LNC October 2015

Currents Revved up Renaissance Festival Upper Crust debuts

Dig into Davidson

The college town’s hot dining scene 10

VOL. 8 NUMBER

OCTOBER 2015

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Contents

Contents

10 The Main Channel 32 Rip Currents 18 Porthole — Dining What’s hip at Lake Norman

The Champions of Diversity Luncheon

Davidson is a culinary hot spot

20 Captain’s Chair 38 The Galley with Carolina Renaissance Festival’s Matt Siegel makes magic

24 Game Changers

Janie and Scott Slusarick blended their skills into a business they love

26 Rip Currents — Style

Hold onto your hat for fall

28 Blair’s Bits Blair Miller says so long to Lake Norman

26

Lynn and Glenn

Upper Crust Bar & Social Club brings seafood center stage

24

42 Grapevine 45 Thoughts from

The curious history of Chianti

the Man Cave

Brad Hoover is up to the challenge

50 Game On

38

RC racing finds a home in Mooresville

60 Home Port

Karl and Shannon Plattner’s Davidson home

69 Currently

Pawz Too Run, watercolors and FIRE

50

72 Lori’s Larks

Lori K. Tate takes a walk on the spooky side

60 Currents About the Cover: Photography of a couple dining at Kindred in Davidson

by Glenn Roberson.

6

Vol. 8 No. 10 October 2015

Revved up Renaissance Festival Upper Crust debuts

Dig Into Davidson

The college town’s hot dining scene 10

VOL. 8 NUMBER

OCTOBER 2015

WWW.LNCURRENTS.COM

2014 Gold MarCom Award Winner for Design Excellence 2013 Platinum Award Winner for Magazine Special Edition 2013 Lake Norman Chamber Business of the Year 2010 Gold MarCom Award Winner for Best Magazine 2009 APEX Award Winner for Publication Excellence Subscriptions are available for $19 per year.

Send us your name, address, phone number and a check made payable to Lake Norman CURRENTS at the address below and we’ll start your subscription with the next available issue.

lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

Lake Norman CURRENTS is a monthly publication available through direct-mail home delivery to the most affluent Lake Norman residents.

It also is available at area Harris Teeter supermarkets, as well as various Chambers of Commerce, real estate offices and specialty businesses.

Lake Norman CURRENTS P.O. Box 1676, Cornelius, NC 28031 704-749-8788 • www.LNCurrents.com The entire contents of this publication are protected under copyright. Unauthorized use of any editorial or advertising content in any form is strictly prohibited. Lake Norman CURRENTS magazine is wholly owned by Venture Magazines, LLC.

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Lori K. Tate

Photo by Glenn Roberson

At The Helm

I

love a good girls’ night. It doesn’t happen nearly as often as it should, but once in a while a fellow mom and I will leave the kids at home with dad and go out on the town. We wear real clothes, as opposed to running shoes and workout pants. We blow-dry our hair. We paint our nails. And if we have enough time we might trade our Mary Poppins’ mom totes for a wristlet. Regardless of attire, girls’ night is a time to slow down, catch up and just be a grown-up.

The other night, my friend, Elizabeth, and I had such a night. We went out on the town in Davidson. It was a Friday night, and by 5:30 p.m., Main Street was gearing up for the weekend. We had a leisurely dinner at Famous Toastery (still Toast to me) on the patio. Then we took the Ghost Walk of Davidson tour — more on that on page 72.

The tour wrapped up around 9 p.m., and as we made our way back to our cars, we were struck by the action on Main Street. It was a happening scene.

The alley beside Kindred was filled with diners feasting under festive lights.

The umbrella-shaded tables on Mestizo’s

LOOK TO THE FUTURE Take notes from history and forge ahead patio were all taken by couples gussied up for date night, and acoustic guitar music floated through the air from Summit Coffee’s patio. If we hadn’t been so tired (again, we’re moms of small children), we would have stayed and enjoyed the town’s nightlife even more.

When I got home, I thought about the fact that Davidson now has a nightlife and how much the area has changed since I moved up here 12 years ago from Charlotte. Back then the only place to eat on Main Street was The Soda Shop.

Don’t get me wrong, I love The Soda Shop and its cottage fries, but if you wanted a fancy date night, you had to chug down I-77 to the Queen City. Now you can walk around in Davidson and choose your own culinary adventure (see page 32). Ironically, you’ll probably bump into someone who drove up I-77 from Charlotte for dinner.

While change and growth inevitably bring more traffic, and that is certainly the case here no matter how you try to sugarcoat it, the Lake Norman area still manages to tie its past to the future so we all can have a good present. As my friend

and I listened to ghost stories laced with the area’s history, I was reminded of all the significant things that have happened here over the course of time. Random facts like Davidson College having a medical school in the late 1800s and the Battle of Cowan’s Ford during the Revolutionary War in the winter of 1781. The battleground now rests under the lake.

It’s interesting to think about what the area might have been like all those years ago. But to me, it’s even more exciting to look toward the area’s future and enjoy everything that is going on now.

So this fall, go out and explore all that the area has to offer — new and old. Walk the Amazing Maize Maze at Rural Hill, brave the Ghost Walk Haunted Trail at Historic Latta Plantation, have dinner with a friend in Davidson. Even if you have to sit in a little traffic, it’s worth it to see where we’ve been and where we’re going.

Mission Statement: Lake Norman CURRENTS magazine will embody the character, the voice and the spirit of its The magazine by and for the people who call Lake Norman home

Sharon Simpson Publisher Sharon@LNCurrents.com

8

Lori K. Tate Editor Lori@LNCurrents.com

readers, its leaders and its advertisers. It will connect the people of Lake Norman through inspiring, entertaining and informative content, photography and design; all of which capture the elements of a well-lived life on and around the community known as Lake Norman.

Carole Lambert Advertising Sales Executive Carole@LNCurrents.com

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Best of

houzz

2015

SERVICE

the

Main Channel Movers, Shakers, Style, Shopping, Trends, Happenings and More at Lake Norman

Colder than Ice

Cryotherapy uses arctic temperatures to help athletes recover and boost performance

10

The coldest temperature ever recorded in North Carolina was atop Mount Mitchell in 1985, when it reached a bone-chilling -34 degrees. For those accustomed to Lake Norman’s pleasant weather, such a frigid extreme is hard to fathom. Now imagine willingly stepping into a chamber —wearing nothing but underwear and shoes — in which liquid nitrogen is released, bringing the temperature down to -240 degrees.

It’s called cryotherapy.

Proponents such as Caio Campos, owner of CryoSport Recovery in Huntersville, say the treatment decreases muscles soreness and inflammation, provides a boost of energy and helps speed up the recovery time from sports-related injuries.

Campos and his wife, Michelle, are both strength and conditioning trainers, and they opened CrossFit Huntersville in 2011.

When Caio hurt his shoulder a few years

lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

ago, a friend suggested he try cryotherapy as part of his post-surgery rehab. Caio figured he had nothing to lose, and drove to Charleston, South Carolina, which at the time had the closest cryotherapy facility.

“I felt almost instant results,” recalls Caio. “I went four more times, and it made a huge difference in my recovery.”

Back at his CrossFit gym, Caio decided cryotherapy would be a perfect fit for his clients, most of whom are serious athletes.

He and Michelle opened CryoSport last summer inside a custom-built trailer at the CrossFit Huntersville site. It’s a mobile unit, which allows Caio to travel with the chamber and work with a variety of clients, including NASCAR pit crew members, triathletes and people competing at various athletic competitions.

Each session is three minutes and costs $40. Caio stresses that cryotherapy isn’t for

Proponents of cryotherapy such as Caio Campos, owner of CryoSport Recovery in Huntersville, say the treatment decreases muscles soreness and inflammation, provides a boost of energy and helps speed up the recovery time from sports-related injuries.

everyone, especially if you’re pregnant or have a history of heart or cardiac disease.

So how does it work? Caio explains that as the dry liquid nitrogen gas is released, the body goes into fight or flight mode and retracts blood from the extremities in order to support the core and vital organs. During this process, the body accelerates red blood cell production, which infuses the body with more oxygen, nutrients and endorphins. When you step out of the chamber into normal temperatures, the blood starts to flow to your extremities again, which increases energy and reduces joint and muscle pain and swelling.

“And best of all, it gets you back out there sooner,” says Caio, “so you can start exercising and training again.”

— Sam Boykin, photography by Ben Sherrill THE SCOOP

For more information regarding CryoSport Recovery, visit www.cryosportrecovery.com.

Photography courtesy Elke Talbot

In the Kitchen with Jill Dahan

Roasted Squash Soup

Based in Cornelius, Little Smiles of North Carolina holds events throughout the year for children facing serious illnesses.

Spreading Smiles Formally Little Smiles holds its first prom When Cornelius resident Margi Kyle founded Little Smiles of North Carolina in 2010, she knew the non-profit organization would have a huge effect on her and the community.

“It has just taken me over, this whole organization,” she explains. “I knew it would, but I didn’t think it would be this strong. There are so many children hurting, and so many parents that not only can’t deal with it but don’t know how to deal with it.”

The “it” Kyle is referring to is children with serious illnesses, and in many cases cancer. Her organization takes requests from hospital nurses for items that will help pediatric patients feel better emotionally. It can be a laptop to help them stay connected at school, clothes, toys, etc.

“If I know there’s a child that needs something to make them feel better,” says Kyle, “I am there.”

THE SCOOP

This month Little Smiles and the Mooresville Mayor’s Council for Individuals with Disabilities are sponsoring The First Annual Exceptional Memories Fall Formal (aka prom) at the Charles Mack Citizen Center in Mooresville on Friday, October 30. Children 18 and under who are dealing with a serious illness are welcome to come, but reservations are required.

Steve Langley, a professional entertainer who focuses on bubbles, will perform at the event, and there will also be live music and a DJ. Guests will have their picture taken and enjoy pizza and chicken nuggets. Glow sticks will also be provided to add to the fun.

“The community has gone out of their way to help us,” says Kyle. “The community has helped kids pay for their ticket who cannot afford it. We don’t want a child to miss this.”

— Lori K. Tate, photography courtesy of Margi Kyle

The First Annual Exceptional Memories Fall Formal, Friday, October 30, Charles Mack Citizen Center, Mooresville. All proceeds benefit Little Smiles NC. Tickets are $20, e-mail lfischer@ inspirationforaspirations.com for more information. For more information regarding Little Smiles, visit www.littlesmiles.org.

How do you fix a cracked pumpkin? With a “pumpkin patch” of course! Pumpkins are just one of many types of squash available this time of year. Squash are excellent sources of immune supportive vitamins A and C, along with a bucket full of other essential vitamins and minerals. Simply roasted in bite-size pieces, they can be tossed with rosemary, mashed with toasted cumin and fennel, or blended into this delicious easy soup. Whether heading to your local farmers market, pumpkin patch or supermarket, it’s well worth picking one up not just for decoration but also for a truly delicious autumn treat.

Ingredients 1 small squash, about 2 cups roasted skinless flesh, like butternut, hubbard or pumpkin 1 sweet onion sliced 1 teaspoon cumin seed 2 teaspoons fresh sage, thyme or rosemary leaves 2 large garlic cloves, crushed 2 ½-3 1/2 cups filtered water (better taste as chlorine is removed) Sea salt and black pepper to taste 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 1/3 cup crumbled goat or feta cheese for garnish Instructions Cut squash in half, and scoop out seeds. Roast seeds for about 10 minutes on parchment paper at 350 F until lightly brown. Reserve. Cut squash into long wedges. Place the onion slices on the bottom of a covered roasting pan and top with the squash.

Cover and bake at 325 F for one hour until tender.

Uncover and remove the skins. Place the squash, onions, 2 1/2 cups of water, herbs, cumin and garlic in a blender, and blend on high until smooth. Add more water to thin soup consistency, and season with salt and pepper. For the vinegar syrup, boil the vinegar (1/2-inch deep) in an uncovered saucepan until thickened about three to five minutes. Warm the soup, and top each with vinegar syrup, roasted seeds and cheese if desired.

Jill Dahan lives in Cornelius and is the author of Starting Fresh! Recipes for Life. She also teaches cooking classes at Earth Fare in Huntersville. You can learn more about her at www.jilldahan.com.

