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Reflections After Our Latest Deadline - posted 10/29/11

Posted By Nick Brandi, associate editor

Whew! Holiday issues can be tough in the publishing world, and this year’s was no exception for CSM. However, the team took a deep breath, buckled down and got the job done in glorious style (even if that meant some of us working through the night for three days straight!). The prognosis? The issue is a winner, pulling together all sorts of eclectic subjects to make a read that offers something for just about everyone.

Now, with a moment to catch our breath before the push for the Jan-Feb issue begins, let me take this opportunity to thank “Bulldog” Rothner of 98.1 WOCM for having us up to the studio during one of his “Rude Awakening Show” broadcasts. It was tremendous fun – and what a great host -- though I’ll admit to sporting a momentary lump in my throat when Bulldog announced his intention to put yours truly on the air with him. Though my mind had raced with images of all that could go wrong, the fact is that it turned out great -- joking, teasing and laughing together abundantly. When you pick up your copies of the CSM Nov-Dec issue, be sure to read the article about Rothner and our day at the studio.

But what’s even more exciting than being on the air with a radio host whose daily show is listened to in 40 American states and almost 70 countries worldwide is the prospect of the local media partnership that seems to be forming between WOCM & CSM. In fact, there is currently talk of us visiting the show on a recurring basis to discuss not only what’s coming up in the next CSM issue but also to jaw about what’s going on in the community as a whole. I must confess, it would represent a good marriage: the hottest local drive-time morning radio show with the region’s most respected print publication. When such auspicious media unions do occur, it’s the community that benefits most, and for us, that’s what it’s all about.

Also in our holiday issue are great recipes for the holidays – including some by MasterChef champion Jennifer Behm of Delaware -- a cool closeup of software virtuoso Brett Martin of Ocean City and a touching yet revealing interview with Chris Schell of Schell Brothers, which built the Lewes home that will be featured on ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on Nov. 18.

We hope you enjoy our holiday issue, but we can’t stress enough how much we enjoy hearing from you on Facebook, by email or on the phone. While we work tirelessly to keep our fingers on the pulse of this community, the best means to ensure that it stays that way is through your feedback. So, please keep in touch because, as always, we’re here to serve you!
Extreme Makeover Fund-rasier Alert - posted 10/1/11

WHAT: EXTREME MAKEOVER FUNDRAISER ALERT!!!

WHERE: BREW RIVER, SALISBURY

WHEN: MONDAY, OCTOBER 3rd, 6pm-9pm

HOSTED BY: EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION, THE FUSION COMPANIES & CHIC COMMUNICATIONS

DONATION REQUEST: $10 AT THE DOOR

Posted by Nick Brandi

Hey, everyone. By now it’s all over town that in the immediate aftermath of an Extreme Makeover: Home Edition visit to our very own Sussex County, the Emmy-winning ABC feel-good show is as we speak toiling away on another Eastern Shore project – this time in Wicomico County, at the soon-to-be brand-new-home of the amazing Johnson-Goslee family of Mardela Springs.

We were at the worksite yesterday and had a phenomenal time, speaking with the show’s stars and producers, as well as builder Josh Sims of the Fusion Companies and various volunteers on the project, including the irrepressible Mark Frostrom of LandEscapes, who is by now a veteran of these Extreme Makeover projects, having also participated in the project in Sussex County. The whole Extreme Makeover cast seem like great people: Ty Pennington is a manic hoot who genuinely cares; Paige Hemmis is just as sweet and lovely as she seems on TV; and Michael Moloney and Johnny Littlefield are not only really cool but a total riot! At one point they were playing a combo touch-football/keep-away game with a set of blueprints that had them chasing each other around the empty shell of a building foundation like a bunch of kids.

Congressman Andy Harris was at the worksite today for a visit, and we’ve just learned that Salisbury University will provide full scholarships to both Wyzhir Johnson-Goslee and his sister, Renee. How’s that for some true community spirit.

