Midtown magazine March/April 2023

A CLEAN , DECISIVE DOWNSIZE

MOVING TOWARD MODERNISM

THRIVING IN VIBRANCY

FRENCH-EUROPEAN SIMPLICITY

AVIARY ATTRACTION

+ HOME & GARDEN MARKET LEADERS

EDITOR’S LETTER

I’ve always been a “comfort” decorator. Photos of my three children hang prominently in the foyer and living room. Two 30-year-old prints of a rambling creek I played in as a child dominate the kitchen wall. An illustration of the summer house my great-great-grandfather built in 1910 hangs in the breakfast nook. I have heirlooms, wedding mementos and books my father wrote on display. These items make me happy, and fill our home with love.

But a visit to Larry and Debbie Robbins’ new build in Raleigh was almost enough to make me want to give it all up! This minimalist masterpiece designed by Kersting Architecture of Raleigh and Wilmington welcomes visitors into a modern, open floor plan with expansive windows and a clean design that showcases the Robbins’ magnificent art collection. Learn why the couple packed up their 7,000-square-foot home on Lake Boone Place and made a big move toward modernism in “A Clean, Decisive Downsize” on page 30.

If French-inspired elegance is more to your liking, find out how Raleigh obstetrician Dr. James Hardy, M.D., and his team of home renovation experts transformed a former 1920s Anderson Heights bungalow—that was later turned into a two-story home—into a stately, yet modern respite. “French-European Simplicity” on page 40 reveals Hardy’s eye for design and art—inside and out.

On page 48, discover what happened when Design Lines Signature’s Judy Pickett took on a project for a neutral-averse client in Cary. She dubbed the outcome “Color Love,” thanks to the vibrant jewel tones and bold patterns her client selected.

We transition into earthier aspects of our annual home and garden issue on page 58 with a story about NFL great Jason Brown, who started his career at UNC–Chapel Hill and went on to play for the Baltimore Ravens and St. Louis Rams. In 2012, Brown made the shocking decision to trade one field for another when he left the NFL and bought a farm in Louisburg. There Brown, his wife and their eight children run First Fruits Farm, serving what Brown considers a higher calling.

Discover local businesses that can help you build, design and landscape your home in our annual Home and Garden special section on page 69; and meet local professionals who can help you discover and secure that perfect home in our Market Leaders special section on page 93. Before spring birds flutter back to your outdoor space, read “Aviary Attraction” on page 64 for expert advice on how to create a sanctuary for them. Explore the roots of Raleigh’s “City of Oaks” nickname on page 78, and read tips for fruitful container gardening—no matter where you live—on page 82. We highlight a new Duke Raleigh Hospital program that uses the power of art to heal on page 86, and introduce you to Tazza Kitchen’s Chef Marcos Sanchez—and his recipe for flan—on page 90.

Spring is a time for new growth, and that’s exactly what is happening here at Midtown. In addition to a brand-new website at midtownmag.com, our sister magazine Cary Living becomes 5 West with the March/April issue, in recognition of the five amazing towns that make Western Wake County one of the country’s hottest places to live. We’re also excited to launch Triangle Family, a brand-new magazine for the region's parenting community. Visit 5westmag.com and trianglefamilymag.com to learn more. And as always, thank you for your continued support of our publications.

Beth Shugg, Editor

PHOTO BY BRUCE DeBOER

PUBLISHERS

Ronny Stephens

Kent Braswell

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Beth Shugg

ART AND WEB DIRECTOR

Sean Byrne

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Dathan Kazsuk

GRAPHIC DESIGNER AND COPY EDITOR

Cindy Huntley

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Janice Lewine

SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

Melissa Wistehuff

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Sherry Braswell

Paige Gunter

Stefanie McClary

Laura Morgan

DISTRIBUTION

Joe Lizana, Manager DistribuTech.net

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Elizabeth Brignac, Kurt Dusterberg, Spencer Griffith, Janice Lewine, Charlotte Russell, Kristen Schrum, Anita Stone, Caitlin Wheeler, Melissa Wistehuff

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Bruce DeBoer, Abigail Jackson, Josh Manning, MASH Photography, Dustin Peck Photography

Midtown magazine is published six times annually. Any reproduction in part or in whole of any part of this publication is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.

Midtown magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photography or art. Unsolicited material is welcome and is considered intended for publication. Such material becomes the property of the magazine and is subject to editing.

Midtown magazine will not knowingly accept any real estate advertising in violation of U.S. equal opportunity law.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

6 print issues (1 year) Available online at midtownmag.com 4818-204 Six Forks Road Raleigh, NC 27609 Phone: 919.782.4710 Fax: 919.782.4763

Larry and Debbie Robbins’ home in Raleigh, photographed by Bruce DeBoer.

A NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM

The Midtown staff celebrates at the end of their 2023 Diamond Awards at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

We went behind the scenes with photographer Josh Manning, who took photos of former NFL player Jason Brown and his family at their First Fruits Farm in Louisburg.

a breathtaking view from the fourth floor balcony.

Pamela Varela was the lucky winner of our Diamond Discovery Charitable Fundraiser, sponsored by Bailey’s Fine Jewelry. Pamela won a pair of David Yurman starburst earrings in 18-karat gold with pavé diamonds at our 2023 Diamond Awards.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences offers

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY MELISSA WISTEHUFF ( unless otherwise noted)

PHOTO BY MASH PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO BY MASH PHOTOGRAPHY

Midtown staff members attended the opening of the NCMA Café in the North Carolina Museum of Art’s West Building.

North Hills merges with Spain at Las Ramblas, which offers a feast for the eyes—and taste buds!

The opening of Giorgio Pizza Bar is further proof that North Hills may just be the new foodie capital of Raleigh. Delizioso!

PHOTO BY BETH SHUGG

PHOTO BY SEAN BYRNE

Introducing a brand-new page featuring your comments on our social media posts! Also, check out a summary of our latest “Talk of the Triangle” podcast episodes.

Congratulations on your Merriment Realty grand opening, @cindypoolroberts! It’s abeautiful space!

@greenfrontraleigh Does the furniture look familiar?!?

—@cindypooleroberts

Yes … it looks absolutely fabulous! Would love to stop by and see your new office!

—@greenfrontraleigh

Congratulations! Your office is beautiful!

—@Debbie Lee

Good luck! You will do great!

—@Ann Holliday McCrary

Congratulations! Beautiful space. Love the big ole rabbit!

—@Kristin Snyder Kash

Best realtor! I remember the bunny picutre—congratulations!

—@Kathy Wheeler Bennett

Oh, what a night! We are still dreaming about our night at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences celebrating the 2023 Diamond Award winners!

The guests

The venue

The night sky

The memories

So much fun!! Congratulations to everyone! Thank you for hosting!!!

—@barreupraleigh

Thank you for a wonderful evening! —@liasellsnchomes

What an incredible and fun event celebrating the best of Raleigh and Western Wake!

—@sofialujanstyling

A wonderful event!

—@Di Fara Pizza Tavern

Congratulations to our gold Diamond Award winners in the ENTERTAINMENT + RELAXATION category!

Congratulations to the ladies on WRAL. Good job!

—@Mark Haughwout

WOW, thank you Midtown magazine!

—@WRAL Elizabeth Gardner

Wonderful, Deborah Morgan and @WRAL Elizabeth Gardner, love you both. Outstanding!

—@Laura Holder

@colletta at Fenton never disappoints! From the burrata + wood-fired shrimp, to the roasted pear pizza + the branzino, each bite outdid its predecessor! Don’t skip the tiramisu! It’s simply Italian at its finest!

We enjoyed serving you and your guests! —@collettacary

Love it. Just celebrated my birthday there! —@leahmariephoto

Our “Talk of the Triangle” podcast, available wherever you download podcasts, introduces you to the people, places and events across our region worth talking about.

Our March episode features a discussion with Rebekah Laney and George Smart of NCModernist® about modernist architecture in the Triangle

Each episode drops the first Tuesday of the month. Listen to them one at a time, or binge them all at once! Either way, you’ll be glad you tuned in. Learn more at midtownmag.com/podcast

PHOTO COURTESY OF JILL’S BEACH

PHOTO COURTESY OF JILL’S BEACH

WINNERS HONORED AT MIDTOWN’S DIAMOND AWARDS CELEBRATION

The Midtown and Cary Living staff hosted their annual Diamond Awards celebration January 19 at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh, during which they presented plaques to gold winners, and decals to gold, silver and bronze winners. Adam Cave and Melissa Wistehuff emceed the event, which honored the best of Raleigh and Western Wake as selected by the magazines’ readers. Guests enjoyed charcuterie delights, desserts and beverages from Rocky Top Catering, champagne from Local 919 Craft Beer and Fine Wine, and floral arrangements from Fallon’s Flowers. Highlights were captured by MASH Photography and Alisha Cleveland Photography.

RACERS EAT AND RUN IN THE KRISPY KREME CHALLENGE

One of North Carolina State University’s sweetest traditions saw 1,066 runners display gastrointestinal fortitude and the cherished value of philanthropy at the 19th Annual Krispy Kreme Challenge February 4. The student-run event challenges participants to run a 2.5-mile road course from the university’s bell tower to a Krispy Kreme Doughnuts shop, eat one dozen doughnuts, and run back to the finish line in under an hour. Since its inception in 2004, the challenge has raised more than $2 million for the University of North Carolina Children’s Hospital.

HIP FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS MUSIC FROM THE PAST

Raleigh was filled with the melodic sounds of Renaissance, Baroque and Classical era music performed on period instruments during the HIP (Historically Informed Performance) Festival, hosted by the Mallarmé Music Players. The monthlong celebration February 4–March 5 showcased over 60 musicians demonstrating historical performance practices in 17 events at venues in Chapel Hill, Durham, Cary and Raleigh.

CHARLES & COLVARD HOSTS GLOW FOR LOVE

Charles & Colvard, a luxury jeweler known for its lab-created gemstones, and Glo de Vie, a premier med spa in Raleigh, hosted Glow for Love February 4 at Charles & Colvard’s signature showroom in Morrisville. Attendees at the fine jewelry and luxury skincare event enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, champagne, a bourbon tasting, exclusive discounts on jewelry and the chance to win a DiamondGlow facial and treatment by Glo de Vie.

PHOTO BY ALISHA CLEVELAND PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO COURTESY OF KATHY DEWAR/GETTY IMAGES

PHOTO COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHARLES & COLVARD

SPRING TOUCHES

Spring is a popular time for getting organized and freshening up your home. Whether you’re reorganizing, adding bursts of color or welcoming the birds back to your outdoor environment, a few small touches can bring your home back to life—inside and out.

