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2016

DIAMOND

AWARD BEST PLACE TO GET YOUR SMILE ON

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

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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.

10 top

for the summer of

2010

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AT NIGHT THE MUSEUM

Fall

THE NEW NIGHTLIFE

INSANE

FASHIONS

MALE BONDING

PAcking

WORKING OUT AND STAYING FIT WITH FRIENDS

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perfect lunch

FASHION

it’s that time of year

BOLD & COLORFUL SPRING IS HERE!

Football

2012

J U LY / A U G U S T

M A R C H / A P R I L

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2012

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GRILLING, SK YDIVING, BEER, APPS, MUSIC, MOVIES & MORE!

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AWARDS 2012 STEPPING OUTSIDE

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UT -O NG LL DI PU ED DE W UI G

It’s an annual cycle; there is always a big bump in memberships at gyms and fitness centers during January. All clubs benefit financially from the New Year’s resolutions that folks optimistically make every January. Our health and fitness section explores some ways to get your body fit, and your mind and soul as well. Be sure to read how owning a pet helps you to stay healthy – and if you don’t already have a pet, go straight to your local shelter and adopt one! Need to commit to a worthwhile local nonprofit in your spare time? Why not consider helping the Raleigh chapter of The Coalition to Unchain Dogs? In this issue’s regular “Giving Back” column we take a look at this great organization that helps families and dogs improve their quality of life by building fences and helping with the costs of spaying and neutering. Enjoy the issue, and as always send me ideas for future stories and tell me what you liked in this one!

FALL

appy New Year! Our team here at the offices of Midtown Magazine has an exciting editorial year lined up for our readers and advertisers, and we are anxious to get started. By the time you are reading this letter our favorite Creative Director (and the glue that keeps us all together), Travis Aptt, will be a new father, and probably out on paternity leave for a while. We promise to post pictures of the new office bundle of joy. One of the favorite issues each year is our annual Midtown Diamond Awards; this year we bring you the winners, as well as the second and third place finishers. It’s a great list to read through, and I hope many of you will be motivated to go check out these fine businesses of restaurants, retail stores and professional services. In this issue we bring you a planning guide for the new modern bride, and three real life stories of how local couples met and eventually tied the knot. There are also unusual venues, registry ideas and lots of lovely wedding gowns! Love it or hate it? Since Valentine’s Day is upon us, we spoke to people on the street and asked them what special things they do on their own or with a partner on Valentine’s Day.

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contents january/ february

2016

features 72 midtown’s wedding guide

We’ve got over 20 pages of anything and everything wedding. From gowns to venues...real wedding stories to food...and even registry ideas. And the best of all – YOUR most breathtaking wedding photos.

96 Make a Run for It

Become a runner (or better Runner) in the New Year.

99 eat clean

Here’s the dirt on what’s hot in nutrition.

don’t quit, stay fit 102

Wake County senior games 2016.

106 cupid on the street

We set out to discover the answers, hear the stories, and seek out tips from local Raleigh residents on how they spend their February 14th.

a movement in miniature 112

Back in 2008, Ryan Mitchell was working a good job. Then one day, the boss came in the office and announced he was closing the company.

2016 diamond awards

We annouce the Best of Raleigh as voted on by YOU, the reader!

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contents january/ february

2016

departments

122

24 on the scene 34 bainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beat 38 beauty style 40 beer & barrel 42 close to home 46 giving back 48 raising the bar 50 sunday supper 54 the interview 56 whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s app? 58 wine review 60 your home (cozy) 114 midtown downtown 120 healthy you 122 out & about 130 everyday places

sunday supper 22 | midtownmag.com

The scene

taste

Good to the Bone Stanbury’s Roasted Marrow is a Must By Steven Major / Photography by Davies Photography Proponents of the paleo diet will tell you 10,000 years ago mankind lived a certain way, had lived that way for roughly 2.5 million years, and we are therefore best suited to living that way now. If you want to start an argument at dinner, you can bring it up and take a firm stance one way or the other. I like bread far too much to entertain the idea of eating a paleo diet myself (I still love you, gluten). I do, however, believe very strongly that some foods are especially enjoyable because they light up some magical spot in our ancient monkey brains that generously rewards us with happy brain chemicals for having consumed them. For me, bone marrow is one of those foods, and it has 24 | midtownmag.com

become one of those foods for everyone I’ve since encouraged to try. If the idea of it turns you off – the same way some people think they can’t eat a whole fish or sweetbreads – you may be surprised at how satisfying marrow can be. Located on Blount Street in downtown Raleigh, Stanbury prepares an amazing bone marrow dish, which isn’t surprising since everything they prepare is amazing. Their version is served on a large wooden plank, primarily occupied by two roasted cow femur halves, giving the whole thing a somewhat prehistoric quality. Alongside the femurs are capers, a mixture of parsley and shallots, and some delicious crostini from Boulted

Bread. When done staring at it, you can grab a spoon and scoop a bit of the marrow out and spread it on the bread adding a little bit of everything else on the plate. It’s incredibly simple and absolutely delicious. The marrow gives a rich, buttery taste, the shallot and capers add a little bite, and the parsley is nice and herby. Don’t be ashamed to tilt the bone and let the last vestiges of marrow drip out onto some bread when the easily scooped bits are gone. Do be ashamed to pour it directly into your mouth. You’re in public, after all. When you’re done you can move on to the sweetbreads. Stanbury serves those, too, and they’re equally noteworthy.

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The scene

TECH

Smart Phone, Smart Car Automatic App Lets Your Car Talk to You By Dan Bain They say not to use your smart phone while driving, but there’s at least one app that’s meant to be used behind the wheel. It’s called Automatic, and it works with your car’s on-board computer to provide you with engine diagnostics, fuel efficiency information, emergency crash response, and more. The app pairs with an adapter that plugs into the standard diagnostics (OBD-II) port on just about any nonelectric US vehicle with a model year of 1996 or later. This allows your smart phone to access the data on your car’s on-board computer – securely and wirelessly. It supports iPhone 5, 5c, 5s, 6, and 6 Plus with iOS 7 and above, plus phones running Android 4.0 and above. Once Automatic accesses your data, the Wow factor kicks in – the main app can tell you exactly why your 26 | midtownmag.com

non-specific “Check Engine” light came on, give you real-time feedback on your driving skills to improve fuel efficiency, locate your car if you forget where you parked it, warn you when your fuel level is low, map out and track your trips, and detect a crash and alert first responders and loved ones immediately afterward. Automatic also features a gallery of third-party apps that can do any number of useful and/or fun things for you, such as determining the cost of a trip, splitting that cost among carpoolers, tracking business travel expenses, reminding you when parking fines are due, pre-heating your house while you’re still driving, and more. The adapter costs $99.95, and the Automatic app comes with it. Check for compatibility, find more info, or order Automatic at www.automatic.com.

photography courtesy of automatic.com

midtownmag.com| 27

The scene

style

Nailed It

Hearts, Ombre and Lace Accents Amp Up Valentine’s Day (and Beyond) Manicures By Karlie Justus Marlowe If engagements spike around Christmas and Valentine’s Day, the same can be said for post-proposal manicures. In lieu of traditional white tips and classic red polish, single-finger accent nails are one of the hottest trends for 2016. The style naturally spotlights a new addition to the ring finger, or simply amps up a polish with some help from glitter, foil or nail art. Crystal Clark, a Raleigh native and second-generation salon owner, works with many brides-to-be at her edgy appointment-only nail salon Nail Yeah!, located on Glenwood South. “I’ve seen brides wear Tiffany blue on their nails for their weddings, to act as their something blue,” said Clark, who offers custom, hand-painted nail art tailored to each customer. “For 28 | midtownmag.com

engagements, a single accent nail helps highlight a particular finger, like a champagne-colored lace decal on the ring-finger over a light pink color similar to OPI’s Bubble Bath.” The cotton candy colored shade is a popular choice on the romantic red to pink spectrum, a frequently requested palette at the new PaintBar salon in downtown Raleigh. Co-owner Heather Brewer opened the modern, chic space with Raleigh native Catherine Fain in the fall of 2015. “Anything in that color family is a go-to, but try a wine-colored version perfect for winter,” said Brewer, who uses OPI, Essie, RGB and Chanel polishes at PaintBar. “Rose gold is also amazing, whether it’s nail art, glitter or metallic polish.” Ombre finishes, which use a

slightly different hue of the same color on each of the hand’s five nails, and red-tipped French or Half-Moon manicures are another way to work the colors of love into a manicure without any saccharine sweetness. Foils and glitters have made a comeback as well. “For the more classic girl, try a glitter gradient in the same color as your polish,” suggests Clark, who previously worked as a make-up artist and nail technician in New York City, designing backstage at fashion shows and on shoots for Nordstrom and Vogue. “It doesn’t take away from your outfit but still stands out.” Like these classic-with-a-twist takes on nail design, Brewer and Fain designed PaintBar in line with its mission to provide a healthy, luxurious nail salon experience in an affordable way. The posh space can be rented for engagement parties and wedding showers – or even a girls night out for the February 15th holiday Singles Awareness Day. Regardless of relationship status, Clark suggests offsetting a more daring color palette or flashier nail art with a classic oval-shaped fingernail that is flattering to nearly everyone. Brewer also points to straightforward, lowerkey takes on elevated nail design. “Ease into the trend with a minimalist approach to nail art, like a small heart on the corner of an accent nail, or subtle striping,” she said.

midtownmag.com| 29

The scene

(left) Larry Wheeler, director of the N.C. Museum of Art, speaks at the November ground-breaking ceremony. (right) Parking groves and protected bike lanes, as seen in a rendering.

arts

rendering © Civitas

photograph courtesy of NCMA

The Greening of Blue Ridge Road

N.C. Museum of Art’s bold park expansion By David Fellerath When Raleigh people think about the future of parks in the city, the decades-long saga of the Dorothea Dix site south of downtown comes naturally to mind. But over at the North Carolina Museum of Art on the northwest of the metropolis, a large green space is being created with stunning speed. In November, the North Carolina Museum of Art broke ground on what promises to be a lush, inviting addition to the 164-acre museum campus. The centerpiece of the $13 million development of trails and bikeways is a finely manicured elliptical lawn, which will be used for community and museum events that Dan Gottlieb, the museum’s director of planning and 30 | midtownmag.com

design, says will be a “front porch for the community.” Most significantly, the enlarged boundaries will bring the park all the way to Blue Ridge Road, thus accelerating the efforts to develop the corridor. But it was pure happenstance that on the December day that I looked at the site with Gottlieb, Governor Pat McCrory’s office announced that 43 acres of state-owned property across the street would be leased for development. Indeed, Gottlieb began our conversation by placing the expansion in the context of public and nonprofit institutions up and down the three-mile corridor, which someday could include a light-rail station at the Hillsborough

Street end. It’s a welcome vision for the future of the car-centric corridor. The park expansion is bringing green to Blue Ridge in another important way: Instead of simply adding a surface parking lot to accommodate the expected visitors, landscape architect Mark Johnson of the Denverbased firm Civitas has designed the planting of trees for what will be called a “parking grove.” The project’s scope, and the speed with which it has gone from city approval to fruition, is impressive. The funding is 100 percent private, courtesy of an anonymous donor, one that Gottlieb says has a longstanding association with the museum. A friend of the museum, then? “A very good friend,” Gottlieb said with a smile. But for Gottlieb, developing the streetscape and greenway will redound to the long-term benefit of the museum. Each year, 350,000 people visit the galleries, and close to 200,000 more visit the park. Gottlieb hopes – with good reason, surely – that the expanded park will further enhance the appeal of the museum’s offerings. “We’re hoping that the park will be so inviting to traditional museum visitors that they will want to experience nature in a different way,” Gottlieb says. Conversely, “the more casual, sneaker-wearing person will be invited through the graciously designed park to visit the galleries.” Gottlieb says the work should be substantially completed by the summer of 2016.

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The scene

sports

photography courtesy of the Carolina Hurricanes

A Full Cup

Memories of one improbable sports championship By David Droschak Has it really been 10 years since the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup? Has it really been a decade since I stretched out my hand from my perch on press row to slap my son “five” after the clock ticked to zero on June 19th, 2006, and the Canes had shocked the hockey world and handed the Triangle quite a lasting sports memory? At the time working as the lead website writer for the team, I called in a huge favor to secure my teenage son tickets to Game 7. But what were the odds that his seat would be located in the last row and directly below my location along press row? Then again, what were the odds that any of us would live long enough to see the Stanley Cup paraded onto the PNC Arena ice? “See, that’s what I’m talking about, what a great memory for both of you. I get goose bumps right now thinking about it,” former Carolina captain 32 | midtownmag.com

Rod Brind’Amour said. “It’s a rush – a feeling you just wish everyone could experience in their lifetime.” The Hurricanes and their fans will begin to remember that remarkable night soon with a series of upcoming 10th anniversary celebrations at the arena. Despite qualifying for the NHL playoffs just once since North Carolina’s only professional sports title, emotions will be high – trust me. A lifelong hockey junkie growing up in Pittsburgh, tears streamed down my eyes as the Cup – arguably the most prized trophy in all of sports – first made its appearance from the tunnel. Not very professional of me I guess, but I couldn’t help myself. The second lasting memory I have was heading back to the press room to write my story and having my fingers stick to the keyboard from the champagne baths I encountered in the locker room. I headed to the bathroom

to take a minute to wash up, and to gather my thoughts for a story I wanted to get perfect. “I get put right back into the memories every time I think about it,” Brind’Amour said. “Every once in a while you’ll catch a different glimpse of something or a different perspective from someone, because there are a lot of people in this town that have some sort of memory from that game. That’s what is great about it; we brought so much joy to so many people. It’s corny, but it’s true. “And I always get a kick out of people, because everybody says they were there,” laughs Brind’Amour. Truth be told, I was there, and after writing more than 15,000 stories on people and places for 20 years as a reporter for The Associated Press, it remains the highlight of my career. And a lasting snapshot that will be for sure passed down for generations among Triangle hockey fans.

midtownmag.com| 33

bain’s beat

Super Bowl ‘Ell

The Dubious Decisions on America’s Favorite Match-Up

by Dan bain, One ‘L’ of a Writer, danbain07@gmail.com

34 | midtownmag.com

Panthers fans, here’s hoping by the time you read this, our as-yet-undefeated team has come even closer to playing in the Super Bowl out in San Francisco’s Levi’s Stadium. This is a memorable year to make the Super Bowl, what with its alleged 50th anniversary. Too bad that’s incorrect… Anyone who thinks 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the NFC champion and the AFC champion playing each other in the Super Bowl is wrong on just about every detail. First, the 50th time something occurs is not the 50th anniversary – it’s the 49th. That’s because the first time it happens, it’s the original event, not an anniversary. For example, Super Bowl II was the first anniversary of the Super Bowl. But there never really was a Super Bowl II, anyway. Confused? Don’t worry – so is the NFL. It all started in January 1967, with the first “Super Bowl.” Only that’s not what they called it at the time. Back then, there were two leagues – the long-standing National

Football League (NFL) and the more recent upstarts, the American Football League (AFL). The NFL ignored the AFL for several years, looking at them the way we look at the Canadian Football League today – pointless. But a rivalry grew during the 60s, mostly over which league could throw a more obscene amount of money at a college kid just for playing a game. And at the end of both leagues’ 1966 season, their respective champion teams met in what would later be known as Super Bowl I. Know what it was called then? “The First World Championship Game AFL vs. NFL.” No, really. Those are the words used in the logo for that game. Officially, historical references call it “the AFL-NFL World Championship Game.” And it was the first one, so sometimes they refer to it by the fancier moniker, “the first AFL-NFL World Championship Game.” In January 1968, the second one took place. Know what they called it? “The AFLNFL World Championship Game.” No, really.

