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FROM THE EDITOR
CATHY MARTIN EDITOR editor@southparkmagazine.com
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PHOTOGRAPH BY TIM SAYER
W
hether you like football or not, no one can deny the impact the Carolina Panthers have had on this city — economically, of course, but also in bringing people together. No matter your politics, religion, race or age, starting in September, come Sunday afternoon we’re all pulling for the same team. Without a doubt, the Panthers have become a source of pride for the community (last season’s lackluster performance aside). My in-laws have had Panthers PSLs since the inaugural season, so naturally, I’m a huge fan. Last year, when the NFL team released running back Jonathan Stewart after 10 years, of course I was upset. I know how it works — my brain told me it’s just business, no big deal, happens all the time. Still, it was disappointing, same as it was when other longtime Panthers Steve Smith and Julius Peppers said their goodbyes to the team. So, when former SouthPark editor Caroline Portillo told me she was working on a story about Jonathan and his wife, Natalie, of course I was thrilled. After a year living in New Jersey — Jonathan spent last season playing for the New York Giants — the West Coast natives, along with their adorable 2-year-old daughter, Kaia, decided to move back to Charlotte. Jonathan officially retired as a Panther in April. The Stewarts’ return shows Charlotte’s increasing allure as a vibrant but family-friendly city. It also got me thinking about how much this city has changed since the Panthers came to town. I can only imagine the original team members’ reactions in the mid-1990s when they learned they’d be headed to the Queen City. Back then, Charlotte was a nice, midsized Southern town but largely unknown outside of the Southeast. Many would argue those were the good old days, when commutes were a breeze and neighbors weren’t constantly coming and going. I was living in New Mexico during that time, and people there didn’t know the difference between Charlotte, Charlottesville, Va., and Charleston, S.C. It was all one vague, faraway place to anyone west of the Mississippi. That obscurity is no longer the case. Now, dozens of people move here daily. We’re becoming a hotspot for corporate headquarters, and not just in banking. We just passed Indianapolis to become the 16th-largest U.S. city. Suddenly, we’re the place to be. My millennial coworkers (and a few of us GenXers) can’t get enough of the local breweries, festivals, pop-up events and parks. We’ve got rooftop bars, hip hotels and a burgeoning culinary scene. Top-tier performers and shows such as Hamilton no longer skip us on the way to Atlanta. There’s always something new to experience. Despite minor frustrations — like trying to get a last-minute dinner reservation anywhere on a Saturday night — the growth is exciting, both citywide and in the SouthPark area. I’m sure it’s far beyond what the Harris family envisioned when they began transforming a former cow pasture into SouthPark back in the 1960s and ’70s. Or in the late ’80s, when area homeowners worried the planned Morrocroft development would bring too much traffic. With reports of a reimagined Symphony Park and a planned 3-mile bicycle and pedestrian loop linking SouthPark destinations, business and community leaders are generating new ideas to extend the area’s identity. Let’s hope we can keep improving this part of our dynamic, growing city while still holding on to a bit of the old Charlotte heart and soul that built it. SP
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July DEPARTMENTS 23 | Blvd. Bar Marcel offers a taste of Europe; cool treats in Matthews; Hudson & Lee’s buzzworthy simple syrups.
23
35 | Bookshelf July’s notable new releases.
39 | Simple Life The road to happiness is an upward climb — the joy is in the journey.
45 | In the Spirit When making cocktails at home, sometimes keeping it simple keeps it delicious.
49 | Southwords A milestone birthday brings a rush of memories.
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73 | Cuisine Legion Brewing SouthPark offers a casual vibe for all, from foodies to families.
78 | Travel Unwinding at the Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee in Georgia.
85 | Swirl The city’s best and biggest bashes, from JazzArts Charlotte to the Levine Children’s Gala.
SNAPSHOT 96 | Brew Master Lenny Boy Brewing’s Townes Mozer on the synergies of brewing kombucha and beer.
ABOUT THE COVER Photo of Jonathan and Natalie Stewart at home by Michael Blevins
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additions renovations signature homes
Charlotte and Boone
andrewroby.com 704.334.5477
making it home since 1950
G E N E R A L C O N T R AC TO R
54
FEATURES 54 | Game Changer by Caroline Portillo
Jonathan Stewart and his family say goodbye to the gridiron and hello to a new home.
62 | Full Circle by Vanessa Infanzon
Nature and science shape Orr Ambrose’s art.
68 | Family Man by Page Leggett
Theatre Charlotte’s Ron Law begins a yearlong farewell.
Summer Sale 50-75% off Clothing & Select Accessories
1230 West Morehead St., Suite 308 Charlotte, NC 28208 704-523-6987 southparkmagazine.com Ben Kinney Publisher publisher@southparkmagazine.com Cathy Martin Editor editor@southparkmagazine.com Andie Rose Art Director Alyssa Rocherolle Graphic Designer Contributing Writers Sally Brewster Lauren Eberle Whitley Adkins Hamlin Vanessa Infanzon Page Leggett Blake Miller Caroline Portillo Michael J. Solender Contributing Photographers Michael Blevins, Joe Ciarlante Daniel Coston, Justin Driscoll
ADVERTISING Jane Rodewald Account Executive 704-621-9198 jane@southparkmagazine.com Scott Leonard Audience Development Specialist/ Account Executive 704-996-6426 scott@southparkmagazine.com Brad Beard Graphic Designer
Published by OLD NORTH STATE MAGAZINES LLC
David Woronoff PRESIDENT Jim Dodson EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Letters to the editorial staff: editor@southparkmagazine.com
6401 Morrison Boulevard Specialty Shops Southpark Charlotte, North Carolina 28211 704.817.9247 www.aminarubinaccinc.com
Instagram: southparkmagazine Facebook: facebook.com/southparkmagazine Twitter: twitter.com/SouthParkMag ŠCopyright 2019. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Volume 22, Issue 7
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SouthPark Office 6857 Fairview Road Charlotte, NC 28210
WAVERLY OFFICE
7415 Waverly Walk Avenue Charlotte, NC 28277
NEW CONSTRUCTION
FOXCROFT
QUAIL HOLLOW
DOVEWOOD
EASTOVER
4043 Arborway Road
7912 Baltusrol Lane
3344 Leamington Lane
326 Meadowbrook Road
Completely renovated | 5BR/6.1BA $2,770,000
6BR/7.2BA | 2+ acres estate | Pool $1,899,000
Gated community | 6BR/6.3BA | Pool $2,425,000
4BR/4.1BA | Spectacular lot $1,999,999
NEW CONSTRUCTION
MYERS PARK
MYERS PARK
QUAIL HOLLOW
SOUTHPARK
2201 Sherwood Avenue
2620 Chelsea Drive, #A
6701 N. Baltusrol Lane
4625 Piedmont Row Dr., #610
Renovated | 5BR/3.1BA | Guest House $2,295,000
Luxury townhome | 3BR/3BA $1,755,000
5BR/4.1BA | 1+ acre cul-de-sac lot $1,350,000
Split bedroom plan | 2BR/2BA $260,000
FOXCROFT
THE SANCTUARY
LAKE WYLIE
SOUTHPARK
2001 Stedwick Place
13712 Sage Thrasher Lane, #171
12301 Culpepper Court
4625 Piedmont Row Dr., #408
Remodeled | 4BR/4.2BA | Private lot $1,599,000
Waterfront | 4+ acre cul-de-sac lot $675,000
4.5 Acres | 700 ft. shoreline | Private cove $990,000
Open plan | 2BR/2BA | Great location| $250,000
VALERIE MITCHENER 704-577-8200
STACEY STOLAR 704-400-1539
CHRISTY HOWEY 704-996-0484
MELANIE COYNE 704-763-8003
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SouthPark Office 6857 Fairview Road Charlotte, NC 28210
WAVERLY OFFICE
7415 Waverly Walk Avenue Charlotte, NC 28277
NEW CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONTRACT
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DILWORTH
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COTSWOLD
8610 Highgrove Street
624 Diana Drive
1333 Queens Road
144 S. Canterbury Road
Custom home | 6BR/6.1BA | Pool $1,350,000
3 Story | 4BR/3.2BA | Screened porch $1,295,000
24 full floor units | 2-4 BR plans From $1,325,000
4BR/5BA | Porte-cochere | Private bkyd $1,595,000
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5BR/4.2BA | Pool & spa | Private lot $1,199,900
4BR/3.2BA | MBR down | Private lot $1,045,000
Luxury appointments | 4BR/3.1BA $999,000
25 acres | 4BR/4BA | Waterfront $999,900
FLETCHER CREEK
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9818 Genevieve Court
1257 S. Kings Drive
10001 Reniston Drive
2923 Heathmoor Lane
Custom| Updated | 5BR/4.1BA | Pool $925,000
4BR/4BA | High ceilings | Corner lot $899,000
Updates | 5BR/3.1BA | MBR down $539,000
Cul-de-sac | 4BR/4.1BA | Terrace $899,900
PEGGY PETERSON 704-904-6279
SUSAN MAY 704-650-7432
UNDER CONTRACT
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blvd. People. Places. Things.
TASTE OF EUROPE Savor the flavors of Italy, France and Spain at Bar Marcel, one of the newest additions to SouthPark’s dining scene. From the team behind midtown’s Vivace and StoneCrest’s Civetta Kitchen + Bar, Bar Marcel’s menu emphasizes small plates, seafood and pasta. Shareable items include charcuterie, flatbreads and salads; large plates range from pastas to glazed short ribs to a daily seafood selection. For a heartier appetite, the Valenciana paella combines ham, chicken, mussels, clams, shrimp, peas, tomatoes and peppers in a saffron broth. Cozy up to the walnut and Italian marble bar for a craft cocktail, settle into one of the large leather booths or grab a table on the 40-seat patio. Tucked away in Morrison at SouthPark, Bar Marcel is open for lunch Monday-Friday and dinner Monday-Saturday. barmarcelcharlotte.com
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Around Town COMINGS
Pop Shop
Hot summer days call for cool treats. VeloPops, which opened its first retail shop in Matthews in April, serves up made-from-scratch popsicles in refreshing flavors such as watermelon basil, avocado lime and ginger green tea lemonade. For the less adventurous, there’s strawberry lemonade, orange vanilla, fudge and pineapple coconut — bestsellers also include cookies and cream and coffee caramel. There are mini versions for kids, and even VeloPups for your canine companions. VeloPops was the brainchild of four families with decades of restaurant-industry experience, including two from the Charlotte area. Pops are also sold at Nothing but Noodles and TRUE Crafted Pizza, plus look for their mobile carts at local festivals and events. velopops.com
Steak 48, an upscale steakhouse with locations in Chicago, Houston and Philadelphia, will open next year at the Apex SouthPark mixed-use development … Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams will open its third Charlotte location at Park Road Shopping Center this summer … menswear brand UNTUCKit will open a store at SouthPark Mall this summer, as will trendy eyewear-maker Warby Parker, its second Charlotte location
GOINGS
Wine and Dine
Since 2008, The Queen’s Feast has provided diners with the opportunity to try some of the area’s top restaurants at wallet-friendly prices. Also known as Charlotte Restaurant Week, The Queen’s Feast returns July 19-28 and features more than 130 restaurants across nine counties in the Charlotte region. Three-course, prix fixe dinners are just $30 or $35 per person. For updates on participating restaurants, follow The Queen’s Feast on Instagram and Twitter: @QueensFeast.
