If you live in Fuquay-Varina or Holly Springs, you’ve got primary care. Urgent care. Cardiovascular care. General surgery. Breast and colorectal surgery. Bariatric surgery. Medical weight loss. Women’s care for every life stage. And, for everything and anything else, WakeMed Cary Hospital is close by and as full-service and sophisticated as it gets. Granted, life in The ‘Quay and Holly Springs is pretty chill as is. But a little extra convenience can bring a little extra balance to your life. Visit us at wakemed.org.
URGENT CARE
231 North Judd Parkway 919-235-6560
PRIMARY CARE 231 North Judd Parkway 919-235-6410
SURGERY 601 Attain Street, Suite 101 919-350-9355
HEART & VASCULAR 231 North Judd Parkway 919-232-0322
OB-GYN 101 Cotten Lane 919-235-6456
PRIMARY CARE 101 Cotten Lane, Suite 2 919-235-6555
You’ve got this.
Whether you find your holiday happiness in music, dance, or swingin’ tunes, the Arts Center is the place to be! A full range of choral concerts, Nutcracker performances and swingin’ holiday tunes await! More information at FVArts.org
Influenced by entertainers/singers like Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, this Kentucky crooner puts a jazzy touch to country favorites creating the “Nashville Songbook.”
Jason’s music isn’t like everybody else’s; it bridges generations. More information at FVArts.org
Join us for soul-moving Noche Flamenca, featuring Edward Stephenson and Flamenco musicians from Spain, Venezuela, Cuba, the USA and Canada. Experience a night of Flamenco and be swept away! For more information and tickets, visit FVArts.org
For more info, call the Arts Center at 919-567-3920
MY HUSBAND IS ENGLISH, SO ON CHRISTMAS EVE WE INVITE “FRAMILY” OVER FOR A BIG DINNER AND WE BUST OUT BRITISH “CHRISTMAS CRACKERS.” WE CROSS ARMS AND POP THEM OPEN. EVERYONE HAS TO WEAR THE PAPER CROWNS FOR THE MEAL.
“Thank you for your incredible write-up on us. Many of our visitors told me they found out about our house and fundraiser from your magazine. We raised a staggering amount of donations for St. Jude this Halloween.
Currently, we are at over $201,000 raised in 2022 and still bringing in donations. We had over 626 homes sign up across the continental US and a few international in Japan, Germany, and Puerto Rico. This brings us to about $363,000 raised over three Halloweens.”
– JEFF ROBERTSON, SKELETONS FOR ST. JUDE“I couldn’t believe it when I saw (our burger) on the cover! Thanks so much for the opportunity and the awesome write-up.”
– EDDIE FORBIS, THE BRICKHOUSE BAR & GRILLA CHRISTMAS EVE WHITE ELEPHANT GIFT EXCHANGE IS A HUGE HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE IN OUR FAMILY — INCLUDING ABOUT 40 PEOPLE! IT TAKES US AROUND TWO HOURS TO COMPLETE.
WE HOST A CHRISTMAS EVE DROP-IN AT OUR HOME AND INVITE FRIENDS TO COME OVER AND ENJOY FOOD AND DRINKS.
MY BEST FRIEND AND I STARTED THE TRADITION OF THE “PIGMAS TREE.” EVERY YEAR SHE MAKES AN ORNAMENT FEATURING MY PET GUINEA PIGS IN FUNNY SITUATIONS LIKE GOING TO OUTER SPACE, HAVING A GROOVY THROWBACK, ETC. AND WE HANG THEM ALL ON A SMALL CHRISTMAS TREE.
Bill Zadeits, Group Publisher
Kris Schultz, Publisher
Senior Editor
I DRESS UP MY DOGS AS “SANTA PAWS” AND TAKE THEM TO THE RALEIGH
ON THE COVER: OUR STAFF WAS SPLIT BETWEEN THREE COVER OPTIONS, SO WE TURNED TO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS HELP US DECIDE. THIS MINTY COCKTAIL BY BRUS ON MAIN GARNERED THE MOST VOTES.
Jonathan Fredin, Chief Photographer
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What is a beloved holiday tradition you look forward to every year? ”
While visiting Pimiento Tea Room for the feature Soup’s On, I met selfdescribed “soupaholic” JoAnne Bryce from Cary, who happened to pop into the downtown café for a cup of Turtle Bean Soup that very day.
During a brainstorming session a few weeks prior, I learned Jonathan Fredin, Main & Broad’s chief photographer, LOVES (indeed, in all caps) soup, as well. In more than a decade of working together, I don’t think I’ve seen him more excited to sample the subject matter.
I, too, love soup, and chili, and stews (and all manner of meals served in bowls, really), so I was thrilled to cross paths with others nurturing similar feelings.
At home, soup is a rather polarizing dish. According to my husband, soup doesn’t count as a full meal, but he indulges my whims as long as hearty side carbs are also served (such as toasted bread, grilled cheese sandwich, or the like).
There are many of us soupaholics around, I discovered, because the dishes fea tured in the article have been menu mainstays at their respective restaurants for years due to popular demand. Read about these signature dishes, and feel instantly warmer, on page 34.
And since I already wrote 200 words about soup, what’s a few more. With the holiday season in full swing, I hope you find time to sit down and enjoy a steam ing bowl of soup while browsing this issue of Main & Broad. May it help you plan your gift list, set your intention for the new year, and learn about the amazing opportunities and experiences here in Southern Wake.
Happy New Year. Thanks for reading.
EMILY UHLAND SENIOR EDITORMouthwatering soups to ward off winter’s chill.
Time it takes for The Umstead’s Tea with Santa to book up every year.
Christmas ornaments hanging from the ceiling at The Angus Barn.
Thoughtful gift ideas that support local businesses and makers.
Surprising ways to ring in the new year — courtesy of Fuquay-Varina Memes.
A beacon helping guide travelers for well over a century, the Currituck Beach Lighthouse towers over the Outer Banks landscape. For a small fee, visitors can climb the winding staircase for a wide-open view of the Currituck Sound and the Atlantic Ocean.
In the heart of Historic Corolla Park you will find the Whalehead Museum, a restored 1920s era Art Nouveau architectural masterpiece with a storied history. Whalehead is host to several seasonal events, and offers tours Monday through Friday.
The Currituck Maritime Museum
Located just across the park from Whalehead, the new Currituck Maritime Museum tells the integral story of the history of wooden boats on the northern Outer Banks and their craftsmen through exhibits and artifacts. Open Monday through Friday.
OBX Center for Wildlife Education
The Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education houses exhibits on the area’s natural wildlife history, and includes an impressive decoy collection and a theater for viewing an educational film, and offers free educational programs on the Currituck Sound.
With families reserving 2023 accommodations earlier than ever, there’s never been a better time to find the perfect place for your spring or summer getaway. It is nice to know that awe-inspiring remote beaches, legendary wild horses and iconic historical sites are here for you to treasure on the Corolla Outer Banks.
Find shopping, dining and entertainment with the new Corolla OBX Mobile App, available on the App Store and Google Play.
DEC. 3 11 A.M. – 3 P.M.
Dust off those seasonal sweaters to attend Fuquay's festive street party — enjoy live music from the band Crush, food and beer trucks, and a rock wall in the Vance Street lot. With a one-of-akind trophy and Downtown Dollars on the line, tacky sweater champions will be crowned in three categories: tackiest sweater, most festive sweater, and best head-to-toe outfit.
THROUGH DEC. 23
DUKE ENERGY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
2 E. SOUTH ST., RALEIGH
A new holiday experience in downtown Raleigh that’s oh so sweet. All-you-can-eat specialty desserts and hot cocoa in an elaborate festive setting. Macaroons, cheesecakes, cupcakes, cookies … the list goes on. The hot cocoa bar boasts more than 50 toppings. Matinee and evening seatings available.
DEC. 2–3 4–8:30 P.M.
TING PARK
Festive entertainment, a Winter Market, visits with Santa, appearances by Holly Springs Fire Department and Cinder the fire dog, lighted Tree Trail, kids activities, hot cocoa, and more. Pre sented by the Holly Springs Chamber of Commerce.
Christmas Parade
DEC. 4 4 P.M.
DOWNTOWN FUQUAY
Bring blankets and chairs to line the streets and cheer the parade participants as they take over his toric downtown Fuquay. Be sure to wait until the grand finale — Santa’s sleigh coasting into Main Street.
DEC. 10 10 A.M.
DOWNTOWN
Holly Springs’ annual parade travels along Main Street through downtown Holly Springs. Witness floats, bands, dancers, decorated vehicles, and a variety of entertainment.
Gingerbread Lane & the Rotary Christmas Parade
DEC. 3
GINGERBREAD LANE OPENS AT 1 P.M. PARADE BEGINS AT 5 P.M. DOWNTOWN APEX
Local businesses showcase festive displays and child-centered activities in The Depot parking lot, also known as Gingerbread Lane. Stick around for Apex’s Rotary Christmas Parade, the only nighttime holiday parade in Wake County. Parade begins at the intersection of Ambergate Station and The Peakway, heads down Salem Street, and ends at the Apex Public Works building on Upchurch Street. Proceeds from the event benefit Western Wake Crisis Ministry and other local nonprofits.
Christmas Tree and Wreath Auction and Exhibit
DEC. 2–19 5–8 P.M.
