Wilmington Magazine May-June 2021
In this issue we feature our top picks for dining out on Mother's Day and Father's Day, along with some great recipes to bring on the summer. We also highlight Men & Women in Business, with profiles on some of the area's best business owners. We also showcase a beautiful home in St. James Plantation.
In this issue we feature our top picks for dining out on Mother's Day and Father's Day, along with some great recipes to bring on the summer. We also highlight Men & Women in Business, with profiles on some of the area's best business owners. We also showcase a beautiful home in St. James Plantation.
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MAY / JUNE <strong>2021</strong><br />
Best in<br />
Business <strong>2021</strong><br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong>’s Elite<br />
Entrepreneurs and<br />
Professionals<br />
The Tastes<br />
of Summer<br />
Palette Worthy Provisions<br />
for the Season<br />
MOM & DAD<br />
DINING<br />
GUIDE<br />
AT HOME IN<br />
ST. JAMES<br />
THE LATEST<br />
TRENDS IN<br />
SKINCARE
DON’T JUST LIVE HERE...<br />
LOVE IT HERE.<br />
Spring Into Savings!<br />
Call to learn more.<br />
Residents of Brightmore of <strong>Wilmington</strong> love the living<br />
choices, abundant resort-like amenities and nearly endless social engagements<br />
available to them. Here, residents and their families will love the emphasis on<br />
nutritious dining options, whole-person wellness and the peace of mind that<br />
comes from having continuing care in place should they need it.<br />
Call 910.350.1980 to schedule a visit and don’t just live here...LOVE IT HERE.<br />
2324 S. 41st Street, <strong>Wilmington</strong>, NC 28403 BrightmoreOf<strong>Wilmington</strong>.com<br />
2 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com<br />
Retirement living choices offered by Liberty Senior Living<br />
© <strong>2021</strong> Brightmore of <strong>Wilmington</strong>
Kitchen Design by<br />
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<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 1
Sunrise? Sunset? We’ve got you covered!<br />
27 Sandy Point<br />
Figure Eight Island<br />
$5,250,000<br />
4 BR, 4 BA, 2 half baths<br />
6307 sq. ft.<br />
813 S. Lumina Avenue • Wrightsville Beach • $3,195,000<br />
Imagine a lifetime of glorious sunrises over the rolling Atlantic surf; kite surfers and<br />
sailboats dancing off shore. Locals love the south end of Wrightsville Beach with<br />
the protected deep water inlet and extended natural dunes.<br />
101 Island Drive • Shore Acres • $1,649,000<br />
<strong>May</strong>be the best sunset in Wrightsville Beach! A prize location on the south end of Harbor Island looking over the grassed park ensuring<br />
gorgeous views of Banks Channel and Seapath Marina. Unobstructed views make 101 Island Drive one of the best spots for all things<br />
water related.<br />
1035 Ocean Ridge Drive<br />
Landfall<br />
$3,575,000<br />
5 BR, 5 1/2 BA<br />
65692 sq. | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com<br />
ft.
Sunrise? Sunset? We’ve got you covered!<br />
15 Heron Drive<br />
Wrightsville Beach<br />
$4,599,000<br />
7 BR, 7 BA<br />
3688 sq. ft.<br />
813 S. Lumina Avenue • Wrightsville Beach • $3,195,000<br />
Imagine a lifetime of glorious sunrises over the rolling Atlantic surf; kite surfers and<br />
sailboats dancing off shore. Locals love the south end of Wrightsville Beach with<br />
the protected deep water inlet and extended natural dunes.<br />
101 Island Drive • Shore Acres • $1,649,000<br />
<strong>May</strong>be the best sunset in Wrightsville Beach! A prize location on the south end of Harbor Island looking over the grassed park ensuring<br />
gorgeous views of Banks Channel and Seapath Marina. Unobstructed views make 101 Island Drive one of the best spots for all things<br />
water related.<br />
7817 Pine Avenue<br />
Santa Maria<br />
$5,250,000<br />
6 BR, 2 BA, 3 half baths<br />
3280 sq. ft.<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 3
<strong>May</strong> / <strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
54<br />
All About<br />
Chemistry<br />
Finding a spark<br />
in St. James with<br />
Firetti Builders<br />
By Christine Hennessey<br />
44<br />
Men + Women<br />
in Business<br />
This year’s leading<br />
professionals making<br />
their mark in the<br />
Port City<br />
50<br />
Parental Provisions<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong>’s most<br />
memorable meals for<br />
mom and dad<br />
By Fanny Slater<br />
PHOTO G. FRANK HARRT<br />
4 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 5
MAY / JUNE <strong>2021</strong><br />
Departments » <strong>May</strong> / <strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
13<br />
Buzz<br />
13 Positively Outrageous<br />
Service Landfall Realty<br />
offers a finely tuned level<br />
of specialization in the<br />
Landfall community<br />
14 Calendar Our five<br />
musts from this issue’s<br />
calendar of events<br />
16 Events Your guide to<br />
planning your social<br />
calendar<br />
24 Staff Picks New book<br />
titles for some good<br />
reading<br />
25 Art Seen Jewelry<br />
designer Colby Shelton<br />
Byrd pays homage to the<br />
ocean through his craft<br />
28 Local Chatter Landfall<br />
Realty delivers a unique<br />
insight into one of<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong>’s most sought<br />
after communities<br />
30 Southern Drawl Lynda<br />
Stanley’s upbringing<br />
is the backbone to her<br />
inspiring community<br />
leadership<br />
33 63<br />
Well Styled Food+Drink<br />
33 Fun in the Sun<br />
On-trend fashion finds<br />
for the new season<br />
34 Design Port City’s<br />
haven for shopping and<br />
the soul<br />
36 Skincare The latest<br />
trends, treatments and<br />
procedures for a natural,<br />
younger look<br />
38 Fashion The temps are<br />
rising! Time to update<br />
your wardrobe with these<br />
hot looks<br />
63 Dining Review Quanto<br />
Basta: Italian Eatery &<br />
Wine Bar<br />
66 In The Kitchen Flavors<br />
of Summer<br />
72 Restaurant Guide The<br />
best spots for eating and<br />
drinking in <strong>Wilmington</strong><br />
78<br />
Travel<br />
78 Paradise Remains<br />
Updates abound at<br />
the Amelia Island Ritz<br />
Carlton, but thankfully<br />
not everything has<br />
changed<br />
Fundamentals<br />
10 Reader Services<br />
12 Editor’s Letter<br />
80 The Last Reflection<br />
<strong>May</strong>/<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
25 34<br />
The Tastes of Summer • Best in Business • Mom & Dad Dining Guide <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com<br />
The Tastes<br />
of Summer<br />
MOM & DAD<br />
DINING<br />
GUIDE<br />
Palette Worthy Provisions<br />
for the Season<br />
AT HOME IN<br />
ST. JAMES<br />
Best in<br />
Business <strong>2021</strong><br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong>’s Elite<br />
Entrepreneurs and<br />
Professionals<br />
THE LATEST<br />
TRENDS IN<br />
SKINCARE<br />
ON THE COVER »<br />
Quanto Basta Courtyard<br />
PHOTO G. FRANK HART<br />
6 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
custom window treatments, bedding, furniture & more<br />
fabrics and trims to customize your home<br />
7016 B Market St, <strong>Wilmington</strong>, NC • 910-686-2950 • Tuesday–Saturday from 10am to 4pm<br />
ArteeFabricsAndHome.com<br />
Like us on<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 7
CEO & Publisher<br />
Robert Sweeney<br />
Executive Director of Operations<br />
Emily Sweeney<br />
■ ■ ■<br />
Managing Editor<br />
Amanda Mann<br />
■ ■ ■<br />
Advertising Manager<br />
Sybil Stokes, 910-508-5158<br />
Art Director<br />
Shanna Thomson<br />
Graphic Designers<br />
Kristina Parolla<br />
Shanna Thomson<br />
Carl Turner<br />
Contributing Writers<br />
Bridget Callahan, Sarah Cameron,<br />
Kaitlin Gooding, Christine Hennessey,<br />
Kim Henry, Katie McElveen,<br />
Teresa McLamb, Megan Mathis,<br />
Anne Wolfe Postic, Judy Royal,<br />
Caroline Rutledge, Morgan Ryan,<br />
Fanny Slater, Chantal Wilson<br />
Photographers<br />
Kaitlin Gooding, G. Frank Hart,<br />
Kelly Starbuck<br />
■ ■ ■<br />
Distribution Coordinator<br />
Joy Brown<br />
■ ■ ■<br />
Customer Service<br />
Corporate Office: 843-856-2532<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> (Vol. 9, No. 1) is<br />
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<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 9
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10 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
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<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 11
editor letter<br />
<strong>May</strong>/<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
The Tastes of Summer • Best in Business • Mom & Dad Dining Guide <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com<br />
MAY / JUNE <strong>2021</strong><br />
The Tastes<br />
of Summer<br />
MOM & DAD<br />
DINING<br />
GUIDE<br />
Palette Worthy Provisions<br />
for the Season<br />
AT HOME IN<br />
ST. JAMES<br />
Best in<br />
Business <strong>2021</strong><br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong>’s Elite<br />
Entrepreneurs and<br />
Professionals<br />
THE LATEST<br />
TRENDS IN<br />
SKINCARE<br />
restaurants to impress your number<br />
one fans. Be sure to check out Parental<br />
Provisions, page 50.<br />
Now before you head out and about in<br />
that <strong>Wilmington</strong> sun, read about the latest<br />
trends in skincare. Top dermatologists<br />
and medical aestheticians have revealed<br />
a ton of helpful hints on protection…and<br />
a bit on getting that feeling of perfection!<br />
(see A New Face Forward, page 36).<br />
With the temps rising (and us finally<br />
getting out of our below the belt Zoom call<br />
attire), it is definitely time to spruce up<br />
that wardrobe. We have the latest trends<br />
for the season to keep you feeling cool,<br />
but looking hot (see Sunny Summer Style,<br />
page 38).<br />
I hope y’all enjoy this wonderful time of<br />
the year! See you on the sand!<br />
Give the gift<br />
that lasts<br />
all year long...<br />
a subscription to<br />
Subscribe Today online at<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com<br />
Sunny Daze<br />
IT’S HEATING UP IN THE PORT<br />
City! You know that particular<br />
energy that declares the start of<br />
summer is upon us? Well, I am<br />
starting to feel it. And I am so ready to get<br />
reacquainted. Summer sea salt fills the<br />
air, the distant sound of outdoor music is<br />
abuzz when you step out of your front door<br />
and there is sticky sand in your shoes!<br />
Best of all, our amazing local businesses<br />
are getting a much welcomed increase in<br />
visitors and sales. Hooray for springing<br />
into the summer of <strong>2021</strong>!<br />
Putting together our Event Calendar<br />
this issue just got me so excited. There<br />
are many activities to fill your days and<br />
nights! Whether you are an avid Farmer’s<br />
Market attendee, a music lover, nature<br />
fan, or talented athlete…<strong>Wilmington</strong> is<br />
here for you (see Buzz Events, page 16)!<br />
There are also some special holidays you<br />
do not want to leave off of your calendar<br />
in <strong>May</strong> and <strong>June</strong> (ahem…Mother’s Day<br />
and Father’s Day). It is time to spoil mom<br />
and dad! What better way to get to their<br />
heart than through their stomachs? The<br />
Port City has an abundance of amazing<br />
Amanda Mann<br />
Managing Editor<br />
editor@wilmingtonncmagazine.com<br />
We welcome your comments. Please<br />
send us your feedback to “Letters to<br />
the Editor,” <strong>Wilmington</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>,<br />
3853 Colonel Vanderhorst Circle,<br />
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29466 or you can email<br />
us at editor@wilmingtonncmagazine.com<br />
FIND US ONLINE!<br />
Visit us on our website<br />
wilmingtonncmagazine.com<br />
Find us on Facebook and Instagram<br />
@wilmingtonmagazine<br />
12 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
Your Local Rundown on News and Culture<br />
PHOTO KELLY STARBUCK PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
Positively<br />
Outrageous<br />
Service<br />
Landfall Realty offers<br />
a finely tuned level of<br />
specialization in the<br />
Landfall community.<br />
See page 28<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 13
calendar<br />
The Reveal:<br />
MAY – JUNE<br />
Our five musts from this issue’s calendar of events.<br />
Airlie Gardens Summer<br />
Concert Series<br />
<strong>May</strong> 7 & 21; <strong>June</strong> 4 & 18<br />
This annual open-lawn early evening<br />
casual concert series allows dining and<br />
dancing surrounded by Airlie Gardens'<br />
majestic beauty. Traditionally held from<br />
<strong>May</strong>- September, this family-friendly<br />
event usually offers libations, and food<br />
and beverage for sale, or permits you to<br />
bring your own. So bring your picnic<br />
baskets, chairs or blankets, and enjoy<br />
an evening outdoors as lively toe-tapping<br />
music fills the air. Please visit their website<br />
and social media for parking and shuttle<br />
service information, excluded items,<br />
details on events, and latest updates.<br />
Bring a Blanket or Lawn Chair and Pack<br />
a Picnic for a great evening of dining<br />
and dancing! Airlie Gardens, 6-8pm,<br />
910-798-7700, airliegardens.org<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong> Sharks<br />
Baseball<br />
<strong>May</strong> 27 – Jul 30<br />
(various dates)<br />
The <strong>Wilmington</strong> Sharks, former Coastal<br />
Plain East League Champions, are<br />
back this season and ready to get their<br />
next Championship title. Bring the<br />
whole family to enjoy watching The<br />
Sharks battle top-notch college players<br />
from all areas of the United States.<br />
Legion Sports Complex, 910-343-5621,<br />
wilmingtonsharks.com<br />
Carolina Beach<br />
Street Arts Festival<br />
<strong>May</strong> 8<br />
Celebrate visual, culinary and performing<br />
arts by the sea with the Carolina Beach Street<br />
Arts Festival. Enjoy artist vendors from the<br />
region displaying their fine arts and crafts,<br />
demonstrations of creative processes and<br />
an interactive art area for kids. In addition,<br />
enjoy cooking demonstrations, educational<br />
programs, artists' performances and much<br />
more. Carolina Beach Lake Park, 10am-4pm.<br />
610-909-7643.<br />
17th Street<br />
Shreadfest <strong>2021</strong><br />
<strong>June</strong> 5 – 6<br />
The ninth annual 17th Street Surf Shop<br />
Shredfest Surf Contest will be held on<br />
Carolina Beach just in time to kick off the<br />
summer. This competition includes both<br />
Short and Longboard in an open race,<br />
junior's race, and men's, women's and<br />
master's races. There will be cash purses<br />
for both LongBoard and ShortBoard<br />
winners in addition to trophies and other<br />
prizes. Carolina Beach Fishing Pier, 8am,<br />
910-799-7811, esa-snc.com<br />
Port City Music Festival<br />
<strong>June</strong> 6, 7, 10 & 13<br />
This exciting week-long classical concert<br />
series is committed to making the<br />
experience of great music accessible to<br />
everyone. Nationally and internationally<br />
known guest artists will join local<br />
musicians at various locations around<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong> performing some of the<br />
best loved classical works. Please see<br />
their website for various events, venues<br />
and times some of which require online<br />
registration. Various venues and event<br />
times – check website for details.<br />
910-816-4305, portcitymusicfestival.org<br />
14 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
McKENZIE|BAKER<br />
interiors<br />
Kathleen Flattery Abrams<br />
Interior Designer<br />
Kathleen@mbi.design<br />
910-231-1959<br />
mckenziebakerinteriors.com<br />
The peace of mind<br />
you’ve been looking for<br />
OFFERING HOME • AUTO • BOAT • BUSINESS INSURANCE<br />
Chad Huneycutt<br />
cwh@huneycuttgroup.com<br />
910.338.1773<br />
Brett Lascara<br />
brett@huneycuttgroup.com<br />
910.338.1773<br />
HUNEYCUTTGROUP.COM<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 15
Cape Fear 7’s Rugby Tournament <strong>June</strong> 26 – 27<br />
One of the most renowned Rugby Tournaments in the country, Cape Fear<br />
7's, is one of the nation's largest Summer 7's tournaments. Featuring one of<br />
the most competitive premiere divisions and hosting several hundred players<br />
from teams from across the country and around the world. Check website and<br />
social media for further information. Cape Fear Regional Soccer Complex,<br />
910-264-5277, fearrugby.com<br />
Event Calendar<br />
Looking to fill your social calendar? We've got the<br />
rundown on what to do this spring season.<br />
A Full-Service Real Estate<br />
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Whether you’re buying, selling or looking for<br />
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Mary A Delmar, Broker, Realtor<br />
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910-279-4399<br />
mary@delmarpropertiesllc.com<br />
delmarpropertiesllc.com<br />
Riverfront Farmer’s Market<br />
<strong>May</strong> 1 (reoccurring weekly<br />
on Saturday)<br />
The Riverfront Farmers' Market starts the<br />
season at Waterline Brewing Company,<br />
but later in the year will return to Dock<br />
Street in Historic Downtown. This<br />
pedestrian walk-through market allows<br />
for social distancing with a limited number<br />
of customers that can enter at a time. All<br />
vendors are required to wear a mask/face<br />
covering and gloves and customers are<br />
asked and encouraged to wear a mask/face<br />
covering at the market. Please practice<br />
social distancing and maintain 6' of space<br />
between yourselves and others. Vendors<br />
are required to wipe down surfaces<br />
with disinfectant frequently. Featuring<br />
farmers, producers, artists and crafters.<br />
Items available include fresh fruits and<br />
berries, vegetables, plants, herbs, flowers,<br />
eggs, cheeses, meats, seafood, honey,<br />
baked goods, jams and jellies, NC wine,<br />
bath and body products, artisan crafts<br />
and more. Waterline Brewing Company<br />
or Dock Street (check website for details),<br />
8am-1pm, riverfrontfarmersmarket.org<br />
Poplar Grove Farmers’ Market<br />
<strong>May</strong> 5 – Sep 29 (reoccurring weekly<br />
on Wednesday)<br />
Join the beautiful historic Poplar Grove<br />
Mansion every Wednesday for their superb<br />
Farmers' Market. Be able to interact with<br />
the people growing, catching, baking<br />
and producing the unique food and other<br />
wonderful things. This is a great way to<br />
find one-of-a-kind goods including crafts<br />
and delicious foods for the whole family.<br />
Poplar Grove Plantation, 8am-1pm,<br />
910-686-9518, poplargrove.org<br />
Airlie Gardens Summer Concert<br />
Series<br />
<strong>May</strong> 7 & 21; <strong>June</strong> 4 & 18<br />
This annual open-lawn early evening<br />
casual concert series allows dining and<br />
dancing surrounded by Airlie Gardens'<br />
majestic beauty. Traditionally held from<br />
<strong>May</strong>- September, this family-friendly<br />
event usually offers libations, and food<br />
and beverage for sale, or permits you to<br />
bring your own. So bring your picnic<br />
baskets, chairs or blankets, and enjoy<br />
an evening outdoors as lively toe-tapping<br />
16 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
YOU DESERVE A HAPPY AND CONFIDENT SMILE!<br />
Family Dental Care of <strong>Wilmington</strong> provides<br />
complete dental services to give you a healthy<br />
and beautiful smile in a caring environment.<br />
General Family Dental Care<br />
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Making Dreams Come True…<br />
One Smile at a Time<br />
1801 S. 16 th Street • <strong>Wilmington</strong>, NC<br />
910-762-4867 • tremandental.com<br />
Michael Treman, DDS & Steven Treman, DDS<br />
THANK<br />
YOU to<br />
all of our<br />
patients<br />
who voted<br />
us BEST<br />
DENTIST!<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 17
music fills the air. Please visit their website<br />
and social media for parking and shuttle<br />
service information, excluded items, details<br />
on events, and latest updates. Bring a<br />
Blanket or Lawn Chair and Pack a Picnic<br />
for a great evening of dining and dancing!<br />
Airlie Gardens, 6-8pm, 910-798-7700,<br />
airliegardens.org<br />
SPRING GIVE AND RECEIVE will raise<br />
funds for Eden Village. When you kindly<br />
give $5 you will receive 15% OFF any item<br />
in <strong>May</strong> and <strong>June</strong> at any of our locations.<br />
Imagine a place where no one sleeps outside.<br />
Eden Village wants to make this a reality for our<br />
chronically homeless. edenvillagewilmington.org<br />
