Happy 2025! Our new year, as always, begins with the Diamond Awards—your choices for the best of the best in Wake County. See if your favorites made the list!
January/February is our health and wellness issue. I tried many different approaches to exercise before I found out what works for me: I don’t do any exercises unless I enjoy them (at least to some extent). If I need to listen to a book or podcast or watch television to distract myself from what I’m doing, it’s not the exercise for me. I love hiking and swimming, and CrossFit is fun because the exercises keep my brain engaged. So I focus on those and see where they take me.
If you’re like me and prefer exercises that engage your attention, check out our article on outside-thebox fitness opportunities in Wake County. I had never heard of some of these options, and many of them sound like a ton of fun! They include beginners’ circus arts and aerial silks, Bollywood dancebased exercise classes, and even something called bungee swing fitness where you exercise to swing music while suspended on bungee cords dangling from the ceiling. Katelyn Rutt found out about options I had never even considered. I highly recommend checking it out.
This is also our issue on senior living and caregiving, and Mario Boucher has written a piece on finding the right senior living community for yourself or your loved ones. His piece offers some context—what types of senior living communities are out there, for example, and some resources to help navigate them—and he also offers a few examples of interesting senior living communities in the area. It’s not intended to be an exhaustive list, but rather to show the unique approaches different senior living facilities can take and how nuanced they can be. The right place for you or your loved one is out there—you just need to find the one whose approach resonates with you. We hope this article helps you do that.
Along the same lines, Paige Hachet Jacob has written a piece on a student from North Carolina State University’s nursing school who worked as a part-time caregiver through an organization called CareYaYa. Through this work, she saved a client’s life. It’s a good story in itself, but it also highlights that affordable caregiving is becoming increasingly important as the baby-boomer generation ages into needing extra care, and that creative, affordable options like CareYaYa are needed.
We include an article on Missy Lane’s Assembly Room in Durham that I was excited to write. Missy Lane’s focuses on celebrating Black American music forms—especially jazz—and educating the public about them through their performance choices so they’ll want to keep coming back. The venue is amazing—it’s intimate and incredibly high quality, and feels like a retro jazz club in New York. It also has excellent cocktails! So whether you’re going for a concert or just to have drinks at the speakeasy-style bar, the 20-minute drive from Raleigh to Durham is well worth it.
Speaking of high-quality opportunities, I also got to sit down with David and Ira Wood and have a conversation about the history of Theatre in the Park in Raleigh. David Wood—a treasure trove of information about how the entire theater scene around here has developed— has some stories about theater history in Raleigh that you absolutely do not want to miss. He even talks about how he and some other folks from Theatre in the Park opened up Memorial Auditorium for theatrical performances for the first time—it’s a great story. The interview was so rich that we couldn’t include the whole thing here, so we have an extended version online. There’s more in this issue I’m excited about—Irregardless turns 50! The Triangle actually sells good king cakes for Mardi Gras! (This one is close to my New Orleans–based heart.) But as ever, I am running out of space. So I encourage you to explore this issue on your own to find out more.
I hope you enjoy it and that you all have a very happy new year!
Photo by Jenn McKinney Photography
Elizabeth Brignac
PUBLISHERS
Ronny Stephens
Kent Braswell
MANAGING EDITOR
Elizabeth Brignac
ART AND WEB DIRECTOR
Sean Byrne
GRAPHIC AND WEB DESIGNER
Dathan Kazsuk
COPY EDITOR
Cindy Huntley
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Kyle Marie McMahon
SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER
Crystal Watts
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Sherry Braswell
Paige Gunter
Sophie Lapierre
Stefanie McClary
DISTRIBUTION
Joe Lizana, Manager
DistribuTech.net
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Mario Boucher, Elizabeth Brignac, Frances Deese, Dave Droschak, Kurt Dusterberg, Paige Hachet Jacob, Janice Lewine, Kyle Marie McMahon, Jennifer Primrose, Charlotte Russell, Katelyn Rutt, Kristen Schrum, Crystal Watts
CONTRIBUTING
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Jenn McKinney Photography
Josh Manning
SUBSCRIPTIONS
FEATURES
Readers’ choices for the best of Raleigh
Find
This Durham
Photo by Jenn McKinney Photography
DEPARTMENTS
DINE LOCAL
Irregardless Cafe turns 50
SIP & SAVOR
Three decades of Carolina Brewery
TRIANGLE BITES
Where to find authentic king cakes for Mardi Gras 100 KALEIDOSCOPE ONSTAGE
Theatre in the Park’s influence on Raleigh theater
VISUAL ARTS
ShopSpace’s metalworking classes and resources
LOCAL ART
Erin Stesch’s paintings are inspired by animal life
The Triangle Curling Club brings a new niche sport TRIANGLE
Local
RH (formerly Restoration Hardware) opened its highly anticipated Raleigh location in North Hills. The high-end retail space offers exquisitely curated products and design services as well as an on-site restaurant and wine bar.
Village Tavern opened its new location in North Hills. Founder and Executive Chairman Scott Richardson drew his vision and inspiration from servicing the community. The restaurant hopes to enrich the lives of its guests through the best possible food, crafted from the finest ingredients. Photo by Kent Braswell.
Raleigh’s annual March of Dimes and Triangle MOD Signature Chefs Auction brought chefs to The Westin Raleigh-Durham Airport for an evening benefiting moms and valiant babies. The auction raised over $241,000 with the help of local chefs, donors, sponsors and the community.
Photo: The March of Dimes committee, including iHeartRadio host Erica DeLong and Chairwoman Kelly Vincenza Flanagin. Photo courtesy of Erica DeLong.
Photo courtesy of RH.
Dorothea Dix Park hosted the USA Today Wine + Food Experience. Guests sipped and savored samples from culinary vendors in the heart of
Above: Raleigh’s Chef Scott Crawford opened a new flagship restaurant, Crawford Brothers Steakhouse. The 4,500-square-foot modern American steakhouse specializes in dry-aged beef and has an extensive wine program, and with seating for 120, it’s the largest Crawford Hospitality restaurant to date. The design celebrates the nostalgia of an old-school steakhouse but with the Crawford touch and a lighter, edgier twist. Photo courtesy of Crawford Brothers Steakhouse.
Above and left: Fenton hosted their “Shaken + Stirred” event, with proceeds benefitting those in western North Carolina who have been affected by Hurricane Helene. The event featured a cocktail competition and live music as guests visited each participating restaurant. Photos of Colletta by Paige Gunter.
Above and left: Raleigh Little Theatre celebrated its 40th year of their Cinderella performance. A timeless classic and local legend, this show has become a tradition for many. Photo courtesy of Raleigh Little Theatre.
Left:
Raleigh. Photos by Sophie Lapierre.
WARM ACCENTS
Holiday decorations are put away for another year, and we’ve rung in 2025. If it’s time to treat your home to a new accent piece, consider a hardy live plant or a chargeable accent lamp to fill a corner. Trying to stay warm on cold winter nights? How about a throw for the couch, some warm slippers or a cup of tea to chase away the chill?
3. Printed cotton throw by Park Hill, $59.95 | Inspirations
4. Cordless rechargeable accent lamp, $510 | La Maison
Warmies slippers, $29.99 | The Tulip Magnolia Boutique
Tea Forte Wellbeing gift set, $65.95 | NOFO @ the Pig
BY JANICE LEWINE
TRIANGLE WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S NETS MORE THAN $425,000
Roughly 2,000 people took part in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s on October 5 at Halifax Mall in Raleigh. Attendees raised over $425,000 to fund programs on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association, a global nonprofit working to advance care, support and research of the disease worldwide. Held annually in more than 600 communities throughout the U.S., the Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the organization’s largest fundraiser that encourages all ages and abilities to join the fight against the disease.
Photo courtesy of Alzheimer’s Association–North Carolina.
RALEIGH’S MOST NOTABLE ATTEND UNVEILING OF RH RALEIGH
Influencers and tastemakers from the worlds of sports, design, art, philanthropy and business gathered October 30 to celebrate the unveiling of RH Raleigh, The Gallery at North Hills, an unrivaled destination presenting one of the largest collections of luxury home furnishings in the world. The event, which benefited the North Carolina Museum of Art and World Central Kitchen’s Hurricane Helene Relief, was attended by UNC–CH and NBA basketball star Tyler Hansbrough, Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon and celebrity chef Vivian Howard. Featuring the signature RH Rooftop Restaurant and a beautifully landscaped wine terrace, RH Raleigh, The Gallery at North Hills, is located at 4120 Lassiter Mill Road in Raleigh.
Photo courtesy of Liz Condo.
PRETTY IN PINK FOUNDATION RAISES NEARLY $440,000 AT ANNUAL GALA
The Pretty In Pink Foundation hosted its 8th annual Pink Pumps & Bow Ties Gala on October 19 at the Angus Barn Pavilion in Raleigh, celebrating two decades of lifesaving support for breast cancer patients across North Carolina. Nearly 350 supporters attended the sold-out event, which raised just under $440,000 and was a record-breaking success for the foundation’s mission of financially assisting uninsured and under-insured breast cancer patients with their lifesaving medical treatments.
Photo courtesy of Catherine Davis Photography.
HUMBLE HEART BAZAAR BENEFITS LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
The Humble Heart Bazaar continued its decades-old storied tradition at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church in Raleigh November 19–20, raising thousands of dollars for local organizations supporting women and children. The Humble Heart Bazaar is the United Methodist Women’s largest fundraiser, with net proceeds funding the local community in the form of grants. The bazaar consists of a marketplace, bake sale, seated lunch, corporate lunch, greenery sale and silent auction and takes place every November.
Photo courtesy of Janice Lewine.
TOWN
SKIN PHARM OPENS FIRST TRIANGLE AREA LOCATION
BY JANICE LEWINE
Modern beauty brand and aesthetics skin care practice Skin Pharm opened a 3,700-square-foot suite October 17 at 1000 Social, the flagship 12-story office tower at The Exchange Raleigh. Skin Pharm’s in-clinic treatments—including Botox, Dysport, fillers, microneedling, the proprietary Gold Infusion facial and more—are designed to empower clients at every stage of their skin care journey. Additionally, guests can shop the brand’s award-winning, medical-grade product line, featuring cleansers, serums, moisturizers and other skin care staples, in-clinic or online. Founded by nurse practitioner Maegan Griffin, Skin Pharm operates 11 locations throughout the country. 1000 Social Street, Suite 300, Raleigh 984.359.9802
skinpharm.com
Photo courtesy of Sophie Lapierre.
TRENLEND LAUNCHES SECOND CLOTHING RENTAL STORE
Building off the success of its Cary location, TrenLend recently opened a second clothing rental store in Raleigh. Founded by North Carolina State University graduates Emmy and Amelia, TrenLend transforms the way people approach fashion by providing convenient clothing rentals for the local community. It offers in-store and online access to a diverse and ever-evolving wardrobe without the burden of ownership.
540 St. Albans Drive, Suite 122, Raleigh trenlend.com
Healing Transitions, an addiction recovery organization in Wake County, presented its newly renovated women’s campus during a ribbon-cutting ceremony October 17. The nonprofit’s mission is to offer peer-based, recovery-oriented services to homeless, uninsured and underserved individuals with alcoholism and other drug addictions. This event marks the first in a series of renovation and expansion phases to both its women’s and men’s campuses.
3304 Glen Royal Road, Raleigh 919.838.9800
healing-transitions.org
Photo courtesy of Healing Transitions.
4EVERYOUNG PROMOTES WELLNESS IN MIDTOWN RALEIGH
Providing anti-aging solutions through wellness and aesthetics, 4EverYoung recently opened at 7431 Six Forks Road in Raleigh. The practice offers a wide range of services, including medical aesthetics, skin rejuvenation treatments such as microneedling and hydrafacials, hormone replacement therapy, IV vitamin therapy, medical weight loss, nutraceutical therapy and more. Membership programs provide year-round product and service discounts and VIP access to events and specials, making 4EverYoung’s services accessible and more affordable.
7431 Six Forks Road, Raleigh
919.500.7439
4everyoungantiaging.com
Photo courtesy of 4Ever Young.
2025
The Best of Raleigh
READERS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY VOTED FOR THEIR FAVORITE BUSINESSES, SERVICES AND VENUES. NOW, WE ARE EXCITED TO PRESENT THE 2025 GOLD, SILVER AND BRONZE DIAMOND AWARD WINNERS!
BROWSE THE LIST TO SEE IF YOUR FAVORITES ARE THERE, AND MAKE A NOTE OF ANY NEW BUSINESSES YOU’D LIKE TO CHECK OUT.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR WINNERS!
