Vivian Elise Vintage
Turning something old into something new by Loretta Bolger Wish Photos by Matoli Keely Photography W hen Courtney Elise began rummaging through the clothes in her grandmother’s attic and trying on her mother’s retro castoffs, she didn’t realize she was laying the groundwork for a career. Years later, the gowns she restores and sells are fulfilling the wedding fantasies of women around the world. Whether a bride-to-be yearns for a pearl-encrusted Edwardian frock, an Art Deco satin sheath or a bouffant mid-century chiffon, Vivian Elise Vintage can meet her need. “They’re completely unique and beautiful dresses,” the Frederick, Md., resident says of the creations displayed in her online boutique. Describing herself as “the most sentimental one in the family,” she calls her shop Vivian Elise as a tribute to her mother and grandmother, who share the name. She also considers “Vivian” a more glamorous name than her own. Her lifelong fascination with old clothes and collectibles has been a running joke among her relatives: ask Courtney before you toss anything out. When she was growing up in North Carolina, her mother’s closet proved to be a gold mine of wearable antiques. “What really got me hooked on vintage was going through those hand-me-downs,” she says. One of her discoveries, a purple sundress from 1980, is still part of her wardrobe. Sundresses, day dresses, cocktail and formal wear, skirts, blouses and lingerie are available, but bridal merchandise accounts for 75 percent of all Vivian Elise sales. Elise currently has over fifty wedding gowns listed along with accessories such as jeweled and floral combs, lace headbands and veils in a variety of styles. Often a customer will buy a period headpiece to set off a contemporary gown or select a modern veil to wear with a vintage dress. Elise considers this more becoming than head-to-toe garb from a single era. “In order not to look costume-y, you try to pair the old with the new,” she adds. When she got married in 2013, shortly before launching her business, Elise wore a 1950s gown with her mother’s veil from 1980. “I also wore my great-grandmother’s crystal necklace from the 1920s or 1930s,” she says. “I mixed a bunch of eras, but they all worked together.” Elise admits she was worried, however, because she wanted to look just right for the man she was marrying. Kyle Martineau, whose late grandmother owned a bridal shop in New Jersey, shares his wife’s passion for old things. He also had definite ideas about bridal style — “nothing poufy” was his chief request. Luckily, Martineau loved the ensemble. For the reception, Elise wore a dress she had...
Naughty Girls Donut Shop
By Victoria Kidd Photos by Lauri Bridgeforth It’s an unnecessary food, really. Sweet fried dough— often coated with a sugary glaze and formed into a circular shape before its center is removed—does not serve a nutritional purpose, after all. Nonetheless, the doughnut is a food with a following, and doughnut connoisseurs have welcomed the sweet offerings of Front Royal’s Naughty Girls Donut Shop, located in the Riverton Commons Retail Center. Owner Tiana Ramos, a high school junior at the time the store opened, runs the store with the assistance of her parents, Natalie and Miguel Ramos. The store is a true experiment in entrepreneurship for Tiana, but it’s also a proving ground for some of her classmates as the shop is fully managed by high school students. It all started with a simple confession. The young Ramos had been mulling over her future, and she told to her parents that she wanted to be a pastry chef. Natalie and Miguel, both having professional training and experience in the food industry, put plans into action to help her get a taste of sweet success. “The Naughty Girls idea was a joke,” Tiana relays. “When I worked at the hospital volunteering they called me ‘Naughty Girl,’ because of my tattoos.” She says her hospital colleagues would capitalize on her desire to make great food by applying her nickname to their requests for “naughty treats.” The request would be the topic of numerous family discussions. “My mom use to joke with me about opening up a bakery and calling it Naughty Girls Bake Shop. We never thought it would actually come to pass.” But it did. The store opened its first location in June of 2014. Their following has grown well beyond the borders of Front Royal, and there are even rumors that the team may be being courted for a reality television show. All of that success is the product of a young entrepreneur who spent years perfecting a vision. On the Naughty Girls website Tiana is quoted as saying, “Once I decided to go for it, everything came together so quickly. I realized that I had been considering it for so long that I had already made most of the decisions.” Tiana applied her affinity for the glamorous pin-up style of the 1940s to the restaurant’s theme. It’s a style that capitalizes on the “naughty” premise while also positioning her venture as alternative to the common nationally recognized brands. Uniforms, décor, color schemes, and virtually every other aspect of the shop has been carefully considered to make sure customers step into an atmosphere that sets a very specific mood. The...
