Midtown magazine July August 2022 by Midtown, 5 West, Triangle Family

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 2 2

GO, PLAY, SEE 318 THINGS TO DO IN NC THIS SUMMER

12 TRIANGLE GEMS

MIDTOWN

DOWNTOWN

HOME RUN ENTERTAINMENT

NORTH RALEIGH

EDUCATION GUIDE

| WAKE FOREST |

CLAYTON

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Dr. Carli Compton was born and raised in Jacksonville, NC. She moved to Raleigh to attend Meredith College and pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a dentist. While at Meredith, she was the chapter president of the National Health Preprofessional Honor Society, and founded programs that mirrored Bridging the Gap at UNC to help students matriculate into professional programs. It was also during this time that she met Drs. Abernethy, Sonner and Wells and completed a 1-year internship before graduating.

DR. COMPTON

DR. SONNER

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DR. WELLS

Following her graduation, she was trained by Renaissance Dental Center to chair-side assist while pursuing a master’s degree in physiology at North Carolina State University. After completing her degree, she learned the business side of dentistry with RDC before moving to Greenville, NC in July 2018 to start dental school. Dr. Compton graduated from ECU School of Dental Medicine and moved back to Raleigh to partner with what she feels is the “best” patient experience and highest standard of care available. She looks forward to growing and learning with a practice that is continuously striving to provide every patient with the best possible care.

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Carolina Brain Center introduces

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Carolina Brain Center is proud to introduce to the Triangle the first GyroStim chair! GyroStim technology offers a unique sensorimotor challenge to the brain. Find out more about GyroStim and how it can help you at carolinabraincenter.com. “People need to stop just looking for a diagnosis and start looking for real results! We have travelled to many clinics with our son and CBC offers the results we were seeking” - Raul Baz, III, Dominican Republic Darcy D. Dane, DC, DACNB 919.703.0207

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E DITOR’S LET T ER

he best stories evoke the nostalgia of a cherished era. In her story “Go, Play, See” on page 26, Melissa Wistehuff takes you across our state to hundreds of places offering summer fun. Reading it prompted me to browse through old family scrapbooks, spurring a rush of memories from when my kids were little. Early photos show them splashing in the waves at Wrightsville Beach. A year later they were photographed in crisp white outfits on Atlantic Beach. That same summer we attended a family reunion in Oak Island and took snapshots of them “steering” the Battleship North Carolina in EDITOR BETH SHUGG'S THREE CHILDREN EXPLORE A HEMLOCK BLUFFS NATURE PRESERVE Wilmington. Not long after that they TRAIL IN CARY IN 2005. Photo courtesy of the Shugg family. posed in front of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, presenting treasures they found while mining for gems in Spruce Pine. These photos are my gems and, coincidentally, include a few of the places that made our “12 Triangle Gems” feature on page 40, written by Eizabeth Brignac. A favorite (above) shows my sons running through Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve in Cary, while my daughter does her best to keep up with them. Another Triangle gem makes an appearance years later in pre-prom photos of my younger son and his date—in their formalwear—riding Pullen Park’s historic Dentzel carousel. This Raleigh icon has many stories to tell, so we dedicated an entire feature to it on page 48 titled, “The Comeback Carousel,” lovingly written by Anita Stone. If these stories aren’t enough to convince you that the Triangle is one of the country’s best places to live, Kurt Dusterberg’s “Home Run Entertainment” on page 54 may do the trick. Discover eight Minor League Baseball teams that play in or near the Triangle and offer the same quality of entertainment as major league venues—including cold beer and foul ball–catching opportunities. The fun continues on page 60 with “Baseball is His Calling Card,” also written by Dusterberg. This story introduces you to Gregg Forwerck, who has worked as the photographer behind Topps baseball card photos since 1989. Forwerck was there when Nolan Ryan walked off the field after his final win in 1993. He also captured Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa’s pursuit of the single-season home run record in 1998. Splash into Tom Poland’s “Chattooga River Adventure” on page 66. A thrilling ride down this North Carolina/South Carolina/Georgia river made famous by the 1972 movie “Deliverance” is unparalleled, but you must heed the Chattooga’s warnings. In "Caution: Road Work Ahead" on page 76, Mandy Howard offers an update on Wake County road construction projects. Other department stories include a local athlete’s return to soccer after an organ transplate (page 72), a visit to Raleigh’s Vidrio restaurant (page 80), a perspective on life as an Accelerator School student (page 84), and tips on how to navigate school choice in Wake County (page 90). Our Education Guide on page 95 also offers helpful information about private schools that take unique approaches to education. If you’re new to the area, consider this your guidebook to what makes North Carolina so amazing. We hope you’ll tuck this issue in your backpack or glove box so you’ll always know where to GO, places to PLAY and sites to SEE across this beautiful state we call home. Here’s to a fun summer!

Beth Shugg, Editor 8 | midtownmag.com

JULY/AUGUST 2022

PUBLI S H ER Ronny Stephens EX EC UTI V E EDI TOR Beth Shugg A RT A N D WEB DI R ECTOR Sean Byrne G R A PH I C DES I G NE R Adam Cave GRAPHIC DESIGNER AND COPY EDITOR Cindy Huntley CO N TR I BUTI N G EDITOR Janice Lewine S O C I A L MEDI A A ND CO MMUN I TY EN G AG EM E NT MA N AG ER Melissa Wistehuff ACCO UN T EX EC UTIVE S Sherry Braswell Stefanie McClary DI STR I BUTI O N Joe Lizana, Manager DistribuTech.net CON TR I BUTI N G WR I TER S Elliot Acosta, Elizabeth Brignac, Annie Clark, Kurt Dusterberg, Mandy Howard, Janice Lewine, Tom Poland, Anita Stone, Libby Taylor, Melissa Wistehuff CO N TR I BUTI N G PH OTO G R A PH ERS Josh Manning, Michael Mascia, MASH Photography, Jenny Midgley, New Depth Creations

Midtown magazine is published six times annually. Any

reproduction in part or in whole of any part of this publication

Midtown magazine is not responsible for unsolicited

manuscripts, photography or art. Unsolicited material is welcome and is considered intended for publication. Such material

becomes the property of the magazine and is subject to editing. Midtown 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 midtownmag.com 4818-204 Six Forks Road Raleigh, NC 27609 Phone: 919.782.4710 Fax: 919.782.4763

10 | midtownmag.com

JULY/AUGUST 2022

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CONTENTS

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 2 2

FEATURES

26 GO, PLAY, SEE

Where to find summer fun across North Carolina

40 12 TRIANGLE GEMS Don’t miss these treasures here at home

48 THE COMEBACK CAROUSEL

A 1912 Dentzel original spins through time at Pullen Park

54 HOME RUN ENTERTAINMENT Minor league baseball teams keep the hits coming

60 BASEBALL IS HIS CALLING CARD

Gregg Forwerck’s photos

shape the sports card industry

66 CHATTOOGA RIVER ADVENTURE

Excitement awaits,

but heed the warnings

ON THE COVER

Reggie and Connie Caldwell of Raleigh stroll through the Dorothea Dix Park Sunflower Field. Photo by Jared Caldwell.

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 2 2

GO, PLAY, SEE 318 THINGS TO DO IN NC THIS SUMMER

12 TRIANGLE GEMS

MIDTOWN 070822MM_Cover.indd 1

12 | midtownmag.com

DOWNTOWN

HOME RUN ENTERTAINMENT

NORTH RALEIGH

EDUCATION GUIDE

| WAKE FOREST |

CLAYTON 6/16/22 11:55 AM

JULY/AUGUST 2022

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CONTENTS

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 2 2

DEPARTMENTS

GIVING BACK

TRANSPORTATION

CHEF’S TABLE

SPORTS

EDUCATION

Nonprofit gives organ transplant recipient hope

Engineers work to make infrastructure improvements

Vidrio serves acclaimed Mediterranean dishes

Local school offers athletes an academic alternative

Tips for navigating school choice in Wake County

IN EVERY ISSUE 16

ON THE SCENE Social Scene Talk of the Triangle New Around Town Home Styler Sister Cities

SPONSORED CONTENT

106 OUT + ABOUT Dine + Draft Tastes of the City Foodie Focus Events Midtown Mingles

118 KALEIDOSCOPE

View the results of our first annual student art contest

14 | midtownmag.com

FINANCIAL FOCUS

EDUCATION GUIDE

JULY/AUGUST 2022

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SOCIAL SCENE

ONtheSCENE

TALK OF THE TRIANGLE

NEW AROUND TOWN

HOME STYLER

SISTER CITIES

Visiting the museum of vintage stock cars at Hendrick Motorsports Museum and Team Store in Concord felt like stepping back in NASCAR history.

In celebration of summer travels, our social media manager, Melissa Wistehuff, rounded up a few of her family’s favorite social media moments at fun places around town and across the state. She kicks things off with burgers, tots and North Carolina–born Cheerwine at Mess Hall in the Cargo District of Wilmington.

Put the Salty Pirate Water Park in Emerald Isle on your must-do list when vacationing at the Crystal Coast.

Although—spoiler alert!—we didn’t escape, the attempt at Room 5280 in Raleigh made for a fun, family teamwork activity. 16 | midtownmag.com

Tour beyond the dunes of Cape Lookout on all-terrain vehicles that are available for rent from Island Express Ferry Service.

ALIGN YOURSELF

WITH HEALTH Chiropractic Acupuncture Weight Loss

There’s nothing better than a refreshing dinner alfresco with friends on the rooftop of Taverna Agora.

2022

Nothing spells SUMMER like a stop at Pelican’s SnoBalls on the last day of school.

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TEXT & P H OTOS BY ME L ISSA WISTEHUFF

Dr. Sarah Hayes, DC ⅼ Dr. Sophia Myers, DC, FASA 5041 Six Forks Road, Raleigh 919.786.9996 ⅼ carechiropracticrdu.com JULY/AUGUST 2022

| 17

SOCIAL SCENE

ONtheSCENE

TA LK OF THE TRIA NG L E

NEW AROUND TOWN

HOME STYLER

SISTER CITIES

INTRODUCING A BRAND-NEW PAGE FEATURING YOUR COMMENTS ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS! ALSO, CHECK OUT A SUMMARY OF OUR LATEST “TALK OF THE TRIANGLE” PODCAST EPISODES.

Brewgaloo is the largest North Carolina craft beer festival celebrating all things local. “Glad to see this back on the schedule!” —@f45_training_fivepointsraleigh “Yay! We’re so here for this!” —@shoplocalraleigh “Such a fun festival!” —@bluewatersparaleigh

Our May/June issues are on newsstands now, and we’re beyond excited to share them with you! “Congrats @sofialujanstyling on a job well done. We love you!” —@mfcraleigh “Words cannot describe how happy I am with this editorial! Love it!” —@sofialujanstyling ‘Gorgeous cover!” —@edibleartbakeryraleigh “Great cover!” —@raleighteaco

Where is your favorite weekend getaway? “Brevard and the secret swimming holes of the Pisgah!” —@kobudowoodcraft “I love Hendersonville, Beaufort and a little Airbnb in Wrightsville Beach that I will never share the name of LOL.” —@keelan_jules

We’re looking for North Carolina landmarks … the more unique, the better! “World’s largest chest of drawers in High Point.” —@basaltandbamboo “Devil’s Tramping Ground in Bear Creek, NC.” —@impending_boon

“West: Asheville! So much to see and do for all! East: Emerald Isle! Quaint beaches and some of the best local seafood restaurants around!” —@unclebandari

Have you heard the buzz about our brand-new “Talk of the Triangle” podcast? In episode 1, Kathryn-Leigh Bonner, founder and CEO of Bee Downtown, shares her expertise on the bees-ness of beekeeping, while Heather Rollins of Fairview Garden Center offers tips on choosing the best pollinator plants for your backyard. On July 5 we’ll drop episode 2! Get ready to hear all about RV travel life from two local couples. One couple lived in an RV for an entire year, while the other travels cross-country to national parks and other iconic locations as often as they can.

Get Social With Us! 18 | midtownmag.com

midtownmag.com

@ midtownmagazine

In this behind-the-scenes peek at the creation of our first podcast episode, hosts Adam Cave and Melissa Wistehuff (left) listen as Heather Rollins (right) of Fairview Garden Center discusses pollinator plants. Photo by Jenny Midgley

@ midtownmag

@ midtownmagazine

KIMBERLY CONROY PERSONAL PORTFOLIO OF RECENT LISTINGS SOLD

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JULY/AUGUST 2022

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SOCIAL SCENE

ONtheSCENE TALK OF THE TRIANGLE

NEW AROUND TOWN

HOME STYLER

SISTER CITIES

RALEIGH NATIVE IS NEW OWNER OF BUCKTHAL KEYSER ORTHODONTICS

Dr. Mary Morgan Bitler Keyser, DDS, MS, a Raleigh native and triple graduate of UNC–Chapel Hill, is the new owner of and orthodontist at Buckthal Keyser Orthodontics in Raleigh. She is excited to serve patients of all ages in the city where she grew up. 106 Lake Boone Trail, Raleigh 919.782.2119

drjamesbuckthal.com

PHOTO OF DR. MARY MORGAN BITLER KEYSER WITH PREVIOUS OWNER DR. JAMES E. BUCKTHAL, COURTESY OF BUCKTHAL KEYSER ORTHODONTICS

STRETCHLAB OPENS AT WAKE FOREST CROSSING

StretchLab offers customized, assisted-stretch sessions in one-on-one or group settings for clients looking to increase their range of motion and flexibility, decrease muscle and joint pain, or improve sports performance. Expanding on the success of its Midtown Raleigh and Cary practices, StretchLab recently opened a third location in Wake Forest at 12646 Capital Boulevard. 12646 Capital Boulevard, Wake Forest 919.263.4757

stretchlab.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF STRETCHLAB

AVAIL AESTHETICS BRINGS MED SPA TREATMENTS TO RALEIGH

Avail Aesthetics is a top-tier med spa offering treatments for skin, hair, brow and lash services; lymphatic therapy; laser vein removal; and Emsculpt, Emsella, Vanquish ME, Picosure, ICON and Potenza RF Microneedling services. Avail Aesthetics recently opened a second Triangle location at 2006 Fairview Road in Raleigh in the Historic Five Points district. 2006 Fairview Road, Raleigh 919.322.5440

availaesthetics.com PHOTO COURTESY OF AVAIL AESTHETICS

TRIANGLE ACUPUNCTURE CLINIC RELOCATES TO LAKE BOONE TRAIL

Triangle Acupuncture Clinic, which has served the Triangle for over 18 years, has relocated its Raleigh office to 4301 Lake Boone Trail. The clinic features 11 treatment rooms, an herb and wellness shop, and an herbal pharmacy. Its acupuncturists specialize in pain management, general internal medicine, women’s health and infertility, and Chinese herbal medicine to help individuals meet their health goals. Triangle Acupuncture Clinic also has an office in Chapel Hill. 4301 Lake Boone Trail, Suite 210, Raleigh 919.535.4088

triangleacupunctureclinic.com PHOTO COURTESY OF TRIANGLE ACUPUNCTURE CLINIC

HEIGHTS HOUSE HOTEL INTRODUCES THE PARLOR, AN INTIMATE COCKTAIL BAR

Heights House Hotel, a small luxury hotel in Raleigh’s historic Boylan Heights neighborhood, opened The Parlor at Heights House, an intimate cocktail bar, on June 1. Now non-hotel guests can explore the pre–Civil War property and National Historic Landmark that was restored by owners Sarah and Jeff Shepherd. The menu features a selection of Italian-inspired cocktails, an all-Italian wine list and local craft beer alongside cheese and charcuterie boards. The Parlor is open by reservation Tuesday through Thursday from 4–9 p.m., and Sunday from 2–7 p.m. 308 S. Boylan Avenue, Raleigh 919.594.1881

heightshousenc.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF HEIGHTS HOUSE HOTEL

20 | midtownmag.com

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RALEIGH LOCATION NOW OPEN IN FIVE POINTS 2006 FAIRVIEW ROAD, RALEIGH JULY/AUGUST 2022

| 21

SOCIAL SCENE

ONtheSCENE

TALK OF THE TRIANGLE

NEW AROUND TOWN

HOME STYLER

SISTER CITIES

INFUSE your STYLE 1

PHOTO BY JENNY MIDGLEY

The master bedroom is all about privacy, so there’s no better place for displaying your personal taste. Make a big splash with an elegant bedroom set and surround yourself with

cherished family photos in contemporary frames. Sip on your favorite wine in a decorative stemless glass as you enjoy an infusion of your favorite scents.