1. “Guide to Stylish Entertaining” by Ted Kennedy Watson, $37.50 | Stylish Living

2. Ocean Conservancy tea towel, $18, and dish cloth, $13 | Stylish Living

3. Birdhouses (various sizes) in red, blue and lavender, $22–$46 | Swagger

4. Succulent and air plant arrangement, $225 | City Garden Design

5. Hunt Slonem Bunny Box, $225 | La Maison

6. Leather ladies valet trays in strawberry, navy and emerald (6 inches), $24 | Designed for Joy

CHRISTOPHER J. MOREA, MD

Dr. Christopher Morea is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with over 25 years of experience. Dr. Morea has the highest credentials, including membership in the American College the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society of Aesthetic

BY JANICE LEWINE

TRIANGLE ENTREPRENEUR PURCHASES OAK CITY GLIDERS

Oak City Gliders is part of the Old North State Baseball League, which is North Carolina’s largest summer collegiate league. The team, recently purchased by Triangle entrepreneur Philip Lin, will play 15–20 games between May 21–July 24. Home games will be played at a field near Optimist Park on land owned by the City of Raleigh, and the first home game is May 25.

oakcitygliders.com

MERRIMENT REALTY DEBUTS IN RALEIGH

After serving the Raleigh community as a realtor for 20-plus years, Cindy Poole Roberts recently opened her own company, Merriment Realty, at 711 Harvey Street in Raleigh. Her mission is to create joy and build community by serving clients and local nonprofits who serve the area’s most fragile citizens. Ten percent of Merriment Realty’s commission from every transaction goes to a local charity in honor of the company’s clients, and the staff loves participating in “Stuff the Truck” events for charities. 711 Harvey Street, Raleigh

919.457.8181

merrimentrealty.com

INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL PURCHASES SENIOR CARE FRANCHISE IN WAKE FOREST-NORTH RALEIGH

Always Best Care Senior Services, a leading senior care system in the U.S., recently announced that Shawn Cothran is the new owner of the Wake Forest-North Raleigh franchise. An Apex native, Cothran joined the Always Best Care team as an employee in 2021 and now leads a team of caregivers who provide non-medical in-home care and senior living referral services in his hometown community. Always Best Care Wake Forest-North Raleigh has been serving Wake County residents since 2009 and is one of nine Always Best Care agencies across North Carolina. 120 Capcom Avenue, Suite 103, Wake Forest 919.554.2223

alwaysbestcare.com/nc/wake-forest

HORIZON INTEGRATED WELLNESS GROUP OPENS SECOND TRIANGLE LOCATION

Horizon Integrated Wellness Group, led by Dr. Mary Affee, Ph.D., recently announced the opening of its second play-based therapy practice at 180 Mine Lake Court, Suite 100, Raleigh. The group provides therapeutic and counseling services for children, adolescents, young adults, couples and families. Affee was recently awarded Social Worker of the Year in North Carolina and received an Emerging Leader Service Award from the Association for Play Therapy in 2022. Horizon Integrated Wellness Group also has an office in Cary. 8376 Six Forks Road, #104, Raleigh 919.585.5085

horizonintegratedwellnessgroup.com

RALEIGH WELCOMES LOCAL 919 CRAFT BEER AND FINE WINE

Local 919 was born from a group of locals who formed a friendship over the love of craft beer and wine. The store opened September 14 at 1540 Dunn Road in Raleigh and sells North Carolina craft beer and other beers from around the country, and fine wine from around the globe. It also hosts events including trivia night, wine dinners and bar specials.

1540 Dunn Road, Raleigh 919.977.0014

thelocal919.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHARLES LUCAS

PHOTO COURTESY OF MERRIMENT REALTY

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALWAYS BEST CARE SENIOR SERVICES

PHOTO COURTESY OF HORIZON INTEGRATED WELLNESS GROUP

PHOTO COURTESY OF DATHAN KAZSUK

A CLEAN, DECISIVE DOWNSIZE

LARRY AND DEBBIE ROBBINS MAKE A MOVE TOWARD MODERNISM

BY KURT DUSTERBERG | PHOTOS BY BRUCE D e BOER

“I kept telling my husband we had to downsize,” Debbie Robbins says. “He just said, ‘If we do it, we’ll do a modern house.’”

Larry and Debbie Robbins knew it was time for a change. Their four grown children had long since moved out of their house on Lake Boone Place in Raleigh, and the family dynamic was shifting toward their growing number of grandchildren.

“I kept telling my husband we had to downsize because that house was so big,” Debbie Robbins says. “He just said, ‘If we do it, we’ll do a modern house.’ That was easy for me because I was an interior design major and that’s all I ever did.”

So Larry and Debbie packed up their 7,000-square-foot home on the quiet cul-de-sac, ready to move on from the house where they raised their kids. Not wanting to stray too far from familiar surroundings, they settled on nearby Randolph Drive.

“We looked for two years for a lot, because we wanted to still be in our neck of the woods,” she says. “We lived on a cul-de-sac, so there was not any traffic. Randolph is a street just one block long, and when Randolph became available, the lot was the right size to fit this house.”

PREVIOUS PAGES: The Robbins' home surrounds a spectacular outdoor space featuring a pool and wood sculpture by California sculptor Charles Sherman.

OPPOSITE PAGE: The bright foyer showcases Mark Hewitt pottery, a Steinway piano and art by Rigoberto Mena of Cuba. A glass wall separating the living room and outdoor space rolls up to bring the outdoors in. The view from a second outdoor nook opens up to the dining room.

ABOVE: The Robbins and their 8-year-old English yellow lab, Buddy, enjoy their tranquil outdoor space.

AT LEFT: The light-filled hallway leading to the master bedroom is lined with art and sculptures by Thomas Sayre, Alex Bernstein, Mark Hewitt, J. Michael Powers and Seagrove potters. John Dodd of New York created the foyer table and vertical rest.

A DIFFERENT VIBE

Larry and Debbie have been in their new home for almost a year-and-a-half, enjoying the very essence of modernism. The house features an elegant open floor plan, expansive windows and clean lines— characteristics that date to the original hallmarks of mid-century modern homes in the 20th century.

Designed by Kersting Architecture of Raleigh and Wilmington, the home reflects Debbie’s style, dating to her college years when she studied interior design at UNC–Greensboro. Now settled in the 4,000-square-foot-space, she is accustomed to hosting friends and family, along with offering the occasional tour. On this day, as she points out favorite features, her 8-year-old English yellow lab, Buddy, follows a few steps behind.

Visitors pick up on a different vibe the moment they approach the front door. A Thomas Sayre earthcast sculpture presents as a sentry in the front yard. The foyer accommodates a Steinway piano, framed art and Mark Hewitt pottery, which can also be found on the front porch. The formal living room features soft blue low-profile sofas and chairs in front of an intricate stone wall featuring a glassed-in fireplace. “In our other house, there was tons of wallpaper— tons of colors,” Robbins says. “But in a house like this, you’ve got stone and wood and art wall space.”

OPPOSITE PAGE: Art by Matt McConnell hangs above the fireplace. A Damian Stamer piece dominates the wall next to the outdoor space opening. The corner wall features framed art by Jason Craighead and a sculpture by Joseph Sand.

THIS PAGE: Art by Diana Fonseca of Cuba serves as a focal point for the living room. Matching blue sofas and a triangular marble table add contour to the space.

SURPRISING REVEALS

Among the home’s more striking features is a free-standing wood wall at the end of the living room. The wall does not reach the exterior walls or the ceiling, teasing what might be hidden behind it. A walk to the other side reveals the dining room, featuring a custom marble table that seats 12, modern art and a sculptured glass chandelier. The wood wall, it turns out, reveals to be the backside of a stylishly efficient display of modern cabinetry.

The house has four bedrooms, with one serving as a workout room and art studio for Debbie’s contemporary painting. Several of Debbie’s works adorn the walls, along with pieces she and her husband purchased over the years. While the decor features exquisite touches, there are few knickknacks or photos on the counter spaces—another clue revealing the couple’s modernist preferences. “That’s just me,” she says. “I don’t like the clutter, and we love having little grandbabies free to run around the house.”

As Debbie walks the house, she is quick to point out a special luxury in the kitchen—one designed to make it easy to entertain guests. “This is the one thing I love—a scullery,” she says. “Any time we have events here, the caterers are back here. There’s an extra sink, refrigerator, dishwasher and ovens. Also, I didn’t want guests to see or smell the kitchen.”

THE GATHERING SPACE

While the scullery is best suited for behind-the-scenes, the Robbins’ outdoor space delivers the wow factor for guests. Tall sliders open the living room to the back yard, where pods of comfortable furniture surround a serene, rectangular pool. A magnificent corten steel sculpture created by California artist Charles Sherman anchors the southern corner of the backyard. “I love the outdoors. Fireplace, TV, heaters,” she says. “I live out here a lot. When we have events, I open up these windows all the way back.”

The Robbins’ brought just three furniture pieces from their previous house—so there were plenty of purchases to make before move-in. Seated on one of their matching couches, Debbie says, “Once we did go shopping, I wanted to sit on it. I didn’t want to just order it.” And when it comes to agreeing on the furnishings, Debbie lets out a little chuckle about her husband Larry’s role in the process.

“He pretty much knows that I pick it out and it’s correct,” she says. “I knew exactly everything I wanted because I always know. It’s a yes or a no. That’s me.”

PAGE 36 (from top to bottom): To the right of the kitchen, a scullery accommodates the catering staff during parties. The dining room chandelier, created by John Pomp, floats magestically across from an Alan Steward painting and above a VAE bowl on the custom marble table. What appears to be a wood wall separating the living room from the dining room is actually a custom cabintery piece. The wall is adorned with a Clarence Hayward painting, as well as vases and bowls created by Laney and Emily Burn, Chihuly, Stephen Rich, and other VAE artists.

PAGE 37 (from top to bottom): The the breakfast room wall features art by Jason Craighead and pottery by Ben Owen, Missions and Seagrove potters. Bridges Street Pottery serves at the centerpiece of the breakfast table. The dining room features a wall of windows. Buddy has his own special room with a view.

ABOVE: Mark Hewitt pottery welcomes guests at the front entry.

AT LEFT: A Thomas Sayre sculpture stands sentry to the property

CELEBRATING THE MODERNIST MOVEMENT

BY KURT DUSTERBERG

Larry and Debbie Robbins already knew they wanted to build a modern home, but spending time with a like-minded group of modernist architecture enthusiasts gave them an extra nudge. The couple has been taking tours with NCModernist since 2015. The Triangle nonprofit documents, preserves and promotes North Carolina’s legacy of residential modernist architecture. In fact, the group has documented and photographed close to 5,000 houses around the state, dating from the 1920s until today.

“Modernism is not a time period—it’s a style,” says Executive Director and Founder of NCModernist George Smart. “So there is mid-century modernism and modernism that is being built this week. Modernism tends to evoke the feeling of the future— of optimism.”

Residential modernism is characterized by large windows, open floor plans and clean lines. The style embraces the concept of “form follows function” and resists ornamentation. These homes have a loyal following at NCModernist, where monthly gatherings and tours attract anywhere from 40 to 200 people.

“But what our organization also does is promote new modernist architecture,” says Director of Development Rebekah Laney. “We occasionally tour some older homes as a way to keep them from being demolished, and we share the education behind those homes. We document these homes, study what they were and encourage architects in town to promote new modernist homes that evoke that same feeling.”

Modernism’s heyday in the U.S. lasted from the 1940s to the 1970s, but the main features of the movement still strike a chord with those who find inspiration in the architecture. “Once you spend some time in one of these, you discover how it lives differently than a traditional house,” Smart says. “It’s more relaxing, for one thing. The space, scale and structure of modern design is more open. People who are into modernist design really love it.”

Learn more about modernism in the Triangle at ncmodernist.org

ABOVE: Executive Director and Founder of NCModernist George Smart.

PHOTO BY JAKE GORST

french - european SIMPLICITY

A Raleigh doctor with a talent for design leads a transformative renovation

BY CAITLIN WHEELER

PHOTOS BY DUSTIN PECK PHOTOGRAPHY

James Hardy has advised clients on fine interior design since well before he and his wife, Margeurite (“Mig”), moved back to Raleigh from Charlotte in 2016. “Jim is an incredibly gifted interior designer,” says Raleigh-based architectural designer Carter Skinner, renowned for his own sense of elegant Southern style.

But Jim-the-designer also happens to be Dr. James Hardy, M.D.—an obstetrician of nearly 40 years recruited to Raleigh’s UNC REX hospital, where he currently works as a lead hospitalist. “Design has always been a part of who I am,” he says. “If I’d had any role models in that field growing up, I probably would have been an architect.”

Maybe it’s just as well, as Jim has no regrets about his career in medicine. Besides, his Raleigh home stands testament to his interior design expertise and magnificent art collection, allowing him to enjoy the fruits of both professions.

THIS PAGE: Jim Hardy consulted on all aspects of the home’s design, including the garden hardscaping and plant selections.

ON LEFT: From the start, the Hardys wanted to create a home featuring a French-European style that conveyed a clean, contemporary vibe.

ABOVE: The design team created chatuea-worthy paneling to frame paintings of a Chinese warrior, Washington Square and seascape watercolor.

ON RIGHT: As part of the renovation, the design team created multiple entryways to open up the original floor plan, which consisted of numerous "dead ends."

RECREATING HIGH CHARACTER

Hardy—the doctor with the designer’s eye—and his equally discerning wife, Mig, arrived in Raleigh with a showstopping collection of fine art and antique furniture. From a sketch by Pablo Picasso to selected pottery by Asheville-based potter Alex Matisse (the great grandson of Picasso’s rival, Henri Matisse), the Hardys’ collection was worthy of a grand display. So, when the couple started looking for a home in 2016, they prioritized choosing a style that would showcase their art. “We like traditional design freshened with modern updates,” Jim says. “From the start, we knew we wanted an 18th century French-European style that also conveyed a clean, contemporary vibe.”

