November 2012

Everyone wants to feel like a celebrity. Unfortunately we don’t all have celebrity-sized wallets.

Enter Apricot Lane, a new-to-the-Triangle boutique boasting “celebrity-inspired affordable fashion for the everyday woman.”

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Enter to win two tickets to Million Dollar Quartet at the Durham Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m. A winner will be drawn at 1 p.m. Nov. 30 and notified by email. Winner must pick up tickets from S&A Cherokee office at 301 Cascade Pointe Lane between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Dec. 3 or 4.

Also, enter to win two tickets to the Cinderella show at Raleigh Little Theatre on Dec. 6 at 7:30. Winner will be drawn Dec.3. 

These giftable goodies make our mouths water — and they're all made right here!

Here's a more in-depth look at the folks who produce the delectable sauces, seasonings, sweets and other selections featured in our We Love: Giving Local.

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 Ever feel like the preparation for Christmas keeps you from enjoying Christmas?

This year, don’t let the holiday hustle stop you from experiencing the wonders of the season.

Tick off each December day with a special family activity — some at home or around town.

From outdoor ice skating to baking cookies, we’ve compiled a list that will bring joy to your world.

 

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Stroll through real snow, visit with the Clauses, cheer on the parade, and shop local to support our community — it’s all happening this weekend as Christmas comes to Downtown Garner!

Light Up Main kicks off the holiday festivities on Friday night, Nov. 30, from 6 to 8 p.m., on Main Street.

Offering great local entertainment on the Main Stage, refreshments, children’s arts and crafts and, of course, the annual tree lighting ceremony led by Mayor Ronnie Williams, there’s fun for all. And Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on hand for visits, as the snowflakes fall!

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2012 has been a big year, for both Cary Magazine and the Cary community.

Here is a look back at some notable memories from the past year, from longtime Triangle favorites to inaugural events.

We also revisit some of our favorite shots from Cary Magazine features, chronicling the spaces and faces that make Cary a wonderful place to call home.

As you gear up for the holiday season and a new year to come, take a moment to reflect on all the fun this year has brought.

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Make your list, and be sure to check it twice! Start your holiday shopping off strong with these gift ideas from Cary Magazine partners.

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We love shopping local, and we know you do too. So we scoured the Triangle to find artists, chefs and entrepreneurs who make one-of-a-kind giftables right in our own backyards.

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They create gourmet goodness all day, every day. So what, exactly, do restaurant chefs eat when they take off their chef’s coats and fire up the stove at home?

We met up with chefs from five top area restaurants for a look at the dishes typically found on their holiday tables. They offered up a blend of comfort food classics and designer delicacies, complete with recipes so their favorites can find a place in your family’s holiday spread.

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If you can’t make it to Wimbledon, this might be the next best thing, and it’s coming to the Triangle!

The Atlantic Tire & Service Triangle Tennis Challenge kicks off today at 3 p.m. and will bring some of the world’s top tennis pros right to our backyard.

“You’re going to see some very high-level tennis being played at this event.” said tournament organizer Jay Lewandowski, owner of Game Set Match Tennis.

World-renowned players who compete in prestigious events such as the Challenger Series, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open will be competing for $45,000 in prize money. Players include:

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You’re invited to take part in patriotic history this week, as earth is turned for the Garner Veterans Memorial on Friday, Nov. 16, at 10 a.m.

The Garner Veterans Memorial Committee and the Town of Garner will join with veterans, community leaders and elected officials to break ground for this long-planned $500,000 memorial meant to honor all veterans, and particularly the Garner residents who died during a military conflict.

“What our veterans put on the line, especially those that gave all, is a debt we can’t pay,” said Harold Annis, chair of the Garner Veterans Memorial Advisory Board in an interview last fall. “We should, at the very least, recognize and honor them.”

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 For our holiday issue installment of We Love, we searched far and wide — within the Triangle, that is — to find local artisans and crafters who make one-of-a-kind pieces perfect for gifting.

They’re your neighbors, your friends, and people just like you. Here’s a look at who they are.

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Santa Claus, frosty little snowmen and rednosed reindeer — seeing the holidays through children’s eyes makes all of us feel more festive.

Our little snow angels, Stella and Sullivan, are getting into the holiday spirit, showing off toddler takes on styles that will take them from playtime to pictureperfect occasion.

We hope they melt your heart too; after all, there’s nothing cuter than kids at Christmas!

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Voting for Cary Magazine Gives Back is closed. Thank you for voting and helping us select a great charity to partner with in 2013. We're excited about this opportunity to help those in need in Western Wake.

Each organization will be notified individually regarding the results. Stay tuned for the January issue of Cary Magazine to learn more about the winner.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to be the first to find out who won!