I’ve found no reference to any sort of number used for that one. In fact, it’s difficult to find a reference to that name, even without a number. I think it was part of a massive cover-up, after someone created the name “Super Bowl” as a less egotistical title than “world championship” for the best two teams from only one country of the world. This happened before the third matchup of the AFL and NFL champions, in January 1969. That was the first time the new name was used, yet it was known as Super Bowl 3. I still wonder if a young George Lucas wasn’t involved in that numbering scheme. (I’m waiting for the special edition DVD, in which the Colts shot first.) Regardless, someone made the decision to apply the “Super Bowl” name retroactively to the first two Championship Games. In January 1970, Super Bowl 4 saw the AFL and NFL champions meet for the last time, as the AFL and NFL soon merged into a league called – wait for it – the NFL. It literally took an act of Congress to legalize the merger and approve of the gargantuan monopoly that we still know and loathe today as the NFL, but that’s what happened. And in order to keep milking the championship cash cow, the NFL set up two arbitrary conferences – the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). These were further divided into divisions by a secretary pulling team names out of a vase. No, really. Regardless, in January 1971, the NFL’s respective conference champions met for the first time in, you guessed it, Super Bowl V. It should be noted that, according to ESPN, the league has used Roman numerals to count its Super Bowls ever since, for a string of 45 Super Bowls. This implies they used Arabic numerals for the previous two (as well as the first two, which weren’t really Super Bowls, anyway, but which would have been known as Super Bowl 1 and Super Bowl 2). But in any article I’ve found, the first four are referred to by Roman numerals. Why is this important? Let’s be honest – nothing I write about is important. Still, it’s key to what’s happening in February 2016. It’s supposedly the 50th Super Bowl (even though the first and second didn’t use that name and the third and fourth were the only two played between two different leagues, so as far as I’m concerned, it’s only the 46th of its kind), and it seems someone doesn’t like the idea of representing that number using its Roman numeral equivalent: L. Apparently, the NFL wants to get the ‘L’ out. Why, you ask? According to ESPN, it’s “because the ‘L’ isn’t as pleasing to the eye.” No, really. Ten years ago, someone in the NFL realized an ‘L’ was coming soon, when they designed the Roman numeral logo for the 40th Super Bowl (or 36th, by my standards). That’s when they encountered that ‘L’ for the first time, as XL is the Roman numeral equivalent of 40. Listen to this brilliant quote from Jaime Weston, NFL vice president of brand and creative: “Up until that point, we had only worked with X’s, V’s and I’s. And, at that moment, that’s when we started to wonder: What will happen when we get to 50?” Well, Jaime, I’m no Roman mathematician, but my bet would be at that point, you’d be looking at a single ‘L.’ True to bureaucratic form, though, the league assigned a team to study this conundrum, once again midtownmag.com | 35

inspiring the rest of us to wonder why we pay these people more than we pay people who actually studied in college. Regardless, a crack team of marketers spent 14 months working on a logo for this year’s Super Bowl, and Weston actually admitted in public that they went through 73 versions of it. Seventy-three! In Roman numerals, that’s LXXIII. To my mind, it’s about 71 too many. Nevertheless, they determined somewhere in those 73 efforts that the letter ‘L’ doesn’t look very nice. This strikes me as an odd opinion for an organization whose acronym ends in said letter. Regardless, for one year only, they are moving away from Roman numerals, and this year’s game will be known as, “Super Bowl 50.” They have now saved our eyes from being put through ‘L’ – thank you, NF50! Might I suggest you make a couple of other changes? Perhaps at the end of the game, the winning coach should receive the 50ombardi Trophy – right there in 50evi’s Stadium. And it’s a good thing you chose Coldplay over J-50o for the halftime show; their lowercase ‘l’ is far less offensive than her uppercase. You’re taking enough risks with the date – February 7th. If someone is looking at their calendar upside-down, all they’re going to see is that big, ugly ‘L’ again! Seriously, they didn’t like that one letter? What the ‘L’ is that about? If I had to pick a Roman numeral to avoid, I’d have picked the 30th Super Bowl, whose Roman numeral made the game look like an adult film. Then there was last year’s – XLIX. That one looked like a vanity plate you’d expect to see on an ExLax company car. But since when do football fans care about looks? This game is going to be watched mostly by drunken, overweight old guys wearing nothing fancier than an undershirt or body paint in their team’s colors. And the team arguably most associated with the Super Bowl – the Pittsburgh Steelers, having won the most – doesn’t even bother to put their logo on both sides of their helmets. Yet the brand VP thinks we’re worried about aesthetics. Bloody ‘L.’ 36 | midtownmag.com

2016

DIAMOND

AWARD BEST FURNITURE SHOP

midtownmag.com | 37

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Micropeel Treatment The No. 1 treatment I recommend to everyone right now is the micropeel! It’s quick, there’s no downtime, and you look fabulous almost immediately afterwards. The micropeel is a great corrective peel that combines dermaplaning, chemical exfoliation and cryogenic therapy, and it helps reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, laxity, dullness and skin imperfections. I can’t say enough about my love for this treatment. Synergy Micropeel is available by appointment. $175.

I am so glad I took the plunge for my new cleavage. I felt so confident at all of the holiday parties I attended, and the photos people posted on social media were proof I made the right choice. A breast augmentation isn’t for everyone, but if you’ve been thinking about it, I love how the Inspira implants feel and look. Consult with a trusted plastic surgeon in your area. $5,000-$7,000.

My Favorite Things

ring in the new year with these must-haves ! Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens may be the classics of favorite things, but I have a more modern selection that I’ve collected throughout the year. My favorite things – varying in cost – are my go-to items when asked for recommendations from friends and family, and now I want to share them with YOU for the year ahead! by anna churchill, Synergy Spa, Aesthetics & Wellness, feelsynergy.com

NeoStrata Glycolic Foaming Face Wash This face wash is a potent, pH-balanced cleanser, with the key ingredient being glycolic acid – an essential element to quality skin care. I recommend this to both men and women, because of the smoothing and pore-reducing effects of regular usage. For even better results, put a couple of pumps of this cleanser on your Clarisonic and let the glycolic acid do its magic! Available on neostrata.com or with participating retailers. $40.

Now Diffuser with Essential Oils I love my Now Diffuser, not only for how it makes me feel, but also how fresh my home and office now smell. At home I use a relaxing blend, and at the office I use an air purifying blend. When looking for a blend of essential oils to use, consider using peppermint, eucalyptus, sweet orange and lavender. Find online or at participating retailers. $30-40. 38 | midtownmag.com

Belstar Cuvée Rosé This delicious and crisp rosé has never let me down. I always have a bottle on hand (what a good-looking bottle it is), and I find it makes the perfect host gift. According to a study by the University of Reading in the UK, drinking one to three glasses of bubbly a week “may counteract the memory loss associated with aging, and could help delay the onset of degenerative brain disorders, such as dementia.” Well, cheers to that! Find at Taylor’s Wine or Seaboard Wine on special order. $11-18.

midtownmag.com | 39

beer& barrel

Newbie Breweries

The tasting room at Fainting Goat Brewing Company in Fuquay-Varina, the newest brewery in the Triangle – for now.

The Class of 2015 By julie johnson

Spurred by the rising popularity of craft beer, the number of breweries in North Carolina has grown from a handful in the nineties to over 150 today. In the Triangle alone, seven new brewing companies opened in 2015, bringing the total to 39. Can our region sustain that many new breweries? Their founders certainly think so, each one confident that their distinctive beers, style traditions, neighborhood focus or ambiance will give them a niche that appeals to customers. Here, briefly, is the class of 2015, roughly from oldest to youngest, and the qualities that make each one stand out: Bull Durham Beer Company, located inside the Durham Athletic Park, promises to “serve Durham Bulls fans the freshest beer of any ballpark in America.” Brewmaster Sebastian Wolfram hails from Bavaria where he worked at the stellar Ayinger Brewery, among others, before a stint at Natty Greene’s: expect German-style beers, scrupulously brewed. Conveniently sited next to Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, YesterYears Brewery has a retro feel and gives a conscious 40 | midtownmag.com

nod to a simpler time between the forties and the sixties, in tribute to founder David Larsen’s father. Joining the scene in Raleigh, Neuse River Brewing Company (518 Pershing Road) concentrates on the two hottest craft categories: India pale ales and Belgian-style beers.

the brewhouse at Neuse River Brewing Company.

Their Down River series is dedicated to the most eccentric Belgian brews, fermented with wild yeast and souring bacteria, and aged in wooden barrels. Regulator Brewing Company takes its inspiration from the eponymous pre-Revolutionary agrarian movement, buying at least 75% of its ingredients from local farms. Regulator is a nanobrewery, with no taproom: their three flagship beers and seasonal are only available at a few Hillsborough bars. Compass Rose (3201 Northside Drive, Raleigh) gives North Raleigh residents their first convenient craft brewery. John Coulter, one of the three founders, hopes that the location will bring in locals from all walks of life. He adds, “We feel that the size and openness of our taproom sets us apart from other breweries and is the perfect setting for large groups like wedding receptions, parties and reunions.” Downtown Fuquay-Varina now supports two new brewing companies in addition to long-established Aviator, turning this small town into a craft beer destination. Lincoln Brewing Company (2912 N Main Street) opened first, the latest enterprise of Richard Camos, who already operates pizza restaurants, tap rooms and bottle shops in the Triangle area. Fainting Goat Brewing Company (330 S Main Street) opened in the fall. Despite its small size, the nanobrewery produces an eclectic range of flagship beers, including their Traditional Noble Hopped Hefeweizen, Pomegranate Tart Witbier, 90 Minute Mosaic hopped American pale ale, and Belgian Tripel, with a pecan maple porter and a chocolate ale in rotation. Co-owner Tim Reichert says, “We offer a generously sized tasting room with large bar, outdoor patio, and gas fire pit.” Explore these breweries soon: at the rate things are going, they won’t be the newbies very long.

photograph by nieto photography

midtownmag.com| 41

close tohome

Community and Quality World Class Care Close to Home By julie johnson photography By davies photography

In two casual asides about his appearance, David Zaas sheds light on the connection between the outer man and the inner man. The president of Duke Raleigh Hospital is dressed more formally than usual. “I’m wearing a suit now,” he says. “You won’t see me walking around the hospital very often in a suit, because I want to be seen as a physician-leader.” Later, he adds that he is normally clean-shaven, but has grown a still-short beard for the first time in his life for the annual “no-shave November” charity drive. “It’s a good cause. And besides, I’m far too competitive not to join in.” This physician-in-business-attire is one of a very small number of top hospital administrators in the country to hold both an MD and an MBA. Straddling both worlds, Zaas is convinced that applying the principles of business to health 42 | midtownmag.com

care will allow Duke Raleigh to be more responsive to patients. And, while a willingness to embrace new challenges has characterized his journey from a family business in Ohio to the president’s office in a center of medical excellence, a healthy competitive spirit has probably played a role, as well. Zaas is the only physician to ever become president at Duke Raleigh Hospital, a position he assumed in 2014. He sees opportunities for this 95-year-old community hospital to offer the best of care close to home for Wake residents, together with its own areas of expertise, and combined with access to the might of the Duke University Health System. He grew up in Ohio, where his grandfather founded a paper recycling company that was later overseen by his grandmother, then his father. “It was supposed to be run by

david Zaas inside his office at Duke Raleigh Hospital, where he has served as president since July 2014.

me,” he says. “The family had never left Ohio, and my dad was the first one who ever went to college. But I got the idea in high school to want to go to medical school.” He spent his undergraduate years at Yale, where he fell in love with New Haven, its proximity to New York, and the history and tradition of the East Coast. “And the classmates and professors at Yale were an impressive group of people who changed the way I look at the world, by the diversity of the people, after growing up in the suburbs of Cleveland,” he recalls. After medical school at Northwestern, Zaas and his wife, also a physician, were both admitted to Johns Hopkins for their residencies. The couple came to Duke initially in 2001, where they have largely remained ever since. They now live in Raleigh, although their two sons ride to school in Durham every day with their mother, who still works at Duke University Hospital. Zaas finished his training as a pulmonary and critical care physician at Duke in 2005, but soon felt the need for additional skills. “I was thinking I’d be some kind of physician-scientist – that’s what my mentors had done, that’s what my role models were,” he says. “Then I realized that I couldn’t do everything. I was trying to do patient care, I was trying to build a basic science lab, and I was trying to run a transplant program, and play a little in national policy. So, you add before you drop: I went to business school.” He entered Duke’s Fuqua School of Business to study for an MBA. In the business program, contact with fellow students outside of the health field gave him a valuable understanding of the importance of customer service in health care, the most effective ways to structure teams, and the power of transparency and accountability. He put these insights to work as medical director for lung transplantation at Duke, shifting his emphasis from patient care to patient care systems. Under his leadership, the program grew from 50 to 150 transplants per year, the largest program in the world, with the best results. “Those were people that would have died if we hadn’t given them a chance,” he says. He credits this success to lessons learned from other businesses, and the recognition of growing consumerism as a force that is driving medicine to deliver greater value. “I was working with colleagues in business school who had done this in other industries, so I thought let’s try to take these tools and apply them in a different area, specifically around transplants. And we had a great outcome.” What does this look like in practice? “Traditionally, health care was very hierarchical, very focused on the physician. Health care today is more similar to other industries, in that the patients need to be at the center.” Zaas’ approach relinquishes an unusual degree of control to patients. For example, at Duke Raleigh, each inpatient is given an iPad to use, and is encouraged to communicate with their care team while in the hospital. He fires off a set of questions that sound refreshing to midtownmag.com | 43

anyone who has languished in a hospital bed: “How do I see my test results in real time? How do I ask my nurse a question without ringing the call bell or just waiting for someone to come around? How do I learn about my disease or my treatment, through educational material that suits the way I learn?” Recognizing that health care is a competitive business, Zaas builds relationships with referring physicians that will encourage them to see Duke Raleigh as their hospital of choice in Wake. “There’s a proud tradition and history here, from when it was founded as Mary Elizabeth Hospital in the early 1900s, to its focus on physicians, to its history of innovation, to being a part of the community here and Raleigh Community Hospital, and then part of Duke Raleigh,” he says. “It has the strengths of world-class academics and a university’s resources that no community hospital can have.” He is particularly proud that patients at Duke Raleigh can benefit from all the advantages of a small community hospital, yet have access to the latest academic research and clinical trials: as he puts it, “the quality and excellence that I expect from Duke, in a setting that’s close to home.” But Duke Raleigh extends its efforts beyond the hospital walls, as well, working with community organizations that help to keep 44 | midtownmag.com

people out of the hospital. He lists local partners: “We’re proud of our partnerships with Triangle Family Services, with Alliance Medical Ministries, with Urban Ministries, with Interact, with United Way, and with the Boys and Girls Clubs focusing on the education of our youth.” The hospital even has a role sponsoring the Midtown Farmers’ Market at North Hills in the interest of promoting better nutrition. He sees work on prevention and wellness as part of Duke Raleigh’s community obligation. “It energizes my staff. It gives them the ability to volunteer and to serve and realize the bigger mission that they are trying to achieve. It’s truly win-win: it’s good for the community, and it’s good for us. I think we all feel it, especially when we talk about our youth.” David Zaas’ career progress looks to have been tailor-made to prepare him for the job he holds today. Yet he describes the process as one that only appears in hindsight like a preplanned journey. “We all want to do something that will truly make a difference. I learned a ton doing research, but when I looked at what I was doing around care delivery – how we make sure it is available to more people, how we improve the experience – that was really motivating to me. It made me think, that’s how I can make a difference, by fixing the systems and the processes around care delivery.”

