Midtown magazine – November/December 2023

NOVEMBER/ DECEMBER 2023

67 FESTIVE EVENTS CANDLELIGHT CONCERTS HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

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EDITOR’S LETTER

THE MIDTOWN EDITORIAL AND CREATIVE TEAM WITH IRA DAVID WOOD III AND HIS SONS, IRA DAVID WOOD IV AND THOMAS WOOD. PHOTO BY BRIAN MULLINS.

Rarely does a live performance endure more than two generations of sell-out crowds, making such an impact that fans return to see it year after year. Perhaps even more extraordinary is that for all five decades Theatre in the Park has presented “A Christmas Carol,” audience members have watched the same beloved protagonist—who also happens to be the antagonist—journey through humility, enlightenment and forgiveness. From the moment Ira David Wood III sets foot on stage as the cantankerous Ebenezer Scrooge, to his illuminating realization of the true meaning of Christmas, we hang on every “bah humbug” and pop culture caricature he tosses out. We watch him transition from an ill-mannered miser to a generous protector who experiences heartache, healing and love. Wood’s portrayal of this transformation has become as poignant as the journey itself.

As the Triangle’s theatrical crown jewel enters its 50th season, we are honoring it for another notable reason: 2023’s “A Christmas Carol” marks Wood’s final appearance as Scrooge before he officially hands over his iconic teddy bear—and prosthetic nose—to son Ira David Wood IV. In “Scrooge Takes a Final Bow” on page 28, Wood and both sons, Ira and Thomas, share favorite memories and dreams of what the future holds. Don’t miss this exclusive written by Melissa Wistehuff.

“A Christmas Carol” is just one of 67 festive events featured in our “Holiday Celebrations” roundup on page 36. “WNC Wonderlands” on page 40 journeys through McAdenville, Greensboro and Bryson City’s unique approaches to seasonal festivities within a few hours’ drive of the Triangle. Add Asheville to the list so you can see America’s largest home

all decked out for Christmas—and get the scoop on the Hallmark holiday movie filmed there—in “Blissfully Biltmore” on page 60.

As temperatures cool, warm up with the Candlelight Concert series featuring the Lyricosa Quartet, which performs tributes to artists ranging from Vivaldi to Coldplay. Learn more about who they are and when you can see one of their holiday performances on page 44. Be sure to browse our detachable holiday gift guide on page 49A for ideas from local shops and boutiques.

Oak City Cares provides a welcoming refuge to members of our homeless population by offering them meals, showers, a laundry room and more. Learn more about the good work this nonprofit is doing on page 64. And take a look back in history on page 68 to meet a Raleigh born-andbred pioneering female named Buelah Louise Henry. Beginning in the early 1900s, Henry, aka “Lady Edison,” used her ingenuity to invent products such as an ice cream freezer and outfit-coordinating umbrella snap-on cover.

Meet other inspiring local women in our Influential Women of Wake special section on page 51, and be sure to check out our Beauty Experts special section on page 73. ’Tis a very busy season, but we hope you’ll use it to see a holiday show, drive through a festive light display or cut down your own Christmas tree. This year more than any other, we realize that some traditions—like Ira David Wood III’s portrayal of Scrooge—can pass by in the blink of an eye. Take the time to savor and enjoy each fleeting moment every chance you get!

Beth Shugg, Editor 10 | midtownmag.com

PUBLI S H ER S Ronny Stephens Kent Braswell EX EC UTI V E EDI TOR Beth Shugg A RT A N D WEB DI R ECTOR Sean Byrne G R A PH I C DES I G NE R Dathan Kazsuk COPY EDITOR Cindy Huntley CO N TR I BUTI N G EDITOR Janice Lewine S OC I A L MEDI A A ND CO MMUN I TY EN G AGE M E NT MA N AG ER Melissa Wistehuff CO MMUN I CATI ON S CO ORD INATOR Crystal Watts ACCOUN T EX EC UTIVE S Sherry Braswell, Paige Gunter and Stefanie McClary DI STR I BUTI ON Joe Lizana, Manager DistribuTech.net CO N TR I BUTI N G WR I TER S Mario Boucher, Elizabeth Brignac, Kurt Dusterberg, Marilyn Jones, Janice Lewine, Charlotte Russell, Melissa Wistehuff CO N TR I BUTI N G PH OTO G R A PH ERS MASH Photography, Jenny Midgley, Brian Mullins, New Depth Creations

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CONTENTS

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023

FEATURES 28 S CROOGE TAKES A FINAL BOW

Ira David Wood III prepares to hang up his top hat after 50 remarkable years

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36 H OLIDAY CELEBRATIONS

Discover 67 ways to find

holiday joy in the Triangle

40 W NC WONDERLANDS Celebrate the season in

McAdenville, Greensboro and Bryson City

44 C ANDLELIGHT CONCERTS

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They Lyricosa Quartet performs classical and pop tributes

ON THE COVER

Ira David Wood III enters his 50th and final season of playing Ebenezer Scrooge in Theatre in the Park’s “A Christmas Carol.” Photo by Brian Mullins.

49 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE Browse our detachable booklet for local

gifting resources

49A

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CONTENTS

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023

DEPARTMENTS

60 TRAVEL

Celebrate the holidays at Biltmore—America’s largest home

64 GIVING BACK

Oak City Cares

combates homelessness with hospitality

68 HISTORY

Beulah Louise Henry is

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64

68

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Raleigh’s “Lady Edison”

IN EVERY ISSUE 18 CITY SCENE Social Scene

Talk of the Triangle Home Styler Mingles

New Around Town

82 OUT + ABOUT Dine + Draft

Tastes of the City Foodie Focus Events

SPONSORED CONTENT

Kaleidoscope

51 I NFLUENTIAL WOMEN OF WAKE

Sister Cities

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66

EDUCATION TRENDS

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TRAVEL TRENDS

73 B EAUTY EXPERTS 78 B EAUTY BUYS 80

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HEALTHY LIVING

CITY SCENE | SOCIAL SCENE

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY MELISSA WISTEHUFF (unless otherwise noted)

Oak City Fish and Chips won the Media’s Choice award for best new food at the North Carolina State Fair for the second year in a row. Owner Isaac Horton shows off his winning submission: Colossal Shrimp Pop. Ira David Wood III (at left) and his sons, Thomas (at center) and Ira (at right), take a break from our cover photo shoot to check out the September/October issues of Midtown, 5 West and Triangle Family magazines.

Jonas Brothers fans packed PNC Arena during a sold-out show in September.

A beautiful rainbow stretches over the Randleigh Dairy Heritage Museum behind North Carolina State University’s Howling Cow Dairy Education Center and Creamery.

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Nelson Knauss and Kelly McConkey, co-founders of The Ghost Guild, join Ira David Wood III, Adam Cave and guest co-host Beth Shugg for spine-tingling tales about theater spirits and more.

The IBMA World of Bluegrass took over downtown Raleigh during the last week of September. Musicians performed on the Red Hat Amphitheater stage and five street stages.

Talented chefs have been entertaining guests at Kanki, a beloved Triangle restaurant where families celebrate special occasions, for 50-plus years.

Ebezener Scrooge costumes hang backstage, ready to come to life during Theatre in the Park’s annual presentation of “A Christmas Carol.”

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C I T Y S C E N E | TA L K O F T H E T R I A N G L E

FESTIVE FASHION SEASONAL IDEAS FOR HOLIDAY OUTINGS ST Y LE D BY SOF I A LU J A N | MO DEL I N G BY K ATI E MUR RAY | P HOTO GRAPH Y BY JE NNY M ID GLE Y

Is your wardrobe ready for upcoming seasonal festivities? Whether you’re heading to a glamorous holiday party, crisp fall wedding or annual family gathering, these ensembles created by stylist Sofia Lujan will help you celebrate in style.

Clothing provided by The Gatorbug | Jewelry provided by Bailey’s Fine Jewelry | Some items provided by Sofia Lujan Styling

Fall Wedding The Collins Dress in Marfa paired with 14 karat yellow gold Club Collection diamond tennis necklace; 18 karat yellow gold rigid cuff bracelet and crossover bangle; 14 karat yellow gold diamond ring and Elizabeth Locke Black Onyx Queen Bee Intaglio ring; and 18 karat yellow gold Miseno Marea oval hoops.

Holiday Party Emily McCarthy Python Chloe dress paired with 36-inch 18 karat white gold diamond link and 18 karat white gold diamond necklaces; 14 karat white gold beaded bangle with diamond cluster stations, diamond flex bangles, Club Collection diamond link bracelet and thick round diamond bangle; platinum six-across emerald cut diamond band; and 14 karat white gold inside-outside diamond hoops.

Family Gathering Abstract print sweater in cream and ginger brown paired with Spanx faux suede leggings in rich caramel and Wardell boots in biscuit. Accompanying jewelry includes an 18 karat yellow gold Lagos pendant; 14 karat gold twisted flex bracelet with six round diamond stations, diamond flex bangle and diamond pavé disc endcap bangle bracelet; 14 karat yellow gold four flush set diamond hoop earrings; and 14 karat two-toned yellow gold open oval ring with diamonds, Club Collection Embrace ring, and Heritage Collection World’s Most Perfect signet mini ring.

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CITY SCENE | HOME STYLER

BY KURT DUSTERBERG | PHOTOS PROVIDED BY VENDORS

SEASONAL SENTIMENTS

Holiday decorations draw from different eras, but there’s nothing quite like trimmings that take us back to yesteryear. Whether it’s a Victorian ambience or reminders of how we experienced the holidays as children, there are plenty of throwbacks to make the season special.

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1. Raz Imports 24-inch sleigh with gilded runners, $119 | The Pink Magnolia 2. Raz Imports 15.25-inch pink glass tree set, $89 | The Pink Magnolia 3. Amish handcrafted leather holiday bells, $138 | La Maison 4. Stacked presents tree ornament, $15.95 | NOFO @ the Pig 5. Winter white ornament candle (in balsam and cedar), $34 | Steven Shell Living 6. Metal and wood crosses (two sizes), $39–$49 | Inspirations

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CITY SCENE | MIDTOWN MINGLES

BY JANICE LEWINE

MIDTOWN PARTNERS MIX AND MINGLE AT AR HOMES’ LUXURY MASTERPIECE Valued partners of Midtown magazine enjoyed live music from the Patrick McGrew Trio and appetizers from Sassool as part of the Midtown Mixer September 14 at a luxury home featured in the 2023 Triangle Parade of Homes.

Built by co-host AR Homes, the North Raleigh home offers a panoramic view of North Ridge Country Club in Raleigh. Guests toured the home and mingled while listening to live jazz.

PHOTO BY JOSH MANNING

ART INSIDE THE BOTTLE SHOWCASES WINES FROM AROUND THE WORLD Art Inside the Bottle, a collaboration between Vitis House, Catering Works and the North Carolina Museum of Art, weaved together the love of wine, art and food August 24 at the NCMA’s West Building. Vitis House owner and instructor Doreen Colondres led a group of wine lovers through the history of wine while talking about seven fantastic selections from around the world. Guests sampled wines from Spain, France, Germany, Austria and Argentina while enjoying delicious bites from Catering Works. In between wine pours, NCMA’s Curator of Contemporary Art Maya Brooks described the history behind some of the museum’s African American art pieces.

