February SouthPark 2026

It’s a Diamond

FROM THE EDITOR

Couldn’t we all use a little more love in our lives? Now more than ever, it seems. Love takes many forms, and this month’s issue is dedicated to highlighting Charlotteans spreading and encouraging love in our community.

Seemingly Overzealous founders Jess Berresse and Garrett Tichy began making ice cream for fun when they started dating. The now-married couple turned their early-romance hobby into a burgeoning dairy-free ice-cream business — the name is a reference to a text exchange following their first date — with three locations and two more on the way (page 67).

When Cindy Himmel’s daughter was dating a guy who didn’t share her passion for pups, Himmel had an ‘aha’ moment. That’s when the Charlotte entrepreneur came up with the idea for Frolly, a dating app that’s just for dog lovers (page 32).

Sadly, love and heartbreak often go hand in hand, and holidays like Valentine’s Day can be particularly difficult for those who have loved and lost. Ashley Manning started the Valentine’s Day Widow Outreach Project in 2021 as a simple gesture to spread love to grieving spouses. Now called Watch Love Grow, the nonprofit delivers flowers to widows on Valentine’s Day and to moms who have lost children on Mother’s Day across North Carolina and in seven other states (page 24).

When author Leighton Ford was grieving the death of his wife, Jean, he decided to write a book about her life, starting with finishing the 70 love letters he’d promised her as an anniversary gift. Recalling memories with Jean, the love of his life, helped him cope with his grief (page 36).

Kym Motley came up with the idea for the Gladys Love Project when her mom was in the final stages of Alzheimer’s disease. The Charlotte native recognized the stress experienced by caregivers and founded a nonprofit to acknowledge and support them through small gifts, hosted teas and professional portrait sessions (page 28).

“They’re simple things,” Motley says. “But when you put them together it can make a positive impact.” SP

BLVD.

20 | interiors

Kelly Cappio designs a primary suite as a soothing sanctuary bathed in natural light.

24 | community

Watch Love Grow helps ease loneliness by sending flowers to widows and grieving mothers.

28 | givers

The Gladys Love Project helps caregivers — and the seniors they look after — feel seen and loved.

32 | pets

A new dating app for dog lovers debuts in Charlotte.

36 | books

Leighton Ford shares memories of his late wife, Jean, in a new book.

40 | icons

Local landmarks: Fenwick’s

44 | cuisine First look: Laurel Park

48 | around town New and coming soon in the Queen City

50 | happenings February calendar of events

DEPARTMENTS

55 | authors New books by local authors

59 | bookshelf February’s new releases

60 | simple life

The power of a slow and careful shave

85 | swirl

Parties, fundraisers and events around Charlotte

88 | gallery

A peaceful protest that made history, 65 years later

February

FEATURES

67 | Sweet talk by Michelle Boudin | photographs by Peter Taylor Seemingly Overzealous owners Garrett Tichy and Jess Berresse build a dairy-free ice-cream empire based on fun and joy.

72 | A case for color by Taylor Bowler | photographs by Megan Easterday/Easterday Creative Ashley DeLapp’s fearless use of wallpaper gives a Foxcroft home a layered, expressive new life.

TRAVEL

80 | The new west by Cathy Martin

Stylish, laidback and a little quirky: A weekend guide to Austin, Texas

ABOUT THE COVER: Jess Berresse and Garrett Tichy, photograph by Peter Taylor

WARM UP TO SPRING

1230 West Morehead St., Suite 308 Charlotte, NC 28208 704-523-6987 southparkmagazine.com

Ben Kinney Publisher publisher@southparkmagazine.com

Cathy Martin Editor cathy@southparkmagazine.com

Sharon Smith Assistant Editor sharon@southparkmagazine.com

Andie Rose Creative Director

Alyssa Kennedy Art Director alyssamagazines@gmail.com

Whitley Adkins Style Editor

Sarah Fligel Proofreader

Contributing Editors David Mildenberg, Michael J. Solender

Contributing Writers

Michelle Boudin, Taylor Bowler, Jim Dodson, J.J. Holshouser

Contributing Photographers

Daniel Coston, Megan Easterday, Richard Israel, Dustin and Susie Peck, Peter Taylor

Contributing Illustrator Gerry O’Neill

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Jack Andrews, Frank Daniels III, David Woronoff in memoriam Frank Daniels Jr.

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February 13 & 14 BELK THEATER

Kwamé Ryan, conductor

Gabriel Kahane, piano & vocals

Tchaikovsky’s Fifth delivers unforgettable drama — a cathartic journey through stormy tension to breathless triumph.

Dani HOWARD Argentum

Gabriel KAHANE Pattern of the Rail: Six Orchestral Songs

TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 5

Say “I do” to SouthPark!

Don’t miss the opportunity to be a part of Weddings by SouthPark this spring. Reach brides- and grooms-to-be in this targeted, beautiful issue of wedding inspiration and resources.

Publication date: Spring 2026

Space deadline: Monday, March 2

Contact Jane Rodewald at 704-621-9198 or Lynda Kuehni at 704-891-2222 to learn more. Visit us online at southparkmagazine.com/advertise.

J.J. Holshouser is a writer and editor who grew up in nearby Kings Mountain but now considers herself a Charlottean.

A graduate of UNC Chapel Hill’s School of Journalism, she spent 10 years working in health care communications and has written for several local nonprofits. Recently, she served as an editor for Talmadge Farm, a novel set on a tobacco farm in the 1950s. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis and bridge, immersing herself in a good book, and dreaming of a Super Bowl win for the Panthers.

Daniel Coston is a photographer, writer, archivist, record producer, occasional videographer and overall busy person. He has worked with everyone from Johnny Cash and the Avett Brothers to Broadway productions and the Glenn Miller Orchestra. He is a native of upstate New York and currently has photos in the archives of three different universities, none of which he attended.

James (Jim) Dodson is the author of 17 books and the founding editor of O.Henry Magazine in Greensboro. Over his 40-year career he has won dozens of writing awards, including four Books of the Year in the world of golf. His latest book, The Road That Made America, is about the 18thcentury Colonial highway that stretched from Philadelphia to Georgia.

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blvd.

people, places, things

WEAVING HISTORY

Handwoven Kuba textiles are instantly recognizable for their geometric designs made from natural fibers such as raffia and tree bark. The weavings have inspired artists from Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso to contemporary clothing designers. A new exhibition at Mint Museum Randolph honors the traditional craft of the Kuba people from the Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. On view: intricate clothing items such as women’s overskirts and beaded belts along with a noteworthy selection of prestige cloths — weavings created for the king, dignitaries and ceremonies. The works are a recent gift to the museum from Charlotte textile designer Wesley Mancini. Designing Dynamism: Kuba Textiles from the DR Congo, The Wesley Mancini Collection runs Feb. 21–Aug. 23 at Mint Museum Randolph. SP

Kuba weaver and embroiderers. Man’s Prestige Cloth, raffia. The Wesley Mancini Textile Collection. 2020.24.24

A double window and skylight provide natural light for the freestanding tub. The drawings over the tub are by designer Kelly Cappio’s father. Bathroom fixtures are from The

is by Visual

BRIGHT & BALANCED

Kelly Cappio designs a primary suite as a soothing sanctuary bathed in natural light.

by Cathy Martin | photographs by Dustin and Susie Peck

Kelly Cappio fell in love with her SouthPark neighborhood when she and her family moved to Charlotte from Washington, D.C., in 2017. But the circa-1997 Georgian-style home felt like a time capsule, Cappio says. In the primary bath, for example, a large, jetted garden tub took up a disproportionate amount of space, the shower was cramped, the vanities were too small and the layout was choppy.

“We knew we were going to need to gut renovate it, and I just loved digging into the process,” Cappio says. With three young children, two dogs and busy careers, she sought to create a retreat-like atmosphere.

“I wanted it to feel tranquil, I wanted it to be pretty, and the focus for me became creating symmetry and balance in the space and adding some pops of color.”

Working with architect Alison Hall, Cappio reimagined the footprint, bricking in one window and adding a larger double window behind the soaking tub, along with a second skylight.

“You walk into the room and you see the tub framed with beautiful natural light, and it feels really serene,” Cappio says. Classic elements like Italian marble, brass fixtures and wainscoting create a timeless feel.

In the adjacent bedroom, a hand-knotted Oushak rug from Dallas artist Lindsey Meyer was the jumping-off point for the design. Working with a palette of blush pink, dusty blue and grass green, Cappio kept the walls quiet with a warm white paint. She pulled in color through the pillows, draperies and a pair of pink velvet swivel chairs. New hardwood flooring, burlwood bedside tables and a caned headboard add warmth and texture.

Throughout the suite are works by Southern artists, including a pair of hydrangea paintings by Patti Moore that play off the floral Schumacher fabric in the pillows and draperies.