SWISS - SMITH C L AUD I A H UG

SANDLIN FAMILY LAW GROUP

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giving back

The Movement to Unchain Dogs

Helping the Poorest People and Pets Prosper at Home By carla turchetti

A dog has absolutely no idea how much money its owner has in the bank. And because families with pets reach across all income levels, the nonprofit Coalition to Unchain Dogs works to level the playing field. “We work in the most underserved areas of our community and help the people living there access the resources they need to care for their pets and keep them in the homes they already have,” says Lori Hensley, Director of Operations and Development for the Durham-based Coalition to Unchain Dogs. The nonprofit Coalition was born eight years ago under the firm belief that no dog should spend most of its days tied to the end of a chain. The movement began as a way to build fences and allow dogs the freedom to play in their yards. It has grown into an outreach that provides access to fencing, health care, support, and supplies that many pet owners cannot afford. 46 | midtownmag.com

“In the communities I work in, there is no shortage of pets out there,” Lori says. There are pets on every corner needing a home and stray pets running around. People do have access to pets, and they are going to have pets.” So Lori and her crew work with pet owners in underserved neighborhoods. The Raleigh chapter of the Coalition to Unleash Dogs is an all-volunteer arm of the organization. Chapter Director, Hailey Queen, says much of their work takes place in downtown and southeast Raleigh, and in Garner. The focus for the Raleigh group is assisting with access to veterinary care. “We assist most of our new clients with spay/neuter,” Hailey says. There are just not resources available for people who cannot afford the fees at regular vet clinics. “ Another common issue she sees in Raleigh is the struggle to obtain low-income housing that allows pets inside. Hailey has been the chapter director in Raleigh for more

than six years. She began as a volunteer at the SPCA of Wake County while in college. “When I was in graduate school I lived in downtown Raleigh, and I regularly passed a dog downtown that was tethered to his owner’s front porch,” Hailey says. Hailey reached out to animal control about that chained dog and began learning about animal welfare and the needs of low-income pet owners. That’s when she became a volunteer with the Coalition in Durham, and eventually with the Raleigh chapter. Lori says the struggles pet owners face in some of Durham’s higher-poverty neighborhoods range from lack of fencing to being able to afford a veterinary bill to the difficulty that comes along with trying to board public transportation with an ill pet. The Coalition to Unchain Dogs uses donations and grants to fund its work, and veterinary partners to provide lower cost health care for the dogs and dignified treatment for the owners. “They treat our clients really respectfully and considerately,” Lori says. “It’s important that the veterinarian talk to the client the way they would talk to me if I had my dog in there, and treat them the way they treat their other clients.” Because, Lori says, it isn’t fair to judge. “These are not bad people doing bad things, they are people doing the best they know how to do with what they have.” Because of the Coalition’s unique focus on keeping dogs in their environments, Lori is the recent recipient of the 2015 Henry Bergh Award from the ASPCA. The award, named after the founder of the ASPCA, recognizes unique passions for assisting animals. “People tell me all the time, ‘If I lost everything I would live under a bridge in my car with my dog before I would take it to the shelter’,” Lori says. “They say, ‘I don’t understand how anyone can surrender their dog to a shelter.’” The Coalition to Unchain Dogs will continue to work to keep dogs out of shelters and in their own environments with the owners who love them – even if their finances are strained. “If you have a pet you really do usually have a pretty strong bond with that pet, and that pet really does bring some enhancement to your life,” says Lori, mom of four dogs. “If I lost everything tomorrow that wouldn’t change. In fact, that relationship might mean a little bit more to me if I had even less. People living in poverty are no different from me. They still experience joy from having their pet. For some of them, the pet is the only positive thing in their lives.”

Volunteer

It takes all kinds of help to make The Coalition to Unchain Dogs work. Contact Director Hailey Queen (hailey@unchaindogs.net) or Volunteer Coordinator Betsy Rambusch (betsy.rambusch@gmail.com) for more information on how you can help. www.unchaindogs.net.

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raising thebar

Not The Breast Outcome we’ve got answers to your legal questions

Three months before my wife left me, she had breast enhancement surgery. We financed her surgery with a home equity line of credit. Now that we are divorcing, who is responsible for this debt?

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

MeettheCounsel

Deborah Sandlin

Susan Goetcheus

Sandlin Family Law Group www.sandlinfamilylaw.com Certified in the area of family law by the NC State Bar 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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You may be responsible for at least some of the debt owed for your wife’s surgery. While there is no hard and fast rule governing this issue, there is at least one North Carolina case which holds that such a debt is marital. When a debt is determined to be marital, it may be divided between divorcing spouses. However, in determining how a debt should be allocated between divorcing spouses, the court will consider a variety of factors.

Before I was married, my parents gave me a plot of land adjacent to the family farm. My name is the only one on the deed. After we married, my wife and I built a house on my land. The house is encumbered with a mortgage in both our names. My wife and I are divorcing. Am I in danger of losing the family land? No. The land is your separate property, since you acquired it prior

to the marriage. The house on the land is marital property, since you and your wife acquired the house during the marriage. The value of the house will be considered with the value of other marital assets in determining how marital assets should be divided ultimately.

My husband and I are divorcing and disagree about who should keep our dog. I love our dog and will take better care of him. Who keeps the dog? Unfortunately, as the law stands currently, your dog is merely property to be divided with other property in your divorce. Any judicial determination about who keeps the dog will be based on statutory factors relevant to property and not based on your dog’s best interests. Hopefully the law will soon evolve to better reflect the depth of our relationships with our pets.

Shortly after my husband and I separated, I sold a song that I wrote during my one-year marriage. Is my husband entitled to any of the money I received from the song’s sale? Since you wrote the song during your marriage, your husband may be entitled to some of the money from the song’s sale. However, how much he may be entitled to receive will depend on various factors, including the fact that you were only married for one year.

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sundaysupper

How The Tables Have Turned

From College Dropout to Executive Chef, Second Empire’s Daniel Schurr Remembers the Journey By Karlie Justus Marlowe photography By davies photography

Toss all the romantic ideas of a young future chef’s foodie childhood spent nursing herb gardens or lovingly recording family recipes out the door. “Growing up, if I was in the family garden, it was because I was grounded,” says Chef Daniel Schurr with a laugh, thinking back to his years growing up in the tobacco fields of Liberty, NC “And I was only in the kitchen with my grandmother to eat.” Fast-forward a few decades, however, and the tables have quite literally turned. The 52-year-old executive chef has led the kitchen at downtown Raleigh fine dining stalwart Second Empire for two decades, well before the capital city regularly topped best-of lists or was recognized for its burgeoning food scene. “When I moved back here in 1996, The Angus Barn and Margaux’s, that was it,” he remembers, sitting near a double-sided fireplace in his restaurant’s now-grand front room, just off the entry where light floods in through stained glass windows installed in the historic Dodd-Hinsdale House’s original front doors. It’s an impressive scene, even during the early afternoon calm before evening service, and Schurr seems just as comfortable in the front of house as he does back in the kitchen. Schurr’s journey to this dining room, however, started in a much more casual Greensboro restaurant. “The biggest turning point was that my dad came to have lunch with me one day at Ham’s Restaurant, and he asked me for the credit card back,” said Schurr, who had dropped out of Greensboro College after a short stint 50 | midtownmag.com

as a religion and philosophy major. “He said, ‘You better find something you like to do and you better be damn good at it too, because you’ve got expensive taste.’” On his own and without a plan, Schurr started as a barback at Greensboro’s Holiday Inn, just off I-40. In 1983, Nouvelle Cuisine was gaining popularity, and the restaurant’s new chef was fresh from San Francisco. “To get through to the bar, you had to go through the kitchen,” says Schurr. “So this chef asked me one day, do you have any interest in cooking? He was probably just needing some help that day. I said I’d give it a try, and that was it.” After a stint at another Greensboro restaurant, the then-24year-old Schurr moved to New York City to attend the Culinary Institute of America. He reverently recalls his time there, calling it simply “the Culinary,” but his Southern roots followed him in the form of fresh shipments of his grandmother’s fried apple pies, all wrapped carefully in wax paper. After finishing first in his class and being voted most likely to succeed, he quickly landed the saucier position at the Four Seasons Hotel in Philadelphia. “I thought I knew how to cook, until I got there,” says Schurr, crediting the staff’s top-notch service, the quick pace, and access to every product under the sun for his own detailed and high-energy approach in the kitchen. “I had a lot of opportunities to leave, but the philosophy for me, which people don’t do much anymore, is learn it for a long time. Everyone is a chef now, nobody is just a cook.” Seven and a half years later and on the verge of starting a family, Schurr felt a pull south. He spent less than a year at The Angus Barn, establishing the beef behemoth’s wine cellar and never quite adjusting to the culture shock of the red barn’s old-school approach. He even approached the owners about turning the run-down DoddHinsdale House they owned on Hillsborough Street near the Capitol Building into a restaurant. The suggestion was quickly shooed away, until Schurr received a phone call nine months into his tenure there. “Mr. [Ted] Reynolds had bought the estate from Thad [Eure]’s family,” he remembers with a grin. “We met, and the rest is history.” Together with the Reynolds family, Schurr got a crash course on building a restaurant from the ground up – or, in this case, from the walls in. “It was a chef’s dream come true,” he said, calling the partnership a perfect marriage. “I became construction coordinator, picked out all the tables and chairs, silverware…I got to do everything. I learned a whole lot that had nothing to do with cooking.” Today, alongside Reynolds’ daughter Kim, Schurr still takes a blanket approach. He manages the wine list, oversees hiring and directs the bar and wait staff. Despite his craving for control (“I’m mellowing with age,” he offers) outside of the kitchen, his work as a chef relies less on recipes and more on emotions. “Creamy, casserole, stuffing – certain words make me feel good,” he said. “Savory is a state of mind. These words should make you think of something, or maybe even someone, or of a time.” Schurr even installed a “savory bell” in the kitchen to highlight that sentiment for his team. “When we’re doing crazy numbers, things are going on everywhere, we have a chef’s table for eight, we’re doing parties, I’ll go over there and ring it, ding ding ding ding!” he said, miming the motion. “And the staff will yell out, ‘Savory!’ It’s to bring everyone back to, ‘What are we doing here?’ Let’s remember to focus on the food.” midtownmag.com | 51

Roasted Cauliflower & Butternut Squash Casserole Ingredients 1 1 1 ½ cup ½ cup 1½ cup 2 cups 1 tbsp ½ tsp ½ cup 2 2 cups

butternut squash, peeled, deseeded, cut into medium-sized pieces hard cauliflower (core removed), cut into medium-sized florets small yellow onion, diced in small pieces celery, diced in small pieces Panko bread crumbs, plus extra for dusting pan Vermont cheddar, grated honey cornmeal bread croutons, cut into medium-diced cubes, toasted in oven chopped parsley chopped thyme Kosher salt and ground black pepper to taste chicken stock, to moisten eggs heavy cream

Directions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

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Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly oil squash and cauliflower and roast for 12-15 minutes. Lower temperature to 375 degrees. Sauté both onion and celery in butter until soft. Butter and dust 8-inch baking dish with bread crumbs. Combine all ingredients and then arrange in baking dish. Combine eggs and heavy cream. Pour mixture over vegetables in baking dish. Bake for 25 minutes until golden brown; cool for 10 minutes and serve.

The 2015 Midtown Hero Award was presented to Doug Vinsel, former President of Duke Raleigh Hospital and Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce chairman, for his commitment and leadership to the Midtown Community.

the interview

15 Quick Questions With:

John Kane

....our redevelopment will continue to evolve as the market changes. By sioux watson photography By davies photography

John Kane has spent his whole life in North carolina. He was born in Roxboro and attended Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem before moving to Raleigh. Since starting his business, Kane Realty Corporation, he has transitioned his company from redeveloping old strip centers (his first project being in Greenville), to building and running health clubs, to the 130acre mega redevelopment of the North Hills area, a model of mixed-use urban environment. Kane’s initial North Hills acquisition was a 14-acre old Winn-Dixie center in 1999, which started his thinking to maximize density. Today there are luxury hotels, high-rise offices and condos, boutiques, spas, movie theaters, a health club, and a park with an outdoor amphitheater. When asked if North Hills will ever be “finished” Kane answers, “our redevelopment will continue to evolve as the market changes, so I don’t think our work here will ever be finished. We will continue to strive to be better and to utilize the land and assets to their best use.” Kane Realty also began working on two additional high-rise development projects in downtown Raleigh last year. Kane was named Triangle Business Journal’s “Businessperson of the Year” in December 2015.

“

Keep an open mind and listen.

“

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Midtown Magazine: When were/are you happiest? John Kane: After I work out. MM: What is your greatest fear? JK: Being physically incapacitated. MM: What is your earliest memory? JK: Playing in the yard as a young boy. MM: What is your favorite breakfast food? JK: A latte. MM: What is your favorite word? JK: Necessary. MM: What makes you unhappy? JK: Self-serving politicians.

MM: What is your fantasy job? JK: I have it. MM: What do you do to relax? JK: Work out. MM: What sport do you enjoy to burn calories? JK: Cardio in the gym. MM: What vacation spot do you return to again and again? JK: Sea Island, Georgia. MM: Who is your favorite author? JK: Pat Conroy. MM: Who do you admire? JK: Paul Ryan. MM: Aside from property, what’s the most expensive thing you’ve bought? JK: An automobile. MM: What is your favorite smell? JK: Hot cookies. MM: If you could go back in time, where would you go? JK: College. MM: What is the closest you’ve come to death? JK: Artery blockage. MM: What is the most important lesson life has taught you? JK: Keep an open mind and listen.

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what’s app?

Lots of Photo Fun the top picks for january & february

Pikazo • $2.99

Teleport Cities • Free

Turn any photo into compelling, lasting visual art. Using next generation neural networks, Pikazo works the way your brain does to rip apart and assemble image details into something new and extraordinary. Pikazo works by simulating the way your brain sees images. This is incredibly computationally intensive, and even on a cloud of the fastest computers, it takes a few minutes to process each image.

Teleport Cities app lets you discover and budget your next move. Define your personal preferences for cost, income and quality of life. Follow cities you frequent or just dream about, and never miss an important update on how their suitability for you changes. Find the best place to be for what you need to do!

Adobe Post • Free

Adobe Post is a fun and fast way for anyone to create beautiful social graphics. Get started in seconds with professionally designed, eyecatching templates you can tweak in simple steps. Pick a photo, add some text and apply design filters to instantly create stunning designs. Each tap gives you completely new layouts, color palettes, typography styles and photo filters – no design experience required. Curiosity by Tamper • $1.99

Curiosity by Tamper is the easiest way to discover and learn about the world around you. Using your location, trending topics, and other curated sections, Curiosity brings you the most interesting and relevant articles using Wikipedia’s extensive and reliable collection. Slide – 3D GIF Camera • $1.99

*Prices are subject to change.

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Slide is a brand new way to create 3D photos with your iPhone. Compose your shot then move your device in one smooth and swift horizontal motion to capture. Tap the subject of your photo and it magically becomes 3D. Ready to share as a looping GIF or video to Instagram, iMessage, Twitter, Facebook and more.