Island Passage Elixir Downtown<br />
4 Market St<br />
edet by Island Passage<br />
302 N Front St<br />
Island Passage Lumina Station<br />
1900 Eastwood Rd<br />
Island Passage Bald Head Island<br />
14 Maritime Way<br />
(910) 228-6637<br />
facebook.com/DeBruhls<br />
SHABBY CHIC FURNITURE • ANTIQUES • FINE DECOR • GIFTS<br />
225 Pine Grove Dr. • <strong>Wilmington</strong>, NC (across from Long Leaf Park)<br />
Mon-Sat from 10am-5pm<br />
Carolina Beach Street Arts Festival<br />
<strong>May</strong> 8<br />
Celebrate visual, culinary and performing<br />
arts by the sea with the Carolina Beach<br />
Street Arts Festival. Enjoy artist vendors<br />
from the region displaying their fine arts and<br />
crafts, demonstrations of creative processes<br />
and an interactive art area for kids. In<br />
addition, enjoy cooking demonstrations,<br />
educational programs, artists' performances<br />
and much more. Carolina Beach Lake Park,<br />
10am-4pm. 610-909-7643.<br />
Family Farm Day<br />
<strong>May</strong> 15<br />
Oink, bah, moo, neigh,<br />
the Children's Museum<br />
of <strong>Wilmington</strong> presents<br />
Family Farm Day! This is a chance for kids<br />
to get up close and personal with some of<br />
their favorite barnyard animals. Children<br />
can meet chickens and bunnies and many<br />
other four-legged creatures in the courtyard<br />
of the Museum. There will be pony rides and<br />
a place to enjoy milk and cookies at story<br />
time, face painting and more. Children’s<br />
Museum of <strong>Wilmington</strong>, 9:30am-12:30pm,<br />
910-254-3534, playwilmington.org<br />
Carolina Beach<br />
Farmer’s Market<br />
<strong>May</strong> 15 – Oct 2<br />
(reoccurring weekly<br />
on Saturday)<br />
Pick from locally<br />
produced fruits and<br />
vegetables, plants,<br />
baked goods, dairy products, meats, wines<br />
and more at the Carolina Beach Farmers'<br />
Market. Each market will also feature<br />
local artisans and crafters as well as<br />
live entertainment from local musicians.<br />
Carolina Beach State Park, 8am-1pm, 910-<br />
458-2977, carolinabeach.org<br />
Wrightsville Beach Farmer’s Market<br />
<strong>May</strong> 17 – Dec 13 (reoccurring weekly<br />
on Monday)<br />
This unique Farmers' Market is the only one<br />
on the island and provides an opportunity<br />
to purchase fresh, locally grown produce. In<br />
18 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
ART BY DESIGN<br />
Discover All New Vignettes Inspired<br />
by Influential Artists Throughout<br />
the Centuries!<br />
Lively Prints + Patterns | Vibrant Colors<br />
Indoor + Outdoor Furniture | Lighting<br />
Unique Gifts + Decor<br />
Find your dream sofa, a striking light<br />
fixture, or the perfect bedroom set in<br />
our reimagined volume of vignettes—<br />
newly curated to celebrate the bold<br />
beauty of art!<br />
5815 OLEANDER DRIVE | 910.793.3995 | WWW.BIGSKYSHOPONLINE.COM | @BIGSKYSHOPANDSTUDIO<br />
LEISURE WORLD<br />
CASUAL FURNITURE<br />
Offering the finest selection of quality outdoor living furniture & accessories.<br />
6629 market street, wilmington • 910.392.7748 • leisureworldcasual.com<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 19
Photos by Luis Peralta<br />
Thanks for Voting us<br />
Best Landscape Designer<br />
addition to produce vendors and various other<br />
consumables vendors, the market includes a<br />
variety of unique craft vendors. Wrightsville<br />
Beach Parks & Recreation, 8am-1pm,<br />
910-256-7925, townofwrightsvillebeach.com<br />
The Outdoors Designed Around Your Lifestyle<br />
1900 Eastwood Road, Suite 22<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong>, NC<br />
910-256-5886<br />
MONKEESWILMINGTON.COM<br />
OPEN: Mon-Sat 10am-6pm<br />
& Sun 12-5pm<br />
@monkees_wilmington<br />
DREAM. DESIGN. BUILD. MAINTAIN.<br />
910-200-1489 • www.lowcountrylandscaping.com<br />
Stoked To Go Out Pier-to-Pier Swim<br />
<strong>May</strong> 22<br />
This exciting annual pier-to-pier open<br />
ocean swim goes between Johnnie Mercers<br />
Pier and Crystal Pier, a distance of just<br />
under two miles, with a beach start and<br />
finish. Race direction is determined on<br />
race day, and announced at check-in. Race<br />
swim caps and timing chips are provided.<br />
Awards will be given for overall male and<br />
female and overall masters (40+) male and<br />
female along with Top Three in several age<br />
categories. Spectators can view the race<br />
anywhere along the beach between the<br />
piers. Crystal Pier, 9am, runsighnup.com<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong> Sharks<br />
Baseball<br />
<strong>May</strong> 27 – Jul 30<br />
(various dates)<br />
The <strong>Wilmington</strong> Sharks,<br />
former Coastal Plain<br />
East League Champions,<br />
are back this season<br />
and ready to get their next Championship<br />
title. Bring the whole family to enjoy<br />
watching The Sharks battle top-notch<br />
college players from all areas of the<br />
United States. Legion Sports Complex,<br />
910-343-5621, wilmingtonsharks.com<br />
Fourth Friday Gallery Nights<br />
<strong>May</strong> 28 – Dec 24 (reoccurring monthly<br />
on the 4th Friday)<br />
Enjoy a Fourth Friday evening in <strong>2021</strong> that<br />
select galleries and studios open their doors<br />
for an after-hours celebration of art and<br />
culture. On the Fourth Friday of each month,<br />
take a self-guided tour to view exhibitions<br />
of various artistic genres including oils,<br />
acrylics, watercolors, pastels, metals,<br />
ceramics, music, mixed media and more.<br />
Many galleries have the featured artist<br />
available for discussion of their craft. Maps<br />
are available at all participating locations<br />
including the Arts Council of <strong>Wilmington</strong><br />
or by visiting their website. 6-9pm,<br />
910-343-8997, artscouncilofwilmington.org<br />
17th Street<br />
Shreadfest <strong>2021</strong><br />
<strong>June</strong> 5 – 6<br />
The ninth annual<br />
17th Street Surf<br />
Shop Shredfest<br />
20 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
THE BEST JUST GOT BETTER<br />
The same wisdom, judgement and experience. Now with the depth, access<br />
and leverage of the #1 independent advisory firm in the U.S.*<br />
Fountain Financial Associates is now CAPTRUST <strong>Wilmington</strong><br />
1209 Culbreth Drive, Suite 100 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>, NC 28405 | 910.256.8882<br />
captrust.com/wilmington<br />
*Source: FA <strong>Magazine</strong>’s 2016–2020 RIA Survey and Ranking in the category $1 billion+ in assets under advisement<br />
AD20_007<br />
Uptown Market | 8086 Market Street | 910-686-0930 Open: Mon-Sat 10-6 and Sun 12-6<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 21
Surf Contest will be held on Carolina<br />
Beach just in time to kick off the summer.<br />
This competition includes both Short and<br />
Longboard in an open race, junior's race, and<br />
men's, women's and master's races. There<br />
will be cash purses for both LongBoard and<br />
ShortBoard winners in addition to trophies<br />
and other prizes. Carolina Beach Fishing<br />
Pier, 8am, 910-799-7811, esa-snc.com<br />
Extraordinary Homes, Southern Hospitality<br />
www.RMBbuildinganddesign.com|910-256-6326<br />
AT THE BEACH<br />
AG Jeans<br />
Lilla P<br />
Wilt<br />
Michael Stars<br />
Mod-O-Doc<br />
Bella Dahl<br />
KinRoss Cashmere<br />
1051 Military Cutoff Rd., Suite 103<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong>, NC<br />
910.509.0273<br />
coolsweatsatthebeach.com<br />
OPEN<br />
MON-SAT<br />
10AM-5PM<br />
Our custom slipcovered sofas are stylish<br />
and versatile. They can be paired with<br />
many types of accent chairs. In addition, we<br />
have a full upholstered line with 300 fabric<br />
choices. Our handcrafted tables and cabinets<br />
can be ordered to complete any space in<br />
your choice of paint or stain colors. Licensed<br />
interior design services available.<br />
5018 Oleander Dr. • <strong>Wilmington</strong>, NC<br />
shopofseagate.com<br />
910-791-6622<br />
Port City Music Festival<br />
<strong>June</strong> 6, 7, 10 & 13<br />
This exciting week-long classical concert<br />
series is committed to making the<br />
experience of great music accessible to<br />
everyone. Nationally and internationally<br />
known guest artists will join local musicians<br />
at various locations around <strong>Wilmington</strong><br />
performing some of the best loved classical<br />
works. Please see their website for various<br />
events, venues and times some of which<br />
require online registration. Various venues<br />
and event times – check website for details.<br />
910-816-, 4305, portcitymusicfestival.org<br />
Butterfly Releases at<br />
Airlie Gardens<br />
<strong>June</strong> 8 – Sep 28<br />
(reoccurring weekly<br />
on Tuesday)<br />
Experience the joy of a new Butterfly<br />
Release with an educator in the Butterfly<br />
House discussing the butterfly life cycle and<br />
the different types of butterflies present<br />
that week. Butterflies will then be released.<br />
In case of rain, an educator will be in the<br />
classroom, and guests will still be able<br />
to observe butterflies. After visiting the<br />
Butterfly House, be sure to tour the nearby<br />
Pollinator Garden that has been planted<br />
with flowering blooms that specifically<br />
attract pollinator species year-round such<br />
as: butterflies, bees, moths, hummingbirds<br />
and more! Airlie Gardens, 2pm,<br />
910-798-7700, airliegardens.org<br />
25th Annual<br />
Cape Fear<br />
Blues Festival<br />
<strong>June</strong> 11 – 13<br />
The Cape Fear<br />
Blues Festival<br />
is a weekend<br />
where blues fans can satisfy their cravings<br />
for soulful fantastic tunes. Enjoy a series<br />
of concerts, workshops and jam sessions<br />
played in different venues throughout the<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong> area. Various venues and<br />
event times. Check website for details,<br />
910-251-1888, capefearblues.org<br />
22 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
Wide Open Tech<br />
Spanish Mackerel Open<br />
<strong>June</strong> 12 – 13<br />
So rig up your Clarkspoons<br />
and daisy chains, gather your planers and<br />
trolling sinkers, put a couple of live bait<br />
rigs on the boat, and come out to be part<br />
of the action with this year's Wide Open<br />
Tech Spanish Mackerel Open. Registration,<br />
Captains Meeting and Party on Friday. This<br />
fishing tournament will be in Captain's<br />
Choice format, giving participants a choice<br />
to fish Saturday or Sunday. On Sunday, the<br />
Awards Dinner will also be held at the Wild<br />
Wing Cafe Sunday afternoon after 2:30pm,<br />
which will include wings as well as freshcaught<br />
fried Spanish Mackerel. The Awards<br />
Ceremony at 4pm will also be broadcast<br />
live on social media. Motts Chanel Seafood<br />
(please see website for specific locations),<br />
910-452-6378, fishermanspost.com<br />
Kure Beach Market<br />
<strong>June</strong> 15 – Aug 31 (reoccurring weekly<br />
on Tuesday)<br />
This open-air market offers local fruits and<br />
vegetables as well as handmade artisan<br />
crafts. It's a great way to enjoy the view, and<br />
get your shopping done at the same time.<br />
Bring the whole family including well-behaved<br />
pets. Kure Beach Ocean Front Park & Pavilion,<br />
910-707-2015, townofkurebeach.org<br />
Carolina Beach Double Sprint<br />
Triathlon<br />
<strong>June</strong> 19<br />
Known for being the very first "Formula 1" or<br />
super-sprint style triathlon in the U.S., the<br />
Carolina Beach Double Sprint Triathlon is a<br />
USAT Sanctioned event with a two and a half<br />
hour cut off time for completion. Participants<br />
will start out with a 375-meter ocean swim<br />
followed by a 1.5 mile run. Competitors will<br />
then complete a 20k bike ride on a closed<br />
course, then it's back to running for another<br />
1.5 mile stretch to get back into the ocean<br />
once again to complete the last portion of the<br />
race by swimming another 375 meters to the<br />
finish line. Carolina Beach Elementary, 400<br />
S. Fourth St, 910-620-6405, runsignup.com<br />
and other new gooey concoctions. Be sure to<br />
wear a bathing suit or old clothes and bring<br />
a towel and a change of clothes. Children’s<br />
Museum of <strong>Wilmington</strong>, 9:30am-12:30pm,<br />
910-254-3534, playwilmington.org<br />
Cape Fear 7’s Rugby<br />
Tournament<br />
<strong>June</strong> 26 – 27<br />
One of the most renowned<br />
Rugby Tournaments in the country, Cape<br />
Fear 7's, is one of the nation's largest<br />
Summer 7's tournaments. Featuring one<br />
of the most competitive premiere divisions<br />
and hosting several hundred players<br />
from teams from across the country and<br />
around the world. Check website and social<br />
media for further information. Cape Fear<br />
Regional Soccer Complex, 910-264-5277,<br />
fearrugby.com<br />
Mud Day<br />
<strong>June</strong> 25 – 26<br />
Join the<br />
Children's Museum celebration of Mud Day<br />
with the messiest fun imaginable. Kids will<br />
create a connection to the joys of playing in<br />
nature with this event by squishing, stomping,<br />
and sliding in the mud, making mud pies in<br />
the mud kitchen, exploring "Magic Mud"<br />
914 S. Kerr Ave. | <strong>Wilmington</strong>, NC | 910.791.2222 | atlanticappliance.net<br />
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm & Sat 10am-2pm<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 23
Beach Reads<br />
Five page-turners you can’t miss<br />
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner<br />
Caroline, broken-hearted and conflicted, ends up taking her 10th wedding anniversary trip<br />
alone. In London, she stumbles into a mystery when she uncovers an intriguing jar while<br />
mud larking. With the help of an intrepid librarian, Caroline sets about unravelling the<br />
jar’s origins. The present-day storyline is interwoven with the story of a late 18th century<br />
apothecary, Nella, who aided women in poisoning the men who wronged them. The Lost<br />
Apothecary takes you on a page-turning journey through the back alleys of London – both<br />
present day and historical.<br />
– Megan Mathis<br />
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave<br />
“Protect her” is the note Hannah receives, hand-delivered, from a student at her floating<br />
house’s doorstep in California. She knows it is referring to her 16-year-old stepdaughter,<br />
Bailey, but who and what is she supposed to protect her from? So begins an investigation into<br />
Owen Michaels, her handsome new husband. Owen is gone, his boss is arrested by the FBI,<br />
and there are far more questions than answers. Bailey reluctantly partners with Hannah on<br />
a journey to find the truth about her missing father and their family’s secrets. This domestic<br />
thriller is sure to thrill with its intensifying pacing, strong character development, and<br />
suspenseful climax. Julia Roberts is slated to star in the AppleTV+ adaptation, produced by<br />
Reese Witherspoon.<br />
– Morgan Ryan<br />
The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews<br />
When Letty Carnahan discovers the body of her murdered sister, Tanya, she knows her<br />
sister’s estranged boyfriend had something to do with it, so she goes on the run with her<br />
four-year-old niece, <strong>May</strong>a. Letty grabs Tanya’s stash of cash and heads for Florida, looking<br />
for a place where she and <strong>May</strong>a can lay low. She discovers so much more at the beachside<br />
Murmuring Surf Motel: a new job, friends, a makeshift family, new love, and that her sister<br />
had more secrets than she could have ever guessed. While this reviewer might have wished<br />
for a more fully realized romance between the protagonists, Mary Kay Andrews has once<br />
again delivered another beach read winner with this fun and frothy novel.<br />
– Chantal Wilson<br />
A Lowcountry Bride by Preslaysa Williams<br />
In this Own Voices romance novel, we follow <strong>May</strong>a Jackson who is determined to outwork<br />
and outrun her chronic illness, but fate intervenes. <strong>May</strong>a wants to make a name for herself<br />
in the fashion industry as soon as possible, and she is a competition away from becoming<br />
the head designer for Laura Whitcomb, Inc. However, a phone call changes her plans and<br />
puts her on a plane from NYC to the Lowcountry of Charleston. <strong>May</strong>a furiously looks for<br />
ways to sell her own designs while on an unpaid leave and connects with the owner of a local<br />
black-owned bridal shop dealing with his own personal and professional troubles. This story<br />
covers grief, loss, love, and self-discovery while also shedding light on racism and the value<br />
of family, history, and authenticity.<br />
– Ariel Hackett<br />
The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Delila Harris<br />
Beachgoers looking for a uniquely wild ride should pick up Zakiya Delila Harris’ debut<br />
novel, The Other Black Girl. 26-year-old Nella finally gets her foot in the door as an editorial<br />
assistant at the publishing house of her dreams – Wagner Books in midtown Manhattan. At<br />
first, she’s thrilled when Hazel is hired (and Nella is no longer the only Black employee at<br />
Wagner), but her happiness turns to dread when she begins to receive menacing unsigned<br />
notes telling her to quit. Harris’ sharp, genre-bending book has the bones of a thriller but<br />
takes unexpected turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. It’s a little slow to<br />
start but is impossible to put down once it takes off.<br />
– Sarah Cameron W<br />
24 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
art seen<br />
"Every piece of jewelry I<br />
make is like a lost piece<br />
of treasure that I've<br />
found," laughs Byrd.<br />
A Treasure Chest<br />
of Stories<br />
Jewelry designer Colby Shelton Byrd pays homage<br />
to the ocean through his craft<br />
By KIM HENRY<br />
LIFE IS MADE UP<br />
of stories and storytellers<br />
come in many forms. Some<br />
use words, but others find<br />
different ways to capture<br />
the moments that give our journeys<br />
meaning. For Colby Shelton Byrd, it’s<br />
metal and stones - treasures collected<br />
from grandmother’s attic and the far<br />
corners of the world. A man of many<br />
stories himself, this bespoke jewelry<br />
designer combines the elements that<br />
inspire his soul with his chosen medium,<br />
and the outcomes are stunning, raw<br />
and unique.<br />
Clearly the captain of his own ship,<br />
Byrd has always had the courage to<br />
follow his true calling. He recalls his<br />
grandmother often telling him, ‘You<br />
have to learn the rules before you can<br />
break them,’ and listening to this advice<br />
has served him well. After studying<br />
many different art forms at ECU, Byrd<br />
discovered his connection to metal<br />
work in his final year and left before<br />
graduating. “I knew I wanted to be<br />
an artist, and that I needed to teach<br />
myself the business of art if that dream<br />
was going to come true, and I was not<br />
learning that at school,” smiles Byrd,<br />
who at just thirty years old is selling his<br />
work in designer jewelry stores across<br />
Colby Shelton Byrd<br />
a unique boutique<br />
910.799.9991<br />
250 Racine Dr., Suite 7 ● <strong>Wilmington</strong>, NC<br />
252.649.1856<br />
236 Middle St., Suite A ● New Bern, NC<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 25
art seen<br />
Byrd is keen to make<br />
sure that his materials<br />
have been sustainably<br />
and ethically sourced as<br />
much as possible.<br />
Byrd's process involves a range of skills<br />
including: carving a design in wax, making a<br />
mould and casting, enameling, hand forging,<br />
setting stones, and more.<br />
the country and receiving commissions<br />
from all over the world for his own brand<br />
- Shelton Metal.<br />
Byrd set sail to find his personal treasure<br />
chest and landed in a small town near<br />
Tuscany, Italy where he studied under some<br />
of the best jewelry makers in the business.<br />
This life changing experience allowed Byrd<br />
to come into his own as a designer and<br />
combine these new techniques with two of<br />
his greatest inspirations - his love of stories<br />
and the ocean. He continues to return to<br />
Italy whenever he can as, ”A piece of my<br />
heart is always there,” say Byrd.<br />
Fascinated by the ocean, Byrd also<br />
loves living so close to the water here in<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong>. “The contrast of the power of<br />
the sea with the softness of the waters edge<br />
is reflected in a lot of my work,” explains<br />
Byrd surrounded by his signature designs.<br />
There’s a raw quality to his pieces that<br />
often contrast the rough and the smooth,<br />
contain unfinished edges, and involve<br />
hand-forging techniques that mean no two<br />