11

lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

A photograph from Caroline Spiggle’s first photo shoot in New York City.

Caroline Spiggle Tackles Manhattan One of Lake Norman’s Next Top Models moves to the big time Earlier this year Cornelius’ Caroline Spiggle won the 13-19 Category and a Carolina Talent contract through CURRENTS’ Lake Norman’s Next Top Model contest. Since then the now 15-year-old freshman at Cannon School has signed with Major Model Management in New York City, where she’s done a dozen photo shoots to develop her book and hopes to eventually walk the runway.

“When she entered Lake Norman’s Next Top Model, it was such a lastminute thing,” remembers Kelly Spiggle, Caroline’s mother. “Caroline

THE SCOOP

You can follow Caroline Spiggle’s modeling journey on Instagram at CarolineSpiggle.

12 lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

is 5’10, so people are always asking her if she models, so we decided to enter.”

In Charlotte, Caroline walked two runway shows for Porsche Design, in addition to being in Charlotte Scene’s fashion show, as well as Fashion Deluxe. She’s also done work for Belk’s ecommerce site.

“Doing this has made me realize how much of an art form modeling is,” says Caroline. “It’s given me another creative outlet. It’s not just standing in front of the camera.”

— Lori K. Tate, photography courtesy of Kelly Spiggle

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Get Your Fun on This Season Your guide to fall festivals (and Halloween) at Lake Norman The 2015 Rural Hill Amazing Maize Maze (October 3- November 1) The 2015 Amazing Maize Maze honors agriculture with its farm theme. The Maze is an imaginative use of a cornfield, so comfortable shoes are suggested. Water stations are onsite, and visitors are permitted to bring in their own food and beverages. Vendors will be onsite with snacks, ice cream, soft drinks and water for purchase. Hayrides and additional children’s activities are available for a small charge on select days.

Additional experiences include living history demonstrations

in open-hearth cooking, blacksmithing, and cabin building. Sat-Sun 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Days Maze 13 and up, $11; Days Maze 5-12, $7.50.

Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville, www.ruralhill.net.

The Carolina Renaissance Festival (October 3-November 22) The Carolina Renaissance Festival is a medieval amusement park with theaters, a village marketplace, an interactive circus, an arts and crafts fair, a jousting tournament, and a feast — all rolled into one non-stop, day-long family adventure.

Sat-Sun 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. $23;

children $11; children under 5 free. Tickets purchased at the gate are $1 more. 16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville, www.royalfaires.com.

Ada Jenkins Center FIRE 2015 BBQ (October 24) Enjoy eating barbecue, a barbecue competition, a corn hole tournament and a lot of activities for children. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. rain or shine. $10. Ada Jenkins Center, 212 Gamble Street, Davidson, www.adajenkins.org.

The 15th Annual All American Dog Show (October 3) Watch the area’s dogs strut

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their stuff for an evening of fun. 4-7 p.m. Free. Bailey Road Park Track & Field, Cornelius, www.cornelius.org.

Carolina BalloonFest (October 16-18) Enjoy one of the most colorful festivals around, as hot air balloons take to the skies three days in a row. Proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society — Relay for Life of Statesville.

Ticket prices vary. Friday, October 16, 3-8:30 p.m.; Saturday, October 17, 7 a.m.8:30 p.m.; Sunday, October 18, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Statesville Regional Airport, 260 Hangar Drive, Statesville, www. carolinaballoonfest.com.

LaketoberFest Music & Brew Festival (October 17) Enjoy art and craft vendors, as well as live music, hayrides and fire works. 4-9 p.m. Free admission and parking.

Bailey Road Park, Cornelius, www.cornelius.org/parc.

Rural Hill, Center of Scottish Heritage, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville, www.ruralhill.net.

Halloween Festivities

Ghost Walk Haunted Trail (October 23-24) Travel through Historic Latta Plantation at night as you venture past an explosive Civil War battlefield, survive a soldiers’ cemetery, escape a ghostly prison camp and enjoy being frightened in the spirit of Halloween. This haunted trail is not for children. 7-10 p.m. $10.

Historic Latta Plantation, 5225 Sample Road, Huntersville, www.lattaplantation.org.

Town of Davidson Halloween March (October 30) March through downtown Davidson in your Halloween best. Businesses give out candy. 5 p.m. Free.

Downtown Davidson, www. davidsoncommunitycalendar.org.

All Hallow’s Eve Family Day (October 31) Enjoy Huntersville United a celebration of all things Methodist Church Fall Halloween at this fun Family Community Extravaganza Day. Children will be able to (October 17) The 15th Annual take part in many activities Fall Community Extravaganza including: trick-or-treating, features a pancake breakfast kids’ games, pumpkin painting, (7:30-9 a.m.) followed by face painting, storytelling, kids’ live music, local vendor sales, crafts, learning the history barbecue, car show, silent of Halloween, and costume and live auction, bake sale contests. Dress like your and children’s activities such favorite historical character as face painting, a bounce for a chance to win a special house, games, and trick prize.10 a.m.-2 p.m. $8, $7 or treating. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. seniors and students, ages Free. Huntersville United 5 and under free. Historic Methodist Church, 14005 Latta Plantation, 5225 Stumptown Road, Huntersville, Sample Road, Huntersville, www.humconline.org. www.lattaplantation.org.

Rural Hill Sheepdog Trials and Dog Festival (November 7-8) This festival features the United States Border Collie Handlers’ Association, Carolina Dock Dogs, the Greater Charlotte Shetland Sheepdog Club and more.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Prices TBA.

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Downtown Trick or Treat (Date TBA) Enjoy tons of children (all dressed up) and their parents having a great time in Downtown Mooresville. Businesses even hand out candy. 3-5 p.m. Free.

Downtown Mooresville, www. downtownmooresville.com.

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LAKE NORMAN YMCA THANKS YOU FOR 40 YEARS Celebrate the Lake Norman YMCA’s 40th Birthday Bash at River Run Country Club on Saturday, October 23 with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, silent and live auctions, and 40 years of memories highlighting the impact of our local branch in the Lake Norman community.

OCTOBER 23 • 7:00 PM River Run Country Club 19125 River Falls Dr • Davidson, NC 28036 Tickets $80 each Reserve your tickets by emailing Sarah Porr at LakeNormanEvents@ymcacharlotte.org Thank you to Lake Norman Currents for sponsoring the 40th Birthday Bash and for supporting the Lake Norman YMCA

16 lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

ymcacharlotte.org/lakenorman

CharRadAd.pdf

BENEATH THE SURFACE

1

7/21/15

4:39 PM

Normie, Lake Norman’s Local Monster

“At least one alligator is said to live on the lake,” began the Charlotte Observer article titled, Tales from the Depths of Lake Norman, in February 1987. “He is said to live on a small island near the dam, and the only reason he hasn’t snapped a leg off an unwary swimmer yet is because he is fat and satisfied from eating goats that populate the island.” The article went on to list a slew of tall tales circulating the bait shops and boat docks — a gravel pit Normie by Amy Myers and illustrated by off Greenbay Road that eats hunting dogs; catfish near the Ron Barrantes tells the tale of the Lake Norman Monster. dam the size of Volkswagens; an elusive naked water skier seen early in the spring, celebrating the first day of warm weather.

It wasn’t the first time someone had mentioned strange happenings on the lake. Back in 1975, lake fishermen reported seeing a “mystery critter.” Some said it had scales; others said it looked like an oversized otter. Wildlife commissioners shrugged it off as a South American coypu.

As a newcomer to the lake in the early 2000s, Matt Myers heard these tall tales and more trawling the bait shops around town. There are legends in pretty much every man-made lake town, Myers said. Usually, the folksy yarn-spinners mention catfish big enough to swallow a person whole, and there are definitely some huge catfish in the warm and deep waters near Cowan’s Ford Dam, but the Lake Norman stories had some consistency to them — something scaly and shy spotted in the coves, mostly in the late evenings. Myers, a website designer by trade, thought it might be fun to put together a site compiling some of the tales he had heard and asking locals to add their “sightings.”

When a local newspaper ran an article about the site in 2002, Myers said he had a dozen calls the next week. About 100,000 visitors clicked on the site in its first month. Thirteen years later, people are still visiting www.lakenormanmonster.com to post accounts ranging from the sparse and eerie to the outlandish and ridiculous.“That dang fish looked dang 200 pounds!!! He come up out of the water and showed me his teeth,” read an entry from June 2014. “I saw a large wave off the cove at sunset,” read another. “No boats were around.”

Within a few years, pictures of “Normie,” a friendly looking, dragonlike creature were plastered on T-shirts, fishing lures and coffee mugs, even a popular children’s book. Television crews came down from Canada to make a documentary, and for a while, even a hot air balloon bearing Normie’s outline appeared at local festivals.

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

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Chuck McShane is director of research at the Charlotte Chamber and the author of A History of Lake Norman: Fish Camps and Ferraris. Contact him at chuckmcshane@gmail.com . On Twitter: @chuckmcshane

17 lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

Porthole photography courtesy of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce

Mike Russell (right), 2015 Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce Board Chair, was on hand with Dana Jordan Nieters to present Mike Riley, President of Novant Health - Huntersville Medical Center, with the Corporate Champions of Diversity Award

The Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce Champions of Diversity finalists: Dr. John Chen, Mike Riley of Novant Health - Huntersville Medical Center, Jackie Headlee representing Rankin Insurance Agency, Mike Tanck with Time Warner Cable, John Foster of Foster’s Frames & Art Gallery and Dave Yochum with Business Today NC.

Champions of Diversity Luncheon

The Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Champions of Diversity Luncheon at The Pearl Wedding and Event Center in Cornelius on Thursday, September 17. The event recognizes the finalists and recipients in the areas of Corporate, Small Business and Individual who practice and promote diversity in the Lake Norman region. The keynote speaker of the luncheon was Tanya Blackmon with Novant Health.

The luncheon was held at The Pearl Wedding and Event Center in Cornelius.

Mike Russell and Dana Jordan Nieters present Dr. John Chen with the Small Business Champions of Diversity Award.

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Tanya Blackmon, SVP Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for Novant Health, was the keynote speaker.

lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

Dana Jordan Nieters and Mike Russell present David Yochum of Business Today NC with the Individual Champions of Diversity Award.

The event recognizes businesses and individuals who promote diversity in the Lake Norman region.

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Captain’s Chair

Matt Siegel, director of marketing and entertainment for the Carolina Renaissance Festival, loves to help people escape to Fairhaven village in the fall.

by Holly Becker photography by Ken Noblezada

time to escape

Carolina Renaissance Festival’s Matt Siegel talks about the magical happenings at Fairhaven

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ince it’s inception in 1994, the Carolina Renaissance Festival has become a fall tradition for many Lake Norman residents and those throughout the Carolinas. The 16th Century, European-style arts and entertainment festival offers a variety of attractions from outdoor theater and a jousting tournament to an arts and crafts marketplace and circus-style entertainment.

Visitors journey to Fairhaven, a

lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

fantasyland where they mingle among kings and queens, knights and nobles, and pirates and fairies. The 22nd annual season runs Saturdays and Sundays from October 3 to November 22.

CURRENTS recently talked to Matt Siegel, director of marketing and entertainment for the Carolina Renaissance Festival, about what’s involved in planning this fun-filled regional festival.

How did the Carolina Renaissance Festival come to be?

Jeffrey Siegel, the founder and producer of the Carolina Renaissance Festival and my uncle, had been a performer with Ringling Bros. Circus and later became involved in the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. He became instrumental in spreading the renaissance festival

How has the Carolina Renaissance Festival grown and changed over the past 22 years?

concept to other parts of the country and eventually decided to start a festival of his own. He chose the forest setting just north of Charlotte in Huntersville for its Sherwood Forest feel. The Carolina Renaissance Festival opened in 1994.

We’ve always been in Huntersville and are proud to call Huntersville home.

When the Carolina Renaissance Festival started we had four stages of live entertainment, a jousting arena with seating for 750 people, 40 food/ games/arts and crafts vendors, and 75 costumed performers. Today, we have 12 stages, 120 vendors, a jousting arena seating 1,500 and a cast of more than 300 costumed performers.

Approximately how many people attend the Carolina Renaissance Festival?

