Midtown Magazine by Midtown, 5 West, Triangle Family

Rethink RALEIGH

D R. C L A U D I A TOLENTINO CADET

The 2018 DIAMOND AWARDS: READERS NAME RALEIGHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BEST J A N U A RY

F EBR UA RY

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Vibrancy and variety—subtle characteristics that encompass multicultural perspectives and people of all ages—are among the qualities that help make our city so compelling. One of the most exciting things I’ve discovered in my three months at Midtown is that our readership truly reflects the new Raleigh, with all of its multigenerational dynamics: 30 percent of our readers are millennials (under age 34); 36 percent are the movers and shakers (age 35 to 54), and 34 percent are celebrating their lives (age 55 and over). And every demographic is feeling the area’s energy and rethinking what life in Raleigh is all about. Check out our story on Raleigh as the City for Singles (page 70) and you’ll see socializing opportunities for all age groups, and our Wellness Report (page 108) speaks to healthier lifestyle habits across the generations. How are we going to evolve Midtown? Exactly like Raleigh and the Triangle are evolving! Please, keep telling me more!

Connie

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

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

CONNIE GENTRY Editor / Publisher

Your opinions matter to us. Let us know what you think of this issue of Midtown Magazine. Please email connie@midtownmag.com with your comments.

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Distribution Manager Joe Lizana

2017

verybody wants to know how Midtown magazine is going to evolve. That’s the question I’ve been hearing since day one. The best part is that everyone also has a lot of ideas about how we should evolve: More food. More fashion. More Downtown. More Midtown. More home and garden. More health and wellness. More about things to do and places to go and people who are making things happen. More, More, MORE! I love that everyone wants more of all the things that make for a fun and interesting lifestyle magazine. Another common theme in all of the suggestions I hear: more substance. Give us stories that matter, that showcase how Raleigh truly is proving its merit as the capital city of the New South. It was my first week in this job when a reader emailed and suggested we write more stories about young professional women and diversity. Not so many weeks later, I’m thrilled to help you get to know Dr. Claudia Cadet—born in the Dominican Republic, raised in New York, and—along with her husband, an orthopedic surgeon—choosing Raleigh as the city where they want to build careers, raise their children, and live out their dreams. (Page 60)

Photography Davies Photography | Joe Reale F8 Photo Studios | Raleigh Food Pics

SPECIAL THANKS TO DAVIES PHOTOGRAPHY FOR OUR BEAUTIFUL COVER PHOTO OF DR. CLAUDIA TOLENTINO CADET AND HER CHILDREN.

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contents JANUARY

FEBRUARY

2018

features 58 RETHINK RALEIGH

Now a dynamic metropolis where local means global, and young professionals from all over the world come to pursue careers and raise their families. 60 Where Diversity Thrives 70 City of Singles 72 Millennials on the Move

79 THE 2018 DIAMOND AWARDS Your votes are in, and we salute the “Best of Raleigh” winners.

94 NIGHTS OF WINE AND ROSES The most romantic restaurants in Raleigh beckon throughout the year, but especially on Valentine’s Day.

special sections

18 OF THE TRIANGLE’S FINEST DINING VENUES Including Irregardless Cafe, where the menu includes Chicken Florentine Pasta.

89 THE HEART’S DESIRE COLLECTION Celebrate your love with fine jewelry that can be cherished for years to come.

108 HEALTH CONSCIOUS Pragmatic thoughts on fitness, nutrition, and coping with stress.

PHOTO BY KIMBERLY MCNEIL COURTESY OF IRREGARDLESS CAFE

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contents JANUARY

FEBRUARY

20 18

departments 16 ON THE SCENE 26 BEER & BARREL 30 MIDTOWN LIVING 32 DOWNTOWN VIBES 36 RAISING THE BAR 38 FINANCIAL FOCUS 40 FOODIE FOCUS 42 HOMESTYLER 46 HEALTHY YOU 50 STYLE LINE

PHOTO BY EMILY LYONS-WOOD PHOTOGRAPHY

54 GIVING BACK

125 DINING GUIDE

ON THE SCENE

135 OUT & ABOUT

STYLE POP-UPS ARE HERE TO STAY

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56 TASTES OF THE CITY

130 CANDID CONVERSATION

146 KALEIDOSCOPE LIVING

BEST PLACE TO BUY CUSTOM JEWELRY

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The scene

Staci Soloway won our 2018 Diamond Awards Giveaway. She won a $500 gift card to North Hills, a night’s stay at the Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel, with breakfast for two at 41Hundred.

SOCIAL

Let’s Connect! By Brittany Murdock

Carolina and Mark Kammel won tickets to see NC Theatre’s GYPSY along with a $75 gift card to Humble Pie.

We love connecting our readers with some of the best services in town. Julie Hull saw Meraki Salon in our holiday issue and stopped by for a new color and haircut.

Brittany’s Date Night Spotlight My current go-to date night spot is Oak City Meatball Shoppe. Pictured are veggie meatballs in a parmesan cream sauce, a side of the cheesiest mac and cheese, and a bowl of risotto.

Our Virgil’s Original Taqueria quote received a high of 140 likes on our Instagram.

Melinda Jackson won a $50 gift card to Grabbagreen. She purchased her two-day juice detox right away!

Get Social With Us! www.midtownmag.com

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MidtownMagazine MidtownMag MidtownMagazine

TIRED OF THE ORDINARY?

The scene

TASTE

Sharing Southern Specialties Around Town By Laura White | Photos courtesy of Rye KNOWN FOR ITS INNOVATIVE SPIN ON Southern fare, Rye Bar & Southern Kitchen in downtown Raleigh has launched a new takeout option, Rye To Go. The new dining service caters to outof-town visitors—the restaurant is located on the first floor of the Raleigh Marriott City Center—as well as to locals. According to the restaurant’s director of outlets, Joseph Gosselin, ordering to go is more convenient than coming into the restaurant, and can be done without making a single phone call. Through the ChowNow app, diners can place an order from the full Rye menu, choosing to either “Order for Now,” or “Order for Later.” The app uses location technology to suggest restaurants nearby, and then the customers simply swing by the Raleigh Marriott City Center for pickup. “They can just walk right in those doors, grab their food, and head out,” Gosselin says. In addition to offering the full Rye menu through ChowNow, Rye To Go has several options ready for pickup, including the restaurant’s famous $5

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pulled pork biscuits and a cooler packed with freshly made salads, house-made hummus plates, and a selection of cured meats and cheeses. Beverages range from local craft brews and coffee to vintage soda brands like Nehi and Cheerwine. Rye To Go also carries a selection of locally made or North Carolina–inspired goods, such as Oak City Coffee Roasters coffee, Outer Banks Sea Salt, Bertie County Peanuts, and a wide range of hot sauces. Its own in-house seasonings, like Rye Ranch, Rye House Creole, and Rye Rub, are also available for purchase. Gosselin says they see around 20 customers a day ordering on Chow Now, and the number of guests who come through and grab freshly made items varies depending on what’s going on downtown. “If there’s a big event over at the convention center, that [cooler] will be empty. They’ll come take everything we have, because they’re looking for something quick,” he explains. Rye Bar & Southern Kitchen is committed to serving seasonal and sustainable dishes, sourcing its produce

and meats from North Carolina farms. On the hotel rooftop is a garden where they grow garnishes and keep beehives for their house-made honey molasses butter. According to Gosselin, Rye To Go felt like a natural extension of the fresh and refined concept, ideally suited for those without the luxury of time. “We wanted to be able to capture the local business guests for lunch, especially those guests who don’t have time to come sit down and be served,” he says. “They can just order something and have it ready when they get here.” While Rye To Go is currently pickup only, Gosselin says they are considering delivery as an option for the future. They also offer specials—such as coffee and breakfast biscuits—for downtown events, along with order-ahead meals for the holidays. Rye To Go is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Orders can be placed through Rye’s website at RyeRaleigh.com or through the Chow Now app from 11:30 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. First-time users receive a 20 percent discount.

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The scene

STYLE

PHOTOS OF GIRL TRIBE BY EMILY LYONS-WOOD PHOTOGRAPHY

Pop-Up Markets Are Here to Stay By Brittany Murdock

WEEKEND PLANS THAT WERE ONCE filled with trips to the mall are being replaced with trips to local pop-up markets. After gaining a large amount of traction within the past year, it’s as though they’ve been popping up everywhere—literally. Sola Coffee Café in North Raleigh hosts pop-up markets twice a month, bringing together roughly 20 local artists and vendors for local shoppers to peruse. Trophy Brewing hosts the monthly Pop-Up Raleigh Market, both indoors and outdoors when weather permits, and 2018 dates are posted at PopUpRaleigh.com. The list of local hosts is long, and now other pop-ups are coming to town. The Charlotte-based Girl Tribe Company—which owns a boutique in the Queen City and has launched its own branded pop-up festivals specifically for

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women-owned entrepreneurs to showcase their products—debuted the Girl Tribe Pop-Up in Raleigh on November 18th. This curated event welcomed more than 30 women-owned businesses to showcase their jewelry, eco-friendly nail polish, clothing, organic soaps, homemade pillows, and so much more. It was a chance for online shops and local businesses to bring awareness to their brand, many for the first time, in a positive and encouraging way. “At the end of the day it’s all about getting out from behind your computer to really connect with your customers in an environment that values community over competition. It’s an experience of a storefront,” says Girl Tribe Pop-Up co-founder, Carrie Barker. “[Vendors] are able to curate the entire look of their booth, from backdrops to placement of

the product and much more.” These pop-up markets allow customers a chance to get to know a brand on a much deeper level. Business owners decorate their booth to show their character, creativity, style, and authenticity, something you might not be able to notice through Instagram or an online website. Kaitlin Ryan and her line of handmade beads, called Peppertrain, participated in the Girl Tribe Pop-Up event as well as in other markets around the area. She has found great success in pop-ups since they’ve hit the scene. “Pop-ups do really well for me because my product has a certain aesthetic and can look heavy sometimes. It allows customers to touch, feel, and see everything the product offers,” Ryan says. She too finds a creative outlet when

designing her booth. “I keep my website tight and styled, so the pop-up is where I come to bring a variety of items and it’s also a place to try new things. If it’s a new style you’re implementing, it’s perfect to bring something like that to see immediately what the feedback is,” she adds. With the world on a social media craze, these events have the ability to turn a “like” on Instagram into a purchase. Interacting with the person behind the website allows creative outlets to flow, ideas to be exchanged, and the customer to gain a stronger sense of the product and the owner behind it. One of Raleigh’s favorite vintage shops also got behind the trend of pop-up markets this holiday season, opening for a two-month run in a temporary space at 19 West Hargett Street. In November

and December, Raleigh Vintage collaborated with Zartiques to bring to life the ultimate vintage shopping experience, complete with Persian rugs, furniture, clothing, jewelry, accessories, and more. “The pop-up definitely helped us connect with customers so much more than when we were selling only online,” says Andi Shelton, owner of Raleigh Vintage. “So many ladies, and some men too, have come in and told us how thrilled they were that we finally got a retail space—even if it was temporary. They tell us that they’ve been following us for a long time on social media and are excited to see everything in person.” The chance to connect with businesses you’ve only seen through a phone screen is just one reason the pop-up frenzy is here to stay.

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The scene

MUSIC

WINCHOP’S GUS VIEWEG AND WILSON SLAGLE IN ACTION WITH THEIR WHISKEY COVERS.

Distilling New Sounds WINCHOP SHARES SIPS AND SONGS WITH THEIR #WHISKEYCOVERS SERIES. By Bryan C. Reed | Photo by Mikayla Tencer THE SETUP IS SIMPLE: TAKE A SIP OF whiskey. Play a condensed version of a well-known song. Post the video. Those three ingredients make a Whiskey Cover, and—for the Raleigh-bred duo behind Winchop—this creative exercise might be the ticket to forging a fan base. Winchop wasn’t meant to be a band, not exactly. To wit, the “musical project” has never played in front of a live audience. It all started when songwriter Wilson Slagle decided he’d like to put some of his work to tape and enlisted the help of Gus Vieweg, a former classmate at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. “Wilson bought this knockoff microphone and this super-cheap mixing

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interface and just plugged them into his aging MacBook Pro,” Vieweg recalls. “He was like, ‘Okay, we’re recording professionals now. Here we go.’” After five days over a break from college— Slagle is an architecture student at Syracuse University; Vieweg earned his engineering degree from N.C. State—the duo had cut 11 songs and assembled its first album, 2014’s Flintrock, a precocious and clever collection of rangy, lo-fi pop songs dashed with elements of classic rock, new wave, and pop punk. In 2016, they followed Flintrock with another five-day recording spree, yielding the punchier and more streamlined Passion Fruit. But when neither album managed

to find an audience, Winchop reached a crossroads. Slagle recalls, “We had a period of wondering, ‘Do we want to do a third one? Do we want to do music anymore at all?’” “The logistics are super difficult because I’m Raleigh-based and Wilson goes to school in Syracuse, [New York],” Vieweg says. “I can’t keep doing this ‘11 songs in five days’ nonsense. So we had a big talk and were like, ‘Okay, let’s do it again, but let’s do it right,’” Vieweg says. Winchop partnered with Raleigh producer Ryan Chabon, of Crimson Moon Records, to give the forthcoming Look Who’s One! a fuller, more professional sound. But a bolder sound alone doesn’t help attract new listeners. The other side

of “doing it right” means marketing the music more effectively. “A lot of bands really suck at putting themselves out there and marketing themselves,” Slagle says. “I didn’t know this until we started trying.” But with a long-distance band neither able nor inclined to play the usual bar gigs, Winchop needed a different angle. They found it in June, when Slagle posted an Instagram video of himself playing The Beatles’ I Saw Her Standing There after a few drinks. Friends liked it. The band was inspired. Between recording sessions with Chabon, the pair started recording similar videos together, giving them the hashtag #whiskeycovers. The idea grew. “Once we turned it into a format,” Vieweg says, “we thought, ‘Okay, people are responding to this, how do we make it more interesting? How do we put ourselves out there a little bit more? We could actually do this at whiskey distilleries and whiskey bars.’” Before Slagle went back to school, the duo recorded covers at Mystic Distillery, TOPO Distillery, and Raleigh Rum Company, offering the local businesses a bit of potentially viral content, while helping to promote their own brand with the now-weekly series. The distillery videos are interspersed among clips of Vieweg and Slagle playing individually in living rooms or on Italian street corners. In addition to helping Winchop garner attention, the project has also affected the band’s artistic development. Exploring different styles and distilling popular songs to their most memorable 60 seconds have left an imprint on the duo. “Doing this has helped me grow as a singer and as a performer,” Vieweg says. And if the teaser single Meteoric Rise is any indication, that growth and polish promise to be on full display when Winchop’s third album arrives early this year.

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beer& barrel BAD PENNY LABEL DESIGNED BY SCOTT PRIDGEON, MCKINNEY, DURHAM

FULLSTEAM LABEL DESIGN BY HELMS WORKSHOP, AUSTIN. ILLUSTRATION BY KURT LIGHTNER

Labels With Artistic Allure BY JULIE JOHNSON

TWO GRAPHIC DESIGNERS WALKED THE aisles of a local bottle shop on a mission: Without consulting one another, pick a beer based solely on the design qualities of its label, then talk about their choices over a pint. The challenge: Identify which designs work, and why? Nancy Frame, who is the creative director of her own eponymous design company in Durham, selected Paycheck Pilsner from Fullsteam Brewery in Durham. The can is wrapped in golden yellow and the name of the beer scrolls across the label. The only image is a small top hat in the lower right corner. “It’s just a gorgeous label. The brandmark is really interesting with the backwards ‘F,’” Frame says, pointing to the company’s logo that appears on all

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its products. “Then there is the gorgeous typography, and the cute little hat illustration. But what really sold me was this copy: ‘Beer from the Beautiful South. Crisp. Dependable. Rewarding. You’ve earned it!’ It’s got a tongue-in-cheek message. The look is very organized and well thought-out. It made me think that if they put that much into this package, the beer has to be good.” The typography, she explains, encompasses the selection and arrangement of type. “Each letter has a relationship to the next; it flows together in this really pleasing way. It has a nostalgic, vintage look. There’s a lovely shadow, and some transparent ink that is almost metallic-y. Someone who worked on it knew what they were doing, and that deserves to be rewarded.” Her beer companion, David Watts, had

been tempted to pick the same beer. The typography struck him, too. “The interesting characters they created with the ‘y’—the way the tail loops around—and the ‘k’ fills that space,” he says. “They designed the name of the beer, that whole unit, as a single area on the label.” Instead, Watts, the creative director with MSA Marketing in Raleigh, chose Bad Penny Brown Ale from Raleigh’s Big Boss Brewing Company. In a silk-screened image on the bottle, a woman stares straight at the viewer, wearing stylized flowers in her hair. Her look is challenging or sultry; the hair could be a bouffant or an Afro. “I probably could have selected any of their beers: as a whole line they work well,” he explains. “It’s a very retro look, it has some really interesting icons and

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graphic images they use on each beer. One of the things that attracted me was the name of the beers—I’m just intrigued by Bad Penny. There’s another one called Angry Angel. I have no clue what they mean for the most part, but I’m intrigued.” The label includes boxes beside a cryptic checklist: “Heads? Tails?” The brand is a shield outline enclosing the brewery name. “You might expect to see this stenciled on the back of a World War II airplane,” Watts adds. Lines of stylized figures in groups of five suggest a tally. The two labels were similar in some ways, each featuring a retro sensibility and a limited palette of two or three colors. Some other labels on the shelves suffered by comparison. “There are some down there that have very elaborate illustrations, but you just kind of gloss over them,” Watts suggests. Frame had a different criticism. “There are a lot of bad looking labels. I saw a few that sort of put me off as a woman, a little misogynistic. That was kind of a turnoff.” In creating a label to catch a consumer’s attention, the designer has a canvas that measures a mere 3 by 3 inches, or so. “It needs few words, highly impactful visuals. You have to get their attention right away, and they have to sort of understand what you are trying to communicate quickly,” Watts says. But despite the limited space on each can or bottle, a unifying look across a whole brand can create what Frame calls a “billboard effect.” “You start seeing a pattern of repetition. It’s pleasing and creates strength on the shelf, something that’s consistent and powerful.” What competitors are doing is important, too. The Fullsteam and Big Boss images would not have been as effective if too many other North Carolina breweries were also going retro. “You want to zig when they zag,” Frame says. Ultimately, of course, all that a good design can do is tempt a consumer to pick up the bottle or can. If the contents disappoint, no amount of gorgeous typography will guarantee a second sale.

midtown living

Exercise for Mind, Body, and Soul BY CAROL WILLS | PHOTOS COURTESY OF TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH

EVER WAKE UP ON A COLD, DREARY winter day and wish you had somewhere to go exercise? How about a spacious, airy, state-of-the-art recreation center right in North Hills that welcomes everyone? The mission of the Recreation Outreach Center (ROC), part of the Trinity Baptist Church campus on Six Forks Road, is to reach out to the community for Christ by providing a place that is safe and welcoming to everyone. It’s a place to restore not only your physical health, but your spiritual health as well. Associate Pastor Spencer Good notes there is an increase in attendance in the winter, especially for the walking track, as folks seek an indoor facility. The Reverend Good, associate pastor, oversees a program flexible

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enough to suit everyone’s needs. A graduate of East Carolina, Good majored in Exercise and Sports Science with an emphasis in Sports Medicine. He is also a first-degree black belt in taekwondo. In addition, Good, who joined the staff of Trinity in 2005, holds a Master of Divinity with languages from Campbell University Divinity School. Good’s outlook on sports, exercise, and spirituality is reflected in the motto of the ROC: “Play with a Purpose.” While the indoor suspended walking track on the second floor is one of the most popular aspects, especially in the winter, the ROC has full-size basketball and volleyball courts, a game room equipped with a pool table, and men’s and women’s locker rooms equipped with showers.

