Lindsey Chester, Associate Publisher of CaryCitizen, is a former women’s wear designer.

Cary, NC- It’s Prom Season and the local malls are full of moms walking around with their high school daughters gasping at the low necklines and high prices of gowns for the big event.  I was one of those ladies last weekend at Crabtree Valley Mall.

The Dress is the Thing

It’s the second year for my daughter to attend this teenage rite of passage and I was fore-warned and fore-armed. My daughter has expensive taste when she’s not opening her own wallet. I knew that some dresses are just plain “cheap” and that when you least expect it, the price tag can jump to $500!

For most girls, the dress is the main event. They start by searching online, but most won’t purchase that way. The high cost and uncertainty of shipping leaves most girls too nervous to trust an online purchase. The dominant sentiment is that ladies must try on every dress to ensure that if alterations are needed,  time is built into the schedule leading up to the big date.

Most schools here in NC have their Proms scheduled between the last week in April and the second weekend in May.  Date popping questions began just before Spring break. Word to the Boys: this has become a big production in itself, with planning and involvement friends before asking a certain girl to the prom .

Prom 2012 – Sparkle!

The major look that abounded was sparkle!  Dresses were fairly dripping with rhinestone ornamentation.

Colors were bright – hot pink, sun yellow, turquoise blue and purple. Plenty of red, black and white for the girl that likes a classic look. And grey continues from fall into spring, but looks a little matronly for most high school seniors.

Middle-Schoolers: Wear a Shrug

Many at the mall were also looking for the middle school 8th grade formal – these girls will be wearing cocktail length dresses.

One word of caution: if you choose strapless, spaghetti straps or one shouldered dresses for a middle schooler, the Wake County Public School dress code will demand that your daughter wears a shawl, shrug or little jacket over her shoulders. These can be readily found at DEB Shop or 5-7-9 for about $20. For high schoolers, anything goes!

Prints

Prints are popular again this year with watercolor florals in pinks and purples or blues and greens the real winners. Even dresses that appear to be solid colors,  are actually dip- dyed or printed so the color ombres down the length of the skirt.

Three Key Shapes Dominate This Season

• Mermaid with a gathered bodice and fishtail hem.
• Empire waist fitted below the bust with a bias skirt is flattering for anyone unless your daughter is petite.
• The True Princess silohuette with a fitted bodice to the waist and then a crinolined/ poufy skirt that stands away from the body.

Overwelmingly, the choice is a floor-length gown. One variation on this has ruffled or hankerchief hems that floats away from the lined skirt.

Lots of Skin!

Many dresses sport the one shoulder look, or very low backs. Strapless continues to be popular with structured built-in bras that eliminate the need for fancy undergarments.

Lastly – be sure your daughter looks for shoes and takes her dress along. She may need the expertise of a tailor to be sure the dress is the correct length for the shoes  she will wear. Sky high platforms with stiletto heels are gaining importance this season. My daughter insists everyone takes their shoes off to dance, but of course you need the right shoes for the before party photos and dinner!

Prom is one big party and these looks will be sure to be noticed. Sparkle, bright colors and bare shoulders take center stage for Prom 2012.

Story and photos by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – Want to liven up the dinner table in your house? Try visiting one of Cary’s fine Asian food markets. Specially for Chinese New Year, here’s a round-up of places to get spring roll wrappers, chow fun noodles, daikon radish and a whole lot more.

Asian Food Markets in (and around) Cary

It is entirely possible that we missed something in compiling our list. If so, please share in the comments (on the website).

Grand Asia Market

Grand Asia is a big, busy Asian supermarket on Buck Jones Road. The address says Raleigh but it might as well be in Cary. It’s on our side of 440.

The list of vegetables alone is impressive – seven kinds of bok choy, chive flowers, winter melon, lotus root and something called eddo. See Grand Asia’s List of Vegetables.

Noodles, sauces, meats, seafood and a marvelous selection of teas are also in abundance. You can get a bite to eat at the Joy Luck Club Cafe.