“I love to start with the art,” says Cappio, whose day job is in public affairs for a biotech company. After renovating the first floor of her home, friends and family took notice and began requesting design help. She launched Kelly Cappio Interior Design as a side hustle in 2023, focusing on one- and two-room projects. “The smaller transformations can still pack a big impact,” Cappio says. SP

SOURCES:

Interior designer: Kelly Cappio Interior Design

Contractor: Groomes & Green Builders

Architect: Alison Hall

Cabinets: Creative Cabinetry & Woodworking

Tile: Surface Studio

Countertops: AGM Imports

SPECIAL DELIVERY

Watch Love Grow helps ease loneliness by sending flowers to widows and grieving mothers.

by Michelle Boudin

Ashley Manning has spent the last five years literally watching love grow. The accidental nonprofit founder started a movement that now stretches across North Carolina and seven other states, thanks to thousands of volunteers creating bouquets and delivering flowers with heartfelt messages each Valentine’s Day.

It all started in 2021, when the SouthPark mother of four decided to bring flowers to her son’s preschool teacher who had lost her husband to cancer. Manning, a floral designer, realized the impact of that small gesture and launched the Valentine’s Day Widow Outreach Project, organizing flower deliveries to widows across Charlotte. In 2021, she and a team of volunteers delivered 125 bouquets. Last year, Manning rebranded the organization to Watch Love Grow as the number of recipients ballooned to 1,500, with a second headquarters established at Lake Norman.

“It’s a simple gesture, but I think it shows there’s a need both for the givers and the receivers. I think people want to help and want to serve, and sometimes we don’t know what we can do. This has lent itself to people who feel that way. I hope this helps people feel important and realize that they’re needed.”

Manning solicits nominations for recipients. Many of the widows who receive flowers often show up the following year to volunteer. Last year, Manning had corsages for each of them to wear.

While it may seem like a somber occasion, the vibe at the volunteer days is just the opposite. Hundreds of women gather to build the bouquets, while a DJ plays music and new friendships are formed. In the beginning,

Manning hosted the “party” at her home, but as the nonprofit grew she relocated it to William R. Davie Park.

“There are so many volunteers that you only get to make three arrangements. I have to tell people to take their time. My hope is that’s where you find community, around the table, building the bouquets.”

The project garnered national attention — there are now chapters in several North Carolina cities and in places like Buffalo, New York; Eugene, Oregon; and Nashville, Tennessee. In 2025, she added A Mother’s Love, Mother’s Day deliveries for women who have lost children.

After all the growth, Manning is at a crossroads. Managing the nonprofit has become a full-time job, she says, though she doesn’t earn a paycheck. She does everything from ordering the flowers to providing snacks for the volunteers.

“I’m really trying to figure out where my heart is,” she says of the struggle. “Am I supposed to grow this and really make it a movement, or do I set it up so that people can start their own versions in their own towns? My goal as it grows is to be able to mentor people and finance them to do 50 widows. My job is to inspire people. But my job is also to care for my city.”

Despite the inner conflict, Manning is clear that Watch Love Grow has been a true mission of love that has paid dividends she never could have imagined. She’s had so many meaningful encounters with recipients, she can’t decide which story to share first.

“We were sitting there on the last day of [the Mother’s Day] outreach, and we had just ordered lunch. Almost all of the deliveries had gone out, and a man comes in the door and he just grabbed me and hugged me so tight, sobbing. He was an older gentleman and he said, ‘You have no idea what this means.’ The delivery had come while his wife wasn’t home; he read the letter and rushed over wanting to help. He sat down, and I said, ‘Tell me about your wife, tell me about your child,’ and we just talked.”

Moments like that keep Manning going, even while battling her own life challenges. In 2021, she lost vision in her right eye after an injury.

“I don’t think it’s an accident that God took one of my eyes. I look at people through a different lens now because I’ve experienced suffering, and I am lucky enough to have seen so many beautiful moments of people coming together and honoring those who have lost loved ones.” SP

FROM THE HEART

The Gladys Love Project helps caregivers — and the seniors they look after — feel seen and loved.

by Michelle Boudin

Like many nonprofits, the Gladys Love Project came about after someone saw a need and wanted to fill it. Kym Motley founded Gladys Love Project based on her own experience as a caregiver. Her parents died 11 years apart, and her grandmother Gladys served as additional inspiration.

“When I was visiting my grandmother in the nursing home, I thought about how much she lived life to the fullest. I started to know the names of residents on her hallway, and I thought, ‘They probably have stories too,’ but they seemed invisible to me. So our original mission was to deepen the relationship between caregivers and their patients.”

Motley, a Charlotte native and Davidson College alum, worked for more than a decade in digital marketing in New York City before moving home in 2021, when her mom was in the final stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

“I thought it would be a short stint home, but it turned into 10 months. For 10 months, I went to the nursing home every day and made sure she had lunch and dinner and just hung out with her,” Motley recalls. “I felt like I was living my dream with my career — working for a top-tier agency with a top-tier client — but it was not fulfilling. After all of my time at my mom’s bedside, I had this idea to start a nonprofit.”

A SIGN OF LOVE

More than one in four American adults is a family caregiver, according to a 2025 AARP study. They spend an average of 27 hours a week providing care, and many juggle these unpaid caregiving roles with their regular full- and part-time jobs. Sixty-four percent of caregivers report experiencing high emotional stress.

Motley began building out the concept for the Gladys Love Project while caring for her mom. After her mother passed, she focused on the nonprofit — named after her grandmother — as a way of healing.

The first initiative of the three-pronged program was the creation of Love Kits for both older adults and their caregivers.

“I saw how invisible other [nursing-home] residents felt, so we put together this kit. Volunteers decorated love notes, and we had lapel pins for the nursing staff that say ‘you are wonderful,’ meant as a thank you for taking care of our seniors.”

Motley says the goal is to improve the mental health of both the seniors and their caregivers — that’s why the kit includes something for each.

“The caregivers in these facilities are not doing this for the income — it’s coming from their heart. They’re

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stretched thin and overworked, they get yelled at and have to change diapers. I just wanted to send a sign of love and appreciation.”

DIGGING DEEPER

Once she saw the impact of the Love Kits, Motley — who is also an artist, writer and certified Reiki specialist — wanted to do more.

“We dug a layer deeper, and now our mission is to improve the mental health of elders and caregivers through mindful activities, and to alleviate life-threatening isolation and caregiver burnout. I started with the kind of programming for things I wish I had when I was caregiving, because it’s so overwhelming and isolating.”

At Caregiver Teas, Motley uses her own mother’s and grandmother’s tea sets to create a place for people to relax and recharge.

The third segment, Capture the Love, is a portrait project — a professional photographer takes pictures of the seniors and their caregivers to capture their story.

“We have tea and snacks and have volunteer stylists for hair and makeup,” Motley says. “It’s a full photo shoot and a day of pampering where they feel seen.” The hope is to have an exhibition showcasing the portraits; a high tea fundraiser is also planned.

“Everything we do is intentional and mindful. They’re simple things, but when you put them together it can make a positive impact.” SP

FOR THE LOVE OF DOGS

A

new dating app for dog lovers debuts in Charlotte.

by Cathy Martin

For most dog owners, finding a (human) companion who shares their love of their four-legged friends is nonnegotiable. Now, a Charlotte entrepreneur aims to help dog lovers find their romantic match. On Oct. 31, Cindy Himmel soft-launched Frolly, a dating app for dog lovers.

“This idea started several years ago with just the most simplistic line that came out of my daughter’s mouth,” Himmel recalls. Her daughter, Amanda, who was very attached to her rescue dog, Artemis, had just begun a new relationship. Himmel asked how it was going. “And she said, ‘I don’t know — he’s just not that into dogs.’”

It was a light-bulb moment for Himmel, who relocated with her husband to Charlotte from Chicago during the pandemic. “A bell rang in my head, like, what an idea — to put people together in that way.”

Himmel began researching and found a few similar apps in other markets, but nothing exactly like what she envisioned. She also discovered that plenty of people were becoming turned off by dating apps in general.

“I saw this as a means to bring some playful joy back into the dating app and connecting [with others] in a more meaningful way.”

MUST LOVE DOGS

Himmel, a former social worker and bakery owner in Chicago, spent three years finding the right team who could bring her idea to life. On Frolly, users create a profile for themselves along with a profile for their pooch. But owning a dog isn’t a requirement for joining the app.

“You might be at a stage in your life where your dog has passed away; you might live in an apartment that doesn’t allow dogs … You could very well be a dog lover and for whatever reason just not have the ability to have a dog,” Himmel acknowledges. “As long as you love dogs, you’re in.”

Charlotte is an ideal test market for the app because of the influx of young professionals and the abundance of dog-friendly breweries and outdoor activities, Himmel says.

“‘Dog Mom’ is a title I wear proudly, so I was really excited to hear about Frolly,” says Liz Eads, a millennial dog owner in Charlotte. “My pup, Harley, is a huge foundation in my life, so having that commonality with someone is really appealing.”