pieces will ever be identical. Drawn to the<br />
darker aspect of the oceans crustaceans,<br />
you will find its treasures embodied within<br />
Byrd’s collection. From sharks’ teeth, to<br />
rope replications and abstracted skull and<br />
crossbones, Byrd’s designs pay homage to<br />
the many gifts of the ocean.<br />
“Every piece of jewelry I make is like a<br />
lost piece of treasure that I’ve found,” laughs<br />
this romantic artist, who excels in taking<br />
old pieces of jewelry and transforming<br />
them into something new. Passionate about<br />
his commissions, Byrd explains, “there’s<br />
no point having a piece of jewelry sat in a<br />
box that belonged to someone very special<br />
but will never be worn again. I love to<br />
create something new for people while also<br />
preserving a special quality or memory<br />
from the original piece. I’m not looking for<br />
a flawless diamond to work with, I’d rather<br />
have something with more depth.”<br />
His process involves a range of skills<br />
including; carving a design in wax,<br />
making a mould and casting, enameling,<br />
hand forging, setting stones and of course,<br />
breaking the rules. Exploring his craft<br />
is a huge part of his creative work and<br />
how he’s evolved such a unique aesthetic.<br />
Working mainly but not exclusively with<br />
gold, and a range of precious gems, Byrd is<br />
keen to make sure that his materials have<br />
been sustainably and ethically sourced<br />
as much as possible. “It’s very important<br />
to me that the stones I work with are<br />
conflict free and coming from a source of<br />
integrity,” affirms Byrd.<br />
Ever prolific, Byrd has dedicated the last<br />
ten years to building his brand, Shelton<br />
Metal, taking the leap into being a full<br />
time artist in 2018. Leaving behind the<br />
life of working multiple jobs to make ends<br />
meet, Byrd committed to his art and has<br />
26 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
Well-crafted<br />
cabinetry,<br />
countertops,<br />
fixtures<br />
and accessories.<br />
Our goal is to<br />
inspire with<br />
results!<br />
12 Northern Blvd<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong>, NC<br />
910-763-9870<br />
dynamickitchens.com<br />
I N A B O T T L E<br />
<br />
Coastal Spirit<br />
Byrd works mainly, but not exclusively, with<br />
gold and a range of precious gems<br />
never looked back. The main individual<br />
behind his website, photography, designs,<br />
marketing and making, he is the creative<br />
director of Shelton Metal. “Sometimes I<br />
question if I’m being selfish by giving so<br />
much of myself to my work. I mean, I’m<br />
not saving someone in a hospital,” shares<br />
this thoughtful young man. But, the<br />
more he connects one on one with people<br />
from around the world, providing them<br />
with their dream wedding ring for their<br />
special day or sharing his techniques with<br />
other designers, he finds confirmation in<br />
following his path. And as we all know,<br />
imagine a world without artists?<br />
Byrd has also taught at Dreams, a local<br />
after school art center for kids in-need. He<br />
enjoyed giving back to the next generation,<br />
inspiring them to stay true to themselves<br />
and being a positive, artistic role model.<br />
Words of wisdom for aspiring young<br />
jewelry designers? After pausing for a<br />
moment, he breaks out into his contagious<br />
laughter, “learn the rules so that you can<br />
break them well!” W<br />
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<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 27
local chatter<br />
Kelli Lazzaro works<br />
with a client.<br />
Behind the Gates<br />
Landfall Realty delivers a unique insight into one of <strong>Wilmington</strong>’s most<br />
sought after communities<br />
By JUDY ROYAL » Photos by KELLY STARBUCK PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
LANDFALL REALTY HAS<br />
built its entire business<br />
around offering a finely tuned<br />
level of specialization in the<br />
Landfall community. While<br />
much has changed since its inception in<br />
1992, the company’s core competency has<br />
and always will remain the same: listing<br />
and sales of Landfall properties. In fact,<br />
the office is located right outside one of the<br />
community’s gates.<br />
Landfall Realty is unique in the sense<br />
that its entire sales team of five agents as<br />
well as five other administrative employees<br />
are the owners, a move made in 2008<br />
following the company’s roots as part of<br />
the Landfall developer team and then<br />
the homeowners’ association. In addition,<br />
everyone on the sales team has lived or<br />
worked in the coveted community, which<br />
gives them inside knowledge from personal<br />
experience. Alison Bernhart, Becky Spivey,<br />
Karen Thompson, Kelli Lazzaro and Nikki<br />
Johnson pride themselves on knowing<br />
the ins and outs of all things Landfall,<br />
including the Country Club and Council of<br />
Associations.<br />
“The unique thing about Landfall Realty<br />
is the culture we’ve built where employees<br />
are like family,” Lazzaro said. “Being an<br />
agent-owned company, we strive for shared<br />
success.”<br />
This camaraderie translates into a<br />
driven sales team of agents who support<br />
each other through a shared mission of<br />
delivering what they refer to as “positively<br />
outrageous service.”<br />
“My favorite thing about my job is the<br />
opportunity to work with my colleagues, all<br />
of whom I’ve known and worked alongside<br />
prior to coming to Landfall Realty,”<br />
Johnson said. “Everyone here is always<br />
motivating, and they inspire me daily to<br />
achieve my personal goals.”<br />
Agents promote the community locally<br />
and nationally as a place for residents<br />
in all stages of life, from young families<br />
to retired people. Home prices within<br />
28 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
(clockwise from above) Landfall Realty's<br />
office is located right outside one of the<br />
community's gates; (left to right) Nikki<br />
Johnson, Karen Thompson, Becky Spivey,<br />
Kelli Lazzaro, Alison Bernhart; The company<br />
had an extremely successful 2020 and is<br />
looking forward to another robust year;<br />
Nikki Johnson, Karen Thompson & Becky<br />
Spivey meet about new properties coming<br />
on the market.<br />
Landfall can range from $350,000 to $5<br />
million, so agents must act as experts for<br />
all sorts of budgets.<br />
“One of the most surprising factors<br />
affecting Landfall since we opened is that<br />
the demographics of the families living in<br />
Landfall have come way down,” Bernhart<br />
said. “Landfall now encompasses all<br />
ages. We have about 40 percent young<br />
families, about 30 percent retirees, and the<br />
remaining 30 percent are all us folks in the<br />
middle who are still working.”<br />
While the COVID-19 pandemic has been<br />
detrimental to many local businesses,<br />
Landfall Realty is seeing the opposite<br />
effect. The real estate industry is booming<br />
as more people are able to do their jobs<br />
remotely, therefore greatly expanding their<br />
options for a home base.<br />
“The most glaring result of COVID-19 is<br />
that this pandemic has required people to<br />
work from home, and in doing so, it became<br />
clear that people can work from their home<br />
offices anywhere,” Thompson said. “Since<br />
that is the case, people have been flocking<br />
to <strong>Wilmington</strong>, where the climate, beaches<br />
and Southern hospitality offer a superlative<br />
quality of life.”<br />
Selling homes, however, is only part of<br />
the equation. Because of Landfall Realty is<br />
a small organization, agents often become<br />
friends with their clients and help new<br />
Landfall residents connect with others in<br />
the community.<br />
Fred and Barb Hickman knew very<br />
little about <strong>Wilmington</strong> in 2017 when<br />
they were trying to decide where to move.<br />
They made the trip from Pennsylvania to<br />
spend a week in the area and heard about<br />
Landfall Realty from the gate attendant at<br />
the community.<br />
“We literally just drove up and walked<br />
into the office,” Barb Hickman said. “They<br />
invited us to play golf and have lunch to get<br />
a feel for Landfall. We just immediately felt<br />
they were very welcoming and informative,<br />
and they made it easy, especially because<br />
we were from out of the area.”<br />
The Hickmans, who decided to build,<br />
completed their Landfall home in <strong>June</strong><br />
2019 and credit Landfall Realty with<br />
making the process a smooth one.<br />
While Landfall Realty will always focus<br />
primarily on Landfall, the sales team now<br />
does business outside of the community<br />
and is seeking to expand its reach across<br />
New Hanover County. As a result, Landfall<br />
Realty plans to grow its sales team within<br />
the next six months. The company had an<br />
extremely successful 2020 and is looking<br />
forward to another robust year.<br />
“Currently, Landfall Realty is listing<br />
and selling properties outside of Landfall,”<br />
Spivey said. “In March, we hit an alltime<br />
low number of 26 active listings in<br />
the neighborhood. Since the inception of<br />
Landfall Realty, we have sold exclusively<br />
the Landfall community. Due to the<br />
very low inventory and with careful<br />
consideration, we made the decision to list<br />
and sell properties in <strong>Wilmington</strong> and the<br />
surrounding Landfall area; however, all of<br />
our agents will continue to be the Landfall<br />
specialists. We look forward to serving this<br />
beautiful area that we have all called home<br />
for many years.”<br />
Landfall Realty, 1720 Drysdale<br />
Drive, <strong>Wilmington</strong>, NC, 910-256-6111,<br />
landfallrealty.com W<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 29
Lynda Stanley,<br />
Tyler Stanley,<br />
Victoria Stanley,<br />
and Lynda’s mom,<br />
Christine Williams.<br />
Lynda and Joe Stanley.<br />
It Takes a Village<br />
Lynda Stanley’s upbringing is the backbone to her<br />
inspiring community leadership<br />
LYNDA STANLEY’S<br />
ninth grade class at Harnett<br />
Central High School<br />
was presented with the<br />
opportunity to travel to<br />
France, Italy and Switzerland. It was not<br />
something her family could afford. “My<br />
parents divorced when I was young. My<br />
mom worked two jobs,” Stanley says. Her<br />
mother and grandparents supported her,<br />
making sure she was cared for. “I didn’t<br />
do without much, but that’s not to say<br />
I was privileged; my needs were met,”<br />
says Stanley. When the European trip<br />
presented itself, Stanley’s community<br />
stepped in. “We didn’t have the funds, but<br />
the community pooled their money so I<br />
would have that experience. I was in Shaw<br />
Town, a minority community. It was a<br />
community investment in me very early to<br />
show me that they thought I had it in me to<br />
By TERESA McLAMB<br />
be a leader,” reflects Stanley.<br />
That village nurturing continued<br />
through college as a family member sent<br />
her $20 a month to help out. Later, she<br />
created a scholarship for the family. “We<br />
pool our dollars and give one or two or<br />
three scholarships to kids as a monthly<br />
stipend to help with incidentals,” says<br />
Stanley. Her own children received<br />
scholarships. Victoria earned a sociology<br />
degree from UNCCH, then earned her<br />
nursing credentials from Brunswick<br />
Community College and UNCW. Tyler<br />
earned a business analytics and computer<br />
science degree from Elon College.<br />
“Of course, my family had principals,<br />
and expectations were high in that I was<br />
going to go to church and to school, and<br />
I was going to be respectful within the<br />
community. I was not going to embarrass<br />
my family,” Stanley recalls.<br />
Those principals are with her today as<br />
she leads Dosher Memorial Hospital in<br />
Southport as president of both the hospital<br />
and its foundation. Opened in <strong>June</strong> 1930,<br />
Dosher is a private hospital led by a citizen<br />
board of trustees. A critical access hospital<br />
with 25 beds, the majority of their work is<br />
outpatient, according to Stanley. “We do<br />
a lot of surgeries and outpatient testing.”<br />
They recently introduced robotic surgery.<br />
Appointed president of the hospital a<br />
little over a year ago, Stanley had been<br />
president of the foundation since it was<br />
formed in 2014.<br />
She came to the county and the hospital<br />
in 1986 as manager of the laboratory. “I<br />
was fortunate that the administrator at<br />
that time agreed to invest in my education<br />
and leadership and supported my going<br />
back to school to get the masters,” she<br />
says. Stanley drove to Fayetteville each<br />
weekend for the satellite program by CMU.<br />
From that point, her level of responsibility<br />
gradually increased until she became chief<br />
operating officer where she remained until<br />
taking the helm of the foundation.<br />
It was also during this time that she<br />
joined the board of trustees of Brunswick<br />
Community Hospital. She would serve on<br />
that board for 24 years, from 1991 to 2015,<br />
including multiple terms as chairman,<br />
the first Black female to serve. Stanley<br />
30 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
PHOTO KELLY STARBUCK PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
Lynda Stanley<br />
President, Dosher Memorial<br />
Hospital & Foundation<br />
» Hometown: Shaw Town<br />
community of Lillington, NC<br />
» Education: BS Medical<br />
Technology – UNC<br />
Greensboro, MS Health<br />
Administration – Central<br />
Michigan University<br />
» Family: Married to Joe<br />
Stanley, daughter Victoria<br />
and son Tyler<br />
» Hobbies: “Shopping and<br />
negotiating prices. I also love<br />
reading by the water.”<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 31
was recruited for, and served, in state<br />
and national positions during her tenure.<br />
During her tenure, the county passed a<br />
$30 million bond to support the school.<br />
“The first time it had failed. Dr. Mike<br />
Reaves and I visited the community,<br />
telling the benefits, the difference it would<br />
make,” Stanley says. The bond not only<br />
funded expansion of several buildings,<br />
but supported construction of the fitness,<br />
aquatics center, and the addition of the<br />
student center.<br />
Stanley has also served as board member<br />
and president of the Southport Oak Island<br />
Chamber of Commerce, on the board of<br />
Brunswick County Economic Development,<br />
First Citizens Bank board, BB&T board,<br />
and is a Diamond Life Member of the<br />
community service organization Delta<br />
Sigma Theta.<br />
Her longevity and broad involvement<br />
in the community made her a good choice<br />
for the Dosher Foundation job. “One of<br />
my first actions was to take this young<br />
foundation and build a board and do a<br />
Our second building is open!<br />
Come see us at<br />
6213 Market St. • <strong>Wilmington</strong>, NC<br />
910-444-8881<br />
www.portcitypeddler.com<br />
Tyler Stanley and<br />
Victoria Stanley<br />
showing off their<br />
colleges.<br />
capital campaign; it had never been done at<br />
this hospital,” says Stanley. The $2 million<br />
campaign was successful.<br />
When the hospital’s CEO left in 2020,<br />
she was appointed interim president of<br />
the hospital and Dr. Brad Hiliman was<br />
appointed CEO and chief medical officer.<br />
The two have since been appointed by<br />
the board to fill the positions for the<br />
foreseeable future.<br />
“I came to Dosher during a tough time.<br />
We were in the red financially; there were<br />
some accreditation concerns,” Stanley says.<br />
Over time, however, the organization has<br />
grown to be well respected. The board’s<br />
directives and guiding principals have<br />
built a team of people who are committed<br />
and dedicated and consider the hospital<br />
a great place to work. “During COVID, I<br />
tip my hat to every healthcare worker; no<br />
matter what they do they’re front line,”<br />
says Stanley.<br />
Stanley says she has felt privileged to be<br />
associated with Dosher. “I’ve asked myself<br />
‘Why me?’ and ‘Why now?’” COVID wasn’t<br />
an issue when she took the position, but as<br />
she’s transitioned through the past fourteen<br />
months, she says, “It’s become obvious to<br />
me that this is where I was supposed to be.<br />
Whether it’s walking the halls and helping<br />
people to feel better about what we’re doing<br />
or most recently when the vaccine became<br />
available, getting it into the community. On<br />
the professional side, I think that my real<br />
purpose is to make a difference by helping<br />
others. This whole role has fueled that for<br />
me. I was privileged to do the same thing<br />
on the education side and the volunteer<br />
piece of it with the community college. It<br />
was so important to me and to make the<br />
difference I did there. That’s who I am.”<br />
Stanley applauds the people who provide<br />
access to care and to education. “At the end<br />
of the day, those people go hand in hand<br />
in transforming someone’s life. Every<br />
day I ask what I’m going to do to make a<br />
difference, even on difficult days.”<br />
Stanley’s assessment of the dual roles<br />
The Stanley family<br />
celebrating New<br />
Year's 2018.<br />
The Stanley family<br />
on vacation.<br />
assigned by the board is positive. She<br />
and the CEO split the house. “I took the<br />
business side, and he took the clinical<br />
side. It was creative on the board’s part to<br />
say, ‘You can do it this way for a while.’ It<br />
has worked well. We’ve been able to get a<br />
lot done, and there’s a lot left to be done,”<br />
says Stanley.<br />
And, there’s time to do it despite<br />
initially believing she would live in the<br />
community for no more than two years.<br />
“There was nothing in Southport 35<br />
years ago for a single young woman. It’s<br />
the running joke. I thought I’d build my<br />
resume and move,” she says. Instead, she<br />
married Joe Stanley who she calls “her<br />
rock.” His family has been very active in<br />
the county for generations. His uncle was<br />
one of Brunswick Community College’s<br />
first trustees.<br />
“Joe reminds me to stay focused. I did<br />
not get to where I am alone. I stand on the<br />
shoulders of a lot of people. People have<br />
invested and taken a chance. I’m very<br />
grateful,” says Stanley.<br />
“I think because of that I consider my<br />
leadership style to be one of a servant leader<br />
- because of the way I’ve come through the<br />
system. I would never ask anyone to do<br />
anything I wouldn’t do. I try to be there for<br />
people. Not the one who says you’ll be my<br />
way or else,” Stanley says.<br />
“Thirty-five years later, I’m still here. It<br />
was definitely the best move of my life.” W<br />
32 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
design skincare fashion<br />
Outfit by ISLAND PASSAGE<br />
PHOTO KELLY STARBUCK PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
Fun in<br />
the Sun<br />
On-trend fashion finds<br />
for the new season.<br />
See page 38<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 33
design<br />
DeBruhl's is nestled in<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong>'s Winter Park<br />
neighborhood.<br />
Shabby Chic Elegance<br />
Port City’s haven for shopping and the soul<br />
By JUDY ROYAL » Photos by G.FRANK HART<br />
NESTLED BEYOND A<br />
grove of trees in the Winter<br />
Park neighborhood just<br />
off one of the city’s busiest<br />
intersections, DeBruhl’s of<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong> offers its customers a bit of<br />
an unexpected respite. The gift shop and<br />
home décor/furniture store even has a dog<br />
named Flossie, a pot-bellied pig named<br />
Bonni Lou and chickens to add to its<br />
country ambiance.<br />
“It’s our little oasis right in the middle<br />
of <strong>Wilmington</strong>,” DeBruhl’s owner Angie<br />
Bass said. “All of my babies just add a<br />
down-home and welcoming feel to the<br />
atmosphere. Flossie, my pup, will even<br />
greet customers as they come in, and she<br />
walks them to their car when they leave.<br />
One of my best and most meaningful<br />
compliments I’ve ever received was from a<br />
customer who said that any time she felt<br />
sad or depressed, she would think, ‘Let<br />
me go down there to DeBruhl’s.’ It is just a<br />
happy and inviting place.”<br />
Bass, who attended the University of<br />
North Carolina <strong>Wilmington</strong> during her<br />
college years and fell in love with the area,<br />
opened DeBruhl’s in 2011. She bought the<br />
property from her sister Lisa Bass, converted<br />
