chris Coleman is marrying local, sustainable cuisine with large-scale dining.

STORY BY ELEANOR MERRELL | PHOTOS BY JAMEY PRICE

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FO O D & D R I N K

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Perched on a street where chains like Panera Bread and Moe’s duke it out alongside local digs like King’s Kitchen and Hazelnuts Creperie, Charlotte Marriott City Center is well-positioned for the company’s rebranding efforts, which seek to engage “the next generation of travelers.” At Charlotte’s Marriott, part of that effort includes luring Charlotte residents into the building with food and drink prepared by local proprietors.

Stoke, one of Charlotte’s newest restaurants, is one such venue located within the Marriott. Local, sustainable, and seasonal — the three words Stoke uses to express its values, vision, and character — have become buzzwords in today’s culinary vernacular, often deployed for instant approval from the Millennials, a lunge toward the coattails of a fad. However, at Stoke, these concepts aren’t gimmicks; they are ingrained in the refreshingly authentic identity of the restaurant.

This very real dedication to local-sourcing and sustainability is championed by the restaurant’s head chef, local culinary celebrity Chris Coleman, who has been an influential member of Charlotte’s food scene since 2004. When he transitioned from his most recent culinary venture, The Asbury, to Stoke, he brought a few dedicated employees along. He has also managed to maintain ties with many of the local farmers with whom he has worked for the last five years, and in doing so, he’s preserving relationships that blur the line between personal and professional, local and corporate.

“My fondest memories of eating are sharing around my grandmother’s table… We’d grab and pass.”

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Coleman understands the importance of farms that skew toward subsistence and away from industrialization. He’s seen firsthand the kinds of personal connections that can emerge through working with these farms, since his childhood summers were spent at his grandparents’ farm in Mississippi. “We ate PawPaw’s beef, we ate eggs from a neighbor’s farm, we helped MawMaw can peas,” he recalls. “It was cool but not in an overtly ‘locavore’ way; that’s just the way they lived.”

Coleman’s love of food is palpable.

He speaks of vegetables as though they are his own children, expressing as much affection for his flashy, all-American summer tomatoes as his bespectacled fall squash. Armed with a deep appreciation of ingredients in their simplest form, Coleman

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“Ours is a blue-collar profession. We stand around a hot fire, we work with our hands, and we haul 50-pound sacks of flour and sugar.”

is able to combine flavors in unexpectedly delectable ways. A popular dish is the sticky pork shank, which features tender meat braised with sorghum, chiles, and burnt orange. Arguably an any-season dish, this melty meat bliss pairs well with one of the many local beers on tap.

One person could single-handedly consume most portions at Stoke (barring The Doughnut, a one-pound heap of fried dough topped with diplomat cream and Heath crumbles), but Coleman intends for each table to order multiple dishes and share them, family-style. “My fondest memories of eating are sharing around my grandmother’s table,” he says. “There’d be a pile of pork chops or a bowl of chicken and dumplings and we’d grab and pass.” For Coleman, eating is, above all else, a social affair.

Intrinsic to a commitment to local and sustainable foods is the formation and maintenance of community, something that Coleman has mastered. From the farmers and brewers to the kitchen staff and guests, Stoke is a place where relationships are forged over food. Hang around until 10:30 on a bustling Saturday night, and you’ll see the kitchen staff whip up a batch of pasta and scarf down a well-earned communal meal before clean-up.

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This nightly ritual is visible because the restaurant revolves around an open kitchen layout. Guests are privy to every detail of the cooking process, be it hairy or glorious, which necessitates a certain type of employee personality. Coleman’s staff sweats silently by the wood-fired oven, immersed in whatever task is at hand, outfitted in an ensemble reminiscent of a car mechanic’s, replete with no-flare, blue, denim button-ups and gray-and-black mesh trucker hats.

The uniforms were Coleman’s idea, an extension of his blue-collar formulation of kitchen work. “Ours is a bluecollar profession,” Coleman asserts.

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“We are on our feet for 12 to 14 hour periods, we stand around a hot fire, we work with our hands, and we haul 50-pound sacks of flour and sugar.”

For any other celebrity chef to call culinary work “blue-collar” might

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be a stretch, given the opportunities afforded to chefs and denied to the average blue-collar worker, but because Chris Coleman is such a thoroughly hard-working, gently self-deprecating, farm-boy-at-heart

Charlottean, the way he lives his profession indeed evokes the hard work and humility typical of a bluecollar existence.

“We want to show that local sourcing can be accomplished in a larger space with a lot of traffic,” says Coleman. “It’s a logistical challenge, but if more larger restaurants took it on, we could move this region’s farming culture along significantly.” Coleman and the Charlotte Marriott are carving out a space at the convergence of corporate and indie cultures, blue-collar and artisanal, modeling a newly symbiotic relationship that other cities could and should strive to emulate.

FOR A BIT MORE INFO: www.stokecharlotte.com

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CRAFTING PATHS West End’s first brewery offers an Appalachiainspired refuge from the urban hike.

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STORY BY JORDAN LAX | PHOTOS BY JAMEY PRICE

More than a hundred miles from the Appalachian Trail, Blue Blaze Brewery invites urban travelers to slow down, lean back, and enjoy a pint among friends and family.

On the AT, a blue blaze marker indicates water and rest ahead; Charlotte’s Blue Blaze signifies local, sustainablycrafted brews and conviviality.

The founders of Blue Blaze, Craig Nunn and Sven Giersmann, dreamed of opening a brewery that reflected both their cultural backgrounds and their love for nature. “I spent the better part of my childhood in the woods,” Craig recalls. The rustic greens of the Appalachian Trail led him from New York to New Hampshire,

where he marveled at the unique weather patterns converging at the apex of Mt. Washington. He moved to Montana briefly, hiking over six hundred miles of backcountry into the Canadian Rockies before returning to the South to continue his career in the corporate world as director of a multinational firm.

Sven grew up in northern Germany. His family explored breathtaking Alpine ranges, often climbing ten or twelve miles of trails to collect patches, or Wandernadeln. “If you drink a beer up there, you’ll know you’ve never done something better,” he chuckles. Sven and his wife moved to Washington, DC in 2000. On visits to see his wife’s

“[The Blue Blaze] concept — instruments and beer, fire pits and good company — transcends cultures.”

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It was the beer’s idea.

- SVEN

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family in Pennsylvania, Sven has taken his kids hiking along the Appalachian Trail.

Among the serenity of the trees and veiled sunlight, he says his mind was cleared.

“You’re relaxed,” he muses. “There is nothing better than hiking.”

Craig and Sven have been neighbors in Charlotte for a decade. They shared a love for homebrewing beer, and they spent many afternoons lounging on their front porches playing music as they drank a changing selection of beers. Craig’s interest in brewing began in Kalamazoo, Michigan where a friend at Bell’s introduced him to craft beer and microbrewing. Sven, who worked as an audio engineer for twenty years before leaving the industry to spend more time with his family, enjoyed the autonomy and science of homebrewing.

Craig presides as the self-proclaimed “head janitor,” covering the business aspects, while Sven focuses on operations and brewing. They enlisted the support of

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5 Blue Blaze Beers To Taste AMBER BLAZE AMBER ALE Their take on an American amber has a biscuit-forward maltiness with generous hop flavor and aroma.

BLUE BLAZE ALTBIER This Altbier’s deep copper maltiness contrasts with the bright head and spicy finish.

DOUBLE BLAZE BLACK IPA A beer featuring citrus hop flavors and tropical aromas, packed tightly into a medium body dark ale.

BLACK BLAZE MILK STOUT A medium-bodied, creamy dark beer with a slightly sweetened roastiness with espresso and chocolate.

YELLOW BLAZER KÖLSCH A classic German golden ale with a mild, sweet malt that is perfectly balanced with a subdued spicy flavor note.

renowned master brewer Steve Turner, who holds five awards from the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup. Their offerings reinterpret classic American, English, and German styles, integrating their personal knowledge and tastes. Sven leans toward the Central European and German brews, while Craig enjoys English ales — a hearty selection of browns, porters, and, stouts. Blue Blaze’s eponymous Altbier balances copper and spice while its milk stout, the Black Blaze, offers complexity and depth with hints of espresso and dark chocolate. They offer rotating seasonal varietals as well as guest pours from neighboring Charlotte breweries and non-alcoholic ginger beers.

Blue Blaze Brewery occupies the corner of West End’s renovated Savona Mill between Martin Luther King and Seversville Parks in the Stewart Creek Greenway. Its cozy interior is accented with wood beams and photographs of mountains and creeks.

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The entryway, in true Appalachia form, doubles as a front porch with picnic tables and rocking chairs. Carabiner clips peek out from under tables and bar ledges for hanging bags or hooking dog leashes. After sunset, the lights from the bar glow softly through the glass facade warming the faces of friends on the patio who laugh and chat while a three-piece band croons folk songs. The grass and trees beyond the porch fade into darkness. It’s a nice place to spend an evening, even if you’re not there for water.

Craig believes their “concept — instruments and beer, fire pits and good company — transcends cultures.” Maybe the partnership of these two beer-lovers from opposite sides of the Atlantic is evidence of that. Either way, they’ve remained humble: Sven hesitates to take too much credit for bringing mountain tranquility to Charlotte. Laughing, he posits, “It was the beer’s idea.”

FOR A BIT MORE INFO: www.blueblazebrewing.com

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USDA PRIME, CERTIFIED BLACK ANGUS & AMERICAN WAGYU BEEF | FRESH SEAFOOD | SEASONALLY�DRIVEN BLACKBOARD SPECIALS

BLT Steak | The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte 110 North College St. | Charlotte, NC 28202 704.972.4380 | BLTSteak.com

Open Daily BREAKFAST Mon-Fri 7am - 10am, Sat 7am-12pm, Sun 7am-11am LUNCH Mon-Fri 11:30am - 2:30pm DINNER Mon-Thu 5:30pm - 10pm, Fri & Sat 5:30pm - 11pm BRUNCH Sun 11am - 2pm /BLTSteakRestaurants

@BLTSteakCHAR

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The SPREAD

plated

Rooster’s

QUAIL

Chef Zack Renner’s slow roasted quail wings make their seasonal return.