Last year we had 180,000 attendees and have been growing every year. Exit surveys suggest about 62 percent of attendees visit from within a 50-mile radius of the festival’s location, about 14 percent come from a 51-100-mile radius, and the remaining 24 percent come from 101 miles or more. The Carolina Renaissance Festival is quite a tourist attraction with great economic impact on the surrounding communities.

How many people does it take to pull off the festival?

We have about 1,200 working participants, consisting of actors and

Visitors of the festival journey to Fairhaven, a fantasyland where they mingle among kings and queens, knights and nobles, and pirates and fairies.

performers, artists, vendors, merchants, seasonal and hourly employees, and volunteers. We have open auditions in June for performers and accept proposals all year for careful review.

The majority of our participants return year after year. In addition, we like to add new entertainment every year to keep the show fresh and entertaining for our patrons.

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Continued from page 21

we are adding pony rides. Edgewood Theatre, a new stage, will feature new special guest performers each weekend.

20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY!

Why has the Carolina Renaissance Festival become such a beloved fall tradition?

It’s escapism. We really set out to make people feel like they are time-traveling to a different place and time. They forget about their everyday cares and immerse themselves into a fantasy world.

THE SCOOP

For more information regarding the Carolina Renaissance Festival, visit www.carolina.renfestinfo.com. Like CURRENTS on Facebook at www.facebook/LNCurrents for a chance to win a family pack of tickets to the festival (two adults and two kids tickets).

The Fighter of the Festival

Kathleen Brinnier defeated breast cancer with the help of her renaissance family When Kathleen Brinnier was in college in New York she enjoyed doing musical theatre. She also participated in a small renaissance festival during the fall. “One year I was just a maiden, and I did all of the dances. The next year I actually had a speaking part in one of the shows,” recalls the 55-year-old Huntersville resident. “It was just really fun.”

Kathleen and her husband, Russ, moved to the Lake Norman area in 1986. The Carolina Kathleen Brinnier Renaissance Festival started in 1994.

And in 1998 Kathleen’s daughter, Amber, who was a student at Northwest School of the Arts in Charlotte at the time, wanted to audition for the festival. They both auditioned and got parts.

Kathleen played the role of the Black Widow until 2011.

During the festival in 2008, Kathleen discovered a lump in her breast and was diagnosed with breast cancer. “I put it out there on Facebook, and I went back to the renaissance festival the next weekend,” she says.

“Everybody was really cool. I didn’t want to be treated differently.”

She continued working the festival and went through treatment after it closed. At the end of the 2008 season, she says that almost everyone involved with the festival gave her a rose. “My arms were filled with roses,” she remembers. “It was just overwhelming.”

Kathleen returned to the festival in 2009 and decided to retire two years later. In 2012 she was diagnosed with a more aggressive breast cancer in her other breast. She says that her harsh chemo treatments made 2013 a blur for her and that in 2014 she was still regaining her strength.

However, this season she’s back at the festival playing a new role titled Livia the Groom (a horse groomer). She’s also a member of the tilt crew (think cheerleaders for the jousting tournament). With clear scans, she’s happy to be back working with her renaissance family.

“I enjoy playing someone other than myself, which I think has helped me get through my breast cancer,” she explains. “It helped me focus on something else because basically I had a job. I had a job to do.”

— Lori K. Tate, photography courtesy of Kathleen Brinnier

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15 9am to 8pm

Join us as we celebrate being in business for 20 years with fun, food and festivities!

All service providers will be available throughout the day Shop for the holidays early!

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Make your appointment today!

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Game Changers

Janie and Scott Slusarick constantly create new things at The Rumor Mill Market in Davidson.

by Rosie Molinary photograpy by Candy Howard

A Market with

Meaning Janie Slusarick blended their skills into a business they love

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ou might walk into The Rumor Mill Market in Davidson and think that Janie Slusarick’s creativity is what has served her best in her game-changing life.

While her creativity is certainly a part of her success, it is her ability to make a quick decision, trust her gut and bet on herself that have allowed her to thrive.

When Slusarick decided to end her marriage in 1999, she left her Virginia home with her kids and drove south without knowing where she was going. By chance, she pulled off an exit in the area and decided to make Cornelius her home.

At first, she thought she would start new professionally, too.

“I had been in the eye care industry for years. When my marriage fell apart, I

lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

thought I would do something different, but Horizon Eye Care made an offer I couldn’t refuse and I was with them for 15 years,” explains Slusarick, 49.

Then, four years ago, Slusarick met her husband, Scott, and, as it turns out, they both shared a passion for creating things.

“He can build anything, and when we put our creativity together, it was like gasoline with a match. We got our feet wet with selling by renting a booth on the weekends in the Pineville-Matthews area. We would fill up the booth, and they would call us a few days later and say, ‘Can you bring more?’ ” says Slusarick.

They began placing things in their Pineville booth in late May 2013. By August, they had found the space in

Davidson and opened their own multivendor market with a name inspired by how they met, staging the play Rumors with The Davidson Community Players.

Today, they are the largest retailer in Davidson with 12,000 square feet of retail space and more than 80 booths.

“I was really burned out. I enjoyed what I was doing, but I kept saying that I always wanted to have my own business.

I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I grew up, and this unfolded,” recalls Slusarick. “This work is fun because we can be painting furniture one day or building something or buying jewelry to resell. I get to use all my talents from marketing to accounting and help other people, too.

It’s a blend of all of our skills that we have learned in the business world.”

Now, Slusarick is considering what’s next. She wants to open another store with a different focus and product. And while she may not yet know what it is, it’s a safe bet to say that when the idea comes, it’ll happen fast.

Up Close and Personal What’s the best advice you have ever been given?

Say nothing. A patient in the eye care industry gave me this advice, and those words have just stayed with me. Let other people talk and what is going on will reveal itself. It is better to listen than to talk too much.

What advice do you give regularly?

You never know when you meet someone how that person could change or have an impact on your life in the future. Someone you meet today could be your boss years from now. You should always be nice to everyone.

What is one app you cannot live without?

Google maps so I can find where I am going to go and Trip Advisor. I love looking at new towns and what is best to do there.

When you were 8 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I used to practice having my own cooking show. This was way before the Cooking Channel. I was way ahead of my time!

What book do you love to recommend?

Anything by Dorothy Benton Frank.

What is your best habit?

Keeping my car clean. The state of your car is a direct reflection of your life.

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25 lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

Rip Currents — Style

Hold onto your hat this fall

by Lori K. Tate photography by Glenn Roberson

boho beautiful 26 lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

C.C. Exclusives Camel Hat with Black Leather Band, $56, Lipp Boutique, Birkdale Village, Huntersville www.lippboutique.com.

C.C. Exclusives Black Hat with Multi-Color Leather Band, $56, Lipp Boutique, Birkdale Village, Huntersville www.lippboutique.com.

Michael Stars Black Hat with Black Band, $58, Uniquities, Birkdale Village, Huntersville, www.uniquities.com.

Burgundy Panama Hat with Black Band, $40, Lipp Boutique, Birkdale Village, Huntersville www.lippboutique.com.

Michael Stars Dark Charcoal Gray Hat with Thick Black Band, $68, Lavendar Boutique, 279 Williamson Road, Suite F, Mooresville, www.lavenderboutique.com.

Michael Stars Gray Hat with Brown Band, $58, Uniquities, Birkdale Village, Huntersville, www.uniquities.com.

C.C. Exclusives Light Gray Hat with Thick Black Band, $48, Monkee’s of Lake Norman, 624 Jetton Street, Davidson and 106-A South Main Street, Davidson, www.monkeesoflakenorman.com.

C.C. Exclusives Navy Hat, $48, Monkee’s of Lake Norman, 624 Jetton Street, Davidson and 106-A South Main Street, Davidson, www.monkeesoflakenorman.com.

Bohemian Brown Floppy Hat with Tie, $30, Lavendar Boutique, 279 Williamson Road, Suite F, Mooresville, www.lavenderboutique.com.

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Blair’s Bits

by Blair Miller photography courtesy of Blair Miller

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So Long, lake norman

Blair Miller and his family are off to Boston for their next chapter W hen we first moved to Lake Norman, I’ll never forget my first night pulling into the driveway of our home in Cornelius.

There I stood, just looking up. Being someone who spent the previous seven years living in Uptown Charlotte, you couldn’t always see the stars so clearly because of the city lights. But on this first night of my life in the suburbs, it was a beautiful sight. The stars were as clear as they could be, and that brought a simple peace over me. Perhaps it was a time of clarity to signal what was to come in the next six years.

Lake Norman is a special place. Because of my job with WSOC-TV in Charlotte, I made the daily drive to the city like many of you. I would often tell people how I felt like I was on vacation every weekend. Cornelius offers the perfect mix of small town soul and a vibrant community. As I bid farewell to Channel 9 and the Lake Norman community to work at a TV station in Boston, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting.

I’m not the same man I was when I moved to Lake Norman in 2008. I’m now married, and we have two wonderful boys who are just 13 months apart. Having kids thrusts you into a world where you instantly meet so many people from so many different backgrounds.

I’ll be the first to admit how hard it is to move away from all of that.

There’s so much I’ll miss. It’s so hard to cover it all in a magazine article, but I can say this, every bit of it has been so amazingly beautiful, and we’ve been so blessed to be part of it. From the small shops in town to the daily preschool drop-offs in the heart of Davidson, where I always felt like Norman Rockwell might show up. From the weekends of trying to master my balance on the paddleboard to the unpredictable nights at Saeed’s Bar & Grill.

From the simple things like going for a stroll

lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

through the Davidson Farmers’ Market to the officers from Cornelius Police Department stopping in front of my house to waive to my kids and give them a sticker. Oh, and what about those amazing neighbors next door and across the street who joined me on Saturdays in the fall to hang an Ohio State football flag.

How could I ever forget Christmas in Davidson or the Fourth of July at Bailey Park or what Blair and his two sons Zeke, left, and Cash make the move to Boston.

about those delicious burgers at the What-ABurger in Mooresville.

I’ll always remember the strangers who found our lost dog, Buckeye, when it snowed and the vet staff in Huntersville that helped with our other dog, Cavanaugh, when we had to put her down.

Yes, the good and the sad, the funny and the bad. But I’m pretty sure that whatever it was, it all mattered. The lake is just that, a huge body of water that ripples on and on and clogs traffic during the summer because people passing through want a glimpse. But it’s the people who make Lake Norman what it truly is. It’s that sense of community that keeps so many of us anchored here for a lifetime.

So for my final article for CURRENTS, I bid you farewell and good luck. I’ll be forever grateful that we found Cornelius and this lake community. But I’m even happier that people invested in my family and me. Boston has some big shoes to fill.

Yes, it’s been a journey, but at the end of the day, I’ll miss the solitude and peace of those simple nights when I could look up at the stars from my driveway.

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New Fall Arrivals Daily…

from Splendid, BB Dakota, Bella Dahl, Sanctuary, John & Jen, Hudson, AG, and more!! Shop our Instagram and Online store at www.Instagram/ lavendarboutique & www.lavendarboutique.com Shop local and support your local community!

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279 Williamson Rd., Ste. F Mooresville, NC 28117 704-663-2880 www.facebook.com/LavendarBoutique Twitter.com/lavendarbtq Instagram.com/lavendarboutique/ Mon-Fri 10-6 Sat 10-5 Closed Sundays

Designing Brides…

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Designing Brides

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29 lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

Unique and One-Of-A-Kind, Every Time!

Discover something new each time you shop Nellie Jane’s everchanging curated collection of home décor, furniture, antiques, lighting, and gifts. Winner of 2015 CURRENT Award “Lake Norman’s Best Local Boutique.”

Nellie Jane Home Boutique

105 Singleton Road, Ste. 101 Mooresville, NC 28117 704-607-6228 Mon-Sat 10-5 Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @nelliejanehome

Bringing the fun of the tropics to the Lake!

Stemming from a love of art and the unused, our shop is an eclectic blend of gifts, home decor, and art mainly of the tropics. We also offer custom framing from owner Joyce and husband Chip.

Tropical Connections

230 N. Main St., Mooresville, NC 704-664-0236 Tuesday - Friday: 10am-5:30pm Saturday : 10am- 4pm www.tropicalconnectionslakenorman.com

We have MOVED into a beautiful 5,000 sq foot storefront.