1. Hekman Edgewater bedroom set, $7,599 | Inspirations Home Decor & More 2. Snake plant in cacti pot, $34 | City Garden Design

PHOTO BY JENNY MIDGLEY

3. Corkcicle stemless wine tumbler (12 ounces) in Vineyard Vines Blue Camo, $34.95 | Stylish Living 4. Wood and marble shadow frames, $26 (4-by-6-inch) and $30 (5-by-7-inch) | Swagger 5. Fringe pillows (11-by-20 inches), $34 for a set of two | Swagger 6. Pura Smart Fragrance Diffuser, $45; Pura diffuser scents, $12.50 each | Stylish Living

22 | midtownmag.com

BY KURT DUSTE R B E R G Photos provided by vendors unless otherwise noted

JULY/AUGUST 2022

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SOCIAL SCENE

ONtheSCENE

TALK OF THE TRIANGLE

NEW AROUND TOWN

HOME STYLER

SISTER CITIES

BOARDWALK BLISS

2 states + 2 boardwalks = boundless beachfront fun! BY M EL ISSA W ISTEHUFF CAROLINA BEACH BOARDWALK

VIRGINIA BEACH BOARDWALK

Ranked one of the top 10 boardwalks in the country by Food & Wine

An astounding 3-miles long and 28-feet wide, the Virginia Beach

magazine, the Carolina Beach Boardwalk leads to classic seaside

Boardwalk is the longest on the East Coast. Ideal for strolling,

family fun. It has a vintage feel that adds to its character. Enjoy

biking and rollerblading, it consists of four stages along its path

amusement rides, a carousel, carnival games and street food

that offer live music throughout the summer months. Don’t forget

throughout this favorite landmark—the only true boardwalk on the

to take an obligatory selfie with the 24-foot, 12-ton bronze statue of

North Carolina coast. Attractions at the boardwalk are open

King Neptune.

Carolina Beach

Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend. Extend your fun as you explore Carolina Beach—one of North

Virginia Beach

You’ll also find plenty of family-friendly fun around the boardwalk. Grommet Island Park consists of a 15,000-square-foot beach

Carolina’s most popular coastal towns. Freeman Park is a preferred

playground offering shady spots for a break from the sun. Atlantic

camping destination, where trucks can drive and park on the sand,

Fun Park is yet another amusement site, featuring the tallest Ferris

and campers can set up tents year-round. Seafood connoisseurs also

wheel in Virginia Beach, games, a kiddie train and food. Foodies

gravitate to Carolina Beach’s endless dining options. Cape Fear Boil

delight in the boardwalk’s restaurant options, which offer something

Company boasts legendary crab boil pots known to cause severe

for every appetite. Waterman’s Surfside Grille is a favorite among

cravings. Learn more at carolina-beach.wilmingtonandbeaches.com.

vacationers and locals alike. Learn more at visitvirginiabeach.com.

PHOTOS OF CAROLINA BEACH BOARDWALK BY BETH SHUGG

PHOTOS OF VIRGINIA BEACH BOARDWALK BY MELISSA WISTEHUFF

24 | midtownmag.com

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GO, PLAY, SEE 318 things to do in North Carolina this summer BY MELISSA WISTEHUFF

rom the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains and rolling hills of the Piedmont, to the wide, sandy beaches of the Outer Banks, North Carolina is known for its breathtaking beauty. Steeped in rich culture and history, and set amongst a backdrop of awe-inspiring nature and landscapes, there are endless options for ideal getaways that fit a variety of interests. North Carolina ranks among the top 10 most‑visited places in the U.S., according to the North Carolina Department of Commerce. To prove that the “Old North State” is known for more than barbecue and Cheerwine, we’ve compiled a summer bucket list of places and events you must experience. We’ll start in the west and travel east, highlighting where to GO, places to PLAY and things to SEE throughout North Carolina—keeping in mind that our home state is so great, we surely can’t fit all the fun on one list. In fact, we’ve included an extended version of this feature, as well as a comprehensive list of annual festivals across North Carolina, on our website at midtownmag.com, so be sure to check that out! Let’s begin … As singer James Taylor affectionately croons, “I’m gone to Carolina in my mind.”

CAROWINDS, CHARLOTTE

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAROWINDS

26 | midtownmag.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF WILMINGTON AND BEACHES CVB

GET UP AND GO THE MOUNTAINS

Approximately 23 counties form the North Carolina mountains, encompassing countless acres of lush green (or white‑peaked, depending on the time of year) scenic views. Here are a few places on our “must-go-to” list. BILTMORE ESTATE Asheville biltmore.com The 250-room Biltmore Estate is America’s largest home and the top attraction in North Carolina, according to Trip Advisor. The French Renaissance castle sits in the heart of Asheville and is considered to be the “crown jewel” of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Still owned by the Vanderbilt family, Biltmore welcomes nearly 1.7 million visitors each year. In addition to the main house, the 8,000-acre estate includes majestic gardens and America’s first managed forest, all designed by New York City Central Park designer Frederick Law Olmsted. The Christmas holiday tours are a don’t-miss experience. RENTALS AND RETREATS There are innumerable options for where to stay during your mountain vacation. These properties are easily accessible and provide numerous amenities, outdoor activities, sublime views and pristine surroundings.

Biltmore Village Inn, Asheville biltmorevillageinn.com Once home to George Vanderbilt’s attorney, Samuel Reed, this Queen Anne Victorian home overlooks Asheville, the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Swannanoa River Valley. Blue Ridge Mountain Club, Boone blueridgemountainclub.com Blue Ridge Mountain Club is surrounded by natural beauty and is committed to preserving 6,000-plus acres of curated hiking/UTV trails and premier amenities. Located just 6 miles from Blowing Rock and Boone, this private mountain community blends adventure and relaxation to create lasting memories.

Elijah Mountain Gem Mine, Hendersonville elijahmountain.com Foggy Mountain Gem Mine, Boone foggymountaingems.com Gem Mountain, Spruce Pine gemmountain.com BUSTLING BARNYARDS Apples, alpacas and Christmas trees, oh my! Check out these mountain farms as you travel west. Darnell Farms, Bryson City darnellfarms.com Smoky Mountain Tree Farm, Waynesville smokymountaintreefarm.com

Half-Mile Farm, Highlands oldedwardshospitality.com/ half-mile-farm The trickling streams, serene farmland and spectacular waterfalls are just the beginning of what Half-Mile Farm offers. Awe-inspiring views of Apple Lake and a heated mineral pool help you escape from everyday life. Find a sitter for the kids—this farm is for ages 18-plus only.

Winchester Creek Farm, Waynesville winchestercreekfarm.com

PROSPECTOR FOR A DAY Dig for gems, fossils and geodes when you become prospector for a day. Visit the gift shops and have custom jewelry made from the treasures you find.

New River Corn Maze, Boone newrivercornmaze.com

BILTMORE ESTATE, ASHEVILLE

PHOTO COURTESY OF JARED KAY/EXPLOREASHEVILLE.COM

Apple Hill Farm, Banner Elk applehillfarmnc.com Gladheart Farm, Asheville gladheartfarm.org Grandad’s Apples ‘N Such, Hendersonville grandadsapples.com

The Orchard at Altapass, Spruce Pine altapassorchard.org

Sweet Betsy Farm, Marion sweetbetsyfarm.com VINO VISTAS The North Carolina mountains are home to dozens of stunning vineyards and wineries. Here are some recent North Carolina State Fair gold winners to visit during your next girls’ weekend or romantic getaway. Biltmore Estate Winery, Asheville biltmore.com Burntshirt Vineyards, Hendersonville burntshirtvineyards.com Elkin Creek Vineyard, Elkin elkincreekvineyard.com Grandfather Vineyard, Banner Elk grandfathervineyard.com Jones von Drehle Vineyards & Winery, Thurmond jonesvondrehle.com Linville Falls Winery, Linville Falls linvillefallswinery.com McRitchie Winery & Ciderworks, Thurmond mcritchiewine.com Mountain Brook Vineyards, Tryon mountainbrookvineyards.com Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards, Hendersonville saintpaulfarms.com

THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA

PHOTO COURTESY OF BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAIN CLUB

JULY/AUGUST 2022

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MOUNTAIN VIEWS AND BREWS Discover plenty of places to enjoy a cold beer during your mountain travels. Appalachian Mountain Brewery, Boone amb.beer Boojum Brewing Company, Waynesville boojumbrewing.com Boonshine Brewing Company, Boone booneshine.beer Burial Beer Company, Asheville burialbeer.com Hi-Wire Brewing, Asheville hiwirebrewing.com Lazy Hiker Brewing Company, Franklin lazyhikerbrewing.com Nantahala Brewing Company, Bryson City nantahalabrewing.com

THE PIEDMONT

North Carolina is known for its majestic mountains and relaxing beaches, but don’t underestimate the Piedmont. Gentle slopes, evergreen landscapes and bustling cities mixed with charming towns give this region plenty of bragging rights. INN-CREDIBLE PLACES TO STAY Perhaps you are a history buff seeking the origins of a centuries-old manor, or you’re in town to catch a college football game. Here are some unique places to relax after a fun-filled day in the Piedmont.

Andy’s Homeplace, Mount Airy visitmayberry.com Fans of “The Andy Griffith Show” will feel right at home in Griffith’s childhood residence, which is decorated in 1930–40s style and includes memorabilia from the 1960s show. The Carolina Hotel, Pinehurst pinehurst.com Dubbed “The Queen of the South,” The Carolina Hotel is the primo place to stay while visiting Pinehurst. Enjoy the hotel’s spa, sweeping verandas and serene surroundings. Graylyn, Winston-Salem graylyn.com Once owned by Bowman and Nathalie Lyons Gray, North Carolina’s second-largest home was later restored to its original splendor and donated to Wake Forest University. TRIANGLE STAYCATIONS The Triangle is home to dozens of exquisite hotels and resorts, making it unnecessary to venture far from home—or even leave the premises upon arrival—and proving that it doesn’t matter how far away you go, but how far away you feel. Check out our extended list of staycation options—from The Mayton in Cary and Fearrington Village in Pittsboro, to the AC Hotel Raleigh Downtown and Heights House Hotel in Raleigh— in the extended version of this feature at midtownmag.com.

HEIGHTS HOUSE HOTEL, RALEIGH

PHOTO COURTESY OF MONICA SLANEY/PHOTOGRAPHIE:FOURSEVEN

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NORTH CAROLINA STATE FAIR Raleigh, October 13–23, 2022 ncstatefair.org Explore North Carolina’s agriculture, agribusiness, arts, crafts and culture at this annual fair featuring amusement rides, live performances and culinary delights. From fried Oreos and donut burgers to atomic tots and lobster pops, you’ll find a wide range of twisted treats to try.

Naylor Family Farm, Fuquay-Varina naylorfamilyfarm.com Old Mill Farm, Durham oldmillfarmdurham.com Phillips Farm, Cary phillipsfarmsofcary.com Prodigal Farm, Rougemont prodigalfarm.com

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE The Piedmont region is home to numerous zoos and animal rescue organizations, all worthy of a day trip. Here are just a few to explore.

THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE The Piedmont’s world-renown wineries and vineyards offer unique experiences—like taste-testing wine as you trek with llamas through beautiful scenery. Here are some within a couple hours’ drive from the Triangle.

Carolina Tiger Rescue, Pittsboro carolinatigerrescue.org

Botanist and Barrel, Cedar Grove botanistandbarrel.com

Duke Lemur Center, Durham lemur.duke.edu

Chatham Hill Winery, Cary chathamhillinc.com

North Carolina Zoo, Asheboro nczoo.org

Childress Vineyards, Lexington childressvineyards.com

Spring Haven Farm, Chapel Hill springhaven.farm

Cloer Family Vineyards, Apex cloerfamilyvineyards.com

DOWN ON THE FARM Spend the day supporting the local farms that play an important role in our state’s economy and history. Here are some located in the Triangle.

Divine Llama Vineyards, East Bend divinellamavineyards.com

1870 Farm, Chapel Hill 1870farm.com

HOP TO IT Prefer a tall, cold one to a refined glass of wine? Check out these Piedmont breweries located here in the Triangle.

Hill Ridge Farms, Youngsville hillridgefarms.com Lavender Oaks Farm, Chapel Hill lavenderoaks.farm

Roaring River Vineyards, Traphill roaringrivervineyards.com

Aviator Brewing Company, Fuquay-Varina aviatorbrew.com

NORTH CAROLINA ZOO, ASHEBORO

PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTH CAROLINA ZOO

Bond Brothers Beer Company, Cary bondbrothersbeer.com Carolina Brewery, Chapel Hill and Pittsboro carolinabrewery.com Carolina Brewing Company, Holly Springs carolinabrew.com Cotton House Craft Brewers, Cary trianglebeer.co Haw River Farmhouse Ales, Saxapahaw hawriverstore.com The Mason Jar Lager Company, Fuquay-Varina masonjarlagerco.com

“I always enjoy day trips to Saxapahaw on the Haw River. From concerts to quilting parties, there’s always something fun going on. It’s one of the area’s best-kept secrets!” — Ira David Wood III, artistic and executive director of Theatre in the Park in Raleigh

Southern Peak Brewery, Apex southernpeakbrewery.com TapStation Brewery, Burgers & Bourbon, Apex tapstationapex.com Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery, Chapel Hill thetopofthehill.com Vicious Fishes, Apex and Fuquay-Varina viciousfishes.com

THE BEACHES

North Carolina’s coast claims more than 300 miles of beautiful beaches that repeatedly land on the “world’s best” lists. One visit to any of the state’s seaside towns, and you’ll quickly see why. SHORELINE SHELTERS Lay your sunkissed head down at these sea sanctuaries to experience different towns up and down the coast. The Beaufort Inn, Beaufort beaufortinn.com Located along the waterfront of one of North Carolina’s most historic towns, The Beaufort Inn offers boat slips and rocking chairs with a view, and is within walking distance to numerous restaurants. Blockade Runner Beach Resort, Wrightsville Beach blockade-runner.com Step into the sand without ever

TAPSTATION BREWERY BURGERS & BOURBON, APEX

PHOTO BY MASH PHOTOGRAPHY

needing to venture from the Blockade Runner. Enjoy activities right on the property—from surfing school to yoga.

Gregory Farms Vineyard/ Winery, Currie gregoryfarmsandvineyard.com

The Marsh Harbour Inn, Bald Head Island themarshharbourinn.com Bald Head Island, where bikes and golf carts rule the road, is located at the southernmost tip of North Carolina’s cape islands and is reachable only via ferry. Lodge at The Marsh Harbour Inn to enjoy a beautiful marina and sunset views.