PHOTO BY LUNAHZON STYLING BY THE PLAID PENGUIN

Z

Zack Renner seems to enjoy the sporting challenge of a thoughtful fall menu, if his delicious game dishes are any indication. Zack is Executive Chef at Rooster’s Uptown for a reason: He’s been working for Chef Jim Noble for some time, and he seems to share his mentor’s predilection for the spoils of a good hunt. Like all the best of what Rooster’s has to offer, this bird does its time slow-roasting on the spit until it’s ready to return to society as a delicious helping of autumn flavor. These beautifully basted rotisserie quail wings perch atop a painterly spread of butternut squash purée, sharing their little wooden stage only with a savory pile of well-dressed baby greens.

It’s a trophy of a dish: There’s something about a bird cooked on a spit that just feels right.

FOR MORE INFO: roosterskitchen.com FOR RECIPE: qcexclusive.com/recipes

The SPREA D

plated

Block & Grinder’s

PORK CHOP PHOTO BY JAMEY PRICE

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This isn’t just any ol’ pork chop. It’s a massive 18 ounces of Heritage Farms bone-in protein selected by the meat man himself, Chef Ben Philpott of Block & Grinder. As a pork purist, Philpott lets the natural flavor of the cut shine by simply adding light salt, pepper, and fire. To complement the savory southern swine, Philpott serves it up on a wonderfully fresh bed of succotash: Anson Mills’ sea island red peas, corn, shallots, garlic, and thyme sautéed to perfection. A helping of cornbread dressing made with the

triumverate - carrots, celery, and shallots - and flavored with salty bacon fat and rich melted butter completes the dish. Guests of the new Block & Grinder Langtree will assuredly be impressed with this beautifully grill-marked, extremely succulent piece of Carolina chop served atop delicious Dixie sides.

FOR A BIT MORE INFO: www.blockandgrinder.com FOR RECIPE: qcexclusive.com/recipes

OCT/NOV 2016 • @qcexclusive • 87

The SPREA D

poured

The BROKEN SPOKE

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PHOTO BY JAMEY PRICE

The Broken Spoke’s namesake cocktail mixes neighboring Great Wagon Road Distillery’s Rua single malt with Amaro Montenegro and Benedectine to create a modern take on the classic Old Fashioned.

INGREDIENTS

1 1/4 oz Rua Whiskey 3/4 oz Amaro Montenegro 3/4 oz Benedectine Zest of 1 Orange 1 Bourbon Cherry

METHOD

Combine Great Wagon Road’s Rua Single Malt Whiskey, Amaro Montenegro, and Benedictine in a Yarai mixing glass and stir. Add a whiskey cube to an old fashioned glass. With a julep strainer, strain mixture over cube. Twist orange zest over the cocktail and rub around the glass’s rim. Garnish the cocktail with an orange zest and one house-made bourbon cherry and serve to your thirsty guests!

FOR A BIT MORE INFO: www.brokenspokenc.com

“Our whiskey is patiently aged in American oak barrels. We don’t sing to it, we don’t sail it around the Cape of Good Hope. We put a fine quality spirit into the best quality barrel.”

Ollie Mulligan Great Wagon Road Distillery

OCT/NOV 2016 • @qcexclusive • 89

The SPREA D

poured

“Do not get complacent.

Don’t settle in. Keep setting the bar higher.”

BRIAN LORUSSO DOGWOOD SOUTHERN TABLE

LEGENDS oF THE fall

D

BY COREY MILLER | PHOTO BY LUNAHZON | STYLED BY THE PLAID PENGUIN

Dogwood Southern Table’s Legends of the Fall is more than just a drink. It’s a rocks glass massaged with orange zest.

It’s house-made autumn syrup, a rich blend of ginger, black pepper corn, cloves, and allspice. It’s orange bitters and Alberta Rye Dark Batch, the collision of which makes for a bold, citrusy bite. It’s also a delicious fire hazard.

Halfway through the mixing process, before anyone can caution against it, Brian Lorusso whips out a blowtorch and sets a pile of Ceylon cinnamon afire. The smouldering shavings remain under a rocks glass until Brian’s ready to

strain everything into it. It’s spectacle, yes, but spectacle with purpose: Brian’s fiery unconventionality marries late summer citrus and smoky fall spice in a drink so tasty that patrons actually struggle to order anything else on his varied menu. Like much of Brian’s daring cocktail repertoire, Legends of the Fall is an experience.

FOR A BIT MORE INFO: dogwoodsoutherntable.com FOR RECIPE: qcexclusive.com/cocktails

We’ve washed ashore in Uptown Charlotte

Carolina Seafood at its Best Oyster Bar | Fresh Catch Seafood | Craft Cocktails | Craft Beer 704 • 412 • 2616 --- SeaLevelNC.com 129 E. 5th St. --- Charlotte, NC 28202 FREE PARKING --- WALK-IN --- CALL AHEAD SEATING --- RESERVATIONS

Be our guest.

Plan your next getaway, and experience a fun-filled stay packed with amazing amenities, including complimentary access to the Charlotte Athletic Club, as well as fine dining and much more!

704-377-0400 • omnihotels.com/charlotte

OCT/NOV 2016 • @qcexclusive • 91

The FOLIO

FOUNDATIONS

HOME & DESIGN

The FOLio STORY BY LESLIE BROOKS | PHOTOS BY D. RANDOLPH FOULDS

BEAUTIFUL VIGNETTES • 106 | RUARD VELTMAN • 110

FURNISHED • 104

Lauren Nicole Designs hits higher altitudes with this WWII-era inspired design.

FOUNDATIONS • 92 | COLLECTION • 98 |

AERONAUTICAL LEISURE

foundations

A

Although the 1940s was a decade marred by global conflict, it was also a fount of inspiration for today’s designers. Musings on the times conjure up images of leather wingbacks, rye whiskey, and a revival of American colonial aesthetics, all set to the lilting rhythm of big band swing. It was with this period muse, balanced by the image of an authentic WWII airplane hangar, that Lauren Nicole Designs sought to “create a cozy but realistic” lounge.

Making the garage’s design “authentic to the period” was founder Lauren Clement’s primary concern. Through tireless research and visits to multiple “army surplus stores,” she was able to translate her client’s idea into a cohesive vision reminiscent of the 40s. Owing to this familiarity with the visual lexicon of the times, the industrial aesthetic of the hangar’s interior naturally evolves into the warm ambiance of the lounge’s mezzanine. The corrugated metal walls have been “warmed up” with a rich, wood paneling accented by a flank of era-appropriate lockers. Leather accents and antique accessories enliven the space and suffuse it with a distinct feel of time and place.

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“ It’s fun to look back into history for period elements to use when designing a space.

“

The FOLIO

Shown: Sterling Rowâ&#x201E;˘ Chesterfield Pattern in Charcoal

What will you create?

Authentic, handcrafted tile and stone since 1952. www.walkerzanger.com

Tile & Stone Showroom 2116 Hawkins Street Suite 500 Charlotte, N.C. 28203 704.583.7000

Slab Gallery 1331 S. Mint Street Charlotte, N.C. 28203 704.583.7010

The FOLIO

FOUNDATIONS

In the bar area, an antiquated WWII aesthetic is fused with the “current luxuries” we enjoy today.

While the bar is crafted from old army crates, with “authentic artifacts” inlaid into the wood and capped in a glassy sheen, hints of modernity peek through.

The sleek polish of artisanal Moscow Mule mugs may nod to the contemporary, but the antique bottles and bar signs allude to an entirely different period.

Lauren Nicole Designs has eloquently spliced the rich,

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earthy vernacular of a 1940s wartime aesthetic with the comforts of modern luxury. Elegance permeates the overall design of this lounge along with the warm invitation of aeronautical leisure, 1940s style. Though the Forties may be only accessible to many of us through cinematics and music, surely the living, breathing spirit of the times can be found in this airplane hangar.

FOR A BIT MORE INFO: www.laurennicoleinc.com

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collection

“

Many of our collections take an idea and reimagine it so that the tile embodies the essence of an aesthetic, era, or feeling.

“

company was rapidly expanding, so there was great opportunity for advancement. My background is in fine arts, and I quickly became obsessed with the decorative possibilities of tile and stone, materials that have been used in architecture for thousands of years.

What inspires you?

Hand PAINTED SPACEs

J

Q&A BY BRIANNA MELANSON PHOTOS PROVIDED BY WALKER ZANGER

Jared Becker, the Vice President of Design and Marketing at Walker Zanger, shares his expertise on Walker Zanger’s Charlotte showroom and their new ceramic tile collection, Sketchbook.

How did you start learning about the tile industry?

I started my career in the tile industry working for Walker Zanger in 1993, managing our sample department where all the tile displays are made. You could say my story is the classic American tale of “working your way up” through the ranks. I was lucky to have joined Walker Zanger when the

98 • qcexclusive.com • OCT/NOV 2016

The world around us inspires me every day, including architecture, music, visual arts and the organic patterns and the colors of nature.

Even things as prosaic as the pattern on a manhole cover can spark an idea. I also have a deep interest in historic design, from ancient Roman to the mid-century modern. Many of our collections take an idea or a material and reimagine it so that the tile embodies the essence of an aesthetic, era, or feeling. For example, the Sterling Row collection is inspired by the elegant suit of welldressed gentlemen, tailored in both shape and color. “Lantern” from the concrete Kaza collection uses tactile 3-D elements to create a ribbed-yetsoft texture, pulled from George Nelson’s iconic 1947 lantern-lamps.

Our newest collection, Sketchbook, is inspired by the graphic whimsy

The FOLIO

collection

of mid-century modern design, featuring organic and geometric designs.

the local architecture and preferences in style, so all our product is thoughtfully displayed in a manner that is easy to navigate and emulates the regional community.

How did you work with the Charlotte showroom’s floor plan to achieve your needs?

Do you provide tile for more businesses or homes?

We were able to maximize the space by adding the offices on a mezzanine. This opened up more wall space on the ground floor to showcase more stone and tile displays underneath the area’s high windows. We worked with local staff for input on design and colors that reflect

We provide tile and stone for a variety of projects. Although residences comprise a large part of our sales, we also provide for hotels, restaurants, universities, corporate offices and museums like The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco.