ASSOCIATE PASTOR SPENCER GOOD

If what you need is cardio fitness equipment, there’s plenty to choose among. How about a Matrix Upper Body Spin Bike, LifeFitness Activate Commercial Treadmill, LifeFitness Activate Elliptical Cross-Trainer, LifeFitness Activate Recumbent Bike, LifeFitness Activate Upright Bike, or an Octane Seated Elliptical? The variety of machines available ensures you’ll never get bored. And, no matter our age, we all could stand to be stronger. The ROC supplies six varieties of strength-training machines, including a chest press, shoulder press, leg press, and a bicep/ tricep machine—to name just a few. If fitness classes appeal to you, you have quite a choice. If your preference is for a class more attuned to the needs of

RECREATION OUTLOOK CENTER TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH 4815 SIX FORKS ROAD 919.787.3740 HOURS: MONDAY, TUESDAY, AND THURSDAY: 8AM–2PM AND 3–8PM WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY: 8AM–2PM SATURDAY: 8AM–2PM SUNDAY: CLOSED

seniors, you might consider the Senior Adult Bend and Stretch class, which meets on Tuesday mornings. For a monthly fee of $30, you can purchase a fitness pass and sign up for any number of different classes; or you can pay $5 for individual classes. Check the website, ROCRaleigh.com, for class times and descriptions. Also on the website, look for announcements of special events related to fitness, such as golf tournaments and 5K runs. These classes and events offer a great way to meet people and have fun. There are no contracts to sign, but each person who uses the ROC is required to complete a form and obtain a scan card that is used to access the facility. Pastor Good says that the ROC takes security very seriously and has a number of safety protocols in place. According to the ROC’s policy statement, children in the fifth grade or younger must be accompanied by an adult. Since the ROC is an outreach ministry extension of Trinity Baptist Church, it is open to church members and non-members alike. All members of the church are encouraged to bring guests. The tournaments, games, and special events attract many members of the community. For instance, the ROC’s North Hills 5K run, which takes place in September, is one way that the ROC reaches out to other churches and individuals to join together in raising funds for North Raleigh Ministries. This run benefits the Backpack Buddies program, which supplies food over the weekends for children who are food-insecure.

CONGRATULATIONS to Dr. Jeff Roberts, Senior Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church, on receiving the Midtown Hero Award presented by Midtown Raleigh Alliance in December.

midtownmag.com | 31

downtown vibes

ELLIE MAY WANDERS OVER FROM BRIGGS HARDWARE TO NAP AT READ WITH ME.

Story Time in the City Downtown Raleigh’s only children’s bookstore has created a diverse and welcoming sanctuary that’s also reflected in the books on its shelves. BY CORBIE HILL | PHOTOS BY JOE REALE

EVEN ON A COLD DAY, IT’S WARM BY the front window in Read With Me. At about noon, the sun’s high enough to shine over the tops of the downtown buildings, but still low enough to cast its rays directly into this children’s bookstore. And this is about when Ellie May, an easygoing yellow lab with a flamingo pattern on her collar, likes to wander over from Briggs Hardware next door for a nap in a sunny spot she has claimed as her own. It goes both ways, Read With Me owner Christine Brenner points out. Her 6-year-old son Ethan really likes to go

next door to Briggs. So the hardware store borrows the bookstore kid, while the bookstore borrows the hardware store dog. It’s one of many connections that make Brenner feel like she opened in the right place. “I don’t know that we could have survived in another part of the city,” she says. With Marbles Kids Museum half a block east and the science and history museums just three blocks north, Read With Me has placed itself squarely in downtown Raleigh’s family-friendly nucleus. Brenner’s seen her shop CHRISTINE BRENNER, OWNER OF READ WITH ME

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READ WITH ME, A CHILDREN’S BOOK & ART SHOP 111 East Hargett Street | ReadWithMe.us

become a part of many family outings: They start at Marbles, come by Read With Me for a story and a craft, then grab lunch and head to the museums in the afternoon. This is downtown’s only dedicated children’s bookstore, and Brenner feels right at home behind its counter. “My background is in teaching and English,” she says. “Most recently, I was an elementary school librarian. This is all the things I love and that I’m good at.” The idea came about as Ethan neared elementary school age and Brenner thought about restarting her career. She considered returning to the school system, yet she’d long nurtured a dream of opening her own business. So when Ethan started kindergarten at The Raleigh School, his mom opened Read With Me. The shop has only been open since April, yet it’s already made a notable impact on this stretch of Hargett Street. Evelyn Davis at Briggs Hardware sums up Read With Me’s value to downtown: “Children,” she says, her face practically glowing as she thinks about the youthful energy of the bookstore’s customers. “[It’s brought] lots and lots of children, and an excitement that we haven’t had without the young folks around.” The bookstore has been “an instant success” for downtown, Davis adds. And it fills a special niche: There are not many places you can come and read with your children.” Brenner attracts a loyal following by stocking a variety of children’s books, representing children of all backgrounds, and by scheduling story times and workshops in the Read With Me teaching nook. She wants her store to be a source

of good reading material, true, but also a social center for local families. So Brenner also invites local artists to lead classes in the teaching space. “I like that it’s a space that’s not just about me and my books,” she says. In story times and in the books she orders, Brenner works to be as inclusive as possible. Early on, she reached out to the LGBT Center of Raleigh to offer her store as a resource or a potential host for any of its events. Among the LGBT Center’s suggestions: How about a drag queen story time? It’s tough for teens to grow up and have questions about their gender or sexual identity, Brenner says. She knows, too, that children of color need to see themselves reflected in books. Historically, there’s been precious little diversity in children’s lit. There’s data to back this up, Brenner asserts, and she wants to rectify the inequalities, at least within the walls of her shop. It’s important to her to run a store that reflects good values, and that means creating an opening, welcoming place for all families. “That’s something I try to do when I pick all my books; I work to give people a place on the shelf,” she says. Yet what about Brenner’s own son? She worried a little bit that Ethan would tire of the bookstore, particularly since he’s there so often. That hasn’t happened at all—Ethan loves going next door to visit his friends at Briggs Hardware, and he’s consistently thrilled by the books on the Read With Me shelves. “I’ve seen him talk to other kids about books better than I ever could,” Brenner says. “’You should read this. It’s all about this and this and this.’ He’s a very good salesman, apparently.” midtownmag.com | 35

raising thebar

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Caring for Children ANSWERING CONCERNS ABOUT PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES.

Who pays child support?

Both parents, whether biological or adoptive, are required to share financial responsibility to support their children. The legal parents are deemed to be primarily responsible for a child’s financial support. Only in rare, case-specific situations may a grandparent or stepparent be responsible for paying child support.

How is the amount of child support determined? Child support is typically determined by the North Carolina Child Support Guidelines (NCCSG), which provides three separate worksheets to help determine obligation for child support. These worksheets vary depending on custodial schedules:

Have a question? Let us hear it: info@midtownmag.com

MeettheCounsel Melanie C. Phillips Ms. Phillips is an associate attorney with Wake Family Law Group and handles all aspects of North Carolina family law. Wake Family Law Group wakefamilylawgroup.com This is paid legal advertisement. The information contained in this article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. No attorney client relationship is created by the publication and reading of this article. All domestic matters are different and all specific questions should be directed to an attorney who can answer those questions and provide legal advice based on your unique circumstances.

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• Worksheet A is typically used when a custodial parent has more than 243 overnights per year with the child. • Worksheet B is typically used when the parents share custody, and both parents have more than 123 overnights per year with the child. • Worksheet C is typically used for split-custody situations, or when one child lives primarily with one parent and another child lives primarily with the other parent. The NCCSG calculates the monthly obligation using a formula that includes each parent’s gross income, the custodial schedule, responsibility for other children (that a parent has with someone else), child support that a parent is paying for other children, and—in some cases—extra expenses (or “adjustments”), such as work-related childcare costs, health insurance premium expenses for the child, and extraordinary expenses (e.g., expenses related to private school that meets a child’s particular needs). The guidelines

are presumptive, and, in certain instances, the court may deviate from the prescribed NCCSG amount and order a parent to pay less or more. The guidelines are not used if the combined gross monthly income of the parents is greater than $25,000.

How do I demand, or pay, child support? Child support may be paid through an agreement between the parents or through order of the court. If the parties cannot agree, then a complaint for child support (which initiates a lawsuit) must be filed to obtain a court order. You should always keep receipts of all payments made to the other parent until child support is determined by agreement or by court order.

How long do I have to pay child support? In North Carolina, child support is typically paid until a child graduates from high school or reaches age 18, whichever occurs later (unless the child is emancipated before age 18). Child support payments may be extended until age 20 (but not beyond age 20) if a child is still in high school and making successful progress toward the completion of a high school degree. It is important to remember that, in certain situations, child support may be modified by the court until it terminates.

financial focus

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Ready to Build Your Dream Home? SMART FINANCING IS THE BEST FOUNDATION. BY PAUL BAGGETT, ALLURE HOMES

IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING BUILDING a new home, you may already know that square footage and ceiling height aren’t the only numbers you will encounter in the process. When it comes to financing a new home build, homeowners who understand their options are better prepared to choose the one that fits their unique needs—allowing maximum flexibility and cost savings throughout the construction process and over the life of the loan.

BUILDER FINANCING In some cases, it may be preferable to have the builder carry the construction loan. If you plan to live in your current home while the new one is built, you may have some uncertainty about the prospect of two mortgages, even for a limited time, so builder financing is attractive. However, if you own the lot where the new home is being built, you should be prepared to pay additional fees when the property title is conveyed to the builder for the duration of construction, only to be conveyed back to you when construction is complete. It also helps to understand the role that risk plays when deciding who will

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finance a new home’s construction: It is customary for a builder to receive a 10 percent deposit from the client and to assume a longer financing period when agreeing to finance the loan. In the end, however, homeowners pay more when such arrangements are made.

HOMEOWNER FINANCING Many clients appreciate the advantages of a construction-to-permanent, or CP, loan. This mortgage option results in significant savings by requiring only one set of closing costs— combining the construction phase of financing and the permanent loan into one transaction, with the closing paid up front. Homeowners can also lock-in a favorable interest rate when a CP loan is initiated, typically eight to 12 months before the permanent loan goes into effect at the completion of construction. This alleviates concern about market stability. Additionally, most CP loans offer interest-only payments during the construction phase, and only on funds disbursed. If you are also paying a mortgage on your current residence, this helps you manage monthly living expenses. In addition to these financial benefits, clients who opt for a CP loan appreciate the flexibility that comes with financing their own custom build. A builder is likely to be more receptive to design modifications when the client is financing. And, fewer time constraints mean less pressure when it comes to selecting features and finishes. This can result in a more enjoyable, less stressful process for everyone involved.

foodie focus ON THE

ROAD

Ed Hall is bringing a new franchise to the Triangle called Mr. Sticky’s. It’s a food trailer that serves up sticky buns. Wha?? Sign me up!! Mr. Sticky’s, which operates in Pennsylvania and New York, has a big following. Welcome to the South! They are targeting a January 20th launch.

Come Hungry! RALEIGH TRIANGLE RESTAURANT NEWS BY SEAN LENNARD, TRIANGLE FOOD GUY, TRIANGLEFOODBLOG.COM

Sean Lennard has been catering in the Triangle for more than 15 years, and his blog is a go-to foodie hotspot. He taps into local restaurant partners and his online catering business, Triangle Food Guy, serves events of all sizes. Check out TriangleFoodBlog.com for weekly news.

Annelore’s German Bakery, owned by Norbert and Annelore Gstattenbauer, opened December 15th in its new building at 308 W. Chatham Street in downtown Cary. The Gstattenbauers have been operating their home-based bakery since they moved to the area in 2008. They also sell their goods at the Western Wake Farmers Market and State Farmers Market.

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The dates for the Lucy Daniels Center 2018 version of their popular Cooking for a Classic have been set. This year’s event consists of three rounds and eight chefs vying to win a restored ’49 truck. It is gorgeous! The first round kicks off on Monday, January 22nd, and continues through the week. The semifinals are the following week, and the final showdown will be on Wednesday, February 7th. This year’s competing chefs are Trey Cleveland of Top of the Hill, Chapel Hill; Matt Hannon of Ironwood Café, Southern Pines; Jonathan Ballard of Dean’s Kitchen + Bar, Cary; James Patterson of McConnell Golf Dining; Troy Stauffer of City Club Raleigh; Aaron Matyac of Whiskey Kitchen, Raleigh; Dean Thompson of Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel; and Nick Fay of Coquette, Raleigh. Big news out of downtown Raleigh is that Weaver Street Market, a popular co-op food market founded in Carrboro nearly 30 years ago, will be opening a new location at The Dillon in Raleigh’s Warehouse District in late summer. While I normally don’t cover grocery store news, I have enjoyed

some great meals over the years at the other Weaver Street locations. The ITB Insider and The News & Observer both reported that, after closing Cafe Lucarne in March in City Market, the owners of Royale have re-opened a new concept in the same location as simply Lucarne. Co-owner Jesse Bardyn said the new Lucarne will focus on small plates to snack on while imbibing on cocktails, wine, and beer. The new chef is Bobby McFarland, who was previously the chef de cuisine at Royale. Over on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh, the ITB Insider also reported that Penn Station East Coast Subs will be serving its signature sandwiches from the ground floor of the Stanhope, at 3001 Hillsborough Street. They already have locations in Cary, Durham, Morrisville, and North Raleigh. And after months of anticipation, downtown Cary welcomed the opening of the Postmaster Restaurant and Bar in December. Located at the corner of E. Cedar Street and N. Walker Street, Postmaster is the creation of Tyler Watt, who also owns and operates Pharmacy Bottle & Beverage just a block away.

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home styler

Cozy Spaces, Candlelight, and Warm Fires

A Place to Gather

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THE BITTER COLD OF WINTER CAN keep everyone indoors. Having a warm, welcoming place to gather is key. An overstuffed sofa by the fire with snuggly blankets and fun pillows begs you to kick off your snow boots, relax, and enjoy your mug of cocoa. Don’t forget the aromatics! Potpourri keeps the house smelling great, and scented candles add a warm glow while tantalizing the nose with invigorating or relaxing scents. When you have to step outside, wrap up tight in a beautiful cashmere scarf. You can even gather outside around the fire pit and roast marshmallows for s’mores! It’s easy to keep the dark days of winter at bay when you have all the things to stay warm and cozy with your loved ones. 1

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Breathe in flexibility, freedom, and balance. Exhale stress, overload, and chaos. 2018 is here. Kick things off by restoring balance and relaxation to your life. If you’re like most of us, you’re busier than ever, run ragged, and stressed to the max. It’s so easy to get caught up in the rush to accomplish tasks—trying to get it all done. Want to maintain a better work/life balance? Try these simple stress-busters:

SCHEDULE TIME TO UNPLUG If you don’t schedule time to unplug, it may never happen. So, schedule it! Block out personal time and commit to shutting down work, taking a break from chores, and simply relax. Use this time for activities that don’t require a lot of brainpower. Maybe take a nap, indulge in a moment of calming self-care, or spend time with the family. Whatever the activity, take a load off!

JOURNAL YOUR THOUGHTS Whether you consider yourself an internal or external processor, journaling helps clarify your thoughts and clear your head. Journaling also allows you to know yourself better, reduce stress, and solve problems more effectively. Write it down and let it go. You’ll feel better once you get your thoughts on paper.

GET OUTSIDE Take a brisk walk. Breathe in the fresh air. Go on a hike. Spend time outdoors to refresh your perspective. Nature produces many benefits—bringing peace, spurring weight loss, increasing brain function, amplifying vitamin D absorption, and even helping you age more gracefully.

OUTSOURCE THE EXCESS Focus on your strengths and outsource the rest. Stop giving your attention to pesky chores. Instead, offload tasks that don’t require your undivided attention. No time to clean your home? Hire a housekeeper. Clutter creeping into your space? Bring in an organizer. Identify your time-sucks and see what you can delegate.

The information on this page is provided by the advertiser mentioned above to the public.

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Considering Hair Color? HERE ARE A FEW PRO TIPS TO HELP YOU DECIDE. BY ASHLEY COLLINS, PLUM HAIR ATELIER

WITH THE LATEST TRENDS IN HAIR color being all over the spectrum, there’s almost no limit to what you can choose. Whether you’re looking for a seamless color melt or a rainbow of hues, versatility abounds—given a highly skilled hairdresser. The new techniques present both a nice change and a new challenge for those of us in the industry, and I’d like to share some helpful tips and industry knowledge so your next hair venture is precisely what you want. Expectations are always a great starting point. Know your hair’s limits, but also its full potential. You will be asked your hair history; the more detail you share, the better. On average, hair grows six inches a year, so if your hair is below your shoulders—or even longer—your hair history can encompass a few years.

This history must be considered when talking hair color. The type of color you’ve previously had—permanent, semi-permanent, or lightener—may determine the plan of action. For instance, if you’ve enjoyed the past two years with deep red tones, the expectation of being a platinum blonde in one appointment is simply unrealistic. The key is to know your hair history, have a thorough consultation with your stylist, and agree on a realistic vision for your hair. Equally important: Be honest about your desired level of maintenance. Completely honest. Loving your hair should be year-round, not just the first two weeks after having services done. Wanting low-maintenance color is

understandable, but acknowledging what you really want to do over the coming weeks and months is necessary so your stylist can suggest the best technique. There’s a simple way to gauge the level of maintenance that will be needed: The farther from your natural color you go, the higher the maintenance. So, that lavender you love will be almost triple the upkeep of a seamless, sun-kissed balayage blonde. Our goal is always to create a look harmonious with your style, while preserving and protecting the components to keep your hair healthy. Seek out welltrained stylists, use professional products, and love your hair!

The information on this page is provided by the advertiser mentioned above to the public.

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style line EUNICE JOHNSON AT WORK, 1970

An Empire of Empowerment BY RUHAMA WOLLE | PHOTOS COURTESY OF NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF ART

FASHION, HISTORY, AND COMPETITION coalesce at this year’s Ebony Fashion Fair. Since 1958, the Ebony Fashion Fair has exhibited exquisite ensembles that give vision to black America through fashion. At its inception, creator Eunice W. Johnson wanted every woman to experience fashion—and she overcame racial prejudice to create a world that really didn’t exist before. In a time when European fashion houses were segregated, Johnson was determined. Essentially by taking European fashions and putting them on

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black and brown models, she was able to influence perception so that people finally got a sense and a celebration of black style. Johnson’s imagination for her community created a surreal and inclusive consumer culture for AfricanAmericans to explore design, fashion, and art. It’s a culture that has evoked a lasting impact: “The first time I saw women who looked like me be so fashionable was in the pages of Ebony,” says Desirée Rogers, former White House social secretary who is now CEO of

Johnson Publishing Company. What started as a fashion show to raise money for a hospital in New Orleans has evolved into one of the largest traveling fashion tours of today, raising more than $55 million for charity. Designers including Oscar de la Renta, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, and Valentino came to respect Johnson, who is being honored as part of the “Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair” at the North Carolina Museum of Art. Open to the public from October 28th through January 21st, the exhibit

features 40 ensembles from various designers as well as photographs and memorabilia from Ebony magazine. In many of the garments in the exhibit, you see a combination of diva stage wear and avant-garde pieces. One particular piece—the “I Love Fashion Scandal” (Fall/ Winter 1986) by black designer Patrick Kelly—reveals the current conversation in fashion of “color and diversity.” His piece is a play on racial stereotypes in the U.S. from bygone eras. On the front of the gown is a facial caricature that relates back to the images of pickaninnies in the early 1900s. Kelly’s life and business partner, Bjorn Guil Amelan, explains that deliberately “focusing on stereotypes in his work was his way of celebrating [diversity], not hiding it. He wanted to make it ours and remove the poison.”

midtownmag.com | 51

DESIREE HEDRICK, A STUDENT AT NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY, TOOK HOME THE 1ST PLACE BEST OF SHOW AWARD AND A $1000 PRIZE.

