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Editor’s Letter

few months ago while planning this issue, we had no idea our spring photo shoot location would change from a pool to a hospital, or that our subjects would be doctors and nurses wearing scrubs, gloves and face masks, instead of models glamorously donning resort-themed loungewear. We couldn’t envision a story focusing on curbside food pickups as opposed to seasonal menus served to guests seated within lush, outdoor patios. More importantly, we never anticipated the beautiful stories of heroism, love and generosity that would unfold as citizens and organizations within our community started food drives, donated to relief funds and volunteered at local food banks to make sure our frontline health care workers and food-insecure populations were receiving healthy meals during what we have come to know as the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, our focus for the May/June issue changed—almost overnight. We cancelled our photo shoot and devoted its page space to the countless acts of kindness we heard about or saw with our own eyes (page 50). From essential employees to citizens donating meals to frontline workers and hungry children, we were profoundly inspired. So many members of our community began doing their part to make each day a little brighter for others.

We also asked frontline medical heroes about how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed their lives—at work and at home (page 56). Dr. Amir Barzin, D.O., M.S., of the UNC School of Medicine told us, “There’s no textbook chapter for pandemic management that you learn about when you’re in medical school.” We couldn’t agree more. Our staff moved forward with a story about how to create an outdoor oasis, since we are loving our gardens, decks, patios and pools more than ever before right now (page 60). We also retained a story that highlights restaurants offering some of the best outdoor dining experiences in Western Wake, so you’ll have something to look forward to when life returns to normal (page 64). Read about how these establishments continue to serve patrons via curbside pickups and/or deliveries. And because many of you are enjoying outdoor meals at home right now during the stay-at-home order, be sure to check out Home Styler for a nice roundup of grilling products, sauces and rubs (page 70). Find out why you should plan a day trip to Saxapahaw (page 18) when the stay-at-home order ends, and get to know USA Baseball Executive Director Paul Seiler, who lives in Cary and has been instrumental in fostering the growth of this spring sport we are all missing right now (page 28). Improbable as the situation we find ourselves in may seem, there are silver linings. If we continue to follow socialdistancing guidelines by working from home and refraining from attending social events a little longer, we can choose to spend more quality time with our families, complete home organization projects, make delicious meals, exercise more, play games and read—or reread—books. We can also give to organizations that support our frontline workers and food-insecure populations. By doing all of these things, we’ll not only find beauty in life’s simple pleasures, but help others experience that beauty as well.

Beth Shugg, Editor

Your opinions matter to us. Let us know what you think of this issue of Cary Living magazine. Please email beth@caryliving.com with your comments. 4 | CaryLiving.com

Publisher Ronny Stephens Associate Publisher Alex Streight Editor Beth Shugg Creative Director Linda J. Van de Zande Graphic Design/Copy Editing Cindy Huntley Advertising Design Jordan Beard Social Media/Community Engagement Brittany Murdock Senior Account Executives Meredith Mills Charis Painter Distribution Joe Lizana, Manager DistribuTech.net Contributing Writers Elizabeth Brignac, Elliot Acosta, Kurt Dusterberg, Alex Dixon, Elizabeth Kane, Addie Ladner, Br yan Reed, Mick Schulte Contributing Photographers Laura Ferrara, Terrence Jones, Brian Mullins Photography, Brittany Murdock, Season Moore, Joe Reale, Rocky Top Catering, Mick Schulte

Cary Living magazine is published six times annually. Any reproduction in part or in whole of any part of this publication is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher. Cary Living magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photography, or art. Unsolicited material is welcome and is considered intended for publication. Such material will become the property of the magazine and will be subject to editing. Material will be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. Cary Living magazine will not knowingly accept any real estate advertising in violation of U.S. equal opportunity law.

SUBSCRIPTIONS 6 print issues (1 year) Available online at caryliving.com 4818-204 Six Forks Road Raleigh, NC 27609 Ph: 919.782.4710 F: 919.782.4763

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CONTENTS 50

A Community Comes Together The Triangle mounts an inspiring response to COVID-19

On the Frontlines Medical professionals adjust to their new normal

Create the Outdoor Space You Crave

Photo courtesy of Little City Brewing Provisions Co.

features

MAY /JUNE

2 0 2 0

Restore your mind and body in a personalized outdoor oasis

Flexible Fine Dining, Al Frescoâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Style Enjoy favorite restaurant feasts at home, for now

Photo courtesy of Fontaine Landscaping

8 | CaryLiving.com

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CONTENTS MAY /JUNE

Chef’s Table

Scratch Kitchen & Taproom:

A restaurant Apex can call its own

Travel

Saxapahaw: A wee little town

with a whole lot of soul

Photo courtesy of Haw River Ballroom

Photo by Brian Mullins Photography

departments

2 0 2 0

Candid Conversation

Author Kristy Woodson Harvey

explores female friendship in

“Feels Like Falling”

Education

Meredith College students

preserve—and create—

cherished customs

Sports

12 Social Scene

32 FACES OF WESTERN WAKE

USA Baseball’s Paul Seiler

70 Home Styler

68 Polished Impressions

oversees the future of baseball

72 Sister Cities

In Every Issue

Sponsored Content

73 OUT & ABOUT

Dine & Draft Lend a Hand Sightings

82 Kaleidoscope Living

ON THE COVER: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, Catering Works, Sara Coryea, Laura Ferrara, Friends of Wake County Animal Center, Terrence Jones, Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, iStock.com, Season Moore, Brian Mullins, Brittany Murdock, North Carolina Health Care Association, Joe Reale, Rocky Top Catering, Jodi Schuh, Mick Schulte, Beth Shugg, Sola Coffee Cafe, Spoonflower, Union Special and Joe Van Gogh Coffee Roasters.

10 | CaryLiving.com

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Social SCENE

Let’s Connect! BY BRITTANY MURDOCK

There are still ways to enjoy those ever-popular acai bowls from Buoy Bowls’ food truck. Just order online using the app, then pick up your bowl at the truck with no contact. Check Buoy Bowls’ Facebook and Instagram pages to find out where the truck is headed next.

Noodle Boulevard has moved to a new location: 1718 Walnut Street in Cary. Loyal customers of the popular Cary restaurant will be happy to learn that the new spot comes with plenty of seating options and the same comforting ramen dishes.

Get Social With Us! 12 | CaryLiving.com

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Chef â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s TABLE

SCRATCH KITCHEN & TAPROOM OWNERS JEFF AND MEREDITH KROMENHOEK

14 | CaryLiving.com

A Restaurant for

Apex BY ELLIOT ACOSTA

Photo by Joanna Cook

Scratch Kitchen & Taproom Stakes Its Claim in the Peak City

Photo by Brian Mullins Photography

ulture. It’s at the heart of Scratch Kitchen & Taproom in Apex because it’s the pinnacle of importance to owners Jeff and Meredith Kromenhoek. From why diners feel more like family members than guests, to how the restaurant treats its staff, to the way Scratch Kitchen fits into the town of Apex. Striving for the right culture and experience is what drives Jeff and Meredith. And it’s this pursuit that has made Scratch Kitchen & Taproom a destination for not only those in Apex, but also for diners throughout the Triangle. The restaurant’s culture goes beyond influencing the atmosphere at Scratch Kitchen & Taproom— it guides the direction of its food as well. The kitchen is dedicated to the goal of crafting as many dishes’ components in-house as possible. One of the restaurant’s marquee dishes, the pimento cheese wonton, features a pimento cheese that is made from North Carolina hoop cheese, which is cold-smoked at the restaurant. The dish is then finished with Scratch’s own recipe for red pepper jelly. It’s this kind of attention to detail that lures diners to the eatery.

Beloved Favorites With a Twist Much like the pimento cheese wontons, the rest of Scratch Kitchen & Taproom’s menu gives a nod toward the Kromenhoek’s love of Southeast Asian flavors married to classic American favorites with a heavy Southern influence. From tempura shrimp in the shrimp and grits entree, to collard greens kimchi served in the Rueben sandwich, Scratch makes exciting twists to familiar and beloved favorites. The restaurant prepares seasonal specials in addition to its regular menu, such as a grilled lamb rib chop and crawfish mac-and-cheese. The Right Partner Although Scratch Kitchen & Taproom is the Kromenhoeks’ first restaurant in the Triangle, the duo are longtime industry veterans. They owned a dozen restaurants in their home territory of the Virgin Islands, and continued to run them even after they relocated to North Carolina. Unfortunately, the Kromenhoeks lost most of their establishments after natural disasters ravished the island. When they decided to open a restaurant in the Triangle, they knew they needed to partner with someone who believed in the same pursuit of culture they hold so dearly. Mason Jar Lager Company’s owner John Pierce proved to be that person. From facilitating local connections to assisting in the menu’s creation, Pierce’s influence is felt throughout the restaurant. Pierce also led the couple to the landmark historic Tobacco and Mule Exchange building that houses Scratch Kitchen & Taproom. Located in the heart of downtown Apex, this structure was originally built in 1917. The dining room wears its history well, with exposed wooden beams and bricks granting diners a glimpse of the building’s former life. MAY/JUNE 2020

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Photos by Joanna Cook

More Than a Neighborhood Restaurant As the surrounding Triangle’s dining scene reached unprecedented heights, downtown Apex needed its own acclaimed restaurant—one that the town’s residents could call their own. “I never get tired of people telling me, ‘Thank you for being here,’” Meredith Kromenhoek says. She’s happy to give Apex diners a place where they can celebrate special occasions or flock to for a date night. The Kromenhoeks are so enamored with downtown Apex’s charm, they have made plans to repurpose an old gas station a few blocks away, where they will open a brewery featuring 20 taps later this year. Scratch Kitchen & Taproom is more than a neighborhood restaurant—it’s the manifestation of a belief in a culture, experience and town. Learn more at scratchkitchenandtaproom.com.

Smoked Pimento

Pimento Cheese

Cheese Wontons

Ingredients: 4 cups white cheddar (place in smoker and cold smoke for 30 minutes) 3 tablespoons diced pimentos 5 ounces mayonnaise 3 tablespoons sour cream 1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard 1 tablespoon Sriracha 1/4 cup corn (fresh off the cob) 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1 ⁄8 teaspoon onion powder 1 ⁄8 teaspoon garlic powder 1/4 cup scallions, chopped Directions: Mix all ingredients together and store in the refrigerator.

16 | CaryLiving.com

Photo by Joanna Cook

Red Pepper Jam

Wontons

Ingredients: 1/4 cup brown sugar 3 red bell peppers 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Ingredients: wonton wrappers eggs

Directions: Clean the red peppers, removing the stem and seeds, then put all ingredients in a blender and puree. Place in pot. Simmer and reduce for about 25 minutes. Cool and set aside.

Directions: Lay out fresh wonton wrappers and egg wash one side. Using a ½-ounce scoop, place one scoop on each wrapper. Fold the sides together, creating a little purse. Dust with cornstarch. Place in a fryer at 350 degrees and fry until golden brown. Place on a bed of red pepper jam and garnish with chopped scallions.

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HAW RIVER BALLROOM

Travel

Saxapahaw

(Sax-ah-puh-HAW)

BY CINDY HUNTLEY

Photo courtesy of Haw River Ballroom

A wee little town with a whole lot of soul

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the turn of the century. Deep in the woods of piedmont North Carolina, artists begin to set down roots in an old mill town. They create something magical, spurring a cultural revolution for this almost-forgotten little settlement. 18 | CaryLiving.com

nless you’re driving the route from Pittsboro to Burlington, Saxapahaw isn’t a place you’d wind up at by accident. If you passed by it 20 years ago, you may not have even known it, save for one of those little green signs announcing

its meager presence. Its main place of business, an old cotton mill, closed in 1994 due to damage from a tornado, so if you didn’t live near there (or weren’t one of the paddlers who frequented the Haw River route that runs through it), you probably wouldn’t have known anything about it—let alone how to pronounce it. But Saxapahaw’s fate was about to change. Revered by locals and paddlers for its beauty and tranquility, the river had sprouted an annual festival. With the festival came artists, food vendors and a slew of new visitors ready to spread the word of this flourishing bohemian community. Fast-forward

PAPERHAND PUPPET INTERVENTION

Lodging Although within an easy day trip from the Triangle, Saxapahaw’s unique lodging offerings may tempt you to stay a night or two. There are plenty of places to hang your hat—each with their own allure. History and architectural buffs will enjoy the Inn at Bingham School, a quaint bed and breakfast on the National Historical Register dating back to the 1790s. Guest rooms feature amenities such as four-poster beds, fireplaces and claw-foot tubs; and homemade cookies, evening wine and cheese, and a full breakfast are all included with your stay.

Photo by Lee Capps Photography

to today and you’ll find a vibrant, eclectic town brimming with the finest offerings in art, food and, of course, nature.

