Midtown Magazine by Midtown, 5 West, Triangle Family

+the faces of raleigh

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slid e the city

PICKS FOR SUMMER

+ LOCALLY

made things we

LOVE Raleigh

m ay / j u n e

2 0 1 6

hy be boring and the same when it’s so much fun to mix it up and change? Our May/June 2016 issue has a lot going on, as do all of the upcoming issues of Midtown Magazine. In this issue you’ll find one of our best examples of some cool new advertising special sections for readers – a feature we’re calling The FACES of Raleigh. We go behind the scenes and bring readers portrait-quality photography of some of our city’s finest and most vital businesses in each category, giving you an inside look at the personalities and professionals behind their counters, desks and studios. The issue marks our biggest issue ever, and we’ve included more local people in the pages than ever before. Welcome to the FACES and PLACES of Raleigh. If you grew up here, you’ll recognize some old friends, and if you are new to town, you’ll make some new acquaintances. I hate it as much as the rest of you that North Carolina has gotten so much bad national and international press lately – recently the government of the United Kingdom even issued warnings to its travellers coming to North Carolina and Mississippi! Here at Midtown Magazine we preach peace, love and tolerance. Let’s hope North Carolina can come to its senses and stop alienating residents and the rest of the world. In the meantime, we’re keeping our chin up and offering up our “37 Picks for Summer” – a great

guide for locals and visitors alike. It is a snapshot of the many things to do in our fabulous city! Speaking of love and tolerance, when Marsha Gordon and her architect husband Louis Cherry built their modernist house in 2014 in Historic Oakwood, 99.9 percent of folks thought it was a really good thing. A fraction of a fraction of a percent didn’t approve and managed to create a huge legal hassle for the couple. In February 2016 the legal challenge was thankfully dismissed so the couple could get on with their lives. We asked to photograph the Cherry-designed home for one of this issue’s “Beautiful Homes of Raleigh”, and we know you’ll love the results! And lastly, nothing says supporting your community like buying local. Check out a smattering of items you can purchase and feel really good about keeping your dollars local in “Locally Made Things we Love”, whether it is beer brewed by NC State students (no really, for credit and everything!), lip balm or jewelry. Got an idea for a story? Give me a shout! Keeping the faith,

Sioux

Distribution Manager Joe Lizana 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.

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contents m ay / j u n e

2016

features

65 the faces of raleigh

Meet some of the leaders and behind-the-scenes brains of some of our local businesses in our firstever Places and Faces of Raleigh.

96 beautiful homes of raleigh

It’s our sanctuary from the rest of the world. The place where we spend time with the people we love the most. Come along with us as we go beyond peeking in the windows and step inside a few of Raleigh’s beautiful homes.

124 locally made things we love

The best part of shopping locally might be discovering that your newest favorite product is made right in the neighborhood.

stop! hammock time 132

Raleigh’s Sluice Hammocks, owned and run by Kemp Dunbar, is delivering homegrown relaxation.

SOCIAL SLEUTHING 136

Digital detectives help solve their own crimes by way of social media.

37 picks for summer

37 things to do and see in the Capital City this summer. Keep our curated list handy when you are feeling adventuresome. How many stops can you squeeze in in one day?

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contents m ay / j u n e

2016

departments 24 on the scene 34 bainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beat 38 beauty style 40 beer & barrel 42 close to home 44 financial focus 46 giving back 48 raising the bar 50 sunday supper 54 the interview 58 whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s app? 60 wine review 62 your home (vibrant) 164 healthy you 185 out & about 194 everyday places

158

midtown downtown 22 | midtownmag.com

The scene

taste

All Wheat and No Chaff The Best Bread in Raleigh Takes Attention to Detail to New Levels By Steven Major I have often found myself driving home and making a detour to grab a loaf of seeded rye, a cup of coffee and a pastry for the next morning. The pastry never survives that long. Situated at the edge of Boylan Heights, a few blocks west of the Red Hat Amphitheater, Boulted Bread produces some of the finest breads and pastries in Raleigh. Fulton Forde, Joshua Bellamy and Sam Kirkpatrick brought their love of craft baked goods to Raleigh in August of 2014. Combining experiences from the New England Culinary Institute, The Farm and Sparrow bakery in Candler, and Asheville landmarks Curate and High Five Coffee, they have created a unique local bakery that is sure to become a Raleigh institution. The name Boulted is taken from the post-milling process of sifting the flour so that the desired portions are retained and second-rate portions are removed. It fits perfectly. In everything they do, one gets the sense that the extraneous and sub-par have been removed, leaving only what is truly great. The building and interior are unassuming but cozy. A small garden with picnic tables rests against one exterior wall, with a few small tables and a counter inside. The grain mill that Fulton constructed himself is displayed prominently in the front of the bakery and is worth admiring – the stone and metal construct is as attractive as it is functional. A bakery that mills its own grain is rare; using a mill that you made yourself is even rarer. This is the essence of the bakery – attention to detail and a focus on quality at all levels of production. Grains are selected carefully and, when possible, sourced locally. The Seeded Rye is made using organic Wrens Abruzzi, which has been grown in NC since colonial times. The Levain and Baguette are made using a heritage wheat called Turkey Red. A focus on local, quality ingredients extends to the pastries also. The tart with Boxcarr’s campo cheese, honey and red pepper is delicious – the pastry flakes perfectly, the cheese adds a creamy and ever-so-slightly sharp flavor while the pepper and honey play off of each other perfectly. The tartine with local tomatoes is a seasonal favorite and is perfect for warm summer mornings. Stop in for a loaf of bread, sit and enjoy a pastry with some coffee, and you’ll be coming back again. 24 | midtownmag.com