HALLE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER, APEX
The annual Christmas Tree and Wreath Auction celebrates 15 years with a wonderland of whimsical greenery crafted by Apex-area businesses, individuals, and organizations. Attend the opening reception on Dec. 2 in conjunction with the town of Apex Christmas Tree Lighting and bid on a display to take home. Silent auction will close on Dec. 19 at 1 p.m. Proceeds benefit Western Wake Crisis Ministry.
DEC. 17 8 A.M.
WAKEMED SOCCER PARK, CARY
Wear your favorite holiday costume and spread good cheer for a great cause at the Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bell 5K Run.
Celebrate the Festival of Lights DEC. 19
5:30–6:30 P.M.
CARY ARTS CENTER 101 DRY AVE., CARY
The Town of Cary has partnered with the Beth Shalom congregation, Jewish Federation of Raleigh-Cary, and Chabad of Cary for a special event on the second night of Hanukkah. The town will unveil and light a new menorah and celebrate with treats, fun for kids, and holiday music for all to enjoy. Rabbi Ariel Edery from Beth Shalom and Rabbi Yisroel Cotlar from Chabad of Cary will perform the lighting ceremony.
Big Band Swing, Blues and Holiday Tunes
DEC. 16 7:30 P.M. FUQUAY-VARINA ARTS CENTER
Fuquay’s own Gerald Parker Jazz Or chestra delights with their special brand of swinging holiday tunes. Enjoy a great night of singing, dancing, and holiday merriment.
Hanukkah Celebration
DEC. 21 4:30–6:30 P.M. FENTON 21 FENTON MAIN ST., CARY
Join Fenton and Chabad of Cary for a special menorah lighting on the fourth night of Hanukkah. Guests can enjoy hot cocoa, ice skating, festive music, and the Yalla Kosher Food Truck. Reserve ice skat ing ($10 adults, $5 children) in advance through Chabad of Cary.
Kwanzaa Celebration
DEC. 30 CARY ARTS CENTER 101 DRY AVE., CARY
Commemorate Kwanzaa with a com munity celebration that honors African American people and their heritage. Pro duced by the Town of Cary and Ujima Group, a community-based nonprofit that utilizes educational programs and the arts to promote cultural diversity.
PHOTOS BY JONATHAN FREDIN
Tracy Gower, owner of Brus on Main restaurant, coffee shop, and bar in Fuquay-Varina, admits she doesn’t like baking, but she loves decorating baked goods, which is why she constantly adds new specialty cocktails and coffee beverages to the café’s menu.
“I have so much fun being creative and coming up with the recipes. Thanksgiving and Christmas is when we go all out for our decorative baked goods and drinks,” says Gower.
Gower brings back one of last year’s customer favorites, the Peppermint S’mores cocktail, a minty and rich delight with Baileys Irish Cream, peppermint schnapps, vodka, toasted marshmallow flavor, and rimmed with candy cane pieces.
Tune in to the Brus on Main Facebook page for additional holiday cocktail offerings — Gower hinted at a Bailey’s Toasted Marshmallow shot! — and festive dessert pairings.
BRUS ON MAIN
135 S. Main St., Fuquay-Varina @brusonmain
Anderson is also the Creator of the Original Strength System and the author of Discovering You, Habitual Strength, Pressing Reset, and The Becoming Bulletproof Project.
BACKGROUND: I’ve been involved in sports and in the weight room all my life. I had the opportunity to get laid off after college, so I got a personal training degree and started training at a local gym in Fuquay-Varina. I’ve been a trainer for about 28 years.
BREAKTHROUGH: Around 2009, I had some overuse injuries and started getting frustrated. I felt like I was wearing out. I always wanted to be Superman, so I asked God to show me how to be bulletproof. Then I discovered how wonderful the human body is designed — designed to heal itself and stay young all your life, as long as you engage it.
NEW APPROACH: If you engage in the movements that you were born with (learning how to roll, breathe, getting up on all fours, crawl) those movements actually build your brain and your nervous system, making both (systems) more efficient and stronger.
EVERYDAY MIRACLES: I get to show people how they are designed to move and see miracles happen right in front of my eyes. When someone touches their toes for the first time in 20 years, or can squat all the way down to the ground, or has no pain, the look on those faces never gets old. To see … the joy of knowing that (a person) isn’t stuck — that makes it fun to keep showing up.
CREATED TO MOVE: Exercise is a manmade invention. We were created to move and created to stay strong even into our 90s. That’s not the norm, but that doesn’t mean it’s not the way it’s supposed to be.
Note: Read more from Tim Anderson and his partner Dani Almeyda, co-owners of Original Strength Institute in Fuquay-Varina, on page 54, in their wellness article: Forget Resolutions. Focus on Longevity.
Written by Emily Uhland
Holiday magic exists in abundance in Wake County, with many seasonal experiences returning time and again to spark holiday joy and memories in thousands of Triangle-area residents.
These five signature local traditions mark each passing of the most wonderful time of the year — how many have you experienced?
JONATHAN FREDINCharles Dickens penned A Christmas Carol in 1843, but in the Triangle, Ira David Wood III’s ad aptation of the classic tale is nearly as ubiquitous. Performed every year since 1974 by Theatre in the Park, a longtime Raleigh-based theater company, the show will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2023.
From the outset, Wood expected the show might stick around for a few years.
“Only because nothing else was being of fered in the city at that time. Most theaters were closed down during the holidays, and it always seemed strange to me, because I thought Christ mas time was the time that families would love to do something together,” recalls Wood.
Adding his own blend of humor and mis chief to the stage adaptation, Wood created a unique experience for Triangle-area audiences.
“I wanted audiences to identify with Scrooge. I didn’t think he was as accessible as he could be the way Dickens portrayed him — so morose and dark. I wanted this to be a comedy,” says Wood. “I landed on the idea that here’s a guy who just en joys wrecking Christmas for people, and it’s just this twisted delight. I think there’s a little bit of Scrooge in everybody around the holidays.”
Wood plans to retire after 2023’s 50th anniver sary season, but his son, Ira, and many talented local actors will continue performing the beloved tale that has become a centerpiece of the local holiday season.
“After almost 50 years, there’s so many beau tiful stories attached to the experience we’ve had with this production,” says Wood, recounting meeting descendants of Charles Dickens, per forming the play in England, and many nowfamous actors who graced the Raleigh stage early in their careers.
“We are lucky that people have allowed us to become part of their celebration of the holidays. That’s a great honor,” says Wood.
A Christmas Carol
December 9–11
Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts December 14–18
DPAC theatreinthepark.com
“
After almost 50 years, there’s so many beautiful stories attached to the experience we’ve had with this production. ”
The acclaimed Raleigh steakhouse The An gus Barn accepts dinner reservations one year in advance. By the end of January each year, the restaurant is fully booked for the holidays, says owner Van Eure.
To be sure, the restaurant draws a crowd year-round to commemorate special occasions and milestones, but during the winter months, the Angus Barn transforms its guest spaces with floor-to-ceiling decorations — a feat requiring hundreds of man hours and weeks of preparation — creating one of the most sought-after settings for holiday celebrations.
“There is a certain way we fluff the garland, a certain way we tie bows — it has to be perfect,” says Eure. “I have a warehouse to store all the decorations; they are organized by room.”
Each year, the displays shift and change, adding new elements and inspiration gathered from establishments around the country.
“New this year will be entering the Barn through lit-up archways,” says Eure. “We are in stalling steel arches that will eventually be covered in ivy. Guests will drive in under the lit archways.”
The tradition of decorating the Angus Barn started with just a Christmas tree — albeit a large one — in the lobby, until Eure visited The Green
brier resort in West Virginia, known for its luxury accommodations and elaborate holiday displays.
“If the Greenbrier can do every room like this, there is no reason the Angus Barn shouldn’t be able to,” recalls Eure.
A grassroots group, affectionately called the Housewives of the Angus Barn, assists each year with hanging the decorations. The group, which has grown to more than 30 people at times and includes men as well, starts climbing ladders, installing garland, and hammering in wreaths around October 10, working around the Barn’s meal service to complete the endeavor by the second week of November.
“I could not be more grateful for this group,” says Eure.
Eure readily admits to experiencing mo ments of doubt every year.
“Next year, I’m putting up a sign that says, ‘We donated all of the money we would have spent on decorations,’” she jokes.
But the time and effort always proves worthwhile when guests witness the holiday wonder and, inevitably, can’t wait for next year.
“Our profession has the opportunity to do so much in people’s lives, to provide respite from the craziness of the world. Come in and you can be pampered and taken care of. In here, you can create memories,” she says. “When people come to you for their special occa sions, it’s a real compliment to you — we take that compliment very seriously.”
While reservations are hard to come by — this season is already fully booked — the Angus Barn does reserve some ta bles for walk-up guests. The Wild Turkey Lounge, Entrance Saloon, and The Meat Locker offer walk-up service as well. Be prepared for a wait list, especially during the holidays. Request a tour of the deco rations to help pass the time.
The Angus Barn Restaurant 9401 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh angusbarn.com
“It’s the hottest ticket we have, the most special event we put together,” says Umstead Hotel Executive Chef Steven Devereaux Greene of the annual Tea with Santa event. Greene, a James Beard Award semifinalist, hosts elaborate wine dinners, caviar pairings, and famous guest chefs at Herons, the hotel’s fine dining restau rant. But it’s the Tea with Santa event that takes the tea-cake as the venue’s most popular event.
“We have about 400 reservations spread out from the end of November through December. Those reservations sell out in about 40 minutes,” says Greene, admitting that hotel staff are advised to stay off the phone lines when reservations open up in September, in anticipation of a flood of incoming calls.