Are you a more adventurous soul who wants to be closer to the captivating nature of the area? There’s a yurt for that! More than one, actually. You can choose from The Yurt at Frog Pond, an Airbnb rental complete with a hot tub and fire pit; and Cane Creek Farm offers one as well, in addition to other accommodations that include a camping platform and two buses that have been retro-fitted—much like modern-day RVs, but with a lot more spunk! Urbanites may want to check out The Container Experience, a compound made up of three storage containers that have been made into tiny house–

MAY/JUNE 2020

| 19

Photo courtesy of Saxapahaw General Store

Photo courtesy of Haw River Ballroom

SAXAPAHAW GENERAL STORE

style lodging. The sharp-angled spaces, which emit a modern vibe, are softened by Saxapahaw’s characteristic artsy accents. Or, if you want to try a tiny house with a more traditional feel, check out the agritourism cabins at TerraStay, a working farm committed to organic practices. Dining Arriving as you do through backcountry roads, you might not expect Saxapahaw to be on the cutting-edge of culinary trends—but oh, are you in for a surprise! In 2008 the Saxapahaw General Store transitioned from a standard convenience store and gas station to its present-day farm-to-table café. You’ll find North Carolina seafood, gourmet pizza and local grass-fed filet mignon on the menu, all made with top-quality, locally-sourced ingredients. The gas station and store are still in full-swing operation, but today you’ll find craft beers and a refrigerated case of local produce mixed in with traditional convenience-store offerings. For a quick bite or afternoon pick-me-up, check out Cup 22, located inside the Haw River Ballroom. With two levels of seating and an outdoor patio, all offering views of the lush landscape that surrounds the old mill, it’s a great place to sit a spell. Socialites will want to visit The Eddy Pub, which offers an array of events and activities, including special beer and wine dinners, and weekly live music. HAW RIVER BALLROOM

20 | CaryLiving.com

Photo by Enid MacLean THE OLD COTTON MILL ON THE HAW RIVER

Don’t leave without enjoying a craft brew from Haw River Farmhouse Ales. This riverside brewery specializes in Belgian-style ales—think fruity, earthy, complex flavors. Their tasting room and patio are open year-round. Nature Paddling is, of course, the winner in this category. You’ll find plenty of self-serve river access points for canoes and kayaks. Rentals, shuttle service and guided tours are available through The Haw River Canoe & Kayak Co. The company also offers classes for stand-up paddleboarding, boat building and fly fishing. If you visit with kids in tow, be sure to check out Saxapahaw Island Park’s 45-foot, one-of-a-kind wooden fish slide, or take to the woods on the hiking portions of the Haw River Trail. Arts and Entertainment Remember that art we talked about? There’s way too much to mention here. To get a good sampling of everything Saxapahaw’s artists have to offer, visit the Freehand Market, where you can peruse the many handmade items available for purchase. Check

Photo courtesy of Alamance Parks

PURPLE BUS RENTAL AT CANE CREEK FARM

WOODEN FISH SLIDE AT SAXAPAHAW ISLAND PARK

the schedule before you go—you may be able to catch an in-store workshop held by a local artist. Now let’s jump to what is undoubtedly the town’s biggest claim to artistic fame: a grassroots, oversized puppet show that has grown an immense following over the years. Paperhand Puppet Intervention was born in Saxapahaw in 1998, and while you won’t be able to catch a show here—performances are held at UNC–Chapel Hill’s Forest Theatre and the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh—the studio is open to the community for work/play days every Saturday from May through July. Stop by to take a behind-the-scenes peek while lending your own creative talents to help produce the puppets and props. They won’t make you stay all day, but you might just want to! End your day with a show at the famed Haw River Ballroom, a rustic indoor venue that draws acclaimed artists to the area. Or opt for a more casual evening under the stars at Saturdays in Saxapahaw, a farmers market/live music combination. You’re guaranteed a good time no matter which you pick, so sit back, relax and enjoy the perfect end to your magical little escape in the woods.

MAY/JUNE 2020

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Candid CONVERSATION

K K

risty Woodson Harvey never planned to be a fiction writer. From the time she landed an internship at the Salisbury Post as a teenager, she viewed herself as a budding journalist. “I’m an avid reader, I always have been, but I wanted to tell real people’s stories,” Harvey says. “I can’t count the number of times I said that I would never write a novel. Then somehow, life just takes you in different directions.” Her sixth novel, “Feels Like Falling,” was released in April, and Harvey is hoping to build on her reputation as one of today’s top Southern fiction writers. Her highly regarded three-volume Peachtree Bluff series has been optioned for a TV series on a major network. But that’s not her only successful enterprise. She and her mother operate an interior design blog, “Design Chic,” which has nearly 400,000 followers. Harvey’s life sounds ideal, and she will quickly agree. She and her husband, Will, live in Beaufort, North Carolina with their 7-year-old son. Harvey pens her novels from their renovated home that overlooks a complex of islands where wild horses and other animals roam.

You got an early start on writing, interning for the Salisbury Post at age 17. What did you learn from that experience? Everybody’s stories are interesting. Taking those real little slice-of-life things that happen to all of us, whether they’re funny or sad, it adds so much dimension to a book. I think I learned so much of that from being a reporter and interviewing people, and from getting these stories that made me realize that we do all have an important story to tell. Let’s talk about your college career. You are a Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude graduate from UNC–Chapel Hill with a degree in journalism. What was your college experience like? I loved every day. I would go back in a heartbeat. I made the best friends and had the most fun, but also had such incredible professors who taught me so much. I’m happy to go back there now and still see some of those same people and tell them how important they were in my life. I don’t think, when you’re going through it as a kid, you fully appreciate that. Your new book is “Feels Like Falling.” It’s the stor y of two ver y different women, Gray and Diana, who forge an unlikely friendship. What was your process like? Did you start with the characters or a plot or a setting in mind—or all three? For me, it usually starts with characters. The first scene I wrote in “Feels Like Falling” is the scene where Gray inadvertently gets Diana fired. I can’t explain it, and I hope it never stops,

Kristy Woodson Southern fiction writer explores female friendship

HARVEY

BY KURT DUSTERBERG / PHOTOS COURTESY OF KRISTY WOODSON HARVEY 22 | CaryLiving.com

but things like this just sort of pop into my head. I don’t know who these people are, I don’t know their stories or what the story is going to be about. It starts with a little sliver of an idea and I work from there. I do not write in chronological order, it’s just the story as it comes. It’s the oddest thing. I really wanted to write a story of female friendship. Other books have had that in some way, shape or form, but by and large, they’re Southern family dramas. This is ultimately a story of two women from very different worlds coming together and forming a very real friendship. How much does your Southern upbringing influence your work? A lot. The funny thing is, I grew up reading Southern fiction, but I didn’t know it was Southern fiction. It was just what I knew. I think the South tends to get stereotyped in some ways that aren’t true to the way the South is right now. They all have Southern settings and they are inspired by the places I’ve lived—that small-town feel, the way that people care about each other. But I don’t think the characters are caricatures of Southern people. If you consider your books collectively, is there a common thread that makes them popular? The first time I did a West Coast tour was when “Slightly South of Simple” came out three years ago. I remember being at this woman’s beautiful home in Los Angeles, and I asked her, “Why in the world do people in California want to read these books?” And she said, “Because we cannot believe that a world like this exists in real life, where everyone knows their neighbors and there is this strong bond between people who have known each other their entire lives.” I do think that is a hallmark of the style. Maybe sometimes it’s hokey, but it’s true: If you don’t know what’s going on, ask your neighbor. I think people like the strong family ties and the idea that families fight, but they make up, and that family is kind of forever. (She laughs.) And I think I write a darn good love story, too. You work with your mother on your interior design blog, “Design Chic.” How did that come about? It was really on a whim. We were both redoing historic houses at the time. We decided to start a blog about interior design and historic homes, and share pictures with each other. We never thought anyone would read it—it was something we were doing purely for fun. Then it started to grow. We started getting approached by companies that wanted to work with us. Part of the [book] tour this year—most of the cities I go to—I’m partnering with a friend or an influencer or a blogger, someone who I have met through “Design Chic.” We will talk about the book, but also about this lifestyle that is sort of unexpected. That has been a kind of cool element. You live in Beaufort, North Carolina, and by the looks of your blog, it appears you live in an idyllic setting. Peachtree Bluff, Georgia, is based on Beaufort. We did this thing last year called the “Peachtree Bluff Town Takeover.” Everywhere that was in the book had a sign in front of it. We had talks and lunches and cocktail parties; most of the stores and restaurants in town were involved in this. Every event we had was sold out, and we had 600 attendees. It was the most humbling experience of my life. I was at the front of the double-decker bus and told people about Peachtree Bluff.

It was hilarious! All of the proceeds went to the Beaufort Historical Association. We raised a ton of money, and it will always be one of my favorite memories. Tell me about your family and the house you have renovated. We bought this house in 2012 and we knew we would retire here one day, which was a very long way off. But about three or four years ago, we decided to move for a year. Our son was in preschool and my husband had some work here that worked out conveniently. We just loved it. It felt like home, so we ended up staying. It’s been a fantastic decision. We love it every day. Our son gets to be raised in this really simple kind of life. He goes and fishes on the dock after school. We get to walk down the street and eat at our favorite restaurants and wave to our friends from our front porch. It’s a lovely place to be, and it has certainly inspired my work. Do you have any long-term literar y goals? I would certainly want to have a book on The New York Times best-seller list; that’s definitely a goal. And I would really like to see one of my books make it all the way to the big screen or small screen. Overall, I just want to be able to keep writing. It’s a difficult business to stay in. It changes so quickly. I hope I’m still here writing in 30 more years. I’m definitely willing to do things that other people will not, in terms of working really hard. But at the same time, I think anything great you get in life, you can call it what you want; it’s a little bit of luck, it’s a gift from the universe, or it’s just you’ve found what you’re supposed to do. I definitely feel very lucky that I get to do this, because I know there is a big component of luck to everything I do. Visit Harvey’s interior design blog at mydesignchic.com.

MARCH/APRIL 2020

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Downtown VIBES Education

a village

within

B Y C H E RY L C A PA L D O T R AY L O R / P H O T O S C O U RT E S Y O F C A M E R O N V I L L A G E

DAISY CHAINS ARE CREATED FOR FORMING THE SENIOR CLASS NUMERALS ON CLASS DAY.

24 | MidtownMag.com

Photo courtesy of Meredith College Marketing

Inside the City of Oaks dwells the Southâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s original shopping and living community.

Treasured

Traditions Meredith College students preserve— and create—cherished customs

magine being at a family reunion and seeing three well-mannered little girls ages 2, 4 and 6 singing the country classic, “Cigarettes and Whiskey.” Meredith College class of 1972 alumna and board of trustee member Claire Slaughter says her father came up with the idea to have his three daughters sing the Red Ingle and Natural Seven cover of the song, also known as “Cigarettes, Whiskey, and Wild, Wild Women” (and originally recorded by The Wilburn Brothers) for family members. “He was such a joker,” she says. Slaughter’s parents met in the choir at First Baptist Church in Raleigh. Their mother taught voice lessons at Meredith College, where the sisters—and eventually their daughters—would all attend. In spring of 1968, Slaughter’s sister, Ayn Sullivan Cole, decided to recreate the memory of her and her sisters singing “Cigarettes and Whiskey” (with cigarettes pronounced “ciger-eets”). “It was a hit because of the songs,” Slaughter says. “Everybody thought it was the craziest thing and it just caught on.” (“Rocky Top” is another favorite.) They called themselves the Bathtub Ring, a singing group that is still going strong. It has become a treasured Meredith College tradition and is offered by tryouts to even-year class members. “Our students have an opportunity to find their niche,” says Hilary Allen, a Meredith College alumna and director of alumnae relations. “If they can’t identify it initially, they can create it—like The Bathtub Ring.”

Sisterhood and Mentorship Throughout an undergraduate’s time at Meredith College, she’ll compete for best hog call, watch a professor pretend to be the Cheshire Cat from “Alice in Wonderland,” search for a “crook,” build a daisy chain consisting of 75–100 links and more. “Being at a small, all-girls college, we are rooted in traditions,” Allen says, adding that “Meredith students and alumnae are competitive.” Kim Schuh, a junior majoring in exercise and sports science with a K–12 licensure in health and physical education—and who is also on the basketball and track teams—says for her, the school’s many traditions keep

each year different. “There’s always something to look forward to that encompasses your memories,” she says. At the Fire and Water Dinner, for example, freshmen reflect on their year. They ceremoniously burn their least favorite memory from their first year in a fire and toss their favorite one in a fountain behind Johnson Hall. Schuh floated the memory of the friendships she made that year and virtually burned the memory of a psychology test she wished she had done better on (even though she ended up with an A in the class). She remembers thinking about how fleeting her first year was. “You’re with the friends you’ve made wondering, ‘Where has the time gone?’” she says. At the end of the evening, the student’s “big sisters” serenade them with their class song. The Big Sister–Little Sister program is another long-standing tradition at Meredith College designed to help new students ease into college life. Schuh, whose real little sister, Ali, is a freshman at Meredith College this year, says this program is not to be confused with sororities. KIM AND ALI SCHUH “It’s sisterhood and mentorship,” she says. Come fall, Meredith College’s campus parking lots fill up at night with students practicing for the school’s largest and most famous campus tradition: Cornhuskin’. “You can’t explain it. You’ll know when you go,” Slaughter says of this weeklong series of events that have taken place since 1945 and allow students the ultimate opportunity to show off class unity and creativity. It might sound like a homecoming, but unlike most homecomings, which lead up to one big sports event, Cornhuskin’ is the big event. Each class derives a theme; comes up with dances, skits and costumes; and competes in a myriad of odd challenges such as hog calling, apple bobbing, and best monologue or Tall Tale, to name a few. MAY/JUNE 2020

Photo courtesy of the Schuh family

BY ADDIE LADNER

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Photo courtesy of Meredith College Marketing

EVERY FOUR YEARS, THE MEREDITH COLLEGE STAFF PUTS ON “ALICE IN WONDERLAND” FOR THE STUDENT BODY.