PHOTO BY DATHAN KAZSUK

HOPSCOTCH MUSIC FESTIVAL FLAUNTS LOCAL AND NATIONAL ARTISTS Over 100 performers took to various stages in downtown Raleigh for the annual Hopscotch Music Festival September 7–9. Featuring everything from indie rock to urban beats, the eclectic festival elevated local and national acts My Sister Maura, Black Bouquet, Pavement, Denzel Curry, Japanese Breakfast, Digable Planets, King Krule, Dinosaur Jr. and others. Thousands of attendees enjoyed live music, comedy sketches and family-friendly activities.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DATHAN KAZSUK

VALUED PARTNERS OF 5 WEST CELEBRATE AT COLLETTA SPRITZER 5 West magazine partners enjoyed the 5 West September Spritzer at upscale Italian eatery Colletta in Cary’s Fenton development on September 27. Guests mixed and mingled with representatives of local businesses and organizations, as well as members of the 5 West staff, while enjoying the restaurant’s delicious antipasta, wood-fired pizzas and spritzers.

PHOTO BY JENNY MIDGLEY

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ALLIANCE MEDICAL MINISTRY CELEBRATES 20 YEARS Alliance Medical Ministry celebrated its 20th anniversary September 14 with a garden party at its facility in Raleigh, located at 101 Donald Ross Drive. The invitation-only event welcomed 125 guests and raised $120,000. Since 2003, Alliance Medical Ministry has grown from opening in a small rented space to now serving almost 2,500 working and uninsured residents of Wake County at its headquarters near WakeMed’s Raleigh campus. Alliance provides primary medical care, referrals for specialty care, behavioral health care and wellness.

CITY SCENE | NEW AROUND TOWN

BY JANICE LEWINE

ZOOM ROOM REDEFINES DOG TRAINING IN WAKE FOREST Offering dog training classes using only positive reinforcement, Zoom Room Dog Training hosted a grand opening party of its indoor, climate-controlled dog gym in Wake Forest on August 5. The event featured games and activities, canine and human treats, and discounts on agility classes. Zoom Room’s specially designed classes provide obedience, agility and socialization training for dogs and puppies so they can build confidence as they master skills in a simple, step-by-step process.

3604 Rogers Branch Road, Wake Forest 919.426.2549 zoomroom.com/location/wake-forest PHOTO COURTESY OF ZOOM ROOM

MEADOW OAKS DENTAL CARE BRINGS SERVICES TO RALEIGH Offering individualized dental care for the entire family, Dr. Claire Van Hoorebeke, DMD, and Dr. Jamison Richards, DMD, opened a full-service, state-of-the-art dental practice August 25 in Raleigh. Van Hoorebeke, Richards and their team provide the most up-to-date procedures and services for patients to keep their smiles for a lifetime, including everything from routine cleanings and simple fillings, to more in-depth restorative and cosmetic services.

7282 N.C. Highway 42, Raleigh 919.335.8825 meadowoaksdentalcare.com PHOTO COURTESY OF MEADOW OAKS DENTAL CARE

COASTAL URGE MAKES A SPLASH IN RALEIGH’S VILLAGE DISTRICT Sporting men’s and women’s resort attire, Coastal Urge is the brainchild of Raleigh native Claude Pope III, who established popular clothing brand Bald Head Blues and its flagship store on Bald Head Island. Coastal Urge, which also has a store on Bald Head Island, opened a second location September 1 in Raleigh’s historic Village District. The store features brands like Bald Head Blues, G/FORE, Mizzen+Main and more, and combines business-casual resort ethos with the fun and modern athleisure lifestyle.

440 Daniels Street, Raleigh 919.424.7434 coastalurge.com PHOTO COURTESY OF COASTAL URGE

RALEIGH RADIOLOGY OPENS MIDTOWN OFFICE In partnership with WakeMed, Raleigh Radiology recently opened its newest location on Falls of Neuse Road. Raleigh Radiology offers a variety of services, including mammography, MRI, ultrasound, stereotactic and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy, X-ray, bone density screening, CT, MSK injection, thyroid FNA, fluoroscopy and nuclear medicine. Appointments can be made online or by calling 919.781.1437.

5111 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh 919.781.1437 raleighrad.com PHOTO COURTESY OF RALEIGH RADIOLOGY

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BY MELISSA WISTEHUFF PHOTOS BY BRIAN MULLINS

F

ew landmarks, fixtures and traditions have withstood the countless changes Raleigh has experienced in recent decades. Natives wax nostalgic when asked about their fond recollections of yesteryear, with stories about Jesse Broyles—also known as the Peanut Man—who sold peanuts alongside his pigeon companions. They recall memories of pay phones lining Fayetteville Street and WRAL’s “Time for Uncle Paul” TV show. Popular restaurants and businesses have closed, and the skyline has drastically changed. But one local icon has remained a beloved piece of our city’s ghosts of Christmases past, present and future.

Ira David Wood III—David, as he likes to be called— has been delighting Raleigh audiences as the lovable curmudgeon Ebenezer Scrooge in Theatre in the Park’s “A Christmas Carol” since 1974. This cherished holiday tradition has endured the evolution of downtown Raleigh’s landscape over the last half century, and soon we will bid farewell to the man who arguably and singlehandedly revitalized North Carolina theater over the last five decades.

Wood’s musical comedy adaption of the Charles Dickens classic has become as synonymous with holiday traditions as the lighting of the Capitol Christmas tree.

Triangle natives and newcomers alike flock each year to see performances at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium and Durham Performing Arts Center (for which “A Christmas Carol” was the first theatrical show to debut in 2008) in what is lauded as one of the most successful shows in North Carolina theater history.

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Ira David Wood III plays the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in Theatre in the Park’s annual presentation of “A Christmas Carol” for his 50th—and final—season this year.

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Ira David Wood III (at center) will officially turn the role of Scrooge over to his oldest son, Ira David Wood IV (at right), at the end of this season. Wood’s younger son, Thomas (at left), says he would like to play the role one day as well.

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Wood’s oldest son, Ira David Wood IV—who goes by Ira—took over for his dad in 2010 when David had heart surgery and, in recent years, has been donning Scrooge’s prosthetic nose and carrying his signature teddy bear every other night as his proud father looks on. “I love being able to sit in the audience and see the show from the other side of the curtain,” David says.

Eleven-year-old Thomas, Wood’s youngest son, will return for the fifth year as the baker’s son. Daughter Evan Rachel Wood—of “Westworld” and “Frozen II” fame—played the role of the Ghost of Christmas Past for the production in past years, making “A Christmas Carol” a true family affair. With more than two million tickets sold during David’s tenure as Scrooge, it’s fair to say “A Christmas Carol” has been a family affair for Triangle families as well.

Although his character brings the “bah humbug,” David adds a twinkle in his eye—his love of the story evident in each performance.

“For me, Scrooge is like seeing an old friend each year,” he says, wistfully. “It’s been a good ride.”

We sat down with David and his sons to reminisce about their time together on stage and off, chat about what is to come, and find out how Ira and Thomas feel about carrying on their father’s legacy.

Can you describe how it feels to know that your final curtain call as Scrooge is drawing nearer?

DAVID: I don’t think it has set in yet.

We’re now in the throes of putting together the show, so I haven’t had time to wallow in my emotions. I have a feeling that it won’t hit me until the final curtain call. How much can one prepare for such a huge transition? It’s also David Moore’s last year [as Bob Cratchit] after 25 years, and he’s been a wreck.

How does it feel to be taking over your dad’s iconic role?

IRA: I’ve literally grown up with this play, and many of the cast members have been around so long that they are family to us. It’s bittersweet because this has been a dream for so long, and a goal that I’ve worked toward for most of my life. And now that the time has come, it doesn’t feel real.

DAVID: It helps that he’s taken over half the performances for the last few years, so we’ve been easing ourselves, as well as the audiences, into the transition.

IRA: Stepping into the role that first year was intimidating, because I didn’t want to let down the audiences. I started having more fun about halfway through the season, but I don’t take the responsibility lightly.

When did you know Ira was the right person to take over as Scrooge?

DAVID: Theater has always been Ira and Evan’s playhouse. They grew up on or behind the stage. I can’t think of a better place or group of people to grow up with. Every time a baby is born to someone in the “A Christmas Carol” family, I bring their baby on stage with me to sing the Christmas lullaby. Ira made his first appearance in the play when he was just weeks old. So as far as I’m concerned, Ira has been the only choice to take over the role.

IRA: It’s always been a discussion with Dad. It’s such a humbling experience to have this opportunity.

“A Christmas Carol” is an amazing tradition, and it’s an honor to be invited to spend Christmas with local audiences. I’ve lived and worked in Hollywood, and I can easily say that I’ve never experienced anything as special and magical as “A Christmas Carol.”

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Ira (at left), who has performed in Hollywood, says nothing compares to being in “A Christmas Carol.”

Thomas (at right) plays the role of Baker’s Boy for the fifth year—and displays his love of the “flossing” dance here.

You’re both deeply involved in the day-to-day work at Theatre in the Park. What is it like working so closely with family?

DAVID: I wouldn’t have it any other way.

IRA: I don’t know anything different! I’ve lived my life surrounded by theater, and so many people at Theatre in the Park and in “A Christmas Carol” feel like family. David Henderson, who has played Jacob Marley in “A Christmas Carol” since 1994, is like an uncle to me. It’s a unique experience to work with real family and chosen family, and it’s special. Dad is a wonderful teacher and mentor, especially with developing and learning things that are fundamental but aren’t necessarily things that can be taught, like how to listen to an audience.

What is your favorite moment of the show?

DAVID: The Christmas lullaby at the end of the show is so special to me. That’s when I take a moment to look out into the audience and see how people have taken the emotional ride with Scrooge.

“‘A Christmas Carol’ is an amazing tradition, and it’s an honor to be invited to spend Christmas with local audiences.”

—Ira David Wood IV

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“I like the part when I come in and say ‘that’s not how the song goes’ and start flossing behind Scrooge’s back.”

—Thomas Wood

IRA: It’s hard to pick a favorite moment, but the rapport I have with some of the castmates who have been around for so long is really special to me. It’s like being on stage with playmates that I get to have fun with.

Each year, I look back and have a new favorite moment.

THOMAS: I like the part when I come in and say “that’s not how the song goes” and start flossing behind Scrooge’s back.

You work hard to keep each season of “A Christmas Carol” fresh by incorporating topical jokes. What current events have given you ideas for this year’s show?

DAVID: This show isn’t a matter of “adding water and stir,” in the sense that we work hard to keep it relevant each year—particularly for those who have been coming for decades.

I start taking notes for the next year as soon as the curtain closes for the season, and we tweak what we find funny and most newsworthy when rehearsals start each fall.

IRA: 2023 is all about Barbiemania! There’s also plenty of political fodder. I like being spontaneous because it helps keep the show fresh and fun night after night, but you have to know what is too much in the realm of play, because we don’t want to take the train off the tracks.

DAVID: There are times that we find something funny, but we have to realize that there’s a fine line between funny and offensive. It can be a tricky balance, especially with politics. There’s always someone who will find something offensive, but we do try to be funny and pertinent without ticking people

off, and certainly without hurting feelings. I like to warn audience members to untighten their corsets before they come to the show (laughs). Everyone is so uptight these days, and this show is best experienced with a light heart.

Thomas, what do your friends think of you being a part of such a big show?

THOMAS: I guess they think it’s cool. Some have come to watch me, which is nice.

When you’re not on stage, where is your favorite place to spend time?

DAVID: Ashley (David’s wife), Thomas and I love to spend time at the Outer Banks. I love being a dad again. I can look at it with a unique appreciation, having the opportunity to experience it all over again. When my older children were

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young, I was working so hard to build the theater, and now I can savor parenthood more. Learning how to be a better, more present dad is a dream come true.

IRA: Camping in Uwharrie National Forest is my favorite getaway. I set up a tent, read a book by the campfire and enjoy being in nature.