Please try to attend the fundraiser; not only because it’s a really worthy cause but also because of the feeling you get just being associated with one of these projects: You wind up with a redeemed sense of faith in humanity and the basic goodness of people and the community. If you look real close, you just might feel a little better about you, too.
Lark On The Boulevard - posted 9/21/11

Posted by Nick Brandi

Just spent a nice couple of hours getting a personal tour of Lark on the Boulevard on Rte. 13 in Salisbury, right across from the college. It’s a really neat shop, all white and pristine clean, with lots of cool stuff to see. Owner Ashlyn Nolte deliberately designed the boutique-style store to look like a museum, with jewelry display cases that are wall-mounted and vertical, rather than the typical counter-style jewelry display case.

She gets stuff from all over the world and targets only fair-trade merchandise, which means that one may rest assured that there was no child labor or oppressive work conditions imposed on those who manufactured it.

Another kudo is that everything is exclusive yet reasonably priced, with jewelry items that range from $25 to $125 and home and personal accessories that run from $10 to $100 on average. Nolte said she worked very diligently to make sure that all her accessory items are hard to find in this area and that her jewelry can only be found at her store throughout the Eastern Shore.

When you got there, be sure to check out the bags by Hobo, as well as those by designer Rebecca Ray, one of which features straps made from authentic stirrup leather.

We’ll also be presenting some beautiful handmade jewelry from New York designer Lauren Wimmer and some unique and eye-catching ceramic tableware from Peruvian maker Montes Doggett, which uses only the finest natural and renewable materials in their products and is also made entirely by hand.

For anyone seeking affordable gift items that are hip yet unique, Lark on the Boulevard is one of the best – make that one of the only – places in the area to go.
- posted 8/31/11
Posted by Nick Brandi, Associate Editor

I just got a hot tip about a great source for eReader accessories online. It’s called M-Edge (www.MEdgeStore.com), and they’ve got sleeves, jackets, stands, lights and cases for everything from Kindles, Nooks and iPads to HP Touchpads, Samsung Galaxies, Sony Readers, Kobos, HTC Flyers and even Pandigitals.

The selection is way beyond vast. When you click on the Style Library tab, you get 26 pages of results, with over 1,000 products to choose from. Every color, pattern and theme you can think of, plus versions imprinted with the names of classic works of literature that ultimately send a message about your personal predilections. Can you say, “Conversation Starter”? There is even a tab for those who wish to design their own custom jackets, with embedded video instructions on how to proceed. It’s a very slick marketing strategy that recognizes eReaders will never supplant books completely as long as they are perceived as cold, sterile machines rather than personal literary companions, the way hardcover and paperback books have been regarded for centuries.

These products are a substantial step in that direction. BTW, beach lovers, there’s also a clear vinyl Leisure Jacket for the Kindle that protects it against sand and splashes in addition to scratches of course.

The best news of all is that representatives of M-Edge will be at 92nd St. in Ocean City and Rte. 26 in Bethany on Saturday September 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. handing out hundreds of free covers and promo cards for Kindles and iPads.

We’ll probably see you there, but if not, tell the folks at M-Edge that you were sent by Coastal Style, the magazine that wrote the book on Eastern Shore cool!
Cooking it up with MasterChef's Alejandra Schrader - posted 8/1/11

Posted by Nick Brandi, Associate Editor
Photo by Stephen Cherry, Photography Editor

What delight it was, sitting down with Alejandra Schrader in her in-laws’ house in Delaware, talking about her life and what it was like to be a top-9 finisher on the wildly popular MasterChef. The fact is, she’s just as nice off-camera as she was on, and while she was very diligent about honoring her contractual agreements with the FOX network, she did offer some fascinating off-the-record insights that I would have loved to share but can’t (because I, too, honor my agreements). The most I can say is that the one competitor who Alejandra said “broke her heart” with their duplicity was one of the people you’d least expect if you were a follower of the show – but would actually make a lot of sense were you to know the person’s background and life story.

Alejandra’s husband, David, meanwhile, is an interesting guy, too. He’s an independent filmmaker, so I got a rare opportunity to discuss some of the things media-geeks like me love more than anything else but have trouble finding eager companions for in communities that comprise “normal” folks.

He’s developing this really interesting project called “Badass Baby,” which is about a 33-year-old superhuman clone trapped in the body of a toddler. If you’re thinking it’s likely a biting South Park-style satire, you’d be spot on. With a little luck, this could really take off – and I really hope it does!