Being a dog parent influences everything from her daily routine to how she spends her free time, Eads says. “Because this app is specifically for dog parents, it naturally lines you up with people who plan and think similarly.”

Eads points out another advantage to using Frolly: “We automatically have a mutual topic to kickstart the convo around, which can be harder on some of the other apps. And it’s likely they’ll already be into the activities I enjoy doing with Harley, like walks in Freedom Park, Bark in the Park at the Charlotte Knights, River Jam at the Whitewater Center, or just a chill night in with the pup on the couch.”

CHASING JOY

For now, the app is only available in Charlotte, but Himmel has big expansion plans, after getting a few initial kinks worked out.

“The sky’s the limit,” she says. “I would like to see the app everywhere nationwide, and perhaps even worldwide.” Frolly is free for now, though eventually users will pay a fee. Himmel plans to donate 25% of profits to animal-welfare organizations in each market where Frolly is available.

Himmel can’t wait for the matchmaking to begin.

“I am so excited about the idea of when we can hear stories about people who have met [on the app], and are engaged and are getting married,” she says.

“The idea is that our dogs bring us joy, and we’re hoping to make online dating a more positive, authentic and honest experience.” SP

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A LOVE LETTER TO JEANIE

Leighton Ford shares memories of his late wife in a new book.

by J.J. Holshouser

Evangelist Leighton Ford, now 94, still remembers the moment he fell in love with Jean Graham. They were students at Wheaton College in 1951, and he saw her coming down the steps of the main academic building, books in hand.

“She had this radiant smile, and I think that’s when my heart just opened right then,” he recalls.

Despite a disastrous first date — he arrived late, took her to a concert of Handel’s Messiah where they couldn’t find two seats together, then returned her to her dorm after curfew — the two developed a deep connection. They married in 1953 and settled in Jean’s hometown

of Charlotte. Ford joined Jean’s older brother, Billy Graham, at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, while Jean stayed home to raise their three children.

Today, Ford is learning to adjust to life without Jean, who died two years ago at age 91, just months after their 70th wedding anniversary. He turned to writing as a way of coping with his grief, first finishing the 70 love letters he’d promised her as an anniversary gift, then recording fond memories on his phone. The result of these reflections is a new book, Like a Gentle River – The Life and Witness of Jean Ford.

LOCAL LANDMARKS

FENWICK’S

by Whitley Adkins | photographs by Richard Israel

Fenwick’s owner Tommi Harris was at a career crossroads in January 2024, when she met with a friend to seek advice. After 13 years working as a bartender and manager at Primo Prime in Eastover, she was thinking about opening her own place.

“Ironically, [my friend] suggested we eat at Fenwick’s. By the end of the lunch, with all that I had going on already, he sort of talked me out of it,” says Harris, a mother of two teens whose hospitality resume includes stints at uptown’s Blue and Mickey & Mooch.

“I left thinking I was going to move on, but then when I heard about Fenwick’s closing, I contacted the landlord and asked him to set up a meeting with the owner, Don Rabb.”

Don and his wife, Catherine Rabb, opened the beloved neighborhood restaurant on Providence Road in 1984. Catherine died in December 2021, and three years later Don decided to close the 36-seat restaurant and retire.

“At that point, I had only eaten at Fenwick’s twice, but I quickly realized what a staple it was and how important it was to the community,” says Harris, a

Charlotte native. “Don and I hit it off. My intention was to have my own concept. No one at the restaurant wanted to run it, so then I asked him, ‘What if I just kept it Fenwick’s?’ Don said he would love that, so that’s what I decided I would do.”

“Don’s wife, Catherine, passing away was painful for us all — she was a sweet lady,” says Alex, who has worked in the kitchen at Fenwick’s for 13 years. “When Don announced he was going to close, I was bummed, slightly sad — partly because this place is such an institution. Any old place that closes is sad for Charlotte, so then when I heard Tommi was considering purchasing Fenwick’s, I thought, ‘I hope we continue to do well,’ and I think we should.”

In July, Harris reopened Fenwick’s, with 80% of the former staff and financial backing from Rabb, who still works part time at the restaurant.

“He is here having coffee every morning,” Harris says. “It’s really, really special — I feel that all the time. I’m lucky.”

Comments have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

THE MENU

“We did not change the menu at all. I polled customers to gauge what should stay and what should go, and the numbers spoke for themselves. It would have been hard to have gotten rid of anything — it’s all great like it is.”

LOOKING AHEAD

“I would like to expand the hours. The current hours are Tues.–Sat. 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Everybody wants breakfast, everybody wants

brunch; maybe do some private events, renting out the space. In the future, I’m looking forward to expanding evening hours and offering a late menu, bar food — eventually.”

“My wife and I have been regulars here for the last two or three years,” says customer Matt Daniels. “My parents came in early March to see our son’s lacrosse game, and we came here to eat. Unexpectedly, my mother had outpatient surgery and passed away, but this was the last place I ever broke bread with my mother. So to hear that Tommi was coming through and opening back up, it was just so special to come back here. The soup is my favorite.”

BIGGEST CHALLENGE

“Time management. I’ve been doing this a long time, so I know the business, but [I’m used to] longer seating times. It’s a quick lunch, and people go back to work, so it’s turn and burn.”

BESTSELLERS

“For beverages: Drop of Rosemary, which is a cosmo but with lemon and rosemary-sage syrup, triple sec and vodka. The Pimm’s Cup and seasonal craft cocktails are also popular. For food, the trout, our burger, shrimp po’ boy, all the soups and the fried oysters are up there. Everything’s homemade. I love our Caesar salad.”

MOST EXCITING THING

“Meeting all of the people that have such a connection to this place. The nostalgia, the emotional connection. Everybody has a story. I feel like I am just a vessel. It’s been hard work getting here, but it was the right time. All of the things came together.” SP

LAUREL PARK

SouthPark’s newest spot for power lunches, date nights and — coming soon — a chic new patio for happy hour and beyond

by Cathy Martin | photographs by Peter Taylor

It came as a shock to many when the Village Tavern closed in late 2024 after 35 years in SouthPark. For years, the restaurant tucked inside a corner of the Rotunda Building was a mainstay for corporate lunches, family dinners and drinks after work.

Now, a new restaurant has reimagined the Congress Street space, with an elegant dining-room refresh and a sprawling outdoor patio and bar that will open this spring.

Veteran restaurateur Dan McCormick searched high and low for the perfect spot for his new concept, Laurel Park.

“I think we looked at every space between uptown and

McCormick moved to the Queen City with his wife and two young daughters in 2020 to be close to family. He’s worked in restaurants since he was a teen, opening a dozen or so from Chicago to Knoxville, Tennessee. At Laurel Park, FIRST LOOK

here,” McCormick tells me in late November, about a month before the restaurant opened. When his broker showed him the space that would become Laurel Park, he knew on the spot his search was over.

“I stood here, and I looked out and saw the trees, and I thought, ‘Wow, this is it.’”

he’s as intent on establishing a great workplace as creating a stellar guest experience.

“Our industry is notorious for not being the most professional environment, and as a leader, I think it’s (our leadership team’s) job to help our employees develop and grow, whether they’re doing this for a year or two while they’re in college or whether they’re going to stay with it long term.”

THE SPACE

The name is a nod to the Carolina cherry laurel, an evergreen tree that’s native to North Carolina.

Working with a Chicago designer, McCormick overhauled the 108-seat dining room with a neutral palette and natural elements like travertine walls, herringbone hardwood floors and cane-backed chairs. Custom ceiling tiles in a lattice pattern are a subtle nod to Southern culture and hospitality.

During the day, natural light floods the space, with soft ambient lighting at night. Semicircular booths, built by a High Point furniture-maker, line the sides of the dining room. There’s a small-butstylish bar backed with an amber glass mirror from Italy.

THE MENU

Led by Executive Chef Kameron Letarde, Laurel Park’s menu is contemporary but approachable; there’s something for every palate without an overwhelming array of options.

“The menu is rooted in the South, but it really does have an influence from all over the place,” McCormick says.

Starters include Firecracker Shrimp, Fried Cauliflower and the Beet Hummus, a bright, garlicky appetizer served with grilled naan that’s big enough for sharing with the table. Another light appetizer is the Hamachi Crudo, with Calabrian chili oil for a hint of spice and dollops of avocado mousse and sweet peppers to balance the heat.

Already a bestseller is the Braised Short Rib, fork-tender beef with mushroom-truffle risotto, sauteed pearl onions and a delicate red-wine reduction, finished with a balsamic glaze and topped with crispy fried onions. From the texture to the well-rounded flavors, this popular dish hits all the right notes.