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Pike’s Old-Fashioned Soda Shop closed after more than 20 years in South End; burger chain Shake Shack will open in its place … The Improper Pig is moving from Cotswold to Rea Farms … TacoMac closed its Piedmont Town Center location … Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream at ParkTowne Village closed
SEEN Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West flew their private jet into Monroe Regional Airport and were spotted at the Shoppes at Ardrey Kell … rocker Bob Seger stayed at The Ivey’s Hotel … Wheel of Fortune’s Vanna White, in town for an appearance at the Coca-Cola 600, was spotted at 5Church … James Kennedy of Vanderpump Rules also was spotted at 5Church. For more celebrity sightings, visit Twitter.com/CelebsInCLT
malakjewelers.com
|blvd.
Shake Up Your Cocktail HUDSON & LEE SIMPLE SYRUP IS TRULY BUZZWORTHY. BY LAUREN EBERLE
N
o matter how you like your mixed drink — shaken, stirred or on the rocks — Greta McCoy wants you to craft a cleaner cocktail. Hudson & Lee, her line of honey simple syrups, are big on flavor without the added sugar. The idea started five years ago when a shift toward a healthier lifestyle inspired Greta and her husband, Brett, to shake up happy hour. “After becoming parents, we really started to look at our diet — especially the sugars we were consuming,” Greta recalls. Instead of nixing cocktails, the McCoys began playing around with a recipe for a simple syrup made with honey instead of sugar. Friends and family gave rave reviews, and Greta decided to try to bottle the mixture. The Lake Norman-area couple spent two years making
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their recipe shelf-stable and developing the modern apothecary branding. For the name, they landed on a classically Southern combination of their two sons’ middle names, and in 2016 Greta began going door to door to retail shops marketing Hudson & Lee Honey Simple Syrup. Packed with simple, vitamin-rich, anti-inflammatory ingredients such as honey, apple cider vinegar and lemon juice, the syrup is free of all the funky stuff — sugar, artificial flavors, dyes and gluten. Greta cooks the product in a commercial kitchen in Charlotte and hand-labels and distributes the bottles. With honey as its flavor-rich and subtly sweet base, the mixer comes in two styles — original and ginger spice — and is sold by 30-plus nationwide retailers. In Charlotte, it’s on shelves at Rhino Mar-
|blvd. ket’s downtown and NODA locations, Paper Skyscraper, Queen City Grounds and Moxie Mercantile in Davidson and Plaza Midwood. Gift packages are available on the Hudson & Lee website and include goodies such as a cocktail recipe bar towel and a clever mason jar shaker. Additionally, the company sells through Amazon. Hudson & Lee can be substituted for simple syrup in any cocktail recipe — it’s especially delightful in staples including mojitos, margaritas and Moscow mules. Don’t drink? It’s also a healthier addition to iced tea and lemonade, and can be used to sweeten sauces, salad dressings or smoothies. And while Greta speaks of future expansion, the entrepreneur adds that being a new product on the market — she says it’s the only no-sugar-added honey simple syrup available — requires customer education. “It takes time to teach people about the health and flavor benefits, but we’ve been pleased with our organic growth and can’t wait to see where it leads.” Cheers to that. hudsonandlee.com
Ginger Rum Punch (serves 1) 1.5 ounce dark rum 1 ounce freshly squeezed orange juice 1/2 ounce pure pineapple juice 1/2 ounce pure pomegranate juice 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice 1/2 ounce Hudson & Lee Ginger Spice Honey Simple Syrup Splash of club soda or sparkling water Sliced pineapple wedge for garnish Place the first six ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake for 30 seconds. Strain into a glass with ice and add a splash of club soda. Top the glass with pineapple garnish.
DRINK UP “Cocktails can seem intimidating, but they don’t require much more effort than pouring a glass of wine,” Greta says. Here are a few no-frills recipes for mixing your own at home.
Perfect Citrus Margarita (serves 2) 1/2 cup 100% agave tequila 1/4 cup triple sec 1/4 cup Hudson & Lee Honey Simple Syrup 1/4 cup fresh lime juice 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 1/4 cup fresh orange juice Add six ice cubes to a cocktail shaker along with all ingredients. Cover and shake for 30 seconds. Strain the mixture through a cocktail strainer into glasses with ice, garnish with a lime slice, and serve immediately.
Honey Mint Mojito (serves 1) 12 fresh mint leaves 1/2 lime, quartered 1.5 ounces white rum 2 tablespoons Hudson & Lee Honey Simple Syrup Crushed ice Splash of club soda Mint sprig and lime slice for garnish Muddle mint leaves and lime quarters in a tall glass; give about eight firm presses. Fill the glass with crushed ice, then add rum and simple syrup. Stir well. Top with a splash of club soda and garnish with a mint sprig and lime slice.
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My Favorite Things... CoKo Concierge is a local business offering personal services from grocery shopping to dog-walking, from overseeing home projects to helping throw the perfect dinner party. Performing all that behind-the-scenes work is owner Courtney Kovacs. Here’s the inside scoop on Kovacs’ favorite sips, spots and more.
Place to get work done: Napa on Providence is the perfect place to grab a bite in the middle of the afternoon. It’s such a pretty setting, and I love the serenity of the patio. For an afternoon snack, I like to order their calamari and a crisp rose. 110 Perrin Place
how to code. They are breaking down barriers for so many young women. It is the perfect place for my clients to donate previously used laptops that are repurposed for teaching amazing women how to code. dottierosefoundation.org Restaurant for out-of-town guests: 1900 Mexican Grill & Tequila Bar on Park Road is my favorite for comfort food. The margaritas are not fancy — they are just margaritas, and they are GOOD. You can usually find the owner bartending. The fajitas and chicken soup are really good, but usually I order rice, beans and tortillas because it all tastes exactly like my grandmother’s, which gives me the feeling of home. 5110 Park Road
Place to view local artwork: Camp North End has quickly become a favorite place to check out new and established artists. A few of my favorite spaces include The Black Market, Dupp & Swat and Windy O’Connor Art and Home. I like to go to HEX Coffee to grab a cup, then walk around to all the different galleries. From mural artists to clothing designers to canvas art and more, there is so much to see. I also like to go during some of their bigger art festivals — it’s a great, energetic vibe. Camp.NC Nonprofit: The Dottie Rose Foundation is doing influential work in the community by teaching young girls 28
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Amazing parks: Romare Bearden Park in uptown is so peaceful. I enjoy taking my clients’ dogs for a walk there. Collectively, everyone keeps it neat and clean and takes great pride in this space. Freedom Park is the nicest walk, with the fountain in the middle. I enjoy sitting on a park bench, listening to music and just relaxing and watching the world go by. mecknc.gov/ParkandRec Place to catch a movie: There are not a lot of things that recharge me better than a movie by myself in the afternoon, and Manor Theatre is the perfect escape for a 2 p.m. matinee. There are usually only a few people there, so I love how quiet it is. It’s the perfect backdrop to relax and enjoy one of Charlotte’s oldest theaters that has beautifully maintained its charm. 609 Providence Road Cooking class: If you want to try something a little different than simply going
to a restaurant for dinner, Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen is a great place to go for a night out with friends or for a date. Chef Alyssa’s beautiful new space in South End is set up so you can learn new kitchen skills and make new friends. chefalyssaskitchen.com Place to shop: Held twice a year at a Myers Park home, The Edit is an amazing spot to snag designer clothes at deeply discounted prices. Hosted by a group of some of Charlotte’s most fashionable women, this sale is a must if you love one-
of-a-kind clothing at a price that can’t be beat. Instagram: @edit_charlotte Favorite view: The Queen City skyline never gets old. Whether it’s having a cocktail at Merchant & Trade or walking to one of the gorgeous art galleries uptown, our city’s skyline is energetic and breathtaking. R&R: The Ritz-Carlton Spa is the place I love to go most if I need a treat for myself. You are pampered from the moment you walk in. After a spa treatment, I love to take lunch by the pool and enjoy the view. ritzcarlton.com/charlotte COMPILED BY WHITLEY ADKINS HAMLIN
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TO-DO
LIST
Bark in the Ballpark
JULY
THIS MONTH’S FIVE ESSENTIAL DATES
7/3-4
7/9-14
7/12
7/19-27
7/28
There are myriad ways to celebrate the 4th in Charlotte — our top pick is the U.S. National Whitewater Center’s two-day Fourth of July Celebration. Festivities include yoga, a stand-up paddleboard “Battle Royale” competition, live music — performers include Rayland Baxter and North Mississippi Allstars — and, of course, fireworks both nights. usnwc.org
The national tour of the Tony award-winning Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly! stops in Charlotte, starring Broadway legend Betty Buckley. Tickets start at $25, Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. blumenthalarts.org
A new generation has discovered Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, thanks to the success of the award-winning musical Jersey Boys. The iconic group performs its greatest hits at Ovens Auditorium, with tickets start at $55. carolinatix.org
Central Piedmont Community College’s summer theatre series continues with A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, an Edwardian farce based on the 1949 British movie, Kind Hearts and Coronets. Tickets start at $10. Performances are at Halton Theater at Central Piedmont’s downtown campus. tix.cpcc.edu
Nothing beats a Charlotte Knights game for a familyfriendly night out. On designated Bark in the Ballpark evenings, Fido can tag along, too. Tickets start at $9, with free admission for your four-legged friends. milb.com/charlotteknights
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POSSIBILITY ISN’T JUST WHAT IF. IT’S WHAT’S NEXT. Earn an associate degree, work toward a four-year degree, or take a direct path to employment.