Sanctuary Vineyards, Jarvisburg sanctuaryvineyards.com

NORTH CAROLINA AQUARIUMS ncaquariums.com Experience North Carolina’s aquariums at Fort Fisher, Jennette’s Pier, Pine Knoll Shores and Roanoke Island. COASTAL CABERNETS Sip wine by the shore at these picturesque wineries and vineyards. Bannerman Vineyard, Burgaw bannermanvineyard.com Cape Fear Vineyard & Winery, Elizabethtown capefearwinery.com Duplin Winery, Rose Hill duplinwinery.com Grapefull Sisters Vineyard, Tabor City grapefullsistersvineyard.com

BEACH BREWS Grab a cold one at a coastal brewery, then kick back and enjoy the relaxing ocean air. Broomtail Craft Brewery, Wilmington broomtailcraftbrewery.com Crystal Coast Brewing Company, Atlantic Beach crystalcoastbrewingcompany.com Dirt Bag Ales, Hope Mills dirtbagales.com Edward Teach Bear Company, Wilmington edwardteachbrewery.com Flying Machine Brewing Company, Wilmington flyingmachine.beer Front Street Brewery, Wilmington frontstreetbrewery.com Good Hops Brewing, Carolina Beach goodhopsbrewing.com Mad Mole Brewing, Wilmington madmolebrewing.com Salty Turtle Beer Company, Surf City saltyturtlebeer.com

NORTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM AT FORT FISHER

PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM AT FORT FISHER

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MAKE TIME TO PLAY THE MOUNTAINS

From skiing and hiking, to whitewater rafting and casino game-playing, there’s no end to fun in North Carolina’s scenic mountains. As Scottish-American naturalist, preservationist and author John Muir once said, “The mountains are calling, and I must go.” GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN Linville grandfather.com A trip to the mountains isn’t complete until you’ve checked “walk across a mile-high swinging bridge” off your bucket list. America’s highest suspension footbridge affords 360-degree, panoramic views. AUTUMN AT OZ FESTIVAL Land of Oz, Beech Mountain September 9–11, 16–18 and 23–25 landofoznc.com L. Frank Baum’s beloved tale of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” comes to life on Beech Mountain each autumn at the Land of Oz—mercifully minus the flying monkeys and falling houses. Follow the yellow brick road all the way to Emerald City! HARRAH’S CHEROKEE CASINO Cherokee harrahscherokee.com The ultimate adult playground and first major casino in North Carolina is owned by the Eastern Band of

Cherokee Indians. It gives a large percentage of its profits to the Cherokee Preservation Foundation. TWEETSIE RAILROAD Blowing Rock tweetsie.com In addition to a 3-mile historic steam locomotive ride, this wild west– themed park offers family-friendly amusement rides, live entertainment, gold panning, gem mining and a petting zoo. CLIMBS TO HIKE These western North Carolina day hikes offer moments of respite as well as challenging heights. Learn about each of these trails at alltrails.com. Art Loeb Trail – Brevard Boone Fork Trail – Boone Graveyard Falls – Montreat Hawksbill Mountain Trail – Linville Gorge Wilderness Lower Cascade Trail – Hanging Rock State Park Mount Mitchell Trail – Mount Mitchell State Park Paradise Falls – Tuckasegee Profile Trail – Grandfather Mountain State Park Rainbow Falls Trail – Gorges State Park Stone Mountain Loop Trail – Stone Mountain State Park

TWEETSIE RAILROAD, BLOWING ROCK

PHOTO COURTESY OF TWEETSIE RAILROAD

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Tanawha Trail – Blue Ridge Parkway Triple Falls Trail – Cedar Mountain BUNNY SLOPES AND BLACK DIAMONDS Hit the slopes at—or tube down— one of North Carolina’s spectacular ski havens. Appalachian Ski Mountain, Blowing Rock appskimtn.com Beech Mountain Resort, Beech Mountain beechmountainresort.com Cataloochee Ski Area, Maggie Valley cataloochee.com Hawksnest Snow Tubing and Zipline, Seven Devils hawksnestzipline.com Ski Sapphire Valley, Sapphire skisapphirevalley.com Sugar Mountain Resort, Sugar Mountain skisugar.com Wolf Ridge Ski Resort, Mars Hill skiwolfridgenc.com THRILL-SEEKING FEATS Get your adrenaline rush at these western North Carolina destinations. The Gorge Zipline, Saluda thegorgezipline.com

High Gravity Adventures, Blowing Rock highgravityadventures.com Nantahala Outdoor Center, Bryson City noc.com Rocky Face Mountain Recreational Area, Hiddenite rockyfacepark.com Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster, Banner Elk wildernessrunalpinecoaster.com SLOW THE PACE These adventures create equal thrills at a more measured pace, while offering a change of scenery and plenty of fresh mountain air. Love Valley, Statesville lovevalley.com Quarry Falls, Highlands romanticasheville.com RiverPark at Cooleemee Falls, Woodleaf cooleemee.org Smokemont Riding Stable, Cherokee smokemontridingstable.com Southern Appalachian Anglers, Asheville southernappalachiananglers.com Tail of the Dragon, Deals Gap tailofthedragon.com

GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN, LINVILLE

PHOTO COURTESY OF CINDY HUNTLEY

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Midtown and Cary Living magazines’ “Talk of the Triangle” podcast introduces listeners to the PEOPLE, PLACES + EVENTS WORTH TALKING ABOUT.

Talk of the Triangle expands on the stories you have loved in the magazines, and introduces you to new stories and fascinating people we have yet to write about. AVAILABLE ON ALL YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST PLATFORMS: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Amazon Audible, Google Podcasts and more. For limited host-read advertising and sponsorship opportunities contact: 919.782.4710 advertise@midtownmag.com | advertise@caryliving.com

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THE PIEDMONT

The Piedmont hosts North Carolina’s largest cities, complete with sports teams, state and local parks and playgrounds, and family-friendly pastimes within a short drive. PULLEN PARK Raleigh raleighnc.gov Pullen Park is North Carolina’s first public park and the fifth oldest operating amusement park in the country. Its historic Dentzel carousel originally debuted in 1912 at Raleigh’s Bloomsbury Park, but soon after, the City of Raleigh purchased the carousel and moved it to Pullen Park, where it opened for rides in 1921. Learn more about this historic carousel on page 48. A WALK IN THE WOODS Countless places in the Piedmont are best seen on foot. Grab your water bottle, unplug and take a walk.

speedway from NASCAR’s inaugural 1949 season. Now a peaceful place to walk, the track harkens back to NASCAR’s glory days, which featured drivers such as Richard Petty, Fireball Roberts and Fonty Flock. Its grandstands and concession stands remain, and the oval has been adorned with restored stock cars. Mountains-to-Sea Trail mountainstoseatrail.org The Mountains-to-Sea trail runs nearly 1,200 miles and connects North Carolina’s Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks. Interlacing big cities, small towns and hundreds of acres of farmland, volunteers are making the trail by hand. Approximately 700 miles of the trail are complete to date, with remaining paths connected via temporary routes. The trail encompasses the tallest mountain peak as well as the tallest sand dune in the eastern U.S., and connects 10 state parks, three national forests and three lighthouses.

American Tobacco Trail, Chatham, Durham and Wake counties triangletrails.org/ american-tobacco-trail This rails-to-trails project extends 22-plus miles through Durham, Chatham and Wake counties. It also passes through the Jordan Lake U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land. Horses are welcome.

More Piedmont Trails alltrails.com.

Historic Occoneechee Speedway, Hillsborough visithillsboroughnc.com This 1-mile oval is the only surviving dirt

Eno River State Park – Durham

Broad River Greenway Trail – Shelby Carter Falls – Elkin Clemmons Educational State Forest – Clayton Duke Forest – Durham Raven Rock State Park – Lillington

iFLY, CONCORD

Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve – Southern Pines William B. Umstead State Park Sycamore Trail – Raleigh LAKE ZONES The Piedmont is home to many lakes, but two of its largest are right here in the Triangle.

Carowinds and Carolina Harbor at Carowinds, Charlotte carowinds.com Frankie’s, Charlotte and Raleigh frankies.com Great Wolf Lodge, Concord greatwolflodge.com iFly, Concord iflyworld.com

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area, Apex ncparks.gov This 14,000-acre reservoir that touches Wake and Chatham counties creates endless opportunities for boating, fishing, hiking, cycling, swimming and wildlife watching. The area offers nine access areas with 1,000 campsites in five of them, 14 miles of hiking trails, 11 boat ramps, 7 swim beaches and at least 16 eagle nests.

U.S. National Whitewater Center, Charlotte whitewater.org

Falls Lake State Recreation Area, Wake Forest ncparks.com Located north of Raleigh, Falls Lake State Recreation Area consists of a 12,000-acre reservoir with seven access areas containing 300 campsites at four of those areas. There are five swim beaches, a marina and several boat ramps, 14.3 miles of trails and a separate quiet lake impoundment perfect for paddling, fishing and swimming.

Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord charlottemotorspeedway.com NASCAR is the No. 1 spectator sport in America, claiming 17 of the top 20 most-attended sporting events in the U.S., according to Forbes. Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord is considered one of the busiest racing venues in the country, hosting nearly 400 events each year. The Coca-Cola 600, held each Memorial Day weekend, is the speedway’s penultimate event and has helped dub Charlotte Motor Speedway “America’s home for racing.”

HIGH-FLYING FUN ZONES Be a kid for the day at the Piedmont’s theme and water parks.

Wet ’n Wild Emerald Pointe, Greensboro emeraldpointe.com START YOUR ENGINES North Carolina is the undisputed home of NASCAR. If you have an uncontrollable need for speed, burn rubber—or cheer on your favorite drivers—from these grandstands.

CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY, CHARLOTTE

PHOTO COURTESY OF MELISSA WISTEHUFF

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Uwharrie National Forest – Troy

PHOTO COURTESY OF CABARRUS COUNTY CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU

Busco Beach, Goldsboro buscobeach.com

Asheville Tourists Burlington Sock Puppets

GoPro Motorplex, Mooresville gopromotorplex.com

Durham Bulls Carolina Mudcats

Richard Petty Driving Experience, Concord drivepetty.com

Charlotte Knights Down East Wood Ducks

Rockingham Dragway, Rockingham rockinghamdragway.com

Fayetteville Woodpeckers

Rush Hour Karting, Garner rhkfun.com

Greensboro Grasshoppers

Gastonia Honey Hunters

Wake County Speedway, Raleigh wcspeedway.com

Hickory Crawdads

GOT GAME? The Tobacco Road ACC rivalry may make headline news, but North Carolina gets a slam dunk for hosting great pro teams as well.

Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Holly Springs Salamanders

Major League Soccer: Charlotte FC and North Carolina FC National Women’s Soccer League: North Carolina Courage National Basketball League: Charlotte Hornets National Football League: Carolina Panthers National Hockey League: Carolina Hurricanes LET’S PLAY BALL North Carolina hosts quite a few minor league franchises, each with all the bells and whistles of a major league ballpark experience. Learn more on page 54 and at milb.com.

Wilmington Sharks Winston-Salem Dash

THE COAST

CAPE LOOKOUT NATIONAL SEASHORE Harkers Island nps.gov/calo islandexpressferryservices.com The Island Express Ferry Service leaves Harkers Island and cruises past Shackleford Banks, where wild horses roam. On Cape Lookout, rent an ATV to tour the island. Once home to a U.S. Coast Guard station, Harkers Island also hosts the remains of a World War II Army coastal defense complex. ARRGH WE THERE YET? The North Carolina coast offers endless options for recreational activities.

Springbrook Farms Horsedrawn Tours, Wilmington horsedrawntours.com Surf Camp, Wrightsville Beach wbsurfcamp.com White Lake Water Park, White Lake whitelakewaterpark.com TEE TIME The undisputed golf capital of the state lies in the Sandhills region. Pinehurst Golf Resort and Southern Pines Golf Club go head-to-head on all “best of” lists. See a ranked list of the state’s top golf courses at ncgolfpanel.com.

Beaufort Paddle, Beaufort beaufortpaddle.com Beaufort Pirates Revenge, Beaufort beaufortpiratesrevenge.com

From water sports and wind-blown hair, to riding waves and banana boats, there’s always playful commotion near the ocean. Add these attractions to your sand bucket list.

H2OBX Waterpark, Powells Point h2obxwaterpark.com

JOCKEY’S RIDGE STATE PARK Nags Head ncparks.gov The Atlantic Coast’s tallest active sand dune, Jockey’s Ridge is the most visited park within the North Carolina park system—and a prime location for kite flying, sunset viewing and hang gliding. Its sound side offers wading and paddling opportunities.

Ocean Air Sports, Cape Hatteras oceanairsports.com

“When I’m not coaching basketball or cheering for my son at AAU tournaments, I’m playing golf at Pine Hollow (Clayton) or Devil’s Ridge (Holly Springs).”

Ride the Wind Surf & Kayak, Ocracoke surfocracoke.com

— LeVelle Moton, head coach of North Carolina Central University’s men’s basketball team

JOCKEY’S RIDGE STATE PARK, NAGS HEAD

PHOTO COURTESY OF OUTER BANKS VISITORS BUREAU/OUTERBANKS.ORG

Kitty Hawk Kites Hang Gliding Training Center, Nags Head kittyhawk.com

The Salty Pirate Water Park, Emerald Isle saltypiratewaterpark.com

BEAUFORT WATERFRONT, BEAUFORT

PHOTO COURTESY OF CRYSTAL COAST TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

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INSPIRING SIGHTS TO SEE THE MOUNTAINS

From waterfalls and gardens to castles and outdoor plays, you’ll see something at every turn in the mountains, where jaw-dropping wilderness and scenic views abound. Mount Mitchell, for example, boasts the highest point east of the Mississippi River. Here are some of our favorite spots from which to inhale a panoramic scene. ELEVATED SENSES The best place to take in awe-inspiring views is from up high, atop a grand North Carolina mountain—or on the back of a motorcycle. Cherohala Skyway, Robbinsville cherohala.com Hot Springs hotspringsnc.org Linn Cove Viaduct blueridgeparkway.org

DO GO CHASING WATERFALLS North Carolina waterfalls are innumerable, stunning, mesmerizing and serene. Here are a few everyone should see at least once in a lifetime. Catawba Falls, Old Fort (Closed until spring 2023, but worth the wait) fs.usda.gov Crabtree Falls, Grassy Creek nps.gov Dry Falls, Highlands fs.usda.gov Hidden Falls, Hanging Rock State Park ncparks.gov High Falls and Triple Falls, DuPont State Recreational Forest, Hendersonville dupontforest.com Linville Falls, Blue Ridge Parkway nps.gov

Mount Mitchell, Yancey County ncparks.gov

Looking Glass Falls, Pisgah National Forest nps.gov

Wild Dam Waterfall Loop, Maggie Valley blueridgemotorcycling.com

Mingo Falls, Great Smoky Mountains National Park nps.gov

Wiseman’s View Scenic Overlook, Linville Gorge Wilderness fs.usda.gov

Rainbow Falls, Gorges State Park ncparks.gov Whitewater Falls, Cashiers fs.usda.gov

HANGING ROCK STATE PARK, DANBURY

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS SHUGG

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THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS RAILROAD All aboard! The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad covers more than 53 miles and offers an up-close look at some of our state’s most remote areas. It travels over the Nantahala River Gorge and along the Tuckasegee River, crossing 25 bridges over valleys, through tunnels and by majestic lakes. During the early 1900s it played a major role in developing the region, but nowadays, passengers need only to sit back, relax and let the conductor lead the way. gsmr.com CASTLES IN THE CLOUDS From mansions to castles, the North Carolina mountains accommodate many notable— and beautiful—homes. Allison-Deaver House, Pisgah Forest tchistoricalsociety.com Step back in time at the oldest standing timber frame house in western North Carolina, unchanged since 1860. Biltmore Estate, Asheville biltmore.com Explore three floors and the basement of this French Renaissance castle. Discover how the Vanderbilt family lived; what they wore; and the furniture, art and accessories they filled their home with.

Carl Sandburg Home, Flat Rock nps.gov Pulitzer Prize–winning poet and author Carl Sandburg wrote more than a third of his famous works while living in the home he and his wife called Connemara, a national historic site. Flat Top Manor, Blowing Rock blueridgeparkway.org Known as the king of denim, Moses Cone was an innovative textile magnate and entrepreneur. He built Flat Top Manor, also known as Moses Cone Manor, at the turn of the 20th century. Smith-McDowell House, Asheville Romanticasheville.com The Smith-McDowell House served as a home to mayors, a Confederate officer and close friends of the Vanderbilt family. THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX (OFFICE) Soak up western North Carolina’s history and culture by watching these famous outdoor plays. “Horn in the West” – Boone horninthewest.com Watch the story of frontiersman Daniel Boone and other mountain settlers from North Carolina’s 18th-century high country as they explore life before and during the Revolutionary War.

DRY FALLS, HIGHLANDS

PHOTO BY SSHEPARD/GETTY IMAGES

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“Unto These Hills” – Cherokee cherokeehistorical.org Since its debut in 1950, this outdoor Mountainside Theater performance tells the tale of Cherokee struggles and triumph from 1780 until the 21st century. GRAND GARDENS Pack a picnic and awaken your floral and fauna senses while strolling through these mountain gardens. Biltmore Estate Gardens & Grounds, Asheville biltmore.com The Botanical Gardens at Asheville ashevillebotanicalgardens.org Cherokee Botanical Garden and Nature Trail, Cherokee ncpedia.org/cherokee-botanical-garden Craggy Gardens, Black Mountain blueridgeparkway.org/poi/ craggy-gardens Daniel Boone Native Gardens, Boone danielboonenativegardens.org Merle Watson Garden of the Senses, Wilkesboro wilkescountytourism.com/ GardenOfSensesDocAndMerleWatson Mountain Gardens, Burnsville mountaingardensherbs.com Southern Highlands Reserve, Lake Toxaway southernhighlandsreserve.org

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM Deeply rooted in history and culture, western North Carolina attractions and museums tell the story of the hills. The Learning Center at PARI, Rosman pari.edu Immerse yourself in science, space and nature at PARI: Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute—one of our state’s only certified dark sky parks, where nights are filled with dazzling stars and flashes of meteors. Linville Caverns, Marion linvillecaverns.com Peek into total darkness in Humpback Mountain’s natural limestone caverns. The only North Carolina caverns open for tours, Linville Caverns features stalactite and stalagmite formations and underground streams filled with trout. Look up! You may even see bats hanging from the ceiling. Museum of the Cherokee Indian, Cherokee mci.org Experience 13,000 years of Cherokee history, culture, sacred myths and storied legends from prehistoric origins to the Trail of Tears, leading to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Oconaluftee Indian Village, Cherokee visitcherokeenc.com This “living” museum is a replica of an 18th-century Cherokee community. Meet re-enactors, tour models of homes and watch artists create baskets, pottery, weaponry and more.

