Ballantyne Magazine covers news, events, real estate, restaurants, shopping, health, schools and business in the upscale Ballantyne Area of Charlotte, NC.
Issue link: https://ballantynemagazine.epubxp.com/i/79319
BALLANTYNE | publisher's letter Community Building Ranks High in Ballantyne WITH SO MUCH EXCITEMENT SURROUNDING the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, we thought it an ideal time to explore how Ballantyne has evolved over the past decade. In "Community Zest" we share our finding that above all else the trendsetting people who live, work and play here have a passionate commitment to community building on all levels, personal, social and business. That being said, those who call Ballantyne home haven't left loyalty to their alma mater behind. In our cover story, "House Divided," we report on the funny family feuds that erupt during the pigskin season between spouses sporting rival school colors. As a with Gusto Living Another way to experience the New South is with a visit to Saxapahaw, the hottest little town you never heard of. student at the University of Georgia, I would caravan to the big game in Jacksonville between the Bulldogs and Florida Gators. But as you will learn, such undergrad school spirit often survives into marriage, with each parent even recruiting children to root for their side. Ballantyne's emphasis on the ties that bind is also the theme of our first all-family Date Night, where one couple and their children enjoy a day of disc golf, trail walks with their dog and a picnic in Elon Park, just 10 minutes from home. Since the warmth of Indian summer can extend here into October, the backyard should also be designed for outdoor living to the max, so we showcase two families' creations that include big-screen TVs, pizza ovens and fireplaces perfect for toasting s'mores under the autumn stars. When it comes to roots in the Ballantyne community, New South Kitchen & Bar holds bragging rights. In Fab Fare we profile this inventive restaurant tucked away in the Arboretum Shopping Center, where owner Chris Edwards and his wife, Sue, have long 10 BALLANTYNE MAGAZINE cultivated a following for their Southern twist on traditional favorites that feature fresh, local ingredients. Examples include the Redneck Cheeseboard, bacon-wrapped trout with stewed butter beans and orange-fennel slaw, and their oh-so delicious fried blueberry pie. Another way to experience the New South is with a visit to Saxapahaw, the hottest little town you never heard of. In One Tank Trip we give you the inside scoop on this 150-year-old former mill village two hours up the road that is garnering national attention for its rural renaissance. In one block — no stoplight — you can dine at a gas station on five-star locavore cuisine, hear top-rated indie rock bands and browse an art gallery popular with the hip Chapel Hill crowd. I guarantee that everyone you meet who lives there will become an instant friend for life. For many families, fall signals the return to school, so we profile the intrepid David Switzer, principal of our own Ardrey Kell High School, which Newsweek named this year to its list of "America's Best High Schools." As an educator who also has 20 years in the Air Force and Air National Guard, including two tours in Iraq and three in Afghanistan, Switzer possesses a unique perspective on how to navigate our young people through their final years before college. No matter your stage of life, we hope this issue will inspire you to go deep into this community by getting involved in some way. As those who've made this commitment will attest, you will leave a lasting legacy in your little corner of the world. JJ Bissell Publisher, Ballantyne Magazine Correction - At Ballantyne Magazine we are committed to accuracy. In our summer 2012 issue we omitted Nan Bauroth's byline in our One Tank Trip story on Bryson City. FALL 2012