Northshore Magazine

December 2015

Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.

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12 | DECEMBER 2015 nshoremag.com Like many of us, I find that some of my fondest childhood memories are tied to Christmas: making homemade ornaments, going with my father to the church parking lot to pick out the prettiest tree we could find, baking sugar cookies with my sisters, decorating gingerbread houses, and listening to Nat King Cole sing "Buon Natale" on the stereo. And, of course, there was the joy of finding my name on a shiny red box among the sea of gifts under the tree on Christmas morning. As an adult, I keep these traditions alive with my own family and friends during the holiday season and have added my own rituals along the way. In this issue, we hear from five tastemakers on the North Shore who offer sound—and creative—advice on making the holidays spectacular no matter how you choose to celebrate. We visit with Darlene Vella of Bellavella Cookies, who bakes batches of sugar and gingerbread cookies in shapes dedicated to the season—she shares two recipes with us to make the season tastier. We also visit Melissa Glorieux of Aster B. Flowers, who designs elegant holiday wreaths from items found in her backyard. She reveals her simple approach to seasonal deco- rating with remarkable results. Brunch has become a signature holiday meal, and we visit with Foreign Affairs chef Ryan McGov- ern, who makes delicious waffles and eggs Benedict and a Bloody Mary to die for. Celebrating with family and friends is just one part of the holiday equation. Another is giving back to the community in myriad ways. Greg Chastain, the founder of Voices of Hope, began the nonprofit singing group in 2012 as a way to raise money for cancer research. Through the organization's performances, it has raised $200,000 since its inception. Many of the volunteers' families have been touched by this relent- less disease, or they are cancer survivors themselves. And in the true spirit of the season, Voices of Hope reaches beyond attaining monetary contribu- tions; they support and help one another through devastating times. Holiday Spirit editor's letter contributors photograph by Scott Goodwin (left) Brandy Rand is a drinks writer, teacher, and marketer. Her favorite subject is "Women & Whiskey," but she'll never turn down a classic Negroni or glass of Champagne. When she's not perched on a bar stool (doing research, of course), you'll find her on a bike teaching spin classes or digging for treasures at Todd Farm flea market. BRANDY RAND Writer Butter Up page 28 Pete Tschudy is an award- winning creative director at a Boston advertising agency, and has been lucky enough to work with some of the best photographers in the world. Along the way, he picked up the camera himself and discovered a new passion. Visit petetschudy.com. PETE TSCHUDY Photographer Queen of Caffeine page 38 A native Bostonian, Alexandra Hall studied at Wheaton College in Massachusetts and Le Cordon Bleu Institute in Paris, France, where she simultaneously wrote for the International Herald Tribune and The New York Times. She is currently a freelance writer for publications including Condé Nast Traveler, Bon Appétit, Town & Country, and Elle Decor. ALEXANDRA HALL Writer Brunch Time page 218 Kindra Clineff specializes in location photography for commercial and editorial clients. Recent books include Indestructible Houseplant by Tovah Martin and Farmhouse Modern by Terry John Woods. When not photographing, Kindra enjoys growing heirloom vegetables at her 17th-century home on the North Shore. KINDRA CLINEFF Photographer Seasonal Simplicity page 208

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