After the one-on-one interview, we headed over to the Good Earth Market, where Alejandra held a cooking demo and whipped up this kick-ass shrimp dish called Camarones Salteados, which wowed the crowd as much as her irresistibly sparkling personality. It was pretty funny, but when she took questions from the audience, I jokingly asked her opinion of using raw garlic in tartar sauce – which she’d done on the show and had gotten in huge trouble for with Gordon Ramsay – to which David responded by booing me (LOL!), but Alejandra totally cracked up as did the audience (most of whom were dedicated fans of the show, so they got the reference), and that was what really mattered.

But make no mistake: The woman definitely has a serious side with equally strong opinions. Alejandra was raised in Venezuela (but was born in Chicago, so she’s always been an American citizen) and has some definite views on the Chavez administration. She said that while he originally seemed like – and definitely marketed himself as – a savior who would deliver his people from decades of oppression, he turned out to be little more than a self-serving propaganda machine who maintains a stranglehold on power and his people by parsimoniously dangling carrots of progress that create the illusion of hope but never actually change anything for the better. Ostensibly, saying such things publicly comes with some degree of risk, but her compelling need to speak the truth makes it a risk she feels is worth taking.

Meanwhile, her popularity nationwide remains unabated, which will certainly come in handy when she launches her boutique business called Cucina Cocina (meaning “kitchen” or “cooking” in Italian and Spanish) with fellow MasterChef alumna Tracy Kontos, along with their LA-based, community-themed culinary school. We wish her all the success in the world and will be checking back with her from time to time to keep you apprised of this remarkable woman’s progress.

Comments (1)
- Ruud Van Den AkkerRuud Van Den Akker said...
  This is nice post..it is very useful post..and good to see this here..thanks for sharing here..reiki - 8/11/11 1:10 am
Celebrating The Beach & Bay Cottage Tour - posted 7/24/11

Posted by Nick Brandi, Associate Editor
Photo by Charlie Kopay

For as hot as it was the evening of July 21st, that’s also how cool it was inside the palace that Nick & Julie Kypreos call home. They were the hosts of the cocktail party to celebrate next week’s Beach & Bay Cottage Tour, and their incredible space is essentially a cross between a four-star hotel and a museum. With scintillatingly ambient grand-entranceway lighting shafting in from sky-high ceilings, glass-walled second-story balconies, 12-foot palm trees, gallery art and a mermaid-sculpture fountain to top it all off, the Bethany Beach spread basically punches you in the face with opulence from the moment you get past the front door. Funny, I didn’t realize that Four Seasons had a facility in Sussex County.

At any rate, the hosts-with-the-most seem to be getting into the impresario/patron-of-the-arts game, as they will be hosting something they call “yART” on September 3 & 4, Labor Day Weekend, in support of the local artist community. Julie Kypreos tells me that each participating artist will contribute one piece of original art to what I believe she’d said was a Chinese raffle. Supporting artists – especially local ones – is something we’re really big on at Coastal Style, but it would be worth attending the event if for no other reason than to see the Kypreos house.

Meanwhile, it was great to see one of my faves, Joan Gordon, who handles the PR for the Beach & Bay tour. Joan is the sweetest lady, and I never knew until that night that her husband, Jack, is the vice-mayor of Bethany Beach. He’s also a great guy and can hand you a beer, wine or soda with the best of ’em.

Another of my faves are Kathy & David Green, whose beautiful beach house is one of the sites on the tour and one of the properties we featured in our July-August issue of the mag. Should you take the tour – which you should – tell the Greens I asked them to introduce you to “Big Red.” They’ll get a kick out of it, and so will you. I found out that Kathy is actually from Chicago originally (which is probably why she’s so darned genuine and nice) and that David is originally from Texas (which is probably why he’s so big). Anyway, Kathy co-owns this really cool furniture-consignment shop on Atlantic Ave. in Ocean View called Seaquels that I’d stopped at once really fast, but I’m likely going back this Thursday to visit Kathy in her vocational habitat and take a good, long look at all the interesting stuff.

Oh yeah!... for anyone who is a big fan of crab dip – even if you’re not, or even if you’re a crab yourself – ask Joan the caterer’s name that supplied the most amazing crab dip I’ve ever had. OMG, it was like layer cake or something – it was really that good. At first I thought maybe it was just me, but I looked around at one point and noticed that there were more people hovering near the dip on the kitchen’s center island than anywhere else in that never-ending house. The dip was the star of the food show to be sure, but all of the food was truly spectacular. (Would you have really expected anything else?)