Pan-seared salmon is lightly crusted and served over a hearty white-bean ragu with a fennel-and-pickled onion salad for a bright burst of acidity and a little crunch. For pickier eaters, the Steak

Frites won’t disappoint: marinated, grilled and sliced bavette served with a simple-but-savory peppercorn sauce and crisp truffle fries.

Chicken Florentine, crab cakes, house-made pastas, a Kansas City strip and a handful of salads round out the dinner menu. Laurel Park sources from regional purveyors, including Adrina Farms, Brasstown Beef, Wild Hope Farms and Pizza Baby Bakery.

Desserts and pastries are made in-house. The chocolate olive oil cake — two luscious tiers separated by a layer of pastry cream — is a delightful end note, generously sized for two to share.

Cocktails change seasonally — in January, the menu was dominated by spirit-free options and cold-weather concoctions like the Winter Waltz (Bulleit rye, amaro, allspice dram and bitters) and a Naughty Toddy made with scotch, ginger tea and rosemary-honey syrup.

MORE TO COME

Lunch, which was set to debut at press time, will likely cater to the business crowd, while weekend brunch — launching this month — aims to be more family-friendly.

When the 110-seat patio opens in March, the restaurant will essentially double in size. Anchored by a covered U-shaped bar, the 2,000-square-foot terrace has a fireplace, multiple seating areas and treetop views.

At Laurel Park, you won’t find a lot of showy elements like foams, micro-portions or deconstructed anything. But dishes are tightly executed with balanced flavors and textures that, with consistency (and a stunning patio, to boot), should quickly establish Laurel Park as the next go-to spot in SouthPark. SP

food+ drink

Plot Twist , an all-day coffee and cocktail bar housed in a former auto shop, will open in Plaza Midwood. Founded by local hospitality veteran Nikki Velazquez, Plot Twist will seat 50 inside and 30 outside on a dogfriendly patio.  Dozo, the Japanese comfort food restaurant from Perry Saito and John Gamble, has relocated to a larger location on East Boulevard in Dilworth.  Lew’s Libations,

a neighborhood cocktail bar inside Sweet Lew’s BBQ, opened in the Belmont neighborhood. Sweet Lew’s full restaurant menu is served until 8 p.m., followed by a late-night snacks menu (boiled peanuts, brisket queso, smoked pimento cheese) until 11 p.m.  Emmy Lou’s wine bar opened in the former Mere’s spot in Dilworth.  Bulla Gastrobar closed at The Village at SouthPark. SP

Matt Deering, North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association Chef of the Year 2024, is now executive chef at Lincoln Street Kitchen and Cocktails and Craft Tasting Room and Growler Shop in South End. Deering, a Charlotte native, previously worked at Dot Dot Dot and Peppervine.

Prime Fish Cellar reopened in Cotswold as a sushi, sake and wine bar alongside a retail market, with seating for 20. The concept blurs the lines between chef-owner Robin Anthony’s more casual Prime Fish Ballantyne restaurant with the prix-fixe Omakase by Prime Fish, located next door. The menu ranges from build-your-own hand rolls to caviar service to the Jewel Box, with sashimi or wagyu and other delicacies served with sushi rice and avocado. Temari sushi — bite-sized, ball-shaped sushi popular in Japan — is served at lunch Mon.–Fri.

Guiding You Home in Charlotte and Beyond.

For more arts events, view our Winter Arts Preview online at southparkmagazine.com

The Outsiders

Feb. 3–8

Adapted from S.E. Hinton’s novel and the film by Francis Ford Coppola, this Broadway show won four 2024 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Belk Theater.

In Pour Taste

Feb. 3–15

Comedians Sweeney Preston and Ethan Cavanagh team with a wine expert to guide the audience through five wine tastings, with plenty of jokes along the way. The show comes to Blume Studios following sellout crowds in Toronto, the UK, Australia and Las Vegas.

A Conversation with Kamala Harris

Feb. 4

Following the release of her book, 107 Days, the former vice president tells the story of one of the wildest and most consequential presidential campaigns in American history, and shares how she believes the country will move forward. Ovens Auditorium.

Love Notes: A Valentine’s Concert for Everyone

Feb. 7

This cabaret-style show benefiting Tosco Music promises a variety of love-themed songs across musical genres. Booth Playhouse.

February HAPPENINGS

Beverly Fishman, Equilibrium (Y.3.C), 2025 urethane paint on wood. 45 x 41.16 inches.

Dar Williams

Feb. 11

The folk pop singer-songwriter shares selections from her newest album and long career, along with musician Seith Glier, at Booth Playhouse.

John Pizzarelli Trio: Valentine’s Day Edition

Feb. 13–14

World-renowned guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli brings timeless love songs and swinging classics to the Jazz Room at Stage Door Theater.

Charlotte Symphony Immersive: Mozart 360

Feb. 20–21

Gather around the orchestra for an intimate concert that offers an up-close perspective on the music of Mozart and the musicians who bring it to life, at Booth Playhouse.

USA Curling National Championships

Feb. 23–March 1

On the heels of the Winter Olympics, men’s and women’s teams will compete for the national title and the right to represent the United States at the world championships. Bojangles Coliseum.

An Evening with Chris Botti Feb. 27–March 1

The Grammy-winning trumpeter plays three consecutive nights at Middle C Jazz.

BLACK AND BRILLIANT AT CAROLINA THEATRE

In honor of Black History Month, the Carolina Theatre debuts a series of six award-winning movies that center on Black storylines, characters and artists. The series kicks off with Shaft Feb. 6 and continues with Do the Right Thing, Dreamgirls, Love and Basketball, The Princess and the Frog and Sinners. For more information and tickets, visit thecarolina.com.

ART GALLERIES

Thomas McNickle: The Best of Four Seasons through March 21

This collection of landscape paintings from the Pennsylvania-based artist takes the viewer through each season. Jerald Melberg Gallery.

Beverly Fishman: Little Darlings through March 21

Fishman debuts new works at SOCO Gallery reflecting her career-long interest in pharmaceuticals, the body, disease and wellness. There’s a public reception with the artist Feb. 10, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

Chappy Manning and Sam Chappell

Feb. 6-18

Columbia artist Chappy Manning and Maine painter Sam Chappell bring their contemporary portraits and landscapes to Shain Gallery. SP

Scan the QR code on your mobile device to stay updated on events at southparkmagazine.com.

Heydon Hall offers European charm, tree-lined streets, and unmatched privacy within a gated enclave beside Quail Hollow. With just 14 exclusive homesites remaining, this refined community by Simonini Homes invites you to build something truly timeless.

READING ROUNDUP

New and noteworthy books from Queen City authors

by J.J. Holshouser

The latest novel from bestselling author Meagan Church, The Mad Wife, features Lulu Mayfield, a 1950s housewife who’s worked hard to become the perfect wife and mother. But when her second child is born, and a mysterious neighbor moves in next door, Lulu’s carefully crafted life begins to unravel. But is Lulu truly losing her mind? Or is she on the verge of discovering something terrifying? The novel became an instant New York Times bestseller and was chosen as a monthly fiction pick by Barnes & Noble.

In Evil Bones, bestselling author Kathy Reichs brings back forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan in a thriller set in Charlotte. This time, Tempe is summoned to help in a case involving a series of animal killings. Small creatures — rats, squirrels, rabbits — have been turning up throughout the city, mutilated and displayed in a bizarre manner. As the killings escalate, Tempe begins to sense that humans will be the next target. As she gets closer to solving the case, people she cares about begin to go missing, and she discovers that she is part of the killer’s game. Evil Bones is the twenty-fourth book in Reichs’ series, which is based on her experience as an international expert in forensic anthropology.

Award-winning writer David Fleming has released A Big Mess in Texas: The Miraculous, Disastrous 1952 Dallas Texans and the Craziest Untold Story in NFL History. The book chronicles the incredible true story of what Fleming describes as the most dysfunctional team in the craziest season in NFL history. The story includes tales of rattlesnakes on the practice field, barroom brawls between teammates, house bombings by the Ku Klux Klan, stadium fields covered in circus-elephant dung, quarterbacks getting drunk at halftime, miraculous wins, humiliating defeats and even a future Hall of Fame coach stealing a cab.

Larry Keith spent 34 years working for legendary magazine Sports Illustrated, climbing the ladder from reporter to writer to editor and publishing 19 cover stories in his career. In his new memoir, Touch ’em All: My Life and Career at Sports Illustrated, Keith describes the excitement and challenges of covering the world of amateur and professional sports. He also discusses the decline of print journalism, the professionalism of college sports and the lavish lifestyle his job afforded him.

A Fresh View From Above

Sometimes, seeing a home from a different angle changes everything.

In today’s real estate market, perspective matters — and few capture it quite like Konstantin Cornwell, owner of SkyRise Drone Photography. Known for cinematic aerial imagery, Konstantin brings a creative eye and technical precision to every project, showcasing homes in ways ground-level photography simply can’t.

