A
HEAD lies the Azalea Festival followed by
Resurrection Sunday.
This is a time where work slows to
a crawl as everyone with a serious case
of spring fever comes together to cel-ebrate
the change in seasons and the beauty of this flow-ering,
sandy region we are privileged to call home.
Kitchens and Azaleas. For as long as I can remember
these two seemingly unrelated things have gone together
in this annual issue. But there’s something, however,
about spring, with budding trees, shrubs and flow-ers
bursting with new life, which sends one into the
kitchen to create tempting new meals and treats. For
me, this season has me back in the kitchen testing new
ideas in my goal for a wheat-free lifestyle.
If April has you back in the kitchen too, we have for
you five of the most beautiful timeless kitchen designs
that are trending now to feast your eyes on in our
17th annual Kitchens That Cook. I believe it is the
best we have ever created.
This year I had the privilege of going with a dear
friend to a Celebrate Recovery at a small church
on Holly Tree Road where she will speak later this
month. I could not have been more delighted by the
experience and have been back a couple times just to
visit. It is remarkably uplifting. I can highly recom-mend
this 12-step Christ-centered program to any
one struggling with, as they say, hurts, habits or hang
ups, including self-control, financial dysfunction,
fear, anger and yes, addictive behaviors.
Festival time means the Azalea Belles, a time-
honored Wilmington tradition. To understand what
it takes to be a belle and explore a small portion of
this phenomenon we turned to Mary Margaret McEachern, the daughter of Mary Lou McEachern. You’ll find it both
rip-roaringly funny and informative.
In the vein of all things azalea, we were excited to come on board this year with the Azalea Festival to sponsor the event’s
writing competition. Drawing entries from the area’s high schools, public and private, we feel it is a natural fit. The awards
ceremony at Wilmington Christian Academy was a special night as the art competition winners were also recognized.
Enjoy the top three writing winners in Essay and Poetry, and join us in congratulating these young writers on their prose.
It is time to don pink and celebrate this wonderful season!
Pat Bradford hamming it up in the kitchen at the 1915 historic home
of Andrew and Nicole Horton, one of our five trendy Kitchens That Cook
in this issue.
Pat’s hair by Frank Potter, Bangz Hair Salon. Hair styled by Rob Asp, Bangz. Makeup by Sarah Harris, Bangz.
www.wrightsvillebeachmagazine.com
upfront
Editor/Publisher
ALLISON POTTER
15
WBM
There is an excitement in the air, we as a region
have come through a tough fall and winter;
and are on the other side and stronger for it.
P.S. There is fake news out there that I have sold Wrightsville Beach Magazine and am retired. LOL, neither has any basis in truth.