Also met the mayors of Bethany Beach, South Bethany and Ocean View, who, it turns out, have a pet project they're collaborating on called the Assawoman Canal Walk. The party wasn’t the best place to get into the nitty-gritty details (as I’d left my big, black journalist’s pad at home), but I’m gonna be following up with them to see what they have on their mayoral minds.

Judging by the cocktail party, anyway, next week’s 20th anniversary Beach & Bay Cottage Tour should be a smashing success. Can’t wait to check it out.

You can find all the salient details in our July-August issue, currently available at hundreds of locations on the Eastern Shore.
Chuck Campbell Appears on The Bonnie Hunt Show - posted 3/8/10
Chuck Campbell

Posted by Jon Westman
Photo by Stephen Cherry

The year-long raffle campaign known as "New Lungs For Chuck" is now in its final weeks as COPD sufferer Chuck Campbell, his family, dedicated friends and co-workers, and giving followers around the world, attempt to raise the $1,000,000 necessary to place Chuck on a receipt list for the double lung transplant he needs to save his life.

Campbell was joined by his wife Vicki, their four children, and Chris and Robin Hagel from Pohanka of Salisbury, as they appeared on The Bonnie Hunt Show which aired this morning locally on WMDT. To view their segment, visit www.BonnieHunt.com.

We profiled Chuck in our January-February issues of Coastal Style Magazine and Coastal Style Family Magazine. To read this feature, visit www.CoastalStyleMag.com and click on the Family tab. Chuck's story is posted under "Archives."

The New Lungs For Chuck raffle concludes with the grand prize drawing on March 31. Tickets are just $50 and the prize includes a townhouse in Sarasota, Florida and a new Mercedes Benz. To purchase a ticket or to learn more about Chuck, visit www.NewLungsForChuck.com.
Cheryl Nemazie and Bishop's Stock team for striking exhibit - posted 3/6/10

Posted by Jon Westman

It was a evening of firsts in Snow Hill last night (March 5) as the monthly celebration of art known as “First Friday” unveiled the latest and largest gallery exhibit by photographer Cheryl Nemazie at the prominent and popular Bishop’s Stock Fine Art & Fine Craft gallery.

Change is the Constant: Reflections on a Malleable Society is a stunning photographic series of water reflections captured by Nemazie as they naturally appeared.

“I began shooting the series while vacationing in Venice, Italy, for several weeks,” Cheryl said. “After days of shooting through numerous canal-ways, my eye turned to the images ethereally shifting and changing beneath me. I thought of Venice’s vibrant history and how the reflections themselves may have changed in color and structure over the course of it, but that the constant ebb and flow of the canvas had not. Since that visit, throughout my travels both here and abroad, I have always made time for similar thoughts and capturing the literal reflections with my camera.”

It is the first photography exhibit in the seven-year history of Bishop’s Stock – widely regarded as one of the Eastern Shore’s finest art galleries. Gallery owner Ann Coates has always been hesitant to hang a collection of photography, but after meeting with Nemazie, seeing her creative and captivating collection of images and learning about her photographic passions, the decision became an easy one.

“When I saw her documentary work, it blew me away,” Ann said. “The Reflections collection is true fine art photography. It is just fabulous. She had never done anything like this, and this was a first for me too, so we put our heads together and had a great time planning it. It really is a fantastic show.”

“I rely on my sense of color and composition in my framing of these images,” Cheryl said. “The works are digitally captured, but produced in methods reminiscent of traditional darkroom developing. None of the images have been “Photoshopped,” and I do not use special-effect filters. The magic lies in the ever changing patterns and colors reflecting the environment beyond a water canvas.”

“Photography’s true definition is writing with light,” Cheryl continued. “In that vein, my documentary work could be said to be my non-fiction, portraiture – my commercial work can be thought of as the business oeuvre, or fiction – depending on how jaded one feels. But my Change is the Constant series, with its finely honed images… this is my poetry.”

Change is the Constant: Reflections on a Malleable Society is on display at Bishop’s Stock through March 31. For more information, visit www.cherylnemazie.com and www.bishopsstock.com.