To celebrate the opening of the “Inspiring Beauty” exhibit, a memorable runway fashion show featured design students from local universities: Appalachian State, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina State, and UNC-Greensboro. The students competed for cash prizes and were evaluated by fashion industry icons, including Zang Toi, Faye Clerk Moseley, and Victor and Sarah Lytvenenko of Raleigh Denim. Desiree Hedrick, a student at N.C. A&T, took home the 1st Place Best of Show award and a $1000 prize. Her winning entry, titled “Power Meets Beauty,” was a purple jumpsuit with a wire vest. During the event, former model Shayla Simpson explained, “We touched so many lives, it wasn’t just about the models being on stage and selling beautiful fashions across the country and entertaining people. Thousands of young people went to college because of Ebony Fashion Fair.” The exhibit at the N.C. Museum of Art showcases how Eunice Johnson shaped fashion as a whole, paved the way for African-Americans in the industry, and ultimately challenged the concept of beauty.

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giving back

Living Out the Bucket List A LOCAL FOUNDATION HELPS MAKE WISHES COME TRUE FOR ADULTS WITH CANCER. BY CORBIE HILL | PHOTOS COURTESY OF FILL YOUR BUCKET LIST FOUNDATION

BETWEEN THANKSGIVING AND THE New Year, Peggy Carroll’s nonprofit granted seven wishes to adults coping with cancer. The wishes ranged from crosscountry travel (a son was flown home for the holidays) to a local trip (one woman simply wanted to see Christmas lights). From big to small dreams, the Fill Your Bucket List Foundation obliged, making the holidays just a little bit happier for seven patients and their families. But that was only a portion of the 2017 giving for this Cary-based nonprofit. In just a few years, Fill Your Bucket List Foundation has risen to many challenges for granting the bucket list wishes of financially disadvantaged cancer patients, mostly within North Carolina. “We just celebrated our third anniversary,” Carroll says. “The first year we did two wishes, and by the end of ‘17, we [granted] 60 wishes. We have been busy.”

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Carroll knows firsthand how important it is for cancer patients to live their dreams. A little over nine years ago, it was her own father’s terminal cancer diagnosis that started this entire mission. He had late-stage lung cancer and Carroll, who has worked in cancer patient advocacy for 35 years, knew there wasn’t much time. So she asked, “What do you want to do? What is your bucket list?” Her dad’s wishes revolved around his grandchildren, Carroll’s children, who were in high school at the time. He wanted to see them play in the school band competitions, and he got his wish. He succumbed the next day, his bucket list complete. Carroll knew then that she wanted to do the same thing for other cancer patients, especially those who didn’t have the means to live their dreams. A few years later, she was able to launch Fill Your Bucket List Foundation.

“Our mission is to grant wishes to North Carolina patients who have cancer, also are struggling financially, and are over 19 years old—because Make a Wish does such a great job under 19,” Carroll says. “We help people who couldn’t afford to do what they wanted to do … maybe have a little bit of time and wonderful memories where they’re not thinking about cancer for a little bit.” It works like this: There’s a form on the Fill Your Bucket List Foundation’s website where anyone can nominate a person. The Foundation’s two criteria are that the person needs to be below the poverty line and their doctor has to give permission for them to participate (especially if the wish involves travel). Cancer puts everyone in a financial strain, Carroll knows, but she feels people who have the means are more likely to be able to pursue bucket list items than patients who were impoverished even before their diagnosis.

“Unfortunately, the need is huge,” she says. “Cancer is huge, and everybody is touched by it.” Accordingly, Fill Your Bucket List wants to reach as many people as possible without losing its one-on-one emphasis: Each bucket list item, after all, is specific to the person and family touched by it. The wishes have included trips to New York City and Nashville, Tennessee. One golfer wanted to play Pinehurst No. 2, while others have taken their families to Disneyworld. Bucket list items run the gamut from seats at the Super Bowl and at Carolina/ Duke games, to birthday celebrations and anniversary parties. Some wishes are poignant for their simplicity.

ATTEND THE ANNUAL BUCKET BASH GALA, MARCH 24TH, AT NORTH RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB. “One lady—we could not get her to do anything for [herself]—but she wanted to buy gifts for her family. We said, ‘We will do it, but you have to buy yourself something at Walmart,” Carroll recalls. “We’ve had a lot of patients who want to see the ocean. They live here and they’ve never seen the ocean.” And this is one place where Fill Your Bucket List’s donors are able to step in and help: They’ll donate their beach house for a week to

wish recipients who want to see the sea. UNC students donate their time to work on the foundation’s PR, and volunteers range from individuals and families to youth groups and companies. These are the people who keep the foundation afloat. “Truly, Cary, Raleigh, and the Triangle are why we’re so effective,” Carroll says. “The people in this community are so giving of their time and their resources.” Every year, the foundation holds one big fundraiser: This year’s Bucket Bash will be March 24th at North Ridge Country Club in Raleigh, and this is when Fill Your Bucket List raises all the funds for a year’s worth of wish fulfillment. Wish recipients are invited to attend as the guests of honor, and the foundation is always looking for volunteers to help with the Bucket Bash. After all, this nonprofit has now checked off enough bucket list items to know the effect its work has. About half the people Fill Your Bucket List helps have positive health outcomes after having their wishes granted, Carroll notes. Indeed, many of them have simple, straightforward things they want to accomplish before they die, and seeing these things through is a relief and a cause for celebration. “I believe we all should live our bucket list all the time, but unfortunately sometimes it takes a diagnosis to go, ‘Okay, what do we want to do?’” Carroll says. “And then we do it. I’m a big believer of doing it all the time.”

LEARN MORE AT FILLYOURBUCKETLISTFOUNDATION.ORG

midtownmag.com | 55

tastes of the city

BY ASHLEY AND ANDREW

@RALEIGHFOODPICS

1 3

2 4

(1) FLASK & BEAKER at the Stateview Hotel; Bread Pudding with Pumpkin Spice Latte Ice Cream (2) AMORINO; Limited edition Valentine’s Rose with heart-shaped chocolate and pink macaron filled with sorbet (3) TWO ROOSTERS; Ice cream cone with Girl Scout Mint (bottom) Blackberry Hibiscus (top) (4) 41 HUNDRED; Chef’s Hot Cheesecake (5) 18 SEABOARD; Pecan Pie with Crispy Bacon (6) LA STELLA; S’mores Skillet with chocolate chip cookie dough, marshmallow, Videri chocolate chips, vanilla ice cream (7) ANGUS BARN; New York Style Cheesecake

Contact Raleigh Food Pics to be featured on their Instagram feed: Raleighfoodpics@gmail.com

56 | midtownmag.com

2017

DIAMOND

AWARD BEST DENTIST

IN THIS DYNAMIC AND DIVERSE METROPOLIS, LOCAL HAS ALL THE DIMENSIONS OF LIVING GLOBAL. BY CONNIE GENTRY

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T’S NOT JUST THE CITY OF OAKS dripping with Southern charm, now it’s a progressive and contemporary city that can lay claim to being the capital of the New South. Raleigh is starting another year with impressive credentials: Forbes named Raleigh the No. 2 Best Place for Business and Careers for 2017 (our city has ranked among the top three each of the past 15 years) and the No. 3 Best City for Young Professionals. In 2016, Money magazine named Raleigh the Best Big City in the Southeast. How big is big? Raleigh’s population in July 2016 was estimated at 458,880 (per the U.S. Census Bureau), but look ahead just a few years to 2025 and the population in the city proper is projected to exceed 500,000—this according to the City of Raleigh. If you consider the entire Raleigh metro area, it was already home to more than 1.3 million people in July 2016, and the U.S. Census Bureau has ranked Raleigh as the 14th fastestgrowing metropolitan area in the entire U.S. Even more than the numbers, quality of life factors that can’t be quantified are the reasons that college graduates come to live and work here, young families relocate to make this their home, and retirees see Raleigh as the perfect setting for another phase of life. Raleigh is a city for singles and seniors, artists and scientists, millennials on the fast track and entrepreneurs envisioning the future. And this is the premier city for young professionals like WakeMed neonatologist Dr. Claudia Tolentino Cadet, who has chosen this as the hometown where she and her husband, an orthopedic surgeon, will raise their two children, pursue their careers, and embrace all of the culture and diversity that our area has to offer. In the following pages, read more about Dr. Cadet and the nonprofits she is helping lead in other countries, as well as stories about an adventure-packed venue in downtown Raleigh, networking fun for singles of all ages, and profiles of four millennial leaders who are already making an impact.

midtownmag.com | 59

Claudia Tolentino Cadet’s story starts the way so many do: Her family moved to New York City from outside the U.S.— specifically from the Dominican Republic— to provide her with more opportunity.

A City Where

DIVERSITY

THRIVES

Then her story veers from the usual path and winds a circuitous route to Columbia University, The Dominican Republic (again), Columbia University (again), Raleigh, and back to the Dominican Republic yet a third time— with each step building on the last in a virtuous cycle.

Young professionals, like WakeMed neonatologist Dr. Claudia Tolentino Cadet, are bringing multicultural perspectives and expanding Raleigh’s reach throughout the world. 60 | midtownmag.com

BY LINDA FORMICHELLI PHOTOS BY DAVIES PHOTOGRAPHY

From Dream to Doctor Cadet’s father worked at Manhattan Mini Storage, and her family lived in the supervisor’s apartment. “I remember going on rounds with him, and attending a very cute Catholic school near Columbia,” she says. Cadet grew up telling herself she was going to attend Columbia, oblivious to any other university—and to how challenging it is to be accepted at Columbia, much less to succeed as a student there. Bergen County, New Jersey, was the family’s next stop, where Cadet spent her childhood—except for the summers in the Dominican Republic, where she went to summer camp and visited the beach with her grandmother. “That’s how I maintained the culture growing up, because otherwise I wouldn’t have had that much exposure to the Dominican Republic,” Cadet explains. “It’s part of the reason I feel so tied to the country.” Math, science, and reading were Cadet’s favorite subjects in school. She chose to major in English at Georgetown, then spent a year teaching English in Malaysia. With this background—not to mention being bilingual and an accomplished athlete—Cadet could have ended up anywhere. Professional sports, teaching, engineering, and writing were just a few of the options open to her. But during her first month in Malaysia, Cadet grew close with a group of fellow teachers who all happened to be in medical school. “It was a sign,” she says. “I fly all the way across the world, I’m not sure about what I’m supposed to do with my life, and here I am making friends with these medical students— and I’m so excited about what they’re doing.” So Cadet applied to medical school from Malaysia. She had only one week during a Thanksgiving visit to the U.S. to attend college interviews, which meant her list was limited to those that could accommodate her timing. The med school she ended up at? Columbia, of course.

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Manos de Ramon Foundation. The Dominican Republic has one of the worst neonatal and maternity mortality rates in Latin America, and this foundation aims to solve that crisis. “It’s a labor of love that Alex and I do in our ‘free time,’” laughs Cadet. “She has three boys. I call the foundation our ‘third full-time job.’” Manos de Ramon started with small NICU projects at a single hospital in Santiago, and now works with a network of five hospitals. Team members fly down to teach “master trainers” how to resuscitate babies, prevent postpartum hemorrhage, and provide other critical care. Those master trainers then train the providers in their respective hospitals. So far, more than 140 local providers have been trained, and they’re turning in reams of data to the foundation to measure the effects of the training. “We did collect some data on the first round,

2017

2016

During her residency in pediatrics, Cadet spent a month working in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). “It was the hardest month I had that year, but I really liked the immediate gratification: I’m at a delivery, and if a baby’s not breathing, I help the baby breathe and the baby gets better,” she says. “Working with the families adds an extra level of complexity that I love.” Cadet became a neonatologist in 2013, and—with her husband, an orthopedic surgeon, and their toddler son—moved to Raleigh, where she first worked with Rex Hospital/UNC, then moved to WakeMed’s Division of Neonatology in 2016. Yes: She had a baby while all this was going on, and a second child, her daughter, was born the year the family moved to Raleigh. In 2012 and 2013, she and Alexandra Leader, another pediatric specialist, were also busy creating the

and it basically shows us that despite the training, half the babies are still cold,” Cadet says. “I can’t even tell you what that would have been beforehand, but it gives us some [information] that we can feed back to the hospitals. On our next trip, we’re going to try to focus on those areas individually.” Recently Cadet opened a GoFundMe page to build support for Manos de Ramon and the work it is doing. (To learn more or make a donation, visit GoFundMe/ ManosDeRamonFoundation.) Cadet also works as a neonatal resource for the World Pediatric Project, which does the same type of work as Manos de Ramon, but in Belize. Her team’s trips to the small Central American country have not only taught them lessons about pediatric medicine, but also about diversity in the U.S.

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Raleigh Local Now Means Global Cadet and her family immediately felt like part of the Raleigh family when they moved here. Her husband is Haitian-American, making their family truly multicultural—and Cadet would love to see more diverse role models in the local media to reflect the Raleigh community. “I feel like the local media are the ones showcasing the local talent and doing community building,” she says. “Those are the media that are really important because, yeah, you can have Lupita Nyong’o on the cover of Vogue, but that’s very removed from what your local community is doing.” Through her work with the World Pediatric Project, Cadet has discovered that diversity goes both ways. “I took a couple of my nurses to Belize, and two of them had never traveled outside of the country before,” she says. Her team was struck by how much people were doing with so few resources in Belize. Says Cadet, “That was a really cool cultural exchange. Part of this whole diversity issue is not just highlighting diversity here, but also having people go to other countries and see how they live there.”

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DR. CLAUDIA TOLENTINO CADET WITH HER CHILDREN, SOFIA (3) AND MARCUS (6).

Born in London, enjoyed around the world

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Nick Culpepper is frustrated. For the most part, the 30-year-old is doing just fine. He’s assistant manager at the popular Big Ed’s North restaurant. After almost a year of hazardous duty in Iraq, he came home without injury. And there’s another big event just around the corner. Nick’s happy about all of that. But he really wants to find the time to sing. His choice of music? Classical or musical theater. “I’m always singing,” he says. “I sing in my car all day long.” Nick started singing early. He performed in a statewide honors chorus in fourth and fifth grades, sang in three separate groups

THIS RESTAURANT MANAGER, ALSO AN ARMY VET AND NOW AN EXPECTANT FATHER, NURSES AN UNEXPECTED DREAM.

WHO SERVES DINNER BY ED BRISTOL PHOTOS BY DAVIES PHOTOGRAPHY

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in middle school, and appeared in musical theater at Athens Drive High School. For three years, he was cast in Raleigh Little Theater’s production of Cinderella and in his third year landed the prized role of Prince Charming. “That was the last show I did before I went in the Army,” he recalls. Deployed to Iraq, he was assigned to a reconnaissance team carrying out missions in the middle of Baghdad. His job was to scout unfamiliar territory for signs of the enemy, risking ambush and sniper fire. He feels blessed to have escaped injury, or worse, during his combat tour. “I did have friends who were killed,” Nick says quietly. “I feel very fortunate.” There were lighter moments, like the time he sang for fellow soldiers. He’d just returned from a recon mission, and his section sergeant told him, “You’re going to sing right now. You don’t have an option.” Even though he has no problem performing in front of thousands, it’s tougher for him to sing for people he knows. But an order is an order. “So I had some of my friends do backup,” he recalls, “and I sang My Girl. The guys were all extremely surprised.” You’d think after facing down enemy fire, not much would faze this combat veteran. However, he says—only halfjokingly—he’s “absolutely terrified about becoming a father.” But then adds, “I think it’s going to be a really fun experience.” Despite the rewards, he knows parental duties will likely add to the frustration he feels in putting off his singing pursuits. PHOTO COURTESY OF NICK CULPEPPER “It comes down to time. Most practices and rehearsals are at night,” he notes. At Big Ed’s, between coming in at lunch and closing the place in late evening, he covers a lot of bases— helping out in the kitchen when needed, scheduling the hostesses and servers, and making sure customers are happy. Downtown Raleigh’s original Big Ed’s is owned by his father and a partner. That deepens Nick’s commitment to his job at the North Raleigh off-shoot—and besides, he says, “I love this restaurant.” But he also loves the idea of joining up with a musical troupe—one in particular. “The North Carolina Master Chorale has been around forever,” he notes. “They sing opera, classical, a little bit of everything.” He’s confident his classically trained voice would fit right in. One of Nick’s performing indulgences is occasionally holding forth at the Blind Barbour bar, where he recently surprised and wowed patrons with Bring Him Home from Les Misérables. His high tenor framed the poignant prayer to bring a young man home safely from armed conflict: “He’s afraid. Let him rest. Heaven blessed. Bring him home ...” The lyrics resonate with this combat survivor who came home with body, soul—and a dream—intact. That dream gives way, for now, to helping run the Southern-cooking eatery and other requirements of daily life. But this Army vet still counts on a future navigating the high Cs.

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Escape from

REALITY It’s you and a group of people locked inside a room. Your goal is to use available clues to get out of the room before time is up. That’s the premise behind the shows offered at Raleigh Room Escapes. The owners have theatrical backgrounds and once you and a group of people are locked in a room to play, the story becomes the framework. The supporting elements are lighting, sound, and actors. “It was my first experience with an escape room,” says Amie Graham, a recent participant. “I was a little freaked out at first, but there was a lot of laughter and screams. It was definitely a good time and I want to do it again right away.” The stories that set the stage in the escape rooms offer a dose of fright. The

IT’S PART THEATER. PART PSYCHOLOGY. COMPLETELY ENGROSSING. BY CARLA TURCHETTI PHOTOS COURTESY OF RALEIGH ROOM ESCAPES

experiences are designed to be solved by groups of people, whether it’s a group of random strangers who bought tickets for the same time, a birthday party, a teambuilding event for co-workers, or just a fun time with friends. “I have only done one other escape room and it was less interactive,” says Chloe Enoch, who went with a group of friends. ”I also liked how they analyzed the group and gave a report on how each person did in the room.” Sociology comes into play as teams work together to escape. Data is collected during the show that looks deeper into the contributions of each player, including their strengths and weaknesses. That’s one of the attributes that make escape rooms popular with work teams.

“The room itself was fun and challenging, and afterwards we had opted for the analysis portion where they provided feedback on our team’s performance based on their observations while we were in the room,” says Jessica O’Keefe, who attended with a work group. Raleigh Room Escapes is in the midst of revamping each of its shows by coming up with all-new sequels. The old shows are being retired, and the new ones will debut this year. Tickets for shows are available online and the website offers guidance on which escapes are appropriate for children ages nine and up. Spend time in a room with a zombie. Or in a devil’s tramping ground. And just try to escape. Consider yourself dared.

CHECK IT OUT! RALEIGH ROOM ESCAPES | 1500 BROOKSIDE DRIVE, RALEIGH | 68 | midtownmag.com

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City of Singles EVEN WHEN YOU’RE GOING SOLO, RALEIGH HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. BY CARLA TURCHETTI

The world is not necessarily divided into pairs. U.S. Census data reports that unmarried individuals make up 45 percent of all adults across the country. In Raleigh, the singles scene is vibrant. Here are some of the best resources for singles in the Triangle:

ADVENTURING NEAR AND FAR Members of The Never Travel Solo Social Club in Raleigh share a love of adventure that takes them around the corner and around the world. There are outings to local restaurants and historical attractions as well as group travel opportunities to places like Thailand or Hawaii. “Our trips are so popular that they not only sell out, they sell out quickly,” says Paul Cathcart, organizer of The Never Travel Solo Social Club. We just offered a trip to Tuscany in 2018 where we are renting a private villa, and it sold out the first hour it was posted. We ended up pulling together a second week that sold out just as quickly.” The club caters to singles but has welcomed couples in the past, as well as married travelers who vacation without their partners. “Our group is open to anyone and our motto for our trips is, “A week of travel, a lifetime of friendships”. Cathcart says traveling solo

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just isn’t the same as exploring with others. “It can be intimidating to go out by yourself, and it’s almost never as much fun when you don’t have others to share the adventure with.” Potential future travel opportunity: Exploring Croatia by yacht. Meetup.com/The-NeverTravel-Solo-Social-Club-Raleigh/

NEVER TOO OLD FOR FUN Ten years ago, Laura Kay House began Silver Connections in Raleigh as a vehicle to provide socializing opportunities for people age 55 and older. With an undergraduate degree in Social Work and a master’s degree in gerontology, House knew that older adults who were busy and active led more fulfilling and healthier lives. Silver Connections is a membership club that offers eight to 10 socializing opportunities in the Triangle each month, ranging from dining, wine tastings, and cooking lessons to theater performances, museums, and member mingles.. “The members really are role models to me,” House says. “I have people in the group who are 75 years old and going 100 miles an hour. They are doing my stuff, they are traveling, they are volunteering, and they are happy.” House says Silver Connections isn’t about matchmaking.