THOMAS: I like to hang out with my friends and cousins.

My parents and I went on a trip to New York City this summer.

I’m a big “Back to the Future” fan, and we went to see the new Broadway play. It was awesome!

The DeLorean flies out and hovers over the audience. It was so cool.

Thomas, do you dream of taking over the role of Scrooge one day?

THOMAS: Yes!

Where can we find you next December, David?

DAVID: I’ll be watching “A Christmas Carol” as a proud dad. Plus, I’ll be sticking around as the show’s director. They can’t get rid of me that easily!

“The Christmas lullaby is when I take a moment to look out into the audience and see how people have taken the emotional ride with Scrooge.”

—Ira David Wood III

The Midtown, 5 West and Triangle Family staff would like to acknowledge the following people at Theatre in the Park for helping us pull off our amazing cover photo shoot.

• Managing Director Brent Simpson • Costume Designer LeGrande Smith • Technical Director Sage Twiss • Patron Services Manager Andrea Twiss

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HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS 67 Ways to Find Holiday Joy in the Triangle

BY JANICE LEWINE

From Carrboro to Zebulon, the Triangle is gearing up to celebrate the holiday season in grand style. From extravagant light shows and parades to dazzling live performances, there are countless ways to get into the holiday spirit. Here’s our hearty selection of seasonal offerings that even the Grinch would enjoy!

Skate the Square 201 Fenton Gateway Drive, Cary fentonnc.com November 15–February 5.

Gather at Fenton’s ice skating rink for winter holiday cheer. Purchase tickets for a 75-minute session online in advance, or on-site, on a firstcome, first-served basis.

The Dessertery 2 E. South Street, Raleigh martinmariettacenter.com/dessertery November 17–December 23; hours vary.

Indulge in a family-friendly holidaythemed dessert cafe at Kennedy Theatre. Tickets range $15–$28.

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North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary boothamphitheatre.com November 17–January 14. LED lights transform Koka Booth Amphitheatre.

Cultural performances are featured nightly at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m.

THE RINK 500 S. McDowell Street, Raleigh redhatamphitheater.com/the-rink November 18–January 15. Enjoy the thrill of ice skating at Red Hat Amphitheater. Tickets are $15 for skaters ages 2 and older (includes skate rental), and $6 for nonskaters.

Straight No Chaser: Sleighin’ It Tour 123 Vivian Street, Durham dpacnc.com November 19, 3 p.m. The renowned a cappella group performs beloved holiday songs at the Durham Performing Arts Center.

“A Magical Cirque Christmas” 2 E. South Street, Raleigh martinmariettacenter.com November 22, 7 p.m. See world-class acrobats, contortionists and aerialists perform to Christmas songs at Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts.

Wool E. Bull’s Winter Wonderland 409 Blackwell Street, Durham woolebull.com Showings presented on select nights November 22–December 31.

The Durham Bulls Athletic Park transforms into a winter wonderland.

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Lights on the Neuse 1620 Loop Road, Clayton lightsontheneuse.com Weekends and select days beginning November 24. Take a hayride through a holiday light spectacular featuring s’mores and photos with Santa.

Martina McBride: “The Joy of Christmas Tour” 2 E. South Street, Raleigh martinmariettacenter.com November 24, 7:30 p.m. Country music icon Martina McBride performs holiday favorites at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium.

The Christmas Carousel 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh christmascarousel.com November 24–26; visit the website for hours and ticket information. Over 250 exhibitors showcase holiday giftgiving merchandise.

Pullen Park Holiday Express 520 Ashe Avenue, Raleigh raleighnc.gov November 29–December 15. Enjoy a winter wonderland of holiday happenings throughout Pullen Park.

A Shopping Spree!

1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh jlraleigh.org/fundraising/a-shopping-spree November 30–December 3; visit the website for hours and ticket information. Shop and raise funds for nonprofits programs and community service initiatives.

Infinity Ballet Presents “Dances of the Nutcracker” 237 N. Salem Street, Apex etix.com December 1–3; see website for times.

See this holiday ballet at Halle Cultural Arts Center. Tickets are $10–$12.

Santa Paws 212 Foster Street, Durham dprplaymore.org/324/santa-paws December 1, 5–8:30 p.m. Take your canine friend to meet Santa at the Durham Armory.

16th Annual Apex Christmas Tree & Wreath Exhibit and Auction 237 N. Salem Street, Apex apexnc.org

December 1–18. Drift into a whimsical wonderland and bid on displays during a silent auction at the Halle Cultural Arts Center.

Festival of Lights 703 Tarboro Road, Youngsville hillridgefarms.com November 23–26 and December 1–30, 5:30–9 p.m. Immerse yourself in magical lights from the comfort of your vehicle. Tickets are $20 cash or $23 credit/debit per vehicle.

Apex Farmers Market Holiday Festival 1517 Beaver Creek Commons, Apex apexfarmersmarket.com December 2, 9 a.m.–noon. Enjoy live music and yuletide activities.

Gingerbread House Competition Downtown Cary carync.gov December 2–9. Downtown businesses display gingerbread houses created by local participants. Winners will be displayed throughout December at the Cary Arts Center.

Town of Apex Pancake Breakfast 210 N. Salem Street, Apex apexnc.org December 2, 7:30–11 a.m. The Apex Rotary Club hosts this annual breakfast, with proceeds going toward scholarships for local students.

Let It Snow 220 N. Salem Street, Apex apexrotary.org December 2, 3–5 p.m. Enjoy the fun of interactive booths, a selfie station and guest appearances by Santa and Mrs. Claus in The Depot parking lot prior to the Apex Christmas Parade at 5 p.m.

Cary Ballet Company: “The Nutcracker” AJ Fletcher Opera Theater, 2 E. South Street, Raleigh caryballetcompany.org/the-nutcracker December 2, 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Cary Arts Center, 101 Dry Avenue, Cary December 15, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.; December 16, 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; December 17, 1:30 and 5:30 p.m.

Cary Players Present “A Gift to Remember” 101 Dry Avenue, Cary caryplayers.org December 1, 7:30 p.m.; December 2, 3 and 7:30 p.m.; December 3, 3 p.m., and December 4, 7:30 p.m. Shows take place at the Cary Arts Center.

A Gift to Cary Celebration 327 S. Academy Street, Cary carync.gov December 2. Celebrate the opening of Downtown Cary Park with a full day of live performances, a skating rink, Santa’s workshop, the town’s tree-lighting ceremony and more.

Victorian Christmas at the Page-Walker 119 Ambassador Loop Road, Cary carync.gov December 2, 2–5 p.m. Enjoy old‑fashioned holiday fun as the Page‑Walker Arts & History Center welcomes guests with cider, cookies, carolers, storytelling and carriage rides.

Santa’s Reindeer Roundup Express 3900 Bonsal Road, Apex triangletrain.com December 2–3, 9–10 and 16; departure times are 9:30 and 11 a.m.; and 12:30, 2:15 and 3:45 p.m. Travel on the New Hope Valley Railway to search for Santa’s missing reindeer.

Apex Holiday Tour of Lights Throughout Apex apexnc.org December 2–31, 6–9 p.m. See holiday light displays of 32 homes and businesses across Apex. The Tour of Lights provides two route maps.

“Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas” 123 Vivian Street, Durham dpcacnc.com December 5–10; see website for times. The Grinch discovers the true meaning of Christmas at the Durham Performing Arts Center.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 | 37

“A Christmas Carol” 2 E. South Street, Raleigh 123 Vivian Street, Durham theatreinthepark.com December 8–10 and 13–17; see the website for times. Ira David Wood III’s “A Christmas Carol,” a musical comedy adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic, celebrates 50 years of holiday magic, and is also Wood’s final performance as Scrooge before turning the role over to his son, Ira David Wood IV. Performances take place December 8–10 at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh and December 13–17 at the Durham Performing Arts Center.

Disney on Ice Presents “Magic in the Stars” 1400 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh pncarena.com December 6–10; see website for times.

Experience the magic of ”Frozen 2” and celebrate the power of love with Elsa, Anna, Olaf and Kristoff.

Grinch Candy Cane Hunt 801 High House Road, Cary carync.gov December 9, 10–11 a.m. Find all of Santa’s candy canes hidden in Bond Park before the Grinch swipes them. $9/resident, $12/nonresident.

Reserve a spot at mycary.org by using course code 031177.

Deck the Hall-Z Downtown Zebulon zebulonchamber.org December 8, 5:30–9 p.m. Zebulon turns on the holiday charm with live music, holiday displays, an outdoor movie showing and more.

Evening With Elves 201 E. Hargett Street, Raleigh marbleskidsmuseum.org 38 | midtownmag.com

Holiday Pops 101 Dry Avenue, Cary etix.com December 9, 7:30 p.m. The Concert Singers of Cary symphonic choir and guest musicians present holiday tunes.

Raleigh Youth Choir’s “Carols of Christmas” 228 W. Edenton Street, Raleigh raleighyouthchoir.org December 8, 7 p.m. The Raleigh Youth Choir performs yuletide favorites. Tickets are $10–$20.

Historic Oakwood Candlelight Tour Downtown Raleigh historicoakwood.org December 9 and 10, 1–5 p.m. The 52nd annual self-guided tour features 11 properties dating from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s.

Tickets are $30–$35.

Apex Chanukah Festival Downtown Apex apexnc.org December 10, 3-6:30 p.m. Enjoy a Chanukah Wonderland organized

by Chabad of Cary featuring crafts and games, a menorah lighting, a fire show, a kosher food truck and a gelt drop at 5:15 p.m. at The Depot.

Durham Craft Craft Market Holiday Show 501 Foster Street, Durham durhamcraftmarket.com December 10, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. More than 50 local artisans showcase holiday-themed foods and gifts.

North Carolina Master Chorale Presents “Joy of the Season” 2 E. South Street, Raleigh ncmasterchorale.org December 12, 7:30 p.m. Enjoy familiar carols and contemporary settings.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve” 1400 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh pncarena.com December 13, 7 p.m. Celebrate

Christmas with Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s allegorical rock opera.

Cary Hanukkah Menorah Lighting 101 Dry Avenue, Cary carync.gov December 13, 5:30–6:30 p.m. Join Chabad of Cary for treats, activities and holiday music as a menorah is lit on the seventh night of Hanukkah.

Morrisville Menorah Lighting Indian Creek Trailhead; 101 Town Hall Drive, Morrisville morrisvillenc.gov December 14, 5:30 p.m. Enjoy a live flame lighting of the town’s menorah with Rabbi Cotler on the final night of Hanukkah.

Carolina Ballet Presents “The Nutcracker” 2 E. South Street, Raleigh carolinaballet.com December 14–24. Carolina Ballet honors past productions of “The Nutcracker” with refreshed choreography in Raleigh Memorial Auditorium.

The Raleigh Ringers’ Holiday Concerts 2 E. South Street, Raleigh rr.org December 16–17, 4 p.m. Hear The Raleigh Ringers present interpretations of sacred, secular and popular music arranged for handbells.

Gingerbread Jamboree 201 E. Hargett Street, Raleigh marbleskidsmuseum.org December 16–17; 9:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Decorate a gingerbread house at Marbles Kids Museum.

Wreaths Across America wreathsacrossamerica.org December 16, noon. Honor service members by placing wreaths on the graves of all veterans in both Hillcrest Cemetery and First Christian Church Cemetery in Cary.

“Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet” 123 Vivian Street, Durham dpacnc.com December 20, 4 and 8 p.m.