BILTMORE ESTATE GARDENS, ASHEVILLE

PHOTO COURTESY OF JARED KAY/EXPLOREASHEVILLE.COM

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Wheels Through Time, Maggie Valley wheelsthroughtime.com Vintage automobile aficionados can see more than 350 rare motorcycles, memorabilia, roadsters and “one-off” vehicles. It’s like driving through American automobile history. PECULIAR PLACES While we’re doing our best to name as many must-see sites as possible, it’s always fun to throw in some unconventional locales. Perfect for pictures and posting, these spots also make great conversation-starters.

Judaculla Rock, Cherokee ncpedia.org/judaculla-rock Archaeologists believe some of the carvings on this large soapstone rock date back 500 years. But according to Cherokee legend, the markings on this boulder are the handiwork of a giant named Judaculla.

Mystery Hill, Blowing Rock mysteryhill.com Encounter a natural gravitational anomaly at Mystery Hill, where optical illusions and science meet. (This is an excellent rainy day activity.)

The Road to Nowhere, Bryson City greatsmokies.com/road-nowhere Tucked in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Lake View Drive, more commonly known as The Road to Nowhere. The federal government created this 6-mile stretch of

uncompleted road during the 1940s to replace old N.C. Highway 288, which was buried under Fontana Lake after the creation of Fontana Dam.

THE PIEDMONT

With an eclectic mix of unique towns to explore throughout the Piedmont region of our state, there is something interesting to see around every turn and atop many urban rooftops.

POINT OF VIEW These Piedmont rooftops overlook cityscapes showcasing metropolitan lights, bustling life and park views, all while offering a peaceful sense of getting away.

Aura Rooftop, Charlotte aurarooftop.com Charlotte/Douglas International Airport Overlook, Charlotte facebook.com/ charlottedouglasinternational airportoverlook The Dillon’s Sky Terrace, Raleigh thedillonraleigh.com Dorothea Dix Park, Raleigh dixpark.org Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery, Chapel Hill thetopofthehill.com Unscripted Durham, Durham unscriptedhotels.com

GIMGHOUL CASTLE, CHAPEL HILL

PHOTO BY TOM POLAND

The Willard Rooftop, Raleigh thewillardraleigh.com

The Comedy Experience, Raleigh thecomedyexperience.com

Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing, Raleigh wyehill.com

The Dinner Detective, Charlotte and Raleigh thedinnerdetective.com

PIEDMONT PALACES Whether you’re a guest at a castle wedding or simply touring a luxurious mansion, these stately estates are worthy of a queen and her subjects.

Blandwood Museum, Greensboro preservationgreensboro.org Castle McCulloch, Jamestown castlemcculloch.com The Duke Mansion, Charlotte dukemansion.com Gimghoul Castle, Chapel Hill historicchapelhill.org Julian Price House, Greensboro julianpricehouse.com North Carolina Executive Mansion, Raleigh ncdcr.gov/things-do/history/ triangletriad/north-carolinaexecutive-mansion Reynolda House, Winston-Salem reynolda.org STAND-OUT STAND-UPS Theater buffs make themselves at home in the Piedmont, as there are countless places to catch a memorable play, movie or comedy show. Here are some stand-out—and stand-up—spots to check out.

Gem Theatre, Kannapolis gem-theatre.com Goodnights Comedy Club, Raleigh goodnightscomedy.com Paragon Theaters, Cary paragontheaters.com Raleigh Little Theatre, Raleigh raleighlittletheatre.org Theatre in the Park, Raleigh theatreinthepark.com ROSES ARE RED The Piedmont’s moderate climate makes it an ideal location for a plethora of plants and gardens galore—which do not disappoint.

Dorothea Dix Park Sunflower Field dixpark.org Greensboro Arboretum, Greensboro greensborobeautiful.org/ gardens/arboretum JC Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh jcra.ncsu.edu North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill ncbg.unc.edu

DOROTHEA DIX SUNFLOWER FIELD, RALEIGH

PHOTO BY NEW DEPTH CREATIONS

The Rose Garden at Raleigh Little Theatre, Raleigh raleighlittletheatre.org/ visit-us/rose-garden

North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh ncartmuseum.org North Carolina Museum of History, Raleigh ncmuseumofhistory.org

Old Salem Museums & Gardens, Winston-Salem oldsalem.org Reynolda Gardens, Winston-Salem reynolda.org Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Durham gardens.duke.edu

QUIRKY QUESTS

UNC–Charlotte Botanical Gardens, Charlotte gardens.charlotte.edu NATIONAL TREASURES From art galleries and science studies to history and racing, the Piedmont accommodates a treasure-trove of museums. Here are some to discover right here in the Triangle.

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh naturalsciences.org Add a few of these unique stops to your GPS while traveling through the Piedmont. They are just unusual enough to make them worth a visit.

World’s Largest Chest of Drawers, High Point roadsideamerica.com Normie the Lake Norman Sea Monster, Charlotte lakenormanmonster.com

Ava Gardner Museum, Smithfield johnstoncountync.org/ava-gardner

The Raleigh Giant, Raleigh roadsideamerica.com

Marbles Kids Museum, Raleigh marbleskidsmuseum.org

Shangri-La Stone Village, Prospect Hill roadsideamerica.com

Morehead Planetarium & Science Center, Chapel Hill moreheadplanetarium.org Museum of Life and Science, Durham lifeandscience.org New Hope Valley Railway, New Hill triangletrain.com

Remnants of the Underground Railroad, Halifax County halifaxundergroundrr.com Vintage Shell Station, Winston-Salem roadsideamerica.com

OLD SALEM MUSEUM & GARDENS, WINSTON-SALEM

PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT WINSTON-SALEM AND OLD SALEM MUSEUM

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THE COAST

North Carolina boasts an entire coastline of pristine dunes, wide beaches and crashing waves. Head east for an endless source of stunning sites.

OCEAN VIEWS Each North Carolina beach town offers a unique vibe—with equally unparalleled ocean views.

Carolina Beach Boardwalk, Carolina Beach carolina-beach. wilmingtonandbeaches.com Shackleford Banks islandexpressferryservices.com morehead.com/morehead-cityferry-service.html Whalehead, Corolla whaleheadwedding.com GUIDING LIGHTS North Carolina boasts seven coastal lighthouses along its shores. Though originally intended to guide adventurers away from treacherous shorelines, they also offer incredible views from their tops. Visit nps.gov to learn more about each one.

Bodie Island Lighthouse – Nags Head Cape Hatteras Lighthouse – Buxton Cape Lookout Lighthouse – Harkers Island

Currituck Beach Lighthouse – Corolla

one of North Carolina’s best examples of antebellum architecture.

The Old Jail, Beaufort beauforthistoricsite.org

Oak Island Lighthouse – Caswell Beach

Hammock House, Beaufort blackbeardthepirate.com/history.htm

Wilmington Water Tours, Wilmington wilmingtonwatertours.net

Ocracoke Lighthouse – Ocracoke Old Baldy Lighthouse – Bald Head Island FORTS, FLEETS AND FLIGHTS The North Carolina coast is home to a surplus of interesting battle sites, pirate stories and history-making moments. Here are some landmarks and monuments to add to your must-see list.

Battleship North Carolina, Wilmington battleshipnc.com Fort Fisher, Kure Beach historicsites.nc.gov/ all-sites/fort-fisher Fort Macon, Atlantic Beach ncparks.gov/ fort-macon-state-park/home Wright Brothers National Memorial, Manteo nps.gov/wrbr/index.htm REGAL RESIDENCES Some of the country’s most beautiful and historic homes can be found along North Carolina’s coast.

Bellamy Mansion, Wilmington bellamymansion.org Bellamy Mansion serves as a remnant of Wilmington’s Civil War history and is

OAK ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE, CASWELL BEACH

PHOTO COURTESY OF NC TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

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Although Hammock House is not open to the public, swashbuckling history buffs will want to see the home known to have once belonged to Blackbeard.

Latimer House, Wilmington lcfhs.org High on a bluff overlooking the Cape Fear River, Latimer House offers a study on Wilmington life in the 1800s.

Tryon Palace, New Bern tryonpalace.org Built in 1770 for Governor William Tryon, Tryon Palace served as our state’s first capital building.

LANDLUBBER TOURS Take a break from riding waves to take a museum tour, ghost walk, garden stroll or coastal cruise.

Airlie Gardens, Wilmington airliegardens.org Beaufort Ghost Walk, Beaufort pctourco.com/beaufort-ghost-walk New Bern Firemen’s Museum, New Bern newbernfiremuseum.com North Carolina Maritime Museum, Beaufort ncmaritimemuseumbeaufort.com

AMERICA’S OLDEST MYSTERY “The Lost Colony” – Manteo thelostcolony.org Set on Roanoke Island’s soundfront, “The Lost Colony” has been entertaining audiences for 85 years with the tale of the first English settlers to arrive on North Carolina’s coast. The play also seeks to answer questions to the country’s oldest mystery: What happened to the lost colony?

TRAPPED IN THE CAROLINAS The Venus flytrap can only be found in a 75-mile radius around Wilmington, stretching partially into South Carolina. While these beautiful carnivorous plants have been transplanted elsewhere, this region is the only place in the world where they grow naturally. Aren’t you glad to be trapped in the Carolinas, too? Visit midtownmag.com for an extended version of this story so you can plan your next adventure!

PAGES 26–27 GPS IMAGES BY DIGITALVISION VECTORS/ GETTY IMAGES MOUNTAINS, FOOTHILLS, OCEAN ICONS BY DIVVECTOR/GETTY IMAGES

VENUS FLYTRAPS IN THE WILMINGTON AREA

PHOTO BY ROBERT CLARK

12 TRIANGLE GEMS

Don’t miss these treasures across the region BY ELIZABETH BRIGNAC

riangle newcomers have a lot of ground to cover as they explore their new home. A conser vative estimate of the Triangle

area covers four counties, 13 cities and large towns, and dozens of smaller towns, each of which has a unique histor y. From the River walk in Hillsborough to the historic mineral springs in Fuquay-Varina, natural, cultural and intellectual opportunities throughout the Triangle are available to anyone ready to discover them. Here’s a list of 12 places to explore as you get to know the area. Each is unique in some way to the Triangle, and offers an exceptionally rich local experience.

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1 AMERICAN TOBACCO TRAIL wakegov.com For years, the railroad line that is now used by New Hope Valley Railway transported tobacco products to and from the American Tobacco Company’s Durham processing plant. When the factory closed in 1987, the rail line was abandoned, leaving a level, cleared path that stretched for miles. The Triangle Rails to Trails Conservancy formed in 1989 to advocate for turning the defunct railroad line into a greenway. Their efforts were so successful that the governments of Durham, Chatham and Wake counties collaborated in creating the American Tobacco Trail, which stretches for 22 miles, from downtown Durham into Apex, and connects 70 miles’ worth of other trails and greenways. Today, walkers, runners, bikers and equestrians use the trail for exercise and day-to-day transportation. Photo courtesy of Ted Richardson/VisitRaleigh.com

2 ANGUS BARN angusbarn.com Open since 1960, the Angus Barn steakhouse is a Raleigh institution famed for its hospitality and local flavor—as well as its high-quality food. The restaurant celebrates rural North Carolina, complete with a country store, huge front porch, antique displays, apple barrels full of free apples, and outdoor fire pits. The main dining area boasts thousands of twinkle lights and emphasizes a friendly and generous atmosphere. The restaurant’s well-known wine cellar has won 20 prestigious Grand Awards, has its own dining room, and offers tours and themed dinners. The Angus Barn also has three lounges, including the Meat Locker, an open-air smoking lounge with a humidor. During the Christmas season, the Angus Barn goes all out with a two-story-tall Christmas tree and elves who wander around. People love it.You’ll want to make December reservations early. Photo courtesy of Angus Barn

3 DENTZEL CAROUSEL raleighnc.gov/parks/pullen-park-amusements Families with children should make a point of visiting historic Pullen Park and riding its 110-year-old carousel. Pullen Park, which opened in 1887, was North Carolina’s first public park. Its iconic carousel was designed by Gustav Dentzel, one of the first carousel makers in the U.S., around 1900. The carousel opened in Pullen Park in 1921. It features 52 hand-carved wooden animals including ostriches, rabbits, tigers, horses and other creatures. The carousel was restored in the 1970s using the artists’ original paint colors so, today, it looks much like it did when it first opened. The carousel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. For another dose of historical fun, try the park’s C.P. Huntington train, a 1950 miniaturized replica of a famous 1863 locomotive. Photo by Josh Manning

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6 ENO RIVER STATE PARK ncparks.gov/eno-river-state-park/home

SARAH P. DUKE GARDENS gardens.duke.edu

Duke Gardens in spring is a sight to behold. Its 55 acres on Duke University’s campus burst into bloom, from crafted beds of tulips, daffodils and irises in its historic, terraced gardens, to the trees in the Asiatic Arboretum, festooned with redbuds, Japanese magnolia blossoms, camellias and the garden’s renowned cherry blossoms. Open 365 days a year, the garden is free to the public, has 600,000 annual visitors and offers rich botanical experiences every season. In addition to the terraced gardens and arboretum, Duke Gardens includes plants native to North Carolina, a discovery garden teaching visitors about plants and animals (kids love the chickens), a Japanese garden and many other beautiful spots. Visitors can also attend classes, buy plants, birdwatch and attend traditional Japanese tea ceremonies in the arboretum’s tea pavilion. Photo courtesy of Discover Durham

DURHAM FARMER'S MARKET durhamfarmersmarket.com

The Durham Farmer’s Market is known for its creative energy as well as its many local produce options. Open Saturday mornings year-round and Wednesday afternoons from April through October, this farmer’s market feels festive. Local artists sell their work, and musicians and other performers entertain shoppers as they wander from booth to booth along several streets in and around Durham Central Park. Food trucks offer cuisine from many different nations, as well as local fare, and the market is known for its wide variety of high-quality agricultural products. Photo courtesy of Discover Durham

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The Eno River State Park in Durham offers some of the Triangle’s best opportunities for hiking and outdoor exploration. Community protection has kept the beautiful Eno River at the heart of the park clean. Families with children might enjoy Few’s Ford, a picnic area close to parking with shallow wading spots and easy nearby trails. Experienced swimmers may prefer scenic Bobbitt Hole, where a small cascade empties into a deep swimming hole. Fishing and camping are also popular activities at the park. Hikers can access 28 miles of trails, including Buckwater Creek Trail, which overlooks some of the park’s most impressive rapids; and the Pump Station Trail, home to the park’s best spring wildflowers and the ruins of the old Durham pump station. Several trails include the remains of gristmills once built along the Eno. Photo by Jenny Midgley

7 HEMLOCK BLUFFS NATURE PRESERVE townofcary.org (search for “Hemlock Bluffs”) If you enjoy western North Carolina, visit Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve in Cary, home to an isolated grouping of mountain hemlock trees and other natural elements usually found in the mountains. A remnant of a time when Earth was cooler and hemlocks covered the Piedmont, these trees have been protected by the shady bluffs that give the preserve its name, allowing them to survive for thousands of years. Today, they provide a pleasant retreat filled with local wildlife. The Stevens Nature Center educates visitors, and residents can take classes and go on guided hikes through the preserve. Photo by Jenny Midgley

8 NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF ART ncartmuseum.org The North Carolina Museum of Art offers free access to excellent permanent art exhibits and a 164-acre outdoor park and sculpture gardens open for public use. The permanent collection includes major holdings in European paintings, Egyptian funerary art, ancient Greek and Roman sculptures and vase paintings, international contemporary art, and one of only two permanent displays of Jewish art in an American art museum. The museum also hosts a diverse variety of temporary exhibits and a museum store featuring a selection of local artisanal merchandise. (Note that due to a reinstallation project, the West Building will be closed until October 8.) Photo courtesy of North Carolina Museum of Art

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9 MUSEUM OF LIFE AND SCIENCE lifeandscience.org The Museum of Life and Science has been open for 75 years. Today, its 84-acre campus offers one of the richest family experiences in the state, including one of the biggest butterfly conservatories on the East Coast. The indoor science center includes an aerospace exhibit filled with Apollo-era artifacts and space-related interactive exhibits, a tinkering center where kids can build contraptions, a weather center that offers an opportunity to build a mini-tornado and more. Outdoors, visitors can explore “Hideaway Woods,” a massive treehouse exhibit with a stream for hot-weather play; a zoo housing North Carolina animals; a dinosaur trail, complete with the opportunity to dig for fossils; “Into the Mist,” a complex array of sandy spots, hills and tunnels shrouded in cool mist; “Earth Moves,” offering interactive geoscience play; and much more. The museum charges for admission, but twice a month, Durham Community Days allow Durham residents to visit for free. Photo courtesy of the Museum of Life and Science