Come visit us at our NEW space located in the heart of downtown at the “square”.

We now have more fashions and many new lines! Come and check us out!

Mention this ad and receive 25% off entire purchase (excludes name brands and sale items) Salice Boutique

101 W. Broad St. Statesville NC 28677 New hours: M-F 9am to 7pm, Sat 10am-4pm, Sundays 1pm-5pm Kristen, Owner (704) 380-4983 Shop: www.salice.boutiquewindow.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ saliceboutique

30 lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

Frye for The Holidays at Monkee’s of Lake Norman, Exit 30 In 1863, John A. Frye opened the doors to the very first Frye shop on Elm Street in Marlboro, MA, paving the way for countless generations of Frye artisans dedicated entirely to the art of craftsmanship. Nothing compares to the artful touch put into the Frye Company collection. Shop the Frye Fall/Winter 2015 boots, shoes and handbag collection exclusively at Monkee’s of Lake Norman at Exit 30. Also, visit our Peek-a-Boo Boutique in Historic Downtown Davidson.

Monkee’s of Lake Norman

624 Jetton Street, Ste. 130 Davidson, NC 28036 704-896-7779 FB: MonkeesofLakeNorman (Davidson) Instagram: monkeeslakenorman www.monkeesoflakenorman.com

Experience Southern Charm with a Trendy Twist!

Sweet Magnolia features eclectic furniture, gifts, clothing and art by local artists in a boutique setting. Choose from upscale clothing and accessories by high end designers like Jude Connaly, Joules, Alembika, and more – petite to extra large. Signature Lake Norman souvenirs available at Sweet Magnolia. You’ll have a new favorite place to shop at the Lake.

Sweet Magnolia

8301 Magnolia Estates Drive Cornelius, NC 28031 www.mysweetmagnolia.com Mon-Sat 10am – 6pm

Shop FALL Fashions at Vanilla Brazil!

Come check out our new arrivals…beautiful new dresses, blouses, shoes, purses and jewelry and always great swimwear! Check our website and social media for additional information about our store and amazing products! And don’t forget to stop by and have some champagne with us! Experience the Vanilla way of shopping.

Vanilla Brazil

16745-C Birkdale Commons Parkway Huntersville, NC 28078 704-997-8521 www.VanillaBrazil.com Facebook.com/vanillabrazilbirkdale Twitter.com/vanillabrazil Instagram.com/vanillabrazil Mon-Thu: 11am – 7pm Fri-Sat: 11am - 8pm Sunday: 1pm – 6pm

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All breeds welcome. We accommodate special needs dogs. Crate free, fun environment!

Mon – Sat 8am – UNTIL Call or email for appointment. Pris Cagide, owner/groomer mspris44@roadrunner.com & Jessica Hurst, groomer.We look forward to caring for your dog.

Serenite Pet Salon Serenite Serenite Pet SalonPetPrisSalon Cagide 138 Marketplace Drive Pris Cagide 138 Marketplace Dr. 138 Marketplace Dr.Mooresville, NC 28117 Mooresville, NC 28117 Mooresville, NC 28117 704- 696- 2622 704- 696- 2622 mspris44@ gmail.com 704-696-2622 mspris44@ gmail.com Monday-Friday: 9am-5pm www.SerenitePetSalon.com Monday-Friday: 9am-5pm

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You’ll love throwing this beautiful cape over all of your fall looks! Unique, stylish and warm, it offers the perfect, one-size-fits-all coat alternative.

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The Village Store

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Well Kept is your one-stop-shop for fitness fashion. Obsessed with bringing you the most comprehensive collection of carefully curated luxury fitness brands in the business. Check out our Instagram @shopwellkept for more information.

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Located inside Lipp Boutique at Birkdale Village 16836 Birkdale Commons Pkwy Huntersville, NC 28078 Mon-Thurs: 10-7 Fri-Sat: 10-8 Sun: 12-6

Goodbye Mascara, Hello Lash Extensions!

Skin Envy Lounge

Located in the Suites at Salon Envy 129 Williamson Road Mooresville, NC 28117 704-929-2712 www.facebook.com/SkinEnvyLounge

31 lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

Rip Currents ­— Dining

The kitchen at Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse bustles every night, as folks flock to Davidson's burgeoning culinary scene.

by Sam Boykin photography by Glenn Roberson

Davidson’s Dining

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EVOLUTION

lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

The town’s thriving new restaurant scene has put it on the culinary map

S

tanding at the three-way intersection of Lorimer Road and South and Main streets in the heart of downtown Davidson, it’s an easy stroll to no less than a dozen restaurants. In recent years, a number of diverse eating establishments have opened, adding to longtime favorites such as North Harbor Club (a waterfront staple), Brickhouse Tavern and The Soda Shop, which opened in 1951. This has created a real energy and buzz in Davidson, as the town has emerged as a true dining destination that attracts not just locals, but people from Charlotte and elsewhere.

Discovering Davidson “There’s no question that Davidson has been discovered,” says Michael Orlando, co-owner of Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse, which celebrated its five-year anniversary in Davidson in September.

Located in the prominent Stowe’s Corner Building, Flatiron is a gastropub that boasts big windows that look onto Main Street, as well walls adorned with the work of area artists. The restaurant’s focal point is the 24-tap beer tower, which features a variety of local and international craft beers. “Everything emanates from that,” says Orlando. “We’re all about matching the food with the beer.”

Earlier this year, the restaurant brought on noted Chef Bill Schultz, who previously worked at Bonterra and Sonoma in Charlotte. “Bill has really elevated our culinary presence,” explains Orlando.

Schultz emphasizes using fresh produce from local sources, which he pairs with such signature dishes as the Wagyu steak, a delectable Kobe beef blend.

Orlando, a Davidson resident since 1997, says that when Flatiron first opened, there were only a handful of other restaurants in town. “It’s been awesome to see everything grow to where we now have this critical mass,” he says.

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A couple from Canada stopped for lunch at Kindred on their way back from Charleston, South Carolina. Kindred appeared on their radar after it ranked No. 7 on Bon Appétit magazine’s Hot 10 list of America’s Best New Restaurants this past summer.

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This growth has created a healthy, competitive environment that drives each establishment to excel at its own unique culinary style. But there is also a real sense of community and support, which can be seen in the way the restaurants’ chefs and owners frequent each other’s businesses, offer kitchen supplies when someone is running low or, in some cases, simply provide good advice. Orlando says that they hired Chef Schultz after he was

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recommended by Joe Kindred, co-owner and chef at Kindred.

A Kindred Spirit Since it opened in February, Kindred has garnered national accolades, including being ranked No. 7 on Bon Appétit magazine’s Hot 10 list of America’s Best New Restaurants.

“We just want to live up to the press and people’s expectations,” says Kindred,

who owns and operates the restaurant with his wife, Katy. “Every day we try to put out a good product, and we focus on getting produce and meat from local farmers.

Sourcing is everything for us. Our team is constantly evolving and trying to get better.”

A graduate of Johnson & Wales University in Charleston, Kindred previously worked as executive chef at Rooster’s Wood-Fired Kitchen in Charlotte under the tutelage of renowned Chef Jim Noble.

“Chef Noble really showed me the ropes on how to run a restaurant at Rooster's,” says Kindred, a Davidson native.

“I figured the next logical step was for me to do my own thing.”

Kindred and his wife moved to Davidson in 2010, and last summer they began renovating the historic Tom Clark Museum building. The couple completely gutted the three-story, 1914 building, but retained a few key historical characteristics, including the original tin tile ceiling.

As charming as the space is, the focus, not surprisingly, is on the food. Signature items on the constantly changing menu include barbecue pork ravioli, oysters and the famous milk-bread rolls, which Bon Appétit singled out as “habit-forming.”

“The level of excellence that exists at all the Davidson restaurants really challenges me and makes me better,” Kindred says. “I just hope people come here with an open mind and trust what we’re doing.”

Next door to Kindred is another newcomer to the Davidson restaurant scene, Mestizo Contemporary Mexican Cuisine, which opened in May. Familyowned and operated, Mestizo offers fresh, healthy, seafood-centric options that are indicative of what people in Mexico actually eat, as opposed to the typical cheese-laden burritos and enchiladas found in most Tex-Mex restaurants.

Lupita Barrera owns the restaurant with her husband, Sergio Barrera, and her two siblings, Alicia Ramirez and Humberto Olea. They have all owned restaurants

together before, including locations in Concord and Mooresville.

Barrera says that whenever she visited her sister, Alicia, who lives in Davidson, she was always struck by how quaint and lively the downtown area was. When she noticed the vacant building next to Kindred, she knew it was the perfect place for her family to open a new restaurant.

Mestizo, which has a sizeable outdoor patio, combines new elements (think gluten-free ingredients), with classic Mexican fare, such as salmon and oysters, which are served with fresh sides, including zucchini and asparagus.

“It’s been like a dream since we opened,” says Barrera. “We couldn’t have picked a better location.”

A growing and changing scene Famous Toastery, formerly known as Toast, is another Davidson restaurant Family fine dining is common in Davidson, as shown here with a family eating at Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse.

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Campania Trattoria is located inside the historic Davidson Ice House building, which was built in 1922.

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that, like Kindred, has received national recognition, including mentions in the Wall Street Journal and Entrepreneur.

“We’re like a bed and breakfast concept on steroids,” says co-founder and CEO Robert Maynard. “We’re the antithesis of a greasy spoon.”

The restaurant started when Maynard and co-owner Brian Burchill opened a location in a small house-turned-restaurant in Huntersville. Offering a winning lineup of fresh-made breakfast items, with an emphasis on eggs and omelets, they soon outgrew the Huntersville location and moved to Davidson in 2008.

In addition to breakfast, Famous Toastery now serves lunch items like sandwiches, wraps and salads. The restaurant’s simple strategy of offering fresh and affordable food with friendly service enabled the owners to open several Charlotte-area locations. Maynard says they are now on track to have some 35 locations around the country — including both franchises and corporate-owned — by the end of 2016.

“Davidson is our flagship location, and we’re growing the local brand,” says Maynard. “We never expected the Davidson restaurant scene to grow like it has, but we’re very happy to be a part of it.”

The same could be said of Vincent DiGiorgio, the chef and owner of Campania Trattoria. DiGiorgio grew up working at restaurants in New Jersey and New York, and also cooked for a catering company that served private jets chartered by professional sports teams and big corporations.

With a desire to be his own boss, DiGiorgio, who has a degree from The Institute of Culinary Education in New York, moved to Davidson in 2007 and opened Campania Trattoria the following year.

The restaurant is located inside the historic Davidson Ice House building, which was built in 1922. DiGiorgio spent nearly a year renovating the space, which now combines a rustic Old World Italian charm with modern industrial chic. Cool touches include barrels converted into glass top tables, a cozy limestone bar and

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chandeliers made of inverted wine glasses.

The constantly changing menu is equally eclectic. Some of DiGiorgio’s favorites include grilled romaine heart, butternut squash ravioli and breaded pork chop cutlet.

“We’ve evolved over the years according to what the town told us it wanted,” says DiGiorgio. “It’s been really exciting to see Davidson grow and change, and I’m interested to see what happens next.’

The newest entry in the Davidson restaurant scene is Upper Crust Bar & Social Club, which Sara and Mark Hord opened in August. Positioned as a casual late-night spot, the 48-seat restaurant has a seafood-centric menu, and also features live music and variety of wines, beers and specialty cocktails. “We’re serving a unique local niche,” says Sara.

This is the couple’s second foray into the

local restaurant scene. After years of selling produce, meat and other goodies from their Morganton farm at the Davidson Farmers’ Market, they opened Millstone Bakehouse & Provisions last spring. Initially Millstone offered only artisanal handmade breads, pastries, cheeses and wine, but Sara soon introduced a lunch and dinner menu with sandwiches, seafood, pasta dishes and more.

A chef for more than 20 years, including stints at restaurants in Chicago, Santa Fe and Asheville, Sara continues to use ingredients from her own farm as well as from other local farmers.

“Davidson now has this plethora of restaurants that has really grown into a community. It just shows that you can be successful while still being supportive with those who work alongside you,” says Sara.

“We’re very fortunate to be here.”