They found a home ripe for renovation in Raleigh’s Anderson Heights neighborhood, within walking distance of Five Points and just a few blocks away from Mig’s childhood home. Originally built in 1923 as a one-anda-half-story brick bungalow, the home would have been “in the boonies” at the time, according to Jane Worley of Hodge & Kittrell Sotheby’s International Realty. Worley helped Jim and Mig find the home.

But along with the city, Anderson Heights thrived, and in 2016 the Hardys felt fortunate to find it was available. No longer an unassuming bungalow, the structure had been completely renovated in 2000 to include a full second floor, large hipped roof, and new facade featuring larger windows and a substantial front patio enclosed by a low, lattice-brick wall. “It was not in the best shape, but we liked the dimensions of it,” Jim says. “It had 10-foot ceilings and nice, spacious living areas.”

Plus, the Hardys “really loved the neighborhood,” Worley says.

“Lochmore [Drive] is filled with beautiful, old, high-character homes. This was not one of those,” notes John Sanders

of John C. Sanders & Company, a stylesetting homebuilder in Raleigh who viewed the home with Jim before the Hardys made their purchase.

“It was not pretty,” confirms Skinner. But he agreed that the home “had great potential.” When he stood staring at the house with Jim and Sanders, they had what Jim calls “a true meeting of the minds.”

“From day one, we all knew what we had to do to realize Jim’s vision,” Skinner says. “It was just a matter of implementing and coordinating.”

FRENCH CURB APPEAL

Sanders assembled a team of Raleigh experts who promptly got to work. Jim took on the role of interior designer and consultant on all aspects of the design— from exterior elements to the garden hardscaping and plant selections. They set out to capture French-inspired elegance, which required reworking the facade. “The steep, hipped roof epitomizes the European style, so we just needed to get the rest to match,” Sanders says.

They replaced the existing double-hung windows with taller and slightly narrower casement windows, then removed the sidelights and wide fanlight over the door. They emphasized height by adding a formal portico in a classical style.

As Sanders notes, the new vertical orientation lifts the once “squatty-looking” home so “everything looks tall.” By adding a generous application of mortar, the team evened the joints so the bricks sat flush, then painted the smooth surface in a sophisticated neutral color to match the shutters.

They did away with the brick—both the latticework and wide front stoop—and replaced it with a borderless blue-stone terrace. To further emphasize the new formality, the design team shifted the front walk to the left so it would lead directly from the sidewalk to the front door.

Landscape architect Frank Liggett of Liggett Design Group in Raleigh, one of the first to be invited to join the design team, said the existing garden lacked stylistic purpose and clarity—all overgrown shrubs and unkempt lawn; no trees that might have provided shade and structure. “The garden is an essential element of the whole ‘idea’ of a house,” Liggett says.

To create the European-style garden Jim envisioned, Liggett incorporated hedges and geometric plant arrangements to achieve “a classic or timeless quality” and “an architectural feel. … Plants are not just used as decoration,” he says, “but to create space, control view and to enhance the spaces within the garden.” Now, tall, neat rows of holly guard the front yard, while the graded lawn features a low border of manicured boxwood—a plant strongly associated with formal European gardens.

Keeping in mind Jim’s wide-ranging art collection from various centuries and global regions, the Sanders-Liggett-Skinner design team captured a fresh and subtly contemporary vibe with French/European curb appeal.

The facade’s color, geometric uniformity and true-to-period windows present a clean, new look. The tall and narrow windows feature large, modern glass panes, whereas a traditional French window or door would include at least double the number of panes. At the same time, the off-centered door adds a jauntiness compared with a more traditional and imposing centered entry. Jim’s oversized planters in French blue add a cheerful dash of color and hint of casual French country flair.

FRAMING SIGHTLINES

Skinner approached the interior architecture redesign with a similar mentality, marrying sophistication with livable simplicity. “The existing home had a really bad flow between living areas,” Skinner says. “There were lots of dead ends, so our focus was on opening up the flow.”

He created multiple entryways between closed-off rooms to establish a more natural, accessible plan—important to not only ease the flow of traffic, but to provide sightlines to the art, furniture and window views. Skinner also cased existing openings by enlarging them and creating more formal and attractive framing around them.

“The ‘open-plan’ concept, which has been so popular in modern homes, does not necessarily lend itself to vantage points for displaying art,” Skinner says. “We wanted designated areas to highlight the Hardys’ terrific collection.”

His plan revolved around specific art pieces. Thus, he and the team rebuilt the main staircase in the entryway to highlight a marble sculpture by a current California artist. They created chateau-worthy paneling in the formal living room for a Guy Carleton Wiggins painting of Washington Square, a large painting of a Chinese warrior and a slightly impressionistic watercolor seascape. The Picasso etching and a Eugene Boudin landscape get pride of place in specially designated front-hall spots.

Two of Jim’s favorite pieces suggest the breadth of his taste. The first is an 18th century Chinese Chippendale bookcase, also on display in the front hall. “It is a little unusual,” he says, “but I’ve always loved it.” And on the modern side, he is delighted with a recently acquired contemporary painting by Herb Jackson. “The two couldn’t be more different,” he notes, “but I love that they can both be in same room.”

Throughout the house, Jim and Mig chose a quieter color palette, relying on neutral tones for the walls and carpets, with minimal color. The subtle backdrop balances some of the more ornate antique furniture pieces and adds to the serene, contemporary ambience.

Beyond the front hall and formal living room, the art and rooms become increasingly informal. These “everyday” spaces start with the den—which features blue-lined shelves built for displaying Jim’s collection of North Carolina pottery— and continue to the open kitchen/breakfast/ living area, which showcases enormous windows and French doors that open onto the small back patio and garden.

Landscape designer Amy Strunk of Chapel Hill–based Amy Strunk Designs, recently joined the team to create more backyard privacy for the Hardys. She planted a wall of European hornbeams across the back and an espaliered magnolia along a lattice to create additional seclusion. “That garden is a beautifully intimate space,” she says.

Jim also requested more flowering plants, so Strunk added daphne, camellias, gardenias and climbing roses alongside the

bluestone terrace. “We also chose sweet osmanthus, or tea olive,” Strunk says. “It has a great, sweet smell, like cotton candy, which is really nice in a small space like this.”

Jim’s favorite spot in the house is the breakfast table, where he can sit comfortably beside the large windows and gaze out, with a feeling of being right in the middle of nature. “The house and garden really speak to each other,” he says. The front garden is precise and geometric. In back, the smaller, lusher garden complements the home’s informal living areas.

Not much remains of the original 1920s bungalow. Thoroughly renovated over the years before the Hardys bought it, the previous structure exists only in the home’s deepest bones. In a singular nod to its former style, the renovation team added a smaller and simpler fanlight above the front door. “If a house has a soul,” Worley says, “this one is probably very happy in its current iteration.”

ON LEFT: Landscape designer Amy Strunk helped create more backyard privacy by planting European hornbeams, espaliered magnolia and additional flowering plants

BELOW (left to right): The Hardys possess authentication (left photo) of a Picasso piece (center photo). At right is a photo taken during the 1990s showing the original bungalow with an addition on the side.

COLOR LOVE

BY SPENCER GRIFFITH PHOTOS BY ABIGAIL JACKSON

A RALEIGH DESIGNER’S CARY CLIENTS THRIVE IN VIBRANCY

JUDY PICKETT DOESN’T DESIGN FOR TRENDS. “I design for the client, and this particular client is not comfortable with neutrals,” Pickett says. “She loves color.”

Owner of the Raleigh-based interior design firm Design Lines Signature, Pickett is referring to a recent Cary project she dubbed “Color Love”—for obvious reasons. One look at any of the home’s eight spaces reveals a lively update and refresh for the homeowners, who recently became empty nesters.

Having previously worked with the client helped Design Lines Signature’s team feel in tune with the homeowners’ needs and preferences, and allowed for an inspiring process that incorporated jewel tones with unique patterns. “It’s a definite contrast to what’s going on now, with all the things you see in homes that are really neutral, with just touches of color,” Pickett enthuses. “With this one, everything is color.”

BREAKFAST ROOM

The starting point for the breakfast room was its rug, featuring pinks and oranges that created the room’s palette. “While the color scheme might be a bit unusual, it’s happy—it just makes you smile,” Pickett says. Flanked by lively drapery fabric, tall windows flood the room with natural light, which enabled Pickett to incorporate darker, richer colors and dramatic fabrics.

Framed gold and white art coordinates with a prominent rock crystal chandelier to add contour and offset the jewel tones. “We still wanted to keep it light and airy while we were using these rich colors, so that was a way to give it geometry, bring out the gold, and give it texture without a big piece, like in the dining room,” Pickett explains.

GUEST ROOM

Pickett’s clients took a different perspective on the décor for this room and asked for a more subdued look, since it would serve as an area of respite for family and guests. Though it resonates a calmer feel than other rooms, it still connects with the home’s lively vibe, thanks to bright turquoise, teal and other blues in the bedding, along with the textured fabric on the end-of-bed bench.

DINING ROOM

The dining room rug—which blends orange, lilac and cranberry purples—also plays an influential role. By using it as a departure point, the space exemplifies Pickett’s belief that not only is it easier to design a room with a bold color scheme, but the results are more dynamic. “When you do a neutral, you have 50,000 choices,” she says, half-jokingly. “When you’re doing raspberry and coral and purple, your choices may be more limited … Finding those fabrics with the oranges and pinks and purples was so much fun because people usually aren’t into that much of a color contrast.”

As in the breakfast room, the natural light allowed for a darker wall color that helped other colors pop. “We did the walls in a dark raisin color, and that just set off the bright colors perfectly,” Pickett says. The homeowners already owned much of the dining room furniture, including the table and upholstered chairs. The LED chandelier and end chairs—with their circular suzani pattern—were new additions. Abstract art adds additional interest, while the valance design—an earlier addition to the room—was recovered with a new, coordinating fabric.

QUEEN ROOM

Pickett’s approach in this room began with drapery fabric that blends turquoise, purple, coral and raspberry with a coordinating tweed headboard and bedframe. “Once you find that color combination and can zero in on things with it, [the room] really comes to life,” Pickett says.

The turquoise chair gives a node to mid-century modern style while also offering a calming contrast to energetic patterns used liberally, but judiciously, throughout the room. “The draperies are a largescale pattern, the ottoman uses a mid-scale pattern and the bed uses a tweed,” Pickett explains. “If I used three fabrics of the same scale in there, that would not work well. But when you change the scale—combine a geometric with a large-scale pattern and a texture—it all works without overwhelming the room.”

She points out that the white and raspberry pillows play a similarly crucial role by creating separation between the multicolored patterned fabric pillow and tweed headboard. “It’s all about position and scale,” she reiterates.

MUSIC ROOM

Pickett introduced new furnishings and a custom patterned rug featuring blues and purples in the music room, while retaining gold-framed artwork and the piano as anchors. A patterned ottoman pairs beautifully with the vivid raspberry walls, while an angular mirror, geometrically patterned wing chair and “funky floor lamp” adorned with gold banana leaves enhance the gold accents.

STAIR LANDING

The stair landing’s intimate seating space offers an additional example of Pickett’s savvy use of patterns. A neutral stair runner alludes to an animal print while the floralpatterned pillows continue the purples, raspberries and blues used in other rooms. They also offer a pleasant interruption to the velvet cushion’s honeycomb pattern.

Design Lines Signature is located at 1611 Jones Franklin Road, Suite 103, Raleigh.

View additional projects in the firm's online portfolio.

DESIGNLINESLTD.COM

Pickett carved out an intimate space in the bonus room, which also accommodates a large TV and sectional, using a color scheme that features raspberry, coral and red. She added a contemporary flair via chairs with clean lines. The multicolored Roman shade enhances the niche’s playful personality.