Grand Asia Market
1253 Buck Jones Rd.
Raleigh, NC 27606

SMart Supermarket

SMart (I never know whether to say “smart” or “s-mart”)  is a large, clean supermarket off Walnut Street in Cary. It carries a wide variety of Asian food products, fresh and packaged, with a special emphasis on Korean food. SMart also has a very tasty cafe.

SMart Supermarket
1000 Ryan Rd
Cary, NC 27511

Triangle Indian Market

Right on East Chatham Street is the Triangle Indian Market. Easy to find in the Chatham Square Shopping Center with an iconic mural on the wall. Fresh and packaged Indian foods from mild to wild are sure to enliven your dinner table conversation. Stop by for a jar of Rogan Josh sauce and use it to simmer pieces of chicken. Serve with Basmati rice.

Triangle Indian Market
740 E Chatham St.
Cary, NC 27511

Toyo Shokuhin

Toyo Shokuhin, also in Chatham Square in Cary, advertises itself as the only Japanese grocery store in the Triangle. You can get sushi supplies, miso, Japanese curries, gifts and other interesting things.

Toyo Shokuhin
748 E Chatham St.
Cary, NC 27511

VGS of Morrisville

VGS is a store-front market on Morrisville-Carpenter Road. Great place to pick up a curry or other South Asian item if you live in the area.

VGS of Morrisville
Morriville Square Shopping Center
128 Morrisville Squareway
Morrisville, NC 27560

Apna Bazar

On Davis Drive, also in Morrisville, is Apna Bazar. It’s a newer entrant into the Cary-area food market, specializing in South Asian cuisine. Fresh and packaged goods include dals, curries, masalas, rice and more.

Apna Bazar
3607 Davis Drive,
Morrisville, NC 27560

Garlic stems from SMart

Story and photos by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – REI, the outdoor clothing and adventure retailer, has announced that it’s moving from Crossroads to Devonshire Plaza, the old location of Border’s Books.

Bigger Store, More Visible Location

Opening in the Spring of 2012, the new store will expand REI from about 21,000 square feet to 27,000. REI first opened the store at Crossroads in Cary in 1992.

The new location is only about a quarter mile down the road from Crossroads, but REI will now front on Walnut Street.

Social Entrepreneurship

REI was born in the 1938 from a group of 22 mountain climbing buddies who wanted better gear. Outdoor stewardship has always been part of their DNA; it’s not just about the profits.

Economists and business thinkers call that “social entrepreneurship.”

REI spends millions every year and supports volunteer projects of outdoor-focused community organizations with money, gear and “sweat equity.” From REI:

As part of its commitment to increase access to the outdoors, REI partners with nonprofit organizations that work to restore and maintain local trails, parks and waterways through active volunteer programs across the country. Earlier this year, REI granted more than $4.2 million to nonprofits through its locally driven grants program. In addition, the new community room in REI Cary will allow the company and its local partners to host outdoor-related classes, presentations and events.

With miles of greenway and more than a dozen parks, Cary is a good fit for REI.

REI construction in Devonshire Plaza.

Cary, NC – Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday. It’s safe to say there are a lot of opportunities to shop this weekend. Is it all too much?

A friend recently told me that he was participating in Anti-Black Friday – giving away, throwing away and recycling as much stuff as possible on the day after Thanksgiving. Maybe he’s on to something.

Here are two interesting Cyber Monday facts:

1. Why is it on a Monday and not over the weekend? Because most people like to shop online at work.
2. Cyber Monday is set to rake in $1.6 billion this year compared to just $875 million for Black Friday.

Meanwhile, the world economy is in turmoil for the third straight year, mostly due to over-spending, over-borrowing and over-lending. But the barrage of media urging us to spend more has reached a new crescendo this year.

Tell us what you think. What are you feelings about the shopping extravaganza after Thanksgiving? All responses kept confidential. If you can’t see the survey here, you can answer it on our Holiday Shopping survey page.

During the summer, Brennin Cummings from Ithaca College interned as a correspondent with CaryCitizen. Now, she’s on a study-abroad year in Berlin and has sent us this fashion report from the cosmopolitan capital of Germany. Story and photos by Brennin Cummings. 