Comments (2)
- Bishop's StockBishop's Stock said...
  Great post, Jon! Cheryl's images pop off the page. Love the your updated online look.
  
  Thanks -
  Ann Coates - 3/10/10 6:02 pm
- Dan HamDan Ham said...
  Beautiful work - 3/10/10 10:52 am
Luxury and Relaxation Await at Poplar Springs Inn - posted 3/6/10

Poplar Springs Inn Owner/Chef Howard Foer

Posted by Jon Westman

Luxury meets serenity. That’s the first thought that comes to mind to describe the Poplar Springs Inn in Casanova, Virginia – where Erin and I spent a recent weekend. Owner/Chef Howard Foer and his accommodating staff roll out the red carpet for their guests each night – whether it’s for patrons of his magnificent Inn, the spectacular restaurant called The Manor House, or the tranquil spa – the service and amenities are first-class.

Located just three and a half hours from the sandy beaches of the Eastern Shore, Poplar Springs is a relaxing and rejuvenating retreat set on more than 200 acres of the breathtaking Virginia countryside. The return of spring provides the perfect opportunity to visit Poplar Springs and experience its lavish conveniences – both inside and out. Warmer temperatures offer guests the chance to explore the property’s romantic nature trails, to relax in its soothing outdoor hot tub or to embark on a private picnic for two exquisitely prepared by the staff.

Poplar Spring’s dining opportunities are extensive and exceptional. The resort offers a host of options, including a wide variety of delectable dinner selections, such as:

Seared Moulard duck breast served with pan roasted apricots

Herb gnocchi with a roasted Vidalia onion sauce

Roulade of veal scaloppini with pancetta & oven dried tomato and spiced pecan butter

Seared diver scallops with a tomato saffron fish sauce with a saffron fettuccini

Medallions of bison strip loin with a green peppercorn sauce

Crispy Maitake mushrooms and braised chayote squash.

An expansive selection of lunch options from the spa, coupled with a creative light fare menu served in the cozy Casanova Lounge, room service availability and brunch varieties create a host of dining choices morning, noon and night. There’s absolutely no need to look for a restaurant off of the property. I suggest ordering lunch from the spa menu and requesting it be served in front of the gorgeous lobby or library fireplaces. It’s a subtlety that will go a long way with your partner.

Look for our in-depth feature about the Poplar Springs Inn inside our July-August issue. For more information, visit www.PoplarSpringsInn.com.
A Night Sending Messages of Hope - posted 1/17/10
After being asked "Where was the first place you and your husband made love" City Council Member Mary Knight is surprised that her husband Frank's response was not accurate! "Which woman are you thinking of, FRANK?" Poor Guy.

Janet Booth, Ruth Gawryluk, Cindy McGrath, Parrothead Club Vice President Harry How and Igor Gawryluk have their hands full of tickets for the 50/50 raffle at the fundraiser for Message of Hope.

From Friday night, January 11 at Seacrets in Ocean City
Post and Photography by Brittany Krempel
A night at Seacrets with hundreds of your friends sounds like a blast — and the only thing that can make it better is sure if you can spend it with your friends and raise money for a GREAT cause. Tonight at Morley Hall at Seacrets on 49th Street in Ocean City, the Parrothead Club of Ocean City (www.ocphc.com) hosted an awesome fundraiser for the Message of Hope Eastern Shore Chapter. Check them out online at www.amessageofhopecf.org.

You should know they are a great organization. In short, the Message of Hope provides help to families who have been financially devastated in one way or another from the affects of cancer. I spoke with Debbe Manoly, the President of the Eastern Shore Chapter of Message of Hope — who decided to become a part of the group after her daughter survived a battle with skin cancer.

The event was very well attended and more than enjoyable. The “Not-So-New” Newlywed Game was beyond hilarious and had me in stitches the entire time. Some of the answers were just priceless. One that comes to mind was when Ocean City Councilwoman Mary Knight was asked, “Where is the first place you and your husband made love?” She responded that it was at Frank’s home in Monkton, Md. When Frank came out and responded to the question with a TOTALLY different location, Mary shouted, “Which of your women are you thinking about FRANK?” Poor Frank!

It was a fun night spent raising money and awareness for a great cause!


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