SAUSAGE AROMA ATTRACTED HUNGRY SUPPORTERS

The snow may have fallen, but town spirits were lifted once again as Ronnie and Jen Bates hosted a Grand Opening ribbon cutting celebration Friday evening in downtown Edenton. Local officials and neighboring retailers and friends gathered to congratulation Edenton's newest retailers. The new shop offers a wide variety of items that can be personalized. Edenton's famous icons appear on numerous high quality gift items for the kitchen, wine cellar, office, golf bag or favorite four legged walking companion. Yes, there is a dog section...

In a town where tea and history go hand in hand things are brewing in the historic buildings on Broad. St

Guess What? It appears there are no vacant spaces on Broad St.  

For the first time in over three years Broad St. retail is becoming more inviting weekly.  

While the town has yet to see a retail real estate bidding war, the spaces on Broad St. have filled up fast since the first of the year.  

The Edenton Tea Company is moving into the Josephine Leary building. The Chowan Herald moved to the center of town now occupying the former Edward Jones space.  

While the Edenton Tea Company will add new life to the block with a retail environment, the building has a lengthy impressive history serving as the perfect foundation for the Tea Company’s future plans.  

While Lorrie Dablow is still a bit secretive about the plans for her company she is combining two of the town’s favorite topics, history and tea. So what could be better than what Dablow has in mind.  

“Experience American history, one cup of tea at a time,” is a peek into Dablow’s concept.  

The triple-story building was constructed in 1894 as a rental property owned by Josephine Napolean Leary. The building is on the Edenton town tour and is a busy building. Leary’s name and the date of construction, ‘1894’ grace the top of the metal facade.  

“Pressed metal façade buildings were popular throughout North Carolina during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The metal façade was manufactured by the Mesker Brothers, Front Makers, located in St. Louis, Missouri. The building has eight bays and is composed of three sections. Each unaltered storefront has recessed double-leaf doors. Victorian embellishments adorn the outside of the building along with columns framing the second story, massive bracketed frieze and cornice, and elaborate sunbursts,” according to the Edenton Historical Commission.

Edenton residents and visitors will be able to enjoy the Edenton Tea Company some time in February according to Dablow.  

Small town identity depends on certain retailers, however, over the years town's have lost some of those identifiers. Once upon a time every town had a local florist to celebrate births, anniversaries, graduations and other special occasions. A town with churches but without a florist could be considered a major inconvenience for many on many occasions. 

Edenton is fortunate to have a local florist in its retail lineup. Sawyer's Designs has made an impression on the many who rely on owner Noah Sawyer and designer Lindsay Sawyer , (no relation) to fill their floral needs. 

Sawyer's Designs is one of Edenton's premier retailers. The shop offers floral enthusiasts a variety of fresh flowers at the "Flower Bar" where one can pick out a bouquet one stem at a time from the inviting table of  colorful, fragrant flora. 

On a recent visit I felt as though spring had arrived inside the store. While highly decorated for the upcoming Valentine's Day, hints of spring and Easter where noticeable. Aside from a blooming wedding business, the arrangements that grace area homes during private and public events may have originated at Sawyer's Designs. 

A table of flowers  sporting vibrantly fresh blossoms, seldom seen in winter gardens, was reminiscent of a walk by the Cupola House in May. Noah Sawyer explained he often orders flowers from Ecuador and they arrive fresh, days later. 

While Sawyer's caters to resident's floral needs, Noah and Lindsay recently hosted their first Wine and Design Party. The event was so successful plans for the next one are in the works.

"Thank you to everyone who joined us for an evening of creativity, laughter, and stunning floral arrangements. It was such a joy to see all of your gorgeous designs come to life. A special shoutout to the incredible snacks and good company that made the night even more enjoyable," said Noah Sawyer. "We’re already counting down the days until the next one. If you missed out this time, keep an eye out for our upcoming events—you won’t want to miss the fun."

For more information on Valentine's Day arrangements, or to make a reservation for the next Wine and Design event contact Sawyer's Designs at 252-325-0710.

Leslie Lippincott is doing her best to keep students from moving out of eastern North Carolina and her efforts were apparent Wednesday evening as her culinary students proudly displayed their creations. Many of the graduating class are currently employed at Edenon restaurants and others are planning on opening their own. Some in the near future, while others are headed to Johnson and Wales before taking the ownership leap..  

Lippincott is Associate Professor and Program Coordinator at the  College of the Albemarle, Edenton-Chowan campus.  

Wednesday evening Chef Lippincott and her students displayed their knowledge and artistic culinary ability while teasing palates and pleasing taste buds based on inspiration from artwork chosen from the Chowan Arts Council.  

The original idea to combine the art of the stove with canvas and acrylic is in line with  Lippincott’s belief that artwork and food reciprocate inspiration between artists. With that on her plate, she approached CAC Director Meredith Timberlake and the two collaborated on the evening. Each student chose a painting and interpreted the story through food and the ingredients used to paint a palate able picture.  

The wide array of flavors and presentations by each of the chefs was worthy of high culinary praise. Their dishes were each meticulously and thoughtfully created offering delightful flavor profiles reflecting the tables neighboring artwork.  

The students should be commented along with Lippincott and her assistant Ashley Tedrow. The music played at each chef's station to coincide with the ingredients of their dish was provided by students of Music Chair Sandra Krueger.     .  

You might  say Edenton Mayor Hackney High gave Florence Nightingale  a birthday present last week when he honored nurses locally and nationally by offering the Town’s Proclamation recognizing the special week. While it begins on May 6 every year, National Nurses Week ends on May 12, Florence Nightingales birthday.  

