Disney’s Aladdin Comes to Charlotte
The hit Broadway musical Disney’s Aladdin will come to theatrical life at the Belk Theater Sept. 10-29. The show is produced by Disney Theatrical Productions and features music by Tony Award and eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken, lyrics by two-time Oscar winner Howard Ashmant, three-time Tony Award and three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice and four-time Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin. The performance has been adapted from the Academy Award-winning animated Disney film. Both matinee and evening shows will be available. Visit BlumenthalArts.org to purchase tickets.
Inaugural Flow Fest
End your summer by relaxing with friends and family at the U.S. National Whitewater Center’s inaugural Flow Fest. The two-day festival will take place Sept. 21 and 22 and will offer an extensive range of activities, exhibitors, workshops and yoga classes. Flow Fest will combine elements of wellness and mindfulness to bring attendees a peaceful and nourishing weekend for your body, mind and soul. The schedule of activities includes everything from guided hikes to sunrise yoga, hula hoop flow, yogastrology and more! Flow Fest is open to the public and does not require tickets. The majority of the practices and workshops are free to participate in, however, a select few have spatial limitations or registration requirements.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library Now Has an In-House Historian
In July, local historian Dr. Tom Hanchett began his first day of what will be a year-long position at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library. Tom is a former historian at the Levine Museum of the New South and now serves as the first in-house historian at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library. He offers public presentations, guided walking tours and other events that the public can enjoy. His next event is on Sept. 19 at 6:30 p.m. in Morrison Library’s Carolina Room. The event will feature Tom’s vast knowledge of Charlotte’s little-known country music roots.
Congratulations to Our Bistro La Bon Contest Winner
Congratulations to Courtney Kiser, the winner of our Bistro La Bon Father’s Day gift card giveaway. In June, South Charlotte Lifestyle readers had the opportunity to participate in our Father’s Day social media giveaway via our Instagram page. A few weeks later, a random winner was chosen. Thank you to everyone who entered and to Bradford Pear Marketing for managing our social media. If you aren’t following us on Instagram, find us at @SouthCharlotteLifestyle for more fun giveaways and to stay up to date on our current articles.
The Great Pumpkin Fest at Carowinds
Fall brings more than just an overabundance of Pumpkin Spice Lattes and a steady decline of temperatures. Each autumn, Carowinds invites you to join Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the entire Peanuts gang for The Great Pumpkin Fest, a family-friendly festival that features a costume parade, a hay bale maze, a tractor tour and more. The Great Pumpkin Fest is offered every Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 15 through Oct. 28. Need something a little spookier? SCarowinds returns Sept. 14. For more information about either fall offerings, visit Carowinds.com.
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In the magazine world, the September issue is the most anticipated arrival of the year. It’s the unofficial first look at this season’s fashion trends and predictions for the upcoming year. It’s the issue fashionistas can’t wait to get their hands on. So it is with much excitement that we present you, dear reader, with our own localized style and fashion issue.
This year, we are elated to feature Capitol, a luxury clothing boutique that offers designs from Valentino, Marc Jacobs, Gucci and Saint Laurent, as well as high-end jewelry and accessories. To showcase their beautiful styles and this season’s hottest looks, we went to the Duke Mansion for a photo shoot with one of Charlotte’s most recognizable media personalities, Barbara McKay.
If you’re in the need of a fashion-forward getaway, we’ve curated a style-focused trip to the Big Apple just in time for New York Fashion Week on Page XX.
We’ve also got a little something in store for the fashionistas out there who enjoy the fine arts. On Page XX, read about Charlotte’s own modern art museum, the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art.
So without further adieu, happy fall, South Charlotte, and please enjoy our annual style and fashion issue!
Lyn Coaldwell, Publisher
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Meet Charlotte Media Icon Barbara McKay
Charlotteans are well acquainted with Barbara McKay thanks to her 40-plus-year broadcasting career with local television station WBTV. Viewers have watched Barbara host a variety of segments including interviews with celebrities and cooking demonstrations as recently as this July when she was featured on the channel’s 70th-anniversary celebration programming. Barbara has further emerged as a lifestyle influencer with her blog, SimplyBarbaraMcKay.com.
In our interview, we focused on Barbara’s lifelong appreciation for the art of fashion design and how she makes a deep connection with certain fashion designers.