Meredith in Wonderland Students aren’t the only ones who have fun in “Wonderland”—the school’s nickname. Every four years since 1924, the faculty and staff have put on an elaborate production of Lewis Carroll’s classic, “Alice in Wonderland.” Jean Jackson, Meredith College’s vice president for college programs, can remember seeing it for the first time as a student. She says the elaborate costumes and convincing acting had her wondering, “Who is that?” much of the time. “I was most struck by the fierce head of the English department, Dr. Rose—herself an alumna from the Class of 1936—dressed as a brown mouse who declared that she had no command of English,” Jackson says. That’s the big mystery. Even after the performance, students don’t know who played the Mad Hatter or the White Rabbit. Jackson says Alice’s story is a fitting parallel to the path Meredith College’s women take. “It shows a young woman in extraordinary circumstances—brave, resourceful and strong in her responses to all her strange encounters.” The production used to take place for one night only, but since the 1990s two performances have been held: a dress rehearsal open to alumni and other campus community members, and the main presentation for current students only (who have been seen waiting as early as 4 a.m. for a seat). “Alice very much belongs to the whole college,” Jackson says.

The skills students learn by organizing and participating in these events help set them up for success after college. “Meredith produces and starts with strong young women,” Allen says. “There’s a manner in which we find our voice. You learn who you are through this campus.” Ali Schuh, a member of the Meredith College Lacrosse team and Kim’s younger sister, agrees, and loves that the school “provides a small, tight-knit community in the middle of a large city. You have the best of both worlds,” she says. This close community and its traditions have created a foundation that contributes to 92.2% of graduates becoming employed or pursuing graduate programs within a few months after graduation. Jackson says some traditions emerge while others retreat. The Fire and Water Dinner, Ring Dinner and other customs began when she was a student in the 1970s. Cornhuskin’ and Stunt (a field day event held in spring) have evolved with time. “That is as it should be,” Jackson says. “Each generation of students gets to decide what it values, how they will express the traditions or, occasionally, decide that a tradition is no longer important to them.” Adaptability, she says, is necessary. “That kind of mutability reflects life itself. Were we not to change, even in our traditions, we would become less relevant, less alive,” Jackson says. “Meredith College and its traditions are very much alive.”

A tradition Meredith College students take with them after graduation is Ring Week. All over the world, alumnae can be seen wearing an oval-shaped black onyx ring surrounded by silver or gold and engraved with the college’s seal, which features a torch, or “lux,” symbolizing light. Oak leaves are impressed on the band. Since 1954, this has been the official school ring students receive their junior year during Ring Dinner, an emotional and intimate evening taking place at the end of Ring Week. The women are instructed to face the ring inward until graduation. “When we graduate, we get to turn our ring out and our light is facing the world,” Schuh says. “We’re ready to go and do what Meredith has prepared us to do.” Allen feels that Cornhuskin’ and the events leading up to Ring Dinner provide an opportunity for connection and leadership. “Aside from the experiences in the classrooms, the traditions build that unity. I was a politics major and my best friends weren’t. We met at Ring Dinner and Cornhuskin’,” she says. “I tell students that it sounds very bizarre to experience Cornhuskin’, but go. That’s how they’ll find those friendships.” 26 | MidtownMag.com

DURING CORNHUSKIN’ WEEK, CLASSES SHOW OFF THEIR CREATIVITY.

Photo courtesy of Meredith College Marketing

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Sports

having a BY KURT DUSTERBERG

PHOTOS COURTESY OF USA BASEBALL

28 | CaryLiving.com

ball

USA Baseballâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Paul Seiler oversees the future of baseball

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hroughout the warm-weather months, USA Baseball carries out its mission of cultivating the best young baseball players in the country, from 12-and-under through college and Olympic teams. Many of its tournaments are played at the organization’s National Training Center, located within Thomas Brooks Park off Green Level Church Road in Cary. This gives area locals a unique chance to see some of the hundreds of players who go on to play Major League Baseball. Leading the organization is Paul Seiler, who is in his 20th year as the executive director and CEO. For the past 13 years, he has fostered the growth of the game at the facility located in Cary, which ecompasses four baseball fields and its 1,754-seat Coleman Stadium. The role has been a perfect fit for Seiler, and so has living in Western Wake. He and his wife, Wendi, have raised two children—Braden and Abby—and Seiler can think of nowhere he would rather be.

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ABOVE: PAUL SEILER (RIGHT), EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CEO OF USA BASEBALL, WORKS OUT OF THE ORGANIZATION’S NATIONAL TRAINING FACILITY IN CARY. THE FACILITY ENCOMPASSES FOUR BASEBALL FIELDS AND THE 1,754-SEAT COLEMAN STADIUM. RIGHT: SEILER (RIGHT) WORKS WITH AMATEUR BALL PLAYERS, MANY OF WHICH GO ON TO PLAY MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.

You played soccer all the way through college at The University of Scranton. Naturally, I would have guessed you played baseball growing up. The profile of the sport might be different, but the approach of team sports is similar across all sports. It served me as part of my foundation as a participant in a team sport, throughout my entire life. It sounds cliche at times, but the team approach is important. When it’s all said and done, the right pieces make the puzzle whole and complete. How did you find your way into baseball administration? It was the right place at the right time. I grew up in Trenton, New Jersey. When I got out of school, I really didn’t know what I was going to do. USA Baseball was headquartered in New Jersey back then and I met the executive director, Dick Case. I was working in construction at the time. He called me in 1988, right before the Seoul Olympics, and said he needed to hire someone. I said, “With all due respect, I don’t know anything about baseball. It’s not my sport.” He said, “I don’t need a baseball player, I need an administrator.” So I was hired to administrate a sponsorship program with Oscar Mayer. Then one thing leads to another, and here I am. I’ve only had one employer in my professional life, but I’ve had a number of different roles in the organization. I’ve really been blessed to work in this sport and serve the flag in sport. We’re the sport of baseball, wrapped in the American flag. To be able to have red, white and blue be a part of our colors every day is humbling and honoring. 30 | CaryLiving.com

Beyond staging tournaments, what does USA Baseball do? If you look at our responsibility according to the Amateur Sports Act, there’s kind of two pillars: One is to identify, select and train elite-level athletes in our sport to represent the United States in international competition. For us, that could be 12U, 15U, 18U. If there is a USA opportunity to compete for a gold medal in an international event, we’re the organization that has the sole responsibility and right to do that job. The other pillar is to address the health and proliferation of our sport at the grassroots level. Let’s make sure our sport is healthy and has participants, coaches and officials. A healthy base is going to feed into that elite-level athlete that’s going to wear the red, white and blue with USA on their chest. What is the scope of events played at the Baseball National Training Complex? It was built to serve the sport, and the sport has a lot of different identities depending on who you are and what level you are. Our first event in the first week of April [was] the National High School

Invitational with the top 16 teams in the country. It’s a really highly scouted event [for Major League Baseball]. As we roll into the summer, it’s everything from 12U training to national team trials and the national team development programming. We have the [NCAA] Division II Championships. If we are fortunate enough to qualify for the [summer] Olympics, the Olympic team will come here for a week and train before going to Tokyo. In the summer of 2021, the Cuban national team will be here to play a series [against the USA Collegiate National Team]. We really ramp it up after the Division II Championships in the first week of June, and we’re out there pretty much 24/7 right through Labor Day.

“

I’ve really been blessed to work in this sport and serve the flag in sport.

Do you look for fan support from Cary and the Triangle? We’re one of the best-kept secrets around here, to be honest. That’s part of the challenge for us as an organization: to continue to promote who we are and what we do. From a fan’s standpoint, the sunken diamonds we have out there—it’s one of the most aesthetically easy places to take in a baseball game that I’ve ever been to. I’ve seen a lot of venues, and it’s as solid as they come in terms of the upkeep. It doesn’t look 13 years old. The town does an amazing job; it’s always pristine. The guys out there take a lot of pride in their jobs, and it shows when you walk in the gate. You come in and you look to the left [at Coleman Stadium] and it will take your breath away a little bit. [Philadelphia Phillies outfielder] Bryce Harper and [San Diego Padres infielder] Manny Muchado both played here. [Los Angeles Angels outfielder] Mike Trout played in the Tournament of Stars way back in 2009. Our tagline is “Our pastime’s future.” That next-level major league all-star is coming through here as part of national team identification and participation.

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We’ve seen ebbs and flows in baseball participation at the youth level in the past 40 years. Where is amateur baseball at this point? Is it thriving, or is some of the interest siphoned off by other sports and activities? Baseball is on an uptick right now. Participation numbers are up for amateur baseball. We’ve got programming we’re doing with the [MLB] commissioner’s office called “Fun At Bat,” which introduces the bat and ball sport to elementary schools. It’s a character-based and learning-based program, but it uses soft bats and soft balls. It’s an eight-week program through the PE programs at school, and it comes with all the equipment and materials to run the program. This year, we’re probably going to touch over 3 million kids with this program. Globally, the sport is challenged right now for participation because there are a lot of things for kids to do that aren’t sports-related, like video games. That’s the challenge for baseball and every sport. How do we brand and market our sport to that entry-level participant? And beyond that, how do we keep kids connected and engaged in the sport? Let’s make sure we’re putting good practices in place, good resources to make sure the experience for everybody in the sport—the kids, the parents, the officials, the coaches—is as positive as we can make it. That’s our responsibility as a governing body. After 17 years in Cary, you must feel like it’s been a good fit. Not a day goes by that there isn’t some level of validation that we made the right choice, whether it’s quality of life, where your kids go to school, the friends you’ve made or the smile you get at Biscuitville. Every day there is something that tells you, this is a really good place to be, beyond just the business relationship with the town. And the people I’ve met in the sport are as good as any I’ve met in life. Everyone on our staff is really committed to doing their job well. MAY/JUNE 2020

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table of contents 34

The Face of EVENT DESTINATION The Garden on Millbrook

The Face of EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION Cary Christian School

The Face of REAL ESTATE LEADER IN THE LUXURY HOME MARKET Luxury Home Marketing Group

The Face of ARTISTRY IN HOME INTERIORS Furnish

The Face of CBD Peak City CBD

The Face of CUSTOM PLANTATION SHUTTERS Southern Accent Shutters and Blinds

The Face of DESIGN THINKING AND PROJECT-BASED LEARNING Ravenscroft School

The Face of EXCELLENCE IN PLASTIC SURGERY Zenn Plastic Surgery

The Face of FINANCIAL GOAL PLANNING Richardson Private Wealth Advisors

The Face of GIVING BACK THROUGH SMILES Bovenizer & Baker Orthodontics

The Face of AN INNOVATIVE STEM PRESCHOOL La Petite Academy

The Face of LOCAL ARTISAN MARKETS Downtown Cary Food & Flea

The Face of A TRUSTED REAL ESTATE LEADER Theresa Lunt Realty

32 | CaryLiving.com

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In every issue, Cary Living magazine tells the stories of incredible individuals, entrepreneurs and organizations who are helping to make western Wake County one of the South’s best regions. We can’t begin to share all the stories that deserve to be told, so once a year we invite our key business partners to participate in this special section—and to help you put a face with the name of their business, practice or nonprofit organization. Welcome to our annual Faces of West Wake, a portfolio of inspiring leaders and community influencers who want to personally introduce themselves to you. Take a minute to get acquainted. Better yet, stop in and tell them you saw their face in Cary Living.