photograph courtesy of boulted bread

The scene

TECH

Owners will be able to snap batteries, speakers, and other modules into place at their whim.

Some Assembly Desired Project Ara Promises Modular Smartphones By Dan Bain Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects group hopes to redefine the mobile market this year with Project Ara, an initiative to develop a highly customizable smartphone. The project relies on an open hardware platform that will include an endoskeleton designed to hold whatever smartphone modules the owner chooses. In other words, consumers will be able to buy a barebones model of a smartphone, then swap out various functional parts. Want a smaller camera and a bigger speaker? Buy them à la carte from a Google-run hardware store, and snap them into place. Need more time between charges? Add a battery. Have a broken display? Buy a new one and slide it into place yourself rather than dropping your phone off for lengthy, expensive repairs. The possibilities are limitless. The company plans to sell a starter kit – the frame, display, battery, and low-end Android-based processor and WiFi – for $50, so customers can pay only for what they want on their phones. Original plans were to release a pilot in Puerto Rico in 2015, but difficulties pushed the expected release back to this year. Google also plans to release it in test markets in a few US locations later in the year. Follow @ProjectAra on Twitter for updates.

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Replacing a broken display promises to be an easy do-it-yourself job.

The scene

style

photograph courtesy of holly aiken

Doubled-Crossed Go hands-free with crossbody bags for day and night By Karlie Justus Marlowe Looking for the comfort of a tote and the style of a clutch? “The crossbody is a great hands-free option that is a little more chic than the traditional messenger bag,” says Holly Aiken, the Raleigh handbag designer whose East Hargett Street store Stitch pioneered retail shopping in downtown Raleigh. “It’s perfect for traveling, assisting with kids and attending festivals, and it suits women of any age.” The bag may only have room for a wallet, keys, phone and lipstick, but what it lacks in room it makes up for with convenience. During the day, its hands-off approach allows for easy wrangling of groceries and laptops. At night, the style makes juggling cocktails and socializing a breeze. Aiken’s eponymous line of bags ranges in sizes and bold, graphic patterns –“Anyone who is open to something a little retro with a clean modern design might be drawn to them,” she notes – but always includes crossbody staples. “The Beacon bucket bag and Piper Mini zip-top messenger are our two newest additions,” says Aiken, who also points to adjustable straps as a crossbody must-have. “The Auxiliary crossbody and Auxiliary Jr mini crossbody are two styles our customers have come to love. Both feature toggle closures and an easy-access back pocket perfect for keys or a phone.” In the Triangle, crossbody bags are popping up at nearly every clothing boutique and price point. Monkee’s carries Rebecca Minkoff’s popular Mini M.A.C. style, as well as the line’s

photograph courtesy of holly aiken

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Bucket-style crossbody bags are hot for spring and summer, like Aiken’s roomy Beacon Atomic design.

Aiken’s Auxiliary Jr. Moto is just 8.5 inches wide, but its easy-access back pocket keeps your phone within reach.

new fringed Finn Crossbody. On Oberlin Road, Vestique’s youngerleaning selection always has a rotation of fold-over and bucket-bag styles, while North Hills’ Vermillion has buttery-soft leather styles from Chloé. And like the versatile crossbody style, Aiken’s line is about to get a lot more customizable. “This year we are going to focus more on the wholesale side of the business and work on a wider distribution through retail boutiques,” she says. “We are also undergoing a complete overhaul of our custom bag design application. By the end of the summer, the customer will be able to visit our website and personally design any bag we have in production.”