the older home into the commercial business<br />
and built her home right next door. Bass’<br />
mother Bonnie DeBruhl, who owned a<br />
women’s clothing store in Wilson for 30<br />
years, is the shop’s namesake.<br />
“My sister and I began working in retail<br />
at a very early age, around 12 and 16 years<br />
old,” Bass said. “Really that was what<br />
enabled us to be able to create relationships<br />
34 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
(clockwise from above) (left to right) Ed Bass,<br />
Debra Brock, Angie Bass, and Lisa Bass; Bonni<br />
Lou, the store's pot-bellied pig; DeBruhl's<br />
focuses mainly on taking antique and<br />
vintage furniture and giving it an elegant<br />
style; "I always want all of my customers to<br />
be happy and excited about decorating their<br />
home or getting a new piece of furniture,"<br />
Bass said.<br />
with people and the community so easily.<br />
My mother was our biggest inspiration. All<br />
of my family and friends have supported<br />
me and have been there for me. My sister<br />
Lisa Bass helped me create this idea, David<br />
Keefer is my rock and my biggest supporter<br />
and my dad Ed Bass has been there every<br />
step of the way.”<br />
Bass, a former schoolteacher for 15<br />
years, initially operated DeBruhl’s as<br />
a side project and was only open on<br />
Saturdays, but demand soon paved the<br />
way for a career change.<br />
“People started buying more of my<br />
furniture, and business was doing great,”<br />
she said. “I decided to take a leap of faith<br />
and opened my business full-time. Now<br />
my days consist of being outside in the<br />
warm sunshine all day, painting and<br />
creating beautiful pieces of furniture<br />
with my sidekick and manager Debra<br />
Brock. It’s a great thing to be able to<br />
make a living doing something you love<br />
and are excited about.”<br />
Shabby chic furniture pieces – including<br />
buffets, sideboards, end tables, sofa<br />
tables, mirrors, dining tables and chairs,<br />
headboards, lamps, china cabinets, chests<br />
of drawers, dressers, desks and vanities<br />
– make up a large portion of DeBruhl’s<br />
inventory.<br />
“We focus mainly on taking antique<br />
and vintage furniture and giving it<br />
an elegant style,” Bass said. “We have<br />
a process of creating our own style of<br />
furniture. First, and my favorite, is the<br />
hunt. I love going to auctions/estate sales<br />
and finding the most unique pieces. Then<br />
we haul a truckload home and begin our<br />
sanding and painting process.”<br />
In fact, Bass said the popularity of the<br />
shabby chic style of décor in this area<br />
has been a welcome surprise. “People<br />
are decorating their beach houses and<br />
entire homes with these items,” she said.<br />
Customers consist of both locals and<br />
tourists of all ages and backgrounds<br />
looking for something special.<br />
“We have a variety of customers;<br />
however, our local customers love our<br />
furniture and want to support our small<br />
business community,” she said. “Many<br />
people that come into our store say every<br />
time they come to <strong>Wilmington</strong> on vacation,<br />
they always have to stop by DeBruhl’s. It is<br />
such a fun place.”<br />
While the COVID-19 pandemic has<br />
caused some operational challenges over<br />
the past year, DeBruhl’s has rolled with<br />
the punches and survived.<br />
“In the beginning, we were just like<br />
everyone else with the business closed: no<br />
direction and afraid of the unknown,” Bass<br />
said. “As things gradually got better, we<br />
began using the Internet more to be able<br />
to interact with customers. Facebook is a<br />
great tool. I feel we were sort of a positive<br />
outlet for people. It was like everyone<br />
began wanting to decorate their homes, so<br />
we started painting.”<br />
When asked about other obstacles not<br />
related to the pandemic, Bass had a hard<br />
time coming up with anything, which isn’t<br />
surprising given her passion for DeBruhl’s.<br />
“Most of the time people leave here with<br />
a happy face and a car loaded down,” she<br />
said. “If any problems ever arise, we handle<br />
them. I always want all of my customers to<br />
be happy and excited about decorating their<br />
home or getting a new piece of furniture.”<br />
DeBruhl’s of <strong>Wilmington</strong>, 225<br />
Pine Grove Drive, <strong>Wilmington</strong>, NC,<br />
910-228-6637, facebook.com/debruhls W<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 35
skincare<br />
A New Face<br />
Forward<br />
The latest trends, treatments and procedures<br />
for a natural, younger look<br />
WITH VACCINATIONS<br />
on the rise and COVID<br />
limitations being<br />
adjusted, it is expected<br />
that the demand for<br />
cosmetic surgery and dermatological<br />
treatments will soar in <strong>2021</strong>. While<br />
trends and technological innovations are<br />
continuing to change and influence both<br />
patient demands and treatments and<br />
services, patients’ goals consistently focus<br />
on wanting to look and feel more youthful,<br />
natural, healthy, and rejuvenated. The<br />
industry in <strong>Wilmington</strong>, NC, is no<br />
different. Staff at Glo Medspa, <strong>Wilmington</strong><br />
Dermatology Center, and <strong>Wilmington</strong><br />
Health Dermatology weigh in on the<br />
latest trends, treatments, procedures and<br />
technological innovations in the cosmetic<br />
and dermatology field.<br />
By CAROLINE RUTLEDGE<br />
Facial<br />
rejuvenation<br />
treatment at<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong><br />
Dermatology<br />
Center.<br />
Glo Medspa<br />
Casey Exposito, RN, and her husband<br />
Andy Exposito, MD, opened Glo MedSpa<br />
in 2004. Today, after 17 years, the<br />
spa offers a large variety of anti-aging<br />
products and treatments and spa services<br />
such as injectables, semi-permanent<br />
makeup/microblading, facials, peels,<br />
microdermabrasion, laser hair removal,<br />
waxing, massage therapy, and more.<br />
Glo’s approach to skincare is based on<br />
science and focuses on both prevention<br />
and maintenance.<br />
Jamie Bass is a medical aesthetician<br />
at Glo and has been in the industry since<br />
2003 and notes many changes over the<br />
years. “One of the most noticeable is the<br />
overall understanding of the negative<br />
effects of too much sun,” explains Bass.<br />
“All ages are becoming more vigilant<br />
about protecting their skin from the sun’s<br />
damaging rays, which in turn improves<br />
the appearance of the skin and is a<br />
healthy decision to minimize their risk of<br />
developing skin cancer.” Bass recommends<br />
using a Physical Sunblock containing<br />
minerals such as Titanium and Zinc<br />
Oxide, and a professionally recommended<br />
at-home skin care regimen as the number<br />
one combination in slowing down the aging<br />
process. She also notes that Glo’s client<br />
base is widening to younger people who are<br />
taking steps to keep their skin rejuvenated<br />
and sun damage free. Prevention is key!<br />
According to Bass, “the number one<br />
requested skincare treatment at Glo is the<br />
Hydrafacial, which is a serum-infusing,<br />
exfoliating and deep cleansing treatment<br />
that will leave you glowing! “Hydration<br />
paired with exfoliation is the winning<br />
combination for youthful looking skin,”<br />
says Bass. Another popular and effective<br />
procedure in the esthetics department<br />
is micro-needling, a new way to produce<br />
collagen. This non-invasive procedure is<br />
based on the use of tiny needles to create<br />
micro channels (tiny holes) in the skin to<br />
stimulate the skin’s natural ability to heal<br />
itself and to produce collagen and elastin.<br />
“Micro-needling combined with radio<br />
frequency provided by our medical staff to<br />
stimulate collagen for skin tightening is<br />
another popular and effective treatment”<br />
says Bass. Glo also offers Platelet Rich<br />
Plasma (PRP) treatments, which can be<br />
used for skin rejuvenation, scarring, and<br />
hair restoration. “This technology has been<br />
used for various medical treatments for<br />
years but is now one of the most premium<br />
anti-aging and corrective treatments<br />
available,” says Bass. Other popular<br />
treatments include Botox, dermal fillers,<br />
and CoolSculpting.<br />
Glo MedSpa is ranked very high in<br />
the nation as being a top provider of<br />
products from Allergan and Galderma.<br />
The Glo MedSpa prides itself on taking<br />
time to provide customized, goal-oriented<br />
treatments for clients through consultation,<br />
collaborating and treatment planning.<br />
Glo MedSpa, 910-256-2690, glomedspa.com<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong> Dermatology Center<br />
Dr. Rosalyn George started <strong>Wilmington</strong><br />
Dermatology Center (WDC) in 2008<br />
“with the goal of providing our patients<br />
with the highest level of quality care and<br />
results through experienced providers<br />
36 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
and innovative technology.” More than<br />
15 years later, WDC continues to be one<br />
of the leading practices in NC due to Dr.<br />
George and her team’s knowledge and<br />
expertise, passion for skincare, and the use<br />
of innovative treatment technologies.<br />
“At <strong>Wilmington</strong> Dermatology Center,<br />
we are focused on providing <strong>Wilmington</strong><br />
with the latest treatment advancements,<br />
and we have recently updated a host of<br />
devices in our office that not only provide<br />
improved outcomes in a faster amount of<br />
time, but they also do so with much more<br />
comfortable treatments then in prior<br />
generations,” explains Dr. George. When<br />
it comes to facial rejuvenation, many<br />
treatments are done using light or laserbased<br />
technologies and microneedling with<br />
radio frequency (RF) to generate heat to<br />
stimulate collagen growth.<br />
“One of our favorite additions is the<br />
CoolPeel CO2 laser that is providing our<br />
clients with great results without the<br />
traditional pain and downtime of a C02<br />
laser treatment,” says Dr, George. “We tend<br />
to pair the CoolPeel with the latest in RF<br />
Microneedling with the Virtue treatment<br />
to address skin laxity. Our clients rave<br />
about how this treatment is so much easier<br />
during their visit than prior generations of<br />
microneedling treatments.”<br />
Dermal fillers are popular when it<br />
comes to facial rejuvenation, and the art of<br />
using the right dermal fillers is essential<br />
in providing clients with natural looking<br />
results. Dermal fillers allow Dr. George<br />
and her team to contour areas of the face in<br />
a natural way to help turn back the clock.<br />
WCD is the top Botox dermatology office in<br />
the state and is ranked in the top 1% in<br />
injectable volume in the nation.<br />
According to Dr. George, “fillers are a<br />
great option for returning the youthful<br />
contours of the face from providing jawline<br />
definition, to enhancing lips, restoring<br />
volume in the cheeks and addressing<br />
deeper dynamic wrinkles. We utilize a<br />
myriad for products such as Juvederm<br />
and Voluma from Allergan, Restylane Lyft<br />
and Silk from Galderma and we are the<br />
current exclusive provider in <strong>Wilmington</strong><br />
of Revance’s collection of fillers.”<br />
In addition to facial rejuvenation, body<br />
treatments are also important aspects of<br />
the work at WDC in helping clients achieve<br />
goals with comfortable treatments and<br />
alternatives to surgery, from fat reduction<br />
to muscle toning to laser hair removal<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong><br />
Health<br />
Dermatology<br />
Physician<br />
Assistant,<br />
Megan<br />
Vigliano.<br />
and beyond. “In <strong>2021</strong> we were excited to<br />
be the first to launch the latest evolution<br />
of CoolSculpting called CoolSculpting<br />
Elite. CoolSculpting Elite allows us to<br />
treat more areas faster with an improved<br />
design that allows for more surface area<br />
to be addressed with the goal of improved<br />
results in a faster amount of time,” explains<br />
Dr. George. “Living in a beach town with<br />
everyone excited about getting out again<br />
we are not surprised this has become our<br />
fastest growing treatment in the office.”<br />
Aside from facial rejuvenation and body<br />
contouring, laser hair removal and tattoo<br />
removal are in high-demand and both<br />
have seen advances in technology for pain<br />
free and faster outcomes, respectively. “In<br />
addition to other advancements such as<br />
Miradry to eliminate underarm sweat, or<br />
PRP (platelet-based plasma) treatments for<br />
hair loss, we are also excited to be the first<br />
to launch a unique solution for Cellulite; a<br />
difficult to treat condition in many women,”<br />
explains Dr. George. “This spring we will<br />
be launching Qwo a new FDA approved<br />
injection to treat unique cases of cellulite<br />
in the buttocks of adult women.”<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong> Dermatology Center, 910-256-<br />
4350, wilmingtondermatologycenter.com<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong> Health Dermatology<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong> Health is physician-owned<br />
primary care and multi-specialty medical<br />
practice that has provided care in<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong>, NC, since 1971. <strong>Wilmington</strong><br />
Health prides itself in using collaborative,<br />
evidence-based medicine to provide high<br />
quality care to patients. <strong>Wilmington</strong><br />
Health Dermatology offers a vast array of<br />
services from treating acne and psoriasis<br />
to chemical peels and Botox, among others.<br />
Megan Vigliano is a physician assistant<br />
Lumenis Quatro<br />
Treatment (used<br />
for laser hair<br />
removal) at Glo<br />
MedSpa.<br />
at <strong>Wilmington</strong> Health Dermatology<br />
and notes, “Most patients are becoming<br />
increasingly concerned with skin<br />
care related to sun exposure and the<br />
subsequent effect on aging and risk for skin<br />
cancer.” Vigliano explains that physical<br />
sunscreens including Zinc or Titanium are<br />
becoming more prevalent and are more<br />
"cosmetically elegant." “This means, there<br />
are many more options that feel like a light<br />
lotion and don't leave a white residue,”<br />
says Vigliano.<br />
“We offer a convenient and effective line<br />
that is mineral based, water resistant and<br />
reef safe, called Colorescience. A few of our<br />
favorite products include Sunforgettable<br />
Brush-on Shield SPF 50, which is a onepiece<br />
sheer powder sunscreen with a<br />
brush applicator, Pep-up Collagen renewal<br />
serum, Even up (for brown spots) and All<br />
Calm (for redness),” explains Vigliano.<br />
“The convenience and value are unbeatable<br />
as most of the products do the work of<br />
several products that other lines would<br />
sell separately.”<br />
Another important benefit of these<br />
sunscreens is that they protect against<br />
blue light, which has become more of a<br />
concern over the past year as people have<br />
been attending more zoom meetings and<br />
working from home. “Blue light is emitted<br />
from electronic devices like computer<br />
screens, tablets and smartphones and<br />
is known to cause skin damage,” says<br />
Vigliano. With summer on the horizon and<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong> being a beach town, there is<br />
no better time to prepare for exposure to<br />
the sun and buying effective sunscreen to<br />
protect your skin.<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong> Health Dermatology, 910-<br />
395-3477, wilmingtonhealth.com/service/<br />
dermatology W<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 37
Sunny<br />
Summer<br />
Style<br />
Michael Stars Double<br />
Gauze Gio Top, SeaLily<br />
Necklace, AG Prima<br />
Jean; all at CoolSweats<br />
at the Beach.<br />
The temps are rising! Time to update<br />
your wardrobe with these hot looks<br />
38 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
Free People Park Slope<br />
Maxi in Light Combo,<br />
Free People Vale Boot<br />
Sandal in Bone, Island<br />
Passage Double Layer<br />
Gold Link Necklace,<br />
Island Passage Multi-<br />
Color Beaded Hoop<br />
Earrings; all at Island<br />
Passage.<br />
Photos by: KELLY STARBUCK PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
Model: Kelly Tada<br />
Hair and Make-up: Thomas Esenbock and Itzy Cardenas for Beauty Bar Boutique<br />
Location: Mess Hall, Alcove Beer Garden in the Cargo District<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 39
Poppy Dress, $54, Chunky<br />
Hoops, $24, Straw Hat,<br />
$34, Flora Sandal, $56; all<br />
at Lula Balou.<br />
40 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
Bella Dahl Linen Blouse<br />
(under) Lisa Todd “Sun<br />
Day” Sweater, AG<br />
Prima Ankle Jean; all at<br />
CoolSweats at the Beach.<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 41
Rhetta Dress in Fushia, $242,<br />
Marc Fisher Oleta Wedge in<br />
Pink Seude, $150, BC Half<br />
Moon Bamboo Bag, $75,<br />
Mignonne Gavigan Madeline<br />
Earrings in Lilac, $225,<br />
Mignonne Gavigan Taylor<br />
Hoops in Light Blue, $275; all<br />
at Monkee’s of <strong>Wilmington</strong>.<br />
42 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
Farm Rio Mixed Print<br />
Tiered Dress, $245,<br />
Carmen Sol Seba Mid Tote<br />
in Gold, $235, Mignonne<br />
Gavigan Zebra Mega Fiona<br />
Earrings, $325, Jeffrey<br />
Campbell Amma Platform<br />
Shoe in Tan Suede,<br />
$200; all at Monkee’s of<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong>.<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 43
Men +<br />
Women<br />
in Business<br />
Best Business Advice We Have Ever<br />
Received: Always treat people the way you<br />
would want to be treated. The products we sell<br />
are used and depended on every day. Take the<br />
time and put forth the effort to make sure that<br />
each customer chooses the product that is best<br />
for them and their lifestyle.<br />
Why We Chose This Career: All four of<br />
us are 2nd or 3rd generation owners. We’ve<br />
all seen firsthand how hard our parents or<br />
grandparents worked to establish a successful<br />
organization. Knowing that makes us want<br />
work just that much harder to grow our<br />
business and succeed.<br />
Why We Love Doing Business In<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong>: <strong>Wilmington</strong> and Southeastern<br />
North Carolina is one the most desirable<br />
places to live and call home in the United<br />
States. As a result, we have the opportunity<br />
to meet, and work with, people from all over<br />
the country. We welcome them to our area.<br />
Atlantic Appliance<br />
and Hardware<br />
Wade Tillery, Kevin Edwards,<br />
Hampton Tillery and Mark Edwards<br />
910-791-2222<br />
atlanticappliance.net<br />
Best Business Advice I Ever Received: Thinking of<br />
your team’s strengths horizontally. Everybody brings so<br />
much creativity, expertise, and dedication to what they<br />
do, and everything they do is important to the overall<br />
success of your company. Recognizing that, as opposed<br />
to thinking of things as a structural hierarchy, brings<br />
all different positions together as a whole.<br />
Big Sky Design<br />
Front row: Stephanie Radack, Jennifer<br />
Kraner (owner), Rileigh Wilkins and Lauren<br />
Brown; Back row: Drea Butler, Hannah Lowe,<br />
Camille Covey, Haley Daber, Cassie Howell,<br />
Emily Young, and Jess Sihler<br />
910-793-3992<br />
bigskydesignonline.com<br />
44 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com<br />
Why I Chose This Career: It’s so important to elevate<br />
your everyday experiences in interior spaces, both<br />
commercial and residential. Surroundings matter and<br />
great design and human ingenuity are a beautiful thing.<br />
It can be so impactful to live or work in a space that’s<br />
inspiring and colorful. I love that through our design<br />
services we can assist people in developing their dream<br />
home. I am especially excited about our new Big Sky<br />
Shop & Studio because our goal is to provide design<br />
inspiration and beautiful furnishings, décor and art to<br />
take home for immediate satisfaction!<br />
Why I Love Doing Business In <strong>Wilmington</strong>: We’re<br />
so blessed that <strong>Wilmington</strong> has such a thriving economy,<br />
and how much of a destination it is. People here have<br />
a desire to live and work in spaces that offer elevated<br />
experiences and want our professional design services<br />
to create residential or commercial spaces that are very<br />
well designed, comfortable, and beautiful.