HEALTH + BEAUTY
BEST SALON
GOLD: Hush Hair Lash Brow
SILVER: Tone Hair Salon
BRONZE: Jill’s Beach
BEST HAIR SALON
GOLD: Hush Hair Lash Brow
SILVER: Tone Hair Salon
BRONZE: Lux Salon
BEST DENTIST
GOLD: Renaissance Dental Center
SILVER: Lane & Associates Family Dentistry
BRONZE: Wells Family Dental Group
BEST ORTHODONTIST
GOLD: Nor th Carolina Oral Surgery + Orthodontics
SILVER: Wells Orthodontics
BRONZE: Gladwell Orthodontics (tie)
Raleigh Or thodontics (tie)
BEST DOCTOR
GOLD: Dr. Bhavna Vaidya, Regenesis MD
SILVER: Avance Care
BRONZE: Carolina Total Wellness (tie)
Wake Internal Medicine Consultants (tie)
BEST OBGYN
GOLD: Kamm McKenzie OBGYN
SILVER: Arbor OBYGN
BRONZE: Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness
BEST FUNCTIONAL AND INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE
GOLD: Dr. Bhavna Vaidya, Regenesis MD
SILVER: Carolina Total Wellness
BRONZE: Laura Varga
BEST PERIODONTIST
GOLD: North Raleigh Periodontics & Implant Center
SILVER: Lane & Associates Family Dentistry
BRONZE: Raleigh Periodontics and Implant Dentistr y
BEST PEDIATRICIAN
GOLD: Raleigh Children and Adolescents Medicine
SILVER: HealthPark Pediatrics (tie)
Raleigh Pediatric Associates (tie)
BRONZE: Jeffers, Mann & Artman Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine (tie)
Oberlin Pediatrics (tie)
BEST PEDIATRIC DENTIST
GOLD: Lane & Associates Family Dentistry
SILVER: Midtown Pediatric Dentistry
BRONZE: Wake Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry
BEST DERMATOLOGIST
GOLD: Central Dermatology Center
SILVER: Blue Ridge Dermatology Associates
BRONZE: Midtown Dermatology (tie)
Southern Dermatology (tie)
BEST COSMETIC SURGEON
GOLD: Blue Water Spa
SILVER: Lyle Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics Center
BRONZE: Care Plastic Surgery (tie)
Raleigh Plastic Surgery Center (tie)
BEST MED SPA
GOLD: Regenesis MD
SILVER: Blue Water Spa
BRONZE: The MedSpa
BEST MASSAGE
GOLD: The Now Massage
SILVER: Woodhouse Spa
BRONZE: Skin Sense
BEST SUNLESS TANNING
GOLD: Oak City Sunless
SILVER: Jill’s Beach
BRONZE: Gilded Spray Tans
BEST CHIROPRACTOR
GOLD: Care Chiropractic & Acupuncture
SILVER: Osborne Chiropractic Clinic
BRONZE: The Joint Chiropractic
BEST PSYCHIATRIST
GOLD: GPW Psychiatry
SILVER: Breyta Psychological Services (tie)
Thriveworks (tie)
BRONZE: Casey Mental Health Collaborative
BEST MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER
GOLD: Calhoun Psychology
SILVER: Birch Therapy
BRONZE: LifeStance Health
BEST PHYSICAL THERAPY
GOLD: Erbst OrthoSport Physical Therapy
SILVER: Epic Physical Therapy (tie)
Raleigh Or thopaedic (tie)
BRONZE: My Potential
SPORTS + FITNESS
BEST COACH/PERSONAL TRAINER
GOLD: May Performance
SILVER: Mark McCoy
BRONZE: Reggie Barnes (tie)
Bill Burniston (tie)
BEST WELLNESS COACH
GOLD: Renu Health & Fitness
SILVER: Crown Wellness Coaching
BRONZE: Catalyst Health Coaching (tie)
Laura Haywood Coaching (tie)
BEST FITNESS GYM
GOLD: Life Time Fitness
SILVER: Planet Fitness
BRONZE: O2 Fitness
BEST CYCLE STUDIO
GOLD: CycleBar
SILVER: Taylor Family YMCA
BRONZE: Studio Volare
BEST YOGA STUDIO
GOLD: Gratitude Hot Yoga Center
SILVER: Dose Yoga and Smoothie Bar
BRONZE: Midtown Yoga (tie)
YoBa Studio (tie)
BEST STRETCH STUDIO
GOLD: StretchLab
SILVER: Stretch Zone
BRONZE: Gratitude Hot Yoga Center
BEST YOGA/PILATES STUDIO
GOLD: Gratitude Hot Yoga Center
SILVER: Club Pilates
BRONZE: YoBa Studio
Photo by Stock.Adobe.com/Viacheslav Yakochuk.
MEDIA PERSONALITIES
BEST LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITY
GOLD: Erica DeLong, G105
SILVER: Ross Hayes, 106.1 FM TALK
BRONZE: Mike Wheless and Amanda Daughtry, 94.7 QDR
BEST LOCAL TV PERSONALITY
GOLD: Don “Big Weather” Schwenneker, ABC11
SILVER: Elizabeth Gardner, WRAL
BRONZE: Debra Morgan, WRAL
BEST LOCAL INFLUENCER
GOLD: The Life Projects
SILVER: Leda Fazal
BRONZE: Magnolia Megan
ENTERTAINMENT
BEST MOVIE THEATER
GOLD: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
SILVER: Cinemark Bistro
BRONZE: Paragon Theaters – Fenton
BEST MUSIC VENUE
GOLD: Red Hat Amphitheater
SILVER: Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
BRONZE: Koka Booth Amphitheatre
BEST PERFORMING ARTS VENUE
GOLD: Durham Performing Arts Center
SILVER: Theatre in the Park
BRONZE: Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts
BEST PLACE FOR GAMES AND AMUSEMENT
GOLD: Boxcar Bar + Arcade
SILVER: Frankie’s (tie) Strike and Barrel (tie)
BRONZE: Adventure Landing
CULTURE
BEST MUSEUM
GOLD: North Carolina Museum of Art
SILVER: North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
BRONZE: Marbles Kids Museum (tie) Museum of Life + Science (tie)
BEST PARK OR RECREATION CENTER
GOLD: Pullen Park
SILVER: Downtown Cary Park
BRONZE: Dorthea Dix Park
BEST INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE
GOLD: Quail Ridge Books
SILVER: Page 158 Books
BRONZE: So & So Books
BEST GARDEN
GOLD: JC Raulston Arboretum
SILVER: Sarah P. Duke Gardens
BRONZE: Raleigh Rose Garden
Photo by Stock.Adobe.com/Artem Zakharov.
HOSPITALITY
BEST HOTEL OR BED AND BREAKFAST
GOLD: Heights House Hotel
SILVER: The Umstead Hotel and Spa
BRONZE: The Mayton
BEST WEDDING OR EVENT VENUE
GOLD: The Maxwell
SILVER: Donovan Manor
BRONZE: The Merrimon-Wynne House
BEST CATERING SERVICE
GOLD: Donovan’s Dish
SILVER: Rocky Top Catering
BRONZE: Meez Market & Catering
FOOD & FARE
BEST BREAKFAST OR BRUNCH
GOLD: Big Ed’s
SILVER: First Watch
BRONZE: Brigs Restaurants
BEST BARBECUE
GOLD: City Barbeque
SILVER: Longleaf Swine
BRONZE: Prime Barbecue
BEST BURGER
GOLD: Char-Grill
SILVER: MoJoe’s Burger Joint
BRONZE: Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar
BEST PIZZA
GOLD: Salvio’s Pizzeria
SILVER: Oakwood Pizza Box
BRONZE: Lilly’s Pizza (tie)
Milton’s Pizza & Pasta (tie)
BEST STEAKHOUSE
GOLD: Vinnie’s Steak House and Tavern
SILVER: Angus Barn
BRONZE: The Capital Grille
BEST MEXICAN FOOD
GOLD: Gonza Tacos y Tequila
SILVER: La Rancherita Grill & Tequila Bar
BRONZE: Dos Taquitos (tie)
Gym Tacos (tie)
Photo by Stock.Adobe.com/Anton Gepolov.
BEST ITALIAN FOOD
GOLD: Vinnie’s Steak House and Tavern
SILVER: Café Tiramisu (tie)
Vic’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria (tie)
BRONZE: Bella Monica (tie)
Farina Neighborhood Italian (tie)
BEST MEDITERRANEAN FOOD
GOLD: Sassool
SILVER: Taverna Agora
BRONZE: Aladdin’s Eatery
BEST SEAFOOD
GOLD: Cape Fear Seafood Company
SILVER: Brodeto
BRONZE: 42nd St. Oyster Bar (tie)
Vinnie’s Steak House and Tavern (tie)
BEST ASIAN FOOD
GOLD: Kai Sushi & Sake Bar
SILVER: Bida Manda
BRONZE: Lemongrass Thai Restaurant
BEST INDIAN FOOD
GOLD: Azitra Indian Culinary Nirvana
SILVER: Bombay Curry
BRONZE: Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar
BEST BAKERY/CONFECTIONER
GOLD: La Farm Bakery
SILVER: Hayes Barton Cafe & Dessertery
BRONZE: Edible Art Bakery & Dessert Cafe (tie)
Lucettegrace (tie)
BEST ICE CREAM
GOLD: Goodberry’s Frozen Custard (tie)
Two Roosters (tie)
SILVER: FRESH. Local Ice Cream
BRONZE: Andia’s Ice Cream
BEST FOOD TRUCK
GOLD: Gym Tacos
SILVER: Cousins Maine Lobster
BRONZE: Arepa Culture NC
Photo by Stock.Adobe.com/Joshua Resnick.
BOOZE & BREWS
BEST COFFEEHOUSE
GOLD: Sola Coffee
SILVER: Jubala Coffee
BRONZE: NoRa Cafe
BEST WINE BAR
GOLD: Vita Vite
SILVER: Barcelona Wine Bar
BRONZE: Postino (tie)
Vinos Finos Tapas and Wine Bar (tie)
BEST COCKTAIL BAR/LOUNGE
GOLD: Sous Terre
SILVER: Vinnie’s Steak House and Tavern
BRONZE: Watts & Ward
BEST BREWERY
GOLD: Lynnwood Brewing Concern
SILVER: R&D Brewing
BRONZE: Neuse River Brewing (tie)
Trophy Brewing Co. (tie)
BEST SPORTS BAR
GOLD: Carolina Ale House
SILVER: The Bison Bar
BRONZE: Brickhouse (tie)
Sports & Social (tie)
BEST DISTILLERY
GOLD: Raleigh Rum Company
SILVER: Mystic Farm & Distillery
BRONZE: East Bower Cider Co.
BEST ROOFTOP BAR
GOLD: The Willard Rooftop Lounge
SILVER: Level7
BRONZE: 10th & Terrace (tie)
Highgarden (tie)
Taverna Agora (tie)
SHOPPING
BEST FLORIST
GOLD: Fallon's Flowers
SILVER:The English Garden
BRONZE: Gingerbread House Florist
BEST WOMEN’S CLOTHING BOUTIQUE
GOLD: Swagger Boutique
SILVER: Kannon’s Clothing
BRONZE: The Gatorbug Boutique (tie)
Uniquities (tie)
BEST RESALE AND CONSIGNMENT
GOLD: Dress.
SILVER: Mode Consignment Boutique
BRONZE: Adore Designer Resale Boutique
BEST MEN’S CLOTHING BOUTIQUE
GOLD: Liles Clothing Studio
SILVER: Kannon Men’s Clothing
BRONZE: Peter Millar (tie)
Ticknors Men’s Clothier (tie)
BEST HOME FURNISHING STORE
GOLD: Furnish
SILVER: Dexter Furniture
BRONZE: Raleigh Furniture Gallery
BEST GARDEN CENTER
GOLD: Homewood Nursery & Garden Center
SILVER: Logan’s Garden Shop
BRONZE: Atlantic Gardening
BEST JEWELRY STORE
GOLD: Bailey’s Fine Jewelry
SILVER: Brummitt Jewelry Design Studio
BRONZE: Johnson’s Jewelers of Raleigh
BEST DESIGNER SHOE STORE
GOLD: Main & Taylor
SILVER: Rangoni Firenze
BRONZE: Fleet Feet – North Raleigh
REAL ESTATE
BEST REAL ESTATE FIRM
GOLD: Dash Carolina
SILVER: Christina Valkanoff Realty Group
BRONZE: Carolina Collective Realty (tie)
The Coley Group (tie)
Luxe Residential (tie)
BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT
GOLD: Lee Rand
SILVER: Christina Valkanoff
BRONZE: Jeanell Morton (tie)
Gretchen Coley (tie)
BEST BUILDER
GOLD: Rufty Homes
SILVER: Loyd Builders
BRONZE: AR Homes (tie)
Paragon Building Group (tie)
BEST NEW HOME COMMUNITY
GOLD: Shadow Creek Estates
SILVER: Shinleaf Estates
BRONZE: Serenity
BEST RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
GOLD: Springmoor Life Care Retirement Community
SILVER: Flowers Plantation
BRONZE: Overture Centennial
HOME SERVICES
BEST INTERIOR DESIGNER
GOLD: Lavish
SILVER: Design by Tula (tie)
MA Allen Interiors (tie)
BRONZE: Elizabeth O’Neal Interiors
BEST LANDSCAPING SERVICE
GOLD: Mr. Mow It All (tie)
Precision Landscaping & Lawn (tie)
SILVER: Genesis Outdoor Living
BRONZE: Myatt Landscaping & Construction
BEST HOUSEKEEPING
GOLD: Go 2 Girls
SILVER: Best Clean Ever
BRONZE: Dust and Mop
BEST HOME MAINTENANCE/REPAIR
GOLD: Mr. Handyman
SILVER: Alan’s Home Improvements
BRONZE: Redbird Services Co.
BEST OUTDOOR SPACES
GOLD: Rising Sun Pools & Spas
SILVER: Aquatic Artists, Inc.
BRONZE: Genesis Outdoor Living
BEST MOVERS AND STORAGE
GOLD: All American Relocation
SILVER: Little Guys Movers
BRONZE: Moore Than Moving
Photo by Stock.Adobe.com/bmak.
BEST HOME FLOORING
GOLD: Byrd Tile Distributors
SILVER: JH Floor Co.
