Fifth Annual Joedance Film Festival Benefiting Rare Pediatric Cancers

Film screening - great fun, great talent

The Joedance Film Festival was founded in honor of Joe Restaino who passed away in January 2010 at the age of 20 due to complications from osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. The annual festival celebrates Joe’s love of films and supports research for rare pediatric cancers at Levine Children’s Hospital.

Joe Restaino

On August 2,  Dilworth Now attended its first Joedance event, a reception for the four films being shown that night. The party took place in the historic neighborhood of Fourth Ward, a fun filled evening to celebrate the life of Joe Restaino through film and research.

Joedance Reception

The reception was held in a lovely old restored Victorian home on 10th St. and after the reception we walked over to the courtyard of the condos nearby where tents, vendors and cocktails were being served. The main tent was set up theatre-style complete with movie screen and well thought out lighting. It was comfortable and the rain stayed away just for the occasion, a beautiful night.

Actor and director of the film Blue

The night we attended, four of the festival’s eight films, all produced and directed by Charlotte filmmakers, were shown.

Diane Restaino and friend

Joe’s mother, Diane Restaino, the driving force behind the event, is an amazing organizer and so very gracious in honoring her son’s life.

Joe's friends

Joe’s friends came to Charlotte from faraway places to honor the friend they lost and support his love of film.

Ellison Clary

Present were many of well known sponsors, including Ellison Clary of Blue Cross Blue Shield and the list goes on and on. Many of the donors are the local businesses, sports teams and art lovers we see at many of the charity events in and around Charlotte. Charlotte Center City Partners also played a big part in this event.

Bert Woodard, who handles media relations for the festival, with yours truly

For more information go to www.joedance.org

Secret Garden Tour of Fourth Ward

The weather was amazing, the homes oh so enchanting, and the gardens were sublime.

First stop for libations

We picked up our tickets at 9th and Poplar by way of horse drawn carriage and proceeded to our first stop: libations of Skyy Vodka and lovely sweet and sour mixer, cold and refreshing to sip as we walked down to our first garden. On the way we ran into Chandler (a local Charlotte actor), her husband Taylor and friends.

Chandler, Taylor and friends

Lee Garden, deck and patio

First garden: The Lee Garden, beautiful fresh and well thought out for design and color. And of course the Dittloff Garden. Both of these homes are located on 9th Street. 

Garden at the Poplar St. Condos

And really one of my favorites, the Poplar Condominiums on 10th Street bringing back memories of my childhood when I would roller skate the sidewalks and through the covered entrance. 

 I remember how glamorous the apartments were and the movies were the only place you saw buildings like this. The architecture is perfectly preserved including the original entrance doors, the windows unique at that time to Charlotte and the structure itself is all original, built to last. 

Door at the Poplar St. condos

On to 10th Street Courtyard Park surrounded by well designed condos to compliment the old trees and streets built in the 1980s when the city of Charlotte was restoring Fourth Ward. 

More libations at the Garden condos

 More libations, lovely champagne and lovely people having fun with lots to talk about. 

Really enjoyed the Knott-Schooler Garden as we were invited to walk through the home and view the exquisite rooms with the old preserved to its original beauty.

On the porch, where business decisions were mads

 Lovely porch and courtyard garden where most important business decisions were made back in the day.

My favorite porch

 At the Timmins garden and lovely front porch we sat and relaxed and did some serious people watching. 

My pick for Best Garden:  the Causby-Cernohorsky Garden

But truly I have to say the Causby-Cernohorsky Garden with its sloping waterfall and Koi pond is breathtaking. 

Koi pond

 The front landscaping and the garden down the side of the home as you leave the back garden is something to see. I was so glad that they were among the gracious homeowners to share their private space with us. 

Beautiful Fourth Ward Park

By the time we reached Fourth Ward Park we sat again in the shade and watched the people on the tour strolling in and out of the park. 

The Wood Vine

Then on to the Wood Vine Wine Bar up on North Tryon, part of the tour for a delightful glass of wine and a tapas of citrus infused cheese with a splendid sauce, a perfect pairing with the Cabernet we were served. 

Great cabernet

We also stopped in the Asbury restaurant located in the Dunhill Hotel and had a dressed up egg they serve as an appetizer, a yummy deviled egg, really different. The Dunhill is another favorite Center City spot beautifully preserved and so very romantic. 

Bar at the Asbury in the Dunhill Hotel

3 Church hosted the kickoff party, so sorry we missed it, Rock Bottom was serving Mimosas and Bloody Marys. After stopping by Alexander Michaels for a visit with friends, we hopped a carriage ride to the 7th Street Market, our favorite community gathering place, and called it a day. What a wonderful way to spend the day. There is something about nostalgia that touches my soul and leaves me with deep appreciation. 

A free carriage ride adds to the fun. 

To find out more www.fofw.org 

Shepperd house, built in 1898, at 601 Poplar. Not on the tour while it undergoes a two year renovation but look for it next year.

Additions are improving on perfection.

Fourth Ward Holiday Home Tour

Photograph by Joy Kennedy

The Friends of Fourth Ward association hosts its 36th Holiday Home Tour, this year a three-day event showcasing the neighborhood's elegant Victorians, urban condominiums, cultural institutions and historic places – all dressed in their holiday finery, as well as many free special events, including tastings, appetizers at local restaurants, carriage rides and previews of "The Nutcracker" by the NC Dance Theatre.