Nest Fine Gifts & Interiors<br />
Monika Williams (owner), Marie Polak, Rachel Hoenig<br />
and Suzanne Reid (designers)<br />
910-256-6378<br />
nestfinegifts.com<br />
My Business: A Home Interiors Boutique<br />
with full service interior design.<br />
Best Advice to Other Men/Women: Try<br />
to keep a positive attitude, because owning a<br />
business can be very hard at times.<br />
My Mission Is To: Bring an eclectic mix of<br />
beautiful and unique pieces of home décor for<br />
clients to enjoy.<br />
Why I Chose This Career: It’s my passion<br />
and what I would be doing if it weren’t my job.<br />
The Secret to Good Business Is: Having<br />
a great team that works together towards<br />
a common goal and providing excellent<br />
customer service to our clients.<br />
Why I Love Doing Business in<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong>: We are so lucky to have a<br />
wonderful, enjoyable client base. I consider<br />
myself very lucky to be able to do what I do<br />
best in the place I love the most.<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 45
Men +<br />
Women<br />
in Business<br />
My Business: My mom and I had a vision of the<br />
perfect shop for women. One where women could<br />
find the perfect gift, and also one where she could<br />
find all the things she loves for her home, like local<br />
art, gorgeous bedding and the perfect pillows in an<br />
inviting atmosphere.<br />
Best Business Advice I Have Received: The<br />
best business advice I have received is to remember<br />
to always put forth my best effort. And at the end of<br />
the day I can be proud of what I accomplished.<br />
Word of Wisdom To Other Men/Women: When<br />
you’re doing something you love, it’s never work.<br />
Why I Chose This Career: It’s my dream job!<br />
You’d Never Guess That: You’d probably never<br />
guess that right after graduating college, I repo’d<br />
cars as part of my management training program<br />
in banking. So, needless to say, not much scares or<br />
intimidates me.<br />
Crabby Chic<br />
Pam Thibault<br />
910-799-4216<br />
My Business: Havana’s Restaurant serves up the freshest<br />
seafood, steaks and garden salads. We have been serving<br />
locals and tourists of Carolina Beach for over 12 years. We<br />
focus on the complete dining experience. Awesome Food, Great<br />
Service & Fantastic Beach Atmosphere.<br />
Words of Wisdom to Other Men/Women: “Clients do not<br />
come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your<br />
employees, they will take care of your clients.” Richard Branson<br />
Havana’s<br />
Restaurant<br />
Peter Donat<br />
910-458-2822<br />
havanasrestaurant.com<br />
Why I Chose This Career: I really didn’t pick my career<br />
in the restaurant business; it really chose me. I moved from<br />
Washington DC to <strong>Wilmington</strong> when I was 20 years old. I<br />
didn’t want a 9-5 job in an office. I wanted to be at the beach<br />
with my friends. I started managing and running restaurants<br />
right away in Wrightsville Beach. Surfing and boating were<br />
my passion, so I needed a job that worked around my lifestyle.<br />
The restaurant business seemed like a great way to make it<br />
all work. Over the years, I found that delivering great food and<br />
service to smiling faces was a bonus. 30 years later, I couldn’t<br />
think of doing anything else. After all these years, I still love<br />
my job.<br />
You’d Never Guess That: Havana’s Restaurant hires &<br />
employs over a 100 people every summer. We hire and train<br />
every week in the spring & summer. If you are looking for a<br />
fun job that makes great money, come talk to us at Havana’s<br />
Restaurant.<br />
46 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
Vance Young<br />
The Vance Young Team<br />
Intracoastal Realty<br />
910-232-8850<br />
vanceyoung.intracoastalrealty.com<br />
My Business: Real Estate. We are<br />
a team of 23 agents specializing<br />
in the finest residential properties<br />
in our 3-county region. We also<br />
have agents that specialize in<br />
commercial and farm land.<br />
Best Business Advice I Ever<br />
Received: Work hard, play hard<br />
and make history! Attention to<br />
detail never goes out of style.<br />
Why I Chose This Career: I<br />
started working as a stockbroker<br />
until the market crashed in ’87.<br />
Around this time, Landfall was<br />
starting to be developed and I<br />
was offered the position as an onsite<br />
agent. The roads were dirt<br />
and there were 12 houses under<br />
construction. I worked on site<br />
from 1987-2000 and made some<br />
wonderful life long friends<br />
One Thing I’ve Learned<br />
The Hard Way: In the words<br />
of Ronald Reagan, “Trust but<br />
verify.”<br />
Why I Love Doing Business<br />
In <strong>Wilmington</strong>: The size of the<br />
community is perfect. It’s not too<br />
big, not too small. Your reputation<br />
will make or break you here.<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 47
Men +<br />
Women<br />
in Business<br />
My Business: We are the region's leading outdoor living specialty<br />
store, offering the finest selection of quality outdoor furniture<br />
& accessories. Our products, product knowledge and design<br />
experience is second to none, and we take great pride in helping to<br />
create that perfect setting for our customers - both residential and<br />
commercial. We have proudly served the region for over 35 years<br />
and have worked hard at earning a great reputation, both locally<br />
and in our specific industry nationally.<br />
Best Advice: I love quotes, and many stay with me often. One, from<br />
Einstein, states, " Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will<br />
take you everywhere." This resonates with my creative side, as yes,<br />
some things are black and white, more standard, basic, easy. But<br />
to think outside the box, put some thought into it, and successfully<br />
create something varied from the original idea, is something on<br />
which I thrive and excel.<br />
One Thing I've Learned The Hard Way: To take the time to<br />
smell the roses - or the fresh saltwater at the beach! I am pretty<br />
much a workaholic, and I tend to cater to our clients at times more<br />
so than I do my family. But I have an incredible wife and family and<br />
I've learned - be it somewhat anti-normal retail - that life is short,<br />
and it's fine to close up for holiday weekends and spend quality time<br />
with family & friends, as everyone should!<br />
Leisure World<br />
Casual Furniture<br />
Trey Folcher<br />
910-392-7748<br />
leisureworldcasual.com<br />
Our Business: McKenzie Baker<br />
Interiors is a full service design<br />
firm.<br />
Best Business Advice We Ever<br />
Received: Always own your<br />
mistakes.<br />
Words of Wisdom to Other<br />
Men/Women: Don’t always play<br />
it safe.<br />
McKenzie Baker Interiors<br />
(left to right) Patti Baker (owner), Kathleen Adams, Tammy<br />
Anderson with dog Gracie and Tracy Barnard<br />
910-762-4222<br />
mckenziebakerinteriros.com<br />
One Thing We Learned The<br />
Hard Way: Every job is different,<br />
and it is always worth it to go the<br />
extra mile.<br />
Why We Love Doing Business<br />
In <strong>Wilmington</strong>: <strong>Wilmington</strong> is<br />
a place of constant change and<br />
provides many opportunities.<br />
48 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
My Business: We have quickly emerged as a one stop<br />
shop destination housing unique and affordable home<br />
décor items. From an extensive home décor selection<br />
including custom furniture pieces to art, gifts, bath,<br />
jewelry, clothing and accessories, we offer a multitude of<br />
styles and price points in a fun fast paced environment.<br />
We also take delight in supporting our local artisans.<br />
Uptown Market<br />
Andrea Cumming, Jo Ann<br />
Latshaw and Rhonda Bellet<br />
910-686-0930<br />
Best Advice: Words of wisdom. Don’t let the bumps in<br />
the road discourage you. From hurricanes, power outages,<br />
road work and the pandemic, retail can be brutal. It’s how<br />
you navigate the down times and apply creative solutions<br />
that will set you apart. Problems are opportunities for<br />
achieving success.<br />
You’d Never Guess That: You’d never guess that we<br />
have five interior designers aboard, and our store is<br />
much larger than it appears on the outside. If you see<br />
something you love, you better grab it or it will be gone.<br />
New merchandise arrives daily and treasures can be<br />
found around every corner. We are also dog friendly and<br />
welcome your well mannered pooches.<br />
Get to know these seasoned entrepreneurs,<br />
business owners, and leading men & women<br />
of the greater <strong>Wilmington</strong> community.<br />
Adams, Kathleen .............McKenzie Baker Interiors<br />
Anderson, Tammy ............McKenzie Baker Interiors<br />
Baker, Patti .......................McKenzie Baker Interiors<br />
Barnard, Tracy .................McKenzie Baker Interiors<br />
Bellet, Rhonda ..................Uptown Market<br />
Brown, Lauren .................Big Sky Design<br />
Butler, Drea ......................Big Sky Design<br />
Covey, Camille...................Big Sky Design<br />
Cumming, Andrea............Uptown Market<br />
Daber, Haley......................Big Sky Design<br />
Donat, Peter.......................Havana's Restaurant<br />
Edwards, Kevin.................Atlantic Appliance and Hardware<br />
Edwards, Mark..................Atlantic Appliance and Hardware<br />
Folcher, Trey......................Leisure World Casual Furniture<br />
Hoenig, Rachel...................Nest Fine Gifts & Interiors<br />
Howell, Cassie...................Big Sky Design<br />
Kraner, Jennifer ...............Big Sky Design<br />
Latshaw, Jo Ann ...............Uptown Market<br />
Lowe, Hannah ..................Big Sky Design<br />
Pokak, Marie.....................Nest Fine Gifts & Interiors<br />
Radack, Stephanie............Big Sky Design<br />
Reid, Suzanne....................Nest Fine Gifts & Interiors<br />
Sihler, Jess.........................Big Sky Design<br />
Thibault, Pam....................Crabby Chic<br />
Tillery, Hampton...............Atlantic Appliance and Hardware<br />
Tillery, Wade......................Atlantic Appliance and Hardware<br />
Wilkins, Raleigh...............Big Sky Design<br />
Williams, Monika..............Nest Fine Gifts & Interiors<br />
Young, Emily.....................Big Sky Design<br />
Young, Vance.....................Intracoastal Realty<br />
PHOTOS KELLY STARBUCK PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
A special advertising section of <strong>Wilmington</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>.<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 49
Dram Yard’s Clams Piperade<br />
Chorizo and chili broth,<br />
fingerling potato, rouille<br />
toast, herbs.<br />
Parental Provisions<br />
The Port City’s most memorable meals for mom and dad<br />
By FANNY SLATER<br />
With holidays tailored towards mom and dad just around the corner, it’s time to put a plan in<br />
motion. Thinking about a homemade picnic for your parents? Sounds lovely, but think again.<br />
The Port City has plenty of notable eateries locked and loaded to handle the longest list of<br />
needs and the pickiest of palates.<br />
Got a dad who goes nuts for vibrant vegan cuisine but doesn’t like a stuffy atmosphere?<br />
What about a mom who can’t get enough crab cakes but only wants to sit in a quiet, comfy<br />
booth? We got you.<br />
Onward down the page: our picks for <strong>Wilmington</strong>’s top spots to feed your folks.<br />
Coquina Fishbar<br />
910-239-9029, coquinafishbar.com<br />
A new-comer to <strong>May</strong>faire’s dining scene, locally owned and<br />
operated Coquina is cooking up all kinds of coastally-inspired<br />
delicacies that mom and dad will love. Outfitted with a patio<br />
ideal for soaking in the sunshine, this novel restaurant (with its<br />
cheery Cali-vibe and plentiful seafood-centric menu) is a welcome<br />
addition to <strong>Wilmington</strong>. Standouts so far include the airy, deepfried<br />
conch rounds with sweet and sour dipping sauce and Tampastyle<br />
deviled crab fritters with aromatic spices, Cuban bread, and<br />
vinegary hot sauce. When it comes to lunch, don’t pass on the<br />
Po’quina Boy with beer-battered flounder and house tartar.<br />
Indochine<br />
910-251-9229, indochinewilmington.com<br />
Every trip to this popular Thai-Vietnamese café is a culinary<br />
adventure. And now that the warm weather is upon us, there’s<br />
no better time to take advantage of Indochine’s exotic outdoor<br />
canopied huts. Cuddle up with a cocktail by the tiki bar or visit<br />
the lotus pond in the garden. The appetizer sampler (puffy, golden<br />
crab angels, crispy coconut shrimp, nutty chicken satay, and more)<br />
is a reliable triumph for the table; and for those who can handle<br />
hot, the Hokkien noodles—swimming with wok-seared shrimp,<br />
Chinese sausage, and caramelized onions—are a fragrant feast.<br />
Port City Chop House<br />
910-256-4955, chophousesofnc.com<br />
Meat-eating moms and dads will drool for Chop House’s heavenly<br />
14-ounce New York Strip. And hey, who says they have to stop<br />
there? Pull the trigger on the total surf-and-turf experience<br />
by enhancing it with a whole garlic butter-roasted lobster tail.<br />
YOLO, right? From steak to seafood to poultry, this humble,<br />
yet sophisticated hub is known for nailing presentation and<br />
customer service time and time again. Craving a lighter bite?<br />
The poke bowl with chilled tuna, jasmine rice, and sesame ginger<br />
vinaigrette is as ridiculously refreshing as it is delicious.<br />
Havana's Restaurant<br />
910-458-2822, havanasrestaurant.com<br />
Come for the “award-winning clam chowder”, but stay to chow<br />
down on a superb Sunday brunch (completely with live music<br />
50 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
The Basics' Omlet Du Jour<br />
Served with with crispy bacon.<br />
Havana’s Oyster<br />
Catcher Benedict<br />
Two toasted English<br />
muffins topped with<br />
poached eggs, fried<br />
oysters, tasso ham &<br />
hollandaise sauce.<br />
24-month aged cheese), Italian happiness is manifested in many<br />
forms at this epicurean family-owned eatery. Your parents<br />
are sure to flip for classics like handmade ravioli or juicy little<br />
numbers like jumbo shrimp scampi in a garlicky white wine and<br />
butter sauce. As for the pizza, the fig pie loaded with garlic oil,<br />
fontina, sweet roasted fennel, and prosciutto is nothing short of<br />
a masterpiece.<br />
Dram Yard<br />
910-782-2400, dramyard.com<br />
and Hot Rum Bananas Foster for Two) at Carolina Beach’s most<br />
tropical hideaway. Don’t let Havana’s casual exterior turn you off<br />
from celebrating a special occasion. The polished dining room at<br />
this island destination matches the high quality of the food. For<br />
dinner, horseradish tuna with ginger soy sauce, wasabi aioli, and<br />
buttery baby carrots hits the spot every time.<br />
Tarantelli’s<br />
910-763-3806, tarantellis.com<br />
Indochine’s Mango<br />
with Sticky Rice<br />
Topped with warm<br />
coconut sauce and<br />
mangoes.<br />
From the melt-in-your-mouth Wagyu filet mignon bruschetta<br />
with gorgonzola fondue to the signature Spaghetti al Formaggio<br />
Parmigiana (prepared tableside inside an authentic wheel of<br />
Whether you’re native to <strong>Wilmington</strong> or not, tell any local you’re<br />
on the hunt for a fresh downtown dining gem and they’ll all direct<br />
you to Dram Yard. Rustic, beachy décor and southern coastal<br />
flavors are the epicenter of this 2nd Street spot. Rouse your ‘rents<br />
with the oversized tower of focaccia loaded with lemony, zippy<br />
za’atar seasoning and showered with fruity olive oil. To pair with<br />
the globally-infused eats, look to the lengthy lineup of suitable<br />
sippers. The herbal-scented Dram Affair with earthy Benedictine<br />
liqueur, gin, and mint has a delicately bitter bite.<br />
East Oceanfront Dining<br />
910-344-2513<br />
blockade-runner.com/dining-br/east-oceanfront-dining<br />
After a sandy-toed stroll on the beach, regale mom and dad<br />
with a memorable meal at East Oceanfront. Tucked inside the<br />
Blockade Runner (and bearing one of the best sunset views<br />
in WB), this lovely landmark is a no-brainer when it comes to<br />
exceptional cuisine and standout service. Literally everything on<br />
Chef Jess Cabo’s cultured menu—which spotlights seafood and<br />
vegetarian dishes—is a work of art and rotates on the reg thanks<br />
to seasonality. Pull up the Pasta Fra Diavolo (North Carolina<br />
shrimp in a spicy marinara with squid ink pasta and herbs) to<br />
the picturesque garden deck and thank me later.<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 51
True Blue Butcher & Table’s Burrata<br />
House made ham, roasted plums,<br />
pistachio, arbequina olive oil and<br />
brown bread.<br />
East Oceanfront Dining’s Crab<br />
Avocado Toast.<br />
The Bridge Tender<br />
910-256-4519, thebridgetender.com<br />
A dock-and-dine steakhouse staple in Wrightsville Beach, The<br />
Bridge Tender has been dealing out solid southeastern favorites<br />
like velvety crab dip and Cajun-infused shrimp and grits since<br />
1976. Elaborate plates include the grilled mahi with herby<br />
almond pesto, but for those especially fond of having their oceanfare<br />
fried, the crunchy crab cake platter with natural cut fries<br />
and slaw is an old-faithful that lives up to its hype. Don’t miss an<br />
opportunity to indulge in these tasty treats on Bridge Tender’s<br />
breezy patio overlooking the serene Intracoastal.<br />
True Blue Butcher<br />
& Table<br />
910-679-4473, wearetrueblue.com<br />
A one-stop shop that brings all your foodie fantasies to life,<br />
True Blue (and its team of talented professionals) dazzles every<br />
time. This refined restaurant places whimsical cuisine driven<br />
by the best ingredients, curated liquors, craft brews and wines<br />
alongside a full-service butcher shop boasting some of the most<br />
premium cuts of meat on the market. Expect familiar flavors<br />
with a New American twist like white cheddar “mac n cheese”<br />
with scallops, leeks, and a citrusy ginger reduction. For lunch,<br />
the Nashville Hot sandwich with housemade garlic pickles is a<br />
fiery fried chicken mouth bomb worth every bead of sweat.<br />
Savorez<br />
910-833-8894, savorez.com<br />
Thanks to Chef Sam Cahoon’s daringly beautiful Latin-American<br />
cuisine and its subtle southern swag, North 4th Street’s Savorez<br />
has been a knockout since day one. First, your mom and dad will<br />
dig the colorful digs, then they’ll fall head-over-mouth for the<br />
Port City Chop House’s Tide<br />
and Tundra 6oz filet with a 7oz<br />
roasted lobster tail.<br />
sumptuous coconut-ginger lobster ceviche partnered with thickcut,<br />
flawlessly fried corn triangles. Go big and go brunch with<br />
magical morning features like French toast made with butterseared<br />
Cuban bread, brown sugar, and cinnamon syrup). For<br />
dinner, the Tres Cochinitos—grilled pork loin over a black beanbacon<br />
purée with warm pork belly salad—is a tasty tribute to<br />
Cahoon’s Carolina roots.<br />
The Basics<br />
910-343-1050, thebasicswilmington.com<br />
Traditional, yet contemporary, farm-to-table fare enhanced by a<br />
hint of twang? Yep, that’s The Basics. Revered for bold dishes<br />
like tangy meatloaf and sugar-and-spiced-rubbed chicken with<br />
Hoppin’ John (a pleasantly smoky Carolina classic composed<br />
of black-eyed peas and rice), this Front Street bistro’s feasts<br />
are always on the money. The weekend brunch draws a crowd<br />
and the earthy, oatmeal pancakes dotted with blueberries and<br />
TRUE BLUE BUTCHER & TABLE PHOTO KELLY STARBUCK PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
52 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
Savorez's Breakfast of<br />
Champions Buttermilk fried<br />
chicken w/ chorizo gravy,<br />
fluffy arepa, citrus cabbage<br />
slaw, salsa Fresca, Over Easy<br />
Egg, Cheddar Jack Cheese.<br />
Tarantelli’s Homemade Cannolis.<br />
slathered with walnut butter are where it’s at. On the savory<br />
side, the ginger-spiced crab cake benedict is a dreamy way to<br />
kick off the day.<br />
Second Glass<br />
910-399-7486, secondglasswinebar.com<br />
Benny’s Big<br />
Time’s variety<br />
of pizzas, salads<br />
and sides.<br />
BENNY’S BIG TIME PHOTO BAXTER MILLER<br />
Particularly if your parents are wine enthusiasts (or honor a<br />
veg-friendly diet), they’ll be blown away when you treat them to<br />
Second Glass. Owner Celeste Glass is known around town for her<br />