Showcasing the exquisite artistry of Ukraine ballet performers, this

SWEET TREATS PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DESSERTERY

PHOTO BY BRIAN MULLINS

December 8, 6–8:30 p.m. Celebrate the season at Marbles Kids Museum with s’mores, arctic museum play and a visit from the Snowflake Fairy.

Wear pajamas.

ballet dazzles with larger-than-life puppets, breathtaking acrobatics and dazzling costumes.

Cary Kwanzaa Celebration 101 Dry Avenue, Cary carync.gov December 29; time TBA. This cultural celebration at the Cary Arts Center honors African American people and their heritage.

First Night Raleigh Downtown Raleigh firstnightraleigh.com December 31; 2 p.m.–midnight.

Ring in the new year with live entertainment, roving street performers, arts and crafts, and the Acorn Drop at midnight. Visit the website for ticket information.

Kwanzaa Fest 5291 Capital Boulevard, Raleigh January 1 (Imani), noon 212 Foster Street, Durham aadekwanzaafest.com December 28 (Ujima), 4 p.m. The African American Dance Ensemble hosts the 38th annual Kwanzaa Fest for two days of festivities.

TRIANGLE TREE LIGHTINGS Waverly Place Tree Lighting (Cary) waverlycary.com November 17, 5:30–8:30 p.m.

Lafayette Village Lighting of the Trees (Raleigh) lafayettevillageraleigh.com November 18, 3–6 p.m.

North Hills Tree Lighting ­(Raleigh) visitnorthhills.com November 18, 4–7 p.m.

Fuquay-Varina Tree Lighting, Sleigh Rides and Santa fuquay-varina.org November 30, 6–8 p.m.

Apex Tree Lighting Ceremony apexnc.org December 1, 4–6 p.m.

Town of Morrisville Tree Lighting morrisvillenc.gov December 1, 6 p.m.

HOLIDAY PARADES 79th Annual Raleigh Christmas Parade (Downtown Raleigh) shoplocalraleigh.org November 18, 9:30 a.m.–noon

Apex Christmas Parade (Downtown Apex) December 2, 5 p.m.

Hillsborough Holiday Parade (Downtown Hillsborough) hillsboroughchamber.com December 3, 4 p.m.

Rolesville Christmas Parade (Downtown Rolesville) business.rolesvillechamber.org December 3, 2 p.m.

Chapel Hill–Carrboro Community Holiday Parade (Downtown Chapel Hill and Carrboro) chapelhillarts.org December 9, noon

Lighting of Wake Forest wakeforestnc.gov December 1, 5–8 p.m.

Cary Jaycees Christmas Parade (Downtown Cary) caryjaycees.org December 9, 2–4 p.m.

Garner Christmas Parade and Tree-Lighting garnerchristmasparade.com December 2, 4:30 p.m.

Durham Holiday Parade (Main Street, Durham) dprplaymore.org December 9, 10 a.m.

Holly Springs Tree Lighting hollyspringsnc.us December 7, 5–8 p.m.

Happy Holly Days Parade (Downtown Holly Springs) hollyspringsnc.gov December 9, 10 a.m.

Visit midtownmag.com/merry-moments for holiday events outside of the Triangle and additional details about the events listed in this article.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 | 39

PHOTO COURTESY OF RL PHOTOGRAPHY

“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Christmas Ballet Show” 309 W. Morgan Street, Durham carolinatheatre.org December 20, 7 p.m. Classical Arts Entertainment presents the Brothers Grimm fairy tale as a ballet with staging by The State Ballet Theater of Ukraine.

WNC WONDERLANDS Celebrate the season in McAdenville, Greensboro and Bryson City B Y K UR T D US T E R B E RG

Looking for a festive day trip destination this holiday season? Head west to experience Christmas Town USA, Winter Wonderlights and the Polar Express.

CHRISTMAS TOWN USA, McADENVILLE No community in North Carolina takes Christmas more seriously than McAdenville. The Charlotte suburb, which winds through the South Fork Catawba River valley, is known as Christmas Town USA, and the community delivers on its name.

From December 1–26, more than 600,000 visitors will make their way to the town of less than 1,000 residents.

All of downtown is decked out in holiday decorations and awash in red, green and white light. Even the local pond— appropriately referred to as Christmas Town Lake—displays the holiday spirit, with a dozen floating Christmas trees.

But the highlight is a 1.3-mile stretch of neighborhoods where homes are dressed for the holidays. Each night, a slow procession of cars makes its way through town all evening, but the neighbors welcome a more personal approach.

40 | midtownmag.com

“I do recommend walking for a more enjoyable experience,” says Christy Gliddon, a human resources executive in McAdenville. “The driver has to pay attention to traffic rather than enjoy the lights.”

Setting out on foot has its perks. One home features a sleigh in the front yard, where Santa likes to settle in for pictures. And most of the residents seem to understand their responsibility to the Christmas season, with nearly everyone putting up lights and decorations.

“Especially on the route, I would say 98% of the people participate,” Gliddon says. “We start putting lights on the common-area trees around Labor Day. Most of the residents will start getting their homes prepped around Thanksgiving. People get pretty creative.”

The town lights up each night at 5:30 p.m. and the twinkling continues until 10:30 p.m. McAdenville may not be the North Pole, but it is prepared to host more than a half-million guests. If you plan to make an evening of your visit, Terra Mia Ristorante offers upscale Italian fare, and the neighboring towns of Cramerton and Belmont offer more dinner options. If you need a quick warmup after your holiday walk, Knowledge Perk Coffee Company has you covered with coffee, hot chocolate and pastries.

If you plan to visit Christmas Town USA, head out as early in the season as possible. The caravan of cars picks up closer to Christmas, so it’s a good idea to choose a weeknight early in the month. “And I always recommend that people come to town a little early—around 4 p.m.,” Gliddon says. “The town is very walkable.”

Christmas Town USA kicks off the season with a treelighting ceremony on Friday, December 1 at 5:30 p.m. and celebrates with a yule log parade on Thursday, December 14 at 5:30 p.m.

For more information, visit townofmcadenville.org.

WINTER WONDERLIGHTS, GREENSBORO If you can’t get enough of the holiday lights, plan a quick trip to the Triad for Winter Wonderlights at the Greensboro Science Center, which is also a zoo and aquarium. The grounds are decked with more than one million lights and a variety of holiday-themed interactive displays and activities. If you’re looking for memorable photos, this is the place to capture them.

“The peppermint walk is really popular,” says public relations coordinator Bekah Robinson. “It’s a bunch of peppermint projections on the ground, and spinning candy canes. That’s a really great area for pictures.”

An interactive light tunnel is also popular for the selfie set, along with the 18-foot-tall walk-in gingerbread house and 26-foot big blue bear. While most of the displays are outdoors on the 22-acre property, some displays are moving inside this year. The center’s dinosaur gallery will OPPOSITE PAGE (TOP) AND THIS PAGE ON RIGHT: During Winter Wonderlights, the Greensboro Science Center is decked out in more than one million lights. Photo courtesy of the Greensboro Science Center.

OPPOSITE PAGE (BOTTOM): Photo courtesy of Christmas Town USA NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 | 41

be converted to a dino disco. “We’ve changed the walls to look like lava lamps. We’ve got disco balls—and of course we’re playing disco music,” Robinson says.

Winter Wonderlights opens to the public on Wednesday, November 22 and runs through Sunday, December 21 from 5:30–10 p.m. General admission is $20, but Monday– Thursday tickets cost $16. The science center is open from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. during the day, but don’t count on seeing the zoo animals at Winter Wonderlights. “Some of the animals in the zoo have a bedtime, but you might catch a glimpse of them,” Robinson says. “It’s really more about the lights.

You can easily spend 90 minutes to two hours here, especially with new interactives inside and the addition of our aquarium, which will be lit up.”

Visit shop.greensboroscience.org/#/ specialeventscategory/wonderlights for more information. Group tickets are also available, but are limited, so head over to the website to book your visit.

PHOTOS THIS PAGE: Bring the Polar Express to life for your little ones with a visit to the Polar Express Train Ride in Bryson City.

Photos courtesy of Bryson City TDA

42 | midtownmag.com

POLAR EXPRESS TRAIN RIDE, BRYSON CITY Make the Christmas season come alive for little ones on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad’s Polar Express. Hop aboard an historic train car in Bryson City for a 75-minute round-trip ride to pick up Santa Claus.

The steam train journey brings to life Chris Van Allsburg’s 1985 book, “The Polar Express,” later turned into the 2004 movie of the same name. Today, the story of a boy’s journey to the North Pole is a Christmas classic. Once the train departs, guests will be immersed in a timeless Christmas story while enjoying hot chocolate and sweet treats. On the return trip to Bryson City, Santa visits each coach and gives each child a special gift: a silver sleigh bell.

The town is located in the mountains of western North Carolina, an hour west of Asheville. Seasonal rides begin on Thursday, November 9 and run through Sunday, December 31. Individual tickets run $44–$99, depending on the class of service. To purchase tickets, visit gsmr.com/the-great-polar-express-train-ride or call 800.872.4681.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 | 43

CANDLELIGHT CONCERTS IN RALEIGH 44 | midtownmag.com

THE LYRICOSA QUARTET PERFORMS CLASSICAL AND POP TRIBUTES

BY MARIO BOUCHER PHOTOS COURTESY OF FEVER

M

usic fans are flocking to an elegant series of Candlelight Concerts in Raleigh to hear everything from classical favorites to current pop hits.

Hosted by Fever—a leading global live entertainment discovery platform seeking to inspire users to enjoy local experiences and events—the Lyricosa Quartet of Raleigh performs tributes that feature artists ranging from Vivaldi and Hans Zimmer, to Queen, Coldplay and Taylor Swift.

This Christmas season, the Lyricosa Quartet marks its fourth year by performing a holiday special featuring “The Nutcracker” and other classics. Music lovers can look forward to holiday medleys such as “Deck the Halls” and “Joy to the World;” Claude Debussy’s “The Snow Is Dancing;” Emile Waldteufel’s “The Skaters’ Waltz,” Opus 183; Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “The Seasons,” Opus 37a; and “The Nutcracker,” Opus 71.

“At Fever, we constantly strive to inspire our users with innovative experiences, creating new ‘Fever Original’ ideas that we know will be of interest to them,” says Peter Sourbis, project manager of Fever Originals’ Candlelight Concerts, which launched in 2019 due to a “need to make the classical music genre more accessible, aiming to reach a new demographic and create more affordable concerts for all.”

Enjoy Candlelight Concerts at venues like All Saints Chapel, the Merrimon-Wynne House or The Historic Wakefield Barn.

Sourbis says the series initially featured works from composers like Vivaldi, Mozart and Chopin. “Now, the ever-growing list of programs includes a wide variety of themes and genres, including tributes to contemporary artists like Queen, ABBA, Coldplay and Ed Sheeran, as well as shows dedicated to K-pop, movie soundtracks and many more,” he adds.

Performance genres include pop (Beyonce, Taylor Swift), rock (Queen, Pink Floyd) and movies (Hans Zimmer, Warner Brothers).

There’s something for everyone.

“Candlelight is a live, multisensory musical experience that invites audiences to connect with the most iconic pieces of the greatest composers and top hits of well-known popular music artists in a unique way—all while transforming awe-inspiring locations all over the world under the gentle glow of candlelight,” Sourbis says.

“Classical music has many beautiful traditions, from remaining silent and not clapping between movements, to wearing black to perform. While Candlelight still offers the traditional format in many of our locations, we also offer a more flexible performance format to help fulfill our mission of democratizing access to culture.”