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The Galley with Lynn and Glenn

C

by Lynn Roberson photography by Glenn Roberson

hef Sara Hord called upon the classics when choosing the “cush” cuisine for Upper Crust Bar & Social Club, which she and husband Mark opened in late summer above their Millstone Bakehouse & Provisions on Davidson’s Main Street.

“I started thinking about the old school dishes I love,” Hord says. “When I was in my teenage years, I was given a James Beard cookbook, one of these little tiny paperback books that has been sold and re-sold 1,000 times. I wasn’t planning a culinary career at that time, but I just loved to cook, so I started thumbing through the cookbook.”

“CUSH,”

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& DELICIOUS Upper Crust Bar & Social Club brings seafood center stage

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The Shrimp Louie Salad involves crisp romaine, tomatoes, garden cakes and a hard-boiled egg topped with co-owner Sara Hord's version of the classic Louie sauce.

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A fan of homemade Thousand Island dressing, she was excited to find its “better half” in her Beard cookbook, with his recipes for Shrimp Louie and Crab Louie.

Now, Upper Crust’s seafood-driven offerings feature her take on these dishes, in the form of Louie Salad with added crab, lobster or shrimp.

A seafood focus Hord has drawn upon other favorite culinary and cultural experiences as she designed the new downtown spot cleverly

Sara Hord and her husband, Mark, opened Upper Crust Bar & Social Club.

named to reflect its upstairs positioning above her bakery.

“We decided we’ll do raw oysters, and we’ll have great crab and fish,” she says.

“There’s nothing really around here that speaks to that strictly. People offer a little bit of seafood, but that’s pretty much what it’s going to be here besides our salads and ravioli. We have vegetarian ravioli that we offer, and soups and chowders we’ll be able to play with. We’ll do some gumbos and add some chicken to that.”

The menu features striking seafood towers, with choices including King Crab Legs, Snow Crab Legs, seasoned peel-n-eat North Carolina shrimp and cold water oysters.

“We have a coastline, so it’s also nice to use some of our local fishermen down there, and from South Carolina as well, and Virginia and Georgia,” she says.

Ceviches — raw bite-size pieces of fish that are marinated in the juice of an acidic fruit — range from the Mexican with rock shrimp and calamari, to the Portuguese with salmon and snapper, to the Peruvian with snapper.

“I’ve always been a fan of ceviches,

Fresh oysters await at Upper Crust.

with really great fresh fish that’s accented with a lot of citrus and aromatics and seasonal produce,” Hord says. “We’ll still have ceviches into the winter. We’ll just change them up. Corn will go away, and eventually tomatoes will go away.

That’s why we’re putting tomatoes up and preserving them so we’ll have tomato juice and tomato segments we can use. We cure tomatoes. We make tomato jam. We juice tomatoes and freeze the juice.”

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Above: The cocktail Sara '62 features St. Germaine, fresh lemon juice, housemade Thai basil syrup and Champagne. Right: The Seafood Tower consists of fresh-off-the-boat Alaskan King Crab, Jona Crab claw, oysters and peel ’n eat shrimp. Below: Fresh bread sticks and crackers keep you company until the main event begins.

A homegrown approach

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The bakehouse, of course, bakes all the crackers, bread, saltines, crabby cookies and breadsticks for the social club.

The homegrown approach extends to the bar, which boasts classic cocktails with names like Black Bettie, Old Cubano, Paging Dr. Goodeve and Albatross. Sara’s 62 tempts guests with its St. Germaine, fresh lemon juice, Champagne and a

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housemade thai basil syrup concocted with the herb grown in Sara’s garden.

Lake Norman Winery created a private label wine for Upper Crust called Sara’s #5, blending five different Cabernets from Napa. And, in the beer department, Huntersville’s Crafty Beer Guys designed a beer tap to fit the look of the dining space, with an industrial vintage feel. Beer on tap features local and regional breweries, including Bayne Brewing Company.

The Sunday menu centers on CajunCreole food. Monday and Wednesday through Saturday, the bar opens at 4 p.m. with snacks, and dinner officially starts at 5:30 and closes at 10 p.m. Hours extend after that in the bar. While walk-ins are welcome, reservations are recommended.

On Fridays and Saturdays, Upper Crust features live music, with a jazz trio, acoustic musicians or other local musicians set up beneath a massive clock hung on the crusty brick wall.

A raised fireplace offers a welcoming touch, animating the custom bar built by Sara’s husband and the blues and other rich hues of the walls and columns. The vintage brick walls and mahogany bamboo floor add even more visual warmth to the main dining area.

Spend a little time in the space, and the word cush comes into focus. “Cush is a word I came up with to describe the feeling I thought people would have while they’re up here dining,” Hord says. “Cush means an inviting place to sit down in comfortable chairs at a comfortable table and indulge in awesome seafood.”

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Grapevine

The Curious History of

by Trevor Burton

Things are afoot in Tuscany, and that’s good for our taste buds

B

ack in the day a bottle of Chianti was the starting point for many a person’s journey along the road of wine appreciation. A red and white checkered table cloth, a plate of pasta and marinara sauce, and a bottle of Chianti—a bottle with a straw wrapping. What could be more sophisticated? And, in many cases, the main reason was to empty the bottle so that it could later serve as a decorative candleholder. Bohemian chic at its best.

A lot has changed. Chianti back then was pretty nasty stuff, more associated with quantity than quality. White wine grapes were allowed to be blended with the red grapes that are the wine’s basis. As the need for wicker bottle candleholders increased, Chianti production volume increased accordingly. Demand was met by expanding the area that could lay claim to the Chianti name and by adding more and more white wine to the blend.

The result, thinner and weaker wines.

A classic move

42

Because of the glut of thin juice, winemakers in the original Chianti zone made up of the six original townships decided they needed to disassociate themselves from the larger DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita-controlled designation of origin guaranteed). In 1996 they formed a separate region

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called Chianti Classico. There’s often confusion associated with the name — we’re talking Italian wine so, of course, there’s going to be confusion. Chianti Classico doesn’t just signify a better quality of wine from Chianti, it indicates that the wine is from a completely separate region. Let’s see what’s going on in the Chianti Classico region.

But first, apart from the name, Chianti Classico, on a label, a neat way to recognize that you’re dealing with a good bottle of wine is the appearance of a black rooster (Gallo Nero) somewhere on the bottle. There’s an interesting tale around the rooster.

In the Middle Ages there was a fierce rivalry between the republics of Sienna and Florence. In order to bring an end to their ceaseless battles, they decided to settle the location of the boundary between them. They did this by means of a competition between two knights.

The knights were to set out on horseback from their respective hometowns at cockcrow, and the point at which they met would be the frontier between them.

The citizens of Sienna raised a beautiful white rooster, which grew sleek and fat. The Florentines, instead, chose a black rooster and never fed him. On the day of the race, the black rooster was so hungry that he started to crow well before sunrise. The Florentine knight set

Chianti Classico, a completely separate region.

out much sooner than the knight from Sienna. The two of them met at a mere 12 kilometers from Sienna. Almost all of the Chianti territory was united under the rule of the Florentine Republic. One can only hope that the black rooster was rewarded with a hearty breakfast.

Things are afoot Since striking out on its own, Chianti Classico has had two levels of wine,

On the face of it, that makes sense.

Even small plots of land can make a difference to the quality of grapes and the flavors they pull out of the earth. But there is a little catch. The laws governing Gran Selezione don’t stipulate that all the grapes in a wine have to come from the same plot. If a winemaker owns plots scattered throughout the Chianti Classico region, grapes from all the plots can be made into a Gran Selezione.

To get a little nerdy, it’s interesting to draw a comparison with the way things work across the Alps, in France.

In the Burgundy region, if there’s an area named on a label, the grapes have to come from there and there alone. Restrictions are tight; some areas can be as small as a few acres.

On the other hand, in Bordeaux a property (a chateau) is named on the label. You’d think that, as it’s a chateau, all the land would be contiguous. Not so, the chateau is an indicator of an owner and that owner could have plots of land spread all around. It looks like the Chianti Classico boys are following a Bordeaux model. Good company to

be in but it seems that the original goal for Gran Selezione was watered down a little — the goal, not the wines.

So, what started with straw-covered candleholders has ended up with something special. Today’s wines from the wider Chianti region are far superior to their forebears, and the wines from the Black Rooster crowd are even better. Gran Seleziones are definitely not Tuesday night pizza wines. They are not inexpensive, but we all deserve a treat every now and then.

I’ve yet to try one of these gems, but they are certainly on my radar screen. An Italian restaurant, a plate of house-made pasta and a glass of Gran Selezione would take the edge off even the lousiest day. Give it a shot; maybe we’ll bump into each other. Enjoy.

About The Writer

Chianti Classico, aged for 12 months before release, and Chianti Classico Riserva, aged 24 months before release.

In 2006 the Classico region also did away with the adding of white wine, removing white wine from the Chianti Classico blend for good. And so the rules became that wines can be a minimum 80 percent and up to 100 percent Sangiovese, while still allowing for other native grapes like Canaiolo and Colorino, as well as classic Bordeaux varieties Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to be blended in.

However, the Classico gang remained a restless bunch. They wanted a way to highlight some specific terroirs within the region — probably more accurately, the owners of the terroirs wanted to do the highlighting. So, in 2013, they came up with a new designation, Gran Selezione — Great Selection.

Going with tradition, the name is a little confusing. You’d think that it meant that the wine was made from a selection of the best grapes. Actually, it’s an indication that grapes are from a winemaker’s own vineyards and not purchased from other growers in the region.

Trevor Burton of Mooresville is certified by the International Sommelier Guild, he is founder of SST Wine Experiences and, along with his wife, Mary Ellen, conducts wine education and tasting tours to wine regions throughout the world.

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Healthy Kids hen Carolina Panther fullback Brad Hoover retired from the NFL he could have done just about anything.

Or nothing if that’s what he wanted. The scars he carries from surviving a decade of weekly mauling by ball and bloodthirsty defensive mongrels more than paid his admission price to living out his days in any leisurely way he might choose.

But Hoover isn’t the type who (A) likes to sit still for long and (B) shies away from challenges, so it came as no surprise that he found his way back to the gridiron, albeit in a new, and arguably more challenging, role as a coach.

His new challenge isn’t winning a Super Bowl; it is far more difficult. As the younger generation becomes more sedentary, Hoover has been tasked with

creating not simply new football players, but healthy, active young adults.

“I tried a couple things after retiring because I knew I had to stay busy, but it was different, and I struggled,” says 38-yearold Hoover, still looking like he could run through a wall if the end zone were on the other side. “Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. My path came back to football, and specifically high school football, because football had always been a part of my life since I was a kid, and my high school coach was such a big part of my life. I wanted to impact kids like he impacted me.”

From left, Coach Brad Hoover, Athletic Director Pat Moyer, and Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Shawn Powell, want students at Cannon School to succeed on and off the field.

by Mike Savicki photography courtesy of Cannon School

Brad Hoover W is up to the challenge

Thoughts from the Man Cave

The Case for

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push a kid into something, and he likely won’t be there for long.”

So when Hoover was announced as Cannon’s head football coach last March, walking onto a campus that boasted a new, synthetic turf playing field, an accompanying field house, and a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning center, I argued, the new amenities would be all he needed to buck the trend.

Cannon’s strength and conditioning coach, Shawn Powell, set me straight, stating, “I’ll tell you what, it’s simple, the facilities help, but changing the culture is the real foundation.”

Powell then went on to describe Cannon’s philosophy for creating an athletic culture.

He used words like trust, encouragement, passion, courage, integrity, challenge, support and relationships. He never once said wins or losses.

“Basically,” he added, “the words we use have meanings that extend beyond the playing field and into a home. What we are trying to do here, in our home, whether it is the training room or a playing field, is to create a family where the kids feel empowered

to try their best, fail and know they will be supported. That’s how you change a culture.”

So, right now, Hoover’s new family consists of 34 kids. That’s it. There are no Heisman Trophy or Pro Bowl stars lining up alongside him. There are no junior varsity or freshman teams either. It’s just one group of young men and a new coach on a shared path trying to build a culture together.

“That’s just fine with me,” says Hoover, “because that’s a great start. I have asked the players the same thing every other coach here has asked their players, too, and it’s what I hope parents ask their kids to do when they introduce them to athletics, to trust and stay with it and to make it a part of your life.