BRONZE: Brentwood Flooring America
BEST KITCHEN AND BATH FIXTURES
GOLD: R. Jacobs Fine Plumbing & Hardware
SILVER: Kitchen & Bath Galleries
BRONZE: Splash Galleries
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
BEST FINANCIAL SERVICES/ WEALTH MANAGEMENT
GOLD: Absher Wealth Management
SILVER: Ameriprise Financial
BRONZE: Peace of Mind Wealth Management
BEST LOCAL BANKING INSTITUTION
GOLD: First Citizens Bank
SILVER: State Employees’ Credit Union
BRONZE: Coastal Credit Union
BEST LAW FIRM
GOLD: Brady Boyette
SILVER: Midtown Law
BRONZE: Cotten Law Firm (tie)
Gene Davis Law (tie)
BEST LOCAL ACCOUNTANT/TAX ADVISOR
GOLD: R. Scott Grady
SILVER: TaxCom
BRONZE: Brilliant Numbers
BEST TRAVEL AGENCY
GOLD: DWB Vacations
SILVER: Eze2Travel
BRONZE: AAA – Apex (tie)
Trip and Sip Travel (tie)
AUTOMOTIVE
BEST AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR
GOLD: Creech Import Repair
SILVER: King’s Auto Service
BRONZE: Modern Service
BEST CAR WASH/DETAIL
GOLD: Oak City Auto Detailing
SILVER: Barnes Auto Detailing
BRONZE: Zips Car Wash
BEST NEW CAR DEALERSHIP
GOLD: Leith
SILVER: Fred Anderson
BRONZE: Hendrick
BEST USED CAR DEALERSHIP
GOLD: Belmonte Auto Imports
SILVER: Auction Direct USA
BRONZE: Leith
EDUCATION
BEST PRIVATE SCHOOL
GOLD: Trinity Academy
SILVER: Ravenscroft School
BRONZE: Cardinal Gibbons High School (tie)
Grace Christian School (tie)
Photo by Stock.Adobe.com/bmak.
BEST PERFORMING ARTS EDUCATION
GOLD: Raleigh Little Theatre
SILVER: North Raleigh Christian Academy
BRONZE: Grace Christian School (tie)
Longleaf School of the Ar ts (tie)
BEST PRESCHOOL
GOLD: Primrose School
SILVER: St. Mark’s Preschool
BRONZE: Grace Christian School
BEST TUTORING SERVICE
GOLD: The Burke Learning Center
SILVER: Mathnasium
BRONZE: Raleigh Tutoring (tie)
Sylvan Learning (tie)
PETS
BEST VETERINARIAN
GOLD: Armadale Animal Hospital
SILVER: Complete Pet Care Animal Hospital
BRONZE: Bayleaf Veterinary Hospital
BEST PET PAMPERING SERVICE
GOLD: Grooming by Greicis
SILVER: Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming
BRONZE: Dirty Dogs Spa
BEST PET BOARDING/DAYCARE SERVICES
GOLD: Raleigh Pet Sitters
SILVER: Complete Pet Care Animal Hospital
BRONZE: North Raleigh Pet Nanny (tie) Triangle Pet Resort (tie)
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
GOLD: Oak City Cares
Beginning with our 2022 Diamond Awards, Midtown began honoring a local nonprofit doing good work for our community. This year we are recognizing Oak City Cares, an organization that connects people at risk of or experiencing homelessness with coordinated services that create a path to stable housing and renewed hope. Learn more about what they do at oakcitycares.org.
Photo by Stock.Adobe.com/Artem Zakharov.
NEW WAYS TO EXPERIENCE THE GOLDEN YEARS Senior Living:
BY MARIO BOUCHER
Senior homes are transforming their image just in time for a “booming” generation seeking high-quality health care while maintaining an active lifestyle into their golden years. Long-term care can cover many services tailored to meet each person’s unique needs to maintain the best quality of life.
LEVELS OF CARE
“Long-term care” refers to needs beyond what health insurance may cover if age, illness, disability or cognitive impairment interfere with a person’s ability to handle their own care. The level of service a client needs is determined by whether that individual can live independently at home with in-house services or requires care at a nursing facility.
S ome people find in-home care enough to suit their needs. These people can live day-to-day at home and only require a certified, trained caregiver to visit and assist with services as needed, including money management, medications and medical care, personal hygiene, meal preparation and other household chores.
T he next level is assisted living : An individual moves into their own apartment within a facility that operates a kitchen and dining room, and has centralized staff to provide support services. For example, a nurse may pop by once or twice weekly to help with specific needs.
OPPOSITE PAGE: Esther Cromwell, CEO and founder of Avendelle Assisted Living, welcomes people to one of Avendelle’s residences. Photo courtesy of Avendelle Assisted Living.
I f more assistance is required, a skilled nursing facility with either a private or shared room offers a full nursing staff and daily checks to ensure that residents are comfortable. These facilities can also provide other health services, such as physical therapy and social and entertainment activities. Specialized nursing care can also include memory care, oriented specifically for patients with dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease or other memory issues.
FINDING THE RIGHT CARE
“ You do not have to navigate this process alone,” says Kay Castillo, executive director of Friends of Residents in Long Term Care, a nonprofit organization committed to advancing the quality of life for North Carolinians using senior living facilities. “While we cannot provide recommendations of facilities in the area, we have numerous resources on our website to help you better understand long-term care.”
Organizations like this one can help families find the right place for their loved ones to live and navigate potential problems that may arise.
“Another important thing you can do is find out more about the financial options available to help cover the costs,” says Steven Hahn, communications director for AARP North Carolina. “Long-term care insurance is one way you can ensure that you’re prepared for long-term care needs and reduce the chances that you’ll need to rely on loved ones for care or financial assistance. The best way to determine what long-term care protection options are right for you is to speak with a qualified professional who is well-versed in long-term care and takes the time to understand your individual needs and circumstances.”
DIFFERENT TYPES OF CARE FACILITIES
H illcrest, Avendelle Assisted Living and Cambridge Village Optimal Living are three locally owned and operated examples of the many different types of facilities seniors and their families may encounter as they look for local care options.
H illcrest, which has locations in Raleigh and Durham, offers varying levels of care including everything from in-home care to high-quality residential nursing care. Founded in 1951, Hillcrest was the first certified senior care facility in North Carolina and remains familyowned and operated by the third generation of the founders’ families: CEO Ted Smith and CFO Bill Hoover. “We offer a full range of high-quality senior care
Fireplace at The Cambridge at Brier Creek’s Tavern on the Lawn. Photo courtesy of Cambridge Village.
services, including 24/7 residential skilled nursing, after-hospital short-term rehabilitation, assisted living and outpatient physical therapy,” says Smith.
H illcrest provides various levels of in-home care, from respite care for people whose caregivers need breaks to consistent in-home companion care tailored to each individual’s needs. “Hillcrest Home Health provides care for adults in their own homes throughout Wake, Durham and Orange counties,” says Smith. They also provide assisted living, allowing people to live on-site independently with some support. Finally, they provide skilled, regular nursing care with medication assistance and other support services. “We believe our signature Elegant Care sets us apart from other providers, especially the large corporately owned businesses,” says Smith. Hillcrest Raleigh at Crabtree Valley provides care on a private, park-like campus surrounded by gardens and walking paths.
I n 2005, founder and CEO Esther Cromwell opened Avendelle Assisted Living, a neighborhood-based model for senior living. Avendelle residents live in houses located in residential neighborhoods. The goal is to create a place that feels like a home rather than a facility.
Cromwell founded Avendelle after researching senior care facilities for an elderly, widowed neighbor. She produced an alternative model focusing on independence, personalized care, comfort, and a closeknit atmosphere within a smaller, residential-style setting. Avendelle “redefines senior care by offering a uniquely intimate, home-like environment tailored to each resident’s individual needs,” says Cromwell. Offering a high staff-to-resident ratio, Avendelle focuses on fostering strong connections between staff and clients and delivering care in a way that respects each person’s routines and preferences.
“ This intentional structure enables us to respond quickly and meaningfully to health concerns, personal comfort and emotional well-being, allowing our residents to feel genuinely seen and valued,” says Cromwell.
Cambridge Optimal Living offers a hybrid approach to senior care with the goal of allowing residents to live in
Opposite page, top: Hillcrest provides varying levels of care, both on its campuses and for seniors living in their own homes. Seniors who can live independently with assistance have living options at Hillcrest facilities, as do adults who need skilled nursing care.
Opposite page, bottom: Main lobby at Hillcrest.
Photos courtesy of Hillcrest.
their own apartments with increasing access to care as needed. This means they can age in place rather than moving to different spaces for different levels of care.
“Senior care options in Wake County include a wide range of services to meet the diverse and evolving needs of older adults,” says Nicci Franklin, Cambridge’s chief marketing officer.
T he independent living rentals allow residents to benefit from the facility’s amenities and space while paying for only the care they need. “Cambridge communities offer personalized options, flexibility, and a community-centered model that focuses on holistic well-being,” says Franklin.
Cambridge Optional Living offers resort-style retirement communities in Apex, Raleigh and Wilmington. Services are designed to support exceptional health for residents, including a proactive approach to wellness with state-of-the-art fitness programs, on-site health care and spa services.
T hese are three of many different types of senior living options available in the Triangle. They are meant to illustrate the different kinds of options available, and you will doubtless find other models as you explore. Keep looking and try to find the model that best supports your particular situation and your or your loved one’s individual needs.
ENVISIONING THE FUTURE OF SENIOR LIVING
A ccording to a report by the United States Census Bureau, one in five Americans will be at least 65 years old by 2030, and an estimated 19 million people will be 85 years of age or older by 2060. With a growing senior population, what will high-quality care look like?
T he health care industry is embracing in-home electronic monitoring—motion monitoring and biometric measuring devices, for example—to track status and communicate in real-time, often combined with telemedicine. The next few decades could see the use of robotics in senior caregiving.
“Technology will play a crucial role, integrating health monitoring tools, telemedicine, and even AI-supported health insights that allow caregivers to anticipate residents’ needs proactively,” says Cromwell. “This technology won’t replace human interaction but will empower caregivers to provide better, more responsive care.”
U ltimately, programs by caregivers—the human kind— will encourage physical and mental activities and an emphasis on community and social engagement through fitness, creative arts and lifelong learning, key to providing comfort and emotional well-being for seniors.
F ranklin adds that senior living will continue to change based on the aging population’s needs. “There will continue to be an emphasis on options for seniors to age in place with a heightened focus on proactive wellness,” she says. “Technology will continue to play an integral role in senior living, and people will trend toward active living with an emphasis on amenities.”
Opposite page, top: Avendelle Assisted Living emphasizes neighborhood, residential living. Seniors move into homes that offer them plenty of assistance but that also feel like ordinary houses in residential areas. Photo courtesy of Avendelle Assisted Living.
Opposite page, bottom: Cambridge Village facilities provide varying levels of care for seniors without requiring them to change living spaces, allowing them to age in place. Photo courtesy of Cambridge Village.
This page: Hillcrest Raleigh at Crabtree Valley provides care on a park-like campus wth gardens and walking paths. Photo courtesy of Hillcrest.
RESOURCES
Here are some websites to help seniors and their families find the information they need.
• North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services: ncdhhs.gov/imstillhere. Here you can find North Carolina’s Multisector Plan for Aging, which will help implement key needs for older adults over the next 10 years.
• Wake County, Resources for Seniors: resourcesforseniors.org.
• Central Pines Regional Council: centralpinesnc.gov/ aging-human-services, including a long-term care ombudsman (a person who researches and resolves complaints).
• Residents’ rights for nursing homes and adult care homes in North Carolina: ncdhhs.gov/divisions/aging/ long-term-care-ombudsman-advocacy-residentslong-term-care-facilities/residents-rights.
• Friends of Residents in Long-Term Care: forltc.org and forltc.org/resources.
• AARP long-term care overall guide: aarp.org/ caregiving/long-term-care.
Pages 66–67: Patrons can enjoy drinks and listen to music in the bar adjacent to the performance space at Missy Lane’s Assembly Room in Durham. Opposite page, right: Close-up of a drum set.
A NEW BEAT
One year in, Missy Lane’s Assembly Room offers groundbreaking
contributions to the Triangle music scene
BY ELIZABETH BRIGNAC
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MISSY LANE’S ASSEMBLY ROOM AND CHRIS CHARLES PHOTOGRAPHY
Missy Lane’s Assembly Room is approaching its one-year anniversary. The Durham-based music venue and cocktail bar has been bringing jazz, improvisational and related musical performances to the Triangle since March of 2023. Visitors can enjoy concerts with cocktails in the performance space or relax in the bar with friends while listening to the music pumped in from the back.
“One thing that wasn’t present [before we opened] was something that was fully dedicated to Black American music, which people love,” says Missy Lane’s co-owner Cicely Mitchell. “There just wasn’t a venue dedicated to it. And so that’s, I think, what Missy Lane’s place in the [Triangle] music scene is.”
Missy Lane’s is part of a project that has been ongoing for many years. About 13 years ago, Mitchell began working with Durham-based trumpetist Al Strong to build up jazz and improvisational music in the Triangle and to educate the community about them. They called their program the Art of Cool Project. “It took time to build the community behind [this kind of music]” says Mitchell. Missy Lane’s was opened “with an intent to have a home for jazz and improvised music … So it was all kind of leading to this moment.”
In opening Missy Lane’s, Mitchell fulfilled an aspiration sooner than she had anticipated. “It’s always been a dream,” she says. “Like, ‘Once I retire, then I’ll open up the club.’ But last year was a good time to do it because the right location became available.” Missy Lane’s is located near the Durham downtown loop, and also close to good parking. Robert Trowers, director of jazz studies at North Carolina Central University, brings his students to jam sessions at Missy Lane’s on Thursday nights. The venue is only about five minutes from NCCU. “It’s great to have Missy Lane’s in the downtown area, accessible to so many people,” Trowers says. “It adds a lot of cultural value.”
In addition to jazz acts, Mitchell brings in artists who perform R&B, soul, blues, gospel and even country. “We try be an influencer, a tastemaker, and to show that Black American music is not a monolith,” says Mitchell. “One thing I learned, and I learned this very quickly, is that people come to Missy Lane’s to be entertained.” In the process of being entertained, they educate themselves about the world of jazz and other forms of Black American music.
The lineup at Missy Lane’s helps people learn about this eclectic music landscape. “Most artists, almost by default, have to be historians within their own genres,” says Al Strong. “So often, the music is accompanied by stories or some background in terms of where the pieces come from or what inspired the writing of certain music, composing certain songs. And so, I think a lot of the education comes from the types of musicians that Missy Lane’s chooses to present to audiences.”
