A trick, then a treat

The evening of Nov. 1, I'll be Tweeting live from the March of Dimes annual Signature Chef's Auction at Carmel Country Club. It features from some of Charlotte's best chefs plus silent and live auctions to help the nonprofit's mission to improve the health of babies.

Silent auction items include merchandise from Tory Burch and Lilly Pulitzer, a $500 gift certificate to Morrison Smith jewelers and multiple wine packages. Among the live auction items are a week at Kiawah Island in a four-bedroom house on the exclusive Vanderhorst Plantation and a weekend stay at the Inn at Half Mile Farm in Highlands, which also includes golf at the prestigious Highlands Country Club.

The list of participating chefs will make your mouth water:

Chef Jean Pierre Marechal – The Marriott/Savannah Red.

Chef Kimberly Stoll – Aspire Bistro.

Chef Paul Ketterhagen – Carpe Diem.

Chef Cornelius Hodge – Dessert Fetish.

Chef Time Groody – Mama Ricotta/FS Food Group. 

Chef Michael Vergili – Carmel Country Club (his photo is above). 

Chef Jon France – Ritz Carlton.

Chef Geoffrey Bount – CPCC.

Chef Tom Condron – The Liberty.

Chef Bernard Brunet – Global Restaurant.

Chef Colin Johnson – The Palm.

Chef Bruce Moffett – Barrington Restaurant.

Chef Paul T. Verica – The Club at Longview.

Phillip Lloyd & Maria Marequez – The Art Institute of Charlotte.

Chef Tessia Harman – Custom Culinary Creations.

Jim Alexander – Zebra Restaurant

Executive Chef Scott Hollingsworth – Dressler’s.

Executive Chef Thomas Dyrness – UPSTREAM, Harper’s Restaurant Group. 

The trick is, the event is completely sold out, but before you throw a pumpkin at me, here's the treat:

You can also support the March of Dimes at another upcoming event honoring one of my favorite Charlotteans. The "Celebrating Contributions to Charlotte Honoree Breakfast" is 7:30-9 a.m. Nov. 29 at the Mint Museum uptown. This year, it's chaired by Wray Ward CEO Jennifer Appleby and will honor Linda Lockman-Brooks for her many contributions to Charlotte's business and cultural communities (her photo is above). She will be the first female to receive the honor. Details: www.marchofdimes.com; www.facebook.com/marchofdimes. 

Humpy Wheeler walked into a bar and...

Actually, Humpy hasn't walked into the bar yet, but he will from 6 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 1 at the VBGB Beer Garden at the N.C. Music Factory. The NASCAR legend and author of "Growing Up NASCAR" will be a celebrity bartender that night along with WBT-AM Charlotte Morning News co-host Stacey Simms (her photo is below) and Mark Copeland, managing partner of Ernst & Young who's also the JDRF board president.

The trio will be giving customers service with a smile all in an effort to raise money for JDRF (that's the new name for what used to be called the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). All tips collected during the two hours the celebrity bartenders are there will go directly to JDRF. Customers are encouraged to pay in cash or with a check made out to JDRF. The money will go to help improve the lives of all people with Type 1 diabetes.

The VBGB Beer Garden is at 920 Hamilton St. next to the Fillmore and the TWC Amphitheatre; parking is free. Details: www.vbgbuptown.com; www.jdrf.org.

Party alert: Halloween at Duke Mansion

Duke Mansion is hosting a Halloween Mystery Machine Party at 7 p.m. Oct. 26. It's the second year the historic site has turned into a haunted mansion. Based on last year's event, I highly recommend this party for adults who love to celebrate the holiday and want to have a spooky but upscale night out. (The photo above is a group who attend last year's party dressed as gangsters). 

Tickets are $75 per person ($25 is tax-deductible) and includes gourmet food, brews and music by the Bad Daddies.  The money raised goes to preserve the mansion. 

A silent auction will include trips and jewelry. You can check out all the items in advance at www.biddingforgood.com/DukeMansion.

Organizers say to come in a scary costume or shag-adelic threads. 

If you've been thinking about doing something special for some of your friends, it's a great way to have a supernaturally good Halloween party without all the work. You could either pay for your friends to go, or just organize a group and everyone pays their own way. 

To reserve your spot, call 704-714-4445 or email kellis@tlwf.org. 