Because athletics has a way of staying with you, that’s the culture of it, and the lessons you learn when you are active will never leave you.”

About The Writer

As for challenging, I wondered if coaching kids could be tougher than playing in the NFL. Patrick Moyer, Cannon School’s athletic director, gave me the answer.

“Our kids, like all others, are consumers of their time,” Moyer explained. “And what they have become better at, especially in the last few years as they have been given more choices, including many away from athletics, is being a consumer.”

By being a consumer, I deduced Moyer might be referring to the fact that kids are, in general, now more sedentary, their hands wrapped around electronic gadgets and gizmos, instead of living healthy, active lives.

Moyer nodded in agreement, adding, “Kids, especially, want to be part of something meaningful. So if they are becoming more sedentary, as is the national trend, it’s because you haven’t given them something worthwhile and meaningful to be a part of.

“It is our role as adults, parents and coaches,” he continued, “to create an environment where when you see it you say, ‘I want to be a part of it’ and you are pulled into it on your own rather than being pushed.

Athletics is no different than anything else,

Freelance writer Mike Savicki has lived and worked in the Lake Norman area for nearly two decades.

His interest in athletics and love of sports journalism spans from racing to rugby and anything in between.

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Game On

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DRIVERS,

Grab Your Radio Controls!

RC racing makes its home in Mooresville

O

n an elevated wooden bridge overlooking the twisting and turning indoor dirt track, the drivers take their positions. Interspersed with novice kids, moms, dads and even grandparents waiting for their qualifying runs to begin are The Beard of Speed, Racin’ Ray, Nooners, Road Boy, Mail Man, Big Tuna, Rocket Rick, Buggs, Yankee Jay and Rickwiz.

Away from the track, these hobbyists double as motorsports engineers, custom homebuilders, race team engineers, retirees and even mild-mannered business professionals, but put a radio control in their hands and place their cars on the track and this group

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transforms into a pack of intense racers.

Well, intense is the correct word to use until at least one of their cars either flips, crashes into a wall, lands on top of another, loses a wheel, spins and heads in the opposite direction into a barrier, or otherwise seemingly flies into orbit.

Then the smiles, kind-hearted ribbing and laughter emerge. It’s RC racing after all, and having fun under green, no matter who you are, is as much a part of the experience as running fast lap times and earning favorable results.

A shared vision finds a home In June 2015, after months of engineering, planning and contracting that

included carting in truckloads of the red Carolina clay that transformed into double and triple jumps, tabletops, drops and dips, Global RallyCross driver, Scott Speed, along with his lifelong friend and business partner, NASCAR Sprint Cup driver T.J. Bell opened Speed RC in Mooresville’s Talbert Business Park. Their goal in making the shared dream a reality was to bring RC racing to Race City USA and open not only the best indoor dirt racing facility in the country but also operate the largest hobby shop with the biggest in-person and online sales departments on the web.

The facility, named Speed RC, fills a void left when the last of several other RC tracks in the area closed five years ago. For

Below: With different track layouts and a surface that is second to none, everyone who comes in to try the sport, practice or race at Speed RC finds a variety of ways to have a good time.

Global RallyCross driver, Scott Speed, along with his lifelong friend and business partner, NASCAR Sprint Cup driver T.J. Bell, opened Speed RC in Mooresville's Talbert Business Park.

Co-owner T.J. Bell works on getting his car just right.

those who enjoyed the sport as a hobby, finding a race meant driving five or six hours to the next closest track.

“What T.J. and I wanted to do was bring RC racing back to the center of where motorsports is the biggest, and that’s Mooresville,” Speed explains. “We are racers ourselves, so we know what the racing community wants. With different track layouts and a surface that is second to none, everyone who comes in to try the sport, practice or race will find they get the best.

Speed says they opened the track because RC racing is the most accessible and cheapest form of racing there is, and they wanted as many people as possible

to experience it. “If you ask almost any racer out there where he got started, he will tell you that even before trying something like go karts, as it was for me, we almost all raced RC cars,” he adds.

“I remember first trying it when I was a kid with my dad and his car, which had the road runner right across it, and I got hooked. RC racing gave me the confidence to try bigger things so when I left for Europe at age 19 to chase the dream of being a professional driver, RC racing got away from me, but the memories stayed.”

Speed goes on to say that when racing is in your blood, you’ll race almost anything.

“What makes RC cars so much fun is that

51 lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

it can be exactly what you want it to be.

Novices will do it just as a hobby, and serious guys will do it as another way of competing.”

A four-time Indy winner’s home away from home

On any given week, seated at one of Speed RC’s 90 pit stations or positioned high on the driver’s bridge, you’ll find fourtime Indy 500 winner, Rick Mears.

“I have raced all of my life in the IndyCars, and RC racing now helps keep racing a part of my day,” Mears explains.

“What RC racing does is helps me take my mind off business, tinker in the garage and have some good, clean fun. I’ll tell you what, it can be intense and even more nerve wracking than being behind the wheel of a real car used to be for me.”

Mears says it’s no secret that he’s also in it for the competition.

“Am I competitive? Absolutely,” he adds. “At the end of the day that’s why I was in racing in the first place, and when I retired, it was because I felt that the desire to be competitive had gone away. I always said if I wasn’t going to be as competitive it wasn’t going to be as much fun but, well, with RC racing, I have a whole new way of

Both Scott Speed and Rick Mears agree that RC racers, whether they are novices trying rental stock class cars for the first time or seasoned veterans who have spent countless hours modifying everything, are some of the nicest, most welcoming hobbyists in all of motorsports.

competing not only with myself but with the other cars out there.”

Both Speed and Mears agree that RC racers, whether they are novices trying rental stock class cars for the first time or seasoned veterans who have spent countless hours modifying everything, are some of the nicest, most welcoming hobbyists in all of motorsports.

“For sure, what I have found here is that the people who come through the door are the coolest on the planet,” Speed says with a smile. “It’s a great outlet for a family, and a good thing to do either as an adult or with your kids because you never know what will spark an interest in your kids.

And for everyone, it’s fun, and that’s the bottom line.”

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䈀䔀䄀唀吀夀

倀䠀伀吀伀䜀刀䄀倀䠀夀 52

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Living Well Your local resource for health and wellness services near you Audiology Piedmont HealthCare Megan Mathis-Webb, AuD Kathryn Curtis, AuD

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Vein Specialists Carolina Vein Associates Specializing in the Treatment of Varicose and Spider Veins 206 Joe Knox Ave, Suite H, Mooresville, NC 28117 • 704-684-4511 www.carolinaveinassociates.com Free Vein Screenings!

Homeport

by Lori K. Tate photography by Ken Noblezada

60

The living room of Karl and Shannon Plattner's Davidson home features a folding-glass wall that opens to a cozy screened-in porch. The result is a relaxed feel that resonates throughout the home.

lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

Karl and Shannon Plattner’s Davidson home has the right mix of amenities for their family and friends

S

ometimes it’s good to wait for things.

Not only does it allow you to enjoy the anticipation, but it gives you time to think about exactly what you want and in many cases, need.

Karl and Shannon Plattner of Davidson know this all too well, as they purchased the lot for their Davidson home eight years ago — right before the economy tanked. Karl, owner of Plattner Custom Builders, decided to wait things out before beginning construction.

While they were disappointed that they had to delay building their home, the extra time allowed them to thoughtfully create an environment that their family will enjoy for years to come.

HOME COURT

Advantage

61

lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

Left and Below: The dining room features custom woodwork and two simple pendaliers.

Above: The kitchen opens to the living room and dining room, giving the first floor a comfortable gathering space.

Right: Shannon and Karl with their children — Jacob, Halle and Colby.

Custom bells and whistles

62

A year ago this past July, Karl and Shannon, along with their three children (Jacob, 13; Colby, 11; and Halle, 6) moved into their new home. From the curb, the Plattner’s house has the appearance of a quaint European cottage, but inside you’ll find an abundance of space arranged in an open floor plan that’s perfect for modern living.

“We really wanted it [our home] to be comfortable. We wanted it to be a place

lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

Wooden beams on the ceiling add even more warmth to the space.

where, obviously as a builder, people can see your work, so a little bit of it involved putting some nice touches on it so we could show what we can do,” explains Karl. “But at the same time, having lived in Davidson for 15 years, we’re not the type that wanted to build a place, stay in it for two years and then move on. This was going to be a place we where were going to stick around.”

Featuring a white and gray color scheme with walnut floors, the kitchen, living room and dining room create one large space, defined subtly by function.

However, Karl and Shannon took the open space idea further by including a screenedin porch off of the living room that can be accessed through a folding glass wall, which can be opened to enlarge the space even more. This past summer when they threw a party for their neighborhood, the opened doors allowed their guests to easily congregate.

“We like to entertain a lot,” says Karl. “We like for the kids to bring their friends here.”

Continued on page 65

LINDAGRIFFETHINTERIORS 355 Pine Road, Davidson North Carolina | 704 650 9511 | lindagriffeth@gmail.com | www.lindaginteriors.com

63

lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

Above: The upstairs of Southend Reclaimed has a Google feel, complete with a foosball table and a dart board.

Below: Paul Atkinson , co-owner and CEO of Davidson’s Southend Reclaimed.

Above: Hand hewn beams of mixed hardwood give the entry room a welcoming feeling.

Something Old, Something New

Southend Reclaimed brings history to life Paul Atkinson is in the history business. As co-owner and CEO of Davidson’s Southend Reclaimed, he offers clients rare pieces of brick and wood from the past to incorporate into the homes of today.

He, along with Karl Plattner of Plattner Custom Builders, recently renovated the 1920’s bungalow that previously housed MerrillJennings Galleries in Davidson. “This house originally belonged to the Jetton family,” explains Atkinson. “They raised four kids here.”

Now the home serves as the headquarters of his company, as well as a portfolio of what Atkinson and his team can do. Founded 12 years ago in Charlotte, Southend Reclaimed has a lumber yard and saw mill in Scotland Neck, North Carolina near Greenville. The company has more than a million boards of reclaimed wood stored there.

In the Davidson office, more than 20 wood products have been installed from riverrecovered hickory floors to antique heart pine beams to grey barn siding walls. And every

64 lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

room has a different type of wood floor. While that might sound like an overdone ski lodge, the result is instead a clean, transitional look — perfect for the mountains, beach and the piedmont. Meghan Allison, an interior designer in Davidson, blended modern, yet classic, furnishings into the space to complete the look.

Two purchasing agents travel around the country looking for reclaimed wood and brick at Southend Reclaimed. Atkinson says the popularity of using reclaimed wood in architecture grows more every year, which makes procuring the wood a competitive business.

“We always inspect whatever structure we’re going to possibly buy the wood out of. We offer a certificate of authenticity for clients who want it. It tells you where the wood is from,” explains Atkinson. “The treasure hunt is a lot of fun. You’re always on the hunt to find something unique that no one else has and that is just beautiful.”

— Lori K. Tate, photography by Ken Noblezada

Above: River recovered hickory on the floor and brown barn wood on the walls add texture to the powder room.

Below: Reclaimed brick adds more character to the space.

Halle's store is open for business.

Continued from page 63

One of the best places to enjoy the home’s fresh look is its dining area.

Painted in Sherwin Williams’ Incredible

TIME TO

White, the room is anchored by a custom table by Kauffman & Co., based in Charlotte. “Since we wanted a more casual eating room with a refined rustic look, I asked Jonathan [Kauffman] to make a large table with a family friendly, gray-washed finish that would complement the dining room chairs we already had,” explains Shannon, who had their Hickory White mahogany chairs chalk painted to blend into the look.

The dining room hutch was built by CountyLine Kitchens, a group of Amish carpenters in Ohio. They also built the cabinets for the home. “I sent pictures and dimensions to them and then ordered hardware online that we added,” explains Shannon.

The master suite is located on the first floor, while the children’s bedrooms, a small guest room and a lounge area for the kids is upstairs. Karl and his team built nooks into each of the kids’ rooms to add a touch of whimsy. His 6-year-old daughter has turned hers into a make-believe store, while his sons use theirs for sleepover spaces. His oldest son also does most of his homework in his. It’s nice when your dad is a builder.