Mitchell notes that some particularly interesting acts from the past year have included jazz drummer Kassa Overall and keyboardist Kiefer, whose work brings together jazz, hip-hop, R&B and electrical music. Kiefer performed with Nate Smith, also a jazz drummer, and Carrtoons, a multi-instrumentalist, in one of the year’s most popular concerts. The club also brought in bass player MonoNeon. “He’s a very unusual bass player. He used to play with Prince in the New Power Generation, and he’s very popular on TikTok,” says Mitchell. “He had to perform with a black light on the stage. It was a very, very good concert.”
Saxophonist Kenneth Whalum and his band’s bass player.
Above: A musician plays the piano at Missy Lane’s opening event.
Right, top: Grammy-winning jazz, hip-hop and blues trumpeter Maurice “Mobetta” Brown.
Right, bottom: Close-up of a double bass.
The performance space at Missy Lane’s has a retro vibe, with a simple stage setup and the name “Missy Lane’s” in neon on one of the pillars. Beneath the plain ambience lies a high-quality sound system. “The way the venue is set up is unlike any other in the area,” says Brevan Hampden, a Triangle-based percussionist who often plays at Missy Lane’s. “I mean, it has the best backline in the area. It has some of the best sound engineers.” (“Backline” refers to the equipment and instruments used by a band or artist during a live performance.)
The size of the space offers a special experience. “Hearing certain artists in an amphitheater—it’s much different than hearing them in a more intimate setting such as Missy Lane’s,” says Strong. “I think that from an audience perspective, there are a lot of people who want to be that close to the artist and that close to the music. It helps them feel more connected to the experience.”
As she moves into her second year of business, Mitchell hopes to build Missy Lane’s charitable foundation. She wants to do more work connecting Missy Lane’s performers to the Triangle community through workshops and master classes. In the past year, Missy Lane’s has asked three performers—a violinist, a trumpeter and a drummer—to work with children’s music ensembles and other community groups. Mitchell hopes to increase these opportunities moving forward.
She also hopes that people from outside of Durham will become increasingly aware of what Missy Lane’s has to offer. “Just like DPAC gives you that kind of New York experience of being at Broadway, that’s what Missy Lane’s does, too,” she says. “If you go into the back room for a jazz concert, you are transported, as if you are in the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York. So we want people in the Triangle to start to see us in that light.”
Opposite page, left: Close-up of a piano.
Opposite page, top right: A neon sign that says “Missy Lane’s” is posted on one of the stage’s columns.
Opposite page, bottom right:
street number at 310 E. Main Street, Durham.
This
Missy Lane’s
page: Soul-jazz flutist Althea Rene.
BEYOND THE GYM
7 Fun and Unusual Fitness Opportunities in Wake County
BY KATELYN RUTT
From circus rings and bungee cords to fandom-inspired classes, these Wake County studios are redefining what it means to work out. Here’s our guide to discovering your new favorite way to break a sweat—no gym necessary!
A ERIAL ACROBATICS AT PURA VIDA STUDIO
E ver dreamed of flying? At Pura Vida Studio, you can get closer to that feeling than ever—no experience required! This studio has spent nearly six years making the art of aerial acrobatics accessible to all ages and skill levels. You’ll start with an intro class in which you’ll learn the basics of each apparatus—silks, sling, lyra and more—to find your perfect fit. Classes are organized by levels and offered as a monthly series to help you track your growth in strength and flexibility. Studio director Alicia Calderwood says nine out of ten guests return, and she often hears students comment, “I didn’t know I could do that!” She adds, “Our aerial community is super supportive and a unique one to join if you feel like the gym is not for you!”
PURE VIDA STUDIO
202 Ledgestone Way, Cary puravidastudionc.com
Opposite page: Aerial acrobatics students at Pura Vida show off their skills. Photo courtesy of Pura Vida Studio.
BOLLYWOOD-THEMED AEROBICS AT INDIGO DANCE EVOLUTION ACADEMY
G et ready to jump, twist and groove through the vibrant world of Bollywood dance at Indigo Dance Evolution Academy! The dynamic Priya Chellani leads Bollywoodthemed aerobics, a full-body fusion of Bollywood’s lively spirit with house, jazz, hip-hop and traditional Indian dance. Chellani’s classes welcome all ages and fitness levels (55+ included) to join a dancercise routine that alternates between high- and low-intensity intervals, all set to the latest Bollywood hits. Expect laughter and lighthearted fun as she fills each session with cultural insights, translates playful lyrics and breaks down dance moves. A Triangle resident since 2013, Chellani brings 30+ years of teaching experience from her native Mumbai and a special passion to make Bollywood dance empowering, accessible and affordable to all!
INDIGO DANCE EVOLUTION ACADEMY
Classes offered at locations throughout Wake County priyachellani.com
BUNGEE SWING FITNESS AT A STEP TO GOLD
L ooking for something that’s easy on joints but challenging enough for military pros? A Step to Gold International Ballroom’s Bungee Swing Fitness offers a unique form of rebound workout (a low-impact exercise designed to be easy on joints without sacrificing intensity) designed to build coordination, stamina and agility. Suspended from ceiling bungees, securely harnessed at the waist and thighs, you’ll tackle exercises like lunges and squats—all set to swing and hustle beats. Owner Melanie Dale says, “You use every muscle in your body, kind of like swimming in air, and it will make you feel like a kid again!” She’s seen groups bond through laughter and even helped a client regain movement she’d lost for months. Need more proof? Dale adds, “Men from the military take the class and are amazed at how much of a workout it is!”
A STEP TO GOLD INTERNATIONAL BALLROOM
6278 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 200, Raleigh asteptogold.com
CIRCUS ARTS AT CIRQUE DE VOL
Run away to the circus at Cirque de Vol’s aerial, yoga, fitness and circus community, where fitness and fun combine! This unique blend of aerial arts, acrobatics and functional strength is more than just a workout—it’s a way to quiet the mind, relieve stress and build a strong sense of community. Circus arts workouts are open to people of all skill levels. Whether you’re flying on the trapeze or balancing on a hoop, you’ll work every muscle and feel the burn in places you never knew existed. Founder Sara Howell’s goal is to make wellness feel like an adventure, pushing you out of your comfort zone while keeping it fun, welcoming and personal. As Howell puts it, “The aerial arts are inherently empowering, offering a sense of achievement every time you master a new move or hold. It’s fitness in the air—both literally and figuratively!”
CIRQUE DE VOL CIRCUS ARTS STUDIO
3 00 W. Hargett Street #40, Raleigh cirquedevol.com
FANDOM, GAMING AND CULTURE FITNESS AT GEEK FIT NETWORK
Calling all cosplayers, gamers and geek culture enthusiasts. If long hours of sitting and unhealthy habits have taken their toll on your health, have no fear! At Geek Fit Network—a niche community dedicated to promoting healthier physical and social lifestyles by blending gaming, exercise science and behavior change models—a more balanced routine is just a booking away. Whether it’s a Cos Fit challenge where you embody your favorite character while breaking a sweat, or a gamified fitness tournament using VR, there are so many ways to get fit while having a blast. Have you ever wanted to try yoga with friends dressed as your favorite Star Wars characters, or test your hand at a historical sword fighting class? At Geek Fit Network, your imagination truly is the only limit!
GEEKFIT NETWORK
Programs at locations across the Triangle geekfitnetwork.com
Opposite page: Priya Chellani (center), owner of Indigo Dance Evolution Academy, poses with students.
On right: A participant enjoys A Step to Gold International Ballroom’s bungee swing fitness class. Photo courtesy of A Step to Gold International Ballroom.
MEGA-TRAMP AT MEGA
Mega was founded in 2019 with the mantra “Fitness is forever, so let’s keep it fun and fresh.” The colorful studio, created by former gymnast, cheerleader and dancer Alicia Bell, offers classes on megaformers—spring-loaded workout machines that combine resistance training, cardio workouts and Pilates exercises. The gym also offers mini-trampoline cardio classes and mega mat classes, which utilize classic Pilates techniques. Mega is home to a vibrant community of tight-knit regulars. Healing an injury or simply looking for an activity that’s gentler on the body than a traditional workout? MegaTramp is just the thing for you, with its ability to absorb 80% of impact and give a hearty boost to the lymphatic system. According to Mega’s website, expect to “shake, sweat, and maybe even curse” your way through the workout! Our pro tip? Go ahead and book three or four classes in advance to allow yourself to get comfortable with the format and cues. You’ll be jumping to new heights in no time!
MEGA | 2 330 Bale Street #104, Raleigh themegaworkout.com
NINJA WARRIOR TRAINING AT WARRIOR TECH
Step into the action and train like your favorite TV show pros at Warrior Tech! This family-owned training facility helps build champions of all ages, with synchronized adult and kids’ classes designed to promote health and fitness for the whole family. Take on the adrenalinepumping adult ninja classes and obstacle course race prep classes to push your endurance, resilience and strength. You’ll scale walls, swing from monkey bars and end every session feeling like you’ve “hit the buzzer”! Want more freedom? Their open-rig sessions allow you or your family to tackle the course at your own pace, with access to rigs, climbing walls and the ever-popular warped walls. With expert techs on hand for guidance and support, Warrior Tech ensures your training is safe, motivating and packed with fun!
WARRIOR TECH
2 20 Dominion Drive, Suite G, Morrisville 6 451 Triangle Plantation Drive, Suite 107, Raleigh warriortechnc.com
Opposite page: Students at Cirque de Vol work on an exercise.
Photo courtesy of Cirque de Vol.
Above: A Warrior Tech athlete conquers an obstacle course.
Photo courtesy of Warrior Tech.
DISCOVER INDUSTRY BREAKTHROUGHS, SERVICES, TECHNIQUES AND TECHNOLOGIES DESIGNED TO HELP YOU ACHIEVE A HAPPIER, HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE.
HOW DO I KNOW WHICH OF THE MANY WELLNESS APPROACHES AVAILABLE
WILL HELP ME FEEL AND LOOK MY BEST?
Dr. Dicie Nathani, DC, IFMCP, FIAMA, MS; Sumeet Nathani, MBA, MS
Owners
4EverYoung
A detailed evaluation and a plan tailored to each individual patient ensure that their personal health goals remain their wellness team’s focus. It is best to customize plans for healthy aging that address personal hormone changes during menopause and andropause. Likewise, optimizing nutrition on a personal level ensures energy, vitality and healthy body composition.
4EverYoung provides comprehensive evaluation and support for hormone replacement therapy, nutrition (including IV therapy and supplements) and weight loss support, while also providing the best in aesthetic services. Sumeet and Dicie Nathani have been providing holistic health care services in the Raleigh area for 15 years. Their center’s approach is to offer comprehensive physicals and lab evaluations, evaluate the data and create a personalized plan based on that patient’s goals. Whether you are looking to lose weight, improve your hormonal balance, resolve fatigue or improve lean body mass, 4EverYoung has a solution for you.
Our center also helps patients deal with skin health concerns, including texture issues, loss of volume, lines and wrinkles. We utilize Botox and Dysport, dermal fillers, customized facials and chemical peels. Patients can work toward achieving external goals while also addressing internal reasons for aging skin.
Want to feel your best? Try our Feel Your Best membership, which offers options to help you feel balanced and healthy.
Want to look your best? Our Look Your Best membership includes all of our aesthetic services.
ARE MY SYMPTOMS DUE TO PERIMENOPAUSE?
If you are a woman in your 30s, 40s or early 50s experiencing weight gain, heavy or painful periods, breast tenderness, irritability, mood swings, brain fog, migraines or insomnia, or combinations of these symptoms, you may have a common hormonal imbalance called estrogen dominance. Estrogen dominance can occur during perimenopause, the five to 15 years of significant hormonal change prior to menopause. In addition to bothersome and sometimes debilitating symptoms, estrogen dominance is also associated with PCOS, breast and uterine cancer, endometriosis and uterine fibroids.
Estrogen dominance in perimenopause has many potential causes. It may be due to excess production of estrogen, poor clearance of estrogen from the body or low production of progesterone. Excess body fat, exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and use of oral contraceptives can raise estrogen levels. Detoxification and clearance of estrogen occurs through the liver and then the gut. Therefore, if liver or gut function is impaired, the body will have trouble eliminating estrogen. Low progesterone levels due to increased stress, nutrient deficiencies, use of hormonal birth control and a lack of ovulatory cycles can also cause estrogen dominance.
We offer effective tools for evaluation and treatment of perimenopausal hormone imbalance. If you suspect that you may be suffering from estrogen dominance, call our office for evaluation, testing and a personalized treatment plan to help restore your hormonal health.
At Lyle Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics Center, we are able to address one of the most common conditions that postpartum, menopausal and post-menopausal women face at some point in their lifetime: vaginal atrophy (VA) due to loss of estrogen or life events such as childbirth. This problem often affects women’s sense of well-being and happiness, especially as it pertains to intimacy. Fortunately, there are remedies available that can help combat the symptoms of VA such as dryness, vaginal laxity, low libido, decreased sensitivity and even urinary incontinence.
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?
By using radio frequency devices, like TempSure’s Vitalia® or Thermi’s ThermiVa®, a specialized probe gradually heats the tissues of your most sensitive areas. We are able to deliver a noninvasive, nonhormonal and chemical-free treatment for collagen rejuvenation. This process helps remedy the symptoms of vaginal atrophy.
WHAT DOES THE TREATMENT FEEL LIKE?
During the treatment, you will feel a gradual warming sensation that is targeting the tissues for optimal therapeutic effects. It involves absolutely no downtime and little to no discomfort.
HOW LONG DOES THE TREATMENT TAKE?
The treatment takes about 30 minutes. We recommend a series of three to five treatments depending on your age and stage of life and on the severity of your condition.