Sworkit • Free

Workouts that fit your schedule, versus needing to adapt your schedule to work out! Other workout apps and workout videos are like playing records. Sworkit is like an iPod or the evolution of digital music, with playlists and personalization at the core. Sworkit routines guide you through video exercises demonstrated by professional personal trainers. Service • Free

Service helps when something goes wrong between you and a business – for FREE. Instead of waiting on hold or searching for the right contact form, tell them what happened – takes less than a minute – and then sit back and relax while they Make It Right. Delayed or canceled flight? Defective product? Overcharged? Late delivery? Insurance issues? Banking problems? Any issue where you feel let down by a business. Filtron • Free

Easily create your own photo filters, style your photos using filters made by others and share your filters with everyone. You can also edit your photos using anyone’s photo filters for free. Browse and search for filters and discover what your friends are making; add multiple filters to your photo, re-order them and change their individual intensity to get the exact look you want.

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wine review San Antonio Cardinale Red Blend

Quinta das Carvalhas LateBottled Vintage

Luna dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Or Prosecco Brut

Il Duca Rosa Imperiale

Berberana Gran Tradicion Brut Cava

87 best served in:

Wine Enthusiast

USA

American Cardinale is a classic San Antonio Winery blend. A refreshing, juicy, dark red wine perfect for many occasions. A fun sweet red wine that should be served slightly chilled. Fresh, Juicy, Berry, Medium-bodied

Portugal

More complex than a Tawny or Ruby Port, this late bottled vintage is a deep ruby color, with plumy shades of purple, and a complex nose of black cherries, dark chocolate, vanilla and hints of mature oak. It is dense, rich and firm in the mouth with a great length of flavor.

Conegliano, Italy

A light sparkling wine that is very delicate and fruity with a hint of ripe apples, lemons and grapefruit. It is perfect as an apertif, or with light dishes and sushi. Elegant, Grapefruit, Apple, Light-bodied

Semi-sweet, Fruity

$11.99/bottle

$13.99/375ml

Piedmont, Italy

Produced primarily from the Brachetto grape, this sweet yet crisp red wine has fresh strawberry and red berry flavors with a light, natural carbonation. A refreshing red wine to be served chilled and accompanied by fresh fruit and cheese.

Simple lime and salinic aromas are clean and fresh. The palate is juicy and tight, with lime, apple and dry spice flavors. Finishes balanced and citrusy, with proper length and mouthfeel. Dry, Citrus, Floral, Medium-bodied

Sweet, Red Berry

$12.99/bottle

$14.99/bottle

BY michael gallo, CSW, Wine Manager â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Total Wine & More

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St. Sadurni de Anoia, Spain

$9.99/bottle

your home Stressless Mayfair recliner With gentle curves, padded arms and a supple seat, these recliners offer an invitation to pure relaxation. >> Ambiente Modern Furniture, $2,595 (leather)

hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a little something to keep your home...

Cozy

Our curated selection of items to keep you warm and cozy during the North Carolina winter months.

Accent Pillow This perfect accent pillow completes a room and adds warmth and depth to any area. It makes the room feel cozy and inviting. >> The Posh Petal @ The Galleria Raleigh, $290

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Ivory Alpaca Pillow Available in a variety of shapes and an amazing array of sumptuous colors. Pamper yourself with the softest, coziest pillow on the market! Sheepskin pillows start at $65. >> BeyondBlue Interiors, $160/pair

Faux Fur Throw Cuddle up under the perfect balance of softness and warmth with this Pierre Frey faux fur throw with cashmere backing. >> DT&Co., $499

Serving Tray Amazing hand-tooled, brass overlaid square tray. >> Affordable Chic Shops, $89

Silver Tea Set Hand chased five piece silver plated tea service from Sheffield, England; a breathtakingly beautiful set for catering, bed & breakfasts, room service, home entertaining or any situation where you’re looking to add a luxurious experience. >> Hunt & Gather Fine Estate Furnishings, $495

Custom Made Pillow Custom made pillows created from designer textile house Scalamandre. ‘Velours Chatelaine’, a beautiful luxurious cut and uncut velvet fabric, will add warmth to any living room. >> Hunt & Gather Fine Estate Furnishings, $195

Buster Floor Lamp This particular aged brass metal brings a cozy warmth into any space, and Buster helps you set just the right mood with its dimmable light. >> BeyondBlue Interiors, $425 Throw Cuddle up with this beautiful throw. The perfect addition to a warm drink and good book. >> Stuf N Such @ The Galleria Raleigh, $65

Lantern Warm up any corner with a beautiful wood and metal lantern and flameless candle. >> Affordable Chic Shops, $38 (lantern), $25 (candle)

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Fireplace Fender Add a touch of elegance to your living room with this pierced brass fireplace fender. >> DT&Co., $100

Decorative Lanterns Nothing says cozy like candlelight. Create instant ambiance and a warm glow with these striking wood candle lanterns. >> Revival Antiques, $55 and up Distinctive Lighting Banish those overhead lights and fans! Nothing works faster to create a cozy mood than ambient lighting. Metal based architectural lamp >> Revival Antiques, $165

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Oops!

In our November/December issue we incorrectly priced the Lewis Drink Table from BeyondBlue Interiors. The correct price is $725. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Every year we ask our readers to share their votes for the Best of Raleigh, and they do not disappoint. 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 crown as this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Diamond Award winners!

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photo by davies photography

Food & Drink BEST BREAKFAST GOLD: Brigs Restaurant SILVER: Big Ed’s City Market Restaurant BRONZE: Another Broken Egg Café BEST WEEKEND BRUNCH GOLD: Coquette Brasserie SILVER: Brigs Restaurant BRONZE: Joule Coffee & Table BEST SPOT FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH GOLD: Midtown Grille SILVER: Winston’s Grille BRONZE: Vivace BEST PLACE FOR A ROMANTIC DINNER GOLD: Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern SILVER: Vivace BRONZE: Angus Barn

BEST PLACE TO IMPRESS A DATE BEST PLACE FOR A ROMANTIC DINNER Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern

BEST OUTDOOR DINING OR PATIO GOLD: Vivace SILVER: Taverna Agora BRONZE: Boylan Bridge Brewpub BEST NC BBQ GOLD: The Pit Authentic Barbecue SILVER: Clyde Cooper’s BBQ BRONZE: The Q Shack

BEST FRIED CHICKEN GOLD: Beasley’s Chicken + Honey SILVER: The Pit Authentic Barbecue BRONZE: Clyde Cooper’s BBQ

photo by travis long

BEST CHEF Ashley Christensen

BEST BURGER GOLD: Chuck’s SILVER: Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar BRONZE: Kings North Hills BEST PIZZA GOLD: Lilly’s Pizza SILVER: Trophy Brewing Co. BRONZE: Mellow Mushroom BEST CHEAP EAT GOLD: Snoopy’s Hot Dogs & More SILVER: Chubby’s Tacos BRONZE: Pharaoh’s Grill BEST LOCAL BEER GOLD: Trophy Brewing Co. SILVER: Big Boss Brewing Company BRONZE: Aviator Brewing Company BEST PLACE TO GRAB A GLASS OF WINE GOLD: Vivace SILVER: Wine Authorities BRONZE: Vinos Finos Tapas and Wine Bar BEST CHEF GOLD: Ashley Christensen SILVER: Jason Smith BRONZE: Benjamin Harris

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BEST SPOT FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH Midtown Grille

Photo by FOOD-SEEN by Felicia Perry Photography, LLC

Photo by COLBURN COLLECTIVE

BEST SPOT TO SEE AND BE SEEN BEST PLACE TO WATCH THE BIG GAME BEST PLACE TO HAVE A GIRL’S NIGHT OUT Kings Bowl North Hills

BEST WAIT STAFF GOLD: Angus Barn SILVER: Midtown Grille BRONZE: Coquette Brasserie

BEST LOCAL COFFEE HOUSE Sola Coffee Cafe GOLD: Boulted Bread BRONZE: Edible Art Bakery &

Dessert Cafe

BEST VEGETARIAN CHOICES GOLD: 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: Sullivan’s Steakhouse

MOST KID-FRIENDLY DINING GOLD: The Cowfish Sushi • Burger • Bar SILVER: Mellow Mushroom BRONZE: Chuy’s

BEST LOCAL COFFEE HOUSE GOLD: Sola Coffee SILVER: Jubala Coffee BRONZE: Joule Coffee & Table

BEST BAKERY GOLD: Yellow Dog Bread Company

BEST PLACE TO SATISY YOUR SWEET TOOTH GOLD: Bittersweet

66 | midtownmag.com

SILVER: Hayes Barton Cafe BRONZE: lucettegrace

Night & Day Around The Town BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE GOLD: Red Hat Amphitheater SILVER: Lincoln Theatre BRONZE: Walnut Creek Amphitheatre BEST LIVE THEATRE GOLD: Durham Performing Arts Center SILVER: Raleigh Little Theatre BRONZE: North Carolina Theatre

BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE Red Hat Amphitheater

Photo COURTESY OF Red Hat Amphitheater / Raleigh Convention Center

BEST LOCAL GALLERY GOLD: North Carolina Museum of Art SILVER: Artspace BRONZE: CAM Raleigh

BEST PLACE TO WATCH THE BIG GAME GOLD: Kings Bowl North Hills SILVER: Carolina Ale House BRONZE: Tobacco Road Sports Cafe

BEST SPOT TO SEE AND BE SEEN GOLD: Kings Bowl North Hills SILVER: North Hills Amphitheater Midtown Park BRONZE: Fayetteville Street Mall

BEST PLACE TO WIND DOWN AFTER WORK GOLD: Wine and Design SILVER: The Raleigh Times BRONZE: World of Beer - North Hills

BEST PLACE TO HAVE A GIRL’S NIGHT OUT GOLD: Kings Bowl North Hills SILVER: Wine & Design BRONZE: Vivace

BEST DIVE BAR GOLD: Slim’s Downtown SILVER: The Goat BRONZE: The Players’ Retreat BEST NEW BAR GOLD: Raleigh Beer Garden

SILVER: The Anchor Bar BRONZE: Ruby Deluxe

BEST LOCAL BAND GOLD: American Aquarium SILVER: Jack the Radio BRONZE: Chatham County Line BEST PLACE TO ENTERTAIN THE KIDS GOLD: Marbles Kids Museum SILVER: Kings Bowl North Hills BRONZE: Pullen Park BEST MUSEUM GOLD: North Carolina Museum of Art SILVER: Museum of Life and Science BRONZE: Marbles Kids Museum midtownmag.com | 67

BEST SHOPPING CENTER North Hills

BEST GOLF COURSE Lonnie Poole Golf Course

Photo by DAVE DROSCHAK

BEST GOLF COURSE GOLD: Lonnie Poole Golf Course SILVER: Carolina Country Club BRONZE: TPC Wakefield Plantation BEST PLACE FOR A STAYCATION IN THE TRIANGLE GOLD: The Umstead Hotel and Spa SILVER: Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel BRONZE: The Fearrington House Inn

shopping & services BEST SHOPPING CENTER GOLD: North Hills SILVER: Cameron Village BRONZE: Crabtree Valley Mall BEST AUTO REPAIR SHOP GOLD: Tire Pros at North Hills Exxon SILVER: Tao Auto BRONZE: Foster’s Auto Collision Specialist

68 | midtownmag.com

Photo COURTESY OF NORTH HILLS

BEST CHIROPRACTOR GOLD: Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractic SILVER: Crabtree Chiropractic Center BRONZE: The Joint FRIENDLIEST CUSTOMER SERVICE GOLD: Renaissance Dental SILVER: Synergy Spa, Aesthetics & Wellness BRONZE: Mark Christopher Salon BEST SALON FOR A HAIRCUT GOLD: Mark Christopher Salon SILVER: Salon Blu BRONZE: PLUM Hair Atelier BEST SALON FOR COLOR GOLD: Mark Christopher Salon SILVER: Von Kekel Aveda Lifestyle Salon Spa BRONZE: Salon Blu BEST PLACE TO GET A MANI/PEDI GOLD: Synergy Spa, Aesthetics & Wellness SILVER: Cameron Spa and Nails BRONZE: Midtown Nail Spa

midtownmag.com | 69

Photo COURTESY OF NORTH HILLS

BEST PLACE TO BUY A UNIQUE GIFT Charlotte’s

Photo COURTESY OF NORTH HILLS

BEST WINE/BEER STORE Total Wine & More

BEST YOGA/PILATES STUDIO GOLD: Pulse Pilates SILVER: Burn Athletic BRONZE: Arrichion Hot Yoga BEST HEALTH CLUB/GYM GOLD: O2 Fitness SILVER: Life Time Athletic BRONZE: Burn Athletic BEST PLACE TO GET PAMPERED GOLD: The Umstead Hotel and Spa SILVER: Synergy Spa, Aesthetics & Wellness BRONZE: Parlor Blow Dry Bar BEST SPA EXPERIENCE GOLD: The Umstead Hotel and Spa SILVER: Synergy Spa, Aesthetics & Wellness BRONZE: Skin Sense, a day spa BEST PLACE TO GET YOUR SMILE ON GOLD: Bufano & Bufano, DDS, PA SILVER: Royal Oak Dental Group BRONZE: Renaissance Dental 70 | midtownmag.com

BEST PLACE FOR DANCE LESSONS GOLD: A Step to Gold International Ballroom SILVER: Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Raleigh BRONZE: Arthur Murray Dance Studio BEST PLACE TO DE-AGE GOLD: Davis & Pyle Plastic Surgery SILVER: Synergy Spa, Aesthetics & Wellness BRONZE: Von Kekel Aveda Lifestyle Salon Spa

BEST HOME FURNISHINGS GOLD: Hunt & Gather Fine Estate Furnishings SILVER: Furbish BRONZE: Green Front Interiors and Rugs BEST FURNITURE SHOP GOLD: Green Front Interiors and Rugs SILVER: Ambiente Modern Furniture BRONZE: Studio 123 BEST PLACE TO BUY DESIGNER JEWELRY GOLD: Bailey’s Fine Jewelry SILVER: Fink’s Jewelers BRONZE: Diamonds Direct Crabtree

retail & goods

BEST PLACE FOR CUSTOM JEWELRY GOLD: Bailey’s Fine Jewelry SILVER: Diamonds Direct Crabtree SILVER: Fink’s Jewelers

BEST WINE/BEER STORE GOLD: Total Wine & More SILVER: Bottle Revolution BRONZE: Crafty Beer Shop

BEST PLACE TO BUY WEDDING RINGS GOLD: Diamonds Direct Crabtree SILVER: Bailey’s Fine Jewelry BRONZE: Fink’s Jewelers

BEST LOCAL PET STORE GOLD: Phydeaux SILVER: Unleashed BRONZE: Woof Gang Bakery

BEST PLACE TO BUY A UNIQUE GIFT GOLD: Charlotte’s SILVER: DECO Raleigh BRONZE: Accipiter

Photo COURTESY OF NORTH HILLS

BEST PLACE TO BUY WOMEN’S SHOES Main & Taylor

BEST PLACE TO BUY WOMEN’S CLOTHING (Ages 20-35) GOLD: Uniquities SILVER: gena chandler BRONZE: bevello BRONZE: Monkee’s of Raleigh BEST PLACE TO BUY WOMEN’S CLOTHING (Ages 36+) GOLD: Vermillion SILVER: Cameron Clothing Co. BRONZE: dress BEST PLACE TO BUY WOMEN’S SHOES GOLD: Main & Taylor SILVER: DSW BRONZE: Nordstrom BEST PLACE TO BUY MEN’S CLOTHING GOLD: Kannon’s Clothing SILVER: Liles Clothing Studio BRONZE: Nowell’s BEST PLACE TO BUY MEN’S SHOES GOLD: Kannon’s Clothing SILVER: Belk BRONZE: DSW BEST CONSIGNMENT CLOTHING STORE GOLD: dress SILVER: ADORE Designer Resale Boutique BRONZE: Revolver Consignment Boutique BEST STORE FOR VINTAGE OR ANTIQUES GOLD: Hunt & Gather Fine Estate Furnishings SILVER: Father and Son Antiques BRONZE: Cheshire Cat Antique Gallery BEST GROCERY STORE GOLD: Harris Teeter SILVER: Whole Foods BRONZE: Trader Joe’s BEST GARDEN CENTER GOLD: Logan’s Trading Company SILVER: Homewood Nursery & Garden Center BRONZE: Atlantic Avenue Orchid & Garden midtownmag.com | 71

photograph by Brandon Humes with Southern Love Studios

How to buy a

Wedding Gown

by SIOUX WATSON

72 | midtownmag.com

photograph by Brandon Humes with Southern Love Studios

How exciting to reach

the decision to get married. One of the first visions that pop into most new brides-to-be is what they will be wearing on that auspicious day. Magazines devoted to the latest bridal fashions abound, and unlimited images are available online. There is nothing like going to an actual bridal store and seeing with your own eyes the shades of white and off-white, the fabrics, the textures and dress designs available. And nothing is more crushing after marching off to a bridal shop with an entourage of mothers, grandmothers and best friends than being told gown shopping is “by appointment only.”