Guests of the tea are seated in the elegant and beautifully deco rated Umstead ballroom. Adults and children enjoy menus of tea sandwiches, freshly made hot co coa, and sweet treats.
But remember, this is The Umstead, so the grown-up menu includes hot chocolate with Grand Marnier, lobster salad tea sand wiches, and salted caramel-choco late verrine. Younger guests receive kid-friendly delicacies, such as al mond butter waffles, chocolate pots de crème, and holiday cupcakes.
Santa and Mrs. Claus attend the tea and take time to visit with each table individually. Santa and his helpers bring a special holiday magic (including secrets we can’t reveal here), creating an intimate and highly personalized
encounter for every one in attendance.
“Everyone gets a turn to visit with Santa and tell him their Christmas list,” Greene says. “To see the expressions on the kids’ faces is priceless.”
Storytime with Santa is another highlight of the event, usu ally attended by an elf or two, assisting Santa with his storytelling.
A luxury resort like The Umstead may not typically be known as a family destination, but Greene says in this case, it’s a natural fit.
“The Umstead is a familyoriented place as far as the em ployees and owners. The owners want it to be a place for the com munity, and that includes giving back to the kids, creating that ex perience for kids.”
“The most rewarding part of my job is about giving back, nur turing people, and creating a last ing positive memory in someone’s life,” he says.
Greene attends the event with his son. “It’s one of my favorite events we do at the hotel.”
Reservations for Tea with Santa open in early September.
The Umstead Hotel and Spa 100 Woodland Pond Drive, Cary theumstead.com
Performed in the Triangle for more than 20 years, Carolina Ballet’s The Nutcracker presented by PNC Bank features a live sym phony orchestra playing the famous score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchai kovsky accompanying professional dancers from the state’s premier ballet company.
Each year, Carolina Ballet incorporates a children’s cast in im portant roles throughout the production, offering the chance for young local dancers to participate in an exciting holiday tradition. A series of magical illusions opens the show and sets the tone for a family-friendly event.
This year’s performances will feature new choreography, sets, and costumes.
“Zalman Raffael, our artistic director, wanted to modernize our Nutcracker. Traditionally, it’s set in the Victorian Era, in the late 1800s, but he wanted to make it more accessible to the newer generations, so they could envision themselves on stage instead of watching something that is very dated,” says Terry Baker, Carolina Ballet’s costume director.
“When you see Victorian costumes as a child in 2022, you’re not really connecting with that. We decided to go with a midcentury Americana twist on it. That’s really been our inspiration for this new design.”
Raleigh Denim Workshop co-founder Victor Lytvinenko collaborated with Baker on the reimagined design.
“When we first started the design process, I would make sure the costume was danceable, but Victor would come in as someone outside of ballet. … He would look at it from a different perspec tive … and it was really refreshing,” says Baker.
“I feel like the way we have re-envisioned (The Nutcracker), the production still has the heart that makes people want to come see it. The music is still the same. … It’s still going to have all of the amazing magic tricks. It still has that energy and magic that makes your eyes light up,” says Baker.
For the eighth year, PNC Bank returns as presenting sponsor.
“For many local families, attending a production of The Nut cracker is synonymous with the holiday season, and presenting the Carolina Ballet’s performances of The Nutcracker to the Triangle community has become a PNC tradition that’s special to all of us,” says Jim Hansen, PNC regional president for Eastern Carolinas.
Raleigh Memorial Auditorium and DPAC host Carolina Ballet’s The Nutcracker, with more than 15 performances between the two venues.
Carolina Ballet’s The Nutcracker presented by PNC Bank
December 10–11, DPAC December 16–24, Raleigh Memorial Auditorium carolinaballet.com
One of the most universal celebrations of the holidays, Christmas light dis plays, experienced a verifiable glow-up during the pandemic, when drive-through light shows brightened up the holiday scene. Load up the car with kids and crew, don pajamas, and sip hot cocoa while cruising through illuminated tunnels and displays — all from the comfort of your vehicle.
In 2020, Raleigh introduced the Night of Lights at Dorothea Dix Park, which features bike-only nights and personal igloo rental (new this year).
The Magic of Lights event takes place at Coastal Credit Union Music Park, featuring digital animations and even an illuminated Monster Truck BigFoot within the display.
Youngsville-area Hillridge Farms follows up its popular Fall Pumpkin Festival with a drive-through winter wonderland. Their Festival of Lights opens Thanksgiv ing weekend with over a million lights.
Among the most unique area displays is Lights on Holt Road, in which Apex resident MG Guerra decorates his private residence, then welcomes the public, free of charge, to drive through the property and view the elaborate displays.
The show opens at the end of Novem ber and runs through the day after Christ mas. A few nights throughout the schedule are reserved for special groups, such as first responders and families with special needs.
Guerra maintains a Facebook page to communicate updates about the light show. This year, through his Facebook reach, he mobilized a huge effort to sup port Ukrainian refugees. Seeking dona tions of airline miles and money for flights, Guerra has helped families and individuals safely leave the Ukraine and connect with host families in the US.
For more information, search MG’s Vision & Lights on Holt Road on Facebook.
Not a drive-through experience, but still an iconic tradition, the NC Chinese Lantern Festival at Koka Booth Amphitheatre offers largerthan-life walk-through displays made of thousands of LED lights and specially crafted lanterns, plus cultural arts performances on the amphitheatre stage. Returning to Cary for the seventh year, attendance at the 2021 festival topped 200,000 guests, the highest to date.
boothamphitheatre.com
Holiday running around is more comfortable and stylish in top-of-the-line gear, including Garmin Forerunner 54 GPS running watch, Pace Yourself branded Goodr Sunglasses, and OnCloud Cloud X sneakers.
Pace Yourself Run Company
Christmas and winter-themed earrings in laser-cut designs, crafted by a Holly Springs resident, $10–$18.
Zoo & Roo
Town map cork & wood coasters, $8. Laser-cut ornaments, $10. Laser-engraved ornaments, $12. Holly Springs stickers, $4. Zoo & Roo
Find fun and feminine fashion and accessories at this Fuquay-based boutique.
Heart earrings, $24.
Plaid shirt, $52. Poncho sweater, $55. Maren May’s Boutique
Barbour clothing, bags, and travel accessories are all rich in history and tradition.
Tea pot, $41.50.
Mulling Spice, $4.59. Winter Blend tea, $6.99.
Fuquay Spice and Tea
Whether you pour a little, or a lot, ’tis the season for joyful toasts.
Glasses, $16-18 each.
Carolina Monogram & Company
Mulling spice combines traditional flavors of orange peel, cinnamon, clove, and allspice to infuse warmed juices, ciders, or wines.
Keep your drinks toasty warm in this insulated North Pole mug with marshmallow lid.
M&A General Store
North Carolina tumbler with straw, $46.
Carolina Monogram & Company
Choose from German specialties, holiday limited-edition releases, and local craft brews for a mix-and-match 6-pack.
The Corner Biergarten
Satisfy the backyard barbecuer in your life with rubs, spices, gear, and the best accessories, like the Meater wireless meat thermometer.
The Butcher’s Market
Browse the incredible selection of unique and interesting spice packets and flavored olive oils and vinegars.
Fig Balsamic Reserve Vinegar, $18.95
Garlic Olive Oil, $18.95
Yellow cheddar cheese powder, $4.49.
Tarragon, $5.99.
Kaffir Lime Leaves, $3.49.
Fuquay Spice and Tea
Mama hat, $28.
Maren May’s Boutique
Lion snuggle blanket, $15.
Bird & Bean zip-up romper, $36.
Peek-A-Boo Grins Boutique
SweeTooth Teether, $15. Butterfly Push-Arounds toy, $12. Hello, Baby Animals high-contrast book, $7.95. Peek-A-Boo Grins Boutique
A personalized bath wrap makes every day a spa day, $52, includes monogram. Carolina Monogram & Company
Heat Santa Penguin Warmies Plush in the microwave for soothing weighted comfort, scented with real dried French lavender, $29.99.
Easily store and transport this sleek Clutch Charger, available for Android and iPhone, which includes an attached charging cable. $49.99.
Go anywhere hands-free with the preneLOVE Dixie Bum Belt Bag, $40.
Bless Your Heart Boutique
Reminiscent of Monet’s Water Lilies, this 13-inch serving bowl features pops of white, yellow, and green. Food-, microwave-, oven-, and dishwasher-safe, $58.99. Check out the large selection of Christmas-themed pottery including these puppy and kitten plates, $24.99 each.
Choose from one-of-a-kind, handmade decor or project kits for the DIYer.
Rescued Wood Rehab
Your rainy-day umbrella gets a colorful upgrade with Vinrella Umbrella in a Bottle, $26.
The Wardrobe Boutique
Unique gifts from local vendors, perfect for teachers, hostesses, and a little something for yourself, too.
M&A General Store
Serasana gift cards are perfect to spend on any products or services, including the signature lavender and tea tree oil candle with 45+ hour burn time, $38, or refreshing lavender and tea tree hand soap, $10.