Bright & beautiful: Behind the scenes with Trina Turk

This morning I joined designer Trina Turk at one of my favorite places in Charlotte, The Duke Mansion, for a one-on-one interview. She is as bright and beautiful in person as her colorful clothes. The mansion is the site of a trunk show of her brand's clothes, jewelry and home decor that runs until 5 p.m. today, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow (Oct. 16). Her designs are so well priced and absolutely ooze style and fun that I urge you to check it out. And, 20 percent of the proceeds go to the Mint Museum.

Trina is here as the speaker at tonight's Fall EnrichMint Forum at the Mint Museum uptown. Hosted by the Mint Museum Auxiliary, it includes a fashion show and Trina talking about her "Mid-Century Modern Musings." It's sold-out, but here's a link to Trina and some of the models from her appearance with super fan Colleen Odegaard on WCNC's Charlotte Today: http://www.wcnc.com/charlotte-today/Celebrity-designer-Trina-Turk-174240091.html


Also, here's video of atmosphere in the jewelry and home decor section of the trunk show: http://www.youtube.com/embed/1txakKgnYno?rel=0" 

Trina's equally fun and handsome husband, Jonathan Skow, accompanied her to Charlotte. His title is Director of Inspiration. I love that. He's over the menswear line and is in charge of the company's photography. They are such a great couple - Trina told me they've been married 27 years. They're both are so relaxed, welcoming and interesting.

Jonathan told me the menswear line is a small but growing part of the brand. It's for a guy who likes fashion and wants to look cool. The silhouettes are classic, but they're loaded with great colors, prints and textures for interest. Here's a photo of fashion-obsessed Charlottean Franklin Headen looking fabulous in one of the jackets - it would definitely make any man stand out in the crowd at a holiday party.

Trina says that bright colors that look so right paired with gold and black are the basis of her Winter Luxe collection that's part of the trunk show.

When style expert Sonya Barnes came over to say hello, I asked her to use her expert eye to pick out a favorite piece for herself, and a favorite piece in general. For everyone, one of Trina's dresses with swirls of color and great attention to design detail in the way it drapes was Sonya's all-around favorite. Here's video of Sonya talking with Trina: http://www.youtube.com/embed/uZPhyA060zE?rel=0

For herself, Sonya chose one of the jumpsuits in black and white. "It's hot, hot, hot," she said.

Also hot? The Balenciaga shoes Trina was wearing. Earlier, I had to ask Trina which designer created the shoes, but Sonya recognized them right away.

Trina is known for her signature Louise Brooks bob with bangs, and her simple but dramatic makeup. A makeup artist at Neiman Marcus worked on her this morning. "I'm very bossy when it comes to how I want my makeup to look," she said with a laugh. She was thrilled to find nearby Polished for her manicure and pedicure.

When my interview with Trina runs later, you'll read more about what inspires her designs, how she likes to entertain at her homes in L.A. and Palm Springs, and what she has coming up for Spring.

In the meantime, do something good for the Mint and your wardrobe by buying something at the trunk show. I didn't have time to shop today but I can't wait to get back over there tomorrow.

I'll leave you with this photo that makes me smile. I love the way this formal oil painting of William H. Grigg, a former Duke Energy CEO, seems to be looking at the Trina Turk orange sequined party frock on display. Do you think he approves? I do, because any woman wearing it would light up the room.

Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson

Read more here: http://cltoliviafortson.blogspot.com/2012/09/designer-trina-turk-coming-to-charlotte.html#storylink=cpy

Chandra and Jimmie Johnson are an open book

This morning I attended a media tour of On the Road, an exhibit by North Carolina photographer Missy McLamb that chronicles 10 weeks in the lives of Jimmie Johnson, his wife Chandra and their daughter Genevieve during the 2011 season when he was gunning for what he hoped would be his sixth straight win in the NASCAR Cup Series.

It's only on view Oct. 13-20 at Hart Witzen Gallery, 136 E. 36th St. in the NoDa neighborhood. After seeing the photos and hearing the stories behind the creative process, I urge you to race over and see it. Hours are noon-5 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday; and noon-8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. Info: www.ontheroadstudio.com. (The photo above is of Chandra and Missy in the gallery this morning).

"It wasn't easy to make ourselves so vulnerable during this process, but it was worth it when I look at Missy's photographs," Chandra said.