Cozy

Fun and function

The basement of the 5,200-square-foot home adds even more entertaining space, and features reclaimed interior brown barn wood from Davidson’s Southend Reclaimed. The weathered wood combined with walls painted in Sherwin Williams’ Agreeable Gray create a warm and inviting space, perfect for winter afternoons.

Stained concrete floors and a bar with a vertical glass tile backsplash and The basement of the 5,200-square-foot home adds even more entertaining space, and features reclaimed interior brown barn wood from Davidson’s Southend Reclaimed.

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65 lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

honed granite countertops reinforce the idea that this home was designed for entertaining family and friends. “A lot of granite companies are moving toward this direction,” explains Karl of the honed granite.

“It’s just a little bit of a rougher finish.”

The fun continues outside where Karl had an outdoor basketball court built behind the detached garage that houses his office. Painted in blue and orange, the

Above and Below: Intricate details can be found throughout the home.

Above: Reclaimed brown barn wood is also featured in the basement's powder room.

Below: Jacob and Colby play a one-on-one basketball game on their home court.

66 lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

court pays homage to his alma mater, the University of Illinois.

“This is my favorite part of the house,” says Karl. “Our kids were very comfortable at our last house, so I had to entice them with something, so we put in a basketball court.”

The home’s mix of fun, function and detail make it a place where people of all

ages enjoy being, and that’s exactly what the Plattners wanted.

“For me, building all of these custom homes, I get to see all of these amazing homes. I wanted to do some unique things in the house to make it special as well,” says Karl. “When you’re building a custom home, it’s about doing things a little bit differently than your typical house.”

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Give us Your Best Shot!

Of Lake Norman, that is.

Enter your best photos of Lake Norman in our new “Eyes on the Lake” Photo Contest and win great prizes!

Here’s how the contest works:

1 2

Like Lake Norman CURRENTS on facebook

Every Monday morning we’ll post the view of the week and ask you to send us your best shot of that view of Lake Norman. (sunsets, sunrise, boating, sailing, piers, docks, birds, etc)

3

Every morning we’ll share your photo on our facebook page and ask our FB friends to vote for their favorite by clicking “like” under that photo. (feel free to share our page and encourage your friends to vote for your photo)

4

The photo with the most likes for the week will be announced on Friday afternoon. The winner will receive a gift certificate from one of our valued advertisers!

Contest begins Monday, October 5 so like our page and get your photo fingers ready. We can’t wait to see Lake Norman from your point of view!

JUST CLICK IT AND SEND IT!

Whether you’re a professional photographer, part time shutterbug, or phone photo fanatic, everyone can participate and win!

www.lncurrents.com www.facebook.com/LNCurrents www.twitter.com/LNCurrents 67 lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

68 lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

Photography courtesy of Friends of the Animals

Attention dog lovers, this event is for you. In 2011 Joanna Copio, a local middle school student, accepted a challenge from her principal to demonstrate leadership and make a difference in her community. With that incentive, Pawz Too Run was born, and it was so successful that the event has continued each year.

Copio, who aspires to be a Grab your pooch and head to Davidson for Pawz Too veterinarian and now studies Run on October 10. animal science in college, is excited about this year’s event. “We continue to see how we can make Pawz Too Run better,” she says.

The event is on October 10 and will take place on the Village Green in downtown Davidson. The Celebrated Dog Walk is the main attraction. The walk kicks off at 10 a.m. and will benefit the local not-for-profit Friends of the Animals, whose mission is to promote responsible pet ownership, provide low cost spay/neuter services and promote adoption of homeless pets. To carry out its mission, the organization plans to build a pet education and adoption center in the coming year to serve the Lake Norman region.

Prizes for dogs will be awarded for the top three dogs who cross the finish line, and a number of dog contests have been added after the dog walk, including best eyes, best companion look-alike, best pet trick and more.

5th Annual Pawz Too Run, October 10, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (registration begins at 9 a.m.), Davidson Village Green, www.friendsoftheanimals.net.

Ada Jenkins FIRE 2015

Support Ada Jenkins by eating barbecue on Saturday, October 24. Enjoy a cornhole tournament, a kids’ fun zone, a barbecue contest and then barbecue with all of the fixins’. Yum! Based in Davidson, the mission of Ada Jenkins is to improve the quality of life for the residents of the Lake Norman community through the integrated delivery of health, education and human services. Help your neighbor by eating some ‘cue.

Ada Jenkins FIRE 2015, October 24, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., $10 per person, Ada Jenkins, 212 Gamble Street, Davidson, www.adajenkins.org.

North Carolina Watercolor Society’s Annual Juried Exhibit and Convention Mooresville Arts will be hosting the North Carolina Watercolor Society’s Annual Juried Exhibit and Convention October 10-11. The exhibit runs from October 11-November 25. Juror Linda Baker is one of the leading artists in the United States today and chose 70 paintings for the exhibition out of 350 submissions. Several artists from the CURRENTS’ readership area were selected.

NCWS has held this exhibit yearly in various communities for the past 70 years.

During this exhibit, Trackside Pottery will hold its one-day sale on October 17 from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. at The Depot. Mooresville Arts will have a special reception featuring Trackside Pottery and the Watercolor Society of North Carolina on October 17 from 6-8 p.m. at The Depot.

North Carolina Watercolor Society’s Annual Juried Exhibit and Convention (convention is October 11-November 25, exhibit is October 10-11), The Depot, 103 W. Center Avenue, Mooresville, www.magart.org.

Photography courtesy of Mooresville Arts

5th Annual Pawz Too Run

compiled by Lori K. Tate

The Big Three

Pawz Too Run, watercolors and FIRE

Currently

Currently

North Carolina Watercolor Society’s Annual Juried Exhibit and Convention will be held in Mooresville during October.

69 lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

A month of things to do in the Lake Norman area Date Night

CONCERTS Cornelius Concert Series (October 10) A Deeper Shade of Blue performs blue grass and blue grass gospel From Monroe, North Carolina, this group has been playing together for 14 years and has become quite popular in North Carolina.

5:30 p.m. Love offering suggested. Front lawn of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, Cornelius, www.mtzionumc.net.

Music at St. Alban’s (October 18) The Bechtler Ensemble Piano Trio brings together a mosaic of Eastern European masters such as Dvorak, Enescu and Prokofiev. Pianist Cynthia Lawing, violinist Joseph Meyer and cellist Tanja Bechtler are sure to inspire and surprise you with a few standard works as well as some unique gems. 3 p.m. General admission $15, students and young adults under 25 $10, seniors (62+)$10, children under 12 free. St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 301 Caldwell Lane, Davidson, www. musicatstalbansdavidson.org.

Lake Norman Big Band (October 19) The Lake Norman Big Band plays every third Monday night at The Finish Line Restaurant in Mooresville. The show features favorite hits from the big band era and more. 7-9 p.m. $5 cover.

Call 704.664.2695 for reservations. The Finish Line Restaurant, 125 Morlake Drive, Mooresville, www.thelakenormanbigband.org.

Performing Arts Live of Iredell — Mike Farris (October 24) Mike Farris released the critically acclaimed Salvation in Lights, which married old time roots gospel sounds with his own unique arrangements that were mainly inspired

by New Orleans, Stax and the blues. In 2008 he won the Americana Music Association’s “New & Emerging artist of the Year” award and started to make a name for himself as a dynamic performer.

7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 plus 6.75 percent sales tax. Mac Gray Auditorium 474 North Center Street, Statesville, www.PALofIredell.com.

Davidson College Chorale Fall Concert (October 30) Davidson’s premier choral ensemble performs their fall concert-for the first time ever in Duke Family Performance Hall, singing challenging repertoire on the themes of life, hope, heartache, joy and love. 7 p.m. Free. Duke Family Performance Hall, www.davidson.edu.

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Rachmaninoff Vespers (November 2) Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil is celebrating its 100th anniversary of the writing and premiere of the timeless Vespers, a work that has been described as his finest achievement and called the “greatest musical achievement of the Russian Orthodox Church.”The Davidson College Choral Arts Society joins with Davidson Singers to perform the hour-long masterpiece sung in its original Church Slavonic. 3 p.m. $13.99. Duke Family Performance Hall, www.davidson.edu.

lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

Girls’ Night Out

EVENTS 2015 Rural Hill Amazing Maize Maze (Through November 1) Get lost in our giant seven-acre corn maze featuring more than two miles of interconnecting paths, one of the largest in the Southeast. The whole of Rural Hill’s 265 acres is available during maze hours. You can take a hayride around the farm, play a round of corn-hole, explore the historic site, play in the mini-mazes, have a picnic, hike the trails, pick a pumpkin (in October) and more. Fri-Sun 10 a.m.5 p.m. Prices vary. Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville, www.ruralhill.net.

The 15th Annual All American Dog Show (October 3) Watch the area’s dogs strut their stuff for an evening of fun. 4-7 p.m. Free. Bailey Road Park Track & Field, Cornelius, www. cornelius.org.

The Carolina Renaissance Festival (October 3-November 22) The Carolina Renaissance Festival is a medieval amusement park with theaters, a village marketplace, an interactive circus, an arts and crafts fair, a jousting tournament, and a feast — all rolled into one non-stop, day-long family adventure. Sat-Sun 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. $23; children $11; children under 5 free. Tickets purchased at the gate are $1 more.

16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville, www. royalfaires.com.

Fifth Annual Paws Too Run (October 10) The day starts off with a 3K Celebrated Dog Walk (1.5 K/ 1 mile optional) followed by dog contests and awards. Vendors will be on hand with items and services focused on the health and well-being of people and their pets. Adoptable Dogs will be showcased by area rescue organizations and will participate in a parade of rescue dogs.

The event will make a difference in the future of animal welfare in our community by helping Friends of the Animals build a state-of-the-art Pet Education and Adoption Center. The new center is under design now. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Davidson Village Green, www.friendsoftheanimals.net.

Yoga on the Green (October 11) The Bindu and Carolinas HealthCare System are offering free yoga, local food, and live music on the Davidson Village Green in support of the Davidson Farmer’s Market. Everyone is invited to participate in yoga classes followed by a live concert by Stolen Hearts. Online registration is strongly encouraged. 3:30-7:30 p.m. Free.

Davidson Village Green, http://www. davidsonfarmersmarket.org/yoga/.

Carolina BalloonFest (October 16-18) Enjoy one of the most colorful festivals around, as hot air balloons take to the skies three days in a row. Proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society — Relay for Life of Statesville.

Ticket prices vary. Friday, October 16, 3-8:30 p.m.;

Family Fun

Me Time

Saturday, October 17, 7 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Sunday, October 18, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Statesville Regional Airport, 260 Hangar Drive, Statesville, www. carolinaballoonfest.com.

United We Bowl for United Way (October 17) Join the Town of Cornelius and support United Way of Central Carolina’s 2015 Community Campaign by participating in United We Bowl for United Way. This is a great opportunity to enjoy a fun-filled afternoon with co-workers, family and friends. Noon- 4 p.m. SpareTime, Huntersville, www.cornelius.org.

LaketoberFest Music & Brew Festival (October 17) Enjoy art and craft vendors, as well as live music, hayrides and fire works. 4-9 p.m. Free admission and parking. Bailey Road Park, Cornelius, www.cornelius.org/parc.

Huntersville United Methodist Church Fall Community Extravaganza (October 17) The 15th Annual Fall Community Extravaganza features a pancake breakfast (7:30-9 a.m.) followed by live music, local vendor sales, barbecue, car show, silent and live auction, bake sale and children’s activities such as face painting, a bounce house, games, and trick or treating. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Huntersville United Methodist Church, 14005 Stumptown Road, Huntersville, www.humconline.org.

Fifth Annual Fall Children’s Voice Luncheon (October 20) Support Dove House Children’s Advocacy Center by celebrating “Ordinary Heroes” at this annual luncheon. Reservations are required. 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Tickets TBA. The Cove Church, 197 Langtree Road, Mooresville, www. dovehousecac.org.

Lake Norman YMCA's 40th Birthday Bash (October 23) Celebrate the 40th birthday of the

Lake Norman YMCA with heavy hors d'oeuvres, a DJ and dancing, silent and live auctions, and a short walk down memory lane highlighting stories of impact since 1975. Cocktail attire. 7 p.m. $80 per person. River Run Country Club, Davidson, LakeNormanEvents@ymcacharlotte.org.