“We’re a little bit different because it is a full-time business and it isn’t about dating. We do have people date and I’m fine with that, I love playing Cupid, but that’s not the reason to join. The reason to join is to make some friends and have all these activities every month to look forward to.” House also owns Travel Memories, a separate travel company for people 55 and over, singles or couples. Silver Connections members get priority bookings, but those trips are open to all. Group activities and travel may be new territory for Silver Connections members. Some are widows or widowers. Others became single by divorce. House meets with each person before they join, and she also keeps the group at a stable size so that gatherings do not become too large and overwhelming. And there is no shortage of places to go or activities to do. “I am very fortunate to be in this area because there is so much going on,” House says. “There is so much to do, it’s just great.” Silverconnections.org

INVITATION-ONLY DATING APP DEBUTS IN RALEIGH Blind dates have gone virtual and those old-fashioned personal ads have been replaced by social media, dating apps, and online connections. Some of the most active dating apps include Tinder, Match.com, and Coffee Meets Bagel. And a newcomer to Raleigh’s singles scene is The League, which is an invitationonly dating app that launched here in November. The mission of The League is to put together power couples. In key markets across the country, The League uses a selective admissions process that relies on data and social graphs from Facebook and LinkedIn to curate a community of high achievers. The company says it handpicked 500 Raleigh-area singles for the launch and has another 2,500 on the waitlist. Theleague.com

FAITH-BASED FUN AND FELLOWSHIP Night on the Town is a series of Triangle-area events designed to help Christian singles meet each other and socialize. The events range from dinners and holiday activities to sporting events and hikes. There are three rules surrounding each gathering: Respect each person’s home church; no alcohol allowed; and no dating during the events. If participants decide they would like to date someone else in the group, it is done outside of the regular Night on the Town events. Not all churches have a singles ministry, and this group is a way for singles to continue to attend their own churches while taking part in faith and fellowship with other single people. Nightonthetown2002.tripod.com midtownmag.com | 71

s l a i n n e l l i M OVE M E H ON T

RATION E N E G T REATES G CT. A T X P E M N I E E H IV HOW T A POSIT

NG I K A M S I

LA BY CAR

OTO I | PH CHETT

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WHILE ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TOUGH TO PERFECTLY define when a generation begins and ends, millennials are roughly considered to be those born near the beginning of the 1980s through the first years of the 2000s, with a little wiggle room on both sides. Known as both millennials and Generation Y, this is a group that grew up in the digital era, and is completely comfortable with communication and technology. And, contrary to many misconceptions, selfabsorbed entitlement is not a pervasive characteristic of this population. Instead, many in this generation have already set out to leave a unique imprint on the world. Here, we introduce four such rising stars in our community:

72 | midtownmag.com

REALE BY JOE

Keith Willis, 32 Case Manager, Haven House Services

Keith Willis has transitioned from the football field to the nonprofit sector. “Getting the opportunity to play football and then return as a graduate assistant coach at N.C. State was an incredible experience as it has opened my eyes to the importance of teamwork,” Willis says. “I had been inspired by many coaches, including my father, and I knew there was a bigger opportunity to inspire individuals and make a difference in our community. Once I transitioned out of coaching, I decided community development was my passion.” Currently Willis is a case manager on the team at Haven House Services in Raleigh, a program that provides services for at-risk youth in Wake County. Willis helps to determine what young clients need and how to provide them with those services. He is also chair of Haven House’s internal fundraising. “The Community Alternatives Program, CAP, provides alternatives for teens who have been involved in the justice system. It is meaningful for me to continually make an investment both in young people and in the Wake County community,” he says. Willis is an avid fisherman, cook, and gardener, and is involved with The Wedge Community Garden. He has been able to share his love of growing things with his young clients. His dream: “I would love to be able to end food deserts around the Triangle and have fresh, locally-grown produce available to all.” Willis and his wife are the proud parents of baby Emerson Jane, and he says his daughter is what actually keeps him on his toes. midtownmag.com | 73

Jennifer Holland, 28 Manager, Immersion Program for Vitality Hires, Sales Transaction Support, Enterprise Services, Transformation and Operations, IBM Jennifer Holland’s calendar is filled with projects in the workplace as well as projects in the community, and many times the two areas overlap. For IBM, she runs a new hire rotational program within the company’s supply chain organization. She created a program called T & O Get to Know, which gives new supply chain hires connections to social, educational networking events. She leads the Women’s Diversity Group on IBM’s RTP campus, and she is involved in Pathfinders, a mentor program between IBM and N.C. State University. Holland is a believer in giving back to the community. “I ask all of the employees on my team to volunteer and I encourage

74 | midtownmag.com

them, as well as my mentees, to be involved in the community and give back in some way they are passionate about,” Holland says. Holland is a co-organizer of the Triangle Volunteer Fair and Shindig, is involved in Leadership Raleigh– Class 33, is on the Emerging Leaders Board for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triangle, and is involved with the MS Society Leaders Circle, raising more than $5,000 for MS in 2017. How does she manage a schedule that full? “Everyone is busy, but it is all about how you prioritize your time and being intentional with each meeting or event you are at,” Holland says. “Try to be all there, wherever that may be.”

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Dan DeLeo, 36 Chief Operating Officer, Pool Professionals of the Carolinas Dan DeLeo turned his love of being on the swim team as a child into his career as COO of Pool Professionals of the Carolinas. In addition to a demanding job, Dan juggles a young family and his commitment to the community. “I am a firm believer that if you commit to something you need to give it your best effort,” DeLeo says. “And to enthusiastically give your best effort you should be thoughtful to commit only to things that you’re passionate about. I am passionate about our community and about helping children.” DeLeo is the immediate past president of the Board of Directors and current Board Member of SAFEChild, an organization dedicated to eliminating child abuse in Wake County by helping to create nurturing environments free from harm. “This is the only organization of its type in our area and, while the work can be sobering, it’s incredibly rewarding to see how passionate the staff is and how much of a difference they truly make in the worlds of the children and families they serve.

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PHOTO BY JOE REALE

In my mind, if there’s an opportunity to help even one child who would otherwise be living in fear, pain, or neglect, then helping in any small way is incredibly worthwhile. Fortunately, SAFEChild helps not one but more than 7,000 children and families per year. It’s easy to be passionate about an incredible cause such as this.” DeLeo is also a recent past president of the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professionals Network (YPN). “YPN is the only group that I know of in the area where a company can invest in their young talent for such an outstanding return on investment. And, for the young professionals themselves, it’s the only place where they can find continuing education, community involvement, and collaborative networking so accessible in one forum. For our region to continue to be successful, both now and down the road for our children, I believe it’s a worthwhile endeavor to champion what the Chamber is doing.” Dan and his wife Sara are parents to Grayson, 5, Quinn, 2, and Emil, 1.

Kacie Fore, 34

Government and Community Relations Manager, Duke Energy Kacie Fore is focused on building strong bridges between Duke Energy and the communities it serves. As government and community relations manager for the utility, she focuses on education as a key area of community support. “By focusing on a strong educational foundation, our communities will continue growing and producing skilled workers who bring new ideas and innovation to our lives,” Fore says. Educational initiatives include a STEM career event at Shearon Harris Nuclear Plant that reached 3,800 students across North Carolina last year. Fore has a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from St. Augustine’s University and an MBA from Meredith College. She’s active in Raleigh’s Junior League, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, SAFEChild, the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Network, and was a Triangle Business Journal pick for 40 Under 40 in 2016.

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2018

BEST RALEIGH the

Every year we ask our readers to vote for the Best of Raleigh, and more than 2,500 of you responded. This year we decided to expand our categories, and give you the top three winners for each. What follows is the best of the best; the winners that you, our readers, have decided to name as this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

DIAMOND AWARD

WINNERS! PHOTOS BY JOE REALE

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DINE & DRINK BEST RESTAURANT GOLD: Stanbury SILVER: Vivace BRONZE TIE: Poole’s Diner; Winston’s Grille

BEST N.C. BARBECUE GOLD: The Pit Authentic Barbecue SILVER: Clyde Cooper’s Barbeque BRONZE: Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q

BEST NEW RESTAURANT GOLD: Brewery Bhavana SILVER: Royale BRONZE: Crawford and Son

BEST BURGER GOLD: Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar SILVER: Chuck’s Burgers BRONZE: MoJoe’s Burger Joint

BEST PLACE FOR A ROMANTIC DINNER GOLD: Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern SILVER: Angus Barn BRONZE TIE: Herons at The Umstead; Sullivan’s Steakhouse

BEST PIZZA GOLD: Lilly’s Pizza SILVER: Trophy Brewing & Pizza BRONZE: Mellow Mushroom

BEST CHEF GOLD: Ashley Christensen SILVER: Scott Crawford BRONZE: Jeff Seizer BEST WAITSTAFF GOLD: Angus Barn SILVER: Winston’s Grille BRONZE: Sullivan’s Steakhouse

BEST FRIED CHICKEN GOLD: Beasley’s Chicken + Honey SILVER: Bojangles’ Famous Chicken ‘n Biscuits BRONZE: Royale

BEST BUSINESS LUNCH GOLD: The Capital Grille SILVER: Winston’s Grille BRONZE: Midtown Grille

BEST COMFORT FOOD GOLD: Poole’s Diner SILVER: Beasley’s Chicken + Honey BRONZE: Relish Craft Kitchen & Bourbon Bar

BEST OUTDOOR DINING OR PATIO GOLD: Vivace SILVER: Taverna Agora Greek Kitchen & Bar BRONZE: Whiskey Kitchen

BEST VEGETARIAN GOLD: The Fiction Kitchen SILVER: Irregardless Cafe & Catering BRONZE: The Remedy Diner

BEST PLACE TO IMPRESS A DATE GOLD: Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern SILVER: Angus Barn BRONZE: Herons at The Umstead

BEST CLEAN EATS GOLD: Raleigh Raw SILVER TIE: B.Good; Clean Eatz BRONZE: Happy + Hale

MOST KID-FRIENDLY DINING GOLD: The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar SILVER: Sassool BRONZE: Gonza Tacos y Tequila BEST BREAKFAST GOLD: Big Ed’s City Market Restaurant SILVER: Brigs Restaurants BRONZE: First Watch BEST WEEKEND BRUNCH GOLD: Coquette SILVER: Herons at The Umstead BRONZE: Brigs Restaurants 80 | midtownmag.com

BEST STEAKHOUSE GOLD: Angus Barn SILVER: Sullivan’s Steakhouse BRONZE: Vinnie’s Steak House & Tavern

BEST SPORTS BAR GOLD: Tobacco Road Sports Cafe SILVER: Carolina Ale House BRONZE: Yard House BEST PLACE TO HAVE A GIRLS NIGHT OUT GOLD: Vita Vite SILVER: Vivace BRONZE: Level7 BEST PLACE FOR DRINKS AFTER WORK GOLD: Level7 SILVER: Vivace BRONZE: The Raleigh Times

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BEST LOCAL BEER GOLD: Trophy Brewing Co. SILVER: Lynnwood Grill & Brewing Concern BRONZE: Raleigh Beer Garden BEST PLACE TO GRAB A GLASS OF WINE GOLD: Vita Vite SILVER: Vivace BRONZE: Bella Monica BEST SPOT FOR A CRAFT COCKTAIL GOLD: Fox Liquor Bar SILVER: Watts & Ward BRONZE: C. Grace BEST DIVE BAR GOLD: Slim’s Downtown Distillery SILVER: The Players’ Retreat BRONZE: The Goat BEST NEW BAR GOLD: Watts & Ward SILVER: Level7 BRONZE TIE: Milk Bar; Whiskey Kitchen BEST BREAD BAKERY GOLD: Yellow Dog Bread Company SILVER: La Farm Bakery BRONZE: Boulted Bread

BEST CAKES/SWEETS GOLD: Lucettegrace SILVER: Edible Art Bakery & Dessert Café BRONZE: Hayes Barton Café & Dessertery BEST PLACE FOR DESSERT GOLD: Hayes Barton Café & Dessertery SILVER: Bittersweet BRONZE: Lucettegrace BEST ICE CREAM GOLD: Goodberry’s Frozen Custard SILVER: FRESH. Local Ice Cream BRONZE: Two Roosters Ice Cream BEST FOOD TRUCK GOLD: Cousins Maine Lobster SILVER: Chirba Chirba Dumpling Truck BRONZE: Gonza Tacos y Tequila BEST CHEAP EATS GOLD: Snoopy’s Hot Dogs & More SILVER: Cook Out BRONZE TIE: Char-Grill; Mami Nora’s Rotisserie Chicken

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SHOPPING & SERVICES BEST SHOPPING CENTER GOLD: North Hills SILVER: Cameron Village BRONZE: Crabtree Valley Mall BEST FLORIST GOLD: Fallon’s Flowers SILVER: The English Garden BRONZE: Davenport at Five Points BEST PLACE TO BUY DESIGNER JEWELRY GOLD: Bailey’s Fine Jewelry SILVER TIE: Diamonds Direct; Raleigh Diamond BRONZE: Fink’s Jewelers 82 | midtownmag.com

BEST PLACE FOR CUSTOM JEWELRY GOLD: Raleigh Diamond SILVER: Bailey’s Fine Jewelry BRONZE: Diamonds Direct BEST PLACE TO BUY WEDDING RINGS GOLD: Diamonds Direct SILVER: Raleigh Diamond BRONZE: Bailey’s Fine Jewelry BEST RESALE/CONSIGNMENT CLOTHING GOLD: dress. SILVER: Revolver Consignment Boutique BRONZE: ADORE Designer Resale Boutique BEST WINE/BEER STORE GOLD: Total Wine & More SILVER: Taylor’s Wine Shop BRONZE: The Raleigh Wine Shop BEST YOUTHFUL WOMAN’S BOUTIQUE GOLD: Uniquities SILVER: Bevello BRONZE: Vestique

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BEST MEN’S BOUTIQUE GOLD: Kannon’s Clothing SILVER: Nowells Clothiers BRONZE: Liles Clothing Studio

Premium Foods Free Dog Food Delivery Training Collars & Leads Baked Treats Grooming Self-Wash Accessories Toys & More

BEST STORE FOR VINTAGE OR ANTIQUES GOLD: Father and Son Antiques SILVER: Hunt & Gather BRONZE: SuzAnna’s Antiques BEST GARDEN CENTER GOLD: Logan’s Garden Shop SILVER: Homewood Nursery BRONZE: Atlantic Gardening Company BEST POP-UP MARKET GOLD: Sola Pop-Up Market SILVER: Pop-Up Raleigh BRONZE: N.C. State Farmers Market BEST PLACE TO BUY LOCALLY MADE GOODS GOLD: DECO SILVER: N.C. State Farmers Market BRONZE: NOFO @ the Pig

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BEST FURNITURE STORE GOLD: Green Front Interiors & Rugs SILVER: Ethan Allen BRONZE TIE: Havertys; Nadeau BEST HOME DÉCOR GOLD: HomeGoods SILVER: Inspirations Home Decor & More BRONZE TIE: DECO; Furnish BEST PLACE TO BUY A UNIQUE GIFT GOLD: Raleigh Diamond SILVER: DECO BRONZE TIE: Charlotte’s; Zest Café & Home Art BEST LOCAL SPORTING GOODS STORE GOLD: Omega Sports SILVER TIE: Great Outdoor Provision Co.; Johnson-Lambe Co. BRONZE: Runologie BEST PLACE TO FIND DENIM GOLD: Raleigh Denim SILVER: Uniquities BRONZE: Belk BEST PLACE TO FIND MEN’S SHOES GOLD: Belk SILVER: Nordstrom BRONZE TIE: Kannon’s Clothing; Nowells Clothiers midtownmag.com | 83

BEST PET BOARDING Dog Diggity Daycare & Boarding

BEST PLACE TO BUY WOMEN’S SHOES GOLD: Main & Taylor SILVER: DSW BRONZE: Nordstrom BEST LOCAL PET STORE GOLD: Unleashed SILVER: Phydeaux BRONZE: Woof Gang Bakery BEST PET GROOMING GOLD: Woof Gang Bakery SILVER: PetSmart BRONZE: Canine Country Club & Pet Hotel BEST PET BOARDING GOLD: Dog Diggity Daycare & Boarding SILVER: Suite Paws Pet Resort & Spa BRONZE: FURbaby Pet Sitters BEST VETERINARIAN GOLD: Armadale Animal Hospital SILVER: Care First Animal Hospital BRONZE: Hayes Barton Animal Hospital BEST CATERING GOLD: Catering Works SILVER: Rocky Top Catering BRONZE: Ladyfingers Caterers 84 | midtownmag.com

BEST HOME CLEANING GOLD: Molly Maid SILVER: Merry Maids BRONZE TIE: The Other Woman, Inc.; Metro’s Other Woman of the Triangle BEST PRIVATE SCHOOL GOLD: Ravenscroft School SILVER: Cardinal Gibbons High School BRONZE: The Franciscan School BEST DRY CLEANERS GOLD: Brothers Cleaners SILVER: Medlin Davis Cleaners BRONZE TIE: Capstone Cleaners; Pope’s Dry Cleaners BEST AUTO REPAIR SHOP GOLD: Autohaus Import Service SILVER: Atlantic Avenue Tire & Service BRONZE: Walton’s Family Auto Service (Garner) BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT GOLD: Angie Cole, A Cole Realty SILVER: Christina Valkanoff, Christina Valkanoff Realty Group BRONZE: Heidi Harris, Home Sweet Heidi Realty

HEALTH & BEAUTY BEST SALON FOR A HAIRCUT GOLD: Von Kekel AVEDA Lifestyle Salon Spa SILVER: Mark Christopher BRONZE: Salon Blu BEST SALON FOR COLOR GOLD: Mark Christopher Salon SILVER: Von Kekel AVEDA Lifestyle Salon Spa BRONZE: Salon Blu BEST HEALTH CLUB/GYM GOLD: Life Time Fitness SILVER: O2 Fitness BRONZE: Burn Boot Camp BEST PLACE TO DE-AGE GOLD: Skin Raleigh at Davis & Pyle Plastic Surgery SILVER: Von Kekel AVEDA Lifestyle Salon Spa BRONZE: Raleigh Plastic Surgery Center BEST MED SPA GOLD: Skin Raleigh at Davis & Pyle Plastic Surgery SILVER: The MedSpa at Raleigh Plastic Surgery Center BRONZE: Synergy Spa & Aesthetics BEST PLACE FOR A FACIAL GOLD: Skin Raleigh at Davis & Pyle Plastic Surgery SILVER: Von Kekel AVEDA Lifestyle Salon Spa BRONZE: Synergy Spa & Aesthetics BEST SPA EXPERIENCE GOLD: The Umstead Hotel and Spa SILVER: Von Kekel AVEDA Lifestyle Salon Spa BRONZE: Skin Raleigh at Davis & Pyle Plastic Surgery BEST MASSAGE GOLD: Von Kekel AVEDA Lifestyle Salon Spa SILVER: The Umstead Hotel and Spa BRONZE: The Sport of Massage FRIENDLIEST CUSTOMER SERVICE GOLD: Von Kekel AVEDA Lifestyle Salon Spa SILVER: Russo DDS BRONZE: Pinup Studio BEST DENTIST GOLD: Russo DDS SILVER: Renaissance Dental Center BRONZE: Lane & Associates Family Dentistry BEST ORTHODONTIST GOLD: N.C. Oral Surgery + Orthodontics SILVER: Zaytoun Orthodontics BRONZE: Cheek-Hill Orthodontics midtownmag.com| 85

BEST PLACE TO FIND DENIM Raleigh Denim PHOTO COURTESY OF RALEIGH DENIM

BEST CHIROPRACTOR GOLD: Atlas Chiropractic Of Raleigh SILVER: Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractic BRONZE: Crabtree Chiropractic Center

BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE GOLD: Red Hat Amphitheater SILVER: Lincoln Theatre BRONZE: Walnut Creek Amphitheater

BEST PLACE TO GET A MANI/PEDI GOLD: PAINTBASE SILVER TIE: Cameron Spa & Nails; HighPark Nail Spa BRONZE: Paris Nail Bar

BEST MUSEUM GOLD: N.C. Museum of Art SILVER: Marbles Kids Museum BRONZE: N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences

BEST YOGA/PILATES STUDIO GOLD: Barre Up! SILVER: Pulse Pilates BRONZE: YoBa Studio

BEST STAYCATION IN THE TRIANGLE GOLD: The Umstead Hotel and Spa SILVER: Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel BRONZE: Fearrington Village

ENTERTAINMENT & EVENTS BEST INNOVATIVE NEW BUSINESS GOLD: Supper Meals SILVER: The Flourish Market BRONZE TIE: Meraki Salon; Raleigh Raw BEST PLACE TO TAKE OUT-OF-TOWNERS GOLD: N.C. Museum of Art SILVER: The Umstead Hotel and Spa BRONZE: Angus Barn BEST LIVE THEATER GOLD: Durham Performing Arts Center SILVER: Raleigh Little Theatre BRONZE: N.C. Theater 86 | midtownmag.com

BEST PLACE TO ENTERTAIN THE KIDS GOLD: Marbles Kids Museum SILVER: Pullen Park BRONZE: Frankie’s Fun Park BEST GOLF COURSE GOLD: Lonnie Poole at N.C. State SILVER: North Ridge Country Club BRONZE: Carolina Country Club BEST WIFI LOUNGE SPOT GOLD: Starbucks SILVER: Sola Coffee Café BRONZE TIE: The Morning Times; Panera Bread

From Learners to Leaders At Ravenscroft, students not only learn to think, they learn to do. We pair a stimulating curriculum with collaboration, hands-on learning, and leadership skills. We graduate confident, well-rounded students who are prepared to thrive in our complex world as educated citizens and leaders. Learn more about our community!