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SouthPark Office 6857 Fairview Road Charlotte, NC 28210
WAVERLY OFFICE
7415 Waverly Walk Avenue Charlotte, NC 28277
Peggy Peterson Team KIM ANTOLINI 704-608-3831
KATY BRADFIELD 704-965-5968
MAren BRISSON-KUESTER 704-287-7072
STEVEN CHABEREK 704-577-4205
COOK | PIZZO TEAM 704-236-1135
MELANIE COYNE 704-763-8003
BRIDGET GRAVES 704-560-2311
PATTY HENDRIX 704-577-2066
CHRISTY HOWEY 704-996-0484
BETH LIVINGSTON 704-778-6831
SUSAN MAY 704-650-7432
ELIZABETH M C NABB 704-763-8713
ANNA MEDICA 704-620-2047
VALERIE MITCHENER 704-577-8200
RIVERS & CHIP MOON 704-619-9693
PEGGY PETERSON 704-904-6279
JOCELYN ROSE 704-975-9900
ANNE SPENCER 704-264-9621
HELEN ST. ANGELO 704-839-1809
STACEY STOLAR 704-400-1539
JAMIE THOMAS 704-649-2855
MEREDITH TOMASCAK 704-806-7650
LISA WILFONG 704-909-5062
MARGARET WOOD 704-904-6022
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Summer Snacks and Sips AL FRESCO DINING NEW PATIO AND BAR SNACKS MENU Charcuterie Board, Artisanal Cheese Board, Truffle Shoestring Fries, Beef Carpaccio, Crispy Brussels Sprouts, Peel & Eat Shrimp, Ahi Tuna Sliders, Dips, ETC.
WINE AND DINE Proud recipient of Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence, our wine list features more than 70 wines by the glass hand selected by our Sommelier from some of the most acclaimed wineries in the world.
MONDAYS: All bottles are half price WEDNESDAYS: All glasses are half price
SOUTHPARK: Corner of Barclay and Morrison | 4201 Congress St | Charlotte, NC 28209 www.VillageTavern.com | 7 04.552.9983
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|bookshelf
July Books NOTABLE NEW RELEASES
COMPILED BY SALLY BREWSTER OF PARK ROAD BOOKS
resourceful man who vows to turn the tables on his tormentors. A superb intellectual legal thriller.
suspense earlier, because she’s extremely good at it. Perfect for your next vacation.
Hotbox, by Matt and Ted Lee
The Substitution Order, by Martin Clark
The Lee brothers have produced three excellent cookbooks, but in Hotbox, they turn to narrative nonfiction in a behindthe-scenes look at some unsung heroes of the food world: high-end caterers. Both brothers interned with caterers in New York City for several years, and you would not believe the culinary magic these dedicated folks are able to pull off on a regular basis. Hotbox is full of amazing characters, including Pam, the one person at one company who knows where everything is, and the multitalented Soto brothers. It’s ridiculously entertaining —
Clark has been a good friend to our store for many years, so, honestly, we’d read his grocery list. Fortunately, he keeps turning out great novels that just keep getting better. Clark told us his approach to this book was to heed the advice of the late Larry Brown: Create an interesting character and “then load them up with troubles.” Kevin Moore
Never Have I Ever, by Joshilyn Jackson
starts off in a bad place, disbarred and separated from his wife, and things spiral down from there. He’s working at a low-rent sandwich shop in a small Virginia town when a mysterious stranger “invites” him to take part in a multimillion-dollar scam. Kevin refuses, and things get even worse — but he is a
Jackson is as delightful in person as she is on the page. Like her previous novels, this one is a drama centered around a rich Southern family (with many flashes of humor), but this time, she injects elements of suspense into the mix. Amy Whey is hosting her monthly book club one evening when a mysterious new neighbor, Angelica Roux, shows up — and Angelica knows things about Amy that Amy wants to keep secret. A winesoaked suburban gathering turns into a game of cat and mouse as Amy fights to keep the life she has created for herself after a terrible mistake in her youth. One wonders why Jackson didn’t turn to
if you like food writing along the lines of Anthony Bourdain or Bill Buford, you will eat this up. Pun certainly intended. southparkmagazine.com | 35
|bookshelf tends to the man’s injuries, then makes a shocking discovery: The girl they had assumed was lost is suddenly alive again. When news of this apparent resurrection makes the rounds in the village, several people arrive, each hoping that the girl is their long-lost daughter. Some of the inn’s customers believe she might be the daughter of the ghostly ferryman who patrols the Thames, saving those who fall in before their time. A top-notch historical mystery with Gothic overtones.
Growing Things and Other Stories, by Paul Tremblay
Once Upon a River, by Diane Setterfield
On a dark, stormy night at the Swan, an inn on the Upper Thames, an otherwise normal evening is suddenly interrupted by the arrival of a badly injured man who is carrying the body of a drowned child. Local nurse and midwife Rita Sunday
This stunning collection of horror stories rivals Stephen King’s Night Shift. Tremblay is the master of ambiguous horror: Is it supernatural, or just the dark side of human nature? This is notable in “Swim Wants to Know If It’s As Bad as Swim Thinks,” the story of a desperate meth addict trying to save her daughter from an invasion of giant monsters — which may or may not actually exist. In
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“The Getaway,” four men carry out a pawn shop heist only to disappear from their getaway car one by one. “The Teacher” is a stunning story of brutality: An AP teacher shows terrifying videos to his class, which torment the narrator and her classmates and alter the course of their lives. Brilliant and disturbing. SP
4139 Park Road, parkroadbooks.com
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|simple life
The Road to Happiness IT’S AN UPWARD CLIMB FILLED WITH TWISTS AND TURNS, BUT JOY IS IN THE JOURNEY.
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BY JIM DODSON
dear friend phoned the other day just to say hello, a gifted young poet I hired many years ago as our organization’s first staff writer, who went on to become the senior editor of one of our magazines. I always knew the time would come when Ashley would fly away to new horizons, which she did after many years of our working together, moving to the mountains where she became a teacher, artist and musician. As old friends do, we spent a full half hour catching up on each other’s lives. I was pleased to learn about her current boyfriend and their travels to art festivals across the Southeast, where they sell handmade crafts created from sea glass, answering the muse and enjoying life on the road. “You sound pretty happy,” I ventured at one point. “I am. Maybe never happier. How about you?” I replied that I was happy at that moment because I was talking to her while sitting in a well-worn Adirondack chair on the lawn where I begin and end most of my day in quiet reflection, watching the dawn arrive and the day depart, usually with Mulligan the dog and Boo the cat by my side. When she called, my companions and I happened to be watching the first fireflies of the season dance in the dusk. During our years working together, Ashley and I often fell into lengthy conversations about life, love, matters of faith and favorite poets. Among other things, we share an Aquarian sensibility about the future and how we must spiritually evolve in order to get there in one piece as a race of scattered and fractured human beings. I wasn’t surprised when she asked what things make me happy these days. I gave her my short and simple list: rainy Sundays, walks with my wife and our dogs, working in my garden, driving back roads, early church, books and movies that stir the heart, phone calls from my grown children and suppers on the porch with friends.
“What about writing?” she asked. “Cheap therapy.” She laughed. “Maybe you should write a book about happiness.” This notion made me laugh. Somewhere I’d read that there are more than 500 books in print on the subject of happiness, proving that happiness is purely in the eye — or soul — of the beholder. Besides, I confessed, my kind of happiness was increasingly fueled by things I’d given up or simply no longer needed for the journey, a list that included, but was not limited to, late-night fears of failure, desires for wealth or fame, and judging other flawed human beings. Even my once all-consuming love of sports was practically gone. True to the spirit of our talks, I turned the question around on her. Ashley didn’t hesitate. “I think happiness comes when you are following your heart and doing good things for others.” Her prescription reminded me of something I’d just read in commentator David Brooks’ outstanding new book The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life. “Often,” Brooks writes, “we say a good life is a happy life. We live, as it says in our founding document, in pursuit of happiness. In all forms of happiness we feel good, elated, uplifted. But the word ‘happiness’ can mean a lot of different things.” Brooks makes an important distinction, for instance, between things that make us happy — a good marriage, a successful career, a sense of material achievement — and the rarer experience of joy. “Happiness involves a victory for the self, an expansion of self. Happiness comes when we move toward our goals, when things go our way. You get a big promotion. You graduate from college. Your team wins the Super Bowl. You have a delicious meal. Happiness often has to do with some success, some new ability, or some heightened sensual pleasure.” Joy, on the other hand, he posits, has to do with some southparkmagazine.com | 39
|simple life transcendence of self and comes almost unbidden when “the skin barrier between you and some other person or entity fades away and you feel fused together. Joy is present when mother and baby are gazing adoringly into each other’s eyes, when a hiker is overwhelmed by the beauty in the woods and feels at one with nature, when a gaggle of friends are dancing deliriously in union. Joy often involves self-forgetting. ”We can help create happiness,” Brooks concludes, “but we are seized by joy. We are pleased by happiness, but we are transformed by joy.” The day after catching up with Ashley, I was on a winding road deep in the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia, chasing pieces of Wagon Road history and human stories for my next book — something that always makes me happy — unable to get our conversation about happiness out of my head. The art of happiness, if there is such a thing, my version of it anyway, seems to be about an inward journey cultivated by intentionally making room in life for small restorative acts and daily rituals that invite you to step out of your hectic, overscheduled life into what Irish mystics called a thin space, a place where duty and obligation are put on hold and deeper mindfulness is possible. Without my early morning communion with the stars and the grateful prayers I send up like sparks from a signal fire to the gods, my day is curiously never fully complete. For what it’s worth, I also agree with Ashley the poet and Brooks the wise counselor that service of the smallest order to others in a world where there is so much isolation, loneliness and suffering may be the truest pathway to a happier, more meaningful life, a true Second Mountain existence. Since most of my days are spent in quiet working isolation — Hemingway, not a happy camper, called writing the “loneliest art” — I find myself almost unconsciously seeking opportunities to commit some kind of tiny random act of kindness to a fellow stranger in need. The other day, I chased down a harried mother’s runaway grocery cart in the parking lot of Harris-Teeter. She had an infant on her hip and was struggling to unlock her SUV. Her grateful smile and warm thanks were like a liberating breeze to a weary brain that had been arm-wrestling words and sentences onto the page most of that day. During our pre-dawn walks around the neighborhood each day, my wife began stopping by the house of an elderly shut-in lady to walk her newspaper from the curb to a chair by her front door. We’ve never seen our neighbor’s face. But the dogs insist on stopping to deliver her paper the final 50 feet. To paraphrase C.S. Lewis on prayer, this miniscule act of neighborliness may do nothing whatsoever for God, but it sure makes us all feel a tiny bit happier. The 17th-century Buddhist monk Gensei wrote, “With the happiness held in one-inch-square [of] heart, you can fill the whole space between heaven and Earth.” Sometimes, we need to be reminded of this fact. A friend who works with the homeless explained to me that perhaps
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southparkmagazine.com | 41
|simple life the hardest thing homeless people deal with on a daily basis is a feeling that they are not worthy of noticing or speaking to — that they are, in effect, invisible travelers in our midst. This prompted a shift in my awareness and behavior, from that of feeling uneasy and even slightly resentful whenever I reached into my pocket to offer whatever modest sum may be there, to making a point of looking in the eyes and sharing a few words of ordinary greeting or simple recognition, maybe even learning a name and sharing mine. After all, we are all traveling the same road between Earth and heaven. It’s a lesson I seem destined to repeatedly learn. Watching Notre Dame cathedral in Paris burn live on CNN back in the spring, I was suddenly transported to a rainy July day 18 years ago when my son, Jack, then 10, and I were coming out of the famous cathedral in a thunderstorm. Surrounded by a swarm of tourist umbrellas dashing for cover, we hurried past a lone ragged man with blind eyes standing in the downpour, simply holding out an upturned palm, a character straight from Victor Hugo, a dignified beggar for God. No one was stopping. But when I saw my son glance back, something stopped me. I gave my son 100 francs and asked him to go and give it to the man. Without hesitation, he threaded back through the onrushing umbrellas and placed the folded money into the man’s outstretched hand. What happened next still gives me goose bumps of unexpected joy — the kind of self-forgetting transcendence David Brooks speaks of.