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 | 45

Meet the Musicians Four talented musicians who bring versatility and experience to Triangle music lovers make up the Lyricosa Quartet: Carol Chung (violin), Lucy Greenleaf (violin), Simon Ertz (viola) and Rosalind Leavell (cello).

“For Candlelight Concerts, we intentionally seek to work with local musicians who align with our belief that classical music can reach a diverse audience,” Sourbis says.

“We are happy to provide a platform for musicians to not only connect with people from all over the world, but create new opportunities for them to do what they love.”

First violinist Carol Chung is concertmaster of the North Carolina Opera orchestra and has performed with the North Carolina Symphony since 2000 as a substitute or in an acting section capacity. She also has private studios where she teaches the Alexander Technique for strings players and coaches youth chamber music groups for the North Carolina Chamber Music Institute. Chung earned both bachelor’s and master of

music degrees in violin performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Violinist Lucy Greenleaf performs regularly with the North Carolina Opera orchestra and as a substitute in the North Carolina Symphony.

She also performs in shows at the Durham Performing Arts Center, including performances with the American Ballet Theatre. She earned an undergraduate degree in violin performance from Florida State University and a master’s degree in music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Simon Ertz teaches viola at UNC–Chapel Hill, and is a principal viola player with the Winston-Salem Symphony and North Carolina Opera orchestra.

He also plays as a regular substitute in the North Carolina Symphony and the Charlotte Symphony.

After graduating from the Royal Northern College of Music, he worked with orchestras across the United Kingdom, including the BBC Philharmonic, BBC

Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Northern Chamber Orchestra. As a member of the Degas Quartet between 2002 and 2012, he appeared in venues across the country, which included playing the Tuscan Medici Stradivari viola at the Library of Congress.

Rosalind Leavell is a substitute cellist in the North Carolina Symphony who performs regularly with the Carolina Ballet and maintains a private cello studio where she teaches students of all ages. She earned a bachelor of music in cello performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music before receiving her master of music and doctor of musical arts degrees from the University of Minnesota. Leavell is also on the faculty for Triangle Area Suzuki Talent Education in Raleigh.

You can hear the Lyricosa Quartet perform revered songs in a relaxing candlelight atmosphere by purchasing tickets to a Candlelight Concert performance at feverup.com.

see a performance Learn more about these Candlelight Concerts at feverup.com/en/raleigh/candlelight.

NOVEMBER 2

“Vivaldi’s Four Seasons” NOVEMBER 30

“A Tribute to Queen” DECEMBER 5, 6, 7, 12, 14 & 20

“Holiday Special Featuring ‘The Nutcracker’ and More”

46 | midtownmag.com

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 | 47

2023 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE COMPILED BY CRYSTAL WATTS | COVER PHOTO TAKEN BY JENNY MIDGLEY AND STYLED BY CRYSTAL WATTS PRODUCT PHOTOS COURTESY OF STORES AND MANUFACTURERS, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

It’s time to make your list and check it twice!

Our 2023 Holiday Gift Guide connects you to local shops and boutiques offering unique options that will inspire you to share a taste of the Triangle with friends and family this holiday season.

Note: While all of these businesses are local, some items are available for online purchase only.

HOME

“You’re Doing Great, Babe” Candle, $18 Rose & Lee Collective roseandleeco.com

Lavender Lemon Candle (21 ounces), $29.97 Diamond Candles diamondcandles.com Enter Midtown10 for a 10% discount

T-Safe Flannel Fire Extinguisher, $135 Decree Company decreecompany.com

Penn Coasters (set of four), $88 Max Hugo Interior Design maxhugointeriors.com

Charcuterie Board (three sizes), $115–$185 Designed for Joy | designedforjoy.com

Holland Tray, $500 Max Hugo Interior Design | maxhugointeriors.com

Vinglacé Champagne Gift Set, $139.95 Skin Sense, a Day Spa | skinsense.com

Maria Bosetti “Here Comes the Sun” Ceramic Tile, from $400 Bosetti Art Tile & Pottery | bosettiarttile.com

Grief Box, $159 Laurel Leaves | laurelleavesgriefbox.com Santa Oil Paintings by Susie Fleming, from $140 Southern Secrets at Mears | southernsecrets.com

Chinoiserie Sleigh Ride Ornament, $19 The Pink Magnolia | thepinkmagnolia.com

Layered Succulent Planter, $70 City Garden Design | citygardendesign.com

“Unwind: A Devotional Cookbook for the Harried and Hungry”

by Aarti Sequeira, $24.99 DaySpring | dayspring.com PHOTO BY BRUCE DeBOER

FOOD + DRINK

Big Spoon Roasters Holiday Trio Set, $39.95 Big Spoon Roasters | bigspoonroasters.com

Ornament Candy Apples, $8 Kandy Apples by K | kandyapplesbyk.com

Taste Carolina Friday Afternoon Tasting Tour, $79 Taste Carolina | tastecarolina.net/raleigh

Aunt Ruby’s Fabulous Five, $67.95 Aunt Ruby’s Peanuts | auntrubyspeanuts.com Angus Barn Steaks, Burgers, Sauces and Seasonings; prices vary Angus Barn | angusbarn.com

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Merry and Bright Box, $19.95 Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory waverlycary.com/directory/ rocky-mountain-chocolate-factory

Olde Raleigh Coffee Cask Finished Bourbon, $124.95 Olde Raleigh Distillery olderaleighdistillery.com PHOTO BY BRUCE DeBOER

Deco Custom Gift Box Price of contents added to $8/box, plus shipping decoraleigh.com

Cherries, Berries and Chocolate Basket, $65 Midtown Olive Oil midtownoliveoil.com

Stone Drink Dispenser, $145 Blake Interiors | blakeinteriors.co

E N T E RTA I N M E N T

Bustin’ Out of the Eighties Escape Room Experience, $29/player Whole Brain Escape wholebrainescape.com

Take-Home Paint Kits, $25–$55 Wine & Design | wineanddesign.com

Return of the Roaring Twenties Card Game, $20 Whole Brain Escape | wholebrainescape.com

J E W E L RY

Inez Resin Handled Wristlet, $64 Designed for Joy | designedforjoy.com

Heritage Collection World’s Most Perfect Signet Mini Ring, $795 Bailey’s Fine Jewelry | baileybox.com

Sabel Everyday Collection 14K Yellow Gold Sideways Cross Necklace, $375 Fink’s Jewelers | finks.com

David Yurman Albion Ring in Sterling Silver with Prasiolite and Pavé Diamonds, $1,050 Fink’s Jewelers | finks.com

BuDha Girl All-Weather Gold Bangles, $125 The Gatorbug | thegatorbug.com

Lab-Grown Diamond Crossover Ring, $919 Charles & Colvard | charlesandcolvard.com Personalized Lab-Grown Diamond Initial Necklace, $489 Charles & Colvard charlesandcolvard.com

Betty Carré Isabela Bracelet, $335 Swagger | shopswaggernow.com

Diamond by the Yard Bracelet, from $125 Johnson’s Jewelers | johnsonsjewelers.com Betty Carré Brisa Hoop Earrings, $95 Swagger | shopswaggernow.com

WOMEN

Pasotti Pink Flowered Double Umbrella, $225 Decree Company decreecompany.com

Abigail Pleated Clutch, $105 Rose & Lee Collective roseandleeco.com

The Pippa Dress, $226 Zuna Apparel | zunaapparel.com

Fotonica Boots by Valentina Rangoni, $565 Rangoni Firenze Shoes rangonistore.com

Patagonia Women’s Radalie Jacket, $199 Great Outdoor Provision Co. greatoutdoorprovision.com

DryBar Barfly Double, $90/month Drybar Barfly Single, $45/month drybar | drybarshops.com

Woodhouse Spa Robe, $125 Woodhouse Spa | locations.woodhousespas.com/dir/nc/raleigh/4204-six-forks-road

Lavender Lemon Bath Bombs, $15.97 Diamond Candles | diamondcandles.com Enter Midtown10 for a 10% discount

Bebe Ellis Nutriplenish Products Styling Treatment Foam, $38 Daily Moisturizing Treatment, $46 Multi-use Hair Oil, $52 Botanical Repair Intensive Strengthening Masque (rich), $74 Botanical Repair Intensive Strengthening Masque (light), $55 Botanical Repair Strengthening Overnight Serum, $56 Bebe Ellis Salon | bebeellissalon.com PHOTO BY JENNY MIDGLEY

Bright Black Charcoal Hand + Body Wash, $28 Bright Black | brightblackcandles.com

MEN

919 Cotton Dad Hat, $36 Rose & Lee Collective roseandleeco.com

Secrid Miniwallet in Basket Brown, $109 Alexander Eton | alexander-eton.com

Franklin-Christoph Model 19 Dark Room Emulsion Fountain Pen, $225 Franklin Christoph franklin-christoph.com

Emanuel Berg Modern 4Flex Stretch Knit Shirt, $278 Alexander Eton | alexander-eton.com

Franklin-Christoph Leather Playing Card Case, $49.50 Franklin Christoph franklin-christoph.com

Gucci G-Timeless Iconic White Feline Steel and Yellow Gold PVD Watch, $1,400 Bailey’s Fine Jewelry baileybox.com

Lorenzoni Johnny Collar Plain Tricot in Pure Crépe Cotton, $395 Alexander Eton | alexander-eton.com

TAG Heuer Formula 1 Men’s Automatic Movement Grey Dial Watch, $2,250 Fink’s Jewelers | finks.com

PETS

2024 Dog of the Year Calendar, $27 Five Freedoms Photography fivefreedomsphotography.com/blog

Boredom Buster & Wag Butter Lick Pack, $16.95 Big Spoon Roasters bigspoonroasters.com

Personalized Pet Ornaments, $28 Moon and Lola moonandlola.com

Wag Butter Bandana Drip Kit, $29.95 Big Spoon Roasters bigspoonroasters.com

WOMEN OF WAKE

INFLUENTIAL

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 | 51

Photos by Jenny Midglet, New Depth Creations and MASH Photography.

Cover photo by stock.adobe.com/Lumeez

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

I NF LUE NT I A L WO M EN O F WAKE ⅼ C ATHE RIN E C A RTE R + SYDN E Y JA R R E L L , THE GATO R BU G

C AT H E R I N E C A RT E R + SY D N E Y J A R R E L L THE GATORBUG 111 Mercantile Drive, Suite 110, Raleigh | 8 Fenton Main Street, Suite 160, Cary | thegatorbug.com HOW HAS YOUR COMMUNITY IMPACTED YOU?

HOW HAVE YOU IMPACTED YOUR COMMUNITY?

Our community has impacted us as a business to build strong relationships with our customers and our extended Cary and Raleigh communities. The immeasurable community support has inspired us to pay it forward by supporting other small businesses, schools and charitable organizations.

We are strong advocates of female entrepreneurship, education and inclusion. The Gatorbug has impacted our community by donating and sponsoring many charitable causes and philanthropies. It’s an indescribable feeling to support an organization you know will flourish and help others.

52 | midtownmag.com

WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS? We hope our community will continue to thrive with young female entrepreneurs opening businesses, much like we did five years ago. We’d love to see more small businesses and entrepreneurs give back and impact our Triangle community in a positive way.

INF LUE NTIA L WO M E N O F WA K E ⅼ G RE TC HE N CO LE Y, THE CO LE Y GROUP

G R E TC H E N C O L E Y THE COLEY GROUP 4350 Lassiter at North Hills Avenue, Suite 256, Raleigh | 919.526.0401 | thecoleygroup.com HOW HAS YOUR COMMUNITY IMPACTED YOU?

HOW HAVE YOU IMPACTED YOUR COMMUNITY?

