Up, Up, and Away in a Beautiful and Bold Hot Air Balloon

Up, Up, and Away in a Beautiful and Bold Hot Air Balloon

I’m flying, silently and leisurely at 11 mph, about 1,000 feet above the Yadkin Valley near East Bend, NC. Standing in a large rattan basket, I’m fully aware that the only thing keeping me aloft above terra firma is theRead more

Oscar de la Renta Fashion Exhibit Enchants with Glamour and Romance

Oscar de la Renta Fashion Exhibit Enchants with Glamour and Romance

My fingers are itching to fondle the rich, carnation-red ruffles on the silk organza gown by Oscar de la Renta that Beyoncé wore in the March 2013 issue of Vogue magazine. I’m mesmerized by his pink cocktail dress in silkRead more

Art of Reading Tours Marry Art and Literature at The Mint Museum

Art of Reading Tours Marry Art and Literature at The Mint Museum

I’m hopeful Mr. Darcy will magically materialize and join our Art of Reading tour at Mint Museum Randolph. The Art of Reading tour is a free program that draws connections between art and literature, two of my passions. Our guide, docent Debbie Struble, spearheaded developmentRead more

Chef Bruce Moffett’s Barrington’s Restaurant Stars in Charlotte

Chef Bruce Moffett’s Barrington’s Restaurant Stars in Charlotte

The sound system in the kitchen at Barrington’s restaurant in Charlotte, NC, plays “I’ve Had the Time of My Life” as I observe owner and executive chef Bruce Moffett wield a hefty knife and trim excess fat and other unwantedRead more

High Time in Highlands at Old Edwards Inn and Spa

High Time in Highlands at Old Edwards Inn and Spa

The good news is we’re sipping champagne and munching icy Dove bars. Both treats are complimentary as we check into Old Edwards Inn and Spa in the scenic mountain resort town of Highlands, NC. The bad news is firefighters areRead more

The Art and Artistry of Amélie’s French Bakery

The Art and Artistry of Amélie’s French Bakery

Our taste buds stirred when we read that Amélie’s French Bakery was establishing a new outpost near our home in south Charlotte. Amélie’s has been a wildly popular destination on Charlotte’s food map since 2008 when the flagship store openedRead more

Noble Efforts – Award-Winning Chef Jim Noble’s Take On Southern Cuisine

Noble Efforts – Award-Winning Chef Jim Noble’s Take On Southern Cuisine

As much as we enjoy dining out during our travels, we find it rather ironic that one of our favorite restaurants ever was just 30 miles from home. Sadly, the place is long closed, but the memories linger. We wereRead more

Carolina Raptor Center is for the Birds

Carolina Raptor Center is for the Birds

I’ve always thought of birds as the ultimate travelers, gracefully able to fly where, when and how they want. While I’ve admired birds from afar, I hadn’t spent much concerted effort learning about them. A couple of my travels haveRead more

Wing Haven — Charlotte’s Hidden Gardens

Wing Haven — Charlotte’s Hidden Gardens

“Are you cruel enough to be a gardener?” That challenging question was imprinted on a T-shirt for sale at the Elizabeth Lawrence House and Garden in Charlotte that I was touring on a sultry day with curator Andrea Sprott asRead more

Date Night in Charlotte at Foxcroft Wine Company

Date Night in Charlotte at Foxcroft Wine Company

If you’re looking for Bill and me on a Friday night when we’re not traveling, you’ll most likely find us at the recently renamed Foxcroft Wine Company (formerly The Wine Shop at Foxcroft) in the booming SouthPark area of Charlotte.Read more