Working with Avid Painting & Home Remodeling, SkyRise Drone Photography captures exterior painting projects from above, showcasing scale, symmetry, and craftsmanship in a single sweeping view. From dramatic flyovers to smooth interior shots, Konstantin’s work highlights not just finished spaces but the quality behind them.

“For me, it’s about storytelling,” Konstantin says. “A drone lets you see how a home sits within its lot and the neighborhood around it. You get the full picture, not just a few angles.”

That elevated perspective offers more than just visual appeal — it adds value. For homeowners preparing to sell, professional exterior updates combined with compelling aerial imagery help create stronger first impressions. A freshly painted home, captured from every angle, conveys a sense of quality, care, and refined confidence before a buyer ever crosses the threshold.

For Avid, partnering with SkyRise ensures each project is fully realized — from the first brushstroke to the final reveal. Because when craftsmanship meets elevated perspectives, the result is a home that truly stands out!

Schedule your complimentary on-site consultation with Avid today.

Certified financial planner Shane Tenny has spent 25 years helping people align their financial strategies with their values. His new book, Your Next Million: How Couples Succeed (or Stumble) When Money Multiplies, blends fictional stories with real client experiences to show how emotions and cognitive biases influence money decisions. Tenny, managing partner of Spaugh Dameron Tenny, provides tips to help readers avoid costly missteps, overcome indecision and align wealth with long-term goals.

KIDS’ FARE

Gorgeous Georges, from first-time author Carson Martin, tells the true story of a dog who journeys across the world to find his forever home. Through George’s eyes, readers learn about kindness, adoption and what it means to belong. For children ages 4-10. In Piggy Bank Saves the Day, a piggy bank descended from a long line of savers tries to round up money so quickly he ends up losing it all. The tale, by Kimberly Wilson, provides a lesson in patient, persistent saving as Piggy transforms into a super saver. For children ages 4-8.

I Truck: A Big Rig’s Epic Trip, the latest in Kelly Rice Schmitt’s On the Move series, tells the story of a female truck driver and her dog who travel across the country delivering toys and supplies. Through their adventures, readers learn how big rigs deliver the goods that keep neighborhoods and industries running. For children ages 5-9.

In The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze, by critically acclaimed author Derrick Barnes, a teenage Black football prodigy in Mississippi faces a moral dilemma when he speaks out against injustice. The book was longlisted for the National Book Award and was chosen as an Editor’s Best Book Pick by Amazon. For children ages 10 and up.

Retired pediatrician Mary Martha Bledsoe Felkner has written In the Room: A Physician’s Reflections on Hurting, Healing, and Living, a collection of essays based on her experience as both physician and patient. Felkner hopes the book will inspire readers facing major life challenges to step into the discomfort, create new perspectives and learn to become better versions of themselves.

In Serial Fixer: Break Free From the Habit of Solving Other People’s Problems, Leah Marone describes how constantly trying to solve other people’s problems can lead to feelings of anxiety, frustration and resentment. Marone, a psychotherapist and wellness consultant, provides practical strategies for managing one’s inner critic and showing up for others while maintaining healthy boundaries. SP

Make a Pilgrimage from the Mountains to the Sea

Explore inspiring landscape exhibitions at two of North Carolina’s renowned museums.

The Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM) and the Cameron Art Museum (CAM) are featuring two exhibitions this winter and spring that should be seen together: Patrick Dougherty: Pilgrimage at BRAHM and From Mountains to Sea at CAM.

PRESENTED TO THE COMMUNITY BY WELLS

FARGO

ENTER TO WIN A BRAHM AND CAM WEEKEND GETAWAY

Your chance to enjoy a memorable art experience including four nights in luxurious accommodations. What you could win: Private guided tours of Patrick Dougherty: Pilgrimage and From Mountains to Sea

Welcome baskets with an array of hand-selected gifts from BRAHM and CAM

Two nights at the Gideon Ridge Inn in Blowing Rock · Two nights at Trailborn Surf and Sound in Wrightsville Beach

ENTER TODAY Ohenrymag.com/artgetaway

FEBRUARY BOOKS

Notable new releases

compiled by Sally Brewster

Brawler: Stories by Lauren Groff

Ranging from the 1950s to the present day and moving across age, class and region — from New England to Florida to California — these nine stories reflect and expand upon a shared theme: the ceaseless battle between humans’ dark and light angels. “In every human there is both an animal and a god wrestling unto death,” one character tells us. Among those caught in this match are a young woman suddenly responsible for her disabled sibling, a hot-tempered high-school swimmer in need of an adult, a mother blinded by the loss of her family and a banking scion endowed with a different kind of inheritance. Motivated by love, impeded by the double edges of other peoples’ good intentions, they try to do the right thing for as long as they can.

Politics Without Politicians by Hélène Landemore

Bought by special interests, detached from real life, obsessed with reelection. Politicians make big promises, deliver little to nothing, and keep the game rigged in their favor. But what can we do? In Politics Without Politicians, acclaimed political theorist Hélène Landemore asks and answers a radical question: What if we didn’t need politicians at all? What if everyday people — under the right conditions — could govern much better? With disarming clarity and a deep sense of urgency, Landemore argues that electoral politics is broken, but democracy isn’t. We’ve just been doing it wrong. Drawing on ancient Athenian practices and contemporary citizens’ assemblies, Landemore champions an alternative approach that is alive, working and growing around the world: civic lotteries that select everyday people to govern — not as career politicians but as temporary stewards of the common good.

More Than Enough by Anna Quindlen

High-school English teacher Polly Goodman can talk about everything and anything with the women in her book club, which is why they’ve become her closest friends and, along with her veterinarian husband, the bedrock of her life. Her students, her fraught relationship with her mother, her struggles with IVF — Polly’s book-club friends have heard about it all. But when they give Polly an ancestry test kit as a joke, the results match her with

a stranger. It is clear to Polly that this match is a mistake, but still she cannot help but comb through her family history for answers. Then, when it seems that the book-club circle of four will become three, Polly learns how friendships can change your life in the most profound ways.

To Kill a Cook by W.M. Akers

Nobody in Manhattan eats better than Bernice Black. It’s 1972, and she is the city’s busiest restaurant critic, juggling her fiance and his two young sons with demands of fine dining. Bernice talks fast, walks faster, has a razor-sharp wit and no patience for anything — or anyone — that gets in her way. When she stops by the famed restaurant of her favorite chef and mentor, Laurent Tirel, early one morning, she stumbles across a horrific scene in the kitchen: Laurent’s severed head, perfectly preserved in a flawless mold of jellied aspic. Her meeting with the cops on the case proves only one thing — they know nothing about food or the seedy underworld that Black has made her home. With layoffs looming, Bernice makes the gamble of her career — she promises her editor she can catch Laurent’s killer before the week is out.

Wolf Hour by Jo Nesbø

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2016: When a smalltime criminal and gun dealer is shot down in the street, all signs point to Tomas Gomez, a quiet man with a mysterious past and deep connections to a notorious gang, who has seemingly vanished into thin air. Other murders soon follow, and it appears Gomez is only getting started. Meanwhile, Bob Oz, a downand-out suspended police officer with a dubious past, becomes fascinated by the case: He is obsessed with the notion of hunting down a serial killer who only he can understand, a killer with a story as tragic as his own. In 2022, an enigmatic Norwegian man with ties to Minneapolis — a self-described crime writer — travels to the U.S. to research the Gomez case, in the hopes of writing a book about it. But as his investigation progresses, the writer’s seemingly neutral position reveals itself to be more complicated than the reader is initially led to believe. SP

Sally Brewster is the proprietor of Park Road Books, 4139 Park Road, parkroadbooks.com.

THE MAN IN THE MIRROR

And the power of a slow and careful shave by

Jim Dodson

Acouple months ago, somewhat out of the blue, I had a small awakening. I decided to shave the way my father did on every morning of his life — a slow and careful ritual performed at the bathroom sink, facing himself in the mirror.

Sounds a bit silly, I know. But rather than shave quickly in the shower with a disposable razor as I’d done since college, purely in the interest of saving time and getting on to work, life and whatever else the day held, it occurred to me that my dad might have been on to something important.

As a little kid in the late 1950s, you see, I sometimes sat on the closed toilet seat chatting with him as he performed his morning shaving routine. I have no memory of things we talked about, but I do remember how he sometimes hummed (badly, I must note — the result of a natural tin ear) and once recited a ditty I recall to this day.

“Between the cradle and the grave, Jimmy, lies but a haircut and a shave.”

For years, I thought this bit of mortal whimsy was original to him, an adman with a poet’s heart, only to learn that it was really something he picked up from an old Burgess Meredith film. No matter. His shaving routine utterly enthralled me. He began by filling the sink with steaming hot water and washing his face, holding a hot cloth against his skin. Next, he would pat his face dry with a towel and apply shaving cream in a slow, circular motion with a soft-bristled brush from a mug of soap he’d worked into a lather. I can still hear the faint swipe of his razor as it did its job.