WHAT OTHER THERAPEUTIC REMEDIES CAN BE PERFORMED WITH THIS TREATMENT?
Quite often, we pair your treatment with the O-Shot®. The O-Shot has shown promising outcomes for those looking for an extra boost in sensation and in their libido, which can diminish in the menopausal years.
IS THIS TREATMENT RIGHT FOR ME?
After a thorough health evaluation and consultation, our providers will ensure that this treatment is right for you!
CAN STRESS HARM YOUR GUMS AND TEETH?
Macon M. Singletary, DDS, MS North Raleigh Periodontics & Implant Center
Stress doesn’t just affect your mood—it can harm your gums and teeth, too. Habits like teeth grinding, jaw clenching and nail biting—all common under stress—wear down enamel, damage teeth and strain your jaw. Stress also weakens the immune system, making it harder for your body to fight gum infections, including periodontal disease.
High stress levels can lead to neglecting oral hygiene or overindulging in sugary snacks, creating the perfect environment for plaque buildup. These bad habits can cause gingivitis, an early stage of gum disease marked by inflammation and bleeding. If untreated, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, causing lasting damage to the gums and supporting bone. Additionally, elevated cortisol levels during stress can weaken gum tissue and slow healing.
To protect your smile:
1. Use a night guard if you grind your teeth.
2. Stick to a consistent brushing and flossing routine.
3. Opt for a nutrient-rich diet and limit sugary foods.
4. Practice relaxation techniques like meditation or exercise.
5. Seek care for gum disease symptoms like bleeding or swelling.
If stress is taking a toll on your oral health, consulting an experienced periodontist like Dr. Macon Singletary at North Raleigh Periodontics & Implant Center can help ensure your gums and teeth stay healthy.
WHAT ARE THE BEST FACE REJUVENATION
TREATMENTS FOR A NATURAL LOOK?
Cosmetic face rejuvenation restores a youthful look by addressing signs of aging such as sagging skin, volume loss and wrinkles. Specialists in Plastic Surgery is renowned for its expertise in natural-looking treatments, offering personalized options for refined results.
(Left to right) Dr. Matthew Blanton; Anna Catherine Stewart, RN, BSN, CPSN; Amanda Olsen, PA-C; Dr. Sanjay Daluvoy
A facelift is the most popular face rejuvenation treatment, providing long-lasting results. This surgery can take 10 to 15 years off your appearance by lifting and tightening the mid face and neck, while enhancing definition in the cheeks and jawline. A brow lift can improve the upper half of your face by elevating the brows and smoothing forehead lines. Eyelid surgery removes excess skin from the eyelids to eliminate puffiness and drooping.
Nonsurgical Options
Nonsurgical treatments offer a subtler rejuvenation with immediate results and little to no downtime. Silhouette InstaLift uses micro-suspended sutures to lift mildly sagging facial tissue and stimulate collagen, creating a youthful appearance. Injectable fillers restore volume and enhance facial contours, helping to lift features and improve definition. Laser treatments like Moxi and BroadBand Light (BBL) enhance skin texture and tone while removing skin discoloration. Anti-wrinkle injections like Botox, Xeomin and Dysport smooth fine lines and prevent new wrinkles from forming.
Choosing
the Right Treatment
The choice between surgical and nonsurgical treatments depends on your goals, your age, and how much downtime you are willing to take. For exceptional results, a tailored combination of surgery and nonsurgical treatments is the optimal approach. Schedule a consultation with the highly skilled team at Specialists in Plastic Surgery to discover the best treatment for you.
Tamiqua Jackson Luckey, MSN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC Owner Balmscope Wellness
Depression can be challenging to recognize. Common signs include persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed, fatigue, difficulty concentrating or changes in sleep and appetite. If these symptoms resonate with you, seeking help is a courageous first step. Our experienced team offers compassionate support through personalized therapy and medication management tailored to your unique needs. We provide a safe space to help you understand your feelings and develop strategies to regain balance and joy. Our approach includes mindfulness techniques, stress management tools and emotional support to empower you.
You don’t have to face depression alone—start your journey to better mental health with Balmscope Wellness.
3948 Browning Place, Suite 300, Raleigh, North Carolina 27609 | 919.410.7445 | balmscopewellness.com
AND HELP ME FEEL MY BEST?
Katy Graham General Manager Beem Light Sauna
Red light therapy is a noninvasive treatment that delivers the highest-quality results for skin rejuvenation, wrinkle reduction, collagen production and overall skin health. At Beem Light Sauna, our medical-grade red light treatments also ensure optimal effectiveness in reducing inflammation, enhancing blood circulation and accelerating healing. In addition to red light therapy, our infrared light treatments offer six core benefits: detoxification, pain relief, improved skin, boosted immunity, stress reduction and ignited metabolism (you can burn up to 600 calories per session!) These therapies work in synergy to help you feel refreshed, rejuvenated and energized.
Colon hydrotherapy can help relieve constipation and reduce bloating. It may improve digestion by flushing out waste and toxins. Some people also report feeling more energetic and lighter afterward.
DOES COLON HYDROTHERAPY BOOST ENERGY LEVELS?
Many people feel more energized after a session, as removing toxins may reduce the strain on the body and promote overall well-being.
IS COLON HYDROTHERAPY GOOD FOR THE IMMUNE SYSTEM?
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SILVER WINNER BEST JEWELRY STORE
IRREGARDLESS
HITS A HALF-CENTURY
For 50 years, the cafe has enhanced Raleigh’s culinary scene through innovation, community and connection
BY KRISTEN SCHRUM | PHOTOS BY JULI LEONARD
For half a century, Irregardless Cafe—now, just Irregardless—has stood as a beloved institution in downtown Raleigh; a culinary cornerstone that has both shaped and been shaped by the city’s evolving tastes and values. A few places in Raleigh retain the spirit of the community as it was before the city’s exponential growth of the 21st century. Irregardless is one of them.
In fact, Irregardless isn’t just a restaurant, but a picture of Raleigh’s close-knit community, its commitment to sustainability, and the shared experiences that food can create. Today, under the ownership of Lee Robinson, Irregardless is working to preserve its legacy while looking toward the future with a renewed focus on community, celebration and preservation.
The cafe was founded in 1975 by Arthur Gordon, who co-owned it with his wife, Anya, and who opened it with
the help of his brother and their friend Andy Arnold. They all sought to offer a healthier, more plant-forward dining option in a city that at the time was still largely unfamiliar with vegetarian cuisine. Opening next to a health food store, Irregardless began as a vegetarian sandwich shop—a novel concept at the time. “It was Raleigh’s first vegetarian restaurant, the first place in Raleigh to serve brunch, and it was farm-to-table before that was even a trend,” Robinson explains. Today, the cafe embraces a diverse menu that caters to omnivores while maintaining its vegetarian-forward focus.
Robinson’s decision to purchase Irregardless, which he did on January 1, 2020, was rooted in his deep love for Raleigh and his sense of the cafe's central place in Raleigh’s culinary history. “I’m a preservationist,” Robinson says. Having spent 30 years in the restaurant
Irregardless Cafe has been serving the Raleigh community delicious and ecletic food for the past 50 years.
business, which has included taking key roles at iconic Raleigh spots like Players Retreat and The Pit, Robinson’s focus has always been on preserving the heart of the city’s culinary soul. “I’ve always just wanted to save old places,” he says.
As Irregardless celebrates its 50th anniversary, the cafe is leaning into its role as a community hub. While it has continued to grow and adapt to changing tastes—particularly in the realm of plant-based diets and gluten-free options—it remains firmly committed to the philosophy that food can bring people together.
For example, the cafe is embracing new trends that speak to the changing nature of social dining. Robinson is introducing a shift toward communal dining with the introduction of small and large plates that diners can share, replacing the traditional menu that is often split between appetizers and entrees. With this change, he hopes to foster a more communal feel and to allow customers to experience more variety.
“ We want to make it so that everyone in your group can find something to eat,” Robinson says. With a lot of smaller plates, he says, "everyone can try a little bit of everything.”
Irregardless will also continue to ally itself with nearby businesses. The cafe sources its coffee from Cup A Joe, beer from Trophy Brewing Co. just down the street, and bread from Union Special Bread. In the wake of Hurricane Helene they have also begun embracing products from western North Carolina, including beer from Asheville-based breweries. “Supporting our local community is just part of who we are,” Robinson says, “and it’s about more than just sourcing ingredients—it’s about supporting the local economy.”
To celebrate its 50 years in business, the cafe is hosting a major anniversary party in February, bringing back the restaurant’s founder, Arthur Gordon, and honoring the longtime customers and staff who have been a part of Irregardless’ journey. And the celebrations will not stop there. Robinson plans to revisit some of the cafe’s most
beloved dishes from its early days with a special series of retro wine dinners.
“We’re going to revisit Arthur’s original recipes,” Robinson says, referring to recipes from Gordon’s book, The Irregardless Cooks. “We’ll be bringing back those old-school dishes month by month throughout the year with ’70s, ’80s and other era-inspired menus.”
Looking ahead, Robinson sees potential for Irregardless to expand its role as a cultural and social gathering place in Raleigh. “We’ve already poured $3.5 million into local music,” he says. The cafe’s live music, which has been a fixture since its opening, will remain a vital part of its identity. The performances help maintain the cafe's connection to its roots while continuing to evolve as a space for future generations.
As Raleigh’s food scene continues to grow, Robinson’s vision for Irregardless remains centered on community— preserving the uniue character that has made the cafe a beloved institution.
“I’ve waited tables and cooked my way through North Carolina,” Robinson reflects. “I love the community. I know the neighborhoods. And they’re what makes Irregardless special.”
In an ever-changing culinary landscape, Irregardless’ commitment to both tradition and innovation is exceptional. As it celebrates its 50th anniversary, the cafe is a tribute to the power of community, connection and the enduring spirit of Raleigh itself.
Top: Irregardless's grilled salmon entrée served on wilted bok choy with lemon piccata sauce.
Bottom left: Lee Robinson, owner of Irregardless. Bottom right: Irregardless is famous for its delectable weekend brunches.
LOCAL FLAVOR SIP & SAVOR
RAISE A GL ASS
Carolina Brewery celebrates its thirtieth year
BY JENNIFER PRIMROSE
Carolina Brewery, a cornerstone of North Carolina’s craft beer scene, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this February. Founded in 1995 by Robert Poitras, the brewery—the oldest in the Triangle and one of the oldest in the state—has become a beloved establishment in Chapel Hill and Pittsboro. As the fifth-oldest brewery in a state now home to over 430 breweries, Carolina Brewery’s story is one of perseverance, innovation and a steadfast commitment to quality.
“ When we started in 1995, craft beer was not very well known in North Carolina,” recalls Poitras. “The first challenge was educating the consumer about flavorful, handcrafted local beer.” At the time, the West Franklin Street location in Chapel Hill where the brewery had decided to open was quieter than today. However, Poitras saw its potential as a vibrant hub for a small, independent businesses.
“ We saw the potential to help revitalize West Franklin Street and make it what it is today—a hub of independently owned businesses and the soul of Chapel Hill,” he says. Carolina Brewery became more than just a place to enjoy beer; it emerged as a vital part of the area’s transformation and identity.
In 2007, Carolina Brewery expanded to Pittsboro, opening a larger facility that Poitras envisioned as part of the area’s future growth. However, the timing coincided with the economic meltdown of 2008, delaying the anticipated development in the region.
“I was in Pittsboro, North Carolina, in a massive building and brewery, with all these thoughts of … housing and everything else that was coming—and it’s just finally coming now,” Poitras says.
Carolina Brewry's Robert Poitras has seen a lot in the past 30 years and has been a big factor in making the beer industry what it is today in North Carolina. Photo by Josh Manning.
Despite the challenges, the Pittsboro location solidified the brewery’s foothold in the area and allowed Carolina Brewery to expand its offerings. Distribution proved to be another hurdle in the early years. Poitras remembers driving a van filled with kegs, his surfboard and his dog to deliver beer to the Outer Banks in the late 1990s. By 2010, partnering with a distributor allowed the brewery to focus on brewing while letting professionals handle the transportation logistics.
Over the past three decades, the craft beer landscape has evolved significantly. Drinkers have become more adventurous and discerning, with preferences shifting from traditional lagers and stouts to an array of styles, including hazy IPAs and fruit-infused beers. Carolina Brewery has adapted while staying true to its roots.
“ We don’t brew beer with peanut butter and jelly or Skittles. We don’t do crazy beers and change all the time,” Poitras says with pride. “The consistency and drinkability of our clean, crisp beers has been a big factor in our success for so many years.”
One area where Carolina Brewery shines is its commitment to pairing high-quality beer with equally outstanding food. Poitras emphasizes the importance of the brewery’s madefrom-scratch kitchens in both locations. “We are as passionate about our food as we are about our beer,” he says. “We make our own ranch dressing, salsa, batters—you name it. All are made from scratch.”
This dedication to quality extends to their approach to pairing beer with food. Menus feature recommendations that educate guests on how beer can complement or contrast with flavors in a dish. “An IPA would cut the spiciness of a dish. Sky Blue Kölsch would complement something lighter, like a salad,” Poitras notes. “We’re kind of geeks about it.”
This focus on education enhances the guest experience and demonstrates the brewery’s culinary philosophy. “I think a lot of times, people are surprised how good our food is, and that’s why the restaurants have done so well,” Poitras says.
I n addition to their made-from-scratch dishes, Carolina Brewery has developed a line of barbecue sauces sold throughout North and South Carolina and on Amazon. These include the Eastern Carolina BBQ Sauce, Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce and a dry rub, each reflecting the region’s rich culinary heritage.
“People that know Carolina Brewery, we want to be known for good times, high-quality food, high-quality beer and Carolina flavors,” Poitras says.