LIVING THE DREAM The Glasgow Bed by Stickley features ample storage drawers at the foot of the bed and illuminated night stands. An organizational dream, come true.

Visit our showrooms and turn your decorating dreams into exciting rooms that enhance your lifestyle and fit your budget. complimentary interior design service

Glasgow Bed

New Location: 11410 Carolina Place Parkway, Pineville, NC 28134 980.585.0941 7215 Smith Corners Blvd. (I-77 and Harris Blvd.), Charlotte 704.597.0718 stickleyaudi.com

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Walk in with Walk out with

The new Wolf induction range

Ever wonder how to give your new kitchen an entirely fresh point of view? Find out at our showroom. You’ll meet, in full-scale kitchens, the new Wolf induction range. We’ve added the precision and control of the induction cooktop to the even heat circulation of the Wolf dual convection oven. It’s a foolproof formula for delicious results.

Design Center of the Carolinas • 127 W. Worthington Avenue, Suite 180 • Charlotte, NC 28203 subzero-wolf.com /charlotte • (704) 375-6025 • Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. • by appointment please

The FOLIO

collection

© 2006-2016 DEWOOLFSON Down Int’l., Inc.

Making each comforter and pillow just for you German downproof fabrics European white goose down fills Meticulous construction What are some other themes and trends that homeowners are looking for in their luxury remodels?

®

natural. comfortable. home. dewoolfsondown.com dewoolfson .com

Linens

In the High Country 9452 NC Hwy. 105 S between Boone & Banner Elk 828.963.4144 OUR 33rd YEAR

In terms of tile design, homeowners are asking for surfaces that are beautiful, add a feel of luxury to their homes and are easy to live with. As far as colors go, metallics are definitely on trend. We see them coming to the forefront in ceramic, stone and glass collections in traditional tones like brass, bronze, silver and gold—but also in colored metallics. Additionally, many homeowners are looking for ways to incorporate color in a natural wall, with blue being a particularly popular color.

Tell us about the new Sketchbook collection.

Sketchbook is a ceramic, hand-painted tile collection that fuses mid-century modern design with organic inspirations to create whimsical designs in a simple palette of black, blue, gray, and yellow. Our inspirations include the artistic patterns by Lucienne Day and textile designs from Alexander Girard. The bold black lines are carefully hand-painted to reflect the work of the artisans who create them. You can see the slight variations in the thickness of the lines. No two tiles are exactly alike, giving designers and homeowners a personalized design that can’t be replicated.

FOR A BIT MORE INFO: www.walkerzanger.com

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The FOLIO

furnished

Curated

Two Charlotte designers recommend their favorite sophisticated and stylish home accessories for autumn.

SELECTED BY LAUREN NICOLE DESIGNS AND THEORY DESIGN STUDIO

CARVED HORSE Inquisitive guests will be mesmerized by this unique piece: the solid wood carved horse statue by Mercana with a two-tone finish. theory-designstudio.com

GOLD LEAF KARKIN ACCENT TABLES Stunning geometric crosshatch side table features an antiqued goid leaf finish with an inset antique mirror top. uttermost.com

DARK EBONY RAM STATUES This set of 2 Ram Statues

by Uttermost features carved, dark ebony sculptures with beautiful matte black bases. theory-designstudio.com

RUSTIC LIVE EDGE TABLE Beautifully rustic, this Badang Coffee Table

by Stylecraft features carved natural teak with a clear lacquer finish, and minimalist hairpin legs. theory-designstudio.com

MARSALA THROW Marsala is the color of the season and this soft, organic cotton throw is perfect for a chilly night indoors or outdoors. laurennicoleinc.com

AUTUMN AMBER Nothing says autumn like the color of amber.

This beautiful vase is the perfect accent piece for a sidetable, centerpiece, or mantel accent. Add some fall foliage to complete. laurennicoleinc.com

COPPER LANTERN Make a statement by adding a pair of elegant lanterns from Lantern & Scroll over your kitchen island. lanternandscroll.com

PISTOL BOOKENDS These Weston Gun Bookends by Mercana feature white pistol sculptures. They are an interesting conversation starter for the most avid of book collectors. theory-designstudio.com

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THE ALTERNATIVE White pumpkins are a great decor alternative to the traditional orange. laurennicoleinc.com

NATURAL BOARD An absolutely gorgeous cutting board showcasing the amazing detail of the grain patterns of raw Tunisian olive wood. abchome.com

The FOLIO

vignettes

DETAILS JUXTAPOSE

W

Grainda’s Lake Norman kitchen combines the rustic with the contemporary.

STORY BY SUNNY HUBLER | PHOTOS BY METROPOLIS ICONIC SHOTS

With its exposed wood beams and crisp white walls and cabinets, this kitchen space, built by Grainda Builders, Inc. of Cornelius, is the perfect mix of mountain cottage relaxation with a clean modern finish. Grainda is one of the premier homebuilders in the Queen City and beyond, specializing in custom waterfront properties on Lake Norman. Along with Grainda and the homeowners, the custom cabinet gurus at Rowan Custom Cabinets helped make the vision behind this kitchen a reality. Rowan frequently works with Grainda on their design projects and specializes in cabinet design for baths and kitchens.

Nearly a year of research and work went into the design of this gorgeous Grainda home. The owners envisioned an open, airy kitchen with the types of rustic charm and laidback details that could be found in a mountain retreat.

It manages to be a striking design but is still set up ideally for entertaining and raising a young family.

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The overall vision behind this Lake Norman home was to keep the design casual above all else; as the kitchen here demonstrates, the signature aesthetic is relaxed with restrained detail. The high ceilings feature timbers from Southend Reclaimed, a building materials supplier in Davidson. The rustic details — reclaimed hardwood, riveted, bronze-finished, copper range hood, and shiplap on the island — juxtapose perfectly with the contemporary white marble backsplash and the bold modern light fixtures from Restoration Hardware.

The designers advise the homeowner who wants to recreate a similar aesthetic on their own to start simply: play with various textures, incorporate your favorite modern elements, and use reclaimed wood as a primary accent.

FOR A BIT MORE INFO: graindabuilders.com

TOUCHING DOWN. . .

December 1

2173 HAWKINS ST. UNIT G

704.819.6972 ALI@COUTUREKNOTS.COM

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

WWW.COUTUREKNOTS.COM

The FOLIO

vignettes

“I wanted something that felt both familiar and effortless but that had all the luxury creature comforts, very much a posh Ralph Lauren countryhome feel,” she explains.

To do so, she incorporated soft colors and various hunting and fishing details - the vanity’s brass sink fish pulls, the stag head, hunting dogs and fish and animal oils.

The artwork featured is all original canvas from Anne Nielson Fine Art in Charlotte.

The neutral plaid rug came from Stark Carpet, the shiplap was custom milled and supplied by a local lumber yard and the black sideboard came from Currey & Co. It was designed from a primitive southern antique piece made in Tennessee in the 1850s. Ludemann says the piece

“

I wanted something that felt both familiar and effortless — a posh Ralph Lauren country-home feel.

New Old Home designer Mary Ludemann unites luxury with laid-back cool in this custom designed stylish study.

N

STORY BY SUNNY HUBLER | PHOTO BY DUSTIN PECK

New Old, Charlotte’s award-winning custom home builder and designer, turned a space typically reserved for retreat and quiet into a livable yet luxurious room the whole family can enjoy.

Alongside this study is an adjacent full bath with honed marble and black anthracite tile made to complement the richly stained rustic alder furniture tile vanity.

Mary Ludemann, New Old’s designer, says her goal was to create a room that was sophisticated yet balanced with a relaxed and inviting atmosphere.

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“

LIVEABLE LUXE

could have various uses, but she chose to use it here as the men’s bar and laptop station.

To bring a little more country-home luxury into your own spaces, Mary recommends warm neutrals paired with lots of lush texture from leather, to cashmere, washed velvet, wool, and plaid patterns.

Even with the high-end aesthetic, this is a study the whole family — and even the dogs — can curl up in.

FOR A BIT MORE INFO: www.newold.com

OCT/NOV 2016 • @qcexclusive • 109

The FOLIO

bLUEPRINT

WHEREVER HOME IS Renowned Charlotte-based architect Ruard Veltman channels the heart of Dutch culture, Gezelligheid, in his creative and inviting designs.

STORY BY COREY MILLER | PORTRAITS BY JAMEY PRICE PHOTOS OF WORK PROVIDED BY RUARD VELTMAN ARCHITECTURE, CHRIS EDWARDS OR ERIC PIASECKI

The FOLIO

BLUEPRINT

“

I was made in France, born in Germany, and raised in the States, but I’m Dutch.

“

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Nationally renowned architect Ruard Veltman isn’t sure what he’d be doing if he hadn’t grown up in America. He’s not entirely American, and in fact fits no mold easily: “I was made in France, born in Germany, and raised in the States,” he intones jovially, “but I’m Dutch.” Tall, approachable, and with little hint of an accent betraying his origins, Ruard is well-accustomed to clarifying his nationality. “People insist that I’m American, but I’m not: I was raised in the United States, yes, but by a very Dutch family,” Ruard explains, “and that makes all the difference.”

A first impression, it seems, isn’t always the correct impression. Step inside a Ruard Veltman home, and find this fact nestled in every corner of the floorplan, in every fold of enveloping hallway, in every contented resident: No one design facet is easily classified, but it all adds up to one hell of an inviting place.

American or not, Ruard’s been all over. After an extremely Dutch childhood in South Carolina and countless visits to his parents’ homeland of Holland,

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Ruard’s college career took him further south. He was mentored by MacArthur Genius Samuel “Sambo” Mockbee in Auburn University’s School of Architecture Rural Studio. He was trained by McAlpine Tankersley Architecture in Montgomery, Alabama before making his way northward to the “slightly less sweltering” Queen City. Along with his Bald Head Island Studio, Charlotte is Ruard’s home base, but his architecture studio is at all times embroiled in a wide array of projects nationwide — each of them an exciting departure in style from the last. “I don’t ever want to be stuck in one place, designing one kind of home,” Ruard says, and his choice of project reflects this drive.