The blind man placed his free hand gently on Jack’s head, as if bestowing a blessing. Watching, my eyes filled with tears, or maybe simply rain. Or both. “What did he say to you?” I asked as we hurried off to find a dry lunch in a cozy Left Bank bistro. “I don’t know,” he said with a happy smile. “But it was in French and it sounded nice.” Last summer, at the end of a walking pilgrimage across Tuscany with my wife and 30 others, I skipped the private tour of the Vatican’s famous Sistine Chapel in favor of climbing a leafy Roman hill to a small Greek Orthodox Church, where I sat on a simple wooden pew for God knows how long listening to morning prayers being sung in Greek by three exquisite voices. Save for an elderly woman manning a small stand at the rear entrance of the church, I was the only worshipper in the building, sitting beneath the tiny dome of a stunning blue ceiling painted with stars, angels and saints. Time completely vanished, taking my weary feet with it. Unexpectedly, it was the happiest moment of my long journey that week. On the way out, the old woman smiled and waved me over to her stand, handing me a small gilt-framed portrait of an Eastern Saint. I’m still not sure which one. When I reached into my pocket to pay, she gave me a gentle smile and nod, waving me on with gentle words. I have no idea what she said to me. I believe it was in Greek, and it sounded nice. SP
Contact Jim Dodson at jim@thepilot.com.
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|in the spirit
The Bare Necessities KEEPING IT SIMPLE KEEPS IT DELICIOUS
PHOTOGRAPH BY TONY CROSS
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BY TONY CROSS
ntil recently, among the books in my possession that I’d barely started or hadn’t opened at all was Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential. I adored the man, yet had not read his epic first book. One of the chapters, “How to Cook Like the Pros,” has Bourdain giving tips to those at home who want to cook well enough to amaze their next dinner party guests. He starts with tools: a chef’s knife, other knives, plastic squeeze bottles, pots and pans, etc. He then moves on to ingredients: butter, stock, shallots and more. So, in this column, I’m going to blatantly rip off Anthony. (It’s OK, we share the same first name.) As a mixologist, people always ask me questions like, “What’s your favorite drink to make? Do you really like egg whites in cocktails? What’s a good recipe?” (I get that one a lot.) Or, “How do you make your old-fashioneds?” and “Do you really like mezcal?” I usually respond to the last one with “no” and a grin on my face. One time, a married woman
(claiming to be newly separated) actually messaged me on social media late on a Saturday night to find out what my favorite rye is. It’s Rittenhouse, but that’s not all she asked. The point is, you only need a few tools and a few ingredients to make a ton of delicious cocktails. So, in no particular order, let’s go.
ANGOSTURA BITTERS There are a ton of bitters on the market. They’re everywhere. By all means, experiment and check them out. But Angostura is the essential bitters that should always be stocked in your place. Plain and simple. Plus, it’s available everywhere, and it cures hiccups (doused on a lemon wedge). Just saying.
A GOOD JUICER A durable, inexpensive, hand-held juicer is all you need when making drinks at home. The Chef’n FreshForce model sells for about $20, and it’s durable as hell. Even if you’re hosting a southparkmagazine.com | 45
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|in the spirit 12-person cocktail party, this hand-held juicer is really convenient. Once you get the hang of it, you can juice 10 ounces in no time. Oh, and measure the stuff while you’re at it.
JIGGER Use a jigger with a few different measurements on it. I prefer the Japanese style, but choose whatever is easiest for you. Cocktail Kingdom offers a lot of fancy plated ones; to each their own. The original stainless steel ones have lasted me for years. (If you’re not measuring, stop reading right here.)
SUGAR If you’ve always got a half to full cup of simple syrup in your fridge that hasn’t gone bad, good for you. The rest of us probably have that “Oh, no” moment when realizing that we’ve got everything for the drink ready except for said syrup. Syrup or no syrup, it helps to have a small amount of demerara or cane sugar in the cabinet. It makes all the difference in the classics. Don’t believe me? Make a rich demerara syrup for your next daiquiri and tell me that the sugar doesn’t bring out the flavors in the top of the line rum you used. The color may not be Instagram-worthy, but who cares when you’ve made one of the best drinks in the world.
VERMOUTH I can’t believe the number of bars and restaurants that still have vermouth on their shelves. It’s rancid. Refrigerate it, or you’re only wasting your own hard-earned dollars and taste buds. Get a white and a red. You don’t need four of each, unless you’re using them before they spoil. Dolin Dry is great for martinis, and Carpano Antica is ideal for Manhattans.
SPIRIT I see a lot of articles online that read something like this: “The 8 Gins You Should Have at Home!” Really? Eight? No thanks, two or three is fine. I like Plymouth best for martinis, and Beefeater’s for gin and tonics. For whiskies, I love rye, so I usually have Old Overholt, Rittenhouse and/or Wild Turkey Rye, and whatever decent bourbon I can get my hands on from the ABC store. And of course, a good bottle of Scotch. And for the rest:
AGAVE: If you are really just into margaritas, get a blanco; I particularly enjoy Herradura. If sipping is your thing, grab a nice anejo. A bottle of Del Maguey anything wouldn’t hurt. RUM:
Choose one white rum and one funky. For me, it’s Cana Brava and Smith & Cross. Actually, I’m lying. I have more. But the former is a good start.
VODKA: This is easily the most debated. For me, it’s always a vehicle to a destination. Just don’t let that ride be a Ford Pinto.
BRANDY: Remy Martin. Damn good cognac. SP
southparkmagazine.com | 47
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|southwords
A Kind of Grief A MILESTONE BIRTHDAY BRINGS A RUSH OF MEMORIES.