Serasana
ASHWORTH’S CLOTHING
210 S. Main St., Fuquay-Varina ashworthsclothing.com
BLESS YOUR HEART BOUTIQUE
242 S. Main St., Suite 106, Holly Springs blessyourheartnc.com
THE BUTCHER’S MARKET
1225 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary 4200 Lassiter Road, Holly Springs thebutchersmarkets.com
CAROLINA MONOGRAM & COMPANY 715 N. Main St., Fuquay-Varina carolinamonogram.com
THE CORNER BIERGARTEN BAR & BOTTLE SHOP
1625 N. Main St. Suite 133, Fuquay-Varina tcbiergarten.com
FERA’WYN’S CHOCOLATE CAFE 652 Holly Springs Road, Holly Springs ferawyns.com
FUQUAY SPICE AND TEA 503 Broad St., Fuquay-Varina fvspice.com
HAMPTON FARMS hamptonfarms.com
M&A GENERAL STORE 515 Broad St., Fuquay-Varina @mandageneralstorefuquayvarina
MAREN MAY’S BOUTIQUE
Painted Tree Boutiques 240 Crossroads Blvd., Cary marenmaysboutique.com
PACE YOURSELF RUN COMPANY
242 S. Main St., Suite 102, Holly Springs pyrunco.com
PEEK-A-BOO GRINS
The Block on Main 300 S. Main St., Ste. 120, Holly Springs peekaboogrins.com
PIEDMONT POTTERY 332 S. Main St., Fuquay-Varina piedmontpottery.com
RESCUED WOOD REHAB 718 N. Main St., Fuquay-Varina rwrnc.com
SERASANA
116 Bass Lake Road, Holly Springs serasana.com/hollysprings
TRIANGLE WINE COMPANY Locations in Cary, Morrisville, and Holly Springs trianglewineco.com
THE WARDROBE BOUTIQUE 5269 Sunset Lake Road, Holly Springs @TheWardrobeBoutiqueNC
ZOO & ROO zooandroo.com
Apot of soup has long been a vehicle for utilizing leftover produce and proteins, taking what remains in the pantry and fashioning it into something newly delicious. Yet these standout soups — thoughtfully prepared at five local restaurants — are no second-tier sustenance. They have arisen as signature dishes, tempting customers year-round to enjoy a bowl of steaming, nourishing goodness.
Warm your soul and whet your appetite with these six soup-er soups — winter’s chill begone.
The Brunswick Stew was the first item on the menu at Pimiento Tea Room, and it’s never left.
“Not a lot of places serve (Brunswick Stew) outside of barbecue restaurants,” says Christy Griffith, chef at PTR, which she owns with her husband Matt. “We are not a traditional tea room — who would expect Bruns wick Stew at a tea house?”
Roasted chicken thighs are the only meat in the stew, a change from pork-packed versions at barbecue joints. PTR’s rendition is a tomato-based stew filled with corn, lima beans, onions, green beans, and served with a scoop of corn pudding on top.
“We don’t have room on the stovetop to cook it anymore,” says Griffith. “The giant pans slow cook in the oven for hours.”
Turtle beans are a type of black beans, which Griffith uses to make her vegan, glutenfree version of black bean soup.
“It’s got chili vibes, very comfort ing,” she says. “With lots of textures even though it’s pureed.”
The spice level changes through out the year, based on the available crop of jalapenos. Corn chips, scallions, and house-made chow chow provide colorful complements to the dish.
“Our chow chow is pickled relish with cabbage, peppers, onions, and toma tillos,” says Griffith.
Also try: Corn Chowder or Creamy Chicken Soup.
200 N. Main St., Holly Springs (984) 225-4213 pimientotearoom.com
“ It’s NC’s best Brunswick stew. It’s been a hit since we opened. ”
– Matt Griffith, owner
“It’s as traditional as it can get,” says Arken Elhicheri, owner of popular Italian restaurant Garibaldi Trattoria in Fuquay-Varina.
Garibaldi’s French Onion Soup starts by sweating white onions, pulling the sugar out.
“We catch the natural sweetness,” says Elhicheri. Cherry wine and homemade veal stock enter the pot next.
“Our veal stock takes four days to make. We roast the bones and cook it down for four days,” he says.
In keeping with tradition, the savory soup is served in a thick ceramic crock, topped with a house-made crostini and Gruyère cheese, then broiled to caramelized perfection.
Also try: Recurring special Lobster Bisque.
GARIBALDI TRATTORIA 900 N. Main St., Fuquay-Varina (919) 552-8868
garbalditrattoria.com
Italian Egg Drop Soup, Italian Wedding Soup, or Stracciatelli — many names for one classic dish that appears in countless variations at Italian bistros far and wide.
The “wedding” reference actually comes from an Italian phrase “minestra mari tata,” which means “married soup,” referring to the marriage of ingredients — green vegetables and meat — that stand out in all varieties of Italian Wedding Soups.
Cristo’s Bistro’s wholesome version has egg whites and wilted spinach piled high in the bowl surrounded by steaming, flavorful chicken broth and sliced meat balls, served with Parmesan cheese and toasted bread on the side. Pair with a salad for a light lunch, an appetizer of toasted ravioli, or a slice of pizza for heartier fare.
Also try: Pasta Fagioli.
CRISTO’S BISTRO
5217 Sunset Lake Road, Holly Springs (919) 363-8852 cristosbistro.com
Adam Gilpatrick, one of the owners of Bep Vietnamese Kitchen, admits that traditional Pho isn’t difficult to make in terms of skill, but requires plenty of time to get it right.
“It’s all about the beef broth,” says Gilpatrick. “Our broth cooks for 12 hours, boiling the beef bones to extract the bone marrow and give the depth of flavor. It simmers all day long, then the spices are added overnight.”
Flavors include cardamom, star anise, and a special house blend of spices that Gilpatrick hesitates to reveal.
Upon ordering, a base of rice noodles creates the foundation for the customer’s choice of protein. Rare beef, brisket, meat ball, chicken, and shrimp are all options. Steaming hot broth fills the generously sized bowl, topped with cilantro, onions, and scallions. A plate of garnishes accom panies each order of Pho, including basil, bean sprouts, sliced jalapenos, and limes. Add sriracha or hoisin sauce to taste.
“It has to be like you get it at home,” says Gilpatrick, who married into a Vietnamese family and enjoys many home-cooked Vietnamese meals courtesy of his relatives.
“Pho is not something you prepare just for yourself. You cook it for multiple people. It’s physically comforting, warm, and tasty, but it’s also about the shared table,” he says.
Also try: Lemongrass Pork Vermicelli Bowl.
The Block on Main 300 S. Main St., Holly Springs (919) 285-2477 bepnc.com
Hearty, savory, with “a little bit of spice” and creamy toppings, the Brewery Chili at Bass Lake Draft House in Holly Springs is everything you want chili to be. In fact, the restaurant perfected this classic dish early on, and the recipe has hardly changed in 30 years.
The rich tomato-based chili contains dark kidney beans, choice ground chuck, and flavorful spices like chili powder, cumin, and Frank’s Red Hot sauce. It’s then topped with a blend of cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, a dollop of sour cream, and sliced fresh jalapenos.
Owner Charles Miller describes the spice level as mild — present but not overpowering.
Stone Delicious IPA, one of 34 beers the draft house has on tap and uses in the chili recipe, is considered a gluten-reduced beer, referencing the brewing process that removes the gluten — good news for gluten-sensitive customers.
Also try: Tomato Bisque and a grilled cheese sandwich.
BASS LAKE DRAFT HOUSE 124 Bass Lake Road, Holly Springs (919) 567-3251 basslakedrafthouse.com
1 whole chicken
1 tablespoon jerk seasoning
3 chicken bouillon cubes
1 large onion, diced 4 carrots, diced
4 celery stalks, diced
3 bay leaves
1 ½ cups wild rice 2 tablespoons sherry
Clean the chicken, being sure to clear the cavity. Rub with jerk seasoning and cover with water in a stock pot. Add bouillon cubes, onions, carrots, celery, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then re duce to a simmer for 35-45 minutes. Re move chicken from the pot to cool. Re move bay leaves.
Pick chicken off the bone and dice into small pieces. Return to the pot. Bring stock to a boil and add rice and sherry. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.
1 tablespoon olive oil 4 cups andouille sausage, diced 1 large onion, chopped 3 carrots, chopped 8 ounces baby bella mushrooms, sliced 1 red pepper, finely diced 2 cloves garlic, diced 2 teaspoons paprika 5 cups chicken stock 1 small russet potato, diced 1 cup heavy cream Salt and pepper to taste
Cook sausage in olive oil over me dium-high heat. Remove and set aside. Reserve 2 tablespoons of oil in your pot and cook onions, carrots, mush rooms, and red pepper for 3 minutes. Add garlic and paprika and cook for 1 minute.
Add potatoes and chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes.
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 medium carrots, diced 1 medium onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 pounds butternut squash, cubed 2 tablespoons garlic chili sauce 2 teaspoons cumin 1 teaspoon coriander 64 ounces vegetable broth 1 can coconut milk Salt and pepper to taste
Heat olive oil on medium-high heat in Dutch oven.
Add carrots, onion, and gar lic. Cook until onions are translucent (about 4 minutes).
Add butternut squash, chili sauce, cumin, coriander, and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a sim mer and cook for 25 minutes, until squash is tender.
Let cool.
Blend until smooth.
Stir in coconut milk; add salt and pepper to taste. CHEF ESKRIDGE PAIRED EACH SOUP WITH A COMPLEMENTARY SALAD.
Stir in heavy cream; add salt and pepper to taste.
Written by David McCreary Photographed by Jonathan Fredin
Locals are all smiles these days with the recent opening of Lovegrass Kitchen in downtown Holly Springs. The res taurant is committed to serving healthy, gluten-free offerings in a relaxed and hos pitable environment.