Even his most familiar-looking projects are deceptively unique. Nothing in a Ruard Veltman design is exactly what it appears. Like Ruard himself, the architecture looks American — sometimes Charlottean, even, to a degree — but it’s not quite of this town or this land. Not unlike much of “American” architecture, it is reminiscent of all the things romantic European townscapes do properly, but it exists without founding itself solely on those things. Everything familiar in a Ruard Veltman design is familiar only fleetingly, the way a swanky new chair feels if it occupies the same spot a belovedbut-overused seat once did. His Mediterranean villas typically spring up in warmer climates and often include pools, sure, but he has no reservations about deconstructing and restructuring the Mediterranean concept around an uncharacteristically temperamental forecast. His English cottages are English, but without all the trappings of turn-of-the-century brick masonry and politely front-facing doors: He uses whatever exterior brick he (or his client) fancies, and places his front door as rudely to the side and below-grade as he chooses.

He’s Ruard Veltman, and he’s not English…or southern European, for that matter. Ruard’s architecture is beautiful in that it’s just American enough, just foreign enough — just different enough to be Ruard’s.

Top right photo by chris edwards

OCT/NOV 2016 • @qcexclusive • 113

The FOLIO

BLUEPRINT

“

I think that’s a beautiful, wonderful thing, that everyone working on these homes feels a proud kind of love for their work, their art.

“

Ruard’s time in Alabama cultivated in him a deepseated love for the South and its sense of hospitality, which Ruard believes is far more than a stereotype. It truly is a way of life down here, and one with which his own upbringing easily coalesces: The features which qualify each Veltman home as genre-breaking vary from project to project, but there’s one theme which makes them all decisively his. In every Veltman home is a concentrated coziness. Each is designed to evoke a distinct warmth and comfortability, and he actually has a word for that feeling. His architecture is built on gezelligheid, an untranslatable Dutch term and a concept that’s been said to encompass the heart of Dutch culture.

Gezelligheid has no real equivalent in English, but that doesn’t stop Ruard, who’s fluent in both languages, from trying to define it. It’s convivial, like “eating and drinking around a table with loved ones.” It’s being surrounded by people whose company is desirable. It’s all those settings you crave when you’re not in them. At its most basic, gezelligheid seems a feeling of utter contentment with one’s surroundings. “If I’m going to design a home for you,” Ruard stresses, “I want you to want to be there.”

His designs are so welcoming that sometimes even he doesn’t want to leave them, the way a clingy artist can’t part with his most emotive work. He’s not content to merely design a structure. The two interior design arms of his business, Veltman Meubles (Dutch for “furniture”) and Veltman Wood Interiors ( a collaboration with interior designer Julia Wood), ensure that Ruard and his studio remain involved in that final part of homemaking. He also maintains a connection with his ideas while they’re becoming reality: “I love designing, but I love the process of construction too,” Ruard muses. “I love visiting a jobsite, talking to the crew — witnessing the camaraderie: There’s a certain amount of gezelligheid that happens during construction.” Ruard and the

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RUARD VELTMAN IN THE RVA COURTYARD

building crew have to witness a living space being constructed around them, until suddenly they’re forced to move out of their new home. “We bond in these things before they’re ever lived in, and at some point, it almost becomes our house,” he laughs. “I think that’s a beautiful, wonderful thing, that everyone working on these homes feels a proud kind of love for their work, their art.”

And it is art — every beam, every floor pattern is a point of attraction. Architecture can be beautiful, and it can be aesthetically pleasing. It can be art, but Ruard believes that, above all, it should be lived-in art. A home’s primary purpose should be housing its inhabitants “in a gezellig way.”

With a surplus of successful projects and acclaim all over the country, architect Ruard Veltman isn’t sure what he’d be doing if he hadn’t grown up in America, but he well knows what he’s doing since he is here. He’s hard at work creating lifestyles with architecture, and he does so with the help of an immensely talented team. His job is never lonely; his finished designs always feel gezellig because his life is filled with gezelligheid, and this may be the best English translation we have for that elusive concept: “Gezelligheid” is whatever and wherever “home” is. Ruard’s in the business of crafting the founding principle of Dutch culture. It’s all rather fitting.

FOR MORE INFO: www.ruardveltmanarchitecture.com

MIDDLE LEFT PHOTO BY ERIC PIASECKI. BOTTOM LEFT photo by chris edwards

OCT/NOV 2016 • @qcexclusive • 115

The EXPLORED

weekender

The GROVE PARK Ashevilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grove Park Inn melds seamlessly into the surrounding mountains, making it the perfect fall getaway.

BY MARGARET GRATON PHOTOS PROVIDED BY THE GROVE PARK INN

DISPATCH • 126 | adventure • 130 | DEPARTURE • 132

weekender • 116 | carolina TOWNS • 122

T RAVEL & S P ORTIN G

The EXPLORED

The EXPLORED

weekender

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The Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa stands like a sentinel on the ridge overlooking downtown Asheville, a gateway to the history of the region and to unparalleled luxury and adventure. Constructed in 1913, it offers exceptional panoramic mountain views, supple leather furnishings, and live music in the lobby area. The enormous fireplaces, which are large enough for a person to stand inside, awe firsttime guests. Settle in with a book or a conversation in a fireside rocking chair or at a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the Blue Ridge. The various rooms and suites feature blissful amenities, comfortable beds, and traditional furnishings. The spa on the property includes 43,000 square feet of treatment spaces from the outdoor heated pool area and fireplace to the bright interior with multiple mineral pools, opulent seating areas, and cavernous stonework. On weekends, treatments are reserved solely for Inn guests. The Inn also boasts an 18-hole golf course and fitness center. While the hotel has grown in recent years to make room for more modern dining options and amenities, it has not lost its timeless magnificence.

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Among the on-site Shops at The Emporium 1913, the Nantahala Outdoor Center provides any gear for adventures away from the resort; guests can book a rafting experience on the local French Broad River or choose between their zipline or zip and raft tours. Hike on-property on the Sunset Trail, which explores the mountain behind the hotel. Meander to the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway for plenty of hiking trails or simply relax on a drive to enjoy the fall foliage. A few miles away, guests can combine an aesthetic experience with education at the North Carolina Arboretum, the Bird Sanctuary at Beaver Lake, and the Botanical Gardens. At the Biltmore Estate, immerse yourself in the cooling weather by taking advantage of carriage or horseback rides, floating trips on the French Broad, sporting clays, and stand up paddleboarding. Keep the children awake for a Star Watch Night Vision Tour, which provides chairs, blankets, and night vision goggles for a unique stargazing experience outside of town. Many farms in the area, most of which supply the local farm-to-table cuisine, welcome visitors for tours and tastings.

The EXPLORED

weekender

The excellent number of eateries in the Grove Park Inn might tempt a guest to not leave the property, but the tasty opportunities in Asheville are not to be missed.

Before venturing downtown, make sure to sample a cocktail or stay for mouthwatering dinner on the Sunset Terrace, named for the excellent show the Blue Ridge displays every night. It’s especially impressive after a storm, so don’t let an afternoon tempest discourage you from choosing a spot on the porch. After tasting what the Inn has to offer, stop at 12 Bones BBQ for lunch. Of the numerous excellent craft breweries in Asheville, Lexington Avenue Brewery, known to locals as the LAB, is a laid-back choice downtown with stunning brews. On Walnut Street, Zambra offers tapas, wine, and occasionally belly dancing to

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complete its Middle Eastern aura.

The French Broad Chocolate Lounge is especially tantalizing for dessert anytime; make sure to sample their homegrown collection of truffles for local delights. On weekends,

return to the Grove Park Inn for Elaine’s, the dueling piano bar, for a rollicking time and a delicious drink to complete your weekend retreat.

FOR MORE INFO: www.omnihotels.com

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19 VENDUE RANGE

|

CHARLESTON, SC

|

843.577.7970

|

THEVENDUE.COM

The EXPLORED

carolina towns

HIGHER GROUND

R

Old world echoes meet upscale mountain charm in Highlands, NC.

BY MARGARET GRATON | PHOTOS BY JP GRICE

Reminiscent of the former Scottish home of settlers in the area, Highlands is tucked away in the southern corner of western North Carolina. The cooler mountain air is a respite to travelers and offers a little bit of everything to appeal to all types, from the hikers and outdoorsmen to foodies and art connoisseurs. A retreat from the sweltering summer humidity of the Piedmont, it’s also a frequent favorite with fall color hunters; in the winter, the ski resorts in Maggie Valley and Sky Valley beckon, making Highlands an all-season destination.

For your home base, choose from the Park on Main Hotel, the most pet-friendly in the area, where the hotel’s loving Scottish terrier mascot greets guests. Or kick back at Skyline Lodge, which boasts soaring views and private cabins. The Main Street Inn also offers the Bistro on Main, where the patio allows diners a lookout over all the bustle in town, especially exciting on a summer holiday. Select one of the various properties of the Old Edwards Inn, such as 200 Main, and be sure to take advantage of their luxurious spa for ultimate relaxation.

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When in Highlands WHERE TO STAY Old Edwards Inn offers the complete luxury package from one of the state’s best spas to a competitive golf course and world-class dining.

The Park on Main and the Skyline Lodge are also great alternatives.

WHAT TO EAT Lakeside restaurant, On The Verandah, and Cyprus offer fantastic menus and epic long range views.

For wine connoisseurs, Wolfgang’s is your go-to.

WHAT TO DO Relax at one of the luxury spas in the area, enjoy fine mountain golf at Sky Valley, or hit the trail.

Bridal Veil Falls, Hickory Nut Gap, and Glen Falls are must-visits.

Highlands is the perfect place to indulge in some of the best mountain shopping available, but don’t expect to find any box stores here. Start your search at The Southern Way and Cabin Casuals. Wind your way toward Highland Furs and other boutique and luxury stops like Rosenthal’s. Shops like Wit’s End and McCulley’s Cashmere supply traditional Scottish selections.

Gear up at the Highland Hiker or Bear Mountain Outfitters before a journey to Whiteside Mountain, a two-mile roundtrip hike with views of sheer cliff faces. If your legs are up for it, explore the nearby Hickory Nut Gap and Scaly Mountain trails, or brave the Bartram Trail, which reaches as far south as Georgia. Walk behind cascading Bridal Veil Falls and Dry Falls, which are easily accessible only a few miles out of town. The well-hidden Glen Falls hike offers several vantage points of two falls throughout its mile-long stretch.