As he aged, he abandoned the brush and mug in favor of an aerosol can of shaving cream, simply

for convenience. But he never gave up his old-style “safety” razor that he used till the end of his days.

Watching him shave almost felt like observing a holy act. And maybe to him, it was.

During our final trip to England and Scotland in 1995, we had nine wonderful days of golf and intimate conversations. My dad’s cancer had returned, and he didn’t have long to live, but to look at him go at that moment you never would have guessed it.

During one of our last evenings in St Andrews, I remarked how curious it was that he still used his old-fashioned “safety” razor.

He smiled and explained, “With this kind of razor you must take your time. I always found shaving a good moment to look at the old fellow in the mirror and ask myself, ‘So who are you? And what small thing can you do today for someone in this big and troubled world?’”

I wasn’t the least bit surprised to hear him say this. My nickname for my dad — as I’ve mentioned before — was “Opti the Mystic,” owing to his knack for doing small acts of kindness for strangers. With several mates from the Sunday School class he moderated for a couple decades, for example, he helped establish a feeding ministry that is going strong to this day.

Another time, he picked me up from guitar practice with a depressed and drunken Santa in his car. He’d found the poor man wandering around an empty parking lot, threatening to shoot himself during the holidays. We took him to a local diner and fed him a good meal so he could sober up a bit. Then, we drove him home. As he got out of our car, Opti discreetly slipped him a $50 bill and suggested that he buy his wife something nice for Christmas. The man thanked my dad, looked at

me and growled, “You’re [effing] lucky, kid, to have an old man like this, a real Southern gentleman. Merry Christmas.”

I was indeed. But frankly, it wasn’t always easy having a dad who cheerfully spoke to everyone he met and never seemed to lose his cool in any situation. Another time, I came home from college to find that my mom had impulsively given a large sum of money out of their savings to a “needy young woman” at the Colonial grocery store. I was incredulous and wondered why she did this, pointing out that the woman was probably just a con artist.

“Because your father would have done the same thing,” she calmly answered.

“True,” Opti chipped with a wry smile. “Just not that much.”

As we sipped brandy on that distant night in Scotland, I reminded him of the famous Colonial store giveaway and the good laugh we shared over it for years.

The story brought home to me how much I was going to miss this very good man. He then told me something that raised a big lump to my throat.

“When your granddad was dying, he asked me to give him a proper shave so he would look presentable when he met his maker.” My late grandfather — whose name, Walter, I share — was a simple working man who probably only darkened the doorway of a church a few times in his life. Yet he wanted to meet his maker clean-shaven.

“So, I gave him a nice, slow shave. He even asked for a bit of aftershave. It made him happy. He died peacefully a day or so later.”

We sipped our drinks in silence.

“Maybe someday,” Opti remarked, almost as a second thought, “you can do the same for me.”

By this point, I could barely speak. I simply nodded.

Five months later, on a sleety March night, I did just that.

Which may explain why, as I approach the age Opti was when we made our journey together, the idea of carefully shaving in front of the bathroom mirror suddenly seemed like a good thing to do in these days of social turmoil and chaos.

And so, for my birthday this month, I gave myself a new chrome Harry’s razor and took up the slow shaving ritual I’ve known about since I was knee-high to a bathroom sink.

Most mornings, I now find myself facing the man in the mirror, asking what small thing can I do today to make someone’s life a little better.

It’s only a start. I’m nowhere near Opti’s level of grace yet. But I find myself frequently smiling in the grocery store and offering kind words to complete strangers. I’m even driving with greater courtesy in traffic.

Someday, hopefully many years from now, I may need to ask my son or daughter to give me a slow, final shave before I meet my maker.

Or maybe I’ll ask my brand-new granddaughter to handle the job when she’s grown up a bit.

Whoever it is, the man in the mirror will be deeply, and forever, grateful. SP

Friends of Heart,

Go Red for Women is the American Heart Association’s signature women’s initiative, dedicated to raising awareness of cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death in women. The movement empowers women to take charge of their heart health, while addressing critical gaps in research, education and care. We know life moves fast for women — family, careers, and commitments are never ending, but when it comes to our health, delays are no longer an option. Go Red for Women is where community and connection meet action. We’re not waiting. We’re not slowing down. Red Means GO.

Now’s the moment to engage, educate and empower…

GO learn Hands-Only CPR

GO discover your risk factors

GO find your support system

GO discuss your family health history

GO embrace healthy ways to manage stress

GO join a Research Goes Red trial

GO share Go Red with someone you love

*Names in bold are Members of the Executive Leadership Team.

Go Red for Women Circle of Red Members

We are honored to serve as this year’s co-chairs for the Go Red for Women campaign. In Charlotte, we are focused on improving women’s lives at every age and stage, because when women come together, change happens. We’re taking action for our health, our future and every woman we love. There is one source of support women can count on — each other. Through the power of community, we can create better health outcomes for all women. If you’d like to join the Circle of Red, please reach out to Emily.Kelt@heart.org. Let’s Go Red, together!

With heartfelt thanks,

Julie Harris and Kaycee Kalpin

GO RED FOR WOMEN CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRS

Go Red for Women Heart and Stroke Survivors

WOMAN AND TEEN OF IMPACT CLASS OF 2026

The Woman and Teen of Impact campaign is relentlessly focused on women’s heart health. Launching on National Wear Red Day, these nominees will work to build campaign plans, recruit Impact Teams, and inspire their networks to support the American Heart Association’s life-saving mission.

THE NOMINEES

TEEN OF IMPACT

• Evan Green • Brielle Reilly • Avery Sansavera • Mia Wilson

As of 12/17/2025

To learn more about our nominees, visit heart.org/charlottencgored

KEY FACT

Women experience unique life stages, like pregnancy and menopause, that can increase their risk of developing cardiovascular diseases over the course of their lifetime.

SIGNS FROM THE HEART

A heart attack strikes someone about every 40 seconds in the United States. It occurs when blood flow that brings oxygen to the heart muscle is severely reduced or cut off completely. This happens because the arteries that supply the heart with blood can slowly narrow from a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances. Even though heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the U.S., women often chalk up the symptoms to less life-threatening conditions such as acid reflux, the flu or normal aging.

Many women think the signs of a heart attack are unmistakable. But the signs may not be obvious and might be confusing. Even when the signs are subtle, the outcomes can be deadly, especially if the person doesn’t get help right away.

If you have any of these signs, call 911 and go to a hospital immediately.

• Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It may last more than a few minutes or go away and come back.

• Pain or discomfort in the:

• Arms (one or both)

• Back

• Neck

• Jaw

• Stomach

• Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.

• Other signs, including:

• Breaking out in a cold sweat

• Nausea

• Lightheadedness

• Unusual tiredness and weakness

To learn more, visit www.heart.org and to read inspirational stories from women just like you, visit www.goredforwomen.org.

2026 CIRCLE OF RED MEMBERS

Kelly Adkisson, Julia Allen, Pamela & Michael Austin, Marcia Avedon & Charlie Farrar, Monitra Beidleman, Lisa Benna, Colleen Brannan, Sharmila Bristol, Dr. Sandra Burke, Drew Cawthorne, Glee Coffeen, Dr. Bruce & Elizabeth Cohen, Stephanie Couch, Alvaro & Donna de Molina, Susan Desai, Megan Dunbar, Erika Duncan, Janice Dupre, Tiffany Eubanks-Saunders, Linda McFarland Farthing, Amber Fencl, Stefan Fencl Leann Fieldstad & Philip Leibowitz, Tiffany Finch-Harrell & Timothy Harrell, Elizabeth Fischthal, Regina Fleenor, Megan Gaissert, Susan Gilles, Paula Guilfoyle, Julie Harris, Chris Hart, Rasha Hasaneen, Carol Houle, Lindsay Joyner, Donna Julian, Meghan Jupiter, Kaycee Kalpin, Amy Kazmierczak, Lia Keel, Kimberly Kicklighter, Lauren Knepp, Amy Knepp, Amy & Patrick Kochan, Angela Lanning, Mary Beth Ledet, Kennedy Levins, Dana Lorick, Jacqui Macleod, Myla Maloney, Hope Mehlman, Kimberly Moore-Wright & Atiba Wright, Clara Muhammad, Carrie Na, Crystal Neels, Amy Noland Pack, Paula & Steve Parker, Valerie Patterson, Cindy Powell, Matt Reger, Jennifer Reilly, Stephanie Richard, Rochelle Rivas, Jaimee Robles, Cassie Carl-Rohm, Nancy Romanoff, Dr. Sherry Saxonhouse, Amy Schlager, Vanessa Sencherey, Kim Sloat, Preethi Srinivasan, Bonnie Titone, Megan Turner, Kary Watson, Clint Watson & Justin Greer, Nitra Word, Angela & Dan Yochem

*Members of the 2026 Go Red for Women Executive

Sweet talk

Seemingly Overzealous owners Garrett Tichy and Jess Berresse build a dairy-free ice-cream empire based on fun and joy. by

Michelle Boudin | photographs by Peter Taylor

“It’s ice cream, so it is inherently joyful,” says Seemingly Overzealous co-founder Garrett Tichy of the locally grown ice-cream business he runs with his wife, Jess Berresse. “The whole brand and everything we do is centered around things we love and enjoy — it makes it more fun. We are very intentionally growing something that caters to things we love.”