The Triangle has given me a safe place to raise my family and provided an environment to build an incredible business with the people I love. I wouldn’t trade this community for the world.

I am proud to say that 5% of The Coley Group’s revenue every year is allocated to support philanthropic organizations.

I’ve also established a captivating lifestyle video series that showcases the remarkable individuals and businesses that make Raleigh so special.

WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS? In the coming decade, I envision Raleigh blossoming into an even stronger beacon of innovation and academic excellence while preserving an exceptional lifestyle for its residents. I hope to continue to witness a thriving community that I never want to leave.

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I NF LUE NT IA L WO M EN O F WAKE ⅼ DR . S OP HIA MYE R S, DC , PA SA A N D DR . SA R A H HAY E S, DC

D R . S O P H I A M Y E R S , D C , FA SA D R . SA R A H H AY E S , D C CARE CHIROPRACTIC & ACUPUNCTURE 5041 Six Forks Road, Raleigh | 919.786.9996 | carechiropracticrdu.com HOW HAS YOUR COMMUNITY IMPACTED YOU?

HOW HAVE YOU IMPACTED YOUR COMMUNITY?

Helping our community live pain-free and seeing firsthand the difference in quality of life, activity levels and emotional well-being is truly a rewarding experience. We love being a partner in the community with local schools and nonprofits to help give back.

We see many patients who have been in pain for months or years, who are needlessly suffering. After beginning care they can get back to enjoying what they love. We love being an office where patients look forward to their appointments because of how good they feel afterwards.

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WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS? We hope word of chiropractic and acupuncture health benefits continues to be heard, and that we can help as many people as possible stay active and live a pain-free life. Our goal is to educate and empower our community members to live their healthiest life.

THE KATE KENNEY TEAM, COMPASS REAL ESTATE 3800 Glenwood Avenue #150, Raleigh | 919.740.9965 | katekenney.com HOW HAS YOUR COMMUNITY IMPACTED YOU?

HOW HAVE YOU IMPACTED YOUR COMMUNITY?

I feel very blessed to have grown up in Raleigh and to be a part of such an amazing community. In Raleigh, I learned Southern hospitality, a strong sense of right and wrong, and mostly the value of helping others.

I've worked to improve our area by helping raise money for Communities In Schools of North Carolina for over 20 years. I also believe I've impacted this community by helping families, one by one, with the purchase and sale of their homes.

WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS? I hope we can grow and keep the strong sense of values, as well as the amazing opportunities we have here. I hope with that growth, we never lose our sense of community that has made Raleigh so special to me.

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INF LUE NTIA L WO M E N O F WA K E ⅼ KATE KE N N E Y, THE KATE KE N N E Y TE A M, CO MPAS S R E AL ESTAT E

K AT E K E N N E Y

I NF LUE N TI A L WO M EN O F WAKE ⅼ LE IGH MILLE R , M IL L E R CO N C IE RG E P HYSIC A L THE R A PY

LEIGH MILLER MILLER CONCIERGE PHYSICAL THERAPY 106 Lake Boone Trail, Raleigh | 984.322.1940 | millerconciergept.com HOW HAS YOUR COMMUNITY IMPACTED YOU?

HOW HAVE YOU IMPACTED YOUR COMMUNITY?

I have always considered the "City of Oaks" my home. Whether I am cheerleading at a Leesville High football game or watching my daughter’s first ballet recital, Raleigh has always helped inspire and encourage me to be the best version of myself.

Aristotle states, “What is the essence of life? To serve others and do good!”

I believe it is my duty to leave this world a better place. I accomplish this by enhancing someone’s quality of life in our local community through the development of Miller Concierge PT.

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WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS? As a Christian mother to two little girls, my hope for Raleigh is to cultivate in a creative, loving and inclusive generation.

I believe we can start by stepping out from behind a screen to engage in personal connections over seeking self-promotional gains.

INF LUE NTIA L WO M E N O F WA K E | A N GE LA PA DGE T T, S KIN S E N S E , A DAY S PA

A N G E L A PA D G E T T SKIN SENSE, A DAY SPA 6801 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh | 919.870.0700 | skinsense.com HOW HAS YOUR COMMUNITY IMPACTED YOU?

HOW HAVE YOU IMPACTED YOUR COMMUNITY?

I’ve learned a lot from the people around me, and have been able to grow and develop as a person. I feel like I am part of something bigger than myself, and am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of my community.

I work tirelessly to develop new and established therapists at our 32-year-old spa. We also volunteer with many local organizations. The Women’s Center especially warms my heart because it has been rewarding to raise money, collect goods and provide services for these fine women.

WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS? I hope it will continue to be a place where people can come together to learn, grow and connect. I hope we will continue to be a diverse and inclusive community committed to environmental sustainability and social justice, where everyone feels welcome and respected.

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I N FLU EN TI AL WO M EN O F WAK E ⅼ N IKKI SA N DE R S, THE P IN K M AG N O L IA

N I K K I SA N D E R S THE PINK MAGNOLIA 7325 Knightdale Boulevard, Knightdale | 919.212.2100 | thepinkmagnolia.com HOW HAS YOUR COMMUNITY IMPACTED YOU?

HOW HAVE YOU IMPACTED YOUR COMMUNITY?

The community has inspired me to provide a unique shopping experience by offering a mix of antiques, home decor, boutique clothing and talented local vendors. I’m grateful for Knightdale's support and camaraderie, which has been the foundation for our success.

Through The Pink Magnolia, I've nurtured an already thriving community.

Our gift shop empowers local artists and entrepreneurs by showcasing their God-given talents. This has allowed vendors to earn income, support their local economy and strengthen community bonds.

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WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS? The vision for the next decade is to continue growing and promoting The Pink Magnolia brand. We aspire to expand our offerings, create more jobs and collaborate with local talent, ultimately contributing to a thriving and vibrant community.

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D E PA R T M E N T T R AV E L

BLISSFULLY BILTMORE

Celebrate the holidays at America’s largest home

BY MELISSA WISTEHUFF

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Trade in the normal hustle and bustle of the season for the breathtaking grandeur and fascinating history that only the Biltmore Estate in Asheville magically provides. Thousands of glittering lights set amongst a backdrop of indescribably majestic mountains transform America’s largest home into a holiday wonderland November 3–January 7.

his riveting estate transports visitors back in time, captivating history buffs and holiday aficionados alike.

The stunning array of twinkling lights, glittering ornaments and Christmas trees adorning the estate’s interiors and exteriors are the hallmarks of a time-honored tradition dating back more than 125 years, when George Vanderbilt celebrated the first Christmas in his North Carolina chateau.

Today, Biltmore’s staff reveres traditions of yesteryear, sparing no detail in recreating the estate’s whimsy and wonder.

Given the home’s enormity, planning Biltmore’s Christmas season takes a year-round effort. Biltmore’s floral design team pulls inspiration from the estate’s rich history and architecture, while incorporating what is arguably its most striking feature: the allure of the surrounding North Carolina mountains.

Although preparation is extensive, decorators base much of their design decisions upon tradition. The home’s massive banquet hall showcases a 35-foot-tall fresh Fraser fir adorned with 500 ornaments and 500 lights. The Biltmore archives note that the Vanderbilt family began this tradition in 1895, inspired by the classic story of “The Night Before Christmas.”

The grand hall glitters in shades of red, emerald and gold.

Experience the enchantment by day or night at Biltmore each Christmas. Here’s how to fully experience the wonderment.

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DAYTIME MERRIMENTS Tour

Tour the French Renaissance chateau’s 250 rooms, which include 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms and 65 fireplaces, then stroll the formal and informal gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. Don’t miss the wide variety of exotic plants in the Conservatory, which features tall, arched windows offering views of the terraced butterfly garden.

Shop Mark gifts off your Christmas list—or simply treat yourself— at the Biltmore Shop. Discover wines made from grapes grown on the estate, Christmas décor, crafts, food and more throughout this sprawling store.

Gingerbread Peruse the stunning art of gingerbread at The Omni Grove Park Inn from November 27–January 2. This three decades– long competition brings together artists from around the country to showcase their whimsical creations in the historical inn. Stay for gingerbread ale and sweet treats by the glow of the iconic Omni Grove Park Inn fireplaces.

Falconry Discover the ancient art of falconry while learning how to handle a trained hawk or falcon as you experience the thrill of a raptor flying to and landing upon your gloved hand. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to interact with a majestic bird of prey.

Nature Quests Gear up to explore Biltmore Estate’s natural wonders with the geocache challenge and kids’ nature quest adventures. Navigate hidden caches and collect clues on a scavenger hunt that includes scouting out hidden locations, solving riddles and practicing wayfinding skills.

SILENT NIGHTS Candlelight Tour Step back in time with an experience reminiscent of the earliest Christmases the Vanderbilt family spent in Biltmore House. A 55-foot Norway spruce radiates on the front lawn, flanked by hundreds of luminaries lining the home’s walkway, setting the stage for a peacefully festive evening.

Carriage Ride Relax in an elegant carriage drawn by Belgian draft horses as you take in picturesque views of the bedecked Biltmore House from its 8,000-acre backyard.

Wine and Dine Taste an assortment of the estate’s award-winning wines at Biltmore Winery, and enjoy a romantic or family-friendly dinner at one of the many restaurants scattered throughout the property. Menus feature fresh produce and meats harvested from the estate.

Antler Hill Village Antler Hill Village showcases George Vanderbilt’s farming legacy, merging Biltmore’s past and present with a constellation of holiday lights, illuminated trees, quaint buildings and picturesque walkways. Santa visits on the weekends throughout the holiday season.

PAGE 38, PHOTO AT TOP ©WARNER PHOTOGRAPHY 2022. ALL OTHER PHOTOS ON PAGE 38 AND ABOVE COURTESY OF BILTMORE.

A BILTMOR E CHR ISTMAS In January 2023, Biltmore Estate set the scene for the Hallmark Channel’s nostalgic holiday film, “A Biltmore Christmas.” More than 300 locals flocked to the estate to work as extras for the 15-day shoot. The film’s leading actors, Bethany Joy Lenz and Kristoffer Polaha, as well as the rest of the cast and crew, stayed on the property at The Inn on Biltmore Estate and the Village Hotel.

The majority of scenes were shot at night, which meant Biltmore House tours were not suspended during filming. And since Biltmore’s furniture and accessories are safeguarded for preservation, the estate’s staff worked with Hallmark’s team to ensure that periodappropriate furniture was used for the film. “A Biltmore Christmas” is about a screenwriter named Lucy Hardgrave (Lenz), who is hired to write the remake of a fictional Christmas classic film in the present day. During a tour of Biltmore House, she accidentally knocks over a magical hourglass and travels back in time to the set of the original 1947 movie, where she meets its leading man, Jack Huston (Polaha).

To honor the film, the Biltmore House library will be decorated this year in the style of the 1940s, with dramatic cascades of silver-sequined tinsel adorning the room’s Christmas tree. “A Biltmore Christmas” debuts on the Hallmark Channel on November 26 at 8 p.m. Download the Hallmark Movie Checklist app for the latest details. Biltmore Estate will celebrate the movie’s release with Biltmore’s Holiday Dinner Dance on December 8, featuring an experience with live music and dancing “that blurs the lines of past and present.”