Special thanks to our team of photographers for making this project a possibility: Kelly Hudgins, Bob Karp, Brian Mullins, Joe Reale, Hans Rosemond and Mick Schulte MAY/JUNE 2020

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EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION—CREATING A LEARNING MINDSET CULTURE CARY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Now, more than ever, we are aware of the beauty and synergy of human connection. This is the heart of classical and Christian education at Cary Christian School. Relationship. Partnership. Authenticity. These are the essential components for a student’s mental, emotional and physical flourishing. When teachers and coaches are passionate about inspiring learning, care deeply and intentionally invest in their students, then genuine life-changing growth occurs. 1330 OLD APEX ROAD, CARY | 919.303.2560 | CARYCHRISTIANSCHOOL.ORG 36 | CaryLiving.com

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At Cary Christian School, classrooms, courts, and the stage are training grounds for life. This is only possible because of strong teacher-student relationships and the teacherparent partnership. Relationships and partnerships create emotional safety for children to reach toward high goals even at the risk of falling short. Children experience freedom, rather than shame, in mistakes, and they find resolve and discover strength. Imagine the impact for a child when a community of teachers, staff, parents and students commit to a better way of educationâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a learning mindset culture. SCHEDULE YOUR VISIT AT WWW.CARYCHRISTIANSCHOOL.ORG OR CALL 919-303-2560 X-252 SPECIAL PROMOTION

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Front row: Lindsay Taylor Jackson— Coldwell Banker HPW Global Luxury; Sheri Hagerty— Hodge & Kittrell Sotheby’s International; Margaret Struble—Re/Max United; Shawn Britt—Realty World Triangle Living; Leslie Young— Coldwell Banker HPW Global Luxury; Deborah Nance— Real Living Pittman Properties; Kimberly Conroy—Coldwell Banker HPW Global Luxury; Linda Trevor—Re/Max United Back row: Jill Rekuc— Olde Raleigh Real Estate; Debbie Van Horn—Fonville Morisey; Mollie Owen— Hodge & Kittrell Sotheby’s International; Kathy Beacham— Coldwell Banker HPW Global Luxury; Ann Matteson— Hodge & Kittrell Sotheby’s International; Linda Craft— Linda Craft & Team 38 | CaryLiving.com

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ARTISTRY IN HOME INTERIORS FURNISH Michelle Hardy

As soon as you walk into Furnish, you will know you’ve found someplace special— a place with home furnishings as unique and multifaceted as you are. Whether you’re looking for living, bedroom, dining, office, entertainment or outdoor furniture, you will see the quality and artistry in each piece we carry. “At Furnish, clients walk side by side with in-house designers to determine their needs,” owner Michelle Hardy explains. “We take great pride in the experience we’ve created and are differentiated not only by the quality of our furniture, but also by the experience of our designers, our immense options and our commitment to customer service.” 8724 GLENWOOD AVENUE, RALEIGH | 919.670.4400 | FURNISHNC.COM 40 | CaryLiving.com

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PEAK CITY CBD Matt Weschler Matt Weschler, owner and organic chemist, combined his passion for science and his appreciation for the healing and helpful properties of CBD to form Peak City CBD. With a trusted local colleague who runs an organic hemp farm, this family-owned business began extracting cannabinoids from Carolina hemp. Peak City CBD is proud to know the entire history of its CBD, from seed to finished product, and they use clean CO2 extraction to make the products right here in Cary. Peak City’s products are primarily sold online at PeakCityCBD.com; check out their oils and topicals, which have earned rave reviews! 833.CBD.5253 | PEAKCITYCBD.COM SPECIAL PROMOTION

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CUSTOM PLANTATION SHUTTERS SOUTHERN ACCENT SHUTTERS AND BLINDS Russ and Molly Allred, Owners

For Triangle residents in-the-know, Southern Accent Shutters, a local manufacturer of custom plantation shutters, is no secret. Going into their 22nd year, they have built and installed plantation shutters in practically every neighborhood and subdivision in the Triangle. Molly, Russ and their crew cut no corners in the production of their roomchanging products. Featuring the finest finishes available, a lifetime warranty and truly green production and materials, Southern Accent offers solutions to make your home a showplace. They also offer U.S.–made blinds and shades. See for yourself: Tour the factory today! 5684 WILSON’S MILLS ROAD, CLAYTON | 919.934.4050 | SOUTHERNACCENTSHUTTERS.COM 42 | CaryLiving.com

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DESIGN THINKING AND PROJECT-BASED LEARNING RAVENSCROFT SCHOOL You know how important it is in today’s world for your child to develop 21st-century competencies, think critically and solve problems. Ravenscroft knows that engaging students in design thinking and project-based learning is one of the best ways to cultivate those skills. Through Lead From Here, Ravenscroft’s one-of-a-kind citizen leadership curriculum, design thinking and project-based learning are at the center of education. Whether it’s immersing students in the theater of Shakespeare’s time through virtual reality or designing and building a city using programmable robots, Ravenscroft provides handson learning that teaches students to think strategically, collaborate and be problemsolvers while fostering intellect and creativity—from Pre-K through grade 12. 7409 FALLS OF NEUSE ROAD, RALEIGH | 919.847.0900 | RAVENSCROFT.ORG SPECIAL PROMOTION

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EXCELLENCE IN PLASTIC SURGERY ZENN PLASTIC SURGERY

Dr. Michael Zenn is the most highly trained and experienced board-certified plastic surgeon in the Triangle. As the former Vice Chief of Plastic Surgery at Duke, he spent years perfecting his surgical techniques. His integrity and “zen-like” bedside manner are trademarks of his esteemed reputation. And his surgical results are natural—you still look like you, only better! Not ready for surgery but want to address facial aging? Senior Aesthetic Nurse Mary Shaver can help! Mary is an expert advanced injector with decades of experience and hundreds of happy patients. Dr. Zenn and the team at Zenn Plastic Surgery share a commitment to excellence. Call today to schedule a consultation. 7920 ACC BOULEVARD, SUITE 110, RALEIGH | 919.480.3885 | ZENNPLASTICSURGERY.COM 44 | CaryLiving.com

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FINANCIAL GOAL PLANNING

RICHARDSON PRIVATE WEALTH ADVISORS Tim Rutt, Financial Advisor; Marlene Schneider, Financial Planning Analyst & Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor; James Richardson, Private Wealth Advisor; Becky Tolbert, Financial Advisor; Bishana Shipp, Marketing Manager & Client Relationship Specialist Our team at the office of Richardson Private Wealth Advisors, helps you plan for your financial goals. Your responsible mindset in this stage of your life means you’re planning to fund your children’s education, planning to cover the cost of a dream vacation, planning for the care of an aging parent, planning for sustainable income during retirement, or merely planning for the unknown. No matter your stage of life, the financial advising team of Richardson Private Wealth Advisors is here for you every step of the way. 3720 BENSON DRIVE, RALEIGH | 919.874.0024 | RICHARDSONPRIVATEWEALTHADVISORS.COM SPECIAL PROMOTION

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GIVING BACK THROUGH SMILES BOVENIZER & BAKER ORTHODONTICS The team at Bovenizer & Baker Orthodontics focuses on giving back to the community and making a positive impact in peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives. The practice has recently launched their new charity program, A Chance to Smile, which covers the cost of orthodontic treatment for 10 foster children per year in the Triangle. Their desire is for each child to be proud of their smile and how the world sees them. Together with Friends of Wake Guardian ad Litem, the practice is accepting donations to supplement the cost of braces for these children. Anyone donating $25 or more will receive a plush version of their mascot, Seymour the Llama. 2625 GREEN LEVEL WEST ROAD, CARY | 919.303.4557 | BOVBAKERORTHO.COM 46 | CaryLiving.com

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AN INNOVATIVE STEM PRESCHOOL LA PETITE ACADEMY What a great place to start: Our schools offer nurturing care and creative learning experiences. At La Petite Academy, your child will discover respect, collaboration and the joy of learning. Our exclusive School Readiness Pathway charts each childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique course to elementary school, with specialized curriculums and developmentally appropriate programs for infants to school-age students. With our STEM curriculum, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math are part of everything we do in the classroom. Plus, our Grow Fit initiative ensures the complete well-being of your growing child through a focus on health, nutrition and fitness. FIND YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL ONLINE | 877.217.9530 | LAPETITE.COM SPECIAL PROMOTION

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2020

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LOCAL ARTISAN MARKETS DOWNTOWN CARY FOOD & FLEA

Leslie Huffman and Jessica McCarthy The Downtown Cary Food & Flea, now in its sixth year, was started by Leslie Huffman and Jessica McCarthy with one goal in mind: bringing the community together. With the culmination of hard work and creativity the Food & Flea is thriving. It is an amazing convergence of local artisans, musicians, fantastic local foods and food trucks in the heart of Cary. People come from all over the Triangle area to shop, eat, drink and socialize.Â Visit the Downtown Cary Food & Flea on the second Sunday of each month in the Fidelity Bank parking lot, on the corner of Academy Street and W. Chatham Street. 100 W. CHATHAM STREET, CARY | DTCFOODANDFLEA.COM 48 | CaryLiving.com

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A TRUSTED REAL ESTATE LEADER THERESA LUNT REAL ESTATE Theresa Lunt

I have called the Triangle home since 2007. My Wall Street background allows me to understand the investment side of real estate. Whether buying or selling a home, this is the biggest investment most of us will ever make. I have built my business by providing the ultimate customer care with communication during all phases of the transaction, and I have also built great friendships with my clients along the way. As a Western Wake specialist, I can help you navigate the ever-expanding options in this part of the county. It would be my pleasure to talk with you about selling or buying your next home! Photo taken in West Cary’s newest community, Wellfied by Caruso Homes. THERESALUNT@KW.COM | 919.473.6341 | THERESALUNTHOMES.COM SPECIAL PROMOTION

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COMMUNITY TOGETHER COMES

THE TRIANGLE MOUNTS AN INSPIRING RESPONSE TO COVID-19 B Y M I C K S C H U LT E

s we adapt to the realities of COVID-19, the Triangle community is finding creative

ways to connect, inspire and help our most vulnerable residents. Whether it’s by treating the sick, sewing face masks, growing food, delivering meals and packages, ordering take out, or just staying home, we’re all distantly doing our part to keep our community strong.

P H O T O S B Y: L A U R A F E R R A R A , TERRENCE JONES, SEASON MOORE, BRIAN MULLINS, BRITTANY MURDOCK, JOE REALE, ROCKY TOP CATERING, J O D I S C H U H , M I C K S C H U LT E A N D B E T H S H U G G . SEE PAGE 55 FOR THE LEGEND.

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“Even in these first few weeks of the pandemic, I feel like there’s been a shift in humanity,” says Taylen Harp, a licensed clinical mental health counselor with Creasman Counseling in downtown Raleigh. “We’re more charitable, kind and giving, and that spirit is helping us through this situation. Being able to provide a bit of help for someone else takes away that feeling of hopelessness and serves as a morale boost for the community.” Harp suggests people get creative and focus on what they still can, instead of can’t, do. That’s just what Heather Nethery did when she founded the Face Mask Warriors Facebook group.

Photo by Terrence Jones

Photo courtesy of Inter-Faith Food Shuttle

Help for Critical Workers

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What started as a small group of people combining efforts to make homemade masks for health care facilities has grown into a national movement known as Face Mask Warriors. “I had the materials and time so I figured, why not?” says Nethery, who normally uses her sewing skills for her small business, Peace Props, which offers handmade crafts for relaxation. “It’s really amazing to see these people come together and help in different, creative ways.” Another group offering medical equipment to local hospitals is the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. The vet school sent approximately 950 masks to the UNC Hospitals system, half of which were N95 masks that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending health care workers and sick patients wear. Additionally, the vet school provided sets of full body suits and two state-of-the-art ventilators for the hospitals to use for COVID-19 patients. “All the local animal hospitals and veterinary schools are working together to share things hospitals might need,” says Paul Lunn, dean of NCSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine. In an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, three Durham businesses—Bedlam Vodka, MedPharm and Avazyme—combined forces to scientifically create, test and distribute quality-assured hand sanitizer to WakeMed in Raleigh for use in their hospitals and numerous outpatient units in the area. Besides equipment and sanitation products, child care is a tangential need of the people who work inside hospitals. Many nurses, nursing assistants, EMTs, firefighters, police officers, mail carriers, grocery store clerks and other critical workers on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic have children who are now out of school. The Child Care Services Association provides a hotline for these workers so they can find trusted care for their children. The organization supports child care programs in partnership with Smart Start and will also help families pay for child care through the CCSA COVID-19 Relief Fund, which people can donate to via childcareservices.org. “We had a family call where the dad is a police officer and the mom is a certified nursing assistant, and they both work nontraditional hours. It added an enormous amount of stress to their lives when their child care program announced it was closing down and schools were canceled,” says Marsha Basloe, president of CCSA. “Child care was not built into their budget, but we helped connect them, and we do what we can to make life easier for these families who are sacrificing so much for us right now.”