A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE
C arolina Brewery’s flagship beers, such as Sky Blue Kölsch and Copperline Amber Ale, reflect the brewery’s dedication to tradition and community. Sky Blue Kölsch, inspired by Chapel Hill’s Tar Heel traditions, has been a staple since day one, while Copperline pays homage to the area’s moonshining history.
I nnovation also plays a role in their success. The brewery’s Sky Peach Kölsch, a fruit-infused summer seasonal, has been a hit since its debut. “It’s still authentic to a beer,” Poitras says. “It’s beer with peach accents, not just a peach bomb.” The beer was so well received that it will return with an extended run this year.
The brewery has also embraced changes in consumer behavior, shifting from draft-heavy sales to a significant focus on canned beer. “We were 90% draft beer when we first started distributing. Now we’re 50/50 draft to cans, and it’s going more and more toward cans,” Poitras notes.
Carolina Brewery has achieved numerous milestones, from winning national awards at the Great American Beer Festival to contributing to community initiatives like Pittsboro’s liquor-by-the-drink legislation. Poitras reflects on the brewery’s longevity with pride.
“ We’ve been doing this a long time, and I think the consistency and drinkability of our clean, crisp beers has been a big factor in our success for so many years. ”
L OOKING AHEAD
As Carolina Brewery celebrates 30 years, it remains a pioneer in North Carolina’s craft beer industry. From its beginnings as a small brewery on a quiet street in Chapel Hill to its status as a regional favorite, the brewery continues to honor its roots while embracing opportunities for growth and innovation.
For Poitras, the journey is more than beer—it’s about creating a space where people can gather, celebrate and enjoy life. “We want to be a place people associate with good times, great beer and amazing food. That’s the legacy we’re building.”
With locations in Chapel Hill and Pittsboro, Carolina Brewery is known for beers like its classic Sky Blue Kölsh. Photos by Carolina Brewery.
Laissez Les Bon Temps Roler!
Let the good times roll in the Triangle with delicious, locally made king cakes
BY FRANCIS DEESE
They say that everywhere outside of New Orleans, Mardi Gras is just a Tuesday—but we say there’s still fun to be had on Mardi Gras in the Triangle. Of course, no Fat Tuesday celebration is complete without a good king cake. And you don’t need to wait for Mardi Gras, which falls on March 4 this year, to enjoy one—you can buy king cakes in the Triangle starting in late February. You should probably pre-order, as these tasty treats sell out fast!
King cake is a dessert with a rich flavor and history. With origins dating back to 12th century France, king cakes were baked as a way for Christians to honor the three wise men’s journey to visit the baby Jesus. The church season of Epiphany traditionally celebrates that journey, and Mardi Gras is the last day of Epiphany, so people traditionally eat king cakes during the Mardi Gras season. Brought to New Orleans in the late 1800s, the king cake remains a beloved tradition
today. This sweet yeast pastry is flavored with cinnamon and sometimes incorporates fillings, like cream cheese. It is typically decorated with white icing and sugars in the three traditional colors of Mardi Gras: purple, green and gold. Purple traditionally represents justice; green represents faith; and gold, power. The cake’s circular shape symbolizes unity. A plastic baby Jesus (or occasionally a bean) is hidden inside one slice. Tradition says that finding it either signifies good luck or means the person who finds the baby brings a king cake to the next celebration.
Here are some Triangle bakeries that make king cakes worthy of Mardi Gras!
As ex-pats of New Orleans, Mandey Brown, owner of Rougarou Cajun Kitchen (formerly called Imbibe) in downtown Chapel Hill and her mother, Cindy Moran, have sought out ways to bring the rich traditions of the Crescent City here to the Triangle. Moran owns Humble Cake by Cindy, which crafts desserts for Rougarou and for other places as well. Baking is in her blood—she learned from her father and brother, both of whom owned bakeries in New Orleans. This authenticity is reflected in her New Orleans–style king cakes, all of which are made from scratch.
A Raleigh-based, self-described “contemporary patisserie,” Lucettegrace offers elegant upgrades on pastry classics with eye-catching finishes. Owner Daniel Benjamin makes two different varieties of king cake, one of which they roll out for the beginning of Epiphany, in January, and one at the end of Epiphany, around Mardi Gras. Both of Lucettegrace’s king cakes are based on European traditions rather than New Orleans ones. “The galette des rois is more commonly eaten in northern France, made with puff pastry and almond frangipane,” says Benjamin. “The other [king cake], more commonly eaten in the south of France and Spain, is made out of a brioche-like bread, more commonly made with olive oil than butter. It features candied fruit and sometimes cream.” Lucettegrace’s offerings easily serve 8–10 people.
Burney’s Sweets & More, a North Carolina bakery franchise, offers a wide variety of cakes and pastries. During
the Mardi Gras season, they honor their fellow Southern state at their Raleigh location by baking king cakes. Their king cakes follow the traditional New Orleans style.
With a well-earned legacy for excellence, La Farm Bakery pays homage to European holiday traditions, which include king cake. La Farm offers two types of king cake: their own spin on the New Orleans–style king cake, and the French galette des rois. The latter features supplies for the “Epiphany Game,” which is similar to the New Orleans version’s tradition of finding the baby. This king cake features a rich brioche dough filled with cinnamon chips. It is covered with decadent icing and candy in the three traditional colors.
Yellow Dog Bread Co. in Raleigh is offering personal-sized king cakes this Mardi Gras. These would make for a fun treat at an at-home party or event. The cakes are a citrus-spiced brioche bun coated in the colors of Mardi Gras, and they’re offered for one day only—Fat Tuesday, March 4—so be certain not to miss out.
Nestled in downtown Durham is Loaf Bakery, known for their artisanal breads and delectable pastries. They partner with local providers for their ingredients to ensure the highest quality and support the local food market. Loaf offers a king cake with cinnamon sugar and candied orange peel in the dough they make—the perfect find for this Carnival season!
For a true taste of New Orleans in the Triangle, head to The Big Easy during Mardi Gras. They bring in king cakes from Gambino’s Bakery in New Orleans—one of the most beloved king cake bakers in the Crescent City. Whoever finds the baby on Mardi Gras at The Big Easy is in for a special surprise!
Opposite: The individual-sized king cakes at Yellow Dog Bread Co. come with plastic babies, but they are not hidden inside.
Photo courtesy of Yellow Dog Bread Co. and Tanya Andrews Photography. Above, left to right: One of Lucettegrace's two different king cakes. Photo courtesy of Lucettegrace. A Humble Cake king cake. Photo by Francis Deese. La Farm Bakery's galette des rois. Photo by Anna Routh.
A LASTING LEGACY
Theatre in the Park’s Continuing Impact on Raleigh’s Theater Scene
BY ELIZABETH BRIGNAC
Ira David Wood III has played an integral part in the growth of Raleigh’s theater scene during his 52-year career as executive director of Theatre in the Park.
The beloved local actor and director has received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award, North Carolina’s highest honor, for his significant contributions to the community. He has received the North Carolina Award in Fine Arts. In 2004, the Raleigh City Council voted unanimously to name the historic building that houses Theatre in the Park after him.
In short, Ira David Wood III (who goes by David) is fully immersed in the history of theater in Raleigh—and he wants people to remember that history. “Being 77 years old and having spent 50 years here making theater, I think one of the things I would like to see more of is a better understanding and appreciation for the past—for generations that went before, whose shoulders we stand on,” he says.
Theatre in the Park opened in 1947 as The Children’s Theatre of Raleigh, Inc. In 1972, David Wood joined the organization. “When I came to Raleigh in the 1970s, there were very few theater organizations. Most of the theaters in town
“Being 77 years old and having spent 50 years here making theater, I think one of the things I would like to see more of is a better understanding and appreciation for the past.”
– Ira David Wood III
Above: Ira David Wood III as Sir Walter Raleigh in his original 2023 play Raleigh, performed at Theatre in the Park. Photo courtesy of Theatre in the Park. Insert below: Ira David Wood III as Ebeneezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. Photo by Brian Mullins.
were college theaters, and the Raleigh Little Theatre was here,” David recalls. Theatre in the Park was still a children’s theater then. David says, “They asked me to go to New York and pick a rock opera to present.” Instead, David requested, “Let me go into each high school in the city, talk to the students and tell them we want to do an original rock opera.” A dozen students worked with David to write a play called Ecks. Three hundred teens auditioned. The performances caused local controversy, Ecks completely sold out, and the theater promptly asked David to stay on as executive director. He agreed, under the condition that the theater shift its focus to performances that would appeal to all ages.
The first play the company performed as an all-age theater was Hamlet, which David starred in and directed. (“I didn't know any better,” David says, chuckling.) He says they had a $127 budget and rehearsed in the Raleigh Rose Garden. “We made nighttime trips to houses
that were being torn down, and we absconded with lumber. That’s how we built our set,” he recalls. Soon thereafter, the company adopted the name ‘Theatre in the Park’ when it moved to the National Guard Armory Building, located in Pullen Park.
Theatre in the Park has been performing David’s original version of A Christmas Carol since soon after it moved to Pullen Park, and it is now a Raleigh holiday season institution. David officially handed the role of Scrooge over to his son, Ira David Wood IV (who goes by Ira) in 2024, though David continues to direct the musical.
The company has been part of many “firsts” in Raleigh theater. “I think Theatre in the Park was the first to do a nude scene in Raleigh,” says David, recalling that in his original play, The Gathering, the performers were actually wearing white costumes with images of nude bodies projected onto them. “That was a very daring thing to do,”
David says. “Nobody knew if it was going to succeed.” Later productions incorporated actual nude scenes, which are now accepted in local theater.
Theatre in the Park was also the first company to use Memorial Auditorium (now part of Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts) for theatrical performances, as the Pullen Park space could no longer accommodate the growing A Christmas Carol audiences. “So we said, well, let’s go down and look at Memorial Auditorium … which only hosted wrestling matches and graduations,” recalls David. “When we asked the city manager for a key to Memorial Auditorium, he couldn't find one! The president of our board of directors had bolt cutters in the trunk of her car, and we were allowed to cut the chain off the door to get into Memorial. When the doors opened, a rat as big as a dog ran across the opening. The light spilled in on Memorial Auditorium, and I just went, ‘Oh my Lord, this is
Peter Battis as Henry Drummond in Theatre in the Park’s 2023 performance of Inherit the Wind Photo courtesy of Theatre in the Park.
incredible!’” That marked the beginning of the city’s use of Memorial Auditorium for theatrical events.
Meanwhile, Raleigh’s population was growing. More theater companies sprang up in the area, and they found audiences to support them. Theatergoers were interested in all kinds of theater, from contemporary musicals to classics. “When we started doing Shakespeare, we were told that people wouldn’t cross the street in Raleigh to see Shakespeare,” says David. “And we found out that was certainly not true. Raleigh has supported the classics. It has supported all of the arts in a wonderful way.”
The company plans to continue performing both Shakespeare and other classics at Theatre in the Park. Ira (now Theatre in the Park’s artistic director) has his eye on reprising Hamlet and doing Cyrano de Bergerac, and he also hopes to perform some original works. “We try to put something in for everybody—experimental plays, original [plays], Shakespeare, classic theater,” says David. Inspired by creative theater work done during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ira is also interested in filming some Theatre in the Park plays, using the entire theater as a setting rather than only the stage.
Finally, Theatre in the Park is interested in finding new ways to support the local theater community. “We have a finite number of performance spaces in Raleigh,” says David. “One of the directions that we’ve gone in is to try to open ours up to more representation from the artistic community so we can get new directors in and get these people a chance to direct full-length productions on stage.” “We want to create opportunities for actors, directors and playwrights in the area,” agrees Ira, noting that he would like to begin staged readings and group critique opportunities for local playwrights.
It’s all part of the collaborative theater community Theatre in the Park has helped build in Raleigh. “It really is a special theater community here,” says Ira, “and it is always growing.”
David concurs: “There is such a feeling of cooperation … We depend on each other for so many things—for talent, for technical expertise, for costumes, scenery … When one theater succeeds, we all succeed, and the more the audience knows about what it is we do, the better we become because they demand the best from us.” This principle has driven Theatre in the Park’s work for decades, and if all goes according to plan, it will continue to do so for many years to come.
Midtown’s interview with David and Ira Wood hit many more topics than we could cover in print. For more of the interview, please scan the QR code.
Ira David Wood III as Sir Walter Raleigh and Lynda Clark as Queen Elizabeth I in Raleigh. Photo courtesy of Theatre in the Park.
LET THE SPARKS FLY
Raleigh’s ShopSpace offers metalworking classes and studio space
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY DAVE DROSCHAK
In 2015, the History Channel launched a television program called Forged in Fire, a reality show in which world-class blacksmiths compete to recreate historical weapons. Few predicted it would still be going strong a decade later, fueling interest in metalwork all across the nation.
In Raleigh, enthusiasts inspired by the show— or simply by interest in the craftwork—can learn metalworking at ShopSpace. ShopSpace began as a small startup in 2016 by N.C. State University College of Design graduate Lucas House and three other founders before moving to its current location along a stretch of Capital Boulevard called the Bonded Warehouse Complex.
The location now houses 30,000 square feet of space dedicated to instructing beginners and curiosity seekers in welding, blacksmithing, woodworking, jewelry making—and of course the most popular activity: knife making. They provide
studio space, community and continuing guidance for hardcore hobbyists.
“ They’ve seen it on TV, and everyone wants to make knives. So we’re catering to that,” House says of the clientele that frequent the comprehensive metal shop. “But it’s a whole range—from those who have never touched a tool to people who have retired and now have time. For example, we have a fellow who [hasn’t] welded in 10 years, and he wants to get a job. So he’s been here for a month, just practicing for his welding test.”
House says more than 2,000 students now take classes each year as the popularity of the shop business has grown—sometimes via some interesting paths.
For example, House tells the story of a father who brought his high school freshman son to ShopSpace for an introductory class. “The kid didn’t want to do anything but play video games, so his father just wanted to see if he liked welding. The kid ended up
attending Durham [Technical Community College], and welding is all he wants to do now.”