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BY SUSAN S. KELLY
his is the month that I turn 65. I suspect I’ll have a breakdown. I don’t put much store by birthdays typically. As a child, a July birthday meant that my friends were away on family vacations, so no one was around for a party. A summer birthday meant no cupcakes in elementary school, or care packages from Hickory Farms — the standard-but-thrilling gift — at boarding school. As an adult, I seem often to be at the beach, where my mother annually suggests that we have a “nice piece of fish” to celebrate my birthday — an eye-roll refrain the entire family now uses whenever we’re referring to celebrations of any kind. My sister has a breakdown every time we leave the beach, crying and honking the car horn until she’s out of sight. She’s worried that by the next time we’re all together again, someone will have died, gotten divorced or been irreparably altered in some way. Cheerful, no? I made her a Breakdown CD full of mournful songs from James Taylor, Pachelbel’s Canon and the themes from To Kill a Mockingbird and The Thorn Birds so she’ll have background music to wail with during the four-hour drive home. The last time I had a breakdown birthday was 3 1/2 decades ago, when I turned 30. I was waiting at a stoplight and was suddenly just . . . overcome. I bowed my head and laid my forehead against the hard, ridged, steering wheel and wept. I did not want to be 30 with children and a mortgage and a yard. I wanted to be a sorority girl wearing Topsiders and drinking beer at The Shack with my hair pulled back in a grosgrain ribbon on a Thursday afternoon. There was nothing for my despair but for my husband to take me to Chapel Hill for the weekend. But The Shack was a parking lot. Beers at the gleaming wood bar in Spanky’s didn’t cut it. The good part about A Big Birthday year means that my friends are turning 65, too. Bridge buddies, hiking homies, college pals, boarding-school classmates — all of us. Meaning that every day brings a veritable blizzard of emails filled with dates, pleas, opinions, rebuttals, suggestions, complaints, reminders, asides and the occasional joke, all in the service of organizing what I term Girl Gigs. Girl Gigs deserve a column of their own, but I’ll give you a teaser: One friend, for a Girl Gig in the mountains every January, flies in from Greenwich, Conn., and brings nothing but a mink coat and three pairs of pajamas. Stay tuned. I don’t care a whit about getting old, or dying. I’ll admit to
a fear of my house smelling like old people, and wondering whether it’s time to go ahead and lock into what one friend calls a “terminal hairdo,” the one you wear to the grave. And I drive a Mini Cooper, which seems to be the universally acknowledged car for females of a certain age. But otherwise, nope. No fear, no dread, no anxiety. I also have zero regrets about those things in the past that I’ve done or left undone, or shoulda, woulda, coulda. Furthering my career? More me time? Taken that trip, accepted that offer? No, no, and no. Do-overs don’t interest me. Wherefore the melancholy, then? Just this: 1,277 photographs — give or take a couple dozen travel pictures — on a digital frame. A New Year’s resolution labor of love with a scanner that rotates continuously all day, every day, showing me 1,277 times what I cannot have back . That summer twilight evening, with my oldest in his tacky polyester pajamas blowing dime-store bubbles in the driveway before bedtime. The child wearing a mask while he watches television, oblivious that he’s even wearing a mask. The child blowing out candles on what is surely the most hideous homemade birthday cake ever, shaped and iced like a sharpened pencil. The grin the day the braces came off. A husband mowing the lawn with a toddler draped around his neck like a pashmina. What was I doing during these ordinary, everyday moments? What was I saying, thinking, hoping, cooking, even? I don’t want to time travel, to swallow a magic youth pill, to go back and re-live. What stops and saddens me is the simple yet incontrovertible fact that, no matter what, I cannot get back that Tuesday morning where the child with the trike or the new backpack for the first day of school, or that Sunday afternoon when a young husband tosses free throws at the driveway basketball goal that has long since vanished. Not a single, commonplace, inconsequential second of them. Nothing I can do will return them to me. No begging. No money. No who-youknow. No good deeds. No nothing. Thornton Wilder knew the kind of grief I’m talking about. In Our Town, Emily Webb (who’s dead) asks the Stage Manager, “Does anyone ever realize life while they live it . . . every, every minute?” “No,” the Stage Manager replies. “Saints and poets maybe . . . they do some.” And I’m neither. So, this July, if you see someone pulled over with their head against the steering wheel, it’s just me, in my Mini, in the breakdown lane. SP southparkmagazine.com | 49
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Game Changer FORMER CAROLINA PANTHERS RUNNING BACK JONATHAN STEWART AND HIS FAMILY SAY GOODBYE TO THE GRIDIRON AND HELLO TO A NEW HOME AND CAREERS AS ENTREPRENEURS. BY CAROLINE PORTILLO
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL BLEVINS
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Natalie Stewart wanted her home, recently built by Kingswood Custom Homes, to be a place where her family could truly relax and unwind — no stuffy furniture allowed. 56
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NATALIE STEWART GETS GALA-READY IN 15 MINUTES. About 90 minutes into an interview at the home she and her husband, former Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart, built off Carmel Road, a barefoot, makeup-less Natalie tugs her wet hair loose from the chignon at the nape of her neck and pads off to get ready for a fundraiser that evening. Jonathan, or “Stew,” as Natalie calls him, picks up where she left off, describing what it was like when, in 2018, he was released from the Panthers — the only professional team he’d ever played for — after 10 seasons. “Once I got released, I was like, ‘OK, well, this is it. What is next? Do I retire?’” Jonathan recalls, propping his sock-clad feet on a tufted leather ottoman. “But I knew God was telling me, ‘No, you’re not done yet.’” And he wasn’t. As soon as Jonathan — the Panthers’ all-time leading rusher — was a free agent, the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and New York Giants called. He signed a deal with the Giants, a decision that meant moving the family to New Jersey. One year later, the Stewart household is in a very different place. In April, Jonathan officially closed the door on the career that made him a household name in the Carolinas, and thanks to a one-day contract from the Panthers, he retired in the black, blue and white No. 28 uniform he loved so much. After returning to Charlotte, he and Natalie and their 2-year-old daughter, Kaia, moved into the white brick showstopper they built with the help of Kingswood Custom Homes — a midcentury modern marvel with a California-chic vibe, a nod to Natalie’s upbringing in Laguna Beach. And in January, Natalie and Jonathan announced they were buying local media platform Charlotte Lately. The company started as an Instagram handle in 2015 and expanded to networking and community events, as well as a print publication. The focus: using beautiful imagery to tell a story and support local businesses and nonprofits. Jonathan and Natalie’s goal for it: continue the platform’s legacy while also highlighting and connecting with communities that don’t get much publicity from life
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style publications. Sure, they’ll cover the new hot restaurant in SouthPark. But what about the taco truck parked in a less affluent area that’s nevertheless serving up some of the city’s best Mexican food? They want to cover that, too. A short 15 minutes later, Natalie emerges from their first-floor master bedroom with her shoulder-length hair dry, a light dusting of makeup applied flawlessly, and a yellow satin maxi dress skimming the floor. She pauses to buckle on a pair of nude, metal-studded strappy flats. Glamorous yet low-maintenance. Disciplined yet laid-back. Accomplished yet humble. Those could be the calling cards of Natalie and Jonathan, both 32 and as diametrically different as you can imagine from the stereotypical NFL player and his wife.
‘BACK IN MY LIFE FOR A REASON’ Jonathan grew up in Lacey, Wash., and spent three years at the University of Oregon before the Panthers drafted him in the first round, the 13th overall pick. Meanwhile, Natalie followed one of her best friends, a Columbia, S.C., native, from California to Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C. She’d seen the film adaption of Nicholas Sparks’ sappy-sweet novel The Notebook , and had all sorts of images of what life in small-town South Carolina would look like. “I just fell in love with the South,” Natalie says. She also fell in love with her college boyfriend and married him. The marriage didn’t last long. 58
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“It’s easy to give into the pressure that you’re supposed to get married,” Natalie says. “We just kind of dated too long and realized we weren’t meant to be together. It was a very amicable ‘let’s part ways.’” Afterward, she was living in Los Angeles and traveling to New York for work. She focused on her career in finance, swore off dating. “I was like, ‘Maybe I’ll just be a 40-year-old who has had a really successful career, and I’ll just adopt kids and have cats and dogs,’” Natalie says. She came to Charlotte to visit friends and go to a Panthers game. It was 2015, and the team was hot, on its way to a 15-1 season and Super Bowl 50. After the game, Natalie and her friends went to Slate Billiards and All American Pub in South End. That’s where she ran into Jonathan. They’d gotten to know each other years earlier, thanks to mutual friends Panthers center Ryan Kalil (also from California, like Natalie) and his wife. When Jonathan asked Natalie how married life was treating her, she told him she was getting divorced. “He said, ‘I knew you probably shouldn’t have married him,’” Natalie recalls. “And I was like, ‘Well, thanks, Jonathan.’ That’s not what you say to people when they’re going through a tough time.” But they started talking. Jonathan wouldn’t sit down — he worried he’d cramp up — so Natalie held a plate of chicken wings for him as he aggressively stripped them one by one. She should have known then that they’d be good together — she normally hates hearing people chew. At the end of the night, Jonathan stepped out on faith: “It was really good to see you,” he said. “I know God put you back in my life for a reason.”
WHEN THE RITZ WON’T DO After a few months of occasional texting and chatting over Instagram, Jonathan worked up the courage to ask Natalie: Would she visit Charlotte again so he could take her to dinner? Their first date was at Block & Grinder in Cotswold. Then they hung out at Amelie’s, and finished the night watching a documentary. Something about a serial killer, Natalie recalls, laughing. For their second date, Jonathan invited her to church. They went to Elevation, the Charlotte megachurch led by Pastor Steven Furtick where Jonathan has been a member for nearly his entire time in Charlotte. Afterward, they went out to eat with Furtick and his wife, Holly. As a Panther, Jonathan was outspoken about his faith. And not just with a simple finger in the air after a touchdown or a “glory to God” trope during the post-game presser. He was cognizant of how he appeared in public, how he acted in private, and how he faced down the series of hamstring, foot and knee injuries that riddled his record-setting professional career. “I’ve always had the mindset that next year isn’t promised — next game isn’t promised,” he says. “I’ve never found myself being like, ‘I’m Jonathan Stewart, the NFL Panthers running back.’ I’m actually a Christian whose name is Jonathan Stewart who just so happens to play football.” That’s one of the reasons Jonathan hasn’t created a namesake foundation that’s too closely associated with his persona and legacy. 60
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Instead, he’s taken on more of a behind-the-scenes role with Inspire the Fire, a local faith-based nonprofit established more than 15 years ago to provide creative outlets for kids interested in the arts, from dance and voice to spoken word and the visual arts. It’s the perfect fit for Jonathan, a longtime pianist and music aficionado who’s as comfortable in a production studio as he is on the gridiron. It was Inspire the Fire that benefited when engaged Jonathan and Natalie called an audible and decided to forgo the blowout wedding they’d planned at the Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte. “We had this moment of, ‘We’re not a 200-person, Ritz-Carlton wedding couple,’” Natalie says. “Us saying vows to each other was more important than celebrating with everyone else.” So they scrapped their plans — and tradition — and instead, in November 2017, they flew to Seattle during a Panthers’ bye week and were married in a quiet, intimate ceremony. The only attendees were newborn Kaia, Natalie’s pastor from Laguna and Jonathan’s pastor from Seattle. Because they’d already put down deposits for the big wedding, the hotel allowed them to apply that money toward a new event: Inspire the Fire’s inaugural Fall Ball, held in November.