Support for the Hungr y Since the health care industry and those who are infected with COVID-19 are taking center stage right now, other vulnerable populations, including people who have lost their jobs during this pandemic, are relying on nonprofits for day-to-day essentials— like food. The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and Meals on Wheels of Wake County are two organizations offering help. “We are here and we’re not going anywhere,” says Laura Rice, communications and media manager for the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. “We are considered an essential business so we can’t be shut down, and we remain hyper-focused on our mission to end hunger and bring food to those who need it.” Since social distancing guidelines were put in place by the North Carolina state government March 12th, a typical weekly delivery for the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle has consisted of more than 2,200 blast frozen meals, 800 family meal boxes and thousands of emergency food boxes for people in need. Food is constantly going out of their warehouse, but the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is working to maximize safety for staff by observing social distancing, engaging in frequent handwashing, wearing gloves while packing emergency food boxes, and having temperature and respiratory checkups each morning. Mary Kate Keith, director of development and communications for Meals on Wheels of Wake County, says she has been impressed with the community’s response to the organization’s request for volunteers. “People really want to help out and our clients who are homebound genuinely appreciate it,” Keith says. “Most people couldn’t believe we’re still doing it. We’d come to the door and they were surprised and incredibly appreciative that people are still willing to come.” Beyond volunteering for organizations like the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and Meals on Wheels of Wake County, anyone wanting to help out can donate online to organizations like these, which desperately need funds to purchase food for the meals they prepare. Maggie Kane, owner of A Place at the Table Raleigh, says donations are helping her organization serve the hungry throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, but the better way to help—at least for her pay-what-you-can restaurant—is to order a meal or coffee to-go and pick it up curbside. “The pay-what-you-can structure really only works if you have around 70% of people paying full price or more, and 30% of people paying less or not at all—but with COVID-19, those numbers have flipped,” she says. The restaurant has been serving around 200 people per day since social distancing began, with 150 of those customers unable to pay for their meals. Kane offered her employees pay without having to work, but they keep showing up. “They want to be here and they know they’re making a difference when people need it most,” she says. Besides A Place at the Table, other restaurants and local businesses are opening up opportunities to donate as well. At the time this story went to press, Union Special in Raleigh had given more than 4,600 loaves to various nonprofits just by asking customers to add an extra loaf to their takeout order as a donation. Other establishments are searching for ways to keep their staff employed and paid during social distancing. Tribeca Tavern in Cary created a GoFundMe page for their employees, and the restaurant is offering free takeout meals for staff and their families. “We’re staying open as long as we can and leaving the opportunity there for anyone who wants to work—and also paying those who choose to stay home,” says Chris Beal, operating partner of Tribeca Tavern. “This isn’t just

Photo by Mick Schulte

Ordering Takeout

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Photo by Joe Reale

a restaurant for us—these people are our family. We want to do everything we can, while we can.” Farmers who usually supply produce to local restaurants are also adapting. Karma Lee, owner of Buckwheat Farm in Apex, typically sells strawberries to local restaurants. “I’m hoping the restaurants we’ve dealt with in the past will still order some,” she says. Like other strawberry farmers in the area, Lee has implemented COVID-19 guidelines that require customers to wash their hands before they pick strawberries, to work on alternating rows so they are spaced 10 feet apart from other guests, and to stand on marked lines that keep everyone 6 feet apart in the cashier line. Lee has also set up a drive-through for picking up online orders. While the drive-through model is convenient for many people, one group of essential workers is finding it difficult to find food options on the road. “The problem with restaurants being closed is drive-throughs will not serve you without a car, and tractor trailers are not able to drive through,” says Craig Miller, a route driver for Phillips Pet Food & Supplies. “Restrooms are closed too, which makes things tough. Drivers need to take a break after eight hours and if the rest stops and restaurants are closed, we don’t have a place to pull over and relax.”

Photo by Mick Schulte

Finding Ways to Adapt

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Similar to the food industry, fitness studios are having to adapt to the changing world of COVID-19. Businesses like Colors of Yoga in downtown Raleigh and YoBa Studio in North Raleigh have taken their classes online, and are offering both live and recorded versions to faithful clients. “We had no plans to learn streaming at this time, so you can imagine there have been days filled with a lot of hard lessons,“ says Sam Williams, owner of YoBa Studio. “But the response from everyone in the community has kept us going, and we’re happy to offer familiarity and normalcy for people while everything around us is changing daily.” Public and private schools are doing their best to provide normalcy through online classes, too. Scott Ferguson, and English teacher and athletic director at Apex High School, is hopeful that despite all the cancellations, facilities and educators will be more than ready to welcome students when they return. “With all of the uncertainty going on with our students right now, we want them to know that when things get back to normal, we will be ready for them,” he says. “I, along with our athletic department,

Photo credits from pages 50–51, shown left to right: Row 1: Mick Shulte, Terrence Jones, Brittany Murdock, Mick Shulte; Row 2: Beth Shugg, Mick Shulte, Rocky Top Catering, Mick Shulte; Row 3: Mick Schulte, Laura Ferrara, Mick Schulte, Linda Van de Zande; Row 4: Jodi Schuh, Brian Mullins, Laura Ferrara, Season Moore

How to Help Make a donation to any of the nonprofit organizations mentioned in this feature by visiting the websites below. Face Mask Warriors: facemaskwarriors.com

Child Care Services Association: childcareservices.org/ ccsa-covid-19-relief-fund

Inter-Faith Food Shuttle: foodshuttle.org

Meals on Wheels of Wake County: wakemow.org

A Place at the Table: tableraleigh.org

World Children’s Initiative: worldchildrensinitiative.org

Photo by Maria Leon Johnson

Face Mask Warriors B Y M I C K S C H U LT E

aria Leon Johnson, a professional fabric artist in Apex, started sewing face masks the night of March 21st. She hasn’t stopped since. “The requests coming in are more than I’m able to process right now, but I do as many as I can and give to any essential business that is serving the community,” Johnson says. Once she finishes a batch, she places the finished masks in a cooler on her porch, where those who ordered them pick them up. Johnson is a member of Face Mask Warriors, a national network that started as a Facebook group to connect face mask creators. The new Face Mask Warriors website shows a growing tally of how many masks the group produces and shares testimonials from the people who received them. The North Carolina group consists of thousands of members, with more joining each day. With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommending that everyone wear face masks when they are out in the community, requests for these hot commodities are not limited to the health care industry. “We’ve had requests from anywhere and everywhere,” says Michael Jones, CEO of Spoonflower, a Durham-based fabric and décor company heading up the Mask Response Project. After becoming the company’s CEO in January, Jones took on the unique challenges COVID-19 presented for his employees and customers. “It all started for us long before it reached the U.S. because we have fabric suppliers everywhere—especially in China and South Korea,” Jones says. As suppliers shut down overseas, Jones and the Spoonflower community considered what they could do when the pandemic reached the U.S. “The Spoonflower community is very caring and locally focused, so right away we were wondering what we could do to help,” he recalls. Employees and customers started making masks, and Jones launched the Mask Response Project to give creators access to large amounts of Spoonflower fabric. “It has been really challenging but also super

inspiring to see how resilient our employees and customers are through this,” Jones says. Just as individuals are combining efforts, so are companies and organizations throughout the Triangle and state. Laster Orthodontics and AgBiome are among a large group of companies using 3D printers to make face masks. Additionally, the World Children’s Initiative partnered with Charlotte MEDI to deliver 2,025 face shields to Duke University Hospital and 3,000 to UNC Rex Hospital in April. “Never have I seen in my lifetime a call to arms of this magnitude, breadth and depth,” says World Children’s Initiative Founder Dr. Sanjay Daluvoy, M.D. “From governments to multinational corporations to delivery truck drivers, to grocery stockers, to our pride: the health care workers—techs, nurses and doctors—we must all stand together now and give everything we’ve got to overcome this epic challenge.” If you would like to join the fight against COVID-19 by offering your sewing skills, materials or donations, visit facemaskwarriors.com or spoonflower.com for more information.

Photo by Mick Schulte

coaches and associate ADs, all feel like we’re providing hope to our athletes by continuing to work on these fields.” That resiliency is what sustains our community and each other as we adhere to social distancing rules and the shifting realities of COVID-19. While the only constant is change right now, Harp hopes our community can focus on what is happening today instead of worrying about the unknown. “It’s OK not to feel OK. This is a major shift for everyone,” she says. “I always tell my counseling clients: Focus on what you have to do between now and 11:59:59 p.m. It’s so much easier to focus on this day instead of the weeks and months ahead. The only time we’re guaranteed is the present, so right now, your goal is 11:59:59, and that’s it.”

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ON THE

FRONTLINES Medical professionals adjust to their new normal BY BETH SHUGG

Photo of UNC Rex Hospital nurse Michele Skinner by Mick Schulte

MidtownMag.com 56 | CaryLiving.com

s the COVID-19 pandemic makes its way through North Carolina, Triangle health care professionals are working harder than ever before. “We have been working seven days a week for over a month, along with a multitude of public and private partners, to develop plans to handle whatever capacity surges may occur as a result of the pandemic,” says Thomas J. Gough, senior vice president and administrator for WakeMed Cary Hospital and WakeMed North Hospital. Marissa Nolan, a registered nurse who works in the hospital’s West Intermediate Care Department, plays an important part in those plans. “My role as a nurse differs from pre-COVID days by having to put on the PPE (protective personal equipment) and limiting the amount of direct contact we have with patients,” she says. “We can’t freely walk in and out of patients’ rooms to check on them. It’s a complex process that is necessary to protect ourselves and the public.” She recalls her first encounter with the virus. “A defining moment for me was when I received the first potential COVID-19 patient on our floor, and how immediately we went into action by calling on our infectious disease team to consult with us,” she says. “This action made the buzz we were hearing about the virus become a reality.” Similarly, UNC Health professionals are adjusting to new protocols and guidelines. Dr. David Wohl, M.D., a professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases who also runs HIV prevention and treatment clinical trials and co-leads UNC’s Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Research Working group, is working with Dr. Amir Barzin, D.O., M.S., of the UNC School of Medicine, to manage an outdoor tent at the UNC Ambulatory Care Center where patients who have respiratory complaints or COVID-19–related issues are screened and assessed. Potential patients drive through the tent to undergo a swab test, then drive home and wait to receive their results. “There’s no textbook chapter for pandemic management that you learn about when you’re in medical school,” Barzin says. “It’s just a different environment than what a lot of us are used to working in, but it’s what the health care system needs from us now and it’s what we’re here to do.” Dr. Madji Namde, M.D., medical director and chair of the department of emergency medicine at WakeMed Cary Hospital, says the amount of planning that goes into treating each patient is profound. “Anyone who comes in as a possible COVID patient demands a significant investment of energy and resources to be sure that they

are getting the best care possible, and that staff and other patients are protected,” Namde says. “The mental energy involved is tremendous, as we are not only caring for our usual day-to-day emergencies, but shifting and adjusting to new processes and new data every single day. We are afraid at times, but every single person I have spoken with is ready to come to work and do our part for the community.”

New Routines

Stacy Scott, a nurse practitioner for UNC’s Department of Family Medicine and mother of 5- and 14-year-olds, says wearing PPE and changing gloves between each encounter, while also sanitizing everything she touches, is a big change from her usual workday. “We’re burning through the Purell,” she says, adding that morning huddles during which the staff stands 6 feet apart are also part of her daily routine. “We’ve adapted on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis, ironing out kinks along the way,” she says. Alyse Jackson, a registered nurse, clinical supervisor and educator in WakeMed Cary Hospital’s emergency services department, says typical meetings have either been cancelled or moved to WebEx. “Canceled meeting times are now replaced with multiple daily updates about COVID process changes, so a lot of our time is spent dispersing this information to staff through emails, shift huddles or one-on-one communication,” she says. These frontline heroes must also establish new routines at home. Barzin says that when he was assigned to the UNC Ambulatory Care Center screening site, he and his wife had a lengthy discussion on how best to protect their 14-month-old daughter from the virus. “Before I started working here, we had a long conversation about what we thought was the best and the safest thing to do, so I have not held my baby in two weeks, and I won’t until we’re all done with this. But I get to wave at her from 6 feet away,” he says. Jordan Owens, a registered nurse for UNC Health and mother of a 2-year-old son, goes through a rigorous disinfecting routine every day when she leaves the screening site. “After taking off my PPE, I’m normally wiping my phone, keys, ID badge, jacket, book bag and lunchbox down with a sanitation wipe before I even leave the trailer and head to my car,” she says. “Once I’m in the car, I have a few bottles of hand sanitizer I’m spraying my hands, the steering wheel and gear shift with.”

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Photo of UNC Health medical professionals by Joe Reale

Photo of WakeMed Cary Hospital medical professionals by Brian Mullins

Photo of Cary Fire Department donation to WakeMed Cary Hospital by Brian Mullins

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At home, Owens disrobes in the garage and heads straight to the shower. But she still worries. “At night, I would say fear always creeps in with the mix of anxiety and wondering if I did enough during the day to keep myself clean, so I’m not bringing anything home to my little baby boy or my husband,” she says. Priya Patel, a registered nurse who works in WakeMed Cary Hospital’s intensive care unit, is also very careful when she leaves the hospital. “I practice proper hygiene at home and at work, as well as wear all the necessary PPE, but I have two young children at home who suffer from mild asthma. There is no doubt [I have] an underlying fear of somehow bringing this highly contagious illness home,” she says.

Silver Linings In some ways, Scott feels like she’s better able to prepare for COVID-19 patients than those whom she normally sees. “I generally work in an urgent care setting, so I’m fairly accustomed to not knowing what’s going to walk in or how many will come in,” she says. “Here, I know why people are coming—that they are worried and not feeling well. I’m just very limited in the amount of care I can provide. But again, we adapt and find creative ways to care for our community and each other.” Dr. Matthew R. Plymyer, M.D., medical laboratory director at WakeMed Cary Hospital and president of the hospital’s medical staff, says the most noticeable difference in his workday is not what he does each day, but the environment in which he does it. “The degree of focus, confidence and optimism are palpable, as the WakeMed Cary team dedicates immense planning and resources to the fight against COVID-19,” he says. “The desire to protect and care for our community has never been more apparent.” All of these frontline heroes share the same sentiment about teamwork: how crucial it is to slowing—and eventually stopping—the spread of COVID-19. Barzin applauds the “amazing amount of teamwork across the whole group of people that we have here”—a group, he notes, that comes from different clinics, backgrounds and working environments. “To me, that is, at its core, the epitome of the UNC spirit,” he says. “Everyone is really willing to help and work it out. They’re just excited to be a part of the cause and excited to help our community at large.” Jackson says the increasingly close bond she shares with her coworkers is a silver lining in this pandemic. “I have worked in the [WakeMed] Cary Hospital ED since graduating from nursing school, and the relationships between our staff members have never been stronger,” she says. “We make jokes to ease the tension and keep in contact with one another, even when we are not at work. I love this team and what we do, and it is so rewarding to be a part of this close-knit community.”