She had a lot to look at: Missy took 15,000 photos. Chandra curated them with the help of two of her friends who share her artistic sensibilities, Laura and Perry Poole. They provided the perspective she often needed to narrow the photographs to the best of the best.

During the tour, Chandra  pointed out some of her favorites from the 68 photos that make up the exhibit. "We were blown away by Missy's images," she said. Among them are the sweet daddy-daughter shots that show how Jimmie is able to switch gears from being one of NASCAR's fiercest competitors to doting father of Genevieve, who was one-year-old at the time.

She's also fond of a shot of Jimmie's racing team owner, Rick Hendrick of Hendrick Motorsports. "He looks so stoic," she said.

More photos (around 200) are in the Johnsons' self-published coffee table book of the same name. Released in September, it has already been such a hit with fans that it's going into its second printing. (It's on backorder at www.jimmiejohnson.com.) Jimmie wrote all the captions, so you also get a glimpse into what was going on in his head when a particular shot was taken. He also gave each of the photos their title in the exhibit and the book.

(A funny story about the publishing process: The Johnsons chose to self-publish it because going through the normal publishing house procedures would have meant waiting almost two years for the book to come out. Jimmie wanted it out faster - of course - which they did in an astounding seven months without sacrificing quality.)

The Johnsons originally hired a sports photographer to take the pictures, but a week before the project began the photographer backed out. Chandra thought of lifestyle photographer Missy McLamb, who had taken many of their family photos and had become a friend. Chandra trusted Missy, and Jimmie trusted Chandra to pick the right person.

Missy didn't know anything about NASCAR going into the project, but she approached the sport with respect and with an artist's eye that elevate the pictures to another realm. And because the family was already so comfortable with Missy, during the 10 weeks she lived with them she was able to capture meaningful, and sometimes raw, private moments that show a side to Jimmie and his family that fans don't normally see.

The exhibit and book are, in my opinion, a success on many different levels. The behind-the-scenes life of one of NASCAR's most popular drivers will satisfy race fans. The photos are so personal and powerful that you feel like you're looking through the photo album of two loving families (the Johnsons and their racing family made up of fans and team members ). They also work as historical documentation. But to me, where they really excel are as art.

One of my favorites in the exhibit from an artistic view is of a fan watching the race in bad weather with a fleece jacket pulled over her head that resembles a nun's wimple. Since some of my family members are longtime NASCAR fans, to me it symbolized the devotion of those fans and the way they make pilgrimages to races. And also their devotion to the one driver that resonates with them and whom they pick to cheer for at the track.

There's a photo on page 64 of the book that I keep turning back to again and again because I can picture it on the wall of a museum 100 years from now. It shows the family leaving a car to walk across the tarmac to fly home after a race. There's something about the way Chandra is in motion and the way Jimmie is cradling Genevieve in front of a stormy sky. It seems to personify the hurried pace of our century, the ominous danger of forces beyond our control, the beauty of a loving family, and the hope for the future in the way Genevieve is looking straight ahead.

The exhibit and the book are also reminders that just like Jimmie, sometimes we win, and sometimes we lose, but there's always a lot more going on under all our hoods than the public normally gets a chance to see. So celebrate it, document it and enjoy every lap as we all speed around this track of life.

Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson

Cam Newton MADE my day

I'm not a sports person, but I do know that Cam Newton is a Carolina Panthers quarterback with a large fan base around the country.
When I heard he was going to make a big announcement at Belk headquarters on Tyvola Road I was glad to be invited.
There was a lot of excitement in the air as a crowd of hundreds, mostly Belk employees and the media, sat in the building's main atrium facing a stage with a large video screen in the middle.
Soon the music cranked up and three dancers from the Dance District performed an energetic routine.

See video here: http://www.youtube.com/embed/Wp9Fxgv_0uo
Afterward, Belk president Kathryn Bufano, executive vice president of brands John Thomas and some pyrotechnics announced the news: the sports star would be partnering exclusively with Belk for a menswear line called MADE Cam Newton. The crowd cheered when Cam finallywalked on stage.
As he began to talk about the line, there was laughter when he described the clothes as "swaggerific." He embodied swaggerific in his MADE Cam Newton suit and super bright smile while four male models showed off a variety of looks from the line. The clothes will be available in Belk stores early next year. I would describe the brand as conservative but with a modern edge.