Initial classes last two hours and cost $85. “They’re geared to get you working as quickly as possible and to get you to know enough that when you come back here it’s not a deer-in-the-headlights kind of thing,” House says.
An introductory knife class lasts five hours and costs $200. “Students start with a piece of flat bar metal. They grind the shape out, heat treat it and put a handle on it,” House says. “You leave with a rudimentary knife you made, but I tell people ‘It’s only your best knife if you don’t make another one.’ Some people don’t come back because they realize they can just go buy a good knife, but a percentage gets into it and say they’re going to make two or three knives a week.”
House notes that the business is a nonprofit organization with countless people to thank for their generous donations. “Without people’s time and money, and donating tools, ShopSpace would be very, very different to maintain,” he says. “Our equipment and tool list is millions of dollars long, and it only gets bigger as we chip away at things.”
For example, one piece of heavy equipment is on loan from the N.C. State High-Powered Rocketry Club. “We’ve got 20-year-olds in here making rocket engines,” House says.
“ We really designed this so people would have access to these tools and not need their own shop,” says House, adding that space for this kind of hobby can be hard to find in Raleigh. “[G]arages are hard to come by with so many people moving into condos. We don’t want people to have to spend tens of thousands of dollars and maintain their own shop, because that’s what it would cost them.”
House calls safety the number one priority at ShopSpace. “We want you to make things, but at the end of the day this is a community, and when people start hurting themselves, that changes the community,” House says. “All newcomers go through a free safety course that points out that everything in the warehouse can be dangerous.”
In addition to classes, there is an option for “open time” for those who are experienced to work on their own. The upgraded location recently added 15,000 square feet that houses expansive woodworking areas along with storage cubicles for dedicated hobbyists. “There are people who are here every day, and there are people who pay rent for us to store their stuff,”
House says of the business’s new warehouse section. “It’s hard to find this kind of thing anywhere.”
Laura Howard has been coming to the location for months to work on her wooden plant stands. “What’s not to like about this place?” she says. “Look around— it’s huge. And there are a lot of people working here, so you can bounce ideas off people. There are great tools, and these giant work tables are fantastic. There are rules here, but there’s no micromanagement. It’s a great atmosphere for work.”
Clients range from participants in a child-parent class for children ages 10–13 to one man in his 80s who welded in a wheelchair, House says.
“It’s a lot of fun to see somebody just be amazed at what they’re able to do,” House says. “People come in here having never touched this stuff, and they leave being able to weld metal together. How cool is that?”
For more information on ShopSpace, check out shopspace.org/about.
Opposite page, left: ShopSpace co-founder Lucas House. Opposite page, right: A metalworker hammers out a leaf, one of the first shapes students learn how to create in the introductory forging class. Above: A participant shapes metal at one of the ShopSpace workstations.
ERIN STESCH
(TOP) FLIGHT OVER THE MAGNOLIAS, 2024
ACRYLIC ON CANVAS
24 " X 24 "
(BOTTOM) QUIET WATERS, 2022
ACRYLIC ON CANVAS
12 " X 24 "
WHERE THE DREAM MEETS REALITY
Deforestation and its impact on animal habitats inspire the work of Durham-based artist and high school art teacher Erin Stesch. In her Durham neighborhood, Stesch is witnessing firsthand how urbanization changes animal habitats. She channels her emotional connection with the notion of home, particularly for animals and their environments, into her paintings.
Stesch builds her backgrounds intuitively, using colors she is drawn to and letting the interplay of colors dictate the direction of the painting. From there, she paints her subject matter in a realistic style. The interplay of abstraction and realism results in works that are layered both visually and symbolically.
In Flight Over the Magnolias, Stesch imagines the habitat of the two geese flying overhead. In Quiet Waters, Stesch focuses on the great blue heron in a more realistic approach to her subject matter. In her acrylic-on-canvas pieces, Stesch envisions safe and protected habitats for the subjects of her paintings.
Erin Stesch received her BFA from East Carolina University and her degree in art education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. You can view her work at erinstesch.com and on Facebook at “Art + Design by Erin Stesch.”
“In my work, I paint animals and my interpretation of their habitats. I draw from pictures I have taken and from what I wish for them—imaginative settings—and create their homes that are protected in my mind.”
– Erin Stesch
CURLING HAS A
TRIANGLE HOME
The niche sport known as curling aims to find an audience with locals and juniors
BY KURT DUSTERBERG
In the final days of August, with 90-degree heat still gripping the Triangle, a handful of folks gathered at Triangle Curling Club in southeast Durham to prepare for the coming season. The people in charge of flooding and freezing the surface are members of the club, an all-volunteer group of curling enthusiasts who operate the 501(c)(3) organization.
To the wider audience, curling grabs the spotlight every four years during the Winter Olympics, when the curious mix of gliding stones and brushing the ice captivates the public. But for a loyal core of followers, the sport is a way of life.
“We’ve been trying to encourage the juniors to get into leagues and on teams with other juniors so they get into the game more.”
“No matter where you go around the country, curlers are fun people,” says Franklinton resident Peter Dellapelle. “As far as the game itself, there’s an individual challenge: Can I put this stone
where I want it? There’s competition, but there’s also a team effort. And there is the strategy of it. So, it’s a multifaceted game.” Games are divided into 10 “ends,” like baseball innings, with four players on a team. Each team throws eight rocks (also called stones), trying to land them closest to the “house,” the center ring.
Sweeping frenetically in front of the stone helps it travel farther and straighter, while reducing friction and helping control how much the stone curls, or travels along a curved path. A match generally takes about two hours.
Many of the Triangle Curling Club’s 400 members are Canadian transplants like Brian Chick, a Winnipeg native, and his daughter Andrea, who became a competitive curler. But the local club is trying to build a junior program
Photo by Stock.Adobe.com/
organically in the Triangle, led by Derek Corbett, a former member of the U.S. World Junior Championships team.
“A lot of [juniors] practice and work on skills, but they don’t play a lot of games,” Chick says. “We’ve been trying to encourage the juniors to get into leagues and on teams with other juniors so they get into the game more. Throwing a junior into an adult league won’t work.”
Triangle Curling Club offers a Sunday afternoon junior recreational program for ages 5–21. No experience is necessary, and some instruction is included. For more seasoned curlers, there’s an advanced commitment program that includes focused training and preparation for tournaments, called bonspiels. The club hosts the Triangle Junior Bonspiel each January.
This year’s tournament is January 4–5 and is open to all curlers 21 and under.
Fifteen-year-old Jamie Renaud is one of the club’s top junior players. As a young child, she didn’t take to tennis or golf, but when her Canadian parents introduced her to curling at age 8, she was hooked.
“I like the challenges it brings and the way you work with your team on everything,” she says.
The Broughton Magnet High School student practices every weekend at the club, and is a regular participant in club and junior bonspiels.
“It takes a lot of practice,” Renaud says. “You have to learn how to balance and get used to how much work it takes to sweep. The muscles you use in curling, you don’t use in a lot of other sports. After sweeping, it’s your upper arms that hurt. It’s also the muscles in your legs—when you’re pushing off, you need a lot of force.”
The nonprofit club has no full-time employees, relying instead on its members to handle everything from maintaining the four sheets of ice to bartending and serving food at events. The operation is self-funded, relying on dues and more than 100 corporate business rentals each season.
“Being so close to RTP, we have a lot of [rentals, where businesses bring] their work group out,” says Sue Mitchell, the club’s marketing chairperson.
“You get to throw a rock, you get to slide, you get to sweep.”
For some, the idea of an ice sport comes with an obvious barrier—shivering in the cold. But Triangle Curling Club has that covered. Spectators watch from a warm room, where there are tables and benches—and snacks and drinks—for those who are merely there to support family and friends. And that’s OK, because socializing is part of the sport.
“So if you come out to watch, you don’t have to bundle up,” Mitchell says.
Top and bottom photos courtesy of Brian S ewell
Players sweep frenetically in front of a stone to help it travel farther and straighter.
Four players on a team work together to land a stone closest to the “house,” the center ring.
SPORTS & FITNESS TRIANGLE ATHLETICS
BY KYLE MARIE McMAHON
THE CHAMPION DURHAM CLASSIC TIPS OFF EXCITEMENT IN HIGH SCHOOL HOOPS
Basketball fans across the Triangle had their eyes on the Champion Durham Classic, held November 21–23 this year at Hillside High School in Durham. The fourth annual high school basketball invitational brought together some of the top boys’ and girls’ teams in North Carolina for three days of thrilling competition and highlighted the depth of basketball talent in the region. Standout performances included Durham athletes Ashlyn Hudson of the Southern School of Energy and Sustainability and Julian Lowe of C.E. Jordan High School, who were named the tournament MVPs. The invitational not only celebrated athletic excellence but also highlighted community engagement, with proceeds supporting the One Team, One Durham Fund, which suppors local youth sports.
Photo courtesy of the Durham Sports Commission.
SOCCER SHOWCASES DRAW COLLEGE SCOUTS TO RALEIGH
The Triangle became a hub for elite youth soccer talent this November and December as the VisitRaleigh.com Showcase Series welcomed teams from across the country. Hosted by North Carolina FC Youth, the series attracted over 1,000 teams to various fields around Raleigh, including the WRAL Soccer Park. The annual event not only provides both junior and college athletes opportunities to compete against top-tier talent and diverse playing styles, but also with exposure to approximately 1,000 college coaches with the chance to be scouted or recruited. Last year’s series brought an estimated $27.8 million to the area, with this year expected to do the same.
SINGLE-A BASEBALL GOES FROM MUDCATS TO WARBIRDS
The Carolina Mudcats unveiled their new team name and logo on November 22 at the Wilson Industrial Air Center. Now called the Wilson Warbirds, named in honor of the city’s ties to World War II aviation, the Milwaukee Brewers’ affiliate will relocate to a 6-acre stadium in Wilson in 2026 as part of a brand-new mixed-use development that is expected to be a vibrant centerpiece for fans and the community. The move is due to Major League Baseball’s updated and mandated stadium requirements, which Five County Stadium in Zebulon did not meet. While the county requested funding for improvements, Wilson made a more tantalizing offer. The team has been the face of Zebulon since 1991 but will play as the Carolina Mudcats for the last time in the upcoming 2025 season.
Photo courtesy of the Milwaukee Brewers.
PWHL BRINGS PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S HOCKEY TO LENOVO
Raleigh will play host to a Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) game on March 7. The Lenovo Center will feature one of the nine neutral-site games as part of the league’s “Takeover Tour.” Now in its second season, the PWHL debuted names and logos in September for the “inaugural six” teams, which lacked branding throughout the first season: Boston Fleet, Minnesota Frost, Montreal Victoire, New York Sirens, Ottawa Charge and Toronto Sceptres. The Lenovo Center game—featuring Minnesota versus Ottawa—will bring top-tier women’s hockey to the region, including Olympic medalists and national team stars.
Photo courtesy of the Professional Women’s Hockey League.
Photo courtesy of NCFC Youth.
STUDENT CAREGIVER
SUPERHERO
BY PAIGE HACHET JACOB PHOTOS COURTESY OF CAREYAYA
She was the right person for the right job at just the right time. As a nursing student at North Carolina State University, Lyndsey Sharp was part of CareYaya, a service that pairs health care students with senior citizens needing in-home care. Her quick thinking and training kicked into superhero mode when she saved 80-year-old Julie Brewer’s life.
For Sharp, one of the most critical details of her role as a health service provider is to offer compassionate care and build real connection s Patients often need companionship and someone to “sit and talk to them about their day, and redirect them sometimes [when] they get confused or unsure where their family is,” she says. “Sometimes, they simply need help with little things like what to do next— like making lunch or taking the dogs out.” These seemingly small tasks make a big difference in the patients’ lives— especially for Brewer, whom Sharp affectionately calls “Miss Julie.”
A QUICK RESPONSE
S harp began her shift one day with Brewer like any other—on a routine walk in Brewer’s neighborhood golf community. Shortly into their walk, Brewer felt dizzy and faint and asked to sit down, but then decided she wanted to keep going. Sharp observed Brewer’s shortness of breath, talked her into sitting down to take a break, and then flagged down a nearby golfer in a golf cart who gave them a ride back to the house. After giving Brewer some water and a banana to eat, Sharp called Julia Brewer, Julie Brewer’s daughter, who is a nurse anesthetist at WakeMed. Julia came immediately and took Brewer to the emergency department. “It was lifesaving,” says Julia. “Lyndsey didn’t panic. She quickly got help, and called me right away. I couldn’t be more thankful to Lyndsey for doing all that.”
T he trip to the hospital led to the discovery of a blockage, and surgery
From left to right: Julia Brewer is standing next to her mother, Julie Brewer, who is seated in the rocking chair Nirvana Tari, Director of Community Engagement for CareYaya, stands next to Julie Brewer. Lyndsey Sharp, CareYaya caregiver, is seated in the far -right rocking chair
to implant a stent. Later that year, Brewer’s birthday celebration was even more special than usual when the pair reunited to celebrate over cake and Brewer’s favorite treat—Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
This is not the only time Sharp’s health care skills have come through in an emergency. While on duty with another patient, Sharp was once again instrumental in preventing injury. Her patient used a walker due to balance issues. Near the end of their session, Sharp assisted him in walking to the bathroom. As she reached from behind him to turn on the light, he started to fall away from her. Like a baseball player diving to catch a line drive, Sharp swooped down and caught his head before it hit the glass shower door.
A N “EVERYDAY HERO” KIND OF LIFE
T hese days, Brewer enjoys relaxing on her back porch or going for walks with her caregivers. Sharp now has a position with WakeMed and is awaiting acceptance into a program to become a physician’s assistant. They recently ran into each other again at a local restaurant and enjoyed an impromptu mini-reunion.