An Innate Sense of Style
Barbara affirms she was born with a passion for fashion. Her mother recognized it and nurtured it by creating handmade fashions for Barbara inspired by the looks she saw in magazines.
Barbara’s mother reinforced her appreciation for clean lines, dressing her daughter in hats, gloves and tailored coats from the time she was a toddler through high school. Her mother had so instilled a love of fashion that after graduating college, Barbara asked her to invest in a clothing store she wished to open.
Barbara details her astonishment at her mother’s career advice: “She laughed and said, ‘You don’t want to run a store. You want to be able to meet designers and have a store as your closet. I think you should do TV.’ Then I laughed because I had no TV training or experience. She stood over me and made me call personnel at WBTV, and the rest is my 41-year TV show history. Moms know best.”
Laura Vinroot and Capitol Boutique
In 1998, Laura Vinroot Poole created Capitol, her vision for a women’s clothing boutique that has made Charlotte one of the premier places in the world to shop for designer clothes. Acquiescing to repeated requests from her extensive clientele, Laura opened the only other Capitol location in Los Angeles’ prestigious Brentwood Country Mart.
Barbara credits Laura with “helping West Coast people love color, instead of wearing all black all the time. … She helps us evolve, stay young and wear what makes us all our best. Nikki Takemura Baber and all of the talented stylists at Capitol choose perfect new pieces to complement our existing wardrobes to keep us fashionable yet true to our own personal style.”
Laura shares Barbara’s ongoing commitment to head-to-toe fashion without crossing the line into costume. Barbara is also passionate about seeing fashion as an art form, choosing designs based on the connection she feels with the individual designer, their personal background stories, what inspires them to choose the fine fabrics they work with, bright color palettes and clothing lines that offer classic clothing choices with an artistic twist.
To achieve her flawless look, Barbara has relied on her inherited good genes and proper medical care. The latter became especially important following an accidental fall in early 2018. A timely intervention by famed cosmetic dentist and great friend Dr. Ross Nash in consultation with Dr. Raymond Haigney resulted in the appropriate recalibration and realignment of Barbara’s teeth. This was required to address the changes to her mouth the accident and the subsequent jaw surgery caused.
In her explanation of why she cares so much more about the thought process behind the creation of each garment than the label sewn inside, Barbara provides examples of aspirational fashion designers such as designer Dovima, creator of a treasured hand-painted coat Barbara owns. Other pieces in her collection are by Barbara Tfank, a designer who often designs bespoke pieces for royalty but derives the most pleasure and highest degree of artistic fulfillment from working with everyday people who appreciate her art form.
Barbara agreed to do a photo layout to accompany this article and handpicked the Duke Mansion as the setting.
“I chose The Duke Mansion as the setting for this photo shoot because this beautiful, historic landmark has been the location of some of my most favorite times in Charlotte from visiting when it was a private residence to attending many special occasions, including my daughter’s wedding rehearsal dinner. The gardens, the rooms and the staff are all magnificent. It symbolizes the grace, elegance and Southern hospitality of our city that I love. I am so proud to make South Charlotte my home.”
Among the designers featured in the photo layout is jewelry designer Irene Neuwirth, who has a store-in-store at Capitol’s Brentwood location in Los Angeles. Also featured are Of Rare Origin, founded by a mother and daughter team who have achieved renown for their Aviary Collection, a series featuring stylized bird motifs inspired by memories of the family matriarch feeding birds crumbs left from breakfast each morning. It is this type of inspiration drawn from personal experience that Barbara naturally gravitates to in choosing her fashions.
For more information on Capitol clothing and events where you can meet designers, visit Shop-Capitol.com.
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This past summer, Mainstream Boutique teamed up with the nationally recognized natural hair care company Rucker Roots and South Charlotte Lifestyle to offer locals a luxury shopping experience. The event offered guests free valet parking, exclusive deals, complimentary drinks and giveaways.
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Dr. Michael Smith and his team at Carolinas Natural Health Center host various events to help patients learn more about nutrition while dining out and shopping for foods to help them achieve good health and overcome positive health challenges. Visit CarolinasNaturalHealth.com to learn more about their care.
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Let’s Jet Over to the Big Apple
New York City is the place to go for all things fashion. It’s been long deemed one of the big four fashion pillars in the world, along with Paris, Milan and London. Being that it’s the only fashion mecca in the United States and direct flights are easy to come by (and typically decently priced), visiting the Concrete Jungle is a no-brainer—especially during New York Fashion Week!