10 NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCES naturalsciences.org The City of Oaks’ free museums have earned Raleigh the moniker of “the Smithsonian of the South” and are a major perk of living in the Triangle. The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is one of them. Its original building is distinguished by the Daily Planet— an almost-planet-sized model of Earth which juts out from its side. Here you will also find the Nature Exploration Center with four floors of ecosystem exhibits and animals from across North Carolina, a hands-on discovery center, a dinosaur exhibit beloved by kids and parents alike, and much more. Walk across the enclosed pedestrian bridge to explore the Nature Research Center, with labs that guide visitors in hands-on experiments, a space exhibit, a butterfly house, an aquarium and a theater. Photo by Jenny Midgley

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STATE FARMER’S MARKET IN RALEIGH

ncagr.gov/markets/facilities/markets/raleigh Raleigh’s exceptional State Farmer’s Market offers a unique opportunity to enjoy North Carolina’s agricultural offerings. The huge, covered, open-air market is open seven days a week year-round. North Carolina farmers, bakers and craftspeople set up stands selling everything from cheese to Christmas trees. If it's grown in the Piedmont, you’ll find it here, especially on weekends. The market also contains shops specializing in North Carolina pork and seafood, and three restaurants offering different kinds of local cooking. Photo by Jenny Midgley

SUMMER IN RALEIGH BY ALLI HURLEY

As your summer plans take shape, consider adding a few of these quintessential Raleigh stops to your bucket list from my new book, “100 Things to Do in Raleigh Before You Die!” DOROTHEA DIX PARK SUNFLOWER FIELD Fast becoming a Raleigh staple, the vast swath of cheery, summer sunflowers at Dorothea Dix Park is a must-see. With a whole field dedicated to those bright beauties, it’s a sublime photo-op and offers a breathtakingly gorgeous view as the sun goes down. FALLS LAKE STATE RECREATION AREA This beautiful reservoir offers an abundance of activity and plenty of opportunity to get creative with how you spend your time outside. Blue Jay Point County Park offers supreme access to the waters’ edge, Mountains-to-Sea trail, a recently renovated playground and plenty of wide open space. Also on the property: the Go Ape zip line course! OUTDOOR CONCERTS Raleigh is bursting with outdoor concert venues, all sporting fantastic summer lineups. To name a few winners: Joseph M. Bryan Jr. Theater at the North Carolina Museum of Art, Coastal Credit Union Midtown Park, Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek and Red Hat Amphitheater. Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary is also worth a mention.

THE RALEIGH MARKET

theraleighmarket.com On Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m.–5 p.m., The Raleigh Market offers a wide and eclectic selection of items for sale at the historic North Carolina State Fairgrounds. This market routinely finds itself on lists of the best flea markets in the country. Want Depression-era glass? A rainbow-colored hammock? An inexpensive coffee table? Look here. Want to find an antique washing machine or a handcrafted hunting knife? It’s here. The Market has been operating since 1971 and offers up-andcoming vendors opportunities to sell products without the expenses of a storefront location.Visitors can enjoy fair and food truck food while browsing at hundreds of vendor booths and enjoying live music. Photo by Jason Arthurs

RALEIGH ROSE GARDEN The Raleigh Rose Garden, located on Raleigh Little Theater’s campus, is bursting with hundreds of species—each one as lovely and fragrant as the last. It just so happens to be adjacent to the outdoor Louise S. Stephenson Amphitheatre, perfect for a summertime show under the stars. VIDERI CHOCOLATE FACTORY Chocolate is a winner all year round obviously, but as the days heat up and the cool indoors beckon, step inside a truly Willy Wonka–like experience at Videri. Tour the bean-to-bar process and grab some samples while you’re at it!

“100 Things to Do in Raleigh Before You Die” is available at allihurley.com, Quail Ridge Books, Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Photo and book cover courtesy of Alli Hurley

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ELIJAH MANNING (9) OF CARY RIDES THE PULLEN PARK CAROUSEL.

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A 1912 Dentzel original spins through time— and our memories—at Pullen Park BY ANITA B. STONE PHOTOS BY JOSH MANNING

ullen Park’s historic Dentzel carousel—a functioning merr y-go-round that originally debuted in 1912 at Raleigh’s Bloomsbur y Park—endows park visitors with a timeless

example from the golden age of carousels that predates the Great Depression. From its arresting, brightly colored prancing horses and other handcar ved animals, to the rousing music pouring from its Wurlitzer organ, riding this carousel is an experience that can be replicated in only a few other places. Raleigh is fortunate to have such a historic and dramatic relic that still provides Pullen Park visitors as much pleasure today as it did more than 100 years ago. CARVING SUCCESS The Pullen Park carousel was made in the late 19th and early 20th centuries at the historic G.A. Dentzel company in Germantown, Pennsylvania. That’s when the Dentzel family of Germany built a series of America’s first large carousels, and Pullen Park’s is believed to have been one of them. But how did a German family end up in America? The carousel-making history began in 1837, when Michael Dentzel, a wagon-maker and wood carver who lived in southern Germany, pulled his handmade carousel parts around the countryside for assembly at local venues. During the mid-19th century, demand for carousel rides burgeoned throughout Europe. Dentzel surmised that if this new pastime could take off in Europe, why not America? So, in 1864, he sent his 18-year-old wood carver son, Gustav, to the U.S. to share this new, fashionable amusement with Americans.

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By 1867, Gustav had set up a cabinetand carousel-making workshop in Germantown, and it became one of the first such companies in America. He hired skilled European woodworkers and trained apprentices to design the carousel enclosures and colorful canopies with scenic panels, and to help carve exotic menagerie animals and other structures, such as chariots. His business flourished and the Dentzel carousels, characterized by flashy mirrors, vibrant artwork, band lights and organ music, were set up in cities across the U.S. Having worked as carvers with their father in Pennsylvania, Gustav’s two sons, William and Edward, continued and expanded the business after Gustav died in 1909. No amount of success, however, could withstand the failing economy of the late 1920s, and the business that had previously been successful and delighted hundreds for nearly 62 years, closed its doors in 1928—one year before the Great Depression began. After such spectacular beginnings, carousels—and the parks where they operated—faded from view, and much of the Dentzel inventory was sold. Despite the market crash of 1929, the Dentzel name refused to disappear. With his wife, Marion’s support, Edward’s son William III revived and reinvigorated the family business during the 1960s. He began making children’s carousels for hospitals and community centers. After Edward’s death, William III assumed the daunting task of bringing Dentzel carousels into the modern technological age by adding electric, solar-powered machines to the stable of hand-crank, pulley and foot-pedal mechanisms.

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The National Carousel Association

carousel claims two chariots, 18 gilded

THE LEGACY CONTINUES

lists only 38 remaining Dentzel carousels

mirrors and 52 hand carved animals,

William Dentzel II, his wife, Marion, and

in the U.S. at carousels.org. In addition

including 30 horses in different poses

his children continue the legacy started

to the Pullen Park carousel, there is one

and other creatures such as ostriches,

by William Dentzel I back in Germany

other Dentzel carousel in North Carolina

cats, rabbits, pigs, reindeer, a lion, a

nearly 200 years ago. William Dentzel III

at Burlington City Park. Built in 1913, it

tiger and a goat. It plays music from a

and his children have started the Village

is currently being restored but will

1924 Wurlitzer 125 Military Band Organ

Carousel Project, for which they are

reopen in a brand-new carousel house.

made by the Wurlitzer Manufacturing

making small wooden, handcarved

Company located in North Tonawanda,

carousels for children and adults to be

one of these vintage treasures, according

New York. In 1976, the Pullen Park

placed in various arenas. They also plan

to the National Carousel Association,

Dentzel carousel was added to the

to keep producing local carousels to be

include California (seven), Indiana

prestigious National Register of Historic

placed in city parks, schools, community

(three), Maryland (two), Missouri (two),

Places and designated as a Raleigh

centers and other venues—with a focus

Mississippi (two), New York (two),

Historic Landmark.

on underserved areas in both the U.S.

Additional states claiming more than

Pennsylvania (five), Tennessee (three), Texas (two) and Washington (two). States with just one Dentzel carousel include Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon and Vermont. It’s not clear how many of these are still in operation.

RESTORING THE ORIGINAL Due to its popularity and nearly constant of the carousel’s 52 animals was undertaken in 1977. This was the first restoration during which accumulated layers of paint were entirely removed to expose and preserve the carousel’s

In 1912, a Raleigh amusement site

original paint. Preservationists protected and

developed by the Carolina Power &

documented the original paint by placing

Light Company in the Five Points/

a protective layer between it and the

Glenwood Avenue area. The park was

newly applied colors, which had been

part of a strategic effort to get more

reproduced as close to the original

residents to ride the trolley—or

colors as possible. Each animal was

streetcar—particularly on the weekends,

repainted according to historical

when it wasn’t used as prominently as it

documentation based on the Munsell

was during weekdays. Bloomsbury Park

color system. By 1982 the restoration

served as the original site of Pullen

was complete, and the fully restored

Park’s Dentzel carousel, which was

Dentzel carousel could again offer the

installed there in 1915. When

magic of three-abreast horses and

Bloomsbury Park closed in 1920, the

chariots turning in rhythm to a

City of Raleigh purchased the carousel

Wurlitzer organ.

and moved it to Pullen Park, where it opened for rides in 1921. This magnificent carousel featured a

dentzel.com/villagecarousels.

use, a major renovation and restoration

BY WAY OF BLOOMSBURY PARK known as Bloomsbury Park was

and Latin America. Learn more at

Pullen Park marked the carousel’s 100th anniversary on March 28, 2021

IF YOU GO

Pullen Park | 520 Ashe Avenue, Raleigh Park hours 10 a.m.–6 p.m. daily Ticket information: 919.996.6468 or raleighnc.gov/places/ pullen-park-amusements

FUN FACTS • • • •

with a range of virtual events, including

rotating platform with seats for riders on

painting classes and park tours. Now

horses, in chariots and atop other

that the pandemic is coming to an end,

animals—some quite exotic. The

you can visit in person.

•

Richard S. Pullen founded Pullen Park in 1887 when he donated 66 acres of park land. Pullen Park was the first public park in North Carolina. Carousels became popular during the 18th century. 19th century carousels featured additional animals (besides horses), as well as carriages, chariots and other non-animal seating options. Wurlitzer Band Organs were added to Dentzel carousels around 1924.

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The Premier Periodontal Practice of the Triangle Drs. Aakash Mehandru, Justin Valentine, Michael Stella, Reinaldo Deliz-Guzman and Michael Kretchmer are committed to

providing you with excellent periodontal and surgical care in a comfortable environment. Our friendly, knowledgeable team will address every question and concern. Your oral health needs, goals, and priorities are the focus of your customized treatment

plan. We want to work with you to create the beautiful, healthy smile of your dreams. In its 20th year of providing conservative,

compassionate care, Tar Heel Periodontics has been the leader in providing world class continuing education for dentists in the Triangle. If you are new to the area and have found a new general dentist, they most

includes teaching at Adams UNC School of Dentistry and volunteering at Wake Smiles

Phone: 919.844.7140 Fax: 919.303.8488

served as presidents of both major local dental societies, covering the entire Triangle.

info@tarheelperio.com tarheelperio.com

likely have attended our courses. Our doctors enjoy giving back in dentistry, which Dental Clinic and the UNC Student Health Action Coalition. Our doctors have also

Tar Heel Periodontics also supports local sports teams in North Carolina. We are proud

partners of the Durham Bulls and the North Carolina FC and NC Courage soccer teams, as well as supporting sponsors of NC State Athletics.

@tarheelperio Founded in 2002

5 OFFICE LOCATIONS 10931 Strickland Rd.

600 Doctor Calvin Jones Hwy.

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245 E NC Hwy. 54

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Garner, NC 27529

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Durham, NC 27713

HOME RUN ENTERTAINMENT Minor league baseball teams keep the hits coming throughout and around the Triangle

BY KURT DUSTERBERG

mong America’s many summertime traditions, minor league baseball is a go-to in many regions of the country, and nowhere more so than in North Carolina. Across the state, fans can enjoy leisurely evenings and warm weekend afternoons root-root-rooting for the home team in an environment that attracts both ardent baseball lovers and casual fans. That’s because the minor league experience offers some real advantages over the major leagues. For starters, a family of four can spend less than $100 at a minor league game— a fraction of the cost at a big league stadium. The seating capacity at minor league facilities generally run between 6,000–10,000, making it an up-close and personal event. And let’s face it, no one really goes home disappointed when the home team loses. Most fans don’t know the players’ names or the team’s record, and that’s part of the charm. Minor league baseball is a family entertainment option as much as a professional sport. The production values are part of the pitch, and the players enjoy having an audience as they chase their dream. The term “minor league” generally refers to teams affiliated with Major League Baseball. Players drafted or signed out of high school try to advance through

Single-A, High-A, Double-A and Triple-A, which is the doorstep to the majors. After a major realignment of the minor league system in 2021, there are also partner leagues and collegiate summer leagues under the Major League Baseball umbrella. Additional independent and collegiate leagues operate across the country, mostly at lesser skill levels. In the Triangle, the Durham Bulls play Triple-A baseball, where the roster is filled each season with players waiting for a call to the “The Show”—and players who are trying to earn their way back. In Zebulon, the Carolina Mudcats play in Single-A, where prospects are just starting out. A fast-rising prospect might reach the majors in two seasons, while others will chase the dream for 10 years. And many Single-A players won’t ever make it to the next level. But if you’re headed to the ballpark this summer, a primer is hardly necessary. Minor league baseball is a night out. It’s cold beer and plenty of food options. It’s taking a photo with the oversized mascot or buying a ball cap with that clever team logo. Maybe you will catch a foul ball— or be chosen to go on the field for a dizzy bat race. And if you end up cheering a home run, so much the better.

DURHAM BULLS ATHLETIC PARK

TRUIST POINT

CAROLINA MUDCATS The Mudcats, a Single-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, play at Five County Stadium in Zebulon. The stadium was built in 1991 and features a steep upper deck that makes fans feel close to the action. The team has long been a hit at the merchandise stands, with its logo of a catfish swimming through the letter C. Minor league teams are always searching for clever promotions, and the Mudcats have a couple good ones. The team plays as the “Carolina Micro Brews,” an alternate identity with separate logos, colors, jerseys and hats. The name not only pays homage to the team’s parent club, the Milwaukee Brewers, but it also celebrates North Carolina’s history of microbrewing and craft beer culture. The hat features an interlocking M and B, also in tribute

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to the Brewers. The team also plays under the identity of “Pescados de Carolina,” with a special logo of a sugar skull fish in celebration of Mexican culture in the Carolinas. Merchandise is available for both identities. Food and drink specials are available for Thirsty Thursdays, while Winning Wednesdays earn fans a free ticket for the next Wednesday home game. Bark in the Park (bring your dog!) and Souvenir Saturdays are among the most popular nights at Five County Stadium. The Mudcats have a handful of famous alums, including knuckleball pitcher Tim Wakefield. He won 15 games for the Mudcats in 1991, his best minor league season, before winning 200 games in 19 major league seasons.

ALL IMAGES IN THIS STORY ARE COURTESY OF THE RESPECTIVE TEAMS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

DURHAM BULLS The Bulls are perhaps the most famous minor league team in America, thanks to the classic 1988 movie, “Bull Durham.” In part due to the success of the film, the Bulls moved from Single-A to Triple-A in 1998, where they serve as the top affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. Home games are played at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park and feature a variety of regular promotions, including Friday night fireworks shows. Kids ages 12 and younger eat free at the ballpark on Wednesdays, while everyone enjoys discounted concessions on Thursday. And it’s not just standard ballpark fare. Durham-based Pie Pushers pizza and El Jefecito street tacos are popular options. For the serious baseball fan, the Triple-A International League offers a chance to see stars in the making, whether they play for

HIGH POINT ROCKERS The Rockers play at Truist Point as a member of the Atlantic League, a “partner league” of Major League Baseball, which is a new designation in the realignment of the minors. The 10 Atlantic League rosters are made up of unsigned free agents who have progressed through baseball’s development levels. More than 40% of the players have previously played in the major leagues. And fans are guaranteed to see at least one former major league star when they visit the ballpark—retired Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox pitcher Frank Viola is the Rockers’ pitching coach. He was the World Series MVP in 1987 and won the American League Cy Young Award in 1988.

the Bulls or their opponent. Last season, Tampa Bay prospect Wander Franco showcased his star power for 40 games with the Bulls before his call-up to the major leagues. The Bulls have graduated hundreds of players to the majors, most notably Hall of Famers Joe Morgan (1963) and Chipper Jones (1992).