BONUS ROOM

FIRST FRUITS why jason brown traded football for farm life

BY MELISSA WISTEHUFF

PHOTOS BY JOSH MANNING

(UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)

On paper, Jason Brown was living every athlete’s dream. Born and raised in Henderson, where he attended Northern Vance High School, Brown played college football for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was drafted in 2005 by the Baltimore Ravens as one of the league’s best available centers, and the NFL eventually recognized him as one of the NFL’s highest paid centers. In 2009, the Ravens traded Brown to the St. Louis Rams, where he played until 2011.

Brown accrued millions of adoring fans, a beautiful home and a growing family with his wife, Tay. In 2012, however, he made the shocking decision to flip the script by announcing that he was trading in one field for another. Brown walked away from bright stadium

lights to peaceful farm fields in his home state of North Carolina.

Now parents of eight children ranging in age from 3 to 15, Jason and Tay look back in amazement on a decade of accomplishments and trials. There are still reminders of Brown’s football days—he will be inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame’s class of 2023 in April—but Jason and Tay are enjoying the new path they have carved. As owners and operators of First Fruits Farm in Louisburg—a 1,000-acre charitable farm about 35 miles northeast of Raleigh—the Browns welcome thousands of volunteers each year. They have given away over one million pounds of produce to food-insecure families across the state. “First Fruits Farm is more than a food ministry,”

Brown says. “It is a beacon of hope where folks can see the gospel and love of Jesus Christ at work.” From gridiron grasses to soil and silos, Brown shares his remarkable journey.

What made you decide to leave football to become a farmer?

The first question I always get asked is, “Why?” By all accounts, I was living the American dream. I had everything I wished for, yet there was a feeling that I wasn’t living the life that God wanted me to. I was 27 years old—the same age that my brother was when he was killed in a mortar attack in Iraq—and I knew that I was not living my purpose. So, one day, I asked God what He wanted me to do with my life. His response was clear: He wanted me to move back to North Carolina and feed His people.

OPPOSITE, ABOVE: Former NFL center Jason Brown and his wife, Tay, have eight children ranging in age from 3 to 15.

THIS PAGE, BOTTOM LEFT: In 2012, Brown made the decision to trade the football field for a farm field.

THIS PAGE, BOTTOM RIGHT: One of Brown’s sons works in the greenhouse.

PHOTO BY MARK GREGORY D. JIMENEZ

I knew nothing about farming. This was a total leap of faith, but I knew I had to follow His will. The farm life isn’t “Learn as we go.’ It’s ‘Learn as we grow.’ Poverty should not be synonymous with hunger. Being a farmer means that you always have food on the table. For us, it means that we can make sure that our neighbors have food, too.

How did you learn to farm?

As a football player, I spent the day after every game watching videos of plays to see what went right or wrong. When God told me that my ministry would be in farming and providing food to needy families, I turned to videos again. I scoured YouTube to learn how to farm. You’d be surprised how much useful information is out there!

Once we found our farm, we had a moment of, “What now?” Neighbors came through for us and showed us how to get started, generously giving their time and resources to help us. When we

needed equipment, prayers were answered and equipment was donated. God placed a call for service on our hearts, and He has found a way—with the help of the community—to help us succeed through every step of the way.

What does an average day look like for your family?

With eight children, no day is average! Everyone in the family has responsibilities, and chores depend on the age of the child. Our youngest children gather eggs and care for the chickens. Our oldest care for the larger livestock—the cows, goats and pigs—as well as other needs on the farm. Each season brings different needs, whether it is planting or harvest time, so every day brings new adventures and new duties.

Since our children are homeschooled, everything is multiplied: School work, cooking, laundry (farm life is dirty!), managing thousands of volunteers each year—yet still carving out time for

devotion and fun. We have created a unique model for our lives, and each day on the farm brings something new— weather challenges, equipment that needs to be fixed, field trips scheduled … Life is never dull.

How are you able to make the farm sustainable, since you give away all your harvest?

We rely on “human resources.” Without our volunteers, we would only be a fraction of what we are today. If we had to pay a dollar amount for the countless hours of labor it takes to plant, grow and harvest our produce, we would simply not be able to help as many people as we have.

We recently renovated one of the barns and turned it into a beautiful rental space for weddings and other gatherings, so we are able to use those profits to support the farm. We are looking into other agritourism options to help supplement costs, as well.

What is the most challenging aspect of running First Fruit Farms?

The pandemic threw us for a loop. With so many organizations and churches closed in 2020, we not only had a steep drop in the number of volunteers—we also had a much harder time getting food to the people in the community. The need was higher because so many people were without steady incomes, but it was infinitely more challenging to serve. Even though farming was considered an essential service, restrictions made it difficult to maintain our mission. Our momentum was disturbed, but we are hopeful that we can get back to our pre-pandemic numbers of volunteers and field trips this year.

Do you have a stand-out moment since you began this journey?

I love hosting field trips, because it is the first time that many of the children have ever been on a farm. Therefore, [it’s] the first time they have seen, firsthand,

where their food comes from. Early last year, students from the Governor Morehead School visited the farm on a field trip. Giving a farm tour to blind children was a unique learning experience—certainly for them, but for me as well. I could not simply point to places on the farm and say, “look at that.” I had to be descriptive with my words, explaining how blueberries are harvested, taking the time to physically feel rows of bushes, touch the wet nose of a farm animal and actively listen to sounds. This tour was more like painting a picture than showing a group around. It gave me a chance to pause and appreciate the intricacies of the farm in a way that I had not before.

If you could go back in time and give yourself advice, what would you say?

I have given myself that scenario so many times, but in the end, there is no cheat code for the last 10 years. There is

no one thing that I could possibly tell my younger self that would have made this adventure easier, because it was not supposed to be easy. When you heed God’s call, it’s probably something that is going to take you out of your comfort zone. In my case, farming was considerably out of my comfort zone, and although we have days when we wonder if we are making the right decisions, we continue to keep the faith. So, I guess I would tell myself to keep going. Don’t be fearful; be faithful. For more information about First Fruits Farm, as well as ways to donate or volunteer, visit wisdomforlife.org.

OPPOSITE PAGE AND THIS PAGE, ABOVE RIGHT: The Brown family renovated one of the barns into a rental space for weddings and other events. Profits from these ventures are used to support the farm.

THIS PAGE, ABOVE LEFT: Every member of the Brown family has chores. The younger children gather eggs and care for the chickens, while the older children care for the largest lifestock.

PHOTO BY MARK GREGORY D. JIMENEZ

aviary attraction

create a sanctuary for your feathered friends

BY KRISTEN SCHRUM

as winter thaws and the first hints of spring perfume the air, the Triangle slowly begins to bloom with buzzy activity across its foliage and verdure. Birds of every shape, size and color quickly flutter back into our gardens alongside azaleas, dogwoods, tulips and thick-leafed oaks. Attracting these chirping tree ornaments suddenly becomes an enchanting spring activity in which anyone can participate .

THE PROPER CARE AND FEEDING OF BIRDS

According to Lorie Dailey, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited located in Raleigh and Cary, putting up proper feed for birds is one of the easiest ways to start creating your backyard avian paradise. “If you put a feeder out with decent seed, I can guarantee sooner or later you’re going to start getting birds coming to it,” Dailey says.

Bird feeders are one of the best ways to draw birds into your yard, but in order to attract a variety of species, different feeders with different types of feed are necessary. Tube feeders remain very popular among birders; however, not all tube feeders are created equal. When choosing a tube feed, be aware of the size of the hole from which the food is dispensed. Feeders with smaller openings are generally designed for a specific seed or seed blend such as thistle seed or a fine seed blend. Though not conducive for larger birds, many birders will put up one or two of these smaller feeders specifically for the American goldfinch, a gorgeous yet elusive avian with yellow-gold feathering.

To attract a variety of birds, seed blends of sunflower seed and peanut pieces—both shelled and unshelled— prove most effective. Birds such as bluebirds, wrens and warblers are considered non-seed eaters. Their beaks are too small to open shells; therefore, they require unshelled seeds in their feed. “I love just a good overall mix where black oil sunflower is the primary ingredient,” Daily informs. “If you only want a singleseed feed, you should go with the sunflower.”

Another single-seed option is the safflower seed. “Safflower seed has a more bitter taste, but the reason why people will use safflower seed is to deter black birds and squirrels,” Daily explains. Often, you will see chickadees, cardinals and finches fly automatically to this seed to escape the hustle and bustle of other feeders.

To attract larger birds, choose tube feeders with larger openings and attachable trays. The red-bellied woodpecker, also famous for its coloring, will be attracted to peanuts from a tray feeder or suet feeders. Often dispensed from a wire cage, suet feeders mimic a natural feeding position for the birds. Suet is a compound of beef fat particularly enticing to woodpeckers, chickadees and blue jays. Birders can easily find suet, as well as other types of feed, at Wild Birds Unlimited and other such stores dedicated to birding.

AN ACCOMMODATING ENVIRONMENT

North Carolina is home to a beautiful variety of birds that include the northern cardinal, blue jay, Carolina wren and eastern bluebird, among other famous feathery friends. In order to create the proper environment for them, however, your backyard needs to emulate a bird’s natural habitat. Planting native shrubs such as elderberry and viburnum help attract northern cardinals, which are fussed about for their dazzling red plumage and are known to circulate shrubbery woodlands.

The Carolina chickadee, meanwhile, flourishes in a backyard filled with oaks, beeches or hickory. No trees? Small log piles will do just fine. Fragrant honeysuckle and other climbing vines are another great way to attract avians such as the pileated woodpecker and eastern bluebird, which both dazzle with color. Natural and native foliage is best to use when creating a beautiful bird sanctuary. In addition, you should avoid using pesticides and planting invasive or non-native verdure, as birds are sensitive to what they consider unfamiliar.

FRESH WATER OASIS

Fresh water is not easily found in the wild, even for animals. That is why a watering hole that is fresh and clean not only attracts all kinds of birds, but makes them loyal customers to a particular area. For birders, creating fresh water sources can be done by inserting water features and bird baths into their backyard. While the options for bird baths and water features may seem overwhelming—avid birders put up everything from simple spray trays to installing backyard ponds— there are several considerations to make before committing to any water feature.

When it comes to bird baths, size matters. Small bird baths, while easy to set up, may quickly run out of water in the Carolina heat, requiring more attention, refills and maintenance. Larger baths, however, can hold more water and can be used by multiple birds simultaneously without the risk of being monopolized by one territorial species. A backyard birder will also want to consider the height of the bird bath. Taller bird baths attract smaller birds like chickadees, bluebirds and wrens, who may be looking for secure heights on which to keep an eye out for predators. Water basins sitting at ground level will attract larger ground feeders such as blue jays and woodpeckers.

NESTING NECESSITIES

While most North Carolina birds can be found yearround, setting up birdhouses or nesting trays for birds to raise their young is an activity reserved for spring. There are many cavity birds attracted by these famous yard decorations—chickadees, nuthatches, swallows and wrens to name a few. However, Triangle bird enthusiasts love to set up birdhouses for the beloved bluebird, a gorgeous little avian with shining blue and rose beige plumage. From late February to mid-August, the bluebirds court, mate and breed. A female bluebird can have anywhere from one to three broods per season, allowing birders an entertaining spring full of hatchlings.

When choosing a birdhouse box, take into consideration its build and location, as it must be suited to the type of bird in the area. Each bird prefers a different size entrance hole. Bluebirds and swallows, for instance, favor boxes with a hole diameter of one-anda-half inches. Meanwhile, smaller chickadees and titmice prefer a diameter of one-and-one-eighth to one-and-onequarter inch. “I tell people that if you don’t care what kind of bird you get, get a bluebird box,” Dailey advises. “It’s going to give you your biggest opportunity.”

How and with what the birdbox is constructed also matters. Breathable materials such as natural wood create a more organic home, whereas the chemicals in

pressure-treated wood deter the bird from nesting in it. Proper vent and drain holes must be present as well. Another feature to keep in mind is that a birdhouse needs to be easy to open for monitoring the birds and cleaning out the boxes when the nest has been used. Look for birdhouses with unique two-way opening systems that allow you to view the birds as they breed, hatch and grow, in addition to making the house easy to clean.