Avid golfers will want to tee off at eight local 18-hole golf courses, including the Highlands Country Club, Sky Valley Country Club, and Old Edwards Club. Outdoor adventure and

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high-flying delights for families can be found at the Highlands Nature Center and Highlands Aerial Park.

Afterwards, rest your feet and quench your thirst just off the beaten path at the Lost Hiker Bar, Satulah Mountain Brewing Company, or

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The Ugly Dog Public House. Cyprus Restaurant, with its trendy second floor outdoor seating, features a vibrant and diverse international menu, while Wolfgang’s Restaurant and Wine Bistro entices guests with their robust list of 1000 wines. For

those seeking a relaxing and scenic meal, try Lakeside Restaurant or On The Verandah, which both offer lake and mountain views. High Cotton Wine and Cheese is a comfortable place to slow down and enjoy everything from a pimento cheese sandwich to a glass of delicious red.

Art galleries abound throughout the area, and the Greenleaf, Ann Jacobs, and Robert A. Tino Galleries are sure to impress. To explore more art exhibits and stay for a show, carve out time to visit the Highlands Playhouse, Bascom Visual Arts Center, or Martin-Lipscomb Performing Arts Center. The Town Square often hosts live concerts. Savor the mountain sounds echoing off the peaks in this timeless haven that implore you to follow the Scotch tradition and settle for a spell.

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LESSONS From a dove field Whoever said all good things come to those who wait must’ve been a dove hunter.

In late summer on cornfields across the piedmont, a small brownish-gray bird teaches sportsmen the value of patience, composure, and appreciation.

I

PHOTOS AND STORY BY JP GRICE

I had never had a desire to bird hunt. ‘You know, I think I’ll go bird hunting today’ just wasn’t an idea that ever popped into my head. For some reason though, when a friend asked me in early September to join him on an opening weekend dove hunt, I said, “Why not?” Little did I know that twelve hours spent on the fringe of a corn field on a muggy late summer day would teach me so many lessons.

We arrived at Webb Farm Road a little west of Shelby, North Carolina at a quarter till six. Although the sun was still below the horizon, the air was thick. It was going to be a hot one. According to the locals who were dressed from boot soles to hat brims in camouflage, a 90 degree day was not ideal. But the show had to go on — after all, it was an annual Southern rite.

We assembled our shotguns, grabbed two boxes of shells, and started down a path between forest and flat land. In the early morn and late afternoon roosting doves are known to fly from their trees for two reasons: to visit their local watering hole or to feed. With that in mind we were on the lookout for a location that was close in proximity to the trinity: thick brush, abundant cornfields, and a body of water. After a half-mile walkabout, we found our spot. It was time to simply wait.

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We sat next to our thicket in the dim silence. We wouldn’t see birds for an hour or more. As we scanned the sky, day broke.

Golden light revealed the character of the farm land around us. It was quite the prologue. Those into clichés would probably say this is the reason why people take to the field — for all this natural beauty. I’m not going to disagree. It was a spectacular show, but then the doves started flying.

Awareness is key when this happens.

So is seizing the moment. These birds are sporadic. There is no rhyme nor reason to their flight path. They seem to come out of the most random nook in the forest, zigzag in the sky, and then, sometimes, simply vanish.

That’s exactly what happened for most of the day. We missed bird after savvy bird. With each miss came questions. Were we too loud? Did they see us? Were we distracted? Did we see the birds too late?

Were we too impatient? Did we shoot too early? Did we lead the bird enough?

Thinking about the many questions a miss inspires eventually leads to answers.

It was imperative to sit quietly, to blend in to the field and forest surrounding. It was crucial to remain steady and composed. As novices, the waiting game for these birds was noticeably affecting our focus. We were distracted and disconnected from the events of the day.

When the birds fly your way it is essential to be present both in the moment and within your surroundings. You have to stay calm. You have to remain patient.

Just when you think you should fire, you must have the nerve to continue to wait — a bit longer than you want — till just the right second when the dove’s chaos and your clarity are both within range. When that happens everything clicks.

With the hours getting late, a group of four birds flew overhead. Moments later, as the sun set, we left the field with quarry and lessons of patience, presence, and composure in bag.

FOR MORE INFO: www.poplarspringsfarm.net www.thesportinggent.com

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“I only went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.”

JOHN MUIR

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Crowders is not technically an actual mountain, though a challenging climb to the summit may be unconvincing of this fact. It’s a monadnock, the remnant of an eroded, much-larger mountain. Even so, it still has a bevy of wonderful walking, hiking, and running trails. With variety in their difficulty levels, the trails at Crowders offer an activity for everyone in the family. You can usually find a variety of park-goers at the top’s rock garden.

It’s a bit of a hike for the faint-of-heart, but one well worth it for the views.

From the large, flat, and jutting boulders that comprise the rock garden, you can see up to 25 miles on a clear day, and Charlotte itself reaching for the sky in the distance.

It’s a bit of a hike for the faint-of-heart, but one well worth it for the views.

CROWDERs Not far from Charlotte proper and a little off the beaten trail is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts in search of an amazing autumn retreat — Crowders Mountain State Park.

T

BY MARGO JACOBS

The stunning view of the Queen City’s skyline from the top of Crowders is praised as amazing and breathtaking by Charlotteans. On the first day I went hiking there, I’m sure it was, but the torrential downpour that came down on my hiking partner and I just as we reached the summit garden definitely obstructed the magnificent view. That damp misadventure didn’t stop me from trying again the very next week, and all the subsequent hikes through Crowders’ pastoral fields and daunting summits have not disappointed in the least; vibrant colors in the fall, blankets of quiet snow in the winter, fragrant blossoms in the spring, and the beautiful skyline of the Queen City not too far away on the non-inclement days. Essentially, Crowders offers a glimpse of nature at its best, year-round.

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The rock garden can be accessed by two separate trails. The Crowders Trail is a strenuous 2.5-mile hike up to the rock top. The alternative is the Backside Trail, a 0.7-mile climb up a daunting 336 wooden steps. Both can be easily accessed from the Visitor’s Center trailhead off of Linwood Road. I recommend hiking up and taking the stairs down. The trails are marked, but it’s easy to get turned around. There are usually enough friendly faces around if you need help getting back on track without straying too far.

Even if an afternoon of hiking isn’t your ideal Saturday, Crowders won’t disappoint. There’s also bouldering, canoeing, fishing, paddling, picnicking, and camping fun to be had.

About 30 miles due west of Charlotte, Crowders Mountain makes for a great family day-cation, and the perfect fall adventure destination.

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WESTERN WATERS Fly fishing the rivers of Wyoming and Montana.

PHOTOS BY JP GRICE & JAMEY PRICE

W

When I was young I read about this place in National Geographic.

My grandmother, a lifelong subscriber, Uncle Ed, and I would flip through the same issues over and over again looking at pictures of grizzlies and geysers, buffalo and alpine lakes boiling with trout.

This place of giant peaks and sprawling valleys enamored.

In late summer of this year, out of the window of an AirBus A320 I laid my eyes on this place for the first time. There in all its majesty was Grand Teton, and on the horizon, the vastness of Yellowstone. It only took three decades but finally the glossy pages of my youth had turned alive, and this place did not disappoint.

I arrived in Jackson, Wyoming to meet photographer Jamey Price for an intense three days of fishing and exploring the famous waters of Wyoming and Montana — a trip that surely would be one for the books.

On our first day we floated one of the most pristine rivers in the world, the Snake, which is aptly named for literally snaking — winding — through the Tetons. The ten mile float trip through the national park is one of high recommendation. It offers stunning views of the massive mountain range as well as countless opportunities for trophy cuttthroat.

That same night, we had an opportunity to fish a local Spring Creek called Flat Creek. For those sportsmen out there looking for a challenging experience, spring creek fishing is something you must do. This gin-clear, skinny water is home to large, spooky fish

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that aren’t caught easily. But, when you do catch one, the experience makes your entire trip.

On our second day, we drove four hours from Jackson, Wyoming to Bozeman, Montana to fish the waters of the Gallatin in Yellowstone National Park. Better known as the river in A River Runs Through It, the Gallatin is gorgeous water. Beautiful wild fish can be caught in its crystal blue pools and swirling white riffles. It also affords the opportunity to take in the peace of west Yellowstone.

Our final day was spent floating fourteen miles on one of the country’s most famous rivers, the Yellowstone. Full of large brown trout and acrobatic rainbows this river is truly a world-class fly fishing destination. It also offers gorgeous views of tan Montana ridges and valleys that complement the deep blue hues of the Yellowstone.

The last river we explored was the Madison. Flowing between two alpine lakes, this river offers a unique fly fishing experience. Luckily for us, we caught it on an unbelievable evening. A pristine sunset ushered in a massive insect hatch. Rising trout sipped eagerly, and every now and then, ate one of our flies.

For the fly fisherman, the western waters of Wyoming and Montana should be at the top of your bucket list. But the same can be said for everyone else: the natural landscape of the Tetons and Yellowstone are full of spectacles that every person needs to see for themselves. One recommendation though, go for longer than three days.

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CAROLINA WILD The most monumental birthday of 2016 goes to the National Park Service, which turned 100 years old on August 25th. Engendered by a passion for and understanding of the spiritual value of natural beauty, the park system is a boon to the country and a model of congressional foresight. To commemorate the park systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 100th anniversary, we offer an introduction to our favorite North Carolina national parks, national forests, and wilderness areas.

BY ELEANOR MERRELL PHOTOS BY JUSTIN COSTNER, JAMEY PRICE, AND TOMMY WHITE

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK As North Carolinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first national park, the Great Smoky Mountains enjoy regional notoriety, and the parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s larger-than-life views more than live up to its reputation. Ancient mountains, shrouded in mist and tinged blue on hazy days, rise 850 to 6,643 feet above sea level, encompassing a range of climates that make the Great Smoky Mountains the most biodiverse park in the National Park System. Check out the panoramic views along Chimney Tops Trail or mosey down Grotto Falls Trail to score a peek at the underside of a waterfall.