After the presentation I darted off to the media area where Cam was doing one-on-one interviews with TV and print journalists including national media. I had so much fun hanging out in the waiting area. I had an interesting conversation with John Thomas. He told me that whether Cam wins or loses on the football field, they believe in him and his line. John was looking sharp himself. I loved the stylish way he combined a striped tie with a patterned pocket square.

Then I noticed Fox News anchor Morgan Fogarty who is ridiculously beaiutiful and talented. There's a reason why some people are on TV. She was talking to the amazing Arlene Goldstein, Belk's vice president of trend merchandising, whom I credit for taking Belk into the most stylishly exciting and fashion forward stage of its history.

Soon it was my turn to enter the interview room. I became flustered when I realized the way it was staged. Cam was seated in a chair in front of a backdrop of his logo as two TV cameraman filmed using lots of lights. There was a vacant chair across from Cam that was supposed to be my perch.  He's used to that kind of media attention but I'm not.
Cam resembled a kid when he showed me the detail on the MADE logo. "It's the Panthers' colors," he said with real excitement. He pointed out how it's designed so the first three letters spell CAM backward, and the D incorporates the word Newton. So, even if you think you're looking at a logo that says MADE, it really says MADE Cam Newton. That's clever.

When Cam and I had our photo taken together at the end of the interview, I used the opportunity to touch the back of his suit. It passed my quality test. Then I knocked over a full bottle of water. Great.

Cam is so young and so eager you can't help but like him. I also liked the line and its price range ($50 for a shirt up to $500 for a suit). But most of all I like his philosophy of encouraging men to dress well. I'll be rooting for him.

Follow Olivia Fortson on Twitter @oliviafortson

Anatomy of a party: Red Tie gala

I had so much fun Tweeting live from the Red Tie gala, a benefit for Charlotte's new Ronald McDonald House on Oct. 5 at the Levine Museum of the New South.

I was especially excited about this event because it was a first-time gala hosted by the nonprofit's Young Professionals Society. I've been in my job for two decades, so I've seen several waves of young people come up through the ranks to become community leaders. I was interested to check out the new crop of those in their 20s and 30s who want to network and have fun while giving back to a good cause. Featured in the photo above are Brandon Viebrock a philanthropist who owns several businesses including Revolution clothing store, and Emily Hudgens, director of Speedway Children's Charities.

I thought I would walk you through some of the party's highlights in case they give you ideas for your next soiree.

Entrance: Young people especially love to feel they're celebrities on the red carpet, so the organizers gave them that experience. A red carpet outside the museum lead to a backdrop with sponsor logos similar to what you see in US magazine where guests could have their picture taken before they walked in. Some of them jokingly called it their prom photo pose, but they loved it.

Vegetable platters are out: Armin's Catering provided the food and I noticed guests hovering over a tray...of vegetables? It's because of the modern way they were presented in small individual glasses with the sticks of raw veggies standing in the dressing. That's an easy trend to duplicate at home.

Serving pieces: The servers walked around with the food presented on the glass of a picture frame. Inside the frame was a copy of the gala invitation. Armin told me later that he buys the picture frames whenever he finds a good deal. He switches out what's in the glass based on the event. For example, when he catered a party at the Wadsworth Estate during the DNC for delegates from New Jersey and Maryland, he used maps of those states in the frames.

Floral decorations: I was impressed with the budget conscious but beautiful way the museum was decorated. Tall, tubular clear glass vases were filled with a few artfully placed small branches. Then a handful of inexpensive red crystals wrapped in gold jewelry wire for extra dimension were placed inside and the vase was filled two-thirds full of water for a romantic glow. On the tables, three votive candles surrounded three clear glass vases topped with Styrofoam balls packed with red carnations for a luxe look for less.

Fashion: As you can imagine, almost every woman had on a red dress and there were lots of men sporting red ties. One woman stood out in the crowd in a black and white outfit with a thrifty twist. Guest Jania Massey of Ethan & Zoey boutique (www.ethanandzoey.com) wore slim satin pants with sparkly peep-toe heels paired with a white top with a bubble shape at the hem. It turns out the top was actually a dress that Jania had used double sided tape to turn into the silhouette she wanted. That's a great style tip from a pro.

Follow Olivia Fortson on Twitter @oliviafortson