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Three local pros reveal fresh looks for holiday hot spots, and show you how to master them at home.

The big man on Garner Magnet High’s campus is switching positions.

Coach Nelson Smith, now in his 13th season as head coach of the school’s beloved Trojans football team, is making the transition to GMHS athletic director, succeeding retiring AD Dwight “Doc” Harrell. He took a time out for a fieldhouse chat about football, family and the meaning of success.

“Friday night football in Garner is a special time,” Smith said. “Garner still has that hometown feel to it, and I’m blessed to have been here for 30 years. I’ve seen the football program really grow.”

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Imagine being rid of the junk drawer you swear you’ll someday clean out, the leaky faucet you keep meaning to fix, the outdated carpet you’re saving up to replace.

No, don’t picture the home of your dreams. Instead, ponder having no home at all.

Life is unpredictable, and even ordinary families with comfortable lifestyles and working parents can find themselves getting the short end of the stick.

Abraham Wishnoff was one of those people.

While living in New York, he lost his job as a taxi driver last winter. Soon after, his family — wife Aaliyah and three kids — lost their housing. They had nowhere to go.

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Lessons in Hospitality from the Arrowhead Inn

From the Oriental rugs underfoot and the classical music playing overhead, to the fireplaces in each guest room, the Arrowhead Inn Bed & Breakfast in Durham is a historic plantation estate set on six acres of gardens and manicured lawns.

The original part of the home was built in 1775 on an Indian trading ground, hence the inn’s name. Today, the Arrowhead Inn draws visitors from around the world, where owners Phil and Gloria Teber serve them handmade pastries and a four-course breakfast that has inspired some guests to take photos of their plates as trip mementos.

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When crape myrtles were first planted in the Southeast in the mid-1700s, they were instant hits because of their bright, dependable summer blooms. Today, these beauties are still the darlings of many landscapes in our area, but now there are cultivars that show off not only during the hottest of seasons but also through the cold of winter.

The original crape myrtles that graced colonial gardens in the South were from China and Korea and botanically listed as Lagerstroemia indica selections. And while they were flowering floosies in the summer, come winter, their bare gray branches blended in with the rest of the bland landscape.

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Jonathan Fredin’s Common Grounds photograph received an honorable mention in the photography category of the 2012 Marcom Awards.

Nothing beats the familiar aromas of cinnamon, pumpkin and peppermint to remind us that the year-end holiday season has arrived. Along with these fanciful fragrances come the rewarding flavors that accompany them.

Nowhere are these captivating scents and tastes more apparent than at the area’s local bakeries. Endeavoring to capture the epicurean spirit of the season, we visited eight first-rate bakeshops already geared up for Thanksgiving and Christmastime. Each one presented its finest holiday delicacies as evidenced in every mouthwatering image you’ll see over the next several pages. But just in case the pictures don’t convince you, go try these treats yourself!

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A Christmas tree is the epitome of bringing the outdoors in, but Sarah Gaither Fleming, Carolina Pottery’s visual merchandiser, doesn’t stop there. Her rustic woodland tree features nature-inspired decorations like eucalyptus, pinecones, grapevine and bird figurines. Fleming used the Winter Woods Snowy Mink Spruce, a flocked artificial tree available at Carolina Pottery, as the base for the design. Flocking, the simulated snow on the branches, adds to the charm and outdoor feel of the design. To balance out the natural elements, Fleming added glittered ferns and snowballs for sparkle.

Trim Your Tree: 


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Event planner Katie Dunn wants to lighten up her holiday parties this year. Tired of dark wood and traditional Christmas green and red, Dunn, owner of La Fête Event Planning, created an airy and dramatic tablescape fitting for a holiday dinner or a New Year’s Eve bash. Inspired by the acrylic ghost chairs, Dunn used elegant clear, white and silver materials accented with vibrant red pops for a table that feels celebratory but doesn’t look overly Christmassy. Clear ornament place cards become favors for guests to take home.

Special thanks to The Oaks at Salem, ThemeWorks, Fresh Affairs, Calligraphy by Carrie, CE Rentals and Donovan’s Dish.

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Don’t pack away your pumpkins after Halloween. Combine them with fresh flowers, seasonal accents and natural elements from your backyard to put together a lasting autumn mantel, says floral designer Marsha Snyder of MEWS Designs. Snyder, along with daughter Jessica Mann, created this warm and textural mantel using items collected from a jaunt through the crisp outdoors. Branches, acorns, pinecones and moss become decorative accents when displayed in simple glass vases set off with bright blooms. Transition the mantel from fall to Christmastime by replacing the branches with greenery, acorns with cranberries and pumpkins with ornaments.