PHOTOS AT TOP RIGHT ©2023 HALLMARK MEDIA TOP LEFT AND BOTTOM RIGHT PHOTOS BY KENT SMITH TOP RIGHT PHOTO BY DAVID SCOTT HOLLOWAY

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PHOTO BY LEARESPHOTO - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

D E PA R T M E N T G I V I N G B AC K

COMBATTING HOMELESSNESS WITH HOSPITALITY

BY ELIZABETH BRIGNAC

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hen a guest appeared at her office door, Kathy Johnson, director of Oak City Cares, was busy. “Ms. Kathy, may I speak to you a moment?” asked the man, whom Johnson refers to as “K.” Distracted, Johnson stepped away from her desk to find K holding a birthday cake, balloons and decorations. “Today is my birthday.

I decided I was going to celebrate it with you all,” he told her. Johnson, her colleagues and OCC’s guests put aside their work and had a party—the first birthday K, 46, had ever celebrated with others. He trusted that the people at OCC would celebrate with him.

OCC, an organization dedicated to building relationships with and assisting homeless people, has grown rapidly since its 2018 founding. Homelessness

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is on the rise in Wake County. As of July 2023, OCC’s client numbers had risen by 97% in a single year. The services OCC provides have increased with its clients’ needs.

Success at OCC centers on building relationships as well as combatting homelessness. Some of OCC’s results can be quantified. Between the beginning of 2018 through July 2023, OCC offered 32,745 people showers. Guests washed 18,572 loads of laundry, 207,319 meals were served and 4,570 people met with coordinated care advisors. But for the staff, it’s the intangible successes—knowing clients’ names and preferences, and being trusted to help guests navigate through the most difficult times in their lives— that defines the work they do.

“We’re not a shelter,” says David Brashier, director of development and communications for OCC. “But this place can really feel like a home for a lot of our guests.”

SERVICES PROVIDED OCC offers three categories of service: basic needs, weekend meals and coordinated care. Basic needs services include offering access to bathrooms, water, toiletries and other supplies, as well as telephones and mobile phone chargers—lifelines for people seeking community resources. Guests can take 20-minute showers in large, sanitized bathrooms. People can access washers, dryers and detergent, with staff available to offer assistance and supplies.

On weekends, OCC is one of the only facilities in Wake County providing free meals. Volunteers supply and serve as many as 600 people per weekend, and the numbers are climbing. “It used to be 125 meals served” at a time, Johnson says.

“Now we’re close to 250.”

Through coordinated efforts, OCC works with 30-plus partner organizations to assess and fulfill guest needs. “We want to be a one-stop shop for individuals who are homeless or at risk of being homeless to get as many different services as they can,” Brashier says.

Homeless individuals can find themselves traveling for days, children and possessions in tow, to access organizations scattered all over town.

To qualify for one service, they are told they must access another, and then another. Confused and exhausted, some resign themselves to homelessness.

To avoid that problem, OCC brings as many partners as possible onto its campus and provides care coordinators to help guests find the services they need. Partners offer medical care, mental health care, food, shelter and other resources. “We connect them not just to services, but to the

right services in the right order,” Johnson says. They usually start by helping guests get IDs and mailing addresses, since many organizations require these. Guests can save days of travel and effort through knowing where to start.

OCC seeks partner organizations whose missions center on the homeless community, an approach that “helps to build long-term sustainable relationships around services,” Johnson says. Tosheria Brown, director of programs and services, refers to herself as an air traffic controller because she directs the partner “traffic” and keeps the many collaborating organizations communicating with each other. For efficiency’s sake, she tries to schedule partners with related services to be on-site on the same days.

QUALIFIED STAFF Thirty percent of OCC’s staff has experienced homelessness, which gives them personal understanding of their clients’ needs. OCC’s outreach care coordinator, Camron Holland, was homeless as a teenager. When he first toured OCC, he says he told Johnson “if she didn’t have a position for me to come

ABOVE: Oak City Cares connects the homeless population to the right services, in the right order.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF OAK CITY CARES

work, then I would need for her to make one as soon as possible. Think of a title, wrap my name on it and let me know where to show up,” he says. “My experience would have been completely different,” Holland says, “if I had a place to come take a shower, or come do laundry, or come talk with someone about getting care, getting resources, getting clothes, getting food.”

Today, Holland directs OCC’s street outreach team, finding people living on the street and making sure they know what OCC has to offer.

COLLABORATION Collaboration at Oak City Cares extends beyond its coordinated care services. The organization represents a public/private partnership between OCC, Wake County and the City of Raleigh. The private organization funds the staff, furniture and equipment. Wake County funds the facility, its maintenance and its security. Volunteers provide weekend meals, but the City of Raleigh funds the kitchen and its staff.

These collaborative relationships provide OCC with essential financial stability.

The organization formally collaborates with its guests through quarterly meetings to discover emerging needs and to learn what’s working and what isn’t. Many guests also get the word out to others living outdoors about OCC’s services.

Finally, OCC collaborates with community volunteers. A recent meeting with guests, for example, revealed a need for hearing aids and eyeglasses among the homeless population, so OCC is getting the word out about this need to donors and qualified providers. Community collaboration works both ways. A local crocheting group has crocheted plastic grocery bags into waterproof mats that protect people living outdoors from sleeping on the damp ground. They reached out to OCC to help distribute these mats into the community. In this organic way, OCC continues to grow and reach more people. “[Wake County] is a very collaborative community. Unusually so, I’d say,” Johnson says. OCC’s success relies heavily on that collaboration.

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D E PA RT M E N T H I S TO RY

“I invent because I cannot help it— new things just thrust themselves on me.”

—Buelah Louise Henry

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Beulah Louise Henry Ingenuity led to success for Raleigh native, aka “Lady Edison”

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B Y M A R I LY N J O N E S

veryone knows what a hair curler is, that some doll eyes open and close, and that sewing machines can make a double stitch. But did you know a Raleigh native named Beulah Louise Henry invented these products and processes? Furthermore, she created more than 100 valuable household and office items—and held 49 patents.

Born in Raleigh in 1887 to an artistic family, this professional inventor began tinkering with objects as a child in an effort to create more practical objects.

Her favorite hobby was pointing out how to improve innovations. Henry’s father, a lawyer, was also an authority on art. Her mother was an artist and homemaker.

Henry studied at Presbyterian College for Women and Elizabeth College in Charlotte from 1909 to 1912. She didn’t have an engineering education, which made her more creative when it came to solutions. Her focus often involved inventions that improved the quality of life for women. By the 1930s, Henry had earned the nickname “Lady Edison” and achieved fame as an inventor in a maledominated profession.

followed in 1913: one for a handbag and the other for an umbrella featuring a snap-on cloth cover that allowed the owner to coordinate the umbrella with his or her clothing.

Henry moved to New York City in 1919 with her parents, who felt their daughter would have a better chance to sell her umbrella and other ideas in the big city. But convincing manufacturers to make the umbrella was challenging.

They said it couldn’t be done, so she made her own prototype and eventually opened the Henry Umbrella and Parasol Company. She found a large market for her umbrellas in New York, and was later featured in Scientific American as an “outstanding inventor.” She went on to establish the B.L. Henry Company of New York.

Historians believe Henry might have had mild synesthesia, a condition in which the mind assigns sensory attributes to other senses—associating colors with sounds, for example. This condition is common in artistic people and undoubtedly assisted Henry in creating her inventions.

AN IMPRESSIVE START Henry never married or had children, but descended from a notable lineage.

She was the granddaughter of former North Carolina Governor William Woods Holden and a direct descendant of President Benjamin Harrison on her mother’s side, and of founding father Patrick Henry on her father’s side.

In 1912, while in her mid-20s, Henry applied for a patent for a vacuum ice cream freezer—a device that could make ice cream that didn’t require cranking like previous manual ice cream makers. Two other patents

PATENTLY SUCCESSFUL In 1924, Henry sold the rights to her umbrella cover invention for $50,000 (approximately $630,000 in today’s dollars). This enabled her to set up her laboratory. She hired mechanics, model makers and drafting technicians to turn her ideas into prototypes. Other successful inventions soon followed and, before long, Henry gained a reputation as one of the most prolific inventors of her era. Throughout the 1920s, she went on to receive patents for a spring-limbed doll, a valve for inflatable articles and Dolly Dips—sponges that held soap in the

middle. (She also designed the machine that produced the sponges.)

Henry eventually turned her attention toward machines and, during the 1930s and 1940s, made many improvements to sewing machines and typewriters. Her patents during this time included a feeding and aligning device for typewriters, a bobbin-less sewing machine, several children’s toys, and another typewriter attachment for duplicating documents. She also invented continuously attached envelopes for mass mailings, a can opener, and the direct and return mailing envelope.

Henry worked for Nicholas Machine Works as an inventor from 1939 to 1955.

She also consulted for Mergenthaler Linotype Company and the International Doll Company. At the time she registered her patents, only 2% of patents were written by women, making Henry truly impressive in her field. She is still considered one of the most successful female inventors of all time.

Henry also enjoyed writing, painting and caring for animals. She was active in the National Audubon Society, League for Animals and other institutions. She passed away in 1973 at the age of 85 and was posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2006.

According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Henry’s “technologies were complex and ingenious, yet easy to manufacture and use. Her typewriters, toys, sewing machines and women’s apparel made Henry a famous and beloved figure nationwide.” Her legacy lives on in the many inventions and improvements to existing products she made throughout her lifetime.

Sources: Library of Congress, TheFamousPeople.com, The Global Innovation Center, and the Engineering and Technology History Wiki

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OUT + ABOUT | DINE + DRAFT This list represents the 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 the Raleigh area. Here’s a snapshot of what you’ll find.

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 PHOTO COURTESY OF MIDTOWN PHO

BAZIL INDIAN CUISINE

KANDY APPLES BY K

6602 Glenwood Avenue 919.307.3034 bazilindiancuisine.com

6320 Capital Boulevard, Suite 107 919.703.6683 kandyapplesbyk.com

CAPE FEAR SEAFOOD COMPANY

MIDTOWN PHO

832 Spring Forest Road 984.242.4600 2018 Clark Avenue 984.200.5455 capefearseafoodcompany.com

424 E. Six Forks Road, Suite 105 919.747.9899 midtownphoraleigh.com

CATERING WORKS 2319 Laurelbrook Street 919.828.5932 cateringworks.com

COLLETTA 1 Fenton Main Street, Suite 170, Cary 919.766.0062 collettarestaurant.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 82 | midtownmag.com

510 W. Martin Street, 3rd Floor 919.803.3343 wineanddesign.com

NEW TAPROOM

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 4800 Grove Barton Road, #106 919.473.6066 saltandlimecabo.com

TAVERNA AGORA 326 Hillsborough Street 919.881.8333 tavernaagora.com

INCENDIARY BREWING

612 W. Morgan Street, Raleigh Nestled in the confines of Bloc[83] in downtown Raleigh, Incendiary Brewing ignites the local craft beer scene with its dynamic and innovative offerings.

This brewery, which opened on October 7, boasts a diverse selection of finely crafted beers that tantalize the taste buds. From hop-forward IPAs to rich stouts and everything in between, Incendiary Brewing invites beer enthusiasts to savor the flames of creativity in every sip. With a vibrant atmosphere and a commitment to quality, it’s a must-visit destination off Hillsborough Street for those seeking a pleasing experience in craft beer.

Learn more about this new downtown taproom at incendiarybrewing.com.

– By Dathan Kazsuk

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 | 83

O U T + A B O U T | TA S T E S O F T H E C I T Y

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1. THE CASSO GOOD DAY GOOD NIGHT The Casso Good Day Good Night’s pan-roasted pork ribeye atop a medley of sweet potato puree, brown butter Spätzel, crispy bacon, caramelized onions and tender spinach.

PHOTO BY DATHAN KAZSUK

3. TONBO RAMEN Diablo shrimp, tuna, unagi, pork belly and fish tacos from the new Izakaya Taco menu.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TONBO RAMEN

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2. SASSOOL The Sassool Hummus Mix-Off winner: Soul-Full Sisters’ Garden Tomato Hummus.