Photo by Dan Sanford, WakeMed Marketing & Communications

Coming in our September/October issue

MEET THE DOCTORS

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create the outdoor space you

crave

B Y E L I Z A B E T H K A N E / P H O T O S C O U RT E S Y O F F O N TA I N E L A N D S C A P I N G

Restore your mind and body in a personalized outdoor oasis

T here’s something about this time of year that begs you to leave the stress of cold days behind and bask in the sun— especially right now, as we crave the great outdoors during our adjustment to containing COVID-19. The weather feels warmer, the grass looks greener and the air smells sweeter. So when your day winds down and you’re ready to relax, escape to an outdoor oasis— away from tiresome commutes on the road and looming deadlines at work. We all crave a space to decompress after a long day. Here’s how to create your own outdoor oasis at home—a serene space to slow down and rejuvenate on your deck, porch or patio.

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A space where you allow yourself to unleash your creative side ... Maintenance Matters Tina Mast, communications director of Homewood Nursery & Garden Center in Raleigh, says before you begin planning out your space or shopping for any new items, consider how much time you can devote to maintain this area. “Start with how much time you’re going to devote to maintenance in this space, because that’s going to be the foundation for everything else.” 62 | CaryLiving.com

For some, the upkeep of an outdoor space is a large component of relaxation. Mast explains that the practice of pruning, weeding and watering plants can be quite calming for some folks. The ritual of putting on gardening gloves and getting your hands in the dirt may help you unwind at the end of the day. But for others, it may serve as a source of stress. She encourages people to decide how they want to spend time in this area, and to buy low-maintenance plants if they’re uninterested in the gardening process.

Unleash Your Creative Side Let’s get a few things straight: You don’t need to own a huge deck to create a beautiful outdoor oasis. You don’t have to make your outdoor area identical to your home decor. And you mustn’t agonize over whether or not you’re creating the perfect patio style that you feel you “should” be creating. Mast says this should be a space where you allow yourself to release your creative side. “You can own a modern home … and have crazy little garden gnomes [on your deck]!” she says. Have fun throughout the decorating process, Mast says. Other tips she offers: Adorn your outdoor retreat with items that bring you happiness. Add in weather-resistant accessories such as colorful outdoor rugs, comfy pillows and seat cushions. Use a garden stool as a side table for coasters and candles. “As long as it’s meaningful to you and makes you happy, that’s the important thing,” she says. “That little refuge should be yours.” Kevin Bolt Fontaine, lead designer at Fontaine Landscaping and Bolt Outdoor Lighting Pros, suggests focusing on the scents and movements of plants you can enjoy admiring while you relax. “To me, pleasant-smelling plants are one of my first requirements for a highly frequented space, like a seating area near a garden,” he says. “Gardenias, magnolias and daphnes provide a wonderful aroma.”

... let it soothe and re-energize you. The same goes for furniture. Mast suggests considering the kind of wear and tear your outdoor furnishings will endure. When choosing pieces to purchase, think about how they’ll be used. Will you need to cover them during the winter? Do you have the time and resources to oil metal furniture so it doesn’t rust? Do you have kids and pets who will be using this furniture, too? Ultimately, the pieces you invest in should be determined by your lifestyle and budget.

Consider the Use of Your Space Finally, consider how you want this space to work for you. Fontaine recommends that his clients think about how much usage they’ll get out of certain new items when they’re looking to renovate. While outdoor lighting gets a good amount of use for most homeowners, being dead-set on installing a large masonry fire pit may not be a good use of money or resources for some outdoor areas. A lightweight, portable and inexpensive fire pit may work better. For a calm vibe, Mast suggests choosing plants that feel lush and feature a simple palette of colors: light blues, whites and greens, for example. Want a more stimulating space? Go for hot tones that are loud and bright. Ultimately, you’ll want to choose plants that not only work for your style, but also for your environment. Mast recommends visiting your local garden center for assistance. They’ll help you decide what to choose based on how many hours of sunlight your space gets and the kind of soil that surrounds your home. Whether you’re dying to curl up with that new novel on your small porch, or itching to gather a group of friends on your deck, use these tips to make this spot uniquely yours. Let it soothe and re-energize you in a way that only an outdoor oasis can.

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Photo courtesy of Kababish CafĂŠ

As temperatures rise across the South, outdoor dining moves up on the priority list for most residents— whether that means enjoying a meal at a favorite restaurant or grilling out on a deck, patio or rooftop lounge. Since restaurants across the U.S. closed off dining areas in March to abide by government regulations designed to halt the spread of COVID-19, al fresco dining requires a different approach this year. The good news is you can still order takeout from, or have meals delivered by, many of your favorite dining establishments. So put this roundup of the best places to enjoy an outdoor meal in Western Wake on your post-pandemic to-do list and, in the meantime, place a to-go order so you can dine on their creations at home. Whether you crave Pakistani kebabs or wood-fired seafood, these restaurants won’t disappoint.

KABABISH CAFÉ 201 W. Chatham Street #103, Cary kababishcafe.com Offering a take on Pakistani and Indian cuisine with “kababs and more,” Kababish Café husband-and-wife owners Syed Yousuf and Samreen Nawaz opened their restaurant in 2015 by way of Pakistan, New York and Maryland. Their dream: to “redefine how Pakistani cuisine is presented on the grand stage.” Now offering a wide range of versatile Pakistani and Indian dishes, Kababish Café, which bills itself as “happy and healthy eating,” offers options to meet any dietary need—from gluten-free to dairy-free and vegan. Appetizers such as samosa and pakora are perfect for sharing with a group of friends during an al fresco dining experience. The majority of the meat entrees are cooked in a clay tandoor oven, with offerings ranging from chicken tikka masala to vindaloo. When the restaurant is open, guests are welcome to bring their own beer and wine as an accompaniment to their meal. During the stay-at-home order, Kababish is temporarily offering free delivery, and the restaurant also plans to deliver free lunch boxes for local hospital staff.

Flexible

Fine Dining BY ALEX DIXON

Enjoy carryout feasts from your favorite outdoor establishments at home al fresco–style, for now. MAY/JUNE 2020

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Photo courtesy of Ruckus Pizza, Pasta & Spirits

RUCKUS PIZZA, PASTA AND SPIRITS

Photo by Marianna Collado

Photo by Dave Lantrip

POSTMASTER

POSTMASTER 160 E. Cedar Street, Cary postmastercary.com Located in increasingly bustling downtown Cary, Postmaster exemplifies seasonal cooking with its modern take on classic American cuisine. With a name that offers homage to the man who considered himself to be the town’s first postmaster, Cary founder Frank Page, Postmaster’s patio also overlooks Page’s historic railroad hotel, now known as the Page-Walker Arts and History Center. Building on the popularity of its burger nights, Postmaster is offering a temporary “Gov’t Cheeseburger” takeout menu split into two parts: “burgers” and “not burgers,” which includes lemonpepper chicken wings, an “adult” grilled cheese featuring local Boxcarr cheese, and a mushroom patty melt on local white bread with au poivre mushrooms, Swiss cheese and a Funyun crema.

TAZZA KITCHEN

LA FARM BAKERY 4248 N.W. Cary Parkway, Cary lafarmbakery.com Western Wake residents who love authentic French breads and pastries need not look further than La Farm Bakery. This popular establishment’s James Beard semifinalist and Master Baker Lionel Vatinet is best known for his signature La Farm sourdough bread, which has a flavor reminiscent of loaves enjoyed throughout the French countryside. Vatinet’s mixture of tradition and innovation has resulted in breads such as the White Chocolate Mini Baguette and Walnut Sage loaf. But La Farm Bakery has even more to offer than bread. Behind the glass case sits an array of baked goods— from seasonal fruit tarts to cakes. La Farm Bakery also offers a café, which serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. When the bakery is open, diners can stop by, enjoy a meal outdoors, and pick up all the bread and baked goods they need to get through the week. Under temporary regulations due to COVID-19, La Farm Bakery is offering online ordering, curbside pickup and delivery via DoorDash. 66 | CaryLiving.com

TAZZA KITCHEN 600 Ledgestone Way, Cary tazzakitchen.com Offering additional locations in Raleigh, Richmond, and Columbia, South Carolina, Tazza’s Cary Stone Creek Village establishment offers an atmospheric patio that pairs perfectly with the restaurant’s take on seasonal, wood-fired cooking. The restaurant’s founders were reportedly inspired by trips to the Baja California Peninsula region and the Amalfi Coast, which shows on the menu. From chilled seared scallops served with crispy kale, fresno pepper, mintcilantro puree and a charred lemon vinaigrette, to pizzas, tacos and a full brunch menu, the dishes and cocktails were made to enjoy outdoors. Tazza Kitchen’s temporary curbside pickup and delivery menu includes many mainstays, such as cast iron–prepared goat cheese with marinara, parsley and brick-oven cooked bread, a Baja bowl and smoked brisket tacos.

LA FARM BAKERY Whether you’ve moved across the country, across the state, or across town, we want to meet you to say hello and to help you with tips as you get settled. Our basket is loaded with useful gifts, information, and cards you can redeem for more gifts at local businesses.

919-302-6111

Photo by Anna Routh

919-414-8820

RUCKUS PIZZA, PASTA AND SPIRITS 8111 Tryon Woods Drive, Cary 1055 Pine Plaza Drive, Apex ruckuspizza.com It may be called Ruckus Pizza, Pasta and Spirits, but the name doesn’t give away how truly extensive this restaurant’s menu is. Diners can enjoy everything from guacamole to shark bites, or mahi-mahi served with cocktail sauce for dipping. The sushi menu offers another surprise—it features both poke bowls and creatively named rolls such as the Oscar the Grouch, made from spicy tuna and fresh salmon. Don’t forget the restaurant’s self-proclaimed “Best Chili Ever Made.” Those in the mood for a more traditional pizzeria experience can build any pie they please, or opt for one of the house specialties—like the popular Ruckus BBQ Chicken pizza. Wednesday night trivia and rotating drink specials ensure that the crowd-pleasing patio is a lively place to enjoy a meal and/or cocktails. Ruckus Pizza, Pasta and Spirits is offering delivery and takeout services right now, but even a global pandemic can’t keep the regulars from hanging out. Every day at 5 p.m., Ruckus hosts a virtual gathering via Zoom, featuring “get back to normal” bar banter. Ruckus is also offering 50% off meal purchases for first responders. Enter coupon code “emergency” when placing an online order to take advantage of this offer. Keep your outdoor dining intentions flexible while we push through the COVID-19 regulations by enjoying some of this delicious food takeout-style in the comfort of your very own outdoor oasis. But when the light turns green for restaurants to reopen, staff members at these establishments will, no doubt, be waiting with open arms.

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Polished IMPRESSIONS

SPONSORED CONTENT

Beyond Straight Teeth The health benefits of straightening your smile Did you know that beyond the self-confidence gained from having a beautiful, straight smile, orthodontic treatment provides numerous other benefits for multiple health reasons? Let’s explore why orthodontics is worth the investment. In today’s digital age, we are constantly bombarded with advertisements for straightening our teeth and achieving that perfect smile. But is orthodontic treatment only suitable for people looking for cosmetic changes? In actuality, the benefits of braces go far beyond aesthetics. Although braces and clear aligners are a fantastic way to create your perfect smile, there are a plethora of other oral health– related issues that orthodontics can address. Misaligned teeth and jaws can impact multiple areas of a person’s life, spanning from appearance and oral health to everyday activities, like eating and speaking. When teeth are excessively crowded, the overlapping of the teeth can make cleaning and flossing more difficult. As a result, plaque and bacteria can build up in these areas, leading to a higher probability of getting both cavities and gum disease. When teeth are optimally positioned, it makes it that much easier to maintain an excellent oral hygiene routine and prevent oral disease.

68 | CaryLiving.com

Similar to tooth alignment issues, the bite can likewise be misaligned and can have a profound impact on the health of your mouth, teeth, jaws and TMJs (temporomandibular joints). When the jaws do not fit together properly, the tooth-to-tooth contact between the upper and lower teeth can put continuous stress on these teeth. Over time, this can lead to significant wear and tear, chipping, tooth fractures and even shortening or loss of the teeth. This continuous strain can also result in headaches, earaches and issues with chewing. As you can see, different types of bites can impact not only the appearance of your smile, but the health of your teeth and your overall wellbeing. It is important to have a trained orthodontic specialist diagnose your bite and monitor that all of these issues are being addressed simultaneously. At the end of the day, you deserve to have a smile that is not only beautiful, but perfectly healthy and long-lasting.

Dr. Megan Wong, D.D.S., M.S. | Orthodontist North Carolina Oral Surgery and Orthodontics

Find Dr. Wong at NCOSO’s Raleigh and Cary (Maynard Road) locations: 833.GO.NCOSO | ncoso.com The information on this page is provided to the public by the advertiser mentioned above.

The Perfect Piece merlenormanfv

SKIN CARE CONCERNS?

Mon-Wed 10-5:30 | Thur-Fri 10-6 | Saturdays 10-3

Stop in for a complimentary skin care analysis with a licensed esthetician.