Join us! Call to schedule a visit: 919.848.6470, or visit www.ravenscroft.org. 7409 Falls of Neuse Road Raleigh, NC 27615 919.847.0900 www.ravenscroft.org

midtownmag.com | 87

Wondering what to do for your favorite Valentine? Jewelry is the most popular Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day gift, according to the National Retail Federation, and last year consumers spent about $4.3 billion on jewelry. This year, celebrate your love with fine jewelry that can be cherished today and for years to come.

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The Heart’s Desire COLLECTION 1

(1) TRILOGY 18K ROSE GOLD AND DIAMONDS LEFT: EXPANDABLE DIAMOND BAND $6,750 | CENTER: RIBBED DIAMOND RING $6,700 | RIGHT: EXPANDABLE PAVÉ DIAMOND BAND $10,950 (2) STUNNING STRAND MULTI-COLORED SOUTH SEA, TAHITIAN, AND FRESHWATER PEARLS IN A CAPTIVATING NECKLACE $16,500 (3) DELICATE DROPS BURMESE RUBY AND DIAMOND EARRINGS IN PLATINUM AND 18K ROSE GOLD $25,000 (4) WRIST CANDY UNTREATED JADEITE BANGLE BRACELETS UPRIGHT: $9,200 | FLAT: $3,300 (5) THE CLASSICS IMPERIAL JADE AND DIAMOND EARRINGS IN PLATINUM $44,000

HAYDON & COMPANY | 1803 OBERLIN ROAD | RALEIGH, NC 27608 | 919.781.1293 | HAYDONCO.COM

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RALEIGH DIAMOND | 5925 GLENWOOD AVENUE, #100 | RALEIGH, NC 27612 | 919.725.3444 | RALEIGHDIAMOND.COM

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Nights of Wine

Roses and

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The most romantic restaurants in Raleigh beckon throughout the year, but especially on Valentine’s Day. BY MONIQUE M. ROGERS

WHAT BETTER WAY TO START a conversation about romantic restaurants than with a love story? Brother and sister, Vansana and Vanvisa Nolintha, brought the love of their Laotian culture and food to Downtown Raleigh. Located at 222 South Blount Street, Bida Manda—the name is a tribute to their parents as Bida Manda is the Sanskrit ceremonial term for father and mother—invites guests into another world. The décor of refurbished woods and natural elements brings a holistic approach and some of the outside environment inside. This is important to the Laotian culture, and there’s also a subtle sense of community in the décor as family and friends placed each piece of wood by hand.

As for their food, the couple offers a variety of dishes native to their homeland. Appetizers such as Crispy Rice Lettuce Wraps and Tom Ka Gai—a spicy coconutbased chicken soup—lead to inventive entrées. Bida Manda offers Pad Thai and a Saffron Crepe, as well as the anticipated curry dishes. But have you sampled their Pumpkin Curry, with its house-made yellow curry, coconut broth, local root veggies, and jasmine rice? In itself, a reason to visit Bida Manda. And there are equally exciting sweet endings, from the Sweet Purple Sticky Rice, with coconut custard and mango purée, to an alluring trio of Apricot-Tamarind Cobbler, Semi-Sweet Chocolate Crème Brûlée, and Coconut Custard Crisp. Moving into the Hayes Barton neighborhood, we find Mandolin at 2519 Fairview Road, serving American meals with a Southern accent. A treasure in this little Raleigh community, it offers exceptional farm-to-table dishes, and owner Sean Fowler uses the freshest local North Carolina foods whenever possible. The romantic, clean design and simple ambiance of a farmhouse is evident in the attention to detail of Mandolin’s décor. With its simplicity serving as a canvas, the restaurant needs only add fresh flowers and candles for the polished romantic touch. Appetizers include Lamb Ragu with Potato Dumplings, Tomato Salad, and a Charcuterie Plate, and are followed by entrées that further showcase the commitment to fresh, seasonal, and local: Pan Seared North Carolina Scallops, Pan Seared North Carolina Sheepshead, and Joyce Farms’ Chicken & Waffles—to name a few. If elegance is what you’re seeking, step back in time with a visit to Second Empire—voted Best Restaurant for a Romantic Dinner by our readers and winner of this year’s Diamond Award. Owner/manager Kim Reynolds and co-owner/executive chef Daniel Schurr just celebrated 20 years with the restaurant, located at 330 Hillsborough Street. Their secret to success: consistency in their service and their food. Named for the Victorian period that it dates to, Schurr explains, “It’s the house that stands by itself.” He goes on to speak about the architecture, crown molding, mirrors, fireplaces, and suede-covered walls that showcase the historic Dodd-Hinsdale house as a period piece. The arched doorways and brick walls of the downstairs tavern transport guests even further back in time. And the food stands equal to the building’s elegance. Seasoned dishes are changed at least eight times a year, with starters like Pan Roasted Quail and Steamed Prince Edward Island Mussels; entrées including Grilled Australian Barramundi and Pan Roasted New Bedford Sea Scallops; and delectable desserts like the Empire Chocolate Soufflé, Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée, or signature Key Lime Pie. Share a memorable evening at one of these exquisite restaurants, or others in our curated collection of leading romantic restaurants in the Triangle. midtownmag.com | 95

of the Triangle’s

finest

DINING VENUES

PHOTOS COURTESY OF 18 SEABOARD

18 Seaboard Shops at Seaboard Station 18 Seaboard Avenue | Raleigh This is the original brand from Chef Jason Smith and his wife, Lauren, who have since put their signature on four additional Triangle restaurants. Each one is just as incredible as the last, but for that most special night on the town you’ll want to reserve a spot in this beautifully appointed renovation of Raleigh’s historic train depot. Think upscale Southern cuisine, and service that sets a new standard.

Caffe Luna 136 East Hargett Street | Raleigh The prime Italian Tuscan destination where first dates just might lead to a future wedding: The romantic setting is often reserved just for gala nuptials and celebration dining. 96 | midtownmag.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAFFE LUNA

4401 Glenwood Ave. | Raleigh, NC 27612 midtownmag.com | 97

2017

DIAMOND

AWARD BEST SALON FOR COLOR

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2018 MIDTOWN DIAMON D AWA RD S B ES T O U T DO O R DI N I N G O R PATI O VI VAC E PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ANGUS BARN

Angus Barn

B ES T WEEK EN D B R UN C H CO Q U ET T E

9401 Glenwood Avenue | Raleigh Elegant dining in a rustic barn? Never an oxymoron when you’re talking about the Triangle’s—arguably the South’s—most legendary steakhouse. It’s a legend that lives up to its own reputation, hardly an easy feat.

Azitra 8411 Brier Creek Parkway | Raleigh 535 Zang Street | Broomfield, Colorado Vibrant tastes of contemporary cuisine from India, served in an elegant setting.

Bida Manda 222 South Blount Street | Raleigh A beautiful tribute to the cuisine and culture of their homeland, and to their parents, this lovely Laotian restaurant from brother and sister Vansana and Vanvisa Nolintha gives Raleigh diners the opportunity to expand their culinary horizons.

Bloomsbury Bistro 509 West Whitaker Mill Road | Raleigh Intimate fine dining with a contemporary, French-inspired flare and a nod to fresh, seasonal ingredients.

Crawford and Son

COQUET T ERALEIGH.CO M VIVACERALEIGH.CO M

618 N Person Street | Raleigh Located in the heart of historic Oakwood, this is where comfort foods get sexy. Acclaimed chef/owner Scott Crawford spins his magic with weekly specials and seasonally inspired dishes.

PA RT O F U RBA N FO O D GROUP

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Death & Taxes 105 West Hargett Street | Raleigh If you haven’t already made your reservation, you might need to book for Valentine’s 2019—but this eclectic restaurant from award-winning Chef Ashley Christensen is worth the wait. Think fresh fare, cooked perfectly on a wood-fired grill.

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The Umstead Hotel and Spa 100 Woodland Pond Drive | Cary Celebrated American cuisine—Herons boasts the coveted Five-Star rating from Forbes and AAA’s Five Diamond award— in a luxury setting known for serving the best in local, seasonal fare. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE UMSTEAD HOTEL AND SPA

Dr. Jason Gladwell

Come experience the difference!

GLADWELL ORTHODONTICS

PHOTOS COURTESY OF IRREGARDLESS CAFÉ

Irregardless Cafe 901 West Morgan Street | Raleigh

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919.263.2411 gladwellorthodontics.com 100 | midtownmag.com

Healthy gourmet cuisine in an artsy farm-to-table nook offering vegan and protein options by day, jazz club by night. And if you want to take that romantic dining experience into another daypart, this is the place to book your weekend brunch.

Margaux’s 8111 Creedmoor Road | Raleigh For 25 years and counting, this artsy North Raleigh restaurant has been the setting of choice for a romantic rendezvous and a dining experience that encompasses everything from craft cocktails to seafood, steaks, and coq au vin.

AWARD BEST STEAKHOUSE

2017

2018

DIAMOND

AWARD BEST STEAKHOUSE

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PHOTO COURTESY OF MANDOLIN

Mandolin 2519 Fairview Road | Raleigh Chef/owner Sean Fowler debuted his first restaurant within walking distance of where he grew up and keeps showing us all: Yes, you can go home again—and quickly become one of the hottest, mustvisit restaurants in the city. Six years in, and folks are still chatting up Mandolin like it just opened.

PHOTO COURTESY OF REY’S RESTAURANT

Rey’s Restaurant 1130 Buck Jones Road | Cary Where continental cuisine meets New Orleans heat, served in an elegant ambiance that transports diners to the charm and allure of French Quarter fine dining.

Saint Jacques 6112 Falls of Neuse Road | Raleigh Since 2004, Chef Serge Falcoz-Vigne has been bringing authentic French cuisine to North Raleigh. The intimate setting books early, so you’d best plan ahead for this one. PHOTO BY STACEY SPRENZ, COURTESY OF SAINT JACQUES

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2018

DIAMOND

AWARD BEST PIZZA

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SECOND EMPIRE

Second Empire Restaurant & Tavern 330 Hillsborough Street | Raleigh

Second to none: But we don’t have to tell you—after all, you’re the readers who voted Second Empire Best Restaurant for Romantic Dining in the Triangle.

PHOTO COURTESY OF VINNIE’S

Vinnie’s Steak House & Tavern Peachtree Market | 7440 Six Forks Road | Raleigh In October, Vinnie’s celebrated its 30th anniversary as a North Raleigh landmark. The steak and seafood selections will make you wonder if you’re sitting in Chicago or San Francisco, but the charm is all Southern hospitality. 104 | midtownmag.com

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PHOTO OF WINSTON’S GRILLE BY FOOD SEEN BY FELICIA PERRY PHOTOGRAPHY

Winston’s Grille Sutton Square 6401 Falls of Neuse Road Raleigh If you’re new to Raleigh, this is the one the locals have been raving about since 1986. Always scratch-made, always the freshest ingredients, always impeccable service. Winston’s defined polished casual dining before others thought to imagine it.

Vivace 4209 Lassiter Mill Road | Raleigh 1100 Metropolitan Avenue | Charlotte In North Hills, this is the upscale polished choice for contemporary Italian cuisine— and it’s just as popular with singles seeking a night on the town as with couples celebrating romance. PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTH HILLS

106 | midtownmag.com

2018

DIAMOND

AWARD

BEST PLACE TO GET A MANI/PEDI

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HEALTH CONSCIOUS

108 | midtownmag.com

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Rebecca Hale reached a milestone of sorts in January. It marked the fourth straight year in which she had gone without taking a prescription or overthe-counter drug. What may seem like a modest accomplishment to some is a big deal to Hale, who was plagued with chronic digestive issues, terrible sinus infections, horrible acne, and weight problems. By the age of 21, she was ingesting five prescription drugs a day as her health was in decline. “I had this wake-up moment, thinking that if I felt this horrible at 21, what is going to happen when I am 40 or 50?” she says. “So, I started to look into natural alternatives. I was closed-minded to it at the time, but it worked. Then I became really passionate about it, going back to school for it, and here I am.” Now 28, Hale ditched her accounting degree from the University of Maryland and enrolled online at the New Eden School of Natural Health & Herbal Studies, and now owns Natural Health Strategies in North Raleigh. “It was a total 180-degree switch for me,” Hale says of her career change and overall health outlook. “If you commit to it and stay consistent with it, it works and it’s awesome.” Experts on fitness, our surrounding environment, nutrition, and stress all agree that commitment and consistency are the two main variables and themes when it comes to trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle in one of the nation’s fastest-growing areas.

NN 11 C CT 200 TH HE EA REE 2 AT TR

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WINTER WELLNESS Q&A

HOW CAN GUM RECESSION BE TREATED? BETTER YET,

PREVENTED? Gum recession is nothing to smile about. It creates major problems because it’s aesthetically unattractive and, from a very pragmatic perspective, it leads to tooth sensitivity and decay. Studies have shown that 50 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 64 have at least one area of gum recession, and 23.8 million people have at least one tooth surface that has been impacted by gingival recession. To beat some of these odds, the best ways to prevent gum recession are pretty simple:

By Anna Abernethy, DDS Renaissance Dental Center

ON S I H T ICK

• Avoid hard-bristled toothbrushes and abrasive toothpastes. Instead, invest in a soft-bristled electric toothbrush like the Sonicare DiamondClean. • If you clench or grind your teeth, begin using a lab-fabricated occlusal guard when you sleep. • Avoid smoking and smokeless tobacco products, which are known to cause significant bone loss and gum recession! As for treating gum recession, there are a number of options ranging from minimally invasive to more involved—albeit traditional—treatments. One of the newest treatments is the Gum Drop Technique, where the gums are accessed through a few small areas, similar to a laparoscopic surgery. The gums are gently lifted, placed in the correct position, and filled with allnatural growth factors that have fantastic healing properties since they are harvested from the patient’s own blood. Traditional surgery using connective tissue and free gingival grafting has been the gold standard in gum-recession treatment and has been used for decades with a large amount of success.

Renaissance Dental Center | 3803A Computer Drive, Suite 200 | Raleigh, NC 27609 | 919.786.6766 | renaissancedentalcenter.com

110 | midtownmag.com

WINTER WELLNESS Q&A

WHAT’S THE FASTEST WAY

TO A WHITER, BRIGHTER SMILE?

By Jill Sonner, DDS Renaissance Dental Center Veneers! They’re all the rage because veneers provide an instant makeover to your smile. Maybe you weren’t blessed with a great set of teeth, or as time passed your smile has begun to show your age. Whatever the reason, veneers may very well be the perfect option to create the smile you desire. While many older techniques required the removal of a lot of tooth structure, newer porcelains and better planning allow us to deliver a highly cosmetic result with only minimal changes to the underlying tooth. Veneers are a good option to cover aging yellow teeth, correct worn or chipped teeth, or enhance small teeth. As many of us age, we don’t want drastic cosmetic procedures that are obvious even to friends or family. Veneers can be your own little secret. Quite possibly nobody will know what you’ve done, they will simply see a more confident, happy you. The end result is just a subtle refresh to your smile, one that improves your teeth in ways that a typical whitening procedure can’t achieve. In an instant, veneers will erase the years from an aging look and give you a whiter, broader, and fuller smile. With the simplicity of veneers, you can turn back time and recapture the vibrancy of your youthful smile.

Renaissance Dental Center | 3803A Computer Drive, Suite 200 | Raleigh, NC 27609 | 919.786.6766 | renaissancedentalcenter.com

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Health often plummets down the list of importance behind such items as family, work, and overall indulgence. The excuses of why we can’t stay in shape or maintain a stress-free lifestyle are endless—ranging from “the gym is too far from my house” to reading emails after dinner so you won’t have to “play catch up” in the morning. “My buddy out in California and I have a saying: ‘You need to be fit enough to be able to do everything that you HAVE to do in life, most of the things you WANT to do … and then have a little left over in reserve,” says Jason Culbreth, a renowned trainer at Forged Fitness of Cary. “Fitness is a lifetime thing; it’s like eating an elephant, you have to do a little bit every day and the compounding result in the end is tremendous.” Culbreth, 50, was ahead of the game when it came to crossfit training in the Triangle area, opening up one of the first such facilities in the nation. The crossfit training craze has now exploded here. Forged Fitness is just one of three such locations within a mile of each other on Northwest Maynard in Cary. Crossfit can best be described as high intensity exercise and functional fitness. “When you get done with a workout at the end of the day, you should feel better about yourself and your body should feel better than when you went into the place,” Culbreth says. “The idea and the concept about running yourself into the ground day-in and day-out is not health, and it’s not fitness. If you think about life as a continuum, we’re all going to be healthy into our 40s, you pretty much can do what you want to do. But what happens between 40 and 85? Well, everything you do prior to 40 is going to affect how you live your life from 40 to 85. That’s when you actually need to be fit. That’s when things start breaking down.” Beyond the time commitment, there’s the dollar investment. Crossfit training can start at $140 a month for personalized attention and workout regiments, while some “regular” gyms are as inexpensive as $10 per month. But that’s where the commitment and 112 | midtownmag.com

WINTER WELLNESS Q&A

LOOKING FOR A CARDIO WORKOUT YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO DO—ONE THAT WON’T BOTHER YOUR JOINTS? At A Step to Gold International Ballroom, we offer the perfect solution: Bungee Swing! Students are strapped into a harness and attached to a bungee, then led through cardio workouts with the assistance of the bungee system.