WHEN TO START

Wedding planning experts suggest ordering a gown nine to twelve months in advance since many dresses are made to order and come from faraway places like China, where a 15-day Chinese New Year in the spring brings the whole country to a screeching halt. Gowns made in the US, Canada and Europe should be ordered four to seven months in advance. If your budget includes bridal portraits prior to the wedding, most photographers need six to eight weeks to finalize the bridal portrait that is revealed at the reception. Alterations require multiple fittings and can take weeks. Some brides gain or lose weight after the original measurements are taken, so getting to wedding day with a perfectly fitting dress is hard work and takes time!

HOW MUCH TO SPEND photograph by Pattie Mims Photography

photograph by Rebecca Mill, The Indie Image

photograph by Sarahdipity Photos

Very few young couples get to plan a wedding with “money as no object”. Sit down with an interactive wedding budget planner and decide early on what to spend on a dress. Avoid trying on gowns out of your price range to avoid heartbreak! There really are flattering dresses for every figure, and buying a dress in your price range is doable as long as you start early. Some shops have sales with last year’s models or discontinued styles at a fraction of the original price. Sonja Lawrence of Brides, Etc in Southern Pines wisely shares, “Deciding on a budget will be extremely helpful when dealing with wedding vendors. Knowing your limits helps you not to get overwhelmed with all the choices. Keep in mind, ‘if something is worth doing, it's worth doing right,’ which means don't try to do everything – don't spread your budget too thin trying to do everything – because you will end up doing it halfway.” midtownmag.com | 73

photograph by morton Photography

SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS

Scheduling an appointment during normal work hours (Monday through Friday, 10am-5pm) allows for a more serene and relaxing atmosphere and individual attention from shop assistants. Set up appointments with local stores first to put less pressure on yourself that a choice must be made in two days (as in when brides fly to New York City to buy a dress and spend more money than budgeted because they feel pressured to buy a dress, any dress). Plan to spend one and a half to two hours per appointment. Smaller boutiques offer more personal service than larger chain stores and not nearly as much pressure. By shopping with your local store, you can access their referrals for other wedding vendors like cakes, photographers, florists, etc. Industry locals always know who is the best, most economical, and has a solid positive reputation.

WHO TO BRING ALONG

Wedding gown decisions should not be determined by committee. Watch one episode of Say Yes to the Dress and you will understand how a group of shoppers, well intentioned but disparate style seekers, can hijack a bride’s most personal decision. Bring your best friend and your mother at the most; shopping alone for a dress is also fine. Most brides find their dress by process of elimination, whittling down a selection to their top three choices and then honing in on “the one”.

KEEP AN OPEN MIND TO STYLES

Speaking of television programs, just like the hosts of What Not to Wear, your bridal gown consultants are experts at what styles look good on different body types. Take pictures of styles you like from magazines to show a consultant what appeals to you, and as long as a dress falls within your price range, be open to flattering styles she recommends for your figure. Often a bride ends up with a dress she loves in a style that previously never occurred to her.

CHOOSing THE “PERFECT” DRESS

Trends in wedding gowns change, so instead of going with what is the latest craze, focus instead on your personal style and what flatters you the most. The top portion is what most people see and is in most wedding photos, so love the top portion first and 74 | midtownmag.com

foremost. When the gown looks glamorous on you (and you MUST try it on), and has both modern and traditional elements, you’ve found your timeless gown that will not go out of style. Years later when looking back at the wedding photos, you’ll still be grateful for your choice.

THAT’S NOT MY SIZE!

It is a mystery to brides why wedding gowns tend to run so small in the sizing. Susan Neville at Traditions by Anna in North Hills says, “Keep in mind bridal gowns run very small compared to everyday wear, so brides should not get hung up on numbers. Boutiques typically keep just a couple middle-of-the-road sizes in stock for fittings, and use tools like clips to show how a properly fit gown will look,” she continues. “The designer styles

photograph by Pattie Mims Photography

we carry typically only take four to seven months to complete.” Lawrence adds, “It doesn't matter what size your dress label says, unless of course you wear it wrong side out!” What matters most is the fit. If a gown doesn't fit you properly, it doesn't matter how much money you spend on the gown.”

ONLINE PURCHASES

Go online and it’s easy and instructive to find examples of women who have had the misfortune of buying a dress online at a “bargain” price only to receive the promised dress in the mail looking NOTHING like the photo. It is a true aphorism with bridal gowns that “you get what you pay for”; when shopping for a wedding dress, you should leave it to the professionals if you care about what you look like on your wedding day! For more

information on online scams and counterfeiting issues, go to the American Bridal and Prom Industry Association website: abpia.org.

CARING for AND PRESERVING GOWNS

Once the wedding is over and you are back from the honeymoon, it’s time to properly deal with the most expensive dress you’ve ever bought. “Preservationists” clean wine and mud stains as well as any invisible stains that may turn brown later on if not cleaned right away. After cleaning, the gown is wrapped in acid-free tissue paper and placed in a museum-quality archival box, in order to save for a future family wedding or resale purposes. Check with your bridal gown store or wedding planner about local wedding gown preservationists. Expect to pay $250 and up, depending on the gown, for this service. midtownmag.com | 75

Angie & David

by carol wills photography by Michael Moss Photography

Angie Cole and David Padilla were married on a warm July evening this past summer at the Stockroom at 230, a popular urban venue located on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh. They had known each other for seven or eight years through friends of friends, but had seen each other only in passing. But when David finally asked her out for lunch, they hit it off right away. A close friend, Ed Sansbury, officiated at their July 17th ceremony and about 60 wedding guests attended. Angie’s best friend, Erin Stanaland, served as Angie’s maid of honor and Michael Padilla, David’s brother, was the best man. The two flower girls were Angie’s eight-year-old daughter Gaddyn Cole, and David’s half-sister, seven-year-old Sofia Padilla. All the attendants were dressed in light blush pink dresses 76 | midtownmag.com

and the men wore tuxedos. The flowers that decorated the room and also made up the wedding party’s bouquets and boutonnieres were a mix of white and light pink flowers appropriate for the summer season, mostly roses and peonies. For her wedding dress, Angie chose a white lace dress with a short train, and a deep V-neck front and back. “I wanted something soft and elegant,” says Angie, “and something cool enough to deal with the July heat.” The Stockroom was the setting for a gorgeous reception. Tables were adorned with tall glass flower vases, crystals, candles, and white-and-gold place settings with a hint of blush pink. Fresh Affairs handled the decorating and Rocky Top Hospitality hosted a delicious buffet dinner. The evening featured dancing, beginning with the bride and groom’s dance to A Thousand Years by Christina Perri, and then moving into Top 40s hits. “David’s dance with Gaddyn was the cutest thing ever,” Angie remembers. “Gaddyn felt like a little princess as he twirled her around the floor. It was wonderful to have all our relatives and friends with us for our wedding day. That’s what made the occasion special and intimate and dear to us.” The wedding took place in what Angie describes as one of the most hectic months of her life. Beyond planning a wedding around their busy lives (David is a regional sales manager for Boston Scientific and Angie is a real estate agent who owns her own company, A Cole Realty), Angie managed to sell both her and David’s homes and purchase a home in the Hamptons at Umstead. She acknowledges that hiring a wedding planner was a necessity. “Shawn Schindler Events was absolutely amazing,” she says. “I remember the week prior to our wedding feeling as if I should be stressing, but instead feeling only peaceful and calm.” Following the ceremony, the cocktail hour was held downstairs at the Mahler Art Museum. An acoustic guitarist sang in the background while guests mingled. David and Angie spent their week-long honeymoon at the Ritz Hotel in Maui, Hawaii. They alternated days of relaxation spent at the beach and adventures such as zip-lining, driving ATVs and taking a day-long tour of the mountains.

midtownmag.com | 77

Christopher & Damien by carol wills photography by Donna Ransom

Christopher and Damien Pearson were married on May 23rd, 2015 in a ceremony officiated by their good friend, Randy Taylor, that took place on the steps of the Raleigh Convention Center. They had come to the convention in costume, dressed up as a couple from their favorite anime, Black Butler. The gathering at the Convention Center was Animazement, an all-volunteer, fan-run anime convention celebrating popular Japanese visual culture in all its forms. While the official attendees of their wedding consisted of close friends and family, due to the wedding taking place at the convention, Damien says there were at least a couple hundred people who witnessed the ceremony while waiting to go inside the venue. “We were told afterwards that the staff of Animazement delayed the opening of registration to the convention so that our ceremony wouldn’t get interrupted,” he says. Damien and Christopher say they didn’t have a band or music of any sort, since their reception was just a short hour-long lunch. However, they did have a single trumpeter play a song at the beginning of the ceremony to accompany the wedding party as they walked to their spots on the steps. “The song the trumpeter played was a waltz that is used in the anime Chris and I dressed up from,” says Damien. “We didn’t have any flowers – actually we had no decorations at all, since the variety of costumes would be enough to fill our space on the stairs.” “There weren’t any certain colors or a real definite dress code,” says Damien. “In the spirit of the convention, and honoring the way Chris and I got together, our friends’ and families’ attire for the wedding was all cosplay – or costumes 78 | midtownmag.com

– ranging from Mary Poppins to Merlin to Digimon to Breaking Bad. “We treated the entire convention weekend as our honeymoon,” he goes on. “At conventions, we typically share a room with friends so that it’s cheaper, but for our wedding, we stayed in our own room at the Marriott to make it a more special occasion for us.” The setting may have been unusual for a wedding, but it was especially appropriate for Damien and Chris, because it was their mutual enthusiasm for anime conventions that brought them together in the first place. “What really made our wedding day special,” says Damien, “was how both families joined in. It was a ton of fun seeing everyone else dressed up and to see how much they enjoyed the atmosphere of the convention as well. Chris and I go to these conventions all year around, and cosplay at every single one. It meant a lot to both of us that everyone had as much fun as we did. Our wedding was unique – and will be remembered by a ton of people for a long time.”

Lisa & Michael

by carol wills photography by Jennifer Cody, EgoMedia Photography

Lisa Kornstein and Michael Kaufman were married on June 6th, 2015. Their wedding took place at the home of friends in Annapolis, Maryland, just outside an old red tobacco barn on property overlooking the South River. Their reception, with dinner and dancing, took place inside the barn. “Our wedding was truly magical,” Lisa says, “and that feeling was more than just the beautiful scenery.” “People kept telling us throughout the whole weekend, ‘You can just feel the love here,” she adds. Their wedding attendants included their seven children, as well as Lisa’s brother, his wife and one niece. Because Lisa wanted everything to feel natural and fresh, their decorations consisted of “a lot of whites and greens.” Originally Lisa had not planned to wear a traditional wedding gown, but her mother was in poor health, and one of their last outings together, at her mother’s request, was a trip to try on wedding dresses. Lisa chose a traditional gown because her mother loved seeing her in it. It was a Vera Wang – very simple and elegant. Her bridesmaids wore Rachel Pally lilac and ivory, and her daughter 80 | midtownmag.com

Calyn wore a dress by Tangerine. Mike and all the other groomsmen wore white dinner jackets. The newlywed Kaufmans danced to the music of a local band from Raleigh, The Remedy. But there was an unexpected twist to the musical program. “We are huge fans of Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band,” Lisa remembers. “We had seen a sax player from New Jersey covering Bruce songs in Florida one night. We went up to him at the break and said, “We know this is kind of random, but we’re getting married in June in Maryland, and we have to have you there!” “He was fantastic, and said he would love to. We exchanged information and – he actually showed up! His addition to the ambiance of our wedding is unforgettable. It was so us!” The Kaufmans spent their honeymoon at Hotel Christopher in St. Barths. Lisa’s mother passed away in October, after telling friends that she was waiting for both of her children to be truly happy. She wanted to be sure they were both where they were meant to be. “I’m happy that her confidence in the love I have found let her be at peace, and it’s my job to keep living and honoring her with this happiness and the full life we have built,” says Lisa. “Our set-up is atypical in that we are both entrepreneurs running our own companies in two different states, with six kids and a rescue Great Dane between us, so life is completely chaotic and complex, but also incredibly full of love,” she says. (Lisa is the founder of the women’s clothing boutique Scout & Molly’s, which is now franchising all over the US, and Mike owns Kaufman Lynn Construction.) “We decided love really can conquer all as long as we keep our ‘want for us’ front and center in our minds at all times.”

midtownmag.com | 81

photograph courtesy of het kandhuis

Het Landhuis Dutch entrepreneur Chris Verwoerdt and wife Lisa lived on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill in the late nineties when Chris got it in his head to move to the country. They bought a 62-acre farm with a rundown farmhouse and started renovating. Over the next decade the renovations continued on and off, the farmyard filling up with pet cats, dogs, miniature horses, an Arabian horse, goats and even a rescue donkey. Two family members got married at the farm, and then one day a stranger drove down the driveway and asked if she could have her wedding there. Lisa was intrigued enough to attend a local monthly International Special Events Society meeting, where a wedding planner took her under her wing when she showed her a photo of her farm with its large, impressive barn. So smitten was the wedding planner, who was about to retire, she offered to help organize a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Grand Openingâ&#x20AC;? event as her last hurrah before retiring for good. The Het Landhuis Grand Opening was held in August of 2010 and this past year, their fourth full season, they hosted 26 weddings. Lisa runs the farm and wedding venue business, while Chris continues with his business Starpoint Storage, a document and records management and storage company in Chapel Hill. 1898 Henderson Tanyard Rd, Pittsboro, NC 27312 hetlandhuis.com

82 | midtownmag.com

Venues

unusual or off the beaten path

by SIOUX WATSON

the oaks at salem

photograph by Brandon nunnery photography

Local Fire Hall When Raleigh firefighter Timothy proposed to his Wake County public school teacher girlfriend Keisha last fall, they went into overdrive and decided to get married a week later. After a brainstorm session, a brilliant idea emerged – why not get married at a fire station? The creative couple generally thinks outside the box, and couldn’t fathom the idea of getting married in a plain old courtroom, so they got busy on the phone. Timothy works at Station 1 in Downtown Raleigh, which gets pretty hectic. After a few calls they hit the jackpot with the Cary Fire Department. With both officiant and location booked, all that remained was to invite their immediate family members. Keisha recalls the November day as PERFECT, and “one of the BEST days of our lives! It turned out beautifully! No decorations, no chairs, no white dress; just beautiful fire trucks in the background, a crew of firemen dressed up in their uniforms, a surrounding full of love and close family, and at the center two love birds excited to spend the rest of their lives together.” various locations in Wake County