Sharp values the experience she earned through her work with CareYaya, which, by employing medical students, is providing a solution to a massive care gap for families who need special care for a loved one. She explains how the platform is a win-win for patients and caregivers. “I wanted to get direct patient care hours, so [it was great] when I found CareYaya because I could manage it with my school by picking up hours when they were available,” she says. Along with her position at WakeMed, Sharp remains involved with CareYaya as an ambassador, conducting patient and student outreach.
For many senior citizens, the affordable, high-quality caregiving
service that students like Sharp provide is the lifeline they need to age in place with dignity. Julia Brewer emphasizes the significance of this type of one-on-one care and describes how the medical students are truly vested in their patients’ well-being. She discusses, for example, how students often bring a little project—such as a
INNOVATIVE CAREGIVING
Caregiving is a significant public health issue affecting the quality of life for millions. Caregivers provide assistance with activities necessary for daily living, such as bathing, dressing and transportation.
> According to the CDC, the need for caregivers is not just growing; it’s skyrocketing. The current ratio stands at seven potential family caregivers per older adult. However, by 2030, this ratio is estimated to decrease to only four potential family caregivers per older adult, highlighting the urgent need.
> According to data collected by the CDC from 2015–2017, one in three caregivers provided 20 or more hours per week of care, and over half have provided care or assistance for 24 months or more.
> 10.4% of caregivers reported providing care or assistance to friends or family members with dementia or other cognitive impairment disorders.
craft—to work on with their clients.
“It’s so important when someone in this situation has engagement like that, and is not just sitting on the couch staring and watching TV,” she says.
S harp believes this model, where students are genuinely interested in the patients’ well-being, holds promise for the future of health care.
> Affordable options like CareYaya can help older or disabled adults access the care they need. Resources that utilize student caregivers and other creative approaches to affordable caregiving will become increasingly valuable moving forward.
Julie Brewer celebrates her birthday with her daughter Julia, Lyndsey Sharp and Nirvana Tari
Photo by Stock.Adobe.com/Chinnapong
CREATIVEDATE NIGHT IDEAS
Valentine’s Day can be an opportunity to step out of your routine and find new ways to have fun together
BY FRANCES DEESE
It’s all too easy to become tethered to routines, particularly during the colder months. This Valentine’s Day, why not intentionally step outside your comfort zone? Seek out activities that allow meaningful opportunities for connection. The Triangle is full of fun options for excursions, even during the winter. We’ve curated a list of creative ideas to help you begin your explorations.
GROW TOGETHER
While there is always something alluring about a garden, heading to a garden center for a date may seem a little unusual—but it offers a chance to surround yourself with natural beauty in a different way. Atlantic Gardening is a plant lover’s paradise—even during the winter, since they have a greenhouse. Their garden bar lets visitors sip and shop, and enjoying plants can be a special way to create memories. Maybe pick out a plant to give to your date or choose some plants to grow together. Atlantic Gardening
hosts events and workshops that can help you learn about niche types of gardening together as well. atlanticgardening.com
TRY A CHEESY TOUCH
Sometimes romance is about bringing elegance into the everyday. Bring a luxurious touch to an otherwise ordinary date by adding a charcuterie board to the experience. Raleigh Cheesy is a charcuterie board shop offering a variety of board options and internationally sourced ingredients. This approach to dining is convenient, yet distinctive, and whether you are enjoying a fun night in or adventuring elsewhere, an elegant charcuterie board can enhance the event. Another exciting option is learning to craft your own charcuterie board together through one of Raleigh Cheesy’s classes. You can bring your board home and enjoy tasting sessions—a surefire, delicious way to try something new. raleighcheesy.com
GET CREATIVE
Inspire each other’s creativity at U.B. Paint’n & Sip’n, a local venue that offers paint and sip classes. Inspired by an early love for art and encouraged by her son to pursue her passions, owner Juanita Cotton has created a space for clients to make some time for creativity. Enjoy Paint Your Spouse/Date Night, for example. Create a special playlist for the occasion, share a bottle of wine and enjoy an evening of creativity! ubpaintnandsipnnc.com
EDUCATE YOUR PALATES
Discover new wines and beers together at Vitis House Wine School. With a range of classes including Wine 101, Sensory 101 and Romantic Reds, founder Doreen Colondres and her team open a new spectrum of possibilities for your tastebuds in a relaxing atmosphere. Find yourself transported out of Raleigh to France, California and wine locales across the world with their offerings and classes. Decide on your new favorite wines together and discuss ideas for food pairings. vitishouse.com
VOLUNTEER TOGETHER
Sometimes people can come together by reaching out into their communities. Activate Good is a Raleigh-based organization that helps individuals and groups find volunteer activities that inspire them. Brainstorm together about groups and issues you care about (like animal welfare, food insecurity or clean outdoor spaces, for example) and use that conversation to help guide your search for volunteer opportunities. activategood.org
TRY A NEW CRAFT
Explore your artistic side and experimentation with a new craft through classes at Bosetti Art Tile & Pottery. Led by artist and owner Marina Bosetti, enjoy the contemplative practice of the pottery wheel with your date or with friends in private classes for groups of two, three or four. Together, you can create place settings or serving trays. Bosetti supplies the clay and tools, and fires and glazes your creations. Take a step away from the doldrums of winter with this vibrant way to spend time with the people you care for. bosettiarttile.com
FIND YOUR BEAT
Why not center a date around finding new music? Hunky Dory, a record store combined with a bar, presents the perfect opportunity for this kind of date,
offering new and used vinyl selections and 12 local beers on tap. With locations in Raleigh, Durham and Cary, and a second Raleigh location opening soon at Iron Works, you won’t have to drive too far. Explore your musical interests together and enjoy relaxing to the records you buy afterward—a memento of a fun time spent together. hunkydoryvinyl.com
CLIMB TO NEW HEIGHTS
Take on adventurous new heights through a date night that’s sure to bring thrills: Climb together at Triangle Rock Club. With locations in Morrisville, Raleigh and Durham, and another opening soon in Salvage Yard at Raleigh Iron Works, Triangle Rock Club facilities feature over 20,000 square feet of climbing walls and a variety of bouldering options and rotating routes. They also offer introductory climbing classes, which newbies can take together. trianglerockclub.com
TAKE A SPIN ON THE ICE
Ice skating is famous in films for its cute-date factor, but it may be one of those activities you never get around to in real life—making it well suited for a winter adventure. Skating is a fun way to get some exercise together, and is sure to bring laughs as you navigate the rink.
Opposite: An Activate Good volunteer holds up a valentine. Photo courtesy of Activate Good. Above, left: A couple holds up the plates they made at a Bosetti Art Tile & Pottery class. Photo courtesy of Bosetti Art Tile & Pottery. Above, right: Take a class together with Dorreen Colondres, renowned chef, wine expert and founder of Vitis House Wine School. Photo courtesy of Vitis House Wine School.
News for Raleigh foodies compiled by the Midtown staff, with contributions from Triangle Food Guy Sean Lennard, who blogs at trianglefoodblog.com
Chef Saif Rahman and artist Patrick Shanahan collaborated to open Peregrine. It will be located at 1000 Social Street in Raleigh, becoming the flagship restaurant at The Exchange Raleigh in Midtown. The concept is a love letter to Rahman’s life traversing the globe. The menu will draw inspiration from his childhood home in South Asia to his new home in North Carolina.
Barking Dog NYC will soon open its first North Carolina location in the Park District of North Hills. Barking Dog brings its petfriendly charm and vibrant dining experience to Raleigh, where furry friends are welcome on its patio. Known for its relaxed neighborhood vibe, the restaurant will serve breakfast, brunch and comfort food classics.
The Bomb Bar, launched in South Carolina, has opened its first North Carolina location at Gateway Plaza at 2409 Crabtree Boulevard just outside of downtown Raleigh. Think of it as a superfood ball (packed with nuts, seeds and nutrients) that transforms a regular smoothie into a satisfying and nutritious meal. The Bomb Bar features Jubala Coffee and healthy eats, such as açai bowls and avocado toast made with Boulted Bread
Fast-casual northern Mexican concept Little Rey has opened at Raleigh’s Iron Works at 1101 E. Whitaker Mill Road, Suite 102 The 4,200-square-foot space will feature a spacious patio and a walk-up to-go window. The menu created by chef Ford Fry includes wood-roasted chicken al carbon, traditional street-style tacos, salads and fresh salsas, all served on handmade tortillas.
James Beard Award–nominated chef Oscar Diaz has opened Aaktun Coffee + Bar at 704 Ramseur Street in Durham. The new all-day cafe offers a diverse menu, blending MexicanAmerican cuisine with global influences. The concept will feature a late-night menu and extended hours until 2 a.m.
Health-food chain True Food Kitchen has opened its first North Carolina location at 4104 Center at North Hills Street in Raleigh. The restaurant has nearly 6,000 square feet plus an ample outdoor dining area In addition to a wide array of appetizers, menu items include sourdough pizzas, salads, bowls and burgers.
The Brass Tap has opened a downtown Raleigh taproom at 16 N. West Street in the new 400H building, joining Press Coffee and
Honeygirl Meadery has opened its Tasting Room at Durham’s American Tobacco Campus at 312 Blackwell Street. The space features a tasting room, two bars and an outdoor patio. Enjoy samples and special dishes from James Beard Award–winning chef Ricky Moore from Saltbox Seafood Joint
Crepes & Cocktails. The menu features thick-style flatbreads, Angus burgers and shareables.
Coupe & Stein Champagne Bar has opened in the Golden Belt complex at 800 Taylor Street in Durham. The upscale bar promises a refined champagne selection in a beautifully restored setting.
Figulina, located at 317 S. Harrington Street in downtown Raleigh, is serving brunch on Sunday from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Main selections include the porchetta sandwich, mushroom quiche and smashed avocado, while the drink menu features mimosas and bloody marys.
A Little Gelato is serving customers at 4823 Meadow Drive, Suite 114 in Durham. The establishment offers up artisan gelato, sorbetto, handcrafted chocolates and freshbaked breads. Gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan options are available.
Fratelli’s Delicatessen has opened in Apex at 1481 Richardson Road, Suite 107 in Sweetwater Town Center. The menu features breakfast sandwiches and burritos, along with hot sandwiches and paninis.
Brunch at Figulina in downtown Raleigh. Photo by Jeff Bramwell.
Robbie Battle is the owner of Durham’s Honeygirl Meadery. Photo by Dathan Kazsuk.
by Kurt Dusterberg. 3 1 2 4
Smashed avocado on Boulted Bread’s seeded levain, with beetroot chutney, ricotta salata, poached egg and hazelnut dukkah. Photo by Jeff Bramwell.
Chiles rellenos, stuffed with cheese and chicken or ground beef and topped with sour cream.
1. LITTLE REY, RALEIGH
“Little” Superica hotcakes served with whipped butter and buttermilk syrup. Photo by Katie Williams.
3. UNION SPECIAL, RALEIGH
Cinnamon roll. Photo by Guillermo Delgado.
2. FIGULINA, RALEIGH
4. AYE! TORO, PITTSBORO, HOLLY SPRINGS
Photo
Clockwise from top left: Water view of Morehead City, jazz in WIlmington, the USS Battleship North Carolina in Wilmington and chocolate from the Carolina Chocolate Festival in Morehead City. Photos by Stock.Adobe.com/ Simon Booth/Kyle/Red Lemon/tsuguliev.
SWEET TREATS AND SULTRY BEATS
Indulge in sensory bliss in Morehead City and Wilmington
MOREHEAD CITY
With its catchy slogan of “a little bit of heaven since 1857,” Morehead City offers a distinct blend of shopping, dining, historic sites and natural resources. For 21 years, the resort town has also hosted a two-day chocolate feast to satisfy the sweetest tooth. The Carolina Chocolate Festival brings together chocolate makers, chocolatiers and chocoholics February 1–2 at the Crystal Coast Civic Center and demonstrates why the confectionery reigns supreme.
Nibble on treats made with milk, dark and white chocolate; marvel at luscious desserts entered in the bake-off; and shop for decadent bonbons, truffles and fudge—all made by hand with the finest ingredients. Play a game of chocolate bingo or dare to get dirty in a pudding-eating contest.
Work off the calories by playing a round of golf, renting a bike or hiking along the scenic waterways that meander around Morehead City. Stroll the scenic Calico Creek Boardwalk to view local birds and wildlife or relax by the water’s edge at Fort Macon, which defended America and North Carolina from foreign invasion in the 18th and 19th centuries. View the wild horses of Shackleford Banks and the bottlenose dolphins of Roanoke Sound on a boat ride or private charter cruise, several of which offer a sunset dinner as part of a tour package.
Learn more at facebook.com/carolinachocolatefestival and morehead.com
WILMINGTON
Cape Fear’s largest port city displays its shops, restaurants, breweries and fine art galleries with pride. Adding to the eclectic mix are museums, movie studios and tranquil beaches, offering enjoyment for all ages. Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts, built in 1855, presents a nonstop lineup of musicals, comedy shows and Broadway productions in its historic 550-seat Main Stage auditorium.
Shake a leg with the upbeat tempos of bebop and boogie-woogie as Wilmington hosts the 45th annual North Carolina Jazz Festival February 6–8 at Hotel Ballast. Virtuosos Gregg Gelb, Jay DeChesere and the Carlos Garcia Jazz Trio headline the 3-day revelry from local and international jazz artists each evening at 7:30 p.m.
Wilmington’s fascinating historic sites include those related to the American Revolution, Industrial Revolution, Civil War, World War II and Native Americans. Wilmington is the first American World War II Heritage City in the United States. The decommissioned WWII battleship, USS North Carolina, is moored in a dredged slip on the Cape Fear River and attracts 250,000 visitors annually for tours, naval combat exhibits and special programming.
Learn more at visitwilmingtonnc.com, ncjazzfestival.org and battleshipnc.com