DAVID ROBERTSON

The $36-million stadium opened in 2019 and holds 4,500 spectators. A Rockers game is kid-friendly, too, with a playground inside the stadium and a splash pad at the adjacent Blessing Park. The team’s mascot is Hype the Rocking Horse.

HENRY PAYTON

FIVE COUNTY STADIUM

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FIRST NATIONAL BANK FIELD

GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS

PHOTO BY DERRICK BRADY

First National Bank Field opened in 2005 and continues to be part of the attraction for Greensboro Grasshoppers baseball. The stadium seats 7,499 and provides a view of downtown Greensboro beyond the outfield fence. It features a play park for kids and two grass-berm picnic areas. Once the game starts, a lot of the action revolves around Willie Mae Mays, the team’s bat dog. She picks up the bat after each batter, runs the bases at the end of the game and greets fans as they leave the ballpark. The Grasshoppers are the High-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates and started the 2022 season with a future star on the roster. Henry Davis, a catcher, was the No. 1 overall selection in the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft. With a history that dates to the early 1990s, Greensboro has also been home to Hall of Famers Johnny Mize, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera.

FAYETTEVILLE WOODPECKERS

CODY ORR

The Woodpeckers settled into Segra Stadium in 2019 after spending two seasons playing on the Campbell University campus in Buies Creek. The Single-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, the team is named for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, which was once common in the Sandhills area. The team’s merchandise is among the top-selling in the minors. With their proximity to Fort Bragg, the Woodpeckers have developed a large military fan base. In return, the team supports the military population with related theme nights and alternate Black Ops jerseys. T-shirt Tuesdays are a popular promotion, along with replica jersey giveaways. The Woodpeckers are popular at the merchandise stand, too, ranking in the top 25 in minor league baseball sales.

SEGRA STADIUM

HOLLY SPRINGS SALAMANDERS The Salamanders play in the Coastal Plain League, a collegiate wood-bat summer league. While the Holly Springs team is not professional or associated with Major League baseball, the fan experience is nearly the same. Ting Stadium, which opened in 2015, seats 1,800. The 14-team league also has teams in Asheboro, Thomasville, Morehead City, Wilson, Forest City and Wilmington. Players are recruited from around the country, but most teams select some regional players, many of whom play at universities in North Carolina or have ties to the Triangle. COACH SOINE

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BURLINGTON SOCK PUPPETS

MAXIMO ACOSTA

DOWN EAST WOOD DUCKS The Wood Ducks are the Single-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. While they only arrived in Kinston in 2017, Grainger Stadium has hosted minor league baseball in Kinston since 1949, and the city has welcomed teams since the 1920s. If the “Woodies” win on Wednesdays, fans get a free ticket for the next Wednesday home game,

along with half-priced wine. Other promotions include Thirsty Thursdays, $4 draft beer on Fridays and $2 Pepsi on Saturdays. And here’s something completely different: the team plays some weekends as the Kinston Collard Greens in a salute to the state’s agricultural heritage.

Burlington hosted minor league baseball as the Indians and Royals in the Appalachian League from 1988–2020 as an affiliated “Rookie Level” team, a designation that was discarded in realignment. That change ushered in the Sock Puppets, who play summer collegiate baseball. The new Appalachian League is part of the MLB and USA Baseball Prospect Development Pipeline, a pathway for amateur baseball players in the U.S. It will serve as an integral part of the identification and development process for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, headquartered in Cary. With a knack of promotions, the Sock Puppets feature T-shirt Tuesdays, $1 beers on Thursdays and a Socksquatch Bobblehead at the final home game of the season on August 4.

FAYETTEVILLE AREA CONVENTIONS AND VISITORS BUREAU

GRAINGER STADIUM

TING STADIUM

Wherever you find yourself in North Carolina this summer, there’s likely to be a minor league team nearby. Here are some more options for passing a slow summer evening. Asheville Tourists High-A, Houston Astros Charlotte Knights Triple-A, Chicago White Sox Hickory Crawdads High-A, Texas Rangers Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Single-A, Chicago White Sox Winston-Salem Dash High-A, Chicago White Sox

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BASEBALL IS HIS CALLING CARD Sports photographer Gregg Forwerck takes the pictures that shape the sports card industry BY KURT DUSTERBERG

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GREGG FORWERCK

f you grew up a baseball fan, there’s a good chance you collected some baseball cards as a kid. Whether you remember the era of swapping for your favorite major leaguers with your buddies on

summer afternoons, or you meticulously filed rookie cards in sleeves and binders, the hobby holds a special place for countless fans. For more than 30 years, Gregg Forwerck has been the man behind those cards. Since 1989, he has been snapping the pictures that have graced Topps cards and other brands, reimagining the hobby with some creative flair along the way. And it’s not just baseball. Forwerck has documented the prospects, the stars and the journeymen from pro football and hockey too, enjoying a front-row seat for some unforgettable moments. In 1989, Forwerck tracked Deion Sanders when he returned a punt for a touchdown for the first time in his NFL career. When Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan walked off the field after his final win in 1993, he captured the end of an era. And when Americans were captivated by Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa’s pursuit of the single-season home run record in 1998, he was along for the chase. Forwerck, who lives near Charlotte, spends a lot of his time in the Triangle. He has served as the Carolina Hurricanes team photographer since their arrival in 1997 and also works for North Carolina State University as a football photographer. But it’s the three decades of sports cards that will be his legacy. With close to 100,000 images making their way onto sports cards, Forwerck’s portfolio is unrivaled. Not bad for a kid from Toledo, Ohio who started collecting baseball cards as an 8-year-old. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Greg Forwerck photographs players for the Cactus League in Arizona; Forwerck takes a photo with Barry Bonds; Forwerck works with Ken Griffey Jr.; Josh Hamilton takes time for a photo with Forwerck.

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FORWERCK CELEBRATES THE CAROLINA HURRICANES’ STANLEY CUP WIN IN 2006.

How did you first get the attention of the Topps company? I was managing a Rally’s [restaurant]. I didn’t really have any credentials. I had photographed as many things as I could possibly come up with, but I didn’t have any formal training. I wanted to photograph professional sports and I couldn’t figure out how to get into it. Topps did all the sports, and I thought that would keep me busy all the way around the year. So I called this guy and he said, “I get this call every day, but if you want to be persistent, keep calling.” Many of the photos for the cards are taken during spring training in Florida and Arizona. How do these photos all come together? On photo day, you’re trying to pose them in baseball poses. You’re always thinking about what the player would be proud of in a photo. You’re not thinking about the collector’s standpoint. I’ve always noticed that Latin guys, the infielders, those guys want to show off their gloves. You work through the poses that you know. Some guys’ shoulders are wider, so you might want them pointing the bat. How have things changed in three decades of photographing the players? There was a time where we were really focused on getting good, clean stuff on veteran players. Then collectors started

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saying, “We want to see these prospects, and we want to see multiple cards of them.” So we started producing more of that and spending more time tracking down those players for a good decade. Then we started focusing on the prospects who aren’t even going to get into a big league uniform this year. Over the years, those prospect cards have become a little more creative. They’re not just posed pictures and game action. I probably was the guy who started it. I don’t know anybody else who does it. I did a very memorable one at Duke Chapel with [Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox star] Manny Ramirez. He was playing in Kinston and he was coming to Durham to play at the old stadium [Durham Athletic Park]. Their hotel was really close, and I was thinking of a place that wasn’t baseball, and I wanted to get him in street clothes. I thought Duke Chapel would be the place to do it. It got voted as one of the top 100 baseball cards of all time. And you’ve got a really interesting one of Ron Gant when he played for the Cincinnati Reds. I told him, “I’m going to have you in the sleeveless Reds jersey and I’m going to take the guts out of a baseball and squeeze the outside. It’s going to look like you’re crushing it, with your arms all pumped up.” I did it right outside the locker room. I took a wood pallet and put it up against the wall. That was our background. It’s a two-light

shot, pretty simple. Took us about five minutes. I love any opportunity to make a picture I’ve conceived in my head and just always wanted to see on a card. When someone asks you for advice on how to take good pictures, what do you tell them? Before I get to any venue, it’s always about the lighting. You think about the lighting first, then the background. You always set yourself up for success. Set yourself up in what I call the 80% zone, where 80% of the pictures are going to be made. When you look back at your career, does it seem pretty remarkable that you’re the guy, more than anyone else, who has brought baseball cards to the public for all these years? Just how I planned it. (He laughs). As a kid, you think about, “I want to sit in the best seat, I want to get up close, I want to meet players.” I didn’t really care about autographs. All I wanted to do was get a chance to have two seconds with somebody and hear them tell a story. I get to make pictures of some of the greatest athletes in sports. I’ve had players come to me and say, “Hey, can I get a copy of that?” If somebody had told me that when I was 12 years old, I would have thought, that’s never going to happen. So, yeah, I think about it, and I feel pretty blessed.

APEX SPORTS CARD SHOP THRIVES IN A NEW ERA OF COLLECTIBLES BY KURT DUSTERBERG

TOP TO BOTTOM: Over the years, Forwerck has come up with creative angles for photographing some of Major League Baseball’s most famous players.

Seth Cannon knows exactly when things will get busy at CARDIACS Sports & Memorabilia, where he serves as general manager. “Release days— Wednesdays and Fridays—can get pretty hectic.” Times are good at card shops across the country, thanks to a resurgence in sports card collecting. After more than a decade in Cary Towne Center, CARDIACS moved to Apex in 2021 and now occupies a new, larger building. The industry is on an upswing, thanks to a diversification in products and a wide variety of buyers. Some card buyers are investors, while others are looking to purchase and “flip” valuable cards for a profit. There is still a place for the casual collector from a generation ago, but that’s not where the money is today. “Back then, you couldn’t pull a $1,000 card right out of the pack,” Cannon says. “That was not really a thing; it was a hobby more than anything. There was no differentiation between retail and hobby, so there was only one product,” Cannon says. “Now there’s two.” The current wave of interest in sports cards and collectibles can be traced to the early days of the pandemic in 2020. With pro sports paused, many folks dusted off their childhood collections and found some gems that they have sold to card stores. But the industry has also reinvented itself by dividing potential buyers into the hobby and retail classes. Local card shops deal mostly in the hobby class, where boxes of cards can cost $100 or more. The card manufacturers produce limited runs of those cards, which also include autographs, foil stamps and other characteristics that establish their value as collectibles. “The production of product is a fraction of what it used to be,” Cannon says. “Everything is built on an allocation basis. We only see three, five, eight cases of product come through. That’s all we get all year long, so you only get one shot per year to get that box.” For the casual collector, big box stores still carry the retail cards. Typically, those products have fewer specialty inserts that have investor value. And there’s good news for folks who long for the old days, when cards came in wax packs with pink bubblegum sticks. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, card manufacturers flooded the market with specialty sets, a period now known as the “junk wax” era. Those packs and boxes are still available in card shops and on the internet, many for less than a dollar per pack. CARDIACS Sports & Memorabilia has a variety of unopened baseball and football cards from that era, but even those relics are becoming scarce. “A lot of that stuff is starting to dry up,” Cannon says. “Maybe they want to keep a pack or a sealed box. The sealed stuff is getting harder and harder to find.”

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THE CHATTOOGA BECKONS, BUT HEED HER WARNINGS STORY AND PHOTOS BY TOM POLAND

It was gray-green, very clear and yet with a certain milkiness, too; it looked as though it would turn white and foam at rocks more easily than other water … I was listening to a falls, and I got ready to die again. The sound jumped higher all at once; there was a foaming seethe in it, a hoarse desperation. We turned again. The land to the left broke away, and I looked down a set of rapids steeper—a lot steeper—than any we had been through, and longer, all stepped down toward a funnel that disappeared between two huge boulders that turned the air between them white. — “Deliverance” by James Dickey

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first heard of the wild river boring down from North Carolina after “Deliverance,” the film, debuted. That was the summer of 1972. It took a while, but I at last ran the river with its green and raging white water, and mammoth brown and gray rocks. It unnerved me to spill and find myself trapped underwater, but I escaped to return over and over to the river that divides Georgia and South Carolina. Here we are 50 years after “Deliverance,” and the river named from the Cherokee word “Tsatu-gi” runs as fierce and free as ever, promising adventure, and if you haven’t set eyes on it you should. See how the land looked in the beginning. Witness the classic unmovable object versus the irresistible force and hear the river’s roar—for hearing of a river is one thing; seeing and hearing it quite another. A poet-novelist named James Dickey saw and heard the thunder, modeling his Cahulawassee River in his novel “Deliverance” (Houghton Mifflin, 1970) after the Chattooga.

UNTAMED If you seek the adrenalin rush of running an untamed river, the Chattooga waits. Georgia-Carolina’s scenic river sharpens a serrated stony edge cutting between the states’ nor thern border. It looks as it did when the Cherokee built fish traps from its rocks. Green milky waters still rush through sieves and strainers as they have for 250 million years. It’ll be here long after we cross a fateful river of another kind. I was there early one morning on this river that runs nor theast to southwest. Hurdling downriver between canyon walls, I pitched, jostled and bucked as light streamed, ricocheted and flared of f granite and gneiss. Mica fired up and the walls shook with glitter. Asphalt-gray rocks streaked white leaned over the river, as if an ear thquake had thrust highways into air y obtuse angles to remind onlookers that civilization doesn’t exist on this river steeped in myth.

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Underwater, the rocks feel as if they’re immersed in virgin olive oil, slippery (but not slimy) and yet they will bruise, maim and worse. Oblivious to the rocks, nature’s early risers—blue herons, hawks and waterfowl—work the river. Here you are in an untamed land. Nothing is safe. Deer drink its waters, often at their own peril. An ill-fated deer one summer ended up in a keeper hydraulic where it tumbled for a week before the river spat it out, piece by piece. Upstream, above the South Carolina Highway 28 bridge, a thick canopy cools the water. Cascades enrich oxygen levels, and man’s developments are buffered out of sight beyond the banks. The romantic image of a fly fisherman at dawn lives here. Standing in riffles arcing casts against a deep-green mountain laurel backdrop, he sets his hand-tied fly upon swift water. The Cherokee fished here. They drove fish into a lengthy weir. You can see it still in Section IV: structured piles of rocks, wet and glistening with purpose long unfulfilled. Sliding sideways upon the current, avoiding boulders and imagining Native Americans upon these difficult waters, syllable by syllable, I say “Nan-ta-ha-la.” This Cherokee word resounds off these unforgiving walls that brighten as the sun climbs. Though I am not on the Nantahala River, I’m nonetheless in its meaning: “Land of the Noonday Sun.”

UNRELENTING

To run the river in early light is to navigate the edge of night. The water runs dark while rocky cliffs to the west radiate day’s first light. All this glancing, dancing light airbrushes the river, giving it an airy,

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treacherous essence. If you run the Chattooga, you must be an unerring judge of depths, colors and shadows. Geological processes 250 million years old perfected death traps that can—and have—devoured kaleidoscopic kayakers like M&Ms. In fabled Section IV, the Chattooga saves its strongest, rock-hard muscle for its last 7 miles, where boulders and ledges beget rapids, sieves and hydraulics. Five falls call Section IV home. A quarter-mile run dropping more than 75 feet puts nerves on high alert with fall names that ring familiar to those who seek adventure: Entrance, Corkscrew, Crack-In-the-Rock, Jawbone and Sock’em Dog. Lesser falls will get you, too, as I found out. Entering Seven Foot Falls as fast as a pencil point breaks mid-sentence, I was thrown out. Beneath the river, I tossed, tumbled, spun, and beat against rocks. I rose against the raft bottom. Once, twice, thrice—inflated air—just what I needed held me underwater. Trapped. I breathed in river water. On my fourth try, I shot into daylight, strangling and throwing up the Chattooga. I had survived the spin cycle of the state’s biggest washer. River guide Wallace, with his 18-inch brown mane and Nazarene beard, looked like Jesus but he couldn’t walk on water. He, too, went under at Seven Foot Falls, but he’s used to that. Wallace likes to run the river in his ducky, a one-man, inflatable kayak. He has seen the river in all her moods, and seen her quirks, too. He points to shaky spindles of rocks piled atop each other. They’re everywhere. “Hippies think those will bring them good luck,” he says. Everyone needs some luck on the Chattooga—the good kind.