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Favorite holiday tradition: We don’t always spend holidays with family. We’ve always done Thanksgiving alone since we moved here, or we’d have people come over. Either way it’s always this ridiculous spread because (Regan’s) incapable of making a small Thanksgiving meal. A couple years ago we had four turkeys because we wanted to try them. Usually the day before we’ll bake, depending on how many pumpkins we have, something like seven pies and give some to neighbors. – Dawn

Essential kitchen tool: I have mini tongs. The big ones are just too cumbersome. And probably something nobody ever talks about is a good towel. – Regan

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 Favorite holiday tradition: Thanksgiving is really all about side dishes. We don’t even eat that much turkey. Nobody in my family likes dark meat, so that goes in the freezer, and for Christmas I’ll make a turkey gumbo that we can eat as a late breakfast.

Essential kitchen tool: A wooden spoon. And the little gadget that I love is a vegetable peeler.

Typical holiday spread: I always cook a turkey; every year is different and I’ll try different flavors. Stuffing made with cornbread. Oyster dressing. Collard greens. Sometimes I’ll make roasted and whipped sweet potatoes. Brussels sprouts with bacon.

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 Favorite holiday tradition: My favorite thing is just getting together — eating and cooking together.

Essential kitchen tool: A Japanese knife is the main thing. I use a blender a lot for making soups, smoothies, things like that.

Typical holiday spread: Glazed ham. Usually for Christmas we’ll do a roasted ribeye. My grandmother always liked prime rib with horseradish and au jus. My mom always makes green bean casserole and a bunch of different desserts. Glazed yams.

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Favorite holiday tradition: We do a toast every year. I make homemade limoncello. My wife (Linda) gets out the shot glasses and whoever’s here is a part of our toast.

Essential kitchen tool: A microplane grater. When you shred the Pecorino Romano, it looks like snowflakes, and it feels warm and fun.

Typical holiday spread: Lasagna — pasta is a big thing. Antipasti. Pastries. My wife is a big baker. She makes like five types of cookies every year.

Dish: Chicken Saltimbocca

Chicken Saltimbocca

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Favorite holiday tradition: My holiday dinners are usually potluck with the family. My mother and grandmother usually prepare the meal that we’ll eat for dinner, but in the meantime we have a buffet line of snacks. My mom likes to make cocktail weenies. I’ll always do something lighter like a cured fish or composed salad. You know you’re going to be eating a lot of rich things like mashed potatoes and mac and cheese.

We do an advent calendar every year. I still buy one for myself and my wife.

Kitchen tool you can’t live without: You have to have a knife. Whenever people ask me what kind of knife to buy, I tell them to research Japanese knives.

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I learned this recipe from my Aunt June when I was in middle school. It’s so simple, yet the whole family requests it every year because “cabbage actually tastes good.” The white pepper makes the dish. Don’t try to substitute black pepper!

1 head cabbage
2 tablespoons butter or tub margarine
white pepper and salt to taste

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Collectively, they have starred in many of Broadway’s biggest shows over the past two decades: Les Miserables, Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, Hairspray and more.

Now, Broadway stars are coming to Garner once again for the third annual Broadway Voices concert series. World-class vocalists and award-winning stars David Burnham and Alli Mauzey , along with returning Broadway Voices alum Craig Schulman , will be in Garner performing favorite songs from their most popular roles.

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My family serves this twist on cranberry sauce as a side item, but it’d be great as a dessert too. You can adjust the amount of sugar to taste, depending on how sweet you want the dish to be. I’ve cut the amount from my mom’s version in half already!

Filling:
3 cups apples, any variety, diced
2 cups cranberries
1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar

Topping:
1 1/3 cups oatmeal
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened

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In this issue, we went Home for the Holidays with some local restaurant chefs. Learn what their five-star palates prepare for their family holiday feasts, and incorporate some of their recipes into your own spread.

We’re also sharing some of our own tasty traditions.

Apple Cranberry Casserole, Emily Uhland

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Usually a force of destruction, fire will now be given its chance to create in Cary.

A unique art form has been taking shape in Downtown Cary for the last few weeks. Danish artist Nina Hole has teamed with other ceramic enthusiasts to build a sculpture that will be lit on fire in order to transform the piece from three tons of clay to a permanent brick installation.

The piece is located at Cary’s Performance Green, an open space across from the Cary Arts Center at the intersections of S. Academy Street, Dry Avenue, and Kildaire Farm Road.

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If the chilly weather didn’t clue you in, the holidays are right around the corner. And the season begins now!

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, the tale of “the worst kids in the history of the world” performing in a surprisingly enjoyable program, opens tomorrow at Raleigh Little Theatre and runs through Sunday, Nov. 18.

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