JUST BE These days, a date night out for the Stewarts is dinner at Barrington’s, Baku or another established Charlotte restaurant. But more often than not, they opt to stay in. “We do Jeopardy! , Wheel of Fortune , Sabor takeout, (play) cards and (drink) wine,” Natalie says. “That’s kind of our thing.” After spending a couple of hours in the Stewarts’ new home, it’s easy to see why a night in would be attractive: the high ceilings, the natural hues, the wall of windows in the
front looking out over a manicured lawn with old oak trees, and the wall of windows in the back, showcasing a pool with a lagoon-like feel and a black-galaxy finish. That’s where you’ll find Kaia, making a running leap into the water, her floatie armbands secure around her biceps. Natalie’s parents cheer her along from the edge of the pool. The home includes a guest suite, where the longtime couple currently live. “That house has a soul,” says Louise Leeke, who started Kingswood Custom Homes with her husband, Peter Leeke, when they moved to the U.S. from Great Britain in 1996. “It’s a brand-new home, and it has a lived-in feel.” Take, for example, the suspended loft over the kitchen. It features Jonathan’s baby grand piano, and when he sits down to play and compose, the sounds can be heard in every corner of the seven-bedroom home. Even the basement has a production studio, where Jonathan mixes beats and makes music. “I want to eventually get into soundtracks and (work with) some decent artists who are actually talented,” he says. No wall separates the kitchen, where Natalie loves to cook, from the living area, where deep couches beckon for visitors to sink in, and the tan-tufted ottoman displays some of Natalie’s favorite coffee-table books. (Gray Malin’s Beaches is another nod to her Laguna roots.) But one of the more personal details is the bowl of matchbooks by the front door, each emblazoned with one of the Stewart family’s guiding phrases: “Just be.” It’s a reminder for them to stand firm in their faith. It’s a reminder that football and titles and new entrepreneurial ventures don’t have to make for a frenetic life. And sometimes, the “Just be” matchbooks are a reminder that prepping for a gala doesn’t have to require professional makeup and a blowout. SP southparkmagazine.com | 61
Coral Polyp
Full Circle ORR AMBROSE’S FASCINATION WITH NATURE AND SCIENCE HAS SHAPED THE DIRECTION OF HER ART. BY VANESSA INFANZON
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hen Charlotte artist Orr Ambrose was just 15, she started making annual or biannual trips to tiny Monhegan Island off the coast of Maine. The picturesque island, totaling 1 square mile and accessible only by boat, has long been an inspiration for poets, writers and painters — acclaimed American artists including Edward Hopper and Rockwell Kent have lived there. It was here that Ambrose, a landscape painter, began experimenting with abstraction. But it wasn’t until she established her Charlotte studio in 2014 that Ambrose starting looking toward science — cell 62
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structures, atomic particles and other building blocks of nature — for inspiration. “I started watching YouTube videos about physics,” she says. “They were so amazing to me — learning about black holes and the universe expanding. I found it so inspiring and so magical that I started putting them into my work.” Ambrose, 48, is Central Piedmont Community College’s abstract artist for 2019. “We seek out professional practicing artists that can inspire our student body, someone they can relate to and admire,” says Megan Boisvert, director of art
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Quantum Effects in Photosynthesis
galleries for the visual & performing arts division at Central Piedmont. “We take into consideration their educational background [and] technical skills in creating to give our students aspirations to continue their education and build their practice. Orr is on an advanced level that will spark the creativity for our students.” The Houston native grew up in Greenville, S.C., which in recent years has fostered a thriving cultural scene of its own. During her senior year of high school, Ambrose studied ceramics, printmaking, painting and drawing at the Fine Arts Center of Greenville, a specialized school for local students seeking an arts-intensive curriculum. She went on to graduate from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts in ceramics and painting in 1993. 64
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After college, Ambrose held a three-year residency at Odyssey Center for the Ceramic Arts in Asheville. Though her focus was on ceramics, she also found time to paint. The Blue Ridge Mountains surrounding Asheville provided plenty of inspiration. “I had a tiny little space,” Ambrose says. “I would put canvases and paper on the wall and paint on them when I wasn’t throwing pots. I painted the mountainous landscapes of Asheville in unusual, bold colors and distilled living objects in the foreground, like trees or people, into stark, oversimplified forms. The paintings were small and rather dramatic.” For nearly three decades, Ambrose continued her yearly trips to the small island in Maine. “The biggest influence from the island was the exposure I had to living, working artists — probably hundreds of them over the years,” she says.
Emerging Blue Violet
Percolation Theory Applied to Quantum Biology
“I was able to see firsthand the many different life choices artists make to allow for painting to be their careers and lifestyles — at all age levels, abilities. I think these examples cemented my determination and courage to remain devoted to and pursue a life as an artist.” Nonetheless, there have been times that Ambrose has doubted the legitimacy of her profession. She finds hope in other women artists who might be raising families or working other jobs while continuing to practice his or her art. “In our culture and market system, a person’s value is linked to the economic value of his or her job,” she says. “The judgment of my worth as a human being is tied up in my financial success as a painter. This is difficult because making a reliable, steady and growing income from art sales 66
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is reserved for a lucky few and does not necessarily have anything to do with merit. It can be discouraging and challenging to believe in myself.” But she is always growing, Ambrose says. The black holes, plants, coral reefs, microbes, and geological and cosmological design are part of her practice now. She uses tiny brushes and stencils to experiment with lines, patterns and circles. Her creations are rhythmic and musical. “My paintings are playful explorations of the structure of nature and the overarching influence of fractal geometry,” she says. “I build an environment much like a landscape and in much the same way atoms build matter or solar systems build galaxies. “I’ve always been one of those artists that tend to be inspired by things that bring me joy — taking joy in the mystery of the world.” SP
Life After 1.4 Billion Years Ago
Orr Ambrose’s The Invisible Landscape is on display at the Elizabeth Ross Art Gallery in the Overcash Center at Central Piedmont Community College through Aug. 1. The gallery at 1206 Elizabeth Ave. is open 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday. It also opens an hour before each of Central Piedmont’s summer theater performances.
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theatrecharlotte.org SP
Family Man
AFTER 15 YEARS AT THE HELM, THEATRE CHARLOTTE’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RON LAW BEGINS A YEARLONG FAREWELL. BY PAGE LEGGETT
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t was early 2013, and Theatre Charlotte was preparing for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Edward Albee’s three-hour look at one drunken night in an unhappy marriage. The play has just four roles, each with a lot of dialogue, much of it venomous: At one point, George, a college professor, says to his wife, “Martha, in my mind, you are buried in cement right up to the neck. No, up to the nose — it’s much quieter.” Opening night was about two weeks away when the actor playing George dropped out. Director Charles LaBorde and Ron Law, Theatre Charlotte’s executive director, got right to work. “We spent that afternoon calling people,” Law recalls. “They all said, ‘Are you kidding me? I’m not that big of a fool.’ Finally, we couldn’t think of anybody else, and Charles looked at me and said, ‘Well, you’re just going to have to do it, right?’” So in true “the-show-must-go-on” fashion, Theatre Charlotte’s head honcho, who recently announced his June 2020 retirement after 15 years at the helm, took on the demanding role.
PHOTOGRAPH BY JOE CIARLANTE
THE MIRACLE WORKER Being pressed into service after a 15-year absence from the stage isn’t even close to what Law, 71, considers his biggest test at Theatre Charlotte. His greatest challenges are closely related, he tells me as we sit in the theater lobby (he says his office is too messy): “This building and finances.” The theater’s financial picture was bleak when Law arrived in 2005. “We got the ship upright and sailing,” he says. “And then the recession hit.” For a time, it looked like Charlotte’s oldest surviving cultural organization might not make it. “The staff — all four of us — took three pay cuts during the recession. That’s how dedicated these folks are.” Law has high praise for his staff as well as his board, but he also has kudos for the entire theater community. “We have a theater family here in Charlotte,” he says. “We all get along. We help each other whenever we can.”
OUR TOWN Besides his theater family, Law has
even waxes sentimental about Theatre Charlotte’s building — the same one that’s caused Law so many headaches over the years. “It’s always been a special place,” Deal says. “There’s a secret sauce and personal magic in that building.”
DOUBT
a wife, Chase, and a teenage daughter, Chloe, who have become as entrenched in the Charlotte art scene as he is. Chase is vice president of development for Blumenthal Performing Arts. Chloe, a student at Northwest School of the Arts, got her big break at Theatre Charlotte as the Elephant Bird in Seussical in 2009. On opening night, 4-year-old Chloe “hatched out of the egg and went, ‘Tweet, tweet, tweet,’” Law says. “That was supposed to be it. But, much to our surprise, she started singing. She knew all the words to the last song, and she did the dance on tippy-toes. There were 35, maybe 36 people on stage (including Chloe’s mom, Chase) dancing their hearts out, and here’s this little girl, surprising us all.” It was a quintessential community-theater moment. Chloe ended up earning a Metrolina Theatre Association (MTA) nomination for Best Cameo in a Musical for her very first role. It was during the Seussical auditions that Ryan Deal, now director of advancement at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, met Ron and Chase. Getting the part of Mr. Mayor was life-changing, both personally and professionally, according to the actor/ singer, who’d been working in an unfulfilling job and missing creative pursuits. A few months later, Deal joined the Arts and Science Council and continued his professional relationship with Law and Theatre Charlotte — a frequent ASC grant recipient. “We’re the best of friends and the best of colleagues,” Deal says. He
The location that Theatre Charlotte has called home since FDR was president has almost no parking in the one-way-in/ same-way-out lot on Queens Road. The line for the tiny ladies’ room can be long. And while the lobby has been considerably gussied up during Law’s tenure, it’s not what you’d call Instagrammable. “The building is 78 years old,” Law says. “And while we’ve made some cosmetic improvements thanks to generous donors and volunteers, it still looks 78.” The theater seats 216, and Law points out that many shows have sold out every night during their run. That’s led to a lot of wear and tear on a nearly four-decadesold building. “We have no room for growth,” he continues. “Production-wise, we’re very limited with wing space. We can’t fly anything in and out. When we do a show as big as The Producers (which concluded a two-week run on June 9), for instance, the challenges are incredible. But our associate artistic director, Chris Timmons, is able to deal with that. He’s one of the best I’ve worked with — ever.” In spite of its limitations, the little white theater on a hill has become a creative hub. The nonprofit MTA holds workshops there. Charlotte Film Society holds its popular monthly Saturday Night Cine Club there, too. And Law and his collaborators have devised creative ways to use the space. “There are a lot of people in the community with talent and a desire to perform who don’t necessarily have two months to devote to rehearsals and another three weeks to a production,” Deal says. Speaking with Law, he wondered out loud if there was a way to give those people a stage with a shorter time commitment. “Ron said, ‘Let’s do it.’ He didn’t wait to figure out details.” That’s how Grand Nights for Singing, a cabaret series staged in the theater lobby, was born. The theater also hosts summer thesouthparkmagazine.com | 69
ater programs for youth and high-school and college students. “[The building is] probably more animated and active during the summer than during the year,” Deal says. This month, Law is directing a youth production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr.
ANYTHING GOES Technical challenges inherent in the space don’t hold Law back when choosing plays. In consultation with board members; “theater people,” including Blumenthal Performing Arts CEO Tom Gabbard; and “civilians,” he chooses a slate and then asks subscribers to vote on six picks for the next season. He’s managed to push the envelope on play selection without alienating longtime patrons. Each season is a mix of old-fashioned crowd pleasers such as Arsenic and Old Lace and cutting-edge newer works like Spring Awakening. The average age of patrons when Law first started was 62. Now, it’s between 45 and 54. His play selections have created more opportunities for casting women (and hiring female directors) and people of color. Likewise, patrons and the volunteer pool have grown more diverse. It’s all been part of Law’s plan. “Ron’s given a lot of people opportunity,” says Hank West, an actor and president of MTA who met Law during his first season at the helm when West was featured in Kiss Me, Kate. “Not just actors,” he continues. 70
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“Costume designers, sound engineers, set designers. Ron’s a very open person, and he’s created a welcoming space.”