Early light, Wallace tells me, provides a spectacle on this vestige of America. “At daybreak, beams of light shoot above narrow areas, shining onto Georgia foliage,” he says. “When the light makes it to the water in wider, open areas, flakes of mica light up.” It’s a study in contrast, this early morning river. The shady water runs dark but the white water shines bright. It’s all about speed and depth. “In shallows,” Wallace adds, “long flowing trails of algae turn neon green when the light strikes them.” I had seen the trails of fluorescent green pointing downstream. I wasn’t sure at the time what I had seen. Algae floats on ponds and lakes. Light up here is a jester, always playing tricks. Hard to believe algae clings to bedrock in this pell-mell, gushing whitewater—but cling it does. Such tenacity holds a lesson for man, ever the sojourner with his brief span. As we shot clean between brown rocks, I glimpsed a pattern traced in a boulder, the imprint of a fossil, a small fish—or was it an ancient leaf? Whatever it was, it had been there forever. Me? My name is Sojourner. I am just passing through these canyon walls. But what a passage, what an adventure.

UNFORGIVING It’s beautiful but perilous. Respect the river. After the movie “Deliverance” came out, 22 people drowned, most of them at treacherous Woodall Shoals. Many lacked the equipment or skill needed to run the Chattooga safely. The river grants no mercy. It has claimed many lives since the U.S. Forest Service began keeping records in 1970. Most have been paddlers, some accomplished paddlers. The river has taken

swimmers as well. The Forest Service manages the Chattooga—designated as a National Wild and Scenic River—by limiting outfitters to three, by limiting the number of river launches, and by limiting the number of people on the river. Put

another way, you wouldn’t want to visit the Chattooga and see 1,000 people in a never-ending flotilla. If you want a Chattooga outing, plan ahead and get your hands on John Lane’s “Chattooga: Descending Into the Myth of Deliverance River” (University of Georgia Press, 2005). Come to know the river and the people along it. Lane chose favored words from James Dickey’s closing that capture the river and its essence.

THE CHATTOOGA

This legendary whitewater river’s headwaters form near North Carolina’s Whiteside Mountain. The Chattooga’s 51-mile winding descent takes it through three states and Ellicott Rock Wilderness. The river’s furious rapids stem from a half-mile drop over the course of its descent. The river trails off into Lake Tugalo, which straddles the South Carolina–Georgia border. Unlike most rivers, the Chattooga is a free-flowing river, so no dams corral it. According to the Genealogy Trails History Group, the Cherokee word “Tsatu-gi,” from which the Chattooga River is named, means “has crossed the river” and “drank by sips,” or “he sips.” Note, too, that Georgia has another Chattooga River. It’s on the western border where it runs into Weiss Lake near Alabama.

OUTFITTERS

Several outfitters can take you on a Chattooga River rafting adventure. The websites below provide information on the intensity of experience desired, minimum ages, trip lengths, season, packages and prices. Other attractions include waterfalls, ziplining-canopy tours, distilleries, the Chattahoochee National Forest and The Dillard House, a restaurant known for its family-style menu. Nantahala Outdoor Center: noc.com Wildwater: wildwaterrafting.com Southeastern Expeditions: southeasternexpeditions.com

I felt as though I had dipped into some supernatural source of primal energy. It was like riding on a river of air. The rocks flickered around and under us, then sand, the rocks, changing colors into each other, as we streamed through. — “Deliverance” by James Dickey

PAGES 66–67:

Nantahala Outdoor Center rafts plunge through Bull Sluice.

OPPOSITE PAGE, left to right:

A kayaker swirls back upriver from near the Highway 76 bridge. Mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia, brings its spring beauty to the river and its trails. Chattooga ferns.

THIS PAGE:

A view of Bull Sluice.

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D E PA R T M E N T S G I V I N G B A C K

A JOURNEY TO RECOVERY Nonprofit offers organ transplant recipient hope and common ground BY ANNIE CLARK

ne Sunday afternoon, toward the end of 2020, I felt

PHOTO OF ANNIE CLARK BY JEFF LIPSKY

COMMON GROUND—AND GOALS

In my search, one organization stood out

I was transported to the in-patient

from the rest: North Carolina Transplant

profoundly sick in a way I

rehabilitation center at MedStar

Athletes, or Team NC. The website read:

had never experienced before.

Georgetown University Hospital, and

“North Carolina Transplant Athletes is

My symptoms did not match those common

between physical therapy sessions I spent

a group of organ recipients, caregivers,

with COVID-19 that the Center for Disease

time Googling both transplant articles and

living donors, donor family members and

Control and Prevention had been discussing

organizations in North Carolina—where I

others in the transplant community who

on TV for weeks but, not wanting to take

would move once I was stable enough—that

raise awareness for organ donation while

any chances, I did something rather out of

could support me as I came to terms with

fundraising to travel to the Transplant

character and decided to go to the doctor.

everything that had happened.

Games of America every two years.”

Immediately.

I knew I wanted to reach out to them.

The sky was a bleak sheet of grey in

Because I had been a competitive soccer

that day in Washington, D.C., and the wind

player most of my life in North Carolina,

whipped briskly as I, in this weakened state,

and then coached kids in Washington, D.C.,

climbed the stairs of my basement apartment

playing sports again was what I craved. But

and attempted to walk toward the sidewalk

that was a far cry from the wheelchair I

to no avail. I swallowed my pride and called

could barely sit in without pain. Motivated to

an Uber to drive me 1 mile to MedStar

not be in this condition forever, I crafted an

Washington Hospital Center. Once in front of

email to the nonprofit, and shortly thereafter

the ER sign, I slowly made my way through

received a warm welcome from NCTA’s

the doors and into the waiting room. I

team manager, Laura Smith.

checked in, experiencing what I thought were

I soon met other members of the team—

bad, potentially coronavirus-related body

transplant patients from all walks of life who

aches, and subsequently passed out.

had been brought together because they had

After a couple months of lying unconscious

also needed a new organ to survive. At my

and intubated, I groggily opened my eyes

first virtual meeting I met Darryl Ellis, who

to fuzzy faces trying to talk to me. I learned

answered all my newbie transplant questions;

that my body had gone into organ failure. I

Phelicia Price, an economics professor and

had been moved to a different hospital and,

inspiring yoga aficionado; John Laisure, a

among other things, had received a life-saving

pediatric nephrologist who would become

organ transplant. My journey to recovery was

my pickleball partner; and so many other remarkable individuals. Each person had a

only beginning. PHOTO OF TRANSPLANT ATHLETES COMPETING COURTESY OF NCTA

72 | midtownmag.com

unique story, and everyone was excited to

has the potential to save eight lives and

go to the Transplant Games of America later

enhance the lives of 75 others. According to

this year.

Donate Life America, while 95% of U.S. adults

I moved back to the Triangle region earlier in 2022 and, alongside my new team, will be participating in my first sports competition as

support organ donation, only 54% are actually registered as donors. We need to fill that gap. While most people think of being a donor as

a transplant athlete July 29–August 3 in this

something that happens after one passes away,

year’s host city, San Diego. Because NCTA

living donation is another thing to consider.

believes cost should not be a barrier for

For example, the most commonly needed

post-transplant patients working to educate

organ is a kidney. Most people are born with

folks about organ donation, we are always

two, and healthy people only need one.

fundraising to help ensure people who want to

As a registered donor, I never dreamed I

participate have financial access, and we are so

would be a recipient, but because someone

thankful for those who have helped us so far.

had a conversation with their child about donation, I am here today. Talk to your

FILLING THE GAP

friends and family about organ donation.

While I am incredibly fortunate to be alive

Signing up is easy. Individuals can designate

to compete, thanks to my donor, so many

their intention to donate on their drivers’

people are not as lucky. I’ve learned that

license and can register at donatelifenc.org.

at any given time in the U.S., just under

The North Carolina community has been so

106,000 people are on waiting lists to receive

instrumental in my support, and my hope is

an organ, according to organdonor.gov.

that through NCTA and similar programs, we

On average, 17 people pass away every day

can continue to be that community for others

while waiting to receive a transplant.

who are impacted by a transplant need or

Although the numbers are daunting, there is hope. Through organ donation, one person

donation. For more information about North Carolina Transplant Athletes, visit nctalife.org.

PHOTO OF TRANSPLANT ATHLETES CELEBRATING COURTESY OF NCTA

NCTA MEMBERS SHOWN LEFT TO RIGHT: ANNIE CLARK, DARRYL ELLIS, LAURA SMITH AND YVETTE MATTHEWS. PHOTO BY DON FEELY PHOTOGRAPHY.

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D E PA R T M E N T S T R A N S P O R TAT I O N

CAUTION: Road Work Ahead! Despite challenges, engineers work to make infrastructure improvements throughout Wake County BY MANDY HOWARD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL MASCIA/DRONE A.I.R.

midst the fear and uncertainty the lockdown brought, many agree there was one tiny positive blip: a marked decrease in traffic. The return to a normal way of life is very welcome, but also reminds those who live in the Triangle that, in many places, most of our roads were not created for the current population. State and local officials have been planning updates and upgrades for years, but no one predicted how a pandemic could affect the labor market, nor could they have planned for the meteoric rise in property values. For example, when a 2017 transportation bond was passed in Raleigh, the budget included accommodations for steady growth in property values and inflation. However, as City of Raleigh Senior Engineer in Roadway Design and Construction Chad Cantrell says, “Inflation is through the roof and this is a hot place to live. As we got to the end of these bond projects, there just wasn’t sufficient money to cover all [the projects on the bond] through construction.”

INTERSTATE 440 BELTLINE Where: I-440 Beltline between Walnut Street and Wade Avenue. Why: Built in the 1960s, this was the first section of the beltline to be built, and is the last to be widened. According to the NCDOT, it claims nearly triple the statewide crash rate for similar facilities. This project will improve safety and provide much-needed updates to this segment of the highly used loop. What: The road will be widened to six lanes, interchanges will be upgraded and all bridges will be replaced. When: The original finish date was 2023, but due to supply and labor issues the completion date has been pushed back to October 2024. At this time, you can see the beginning of a massive flyover, or high-level overpass, that will carry Wade Avenue over the beltline.

76 | midtownmag.com

That is a common refrain for projects that are being funded on a local level. When it comes to statewide projects, for which funding is a little more predictable, there are also challenges. “Like every other industry, our contractors are being challenged by the labor market and there are supply chain issues,” says Marty Homan, communications manager for the North Carolina Department of Transportation Division of Motor Vehicles. So while there may be headlines about expanding budgets and delayed timelines, and we’ll likely all start telling jokes about the state bird being the crane and the state flower being the blossoming orange cone, it’s important to look to the future. “I can’t stress enough how important having good transportation infrastructure is,” Homan says. “The region is growing tremendously, and we need the infrastructure in place to get people where they need to go.” Here’s a quick look at some major projects happening now.

HILLSBOROUGH STREET AND BLUE RIDGE ROAD Where: Intersection of Hillsborough Street, Beryl Road and Blue Ridge Road at the State Fairgrounds. Why: To improve traffic flow and reduce train-related conflicts with vehicles and pedestrians. What: A bridge will be built for Hillsborough Street and the nearby railroad tracks so that Blue Ridge Road will travel, unimpeded, underneath Hillsborough Street and Beryl Road. No longer an intersection, a “jug handle” interchange will be built for travelers on Blue Ridge Road to access Hillsborough Street. The intersection will be closed for the entirety of the construction phase. When: Construction will begin when the annual North Carolina State Fair ends in 2022, and the interchange will open in just under two years, prior to the state fair in October 2024.

LOOK UP FOR INSPIRATION! By Mandy Howard

SIX FORKS ROAD (PHASE 1) Where: Midtown Raleigh; Six Forks Road from Rowan Street to Lynn Road. Why: Increased traffic has created a demand to improve mobility and safety for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians. What: The road will be expanded to three lanes of travel in each direction; sidewalks will be installed on both sides; and a separated, curbed bike lane will be created. When: While the project was originally funded by the 2017 transportation bond, increased real estate prices (to achieve the necessary expansions) created a need for further funding. If local funding is approved, the estimated start date is 2023. That start will be pushed back approximately one year if federal grants are needed.

ATLANTIC AVENUE Where: Atlantic Avenue in Raleigh, from New Hope Church Road to Highwoods Boulevard. Why: An analysis flagged this section of Atlantic Avenue as a safety risk, so the stated goal is to improve visibility and create safer intersections. What: Medians are being installed, and the intersection of Ingram Drive and Atlantic Avenue will be raised to offer increased visibility. When: Construction started in March and is anticipated to be completed in March of 2024. COMPLETE INTERSTATE 540 TRIANGLE EXPRESSWAY (PART 1) Where: This project will be contracted and developed in three different stages. The first one, happening now, takes I-540 from the N.C. 55 Bypass to U.S 401 (near Ten Ten Road). Why: Also known as the Southeast Extension project, the goal is to complete the I-540 loop. This will improve travel for and to southern Wake communities, as well as ease congestion on nearby roads, including I-440, I-40, N.C. 42, N.C. 55 and Ten Ten Road. What: New roadways, bridges and interchanges are being built. When: The first phase, connecting the N.C. 55 bypass to U.S. 401, is under construction now. It’s set to open in 2024.

The Midtown Raleigh Alliance unveiled new street banners in June to encourage residents and visitors to explore one of the fastest-growing destinations in the country: Midtown Raleigh. The banners, designed by local artist Chris Young, feature bold colors and geometric patterns created to inspire people to get out of their cars and explore the area. Young’s partnership with the MRA, though, started long before the banners project. As a bank executive for First Citizens Bank—the cool round building at Six Forks and Lassiter Mill roads—Young was a founding member of the MRA board. She continued to serve on the board for six years and was chair for one year. “If you’re going to invest time and energy into making your community a better place, it’s cool to start where you spend a lot of time,” she says, adding that she was continually inspired by the vitality of her workplace. “I was surrounded by interesting architecture, beautiful artwork and, of course, all the energy and growth that happened in Midtown while I was there.” While still in the midst of her 18-year career with First Citizens Bank, Young began painting as a hobby. She only became a professional artist, she laughs, “when I realized people wanted to buy my art.” Young retired from First Citizens Bank last summer and is currently focused on two goals: creating art and giving back to her community. This project allowed her to do both. Tara Robbins, executive director of the MRA, said Young was the perfect choice for this year’s banner creation for three reasons. First, she is a talented artist whose work continues to be showcased with growing frequency throughout the Triangle. Second, it was an opportunity to pay tribute to a founding member of MRA. Third, Young dedicates the proceeds of her art to local organizations that help children and families. Her earnings from these banners will be given to the YMCA of the Triangle. As a working mom, Young says her family took advantage of after-school programs and camps the YMCA provided. She hopes that by donating these proceeds for scholarships, other families will be able to benefit from the same programming. Young also hopes the art itself will, in a way, give back to the community. “I hope these banners will spark a positive feeling. I also hope they will inspire people to get outside,” she says. “If you’re driving by you’ll stop and explore, whether you live there, work there or are just passing through.

JULY/AUGUST 2022

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DEPARTMENTS C H E F ’ S T A B L E

VIDRIO

EXPERIENCE ACCLAIMED MEDITERRANEAN DISHES AMID ELEGANT INTERIORS

BY ELLIOT ACOSTA | PHOTOS BY MASH PHOTOGRAPHY idrio introduced a refined state

of memories and emotions that Rahman

produced seasonal dishes like Harissa

of dining to the rowdy streets of

attempts to recreate at Vidrio.

Roasted Joyce Farms Chicken, classics like

Glenwood South when its doors opened in 2017. The eatery

Although the restaurant’s Mediterranean

Coq Au Vin and seafood specialties like

menu is a departure from the cuisine of

Carolina Mountain Trout. Each dish is an

earned instant acclaim by stunning diners

Rahman’s childhood, his upbringing still

extension of the kitchen’s soul, and may be

with an awe-inspiring glass art wall and

inspires many of his dishes. Rahman’s

why Rahman hesitates to pick out a favorite

Mediterranean-focused menu.

focus on using local ingredients is founded

from his menu. “It’s like asking me to pick

in memories of cooking with ingredients

out my favorite child,” he says.

At the helm of Vidrio’s kitchen is Executive Chef Saif Rahman. A person of

from his grandmother’s garden. When the

deep faith, Rahman believes his journey

pandemic made getting supplies to Vidrio

TASTE TOURS

into professional cooking was simply

challenging, Rahman leaned into those

Determined to showcase the Mediterranean

“following what he was supposed to be

humble beginnings by using whatever

region beyond Greece and Italy, Rahman

doing.” Becoming a chef wasn’t so much a

limited ingredients were made available to

has offered themed dinners for the

choice for him, as it was a path chosen for

him, and then creating refined dishes from

Mediterranean’s less-celebrated culinary

him. While working in highly regarded

them. Rahman’s skill of transforming these

cuisines from countries like Portugal,

kitchens—like Michelin 3-star restaurant

simple ingredients into delicious entrees is

Egypt and Morocco. These “Taste Tours,”

Grace in Chicago—may have sharpened

on display in Vidrio’s “From the Garden”

as Rahman has named them, are a vehicle

his skills, Rahman insists his culinar y

menu, which elevates plain produce such

to support regions in need. Vidrio hosted

talents are more of a divine blessing than

as carrots into posh fare, thanks to his

a Ukrainian Taste Tour, then donated the

personal manifestation. Before destiny

ability to expertly grill them and then add

proceeds to support the World Central

guided Rahman to work as a chef, he

complexity with tahini yogurt.