Founded by softspoken Ethiopia na tive Meron Afework Kassa, the café offers a wide variety of sweet and savory crepes, waffles, salads, acai bowls, coffee, smooth ies, and more.
“We wanted to create a café with a great atmosphere and nourishing food that people can come and enjoy often with friends and family,” says Kassa, who lives in Fuquay-Varina with her husband and 10 children, several of whom work alongside her at Lovegrass.
In her African homeland, Kassa grew up eating food made from a tiny, ancient grain called teff, also known as lovegrass. The naturally gluten free su perfood is high in calcium, iron, magne sium, and other minerals. It also includes the essential amino acid lysine, making it an excellent source of protein for vegans and vegetarians.
Kassa moved to Belgium at a young age and developed a keen fondness for Eu ropean cuisine. While in high school, she enrolled in culinary classes and learned to prepare sweet and savory European fare.
Since moving to the United States, Kassa has continued to use teff in baking and cooking, finding it works especially well when making European-style dishes.
“When I discovered the nutritional value of teff, I wanted to incorporate it into my family’s daily diet,” says Kassa. “I’m especially conscious about what I feed my children, and teff is a wholesome grain to use in items like pancakes, waf fles, and granola.”
In 2017, Kassa started making and selling gluten-free granola and baking mixes from her home kitchen. Ultimately,
ANCIENT GRAIN TEFF, ALSO KNOWN AS LOVEGRASS, IS NATURALLY GLUTEN FREE AND FULL OF MICRONUTRIENTS. LOCATED IN THE BLOCK ON MAIN BUILDING IN HOLLY SPRINGS VILLAGE DISTRICT TEMPTING SWEET AND SAVORY CREPES ARE GLUTEN FREE.the demand for her products grew beyond what she could produce at home, so she de cided to open a café. Nowadays she uses teff as a primary ingredient in the food served at Lovegrass.
At the modern counter-service café, diners will find a comfortable, welcoming space with high ceilings, a polished cement floor, large windows, and ample seating in two separate dining areas. Live plants pro vide extra touches of warmth.
When it comes to the made-to-or der food, consider the Cr ê pe Complete filled with smoked turkey, sunny-sideup eggs, and gruyere and aged cheddar cheeses. Or choose the Dark Chocolate Strawberry crepe featuring house-made Belgian chocolate ganache. It’s topped with vanilla ice cream.
Among the Belgian Liège waffles, order the distinctive Lemon Blueberry Compote with honey mascarpone cream cheese or the Berry Delight suffused with strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and whipped cream.
Three varieties of dairy-free acai bowls are worthy of consideration. We recom mend the Refreshing Acai, which includes fresh mango, pineapple, strawberry, organic banana, and coconut milk all studded with items like granola, organic chia seeds, nut butter, and local raw honey.
In the mood for a salad? Choose the Roasted Beets Goat Cheese with organic arugula, roasted beets, apple, toasted pecans, goat cheese, and apple cider vinaigrette.
“We are very careful to select ingre dients that are not processed with refined flours or grains,” Kassa says. “We do not use any refined sugars. Our go-to sweetener is raw honey, and we also use pure maple syrup. As much as possible, we use organic fruit from local producers.”
Pair your meal with a smoothie, espresso beverage, or a Chai or turmeric latte. If it is available when you go, try the invigorating honey lavender lemonade.
Lovegrass partners with Fuquaybased Cultivate Coffee Roasters for its robust java.
“It’s nice to collaborate with other local business owners who have who a passion for providing excellent prod ucts,” Kassa says with a smile. “Cultivate makes a special Ethiopian blend for us, which is fantastic.”
Along with 13-ounce bags of coffee, the café also sells takeaway packages of gra nola. Additional items such as pancake and brownie mixes are accessible on the café’s website. Be advised: The popular maple pe can granola is habit-forming good.
Lovegrass Kitchen is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. When weather permits, enjoy the spacious patio.
LOVEGRASS KITCHEN
300 S. Main St., Suite 108 Block on Main, Holly Springs (919) 205-8426 lovegrasskitchen.com
Unsure where to eat today? Look no further than this selection of local eateries & cafes.
Abbey Road Tavern and Grill
“Signature Beatle burgers and live entertainment.”
711 N. Main St.; Fuquay-Varina (919) 762-7731; abbeyroadnc.com
Anna’s Pizzeria
“Piping hot pizzas and mouthwatering Italian food.” 138 S. Main St., Fuquay-Varina (919) 285-2497; annaspizzeria.com
“Brick oven pizza & craft beer.”
601 E. Broad St., Fuquay Varina (919) 346-8206; aviatorbrew.com
Aviator SmokeHouse BBQ Restaurant
“All of our food is made in-house.”
525 E. Broad St., Fuquay-Varina (919) 557-7675; aviatorbrew.com
Assaggio’s Pizzeria Ristorante
“Top quality ingredients go into every dish.”
941 E. Broad Street, Fuquay-Varina (919) 557-9505; assaggios-fuquay.com
Bluegrass Bagels
“Quality food, fast.”
100 Dickens Rd, Fuquay-Varina (919) 285-4980; bluegrassbagels.com
“Quaint cafe serving New York coffee, bakery treats and breakfast.”
135 S. Main Street, Fuquay-Varina (607) 745-2512; @brusonmain
“Chef specials Friday and Saturday nights.”
1351 E. Broad St., Fuquay-Varina (919) 446-1156; cellar55.com
“Great food, great service, at a great price.”
1420 East Broad Street, Fuquay-Varina (919) 659-5500; clevelanddrafthouse.com
“Bar & bottle shop.”
1625 N. Main St., Suite 133, Fuquay-Varina (919) 246-6649; tcbiergarten.com
“Modern industrial twist on a small town coffee shop.”
128 S. Fuquay Ave., Fuquay Varina (919) 285-4067; www.cultivate.coffee
Culver’s of Fuquay-Varina
“ButterBurgers and frozen custard made fresh every day.”
1860 Cinema Dr., Fuquay-Varina (919) 285-2360; culvers.com
“Slow cooked with love.”
1526 Broad St., Fuquay-Varina (919) 552-6464; daddydsbbqnc.com
“Drive thru coffee shop with N.Y. coffee & Carolina charm.”
1013 E. Broad St., Fuquay-Varina (607) 745-2512; @drivebru
“Breakfast favorites served all day.”
1436 N. Main St, Fuquay-Varina (919) 285-4463; eggsupgrill.com
“Enjoy the most delicious Mexican food amongst family.”
112 E. Vance St, Fuquay-Varina (919) 557-0287; eldoradomexicanrestaurant.com
Garibaldi Trattoria Pizza & Pasta
“Authentic Italian cuisine and quality service.”
900 N. Main St., Fuquay-Varina (919) 552-8868; garibalditrattoria.com
The Healthy Spot
“Meal replacement smoothies and energizing teas.”
961 E. Broad St., Fuquay-Varina (919) 552-5373; @healthyspotfuquay
“All-American diner experience.”
3419 N. Main St., Fuquay-Varina (919) 567-3007; hwy55.com
“Family-owned and operated Italian restaurant.” 500 Broad St., Fuquay-Varina (919) 557-6921; jandsnypizza.com
“An amazing array of different NY-style pizzas.”
722 N. Judd Parkway N, Fuquay-Varina (919) 552-6322; johnnyspizzafuquay.com
“Home cooked Southern favorites.”
129 N. Main St., Fuquay-Varina (919) 567-1717; @joyceandfamily
Kumo Sushi Hibachi
“Traditional Japanese menu in a chic setting.”
2916 N. Main St., Fuquay-Varina (919) 986-0983; kumosushi401hwy.com
Little Portugal NC
“Market and eatery celebrating traditional Portuguese dishes.”
736 N. Main Street, Fuquay-Varina (919) 586-7144; littleportugalnc.com
“We prepare our food fresh daily.”
401 Wake Chapel Road, Fuquay-Varina (919) 552-3957; lostresmagueyes.com
“All the comforts of Southern hospitality with a modern twist.”
305 S. Main St., Fuquay-Varina (919) 762-5555; themasonjartavern.com
The Mill
“Coffee. Beer. Wine. Community.”
146 S. Main St., Fuquay-Varina (919) 557-2123; themillfuquay.com
New Rainbow Chinese
“Classic and popular Chinese favorites.”
3427 N. Main St., Fuquay-Varina (919) 567-8272; newrainbowchinesefood.com
Nil’s Cafe Mediterranean Cuisine
“Mediterranean cuisine and a creative menu.”
513 Broad Street, Fuquay-Varina (984) 223-2928; nilscafefuquayvarina.com
Pints Ice Cream & Beer
“Homemade ice cream and craft beers.” 512 Broad Street, Fuquay-Varina @pintsicecream
Stick Boy Bread Co.
“Handcrafted baked goods from scratch … all natural ingredients.”
127 S. Main St., Fuquay-Varina (919) 557-2237; stickboyfuquay.com
Tio’s
“Pizza. Empanadas. Wings.” 2916 N Main St, Fuquay-Varina 919-762-0095; tiosnc.com
Triple Barrel Tavern
“Restaurant, sports bar & billiards.” 2221 N Grassland Drive, Fuquay-Varina (919) 762-0940; @triplebarreltavernfuquayvarina
Vicious Fishes Tap & Kitchen
“Eclectic twists on comfortable bar food.” 132 S. Fuquay Ave., Fuquay-Varina (919) 762-7876; viciousfishes.com/fuquay-nc
Wingin’ It Bar and Grille
“Family-friendly neighborhood pub.”