THE FULL MONTY Law’s openness has sometimes meant selecting plays and musicals that some older patrons might consider risqué. The Full Monty, produced in 2009, “opened us up, content-wise,” Law says. “The Full Monty is really a heartfelt, traditional book musical — except the main characters take off their clothes and dance at the end. If you’re not pulling for them to do that — they’re doing it for a righteous cause — something’s wrong with your heart.” Hair in 2014 had nudity, too, but the scene where the full cast is naked was lit in such a way that many audience members missed it entirely. What’s impossible to miss is Law’s big heart. “Had it not been for Ron and Theatre Charlotte, I wouldn’t be in the role I’m in today,” Deal says. “[After Seussical], Charlotte became my home, and I found a community. That’s the work of community theater.” Deal adds that his account isn’t just his “Ron Law story.” Others have had similar experiences working with Law. “It’s been replicated [over and] over,” he says. Ron Law has brought actors, volunteers and patrons into the fold and turned them into family. Each cast and crew is a new addition to that always-growing clan. Law remembers every production fondly, but he says Saturday Night Fever is his favorite show
he’s directed during this tenure. “Back in the ’70s, I managed a disco band for a couple of years,” he says. “That music is part of my history.” As of next year, Theatre Charlotte will be, too. Law will be 72 when he officially retires. He survived a heart attack and has had a hip replaced, and feels lucky he wasn’t debilitated by either. Fifteen years as the patriarch of his theater family felt like “a good number,” he says. He wants to spend more time with his 14-yearold daughter and continue directing, “if people will have me.” He’d love to teach college students again, as he did at Marymount Manhattan College, East Stroudsburg University and High Point University for 17 years prior to joining Theatre Charlotte. The innate (and trained) teacher says he’s proudest of the opportunities Theatre Charlotte has provided students. “He loves ‘his’ kids,” Hank West says. “He’s very intuitive with them and takes pride in their accomplishments.” In fact, it’s the youth programs Law hopes will be his legacy. It will be more than that. Ron Law has done more than build a community theater. He’s created a family.
The end of an era: Catch a show during Ron Law’s last season as Theatre Charlotte’s executive director. The Main Stage season begins with Oliver!, which Law is directing in September, and ends with Dreamgirls in May/June 2020.
Explore the world of Tony DiTerlizzi, New York Times-bestselling author and illustrator of Kenny & the Dragon and co-creator of The Spiderwick Chronicles.
JUNE 22 – NOV 3, 2019 MINT MUSEUM RANDOLPH mintmuseum.org
Never Abandon Imagination: The Fantastical Art of Tony DiTerlizzi has been organized by the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Generous support provided by Triad Foundation. Image:Tony DiTerlizzi, Kenny & the Dragon, 2007. Acryla gouache on Bristol board. Cover illustration for Kenny & the Dragon, 2007. ŠTony DiTerlizzi. All rights reserved.
No cuts. No color. No cuts. No color. Just blowouts®. Just blowouts®.
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|cuisine
Bites and Brews LEGION BREWING SOUTHPARK BRINGS A CASUAL VIBE THAT CATERS TO BOTH FOODIES AND CRAFT-BEER FANS.
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BY CATHY MARTIN • PHOTOGRAPHS BY JUSTIN DRISCOLL
outhPark diners have long lamented about the area’s lack of casual, family-friendly spots to grab a savory bite and a beer. While a half-dozen or so upscale steakhouses dot the neighborhood — the ranks will grow when Steak 48 opens next year at the new Apex SouthPark development — there are relatively few informal spots to sip a local brew and enjoy a flavorful meal that won’t break the bank. Legion Brewing, the popular Plaza Midwood spot best known for its tropical-flavored Juicy Jay IPA, is looking to change that at its Capitol Towers location, which opened last fall. Chef Gene Briggs’ menu of scratch-made entrees (all under $20), sandwiches, pizzas, salads and appetizers is a significant upgrade to the standard brewery fare of pretzels and other small bites. “We’ve got the whole awesome beer part of it,” Briggs says.
“We wanted to get that other niche of people who want really good food, too.” Briggs joined Legion after 14 years at Blue Restaurant & Bar — the downtown Mediterranean spot owned by Alex Myrick shuttered in 2017 — followed by consulting gigs including Dilworth’s The People’s Market and Olde Mecklenburg Brewery’s soon-to-open Cornelius location. When he met Legion owner Phil Buchy, who opened the brewery’s original location in 2015, the two hit it off right away, and Briggs jumped at the opportunity. “I might not be doing all the same food I was doing at Blue, but a lot of the ingredients are the same,” he says. “We’re still using really high-end ingredients, just doing it in a lot more approachable way.” While new breweries seem to pop up regularly in millensouthparkmagazine.com | 73
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nial-friendly neighborhoods such as NoDa and South End, Legion is SouthPark’s first. “We’re giving people the same experience they can get downtown, but in a very casual atmosphere … right here in their backyard,” Briggs says. Briggs’ staff, including many of his former employees at Blue, make nearly everything in-house. “We’re making our own vinegars, we’re making our own hot sauces — we’re doing everything in here that we can.” That includes the hop-infused bread and butter pickles — Briggs says the restaurant goes through 80 to 100 gallons a week. An exception is the bread, which comes from locally owned Dukes Bread. Briggs plans to update Legion’s menu about six times a year, while keeping customer favorites such as the ketofriendly Brazilian steak, a 10-ounce wood-grilled culotte (a tender sirloin cut) that’s sliced, drizzled with chimichurri and served with grilled baby squash, tomatoes and shishito peppers. Another best-seller that won’t disappear anytime soon is Juicy Jay’s grilled chicken sandwich, a spice-rubbed chicken breast topped with Juicy Jay slaw — made with the IPA that’s become almost synonymous with the brewery — plus spicy honey, pickles and tomatoes. Shareable appetizers include Boo’s duck fat chicken wings, dry-rubbed and oven-baked with a blue cheese ranch dressing; and a dipping trio of artichoke tomato spread, hummus and pimento cheese. Pizzas come with a variety
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of toppings, from classic pepperoni to the Troop with mushrooms, prosciutto and goat cheese. But if you’re watching your carbs, be warned — the rectangular-shaped pies, wood-baked in cast-iron pans, are thick-crusted and quite filling. Sunday brunch offers breakfast pizzas (yes, pizzas), sandwiches and bowls, plus traditional options such as French toast and johnnycakes. “At nighttime if you’re in here, you’re going to see everything from moms and dads with the kids, all the way up to retired people and businessmen in for a quick beer and a sandwich after work,” Briggs says. The 12,000-square-foot brewery also has space for wedding receptions, birthday parties or other groups of up to 50 in an upstairs loft, or for as many as 100 in a private dining room. “Our biggest issue right now, though, is being able to keep up with beer production,” Briggs says, adding that the Legion SouthPark can go through 10 kegs a day. In June, Legion announced a third location on West Morehead Street that could alleviate some of those production woes. For now, most of the beer is brewed at the Plaza Midwood location, though the three giant foeders — the wooden cylindrical vats behind the bar — hold sour beers. Sours require a longer fermentation cycle than other varieties, but once those are tapped, Legion will be the No. 2 sour producer in North Carolina, according to Briggs. The bar also serves a small selection of
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wines, and mostly local and regional liquors. Legion has hosted two beer dinners, with more planned, along with cooking classes similar to the ones Briggs hosted at Blue. But the real beauty of this spot is its comfortable, comeas-you-are vibe for everyone from foodies to beer aficionados, businesspeople to families. SP Legion Brewing is open seven days a week and is located at 5610 Carnegie Blvd.
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DONALD RIDDLE
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Relaxing at Reynolds THE BEACH AND MOUNTAINS AREN’T THE ONLY PLACES TO UNWIND: THIS LAKESIDE GEORGIA PROPERTY IS A RETREAT FOR COUPLES AND FAMILIES ALIKE. BY BLAKE MILLER
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hen it comes to weekend getaways, most Charlotteans tend to head for the coast or mountains. But just a few hours away in inland Georgia, about halfway between Augusta and Atlanta, is a quiet, uncrowded spot with the stunning Lake Oconee as the centerpiece. Even at the peak of summer, the lake boasting 374 miles of shoreline isn’t buzzing with a bevy of boats, kayakers and fishermen that you’ll often find at closer-to-home destinations such as Lake Norman or Lake Wylie. One of the area’s highlights is the Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee (formerly Reynolds Plantation). Situated on 30 acres of shoreline, the property is tucked on top of a hill overlooking the water and features peaceful pockets to unwind and relax. But it’s not just about getting into Zen mode here: The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds is all about family, too. Designed to be a place for generations to visit year after year, the resort built in 2002 caters to kids by offering everything from nature walks to crafts to kid-friendly water sports.
STAY The lakeside setting means there isn’t a bad room on the property. The 251-room hotel features rooms and suites that accommodate couples, large families and everything in 80
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between. Be sure to request a room with a view of the rolling green that leads down to the pool and beach areas — it’s an ideal spot to begin your day with coffee on your balcony while the sun begins to rise over the glasslike water. Larger groups can choose from the two- and three-bedroom waterside cottages or a four-bedroom lake house. These standalone dwellings are a short walk from the main property yet allow for optimal privacy. The cottages and lake house feature a charming rustic aesthetic that blends seamlessly with the luxury look and feel of the entire property.
DO The beauty of the Ritz-Carlton at Lake Oconee is that you can be as busy — or as relaxed — as you like. The pool by the lake is best experienced early in the morning or later in the evening, especially during the peak summer months when it can get crowded with guests seeking cool relaxation. During those popular times, indulge in some serious self-care at the nearly 28,000-square-foot spa, where you can unwind one of the resort’s signature treatments. The Georgian provides a calming experience using the restorative benefits inherent in red clay, which is found throughout the South, coupled with antioxidant-rich sweet tea and magnolia.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DONALD J. RIDDLE, HEIDI GELDHAUSER, TERRY ALLEN
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For the active family, head to the lakeside beach, where kids can play in the sand or swim out to one of the floating docks. Parents can pull up a chaise longue under an umbrella and watch the boats glide by or catch up on some reading. Choose from a variety of water sports, too, such as water bikes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, as well as boats for rent. Golfers will love the property’s five courses designed by golf legends Jack Nicklaus and Tom Fazio. While some feature lake views, others are just as stunning with towering pine trees, beds of flowering azaleas and native dogwood trees lining the fairways.