Reporting from Berlin

Guten Tag, Cary Citizens!

When I decided to study abroad, there was only one choice of where to go- Germany. I’ve been taking German since 9^th grade and have been there twice- once for a month with a host family when I was 16. When it came time to choose which city to study in, well, there was less of an obvious choice. Germany has so many awesome cities- Munich, Cologne, Hamburg, but nothing compares to Berlin. Berlin is the biggest city in Germany and it’s absolutely beautiful, but not in the way that makes tourists flock to Paris and Rome. It’s a grittier beautiful, one with steel and mismatched buildings indicative of a city still recovering from being torn apart by the Berlin Wall. It’s a city full of history, much of it incredibly tragic, but full of positive people ready to learn from the past and move on, rebuilding their city and country for a bright and new future.

Darker, Offbeat, Authentically Cool

It’s this attitude that shapes the fashion of Berlin. Much like their city, it’s a little gritty and mismatched, but it’s this darker, offbeat appearance that makes them look authentically cool.

Raleigh vs Berlin

It was a bit of a shock going from the nightlife in Raleigh to the night (morning) life of Berlin. For one thing, you will NOT see girls in sky high pumps with preppy pastel Lilly Pulitzer dresses, their hair perfectly coiffed with a classic strand of pearls around their neck, ready to drink vodka tonics at a bar until 2am at the latest. No, these girls dress for SURVIVAL.

The Virtue of Boots

Boots are an absolute necessity. Durable boots. Something tough and lace up with a thick rubber soul that allows them to dance from 3am (at the earliest) to noon in some dark, exclusive, hipster techno club and to walk the unforgiving cobblestone sidewalks of Berlin. No heel. If there is a heel, it must be thick and sturdy.

I saw this girl’s boots halfway across the flea market and ran after her. She didn’t understand my German at first (She was Swedish!), but ended up being totally nice and chatting with me for five minutes. Her Doc Martens weren’t black, like the typical Berliner’s, but I LOVE the contrast of an über girly color with a rugged work boot.

Berlin in Black

And when I think of a stereotypically cool person, I think of them wearing lots of black, which is all the people of Berlin wear. Black. Sometimes ENTIRELY black. If you’re lucky, you may get some muted colors or even some grey (WOAH, let’s not get too crazy). Maybe they’re attempting to blend in with the endless Berlin nights and the hodgepodged mixture of metal that make up the subway stations? I don’t know, I totally tried to think of a deep reason, but the point is that black is the uniform of cool Berliners, and don’t think that a uniform of all black makes for a boring outfit. The black allows them to mix textures- sheer shirts, leather leggings, wool capes (not joking, they’re fabulous and I want one) and ripped tights. THIS is where I can put my “hodgepodged mixture of metal” analogy.

This girl was so flattered when I told her I loved her outfit. She’s got the sort of goth menswear look that I’ve been seeing around Berlin DOWN. Oxford shoes, oversized blazer with somewhat of  a preacher’s collar, briefcase, and Ray Bans, all in black of course.

The Importance of Scarves

Scarves are universally popular; it’d be kind of obvious and a given to be all like, “SCARVES ARE IN FOR FALL!” What’s interesting about the Berlin take on scarves is the sheer size. They’re huge, the bigger the better, really. One of these days I’m going to see a girl wearing a full size afghan blanket around her neck and I’m totally going to dig it. Once again, muted colors and patterns are popular- burnt orange or maroon or an Indian pattern sewn in gold thread . This girl is exemplifying it pretty perfectly. Scarf could be bigger though. (Kidding. Kind of.)

This girl was suspicious of my motives and only allowed her picture to be taken with her boyfriend. But look at that scarf! Textbook Berlin.

Dress Like a Berliner

And that’s the uniform of the hip Berliner. I kind of focused on the ladies, but honestly? The guys abide by these rules too; the outfits are pretty androgynous in the best/coolest way possible. I know I need a pair of Doc Martens STAT. And a wool cape. (They’re awesome, I swear!) This time I played it safe to show the standard outfit of a typical Berliner, but I promise next time I’ll venture out and capture the even edgier dressed people of Berlin. Maybe even some more color? Maybe. Don’t hold your breath.