Ghost Walk Haunted Trail (October 23-24) Travel through Historic Latta Plantation at night as you venture past an explosive Civil War battlefield, survive a soldiers’ cemetery, escape a ghostly prison camp and enjoy being frightened in the spirit of Halloween.

This haunted trail is not for children. 7-10 p.m. $10. Historic Latta Plantation, 5225 Sample Road, Huntersville, www.lattaplantation.org.

Ada Jenkins Center FIRE 2015 BBQ (October 24) Enjoy eating barbecue, a barbecue competition, a corn hole tournament and a lot of activities for children. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. rain or shine. $10. Ada Jenkins Center, 212 Gamble Street, Davidson, www.adajenkins.org.

Town of Davidson Halloween March (October 30) March through downtown Davidson in your Halloween best. Businesses give out candy. 5 p.m. Free. Downtown Davidson, www. davidsoncommunitycalendar.org.

All Hallow’s Eve Family Day (October 31) Enjoy a celebration of all things Halloween at this fun Family Day. Children will be able to take part in many activities including: trick-or-treating, kids’ games, pumpkin painting, face painting, storytelling, kids’ crafts, learning the history of Halloween and costume contests. Dress like your favorite historical character for a chance to win a special prize.10 a.m.-2 p.m. $8, $7 seniors and students, ages 5 and under free. Historic Latta Plantation, 5225 Sample Road, Huntersville, www.lattaplantation.org.

Downtown Trick or Treat (Date TBA) Enjoy tons of children (all dressed up) and their parents having a great time in Downtown Mooresville. Businesses even hand out candy.

3-5 p.m. Free. Downtown Mooresville, www. downtownmooresville.com.

FILM Indies + Docs (October 2-3, 23-24) The 100-Year-Old Man (October 2-3) is based on the internationally best-selling novel by Jonas Jonasson. It is the unlikely story of a 100-yearold man who decides it’s not too late to start over. For most people it would be the adventure of a lifetime, but Allan Karlsson’s unexpected journey is not his first. For a century he’s made the world uncertain, and now he is on the loose again. Love & Mercy (October 23-24) presents an unconventional portrait of Brian Wilson, the mercurial singer, songwriter and leader of The Beach Boys. Set against the era defining the catalog of Wilson’s music, the film intimately examines the personal voyage and ultimate salvation of the icon whose success came at extraordinary personal cost. Watch these films on a 17-foot screen in 5.1 surround sound. Friday and Saturday 7 p.m., Sunday 3 p.m., $9. Warehouse Performing Arts Center, 9216-A Westmoreland Road, Cornelius, www. studioccinema.com.

GALLERIES Brick Row Art Gallery Various exhibitions.

Tue-Sat 10 a.m.-6 p.m. or by appointment. 21325 Catawba Avenue, Cornelius, look for Brick Row Art Gallery on Facebook.

Cornelius Arts Center Awakening unites the art of four female photographers from across the United States for a visual exploration of the internal human experience. Artists represented include S. Gayle Stevens, Diana H. Bloomfield, Aspen Hochhalter and Christina Z. Anderson.

(Through November 23). Mon-Thu 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri-Sat 9 a.m.-noon. 19725 Oak Street, Cornelius, www.cornelius.org. GET DATES “Cotton” Ketchie’s Landmark Galleries Various exhibitions. The work of watercolorist ‘Cotton’ Ketchie. Mon-Sat 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 212 North Main Street, Mooresville, 704.664.4122, www. landmark-galleries.com.

Depot Art Gallery North Carolina Watercolor Society’s Annual Juried Exhibit

and Convention (October 10-November 25).

Mooresville Arts will be hosting the North Carolina Watercolor Society’s Annual Juried Exhibit and Convention October 10-11. The exhibit runs from October 11-November 25.

103 W. Center Avenue, Mooresville, www. magart.org.

Foster’s Frame and Art Gallery Various exhibitions. Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat 10a.m.4p.m. 403 N. Old Statesville Road, Huntersville, 704.948.1750.

Four Corners Framing and Gallery Various exhibitions. Tue-Fri 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 112 S. Main Street, Mooresville, 704.662.7154, www.fcfgframing.com.

Lake Country Gallery Various exhibitions.

Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Exit 36 – Mooresville, between Belk and Kohl’s, 704.664.5022, www.lakecountrygallery.net.

Sanctuary of Davidson Various exhibitions.

108 S. Main Street, Davidson, www. sanctuaryofdavidson.com.

Tropical Connections Various exhibitions. TueFri 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. or by appointment. 230 N. Main Street, Mooresville, www.tropicalconnectionslakenorman.com.

The Van Every/Smith Galleries Various exhibitions. Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat-Sun noon-4 p.m. Davidson College, The Van Every/ Smith Galleries, 315 N. Main Street, Davidson, www.davidsoncollegeartgalleries.org.

MONTHLY EVENTS Carolina Raptor Center Live bird presentations, flight shows, behind-the-scenes tours and more take place at Carolina Raptor Center throughout the month. Visit carolinaraptorcenter.org for more details.

Downtown Mooresville Cruise-In (First Saturday) Downtown Mooresville shines with chrome, glitter and sparkling paint during the monthly Cruise-In. It’s a great chance to show off your car and chat with other car enthusiasts, surrounded by the architecturally historic backdrop of Downtown Mooresville. Downtown Mooresville – Broad Street, 4-8p.m., free, www. downtownmooresville.com.

Lunch in the Lot (every Wednesday and Friday) Feast from a food truck in Old Town Cornelius at Oak Street Mill. Tables and chairs are set up at Kadi Fit so you can enjoy your lunch with friends. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Look for Old Town Cornelius on Facebook.

Davidson Farmer’s Market (Every Saturday) 9 a.m.-noon. Free. Next to Town Hall between Main and Jackson streets in downtown Davidson, www.davidsonfarmersmarket.org.

Downtown Mooresville Farmers Market (Every Saturday) This market features local produce, meats, eggs and more. 8 a.m.-noon.

Corner of Church Street and East Iredell Avenue, Mooresville, www.downtownmooresville.com.

Richard’s Coffee Shop & Veterans Museum (Every Saturday) Enjoy a community music jam every Saturday. 9 a.m.- noon. Free. Richards Coffee Shop & Veterans Museum, 165 N. Main Street,

Mooresville, www.downtownmooresville.com.

SPORTS Davidson College Football It’s time to tailgate in Davidson and cheer for the Wildcats. Valparaiso (October 3, 1 p.m.), Kentucky Wesleyan College (October 10, 1 p.m.), Marist (October 24, 1 p.m.), Campbell (October 31, 3 p.m.). Davidson College, www. davidsonwildcats.com.

Davidson College Men’s Soccer Get ready for some great action on the pitch. George Washington (October 3, 7 p.m.), Fordham (October 7, 7 p.m.), Saint Joseph’s (October 21, 7 p.m.), George Mason (October 31, 7 p.m.).

Davidson College, www.davidsonwildcats.com.

Davidson College Women’s Soccer If you’re still on a high from the U.S. Women’s World Cup victory, check out women’s soccer in your back yard. VCU (October 1, 7 p.m.), Duquesne (October 11, 2 p.m.), George Mason (October 18, 2 p.m.), St. Bonaventure (October 22, 7 p.m.), Saint Joseph’s (October 25, 2 p.m.). Davidson College, www.davidsonwildcats.com.

THEATRE Don’t Cry for Me Margaret Mitchell (October 1-18) A hilarious, fast paced comedy by Charlotte-based playwrights, Don’t Cry for Me Margaret Mitchell is set in 1939 and is the (almost) true story of how three sleepdeprived men — a legendary Hollywood producer, a new director, a famed scriptwriter and a loyal secretary — had just seven days to re-write script for the American classic, Gone With The Wind. To make matters worse, the screenwriter has never read the book, the director was busy with Dorothy and a host of munchkins and the producer is losing money. As the public eagerly anticipates the release of the movie, these Hollywood insiders lock themselves in their office, ordering cases of bananas and peanuts for “brain food” until they have a new script for one of the greatest movies of all time. Produced by Davidson Community Players. Thu-Sat 8 p.m., Sun 2 p.m.

Advance Tickets — adult $20, senior (65+), $18, students (under 21) $12. Armour Street Theatre, 307 Armour Street, Davidson, www. davidsoncommunityplayers.org.

The Birds (October 21-25) Two fellows reject America, declare God an illegitimate ruler and set out to establish a paradise among the birds. Professor Keyne Cheshire provides this new translation of Aristophanes’ comedy, preserving the subversive, riotous humor of its native Greek. Expect a fun production marked by inventive gags, a healthy dose of filth and a live rock band. Produced by the Davidson College Theatre Department. Wed-Thu 7:30 p.m.; Fri-Sat 8 p.m., Sun 2 p.m. $6-$17.61. Duke Family Performance Hall, www.davidson.edu.

Pippin (October 21-25) Students from Community School of Davidson High School and members of the community present Pippin, a Broadway musical classic. Directed

by Melissa Ohlman-Roberge. October 21,22, 25, 7 p.m.; October 23-24, 8 p.m.; October 24-25, 2 p.m. $9 in advance, $15 at the door.

CSD Arts Space, 404 Armour Street, Davidson, 704.897.8061.

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lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

Lori’s Larks

I

by Lori K. Tate photography courtesy of Elizabeth Kovaks

love a good ghost story. Whether or not you believe in ghosts, you have to admit that the stories are usually pretty good. That was certainly the case on the Ghost Walk of Davidson tour I recently took. During this walking tour, I learned a lot about the history of the area, and I heard stories of heartache, greed and sorrow — better than anything I’ve seen on television recently.

Founded by Ginny Grzech, a native of the Lake Norman area (her family goes back to 1721 here), Ghost Walk of Davidson began on July 2, 2010 when she gave her first tour.

Ginny Grzech incorporates a lot of history into her tours.

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Spooky Fun

Editor Lori K. Tate and Ginny Grzech of Ghost Walk of Davidson exchange spooky tales.

“I spent about two years, on and off, researching the history of the town,” says Grzech. “The ghost stories were those that have been passed down to me either through family or older residents in Davidson and surrounding areas.”

My friend, Elizabeth Kovaks, and I decided to take the tour on a Friday evening after having dinner in downtown Davidson.

We made reservations with Grzech earlier and met her in front of The Soda Shop at 7 p.m. We were the only two on the tour that night, but Grzech says she has had crowds as large as 65 people — usually visitors to the area and transplants who want to learn more about the history of the region.

She offers a north walk and a south walk.

For our tour, she gave us the north walk peppered with a few south stories.

She told her first story, involving a murder and the railroad track, near the Davidson Depot. Then we returned to Main Street, where we stopped occasionally to hear more stories, many pertaining to Davidson College.

My favorite was the tale involving General Davidson and the Revolutionary War, but you’ll have to take the tour to hear the details.

lake norman currents | October 2015 | www.lncurrents.com

Ghost Walk of Davidson takes a look at the town’s paranormal side By the time it was dark, we were standing outside of the Davidson College Cemetery, a spooky location at night regardless of your stance on ghosts. Grzech used the light of her phone for a haunting effect as she told her final stories of the evening. It worked on me, as I felt more than one chill tiptoe up and down my spine. Needless to say, I was happy to return to the lighted part of Main Street and my poltergeist-free minivan.

The Ghost Walk of Davidson can take up to two hours (give or take some time depending on how large the crowd is).

Grzech offers the tours on Friday and Saturday evenings, and Tuesday through Saturday during the month of October. Due to surgery she had at the end of September, she will be unable to resume tours until October 17, but that still gives you plenty of time to get your spooky on for Halloween.

While we didn’t see any ghosts during the evening, Elizabeth and I had a great time learning more about the history of Davidson. We both wondered if certain stories were really true, as ghost stories are at their core a “seeing is believing” kind of thing. However, both of us had heard a couple of them previously, so maybe that gives them more validity — maybe not.

Either way, it doesn’t really matter because Grzech gives an interesting and informative tour, and a walk in downtown Davidson is always a good thing.

THE SCOOP

Ghost Walk of Davidson tours will resume October 17. Please check the Ghost Walk of Davidson Facebook page to confirm. Reservations are required, and the tour begins in front of The Soda Shop in downtown Davidson at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person.