Mounting a birdhouse on a pole is best, and many birders attach a baffle to their poles in order to prevent squirrels and snakes from climbing up to it. If perched on a tree, the nest becomes more susceptible to predators.

SEASONAL BIRDS

While the Triangle’s climate facilitates a year-round habitat for most of its birds, there are a few exceptions. The warbler, one of the state’s tiny songbirds, is more commonly seen in winter, and this past November a few rare western tanagers made their appearance in the Raleigh area. Perhaps the most famous seasonal bird, however, remains the spectacular hummingbird.

The ruby-throated hummingbird is the only native hummingbird to the eastern U.S. From late October to March, hummers will fly nonstop across 500 miles of water to Central and South America, where they will spend winter. Hummingbirds generally return to the Triangle in early April, when spring grows warm and temperate.

In order to attract these gorgeous little birds, hummingbird feeders and sugar water are all you need. Hummingbird expert Susan Campbell, one of 175 licensed hummingbird banders in the U.S., suggests clustering anywhere from four to six hummingbird feeders in a single location.

Dailey echoes Campbell’s advice. “If you only put up one or two feeders, even on completely opposite sides of your yard, you’ll have one hummingbird going back and forth between those two feeders defending his territory,” she says. “But if you cluster your feeders—I can’t tell you what the magic number is—but if you have about six feeders, then one can’t be dominant.”

Hummingbirds are insect and nectar feeders; therefore, use sugar water—and lots of it—to fill your yard with the hum of iridescent feathers. It’s best to make a quart of sugar water at a time and change the feeders every other day, since sugar water can ferment in the warm Carolina heat.

Anyone can enjoy the pleasures of birding. “It can get addicting,” Daily says. With only a few feeders and an adventurous attitude, you’ll start to see a variety of birds fluttering about your garden. You’ll soon discover they are more than happy to enjoy spring with you, your family and your friends.

LORIE DAILEY’S RECIPE FOR HUMMINGBIRD NECTAR

INGREDIENTS

4 cups of water

1 cup of sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. Bring water to a boil.

2. Take the water off the heat and let it cool for 3–5 minutes.

3. While the water is still a little warm, add the sugar and stir until it’s fully dissolved.

4. Store the nectar in containers in the refrigerator. They will keep for three to four weeks.

PAGE

Eastern bluebird

PHOTO BY BIGWEST1/GETTY IMAGES

Prothonotary warbler

PHOTO BY WILLIAMSHERMAN/GETTY IMAGES

Red-bellied woodpecker

PHOTO BY JOHANN SCHUMACHER/GETTY IMAGES

Carolina wren

PHOTO BY OUTTAKES/GETTY IMAGES

THIS PAGE (clockwise from top):

Ruby-throated hummingbird

PHOTO BY CLARK42/GETTY IMAGES

Blue jay

PHOTO BY BRECKENI/GETTY IMAGES

Carolina chickadee

PHOTO BY ARTHUR GRUMANKIN/UIG/GETTY IMAGES

64 (clockwise from left):

HOME & GARDEN

Discover new developments and builds, design professionals and landscape resources.

AR HOMES MONTEREY BAY CONSTRUCTION RALEIGH

As a Market Leader, building a custom home begins with listening to the dreams and vision of our clients. We meticulously tailor your new home plans to you and your lifestyle, and our team of professionals walks you through each step of the building process. We simply love to build homes for our clients. With decades of experience and a commitment to excellence in craftsmanship, you only need to visit one of our fully furnished models or inventory homes to see the Monterey Bay Raleigh difference.

Our homes speak for themselves. Discover firsthand the innovative design and quality of AR Homes by visiting one of our furnished model homes. Each model home represents exquisite detail, meticulous craftsmanship and surprisingly functional design that has become synonymous with AR Homes. We agonize over all the design details that go into building a custom home for our clients. These impeccably designed homes are sure to serve as a catalyst that will inspire your imagination, ultimately making your dream home a reality.

GRAND HIGHLAND ESTATES

A NEW PRIVATE GATED COMMUNITY

The moment you enter the grand, stone, private gated entrance, you’ll be welcomed by rolling hills, gently winding roads and beautiful vistas.

Grand Highland Estates was thoughtfully planned to preserve the land’s natural beauty and provide the elements you need for a life of beauty, tranquility, privacy and luxury. The grand gated entrance sets the tone for the community and provides a feeling of privacy and comfort. The large homesites, .90 to 2-plus acres, offer ample room for estate homes, pools and outdoor living areas. The individually crafted homes, built by a team of award-winning custom builders, are designed to blend with today’s modern lifestyles for the best in relaxation, entertaining, work, play and connection. With spacious living areas, gourmet kitchens, lavish baths and high-end finishes, you’ll experience luxury in every detail.

Tucked away in the rolling countryside of northern Wake County, Grand Highland Estates is only 6 miles from Downtown Wake Forest and convenient to Raleigh and the surrounding Triangle area—the perfect balance for those who love the tranquility of the country and conveniences of the city.

From the gated entrance to the spectacular homesites and luxury custom homes inside, it is no wonder that this community is becoming one of the most sought-after places to live.

NORTH STATE BANK

The housing market has been . . . interesting. While the fluctuations make headlines, they don’t have to make you change your plans. To borrow the pun, working with a lender who has been around the block a time or two can keep you on track for moving day.

North State Bank’s mortgage lenders have decades of experience. They’ve helped customers find the right financing during upturns, downturns and everything in between. Our lenders and loan processing team live and work in Wake County.

Your lender, your loan and your home will all be in the same place: Wake County.

If you’re already a homeowner and want to transform your house into a home you’ll love, we have financing to help. We offer home refinancing, personal installment loans, home improvement loans, lines of credit and more. We’ll work with you to evaluate each solution so you have the information you need to make a sound financial decision.

We’re local, independent and ready to serve you.   Call, click or come by to get started. northstatebank.com.

Loans are subject to credit approval.

Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender | NMLS# 411971

Protection and Repair for Surfaces at your Home or Business

Phoenix Stone Solutions specializes in the protection, restoration and care of natural stone and other hard surfaces. We provide high-performance protection and etch-proof coatings for residential and commercial marble, as well as ongoing maintenance and protection for residential and commercial stone and hard surfaces, both interior and exterior. We maintain valuable relationships with a wide range of homeowners, business owners, builders and fabricators in the Triangle area, and we look forward to serving you!

Chris Phoenix Owner, Phoenix Stone Solutions

Restoration and Repair

Sealing and Protection

Anti-Etch Coating

TOWER HEATING AND AIR

Locally owned and operated, Tower Heating and Air, LLC is a professional and established Wake County HVAC contractor you can trust. Our services include system maintenance, repairs, and complete installations—we can repair or replace every key component of your heating and cooling system. We understand the importance of a fully functional HVAC system and with 24-hour emergency support, Tower will solve your mechanical problems and quickly restore your system to excellent working order. Professional and prompt, experienced and efficient, reliable and honest—that’s the Tower team. Contact us today at 919.823.6584 for same or next-day service or to learn more about our Peace of Mind Membership Plan to keep your HVAC running smoothly all year long.

Craig Andes, President and Lead Trainer

138 Donmoore Court, Garner, North Carolina 27529 |

SPOTTED INTERIOR DESIGN

We recently worked with one of your neighbors to design their dream home.

This 5400-square-foot remodel included a bathroom transformation featuring custom white oak beams and semi-custom marble top vanities, a chef’s kitchen with luxury appliances and custom cabinetry, and additional updates throughout every inch of the home, including refinished flooring and statement lighting.

Spotted Interior Design is a full-service interior design firm based in Raleigh with clients across the country. Trust us for design that is timeless yet custom, unexpected yet attainable, functional yet luxurious. It is design that can be spotted from a mile away.

STUDIO 360 CLOSETS + CABINETS

Studio 360 Closets + Cabinets is a Raleigh-based company locally owned and operated, giving you the personalized attention you deserve. It’s a true privilege for us to work alongside our clients to create more functional, organized and welcoming spaces throughout their homes. We’ll guide you to make the best decisions for your distinct project, based on your style and budget.

In our design studio, clients become an integral part of the process of creating their ideal space. Here, we can share 3D designs, color and style samples, and accessories. Plus, clients can get a glimpse of the quality craftsmanship of our in-house manufacturing. Collaboration is the key to every successful project, so we listen to every direction and preference of our clients, while also offering our knowledge and expertise. Together, we’ll create a beautiful, functional and organized space no matter how large or small.

With over two decades working in cabinet design and construction throughout North Carolina, Studio 360 Closets + Cabinets is proud to say that we’ve directly contributed to the area’s growth and development, working with families, businesses and home builders.

Transform your spaces by combining beauty and function with our high-quality products and workmanship.

CITY OF OAKS

Raleigh’s reverence to its favorite tree is deeply rooted

BY ANITA B. STONE AND BARBARA BURNS

Oak trees have been revered for centuries due to their beauty, endurance and usefulness. They have been on earth for 56 million years and are known to every child who has ever picked up a handful of acorns.

The oak’s mystique resides deep in human psyche, rooted there through paintings, myth, folk tales, religion, literature and music. For centuries, oaks have existed as a keystone tree, essential to the functioning of forests. They have played an important role in the history of human progress—from shipbuilding and housing, to hand tools and furniture. They are essential to our ecosystem, providing food and habitat to bacteria, insects, fungi, birds and mammals—including humans. Who among us is not familiar with the English proverb: “Mighty oaks from little acorns grow?” Raleigh’s early founders recognized the oak’s vital importance by dubbing the early colonial city “The City of Oaks”—a name residents still proudly promote.

RED AND WHITE

Of 450 oak species worldwide, 90 can be found in the U.S., and of those, approximately 30 are native to North Carolina.* The only sure way to identify an oak tree is if you discover acorns on or under it. Each oak can be identified by examining its leaf shape, bark color, tree contour and acorn quality. There are two major categories of oaks: red and white. Trees in the red oak family feature little bristles or stickers at the ends of the lobes, whereas white oak leaves do not. This distinction helps narrow down the identification options.

Oak leaves are variable, even within the same tree. “Identifying without an acorn, a good field guide and a lot of effort can be really hard,” says registered professional biologist Michael Simpson, Ph.D.

Despite the variability, some oak leaves are quite easy to identify. Throughout Raleigh, the mighty willow oak is prominent along the city’s streets and suburbs. Their leaves, unlike most oak leaves, have finger-like projections called “lobes” that are smooth, slim and narrow down their entire length, much like the leaves of a willow tree. Each leaf has a small spine or bristle at the end, pinpointing its classification as a red oak.

The beautiful white oak is local to our area and easy to identify. Its leaves are large with smooth lobes and no spikes at the lobe ends. Pin oaks are also common; they exhibit more of a typical oak leaf structure and are often planted in shopping areas. Their leaves have deep “sinuses,” or spaces, between the lobes, and frequently show a central pair of lobes that are almost horizontal to the ground. As members of the red oak family, their leaf bristles are

prominent. The southern red oak and the southern live oak (in the white oak category), are two additional species that have recognizable leaves.

RELIABLE AND IRREPLACEABLE

Knowing which oak trees reside in your neighborhood or on your property is a step toward valuable awareness about your natural surroundings. It’s also a great deal of fun to identify trees around Raleigh streets and neighborhoods—even near the Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

Oaks are long-lived trees with age ranges that vary across the different species. Some live an average of 70 years, while others can live more than 400 years.

In her book, “Seeing Trees: Discover the Extraordinary Secrets of Everyday Trees,” author Nancy Ross Hugo states that “an oak spends 200 years growing, 200 years living and 200 years dying.” This long life cycle shows the tenacity of the mighty oak and why so many states have adopted it as their state tree.

There are some famous oaks reported to be over a thousand years old. However, regardless of their life span and despite modern substitutions, oak trees remain valuable for nature and living provisions.

Overall, a reliable oak is irreplaceable in its role as a soil stabilizer, protector of ground water, and provider of food and shelter. Oaks also sequester carbon—a major issue in today’s atmosphere—as well as modify temperature, absorb pollutants and provide environmentally friendly wood.

The founders of Raleigh who called their new settlement “The City of Oaks” were more than just insightful and clever. They were wise, practical and lovers of natural beauty. *Sources for the number of oak species worldwide, in the U.S and in North Carolina: Brittanica, sciencing.com and ncpedia.org.