1625 N. Main St., Suite 109, Fuquay-Varina (919) 762-0962; winginitbarandgrille.com
Wing It On “Chicken like a champ.”
1061 E. Broad St., Fuquay-Varina (984) 225-2141; wingiton.com
Zaxby’s
“Indescribably good.”
1341 N Main St, Fuquay Varina (919) 552-3981; zaxbys.com
Zeera Indian Restaurant
“Authentic goodness in traditional Indian food.”
1311 E. Broad St., Fuquay-Varina (919) 762-6215; zeeranc.com
Acme Pizza Co.
“Chicago-style deep dish pizza.”
204 Village Walk Dr, Holly Springs (919) 552-8800; acmepizzaco.com
Ashley’s Harvest Moon Bakery – Cafe
“Breakfast and lunch cafe with scratch-made bakery and locally roasted coffee.”
128 Bass Lake Road, Holly Springs (919) 586-7005; harvestmoonbakerycafe.com
Aye!
“Crafted with love using traditional Mexican recipes passed down through generations.”
303 Mathews Dr, Holly Springs (919) 367-6233; ayetoronc.com
Bass Lake Draft House
“34 beers on tap.”
124 Bass Lake Rd, Holly Springs (919) 567-3251; basslakedrafthouse.com
Bellini Italian Cuisine
“A real taste of Italy through authentic Italian Cuisine.”
7256 GB Alford Hwy, Holly Springs (919) 552-0303; bellinitaliancuisinehollysprings.com
BEP Vietnamese Kitchen
“Traditional Vietnamese cuisine and boba teas.”
300 S. Main St, Holly Springs (919) 285-2477; bepnc.com
Bestow Baked Goods
“Life is too short for grocery store desserts.” 4208 Lassiter Road, Holly Springs (919) 473-9225; bestowbakedgoods.com
“Fast fire’d, perfectly crisp perfection.” 316 Grand Hill Place, Holly Springs (919) 261-5950; blazepizza.com
The Blind Pelican
“Creative seafood and boat drinks.” 120 Bass Lake Road; Holly Springs (984) 225-2471; blindpelicanseafood.com
The Butcher’s Market
“Premium meats and specialty grocery.” 4200 Lassiter Rd, Holly Springs (919) 267-919); thebutchersmarkets.com
Cristo’s Bistro
“Hand tossed NY style pizza.”
5217 Sunset Lake Rd, Holly Springs (919) 363-8852, cristosbistro.com
Eggs Up Grill
“Breakfast favorites served all day.”
4216 Lassiter Road, Holly Springs (919) 495-4530; eggsupgrill.com
Fera’wyn’s Chocolate Cafe
“Forget love, I’d rather fall in chocolate.”
652 Holly Springs Road, Holly Springs (415) 758-3296; ferawyns.com
Fiesta Mexicana
“Authentic. Hot. Fresh.”
428 Village Walk Drive, Holly Springs (919) 346-1330; fiestamexicananc-hollysprings.com
First Watch
“Traditional and innovative creations for breakfast, brunch and lunch.”
304 Grand Hill Place, Holly Springs (919) 808-4603; firstwatch.com
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
“Great food without a long wait.”
221 Grand Hill Place, Holly Springs (919) 557-3475; freddysusa.com
Greek Basma
“Greek food that is fresh, healthy and delicious.” 7272 GB Alford Hwy, Holly Springs ((919) 285-080; greekbasma.com
Hickory Tavern
“Something for every appetite.” 401 Village Walk Drive, Holly Springs (919) 557-2064; thehickorytavern.com
Homegrown Pizza
“Pizza, calzones and sandwiches.” 4928 Linksland Drive, Holly Springs (919) 577-5575; homegrownpizza.com
JT’s Creamery
“Hand-crafted ice cream.”
300 S Main Street, Suite 112, Holly Springs (984) 268-6321; jtscreamery.com
Kobe Hibachi and Sushi
515 N.Main Street, Holly Springs (919) 557-1437; kobehollyspringsnc.com
Mama Bird’s Cookies + Cream
“A unique spin on a timeless dessert.” 304 N. Main St., Holly Springs (919) 762-7808; mamabirdsicecream.com
Mamma Mia Italian Bistro
“Pasta runs in our family.”
300 S Main Street, Suite 200, Holly Springs (919) 766-8000; mammamianc.com
The Mason Jar Tavern
“All the comforts of Southern hospitality with a modern twist.”
114 Grand Hill Place, Holly Springs (919) 964-5060; themasonjartavern.com
MediTerra Grill
“Delicious ingredients. Old world recipes.”
108 Grand Hill Place, Holly Springs (919) 762-7851; mediterranc.com
Mi Cancun Mexican Restaurant
324 Grand Hill Place, Holly Springs (919) 552-9979; micancunmx.com
Michelangelos Pizza
“Pizza buffet for lunch and dinner.” 7280 GB Alford HWY, Holly Springs (919) 557-4992; michelangelospizza.com
My Way Tavern
“Freshly made all-American foods.”
301 W. Center St., Holly Springs (919) 285-2412; mywaytavern.com
Niche Wine Lounge
“Tranquility by the glass.”
109 Main St., Holly Springs (919) 552-2300; nichewinelounge.com
The Nutrition Fix
“Healthy fast food alternatives.”
424 Village Walk Drive, Holly Springs (919) 341-5554; @thenutritionfixnc
The Original N.Y. Pizza
“Bringing a taste of New York to North Carolina.”
634 Holly Springs Road, Holly Springs (919) 567-0505; theoriginalnypizza.com
Osha Thai Kitchen & Sushi
“Authentic Thai cuisine: well-balanced dishes bursting with flavor.”
242 S. Main Street, Holly Springs (984) 538-6742; oshathaikitchennc.com
Pimiento Tea Room
“Not your mama’s tea room.”
200 N. Main Street, Holly Springs (984) 225-4213, pimientotearoom.com
Rise Southern Biscuits & Chicken
“The best dang biscuits.”
169 Grand Hill Place, Holly Springs (919) 586-7343; risebiscuitsdonuts.com
“Creative cafe by day. Full restaurant at night.”
242 S. Main St. Suite 118, Holly Springs (919) 390-2150; sirwaltercoffeekitchen.com
“Casual seafood cuisine.”
7244 Alford Hwy, Holly Springs (919) 335-3924; theskrimpshack.com
“Beautiful and delicious bowls, wraps and salads.”
150 West Holly Springs Rd, Holly Springs (984) 225-2656; sweetberrybowls.com
Sweet Southern SnoBalls
“Shaved ice and Hershey’s Ice Cream.”
527 N. Main St., Holly Springs (919) 291-3355; @sweetsouthsnoballs
Thai Thai Cuisine
“Home cooked Thai food.” 108 Osterville Drive, Holly Springs (919) 303-5700; thaithaicuisinenc.com
Thanks A Latte
“Coffee and gift boutique.”
1118 Kentworth Drive, Holly Springs (919) 577-0070; thanksalattegiftsnc.com
“Neighborhood beer and burger joint.”
301 Matthews Dr, Holly Springs (919) 335-5388; Townhallburgerandbeer.com
Vieni Ristobar
“The newest Italian restaurant from the Cinelli family.”
242 S. Main Street, Holly Springs (984) 225-1134; vieniristobar.com
Kelli Wolf passed on her first chance to try a float therapy session.
“I thought it was weird. I’m not doing that,” Wolf recalls saying, after her husband Joey suggested they try the unconventional therapy on a trip to western NC.
But after Joey’s first-ever float session, Kelli noticed an immediate change.
“I could see the calmness in his face and body. I had instant regret,” she says.
At that time, the only float spa in the state was in Asheville, so Wolf had to wait three years before the opportunity came around to experience a float for herself.
“It took a long time to settle in, but I could not believe how I felt when I got out,” she says. “I could not believe something so simple could make me feel so great.”
Kelli and Joey now own The Float Spa Holly Springs, located on Werrington Drive near Tapline Craft Beer and Wine Bar and Swoon Boutique.
“I wanted to provide a place where (residents) can put it all down and take time out for self-care,” says Wolf. “I want to help people the way I was helped.”
Sessions at The Float Spa can be 30, 60, or 90 minutes. Each float pool has a pri vate room with shower, dressing area, and individually controlled music and lights.
“It’s just water and salt — 1,000 pounds of medical-grade Epsom salt — in each tank.”
“There are many reasons people come:
pain relief, stress and anxiety relief, and much deeper things, too,” Wolf says.
Sensory deprivation floats are re ported to assist in treating post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, and high blood pressure.
“There are endless benefits,” Wolf says — improved sleep and enhanced focus, creativity, and athletic ability among them.
But for many, it’s a practice that takes … well, practice.
“I tell first-timers that the first float is exploratory. You may not get zenned out right away; it takes time to get adjusted. Have fun,” Wolf says.
“There are physical benefits even if the mental relief is harder to settle into,” says Danielle Jones, a massage therapist at The Float Spa. “The magnesium in the salt is awesome for stress relief and muscle repair. (Floating) is a gentle way to take the pres sure off the body.”
By the third float session, many clients find mental quiet and never look back.
“I’m not good at relaxing,” says Jones. “After my third float, I needed to call an Uber afterward. I felt a deep sense of relax ation for hours after.”
As a massage therapist, Jones adds, “A lot of pain relief and relaxation ther apies are hands-on. This is a good op tion for people who may not want to be touched.”