“It is my pleasure to celebrate the lead up to Nurse’s Week with the hard working and dedicated nurses of ECU Health Chowan Hospital. On behalf of the Town of Edenton and its citizens, I have issued this proclamation declarin May 6- May 12 as Nurses Week here in Edenton,” said High. “Nurses are essential to the health and safety of our friends, families and community, and too often, their valuable contributions go unrecognized. I encourage everyone to take time not only during this special week, but throughout the year to show appreciation for the skill, compassion and decisions our nurses demonstrate every day.

National Nurses Week was originally recognized in October, in 1954 celebrating the Nightingales mission to Crimea.

The nursing profession has been supported and promoted by the American Nurses Association (ANA) since 1896. Each of ANA's state and territorial nurses associations promotes the nursing profession at the state and regional levels. Each conducts celebrations on these dates to recognize the contributions that nurses and nursing make to the community.

The ANA supports and encourages National Nurses Week recognition programs through the state and district nurses associations, other specialty nursing organizations, educational facilities, and independent health care companies and institutions.

From the first cup tossed overboard, to the unveiling of the windows of Edenton’s newest addition to Broad St., The Edenton Tea Company, the town now has a museum quality space to celebrate American History one cup of tea at a time.  

When the paper on the expansive windows of Edenton’s Josephine Leary building came down another  historic event surrounding tea was unveiled on Valentine’s Day as friends, family, neighbors and town officials gathered to officially commemorate the grand opening of The Edenton Tea Company’s historic location.

The freshly remodeled space is the most recent re-creation for Lorrie and Patrick Dablow, who began the company on King St. next to Patrick’s art studio. Patrick’s art is highly apparent within the museum styled shop as his envied painting of the town’s famed Tea Pot welcomes visitors from above the ‘teaporiums’ museum styled feel.

According to Patrick the couple moved to Edenton  and planned on using the town as a base as they travelled. Those plans were altered and Patrick decided to begin painting again after a long career as store and set designer for major national retailers. His art began to appeal to many and Lorrie one day explained she was opening a tea company.  

The rest is history, coincidentally, the future is also based on history.  

This is not grandma’s tea shop however, thoughts may have been brewing since then. The evolution of The Edenton Tea Company has been Lorrie’s passion since it’s beginning.

“Celebrate American History one cup of tea at a time” is the summation of concepts. The couple adventured on a Washington museum store tour to confirm their vision was more than just reading tealeaves.

Josephine Leary would be proud knowing the doors to her once upon a time building was now home to the history she had a monumental role in shaping.  Lorrie even offers two comfortable wing back chairs to watch a historic loop of video productions provided by the Locke Foundation and others.  

Chamber of Commerce Director Susan Creed welcomed the crowd and introduced Edenton Baptist Church Pastor Dr. Koby Strawser led those gathered in prayer. Chamber of Commerce Vice President Brian White congratulated the Dablow’s on their new addition to downtown.  

Edenton Mayor Hackney High proceeded to address the welcoming to downtown, sharing his thoughts that downtown is really Broad St. and in order to be ‘downtown’ a Broad St. address may come in handy.  

The mayor confirmed his belief. “I used to be three stores down from Broad St. and now I’m on Broad St. at the corner of Broad St. and Eden St. and I can tell you there is a difference.”

William Allen of the Locke Foundation explained his father  pastored in Edenton and he spent part of his youth in town. Locke expressed his gratitude to the Dablow’s for making the foundation part of the event. The foundation’s video loop of Edenton history will play throughout the day.

Friday’s event proved if you build it they will come. Passers-by stopped in awe suddenly realizing behind those papered windows artists were at work creating another contemporary look  on Broad St. 

It is becoming a theme. It was also proven if they come and like what they see, they will stay. It was a ribbon cutting of lingering guests, neighborhood conversation and chatter about the character and quality of Edenton retail.

The Edenton Tea Company is a definite must see for Edenton residents and visitors alike. And, it's also a great place to enjoy a  cup of tea, while browsing a historic past. The Edenton Tea Company is open Monday – Saturday at 423 S. Broad St. 

Walking into Patrick Dablow’s studio and King Street Marketplace shops, it's apparent the artist has an eye for nature. His fondness of the subject is captured on canvas throughout his studio. You’re greeted by large canvas paintings of floral and historic interpretations of Edenton’s architecture. When the door opens, Dablow is most likely painting ‘barefoot’ in the back studio and will holler out a ‘hello’, before quietly appearing.

Dablow’s medium is Acrylic and has always been drawn to nature. Living in Edenton, he derives inspiration in its blue sky, architecture, landscapes, waterfowl and flowers. He is also known for his painting of the historic Edenton Teapot which is located behind the studio in the downtown historic district. The original bronze teapot is perched atop a Revolutionary War era cannon and commemorates the political Edenton tea party.

“I am drawn to create those categories because of the subject matter, light play and color on each subject”, Dablow explains, “Edenton is a NC version of Monet's Garden”.  

Dablow’s artistic talent was inspired by his Grandfather, a high school art teacher. He started painting in grade school and continued through high school and college but put painting on hold for 40 plus years during his extensive retail career.  

“Fine Art is in a new era for artists due in large part to the digital age and social media,” expressed Dablow, “ A single painting can be copied, printed and reproduced on a multitude of products and formats and viewed globally immediately”.  

Dablow gives the example that an original painting sells once in the Gallery, but the canvas wraps and prints are sold in sizes that the customer can pick up for their particular wall space at very reasonable price points.  His art also appears on greeting cards, tote bags, and mugs offering the same image at a very reasonable price points for gift giving. Wife Lorrie Mahaffey Dablow works closely with him on the development and interpretation of his art on to other products sold at their quant King Street Marketplace shops which also houses her Edenton Tea Company, a book store and Artemis and IOa lifestyle shop for those who love the magical, whimsical and beautiful things in life.