April Maness purchased a five-acre country farmhouse in Apex and built this mansion after spending time as a freelance photographer for Midtown Magazine. Freelance work at weddings led her to start her own wedding venue business, and since 2011 she has been holding weddings and other events in the magnificent setting of The Oaks at Salem, just 20 minutes from Raleigh. Corporate events, proms, retirement parties and birthday parties are also held there during the week, but most weekends from March to the end of November are prime wedding times, and every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in September and October were solidly booked with weddings this past year, adding up to 70 weddings in 2015. What sets The Oaks apart from many venues is that it is a full-service venue with two full-time coordinators on site, who handle everything except the catering. Additional perks include an eightpassenger golf cart to transport guests from the parking area, a bridal suite and groom’s retreat on separate floors for changing and photography, chair and table setup and breakdown, and a large tent with fans and heating options for all kinds of weather; the tent extends capacity for parties up to 299 people. 6304 Old Jenks Rd, Apex, NC 27523 theoaksatsalem.com

photograph by Kacy Jung

SEVEN Seven started out as a dance studio when Catrina Godwin and a business partner bought the house over a decade ago. Today the two-story house is available for weddings and receptions, and is for the couple that wants something out of the ordinary and a little edgy; a party that is dramatic, mysterious and a bit of a theatrical event. “All of the rooms are presented as themed salons, including a 2,000-foot ballroom,” says Godwin. “It is on two levels, and we can accommodate 250 guests.” Local Welsh artist Keith White designed an outdoor courtyard that at least one bride has insisted on getting married in despite of a November wedding date. “Keith hand carved concrete stucco elements, installed two small pools and used wrought iron fencing to great effect,” she continues. Indoors, five local artists worked on rooms which are highly decorated in themes such as the “Crystal Moon Salon” and “C of Dreams Salon” based on icon Cleopatra; the rooms include original faux finishes, murals and painted columns. Although the grounds are not extensive, one Indian ceremony’s groom entered on a white horse, as is the tradition to join his bride. Why Seven, you ask? Well, seven is Godwin’s seven favorite number, as she was born on 7/7. 501 Washington St, Raleigh, NC 27605 7raleigh.com midtownmag.com | 83

photograph by Walters & Walters Photography

Nuptials

Noshing

Wow Guests With Next-Level Comfort, Kitsch and Nostalgia by Karlie Justus Marlowe 84 | midtownmag.com

If food is a love language,

the perfect place to turn up the volume is at a wedding reception. Brides and grooms are planning menus meant not only to fill guests up, but to introduce visitors to local specialties, entertain them with one-of-a-kind experiences and even share their history as a couple. What’s new and next? Wedding industry veteran Lorin Laxton, vice president of the Triangle-based Catering Works, offers up a few tips and tried-and-tasted suggestions.

Locavore Love

“Brides now demand food made with local ingredients not only for freshness and environmental reasons, but also to introduce guests who have traveled in from different locations to local specialties,” said Laxton, who counts local cheese tables, barbeque with both eastern and western sauces, and meats braised in beers from North Carolina breweries like Aviator and Big Boss brewing companies as popular local choices. “These options give weddings a farmers market feel,” said Laxton. And don’t stop with the food – consider sending guests home with locally grown favors like a peck of North Carolina apples, a jar of local honey or a mixed six-pack of favorite backyard breweries.

photograph by Neil Boyd

photograph by Walters & Walters Photography

What’s Old is New Again

Blame it on #ThrowbackThursday – traditional dishes once considered stuffy and dated are making their way back onto menus with a wink and a twist. Think duck a l’orange phyllo bites, crab claws with pink lemonade butter or an oldschool Baked Alaska with salted caramel gelato. Vintage cocktails also make the cut, often crafted with specialty bitters or sweetened vinegars known as shrubs for a Gatsby-era feel. Laxon suggests the Pippin Aperitif, a refreshing cocktail made with apple shrub, dry vermouth, lemon juice and club soda, or the Fitzgerald, made with gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and orange bitters. “These drinks really reference that Cotton Club era with a classy twist,” said Laxton.

photograph by David Anderson

(far left) Mini Lamb Sliders with Harissa, (above, top to bottom) Bad Penny Braised Chicken Tacos, NC Catfish Entrée and “Smoke on the Water” Smoked Scallop over Tomato Mashed Potatoes with Wild Mushrooms, prepared in the mason jar, filled with a smoking gun.

Mini Mania

Small plate stations are a modern riff on oldschool buffets, and an opportunity to have fun with comfort foods. Think donut holes with a shot of milk, half-dollar sized grilled cheese sandwiches in a spoonful of tomato soup and crunchy taco bites served with a mini-margarita chaser. “Mini-sized foods are still on trend and are a great option for cocktail hour because they travel well around the room,” said Laxton, who also suggests sliders as an easy riff on full-sized burgers and sandwiches. Use them to play up geographical areas important to the bride and groom, like North Carolina pork sliders or Catering Works’ Nashville hot chicken sliders with pickles.

Interactive Stations

Intriguing live presentations amp up the reception experience and add excitement. Try a s’mores bar that trades in a campfire for a creme brulee torch, fresh guacamole mixed on demand or oysters shucked to order and served with specialty hot sauces. Another way to highlight North Carolina seafood in an unforgettable fashion: Catering Works’ smoked scallop with roasted tomatoes and mashed potatoes is presented in a sealed, miniature Mason jar to preserve its signature smoky flavor. When guests open the jars, the smoke is released before the first bite. midtownmag.com | 85

Registry Ideas for the modern couple by SIOUX WATSON

The modern couple comes in all shapes and sizes in 2016. From first-time-round couples in their 40s, to couples who have multiple marriages behind them, to same-sex couples, to two people who have children first and THEN decide to get hitched; all are the new normal. Traditional registries were designed to help newlyweds who came to marriage straight from the original family home without a pot or pan to their united name. Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s modern couple still in their twenties has more than likely already been cohabitating and has accumulated enough rudimentary household items to host a dinner party, let alone dinner for two, and betrothed big city dwellers donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need more stuff to fill their tiny one-bedroom walkups; thus couples are adding new twists to the traditional wedding registries in unique ways that offer wedding guests more options than ever to give meaningful and useful wedding gifts. 86 | midtownmag.com

Melissa and Wade, both in their 40s, met just after Melissa had applied to adopt a child on her own. A year later, when they were married, the only thing found on the registry on the couple’s wedding blog was a “baby fund”. The wording went something along these lines: “Truly the only thing we ask is your presence at our Big Day. If you insist on giving us a gift, it would be great if you wanted to help us with the expense of bringing a baby to our marriage, whether it be through adoption or an expensive medical procedure.”

Parent & Attendant

Gift Ideas COURTESY OF DIAMONDS DIRECT CRABTREE

While it has always been acceptable to give a cash gift to the newlyweds, couples can now spell out the components of a honeymoon they would love to have help paying for via an assortment of “honeyfund” websites. Raleighites Brittany and Jason planned their honeymoon at an all-inclusive hotel in Riviera Maya, Mexico, but wanted to add on some day trips and extra experiences outside of the resort. They used honeyfund. com to let friends and relatives opt to pay for a side trip to Mayan ruins and a snorkeling/diving trip to see tropical fish and sea turtles. A review on weddingwire about honeyfund.com says, “very easy to set up, and no problems with receiving the money. We posted it on our wedding page and in our registry announcement with the invitations. We received about $500 (we requested $3,000) on the site. However, we received over $2,500 from checks and cash at the wedding. It's a neat idea, but it seems only younger couples are using it and the older family members and friends stick to what they know. “ Raleigh couple Greg and Heather decided to use their registry to help raise money for a specific cause they were passionate about, and raised funds for the Human Rights Campaign. Some websites are geared to couples that wish to raise donations for charity in lieu of gifts. One popular site is the I Do Foundation, where couples can create a registry, chose charitable favors, and purchase charity gift cards to hand to attendants as gifts. The site is “the nation’s first wedding-focused nonprofit”, and has raised over $6.5 million from more than 75,000 couples in the past 10 years.

Some would say one of the best parts of getting married (besides the ceremony, of course) is the gifting. No, we don’t mean all those great gifts you’ll be getting from your wedding registry. We’re talking about the gifting you’ll be doing as a couple to your parents, your bridal party, and one another. Picking out an item to commemorate such a special day can be exciting if you are the type of person who loves watching others open gifts, but it can also be taxing with all of your other wedding to-dos. If your list is still a mile long, don’t sweat it – we’ve created a wedding party gift guide! The gifts you give your family and bridal party are typically meant to be used or worn the day of your wedding. For Mom, pearls are our go-to gift. Classic and complimentary to any color scheme, pearls make the perfect gift for moms. If your mom likes a little more bling, we love Mastoloni pearl studs with a diamond halo. They add a little something extra that’s sure to wow! For your Best Man and Maid of Honor, Maps by A. Jaffe (seen above) make the perfect memento. Pick a place that is special to them, maybe where they went to college or where you all met, to engrave in sterling silver or gold with a diamond to pinpoint the exact spot of your special place. These are available as necklaces, bracelets, or cufflinks! As an honored tradition, the bride and groom also exchange gifts the night before or morning of their wedding. Typically accompanied by a handwritten note to your soon-tobe, the gift you give is meant to serve as another reminder of the day you walked down the aisle. This gift can be used as the Bride’s “something new.” A diamond tennis bracelet or pendant compliments the bride’s wedding attire without taking away from the new main attraction – her wedding band! Blue sapphire earrings with a diamond halo would also be a great option and would serve as her “something blue” (and will make a great heirloom one day). For the Groom, the A. Jaffe Maps cufflinks with your ceremony spot and date would be perfect. If your groom isn’t big on cufflinks, a Christian Bauer wedding band with a special note engraved inside in your handwriting is an unexpected and meaningful surprise! Congratulations and happy wedding planning!

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Wedding 10-16 MONTHS Engagement “If you liked it, then you shoulda put a ring on it”. This is critical before proceeding to any further steps. Once an engagement ring is firmly placed on a bride's finger, you may proceed.

A surprising statistic is that the average US couple takes 16 months to plan their wedding day. Let’s face it, we all know people who have decided to get hitched and a week later they were married, no muss no fuss. Some elope to Las Vegas and some enlist friends and family to help pull together an instant wedding plan.

Break out the bridal magazines and start a file folder or a pinterest board so your bridesmaids scattered across the country can view it. Check your bank balance or credit limit, and call the ‘rents to see who’s paying for what in order to set the budget. We’re pretty sure that new study out that equates marriage longevity to those who spent THE LEAST on their wedding is an anomaly… Two biggies are choosing the wedding party and making the guest list. Both of these are HUGE indicators of how much this wedding will cost at the end of the day, so think smaller=better. Start a spreadsheet and start to gather addresses.

Even if you consider yourself “above average”, you may want to check out the recommended timeline for the rest of those average types out there.

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Hire a wedding planner to keep yourself sane, and hone in on your date and venue, often determined on availability of your chosen venue. Holding a wedding and reception in the same location can often keep guests from getting LOST and simplify planning details.

Planning Timeline 8-10 MONTHS Announce your engagement. Shop for and order the wedding dress – these can take up to six months to be made, and sometimes brides get the dress back and change their minds! Hire a photographer and videographer. Meet with caterers and book in date with them. Decide about music for wedding and entertainment for reception. Reserve a block of rooms for out-of-town guests. Launch a wedding website and create a gift registry.

6-8 MONTHS

Select your officiant. Order bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen’s apparel. Send save-the-date cards. Reserve structural and electrical needs. Decide about flowers and reserve date with florist.

4-6 MONTHS Finalize guest list. Order invitations. Select and order the cake. Select rings and complete online registries. Book the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner venue. Schedule hair & make-up artists.

2-3 MONTHS Flowers and menu final decisions. Address and mail invitations. Groom and family plan rehearsal dinner. Write vows and finalize readings and music. Organize who is to give speeches and toasts. Order favors.

1 MONTH Apply for marriage license. Final fittings and accessory purchases. Confirm details with all vendors. Organize welcome gift bags for all out-of-towners. Bachelorette party and bachelor party held. Update guest list rsvps. Assign seating for reception dinner tables.

week of wedding Pick up the bridal gown and groom’s attire. Confirm with all vendors final details and times to arrive. Organize seating and develop a system to help guests find seats. Pack for honeymoon. Send final head count to caterer – fee is on this confirmed count, even if there are noshows on the day of the wedding. Delegate wedding day assignments.

the day before Place checks in envelopes labeled for all vendors. Give marriage license to officiant. Attend rehearsal and rehearsal dinner; enjoy visiting with guests and out-of-towners! Give attendants gifts and printed timeline for wedding day events.

wedding day! Wake up refreshed, having had a good night’s sleep. Enjoy hair and makeup sessions. Designate a go-to person for any issues at reception (other than the bride). Get married and don’t stress – what could possibly go wrong with all the planning you’ve done!

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Louise and Daniel Floyd 5.18.2013 The Oaks at Salem Photo by 2 and 3 Photography

photos sure to take your

Breath Away We asked our readers to submit their most breathtaking wedding images and they did not disappoint. While we would have loved to show you everyone's photo, we thought the following images could only be described as "breathtaking".