Story and pictures by Lindsey Chester. Above, Abby Roberts, owner of the new Scout & Molly boutique in Cary’s Stone Creek Village.

Cary, NC- Cary just upped the fashion factor with Scout & Molly’s now open in Stone Creek Village.

The Stone Creek shopping center in Cary is the fourth location for the locally owned chain.  Scout & Molly’s is a women’s clothing boutique with an eclectic mix of upscale fashion.

I asked store owner Abby Roberts why she picked Cary and she replied that circumstances  just fell into place when she met franchise owner Lisa Kornstein Disbrow. Abby had just packed off her youngest child to kindergarden and was looking for a new project. She was debating opening a store and had begun doing her research when she met Lisa. Lisa had always wanted a Cary location. The Stone Creek Center’s location and surrounding demographics were a perfect fit.

Who’s the Customer?

Abby says she had one idea when she opened the store, but everyday the customer is evolving. A high school student can find a top just as easily as a soccer mom who needs something for a party, or a business woman who needs a jacket.

Premium denim is a best seller

Best Selling Items

Scout & Molly’s is known for their premium designer denim and the Cary store is no different. Jeans that retail around $160 are displayed in a unique way on an antique church pew right down the center of the store. A range of styles and washes is available to fit every body.

Accessories have also been extremely popular and Abby has three local jewelry lines that are arranged artfully on tables in a range of price points. She noted that these lines can do custom orders.

Dresses and dressy tops for a night out  have also been popular. Now that cool weather is on the horizon, some jackets are beginning to sell. A faux leather bomber (fooled me) at about $100 is almost sold out. Military styling also continues this fall and she had a couple jackets near the register with antique buttons calling my name.

One of the many colorful racks at Scout & Molly's

The store is arranged by color with areas of navy, purples, yellow/oranges, black and neutrals gathered together. She buys limited quantities of each style, so a customer won’t run into someone else wearing the same thing on a night out. Most of her lines are exclusive to the store in this area.

Key Brands

In Denim she buys Hudson, Joe’s and AG, and other lines include: Joy Joy, Suzanne Monaco, Alison Ann, Trixie, Michael Kors and French Connection.

Franchise a Big Help

Abby noted that her partnership with franchise owner Lisa is a key to how she was able to open the store and learn the business at the same time. Lisa’s extensive knowledge about brands, margins, and budgeting have been key to this location’s initial success. Each of the four stores buys independently which results in some differences in the merchandise mix.

They all have the pear green and bright color scheme but only Abby’s Cary location has an enormous peacock mural painted on the wall.

Mural painted by local artist Jennifer Wood

Story and photo by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – Kmart has notified the North Carolina Department of Commerce that it is closing its Kildare Farm Road store in Cary on November 13, 2011.

According to the filing, 71 workers will lose their jobs.

It’s sad to see a longtime retailer in Cary closing its doors. And it’s bound to be very painful for the laid off workers. But even an economy as buoyant as Cary’s couldn’t support a business as weak as Kmart.

In fact, it’s the very buoyancy – and competitiveness – of Cary businesses that spelled doom for Kmart in our market. Just in the last week, we’ve written about imminent plans to remodel Belk at Cary Towne Center and a coming out party for redeveloped Waverly Place.

The Kmart on Kildare Farm was certainly a welcome merchant to downtown residents and the local community. But it could hardly be considered a destination retailer for residents from any other area in the town.

Meanwhile, a new Target is set to open at the corner of Cary Parkway and NC 54.

So it is farewell to Kmart in Cary after many years of serving the community. Workers may look to find new and perhaps better opportunities at Belk or Target or Waverly Place. Shoppers will certainly find other places to buy necessities and sundry items, boosting other local retailers.

Who knows? Maybe some great business will go into the space. After all, this is Cary.