Kitchen’s mission to feed Ukrainian families

had already ventured into other pursuits,

in the war-torn country. When creating the

such as working in the financial sector.

ADD SOME SOUL

tours, Rahman strives to make personal

However, as he recalls, “ever ything came

Rahman has a simple ethos when crafting

connections to discover the countries’

back to cooking.”

Vidrio’s menu: “Food doesn’t have soul—

dishes. He chose to forgo easily accessible

it’s the cook that puts the soul in the food,”

research methods such as YouTube and,

BANGLADESH BEGINNINGS

he says. This philosophy became especially

instead, learned about the featured country’s

Chef Rahman’s call to the kitchen started

important when Rahman took over the

recipes by seeking out a native from that

in his grandmother’s village in Bangladesh.

kitchen at Vidrio in the middle of the

country. In the case of his Taste Tour of

Unbeknownst to the younger Rahman, the

pandemic, which weighed so heavily on

Ukraine menu, Rahman gleaned recipes

time in his grandmother’s lush rice fields

his staff that “cooking didn’t have feeling

from his Ukrainian seafood delivery man.

and plentiful garden of produce would

anymore,” he says.

provide the foundation of his culinary career.

“Cooking is easy,” Rahman says. His

When diners come to eat at Vidrio, Rahman hopes they support him and the

“Back then I didn’t realize what it was, but

bigger challenge at Vidrio is inspiring

restaurant, but also hopes they understand

now [looking back] it was the most amazing

his team to put soul into the food. This

the struggle that goes into making his

thing,” Rahman says.

approach is partly why Rahman entered

operation a success—that they understand

He marvels at the access he had to fresh

and won the North Carolina Restaurant &

the hard work and soul that comes into

fruit, like mangoes and lychees. But it wasn’t

Lodging Association’s Chef Showdown in

each dish at Vidrio. Because Rahman’s goal

just his grandmother’s bountiful garden that

2021. He stresses that he didn’t win for

for Vidrio isn’t to chase down accolades;

amazed Rahman, it was how she was able

himself, but competed for his parents, his

rather, he is driven by the daily pursuit to

to “make people happy, make people smile

grandmother and his staff. The passion

do his best and to keep his team and

and touch the soul.” Those are the kinds

Rahmen has cultivated from his cooks has

diners happy.

80 | midtownmag.com

CAROLINA MOUNTAIN TROUT

By Vidrio Executive Chef Saif Rahman INGREDIENTS

500 grams of clean whole trout 12 grams of chopped shallots 7 grams of minced garlic 2 ounces of lemon juice 2.5 ounces of olive oil (separated into 1.5 and 1 ounce) 8 grams of kosher salt (plus more for seasoning) 30 grams of unsalted butter 1 gram of fresh-picked parsley 1 gram of fresh-picked mint 2 grams of fresh-picked sweet basil 6 grams of sliced almonds ½ of a fresh lemon 2 grams of capers DIRECTIONS

Blend the 1.5 ounces of olive oil and 8 grams of salt, then pour onto the trout. Set aside for 20 minutes.

THIS PHOTO: VIDRIO EXECUTIVE CHEF SAIF RAHMAN BELOW: CAROLINA MOUNTAIN TROUT

In a small sauté pan, melt the butter on medium heat. Add the shallots and garlic. When the shallots are lightly translucent, take them off the heat. In a blender, slowly mix the butter/shallots/ garlic mixture with 2 ounces of lemon juice. Season the mixture with salt, to taste, and set it aside. Put all of the herbs in cold water to hydrate them. Heat the oven to 400 degrees. When it’s ready, put the trout in for 7 minutes, then flip and cook it for another 4–5 minutes. The skin should be crispy and the inside of the fish should be white. In a mixing bowl, add all the herbs and the remaining 1 ounce of olive oil, the juice of ½ a lemon, almonds and capers, and season the mixture to taste with salt. Place the trout on a plate and pour the butter sauce on top of it. Add the salad on the side and enjoy!

JULY/AUGUST 2022

| 81

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D E PA R T M E N T S S P O R T S

COOL SCHOOL

Accelerator School gives

hockey and soccer players an

academic alternative while chasing their dreams BY KURT DUSTERBERG

f you walk into the Invisalign Arena in

teachers, while the high school curriculum is

Morrisville on any weekday morning,

mostly online. Enrollment begins at $17,500

the first thing you notice is the bustle of

and runs to $19,500.

activity in every corner of the hockey

“We don’t consider ourselves an online

rink. The players range across the teenage

school because we have so much support

years and move on the ice with speed and

built in,” says Jackie Avallone, the school’s

skill. One skater at center ice works on

high school coordinator. “Our entire high

stickhandling. Near the boards, another

school program is NCAA–approved.

listens to instruction from a coach. At the far

North Carolina has their state standards,

end of the ice, a player closes in for a shot

which all of our courses are meeting, but

against a goalie. And when practice ends,

the NCAA is the clearinghouse for what is

they all hurry to the locker room and shower

acceptable as far as student-athletes.”

before heading upstairs. That’s where school

The school does not, however, have

starts at 11 a.m. and runs until 3:45 p.m.

athletic teams. The students all play on

Accelerator School is an academic

high-level soccer club teams or hockey

alternative for middle and high school

programs outside of school. So the morning

students with a heavy focus on athletic

blocks of on-ice training and outdoor soccer

performance. The school’s hockey academy

practice at the Accelerator School are meant

has 30 students. Another 18 participate

to accentuate personal skill development.

in a soccer academy, which trains on two outdoor turf fields. Both facilities are part

FIRST-CLASS TRAINING AND TEACHING

of the Wake Competition Center campus

Many of the Accelerator School’s students

that houses training centers for a variety

hope to earn college scholarships or pursue

of sports. The second floor of the twin-rink

other paths that can lead to professional

arena includes individual classrooms for

leagues. To that end, the school has a

both middle and high school courses. The

staff of experienced coaches who offer

middle school classroom has three full-time

comprehensive training and guidance for

84 | midtownmag.com

PHOTO BY SKYNESHER/GETTY IMAGES

JULY/AUGUST 2022

| 85

PHOTO BY WILLIE B. THOMAS/GETTY IMAGES

ACCELLERATOR SCHOOL STUDENT ATHELETE DOMINIK CESPEDES. PHOTO BY JIM SCHNEIDERMAN.

navigating their post–high school plans as

INVISALIGN ARENA. PHOTO COURTESY OF WAKE COMPETITION CENTER.

A NATURAL TRANSITION

PRIORITIZING ACADEMICS

Among those who started in the fall of

Ransbury operates another Accelerator School

comes from former professional athletes

2021 was Dominik Cespedes, a 13-year-old

in the Washington, D.C. Metro area, and plans

and high-level coaches who provide skills

hockey lover who plays in the Carolina

to open schools in Southern California and

instruction, performance evaluations and

Junior Hurricanes program. His father,

Houston in the coming year. “We can only go so

individualized video sessions. The soccer

Mark, could see that Dominik didn’t have

fast, and we really want to control the quality,”

academy includes similar instruction,

the same passion in the classroom that he

Ransbury says. “If we have one bad school, it

along with a residency program that allows

showed on the ice. “Ever y morning when

may tarnish everything.”

students to train at an Accelerator School

I would take him to school, I could tell he

academy in Spain.

was dreading going there,” Mark Cespedes

on academics in every way possible. After a

says. “He just wanted it to be over. So it

weekend of travel with their club teams, students

academy, housed in the hospitality suites at

was a really easy decision for me, just to be

sometimes aren’t at the top of their academic

WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. The school’s

able to take him somewhere I knew he was

game when Monday morning rolls around.

co-founder, Terry Ransbury, initially planned

looking for ward to going. He’s got a smile

“We can help them manage their travel time

to build his own facility for the Accelerator

on his face when I drop him off, he’s got a

and their energy,” Avallone says. “If a student is

School, but after watching Wake Competition

smile on his face when I pick him up. It’s

struggling, or if he’s been traveling a lot, we’ll

Center take shape under the direction of

money well spent.”

say, ‘We need you to come into the classroom

student-athletes. The hockey instruction

The school opened in 2016 as a soccer-only

developer Jeff Ammons, he found an interested

Leaving his traditional middle school

The school takes care to keep the emphasis

tomorrow morning instead of going to training,’

partner. “He gave us artificial turf to work

environment came easily for Dominik. “It’s

The coaches are 100% on board. It’s not like

with so we didn’t have to go indoors in bad

a little bit strange that it’s the same kids

there’s any repercussions to that.”

weather,” Ransbury says. “It worked out

in ever y class, but I like it,” says the rising

beautifully. We’re super happy with the facility

eighth-grader. “At the start of the year, I

students in the spring, taking another step in

here. It’s great for us.”

kind of struggled a little bit, but I’m kind of

building a reputation that embraces the student

getting it together now.”

side of student-athletes. “Relationships are

The arena was completed at the end of 2019, opening the door for a hockey school

The hockey part of the equation came

Accelerator School graduated its first four

very important to us. It’s teachers and coaches,

in 2020. “Throughout the year, families

naturally. “I’ve been a lot stronger on my

students and parents all working together,”

would come to shadow because their kids

skates since I started because I’m skating

Avallone says. “We’re taking advantage of the

were homeschooling during COVID, and we

ever y day,” Dominik says. “My stride has

students’ passion, whether it’s hockey or soccer.

started enrolling,” says Avallone, who teaches

gotten much better. My shot has improved

We don’t think you have to sacrifice. We want

language arts and social studies. “By the end

drastically. It’s helped my game a lot.”

to make sure the education is as good as it

of the year, we had 20 students.” 86 | midtownmag.com

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D E PA R T M E N T S E D U C AT I O N

APEX HIGH SCHOOL. PHOTO COURTESY OF WCPSS.

HOW TO NAVIGATE SCHOOL CHOICE IN WAKE COUNTY

BY LIBBY TAYLOR chool choice in Wake County can

schools in our area, coupled with practical

families, rather than massive redistricting for

be daunting. If you’re like me, you

suggestions, will help you tackle your

families who are already living here. If you

grew up going to the school in your

family’s school search.

are new to the area and you purchase a home

neighborhood and there were no

magnet schools, year-round calendar options or charter schools. These days, the options are vast. In a lot of ways, this is a blessing for families who don’t find their base school to be a great fit; however, it can be time consuming and difficult to navigate all of the alternatives.

TRADITIONAL

WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Like most other districts, each address in Wake County has an assigned base school as part of the Wake County Public School System. Residents can attend their base school simply by registering at that school.

in a capped school zone, you will be provided transportation to an overflow school. You can call your student’s base school and find out this information ahead of time. All capped schools are listed at wcpss.net. A new cap on WCPSS class size for kindergarten through third grade that began

If you are a new family who has just moved

with the 2018–19 school year (with some

Taking into account all the area has to

into the area, you may have to contend with

deadline flexibility built in to phase in these

offer will help you make the right decision

enrollment caps. This is done to intentionally

new requirements), allows no more than 21

for your family. Taking a macro view of the

place the burden of overcrowding on new

students in each kindergarten class, no more

90 | midtownmag.com

than 19 in each first grade class, and no more

Magnet schools follow the same curriculum

school. A charter school’s performance

than 20 in each second- and third-grade class.

and state standards guiding public schools,

grade can be found alongside other public

Older students have access to a vast array of

but may have varying instructional models

schools on the School Report Cards website

elective opportunities, experienced teachers,

depending on their theme.

published by the North Carolina Department

enrichment programs and accommodations

PRO TIP: Magnet applications are based

for special education. Each school is unique,

on priority status. Visit the magnet web page

so make sure you tour your base school along

on the WCPSS website to understand your

schools and magnet schools at the same time.

with any others you are considering. Some

priority ranking. If you are trying to attend

Charter schools will give you the opportunity

follow a year-round calendar and some follow

a popular magnet school you may need to

to accept or decline your seat.

a traditional nine-month calendar.

qualify as a high priority to increase your

PRO TIP: If you don’t like the calendar at your assigned base school you can apply for admission to the alternative calendar school. Learn more about your calendar options by using the WCPSS address lookup tool.

MAGNET

chance of being selected.

CHARTER

of Public Instruction. PRO TIP: You can apply to multiple charter

PRIVATE

SCHOOLS IN WAKE COUNTY If public school options are not meeting

WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

your needs, Wake County also offers many

Charter schools are public schools that

private school choices. Private schools are

are not part of WCPSS, but are run by

tuition-based and are run independently.

independent boards. They are approved by

You can choose from a wide range of

WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

a state charter advisory board, follow state

parochial, or religious-based schools as

Wake County has a nationally recognized

educational guidelines and are tuition-free for

well as independent schools. The tuition

magnet school system. Magnet schools are

students. Because charter schools are run

for some of these schools starts at as low

public schools and part of WCPSS, but have

independently, however, they may operate

$5,000 a year.

specialized themes that attract students

differently from WCPSS. Some span additional

from outside their base zone. These themes

grade levels—such as kindergarten through

private school often starts in the fall and can

include leadership, creative arts, language

eighth grade—and require uniforms or even

include testing, interviews, recommendation

immersion programs, entrepreneurial

parent volunteer hours. Admission into a

letters and more. Each school has its own

design and more. Magnet school applications

charter school is determined by a general

unique admissions process, so be sure to

are submitted in the fall and winter for

lottery (random selection), typically between

prepare by visiting the school’s website

entrance during the following academic year.

December and March; timeframes vary by

before getting started.

The admissions process at a competitive

BROUGHTON HIGH SCHOOL IN RALEIGH. PHOTO COURTESY OF WCPSS.

JULY/AUGUST 2022

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TIME FOR A CHANGE? BY LIBBY TAYLOR

LAUREL PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN APEX. PHOTO COURTESY OF WCPSS.

PRO TIP: If you know you want to

Once you know where you want to

attend kindergarten at a popular private

explore further, gather together important

school, consider applying for your child

information like application and transfer

to attend the school’s preschool program

request deadlines, tour schedules, and

to increase your chances of getting a

course and extracurricular offerings. So

kindergarten seat. Seats are typically filled

much information is available now online,

by spring, so start the process early. PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER Although deciding which school your child should attend can be overwhelming, there are many tools at your disposal. Before you begin looking, sit down as a family and identify what is most important to all of

but touring a school in person is still the best way to decide if it works for your family. Y ou may find several schools that could be a good fit, so don’t be afraid to follow your instincts if you think you have found the one!

you in a school environment. Is it location

Libby Taylor owns and operates SchoolUp.

and proximity to home? Is it special

She has over 12 years of experience in

programing, like foreign languages or

education, both as a teacher in WCPSS

music? Maybe it’s a particular instructional

and Durham County, and as a professional

model that you like?

development coordinator for teachers across the country.

Change can be hard, but schools are fluid organizations and are constantly changing. Sometimes a school you picked many years ago no longer fits what your family needs today. I have noticed that the pandemic caused many parents to take a much deeper look into their children’s educational needs. Whether it was listening into virtual classes, talking to other parents or noticing communication patterns, many parents began observing their child’s current school from a different perspective. Parents are more involved in what and how their kids are learning. If your family’s needs have changed, it might be time to consider a school change as well. Always be sure you have communicated with teachers and administrators in an honest and open way to resolve conflicts before setting your sights on a new school. And make sure the issues can be solved by a new environment and are not something that will continue elsewhere. Here are a few basic guidelines to consider that can help you decide when it’s time to move on. •

• • •

•

SAINT MARY'S SCHOOL IN RALEIGH. PHOTO COURTESY OF SAINT MARY'S SCHOOL.

92 | midtownmag.com

Your child is noticeably anxious before school, or refuses to go to school. Your gut is telling you that your child isn’t thriving. Your child isn’t making adequate academic progress. The academic courses or electives your child needs are not offered (international baccalaureate, orchestra, French, advanced math, etc.). Your child’s school does not offer the academic services your child needs to succeed. Open communication isn’t happening or consistently leaves you feeling frustrated. A change in your family’s situation makes transportation or other logistics difficult. New programing does not align with your family’s values.

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Midtown magazine July August 2022

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