expertise in the land of all things eclectic, and one look at this<br />
wine bar’s menu and you’ll understand why. Sample versatile<br />
vegan delights like beet and pistachio ravioli or house-made<br />
mushroom pâté with briny tapenade, but don’t get too hooked<br />
on one item as small bites and entrées often alternate based on<br />
the season. Don’t worry, as the name implies—the brews, bottles,<br />
and hand-crafted spirits are equally as unrivaled as the food.<br />
Benny's Big Time<br />
910-550-2525, vivianhoward.com/bennysbigtime<br />
This imaginative South Front pizzeria (product of celebrity chef<br />
Vivian Howard and husband Ben Knight) is praised for its creamy<br />
house gelato and perfectly charred wood-fired pies drizzled with<br />
peppery hot honey. Though, let it be known: I believe a slice of<br />
the Talk’in Shiitake with sausage, fennel, and fluffy ricotta is so<br />
good it could cure Covid. Benny’s became an instant success after<br />
opening their doors in 2018, and things haven’t quieted down<br />
since. The pastas are supreme, but as far as playing splitsies<br />
goes—Benny’s Chicken Parm with milky Stracciatella cheese,<br />
pickled peppers, and sage is a starter worth fork fighting over.<br />
Grand Cru Food & Wine<br />
910-679-4013, grandcruwb.com<br />
Since giving rise to a new generation of boutique tapas<br />
restaurants in <strong>Wilmington</strong>, Grand Cru has been crushing the<br />
small plate game since 2016. And between the 300-bottle wine<br />
list, epic roster of Champagne, and 20-bottle, wine-by-the glass<br />
system, there’s plenty of libations to wash them all down. The<br />
collection of cured meats and comprehensive selection of cheeses<br />
is a good place to begin, and the luscious butterbean dip screams<br />
spring. On the heartier end of the spectrum, the Asian-influenced<br />
braised short rib with spicy thin string beans and scallions is an<br />
umami explosion. W<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 53
All About Chemistry<br />
Finding a spark in St. James with Firetti Builders<br />
By CHRISTINE HENNESSEY » Photos by G. FRANK HARRT<br />
54 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
Lydia is an avid cook, so the kitchen<br />
was the most important part of the<br />
house, and they spent a lot of time<br />
making sure it would suit their lifestyle<br />
and needs, paying extra attention to<br />
the layout of the room, the size and<br />
placement of the cabinets, and two<br />
special features: a sitting room and a<br />
massive walk-in pantry.<br />
SAM AND LYDIA WERE<br />
both born and raised in<br />
New England, so it was only<br />
natural that they got married<br />
there too. The couple spent<br />
most of the ensuing years living in the<br />
northeast, including over three decades<br />
in Massachusetts, where they raised their<br />
family. “Then we followed the traditional<br />
route for people our age, and decided<br />
it was time to get rid of the big house in<br />
Massachusetts,” Sam says. “We didn’t<br />
know where we wanted to go, but felt the<br />
market was good.” The couple spent the<br />
last two years before they sold their house<br />
traveling extensively, especially in the<br />
winter, to see where they might want to<br />
spend their retirement.<br />
“As part of that process we had friends in<br />
St. James, and we had visited them a few<br />
times,” Sam says. A popular neighborhood<br />
nestled between charming Southport<br />
and historic <strong>Wilmington</strong>, the gated<br />
community offers many amenities such as<br />
81 holes of championship golf, four distinct<br />
clubhouses, over 36 miles of outdoor trails,<br />
fitness studios, tennis courts, and a fullservice<br />
marina right on the Intracoastal<br />
Waterway. The couple liked the amenities,<br />
and the people they met at St. James<br />
Plantation, not to mention North Carolina’s<br />
warmer climate. So it’s not surprising that<br />
on one of their visits, they purchased a lot,<br />
just in case.<br />
“We still weren’t sure what we were going<br />
to do with it, or if this was it,” Sam says.<br />
After a while, and with the encouragement<br />
of their children, the couple decided to<br />
commit to St. James and finally settle<br />
down. But first, they had to build a home.<br />
Quality and Excellence<br />
When it came to finding the perfect<br />
builder, the couple, who had previously<br />
built two homes, had clear goals and a<br />
vision for their home. “We weren’t novices,”<br />
Sam says. “We knew what we wanted<br />
and how the process works. We had some<br />
custom requirements, which ruled out<br />
the production builders who don’t want to<br />
modify standard plans. That put us in the<br />
custom family.”<br />
After viewing a number of homes, the<br />
couple ultimately chose Firetti Builders.<br />
“Joe Firetti has a long history of building<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 55
"The kitchen, the<br />
sitting room, the<br />
dining room, the<br />
bar - everything<br />
just works really<br />
well," Sam says.<br />
in St. James, and to us that meant on-site<br />
oversight, as opposed to being spread out<br />
and splitting his attention,” Sam says.<br />
The couple also appreciated that Firetti<br />
Builders had a design team to help with<br />
the many interior decisions building a<br />
home requires, such as cabinets, tile,<br />
floors, and more. “The design team was a<br />
value add, and it was a very professional<br />
organization,” Sam says.<br />
The final piece of the puzzle was a little<br />
harder to define, but Joe and his team<br />
were able to offer it anyway. “Whether it’s a<br />
custom house or a production house, there<br />
has to be chemistry with the builder,” Sam<br />
says. “We met everyone in Joe’s office as<br />
part of the process, and the chemistry was<br />
there.”<br />
As the couple quickly discovered, Firetti<br />
Builders offers much more than just good<br />
chemistry. The firm has been building<br />
homes since 1977, and working exclusively<br />
in North Carolina since 2001. Founded<br />
by Joe Firetti, Sr., the company is now<br />
56 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
“The couple house appreciated<br />
didn’t have<br />
that many Firetti many Builders places for had<br />
a art design or built-ins, team to and help we<br />
with knew the we many wanted interior to<br />
decisions display family building photos,” a<br />
home Katie requires. says. “The gallery<br />
wall was a great way to<br />
do that."<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 57
Joe's favorite part<br />
of the home is the<br />
fireplace in the living<br />
room, which features<br />
an approximately six<br />
feet wide and 11 feet<br />
tall piece of granite.<br />
run by Joe Firetti II, a third-generation<br />
homebuilder. A family affair, the team<br />
is known for professionalism, honesty,<br />
craftsmanship, providing an enjoyable and<br />
exciting experience for their clients, and an<br />
impeccable reputation.<br />
Further setting them apart is their<br />
commitment to building distinctive, energyefficient<br />
homes that feature innovative<br />
floor plans and unique features, all while<br />
offering exceptional value. “We’ve won<br />
multiple Guild Master awards from Guild<br />
Quality for exceptional customer service,<br />
and in the last six years we’ve won more<br />
Parade of Homes than we’ve lost,” Joe says.<br />
He believes communication is the hallmark<br />
of a successful project, and the firm’s easy<br />
build system of custom building makes this<br />
a priority.<br />
“When you walk into a car dealership<br />
and see a price sticker, you can get the car<br />
pretty quick,” Joe explains. “When you’re<br />
building an $800 thousand dollar home,<br />
things are a lot more complicated. It’s a<br />
different experience, and we try to simplify<br />
that as much as we can.” The firm’s design/<br />
build process, as well as their partnerships<br />
with interior design firm Mackenzie Baker<br />
and a team of trusted subcontractors,<br />
provides a single source of communication<br />
that keeps their clients informed and upto-date<br />
every step of the way. These were<br />
qualities that the couple appreciated most,<br />
especially as the design and construction of<br />
their St. James Plantation home began.<br />
Collaboration and Communication<br />
“The couple were looking for higherend<br />
appointments and a unique look,” Joe<br />
says. “They were combining a few homes<br />
into one, and wanted a dream retirement<br />
home. It was a great relationship, very<br />
collaborative. Sam was familiar with<br />
construction and very involved in the<br />
project. It was a joint effort between us,<br />
them and the interior designer, Kathleen<br />
Abrams.”<br />
“I let Joe know early on that I’m the<br />
kind of person who likes to be involved,”<br />
Sam says. “I’m not the kind of person<br />
who says to a builder, ‘Okay, we’ll see you<br />
in six months.’ The other side of it is that<br />
as construction moves along you might<br />
discover something that didn’t get through<br />
at the design, whether it’s the location of<br />
the outlets, or the width of a doorway.”<br />
Because Sam was so involved in the<br />
project, and because Joe and his team were<br />
so diligent about communication, they<br />
were able to make changes to the design<br />
of the home during the build process, in<br />
the small window of time that still offered<br />
some flexibility. “The original design<br />
had an open back porch, and it was very<br />
narrow,” Sam explains. “As construction<br />
started, we changed our mind and wanted<br />
to turn it into an eze-breeze porch so we<br />
could enjoy it year-round. Joe was able to<br />
expand it toward the pond and extend the<br />
roof without major surgery.”<br />
Inside the home, the overall layout and<br />
many of the features the couple wanted<br />
were fairly standard, with a few notable<br />
58 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
"The couple were<br />
looking for higher-end<br />
appointments and a<br />
unique look," Joe says.<br />
"They were combining a<br />
few homes in into one,<br />
and wanted a dream<br />
retirement home."<br />
Another highlight<br />
the couple throughly<br />
enjoys is the natural<br />
stone turquoise water<br />
feature in the foyer.<br />
November /December <strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> 2019 | 59
Firetti Builders have a long<br />
history in St. James.<br />
The master suite is on<br />
the first floor.<br />
In the walk-in<br />
pantry, the<br />
cabinets on the<br />
bottom are all<br />
closed cabinets,<br />
and the top is<br />
all open.<br />
exceptions. “A master suite on the first<br />
floor, a guest suite on the other side of the<br />
house so everyone has privacy,” Sam says.<br />
“Those were not unique things. The things<br />
that were unique were the sitting room,<br />
and the big, walk-in pantry.”<br />
Lydia is an avid cook, so the kitchen<br />
was the most important part of the house,<br />
and they spent a lot of time making sure it<br />
would suit their lifestyle and needs, paying<br />
extra attention to the layout of the room,<br />
the size and placement of the cabinets, and<br />
two special features.<br />
The first is the sitting room, located<br />
just off the kitchen, which gives Lydia a<br />
beautiful space where she can relax, while<br />
still keeping an eye on the stove and oven.<br />
The room includes a fireplace, windows<br />
overlooking the beautiful pond on the<br />
property, and a five-foot wide doorway that<br />
leads directly to the kitchen, which provides<br />
easy access between the two spaces.<br />
The second is the walk-in pantry, which is<br />
truly unique, and one of the most versatile<br />
and customized areas of the home. “When<br />
the house was being framed, a contractor<br />
was in there and asked if the pantry was<br />
the bedroom,” Sam says, laughing. In<br />
addition to ample storage for their various<br />
appliances, special occasion dishes, and<br />
beloved ice cream maker, it also includes a<br />
second refrigerator, a second dishwasher,<br />
a built-in desk, and specially designed<br />
storage for a 50-bottle wine collection.<br />
“The cabinets on the bottom are all closed<br />
cabinets, and the top is all open,” Sam says.<br />
“When you’re looking for something, it’s<br />
easy to find it.”<br />
While the kitchen, sitting room and<br />
pantry are showstoppers in their own right,<br />
one of Joe’s favorite features is the fireplace<br />
in the living room. “There’s a massive piece<br />
of granite in their fireplace—probably six<br />
feet wide and 11 feet tall. It’s a beast. My<br />
granite installer actually requested that<br />
no one be in the house when his team<br />
came to install it, so they wouldn’t have<br />
to pay attention to their language,” Joe<br />
says, laughing. “I told the couple to spend<br />
that day at the beach. ‘Trust me,’ I said,<br />
‘you’re going to want to see it, but you don’t<br />
want to hear it.’” The installation went off<br />
without a hitch, and the results are well<br />
worth whatever expletives may or may not<br />
have been uttered.<br />
It’s been almost a year since their house<br />
was completed, and Sam and Lydia couldn’t<br />
be happier with how things turned out.<br />
“The kitchen, the sitting room, the dining<br />
room, the bar—everything just works<br />
really well,” Sam says. Whether cooking<br />
an elaborate meal in the kitchen, relaxing<br />
in their eze-breeze porch, strolling through<br />
the beauty of St. James plantation, or<br />
choosing a celebratory bottle of wine from<br />
their collection, one thing is certain: they<br />
are home.<br />
*The homeowners’ names have been<br />
changed for privacy.<br />
Firetti Builders Inc., 910-477-6018,<br />
firettibuilders.com W<br />
60 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
"The “The original house didn’t design have had<br />
many open many back places porch, for and<br />
it art was or very built-ins, narrow," and Sam we<br />
explains. knew we "As wanted construction to<br />
started, display family we changed photos,” our<br />
mind Katie and says. wanted “The gallery to turn<br />
it wall into was an eze-breeze<br />
a great way to<br />
porch do that." so we could enjoy it<br />
year-round. Joe was able<br />
to expand it toward the<br />
pond and extend the roof<br />
without major surgery."<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 61
SPEND A YEAR<br />
ON THE COAST<br />
of <strong>Wilmington</strong>, North Carolina<br />
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019<br />
Fall<br />
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62 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
dining review in the kitchen restaurant guide<br />
PHOTO G. FRANK HARTY<br />
Fettucine<br />
John Angelo<br />
Parmigiano, pancetta & truffle<br />
essence with spinach &<br />
cremini mushrooms.<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 63
Quanto Basta:<br />
107 N. 2nd St.<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong>, NC<br />
910-395-6120<br />
qbwilmington.com<br />
Italian Eatery & Wine Bar<br />
High-end Italian eatery takes over the key of the city and is winning<br />
By BRIDGET CALLAHAN » Photos by G. FRANK HART<br />
WILMINGTON WAS<br />
not in the plan for<br />
Lynette Matthews-<br />
Murphy, one of<br />
the owners of the<br />
new Quanto Basta on N. 2nd Street.<br />
Already running two successful high-end<br />
restaurants in Winston Salem, the original<br />
Quanto Basta and Springhouse Kitchen,<br />
and having just acquired a country club<br />
to renovate, she had her hands quite<br />
full. But her son, Vance Matthews, was<br />
persistent. Vance moved to <strong>Wilmington</strong><br />
to work for Untappd, and quickly realized<br />
the potential of the downtown core. He<br />
kept after Lynette, insisting on-site visits<br />
and location scouting, and finally sold her<br />
on a historic building hiding just across<br />
from the parking deck that had incredible<br />
potential.<br />
“We really just lucked out with the<br />
building itself,” Vance says. “It’s known as<br />
the key of the city, because if you look at<br />
the building from an aerial view, the center<br />
courtyard rounds out at the back and<br />
looks like an old keyhole. When we got the<br />
building, it was three old law offices with 8<br />
ft. ceilings, total cubicle world. The coolest<br />
part of the project was visualizing what it<br />
could become.”<br />
Working with architectural firm LS3P<br />
and designer Lucie Matthews Patton, the<br />
hidden historical gem has been converted<br />
into an airy, open mix of a formal dining<br />
room, beguiling courtyard, and intimate<br />
private grotto adorned with oyster shell<br />
chandeliers. A special events manager<br />
in her former life, Lynette has an eye for<br />
creating spaces, and hiring the right team<br />
to fulfill her vision.<br />
64 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com<br />
“La Migliore Board” -<br />
choice of three salumi<br />
& two cheeses with<br />
mostarda & crostini.<br />
“We took into account that we are in a<br />
beautiful coastal city, the outdoors and<br />
fresh air are important. And who knew<br />
at the time that having fresh air and an<br />
outdoor space in your restaurant would be<br />
so critical to survival in the face of Covid?”<br />
she says.<br />
Quanto Basta, which Lynette translates<br />
to “As much as you want, as much as you<br />
need,” opened last July, and the reception<br />
even in the middle of a pandemic has<br />
been warm. Vance, in his role as general<br />
manager, and with the assistance of<br />
Reina Laws, chef Joe Heskin, and bar<br />
manager Joe Rushing, has created a<br />
high end Italian dining experience that<br />
seems equally upscale and casual at the<br />
same time. That’s an addictive mix for<br />
Oyster Shell<br />
chandeliers adorn<br />
the space.
Regulars come in to sit<br />
at the bar, nibble on<br />
a charcuterie board<br />
and sip on Rushing’s<br />
specialty cocktails.<br />
The center courtyard<br />
rounds out at the<br />
back and looks like<br />
an old keyhole.<br />
Fettucine John Angelo.<br />
Seafood Bianco Pizza.<br />
downtown <strong>Wilmington</strong>, whose regulars<br />
love being able to slip in and have a cocktail<br />
or bring their visitors in for a more formal<br />
dinner. The main menu mirrors that of the<br />
Winston Salem location, originally created<br />
by partner and chef Timothy Grandinetti,<br />
featuring recipes from his family in<br />
Naples. But Chef Heskin has also had<br />
the opportunity to create specials tailored<br />
more to <strong>Wilmington</strong> crowds, like a seared<br />
scallop over chickpeas dish that Lynnette<br />
raves over.<br />
“With the menu, we’ve brought in more<br />
local seafood and calamari. It’s just great<br />
seeing how these Italian dishes come out<br />
with the seafood we have access to,” Vance<br />
says.<br />
His favorite dish, and one of their most<br />
popular, is the beef short ribs barbaresco,<br />
with tender short ribs served with pillowy<br />
gnocchi and charred carrots, garnished<br />
with tomato jam. Lynnette’s favorite is the<br />
first dish she ever tasted from Grandinetti’s<br />
original menu, the Fettucine John Angelo.<br />
“It’s our rotisserie roasted chicken (we<br />
actually have a rotisserie in the kitchen,<br />
spinning away all day), and the chicken is<br />
hand pulled with spinach and mushrooms,<br />
pancetta, truffle oil. The alfredo sauce is<br />
lovely. It’s amazing,” she says.<br />
Other menu hits include the tagliatelle<br />
with a ragu signature bolognese, and<br />
the cannelloni al Forno stuffed with<br />
chicken, mushroom, spinach, and a rich<br />
asiago cream. The star of the starters<br />
menu is the stuffed peppers parmesan,<br />
with sausage and focaccia stuffing and<br />
oozing mozzarella. The pizzas are thin<br />
and charred to perfection, fired in the<br />
huge pizza oven with olive oil and sea<br />
salt crusts. And of course, there’s always<br />
spaghetti with Mama’s Sunday Sauce, a<br />
rich tomato-based bolognese.<br />
There’s a lot to discover on the menu, and<br />
even your favorite dishes can be changed<br />
every time you come with the option to<br />
add on your favorite proteins, from shrimp<br />
and scallops to pulled short rib and<br />
meatballs. Save room for the traditional<br />
after dinner coffee and desserts by sous<br />
chef Jay McRedmond, including a life<br />
changing olive oil cake with vanilla gelato,<br />
an orange blossom prosecco reduction, and<br />
candied oranges and pistachios. Or opt for<br />