PHOTO BY MELISSA WISTEHUFF

4. VIDRIO Dressed oysters—oyster foam, apple mignonette and smoked trout roe— created by Vidrio’s new executive chef, Abel Leonardo Chiok Diaz.

PHOTO BY SEAN BYRNE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 | 85

OUT + ABOUT | FOODIE FOCUS

News for Raleigh foodies compiled by the Midtown staff, with contributions from Triangle Food Guy Sean Lennard, who blogs at trianglefoodblog.com.

The seared Ôra King salmon with charred broccolini, oysters, onion ragout cream and chive oil at Vidrio.

PHOTO BY SEAN BYRNE

NEWS Vidrio welcomed a new executive chef in August. Abel Leonardo Chiok Diaz brings over 20 years of experience and a diverse background in international cuisine to the restaurant, located at 500 Glenwood Avenue #100. Table & Twine has joined Rocky Top Catering at 5000 Departure Drive to help provide meals for delivery.

Options include ready-to-eat entrees, finish-and-serve meals, family-style meals and entertainment packages. Grubb Ventures added Quarter Note Coffee to its building at 3700 Glenwood Place.

Customers can choose from specialty coffees and other beverages, in addition to light breakfast items.

CLOSED PHOTO OF LITTLE REY ENTREE COURTESY OF ANDREW THOMAS LEE

COMING SOON Kane Realty Corporation announced in August that True Food Kitchen will open its first North Carolina location in the Main District at North Hills in spring 2024.

The menu will feature wholesome foods made with quality ingredients, as well as a large outdoor dining space. Kane Realty Corporation also announced in August that two additional restaurants will join the Smoky Hollow community: Alaksha’s Indian Bistro and Morelia Gourmet Paletas. Opening dates have not yet been announced.

Chef-owner Ford Fry will open Little Rey, a Tex-Mex-inspired, counter-service taco spot centered around “al carbon” cooking, at 1101 E. Whitaker Mill Road in Raleigh Iron Works sometime during 2024.

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Bond Brothers Beer Company will return to Terminal 2 of Raleigh-Durham International Airport in early 2024. The Cary-based brewery briefly opened a location there before the pandemic but closed it in March 2020. Gussie’s, a new “bar, bottle & bites” concept by North South Hospitality, was expected to open in fall. Stay up to date with the restaurant’s latest news at gussiesraleigh.com.

Jacksonville-based Flavor Hills Restaurant & Bar is coming to downtown Raleigh near Sono Sushi at 319 Fayetteville Street. This veteran-owned foodie spot features creative dishes like pumpkin spice chicken and waffles, fried deviled eggs, and Cajun shrimp and grits. No word yet on an open date.

After 33 years, Humble Pie closed its doors in late September. The Warehouse District restaurant at 317 S. Harrington Street opened in 1989 and was known for its shareable dishes, spacious indoor dining room and bar, and covered outdoor patio. Figulina: Pasta and Provisions has announced it will move into that space, with former Poole’s Diner chef de cuisine David Ellis at the helm.

Lonerider Brewing at 1626 Glenwood Avenue has permanently closed that location (the other three are still in operation). Michael DePersia with DePersia & Associates has confirmed that the business has been sold to Mac’s Speed Shop out of Charlotte, which was founded 18 years ago

by Wynn Davis and Hall Johnston, and blends their love of barbecue, beer and bikes.

O U T + A B O U T | E V E N T S NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2023

BY JANICE LEWINE

Be sure to check out our holiday fun roundup on page 54 for a list of seasonal events taking place in the area.

EAGLES: “THE LONG GOODBYE”

November 9, 7:30 p.m.

PNC Arena 1400 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh Musical icons Don Henley, Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit, with Vince Gill and Deacon Frey, close out 50 years of touring and the success of six No. 1 albums.

pncarena.com

MOONLIGHT IN THE GARDEN

November 9–11 and 16–18, 5:30–9:30 p.m.

JC Raulston Arboretum 4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh See the beauty of JC Raulston Arboretum under the cover of darkness. Stroll through the garden, listen to a live band, grab a bite to eat from a food truck, roast marshmallows and sip a cup of hot apple cider. Purchase tickets online for timed admission slots.

jcra.ncsu.edu

“VIVALDI’S FOUR SEASONS”

November 16–19 Raleigh Memorial Auditorium 2 E. South Street, Raleigh “Vivaldi’s Four Seasons” is one of the most celebrated ballets in Carolina Ballet’s repertoire. The program also features the poetic music and movement of “Bariolage” and a world-premiere ballet, “Death and the Maiden.”

carolinaballet.com JURASSIC QUEST

November 17–19 Raleigh Convention Center 500 S. Salisbury Street, Raleigh Come face-to-face with animated, life-sized dinosaurs and enjoy dinosaurthemed rides, inflatables, fossil digs and more. Tickets cost $19–$36.

jurassicquest.com

WAKE FOREST CARES HOLIDAY KICKOFF

November 18, 1–5 p.m.

Downtown Wake Forest Help others in the community at the Wake Forest Cares Holiday Kickoff, which features performances, the Carolina Hurricanes Storm Tour and Slapshot Booth, a donation drive, kids craft activities, roaming performers and more.

wakeforestnc.gov

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PUBLIC TOURS OF THE NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF ART

Select dates year-round North Carolina Museum of Art 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh Join a docent for a free, 50-minute tour of the People’s Collection in the West Building to discover galleries, artists or the elements of art. Museum Park tours explore nature and art on a 2-mile walk of sitespecific works and sustainable natural areas. Register online.

ncartmuseum.org/events

PHOTO COURTESY OF ZIMMYTWS - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

TURKEY CHASE

November 25 (times vary) William B. Umstead State Park 2100 N. Harrison Avenue, Cary Burn off those calories from Thanksgiving by running, walking or strolling in this event that features a 5K, 10K and half marathon. Race fees are $45–$75; kids in strollers are $5. Virtual races take place November 18–25 and cost $35.

runsignup.com/race/nc/cary/ turkeychase A SHOPPING SPREE! 2023

November 30–December 3 (times vary) Jim Graham Building North Carolina State Fairgrounds 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh The Junior League of Raleigh’s popular holiday tradition offers a unique shopping experience while raising money for nonprofit programs and community service initiatives in Wake County.

Shoppers can purchase the latest in fashion and home decor trends, specialty foods, unique gifts, and holiday merchandise throughout the four-day event.

jlraleigh.org/fundraising/ a-shopping-spree “MOONLIGHT”

November 30–December 17 (times vary) Burning Coal Theatre Company 224 Polk Street, Raleigh Nobel Prize Laureate Harold Pinter’s “Moonlight” follows a riotous older man reflecting back on his life, his marriage, his children, his friends, his lovers and … his past mistakes. burningcoal.org

MAKRS HOLIDAY FEST

December 2, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.

City Plaza 443 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh The MAKRS Society’s biggest event of the year boasts 100-plus local vendors, live music, food trucks and family activities.

makrs.com/fayetteville-street

CANDLELIGHT: HOLIDAY SPECIAL FEATURING “THE NUTCRACKER” AND MORE

December 5 and 12, 6:30 and 9 p.m.

The Merrimon-Wynne House 500 N. Blount Street, Raleigh December 14 and 20, 6:30 and 9 p.m.

The Historic Wakefield Barn 12617 Old Falls of Neuse Road, Wake Forest Be surrounded by the gentle glow of candlelight as the Lyricosa Quartet performs elegant string music from “The Nutcracker” and other holiday favorites. Tickets cost $40–$55.

feverup.com/en/raleigh/candlelight FIRST NIGHT RALEIGH

December 31, 2 p.m.–midnight Downtown Raleigh Ring in the new year with musical performances and the Children’s Celebration in City Plaza at 2 p.m.

Performances and activities continue throughout the evening across multiple indoor venues. The night ends with Main Stage music, the famous Raleigh Acorn Drop and fireworks. Tickets are $12–$16.

firstnightraleigh.com

Deck Your Halls. nofo @ the pig | 2014 fairview road | 919.821.1240 | www.nofo.com NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 | 89

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OUT + ABOUT | SISTER CITIES

BY JANICE LEWINE

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DOWNTOWN MOREHEAD CITY, INC. AND NED LEARY

Top: The Crystal Coast Christmas Flotilla Bottom: The North Carolina Holiday Flotilla in Wrightsville Beach

A NAUTICAL NOEL

Festive flotillas light up Wrightsville Beach and Morehead City WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH

MOREHEAD CITY

Celebrate the season coastal-style November 25 at the North Carolina Holiday Flotilla in Wrightsville Beach, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Watch as powerboats, skiffs and sailboats, decorated in their holiday finest, make their way down Mott’s and Banks channels beginning at 6 p.m.

Many are adorned with neon lights and beloved characters from Christmas movies and songs, so expect to see a captain dressed as the Grinch or an inflatable Santa commanding the helm.

Judges will determine the best in show, best costumes and crew spirit champions, and attendees can send votes in for the People’s Choice Award via text. Fireworks in the harbor create a breathtaking backdrop for the boats gathered en masse at the procession’s end.

A local tradition for 31 years, the Crystal Coast Christmas Flotilla on December 2 entices visitors and locals alike to enjoy a lighted holiday display on the glimmering waters of Carteret County. View yachts, skiffs, kayaks and commercial vessels dressed from bow to stern at 5:30 p.m. on the Morehead City waterfront and at 6:15 p.m. on the Beaufort waterfront. Both towns offer multiple vantage points to view the procession and for onlookers to cheer for their favorite boats, which sport inflatable elves, smiling sea serpents and twinkling Christmas trees. Each watercraft takes on a holiday theme in an attempt to capture the first, second and third place awards, as well as best in class in the sailboat, powerboat and commercial categories.

Enjoy pre-flotilla festivities at Day in the Park, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., at the Wrightsville Beach Municipal Complex, which features more than 100 arts and crafts vendors, an antique car show, live music, carnival-style food and a large play area for children.

Learn more at ncholidayflotilla.org.

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While in Morehead City, dine at Parrot’s on Eleventh to enjoy Carolina comfort food in a historic home with a storied past, or at Circa 81, which supports local fishermen and farmers by serving fresh seafood and produce. In Beaufort, Moonrakers is famous for its rooftop dining overlooking Carrot Island. Try the baked shrimp, crab cakes or grilled mahi.

Learn more at ncmaritimemuseumbeaufort.com/events.

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OUT + ABOUT | KALEIDOSCOPE

B E N O W EN I I I

T RU MP ET F LA I R B O W L , 2 0 2 3 CHINE S E R E D G L AZ E E ART H E N WAR E 16” X 16” X 6”

“I make simple vessels with clean lines. I pay attention to texture and design on the surface. Carving into the surface and with the application of glazes, I build layers of color, almost like building depth of field on a canvas.”

— Ben Owen III

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BY CHARLOTTE RUSSELL

I N S PI R ED B Y TR ADI TI ON Seagrove is home to the largest concentration of working potters in the U.S. There, you will find Ben Owen III in his studio and retail shop, where he continues his rich family history of pottery. He takes inspiration from his grandfather, master potter Ben Owen Sr., with whom he apprenticed as a child. Following in his grandfather’s footsteps, his work is rooted in a foundation in early American designs with influences from Asia, Europe and Persia.

View Ben Owen III’s pottery online at benowenpottery.com, on Instagram at @benowenpottery and at his retail shop at 105 Ben’s Place in Seagrove.

Visit the holiday open house on December 16.