By Melanie Dale Owner/Director A Step to Gold International

Based on a unique approach to fitness dubbed Astro-Durance, the program is safe, effective, and fun for adults of all ages, all sizes, and all levels of fitness. Think swimming in midair, or bouncing on clouds. It’s alternative exercising at its best. And it just might be the future of fitness. Because it’s an anti-gravity, motionbased system even people who are overweight, struggle with arthritis, or have physical restrictions can participate in Bungee Workouts. You’ll rev your metabolism, burn calories, tone muscles, and achieve a comprehensive cardio workout in the ultimate low-impact setting. Bungee Workouts are offered at A Step to Gold in Raleigh. Swing into fitness!

A Step To Gold International Ballroom | 6278 Glenwood Avenue, #200 | Raleigh, NC 27612 | 919.578.4411 | asteptogold.com/bungee-swing

midtownmag.com | 113

consistency comes into play again. “I am proud of so many of my clients because I really have changed people’s lives,” Culbreth says. “I give them a reason to come back—whether it’s the people they see, the quality of training they are receiving, or [simply] they went online and found an accountability program to sign up for. You need to have somebody like me care enough that when you don’t show up to the gym I give you call and say, ‘Where you at?’”

LIVING WELL IN A BUSY WORLD Where you are at—i.e. your environment—can also affect your health. How? Well, Dr. Aaron Hipp, an associate professor of community health and sustainability at N.C. State University, has done extensive research on how 114 | midtownmag.com

your surroundings influence certain health-related decisions, like taking an elevator instead of stairs, or making use of the connection of greenways. “Smart phones are an interesting part of the health equation because we are no longer bored,” Hipp explains. “At work, I have the option of taking the elevator or the stairs up to the fifth floor. Often times I choose the elevator—so I can check my email or social media for those 90 seconds waiting in the elevator, going up the elevator, and getting off the elevator— instead of walking up the stairs. I could be walking and getting some exercise and get there just as quick.” Hipp says his environment on the Raleigh campus (Jordan Hall, which was designed in the 1990s) is not conducive to hiking up the stairs. “The stairwell is kind of hidden; it is meant more for emergencies—to get out of the building—instead of designed to be taken,” he says. “It’s freezing now, and hot in the summer. It is just concrete and cinder blocks; there

WINTER WELLNESS Q&A

NEED AN

ALTERNATIVE

TO OPIOIDS?

By Thomas J. Weber Jr., D.O. Midtown Pain and Spine Clinic

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever dealt with chronic pain, you know how important it is to find effective solutions for pain management. For people with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), those recovering from a back surgery, or anyone coping with debilitating and painful conditions, there are treatments and procedures that address the pain more effectively than prescription opioids, which carry a high risk of addiction or overdose. One of the best treatments is the use of spinal cord stimulators. Patients who are candidates for this treatment first complete a trial period, typically five to seven days, when a temporary stimulator is implemented. Following the trial period, the patient is evaluated to learn if they experienced improvement in their daily activities or improvement in the intensity of pain. If the temporary stimulator has produced positive results, a relatively simple procedure can be performed to outfit the patient with a more permanent spinal cord stimulator. The procedure uses X-ray equipment and an epidural needle to target the T8 or T9 vertebra, where the stimulator leads are placed. Dr. Thomas J. Weber has placed hundreds of spinal cord stimulators in eligible patients. Prior to opening the Midtown Pain and Spine Clinic, Dr. Weber helped launch a pain clinic at Duke Neurosurgery Spine and Pain in Raleigh, where he spent five years. His career also includes 13 years in the Army, where he served as a combat support doctor in Baghdad and was the Chief of Anesthesia/ Pain Service at Fort Bragg.

Midtown Pain and Spine Clinic | 2605 Blue Ridge Road, Suite 240 | Raleigh, NC 27607 | 919.626.3691 | midtownpainspine.com

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2018

PHOTO BY JOE REALE

DIAMOND

AWARD BEST ORTHODONTIST

116 | midtownmag.com

is nothing interesting about it that would make you want to take the stairs, where the elevators are front and center right by the door. You walk in the door and see two or three people there and, even if you aren’t going to speak to them, there is a social aspect of standing there.” The unintended consequence is less exercise because of the environment you are placed in, Hipp says. He is part of an ongoing study that took place in New York City this summer and will be extended to Raleigh in 2018. The study examines patterns of playground activity for children ages five to 10. “There is a great environment here [in the Triangle]; there are a lot of opportunities for recreational and leisure activities,” Hipp notes. “The greenway systems in Cary

and in Raleigh are really great for leisure. The same with parks—there is nice diversity in size and in location, and amenities, so there are good places to play for sure. But the unintentional activities, like walking and biking, or running errands or transportation, getting from Point A to Point B, or getting to those play sites, [options for those activities are] still pretty lacking in the area.” Add the degree of stress in daily lives to the health equation and it complicates things tenfold. Clark Souers, the owner of Expert Effect, a California-based firm that specializes in stress resiliency for high performers, plans to open an office in Raleigh sometime this year. Our area is regarded by Souers as one “filled with people at the top of their game in life.”

WINTER WELLNESS Q&A

HOW WILL PRP IMPROVE MY SKIN?

By Stephen A. Spencer D.O. Nuderma Health & Med Spa

PRP is short for platelet-rich plasma and it’s a blood product derived from the patient’s own blood. PRP contains a super-concentrated volume of platelets that is four to eight times stronger than typical physiological levels. This is important because every tiny platelet contains a wealth of growth factors. These growth factors are produced naturally by our bodies and will aid in tissue repair, cell growth, collagen production, and hyaluronic acid production. Physicians are learning to harness the power of the platelet through PRP to heal, rejuvenate, and regenerate a variety of the body’s tissues, including skin. Over the years, PRP has been successfully utilized in orthopedics, dentistry, and sports medicine. More recently, it has been used to address hair loss and sexual dysfunction. With the introduction of procedures like the Vampire Facial® and Vampire Facelift®, PRP has become increasingly popular. In a Vampire Facial, for example, PRP is applied to the surface of the skin after a microneedling procedure. The pen needle device has fine needles that rapidly oscillate and reach the deep layer of the skin. PRP is then applied to the surface of the skin and carried to the dermal layer via the tiny channels created by the device—thus delivering its potent cocktail of growth factors. When properly utilized, PRP can revitalize both superficial and deep dermal layers to improve fine lines, volume, and overall texture of the skin.

Nuderma Health & Med Spa | 4301 Lake Boone Trail, Suite 315 | Raleigh, NC 27607 | 919.867.4455 | nudermahealth.com

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SOUERS AT UTAH LAKE. PHOTO COURTESY OF CLARK SOUERS.

CLARK SOUERS, OWNER OF EXPERT EFFECT. PHOTO BY BYRON ESPINOZA.

118 | midtownmag.com

“Their dreams are coming true, they have the family they have always wanted, they have a job that they are proud of, but they are going to have more on their plate because they have numerous roles of responsibility,” he says. “We want to help them become more resilient to stress so they will perform better and lead lives that have more happiness.” Souers explains that people “stress out” for a variety of reasons. “A lot of times it is feeling like you cannot adequately deal with your circumstances,” he says. “Our bodies tend to go into a stress mode when it feels that it is in danger, so all the stress hormones kick in and you can’t adequately deal with situations. It will impact your immune system; it will impact people’s ability to emotionally deal with things, so it impacts their relationships. It can also produce small things like

headaches or feeling overly tired, but it can progress into serious illnesses because your system is not functioning properly.” Souers recently went on a vacation to Mexico and unplugged. He didn’t check his cell phone or email once. And he suggests others follow suit on a more regular basis. “I find that the reason people don’t unplug is either addiction or fear,” he says. “It can be the fear of not knowing what’s going on. Or fear of emptiness, that if you are not connected to Facebook or work you will feel empty and lose your identity. And checking your phone triggers endorphins, so it can be an addiction. People need to break the addiction or address the fears.” When the road to health seems blocked for some, an unconventional method may not be so unconventional, says Hale, the expert nutritionist. “Most people don’t even know [natural health supplements] exist, so I can’t really blame them for coming to me late in the game,” Hale says. “It’s an education hurdle I have to overcome, getting people to realize there is a whole other option they can try. People come in for digestive disorders, or migraines, or low energy. They have been to the doctor and all of their blood work says they are fine, and they say ‘but I don’t feel fine.’” Hale recently treated a woman in her 40s who suddenly was stricken with a “mad itch” that was so irritating it kept her awake at night. “A doctor offered a few prescriptions, but she read the side effects—some scary things—and said she would rather try this,” Hale adds. “And within two appointments we got the itch to go away. It was a combination of simple diet changes and some supplements and herbs. She had been going to the doctor for six months, and in a matter of three weeks we were able to get her fixed.”

WINTER WELLNESS Q&A

YES! Pilates is an exercise for everyBODY. At Pulse Pilates we strongly believe that Pilates is the most universal method of exercise. We know this because our clients range from teens to seniors, and all reap benefits of physical fitness and mental well-being. Practicing Pilates produces a range of significant advantages for physical health—including muscle toning, strengthening, increased flexibility, and improvements in posture. In fact, the lengthening effects of Pilates are so extensive that clients often say they feel taller after class. At Pulse, all classes are offered on a type of Pilates equipment known as “the Reformer.” While the equipment may appear intimidating, it’s actually a system of support where each exercise is weighted through springs that are adjustable to tailor the level of difficulty. In our Pilates classes, emphasis is placed on form to ensure that the targeted muscles are worked properly, which produces more noticeable results. Pulse instructors educate every participant on proper technique to guarantee maximum muscle toning, and we offer a variety of classes. If you are looking for cardio, the popular Jump Board class entails vertical jumping to eliminate stress on the joints and focus on the core area, toning muscles, and increasing your heart rate. Pulse also offers traditional Pilates classes as well as four-point suspension training on our Bodhi system, similar to TRX with an extra challenge. Pilates is truly perfect for everyone. We invite you to schedule a free trial class and find out why Pilates is for you!

IS PILATES FOR ME?

By Elisa Buxbaum Owner, Pulse Pilates

Pulse Pilates

7440 Six Forks Road

Raleigh, NC 27615

919.758.8557

pulsepilates.net

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Discover St. Davidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at a Group Tour

All tours begin at 9:30 a.m.

Jan 24 All School Feb 7 Lower School Feb 21 Middle/Upper Mar 14 Lower School Mar 21 Middle/Upper Apr 11 Lower School Apr 18 Middle/Upper Reserve your space at sdsw.org/admissions/visit

3400 White Oak Road Raleigh, NC 27609 919-782-3331 | sdsw.org

2018-4.indd 1 120January | midtownmag.com

12/6/17 9:10 AM

WINTER WELLNESS Q&A

ARE BREAST

IMPLANTS

LIKELY TO LEAK? Each year nearly 300,000 women undergo breast augmentation in the United States. It is estimated that more than 5 million women in our country have implants, either for cosmetic augmentation or for breast reconstruction. How common is it for an implant to leak? The answer is based on data collected by board-certified plastic surgeons and the implant manufacturers. Leakage or rupture rates differ based on the manufacturer and the type of implant. There are two types of implants: silicone gel devices and saline devices. Both have an outer shell made of a solid silicone elastomer, but saline devices are filled with sterile salt water. Detection of leakage depends on the type. The benefit of the saline devices is that—if they leak—you know about it immediately. The breast shrinks and the saline is harmlessly absorbed. Rates of rupture average about 1 percent per year, so at 10 years roughly 10 percent of woman with these implants have experienced leakage. Silicone gel devices come in several styles, including a more cohesive or thicker variety that is less likely to leak. Rupture of the newer, improved gel implants is more difficult to detect and frequently “silent,”

By W. Glenn Lyle, MD Raleigh Plastic Surgery Center

meaning there are no symptoms of leakage. Signs of potential leakage include a change in the shape of the breast, breast pain, hardening of the breast, or breast lumps. Leakage rates with silicone gel devices are between 10 percent and 15 percent at 10 years. Monitoring to detect implant rupture involves periodic examination by the implanting surgeon and the use of imaging technologies such as ultrasound or MRI to detect leakage. Fortunately, leakage rates are much lower than with the prior generations of implants.

Raleigh Plastic Surgery Center | 1112 Dresser Court | Raleigh, NC 27609 | 919.872.2616 | raleighplasticsurgery.com

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STAND-UP TO SEDENTARY LIFESTYLES A lot of jobs have so-called “required activity.” Others— like what N.C. State professor Dr. Aaron Hipp faces most days—require sitting for long periods of time, or an hour standing at a podium. But Hipp argues that’s not the way it has to be. The associate professor of community health and sustainability is a big fan of his standing desk at work, which he uses at least three times a day. “It just breaks things up,” Hipp says. And there are plenty of other benefits to your longterm health. “When I worked in a back office we used to sit all day, and you do get back pain or poor circulation in your legs,” says Debbie Scara, who sells the standing desks at OfficeMax in Apex (a subsidiary of Office Depot). Scara says OfficeMax began selling two different versions of the standing desks—a manual and an electronic—less than a year ago. She estimates she has sold around 50 in the last six months, including 20 to the owner of one small local firm. The costs range from $399 to $499 each. “When they go on sale we move quite a bit of them,” she says. The electronic version comes equipped with builtin USB ports and other electronic connections. Hipp says the standing desks are well worth the investment for businesses, helping increase productivity among the staff. “I was hired in 2015 at N.C. State, and I am positive every hire in our department since me has gotten a standing desk, and every hire prior to me did not get a standing desk,” Hipp says. “I stand three times a day—right when I walk in, because I email first thing so I don’t have to put a lot of thought into it. And my desk is already up, because I end my day standing. Those are email times.” There is a method to Hipp’s daily standing routine. “I have just sat in the car getting to work and I’m about to sit in a car going home, so it feels good to stand at the beginning of my work day and at the end of my work day,” he says. “I also stand post lunch; you know, the sleepy time, just to break it up.” He also notes that conference calls are a great time to stand and not sit at a table. 122 | midtownmag.com

WINTER WELLNESS Q&A

IS THERE A VIRTUALLY

INVISIBLE WAY TO

STRAIGHTEN TEETH? Yes! Invisalign is a modern, comfortable, easy-to-wear approach to straightening teeth. Using a series of custom-made clear aligners—created for you and only you—Invisalign will gradually and gently shift your teeth into place. The aligners are made of smooth, comfortable plastic that is virtually invisible and that is simply worn over your teeth. The aligners should be in place for 22 hours each day, and removed when eating, brushing, and flossing. Invisalign is effective at treating a

broad range of issues—such as crowding, spacing, overbite, underbite, deep bite, and open bite. After an initial consultation and digital scan, Gladwell Orthodontics typically sees patients every 10 to 12 weeks to provide a new series of aligners. Of course, the end result of Invisalign treatment is a beautiful, healthy, and straight smile, but there are many other health benefits: Properly positioned teeth are easier to brush and floss than teeth that are crowded, crooked, or spaced too far apart. Properly aligned

By Dr. Jason Gladwell Gladwell Orthodontics

teeth can help gums fit more tightly around them, which may lead to better periodontal health. And with Invisalign— along with the maintenance of good oral hygiene—the chances of having plaque retention, tooth decay, or gum disease can be reduced significantly. Invisalign patients can achieve a straight, healthy smile that will boost your confidence and result in longevity of your teeth. Contact our office today to schedule a complimentary consultation, and take the first step toward a confident smile.

Gladwell Orthodontics | 2824 Rodgers Road, Suite 200 | Wake Forest, NC 27587 | 919.453.6325 | gladwellorthodontics.com

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M Dining Guide Our directory of where to eat in Raleigh.

AFRICAN Abyssinia Ethopian Restaurant 2109-146 Avent Ferry Rd. 919.664.8151 abyssiniarestaurant.net

AMERICAN 18 Seaboard 18 Seaboard Ave. 919.861.4318 18restaurantgroup.com Ba-Da Wings 2161 Avent Ferry Rd. 919.832.3902 badawings.com Berkeley Cafe 217 W. Martin St. 919.828.9190 facebook.com/berkeley raleigh/ Bloomsbury Bistro 509-101 W. Whitaker Mill Rd. 919.834.9011 bloomsburybistro.com Trophy Tap + Table 225 S. Wilmington St. 919.424.7817 trophybrewing.com Cameron Bar and Grill 2018 Clark Ave. 919.755.2231 cameronbarandgrill.com Capital Club 16 16 West Martin St. 919.747.9345 capitalclub16.com Carroll’s Kitchen 19 E. Martin St. 919.670.3622 carrollskitchen.org Clockwork 519 W. North St. 919.307.3215 clockworkraleigh.com

Crawford and Son 618 N. Person St. 919.307.4647 crawfordandsonrestaurant.com Death & Taxes 105 W. Hargett St. 984.242.0218 ac-restaurants.com/ death-taxes Edwards Mill Bar & Grill 3201 Edwards Mill Rd. 919.783.5447 edwardsmillbarandgrill.com

Midtown Grille 4421 Six Forks Rd. 919.782.9463 themidtowngrille.com

North Ridge North Ridge Pub 6010 Falls of Neuse Rd. 919.790.9125 northridgepub.com Oak City Meatball Shoppe 180 E. Davie St. 919.714.9014 oakcitymeatball.com

Glenwood Grill 2603 Glenwood Ave. #151 919.782.3102 glenwoodgrill.com Hayes Barton Cafe 2000 Fairview Rd. 919.856.8551 imaginarystudioonline.com/ hayes Iris Restaurant 2110 Blue Ridge Rd. 919.664.6838 ncartmuseum.org/visit/dining

Kings 141 Park at North Hills St. 919.600.5700 kingsbowlamerica.com Lynnwood Grill & Brewing Concern 4821 Grove Barton Rd. 919.785.0043 lynnwoodgrill.com

Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern 330 Hillsborough St. 919.829.3663 second-empire.com Stanbury 938 N. Blount St. 919.977.4321 stanburyrestaurant.com Standard Foods 205 E. Franklin St. 919.307.4652 standard-foods.com

The Players’ Retreat 105 Oberlin Rd. 919.755.9589 playersretreat.net

bu•ku 110 E. Davie St. 919.834.6963 bukuraleigh.com

The Raleigh Times Bar 14 E. Hargett St. 919.833.0999 raleightimesbar.com

Chai’s Asian Bistro 8347 Creedmoor Rd. 919.341.3715 chaisasianbistro.com

The Rockford 320 ½ Glenwood Ave. 919.821.9020 therockfordrestaurant.com

Champa Thai & Sushi 8521 Brier Creek Pkwy. 919.806.0078 champathaisushi.com

The Station 701 N. Person St. 919.977.1567 stationraleigh.com

The Twisted Fork 3751 Sumner Blvd. 919.792.2535 thetwistedfork.com Village Grill 8470 Honeycut Rd. 919.890.5340 villagegrillraleigh.com Winston’s Grille 6401 Falls of Neuse Rd. 919.790.0700 winstonsgrille.com Zest Cafe & Home Art 8831 Six Forks Rd. 919.848.4792 zestcafehomeart.com

Taste 3048 Medlin Dr. 919.322.0568

ASIAN

1912 Bernard St. 919.948.7815 jmrkitchens.com/taste

Bida Manda 222 S. Blount St. 919.829.9999 bidamanda.com

the Oak 4035 Lake Boone Tr. 919.787.9100 jmrkitchens.com/oak

Brewery Bhavana 218 S. Blount St. 919.829.9998 brewerybhavana.com

Chopstix 5607 Creedmoor Rd. 919.781.6268 chopstix.com CO Inside AC Hotel at North Hills Coming early 2018 eatatco.com David’s Dumpling & Noodle Bar 1900 Hillsborough St. 919.239.4536 ddandnb.com Five Star Restaurant 511 W. Hargett St. 919.833.3311 fivestarraleigh.com Hako Sushi 2603-155 Glenwood Ave. 919.235.0589 hakosushinc.com Imperial Garden 7713 Lead Mine Rd. 919.846.1988 imperialgardenrestaurant.com Kimbap Cafe 111 Seaboard Station #118 919.900.8053 kimbapcafe.com