THE ACORN DROP

Raleigh continues to revere and care for ancient oaks scattered throughout neighborhoods and commercial areas, ensuring that new saplings are planted among the city’s older resident oaks, and also in newly built shopping areas. The City of Raleigh honors its reverence to oak trees every year at its New Year’s Eve ceremony, when a 10-foot-tall, 250-pound iconic copper-clad acorn is dropped as part of the countdown at midnight. Artist David Benson, who also owns The Third Place coffee house in Raleigh, designed and donated the copper sculpture for Raleigh’s bicentennial celebration in 1992. “I’m the king of Raleigh, for a day, every year,” Benson says. “Everybody says, ‘Oh, there’s the guy who built the acorn.’”

TH E OAK OG S

The Friendship Oak is a 500-year-old southern live oak in Long Beach, Mississippi. The Seven Sisters Oak is the largest certified southern live oak and is located in Mandeville, Louisiana. Estimated to be 1,500 years old, its trunk measures 467 inches in circumference. The Angel Oak located on Johns Island near Charleston, South Carolina, is estimated to be 400–500 years old. The Emancipation Oak is one of the 10 Great Trees of the World by the National Geographic Society and is part of the National Historic Landmark District of Hampton University in Virginia. The Jurupa Oak found in Riverside County, California, is 13,000 years old.

PHOTO BY LAUREN NICOLE/GETTY IMAGES

AT TOP: Pin oaks in a shopping center. ABOVE: Three common oaks found in North Carolina, represented by their leaves, include the white oak (left), willow oak (center) and pin oak (right).

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANITA B. STONE

C O NTAINER G A R D ENI NG Tips for growing fruitful plants

BY JANICE LEWINE

Container gardening is an attractive alternative to gardening in the ground because it saves money, time and space. A potted garden also makes a stunning and useful addition to any landscape. Ready to dig in? Consider these tips from Jody Keye, co‑manager of greenhouse retail sales at Fairview Greenhouses & Garden Center in Raleigh.

1 Decide where you want the container placed, then determine how much light it will receive in that location and how much energy you want to spend taking care of it.

2 Select a container color, size and style that will be pleasing to your eye, and one that is the right size for the space and type of plants you will be growing (seasonal, herb/vegetable, tropical or evergreen). Any container will work if it can hold plants and provide good drainage. Use a coffee filter to cover the drain hole in your containers, which allows the water to drain while keeping the soil in.

3 Keep plants and containers in proportion. The total height of the fully grown plants should be no more than two times the height of the container.

4 Once you’ve decided on a color palette and design for your container, choose plants that like the same light, water and growth habits. Shade plants like two hours or less of direct sun, while sun plants will need four or more hours of direct sun. Morning sun offers the best light in the long summer months, and the hot western sun will require more watering.

5 Always use potting soil. Soil taken directly from your yard might introduce weeds and insects. When placing the soil in your container, keep it loose. Roots need oxygen to stay healthy, and loose soil helps with drainage. Be sure not to overcrowd the containers so plants have room to grow. For extra large containers, use crushed water bottles with the lids on to reduce the amount of soil needed and to help with drainage.

6 Try the “Thriller, Filler, Spiller” technique. Thriller is the main pop of color in the pot, spiller is a plant that will drape over the edge of the pot, and filler is the plant that fills in between. When adding plants to the pot, be sure to consider where the container will be placed. If you are able to see all the way around the container, the thriller will be placed in the center of the container, with the filler and spiller planted around it. If one side of the container is out of sight, the thriller can be planted towards the back with the filler and spiller placed in front.

7 Vegetable and herb containers can be pretty and delicious. Most vegetables need bright sunlight. Most containers

have only one plant (such as tomato or pepper squash) in them, but you can plant a combo container of veggies. Just remember not to overcrowd the pot. Using a container of at least 5 gallons, you can plant a tomato plant (thriller) with cucumber (spiller) and lettuce (filler), and add marigolds for a splash of color. In the same container, you can add carrot or beet seeds to sprout and fill the pot.

8 Daytime watering is best. Water the soil, not the plants, and continue until water exits the drain holes.

9 Use deer and rabbit resistant plants, such as caladiums, angelonia and coleus.

10 Know your plants and save their tags. Deadheading (removing faded blooms) and trimming the plants is an important and relaxing activity.

You can plant an herb in its pot into a larger container to restrict root growth.

lovely

This illustration shows a cross-section of various plants growing in a single container.

Pansy, ground ivy, sage, basil and nasturtium make a

summer urn.

ART’S POWER TO HEAL

DUKE RALEIGH HOSPITAL PROGRAM INSPIRES AND COMFORTS PATIENTS

BY ELIZABETH BRIGNAC

Duke Raleigh Hospital’s main entrance welcomes visitors into an airy room lined with honey-colored wood panels interspersed with splashes of bluegreen. Bright glass cylinders hang and illuminate the space with pale blue, white and green light. Two great strokes of textured paint curve up like a blue wave on a wall across from the entrance. A closer inspection reveals the wave isn’t paint, but a sculpture called Nigamo by Don Martiny. This lobby isn’t anyone’s notion of a stereotypical hospital space. Duke Raleigh Hospital’s new Arts & Health program is part of a growing movement to bring nature, light, art and music into the healing and caregiving experiences.

The lobby of Duke Raleigh Hospital features art by Don Martiny (above). Team members gather in front of a mural titled “Despite It All, I Will Arise” by Georgia Hardy (right).

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ARTSUITE

Researchers have been studying the link between healing and the arts for decades. In 2010, The American Journal of Public Health published “The Connection Between Art, Healing, and Public Health: A Review of Current Literature.” Based on the journal’s review of many years of research, the authors determined that engaging with art improves patients’ health outcomes.

Duke Raleigh Hospital’s Arts & Health program has grown in response to studies such as this. “With the addition of our South Pavilion tower in July of 2021, we thought, ‘What better time, as we’re bringing on a brand-new facility… to launch the Arts & Health program?’” says Duke Raleigh Hospital Assistant Vice President for Finance and Divisional CFO Leigh Bleecker, who spearheads the project. “Evidence says health and the arts go hand in hand to promote the well-being of our patients and our families—and even our staff.”

MOVING MUSIC

During the COVID-19 pandemic, musicians began performing in the hospital’s public spaces to bring comfort to stressed patients, visitors and staff. Today, violinists, pianists and harpists continue to play in lobbies and waiting rooms. The music benefits the entire hospital community. “I enjoy our performing arts program so much— especially the fact that both patients and team members get to enjoy it,” says Betty

Richardson, an advanced health unit coordinator in the pediatric care unit. “When we’re working in the unit, it’s a treat to experience the soothing music and the calming effect it has on everyone in the vicinity.”

In November, the hospital deemed it safe for musicians to perform at patients’ bedsides. Musicians playing ukuleles, guitars, harps and violins come through on different days. “All they have to do is show up with a piece of musical equipment and the requests just start coming,” Bleecker says. Patients can ask for a performance, and staff can direct musicians to those patients and others they feel need additional emotional support. “A lot of times patients will fall right to sleep,” Bleecker says. “It helps de-stress them. It helps de-stress our team.”

VISUAL INSPIRATION

The Arts & Health program displays a wide range of works by diverse, regional artists, and reaches the hospital’s patients, families and staff members. “We want to choose artists who are representative of the community at large,” says Marjorie Hodges, an art consultant who guides the visual art side of the program. The art varies in form, theme and material. Randy Shull, for example, incorporates Mexican hammocks into his paintings. Maya Freelon makes her pieces using tissue paper and a pottery wheel.

The program selects works that incorporate themes designed to help

Maya Freelon started working with tissue paper when she was in graduate school living with her grandmother. She has been experimenting with tissue paper for the last 15 years. These two pieces, “Reset” and “Sprightly,” can be found on the walls of Duke Raleigh Hospital.

patients and visitors cope with the stress of being in a hospital—or having a loved one there. “We didn’t just want to pick art that was beautiful … but artists who were doing works that tell a story,” Hodges says.

Viewers can scan a QR code next to the title of each work to access a short video by the artist talking about their process and inspiration. Freelon’s video describes her works “Sprightly” and “Reset” on the first floor of the South Pavilion as contemplative opportunities. “One of my greatest goals as an artist is to help people take a mental break,” she says. “I see… sitting with [my artwork] as kind of a form of meditation.”

Leah Sobsey’s “Swarm of Butterflies” incorporates 400 butterflies, each built from a photograph of a different species. It lines the hallway from the hospital’s entrance to its outpatient waiting room. “There’s a metaphor in the butterflies that feels uplifting,” Sobsey says in her video. Sick patients and their families

benefit from considering themes related to transformation and freedom.

The program also encourages patients and staff to create their own artwork. Patients receive coloring kits with a coloring book of North Carolina sites and symbols designed by Raleigh muralist Sean Kernick. The program has held two exhibitions of art created by staff members. “The staff exhibition was born out of COVID,” Hodges says. “It was like, how do we show our support and give them an outlet?” Hospital patients and staff vote on their favorite pieces. The staff exhibits have proven so popular that the Arts & Health program plans to make them a quarterly event.

A TRANSFORMATIVE MURAL

Georgia Hardy’s mural “Despite It All, I Will Arise” has particularly moved Duke Raleigh Hospital’s staff and patients. Many radiation oncology patients come in daily for treatment— an exhausting process. Along with staff,

these patients enter through a utilitarian back entrance. There, Hardy has painted a huge mural along what was once a gray cement wall. For a month, patients got to watch the entrance transform from a dull space to an inspiring pathway as they walked to and from their treatments.

The mural spotlights the lotus flower, which rises up out of the mud and perseveres into beauty. “Patients and loved ones frequently mention how it brightens their day, and our team members love the positive energy it provides as they enter the building to deliver care,” says Heather Spencer, regional director of radiation oncology. Many patients and staff take photos in front of a large butterfly Hardy painted in one corner.

“The mural … gives them a sense of purpose and a sense of healing,” Bleecker says. “Spread your wings, and now you’re off to do more things.”

“Swarm of Butterflies” by Leah Sobsey. PHOTOS THIS PAGE AND ON PAGE 87 COURTESY OF ARTSUITE

TAZZA KITCHEN

SERVING FRESH INGREDIENTS FROM A SCRATCH KITCHEN

BY KRISTEN SCHRUM | PHOTOS BY MASH PHOTOGRAPHY

At the age of 16, Marcos Sanchez worked his first restaurant job as a busboy. “But I would always watch the chefs,” he says, reflecting on the beginning of his culinary journey. “At some point, the chefs got tired of me always watching them, and they told me to just join the line.”

Since then, Sanchez has always found himself in the kitchen, moving up into management positions. After

years of overseeing restaurants across the Southeast with companies such as Moonlight Management, Sanchez ended up at Tazza Kitchen, where, amid the clattering of chef knives and blazing roar of wood-fired ovens, his culinary team has spent the last six years putting their unique twists on America’s melting pot favorites.

Tazza Kitchen serves handcrafted burgers, wood-fired pizzas, braised meat tacos and a variety of fresh

salads, in addition to more classically inspired main dishes. Overall, the restaurant staff is ready to serve anyone who walks through its doors.

“I like to say Tazza sort of has an identity crisis,” Sanchez laughs, referring to the restaurant’s versatile menu. “We’re not New American. We’re not Italian. We just cook good food.”

Chef Marcos Sanchez believes chefs are artists in their own right.

RIPE PRIORITIES

Tazza Kitchen may not have a fixed identity, but it does have a mission: to serve amazingly fresh food with artistry and creativity. To Sanchez, chefs are artists in their own right: Imagination, patience, hard work and skill are all required to create original, delicious entrees. Tazza Kitchen encourages artistry among its kitchen staff, and the resulting creative menu centered around fresh ingredients gives Tazza Kitchen an edge over competitors.

“You can have one of our pizzas anywhere else, but you can’t get the same taste because our ingredients are unique to us,” says Sanchez, who selects all of Tazza Kitchen’s ingredients from local produce vendors and small businesses. Sanchez recognizes that there is a drastic difference in the quality and taste of the food that is bought in-season. When bought out of season, even organic produce holds but a fraction of its authentic taste.