That includes each other. Tichy and Berresse, who married in December 2023, say their fast-growing, dairy-free ice-cream chain is really a love story — their own. Everything from the name of the shop to the quirky flavors all trace back to how they met and fell in love.

“Seemingly Overzealous is a nod to a text that Garrett sent me the day after our first date,” Berresse explains. “We met over Instagram during the pandemic, and after a month of getting to know each other, it was a little weird to meet people in person. We had a very long date where we talked about everything and said goodbye with a very awkward, hilarious hug. The next day, he reached out and said, ‘Hopefully this doesn’t seem overzealous, but I’d love to see you again.’”

FROM A HOBBY TO A BELOVED BRAND

Their courtship also involved homemade ice-cream making.

“We were making it for fun out of our house with a small ice-cream machine,” Tichy recalls. “We started giving it to friends, and one asked if we could do a gluten-free or a dairyfree version. So we started tinkering with recipes. We spent months testing every milk, every concoction we could find, and we ended up with a really great brown sugar-cinnamon. It still had the texture and creaminess you expect from ice cream, and we were like, ‘This is amazing!’”

Their friends had similar reactions, Berresse says.

“Our friends were blown away. They were so surprised by it. We bought non-dairy ice cream brands to compare, and a lot of them are not great.”

Recognizing a hole in the market for good, non-dairy options, the idea for Seemingly Overzealous was born. The couple opened their first location at Camp North End in May 2023. Their Plaza Midwood location followed a year later, and last summer they started serving scoops on East Boulevard in Dilworth.

FUN WITH FLAVORS

As the former owner of Hygge coworking spaces, Tichy knows a thing or two about running and scaling a business.

“We’re an ice-cream scoop shop, but when Jess and I were discussing whether this was going to be a business, we didn’t want something that existed already. So the thing that differentiates us is that we’re dairy-, egg- and gluten-free. That’s our hook, without sacrificing the taste and quality that you get at a normal ice-cream shop.”

The first flavor that really caused a stir was Grey Blobbin’, made with Earl Grey tea, lemon and honey.

“All the flavors have names with stories behind it,” Tichy explains. “That’s a reference to Jess and I when we were dressed in matching all-grey sweatsuits and we were just being lazy. All the flavor names and design choices are centered around the early days of our dating.”

Well, most of them. Tichy admits some of their most requested flavors are tried-and-true, but done the Seemingly Overzealous way.

“Our biggest seller is cookies and cream (Can’t All Be Cookie) and requires a wild amount of gluten-free Oreos leaving the building every single week.” The second most popular flavor is butter pecan (Never Tear Us Apart), a dairy-free take on the Southern classic.

BUSINESS BOOMS

Business is so good, the couple recently announced they’ll open two more scoop shops later this year: Davidson in April and Matthews in July.

They’re also planning to centralize production at one shop to save money and control quality, while still having as much fun as possible along the way.

“We were just making ice cream for fun, and then we started tinkering with recipes. Now we’re about to open (shops) four and five,” Tichy says. But along with the joy, it’s also taken plenty of hard work to get where they are today.

“We have our motto painted on the side of the building at the Plaza location. ‘Don’t skip the hard stuff, you’ll miss the good stuff.’” SP

A CASE FOR COLOR

Ashley DeLapp is known for her bold, pattern-forward style. It’s why Sara and Tab Williams hired the architect-turned-designer to transform their Foxcroft home two years ago, soon after they moved in.

“It was built in the ’90s, so it was a very ornate, Tuscan-looking house with heavy, dark wood and medieval-looking light fixtures,” DeLapp says. “It had never been updated, so we’ve been changing everything room by room.”

The homeowners wanted a brighter, more elevated look that would showcase a mix of classic and modern furniture, as well as their extensive art collection.

“We aren’t afraid of vivid colors and playful patterns, so Ashley was the only designer we ever considered,” Sara says. With two young children — and another on the way — they also needed a kid-friendly space that could withstand the daily wear and tear of an active family.

“My husband is the chef in the family,” Sara says, “and the kitchen is his sanctuary.”

The renovation, which included the kitchen, breakfast nook, living room, laundry room, a child’s bedroom and hisand-hers wet bars, centered on the floral harlequin wallpaper in the powder room.

“This was the first thing I picked,” DeLapp says. “It had all the colors I pulled through the house.”

In the kitchen, she kept the existing cabinets and modernized the space with new countertops, backsplash and hardware. She painted the island green for a pop of color and installed bold green ombre tile and a custom vent hood to anchor the range alcove. An antique-brass chandelier with a petal motif complements the barstools’ floral upholstered seats.

DeLapp brightened up the breakfast nook with patterned wallpaper from Milton & King and painted the dark stained trim and ceiling in a high-gloss pink with magenta undertones. She modernized the homeowners’ circular dining table with new upholstered chairs.

“We had to convince (Tab) on the spotted velvet fabric,” she says. “They’re durable and easily cleanable, but also very luxe — we piped them with minty-green velvet.”

“I think wallpaper can transform a room in a way paint can’t,” DeLapp says. “It gives it such a different vibe.”

Opposite page: “The hand-painted Lucite backsplash was inspired by a vintage rug I fell in love with,” Sara says. “We got a local artist to essentially replicate the woven rug in painted form.”

“They love art, so the whole house is like an art gallery,” DeLapp says. “I created a backdrop for things they love.”

The sunken living room is immediately visible from the entrance, so DeLapp knew it should make a statement. She chose a cool purple paint color for the ceiling and trim, with grasscloth on the walls for added texture. She swapped out a dark stone fireplace surround with sleek marble and replaced the dated chandelier with a dramatic, multi-arm fixture from Visual Comfort. The furniture is a mix of old and new; she had the existing accent chairs and sofa reupholstered and added layered area rugs and a new coffee table with a brass base.

The his-and-hers wet bars were Tab’s idea.

“Maybe he just wanted an excuse to display his whiskey collection,” Sara says, “but the thought of a prosecco bar was really speaking my language.” For Sara, DeLapp chose teal cabinetry and commissioned artist Summer Savin to paint the Lucite backsplash.

“I had shown the clients a bunch of rugs for the living room, and the one Sara flipped out over was $30,000,” she says. “So we took the look of that rug and pulled it into that backsplash.”

For Tab, DeLapp created a dark, moody space to display his bourbon collection.

“He went to Chapel Hill, so I went with Carolina blue on his cabinets,” she says. The gold-toned shelving and fixtures complement the gold splatter in the glass-tile backsplash, and the chandelier, suspended from a gold-link chain, has leaf-inspired shapes that feel elegant but not overly formal.

In the laundry room, DeLapp dressed the walls in a Schumacher pattern with painterly blue splotches and installed pink-and-blue concrete floor tile. She painted the existing cabinets, trim and ceiling a peacock blue and added gray marble countertops and a custom folding table.

“With three kids, Sara spends lots of time there, so she wanted it to be fancy,” she says.

For their daughter’s bedroom, DeLapp “dipped the whole room in pink” by painting the walls, ceiling and trim in a bubblegum hue. She added custom window treatments, a striped area rug and pops of chartreuse throughout the space to pull in the color from the Jack-and-Jill bathroom.

The result is an elevated yet lived-in home with fresh, unexpected details.

“I love that these clients are so adventurous and not afraid to take chances,” DeLapp says. “The house has so much energy, and it suits their personalities now. There’s a surprise around every corner.” SP

THE NEW WEST

by Cathy Martin

They say everything’s big in Texas, but in Austin, it was the cozy cafes, quirky little shops and indie hotels that stole my heart. The Texas capital is literally morphing by the minute as tech companies exit California and set up shop in “Silicon Hills.” High-rise office and apartment towers are sprouting up all over town as Austin’s population swells. But despite the building boom, that laid-back, western cool that put Austin on the map is alive and well, if you know where to look for it.

EXPLORE

From floating on Lady Bird Lake to hiking or biking along the 10-mile Butler Trail, Austin has a plethora of ways to spend time outside. The Austin Rowing Club rents kayaks and standup paddleboards seven days a week. The Barton Springs Pool is a

uniquely Austin experience: The 3-acre, spring-fed swimming pool attracts locals and visitors with year-round swimming and picnicking along the banks.