Tickets include entrance to luxurious private residences and historic locations, including 8 private uptown homes, (4 beautifully restored Victorians, 2 townhomes & 2 condominiums) along with the North Carolina Dance Theatre, and special holiday surprises at the 7th Street Public Market.

2013 Tour Dates & Times

• Friday, December 6th: 5 – 9 pm
• Saturday, December 7th: 5 – 9 pm
• Sunday, December 8th: 1 – 5 pm

All weekend, choirs and hand bell ensembles will play seasonal music on the porches of neighborhood homes. Tour-goers also will receive complimentary horse and carriage rides through the neighborhood and to the 7th Street Public Market, plus samples of beer, wine and food samples (while they last).

Photograph by Joy Kennedy

Vendors providing complimentary refreshments and tastings within homes or at official stops along the tour route include: 

• Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, 
• Mert’s Heart & Soul, 
• Cowbell Burger & Bar, 
• Mortimer’s Café & Pub, 
• Local Loaf, 
• Assorted Table Wine Shoppe, 
• Fourth Ward Bread Co., 
• Allen Tate Realtors and 
• 7th Street Public Market. 

Center City restaurants offering selected free appetizers to tour ticket holders who visit during tour hours include: 

• Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, 
• Delta’s Restaurant, 
• Dillinger’s Taproom and 
• Brixx Wood-Fired Pizza. 

Tour-goers must present their tour guidebooks to receive complimentary appetizers.

Photograph by
Virginia Dunn

North Carolina Dance Theatre

For the first two hours of the tour each day, NCDT invites tour-goers to preview live Nutcracker rehearsals, tour the studios and costume shop, and enjoy complimentary food and beer. Nutcracker tickets will be on sale for up to 50% off. Visit the NCDT website for more info.

7th Street Public Market

The Market, an official stop on the tour, will be open during all tour hours, offering complimentary cider & cookies, live seasonal music, wine and cheese specials, plus tastings, samplings and great options for holiday shopping. At 6 pm on Friday, 7SPM will unveil “Nutcrackers on Parade.” Tour-goers will receive free horse-drawn carriage rides between the Market and the heart of Historic Fourth Ward. Visit 7thstreetpublicmarket.com for more info.

The McNinch House Restaurant & Victorian Home

On Sunday only, tour-goers can visit the historic McNinch House restaurant and Victorian home, including a tour of the newly renovated and never-before-seen private residence upstairs.

Fourth Ward Holiday Home Tour Tickets

Tour tickets are $25, and are good for all 3 days. They may be purchased in advance online at www.fofw.org or at these retail outlets:

Photograph by
Joy Kennedy

• Alexander Michael’s Restaurant & Tavern, 
• Park Road Books, 
• Blis Uptown Gift Boutique, 
• 7th Street Public Market, and 
• all Charlotte-area Brixx Pizzas, Dean & Delucas and FastFrames. 

During tour hours, ticket-holders redeem their tickets for tour guidebooks at the tour ticket booth at the corner of 9th & Poplar Streets in Fourth Ward, or at the 7th Street Public Market. Same day tickets are also available at the Ticket Booth and Market. Additional tour information and group rates is available at www.fofw.org. 

Parking

Photograph by
Virginia Dunn

All tour stops are within walking distance of one another. Limited free on-street parking is available throughout the neighborhood. Additional flat fee ($5) parking is available in the surface lot adjacent to the 7th Street Public Market at 224 E. 7th Street. Free horse-drawn carriages will transport tour-goers between the Market and the Holiday Home Tour.

The Fourth Ward Holiday Home Tour is presented by Allen Tate Realtors. Supporting sponsors include North Carolina Dance Theatre, 102.9 The Lake, 7th Street Public Market and Charlotte Center City Partners. Tour proceeds benefit the non-profit Friends of Fourth Ward neighborhood organization.

Secret Gardens in Fourth Ward

This garden reminded me of Charleston.

Having relocated back to Charlotte, my hometown, in 1983, witnessing so much change in the landscape and urban neighborhoods of my youth, my experience of Fourth Ward this month at the first annual Secret Gardens of Fourth Ward tour brought back so many memories of growing up here and how truly beautiful Charlotte has always been, even when the blight came and covered up the history and beauty of our city in so many ways.

The Berryhill House, a magnificent Victorian, was the first house  renovated in the neighborhood, back in 1975.

 I remember the big houses and tree lined streets with children playing in the median on 10th Street and the different smells of the city, the cooking and the coal fires, the black dirt under our bare feet, when one block seemed like a mile from home and Mom.

Al-Mike's is a great neighborhood spot to grab a bite to eat.

I used to rollerskate here after school.

While touring the gardens in Fourth Ward the memories came flooding back of Charlotte’s history and what we were like then, how we became what we are now. The preservation of one our four historic districts in uptown Charlotte is perfection. The homeowners and preservationists have saved for us an unbelievable part of our history and created a pure fantasy to enjoy for another century of life.

This gazebo is in the courtyard at the Tenth Street Townhomes.

A must see for everyone, the only evidence of days gone by in uptown Charlotte – a true treasure.

Randy and John had one of the loveliest gardens complete with koi pond and waterfall. More views of it are below.

  

Thanks to The Friends of Fourth Ward, our host, the gracious and proud homeowners, and the Center City Partners. This was an honor and a pleasure to share in Charlotte’s Secret Gardens and so much more.