Photo of Morton Overlook sunset in Great Smoky Mountain National Park by Tommy White.

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NANTAHALA NATIONAL FOREST Every self-respecting North Carolinian should hike part of the Appalachian Trail where it passes through our state. Like the Wright Brothers and Cheerwine, the Appalachian Trail bestows dignity and originality upon North Carolina, linking it to 13 other states and involving it in what, for many hikers, is an intimate pilgrimage. The longest segment passes through Nantahala National Forest, where the savvy hiker will discover 400-year-old trees and witness the highest waterfall on the east coast. After hiking, cool off by rafting or kayaking down the Nantahala River, which snakes through the national forest and boasts rapids for all experience levels.

THIS PAGE: A Blue Ridge overlook in Nantahala National Forest by Jamey Price.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Milky Way above Linville Gorge Wilderness by Tommy White.

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LINVILLE GORGE Few views in North Carolina can rival those of Linville Gorge. Jonas Ridge looms along one side of the gorge, forming its eastern wall, while Linville Mountain stretches upward on the western side of the gorge. The Linville River plummets 2,000 feet into the base of the gorge, offering a staggering backdrop for the brave souls who rock climb up the gorge’s steep walls and the hikers who teeter along the gorge’s many precipices. For bonus breathtaking views, hang around past dusk and enjoy some spectacular stargazing.

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UWHARRIE NATIONAL FOREST

WILSON CREEK WILDERNESS

An hour-long drive to the east will bring Charlotte residents in need of a respite from city living to the 51,000 acres of land comprising Uwharrie National Forest.

Hunting enthusiasts can bring their firearms during hunting season or stop by the shooting range in the off-season. A labyrinth of scenic trails, ranging from easy to difficult, lead hikers alongside streams, cliffs, and Badin Lake.

The water runoff from Grandfather Mountain cuts its way through 23.3 miles of parkland, plunging down mountains and snaking around rhododendrons to form Wilson Creek.

The rushing waters brim with trout, both wild and stocked, making the area a popular destination for fly-fishermen.

Avid kayakers also flock to Wilson Creek in order to try their hand at what is widely regarded as one of the most difficult whitewater runs in the southeast. Less experienced outdoorsmen can experience the beauty of the Wilson Creek Wilderness Area, which lies within Pisgah National Forest, by traversing its hiking trails or, in select areas, via bicycle or off-road vehicle.

THIS PAGE: A canopy of colors on a forest service road in Wilson Creek Gorge. OPPOSITE PAGE: Longleaf Pines in the Uwharrie National Forest. Photos by Jamey Price

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BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY When traveling to western North Carolina for some quality outside time, travelers can begin enjoying the tranquility of the mountains while they are still in the car, should they choose to cruise the Blue Ridge Parkway. Nicknamed “America’s favorite drive,” the parkway unfolds over a whopping 469 miles, ushering motorists from Nantahala to Shenandoah, past trailheads, campsites, old farmsteads, and jaw-dropping vistas.

Highlights along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Carolina include Thunder Hill Overlook, Beacon Heights, Rough Ridge, Linn Cove Viaduct, and Price Lake.

THIS PAGE: Price Lake on the Blue Ridge Parkway at sunset. OPPOSITE PAGE: Boone Fork Creek in Pisgah National Forest. Photos by Justin Costner.

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PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST Formerly part of the Biltmore Estate, Pisgah National Forest stretches nearly all the way from Asheville to Boone and Blowing Rock, the three quintessential Carolina mountain towns. Popular spots in Pisgah include Sliding Rock, which functions like a giant, natural Slip ‘N Slide, and Looking Glass Falls, where it is possible to swim in a shallow pool at the base of an impressive (if chilly) waterfall.

Expanding across more than 500,000 acres, Pisgah offers a variety of activities appropriate for many different fitness levels and age groups.

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BOB TIMBERLAKE A Story of Home

BY COREY MILLER WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM STEPHEN PHiLPOTT PHOTOS BY JAMEY PRICE

Bob Timberlake likes to share, and he’s done a lifetime’s worth of it. Internationally acclaimed realist painter and steward of the United States’ most successful furniture line in history, he is a living embodiment of the American Dream. His body of work, meanwhile, is a dream of America.

Bob’s vision of his homeland is nostalgic, but not mournfully so, retrospective without forfeiting all the good in the present. It’s a world in which weathervanes still advise and roosters must crow, in which farms are farmed and roads lead only to other roads. It’s a time he’d like to tell you about, anecdotally, if you have a few hours and a taste for some Carolina barbecue.

With paint, with wood, and with fable, Bob Timberlake tells a story of America. His myth of our nation wouldn’t exist, though, without a myth of himself. Both stories, incidentally, begin with a revolution.

Less than a month after the United States won its independence, on the night of the second of November, 1781, two friends were assassinated in what is now Davidson County. These men were killed at the same moment, in their respective homes, by a group of Loyalists. The fighting had ended, but they were murdered because they had raised all the arms in this area, helping to build the force that would fight for General Greene in the decisive Battle of Guilford Courthouse. They’d lost that battle, but crippled much of Cornwallis’s army in the 90 minutes of gunsmoke chaos, laying the groundwork for the British surrender at Yorktown.

Valentine Leonhardt and Wooldrich Frits were among the battle’s survivors, until that cold night in November. These patriots were buried shoulderto-shoulder in a common grave, while the Colonel who’d led them into battle, a dear friend of both men, gave a eulogy over their graves: “These two men, who have lived together, fought together, and died together, we bury as one soul — as is our nation because of them.” Bob Timberlake is descended from the first of these men, and his wife Kay is descended from the second. The Colonel, who eventually brought their murderers to justice, is an ancestor of Bob’s boyhood friend.

“Yeah, I’d say we’re from here,” Bob smiles, recalling this Lexington lore. “Those two souls are one in our children,” he says, misty-eyed, “and we don’t take that lightly.” A modern-day patriot armed with creativity and amicability, Bob treasures origin tales like this one. But Bob isn’t just from this little furniture and barbecue town; he’s invariably part of Lexington, North Carolina, a facet of its culture and its community, and he believes he could never have been otherwise. For him, heritage has always been the highest form of education, the most formative chapter in his story. “Everything I do comes from a love of where I’m from,” he says. “People always want to know where I got this gift, what kind of training or education I’ve had, but all of my training came from right here. I guess you gravitate toward what you love. I just did it. I still just do it,” he shrugs.

“To be an American is precisely to imagine a destiny rather than to inherit one; since we have always been, insofar as we are Americans at all, inhabitants of myth rather than history.”

Literary Critic Leslie Fiedler

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Bob Timberlake stands behind his Lexington studio.

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“There’s always been someone prodding me along, someone nurturing me, in this town.”

fessionally for nearly 50 years now, and Indeed, Bob seems to have always found with absolutely no formal art education. a way to just do the things that interested Some of our favorite Bob Timberlake originals.

In ’81, after exhibits all over the country, him. His first furniture design was a PennFrom top left clockwise: he’d become the only Southerner in modern sylvania Dutch dowry chest, which he Four of a Kind. Headed Home. Yadkin College history to hold a one-man exhibition at the painted at 14 years old. It won a Ford Motor House. Boone Winter.

Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C. In Company-sponsored industrial arts contest 1990, he launched a furniture line based on that sent him halfway across the country, his own handiwork, and its overwhelming success engena dreamlike trip for the talented little boy from Hillcrest dered a full-fledged brand.

Drive. He wouldn’t set his mind on furniture again until An avid hunter and fisherman, Bob’s love of the sporting nearly forty years later, but working with his hands was life is, like his paintings, a result of his all-too-healthy obsuddenly a religious hobby. session with the natural world. In the seventies, he began At his mentor Andrew Wyeth’s suggestion, Bob devoted a long-term partnership with anti-litter campaign Keep himself to his art full time at 33. He’s been painting pro-

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The barbecue joints are as much of the town’s identity America Beautiful, one of the country’s most well-known as the tomato-and-vinegar-sauced meat itself. One can get and successful public service announcements. A man who’s anything done just by sitting down in one of these faded red spent the better part of 79 years preserving Carolina in wabooths. “You can walk in here and get your car repaired, tercolor probably couldn’t help but be a conservationist. your yard mowed, your plumbing fixed,” Bob laughs. “It Today, the man and his brand are a household name, was a heck of a way to grow up.” especially in Carolina. It’s one hell of a story, but if Bob There’d be no Bob Timberlake without Lexington, North is to be believed, it wasn’t all put down by him. Bob TimCarolina, and so Bob has never seen any reason to leave berlake — as well as everything for which he’s known, by Lexington for good. He’s travextension — is a product of his eled, sure, but he always ends surroundings. “There’s always up back in his favorite seat, at been someone prodding me his favorite dining spots, eating along,” he chuckles, “someone his favorite barbecue (and he’ll nurturing me, in this town.” probably have it chopped). He’ll He learned a “heck of a lot unleave just the way he came: der cars” with his older broth“You don’t go out a door difer. “Tim carried me hunting, ferent from the one you came fishing, and even carried me through.” on dates with him,” Bob remiAnd why would he? The nisces. “He kept me humble beauty of Lexington won him too: I didn’t know a chicken had his initial fame. His oral trawhite meat until I was 21!” dition of America began right The eldest of the Timberlake here in the rolling hills of the boys was just one of many influPiedmont. All the best storyences. “Everything I am, I am tellers are skilled framers, and because of my brother and my Bob is no different. He captures dad, because of the fella that scenes — both still and emotaught me how to fix things, tive, their colors both vibrant because of my friend John D. and muted — and he invites Locke, because of my aunts and viewers into them. His stories uncles a few blocks away on are just as inviting: It’s a curi1st Avenue,” Bob explains. “I Bob enjoying a chopped brown sandwich at Bar-B-Q osity, but no mistake, that his would’ve never reached puberCenter in his hometown of Lexington, NC. A wooden calling card is an old-world ty if not for these people who table in Bob’s studio is covered with memorable handwriting utensil rather than a showed me things.” When he carved quotes from friends and visitors. paintbrush. Kicking back on was little, this little town taught one of his luxuriously-cushioned, oak furniture sets and him “how to grow up.” listening to a Carolina history you can’t find in textbooks, And “little” is just the way he likes his Southern Piedyou want to step into his America. His rhetoric tells of a mont residence. “We’re five minutes from anything,” Bob great nation 200 years ago and a great one a couple days says. “Probably the most famous pimento cheese in the ago. In Bob’s mind, we stood for something in our infancy, state is down here at Conrad & Hinkle.” The same family but we also stand for something now. has owned that store for nearly a century, and they still His optimistic perspective of our nation is abundantly deliver. It doesn’t get much quainter than this. evident in the Lexington Bob Timberlake Gallery, a sprawlLexington Barbecue Festival, a yearly pilgrimage for ing, two-story panorama of Bob’s life and times. Within some 200,000 pulled pork highbrows, has been named these walls, folk can walk right into his story. Designs takamong the top one-day festivals in the country. Every en directly from his earliest watercolors are woven into other day of the year, the locals are free to devour their rugs and other pieces of his home collection, hanging from hushpuppies and red slaw, uninterrupted. Everyone’s the walls like tapestried history. Bob surrounds himself got their favorite place in town, but they all agree on with relics of an uncomplicated, rural world: decoys and one thing: “There ain’t no Lexington barbecue outside birdhouses, enamelware and quilts, canoes and fly rods. of Lexington.”