Story from staff reports. Photo by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – Belk is bulking up in Cary. The Charlotte-based retailer has announced a $4.6 million remodeling of its two-level, 167,000-square-foot department store in Cary Towne Center. 

A Southern Tradition

Belk, founded in 1888 by William Henry Belk in Monroe, N.C., operates 303 stores in 16 Southern states. It is the nation’s largest privately-owned mainline department store chain.

Cary Expansion

Belk says the project will create “a modern new shopping environment in the store” and includes a major expansion of the store’s ladies shoe department as well as a new jewelry area.

Relocations

One aspect of the remodeling is designed to put all the ladies departments on the first floor. Juniors, special sizes and intimate apparel will join ladies sportswear and shoes on the first floor.

The men are moving upstairs with the home and children’s departments.

Tile, Green Lighting, New Restrooms

The store’s first floor is being completely renovated with new tile flooring, carpet, wall treatments, energy-efficient lighting and the new display fixtures.

All restrooms and fitting rooms are also being refurbished. Belk says the second floor men’s, children’s and home areas will also be “re-spaced and refreshed” with new tile flooring, carpet and paint.

Ladies Shoes. Lots of ‘Em.

A highlight of the remodeling will be the expansion of the ladies shoe department, which will more than double in size to over 9,000 square feet of space. Belk says the remodeling will allow the store to greatly increase its selections of the latest brands and styles of ladies shoes.

Committed to Cary

“We’re committed to serving customers and being the department store of choice in the Cary community,” said Peter Mendoza, vice president and regional manager of Belk’s Raleigh Region. “This investment demonstrates our resolve to fulfill our mission to satisfy the Southern lifestyle needs of our customers like no one else and to deliver the fashion they desire and the value they deserve.”

No Fooling Around

Construction will be completed in phases through this fall prior to the store’s grand re-opening on October 12, 2011. The store will remain open throughout the project.

Previous Remodeling Was in 1991

Belk has operated its store at Cary Towne Center since the center opened in 1979, and last remodeled and expanded the store by 37,000 square feet in 1991.

Story from staff reports. Photo by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – Since last summer, Waverly Place has been under construction during a major renovation of the iconic Cary shopping center. This Wednesday, August 17, 2011, the public is invited to see the new Waverly Place at “Preview the Promenade.”

Waverly Place Renovation

The renovated Waverly Place is built around a one acre Promenade Park complete with dramatic water and fire features, an expansive green lawn, a children’s playground, and a stage for a variety of events.

Waverly Place is set to host numerous weekly and special events. To kick everything off, “Preview the Promenade” will take place on Wednesday, August 17 from 5:00pm to 9:00pm. The public is invited.

Festivities include live music, food and beverages catered from Whole Foods and Chick- Fil-A, raffle prizes and a variety of children’s activities.

New Waverly Place Merchants

The remaining construction should be completed by the Fall of this year.

New tenants that are currently signed and slated to open this Fall/Winter include

• New World Pizzeria Bistro
• Signature Nail Spa
• Deluxe Cleaners
• Hand & Stone Massage
• Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt
• FRESCA Café (A European Coffee, Gelato, Dessert Shop)

In addition, a dozen or more prospective tenants are negotiating leases and the center should be completely leased up by the Spring of 2012.

Current tenants that are still open on site include Whole Foods, Rite Aid and Elegant Stitches.

Event Details

Preview the Promenade
Waverly Place Cary
Wednesday August 17, 2011
5-9 PM
corner of Tryon Road and Kildare Farm Road
Map

Story by Leslie Huffman. Photos by Leslie Huffman and provided by JustNeem.

Cary, NC – Sometimes a business starts with just a seed. An idea to create a quality product and at the same time make a positive change in the world.

That is what Peter and Magda Radtke have done with their Cary-based company JustNeem.

The Seed

Peter, a biochemist by profession and Magda, a teacher, wanted to do more and put their passion to work in a meaningful way. After traveling with a Disaster Relief Organization doing work in Africa, Peter met with folks from Mauritania. This area of Africa is 90% desert and the people there suffer with extreme drought and poverty.