In addition, local farmers know their product and are aware of when it reaches optimum growth and taste, and they harvest accordingly—as opposed to corporations that harvest produce months before it is ripe in order to have the product ready for stores. Tazza Kitchen places great importance on sourcing its food from natural, fresh sources. From buffalo mozzarella made by BUF Creamery in Colombia, to locally sourced steaks from Seven Hills Food Company’s beef, Sanchez and his kitchen staff keep nothing frozen as part of their mission to create authentic, fresh dishes from scratch.

When asked about his own creative process, Sanchez always begins with the ingredients. “I like to see what’s fresh and in season,” he says. From there, he caters to his own palate, saying, “A lot of my dishes are things I would cook as a family meal for my team.”

Much of Sanchez’s culinary experience is rooted in Italian cuisine—using original ingredients and cooking in wood-fired ovens to transform typical Italian dishes,

such as pizzas and chicken Marsala. His popular apple and goat cheese pizza is served alongside fresh red onion, arugula and black pepper honey. Sanchez has added an elevated twist to a typical baked salmon by cooking it within the brick oven beside earthy parsnip, hearty purple potatoes and rosemary cream cheese.

SHARED SUCCESSES

Tazza Kitchen shares recipes across its locations, so the menu becomes a harmonious blend of ideas from the head chefs at each location. Even the bartenders strive to put together cocktail menus that represent the restaurant’s fresh, unique concept. About three to four times a year, the kitchen and bar will roll out new menus that complement each other and the season, which is part of what creates the restaurant’s high-energy ambiance.

The bar and kitchen are both openconcept. Guests can see the bar’s beautiful array of cocktail ingredients and colorful glass bottles, as well as the kitchen’s wood-fired ovens and hard-working chefs. This type of “scratch cooking,” demonstrated with transparency and authenticity, builds Tazza Kitchen’s trust and rapport with its clientele. It’s a big part of why the restaurant has such a loyal customer base.

Farm-to-table and scratch-kitchen restaurants such as Tazza Kitchen rely on being able to trace each and every ingredient back to its origin. From there, chefs like Sanchez and his team lead the charge in creating amazingly fresh and unique dishes that can’t be replicated.

CHEF MARCOS SANCHEZ’S FLAN RECIPE

Ingredients

5 eggs

1 pound of cream cheese

2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

12 ounces of evaporated milk

16 ounces of sweetened condensed milk

5 ounces of caramel sauce

DIRECTIONS

Cut the cream cheese into 1-inch pieces. When it reaches room temperature, add it to a mixing bowl. Slowly mix the cream cheese in a stand mixer until it’s smooth and free of lumps, for about 3–4 minutes. Scrape the mixture off the sides of the bowl halfway through with a spatula.

Mix the eggs and vanilla together, then add the mixture to the cream cheese in three stages. Scrape the bowl well. Continue mixing it on medium speed for 10 minutes.

While mixing, combine both milks in a large bowl and set the milks aside. When the cream cheese and egg mixture is ready, gently fold it into the milk.

Portion ½ ounce of caramel sauce into 10 5-ounce ramekins, making sure the caramel sauce covers the entire bottom of each ramekin. Then top each with 4 ounces of the flan base.

Place the ramekins into a shallow hotel pan, making sure to leave at least an inch of room between each one. Fill the pan halfway with hot tap water, making sure to not spill any water into the ramekins.

Cover the hotel pan with foil and bake the ramekins at 350 degrees for 40 minutes, then remove the foil and bake them for an additional 5 minutes. The flan is done when a toothpick can be inserted into the center and comes out clean.

When finished, remove the ramekins from the water bath and cool them in the refrigerator. Store them in refrigeration until you are ready to serve them.

“I like to see what’s fresh and in season. A lot of my dishes are things I would cook as a family meal for my team.”

CHEF MARCOS SANCHEZ Tazza Kitchen

MARKET LEADERS

G R E T C H E N C O L E Y

T H E C O L E Y G R O U P

c l i e n t - f o c u s e d , r e s u l t s - d r i v e n

We believe every client deserves a luxury real estate experience—regardless of price point.

W e b e l i e v e e v e r y c l i e n t d e s e r v e s a l u x u r y r e a l e s t a t e e x p e r i e n c e r e g a r d l e s s o f p r i c e p o i n t

o v i d e s e x c e p t i o n a l r e s u l t s w h e t h e r y o u ’ r e b u y i n g y o u r v e r y f i r s t h o m e o r d o w n s i z i n g a f t e r y e a r s o f m e m o r i e s m a d e . O u r c o m p a n y w i l l h e l p y o u g e t y o u r h o m e r e a d y f o r m a r k e t w i t h z e r o m o n e y o u t o f p o c k e t .

Known for our bespoke marketing and innovative strategies, our client-focused team provides exceptional results—whether you’re buying your very first home or downsizing after years of memories made. Our company will help you get your home ready for market with zero money out of pocket.

K n o w n f o r o u r b e s p o k e m a r k e t i n g a n d i n n o v a t i v e s t r a t e g i e s , o u r c l i e n t - f o c u s e d t e a m p r o v i d e s e x c e p t i o n a l r e s u l t s w h e t h e r y o u ’ r e b u y i n g y o u r v e r y f i r s t h o m e o r d o w n s i z i n g a f t e r y e a r s o f m e m o r i e s m a d e . O u r c o m p a n y w i l l h e l p y o u g e t y o u r h o m e r e a d y f o r m a r k e t w i t h z e r o m o n e y o u t o f p o c k e t

A s t h e n u m b e r o n e C o m p a s s t e a m i n R a l e i g h , T h e

C o l e y G r o u p m a k e s i t t h e i r m i s s i o n t o h e l p e v e r y c l i e n t a c h i e v e t h e i r d i s t i n c t g o a l s .

As the number one Compass team in Raleigh, The Coley Group makes it their mission to help every client achieve their distinct goals.

A s t h e n u m b e r o n e C o m p a s s t e a m i n R a l e i g h , T h e C o l e y G r o u p m a k e s i t t h e i r m i s s i o n t o h e l p e v e r y c l i e n t a c h i e v e t h e i r d i s t i n c t g o a l s

Gretchen Coley Team Lead + Founding Principal of The Coley Group Compass North Carolina

Mahala Landin Managing Partner, Broker in Charge

THE RACHEL KENDALL TEAM

HELPING HOMEOWNERS ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS

The Rachel Kendall Team is built on the passion to help families find and sell homes. We have been working in the Triangle since 2008, and have helped more than 3,000 families.

We have the skills to educate and guide our clients toward meeting their real estate goals through our expertise and hyper local area knowledge, creating a perfect blend of client and agent success. Each agent is provided training for achieving a career path in real estate—not just a place to hang their licenses.

We are proud of our entire team, and look forward to growing more top producers in the industry. Our team is ready to provide you with mentorship, and put our training and experience to work to help you with your next move.

THE KATE KENNEY TEAM WHEN EXPERIENCE AND HISTORY MATTER

As a Raleigh native and third generation Raleigh Realtor, Kate has always had a deep connection to the Triangle area. Real estate runs in Kenney’s bloodline, dating all the way back to the early 1900s. She has been providing exceptional real estate service in the Triangle for 36 years. Kate cares and is dedicated to ensuring her clients receive the utmost care while achieving their real estate goals.

REALTY

Cindy established Merriment because she wanted to build a different kind of real estate company that has a culture of serving others: real estate clients and local nonprofits who serve the area’s most fragile citizens. Ten percent of the company’s commission from every transaction goes to a local charity in honor of their clients. Merriment loves having charity events such as “Stuff the Truck” with school supplies, food, diapers and more. They are eager to meet you and learn about your dreams and visions, and excited to serve you and the Triangle community!

WE MAKE A LIVING BY WHAT WE GET WE MAKE A LIFE BY WHAT WE GIVE

RICHARD SELLS RALEIGH

ALONG WITH HIS CANINE SIDEKICK

Meet Richard Moore and his partner Bengie, The Real Estate Hound! They’re hot on the trail to find you your next dream home.

Richard was a 2022 finalist for Best Realtor of the Triangle in WRAL Voter’s Choice Awards. Richard and the Real Estate Hound serve the Triangle and surrounding areas and would love to work with you!

2125 Shadow Creek Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina

Powered by Aimee Anderson & Associates

NC-BASED INTERIORS & ARCHITECTURE

Former designer turned interiors photographer A hands-on creator of intentionally composed, intuitively styled images that showcase your rooms, from their most breathtaking expanses to their most exquisite details

This list represents the Raleigh restaurants that have advertised with us since the start of 2023. Looking for our comprehensive Dine & Draft directory? Check out midtownmag.com/dine-draft for a detailed foodie guide to Raleigh. Here’s a snapshot of what you’ll find.

BAZIL INDIAN CUISINE

6602 Glenwood Avenue 919.307.3034

bazilindiancuisine.com

CATERING WORKS

2319 Laurelbrook Street 919.828.5932

cateringworks.com

GLENWOOD GRILL

2603-151 Glenwood Avenue 919.782.3102

glenwoodgrill.com

JUICEKEYS

5011 Falls of Neuse Road, Suite B 919.980.5443

8490 Honeycutt Road, Suite 102 919.710.1109

juicekeys.com

KANDY APPLES BY K

6320 Capital Boulevard, Suite 107 984.242.0324

kandyapplesbyk.com

MIDTOWN PHO

424 E. Six Forks Road, Suite 105 919.747.9899

midtownphoraleigh.com

NOFO @ THE PIG

2014 Fairview Road 919.821.1240

nofo.com

OLDE RALEIGH DISTILLERY 209 N. Arendell Avenue (Zebulon) 919.208.0044

olderaleighdistillery.com

SALT & LIME CABO GRILL

6006 Falls of Neuse Road 919.872.2230

saltandlimecabo.com

TAVERNA AGORA 326 Hillsborough Street 919.881.8333

tavernaagora.com

TIFF’S TREATS 421 Daniels Street 984.664.5990

cookiedelivery.com

VIDRIO

500 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 100 919.803.6033

vidrioraleigh.com

VINNIE’S STEAK HOUSE AND TAVERN 7440 Six Forks Road 919.847.7319

vinniessteakhouse.com

WINE & DESIGN

510 W. Martin Street, Floor 3 919.803.3343

wineanddesign.com

FIRECLAY CELLARS

Baked Apple and Blueberry Sage Haze mead

Located in Siler City, FireClay Cellars is a winery that took its name from the bright red clay found throughout its vineyard. The family-owned winery produces wines such as Chardonel, Traminette, Chambourcin and several diverse blends.

The winery recently released two meads: Baked Apple and Blueberry Sage Haze. Both are sold in 12-ounce cans and are perfect for anyone who wants to introduce themselves to mead, aka fermented honey.

PHOTO BY DATHAN KAZSUK

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BAZIL INDIA CUISINE AND BETH SHUGG

Flower Power cocktail, featuring fresh juices, housemade hibiscus syrup and vigorous essential oils.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TABLETOP MEDIA

3. GIORGIO PIZZA BAR

Giorgio Pizza Bar’s margarita pizza.

Las Ramblas Mini Spanish Chorizo with chilindron, breadcrumbs and chives

Pick-4 Sampler featuring chicken salad, orzo pasta salad, autumn root salad and fava bean salad.

1. STIR

PHOTO BY FORREST MASON

2. LAS RAMBLAS

PHOTO BY SEAN BYRNE

4. SASSOOL

PHOTO BY BETH SHUGG

Compiled by the Midtown staff with contributions from Triangle Food Guy Sean Lennard, who blogs at trianglefoodblog.com .