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“ If you don’t share it, you lose it.

“

Bob’s gallery is his frame of mind, open to the public.

The Gallery is also his office and a bit of a regular haunt for him. It’s probably pretty surreal for those walking through this man’s life to actually encounter him, but for Bob it’s just an encounter with people who share in his passions.

If his gallery is an exhibition of his world, then his “studio,” a whopping 127 acres of beautiful Carolina green, is his world. The three and a half buildings here (including the outhouse) have served as inspiration for hundreds of watercolor masterworks, and for good reason.

Everything on this picturesque compound — which was planned, detail for detail, by Bob himself — has a story.

The barn-turned-living space, in particular, stands as a monument to the resilience of rural folk. It would’ve been burned down by Yankee soldiers 150 years ago if not for a bold farming woman and her children. It’s just one of many things Bob’s heard to tell of.

His depictions of the simple life speak, almost spiritually, to millions of admirers about the lifestyle they love.

His paintings nostalgically recall times from his past, but their subject is not necessarily a time past. Bob’s work is unique in that it’s a celebration of things that are timeless: His landscapes and studies of old buildings aren’t windows into a lost world because that world still exists. “You just have to know where to look for it.” This old America will persist as long as front porches are furnished with rocking chairs, as long as snow quietly covers farmhouses, as long as the sudden flight of a covey exhilarates — as long as we as a people still find beauty in the empty field.

Lexington, North Carolina, like any town in this great state, is full of fields and rife with stories, and Bob Timberlake is just their chronicler. A raconteur with an easel, he’s one of the great American fablers, and he’s got plenty more to do before he’s done. “I ain’t even told the half of it,” he protests when his listeners have to leave him. But we’ll be back for more. We have to be. After all — it’s a shared story.

More of our favorite Bob Timberlake paintings. From the top down: Rowboat. Hunter’s Moon. Studio Moon.

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FOR A BIT MORE INFO: www.bobtimberlake.com

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I met a painter, also a North Carolinian, who, like me, has known some of these old things himself and heard to tell of many others, and has felt within himself the strong urge to get it down, as much as he can, and pass it on.â&#x20AC;?

Charles Kural t

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FINISHED DOG Attending Class with renowned Dog Trainer Charles Jurney

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BY COREY MILLER | PHOTOS BY JAMEY PRICE

“When I was a boy, I had only one dog, an imaginary one named Fluffy,” Charlie Jurney laughs. “I’m serious — we lived in town, in Statesville, and my dad wouldn’t let me have a dog,” the dog trainer explains. He’s leaning on his ’85 Dodge Ram, one of his many canine students panting contentedly by his side.

It’s early. Everyone else is outfitted with boots and pants, but I’m casually wearing denim shorts and decidedly more open-toed shoes, fresh out of bed. The mud is thick, the morning’s mercifully still cool, and the mosquitos aren’t the slightest bit shy. Charlie’s not living in town anymore, and he runs one of the most successful dog-training businesses in the southeast.

Over thirty years ago, Charlie started making more money training his friends’ dogs part-time than he was as a full-time pharmacist. Now he spends all of his time transforming even the most unruly of pups into skilled hunting retrievers, and he’s discovered some celebrity in the process. A columnist in several hunting magazines, he’s even authored his own manual, Finished Dog, a compilation of frequently asked questions that has become quite the holy book for the amateur trainer.

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This morning, we’re watching Josh the EMT throwing false birds (known as “bumpers”) for his mother’s dog, a sociable yellow lab named Pearl. “She’s a sweetheart, but she’s been a…project for Josh and his mom,” Charlie narrates, as Pearl bounds up the slope to heel beside Josh. Her run is mostly successful, but she manages to sneak in a quick greeting with me before returning to her owner. She just can’t resist investigating the silly human out here braving the wet morning in flip-flops.

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Pearl is relatively new to all this, and her training has been a gradual one. Every one of the dogs who comes here has a story, and Charlie regales us with Pearl’s: Josh’s late father cared for her, and Pearl cared for him, after a fashion, during his struggle against terminal illness.

She spent every day with him while he was sick; now, she spends every day without him. He was “her anchor in life,” and now he’s gone. In addition to hunting with Josh, Pearl also needed to help out around the family farm. “This dog is stressed,” Charlie explains, “and so

“ I want my dogs to understand that the safest, most comfortable place they’ll ever be is right here beside me.

“

we’ve taken things slowly with her.” Like anyone else with complex circumstances, she’s got a lot on her mind, and it’s up to her trainers to remain conscious of that. “In order to really earn a dog’s trust and respect, we’ve got to understand what’s going on in her head — what makes her do the things we want, and what makes her give us results we don’t want.” At the moment, Pearl’s mind seems hellbent on saying hello to everyone.

In a sense, Charlie’s not so much teaching dogs to obey him as he is teaching them to disobey their in-

stincts. As if to prove this point, one of his slightly more seasoned students is now “running a blind.” The blind retrieval, a regular training exercise for his furry lodgers, is an incredible display of this instinct-defying discipline.

It seems simple at first: our new performer Coop is sent to retrieve a bird the way he normally would. Before he gets too far, though, a sharp squeal of the trainer’s whistle stops him, and he turns to face his instructor.

At this point, a hand signal is given to send him further in the correct direction. This is done repeatedly, as

OCT/NOV 2016 • @qcexclusive • 153

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course-corrections are needed, until the dog reaches instruction says “no — trust me instead.” And Coop does its target — a bird which he didn’t see fall. Essentially, it. It’s an unbelievable thing to behold, but my awestruck Coop is willingly being steered tostupor has Charlie grinning. “This is ward his target. kindergarten,” he says.

“Some of these dogs “We’re telling the dog ‘go,’ to go Meanwhile chocolate siblings Starretrieve, and he wants to hunt,” Charsky and Hutch, their fur still sodden are hunting dogs, lie explains, “to look around and see from their own game of extreme but all of them are if he can find it.” His every impulse fetch, are vying for some quality companions.” tells him to run every which way and scratching and petting. The field is sniff, but Charlie’s calm and collected full of strangers this morning —

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fortunately for them, their ripe smell can’t deter these dog-loving hands — and they already have their owner Jim’s unabiding attention. Jim “couldn’t stand dogs” until his wife forced this loveable pair upon him after a recent major heart attack. Jim’s period of recovery introduced him to a new hobby and a new kind of friend, affording him a new lease on life. “Now,” Charlie says, smiling triumphantly, “they’re inseparable.”

“Some of these dogs are hunting dogs, but all of them are companions.” Whether in town or out in the sticks,

they’re all living with their best friends, sharing not only in their owners’ hobbies but also in their daily lives. And Charlie says that may be the most important lesson he can teach a dog: “I want my dogs to understand that the safest, most comfortable place they’ll ever be is right here beside me.”

FOR A BIT MORE INFO: www.finisheddog.com

OCT/NOV 2016 • @qcexclusive • 155

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DOLLAR’S PRIDE The Story of Dr. Luke Dollar and the National Geographic Society’s Big Cats Initiative STORY BY LESLIE BROOKS PHOTOS BY EMBY TAYLOR PHOTOS OF CATS

BY LUKE DOLLAR

Those of us who have grown up in the rural South can appreciate Dr. Luke Dollar’s sentiment — “nature becomes your Playstation.” A longtime resident of Concord and Pfeiffer University professor of environmental studies, Luke understands the outdoors rather well: His journey into environmental study, culminating deep in the wilds of Madagascar, has led him to generate invaluable research on animals such as the lemur, orangutan, and fosa. Beyond expanding the knowledge of our natural world and the animals that thrive within it, he’s gone on to help found National Geographic’s Big Cats Initiative, a conservation effort focused on far more than simply saving big feline lives.

The beginning of his prolific career as a professor, researcher, and conservationist wasn’t unlike the beginnings of many other children raised in a quiet, pastoral setting. For a young Luke, the natural world became a fount of entertainment and fascination, preferred above all else. Some of his fondest childhood memories are of the Alabama woods hedging his grandparents’ farm. He spent many an afternoon in this sun-streaked wilderness “running around barefoot in overalls,” and it was these experiences that would serve as a primitive model for how he would spend much of the rest of his life.

Many years later, before he’d travel halfway across the world to get his hands dirty in the field for the first time, Luke paid his dues at Duke University, studying biological anthropology and psychology. Unbeknownst to many, Duke is home to the largest lemur colony outside of Madagascar. For the past fifty years, the Duke Lemur Center has paired scientific research with conservation efforts and education for the general public. Luke secured a work-study job with the Center in his freshman year. Soon after, he was able to convince a professor to take him into the field as a junior, due to his “marketable skills in photography, background as an EMT, and relevant research experience.”