The scene

arts

Two views of the space at Raleigh Arts Collective

photograph courtesy of raleigh arts collective

Raleigh Arts Collective A Maker Space for Everyone By David Fellerath If you’re driving past Meredith College some night way after midnight, you might not expect to hear much besides a handful of cars and a dwindling party or two. But this winter, there would have been a fair chance that you heard the sounds of table saws and laser cutters. If, on a similar night in the future, you investigate the source, you’ll find the industrious racket emanating from the 5,000 square foot warehouse on Royal Street. This is the home of the Raleigh Arts Collective, where approximately 40 member-artists ply their trade. The Raleigh Arts Collective (or RAC, pronounced “rack”) is an important addition to the creative community. “The idea is to provide a space that has an inventory of tools and equipment so people can come 30 | midtownmag.com

in and turn their ideas into reality,” says Hatch Perry, one of the space’s co-founders. Perry is a builder with experience in fabrication, and he runs the space along with primary partners Matthew Willoughby, Aaron Burkhart and Ryan Robinson. Today, RAC is home to artisans who pursue their muses in a range of media. The tools available include laser cutters, glass blowers, a ceramic oven, torches and welders, sandblasting equipment and a 100 square foot paint booth. Perry says the members are “split down the middle” between those who pursue primarily artistic objectives and those who have more commercial inclinations. In the latter category is an upcoming project that will see an Airstream trailer converted into a mobile clothing store. The space is so new that regular

visiting hours have not been set, Perry says. For a time, there were open hours for the public, but that ceased during the winter for a big project: the construction of a Betabox, a mobile 3D printing facility. Perry says a crew of about 15 worked around the clock to build the Betabox for the St. Louisbased startup BetaVersity. Perry says he and his partners hope to collaborate with nearby businesses Lucky Tree coffee shop and Raleigh Brewing Company to hold a monthly open house that they’ll dub Third Thursday. But before such public events can move forward, they’ll have to resolve code issues with the city. In the meantime, there is room for more members, Perry says. The Raleigh Arts Collective is located at 500 Royal Street. Visit raleighartscollective.com.

photograph by Michael Robson, Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance

The scene

sports

More Than A Pitch Away

Locals, northern transplants stuck rooting for “home” teams By Dave Droschak For years, baseball fans in the Triangle rooted for the Atlanta Braves or Baltimore Orioles – the two closest teams – but, more recently, a flood of transplants from northern states have remained loyal to teams they grew up with. And while Major League Baseball will play a regular season game at Fort Bragg on July 3rd, and the Tar Heel state is home to nine minor league clubs – including the famous Durham Bulls franchise – there appears to be little hope that the highest level of professional baseball will land in the Triangle anytime soon. MLB produced a list of potential expansion cities last year, and while Charlotte made the short list, the Triangle area did not, despite the fact that it has grown its population base by 12 percent in the last five years. “No one would like to see Major League Baseball in this market more than me,” said Scott Dupree, the executive director of the Greater Raleigh 32 | midtownmag.com

Sports Alliance. “But there are some large hurdles in the way.” Those hurdles would include land identification, the enormous cost of a stadium, and ownership. “Those are all big issues that to my knowledge haven’t even been discussed in this market. Those are issues that could take years to address,” Dupree said. “I believe Major League Baseball could be successful in this market in terms of per-game attendance; I really believe in this market and the ability to bring in 30,000 fans per night at the gate,” he added. “Now, I am not so confident that a MLB franchise in this market could be as successful as it relates to corporate support, sponsorships and suite sales. Most franchises consider that source of revenue to be more important than attendance. I just don’t know if this market could support another major league franchise at this point.” The NHL Carolina Hurricanes have

been in North Carolina for more than 15 years now, and have recently suffered a downturn in attendance and corporate support after missing the playoffs for a seventh straight season. And while the Triangle has the 25th ranked TV market in the country, which appears to be attractive, other locations would certainly get first looks, such as NFL cities that don’t currently have Major League Baseball teams, including Charlotte, Buffalo, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Florida, Nashville and New Orleans. “And we’re a very unique market with UNC, NC State and Duke, which are the highest level of college sports – and in terms of attendance, sponsorships and media coverage – are treated like Major League franchises,” Dupree said. “That’s why the Triangle is so incredibly unique.” And still without a Major League Baseball team to call our own.

bain’s beat

Skiver’s License Life in the Slow Lane

by Dan bain, Subsidizing Driver, danbain07@gmail.com

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During this issue’s publication cycle, my older son will turn 15. As if the years alone aren’t a bitter enough pill to swallow, this age comes with a frightening privilege – driverhood. Technically, he could have started down that road at age 14 and six months, when he was eligible for driver’s education. Fortunately, his school did a poor job of communicating this information to his parents, and we failed to enroll him in said class. Probably not the last mistake we’ll make in the process of getting him licensed to drive. It’s a particularly convoluted one, which I believe is intended as a stall tactic. The longer it takes a kid to understand the process, the longer it will be before that kid is a hazard to the rest of us. (And the longer it will be before my insurance premium doubles.) They call it “graduated licensing,” probably because it takes a graduate degree to understand it. But the gist is, if you’re between 15 and 18, you have to go through several provisional levels before you can have your regular driver’s license. The first is the limited learner’s permit.