NEWS & EVENTS

NOW OPEN

In January, Giorgios Hospitality Group opened Giorgio Pizza Bar, located at 141 Park at North Hills Street, Suite 112. The menu reflects owner Giorgio Bakatsias’ love of Italian pizzerias and European cafes, and is rounded out with appetizers, salads, pastas, entrees and a curated wine and cocktail program. Bakatsias opened Las Ramblas a week later at 141 Park at North Hills Street, Suite 100. Chef Brian Jenzer’s curated dinner menu features locally and Spanish–sourced tapas-style dishes, Spanish wine, sherry, and craft beers and cocktails. Tap Yard, a neighborhood bar, beer garden and inclusive community, has opened on the outskirts of downtown Raleigh at 1610 Automotive Way The 1-acre beer garden allows for yard games, live music, a local food truck and local art. Well-behaved dogs and children are welcome during the day. Local blogger eatRaleigh reports that the folks behind Premier Cakes off Falls of Neuse Road have taken over the restaurant space in the North Carolina Museum of History (formerly Sweet Tea & Cornbread). Premier Cakes will serve breakfast and lunch. Also in North Raleigh, Bowlba Cafe has opened at 3607 Falls River Avenue, serving Asian cuisine and a variety of teas and specialty drinks. The Triangle can now get a taste of famed chef Vivian Howard’s creations through her Viv’s Fridge smart refrigerators, which are extensions of Howard’s Kinston restaurant, Chef & the Farmer, and give consumers 24/7 access to prepared meals, snacks and desserts ranging from $20–$65. Current Raleigh Viv’s Fridge locations include Wine Authorities in Oakwood, Vita Vite in North Hills and Taylor’s Wine Shop in North Raleigh.

NOW REOPENED

Neptunes Parlour, located underneath the now-closed Garland restaurant, has reopened. The bar has been empty since March 2020 in a building owned by Cheetie Kumar and her husband Paul Siler, who have passed the reins to Martin and Erin Wheeler. The Wheelers will maintain much of what made the spot so popular.

The James Beard Foundation has announced its 2023 nominees. Preeti Waas, chef and owner of Cheeni Indian Food Emporium in Raleigh, was nominated as a semifinalist for Best Chef in the Southeast. Kingfisher in Durham was nominated for Outstanding Bar. The foundation will announce finalists March 29 and celebrate winners on June 5 in Chicago. Vegetarian restaurant Fiction Kitchen is moving from its downtown location on South Dawson Street to Gateway Plaza at the intersection of Crabtree and Capital boulevards. Fiction Kitchen will remain open at its current location until the new space is finished. Triangle Business Journal reported in December that The Oak, located at 4035 Lake Boone Trail, has been taken over by Marco Fregenal of Fathom Realty and Nick Giuggio of Apex Wings. The new owners plan to keep the restaurant concept and menu largely the same. Pressed by Spanglish at 10630 Durant Road in North Raleigh has been sold. The new owner will remodel the space and call it Falls River Cafe In January, Sarah Shepherd of Heights House Hotel and chef Liz Grandchamp of Grandchamp Hospitality introduced Supper Club, a monthly pop-up dining experience that will take place at at 308 S. Boylan Avenue. Dinner is $95 per person.

PHOTO COURTESY OF VIV’S FRIDGE

SUPPER CLUB PHOTO BY WILL BRYANT

PHOTO COURTESY OF LAS RAMBLAS

Cheenie Indian Food Emporium

PHOTO BY DATHAN KAZSUK

Before you head out, be sure to check the websites for the events listed here to ensure they are still taking place.

“MICHAEL RICHARDS: ARE YOU DOWN?” AND “RUTH E. CARTER: AFROFUTURISM IN COSTUME DESIGN”

March 4–July 23 and April 1–August 6 North Carolina Museum of Art

2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh Don’t miss two new exhibitions at the North Carolina Museum of Art. From March 4–July 23, view “Michael Richards: Are You Down?”

This is the first retrospective of the late artist Michael Richards, whose “Tar Baby vs. Saint Sebastian” sculpture is a visitor favorite at the museum. Richards used the language of metaphor in his art to investigate racial inequity and the tension between assimilation and exclusion. “Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design” features more than 60 original garments by Academy Award–winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter. From April 1–August 6, see the pieces she created for films such as “Black Panther,” “Malcom X,” “Selma” and “Do the Right Thing.” ncartmuseum.org

RALEIGH ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

March 11, 10 a.m.–noon

Downtown Raleigh

Celebrate all things Irish during the 39th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, including marching bands, bagpipers, Irish dancing, festive floats and plenty of Irish cheer. raleighstpats.org

ART IN BLOOM

March 15–19

North Carolina Museum of Art 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh

This popular floral fundraiser, presented by PNC Bank, is a five-day event featuring more than 30 imaginative floral arrangements and offering visitors a unique way to connect with art through floral interpretations of the museum’s latest acquisitions and visitor-favorite works. Purchase tickets online. ncartmuseum.org/bloom

TARHEEL BALLOON FESTIVAL

March 17–19, daily 7 a.m.–8 p.m.

The Barn at Lloyd’s Dairy 226 N. Lloyd’s Dairy Road, Efland

Up, up and away! Watch as balloonists soar with the clouds in the 2nd annual Tarheel Balloon Festival at Lloyd’s Dairy Farm, an 800-acre farm in Efland. Enjoy traveling balloon rides, tethered rides, and morning and evening glow events. Purchase tickets online.

facebook.com/tarheelballoonfestival

MONSTER JAM

March 18, 7 p.m.; March 19, 1 p.m.

PNC Arena

1400 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh

See world-class driver athletes and the most recognizable monster trucks tear up the dirt and compete in intense rivalries of speed and skill at PNC Arena. Enjoy driver interviews, a judges’ zone overview and giveaways one hour before the event begins.

pncarena.com

LIVE YOUR DREAM

AWARDS CELEBRATION

March 25, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

University Club

3100 Tower Boulevard, #1700, Durham

Celebrate this year’s recipients of Soroptimist International of Raleigh’s Live Your Dream: Education and Training Awards for Women. The event is hosted by Soroptimist International of Raleigh, which provides women and girls access to education and the training they need to achieve economic empowerment. Hear from guest speaker Chasta Hamilton, founder and CEO of Stage Door Dance Productions and founder of the nonprofit Girls Geared For Greatness. Purchase tickets online. soroptimistraleigh.org

Monster Jam is coming to PNC Arena March 18–19.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FELD ENTERTAINMENT

PHOTO COURTESY OF RALEIGH ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

Costume designer Ruth E. Carter

PHOTO COURTESY OF COLIN CRAY AND SCAD FASH MUSEUM

SKYFEST NORTH CAROLINA

March 25, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

Johnston Regional Airport

3149 Swift Creek Road, Smithfield

See professional aerial demonstrations, stage performers, flight-line acts and static displays at this festival that also features local vendors and food trucks. skyfestnorthcarolina.com

RUNNING OVER CANCER 5K

March 26, 2 p.m.

WakeMed Soccer Park

101 Soccer Park Drive, Cary

Lace up your shoes to run or walk in a 5K at WakeMed Soccer Park. Proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. Strollers and pets are welcome. Race fees are $40–$45. runningovercancer.com

DREAMVILLE MUSIC FESTIVAL

April 1–2; doors open at 12:30 p.m.

Dorothea Dix Park

1030 Richardson Drive, Raleigh

Curated by internationally acclaimed hip-hop superstar and Fayetteville native J. Cole, Dreamville Music Festival is an outdoor weekend music celebration featuring performances from some of the biggest names in rap, hip-hop and R&B, along with a family-style cookout. Purchase tickets online. dreamvillefest.com

NORTH CAROLINA SCIENCE FESTIVAL

April 1–30

Venues across North Carolina

Enjoy a monthlong celebration of science as this festival, now in its 13th year, featuring 200-plus in-person and virtual events for all ages. These fun and educational community-based events—hosted by schools, colleges, libraries, museums, parks, businesses and organizations—celebrate the economic, educational and cultural impacts of science in North Carolina. Visit the website to locate events in your area. ncsciencefestival.org

“PORGY & BESS”

April 14, 7:30 p.m.; April 16, 2 p.m.

Raleigh Memorial Auditorium

2 E. South Street, Raleigh

The North Carolina Opera presents George Gershwin’s unshakable love story between Porgy, a disabled beggar, and Bess, a beautiful woman haunted by the demons of her past. Set in the African American community of Catfish Row in Charleston, South Carolina, this legendary opera fuses jazz with folk songs and spirituals. ncopera.org

“THE COLOR PURPLE”

April 22–30

A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater

2 E. South Street, Raleigh

The North Carolina Theatre presents this musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize–winning novel that spotlights Celie,

a downtrodden young woman who encounters repression, despair and heartbreak, but also discovers hope in a group of friends who inspire her to change her life. nctheatre.com

THE WAILIN’ JENNYS

April 22, 7:30 p.m.

Raleigh Memorial Auditorium | 2 E. South Street, Raleigh

The Wailin’ Jennys—Nicky Mehta, Ruth Moody and Heather Masse—have earned their place as one of today’s most beloved international folk groups. Hear their distinct voices as they perform “Wildflowers,” “One Voice” and “Beautiful Dawn.” pinecone.org

The North Carolina Science Festival will take place in venues across the state.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NORTH CAROLINA SCIENCE FESTIVAL

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WAILIN’ JENNYS

BOTANICAL GARDEN GETAWAYS

CAPE FEAR BOTANICAL GARDEN Fayetteville

Nestled between the Cape Fear River and Cross Creek, Cape Fear Botanical Garden offers a picturesque floral respite in the military town of Fayetteville.

Loaded with specialty gardens and blooming ornamental plants, the garden is home to camellia, daylily and shade gardens in addition to the Butterfly Stroll and Children’s Garden. Amble along the scenic river trail to take in the water views, participate in a guided tour or relax on the patio overlooking the Cypress Pond. The garden hosts events such as tai chi and yoga, and creates a fairytale backdrop for weddings.

Fayetteville is home to one of the country’s largest military complexes: Fort Bragg. The U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum, located in downtown Fayetteville, showcases the history of this branch of the military. Downtown Fayetteville is walkable and quaint, with shops and restaurants. Stop by Gaston Brewing Company for a local craft brew, then cheer on the Woodpeckers—Fayetteville’s hometown minor league baseball team.

Learn more about Cape Fear Botanical Garden at capefearbg.org.

WILSON BOTANICAL GARDENS Wilson

Not only a pretty place to meander, Wilson Botanical Gardens also seeks to welcome even the youngest botanists. The Children’s Secret Garden is a magical play area with a garden tunnel, rain wall, dinosaur dig and banana split sundae garden. The STEM Garden promotes horticulture education through the use of outdoor classrooms. This part of the garden is divided into four areas, providing students of all ages with hands-on experience with STEM—science, technology, engineering and math—in a unique setting. Divided into four areas, the garden brings each STEM concept to life.

On a breezy day, visitors also flock to Wilson to see the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park—a truly one-of-a-kind experience featuring wind-powered structures made from metal scraps by farm machinery repairman Vollis Simpson. Continue your whimsical adventures over at Imagination Station Science & History Museum, where families can explore interactive science experiments. No visit to Wilson is complete without a stop at Parker’s Barbecue—a local mainstay for more than 75 years.

Learn more about Wilson Botanical Gardens at wilsonbotanicalgarden.org.

Two towns offer beauty and fun within an hour’s drive of Raleigh

PHOTOS CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: COURTESY OF THOMAS KEEVER, WILSON BOTANICAL GARDENS AND THE CITY OF WILSON

JOYCE WATKINS

23.5 X 35 INCHES

“My work is about fast fashion. I show the workmanship and beauty of the garment in hopes that people will see it afresh and appreciate what goes into making clothes.”

THE ART OF WELL-MADE CLOTHING

Raleigh-based artist Joyce Watkins King sees the beauty and history of garments. King uses a unique printmaking approach in her monoprint, “Electric!,” which she started during her residency at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. She inks clothing sourced from thrift stores—or, in this case, her closet—as if it were a printmaking block. The blouse was then printed in three colors (black, white and blue) onto vibrant pink paper capturing the intricate details of the sheer fabric and features of the shirt. The expressive black gestures around the prints of the shirt bring energy and new life to the garment. Her unique twist on printmaking highlights the beauty of reused clothing, bringing awareness to the art of well-made clothing while also shining a light on fast fashion’s impact on our environment.

View more of her work at jwkingart.com. Her work was included in Fiberart International 2022, and will be installed at the Museum of Art Fort Collins from August 18–October 15, 2023.

—Joyce Watkins King