Situated on the Oconee golf course, Linger Longer Steakhouse offers elevated versions of classic American steakhouse fare, with plenty of seafood options as well. Opt for a wine pairing with your classic filet mignon topped with Jonah crab and a creamy béarnaise sauce. For a more family-friendly environment, head to Georgia’s, which serves classic Southern fare with a contemporary twist. For a casual family dinner by the water, Gaby’s by the Lake will keep the kiddos happy with children’s menu items such as a triple-stacked grilled cheese and mini corn dogs, as well as kid-inspired mocktails such as the No-Buzz Lightyear. If you’re looking for a romantic setting, make advance reservations for the Chiminea Dining Experience. This lakefront dinner for two includes a private three-course meal paired with a bottle of red or white wine. After dinner, head to the green, where families gather nightly for s’mores. Year-round, kids and parents roast marshmallows over the cozy fire pit before hopping onto one of the property’s tree swings for one last hurrah before bedtime. SP 82
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PHOTOGRAPHS BY DONALD J. RIDDLE, EVAN SCHILLER
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swirl A monthly guide to Charlotte’s parties and galas
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PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIEL COSTON
he sixth annual Couture for a Cause celebration at the Mint Museum raised funds for Autism Charlotte. Guests at the March 29 event enjoyed food and wine, an auction and a fashion show by Charlotte designer Luis Machicao. From left: event co-host Carr Bender; Miss Capital City, Grace Dirig; co-host and Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst; and Miss Metrolina, Sophia Kellstrom.
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A monthly guide to Charlotte’s parties and galas
Pulp Art: The 2019 Gala Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
Jimmy Whang & Sue Laguna-Whang
Natasha Bechtler, Vivi Bechtler-Smith
Ana & Manuel Rey
Jo Ann & Joddy Peer
Andreas Bechtler, Stephanie Ansaldo
The Bechtler’s 10th annual gala was an explosion of color, including the oversized paper flowers adorning every floor of the museum. Event chairs Anne Carter and Dean Smith oversaw the April 12 black-tie event that supports the museum’s operating costs, public programs and community initiatives.
Marjorie Serralles-Russell & Terry Russell
Philip & Amy Blumenthal
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIEL COSTON
Lee Kennelly, Nazy Weeks, Liz Hilliard, Felipe Edmiston
Curt Fochtmann, Anne Carter Smith, John Boyer
Elise Grose
Edwin Gil, Daniel Gonzalez
Massie Minor as Hunter S. Thompson southparkmagazine.com | 87
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CO N TAC T S COT T L E O N A R D scott@southparkmagazine 704.996.6426
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A monthly guide to Charlotte’s parties and galas
Dancing With The Stars of Charlotte for The Pink House A benefit for Carolina Breast Friends Another year marked another record-setting event for Carolina Breast Friends. This sold-out show at Knight Theater grossed more than $816,000 for the organization that supports breast cancer survivors. Felipe Gonzalez Edmiston, an event co-founder, directed the evening’s show. Cel Thompson claimed the Judge’s Choice award, while Dr. Nick Clavin took home the Crowd Pleaser award. WBTV’s Molly Grantham and NFL safety Kurt Coleman emceed the March 30 event.
Kurt Coleman
Kat Weeks Mulford celebrates her Top Fundraiser award
Anitha Leonard, Yusimi Cruz
JoBrent Austin-Diehl, Felipe Gonzalez Edmiston
Neely & Michael Verano
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIEL COSTON
Nick Clavin celebrates his Crowd Pleaser award
Peter & Claire Pappas
Shane Wagner, Erica Millarc
Molly Grantham
Lynn Erdman
Cel Thompson, Trevor Guthrie southparkmagazine.com | 89
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A monthly guide to Charlotte’s parties and galas
JazzArts Charlotte Rebranding Kickoff The 10-year-old Jazz Arts Initiative unveiled a new name, JazzArts Charlotte, and a new logo. Gathered in a high-rise private residence in downtown Charlotte, guests enjoyed the music and company of legendary trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. The March 30 event was a celebration of this decade-old organization that provides music and education programs.
Katherine Mooring, Robert Bush
Bernadette & Gene Flavors
Lonnie Davis, Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Marsalis
Perry Mixter, Colleen & Paul Brooks
Angela & Jesse Cureton
James & Nicole Bissell, Sean & Liz Kalooky
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIEL COSTON
Eva Nove, Lori Bharteey, Pavan Bharteey
Grey & Jennifer Daus
William & Jan Cook, Lonnie Davis
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A monthly guide to Charlotte’s parties and galas
2019 Festival of Tables Hosted by The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary Proceeds from the 31st annual Festival of Tables will benefit homeless women and children at The Salvation Army Center of Hope and provide college scholarships to students in The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs. The May 2 luncheon and silent auction — the group’s largest fundraiser of the year — was held at the Sheraton Hotel.
Susan Harmon and Carolyn Ginyard
Joan Zimmerman, Richard Nichols and guest
Morgan Fogarty, emcee
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIEL COSTON
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIEL COSTON
Debra Broome, Morgan Fogarty, Sonja Nichols, Brenda Rorie, Nina Robertson
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A monthly guide to Charlotte’s parties and galas
Couture for a Cause A benefit for Autism Charlotte at the Mint Museum The sixth annual Couture for a Cause was hosted by Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst and Carr Bender, a 19-year-old North Carolina native who was diagnosed with autism at age 8. Carolina Panthers tight end Ian Thomas lent his support to the March 29 fundraiser by auctioning off shoes that he had worn in an NFL game. The evening concluded with a fashion show by Charlotte designer Luis Machicao.
Jeff Wallin, Berhan Nebioglu, Luis Machicao, Grazia Walker
Raven Barkley, Kim Cobb, Audrey Cobb, Chelsea Dumas
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIEL COSTON
Alessandra DeMartino, Andrea Chanoit
Dalton Brown, Morgan Myers
Dave & Jan Johnson
Brooke & Doug Lowery
Cheslie Kryst and Carr Bender, event hosts
Miss Metrolina N.C. with Couture King Ethan
JoBrent Austin-Diehl, Christina Melissaris
Ian Thomas southparkmagazine.com | 93
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A monthly guide to Charlotte’s parties and galas
Levine Children’s Gala A benefit for Levine Children’s Hospital The fifth annual Levine Children’s Gala took guests back to the ’70s, rounding out the evening with a performance by KC & The Sunshine Band. The March 30 event, held at downtown’s First Ward Park, is the premier fundraiser for Levine Children’s Hospital.
Paul Hastings, Sherrard Georgius, Greg Barnes
Jim & Brooke Ervin
Sara Piner, Kellie McGregor, Alli Held
Heather & Tom Finke
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIEL COSTON
Marcy Gregg
Adrian & Sara Lineberger
Ashley Anderson, Scott Mattei
William & Lee Smith
Manuel & Ana Rey
Colleen Odegaard
Weston Andress, Jennifer Green
Chad & Sara Caudill southparkmagazine.com | 95
SNAPSHOT
Brew Master
LENNY BOY BREWING’S TOWNES MOZER DISCUSSES THE SYNERGIES OF BREWING KOMBUCHA AND BEER, ADDING A KITCHEN AT HIS SOUTH END TAPROOM, AND HIS ROLE MOTIVATING STAFF.
T
ownes Mozer brewed his first batch of kombucha in his college apartment building’s laundry room after a friend got him hooked on the slightly sour, fermented beverage. Mozer, now 31, quickly saw business potential with “booch” as health-conscious consumers began shifting away from sugary beverages to better-for-you alternatives. In 2011, Mozer launched Lenny Boy Brewing Co. in Charlotte, selling the probiotic-rich kombucha that, at the time, was popular only among health-food enthusiasts. Today, it’s an $800 billion industry. Early on, he worked crazy-long hours and wore many hats, including product development, sales, marketing, distribution and operations. Now, he’s reaping big returns as the 25-employee business brews beer and wild ales — beverages brewed with wild yeast or bacteria — in addition to nonalcoholic kombucha, and enjoys one of the liveliest taprooms in the Queen City.
Comments were edited for brevity. WHAT DISTINGUISHES LENNY BOY’S KOMBUCHA? We are certified organic and make kombucha the traditional way, using 96
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filtered water, kombucha cultures and natural ingredients. It’s low in sugars, naturally gluten free, [contains] no flavor concentrates, and we use raw juice we squeeze in-house. Our flagship flavors available year-round are Good Ol’ Ginger, Lavenderade, Elite Beet, Wake-Up Call and Strawberry. We also make seasonal kombuchas such as Sweet Potato Pie, Merry Cranberry and Fresh Basil. Our kombucha takes 30 days to make. WHERE ARE YOUR PRODUCTS SOLD? Our beer is in North and South Carolina. On the kombucha front, it’s from New England to Florida. At retail we are in Stop & Shops in New England, Whole Foods throughout the Southeast and Earth Fare nationwide. Lenny Boy Kombucha is in Publix and Harris Teeter in the Charlotte market, and we just went into 100 Food Lion stores. HOW HAS LENNY BOY EVOLVED SINCE 2011? Beer and kombucha symbiotically work together for us. Revenue generated from kombucha sales allowed expansion into beer production. Once the beer took off, our taproom became busier because of the social hub beer brings. Our retail presence gained income, and we parlayed that into more kombucha supplies. It goes back and forth. Last year was the year of
kombucha, so we focused on getting a lot more chains going, getting more volume and a new bottling line. That got more revenue that paid for our new kitchen, which goes back to retail. TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEW FOOD SERVICE. We saw there was a need . . . especially in the South End market, and wanted to provide rustic, tasty food to enjoy along with our beers and kombucha. Also, we work with many amazing local purveyors like [Concord-based] Cackleberry Farms — their cattle eat Lenny Boy’s spent grain — that provide us with cheese, for example, and we want to showcase their products. In April, we launched a menu with charcuterie boards of cured meats and regional cheeses, sandwiches, and Bavarian-style pretzels. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF AS AN ENTREPRENEUR? The number one thing I’ve learned is my role now, 70% of the time, is psychology and human resources. I focus on getting my team motivated, doing what we need to do, and keeping people happy and feeling like they’re rewarded and growing. I have a great team, and working with them is one of the most satisfying aspects of my job. Lenny Boy Brewing Co., 3000 S. Tryon Street, (980) 585-1728
PHOTOGRAPH BY NATHAN VILLAUME
BY MICHAEL J. SOLENDER
E X PA N D A B L E DIAMOND RINGS
4521 Sharon Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211
(704) 532-9041
OfďŹ cial Jeweler of the Carolina Panthers
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