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Jennifer and Alex Finch 9.11.2015 Grand Father Mountain Photo by Michelle Lyerly

Sabrina and Steven Fiore 10.10.2015 Their backyard in Chapel Hill Photo by Anderson Shore

Tiffany Ingersoll and Matthias Mueller 10.10.2015 NCSU Arboretum Photo by Morton Photography

Michelle and Mark Hines 10.24.2015 Wexford Plantation Photo by Griffin Hart Davis

Lauren and Joseph Whaley 10.17.2015 Grand Bohemian

Kelley and Joe Charron 10.16.2015 The Stockroom at 230 Photo by Southern Love Studios

Claire and Bill Duff 8.15.2015 Carolina Country Club Graham Terhune Photography midtownmag.com | 91

Kayla and Adam Pollak 4.26.2014 Rose Hill Plantation Photo by A Moment Like This Photography

Caitlin Ann and Devin Duke 5.3.2014 River Landing Country Club Photo by Carolina Media Star

April and Tyler Roberts 5.31.2015 Wide Awake Plantation Photo by Jennifer Bearden 92 | midtownmag.com

Ann and Brandon Goodwin 4.18.2015 The Pullen House Photo by Blue Barn Photography

Katie and Sam Fulp 11.15.2014 Morning Glory Farms

Kathleen and William Rollinson 8.15.2015 Merrimon Wynne House Photo by Michael Moss

Stephanie and Aaron Deal 7.18.2015 Boylan Bridge Brewpub Photo by Mark Potter Photography

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Kristina and Nicholas Figueroa Wrightsville Beach, NC 10.10.2015 Photo by Will Page Photography

Kaylee Baker and Armand Law 12.21.14 Durham Armory Photo by Krista Joy Photography

Chelsea and Andrew Triggiano 10.3.2015 Jones Chapel Photo by Autumn Harrison Photography â&#x20AC;&#x192;

Amanda and Ruben Ocampo 8.25.2013 Boone Hall Plantation

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Mallory and Elliotte Douglas-Middleton 12.31.2014 214 Martin Street

Katie and Austin Bagwell 6.9.2013 The Stockroom at 230

Jade and Ryan Towner 8.28.2010 Governor's Mansion Photo by Penny Noell Photography Abbie and Jonathan Jackson 11.16.2012 The Stockroom at 230 Photo by Robyn Van Dyke

919.322.4240

Special Thanks A very special thank you to Randy Taylor Weddings for helping us locate wedding couples and venues for our articles. RandyTaylorWeddings.com | 919.745.7649

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JANAILSPARALEIGH.COM midtownmag.com | 95

RUN

make a

for it

B e com e a Runne r (or Better runner) i n t he N e w Ye a r by c a r l a tu r c h etti

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Is 2016 the year you are going to lace up your shoes and run your first 5K? Or do you have some 5Ks under your belt already and you think you’d like to run a The Starting Line Before you take a step with your feet, take a step longer distance, like a with your mind. “The most important thing is to make the half marathon or a full decision this is something you want to do,” says Cid Cardoso, Jr., distance runner, triathlete and owner of Inside-Out Sports stores in Raleigh, Cary and marathon? Here’s some Charlotte. “Visit a specialty store, because they are going to help you get the right pair of shoes and they can give you some guidance as well on groups advice for get ting from around your neighborhood or different coaches or training plans. “ Training plans provide a framework for getting the start to the finish. into running shape with advice on everything from

how far to how often to run. “It’s pretty easy to find a couch-to-5k training plan online, and those do give beginners some basic instructions or guidelines so that you do eventually get ready for a 5k without necessarily doing too much,” Cid says. A beginning runner doesn’t need much special equipment. Dress in workout clothes in performance fabrics that are appropriate for the season, and purchase the right footwear. “A good pair of running shoes and a pair of shoes that are right for the type of gait that you have is one of the first steps,” Cid says. Self-starters may be fine following a training plan from a book or a website, but there are runners at all levels who prefer to join training groups for structured workouts. “The big advantage of joining a training group is that you add the social aspect to it,” Cid says. “It becomes more fun and you develop friendships. I’ve been running for more than 30 years but I know that if I am going to meet two of my buddies at 7am on a Sunday morning, if I told them I am going to be there, then I am more likely to wake up and be there than if I didn’t.” There are running groups of all sizes in the area, from ones with hundreds of participants like Raleigh’s Jeff Galloway Run/Walk group, to the small group that runs through Raleigh’s Wakefield neighborhood once a week beginning and ending at D’s Bottle Shop, and plenty of others in-between. Gyms and running stores are other places to look for groups that get together for organized runs. midtownmag.com | 97

Stepping It Up

There is more than one way to increase your mileage. Cid says you can work toward it simply by increasing the distances you run, but that may not be the most efficient strategy. For a mix of workouts designed to increase distance and speed, he suggests plans found on the Internet or in running books. “It’s not a personalized plan, but it gives you a guide where you do something like one recovery run, two medium runs and one long run a week,” Cid says. “By running four to five times a week you can be ready to run a half marathon in four to six months.” Training groups are another place to find runners trying to get to the same distance goal you are. And if you want personalized instruction, there are running coaches who will develop a program just for you based on your fitness level, heart rate and pace.

Ready to Race

Most runners reach the point where they are ready to tackle a road race, no matter what the distance. Signing up for a race and adding it to your calendar is a training motivator. “I run for a lot of different reasons,” Cid says. “It makes me feel better. It makes me a better person. But I know when I sign up for a race, I get more motivated. Now you have a goal and a time frame to work with. If you’re just running, there’s no overall plan or urgency. “ And Cid says racing makes you part of the overall running community. Kim Reynolds, runner and owner of Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern in Raleigh, agrees that a race is a good starting point. “Start out slowly and work up to a 5k, “Kim says. “ Just go ahead and go to that first race, and if you like it and it’s something you enjoy, (and I would say 99 percent of people do enjoy that first race), then go to the second.” In 2003 Kim held a road race to benefit rheumatoid arthritis, which her mother battles. After partnering with Cid, it has grown to become the Second Empire Grand-Prix road racing series. Each year the series features a number of local races, all with charitable components. Runners participate in the races to compete for yearly prizes. “These awards are not always for the fastest or most elite runners,” Kim says “You may have your average person who runs a nine-or 10-or 11-minute mile, and they ran the races, and they may qualify for the age group awards.” The awards include a special luncheon at Second Empire.

Why Run?

So why would you choose to start running, or start running further? “I know for me, I get clarity when I run,” Cid says. “There are days when you are stressed out with job things or family things, and the last thing you want to do is go out for a run. But then I do, and it’s amazing – that in a 40-or 45-minute period, when I am done with the run, I can think so much more clearly. Maybe it’s just that you’re doing something positive or something that you feel is positive, instead of sitting around moping or doing something that could be a little more on the destructive side. There is no doubt in my mind that there is a runner’s high, and it’s not just for people who run fast; it’s for everybody.” 98 | midtownmag.com

EAT CLEAN Here’s the Dirt on What’s Hot in Nutrition by carla turchetti midtownmag.com | 99

Clean eating isn’t a lifestyle that encourages you to wash your fruits and vegetables really well. Clean eating is a nutritional approach that encourages the consumption of whole foods and grains while eliminating packaged and processed food options. “Clean eating is about moving forward,” says Betsy Mikolajewski, Registered Licensed Dietician and coowner of Carolina Nutrition Specialists in downtown Raleigh. “Clean eating is about moving forward, choosing differently and observing the outcome.” And it is a personal journey. “On your next grocery store visit you may spy an avocado – something you have eaten only in restaurants, but you never actually brought one home. You don’t even know how to cut it open, but today, you bring one home and a simple Google search teaches you avocado skills,” Betsy says. Kelly Guess, the other co-owner of Carolina Nutrition Specialists, who is also a Registered Licensed Dietician, says clean eating has been sparked by changes in what we find at the grocery store. “Today’s food is not the same as food from 25 years ago. In order to keep food plentiful and profitable and to gain loyal customers, today’s food is grown with more pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics and hormones. It is also processed with more sugar, in its many forms, plus more salt, synthetic flavors and colors than ever before. Clean eating addresses these changes by advocating the purchase of food with the least amount of added chemicals, sugar and salt available,” Kelly says. “For many decades we have been manipulating our food to be easy and fast,” Betsy says. “In the process we got lost. We forgot the subtle flavors of the avocado. We forgot the sweetness of the apple. We forgot the texture of a real tomato right off the vine.”

Is Clean Food Organic? So if you want to embrace clean eating, do your food choices have to be organic? “The best way to do this is to buy certified organic foods and prepare them at home,” Kelly says. “Organic food cannot be grown with synthetic pesticides, herbicides, hormones or antibiotics. It can’t be processed using irradiation or Genetically Modified Organism (GMOs), which are plants designed to survive large doses of pesticides and herbicides during the growing process. The more organic foods you add to your diet, the less synthetic chemicals end up in your body, which is the idea behind clean.” Kelly recommends always buying organic dairy products like milk, butter and cheese. She also recommends purchasing pasture-raised meat and eggs because the cows and chickens eat grass instead of grain. She says in this country soybeans, corn, white potatoes, sugar beets, alfalfa, canola, papaya and summer squash are mostly GMO, so she advises clients to purchase organic versions. And when it comes to produce, Kelly subscribes to the lists compiled by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). The EWG Dirty Produce List (buy organically): • • • • • • • •

Apples Celery Cherry Tomatoes Cucumbers Grapes Nectarines Peaches Potatoes

• • • • • • •

Snap Peas Spinach Strawberries Sweet Bell Peppers Hot Peppers Kale Collards

The EWG Clean Fifteen (can buy conventionally) • • • • • • • • 100 | midtownmag.com

Asparagus Avocado Cabbage Cantaloupe Cauliflower Eggplant Grapefruit Kiwi

• • • • • • •

Mango Onion Papaya Pineapple Sweet Corn Frozen Sweet Peas Sweet Potatoes

But I’m Too Busy to Eat Clean! Betsy and Kelly say menu planning is key for busy people to stop relying on cardboard boxes for their food. They say meals can be assembled and the slow cooker can be used to produce clean meals. And there are clean convenience foods. “There are so many pre-cut, pre-prepared and precooked items in the grocery stores these days,” Betsy says. “We enjoy taking clients to their usual grocery store and introducing them to items that are fast and nourishing.” Farm to Table When it comes to eating out, Clean Eating and the Farmto-Table concept become intertwined. “Farm-to-table is interested in decreasing the process that occurs between harvesting and consumption,” Betsy says. Restaurants like Farm Table in Wake Forest believe in preparing dishes made from seasonal ingredients purchased from local sources. “Guests are more knowledgeable and informed about the food and are curious about where it comes from,” says Laszlo Lukacsi, partner and owner at Farm Table. “I have always been a big believer in local trade, which usually translates into a handshake with the local farmers. The one and only thing that matters is quality. We are able to inspect the product and visit the farms. Working closely brings joy and fun.” And it’s part of the current food journey. “The clean food path is open-ended,” Betsy says. “It’s the process of reconnecting to the idea that what we eat matters. It’s an exploration back to our roots when we ate whole foods, because that was all there was.”

Farm-to-Table

Dining Options Irregardless Café 901 W. Morgan Street, Raleigh

Fiction Kitchen 428 S. Dawson Street, Raleigh

Leli’s Diner 3325 Rogers Road, Wake Forest

Serving communitysourced food with a side of live music since 1975.

Completely vegetarian with vegan offerings, serving fresh, creative and locallysourced food.

Farm-to-table diner classics for breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus cooking classes. midtownmag.com | 101

Don’t quit,

stay fit

Wake County Senior Games 2016 by sioux watson

photography by Rick Cornell

Marilyn Sorin wasn’t looking to join a movement; she was just trying to get a pickleball group started in the Raleigh area so she could continue playing. Eleven years ago the Wake County resident started wintering in Yuma, Arizona and got hooked on the sport, which combines elements of badminton, tennis and pingpong. Marilyn eventually became involved with the local senior games movement and helped get pickleball added to the Wake County Senior Games (WCSG) and NC Senior Games. Fast-forward to 2016 and the WCSG now offers more than 30 athletic and artistic individual and team events for Wake County residents age 55 and over. The nonprofit organization’s goal is to promote health and wellness, and they provide various forums year-round. The added effect is to create new friends and communities for local seniors. Sorin, who serves on the board and competes in WCSG swimming and pickleball sports year-round, continues to meet new folks she would not otherwise. Barbara Stanley Latta started running in 1983 and runs every day, no matter what the weather. In 1985 the principal of the school she worked at had been involved in the Senior Games and suggested she also compete in the WCSG. That 102 | midtownmag.com

spring she placed second in both the 3000-meter race and the half marathon. “People I met at the Wake County Senior Games have become my friends. I joined the NC Roadrunners Club and discovered that many track and field Senior Games runners were in this club. We meet four times a year, and there is a great social aspect to the running Club.” Barbara also cycles for fun and exercise, but running is her passion; to date she has run in all 50 states, all seven continents, and 56 countries. Ken Long, 88, got involved 30 years ago and continues to compete and medal in race walking in his age group of 8589. Long particularly enjoys traveling to the National Senior Games host cities such as St Louis, Orlando, San Francisco and Virginia Beach. He also serves on the local WCSG board and is keenly interested in outreach to attract new participants. “Word of mouth is the best way to engage new people”, he says, “we now have over, 1000 folks from Wake County participating or volunteering. Sometimes it can be hard to convince older people to get involved and keep active.” Anyone talking to Long, whose enthusiasm is contagious, is bound to want to get out of the house, get active and make new friends. In Wake County, there are five senior center affiliate members in Raleigh, Cary, Garner, Morrisville and Apex. The four most popular sports in the WCSG are tennis, basketball, bowling and pickleball, but other sports one generally associates with the retirement set, such as shuffleboard and bocce ball, are also played with enthusiasm. Creative individuals less drawn to the physical aspect of Senior Games are offered a visual, literary, heritage, craft and performing arts component called “Silver Arts”. Exhibits are held in Cary each April, and a grand finale “Silver Arts Follies” takes place in Garner, all free and open to the public. Now is a great time for anyone in Wake County age 55 and older to get involved as the 2016 Spring Games and Silver Arts, as the deadline for signing up is March 10th. In Senior Games and Silver Arts, participants vie for top honors and the right to move on to the annual NC Senior Games and the biennial National Senior Games competition. The Wake County Senior Games, Inc. is a private, nonprofit 501c3 organization whose purpose is to promote fitness, friendship and well-being for all residents 55 years of age and older. For more information call 919.469.4081 or go to www.wcseniorgames.org. midtownmag.com | 103

Your Prescription:

Take One Dog A Day By Paul Savery

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There are 78 million dogs in the USA. There can be no argument that dogs are man’s best friend. Dogs actually prefer humans to their own species, and they are extraordinarily devoted to their human companions. The special affection between humans and dogs is obviously reciprocated. Americans spend around $60 billion a year on their pets, and the largest proportion of that vast sum is lavished on dogs. As dogs improve your social life, they can be a cure for lonely hearts. Studies show that loneliness and social isolation are very bad for your mental and physical health. Human contact increases exponentially when you are out walking the dog. There are times when I am out walking my dogs and I don’t get very far. Children and adults stop me to ask questions about the dogs, and soon we are chatting away. Dog owners generally feel more satisfied with their social, physical and emotional states than those without a dog. Many people turn to a dog when experiencing emotional distress. Research shows most people are convinced their dog genuinely loves them more than their human partner! Another study found that dog owners who relied on their dogs for social fulfillment reported they were “less depressed, less lonely, had higher self-esteem, were happier, and tended to experience less perceived stress.” Dogs have funny habits and silly tricks which produce laughter, which is indeed the best medicine. Dogs may protect us from poor health. Studies have shown that dog owners are significantly less likely to die in the year after a heart attack than non-dog owners. The companionship of dogs may produce a natural high. When interacting and exchanging gazes, both dogs and their owners experience rushes of “feel-good” hormones, such as oxytocin and dopamine, in their brains (these are the same chemicals

released when we interact with human babies). Researchers found oxytocin levels increased between both dog and owner when the gaze was held for at least five minutes. Young children born into households with a dog have a lower risk of developing asthma and allergies. Some people complain that a big disadvantage with dog ownership is the need to walk the dog on a regular basis but this is in fact a great advantage because you are forced to get out of the house and get routine exercise. There are days when I am not in the mood for a walk, but my eager dogs won’t let me be a slacker. My insistent dogs are my personal “fitness coaches”. Researchers found that the majority of dog owners who take their pets for regular walks easily meet the federal criteria for regular moderate or vigorous exercise. Another study found that senior citizens who walk their dogs have a more regular exercise routine and are more physically fit than the elderly who walk with other people. The health care industry recognizes the important role of dogs in the healing process. Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT), often known as pet therapy, is a growing sector. A certified AAT dog acts as a volunteer in the community, visiting people in hospitals and nursing homes and brightening their days. Research shows that AAT is an effective psychotherapeutic intervention that reduces stress and depression. The well-trained dog also provides a sense of companionship that can combat feelings of isolation in the patient. This facilitates healing and rehabilitation. Helping Paws International is a non-profit AAT organization based in Raleigh. While the majority of their current assisted therapy dogs are rescued racing greyhounds, they accept all breeds of dogs. The Pets at Duke is another AAT program that works with cancer patients through the Duke Cancer Patient Support Program. The recipient of AAT does not own the dog or permanently live with it. On the other hand, a service dog belongs solely to the person with a disability or illness. Traditionally, service dogs, which are highly trained, have been used for people who are blind, deaf or have other physical disabilities, and help people achieve greater independence. Recently they’ve shown promise for people with psychological problems as well, including depression, bipolar disorder, autism, and especially PTSD. The distinction between service animals and emotional-support animals baffles many people. An emotional-support animal (ESA) is defined by the government as an untrained companion of any species that provides solace to someone with a disability, such as anxiety or depression. We can look to a future when your doctor prescribes, for whatever ails you, a dog once a day for the rest of your life.