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Lemongrass Thai Restaurant 8320 Litchford Rd. #142 919.954.0377 lemongrassthairestaurant.net

Sono 319 Fayetteville St. 919.521.5328 sonoraleigh.com

Mura 4121 Main at North Hills 919.781.7887 muranorthhills.com

Sushi Blues Cafe 301 Glenwood Ave. 919.664.8061 sushibluescafe.com

Neo-Asia 6602 Glenwood Ave. 919.783.8383 neo-china.com

Spring Rolls Restaurant 4361 Lassiter at North Hills 919.783.8180

Ni Asian Kitchen 8817 Six Forks Rd. 919.916.5106 niasiankitchen.com Orchid Japanese Restaurant 7432 Creedmoor Rd. 919.890.5345 orchidjapanesebuffet.com Pho Pho Pho 510 Glenwood Ave. #103 phophophonc.com Pho Far East 4011 Capital Blvd. #133 919.876.8621

5433 Wade Park Blvd. 919.803.1118 springrollsrestaurant.com Sushi O Bistro + Sushi Bar 222 Glenwood Ave. 919.838.8868 sushioraleighnc.com Thaiphoon Bistro 301 Glenwood Ave. #190 919.720.4034 thaiphoonbistro.com Waraji Japanese Restaurant 5910 Duraleigh Rd. 919.783.1883 warajijapaneserestaurant.com

BAKERY & DESSERTS

Pearl Chinese Restaurant 3215 Avent Ferry Rd. 919.233.8776 pearlchinesenc.com

Anisette Sweet Shop 209 Bickett Blvd. 919.758.3565 sweetanisette.com

Red Dragon Chinese Restaurant 2513 Fairview Rd. 919.782.1102 reddragonraleigh.com

Annelore’s German Bakery 1249 Farmers Market Dr. 919.294.8040 facebook.com/ anneloresgermanbakery

Red Pepper Asian 4121-109 New Bern Ave. 919.594.1006 redpepperasiannc.com Seoul Garden 4701 Atlantic Ave. 919.850.9984 raleighseoulgarden.com ShabaShabu 3080 Wake Forest Rd. 919.501.7755 shabashabu.net

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Bittersweet 16 E. Martin St. 919.977.3829 bittersweetraleigh.com Boulted Bread 614 W. South St. 919.999.3984 boultedbread.com Duck Donuts 8323 Creedmoor Rd. 919.847.3800 duckdonuts.com

BBQ

Edible Art Bakery & Dessert Café 4351-115 The Circle at North Hills 919.856.0604 edibleartnc.com Escazú Artisan Chocolates 936 N. Blount St. 919.832.3433 escazuchocolates.com Goodberry’s Frozen Custard 2421 Spring Forest Rd. 919.878.8159

Big Al’s BBQ 2920 Forestville Rd. 919.217.0653 bigalsbbqandcatering.com Clyde Cooper’s BBQ 327 S. Wilmington St. 919.832.7614 clydecoopersbbq.com

Chow Pizza & Burgers 8311 Creedmoor Rd. 919.841.4995 chowraleigh.com

Ole Time Barbecue 6309 Hillsborough St. 919.859.2544 oletimebarbecue.com

Chuck’s 237 S. Wilmington St. 919.322.0126 ac-restaurants.com/chucks

The Pit Authentic Barbecue 328 W. Davie St. 919.890.4500 thepit-raleigh.com

Cloos’ Coney Island 2233 Avent Ferry Rd. 919.834.3354

9700 Strickland Rd. 919.676.8580 2042 Clark Ave. 919.833.9998 goodberrys.com Groovy Duck Bakery 3434 Edwards Mill Rd. 919.787.9233 groovyduckbakeryllc.com Hayes Barton Cafe 2000 Fairview Rd. 919.856.8551 https://goo.gl/2aXSqM lucettegrace 235 S. Salisbury St. 919.307.4950 lucettegrace.com

The Q Shack 4120 Main at North Hills 919.786.4381 theqshack.com

BREAKFAST SPECIALTY Another Broken Egg Cafe 160 Park at North Hills St. 919.307.8195 anotherbrokenegg.com Brigs Restaurant 8111 Creedmoor Rd. 919.870.0994 brigs.com

Premier Cakes 6617 Falls of Neuse Rd. #105 919.703.0095 premier-cakes.com

Jubala Coffee 8450 Honeycutt Rd. 919.758.8330 jubalacoffee.com

Sugarland 2031 Cameron St. 919.835.2100 facebook.com/ sugarlandraleigh

The Morning Times 10 E Hargett St. 919.836.1204 morningtimes-raleigh.com

Yellow Dog Bread Company 219 E. Franklin St. 984.232.0291 facebook.com/ yellowdogbread Videri Chocolate Factory 327 W. Davie St. 919.755.5053 viderichocolatefactory.com

BURGER & HOT DOG

New World Cafe 4112 Pleasant Valley Rd. 919.786.0091 newworldcoffeehouse.com

Jerry’s Grill 813 E. Whitaker Mill Rd. 919.832.7561 MoJoe’s Burger Joint 620 Glenwood Ave. 919.832.6799 mojoesburgerjoint.com Pharaoh’s Grill at North Hills 4421 Six Forks Rd. 919.420.0840 Snoopy’s Hot Dogs 600 Hillsborough St. 919.839.2176 snoopys.com

CAFÉ Benelux Coffee 402 Oberlin Rd. 919.900.8294 beneluxcoffee.com Despina’s Café 8369 Creedmoor Rd. 919.848.5007 despinascafe.com Manhattan Cafe 320 S. Wilmington St. 919.833.6105 manhattancafenc.com Sola Coffee 7705 Lead Mine Rd. 919.803.8983 solacoffee.com

Sosta Cafe 130 E. Davie St. 919.833.1006 sostacafe.com

Royale 200 E. Martin St. 919.977.3043 Donovan’s Dish 800 W. Williams St. #112 Apex | 919.651.8309 10251 Little Brier Creek Ln. #107 | Raleigh donovansdish.com

The Daily Planet Cafe 121 W. Jones St. 919.707.8060 thedailyplanetcafe.com

Saint Jacques 6112 Falls of Neuse Rd. 919.862.2770 saintjacquesfrench cuisine.com Simply Crêpes 8470 Honeycutt Rd. 919.322.2327 simplycrepes.com

GERMAN Devolve Moto 304 Glenwood Ave. 919.803.3257 devolvemoto.com

Rocky Top Catering 1705 E. Millbrook Rd. 919.850.2340 rockytopcatering.com

The Pharmacy Cafe 702 N. Person St. 919.832.6432 personstreetrx.com Sunflowers Cafe 8 W. Peace St. 919.833.4676 sunflowersraleigh.com

CARIBBEAN Caribbean Café 2645 E. Millbrook Rd. 919.872.4858 caribbeancafenc.com Jamaican Grille 5500 Atlantic Springs Rd. 919.873.0200 Lee’s Kitchen 4638 Capital Blvd. 919.872.7422 leeskitchenjamaican.com Mum’s Jamaican Restaurant 3901 Capital Blvd. 919.615.2332 mumsjamaicanfood.com Tropical Picken Chicken 404 E. Six Forks Rd. 919.703.0661

INDIAN

The Glenwood 3300 Woman’s Club Dr. 919.610.0872 theglenwoodvenue.com

ECLECTIC 41Hundred 4100 Main at North Hills St. 919.278.1478 41hundredrestaurant.com ORO Restaurant & Lounge 18 E. Martin St. 919.239.4010 ororaleigh.com Plates Neighborhood Kitchen 301 Glenwood Ave. 919.828.0018 plateskitchen.com

FRENCH Crepe Traditions 141 Park at North Hills St. 919.977.3425 crepetraditions.com

CATERING Catering Works 2319 Laurelbrook St. 919.828.5932 cateringworks.com

J. Betski’s 10 W. Franklin St. 919.833.7999 jbetskis.com

Coquette Brasserie 4531 The Circle at North Hills 919.789.0606 coquetteraleigh.com

Azitra 8411 Brier Creek Pkwy. 919.484.3939 azitra.com Garland 14 W. Martin St. 919.833.6886 garlandraleigh.com Godavari 9650 Strickland Rd. 919.847.1984 godavarius.com Indio Restaurant & Lounge 222 Glenwood Ave. 919.322.2760 indioraleigh.com Kabab and Curry 2418 Hillsborough St. 919.977.6974 kababcurryraleigh.com Kadhai the Indian Wok 6260-112 Glenwood Ave. 919.785.2864 theindianexpresskadhai.com Royal India 3901 Capital Blvd. 919.981.0849 royalindiannc.com Taj Mahal Indian Cuisine 6611 Falls of Neuse Rd. 919.848.2262 tajmahalindianraleigh.com

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The Wild Cook’s Indian Grill 3212 Hillsborough St. 984.232.8530 wildcooksgrill.com Zayka Indian Cuisine 10410 Moncreiffe Rd. Ste 103 919.361.5370 zaykaraleigh.com

IRISH

Casa Carbone Ristorante Italiano 6019 Glenwood Ave. 919.781.8750 casacarbone.com Farina Neighborhood Italian 8450 Honeycutt Rd. 919.890.0143 farinaraleigh.com

Vivace 4209 Lassiter Mill Rd. 919.787.7747 vivaceraleigh.com

MEDITERRANEAN / MIDDLE EASTERN

Saints & Scholars Irish Pub 909 Spring Forest Rd. 919.878.8828 saintsandscholarspub.com

Mulino Italian Kitchen & Bar 309 N. Dawson St. 919.838.8595 mulinoraleigh.com

Aladdin’s Eatery 8201 Brier Creek Pkwy. 919.806.5700 aladdinseatery.com

The Hibernian 311 Glenwood Ave. 919.833.2258

Piccola Italia 423 Woodburn Rd. 919.833.6888 piccolaitalianc.com

Fresh Levant Bistro 8450 Honeycutt Rd. 984.200.3999 freshlevant.com

Gravy 135 S. Wilmington St. 919.896.8513 gravyraleigh.com

Jasmin Mediterranean Bistro 424 E. Six Forks Rd. 919.743.3336 jasminbistro.com

8021 Falls Of Neuse Rd. 919.803.0290 hibernianpub.com

ITALIAN Amedeo’s Italian Restaurant 3905 Western Blvd. 919.851.0473 amedeosrestaurant.com Assaggio Italian Restuarant 3501 W. Millbrook Rd. 919.785.2088 assaggios-nc.com Bella Monica 3121 Edwards Mill Rd. 919.881.9778 bellamonica.com Bruno Seafood & Steaks 11211 Galleria Ave. 919.435.6640 brunoraleigh.com

Cafe Tiramisu Cafe Tiramisu 6008 Falls of Neuse Rd. 919.790.1006 cafetiramisu.net Caffé Luna 136 E. Hargett St. 919.832.6090 cafeluna.com Capri Restaurant 6325 Falls of Neuse Rd. 919.878.4424 caprirest.com

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Jimmy V’s Osteria + Bar 420 Fayetteville St. 919.256.1451 jimmyvsraleigh.com Nina’s Ristorante 8801 Lead Mine Rd. 919.845.1122 ninasrestaurant.com Pulcinella’s Italian Restaurant 4711 Hope Valley Rd. 919.490.1172 pulcinellasitalianrestaurant.com Roma Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant 3805 Brentwood Rd. 919.876.2818

Mona Pita Mediterranean Grill 5260 Capital Blvd. 919.431.6500 monapita.com Neomonde 3817 Beryl Rd. 919.828.1628 neomonde.com Nur Mediterranean Deli & Market 2233 Avent Ferry Rd. 919.828.1523 nurdeli.com

Taza Grill 6325 Falls of Neuse Rd. 919.872.7161 tazagrill.com Vidrio 500 Glenwood Ave. #100 919.803.6033 vidrioraleigh.com

PIZZERIA Cristo’s NY Style Pizza 1302 E. Milbrook Rd. 919.872.6797 cristospizza.com DeMo’s Pizzeria & Deli 222 Glenwood Ave. 919.754.1050 demospizzeriadeli.com

Tuscan Blu 327 W. Davie St. 919.834.5707 tuscanblu.com Vic’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria 331 Blake St. 919.829.7090

Sitti 137 S. Wilmington St. 919.239.4070 sitti-raleigh.com Tarbouch 5645 Creedmoor Rd. 919.239.4408 tarbouch-nc.com

Stromboli’s Express 2900 Spring Forest Rd. 919.876.4222 strombolisexpress.com

Trophy Brewing & Pizza 827 W. Morgan St. 919.803.4849 trophybrewing.com

SEAFOOD 42nd Street Oyster Bar 508 W. Jones St. 919.831.2811 42ndstoysterbar.com Captain Stanley’s Seafood 3333 S. Wilmington St. 919.779.7878 facebook.com/captainstanleys

Donatos 111 Seaboard Ave. 919.828.5111 donatos.com Frank’s Pizza 2030 New Bern Ave. 919.231.8990 frankspizzainraleigh.com Gino’s Pizza 6260 Glenwood Ave. 919.783.7555 ginospizzaraleigh.com

Dean’s Kitchen + Bar 1080 Darrington Dr., Cary 919.459.5875 deanskitchenandbar.com Margaux’s Restaurant 8111 Creedmoor Rd. 919.846.9846 margauxsrestaurant.com Saltwater Seafood Market and Fry Shack 4 Fenton St. | 919.834.1813 saltwaterseafoodnc.com

Petra Grill 6091 Capital Blvd. 919.599.4959 Sassool 9650 Strickland Rd. 919.847.2700 sassool.com

4035 Lake Boone Tr. 984.200.9292 vicsitalianrestaurant.com

Taverna Agora 326 Hillsborough St. 919.881.8333 tavernaagora.com

Lilly’s Pizza 1813 Glenwood Ave. 919.833.0226 lillyspizza.com

The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar 4208 Six Forks Rd. 919.784.0400 thecowfish.com

SOUTH AMERICAN

Moonlight Pizza Company 615 W. Morgan St. 919.755.9133 moonlightpizza.com

Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken 4614 Capital Blvd. 919.713.0000 alpacachicken.com

Pizza La Stella 219 Fayetteville St. 984.200.2441 pizzalastella.com

Guasaca Arepa & Salsa Grill 4025 Lake Boone Tr. 919.322.4928 guasaca.com

Mami Nora’s 2401 Wake Forest Rd. 919.834.8572 maminoras.com

Provenance 120 E. Martin St. 984.269.5211 provenanceraleigh.com

Oakwood Cafe 300 E. Edenton St. 919.828.5994 oakwoodcaferaleigh.com

Relish Café & Bar 5625 Creedmoor Rd. 919.787.1855 relishraleigh.com

Vinos Finos Tapas and Wine Bar 8450 Honeycutt Rd. 919.747.9233 vinosfinosypicadas.com

Rye Bar & Southern Kitchen 500 Fayetteville St. 919.227.3370 ryeraleigh.com

SOUTHERN Beasley’s Chicken + Honey 237 S. Wilmington St. 919.322.0127 ac-restaurants.com/beasleys Big Ed’s City Market Restaurant 220 Wolfe St. 919.836.9909 bigedscitymarket.com Driftwood Southern Kitchen 8460 Honeycutt Rd. 919.977.8360 driftwoodraleigh.com Humble Pie 317 S. Harrington St. 919.829.9222 humblepierestaurant.com Mandolin 2519 Fairview Rd. 919.322.0365 mandolinraleigh.com

NOFO @ the Pig 2014 Fairview Rd. 919.821.1240 nofo.com Pam’s Farmhouse 5111 Western Blvd. 919.859.9990 facebook.com/pamsfarmhouse Poole’s Diner 426 S. McDowell St. 919.832.4477 ac-restaurants.com/pooles

State Farmers’ Market Restaurant 1240 Farmers Market Dr. 919.755.1550 realbiscuits.com Tupelo Honey Cafe 425 Oberlin Rd. 919.723.9353 tupelohoneycafe.com Flying Biscuit Café 2016 Clark Ave. 919.833.6924 flyingbiscuit.com The Mecca Restaurant 13 E. Martin St. 919.832.5714 mecca-restaurant.com The Remedy Diner 137 E. Hargett St. 919.835.3553 theremedydiner.com

SPANISH

Vinnie’s Steak House and Tavern 7440 Six Forks Rd. 919.847.7319 vinniessteakhouse.com

The Glenwood

Where Dream Weddings Come True

VEGETARIAN/VEGAN Fiction Kitchen 428 S. Dawson St. 919.831.4177 thefictionkitchen.com Happy + Hale 443 Fayetteville St. 919.307.4148 happyandhale.com

The Glenwood is an event venue located inside the beltline in Raleigh and is exclusively catered by Irregardless Cafe & Catering. Host your wedding, reception and more at Raleigh's Best-kept Secret.

EVENT VENUE & CATERING

Grabbagreen 4421 Six Forks Rd. #103 919.326.7799

3300 Woman's Club Drive, Raleigh NC www.theglenwoodvenue.com catering@irregardless.com Photo credit: Chad Winstead Photos

Living Kitchen 555 Fayetteville St. 919.324.3515 livingkitchen.com Raleigh Raw 7 W. Hargett St. 919.400.0944 raleighraw.com

Latin Quarters 7335 Six Forks Rd. 919.900.8333 new.latinquartersnc.com Tasca Brava 607 Glenwood Ave. 919.828.0840 tascabrava.com

Irregardless Cafe & Catering 901 W. Morgan St. 919.833.8898 irregardless.com

STEAKHOUSE Angus Barn 9401 Glenwood Ave. 919.791.2444 angusbarn.com Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse 8551 Brier Creek Pkwy. 919.544.3344 brasasteakhouse.com

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RETIRED HURRICANES STAR ERIK COLE IS MAKING NEW GOALS, JUST SOONER THAN HE WOULD HAVE LIKED.

OFF ICE the

BY KURT DUSTERBERG PHOTO BY DAVIES PHOTOGRAPHY

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WHEN THE CAROLINA HURRICANES and Erik Cole held a press conference in September to announce his retirement from the National Hockey League, many fans were caught off guard. The former Hurricanes star had not played for more than two years after suffering a spinal contusion in March 2015, when he was a member of the Detroit Red Wings. Cole established himself as a budding star with the Hurricanes in the 2005â&#x20AC;&#x201C;06 season, scoring 30 goals in 59

games, before a broken neck nearly left him paralyzed. He made an improbable comeback later the same season in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals. One of the most popular players in Hurricanes history, he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers, only to be traded back to Carolina for another playoff run in 2009. The Oswego, New York, native later played for the fabled Montreal Canadiens and the Dallas Stars before finishing in Detroit, but his heart never really left Raleigh.

Midtown Magazine: When I heard you were going to announce your retirement, I was like everyone else, assuming you had already retired. But you were hoping to play again? Erik Cole: I had come to grips with it at the start of last season [in 2016]. The first season being out of the game was probably the toughest. It seemed like I was at the chiropractor every day during the summer, on a machine trying to stretch out my spine. I went to Switzerland to get some advanced stem cell work to see if that would make my MRI look safer, but the build-up of degeneration above and below the fracture site has gotten to the point where it’s encroaching on my spinal cord. MM: You had a long career—13 years and almost 900 games. You won the Stanley Cup, you had a couple of 30-goal seasons. Did that make it easier to come to terms with your career ending because of an injury?

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Cole: That definitely helped, but at the same time, everyone has their own expectation about how they want their career to end, or what they view themselves capable of. The Real Value in Mental Health

www.carolinapartners.com

MM: Of course, your best season—the Cup season of 2005–06—also got derailed by a serious injury.

Marcus: dream job.