Another quirky, only-in-Austin thing to do: Take in the nightly spectacle put on by the resident bats inhabiting the Congress Avenue Bridge. You heard me — Austin is home to North America’s largest urban bat colony, thanks to a 1980 bridge renovation that unwittingly created an ideal habitat for the nocturnal creatures. From late March to early fall, wildlife watchers congregate nightly to await the flight of these Mexican free-tailed bats. The show starts at sunset, when the bats exit the bridge en masse, and lasts up to 45 minutes.

Austin’s shopping scene is diverse, and South Congress Avenue (aka SoCo) has it all, from vintage and handmade goods at SoCo Makers Market to trendy boutiques like Imogene +

Willie. Shop for cowboy boots at the legendary Allen’s Boots. Paper Works sells works by local artists, including small prints and jewelry that fit nicely in a carry-on.

For indie bookstore fans, BookPeople on North Lamar is your place. The biggest independent bookshop in Texas has a coffee shop inside and hosts events big and small: During my September stay, the store hosted Austinite Matthew McConaughey as he wrapped his Poems & Prayers book tour at UT’s Bass Concert Hall.

Music is central to the Austin experience: To take in a live show, see who’s on the bill at uptown’s Moody Theater, home of “Austin City Limits.” Or plan a trip during ACL’s annual outdoor music festival, spanning two weekends in October at Zilker Park, Austin’s oldest city park.

STAY

Nestled on a lush, tree-filled lot close to Zilker and Lady Bird Lake, the Carpenter Hotel is an offbeat retro lodge that opened in 2018 but feels like it’s been around forever, with a little modern polish, of course.

The lobby and restaurant are housed in a renovated 1948 union meeting hall. The midcentury institutional flair is offset by the

hotel’s smart branding, with playful nods to the property’s vintage roots and a fresh, vibey aesthetic.

The 93-room hotel — sibling to Austin’s Hotel Saint Cecelia, Hotel San Jose and others — is built around a central pool shaded by mature trees, a low-key spot for staving off the Texas heat. The small coffee shop buzzes from morning till night, with locals glued to their laptops and hotel guests rotating in and out. Rooms are simply furnished, with polished concrete floors and outdoor terraces with terra-cotta breeze blocks. There are thoughtful touches, too, like hemp-derived luxury bath products, striped cotton robes and complimentary bubbles at happy hour.

Carpenters Hall, the hotel’s restaurant and bar, is an off-the beaten-path destination for brunch, lunch, dinner or a casual hang, with a menu that emphasizes slow-cooking, smoking and fermentation. Start with smoked deviled eggs or grilled olives, then move on to duck confit carnitas or the pork schnitzel. Whatever you order, don’t leave without a slice of their “signature” carrot cake with orange zest and pecans.

The Carpenter is quintessential Austin: Cut-offs, trucker caps, tattoos and dogs are popular accessories here. For an immersive Austin experience, this is it.

If a lively downtown scene is more your speed, Hotel Van Zandt is conveniently located steps from the Waterloo Greenway and the Butler Trail, which hugs the shoreline of the lake. The hotel is just around the corner from Rainey Street, with its funky cocktail bars and restaurants in converted historic bungalows.

With a moody, masculine vibe, the Van Zandt plays up Austin’s musical legacy with vinyl rentals and nightly performances at its flagship restaurant, Geraldine’s. The menu here offers an elevated twist on traditional Mexican flavors, with standout dishes like the Oaxacan-inspired Tlayuda, a tostada-like dish with greens, avocado, pickled onion, prickly pear cactus, quesillo and a smoked-tomato vinaigrette,

and the halibut, seared and served over frijoles puercos with salsa verde, chicharrons and avocado foam.

There’s a rooftop pool with a cozy fireplace and sunset views over the lake. When it’s time for a nightcap, swing over to the lobby bar for their signature Brass Poppy: tequila, mezcal, poppy liqueur, Aperol and lemon. Or, book the presidential suite and keep the party going. Spanning 900 square feet, the suite is comfortably furnished with extras like a poker table, vintage upright piano, soaking tub and wraparound views of the Austin skyline.

EAT+DRINK:

Breakfast tacos are a staple in Austin, and Veracruz All Natural has three locations across

town. Started as a food truck by sisters Reyna and Maritza Vazquez, Veracruz boasts more than a dozen tacos, from an Al Pastor with grilled pineapple to the hearty Migas Poblanos with egg, tortilla chips, poblanos, black beans, queso fresco and avocado.

For breakfast, brunch or lunch with a French flair, June’s All Day is a bright and cozy corner cafe in the buzzy South Congress district. Think fresh-squeezed juices, homemade crullers, tuna niçoise salad and a sinfully indulgent croque madame.

For a mid-afternoon pick-meup, pop into Jo’s Coffee for their signature Iced Turbo with a hint of hazelnut, or grab a scoop of Mexican vanilla at Amy’s Ice Cream

When dinner calls, Emmer & Rye is a modern, cozy bistro emphasizing local and seasonal ingredients with house-made breads and pastas,

including an outstanding cacio e pepe. Another farm-to-table hot spot is Odd Duck, a restaurant spun out of a food truck with a casual atmosphere and complex, and at times surprising, flavor combinations.

One would be remiss to leave Austin without indulging in the local BBQ and Tex-Mex fare. Arrive early to avoid the lines at Terry Black’s Barbecue. For fajitas, enchiladas and other Tex-Mex classics — plus big, boozy margaritas — head to Matt’s El Rancho, a large, unpretentious eatery with a shady central patio.

For drinks or a nightcap in a chic and lively setting (plus great people-watching), The Peacock at Austin Proper Hotel is a must. Kelly Wearstler’s rich, layered design is an art- and architecture-lover’s dream.

GETTING THERE: Nonstop flights from Charlotte to Austin run about 3 hours and 15 minutes. SP

swirl

A monthly guide to Charlotte’s parties and galas

Jazzy Gala 2025: Passport Through the Arts

Gantt Center

December 5

From dinner to dancing, patrons enjoyed a dynamic evening that celebrated the arts and also honored Dennis Reed, Charles Thomas and Rev. Dr. Herman Thomas for their community service.

photographs by Daniel Coston

Good Fellows Annual Luncheon

Crown Ballroom, NASCAR Hall of Fame

December 3

The 109th annual meeting raised more than $2.4 million for local charities, one of the most successful meetings in the organization’s long history. The luncheon also honored Smoky Bissell for his service to the community.

photographs by Daniel Coston

A monthly guide to Charlotte’s parties and galas

Gather to Give

benefiting Good Friends Charlotte Crown Ballroom, NASCAR Hall of Fame

December 4

More than 1,000 “good friends” raised more than $800,000 to fill the assistance gap for dozens of local agencies that help people in need. The annual luncheon has become a joy-filled holiday tradition since the first gathering in 1987.

photographs by Daniel Coston

LUNG FORCE

Turquoise Tasting

benefiting the American Lung Association Carmel Country Club

November 6

This annual gathering celebrates lifesaving research while raising funds to support more advances in lung cancer detection and treatment.

photographs by Deeana Kourtney Photography

private home

December 20

The Verano and Oliver families hosted this gathering supporting a nonprofit that helps young people overcome poverty in Kenya.

STUDENT TEACHERS

These student leaders from Johnson C. Smith University made front-page news in 1960 for peaceful sit-ins that changed the city.

by Sharon Smith

On February 9, 1960, eight store owners in uptown chose to close their lunch counters rather than serve Black college students.

“When the students showed no inclination to leave,” wrote Charlotte Observer reporter Roy Covington, “the counters were closed. One store, F.W. Woolworth and Co., shut down all operations for the day when the students remained seated at the darkened counter.”

Some 200 JCSU students sought service that Tuesday. They were denied at each establishment.

The Charlotte protests were similar to those staged days earlier by college students in Winston-Salem, Greensboro and Durham. Later that night, hundreds of JCSU students endorsed the day’s events and promised to keep showing up. They did. Peacefully, orderly and finally, with results. That week, the Observer reported, Charlotte’s police chief

met with student leader Charles Jones and others to discuss the law and expectations. By spring, a mayor’s committee was formed to discuss desegregation.

During several months of protests, the students endured taunts and eggs thrown at them, and some were arrested. Businesses received bomb threats. There were picket lines and boycotts.

But eventually, civic and business leaders met the moment with steps toward progress. On July 9, several Black students were served at a formerly whites-only lunch counter.

After his passing in 2019, historian Tom Hanchett wrote about Charles Jones, who became a lifelong civil-rights activist and lawyer in Charlotte: “He wanted you to know the civil-rights history that his generation had made — so that you would pick up the torch, in turn, and make history yourself.” SP

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Enjoy a meal in e Moorehead Grille, view our amenity rich community, explore outdoor terraces, indoor pool and tness center, join us for happy hour and meet our residents and talented team of caring professionals.

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Call for more information Lynn Zimmer at 704.831.8000 or info@villageonmorehead.com.