September 2012

It’s fall – what better time to bake a cake? Try this old-fashioned, fruit-filled treat from the recipe of local Chef Elise Johnson.

Blueberry Peach Crumb Cake
1/4 cup softened butter
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 large egg
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon aluminum-free baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups fresh blueberries
2 peaches, peeled and sliced (optional)

In a mixer, mix together butter, brown sugar and egg until smooth. In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients. Add to the mixture; stir just until combined. Add buttermilk and vanilla extract.

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If you see a runner trotting around West Cary on Oct. 7, there’s a chance he may have been at it for the past 18 hours.

No, that’s not a typo. John Sisler will depart his Cary home at 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon and run 100 miles without stopping. The 42-year-old software consultant expects the run will take between 18 and 20 hours.

Why? And how? (Am I reading your mind here?)


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Western Wake is full of events that combine fun and fundraising this fall. Here's a selection of what's going on this week.

Sept. 22: Battle of the Bands

Bach and Roll! In a surprising change of pace, this battle of the bands is a showdown of classical proportions. Benefitting KidZNotes, a Durham-based nonprofit that seeks to encourage positive decision-making by providing kids with free instruments and lessons, the battle kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at the American Tobacco Campus.

Individual tickets are $25, or $10 for students with ID, available online.

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There’s lots to do in Garner over the next few weeks, and we want to make sure you don’t miss a minute of it!

Check out this sampling from our Social Calendar … and feel free to post your organization’s events here too!

Saturday, Sept. 29: Taking care of business

From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., bring your expired, unwanted — and potentially dangerous — prescriptions drugs to Garner Town Hall for free disposal by the Garner Police Department and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

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Ignite your fashionable side this evening, with the Triangle’s seventh fashionSPARK fashion show.

The SPARK gets started with a live runway fashion show held at the Raleigh Amphitheater at 8 p.m. A dozen of the Triangle’s top fashion designers will put on a fast-paced, energetic show, free to the public. VIP tickets are available from $35.

As a new spin-off this year, a jewelry trunk show will be held on Friday night to give the Triangle’s jewelry designers their own time to shine. jewelrySPARK will take place from 8 to 10 p.m. at the Visual Art Exchange.

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Tucker Dupree of Garner added a trio of medals to his swim career collection and set new American records during the recent Paralympics Games in London, which closed last Sunday, Sept. 9.

Dupree earned the silver medal and set a new American record in the 100-meter backstroke event, with a time of 1:01:36.

He claimed the bronze medal in the 50-meter freestyle event, and broke the American record with a time of 24:36.

Dupree also earned bronze in the 100-meter freestyle, breaking his own American record with a time of 54:41.

The Paralympic Games are an elite-level competition for athletes with physical and visual disabilities, and are the second largest sporting event in the world, behind the Olympic Games.

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Hundreds of local children, families and supporters will put on their walking shoes this Saturday to combat childhood cancer at the Triangle CureSearch Walk.

While many teams have been raising funds for weeks, it’s not too late to get involved. In fact, even those who can’t attend or walk can enter as a “Virtual Walker” for a tax-deductible donation of $10 or more. Adult walkers 16 and older also start at $10, and child walkers 15 or younger enter for free.

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Fall into some outdoor fun this September, with a family-friendly, dancing-in-the-streets concert and a lakeside movie for the kids.

The final concert in Downtown Garner’s Music off Main series is set for next Thursday, Sept. 13 from 6 to 9 p.m., featuring the popular band Hip Pocket.

Playing everything from 1960s soul and ‘80s dance music to current country, beach, and party rock ‘n’ roll, the concert is a great way to end the crowd-drawing season.

The free concert takes place on the back lawn of the Garner Performing Arts Center, at 125 Avery St. Parking is also available at the GPAC main entrance, at 742 W. Garner Road.

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“There are women who make things better ... simply by showing up. There are women who make things happen. There are women who make their way. There are women who make a difference. And women who make us smile. There are women of wit and wisdom who — through strength and courage — make it through. There are women who change the world every day ... Women like you.”

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With the help of designers Desi McAlister of Kitchen & Bath Galleries and Donna Gates Davis of Design Works Studio, the Spivaks finally decided to knock down the walls separating their living room, kitchen and dining room and create the open-concept entertaining space they craved. The design team worked to combine Mary Ellen’s traditional style, Glen’s contemporary tastes, family antiques and an abundance of artwork into the perfect setting for spectacular soirees.

Emily Uhland: What prompted your decision to remodel?

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Move over, earth tones: Fall fashions are all about being bold.

Neon, jewel tones and bright prints are taking over. And don’t be afraid to clash! Some of the season’s most popular looks play up contrast.

“A couple of years ago you would rather have drunk poison than worn colors that didn’t match,” but that’s one of this season’s biggest trends, according to Arlene Goldstein, Belk vice president of trend merchandising and fashion direction.

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