Cole: That was very difficult just because of the great season we were having here and how much fun it was to be at the rink every day with this group. It was my first year of establishing myself as a player that could be a 30-goal scorer. The timing of all that was difficult. MM: And we now know that you held off announcing your retirement because you hoped to get healthy and finish your career with the Hurricanes. midtownmag.com | 131

Cole: The hope was always to end up back here, wearing a Hurricanes sweater. This is the place where I had my opportunity to play in the league. I took pride in being part of this organization. I wanted to see if I could help them with this transition from older, veteran players to the younger guys, who have come through the system. MM: What could you have imparted to younger players? Cole: I think about the veteran guys I learned from to become a pro. I was around Ron Francis, Rod Brind’Amour, Glen Wesley. There were guys like Doug Weight and Mark Recchi who came here in 2006. They brought in Ray Whitney and Cory Stillman. They would teach you how to handle things day to day. There are going to be obstacles and hardships over the course of a season. A lot of people can play in the NHL, but it’s another level to stay here. You have to show up every day, put in the work, and stay consistent.

2018

MM: You’re leaving behind an identity when you retire as an athlete. Has it been an easy transition?

DIAMOND

AWARD BEST CAKES/SWEETS

Cole: It’s been so long that I’ve been in the game. In the first year, I kind of struggled a bit to find things to do to keep myself busy, both physically and mentally. I have two kids, Bella and Landon, so I’ve tried as much as I can to get myself into their activities. Now that I’m done playing, I can take the time to spend with my family—just be a dad and make up for lost time. MM: What kinds of activities are you catching up on? Cole: That first year, I started getting on the ice with my son’s hockey team. That really helped me quite a bit, trying to teach them and help them realize their potential and what they’re capable of. It’s very rewarding. I’m happy for them that they’re making strides. My daughter, Bella, has always been so mature and such an old soul. We’re at the point now where we’re starting to do college visits, touring campuses. Just being around them more has been great for me as a father and a person, and I think it’s been good for them to have Dad closer. MM: Was it an easy decision to make Raleigh your home once you retired? Cole: We never sold our house here. We always viewed this as home, as where we wanted to settle down after my playing career was over. I’ve been traveling to this community since the early- to mid-90s. That was something people didn’t quite realize, just how long I had been down here. My sister lived here before I was drafted by the Hurrricanes. I was here for spring break my junior year of high school. In my interview with the Hurricanes before I got drafted, [Hurricanes executives] were explaining a little about the area, and I was like, “You guys don’t need to explain. I know where this is, I know where that is.”

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OUT ABOUT &

JANUARY / FEBRUARY CALENDAR OF EVENTS | MIDTOWN MINGLES | NEW AROUND TOWN

TRIANGLE WINE EXPERIENCE GRAND GALA & AUCTION February 3, 5pm Location to be announced Triangle Wine Experience celebrates 25 years supporting the Frankie Lemmon School & Development Center. This grand gala and auction will feature entertainment and world-class libations. This is also where you will experience the silent and live auctions of fine wine, travel, and unique luxury items. trianglewineexperience.org PHOTO COURTESY OF THE FRANKIE LEMMON SCHOOL & DEVELOPMENT CENTER (LEE AND CHRISTINA HUDSON AT LAST YEARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GRAND GALA AND AUCTION)

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calendar ofevents PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTH HILLS

INSPIRING BEAUTY: 50 YEARS OF EBONY FASHION FAIR January 1-21 at NCMA PHOTO COURTESY OF NCMA

ITALIAN COMFORT BRUNCH WITH LIVE MUSIC Every Saturday & Sunday, 10am-3pm 219 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh Raleigh’s only wood-fired brunch! 900°F savory breakfast skillets, features such as chicken and waffles pizza, and the exclusive home to Smash Waffles. Custom breakfast cocktail menu and amazing Bloody Mary selection also available. pizzalastella.com BEER & BANJOS Every Tuesday, 7:30-10:30pm 14 E. Hargett Street, Raleigh A music series focused on traditional and acoustic music from the region of North Carolina and the Appalachian Mountains. visitraleigh.com INSPIRING BEAUTY: 50 YEARS OF EBONY FASHION FAIR January 1-21 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh It’s the remarkable story of an extraordinary fashion show. Covering

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50 years of beauty, style, and empowerment, with 40 stunning outfits by Christian Dior, Givenchy, Alexander McQueen, and many more. ncartmuseum.org IRIS AFTER DARK January 1-26 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh Welcome the weekend with Iris After Dark, a new evening experience offered by the NCMA’s Iris restaurant every Friday night. Enjoy a delicious selection of small plates, lounge with friends, and enjoy an extended wine and beer selection to the spins and tunes of local DJs and musicians. ncartmuseum.org ON YOUR FEET! January 2-7 123 Vivian Street, Durham This musical takes you behind the music and inside the real story of this record-making and groundbreaking couple who, in the face of adversity, found a way to end up on their feet. dpacnc.com

HENRY ROLLINS: TRAVEL SLIDESHOW January 6, 7:30pm 2 E. South Street, Raleigh Henry Rollins will present a special performance drawing on experiences and his vast archive of photographs. dukeenergycenterraleigh.com RUN FOR YOUNG January 7, 2pm 120 E. Edenton Street, Raleigh Returning for the 11th year, the race celebrates the life of Sadiki Young, an active member of Christ Episcopal Church and a senior at Wakefield High School who lost his life in 2007. itsyourrace.com LOVE LETTERS January 12-21 1 E. South Street, Raleigh Love Letters is coming to NC Theatre. It’s a unique and imaginative piece that explores the many forms of love shared by childhood friends who remain pen pals for over 50 years, sharing every aspect of their lives

with one another despite living in separate worlds. nctheatre.com CITY OF OAKS CHALLENGE January 13-15 500 S. Salisbury Street, Raleigh Triangle Volleyball Club proudly hosts the 3rd annual City of Oaks Challenge at the Raleigh Convention Center. trianglevolleyball.org NHL CAROLINA HURRICANES VS. CALGARY FLAMES January 14, 3pm 1400 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh The Carolina Hurricanes take on the Calgary Flames at PNC Arena. nhl.com/hurricanes AFRICAN AMERICAN THEATER PREVIEW January 14, 7-8:30pm 301 Pogue Street, Raleigh Celebrate the rich and diverse season of African American theater in the Triangle. The Triangle Friends of African American Arts is bringing together several performing arts organizations to showcase the wonderful African American plays and musical that will hit the stages in 2018. africanamericanarts.org

Raleigh’s Person Street and Seaboard Station areas, featuring beer with some food pairings for a fun afternoon experience. Cost: $45. godowntownraleigh.com A PRINCESS TEA January 20-21 201 E. Hargett Street, Raleigh Fairy dust and sparkling crowns, enchanted wands and princess gowns… children and their grown-up are invited to join Marbles Kids Museum for A Princess Tea. Dress in your most elegant gown, take part in magical activities, and enjoy delightful treats with a princess. Preregistration is required. marbleskidsmuseum.org TRIANGLE RESTAURANT WEEK 2018 January 22-28 Downtown Raleigh, Cary, and surrounding areas. Triangle Restaurant Week (TRW) is a weeklong celebration of culinary excellence designed to incorporate the premier Raleigh, Cary, and surrounding area restaurants. Participating restaurants will offer special three-course menu options at fixed pricing. trirestaurantweek.com

17TH ANNUAL AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CELEBRATION January 27, 10:30am-4:30pm 5 E. Edenton Street, Raleigh The 17th annual African American Cultural Celebration will feature more than 75 musicians, storytellers, dancers, chefs, historians, playwrights, authors, artists, reenactors, and more. ncmuseumofhistory.org ASTRONOMY DAYS January 27-28 11 W. Jones Street, Raleigh The N.C. Museum of Natural Science partners with NASA and the Raleigh Astronomy Club to help you see the big picture – of the Universe! From comet crafts to solar observing, lectures to rocket launches, space enthusiasts of all ages will find something to do at Astronomy Days. naturalsciences.org WINERY DINNERS February 1, 7pm Located at restaurants across the Triangle Triangle Wine Experience celebrates 25 years supporting the Frankie Lemmon School & Development Center. Winery dinners will take place at more than 40 of the finest restaurants in the Triangle. trianglewineexperience.org

SHEN YUN 2018 January 16-17 2 E. South Street, Raleigh Shen Yun is a truly remarkable and uplifting performance beyond your wildest imagination! Take a peek into heaven and enjoy the 2018 Shen Yun performance. dukeenergycenterraleigh.com FREEDOM FROM RENT FOR THE SELF-EMPLOYED January 17, 8-9am 410 N. Boylan Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27603 Ready for homeownership but not sure where to begin since you are self-employed? We can help you answer the questions about the HOT real estate market and how to get a mortgage. Bring your questions! markstewardteam.com DOWNTOWN RALEIGH CRAFT BEER AND FOOD ADVENTURE January 20, 2:30pm 700 Semart Drive, Raleigh Combining some hidden gems in

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PHOTO BY CHRIS WALT PHOTOGRAPHY DANCERS: JAN BURKHARD AND RICHARD KRUSCH COURTESY OF CAROLINA BALLET

CAROLINA BALLET: ROMEO AND JULIET February 1-18

CAROLINA BALLET: ROMEO AND JULIET February 1-18 2 E. South Street, Raleigh No love story is more beautiful or touching than Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet — the story of star-crossed lovers, dueling families, intrigue, deception, and a tragic twist of fate. This is the perfect show for you and your Valentine. carolinaballet.com 3RD ANNUAL CHARITY POLO TOURNAMENT Benefiting Shepherd Youth Ranch February 3, 4–8pm Jim Hunt Horse Complex 4601 Trinity Road, Raleigh Bring your friends, best tailgate food, and beverages and join us at the Jim Hunt Horse Complex for the 3rd Annual Charity Polo Tournament benefiting Shepherd Youth Ranch. shepherdyouthranch.org. KRISPY KREME CHALLENGE February 3, 8am-1pm 2011 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh 2,400 calories, 12 doughnuts, five miles, one hour. The mantra of the Krispy Kreme Challenge epitomizes the test of physical fitness and gastrointestinal fortitude. krispykremechallenge.com

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GRAND GALA & AUCTION February 3, 5pm Location to be announced Triangle Wine Experience celebrates 25 years supporting the Frankie Lemmon School & Development Center. This grand gala and auction will feature entertainment and world-class libations. This is also where you will experience the silent and live auctions of fine wine, travel, and unique luxury items. trianglewineexperience.org BASICS OF TRAP-NEUTERVACCINATE-RETURN (TNVR) February 6, 6:30-8pm 8431-137 Garvey Drive, Raleigh Learn the difference between stray/ abandoned cats and feral cats, the basics of trapping, the different types of traps, how to make a clinic appointment, and how to trap and care for these kitties. safehavenforcats.org NHL CAROLINA HURRICANES VS. NEW YORK ISLANDERS February 16, 7:30pm 1400 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh The Carolina Hurricanes take on the Long Island Islanders at PNC Arena. nhl.com/hurricanes

DOWNTOWN RALEIGH CRAFT BEER AND FOOD ADVENTURE February 17, 2:30pm Combining some hidden gems in Raleigh’s Person Street and Seaboard Station areas, featuring beer with some food pairings for a fun afternoon experience. Cost: $45. godowntownraleigh.com LOVE YOUR FIRST HOME PURCHASE February 21, 8-9am 410 N. Boylan Street, Raleigh Are you ready to make the commitment to a home but aren’t sure where to start? Join us for an overview of the HOT real estate market and a mortgage banker will give you the details on what you need to know. markstewardteam.com HAIRSPRAY, THE BROADWAY MUSICAL February 21-25 2610 Cates Avenue, Raleigh It’s 1962 in Baltimore, and Tracy Turnblad, the lovable plus-size teen, has only one desire—to dance on the popular “Corny Collins Show.” Find out if her dreams come true when the show makes its way to the Stewart Theatre at the Talley Student Center at NC State. arts.ncsu.edu

SHOW SOME

LOCAL LOVE. sm

Shop Local Raleigh is about promoting and supporting locally-owned, independent businesses. It’s about fueling the local economy, and helping to preserve the unique character of Raleigh.

Make a difference.

SHOP LOCAL! KRISPY KREME CHALLENGE February 3, 8am-1pm

www.ShopLocalRaleigh.org

HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS – IN CONCERT FEATURING THE NORTH CAROLINA SYMPHONY February 23-24, 7:30pm 2 E. South Street, Raleigh Audiences will be able to relive the magical adventure of Harry Potter’s second year at school like never before. This concert features Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in high definition while the North Carolina Symphony performs John Williams’ otherworldly score. dukeenergycenterraleigh.com 6TH ANNUAL BULL CITY FOOD & BEER EXPERIENCE February 25, 4pm 123 Vivian Street, Durham The event features restaurants paired with breweries spread throughout all three DPAC floors, featuring unlimited samplings and the Harris On Stage Experience showcasing local food trucks. dpacnc.com

Have an Important Event? We would love to hear about it. Log on to our website and send us the details. We may feature it in our next issue. midtownmag.com| 139

midtownmingles

3RD ANNUAL DRINK4PINK

Davis & Pyle Plastic Surgery and Skin Raleigh presented the 3rd Annual Drink4Pink at Salon Blu North Hills! They raised $3,000 for Rex’s Pink Ribbon Foundation which supports mobile mammography coaches. Their #partnerswithapurpose were Pink Ink Tattoo, Kendra Scott North Hills, and Burn Boot Camp West Raleigh. Guests enjoyed #forthecause shopping, a bubbly bar, and bites.

AMERIPRISE VOLUNTEER DAY

Together, the Ameriprise team sorted 2,552 pounds of turnip greens and green beans to aid in preparation of 2,149 meals at the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.

MARCO BICEGO PERSONAL APPEARANCE AT BAILEY’S FINE JEWELRY BREAST CANCER AWARENESS WITH LANE & ASSOCIATES

Lane & Associates helped promote breast cancer awareness with $10,000 donation to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund! On December 12th the Kay Yow Foundation hosted Lane & Associates and the media for a special presentation of the $10,000 check.

World-renowned jewelry designer Marco Bicego visited the Cameron Village location of Bailey’s Fine Jewelry on November 17th. Guests were able to shop one-of-a-kind and limited-edition treasures while meeting the designer one-onone. Bicego even hand-engraved pieces for the patrons.

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PHOTOS BY CH PHOTOGRAPHY NC

PINK PUMPS AND BOW TIES DINNER

The dinner, held on October 26th at the Carolina Country Club, honored founder Dr. Lisa Tolnitch as the recipient of the 2017 Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism Award. Champion Stephanie Flemings shared her thanks and appreciation to Pretty In Pink Foundation for the financial assistance she received during her treatment for breast cancer. About 200 guests including representatives from local businesses and the medical community, helped us raise over $160,000.

PHOTOS BY JOE REALE

HOLIDAYS AT NUDERMA

The Nuderma holiday event was a great success—thanks to everyone who attended, and those who took part in making it happen! There were demonstrations of services offered, giveaways, representatives ready to answer questions and offer mini-consults, discounts on all services and skincare products, and gift bags for all attendees. It was a great time for new/ potential patients to get to know the staff and tour the spa.

PHOTOS BY TERESA DOMIAN

“DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER” END OF YEAR EVENT AT FAMILY WELLNESS & REGENESIS MD Dr. Bhavna-Vaidya Tank and her team brought the bling to Regenesis MD’s end of year holiday event on November 16th. Clients were treated to catering by Curry in a Hurry, craft cocktails by a master mixologist from NYC, a photo booth, vendor meet and greet from their top aesthetic lines, and holiday specials on all products and services. 142 | midtownmag.com

midtownmingles

21ST ANNUAL SANDHILLS CHILDREN’S CENTER FESTIVAL OF TREES

The 21st Annual Sandhills Children’s Center Festival of Trees took place November 29th–December 3rd at The Carolina Hotel in Pinehurst. The online auction raised over $80,000 to help pay for vital therapies for children who have special developmental needs.

EVENING OF HOPE / WALK FOR HOPE PHOTOS BY KATHLEEN NOLIS PHOTOGRAPHY

SHOPPING WITH MEANING

Skin Raleigh partnered with friends at The Flourish Market for an evening of shopping, empowerment, and fundraising. Guests were armed with warm, spiked cider and a goal: to help raise $20,000 by December 31st to build a safe home for young trafficking victims. In two hours, they raised over $2,000—and finished their holiday shopping—while changing lives.

More than $880,000 was raised at two landmark events benefitting clinical research projects and mental health. The Evening of Hope, held September 17th at the Pavilion at Angus Barn, had 430 participants and raised $410,000. The 29th annual Walk for Hope, held October 8th, engaged 2,800 participants and raised $470,000.

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midtownmingles

PHOTOS BY KATHLEEN NOLIS PHOTOGRAPHY

PARTNERS WITH A PURPOSE

The teams at Skin Raleigh and Plum Hair Atelier kicked off the holiday shopping season with a night of local pop-up shops, pampering, and puppies! All raffle ticket sales benefited Saving Grace Animal Adoption, and an amazing time was had by all!

CLIENT APPRECIATION AT LUX SALON

LUX hosted their 2nd Annual Client Appreciation Event. Free mini services were provided including brow, braid, and dry styling. The evening was full of fun, live music, jewelry, local artists, mini massages, raffle prizes, and swag bags! Come celebrate with us this year; look out for date @luxsalonraleigh on Instagram. 144 | midtownmag.com

ST. DAVID’S ANNUAL VETERANS DAY COMMEMORATION

On November 10th, St. David’s School hosted their annual Veterans Day Commemoration to give thanks and honor those who have served and are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Following a procession where students walked in with their family veteran, the wind ensemble and chorale performed, and the Lower School students sang Thank You Veterans. Captain Sally White of the U.S. Army, a 2005 covaledictorian graduate of St. David’s, gave the address, and current student Laura Martin read her essay titled A Land of Opportunity. The highlight of the day was the Recognition of Honorees, which recognized each branch in our military while the ensemble and chorale performed Armed Forces: The Pride of America! Light refreshments and a time of fellowship followed the ceremony.

ST. TIMOTHY’S FIELD TRIP TO ZAYTOUN ORTHODONTICS

The 2nd grade class at St. Timothy’s School enjoyed a morning full of fun, interactive activities and stations to learn more about orthodontics, braces, Invisalign, and overall dental health! The parents even got to receive a 3D state-of-the-art scan of their teeth!

new aroundtown GLADWELL ORTHODONTICS OPENS NEW LOCATION Gladwell Orthodontics is growing! Visit the new Raleigh location on the corner of Leesville and Strickland starting January 2018!

NOTHING BUNDT CAKES CO TO OPEN EARLY 2018 At CO, find uniquely inspired dishes with fresh, robust flavors and handcrafted cocktails. We are a modern Southeast Asian restaurant opening early 2018 at the AC Hotel in the bustling North Hills neighborhood. eatatCO.com.

Nothing Bundt Cakesâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;North Raleigh, located at 6643 Falls of Neuse Road, is now open for business. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 9 am to 6 pm, and Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm. nothingbundtcakes.com.

City Pet Grooming & Pet Supplies CITY PET GROOMING City Pet Grooming opened its Glenwood South doors on October 16th. Owner Carrie Smith brings over 20 years experience as a professional dog groomer. City Pet Grooming features an array of spa services, doggie daycare, supplies, unusual toys, and treats for your furry family! Easy downtown parking and drop off! 727 W. Johnson Street, 919.916.5370. citypetgrooming.com.

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Kaleidoscope Living

N E W O RA N G E

MIXED MEDIA ON ARCHES WATERCOLOR PAPER, 12" BY 16". (SOLD)

“THIS WAS MY FIRST PIECE THAT WAS FORMULAIC IN THAT I WOULD MAKE THREE STROKES, TURN THE PAPER 45 DEGREES, GRAB ANOTHER COLOR, AND REPEAT UNTIL THE PATTERN EMERGED. I’VE SINCE DONE SEVERAL IN THIS STYLE.” 146 | midtownmag.com

– LEWIS WILSON

Lewis Wilson specializes in landscape expressionism and abstract work. His work has been sold throughout the U.S. and internationally. Originally from western New York, he’s spent more than 20 years in the Triangle. He lives in Apex with his wife, their two daughters, and their dog, Jack.

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