ThePerfectPieceCary.com 200 E Chatham Street | Cary | 919.460.9841 Mon-Sat 9am-6pm | Sun 12:30-5:30pm

SKINCARE THATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CUSTOMIZED FOR YOUR NEEDS!

208 S. Main Street | Fuquay-Varina | 919.552.3751

Coming in July/August

THE

5th Annual

Food Issue Featuring: Recipes for your grill, summer cocktails, meal planning for families and more! Ask about our special Dine & Draft rates

Also included, Summer Guide: Local destinations & day trips Giving Back: A special nonprofit focus MAY/JUNE 2020

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Home STYLER

GRILL

OUT

TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRITTANY MURDOCK

There’s no better time of year to grab a spatula and head outdoors to grill delicious home-cooked meals. Consider upgrading to a state-of-the-art grill and throw on flavorful rubs and sauces. Add stylish décor to complete the experience.

70 | CaryLiving.com

1 The USB Lighter Company grill lighter, $30 | Stylish Living 2 “Infused Waters: 50 Simple Drinks to Restore, Revive & Relax” by Georgina Davies, $14.99 | Stylish Living

3 Urban Accents Ancho Chili Pork Burger and Crispy Smash Patty Burger mixes, $6.99 each | Whisk 4 Serving tray, $40 | Swagger 5 Tea towel, $9.95 | The Perfect Piece

6 Aged aceto balsamico maletti, $18.99; FassZinnation BBQ Rub Sweet & Spicy, $10.99 Garlic extra virgin olive oil, $10.99 | vomFASS

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Photo courtesy of Durham Distillery

Sister CITIES Durham Distillery Produces Hand Sanitizer for First Responders Just as national corporations like GE and Ford Motor Company are switching gears to provide what’s needed for the pandemic, a Durham-based business is doing its part with what it has available. After shutting down its normal operations for a week, Durham Distillery produced hand sanitizer for local first-response and health care teams on the frontlines of the pandemic. Burt’s Bees, also based in Durham, contributed to the effort by donating the bottles.

The Power of

community BY CINDY HUNTLEY

Photo courtesy of the Durham Bulls

>> Our Durham & Chapel Hill neighbors step up to the COVID-19 challenge

Wool. E. Bull Comes to the Rescue! Durham Public School students had a surprise visitor stop by their doorstep— Wool. E. Bull took a shift on the school meal–delivery route! The Durham Bulls also made its Wool E.’s Reading Club more accessible during the pandemic: Kids can download a bookmark and record 500 minutes of reading time to get free tickets to a Bulls game (when playing resumes).

Carrboro United Local Food Hub Helps Get Food to Those Who Want It The Carrboro United Local Food Hub is a one-stop shop where you can get food from local chefs and farmers. This team-oriented approach was created mid-March to help farmers and chefs who are struggling through the pandemic. The hub buys fresh produce from local farmers and prepared meals from area restaurants, then patrons place orders online to pick up the food at specified times. 72 | CaryLiving.com

OUT ABOUT & |

LEND A HAND

SIGHTINGS

Photo courtesy of Asali Desserts & Cafe

DINE & DRAFT

ASALI DESSERTS & CAFE MAY/JUNE 2020

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CARY LIVING MAGAZINE

Dine & Draft

A FOODIE GUIDE TO WESTERN WAKE

THE PROVINCIAL 119 N. Salem Street | Apex 919.372.5921 | theprovincialapex.com

GINGER ASIAN CUISINE 2048 Kildaire Farm Road | Cary 919.859.8998 | gingerasiancuisine.com

TASU ASIAN BISTRO 525 New Waverly Place | Cary 919.977.4037 | tasuwaverly.com

RUDY’S PUB & GRILL 780 W. Williams Street | Apex 919.303.5061 | rudysofapex.com

GOJI BISTRO 100 Maynard Crossing Court | Cary 919.466.8888 | gojibistro.us

TERIYAKIN’ 10970 Chapel Hill Road Morrisville | 919.443.2279

SALEM STREET PUB 113 N. Salem Street | Apex 919.387.9992 salemstreetpub.wixsite.com/salemstreetpub

HIBACHI & COMPANY 708 Judd Parkway | Fuquay-Varina 919.552.8899

THAI LOTUS 3450 Kildaire Farm Road Cary | 984.229.7333

HIBACHI BLUE 1500 Village Market Place | Morrisville 919.462.9899

THAI SPICES & SUSHI 986 High House Road | Cary 919.319.1818 | thaispicessushi.com

KABUKI JAPANESE STEAK HOUSE 220 Nottingham Drive | Cary 919.380.8081 | kabukicary.com

THAI THAI CUISINE 108 Osterville Drive | Holly Springs 919.303.5700 | thaithaicuisinenc.com

KASHIN JAPANESE RESTAURANT 309 Crossroads Boulevard | Cary 919.851.7101 | kashin.com

YAMATO STEAK, SEAFOOD & SUSHI BAR 700 E. Williams Steet | Apex 919.303.8088 | yamatoofapex.com

Asian

KOBE HIBACHI & SUSHI 515 N Main Street | Holly Springs 919.557.1437 | kobehollyspringsnc.com

YBA LITTLE TOKYO 1401 S.E. Maynard Road Cary | 919.467.5011

ASIAN GARDEN 242 Grande Heights Drive | Cary 919.462.8598 | asiangardencarync.com

MEI WEI ASIAN DINER 1424 N Main Street | Fuquay-Varina 919.762.7128 | meiweinc.com

BANANA LEAF 1026 Ryan Road | Cary 919.468.9958 | bananaleafcary.com

YURI JAPANESE RESTAURANT 1361 Kildaire Farm Road Cary | 919.481.0068 yurijapaneserestaurant.com

NEW RAINBOW 3427 N. Main Street | Fuquay-Varina 919.567.8272 newrainbowchinese.com

TRIPLE BARREL TAVERN 2221 N. Grassland Drive Fuquay-Varina | 919.762.0940

APEX WINGS RESTAURANT & PUB 518 E. Williams Street | Apex 919.387.0082 | apexwings.com

TWO GUYS GRILLE 4149 Davis Drive | Morrisville 919.462.9336 | twoguysgrill.com

WOODY’S SPORTS TAVERN & GRILL 8322 Chapel Hill Road | Cary 919.380.7737 | woodyssportstavern.com

BAAN THAI 758 W. Williams Street | Apex 919.629.6399 | baanthaiapex.com

BRIGS AT THE VILLAGE 1040 Tryon Village Drive | Cary 919.859.2151 | brigs.com THE CORNER TAVERN AND GRILL 1301 N.W. Maynard Road | Cary 919.460.0088 | cornertaverncary.com

C&T WOK 130 Morrisville Square Way | Morrisville 919.467.8860 | ctwokrestaurant.com CHINA UNO 308 Village Walk Drive | Holly Springs 919.557.9888 | china-uno.com

DAME’S CHICKEN & WAFFLES 1823 N. Harrison Avenue | Cary 919.234.0824

ZENFISH POKÉ BAR 9924 Chapel Hill Road | Morrisville 919.234.0914 | zenfishpokebar.com

Bakery & Desserts ANNELORE’S GERMAN BAKERY 308 W. Chatham Street | Cary 919.267.6846 | anneloresbakery.com BIG DOM’S BAGEL SHOP 203 E. Chatham Street | Cary bigdomsbagelshop.com

LUCKY 32 7307 Tryon Road | Cary 919.233.1632 | lucky32.com

DIM SUM HOUSE 100 Jerusalem Drive | Morrisville 919.380.3087 dimsumhousemorrisville.com

SUSHI-THAI CARY 106 Kilmayne Drive | Cary 919.467.5747 | sushithaicary.com

BUTTERCREAM’S BAKE SHOP 101 N. Salem Street Cary | 919.362.8408 buttercreamsbakeshop.com

THE MASON JAR TAVERN 114 Grand Hill Place | Holly Springs 919.964.5060 | themasonjartavern.com

EIGHTY8 ASIAN BISTRO 1077 Darrington Drive | Cary 919.377.0152 | eighty8bistro.com

TAIPEI CAFE 9825-G Chapel Hill Road | Morrisville 919.380.8568 | taipeicafemorrisville.com

CARIBOU COFFEE 109 S.W. Maynard Road | Cary 919.319.6265 | cariboucoffee.com

MY WAY TAVERN 301 W. Center Street | Holly Springs 919.285.2412 | mywaytavern.com

GENKI RESTAURANT & SUSHI BAR 3420 Ten Ten Road | Cary 919.363.6636 | genkirestaurantsushi.com

TASTE VIETNAMESE CUISINE 152 Morrisville Square Way Morrisville | 919.234.6385

CHANTICLEER CAFE & BAKERY 6490 Tryon Road | Cary 919.781.4810 | chanticleercafe.com

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PLEASE CHECK WEBSITES OR CALL FOR TAKEOUT OPTIONS

CHOCOLATE SMILES 312 W. Chatham Street, Suite 101 | Cary 919.469.5282 | chocolatesmiles.com

COFFEE & CREPES 315 Crossroads Boulevard | Cary 919.233.0288 | coffeeandcrepes.com CREMA COFFEE ROASTER & BAKERY 1983 High House Road | Cary 919.380.1840 | cremacoffeebakery.com CULTIVATE COFFEE ROASTERS 128 S. Fuquay Avenue | Fuquay-Varina 919.285.4067 | cultivate.coffee DUCK DONUTS 100 Wrenn Drive | Cary 919.468.8722 | duckdonuts.com FOUNT COFFEE + KITCHEN 10954 Chapel Hill Road | Morrisville 984.888.5454 | fountcoffee.com FRESCA CAFÉ & GELATO 302 Colonades Way | Cary 919.851.8171 | frescacafe.com FRESH. LOCAL ICE CREAM Apex and Cary locations freshlocalicecream.com GREAT HARVEST BREAD COMPANY 1240 N.W. Maynard Road | Cary 919.460.8158 | greatharvestcary.com

PINTS ICE CREAM & BEER 512 Broad Street Fuquay-Varina | 919.285.2952

CORBETT’S BURGERS & SODA BAR 126 Kilmayne Drive Cary | 919.3466.0055 corbettsburgers.com

BIRYANI MAXX INDIAN CUISINE 590 E. Chatham Street Cary | 919.377.0346 biryanimaxxindiancuisine.com

HWY 55 BURGERS SHAKES & FRIES 802 Perry Road | Apex 919.303.3533 | hwy55.com

CILANTRO INDIAN CAFÉ 107 Edinburgh S. Drive | Cary 919.234.1264 | cilantroindia.com

REMINGTON GRILL 208 Crossroads Boulevard | Cary 919.233.1494 | remingtongrill.com

HYDERABAD HOUSE BIRYANI PLACE 3735 Davis Drive | Morrisville 919.924.0503 | hyderabadhouse.net

STICK BOY BREAD CO. 127 S. Main Street | Fuquay-Varina 919.557.2237 | stickboyfuquay.com

Catering

KABABISH CAFÉ 201 W. Chatham Street | Cary 919.377.8794 | kababishcafe.com

SUGAR BUZZ BAKERY 1231 Kildaire Farm Road | Cary 919.238.7224 | sugarbuzzbakery.com

CATERING WORKS 2319 Laurelbrook Street | Raleigh 919.828.5932 | cateringworks.com

PURE JUICERY BAR 716 Slash Pine Drive | Cary 919.234.1572 | purejuicerybar.com RISE BISCUITS & DONUTS 1100 Market Center Drive | Morrisville 919.377.0385 | risebiscuitsdonuts.com

SWEET CHERRY BAKERY Apex | 919.524.9132 sweetcherrybakerync.com VIDA DULCE 836 E. Chatham Street Cary | 919.378.9722

BBQ BIG MIKE’S BBQ 2045 Creekside Landing Apex | 919.338.2591 1222 N.W. Maynard Road | Cary 919.601.2430 | brewnquenc.com

GARDEN ON MILLBROOK CATERING 2400 E. Millbrook Road Raleigh | 919.790.8900 thegardenonmillbrook.com

ROCKY TOP CATERING 1705 E. Millbrook Road Raleigh | 919.850.2340 rockytopcatering.com

Deli/Sandwiches THE BRUNCH BOX 10970 Chapel Hill Road | Morrisville 919.380.7276 | thebrunchbox.net

HAPPYCAKES CUPCAKERY 9958 Chapel Hill Road | Cary thehappycupcakery.com

CITY BARBEQUE 1305 Kildaire Farm Road | Cary 919.439.5191 | citybbq.com

HOT BREADS CAFE 1901 N.W. Cary Parkway | Morrisville 919.677.1331 | hotbreadscafe.com

DADDY D’S BBQ 1526 Broad Street | Fuquay-Varina 919.552.6464 | daddydsbbqnc.com

JAVA JIVE 2425 Kildaire Farm Road | Cary 919.816.8888 | javajivecary.com

DANNY’S BAR-B-QUE 311 Ashville Avenue G | Cary 919.851.5541 | dannysbarbque.com

JUICEVIBES 1369 Kildaire Farm Road | Cary 919.377.8923 | juicevibes.com

RALLYPOINT SPORT GRILL 1837 N. Harrison Avenue Cary | 919.678.1088 rallypointsportgrill.com

CHEF’S PALETTE 3460 Ten Ten Road | Cary 919.267.6011 | chefspalette.net

SMOKEY’S BBQ SHACK 10800 Chapel Hill Road | Morrisville 919.469.1724 | smokeysshack.com

