up front
Spring is in bloom, and we at
Wrightsville Beach Magazine couldn’t be
more excited about this issue and this season,
which plays host to a good number of nonprofit
galas and balls.
We thought it only fitting
to pay homage to those
who sacrifice time from
their busy schedules
to give back to the community. “Sweet
Chair-ity,” written for us by the sage of
nonprofit chairing, Ashley Miller, is high-lighted
on the cover with a fun portrait
of cardiologist Damian Brezinski, who
founded Chords for a Cause, a music
concert that combines top pop recording
artists to raise much-needed nonprofit
funds. As Dr. Brezinksi attests: Volunteers
are the bloodlines for this, and I couldn’t
agree more with him. The true measure of
any event is its volunteers.
As a companion, we have the semiannual
Nonprofit Social Calendar for readers to
schedule to attend or perhaps to volunteer
at a few of them. You’ll also see some
great choices in the accompanying What
to Wear for these events.
It is azalea time and we invite you
to experience two of our favorite area
gardens in “Romancing the Azalea.”
Both are on this year’s 60th Annual Cape
Fear Garden Club’s Azalea Garden Tour,
which showcases 13 gardens.
We’ve also included the ten sites of
the Historic Wilmington Foundation’s
annual two-day historic house tour that
will be showcased following the ribbon
cutting at the Alexander Sprunt House,
which kicks off the house tour. Included
will be the Ann Moore Bacon Church
House, also featured here in detail as
our Home of Distinction, which was
reconstructed and dedicated in 2012.
Originally designed for Captain Donald
MacRae and his family in 1901, the
restoration of this house is arguably one
of the finest examples of Queen Anne
Shingle Style in Wilmington. Flip to
“Saving the Bacon” on page 42 to see
what we mean.
8
WBM april 2013
We have news for readers who are
environmentally aware as well as those
who are not: Green kitchens can be
exciting. Our annual Kitchens That
Cook feature, titled this year, “It’s Not
Easy Being Green,” will guide you
through three uniquely designed kitchens
Tea time at the Arboretum with Pat Bradford
specifically purposed and custom crafted
to use the necessary natural resources
without inflicting unnecessary environ-mental
damage. Shawn Best’s graphic
design in this story is as distinctive as the
design of the kitchens themselves.
We round out this April issue with
Social Seens and by returning to the
azalea’s roots, in Japan. “Tea Time,” my
favorite story this month, is a reflection
of the customary grace and precision
inherent in the art of the Japanese tea
ceremony. We expect you’ll be just as in
awe of this tradition as we are, from what
it takes to master the ceremony, to the
care involved in creating the pottery and
tending to its gardens.
Be Blessed,
Editor/Publisher
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOSHUA CURRY