the caramel soaked butterscotch budino<br />
with candied walnuts, Lynnette’s personal<br />
favorite.<br />
Regulars come in to sit at the bar, nibble<br />
on a charcuterie board and sip on Rushing’s<br />
specialty cocktails. But if you’re trying to<br />
get a table, it’s best to call ahead. Even with<br />
Covid restrictions, reservations are usually<br />
packed out for the night. Since events<br />
have been curtailed, they’ve opened up<br />
the grotto and courtyard to accommodate<br />
new tables. But as private events, wedding<br />
rehearsals, and business meetings pick<br />
back up, tables may be even harder to<br />
come by. The Grotto accommodates up to<br />
36 seats, and the beautiful, private events<br />
space is sure to become a popular venue<br />
once large gatherings come back. Vance<br />
is already looking for ways to add more<br />
tables throughout the courtyard, as they<br />
anticipate a busy summer ahead.<br />
It’s obvious Quanto Basta is already<br />
a <strong>Wilmington</strong> hit, and they’re in a great<br />
position coming out of a tough year, with a<br />
dedicated staff and a lot of months of “soft”<br />
practice under their belts.<br />
“We’re so blessed to have a great team<br />
working with us, and we can’t wait for<br />
normalcy to hit,” Vance says.<br />
“We’re so grateful too,” Lynnette adds.<br />
“The people here have just welcomed us<br />
with open arms. It’s been a wonderful thing<br />
during COVID, it’s warmed our hearts.”<br />
To make a reservation, visit Quanto<br />
Basta on Open Table. W<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 65
Flavors of<br />
Summer<br />
Recipes and photos by Kaitlin Gooding<br />
If you had to choose your favorite flavor, the best<br />
taste imaginable, what would it be? It’s hard to<br />
pick just one, but for us, it would have to be the<br />
flavors of summer.<br />
HARICOT VERTS WITH TAHINI DRIZZLE<br />
Servings: 2-3 side dishes<br />
INGREDIENTS:<br />
12 oz haricot verts<br />
2 shallots (thinly sliced)<br />
2 tbsp butter<br />
1 tbsp pistachios (chopped)<br />
1-2 radishes (thinly sliced)<br />
mint leaves for garnish (can use herb of choice)<br />
TAHINI DRIZZLE<br />
1/4 cup tahini<br />
2 tbsp lemon juice<br />
1 garlic clove (minced to a paste)<br />
1 tsp Dijon mustard<br />
pinch of fresh ground pepper<br />
pinch of sea salt<br />
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil<br />
1 tbsp maple syrup<br />
2 spoonfuls of water (can add less or more)<br />
DIRECTIONS:<br />
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. While it<br />
is heating up, add ice water to a separate bowl.<br />
2. Place the beans in the boiling water and cook for 5-6 minutes.<br />
Once finished cooking, drain the water out and add them to the<br />
ice water. After the beans have cooled, drain the water, and set<br />
aside.<br />
3. Create your sauce by adding all the ingredients into a bowl and<br />
mixing until smooth. Add one spoonful of water at a time to thin,<br />
until you have reached the right consistency and then set aside.<br />
4. In a sauté pan, add two tablespoons of butter and the sliced<br />
shallots. Cook on medium heat until fragrant and then stir in the<br />
beans and radish. Stir in the pan until they are warmed through<br />
and fully coated.<br />
5. Remove the haricots from the pan and place in a bowl or<br />
plate. Drizzle tahini sauce over top, sprinkle the pistachio<br />
crumbles, add salt and pepper, and garnish with any herb of<br />
choice. Serve immediately while the beans are warm.<br />
66 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
RAW OYSTERS WITH BLOOD ORANGE<br />
MIGNONETTE<br />
Servings: One dozen oysters<br />
INGREDIENTS:<br />
1 blood orange (juice)<br />
1 tsp soy sauce<br />
1/2 tsp sugar<br />
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil<br />
1/2 shallot (thinly sliced)<br />
4 tsp rice wine vinegar<br />
DIRECTIONS:<br />
1. Mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl until it is well<br />
combined. Serve with 12 oysters on the half shell over ice.<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 67
TOMATO FARCIES<br />
Servings: 2-3<br />
INGREDIENTS:<br />
6 large tomatoes<br />
1 lb ground chicken<br />
2 garlic cloves (minced)<br />
2 shallots (finely chopped)<br />
3/4 cup milk<br />
2 slices stale bread (prefer sourdough, cut<br />
into small cubes)<br />
1 tsp Dijon mustard<br />
1 tbsp salt<br />
1 tsp ground pepper<br />
2 tbsp parsley (roughly chopped) + extra<br />
for garnish<br />
2 tbsp grated parmesan<br />
extra virgin olive oil<br />
DIRECTIONS:<br />
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.<br />
2. Slice the top off each tomato, setting aside for later. Use a spoon to scoop out the<br />
seeds and insides of the tomatoes but be careful not to pierce the skin. Sprinkle<br />
the inside with salt and flip the tomatoes over on a paper towel to allow the excess<br />
liquid to drip out.<br />
3. Add the bread to a bowl and pour milk over top to soak.<br />
4. In a large mixing bowl, add your ground chicken, salt, pepper, garlic cloves,<br />
shallots, parmesan, and Dijon mustard. Drain the milk from the bread and mix it<br />
into the large bowl until well combined, creating the stuffing.<br />
5. Fill each tomato with stuffing, replacing the tops. Place the tomatoes on a baking<br />
dish or tray and spray or drizzle each tomato lightly with olive oil. Add to the oven<br />
and cook for 35-40 minutes.<br />
6. Once they are finished cooking, remove from the heat, and allow them to cool for<br />
about five minutes. Sprinkle the tomatoes with sea salt, pepper, and garnish with<br />
chopped parsley. Serve while the tomatoes are still warm.<br />
68 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
STRAWBERRY MASCARPONE GALETTE<br />
Yields: 1 galette<br />
INGREDIENTS:<br />
4 cups strawberries (halved)<br />
1/4 cup mascarpone cheese<br />
1 tsp balsamic vinegar<br />
1/4 cup sugar + extra for sprinkling<br />
1/2 tsp cinnamon<br />
1 tbsp fresh thyme<br />
1 tbsp cornstarch<br />
1 tbsp butter<br />
1/4 tsp salt<br />
1 tbsp honey<br />
CRUST<br />
2 cups flour<br />
2/3 cup chilled unsalted butter<br />
2 eggs<br />
pinch of salt<br />
2-4 spoonfuls of water<br />
DIRECTIONS:<br />
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.<br />
2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the salt and flour. Add the butter into the dry<br />
ingredients. Crack the eggs and mix into the dough mix. Add 2-4 spoonfuls of water<br />
depending on how wet or dry the mix is. Knead the dough for a few minutes and then<br />
form into a ball. Place in a covered bowl and put in the fridge for 20 minutes.<br />
3. In a mixing bowl combine the strawberries, sugar, balsamic vinegar, cornstarch,<br />
salt, cinnamon, and thyme. Set aside.<br />
4. Remove dough from the refrigerator and roll it out on a lightly floured surface into a<br />
round, about 12-14 inches. Slide the dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment<br />
paper.<br />
5. Spread the mascarpone into the center of the dough and leave about 1.5 inches from<br />
the border.<br />
6. Pour the strawberry mix into the center of the dough leaving the 1.5 in border<br />
uncovered. Fold the dough over the filling as you pleat around the edges.<br />
7. Melt the butter and brush it along the pie crust. Sprinkle with additional sugar. Bake<br />
for 30-35 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.<br />
8. Allow the galette to cool completely and drizzle honey over top before serving.<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 69
ROASTED BRANZINO<br />
Servings: 2<br />
INGREDIENTS:<br />
2 branzino whole fish (scaled & gutted)<br />
1 lemon & lime (1 in slices)<br />
1 sweet onion (diced)<br />
1 tbsp Dijon mustard<br />
6 sprigs thyme<br />
2 garlic cloves (thinly sliced)<br />
4 bay leaves<br />
handful of parsley<br />
sea salt & pepper<br />
extra virgin olive oil<br />
DIRECTIONS:<br />
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Add the fish to a baking sheet lined with<br />
parchment paper.<br />
2. Drizzle olive oil over the fish and rub it all over the skin of the fish. Use your fingers<br />
to spread one tablespoon of Dijon mustard to the inside of the fish.<br />
3. Season the fish inside and out with salt and pepper.<br />
4. Stuff the inside with the diced onions, garlic slices, chopped parsley, bay leaves, and<br />
lemon/lime slices. Use the rest to lay over the top of the fish.<br />
5. Add to the oven for 20-22 minutes. Once finished cooking, remove from the oven,<br />
and allow to cool until you can handle it with your hands. Drizzle a little lemon<br />
juice over top and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Serve and enjoy!<br />
70 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
GRAPEFRUIT FIZZ<br />
Servings: 1<br />
INGREDIENTS:<br />
5 mint leaves<br />
1.5 oz gin<br />
2 tsp honey<br />
1/2 grapefruit (juice)<br />
1 lime quartered<br />
sparkling water to top<br />
DIRECTIONS:<br />
1. Lightly muddle the mint leaves, 1 quartered lime, and honey in the bottom of a glass.<br />
2. Add the grapefruit juice and gin and combine by stirring to dissolve the honey.<br />
3.Add ice, top with sparkling water, and garnish with a mint sprig. Enjoy!<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 71
Never Compromising Fresh<br />
Ingredients or Amazing Service<br />
BREAKFAST, LUNCH & BRUNCH<br />
served ALL DAY, EVERY DAY<br />
of <strong>Wilmington</strong><br />
Ready to Eat?<br />
Use our restaurant listings to find the best<br />
eating and drinking in <strong>Wilmington</strong><br />
6722 Wrightsville Ave, <strong>Wilmington</strong><br />
910-256-7030<br />
Open Daily 7am – 3pm<br />
Thanks for Voting us<br />
Best Authentic<br />
Mexican!<br />
Committed to bringing<br />
you a dining experience<br />
full of flavor!<br />
5607 Carolina Beach Road, <strong>Wilmington</strong><br />
910-399-1643 • tequilacc.com<br />
AMERICAN<br />
Blue Surf Café 250 Racine Dr.,<br />
523-5362. Serving breakfast, lunch, and<br />
dinner while striving to use as many<br />
locally sourced ingredients as possible.<br />
Unique and delicious plates of food can<br />
be enjoyed inside or outside on the dogfriendly<br />
patio. Breakfast served daily<br />
until noon & all day Sunday. Lunch<br />
available all day. Dinner available<br />
5-9pm, Mon-Sat.<br />
Bluewater Waterfront Grill 4 Marina<br />
St., 256-8500. Offers spectacular<br />
panoramic views of the Intracoastal<br />
Waterway. Dinner mainstays include<br />
fresh seafood, baby back ribs, chargrilled<br />
steaks, and delicious homemade<br />
desserts. Lunch and dinner daily.<br />
Bon Appetit 3704 Carolina Beach<br />
Rd., 796-0520. Hot/cold sandwiches<br />
and wraps, salads, quesadillas, shrimp<br />
and grits, or create your own burgers.<br />
Breakfast and lunch. Open daily.<br />
1900 Restaurant Lounge 1900<br />
Eastwood Rd., 509-2026. A fun and<br />
stylish place with memorable dishes and<br />
drinks, for the perfect spot for a night out<br />
with friends or an intimate dinner. Menu<br />
includes flavorful, high quality modern<br />
American dishes. Dinner Tue-Sat.<br />
Dixie Grill 116 Market St., 762-7280.<br />
The casual dinette known for great<br />
breakfasts and brunch now also serves<br />
lunch. Located in the heart of downtown<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong>. Southern hospitality on a<br />
plate. Open daily.<br />
Front Street Brewery 9 N. Front St.,<br />
251-1935. <strong>Wilmington</strong>’s only restaurant<br />
and brewery, offering great food and<br />
micro brews. Menu offers more than<br />
25 gourmet sandwiches and burgers,<br />
and 35+ entrees. Try the famous<br />
Scottish Ale Brew-B-Q Ribs. Lunch and<br />
dinner daily.<br />
Henry’s 2508 Independence Blvd.,<br />
793-2929. Considered a local favorite,<br />
with locally sourced classic American fare<br />
in an inviting and casual environment.<br />
Live music nightly and outdoor dining<br />
available. Lunch and dinner daily.<br />
Hot Pink Cake Stand at Monkey<br />
Junction 5543 Carolina Beach Rd.,<br />
Suite 140; 799-9119. Breakfast, lunch,<br />
and dessert. Light fare available Mon-<br />
Sat 11am-9 pm.<br />
Jerry’s Food, Wine and Spirits 7220<br />
Wrightsville Ave., 256-8847. Fine dining<br />
in a casual bistro atmosphere with an<br />
ever-changing, creative menu.<br />
Jester’s Café 607 Castle St., 763-6555.<br />
Breakfast, lunch and Sat./Sun. brunch<br />
in a casual, fun downtown location.<br />
72 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 73
Quiches, salads, soups, sandwiches, and<br />
more. Closed Mondays.<br />
King Neptune 11 N. Lumina Ave.,<br />
333-6688. New Hanover County’s oldest<br />
restaurant, opened in 1949. Fish & chips,<br />
crab cakes, sandwiches and more in a<br />
comfortable dining room with the feel of a<br />
favorite gathering place. Breakfast, lunch<br />
and dinner daily.<br />
Oceanic 703 S. Lumina Ave.,<br />
256-5551. Situated on the beach<br />
overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy<br />
fresh seafood, exciting land lover’s dishes<br />
and breathtaking views. Outdoor seating<br />
is available on the adjacent Crystal Pier.<br />
Lunch and dinner daily.<br />
Oceans 1706 N. Lumina Ave., 256-2231.<br />
Located inside the Holiday Inn Resort,<br />
Oceans is the perfect locale for fresh seafood<br />
and steaks alongside magnificent views of<br />
the ocean. Breakfast, lunch, dinner daily.<br />
Riverboat Landing 2 Market St.,<br />
763-7227. Historic building on the corner<br />
of Water and Market Street houses a cozy<br />
restaurant. Arrive early to dine outside on<br />
one of the second-floor balconies. Southern<br />
fare with French, Mediterranean, and<br />
Asian influences. Lunch and dinner daily,<br />
Sunday brunch.<br />
RuckerJohns 5564 Carolina Beach Rd.,<br />
452-1212. High-quality food served up in<br />
a fun and relaxing atmosphere. Burgers,<br />
steak, chicken, and salads. Lunch and<br />
dinner daily.<br />
Salt Works (The Original) 6301<br />
Oleander Dr., 350-0018. Comfort food<br />
cooked to order. Breakfast and lunch. Open<br />
daily.<br />
Sweet & Savory Café 1611 Pavilion<br />
Pl., 256-0115. A full menu breakfast,<br />
lunch, and dinner restaurant with<br />
dishes made from scratch. Open daily<br />
7am-9pm.<br />
Tavern on 17th 1611 Dusty Miller Ln.<br />
#305, 910-765-1157. With a revamped<br />
menu full of elevated pub food, this<br />
neighborhood restaurant and bar has a<br />
little something for everyone. Enjoy weekly<br />
food and drink specials on their wide-open<br />
air patio, complete with an outdoor fire<br />
pit and heaters. Tavern on 17th opens at<br />
11:30am-11pm every day.<br />
The Basics 319 N. Front St., 343-1050.<br />
A little Southern, a little gourmet, a<br />
little rock n’ roll. Traditional Southern<br />
fare with a twist, including fried green<br />
tomatoes, smoked pork BBQ, grilled<br />
pimento cheese, and a fried chicken<br />
BLT. Breakfast, lunch, dinner daily,<br />
Sunday brunch.<br />
The Pilot House 2 Ann St.,<br />
343-0200. Overlooks the Cape Fear<br />
River with a large outside deck. Menu<br />
ranges from down home cooking to Cajun,<br />
as well as traditional Southern fare<br />
with a contemporary twist. Lunch and<br />
dinner daily.<br />
White Front Breakfast House 1518<br />
Market St., 762-5672. Historic downtown<br />
diner—a local favorite. Biscuits and gravy,<br />
corned beef hash, smoked sausage, eggs<br />
any way you like. Open daily 6am-2pm.<br />
ASIAN<br />
Bento Box 1121 Military Cutoff Rd.,<br />
509-0774. Asian street food with a<br />
combination of Japanese, Korean,<br />
Vietnamese, and Thai dishes. Sushi bar.<br />
Lunch Mon-Fri, Dinner Mon-Sat.<br />
Big Thai 1319 Military Cutoff Rd.,<br />
256-6588. Famous for authentic Thai<br />
cuisine. Don’t miss the coconut cake as<br />
a sweet and savory finale. Lunch and<br />
dinner daily.<br />
Blue Asia 341 S. College Rd.,<br />
799-0002. An Asian bistro offering a wide<br />
range of authentic Chinese, Japanese,<br />
and Thai cuisines using the freshest<br />
seafood, meats, and vegetables. Lunch and<br />
dinner daily.<br />
Double Happiness 4403 Wrightsville<br />
Ave., 313-1088. A great mix of traditional<br />
Chinese dishes and modern twists on<br />
favorites. Prepared fresh daily. Lunch and<br />
dinner daily.<br />
Indochine 7 Wayne Dr., 251-9229. Enjoy<br />
the finest Thai-Vietnamese cuisine in a<br />
beautifully decorated environment. Voted<br />
best Asian 10 years in a row. Lunch and<br />
dinner daily.<br />
Szechuan 132 419 S. College Rd.,<br />
799-1426. Voted best Chinese restaurant<br />
12 years in a row. Fine contemporary<br />
dining in a relaxed atmosphere, serving<br />
exceptional dishes like rosemary lamb and<br />
filet mignon. Lunch and dinner daily.<br />
Tokyo 101 880 Town Center Dr.,<br />
399-3101. Traditional Japanese with fresh<br />
sushi, diverse noodle dishes, combination<br />
plates, and appetizers. Lunch and<br />
dinner daily.<br />
Yosake Downtown Sushi Lounge 33 S.<br />
Front St., 763-3172. Lacquered walls and<br />
unique art surround guests as they dine on<br />
sushi and Pan/Asian fare. Dinner nightly<br />
at 5pm.<br />
BARS<br />
Bottega Bar and Gallery 723 N. 4th St.,<br />
200-1659. Friendly downtown wine bar<br />
with ever-changing art exhibits. Nibbles<br />
available while savoring a choice of wines<br />
by the glass. Monday dinner only, lunch<br />
and dinner Tue-Sun.<br />
Copper Penny 109 Chestnut St.,<br />
762-1373. More than a sports bar, offering<br />
an eclectic mix of appetizers, salads,<br />
and sandwiches along with an extensive<br />
selection of mixed drinks and beers. Lunch<br />
and dinner daily.<br />
<strong>Wilmington</strong> Wine 605 Castle St.,<br />
202-4749. Close to downtown, this is a<br />
wine shop worth visiting. By the glass<br />
or by the bottle. Frequent wine tastings<br />
peppered with local conversation. Opens<br />
daily at noon.<br />
CAJUN<br />
Bourbon Street 35 N. Front St.,<br />
762-4050. Experience authentic Cajun<br />
cuisine in a uniquely decorated setting that<br />
has the appeal of being in New Orleans.<br />
Try the famous charbroiled oysters. Lunch<br />
and dinner daily.<br />
FINE DINING<br />
East Oceanfront Dining 275 Waynick<br />
Blvd., 256-2251. Award-winning cuisine<br />
accompanied by the sounds of breaking<br />
surf and a soothing coastal breeze. Enjoy<br />
fresh local seafood or grass-fed beef while<br />
you dine under a canopied, oceanfront<br />
deck or inside. A great selection of<br />
wine, beer and spirits. Dinner nightly,<br />
Sunday brunch.<br />
Manna 123 Princess St., 763-5252.<br />
A favorite among the film industry<br />
stars. Serving New American cuisine<br />
with European flare, they utilize the<br />
freshest ingredients from the local<br />
farmers and fisheries of North Carolina.<br />
Dinner Tue-Sun.<br />
Port City Chop House 1981 Eastwood<br />
Rd., 256-4955. Known for fresh seafood,<br />
steaks, and chops prepared using the<br />
74 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
highest quality ingredients. Lunch and<br />
dinner Mon-Fri, Saturday dinner only.<br />
Port Land Grill 1908 Eastwood Rd.,<br />
256-6056. Progressive American regional<br />
cuisine served in a casual yet elegant<br />
coastal setting. Dinner Tue-Sat.<br />
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse 301 N.<br />
Water St., 343-1818. Nestled inside<br />
the Hilton <strong>Wilmington</strong> Riverside,<br />
famous for excellent steaks and service.<br />
Come celebrate a romantic evening.<br />
Dinner nightly.<br />
Rx Restaurant & Bar 421 Castle St.,<br />
399-3080. Tickle your taste buds and<br />
experiment with local foods prepared with<br />
a uniquely Southern twist. Best Southern<br />
fried chicken. Lunch and dinner Tue-Sun.<br />
Authentic Italian Fine Dining<br />
in Historic Downtown <strong>Wilmington</strong><br />
910.763.3806<br />
102 South Second St., <strong>Wilmington</strong><br />
tarantellis.com<br />
Thank you for voting us<br />
BEST ITALIAN<br />
RESTAUR ANT<br />
4 years in a row!<br />
FRENCH<br />
Brasserie Du Soleil 1908 Eastwood Rd.,<br />
256-2226. French café with both patio<br />
and inside dining. Pick your own salad<br />
ingredients from a wide selection of items.<br />
Lunch and dinner daily.<br />
Caprice Bistro 10 Market St., 815-0810.<br />
Authentic French bistro. Elegant dining<br />
downstairs with sofa bar upstairs and a<br />
great martini selection. Dinner nightly.<br />
Our Crepes & More 3810 Oleander Dr.,<br />
395-0077. Family-owned French creperie.<br />
Authentic homemade cuisine. Breakfast,<br />
brunch, and desserts, Tue-Fri., 7am-3pm,<br />
Sat. 8am-3pm, Sun. 8am-2pm.<br />
The Little Dipper 138 S. Front St.,<br />
251-0433. Unique, fun fondue menu<br />
includes premium meats, seafood,<br />
vegetables, appetizers, desserts, and<br />
homemade dipping sauces. Dip assorted<br />