CORELIFE EATERY 200 Crossroads Boulevard | Cary 919.726.6261 | corelifeeatery.com

Burger & Hot Dog

MAXIMILLIANS GRILL & WINE BAR 8314 Chapel Hill Road Cary | 919.465.2455 maximilliansgrill.com

BAD DADDY’S BURGER BAR 3300 Village Market Place Morrisville | 919.297.0953

NOTHING BUNDT CAKES 2008 Market Center Drive Morrisville | 919.694.5300 nothingbundtcakes.com

BARRY’S CAFE 2851 Jones Franklin Road | Raleigh 919.859.3555 | barryscafe.com

ONCE IN A BLUE MOON BAKERY & CAFE 115 W. Chatham Street | Cary 919.319.6554 | bluemoonbakery.com

BUILT CUSTOM BURGERS 5033 Arco Street Cary | 919.377.2775 builtcustomburgers.com

PEPPERS MARKET & SANDWICH SHOP 2107 Grace Park Drive | Morrisville 919.380.7002 | peppersmrkt.com SERENDIPITY GOURMET DELI 118 S. Academy Street Cary | 919.469.1655 serendipitygourmetdelinc.com

Eclectic

POSTMASTER 160 E. Cedar Street | Cary 919.378.9493 | postmastercary.com

Indian BAWARCHI GRILL & SPIRITS 800 W. Williams Street | Apex 919.363.9000 | bawarchiapex.com

Irish DOHERTY’S IRISH PUB & RESTAURANT 5490 Apex Peakway, Apex 1797 High House Road, Cary dohertysirishpubnc.com TRALI IRISH PUB & RESTAURANT 3107 Grace Park Drive | Morrisville 919.651.9083 | traliIrishpub.com

GARIBALDI TRATTORIA 900 N. Main Street Fuquay-Varina | 919.552.8868 garibalditrattoria.com

LUGANO RISTORANTE 1060 Darrington Drive Cary | 919.468.7229

VISIT CARYLIVING.COM FOR A COMPLETE LISTING MAY/JUNE 2020

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STELLINO’S ITALIANO 1150 Parkside Main Street | Cary 919.694.5761 | stellinositaliano.com

TRAVINIA ITALIAN KITCHEN & WINE BAR 1301 Market Center Drive Cary | 919.467.1718 traviniaitaliankitchen.com

VEGAN COMMUNITY KITCHEN 803 E. Williams Street Apex | 919.372.5027 vegancommunitykitchen.com

Mexican ARANDAS MEXICAN CUISINE 5460 Apex Peakway Apex | 919.362.7363 arandasmexcuisine.com BRAVO’S MEXICAN GRILL 208 Grande Heights Drive | Cary 919.481.3811 | bravosmexicangrill.net EL DORADO III 112 E. Vance Street | Fuquay-Varina 919.557.0287 eldoradomexicanrestaurant.com EL LOBO MEXICAN RESTAURANT 1311 E. Broad Street Fuquay-Varina | 919.557.9540 FIESTA MEXICANA 2839 Jones Franklin Road Raleigh | 919.859.1303 fiestamexicananc-cary.com 990 High House Road Cary | 919.378.9895 fiestamexicananc-nwcary.com 428 Village Walk Drive Holly Springs | 919.346.1330 fiestamexicananc-hollysprings.com LA RANCHERITA GRILL & TEQUILA BAR 102 N. Salem Street | Apex 919.303.2448 | rancheritamex.com

TACOS MEXICO RESTAURANT 1430 N. Main Street | Fuquay-Varina 919.557.1777 | tacosmexiconc.com

MICHELANGELO’S PIZZA 928 U.S. Highway 64 | Apex 919.462.8880 | apexpizza.com

TORERO’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT 1207 Kildaire Farm Road Cary | 919.468.8711 torerosmexicanrestaurants.com

7280 GB Alford Highway | Holly Springs 919.303.7277 | michelangelospizza.com

TOTOPOS STREET FOOD & TEQUILA 1388 Kildaire Farm Road Cary | 919.678.3449 totoposfoodandtequila.com VIVA MEXICAN KITCHEN 4075 Davis Drive | Morrisville 919.467.2627 | vivamexicankitchen.com

Peruvian ALPACA PERUVIAN CHARCOAL CHICKEN 9575 Chapel Hill Road Morrisville | 919.378.9259 LUCKY CHICKEN 1851 N. Harrison Avenue Cary | 919.678.3153 MARCO POLLO 1871 Lake Pine Drive | Cary 919.694.5524 | marcopollocary.com

Pizzeria ACME PIZZA 204 Village Walk Drive | Holly Springs 919.552.8800 | acmepizzaco.com ANNA’S PIZZERIA 100 N. Salem Street Apex | 919.267.6237

LA TAQUERIA MEXICAN GRILL 973 E. Broad Street Fuquay-Varina | 919.552.5532

138 S. Main Street | Fuquay-Varina 919.285.2497 | annaspizzeria.com

LOS TRES MAGUEYES 120 Bass Lake Road Holly Springs | 919.552.6272

ASSAGGIO’S 941 E. Broad Street | Fuquay-Varina 919.557.9505 | assaggios-fuquay.com

MEDITERRA GRILL 108 Grand Hill Place | Holly Springs 919.762.7851 | mediterranc.com

401 Wake Chapel Road Fuquay-Varina | 919.762.6955

BLAZE PIZZA 316 Grand Hill Place Holly Springs | 919.557.4990

NEOMONDE 10235 Chapel Hill Road | Morrisville 919.466.8100 | neomonde.com

LOS TRES MEXICAN RESTAURANT 1301 E. Williams Street Apex | 919.367.6797

SAI KRISHNA BHAVAN 10970 Chapel Hill Road Cary | 919.481.0910 saikrishnabhavan.com

10120 Green Level Church Road Cary | 919.267.5444

LA SHISH MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE 908 N.E. Maynard Road | Cary 919.388.8330 | lashish.net

SASSOOL 1347 Kildaire Farm Road | Cary 919.300.5586 | sassool.com TURKUAZ MARKET 203 N. Harrison Avenue #110 Cary | 919.455.1890 THE URBAN TURBAN 2757 N.C. Highway. 55 Cary | 919.367.0888 urbanturbanbistro.com

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MILANO PIZZA 7509 Purfoy Road Fuquay-Varina | 919.557.6093 sites.google.com/site/milanopizzafv MOD PIZZA 316 Colonades Way | Cary 919.241.7200 | modpizza.com THE ORIGINAL NY PIZZA 634 Holly Springs Road | Holly Springs 919.567.0505 | theoriginalnypizza.com PAPA’S SUBS & PIZZA 511 N. Main Street Holly Springs | 919.557.1919 THE PIZZA DUDE 1763 W. Williams Street | Apex 919.303.6686 | ncpizzadude.com PIZZERIA FAULISI 215 E. Chatham Street, Suite 101 Cary | pizzeriafaulisi.com RANDY’S PIZZA 4129 Davis Drive | Morrisville 919.468.3737 | randys-pizza.com RICCI’S TRATTORIA 10110 Green Level Road | Cary 919.380.8410 | riccistrattoria.com ROMEO’S PIZZA 800 W. Williams Street | Apex 919.355.2920 | romeospizza.com ROSATI’S PIZZA 3605 Davis Drive Morrisville | 919.380.7000 rosatispizza.com/locations/ SALVIO’S PIZZERIA 2428 S.W. Cary Parkway | Cary 919.467.4600 | salviospizza.com V PIZZA 1389 Kildaire Farm Road | Cary 919.650.1821 | vpizza.com

Photo courtesy of Inter-FaithFood Shuttle

Lend a HAND

6A HAND LEND â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;

WAYS TO BY BRITTANY MURDOCK

78 | CaryLiving.com

Looking for ways to help your community deal with the COVID-19 pandemic? Here are six suggestions.

Donate a Loaf to the Dorcas Food Pantry Shop the NC Virtual Artisan Market

The Raleigh Night Market might have cancelled upcoming events, but patrons can continue supporting and shopping its vendorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; homemade goods via the creation of the NC Virtual Artisan Market, a collaboration between the Raleigh Night Market and Raleigh DIY Punk Rock Flea Market. Visit ncartisanmarkets.com to start shopping.

Great Harvest Bread in Cary is helping to stock the shelves of Dorcas Food Pantry. Purchase a loaf of sandwich bread the next time you order takeout there, and the bakery and cafe will send a loaf of honey whole wheat to the Dorcas Food Pantry to feed a neighbor in need. Owners Paige and Tom Williams will then match the donations to multiply the giving.

Pay it Forward to Local Medical Clinics

Feed Pets Via the No Empty Bowl Project

FURbaby Pet Sitters is collecting pet food donations for the Friends of Wake County Animal Center, which has set up the No Empty Bowl Project, a pet food distribution event. Email info@furbabypetsitters.com to coordinate drop-off and pickup of items. In need of pet food assistance? Visit friendsofwakeanimals.org to apply.

Photo courtesy of Friends of Wake County Animal Center

Photo courtesy of Inter-Faith Food Shuttle

Purchase a dozen baked goods, boxed coffee or a whole coffee cake from Fount Coffee + Kitchen in Morrisville to be donated and delivered to local medical clinics on the frontline.

Contribute to Local Food Distribution Organizations

The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is in dire need of canned fruits and vegetables. Committed to providing emergency food to as many hungry neighbors as possible, the organization has provided several no-contact, drop-off locations throughout the Triangle. Urban Ministries of Wake County is also in need of hygiene kits, snacks, daily dinners and other items for the Helen Wright Center for Women. Help the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina by donating, hosting a virtual food drive or volunteering (if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re healthy). Learn more at foodshuttle.org, urbanmin.org and foodbankcenc.org.

Donate to the NC Restaurant Workers Relief Fund

The NC Restaurant Workers Relief Fund was established through the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association Foundation. The goal of the relief fund is to provide immediate financial assistance to the tens of thousands of cooks, servers, dishwashers, housekeepers and workers who live paycheck-to-paycheck and have suddenly found themselves in distress. To donate, visit ncrestaurantrelief.com.

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Sightings BOVENIZER & BAKER ORTHODONTICS DONATES ITEMS DURING PANDEMIC

COOKING FOR A CLASSIC RAISES FUNDS FOR LUCY DANIELS CENTER Chef Kevin Smith of 41 Hundred took the award—a classic 2002 Corvette convertible—in this year’s Cooking for a Classic competition. This battle between local chefs and their assistants culminated in a finale event benefiting The Lucy Daniels Center, the largest nonprofit provider of emotional, behavioral and mental health services for children in the Triangle area. The event raised over $100,000 for the center.

80 | CaryLiving.com

Photo by f8 Photo Studios

Photos courtesy of Bovenizer & Baker Orthodontics

Bovenizer & Baker Orthodontics donated gloves and masks to Duke Hospitals to help with the COVID-19 pandemic. The practice also purchased groceries to donate to Grow Our Kids, which were delivered to families in need around the Triangle.

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Kaleidoscope LIVING

BOUNCE

36" x 36" Oil

A RT I S T: SUSAN B. HECHT “My inspiration for this piece was all about the bouncing light and color and the play of the warmth against the cool depth.

Susan Hecht’s work focuses on the beauty of everyday: “The commonalities we relate to, those that may touch us and those that may go unnoticed. Creating a visual experience of this is my inspiration.” As much as the subject itself, she is intrigued by relationships— between light and shadow, object and edge, movement and stillness and between the subject and the whole. Through her work, her goal is to resonate feelings of nostalgia, familiarity and warmth. She hopes to evoke that sense of comfort and connection, and create something beautiful for others to enjoy. Susan is a signature member of the American Women Artists and Women Painters of the Southeast, as well as a member of Oil Painters of America and The American Impressionist Society. She is represented by galleries in Raleigh and throughout the Southeast. To see more of her work, visit susanbhecht.com.

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I wanted to capture the receptive movement in nature and how the flowers almost give you a nod as you walk by.”

5,000 years of art, 164 acres of nature. No matter the distance, our mission continues.

Connect with the “People’s Collection” from home at ncartmuseum.org/fromhome.

2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh

Visit the Museum Park safely! Tips and updates at ncartmuseum.org/covid19

Thomas Sayre, Gyre, 1999, three ellipses of concrete, colored with iron oxide, reinforced with steel, and mottled with dirt residue from earth casting, overall length 150 ft., Gift of Artsplosure, City of Raleigh, and various donors

NCMA visitor photo by @emily.millerr. See more at #ArtNaturePeople.

■

Experience Matters. Mary Shaver, RN, BSN, CANS

Michael R. Zenn, MD, FACS

• 18+ years experience • Certified Advanced Injector of Dermal Fillers & Botox • PRP, Micro-needling and Skincare

• 25+ years in practice • Board Certified Plastic Surgeon (ABPS) • Former Vice Chief, Duke Plastic Surgery • Ivy League Education and Surgical Training

ZENN PL ASTIC SURGERY AESTHETIC EXCELLENCE. SURGICAL EXPERTISE. EXCEPTIONAL CARE. 7920 ACC BOULEVARD, SUITE 110 | 919.480.3885 | ZENNPLASTICSURGERY.COM