More Information Helping Paws International helpingpawsintl.org The Pets at Duke dukemedicine.org/treatments/cancer/cancersupport-services/pets-duke

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Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day can be a romantic, special day.

Chocolate, roses and all things romantic quickly come to mind at the mention of Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day. However, the day can look vastly different. Wanting to see how people spend this day dedicated to love, I set out to discover the answers, hear the stories, and seek out tips. Here are some of the ways that Raleigh residents spend their February 14th.

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1. Jennifer and James Together for 1 year and 4 months “This will be our second [Valentine’s Day] coming up. Around this Valentine’s we will probably be finding out the sex of our baby. It will be a good gift.” 2. Darlene and Trigger Together for 8 years “We’d been going together for six weeks, and she was a nurse and got off late. The only thing that was open was Arby’s on Wake Forest Road, and she and I had the whole restaurant to ourselves…I got her the apple pie dessert because it was a dollar.”

3. Malcolm and Christina Together for 18 years “One Valentine’s Day I did more than I should have, but I got a limo and we went to dinner...in North Hills. Then we went to the [Renaissance] and just walked. But the limo did drive us around downtown.” Kimberly (not pictured) Together for almost 30 years “I got married. It’ll be 30 years this comingValentine’s Day. [It was] powerful. It was great. Then my daughter is getting married the day before. So my daughter will be getting married the 13th, and then we will celebrate 30 years on [Valentine’s]. We travel somewhere different each year.” midtownmag.com | 107

4 5. Kiana and Thyree Together for 3 years “Last time I surprised her with dinner; I made steak, and I had Ed Sheerhan playing, and candlelight. It was at home and I cooked.”

4. Samantha and Adryan “My husband and I usually go out to dinner, but our first wedding anniversary – we got married in December so February isn’t that far from it – he decorated our whole house in roses and rose petals. He lit the fireplace and moved our dining room table into our living room, and he had a candlelit dinner in front of the fireplace. He actually cooked, the only time he’s cooked for me. It was wonderful.”

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Laura and Michael (not pictured) “The best [Valentine’s Day], we got a massage and pedicures. It was his first pedicure. He did [like it], especially when I threatened to paint his toes different colors.”

6 8 6. Lacey and Aaron Together for 5 years “[My son’s] first Valentine’s Day was five days after he was born, and he wore his father’s first outfit as well. [Our son] will be two in February.”

7 7. Mara and Enrique Together for 10 years “We’re originally from New York, so one year we went up and had a horse and carriage ride. It was a surprise and it was really, really fun. I didn’t plan it and it was just kind of spur-of-the-moment.”

8. Megan and Joe Together for over 2 years “My husband and I don’t go out; we stay home and cook dinner. We try to keep it low key.”

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9. Jamie and David Together for 6 years “My husband and I have two kids, so Valentine’s Day generally means that we just get a big piece of meat and stay home and drink a bottle of wine.”

10. Tim and Misha Together for 10 years “We usually go out of town for a long weekend and have a romantic evening in another area outside of being at home. We have a nice dinner and those kinds of things.”

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11 12

11. Becky and Donald Together for 21 years “We just consider every day special…keep it real. Love each other every day and don’t single out just one [day].”

12. Regina and Scott Together for a little over 10 years “Just spending time together is what we do. You can have fun doing anything. Spend time together, trust each other and don’t fight about money. Always be honest, that’s the most important thing. Spend time together, because otherwise you grow apart.”

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by kurt dusterberg

Back in 2008, Ryan Mitchell was working in a good job in human resources, building a real-world foundation on his graduateschool degree. Then one day, the boss came in the office and announced he was closing the company.

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“It left me reeling,” Mitchell said. “I was an educated person that was motivated, and I still didn’t have job security. That was a really big wakeup call.” After some soul searching, Mitchell decided he didn’t want to feel so vulnerable again. There had to be a better way. Eventually, he decided on tinyhouse living. Typical tiny houses run 150-400 square feet. Deciding to downsize an entire life into such a small space is not something to enter into lightly. But there is a growing movement, in part because people are taking a hard look at what matters to them. “The tiny house is simply a tool to live your best life,” says Mitchell, who lives outside of Charlotte. “I wanted to regain control over my finances, I wanted to travel, I wanted to write a book. It usually centers around finances and environmental concerns, as well as life simplification.” Mitchell’s involvement in the movement goes well beyond living in his downsized dwelling. He is the organizer of Tiny House Conference, which will take place in Asheville, NC on April 2nd-3rd, 2016. More than 400 people attended last year, and he expects dramatic growth for the upcoming third annual meeting. The conference brings together the curious as well as those who are already established in the tiny life. There are tiny houses to tour, speakers to share their experiences and even a “tool school,” taught by professionals. That’s right – many folks build their own. “I wanted to bring the community together to talk in person about the challenges we were facing,” Mitchell said. “From there it just grew.” The movement is still somewhat out of the mainstream. It is unconventional in nearly every way, requiring some adjustments in thinking and behavior. There are also issues with building codes and zoning. Typically, people are forced to build outside of city limits, and many people make arrangements with friends who allow them to live on private land without calling attention to their unapproved dwelling.

Ryan Mitchell is the organizer of the Tiny House Conference, which runs April 2nd-3rd in Asheville, NC.

As a result, there are no hard numbers about the growth of the movement, but Mitchell has an ear to the ground for anecdotal evidence. Asheville appears to be the most popular location for tiny houses in North Carolina. He estimates there are between 15 and 30 in the Triangle area. “I now know about 15 houses here in the Charlotte area alone, and I find out about a new one every couple of weeks,” he says. “It has increased dramatically. It boggles my mind how many people are building.” While there are a variety of reasons to take on the lifestyle, Mitchell says many people have the same broad feelings about exploring the possibility. “People want to live lighter on the earth, and they just want to distill life down to its core parts,” he says. While it is a low-cost housing option compared to having a home mortgage, Mitchell does not believe that tiny-house living is ideal for addressing the residential needs of low-income people or those who are displaced by a natural disaster. “There’s a fine line,” he cautions. “Tiny houses are such a small space. It’s pretty crazy to live in 150 square feet. For someone to live in a tiny house, they need to arrive at it because it’s the best option for them, not as a last option.” One more cautionary tale. Mitchell is in tune with the world around him, aware that much of society views such living arrangements as extreme. “I think there’s a lot of judgement about people who live in tiny houses,” he says. “People wonder if you are a contributing member of society. Understand some of these dynamics that are in our culture and make sure you are comfortable with that.” Mitchell knows he might one day find someone to share his life with, and that will likely spell an end to his tiny house era. Until then, he’s 18 months into a lifestyle that fits him to a tee. “What it’s taught me is that I need a lot less space than I thought I did to be happy,” he says. “There are many things that bring happiness, and it has nothing to do with the square footage of my living room.” midtownmag.com | 113

midtowndowntown

Run Making a

For It

Raleigh’s Lone Independent Running Store Combines Community and Commerce in Downtown By Karlie Justus Marlowe Photography by Davies Photography

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When it comes to running, Runologie believes knowledge is power. “Education is the most important thing we do,” said co-owner Brent Francese. “Our name literally means the science of running.” The Hillsborough Street running store is one of the latest additions to the downtown Raleigh retail scene, which has lagged behind the area’s glut of new bars, bottle shops and breweries. Not that Runologie minds a good pint: Its run club often starts and finishes sweat sessions at next-door neighbors State of Beer, or nearby Stag’s Head and Trophy Brewing & Pizza Co. In fact, it’s those types of cross-business partnerships that have integrated Runologie into the downtown scene. The cozy shop, which hangs name brands right alongside in-house designs emblazoned with the motto RUN DTR, is part of a reinvigorated stretch near the State Capitol building. Together with co-owner Kimberlie Meeker, Francese

recognized an opportunity in the growing city center. “We wanted to create a hub for the downtown community,” he said. “We all live here and there just wasn’t a place to be active.” Runologie’s run groups travel together to fitness classes at downtown studios HEAT Studio Gym and 110 Yoga, and pair up with lucettegrace and Videri Chocolate for post-run snacks. Staffers offer on-site gait analyses to Citrix employees and

co-host wellness fairs at CAM Raleigh. Raleigh handbag maven Holly Aiken even designed a roomy, stylish workout bag available only at Runologie, complete with a running figure made in her signature fabrication. In a crowded marketplace, it’s those types of outreach that have set Runologie apart. After a corporate buyout of three Triangle running store mainstays, the year-old shop is now the only independently owned outpost for running shoes, clothes and midtownmag.com| 115

accessories in the entire region, let alone the capital city. “The best indicator of our success so far has been our group runs,” said Francese. “It started off just us and our friends, but now we’re up to 40 people. We feel like the response has been great.” The indie mindset carries over into inventory as well, where the oldest brand in the store is only a decade old. The store stocks the Skechers performance line, Altra, Oiselle and the Swedish brand Salming, headquartered right down the road near the State Fairgrounds, with nary a Nike or Brooks item to be found. “When you walk in we want you to feel good about what you’re buying from a whole-body perspective, kind of like going to a farm-to-table restaurant,” said Francese, who ran his first race at the Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston at the age of 12. “We’ve worked to whittle down the products for you.”

Hit the Pavement

Once you have the gear, where do you go? Even in the colder months, the great outdoors always beats a treadmill. (Pro tip for chilly temperatures: Start with a good base layer with a long sleeve, then add shells and tights. “Many of our male customers then add on a pair of gloves,” said Francese, “while women come in asking for another core layer.”) The staff at Runologie has tested out trails all around the Triangle and beyond, but these are their favorites in Raleigh. Umstead Park Take a 20-minute drive out Glenwood Avenue to hit the park’s technical singletrack trails. “All of us at Runologie run Umstead,” says Francese. Downtown Raleigh loop Head to runologieraleigh.com for a sixmile downtown loop that circles Pullen Park and stretches all the way east to Gorman Street. Capital Area Greenway “The best part of Raleigh is its greenway system,” says Francese. With more than 100 miles of trails, it’s a good bet for marathon training. Lake Johnson This shady trail has 3.5 miles of paved greenway trails and 1.9 miles of unpaved terrain.

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midtowndowntown

PINK

the

building

Temporary Art Incubator Invigorates Empty Downtown Building Awaiting Development By Karlie Justus Marlowe Photography by Davies Photography “Welcome to The Pink Building,” says Shelley Smith as she unlocks the building’s black, windowless front door. It’s no mystery where the structure got its name: Aside from the decorative bars covering each window, the entry is the only part of the single-story building that isn’t painted bright pink. Aside from its bright color, it’s rather unassuming, sitting just outside the shadows cast off downtown Raleigh’s smattering of skyscrapers. The Pink Building is at the intersection of South East Street and East Davie Street, in a southeast corner of downtown that’s changing every day. midtownmag.com| 117

Across the street, Stone’s Warehouse awaits a complete overhaul by Monarch Realty’s Jason Queen, one that will bring a cafe, specialty grocery store and townhomes. Over on South Bloodworth Street, one block to the left, newly minted occupants of The Lincoln Apartments are setting out porch furniture. One more block over, a stretch of modern townhouses line South Person Street. Come 2017, The Pink Building will likely join the list of redeveloped spaces, with its close proximity to Moore Square setting a high value on its land. But for now, thanks to a unique agreement between Smith and property owner James Goodnight, Jr., the former dentist office is a full-time artist residency space that moonlights as a gallery and exhibition space during First Friday and special events. Smith, a Raleigh native finishing up her graduate degree at NC State’s College of Art and Design, first approached Goodnight with her idea for a temporary gathering space at another downtown institution. “It started at Poole’s Diner,” said Smith. “I’ve worked there for four and a half years, and James is a regular.” The pair’s mutual friend Luke Buchanan, an artist who restored the mural on the side of Goodnight’s Nehi building property on Hillsborough Street, made the introductions. “I knew James had let Luke host an exhibition at the Nehi building when it was empty,” she said. “I talked to him about hosting just a one-time pop-up exhibition in the space. He said, this will be empty for a year, and if you can make something happen in it, and you can make something cool happen, then go for it.” Smith and Goodnight agreed on a one-year lease, running through August 2016. And while it’s hardly a natural gallery space, both agreed to sink as little money as possible into its bones – Smith raps on the building’s all-concrete interior walls to signal just one of its many structural challenges – and instead focus on its immediate impact on the local arts community. That impact is two-part: To host developing artists as building residents, so they can pool resources, knowledge and experience to hone their crafts, and to invite the public in to further local artists’ reach – all in a space that would have otherwise gone unused. “We want to offer a place for people to show work at a very low cost,” said 118 | midtownmag.com

Smith. “Sometimes it’s very cost-prohibitive to show your art.” And in a city ripe with development, Smith hopes this can be a model for other properties as well. “What we want to do going forward is to use this as a model to expand into other buildings in the city that are awaiting development,” she said. “Three months, six months, a year or two, whatever. We can get a team of artists in there, get them excited and make something happen. Plus, it’s a really good advertisement for the property.” Now six months into The Pink Building’s lease, Smith shares the space with graphic designer and animator Scott Donley, quilter Kelly Kye and textile designer Mackenzie Bullard. The foursome met as graduate students at NC State. Each artist has their own personal studio, small rooms that once housed dentist chairs and hygienists. Now they’re stuffed to the brim with fabric, yarn, Tyvek, paint, and brightly colored inspiration tacked to the walls. But one of the main benefits of The Pink Building, Smith says, is the shared main room in the back of the building. On this chilly day in November, it houses a sewing machine, a stack of prints and a circle of chairs. In two weeks, it will host the collective’s first “cheap art” market, where more than 15 Triangle artists, including local art luminaries like David Eichenberger, Derek Toomes and Ollie Wagner, will offer up original art for less than $100. “With a residency, there’s the obvious advantage of sharing equipment and pooling resources, but what I love the most is working with other people on a daily basis, bouncing ideas off of them and not working in a vacuum,” said

A TOAST

TO THE

Smith. “We all have pretty different styles but speak a similar language within those style – so we can influence each other in a lot of ways, which is really nice. It’s good to have feedback and another set of eyes on your work.” Before the lease is up in August and as she searches for the next iteration of The Pink Building, Smith has no shortage of plans for events and community engagement. She’s in the final stages of organizing a series of two-month-long guest residencies that will each result in a body of work unique to the space to be shown in a public exhibition. Guests residents will be supported by public sponsorships, a program brought about by the community’s support. “The community response has been great, and one of the things I love about Raleigh is that people are really excited when things happen here,” she said. “I grew up here, and it wasn’t always like that. So now that it is, people are really excited.” Even once the lease is up and the physical building is replaced, Smith hopes to keep The Pink Building Project name for all future residences to keep its legacy going. “Now that this is part of this building’s history, we’re thinking about calling it The Pink Building Project – no matter where it is,” said Smith. “That’s the hope, at least, is that other people will be like, ‘oh, I can do that too.’”

TRIANGLE

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