breads into hot melted cheese prepared<br />
tableside by your server. Dinner nightly<br />
Memorial Day-Labor Day.<br />
GERMAN<br />
The German Café 316 Nutt St. (at the<br />
Cotton Exchange), 763-5523. The Hudson<br />
family launched this restaurant in 1985,<br />
incorporating many recipes from their<br />
native Germany. Wursts, schnitzels,<br />
sauerbraten and more. Lunch and dinner.<br />
Closed on Sundays.<br />
ITALIAN<br />
Boardwalk Pizza & Subs 6756 Gordon<br />
Rd. #190, 910-660-8179. Boardwalk<br />
Pizza & Subs is serving up delicious and<br />
nostalgic eats straight off the Jersey Shore<br />
boardwalk. Pizza is their specialty, and<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 75
the swirl pie is a standout. The menu is<br />
full of other Jersey favorites like pepperoni<br />
roll ups, Philly Cheesesteak, and more.<br />
Boardwalk Pizza & Subs is open Tuesday<br />
through Friday 11am-9pm.<br />
Fat Tony’s Italian Pub 131 N. Front<br />
St., 343-8881; and 250 Racine Dr.,<br />
452-9000. Great family-friendly<br />
restaurant. Front St. location offers<br />
fantastic views of the Cape Fear River.<br />
Serves a mix of Italian and American fare<br />
and a full bar, including 25 beers on tap.<br />
Lunch and dinner daily.<br />
Floriana 2 Market St., 910-504-0160.<br />
Floriana’s fluently Italian cuisine features<br />
handmade pastas, decadent cheeses, and<br />
authentic dishes. Enjoy ample portions<br />
of Italian twists and classics alike on a<br />
private balcony overlooking the Riverwalk.<br />
Floriana is closed on Tuesdays, but<br />
otherwise open 11:30am-2:30pm and<br />
reopening from 4:30pm-10pm.<br />
Giorgio’s 5226 S. College Rd., 790-9954.<br />
From Old World-style dishes to modern<br />
day creations, Giorgio’s menu showcases<br />
multiple flavors. Offers pasta, seafood,<br />
steaks, pork chops, soups, and salads.<br />
Dinner Mondays, lunch and dinner<br />
Tue-Sun.<br />
Italian Bistro 8211 Market St.,<br />
686-7774. The Italian Bistro is a local<br />
favorite in the Porter's Neck / Ogden area,<br />
and a 2018 Winner of the WWAY Best<br />
Pizza in <strong>Wilmington</strong> award! Offering a<br />
variety of homemade dishes and pizza<br />
made with fresh, local ingredients.<br />
Open daily for lunch, dinner and<br />
Sunday brunch.<br />
Kornerstone Bistro 8262 Market St.,<br />
686-2296. Traditional Mediterranean fare<br />
and wood-fired pizzas. Homemade desserts.<br />
Lunch and dinner daily.<br />
Nicola’s 5704 Oleander Dr., 798-2205. An<br />
Italian eatery with daily homemade pasta,<br />
sausage, baked breads, and more. Dinner<br />
Tue-Sun.<br />
Osteria Cicchetti 1125 Military Cutoff<br />
Rd., 256-7476; and 5104 S. College Rd.,<br />
392-3490. Serves a variety of pasta dishes,<br />
pizza, salads, and antipasti. Lunch Mon-<br />
Fri. Dinner nightly.<br />
Pizzetta’s Pizzeria 4107 Oleander Dr.,<br />
799-4300; and 1144 E. Cutler Crossing<br />
(Leland), 371-6001. Hottest spot for<br />
pizza by the slice, offering dozens of pizza<br />
choices with a New York flair. Lunch and<br />
dinner daily.<br />
Roko Italian Cuisine 6801-105 Parker<br />
Farm Dr., 679-4783. Features authentic<br />
northern Italian cuisine. Reservations are<br />
often necessary at this intimate spot in<br />
<strong>May</strong>faire. Dinner nightly.<br />
Tarantelli’s Ristorante 102 S. 2nd St.,<br />
763-3806. Charming old world atmosphere<br />
serving amazing dishes passed down<br />
from Tarantelli family recipes for three<br />
generations and large selection of Italian<br />
wines. Tue-Sat 5-10pm, Sun 5-9pm<br />
MEXICAN<br />
Tequila Comida & Cantina 5607<br />
Carolina Beach Rd., #130, 910-399-1643.<br />
Tequila Comida & Cantina is a unique<br />
Mexican experience, serving new and<br />
authentic dishes alongside some of your<br />
familiar favorites. A Tex Mex section is on<br />
the menu for people who want the familiar<br />
flavors. Tequila Comida & Cantina is open<br />
Monday through Thursday, 11am-10pm,<br />
Friday and Saturday, 11am-10:30pm, and<br />
Sunday 11am-9pm.<br />
ORGANIC<br />
Epic Food Co. 1113 Military Cutoff<br />
Rd., 679-4216. Choose from a menu of<br />
sandwiches, salads, and noodle and<br />
rice bowls, with organic and all-natural<br />
selections. Sauces and salsas are made<br />
from scratch. Vegan and gluten-free dishes<br />
also offered. Lunch and dinner, Mon-Sat.<br />
Lovey’s Market & Café 1319 Military<br />
Cutoff, 509-0331. A health food store<br />
with fresh, delicious, healthy organic food<br />
prepared daily. Organic groceries, produce,<br />
supplements, and beauty aids. Café offers<br />
organic smoothies and fresh juices. Freshly<br />
baked goods with gluten-free options. Café<br />
is open daily 11am-6pm.<br />
Tidal Creek Co-op 5329 Oleander Dr.,<br />
799-2667. An organic grocery store with<br />
an inside café offering organic and veganfriendly<br />
options for casual dine-in or takeout.<br />
Café open 11am-6pm daily.<br />
SEAFOOD<br />
Black Sea Grill 118 S. Front St.,<br />
254-9990. Mediterranean style eatery in<br />
a quaint downtown location. Lamb chops,<br />
seafood, vegetarian options. Lunch and<br />
dinner Tue-Sat.<br />
Boca Bay 2025 Eastwood Rd.,<br />
256-1887. Fine dining near the beach,<br />
with sushi, a raw bar, seafood, lamb and<br />
steak. Light and colorful, one of the best<br />
restaurant bars in town. Dinner nightly,<br />
Sunday brunch.<br />
Bridge Tender 1414 Airlie Rd.,<br />
256-4519. Features fresh seafood, certified<br />
Angus beef steaks, delicious appetizers,<br />
and mouthwatering desserts. Choose to<br />
dine on the outdoor patio overlooking<br />
the Intracoastal Waterway or enjoy the<br />
cozy interior setting. Lunch Mon-Fri.,<br />
dinner nightly.<br />
Cape Fear Seafood Company 5226<br />
S. College Rd., 799-7077; 140 Hays Lane,<br />
681-1140; 143 Poole Rd., 399-6739.<br />
Specializes in regional American seafood,<br />
hand-cut fish, steaks, and chicken along<br />
with freshly made desserts all served in<br />
a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. Lunch<br />
and dinner daily.<br />
Catch 6623 Market St., 799-3847. Awardwinning<br />
local chef Keith Rhodes has<br />
been voted the city’s best chef for three<br />
consecutive years. A stickler for wildcaught<br />
and sustainably raised seafood, his<br />
modern seafood cuisine comes through in<br />
every bite, with dishes like NC sweet potato<br />
salad and seafood ceviche. Acclaimed wine<br />
list. Dinner Mon-Sat.<br />
Dockside 1308 Airlie Rd., 256-2752.<br />
The place to be for the best seafood on<br />
the Intracoastal Waterway, Dockside<br />
is synonymous with great food and a<br />
casual atmosphere. Uses only the freshest<br />
and highest quality local and regional<br />
ingredients whenever possible. Lunch and<br />
dinner daily.<br />
Dock Street Oyster Bar 12 Dock St.,<br />
762-2827. Voted best oyster bar 13 years in<br />
a row. Come enjoy some great Caribbeanstyle<br />
fare in a chic atmosphere. Serving an<br />
array of seafood, pasta, and chicken. Lunch<br />
and dinner daily.<br />
Elijah’s 2 Ann St., 343-1448. Casual<br />
American grill and oyster bar overlooking<br />
the Cape Fear River. Seafood, steaks,<br />
chicken, salads. Lunch and dinner daily,<br />
Sunday brunch.<br />
Fish House Grill 1410 Airlie Rd.,<br />
256-3693. A landmark seafood restaurant<br />
for decades, the Fish House Grill offers<br />
a casual, fun place to eat fresh seafood<br />
while enjoying the outdoor waterfront<br />
overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway.<br />
Made from scratch, every day. Lunch and<br />
dinner daily.<br />
Hieronymus 5035 Market St.,<br />
76 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
392-6313. Come enjoy locally sourced<br />
seafood and fresh vegetables in a casual<br />
atmosphere. A locals’ favorite for more<br />
than 30 years. Lunch and dinner daily.<br />
Savorez 402 Chestnut St., 833-8894.<br />
Come enjoy a unique dining experience<br />
with delicious dishes and drinks drawing<br />
from traditional Latin American<br />
inspired cuisine. Fresh seafood, chicken<br />
and grilled pork, tacos, salsas and<br />
dessert. Open daily for lunch and dinner,<br />
and Sunday brunch.<br />
Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar 127 N.<br />
Front St., 458-7380; 109 Market St.,<br />
833-8622. Come watch your favorite<br />
sports team while enjoying some great<br />
oysters, shrimp, crab cakes, po’ boys,<br />
and fresh salads. Casual, family-friendly<br />
atmosphere. Lunch and dinner daily.<br />
The George 128 S. Water St.,<br />
763-2052. Southern coastal cuisine<br />
with a diverse selection of steak, pasta,<br />
salad and fresh seafood, including the<br />
best shrimp ‘n grits in town. Outdoor<br />
deck, waterfront dining, full bar with<br />
extensive wine and martini lists. Dock<br />
your boat at the only dock ‘n dine<br />
restaurant downtown. Lunch and dinner<br />
Tue-Sat., Sunday brunch.<br />
TAPAS<br />
Circa 1922 8 N. Front St., 762-1922.<br />
Great bar and ever-changing small<br />
plates, serving the likes of maple-glazed<br />
pork belly, grilled stuffed quail, and<br />
lamb shank. Dinner nightly, Sunday<br />
brunch.<br />
The Fortunate Glass 29 S. Front St.,<br />
399-4292. A wine bar at heart, the focus<br />
is on wines from all regions, with 50<br />
wines by the glass and about 350 wines<br />
by the bottle and 30+ craft beers. A<br />
small menu of fine cheeses, Italian cured<br />
meats, and decadent desserts served<br />
tapas style will complement your wine<br />
selection. Dinner Tue-Sun.<br />
The Olive Café 1125-E Military Cutoff<br />
Rd., 679-4772. An Epicurean emporium<br />
for everything taste. Wines, bakery, and<br />
somewhat bigger than small plates.<br />
SOPHISTICATED<br />
FOOD...<br />
CASUAL STYLE<br />
www.bluesurfcafe.com<br />
BREAKFAST • LUNCH • DINNER<br />
DAILY SPECIALS • BEER/WINE<br />
LOCAL ARTIST FEATURED MONTHLY<br />
250 Racine Drive • <strong>Wilmington</strong><br />
Racine Commons<br />
910.523.5362<br />
Great Outside Garden and Front Patio Seating<br />
LUNCH, DINNER & SUNDAY BRUNCH<br />
1 N. Lake Park Boulevard<br />
Carolina Beach<br />
910-458-2822<br />
havanasrestaurant.com<br />
Voted Best Brunch in <strong>Wilmington</strong>!<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 77
Paradise Remains<br />
Updates abound at the Amelia Island Ritz Carlton,<br />
but thankfully not everything has changed<br />
By KATIE MCELVEEN<br />
IN THE HOTEL BUSINESS,<br />
first impressions matter. Pulling<br />
into the Amelia Island Ritz<br />
Carlton, I was greeted by a<br />
valet, who, when I missed his<br />
outstretched hand and dropped my car<br />
key into the footwell, grabbed a flashlight<br />
and, without the slightest hint of an eye<br />
roll, spent the next five minutes digging<br />
around under the driver’s seat. When he<br />
emerged, sweaty and triumphant, my<br />
embarrassment vanished, and I knew I<br />
was in for a wonderful stay.<br />
Ten minutes later, I found myself in a<br />
place I hadn’t been in almost a year: a<br />
restaurant bar. Since the pandemic began,<br />
I’d enjoyed a handful of outdoor meals at<br />
restaurants, but I missed the camaraderie<br />
of dining at a bar. At Coquina, the Ritz<br />
Carlton’s stunning (and brand new) openair<br />
tapas restaurant, I’d found a gorgeous<br />
one where I could look out over the cobalt<br />
Atlantic as I dug into grilled mahi tacos.<br />
Tables offer equally atmospheric dining,<br />
with spaces – some set with rattan hanging<br />
Amelia Island's Ritz<br />
Carlton celebrates its<br />
30th anniversary in <strong>2021</strong>.<br />
chairs – available around firepits, under<br />
a pergola or in an orchid-strewn outdoor<br />
garden overlooking the pool.<br />
Coquina is one of many recently<br />
unveiled changes at the resort, which<br />
celebrates its 30th anniversary in <strong>2021</strong>.<br />
Several new dining options, including<br />
casual Tidewater Grill and a new coffee<br />
shop called First Drop, have expanded the<br />
Ritz Carlton’s culinary scene.<br />
The resort has also been transformed<br />
both visually and functionally: rooms have<br />
been redone in cool earth tones and now<br />
feature bathrooms with double vanities<br />
78 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
Rooms have been<br />
redone in cool<br />
earth tones.<br />
Just finishing your spa<br />
treatment? The private<br />
spa pool is the perfect<br />
spot to decompress<br />
and enjoy a glass of<br />
champs. Cheers!<br />
Underwater light<br />
features transform<br />
the bath water into a<br />
rainbow of relaxation.<br />
Charging stations<br />
and smart TVs are<br />
equipped in every<br />
guest room.<br />
and larger showers. There are also outlets<br />
galore, bedside charging stations, and<br />
smart TVs in every room.<br />
Thankfully, not everything has<br />
changed. The spa is again offering its full<br />
array of pampering treatments, many of<br />
which are unique to the resort. My advice?<br />
Skip the more typical services and reserve<br />
a big block of time in your schedule for a<br />
specialty treatment that will allow you<br />
to take advantage of cool equipment like<br />
balancing crystals and a zero-gravity<br />
hammock. My Ocean Healing treatment<br />
began with a colorful chromatherapy bath<br />
– underwater lights to transform the water<br />
into a rainbow of relaxation – followed by<br />
a salt scrub, a quick shower, and finally, a<br />
full-body massage. The only thing I would<br />
change is my arrival time: had I gotten to<br />
the spa a bit earlier, I could have enjoyed<br />
the private spa pool and, perhaps, a glass<br />
of champagne.<br />
Amelia Island’s Lowcountry landscape<br />
– it’s part of the same sea island chain<br />
that includes Isle of Palms in South<br />
Carolina and Jekyll Island in Georgia –<br />
has also remained blissfully unchanged.<br />
Tall dunes line the shore; most days, you<br />
can spot gopher tortoises as they make<br />
their way with excruciating slowness<br />
through the dune grass. Yards away,<br />
dolphins zip through the calm surf like<br />
silver torpedoes. Just off the beach, bike<br />
trails twist and turn through the island’s<br />
cool marine forests, offering an easy<br />
way to explore the island. Head south a<br />
couple of miles (Ritz Carlton guests have<br />
complimentary use of bikes each day) and<br />
you’ll arrive at American Beach, which<br />
is home to NaNa Sand Dune, Florida’s<br />
largest. The massive tower of sand was<br />
named for MaVynee Betsch, whose<br />
great grandfather, Abraham Lincoln<br />
Lewis, developed American Beach in the<br />
1930’s as a resort community for African<br />
Americans. After a brilliant music career<br />
that took her all over the world, Ms.<br />
Betsch, who called herself The Beach<br />
Lady, gave away her fortune and lived on<br />
the beach in the shadow of the dune that’s<br />
been named in her honor.<br />
It’s about 10 miles north to Fort Clinch<br />
State Park, a 1,400-acre site set on a<br />
peninsula that’s loaded with freshwater<br />
ponds, ancient marine forests, creeks,<br />
marshes, a massive Civil War-era fort,<br />
and several beaches. On the Atlantic side<br />
of the peninsula, shark’s teeth dot the<br />
sand and surfers catch surprisingly decent<br />
waves. Head to the northern tip for views<br />
across St. Mary’s Inlet to Cumberland<br />
Island and, if you’re lucky, a glimpse of the<br />
wild horses who live there. It’s also one of<br />
the best places on the island to spot highly<br />
endangered North Atlantic right whales,<br />
who visit the calm water each winter to<br />
give birth. Submarine buffs might also<br />
want to consider a visit: The United<br />
States Navy uses the inlet to move Ohio<br />
class Trident subs from Naval Submarine<br />
Base Kings Bay into the open Atlantic.<br />
Long before the creeks, rivers and<br />
marshes that comprise Amelia Island’s<br />
west coast became a popular destination<br />
for paddlers and other sporty types, legend<br />
has it that pirates, buccaneers, and other<br />
scoundrels hid from authorities within the<br />
twisty maze. It’s easy to see why: beyond<br />
offering options galore for hiding out and<br />
burying treasure, the island’s 13 miles of<br />
wide beaches lapped by an azure ocean<br />
made being on the lam pretty appealing.<br />
Who could blame them for wanting to<br />
escape to paradise?<br />
Today, the pirates may be long gone, but<br />
paradise remains. W<br />
<strong>May</strong> /<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | 79
the last reflection<br />
Not Taking the Bait<br />
By ANNE WOLFE POSTIC<br />
THE WEATHER IS<br />
perfect, a balmy spring day<br />
when nothing can go wrong.<br />
<strong>May</strong>be you’re wearing a<br />
sun dress, enjoying the<br />
sun’s warmth on your shoulders and the<br />
light breeze blowing through your hair,<br />
not enough to turn it into a rat’s nest,<br />
but just enough to make you feel cute.<br />
You’re headed to dinner, looking forward<br />
to consuming a cold, mildly effervescent<br />
lemonade to wash down all the delightfully<br />
fried seafood. But then someone says, “Oh!<br />
Your dress is so…elegant.”<br />
“But it’s perfectly casual,” you argue.<br />
“And I got it on sale!” You share the price,<br />
though no one asked.<br />
There was something in the tone of the<br />
(you assume backhanded) compliment, so<br />
now you feel overdressed and silly, and<br />
you sense your hair turning into one big<br />
messy clump.<br />
Back up a few seconds and find yourself.<br />
Instead of hurtling down the easy road<br />
of self-doubt, just say “Thank you!” And<br />
carry on with your bad self.<br />
Instead of responding to someone’s<br />
tone, respond to the words. At best, you’ll<br />
change everyone’s day for the better,<br />
and at worst, they’ll assume you’re a bit<br />
stupid and give up. My son and I were in<br />
a big box store recently, his first shopping<br />
trip since the pandemic started. There’s<br />
still a mask ordinance in effect here,<br />
which they kindly and firmly enforce. My<br />
son, who’s been exceedingly conscientious<br />
in the face of COVID, was concerned,<br />
but I assured him I’d had nothing but<br />
positive experiences in this store during<br />
the last year. (I’m the primary hunter<br />
and gatherer in our family, so I’ve been<br />
to plenty of stores recently, and this one<br />
is among the best in terms of safety.)<br />
All went well, until we were at the cash<br />
register. As I wrote a check, the next<br />
patron in line walked toward the cashier<br />
to ask a question. He was behind a plastic<br />
barrier and everyone was wearing masks,<br />
which made it hard for him to hear her. I<br />
assumed positive intent on the customer’s<br />
part and guessed that, in her attempt to<br />
be heard, she moved within a foot of us<br />
without thinking. My son inched toward<br />
me as I backed up a few steps. She then<br />
removed her mask and continued trying to<br />
talk to the cashier.<br />
After many years of practice, I was<br />
able to continue to assume she was a rule<br />
follower like I am and had good intentions.<br />
“Pardon me,” I said. “Could you please give<br />
us a bit more space? I’m almost finished.”<br />
“Really?” she responded. I started to<br />
suspect she might be…not so positive. I<br />
managed to dismiss that thought.<br />
“Yes, thank you so much. My mother-inlaw<br />
is older and we’re trying to be extra<br />
careful to protect her.” I smiled, even with<br />
my eyes, so she could feel the warmth from<br />
behind my mask.<br />
“Or PARANOID.” Okay, it was getting<br />
harder to assume positive intent. She<br />
moved closer, letting us know she had<br />
JUST RECEIVED A NEGATIVE COVID<br />
TEST ON MONDAY. I noticed she was<br />
wearing scrubs, and I continued the<br />
clueless act.<br />
“Oh! That’s wonderful!” I spoke softly,<br />
still smiling. “And I see you work in<br />
healthcare. Thank you so much for<br />
everything you’re doing.”<br />
She gave up, just like that. I won’t lie<br />
– my son and I did glance behind us as<br />
we walked through the parking lot, just<br />
in case she had a little more aggression<br />
to express.<br />
Assuming good intentions when<br />
responding to other people, at home, at<br />
work, and everywhere else, goes a long<br />
way. It’s possible they have good intentions<br />
but suffer from RBF, or an inability to use<br />
a sweet voice. When a potentially sticky<br />
situation arises, challenge yourself to<br />
turn it around. At the very least, it’s an<br />
exercise in mindfulness. And you can go<br />
about your day knowing you didn’t make<br />
anyone else’s day worse. W<br />
80 | <strong>Wilmington</strong>NCmagazine.com
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