That’s right. New York Fashion Week is upon us. From Sept. 6–14, high-end fashion designers from all over the world will gather in the city that never sleeps to showcase their spring and summer 2020 collections to buyers, press and the general public.
Contrary to popular belief, NYFW is not necessarily an exclusive affair. Although most shows are reserved for buyers and press only, there are some events the general public can attend.
To celebrate our Style issue, we’ve created a 48-hour NYC fashion itinerary. It features some NYFW events open to the public and other must-do and must-see fashion icons in NYC.
Sept. 12
8:30 a.m. – Breakfast at Ess-a-Bagel because it wouldn’t be a trip to New York without a bagel.
10 a.m. – Visit the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, dubbed New York’s most fashionable museum.
12 p.m. – Lunch at En Japanese Brasserie.
2 p.m. – Visit Mood Designer Fabrics, the three-story fabric store made popular by Project Runway.
3 p.m. – Visit Dover Street Market.
5:30 p.m. – Dinner at Carbone. One word: Pasta.
7 p.m. – Go to NYFW Show: Ontavia Roulette’s “Before the Death of a Child’s Imagination” Collection.
Sept. 13
10 a.m. – Brunch at Augustine, French cuisine in the Financial District.
11:30 a.m. – Tiffany & Co., a must-visit, of course.
12:30 p.m. – Walk down Seventh Avenue, also known as NYC’s Fashion Avenue.
2:30 p.m. – Visit the Metropolitan Museum. Book a tour with the Costume Institute for a little extra dose of fashion.
5:30 p.m. – Dinner at the Loyal. Be sure to book a reservation in advance.
7 p.m. – NYFW’s Fashion Industry Finest Independent Designers (FIFI FW) – features the best of the best in the independent fashion industry.
8:30 p.m. – Drinks at the Rose Bar in Gramercy Park Hotel.
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Located in south Tryon’s prominent corridor, the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art is home to more than 1,600 pieces by some of the most renowned mid-20th-century artists. Ranging from pop art to expressionism, Bechtler features pieces by Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Alberto Giacornetti, Le Corbusier and many more.
The Bechtler family, set in Switzerland, privately held the collection until 2010. The family cultivated their collection over a 70-year period in Europe. Andreas Bechtler inherited a section of the collection amassed by his family and kindly donated it to Queen City. Many of the most popular pieces featured in the museum were gifts from the artists to the Bechtler family.
At the entrance of the museum, guests are greeted by a glimmering 18-foot Firebird sculpture. This piece is covered in bits of colors and reflective mirrors that echo the Tryon Street surroundings. Artist Niki de Saint Phalle created the sculpture, offering hints to the corresponding collection awaiting visitors inside.
Thanks to Swiss architect Mario Botta, the building projects an intimate texture with open spaces and panoramas. His use of unassuming but sophisticated materials creates a truly one-of-a-kind feel. Botta is internationally recognized as one of the planet’s leading architects. Thus far, he has only accepted two projects in the United States: the Bechtler and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
The Bechtler’s mission is to share the joy and excellence of art so everyone can be inspired and informed while having their cultural and intellectual life enhanced. From special members-only events, Jazz at the Bechtler, school tours, family days, Modernism + Film, guest lectures and a commitment to making the museum accessible and inclusive to those with disabilities, the Bechtler is more than a museum; it is the cultural heart of Charlotte.
Located beside several of uptown Charlotte’s finest cultural facilities such as the Knight Theater, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture and the Mint Museum Uptown, the Bechtler Museum officially opened its doors in January 2010. Nearing its 10-year anniversary on Jan. 2, 2020, the museum is now displaying its international exhibition featuring Nomadic Murals: Tapestries of the Modern Era. The exhibition is an exploration and presentation of tapestries and rugs designed by artists usually associated with painting, sculpture and architecture. This exhibit features important tapestries by modern masters such as Rene Magritte, Marc Chagall, Diego Giacometti and many more. It will remain on display through Dec. 1.