Flamingo Fandango
by Brian Jolliff The third Flamingo Fandango Girl’s Night Out will be held Friday, Aug. 28 in downtown Martinsburg. Funds raised from the event benefit CASA of the Eastern Panhandle. “We held the event several years ago and ladies in the community keep asking us to please host it again,” says Leslie Crabill, past President of CASA-EP and Committee Chairperson. “It was such a fun evening and raised much needed money for abused and neglected children in our community.” The Girl’s Night Out fundraiser is a “progressive social” that encourages participants to wear their favorite fun and crazy pink outfits and stop by participating merchants for a beverage, conversation and retail therapy. Participants are asked to register ahead of time online at mycasaep.org. Tickets are $25 online and $30 at the door. Ladies will check in at 4 p.m. at the historic Shenandoah Hotel where they will receive a floral lei necklace, a drink and a route card. There will be a brief introduction explaining the evening then they’ll be “let loose” in downtown Martinsburg. “The Peking, Casa Visone and The Station Grill have always been tremendous supporters of this event,” says Crabill. “We’re very excited to have several new merchants this year.” Participating businesses will have drink specials and appetizers for all Fandango ladies. TLC Photography will be taking group photos in front of their store during the event. Photos will then be available for purchase on their website. Crabill says that while the Girl’s Night Out is a fun and festive event, it serves to support a much more serious cause – child abuse. The fundraiser will help the nonprofit agency in two ways – by raising funds to support CASA and spreading awareness of its mission. “We do this event because there is such a great need for CASA services. Child abuse is such a sad topic to talk about, but here’s this great event that lets the community come together and shine some light on the issue,” she says. “Not only does it help CASA, but it promotes our downtown, too.” The Flamingo Fandango Girl’s Night Out will be held from 4 to 8 p.m with an after-party at Les’ Station Grill. The event will raise proceeds for CASA of the Eastern Panhandle, a nonprofit organization that advocates for the best interests of abused and neglected children within the court system to secure a safe and permanent home for each child. For more information, including registration, visit www.mycasaep.org online, or email Leslie Crabill at lcrabill@mybct.com. She can also be reached by phone at 304-728-2416. 2015 ~ Hostesses Leslie Crabill Kresha Hornby Mary Lewis Elaine Bartoldson...
Succulents as Sculpture
by Lisa Bartell of Wisteria Manor One of the hottest trending plant species on the planet right now are “Succulents.” Succulents have their own built-in watering systems; this is why their leaves and stems appear fat and fleshy – because they are full of moisture. The root system is shallow so the roots can gather water closer to the surface. If you’re my age, you probably remember your mother growing “Hens and Chicks” or “Cats and Kittens.” Those are succulents. Succulents are a form of cactus, but not all cactus are succulents. Designers have been incorporating these sculpturesque plants in home decor due to their diverse aesthetic structure. Some have smooth rounded shapes for a traditional setting and others a more fierce razor edge for a modern vibe. They come in different colors and some even flower. Another great characteristic? Well, to put it plain and simple: “they are hard to kill.” They require little watering, wo you can go away for a week or two and neglect your plant and when you come home it will look as good as the day you left. And if you never want to water a succulent we can solve that problem: buy an artificial one. The market is saturated with these and boy do they look real! How to plant In a shallow container, fill with ¾ potting mix and cover the top with small gravel. Next, mix the two together and dampen with water. Remove succulent from nursery container and place in new soil, tamping down soil around it to hold plant firm. Only water when it’s absolutely dry. Place in a sunny location such as a windowsill or outside in a sunny spot. This plant is great for planting outside in spaces that normally lack attention, like among craggy rocks or blistering hot, dry areas. Choosing a container Choosing a container for your succulent is fun, because you can go crazy and use your imagination. Remember, the root system is shallow in succulent plants so you can use something as shallow as a seashell! I have seen these planted in teacups, soup ladles, tea tins, a shoe, an old work boot, and driftwood. I even saw an old book opened to the first page and an inch deep hole cut through the remaining pages forming a pocket with a succulent stuck right in the middle of it. People are even making vertical wall planters out of wooden frames and chicken wire and planting with succulents. These can hang right on an outside garden wall. Some clever designers even use color and shapes in a pattern to form a mosaic....
The Old Opera House
Bringing arts to Charles Town for more than a century by Tricia Lynn Strader In an age when everything changes almost daily, one fixture of Charles Town has remained constant. The Old Opera House presents six main stage productions, a summer youth production, a one-act play festival, and a ballet every other year. It has been at North George Street since the dawn of another century. Prior to the early 1900s, the second and third floors of the Charles Washington Hall were used as a small theater. But in 1910, Annie G. Packette, whose family tree included George Washington, raised $50,000 and employed a Washington, D.C., architect to design and construct the New Opera House. It was a classic theater structure, complete with flyspace for hanging scenery above the proscenium stage, an orchestra pit and a rarely seen curved balcony. The main theatre then seated 500 people and lived through two wars, a depression and the advent of radio. The large “P” seen by visitors at the top of the proscenium arch is a tribute to Annie Packette. “It’s one of the oldest theaters in West Virginia still operating,” says Steven Brewer, managing and artistic director. “One unique feature is the carved balcony. For Annie to raise $50,000 in 1910 is pretty impressive.” He believes the area was rich in artistic culture. “The Apollo (in Martinsburg) is one year newer. The Shepherdstown Opera House is about the same age. The area must have been quite vibrant and interested in arts to invest that kind of money at the time.” The first show – performed in Charles Town’s New Opera House on February 14, 1911 – was a comedy given by homegrown talent and titled “Bachelor Girls’ Federation of Clubs.” Proceeds from the play went to the Daughters of the Confederacy for the benefit of indigent confederate veterans of the country. From the 1940s to the 1970s, the theater was dormant, as were many theaters after the emergence of “talkie” films. At various times since, areas of the building and an adjacent structure dating to the 1890s were used as apartments, a floral shop, movie theater and tavern. The former auditorium became a haven for pigeons. In 1971, there was hope for the aging structure. Dixie Kilham, owner of Hilltop House in Harpers Ferry, and Robert and Diane Angel contacted the owners of the building, Mr. and Mrs. Augustine Todd, about using the theater for local productions. The Todds agreed at least to the cleaning of the structure. That cleaning out included hauling 35 dump-truck loads of pigeon droppings out of the auditorium. Once the building was clean, a group...
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