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“After two very long flights and one relatively short one,” Luke was in Madagascar. It was his first venture outside of the borders of the United States and an experience that would change his life. During the 10 kilometer hike up the mountain, he got his first taste for what his time spent in the rainforest would be like: “One of the porters stepped on a stob [a tree root protruding from the ground] and injured his foot.” Luke recalls his first moments in the camp where he would serve as a field assistant for the next few weeks spent “sitting there with this Malagasy guy’s bare foot in my lap, working on him.” Very early on in his career, Luke learned how important it was to create “a good relation-

“I quickly decided that, if I was going to continue conducting biological studies, conservation had to go hand in hand with it.”

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ship with the local communities.” It was an experience that would lay the foundation for the hands-on methodology at the heart of his conservation efforts.

The importance of empathetic connectivity with the local people wasn’t the only lesson he was to glean while he was on that preliminary trip in 1994. One of his many responsibilities as a field assistant during the lemur ecology study was to collect data on the lemurs’ diet. The particular lemur that he was working with had “an old radio collar that didn’t quite work anymore, with a whippy little antenna on it that made it pretty easy for the new kid to figure out which one was his.” After a few weeks of observation, his lemur “disappeared” quite suddenly from the colony. While going to track a lemur of the same group with a functioning collar some weeks later, Luke picked up an odd “ticking” sound. It was none other than that old, defunct radio collar. So he set out to find his long lost lemur. When he and his peers finally got to the spot where the frequency

stemmed from they were “looking up, and looking up, but just couldn’t see it.” When they finally turned their gaze back downward, disheartened, they found “a few remains, some tufts of fur, and a chewed up radio collar.”

The guide told Luke that “a fosa got it.” He didn’t know it at the time, but he’d just heard the name of the Madagascar-native carnivore that would forever change the direction of his life. He would go on to spend the majority of his career saving and studying these animals, which in the simplest terms possible, are akin to “a big mongoose that looks like a small cougar.” The fosa had chewed on the receiver that was attached to the lemur, managing to reconnect the battery wires that were previously broken, simultaneously setting the wheels of fate in motion.

Luke tried for some time to continue his primate studies, but “carnivores had eaten their way into [his] career, and they weren’t leaving.”

It was only a year after he graduated with his undergraduate degree before he

was back in Madagascar, conducting research on fosa.

While the fosa dominate the Madagascar jungle, there had “never been a scientific study done on them in their native habitat.” Much of the world knew “little to nothing about this animal at the top of the food chain — in a biodiversity hotspot,” no less. It was just a few weeks after Luke caught and collared his first fosa that it wandered into a village and was killed: “The fosa, like lions in many parts of Africa, are seen as dangerous, as pests.” Luke quickly decided that, “if [he] was going to continue conducting biological studies, conservation had to go hand in hand with it.”

Through his research and talking with the people of Madagascar, Luke discerned that “three-quarters of the Malagasy population are subsistence farmers.” The biggest threats to their livelihood, he discovered, are “rats and pigs,” — not fosa. With this knowledge came the birth of an ingenious conservation campaign. Posters were populated around the villages and towns that said, “Save the Fosa, Save

OCT/NOV 2016 • @qcexclusive • 159

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“Carnivores had eaten their way into [his] career, and they weren’t leaving.” the Harvest.” By explaining their message and working with local farmers, the early stages of his conservation efforts became wildly successful. Through “building relationships with local people,” Luke had “found the key to conservation.”

In 2000, the National Geographic Society took notice of both Luke’s ground-breaking fosa research and his monumental conservation efforts in Madagascar. By 2007, Luke was named a National Geographic Emerging Explorer. While he laughs and explains that he “hung up the phone and thought it was a prank call at first,” the folks at the society were far from joking, and they weren’t done with him yet. In the following years, National Geographic was pushed by some long-standing Explorers to get hands-on with some of their conservation efforts. Due to his experience with predators in Madagascar, Luke was asked to spearhead the development of a conservation program to “halt the global decline of big cats and to safeguard and restore the ecosystems that they inhabit.”

Thus, the Big Cats Initiative (BCI) was born. The non-profit organization has “three main pillars — assessment, protection, and communication.” Luke asserts that “most people think that National Geographic is just a media organization, but it’s not.” Since it was founded in 1888, “its initial goal was to support exploration, research, and then communicate those findings all over the planet.” From the time of its establishment, “National Geographic has awarded more than 12,000 grants for research, exploration, and later on, conservation.” So, the Initiative “took a page out of National Geographic’s book” and geared the protective goals of the organization to “center on funding field-based conservation interventions that sought to achieve the mission of halting the global decline of big cats.”

The results of the BCI’s efforts are far-reaching and tangible. They are “the single most cohesive source of funding for big cat conservationists on the ground in

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Africa.” Three of these grantees have even become National Geographic Emerging Explorers themselves. Additionally, Luke says “in the last five or six years alone we can see and show that the BCI has saved the lives of over 2,500 big cats with this kind of funding.” The family at BCI making the effort to save big cat lives isn’t a small one, but it is close-knit: “The organizations that are on the ground have about 1,100 conservation staff members,” and of those “almost 900 are host country nationals at the research levels, doing active conservation work” in their communities. With a swelling of pride in his voice as he says it, Luke “couldn’t be more proud of that.”

The lessons he learned during the onset of his career with fosa conservation turned out to be “directly applicable” to carnivore conservation across the globe.

“The dynamic between people and predators tend to have a lot of similarities regardless of what the system and the species are,” which is why the communication emphasis of BCI is so important.

While communication may be what “National Geographic does best,” on a micro-level, Luke has seen the effects in his own life from connecting with people.

Be it the local boy that his son plays with on trips to Madagascar, the child of a man Luke saved when he was but a boy, or the passing compliments from locals that he was “never meant to hear,” there is deep, connecting humanity to his work. A more profound understanding of one another, and the lives we lead, is exactly the type of empathetic mindset Luke fosters while helping save the lives of big cats and preserving their ecosystems. Expanding upon this theme, BCI and the conservationists working with this Initiative across the globe are not only cultivating this compassionate, educational process but are also helping to preserve a world that would be otherwise bereft of these magnificent carnivores.

FOR A BIT MORE INFO: nationalgeographic.org/projects/big-cats-initiative

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COASTAL EMPIRE Photographer Douglas Stratton captures the beauty of the Lowcountry and its beaches in an effort to memorialize their full beauty while spreading awareness about the need for their protection and conservation.

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BY SUNNY HUBLER | PHOTOS BY DOUGLAS STRATTON

Douglas Stratton has perfected the art of transportation, capturing through his camera lens the essence of what makes a place and bringing that visceral sense of experience to the viewer. His images capture everything from human portraits, street art, wildlife, and architecture to the landscapes of the cities and countries he has traveled here and abroad. His spirit for adventure and his love of nature lie at the heart of his artistry.

Stratton’s photography has taken him across the globe — from London to Costa Rica to the Arctic. He recently returned from photographing wild horses in southern France as well as a trip in which he visited Rome and Barcelona to shoot the architecture and cityscapes.

But Stratton’s heart truly lies in the Southeast. Dedicated to the idea of helping protect the coast of Georgia and the Lowcountry, Stratton is meticulous in capturing the changes in the beaches, the tides, and the erosion of the barrier islands.

The EXCLUSIV ES

“THERE IS SOMETHING INSIDE ME THAT MAKES ME WANT TO CREATE.”

“I will always be exploring the Georgia and South Carolina coast as long as I live,” he says plainly. Tybee Island, Savannah, and the rest of the Lowcountry have all experienced record flooding in recent years and many along the coast are preparing for infrastructure changes as the sea levels rise along the southeastern coast line. Stratton uses the goal of memorializing

164 • qcexclusive.com • OCT/NOV 2016

these environments in their full beauty as his driving force. Manipulating light to get the perfect silhouettes, he has captured the radiant skies, the gnarled driftwood, and the wide stretches of sand that define this section of the United States.

“The Georgia coastline is one of the least populated places in America so there isn’t a lot of light pollution,”

The EXCLUSIV ES

“I’m trying to capture nature at its best, but also it’s food for my soul.”

he says of his process. “Once you get to the barrier islands, it’s one of the darkest skies on the planet. You don’t see a lot of people and you’re capturing pure Mother Nature untouched by humans. I’m trying to capture the pure essence of nature and the rawness of light.”

Born into an artistic family – his great grandmother was an original Kodak model and his grandmother worked to create Photoshop — Stratton was interested

in art from a young age. Having grown up in a small beach town, he was also always drawn to the beaches and coasts. Stratton first started shooting in high school and quickly picked up a talent for the process.

He went on to study at the College of Charleston in South Carolina and the Art Institute of Atlanta.

Stratton’s compositions come from a place of rapture: he says photography allows him to express the

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“The Georgia and South Carolina coast should be a protected world UNESCO site.”

frenetic creative energy inside. “There is something inside of me that makes me want to create and there is a need to express what’s inside of me,” he says. “I have this great love of adventure and I’m trying to capture nature at its best, but also its food for the soul and food for my soul. I’m so blessed to be able to capture these moments of pure heaven.”

Stratton has an upcoming exhibit October 22 at his stu-

168 • qcexclusive.com • OCT/NOV 2016

dio in Atlanta. In the near future he plans to travel to and photograph New Zealand, Spain, and the Georgia coast.

“I want to take my photography to the very best, the pinnacle,” Stratton says. “If it doesn’t create emotion, if it doesn’t create feeling, then it’s not worth looking at.”

FOR A BIT MORE INFO: www.douglasstratton.com

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Stickley Audi & Co. ......................................100

Cosmetic Dentistry of the Carolinas .........19

Majestic Bath..................... ............................119

The Sporting Gent ........................................51 The Vendue............. .......................................121

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Theory Design Studio .................................34

Craft Tasting Room ......................................89

Midwood Smokehouse.. ............................87

Tiny ..................................................................42

David’s LTD .......................................................2

Mole Hole .......................................................44

Toccare........................................................... 36

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Movement Mortgage ..................................65

True Crafted Pizza .......................................82

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Diamonds Direct ........................Back Cover

Nestlewood ....................................................61

Windsor Jewelers .........................................17

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New Old .........................................................170

Wolf Sub Zero ..............................................101

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New Life Building................ ........................129

Elizabeth Bruns ............................................23

NewLondon Arms ......................................124

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