As the holidays wane and the new year
“
I tell first-timers that the first float is exploratory. You may not get zenned out right away; it takes time to get adjusted. Have fun. ”
– Kelli Wolf, The Float Spa Owner
Main & Broad staff member shares their firsthand experience
approaches, many recommit to health and wellness practices.
Wolf says float therapy provides a valuable and natural transition away from holiday clamor into post-celebration calm.
“I always book a float for the day after Christmas. The holidays are full of sensory overload, family dynamics, unhealthy food, feeling tired and sluggish. Now it’s time for self-reflection, to reinvest in me,” she says.
The Float Spa Holly Springs wel comed Main & Broad Social Media Co ordinator Arlem Mora for her first float therapy session in October. Mora reports back on her experience.
M&B: Before your float session, were you experiencing any stress, tension, or pain?
Mora: Yes, life is busy right now. I can’t slow down. Plus, the morning of my ap pointment, I had an intense boxing session. I walked into the float session feeling sore.
M&B: How did you feel afterward?
Mora: Immediately after exiting the float tank, I felt light and had a clear mind. When I went to sleep that day, I fell asleep very fast (for me, falling asleep fast is dif ficult). The next day, when I woke, I felt stress free and energetic, and had no more stiff muscles. Yay!
M&B: What was going through your mind during the experience?
Mora: At first, all I could think about was how I was going to relax. It was my first time, and I was very excited. I did a couple of deep breathing exercises; I start ed letting my body feel the water. I let go of anxiousness, and I decided to turn off the light. I closed my eyes and fell asleep!
M&B: Were you eventually able to relax and clear your head?
Mora: Yes! Every muscle in my body felt relaxed. I’ve never felt like this, not even with massages.
M&B: What details can you share with readers to help them prepare?
Mora: Follow all the recommended tips on The Float Spa website before float ing. It’s very safe and a must-try.
M&B: Did you like the facility?
Mora: Yes, from the moment I stepped in. The facility is very clean, smells so good, and the staff is welcoming.
M&B: Did they make you feel comfortable?
Mora: Yes! I had a complete orienta tion. The owner showed me the facility and walked me over to the tank where I would have my float. She explained how every thing works and gave me some useful tips to enjoy the experience more.
M&B: Would you go again, and would you recommend it to others?
Mora: I am already checking The Float Spa Holly Springs packages. I can’t wait to go back!
In addition to float therapy, The Float Spa Holly Springs offers massage and Reiki. Wolf hopes to one day expand into a full wellness center with other unique therapies such as a salt room, infrared sauna, and cold-plunge pool.
1505 Werrington Drive, Holly Springs (919) 891-4060
floatspaxwellness.com/holly-springs-nc
Approaching the new year, it is likely that many of us are identifying a few goals — resolutions, if you will — that we’d like to achieve in 2023.
Lose 20 pounds. Get stronger. Run a marathon. We’ve heard them many times before.
As many as 44% of us set resolutions for the new year. If you’re one of them, we applaud you for setting those goals. Setting a goal is the first step in making a change, so kudos to you for taking it.
So tell us, how is it going?
Have you taken the steps to officially get started? Has your commitment started to wane? Do you have all the tools in your toolbox necessary to be successful?
Research shows that a whopping 92% of “resolutioners” fail to achieve their goals.
Consequently, at Original Strength Institute, we challenge you to consider — what if our typical New Year’s resolutions aren’t focusing on the right things?
Nine times out of 10, when someone comes to our gym in Downtown Fuquay with a New Year’s resolution, it revolves around weight loss. Clients think they want to lose weight, but there is usually a much deeper root cause driving them to feel this way.
We’ve found that many clients harbor fears about aging and losing mobility; deep down they desire to stay and feel young.
Instead of focusing on weight loss, this new year, let’s resolve to take actions to stay young.
I want to be very specific here. The question is not “How do I stop aging?” or “How do I stay young?” It’s “What ACTIONS can I take to stay young?”
Similar question, but phrased differently. Sometimes it can help to rephrase or reframe things.
There are mental and physical actions we can take to preserve our youth. Ways to move our bodies, but also thoughts we can let go of and ideas to embrace.
Time happens to us all. Every time we circle the sun, we are here a year longer than we were. Every time you celebrate a birth day, you are likely acknowledging a number that becomes attached to your identity. The higher that number gets, often the more weight it carries.
Sometimes we equate these numbers with milestones and rites of passage. At other times we equate these numbers with dis counts, fragility, and withering.
How we navigate time is largely up to us. Whether we “grow old” or “stay young” is often determined by the thoughts we keep. Your birth age is just a number with no significance other than the one you place on it.
If you equate a number or certain numbers with getting old or being old, you are giving away your youth. Your be liefs of your age will run their programs in your nervous sys tem, and they will be expressed through your body. Then your
body will affirm your beliefs about your age, strengthening them, perpetuating them, and hastening them. Your beliefs, your thoughts of what numeric labels mean, can and do has ten the aging process.
In other words, if you want to stay young, don’t place any value on how many times you have circled the sun. You can celebrate the day you were born, just don’t count. Why not celebrate every day as if it were the day you were born? Every new day can and does usher in a new you.
Forget your age. Celebrate your vibrance and being.
OK, now for the tangible actions.
Movement is the vehicle that is designed to keep your body and all its members, all its cells, all its genes healthy, strong, and optimal. Movement is the key to enhancing and optimizing your physical performance, your longevity, your creativity, your cogni tive ability, and your YOU-niqueness.
Don’t misunderstand me. I am not telling you to exercise, lift weights, HIIT, or to do cardio. I am suggesting that you move in the ways you were designed and intended to move. You were made to breathe a certain way, to move your eyes and head around, to change positions and planes of motion often, and to walk.
You would be amazed that if you just focused on your move ment design — often and throughout the day — you would feel amazing in your body, your mind, and your soul. If you could discover how great it feels to breathe, to smile, to walk with your head held high, you would discover the part of you that never ages, the part of you that celebrates how good it feels to be alive, how good it feels to be you.
You don’t have to grow old, but you can. You can attach meaning to your age. You can neglect your design by not using it. Or you can also stay young and vibrant through your ac tions and your thoughts. You can celebrate and smile each day because you are indeed brand new once again. You can move yourself often through walking, dancing, playing, and exploring. You can live your best life on purpose by using the body and mind you’ve been given.
“
Movement is the key to enhancing and optimizing your physical performance, your longevity, your creativity, your cognitive ability, and your YOU-niqueness. ”TIM ANDERSON AND DANI ALMEYDA,
OWNERS OF ORIGINAL STRENGTH INSTITUTEIN
FUQUAY-VARINAENGAGING
IN DAILY MOVEMENT IS KEY TO MAINTAINING YOUTH.SIMPLE ACTIONS, SUCH AS BREATHING AND SMILING, HELP OUR BODIES FUNCTION AS THEY WERE INTENDED.
What actions can I take to stay young? The answer is in the question.
Let go of thoughts about aging.
Let go of thoughts you don’t want to have, thoughts you are fearful over. Take hold of the thoughts you want. Run their programs instead.
Move. Every day and often, move and en gage in your wonderful design.
Engage in a breathwork practice. Discover the life each breath brings and the ability to in hale positivity and exhale tension.
Move your eyes, head, and body often through all planes of motion, wherever they will let you move them.
Take walks throughout the day. Walk briskly, stroll, strut, saunter. Do this often for the pure joy of being able to do it.
As you continue into the new year, make a sustainable plan, take action, and surround yourself with people who can support you.
Tim Anderson and Dani Almeyda are soughtafter professionals with a knack for simplifying movement, connecting with people, and helping their clients develop life-changing habits that are easily implemented into daily life. Together, Tim and Dani have run Original Strength Institute, a personal training gym in downtown FuquayVarina, for more than 10 years and have built an energetic and positive community.
The pair has been featured in print publi cations, television news, research studies, and has spoken at several large-scale events. The system they teach, the Original Strength System, is being uti lized by some of the world’s top medical profession als, universities, and professional sports teams.
Resolutions are tough to achieve alone. This year, reach your fitness goals with a strategy that works.
Just like you don’t begin a road trip by simply jumping in your car and hoping that you’re driving in the right direction, your training also needs to be thoughtfully planned out.
Strenuous workouts are fun to do every once in a while, but a common mistake is doing them too often or going too hard right out of the gate. After a while, you’re likely to feel burnt out and quit.
The real secret to long-term success is not how many killer workouts you can do in the first two weeks of January, but how many moderate and sustainable workouts you can do between now and next December.
Some of the hardest times in our lives are the ones where we feel like we are facing major challenges or big changes all alone.
Many of your peers are traveling down the same road. Ask them to keep you company, and give you the encourage ment and inspiration you need to keep moving forward when the going gets tough!
And trust me: Like building any new habit, it will get tough! Community is what will make all the difference in your success.
(also known as FVM) is a freelance writer, meme guru, and an anonymous resident of Fuquay-Varina. She is the creator and manager of the FuquayVarina Memes Facebook page and has a talent for making people laugh and always taking the joke too far.
fuquaymemes thefvmemes
I know what you’re thinking — there’s only one way to celebrate the New Year in Southern Wake, and it’s by sippin’ on Satan’s syrup in your tighty-whities while enjoying a Crunchwrap Supreme. I’m not saying you’re wrong — by the time mid night hits, the vast majority of us are halfstanding in front of a TV just trying to make it through the countdown in NYC.