The second floor of the museum features Sculpture from the Bechtler Collection. This collection showcases 20 pieces of work over four decades by 17 artists from six countries. The museum describes this collection as “… works by artists at their zenith and at the beginning of their career.” Showcased within it are all manners of material including ancient traditions like bronze, marble and iron, simple forms such as painted wood and more idiosyncratic approaches such as enamel on steel.
The Bechtler is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays, noon to 5 p.m.; and is closed Tuesdays and major holidays including New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Admission is $9 for adults; $7 for seniors, college students (with school ID) and educators; $5 for youth (11 to 18); and free for children (up to 10) and active-duty, retired military personnel, National Guard, Reserve and their families.
Tours: The Bechtler is a welcoming institution where teachers and students learn about modern art and the personal stories behind the artwork. The museum offers engaging and interactive school tours that are designed to foster students’ inquires, develop critical and creative thinking skills, make connections to other areas of curriculum and help create a visual language that promotes better reading and writing skills.
The Bechtler’s guided tours are led by specially trained docents and last 45 to 60 minutes. A minimum of 10 students is required for a guided tour. All group tours, guided or self-guided, must be scheduled with the museum’s education department at least 30 days in advance. The museum requires an adult chaperone to accompany each group of 10 students. Programs for students with disabilities are available by request.
Admission is $2 per student, chaperone or parent. After-school tours also are available at the rate of $2 per student. To book a tour, contact the Education Department at 704.353.9218 or email [email protected] at least 30 days in advance for all guided tours.
420 S. Tryon St., Charlotte
704.353.9200, Bechtler.org
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Five Things to Consider Before Putting Your Home on the Market
Selling your home doesn’t have to be a headache. But more often than not, it is. Why? One reason may be the plethora of misinformation that’s floating around on the web. Lucky for us, we recently had the opportunity to put all of that misinformation to rest when we sat down with Charlotte native and local real estate professional Hanes Walker. Hanes shared with us five pieces of advice that everyone can use as they consider putting their house on the market.
1. Consult an interior designer. It’s so important to hire a professional who knows how to build in or enhance value-adding amenities to your house. Should you change your furniture layout, raise the ceiling, tear down a wall or merely update the color palette? Interior designers can give you advice on whether or not those things are really needed.
2. Invest in quality product. Take the advice of the professionals you hire, and do not go cheap. Potential buyers will not be interested in a cheaply modeled or decorated space, so it’s better to invest in quality fixtures, appliances and finishings.
3. Appeal to the market. Remember that you are selling your house for someone else, not yourself. Since you are not staying here, it doesn’t need to be—nor should it be—your style.
4. Curb appeal is important. Make room in your budget to manicure your yard and exterior so it fits your price point. The truth is, no one is going to pay a luxury price for a less than stellar curb appeal.
5. Get your home inspected. Have a home inspection done upfront, and address anything that raises a red flag.
Learn more about Hanes and his more than 20 years of real estate experience as a real estate agent at SothebysRealty.com.
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Local High School Graduates Make Good
This month we are taking the opportunity to highlight two recent graduates from Charlotte-area high schools who have already achieved significant goals while making important contributions to the community.
Ashleigh Carrington Fields
Age: 18
School: East Mecklenburg
What made you decide to write your first book? Had you always wanted to be an author?
I wrote my first book, Caged, in two parts, writing the first section in January 2017 during my sophomore year. It was a journal of poetry I had written as a form of self-expression to cope with the depression I was dealing with due to the weight of schoolwork and the social pressures of fitting into high school. By the time I arrived at East Mecklenburg, I had transferred high schools three times, so it was difficult.
Was it difficult publishing something so personal?
Initially, I was a little reluctant to publish it because the poems were so personal, but then it occurred to me that many of my fellow classmates were probably dealing with the same issues and could benefit from knowing they weren’t alone. When I had my book launch party, several of my classmates came to me and said they did feel the same way and were grateful I had come forward. That was very gratifying.
Did you have other reasons for publishing the book?
As part of cotillion with the Deltas of Charlotte Foundation, all debutantes are expected to raise money for the foundation’s Scholarships for Charlotte Youth. I decided to publish Caged and donate the proceeds as a service project.
What are the names of your other books?
Mind Over Matter, which was published earlier this year; and The Lives They Lived, which is a collection of poems about people who have impacted my life the most. I plan to publish the third book during my freshman year at Howard University.
What do you plan to study at Howard?
Journalism.