Looking for a way to help and researching the scarce resources that existed there, the indigenous desert trees were explored. The mahogany-like tree, the Neem, was growing well in this part of Africa. In India, the Neem tree was well known as the “village pharmacy” because of it’s healing properties and had been used in medicinal practices there for over 4000 years.

Peter then turned to his many colleagues in biochemistry to do further research into Neem’s healing properties. At the same time, Magda had been busy with her hobby of soap making. The concept of bringing all of these activities, ideas and products together was then rooted.

JustNeem Grows

All parts of the tree have been studied extensively in Neem research. The fruit, and in particular the kernel, contains oil with very high amounts of active bio-molecules. These bio-molecules hold a variety of beneficial compounds. Well-documented properties of Neem include its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral effects, as well as its role in accelerated wound healing.

It is with these healing oils that JustNeem makes their products. All soaps and lotions are made with the finest cosmetic grade raw materials and contain Neem and other natural ingredients.

Beginning with small craft and art shows like Cary’s Lazy Daze Festival, JustNeem sprouted. Soon, their products were picked up by Whole Foods Market and now appear in the Southeast region and New York Whole Foods stores as well as small local shops around the country.

JustNeem Blooms

On a visit to their soap kitchen in Cary, I got a first hand look into how they make their amazing soaps. The smells of florals, tropical fruits and spices wafted through the air.

I saw how all the products were handmade in small batches and wrapped and labeled individually. Here is a list of the bath and body products now being produced there with Neem oil:

• Soaps -20 different scents, all made with natural ingredients including lavender, shea butter, cranberries, Aloe Vera, ginger, vitamin E, coconut & sunflower oils
• Body Lotions – 9 different scents and all contain the valuable properties of Neem and act as a natural skin protector and soothing agent.
• Outdoor Body Spray – Neem oils combined with herbal extracts provide a deterrent to biting insects without the use of chemicals. Also used to disinfect minor cuts and sooth itching skin.
• Men’s Shaving Soap & After Shave – Contain the antiseptic and healing properties of Neem and soothes the skin after shaving.
• Bath Salts & Tub Tea – Soothing to the skin.
• Lip Balm – Protects and moisturizes.
• Neem Cure Oil – Neem oil has been known for centuries to help treat topical wounds, skin blemishes, burns, and infections.

JustNeem body products can be purchased locally at all Whole Foods Markets, A Southern Season, at small boutiques or at JustNeem.com.

What I do know first-hand is that the soaps have been fabulous for my teenage children’s’ skin. It has dramatically reduced acne breakouts for both of them. I have also been using the body lotion (Green Tea Scent) and love the smell and moisture it brings to my skin.

These products containing the Neem oils are said to also treat:

• topical wounds
• skin blemishes
• burns
• infections
• eczema and psoriasis
• athletes foot
• bug bites
• diaper rash

This stuff really is amazing!

Returning to its Roots

Peter and Magda have been collaborating with humanitarian organizations in Mauritania, West Africa to help create jobs centered around this tree. The Neem tree can be used to generate income for families simply by planting the tree and selling its leaves and fruit.

Magda and Peter travel to Mauritania on a regular basis to visit their partners there. They purchase all their Neem raw material from Mauritania, using existing Neem trees and paying a fair market price for labor and goods. This helps create jobs and generates income for families living with few resources.

With proceeds from soap sales, JustNeem is now funding the planting of Neem trees in neighborhoods surrounding the city of Nouakchott and have established a Neem tree orchard. The goal: to create a self sustaining industry in Mauritania with Neem, providing it’s people with jobs, a fair income and a richer life.

Perspective

There are few people you meet in life that want to make the world a better place and then actually act on that desire. After doing my own research into the benefits of the Neem tree, and what it’s fruits might mean for those in an impoverished country, I know that Peter and Magda have found their future.

Their dedication to providing wonderful quality products in a family company and  improving living conditions in Mauritania is steadfast. It was no accident that Peter and Magda made the therapeutic Neem tree the base of their business.

Just like the tree itself, JustNeem has shown it has healing powers.