Catching an Uber to First Night Raleigh from Holly Springs or Fuquay likely isn’t an option unless we want to flush our kids’ savings accounts down the crapper (just kidding, Cary, we don’t have savings accounts). Even so, there are ways to ring in the New Year that don’t in volve dragging yourself upstairs at 12:01 a.m. (Just don’t expect actual events. I’m not a social calendar. WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME.)
After living in Southern Wake for the past 15 years, I can say one thing with absolute cer tainty — there’s a sense of community around here that I’ve never experienced elsewhere. Is it because we all agreed not to sacrifice our first born for an 1,100-square-foot home in Apex? Is it the shared trauma we experience every time we visit the Fuquay Walmart?
Who knows, but we do tend to bond while sitting on camping chairs in the driveway. Re member, with enough alcohol, you’ll completely forget about the Ring doorbell footage your neighbor posted of your dog taking a late-night crap in their front yard.
New Year’s Eve is a time for new begin nings! Forgive and let live. If you’re looking for a drink recipe that will make you best friends with your neighbors for the evening and never want to live another day, I’ve got you covered.
For a pitcher:
1 bottle of pink Champagne (or sparkling rosé)
1 cup orange vodka
½ cup triple sec or orange liqueur
For one cocktail: Hahaha like you’ll only drink one
Y’all laugh, but sitting in the parking lot of an ABC store and watching the hot messes come and go is one of my favor ite holiday pastimes. Why do you think Fuquay built an entire apartment com plex with BALCONIES FACING THE ABC STORE?
Nothing brings all the locals (and shopping carts full of booze) to the yard like a good New Year’s Eve party in North Lakes. People make liquor runs in their “painter shirts,” ripped sweatpants, and grass-stained New Balances like everyone is suddenly blind on the last day of the year. Next time you’re picking up some dranks (no, that’s not a typo), do yourself a favor and loiter in the parking lot for a little while. You can thank me later.
Nothing in this world is more en tertaining than NextDoor and Face book community groups on New Year’s Eve — or any other holiday involving fireworks. Was that a TNT popper or a gunshot? How traumatized is Janet’s dog, on a scale from 1-10? Who let those pre teens run rampant around the cul-de-sac with sparklers? Who owns the white Jeep that tore through the neighborhood like a bat out of hell at 11:42 p.m. EST?
You might not know at first, but Kyle’s Google Nest is going to tell you. If it doesn’t, Barb down the street has al ready posted a picture of the license plate. For extra entertainment, visit the police department’s Facebook page and watch the comment section light up faster than the night sky along the NC/SC border. Let’s start 2023 off right.
Open Tuesday- Saturday 11AM-8PM Come on in or schedule your next event with us!
Southern Wake residents love mak ing resolutions that last approximately a week (two, if you’re from Holly Springs) before they find themselves eating Cajun fries in a puddle of their own tears. Look, we’re all inspired by the older gentle man in the red hat that trots his way to a healthy heart down Judd Parkway for 56 miles (give or take 50), but I think we all know that Stick Boy’s siren song is much louder than the folks at Jazzercise.
Your local welcome team is ready to visit you with a basket full of maps, civic information, gifts, and gift certi cates from local businesses. From doctors to dentists and restaurants to repairmen...we help newcomers feel right at home in their new community!
For your complimentary welcome visit, or to include a gift for newcomers, call 919.809.0220 or visit our website, www.nnws.org.
Saying that, there are plenty of plac es to start the year off on the right foot — Planet Fitness, O2 Fitness, Anytime Fitness, 9Round Fitness, Body Shop Fit ness, CrossFit, Original Strength Insti tute, Cook Out. Just to name a few.
I know, this might sound crazy — but we DO have a lot of drinking holes around here that don’t require a $769 Uber ride. I’m sure there are events planned at just about every brewery and bar in town, I just don’t have a master list because I’m writing this in October because that’s how magazines work, peasants. The only local events I can find information about at the moment are holiday mini-shoots from photographers who work harder than the fire alarms at Fuquay-Varina High, but I’m sure if you google it you’ll find somewhere to drink alone.
Don’t worry, 2023 is going to be your year. Guaranteed. MB
1 ½ pounds Extra-large unpeeled raw shrimp 4 cups Water, plus more if needed 1 pound Andouille sausage, sliced 4 ounces Thick-cut bacon (about 4 slices), chopped 1 large Yellow onion, chopped (about 2 cups)
1 large Green bell pepper, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups) 2 large Celery stalks, cut into small cubes (about 1 cup)
6 Garlic cloves, minced
1 ½ cups Uncooked long-grain white rice 1 ½ tsp. Smoked paprika
1 ½ tsp. Kosher salt 1 tsp. Dried thyme ¼ tsp. Black pepper 1 tsp. Cayenne pepper 1 Dried bay leaf 1 cup Canned crushed tomatoes (from 1 [14-ounce] can) 4 Scallions, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1. Peel and devein shrimp, reserve shells. Refrigerate shrimp until ready to use. Place shells in a medium saucepan; cook over medium-high, stirring often, until shells blister slightly, about 3 minutes. Stir in water; bring to a boil over medium-high. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, undisturbed, 15 minutes. Remove from heat. Pour through a fine mesh strainer into a medium-size heatproof bowl and discard shells. You should have 3 cups reserved stock total; if needed, add water to stock to measure exactly 3 cups. Set aside.
2. Cook andouille sausage, and bacon in a large Dutch oven over medium-high, stirring occasionally, until fat has rendered, about 12 minutes. Add onion; cook, stirring often, until softened and golden, about 10 minutes. Stir in bell pepper, celery, and garlic; cook, stirring often, until bell pepper and celery start to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in rice, paprika, salt, thyme, black pepper, cayenne, and bay leaf; cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
3. Stir tomatoes and reserved 3 cups shrimp stock into rice mixture. Bring to a boil over medium-high. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer gently until rice is cooked through, about 20 minutes, stirring once after about 10 minutes. Uncover and stir in reserved shrimp and cook for five minutes and remove from heat. Remove and discard bay leaf. Sprinkle with scallions and serve.
Thousands of residents, and several Main & Broad staffers, enjoyed Holly Springs’ annual festival, HollyFest, at Sugg Farm Park. Main & Broad photographer Jonathan Fredin captured scenes from the day.
S&A Cherokee, the parent company of Main & Broad, celebrated its 40th year in business with a reception at The Fairview in October. In addition to publishing local media titles including Main & Broad, Cary Magazine, and Wake Living, S&A Cherokee offers a full suite of communication services including PR, marketing, and digital experience and design, for local and national clients.
Southern Wake will be the home of the first new Wake County park in over a decade, the Beech Bluff County Park. It will be located at 3355 NC Highway 42 near Willow Spring, Garner, and Fuquay-Varina, close to Porter Farms Nursery.
The park will incorporate public art and feature solar panels and geothermal energy to help power lights and buildings.
Expected to open in spring 2024, the park will incorporate trails, community gardens, playgrounds, picnic shelters, a wildlife viewing platform, classrooms, and more.
Orcutt, a Fuquay-Varina pharmacist, has been honored as a Top Pharmacist for Service in the United States, announced by SingleCare at its Best of the Best Awards. A pharmacist for 17 years, Orcutt has worked at the Harris Teeter on Broad Street for the last eight.
has signed a $30.1 million federal contract to produce a potential vac cine against avian flu.
The company will test the vaccine, in cluding a proprietary substance which will stimulate a stronger and more durable im mune response, in a phase II clinical trial expected to begin in the second quarter of 2023.
The work, funded by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Au thority (BARDA), will support the federal government’s pandemic preparedness efforts.
This contract comes after outbreaks of avian flu affected more than 47 million birds and poultry throughout the country.
Holly Springs, located in The Block on Main, has been acquired by THRIVE Coworking, a flexible workspace company with a commitment to philanthropy and community involvement.
“The Coworking Station in Holly Springs reminded the team of its first loca tion in Alpharetta in a walkable suburban town outside a major metropolitan area — and the location supports our mission to build community,” says THRIVE Cofounder and CEO Ramon Gonzalez.
As part of THRIVE, Holly Springs gains a roster of special events, including monthly catered breakfasts, lunches, and happy hours, as well as adventures and outings including any thing from hikes to hang gliding.
has been named a 2022 Leader in Di versity Award Win ner by Triangle Business Journal, rec ognized for respect for inclusive treatment of others, advocacy for underrepresented groups, and multicul tural marketing. Gailes is a Holly Springs Chamber of Commerce board member.
Share business news, upcoming events, and town gossip with editor@mainandbroadmag.com
Fuquay-Varina band 2Digh4 released a new single, “Dang Bro!” in Oc tober. Written about a “copper-headed beauty” who captures the hearts of the country music world, the tune uses har monica, banjo, and electric guitar, as well as soulful harmonies sung by brothers Landon and Aubrey Digh. 2Digh4 also plans to release an original Christmas song, “Fa La La,” in early December.
2Digh4 won Best Local Music Group in the 2022 Maggy Awards: Best of Main & Broad.
Wake Tech Community College and FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies opened the FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies Early College Suite in Research Triangle Park, welcom ing an inaugural class of 125 students in ninth and 10th grades. The students will pursue both high school and college cred its focused on careers in biotechnology and information technology.
Located on the Wake Tech RTP Campus, the Early College Suite also houses the Wake Early College of In formation and Biotechnologies, a part nership between Wake Tech and the Wake County Public School System, which offers concentrations in Network Management, Computer Programming, Cybersecurity, and Biotechnology.
By Jonathan Fredin
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