Do you think you might follow in the steps of your mom, Erica Bryant, and work in broadcast journalism someday?
Right now, I’m focused on print journalism.
Gavin Gwaltney
Age: 18
School: Charlotte Latin
What first attracted you to the law?
My father is a lawyer, so I’ve always had exposure to the law, but in middle school, I really became interested in the way criminal law impacts people’s lives. I wanted to get involved in a program that had a real impact on people’s lives via the legal system.
When did you decide you definitely wanted to become a lawyer?
I’ve always said I wanted to be a lawyer, but my participation in Mecklenburg County Teen Court crystallized the fact that I want to be a prosecutor and represent the state or federal government.
What is Teen Court?
It is an alternative justice system for first-time misdemeanor offender teens sponsored by the Assistance League of Charlotte. Offenders must admit what they did to qualify for the program and are required to stand before a jury of their peers and tell their stories. Everyone involved in the process is a teen, and the goal of the program is to help the offender accept responsibility for what they did.
You were a member of Charlotte Latin’s debate club. How do you see that benefiting you in your career?
Much like my experience in Teen Court, being in debate club has helped me learn to tell a narrative succinctly, in a straightforward way, so that people can understand what is most important.
You’ve also had quite a distinguished career as a varsity golfer at Charlotte Latin. What has been your proudest accomplishment in the sport?
My proudest golf accomplishment is qualifying for and competing in the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee at Pebble Beach. This was a Pro-Am event and afforded me the opportunity to play alongside professional golfer Rocco Mediate.
Alex Donatelli
Age: 18
School: East Mecklenburg
You’ve been involved in various community activism projects while in high school. How did you decide where to focus your energy?
I focused on the LGBTQ community and food security. Being gay and a transgender person myself, I wanted to be involved in that community and act as a mentor to younger kids. As a Charlotte native, I’ve grown up witnessing the lack of upward mobility and the large wealth disparities that exist in the city; therefore, poverty and food security are issues I hold close to my heart.
What specific organizations have you volunteered with?
I ran my school’s Gender Sexuality Alliance club for three years, was heavily involved with Time Out Youth [Charlotte’s LGBTQ center] and interned with Point of Pride, an international organization that focuses on empowering transgender individuals. I also served on my school’s student congress, which partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank for the Student Hunger Drive, a student-led project to raise funds and canned goods for members of the community identified as food-insecure. The 2019 Student Hunger Drive raised a record-breaking 348,226 pounds in donations.
Where are you going to college, and what do you plan to study?
I’ll be attending Davidson College, where I will major in sociology. My goal is to become a health adviser while in college, centering my efforts on HIV/AIDS work. I’ve been awarded a Bonner Scholarship, a community service-oriented program I intend to utilize as an advocate for those living with HIV/AIDS, focusing on educational, preventative and support-based projects.
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Trust Ballantyne Commons Storage Centre to Keep Your Belongings Safe and Sound
Whether you’re in the process of moving or building a home, decluttering or maybe in need of some storage space for your child’s belongings as they move to college, Ballantyne Commons Storage Centre is South Charlotte’s premier storage facility.
Units
Ballantyne Commons Storage Centre has 14 different unit sizes available. All units have at least 10 feet of vertical space. Their smallest unit comes in at just 5 feet by 5 feet, allowing 25 square feet of space to store everything from personal items to small pieces of furniture and business records. The largest unit is equivalent to the size of a one-car garage. Offering 250 square feet of storage (10 feet by 25 feet), this unit could potentially hold furniture for a four- or five-bedroom house with room for major appliances and boxes.
Location
Located right off Ballantyne Commons Parkway next to the Promenade Shopping Center, the storage center is easy to access with large truck accessibility. The office is open Monday through Saturday, but gate access hours are seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Amenities
Ballantyne Commons Storage Centre is a four-story building that is fully temperature-controlled. The building also has elevators, free on-site use of moving equipment and moving supplies available for purchase. A conference room is available for tenants’ use, as well as Wi-Fi access and faxing.
Security
Keeping your belongings safe is a top priority for Ballantyne Commons Storage Centre. The facility is fully equipped with surveillance cameras for your safety and peace of mind. Access to the building is coded with a personalized code issued to each tenant.
Ballantyne Commons Storage Centre
5527 Ballantyne Commons Parkway, Charlotte
704.814.0884
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