According to the North Carolina Driver’s Handbook, the limited learner’s permit is the first step for those who “have completed an approved driver education course that meets North Carolina requirements and can present a driving eligibility certificate (issued by the public school system), or a high school diploma or its equivalent.” Right away, they’re set up for failure, because they’re relying on the public school system to communicate with the DMV – coordination between two separate government institutions is probably the biggest roadblock any would-be driver will ever experience. The driving eligibility certificate verifies that the applicant is still in school. How that makes a kid eligible to drive, I don’t know. Maybe when you’re switching lanes, it helps to know algebra, or parallel parking requires extensive use of social studies. Whatever the case, the licensing laws place a lot of value on education – not necessarily a bad thing, but I’m not sure the DMV needs to be nosing around in that aspect of someone’s life. They even have a rule that if a kid gets suspended for more than 10 days, or drops out

completely, that kid would lose their license until age 18. Does it make any sense to force our dropouts to stay right where they are? Don’t we want them to be able to drive, so they can maybe get a job and become productive – or better yet, leave our state? What’s the point in keeping them stationary – are we hoping all of our dropouts will stay right here, grow up, and join the legislature? Regardless, an applicant must also have passed driver’s education, with at least 30 hours of classroom instruction and six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction. So the DMV insists they not flunk out of school, but distracts them from their academic studies for 36 hours. Heartless. An applicant must then pass a written test, a vision test, and a sign test. For the latter, they must identify traffic signs by color and shape only, i.e., with all words removed. In other words, despite insisting that applicants graduate high school, the DMV is pandering to the illiterate. Also, when applying for their learner’s permit, one has to present three documents proving their identity. This is absurd. I can get a loan to buy a car with fewer than three documents. Which is a good thing, as I’d be hardpressed to find three documents proving my identity; I can’t imagine how a 15-year-old kid would do so. One of the documents must provide proof of age. The DMV website provides a list of acceptable documents. Bear in mind, this is from their page entitled “Your First License.” One of the documents on their list? A previous license. I think we have a disconnect. The third document must prove the applicant has a social security number. Again, what does this have to do with driving? If it’s to ensure we don’t give licenses to undocumented aliens, have we really thought this through? Someone has snuck into our country, so they ostensibly understand little about our culture. Are we sure we want to prevent them from learning the proper way to drive here? Nope, let’s keep them out of the DMV, so they learn to drive from their scofflaw uncle and start driving without liability insurance. Because that makes sense. Upon presenting the documents and passing the tests, an applicant receives their level one permit, and is now allowed to drive between 5am and 9pm, while accompanied by a supervising driver. I suppose they don’t midtownmag.com | 35

want a new driver attempting to drive in darkness, which in winter, descends about four hours before 9pm. Maybe it’s just to ensure new drivers practice only during the times the roads are the most crowded, thereby increasing their risk of an accident. But a driver won’t have to think about it for too long, because the time restriction drops after six months. A driver must have their limited learner’s permit for a minimum of 12 months before moving to the next level. During that time, s/he must keep a log of at least 60 hours of driving experience (10 hours at night), signed by their supervising driver. The website also says new drivers aren’t allowed to text while driving, which is a relief. I’m glad new drivers are expected to follow the same statewide laws the rest of us have to follow. The next step is the level two limited provisional license. The Handbook says a driver must be at least 16. This should be obvious, because they have to be at least 15 to get their learner’s permit, which they have to have for at least a year before graduating to level two. Basic arithmetic makes this deduction easy, yet the handbook spells it out – almost as if dropouts were reading it, which should never be the case. The kid must also have had no driving convictions for the previous six months, and must pass a road test. At this point, they can drive without supervision from 5am to 9pm, and must log 12 hours of experience – again, as confirmed by the supervising driver. This makes no sense, as a supervising driver can’t possibly know how much the kid has driven without supervision. The DMV won’t take a kid’s word for it, so they ask the supervising driver to confirm – by taking the kid’s word for it. There are other restrictions at this point – most notably, only one passenger can be younger than 21 when the driver is only a level two. I actually understand this rule, and I wish the DMV would set similar conditions when I’m driving. If a kid has had their level two for at least six months, and has had no driving convictions for the most recent six months, the next step is the level three full provisional license. There are no more logs, nor restrictions on the time of day the license-holder may drive. They are, however, still expected to obey all driving laws. Bummer. 36 | midtownmag.com

beautystyle Kenalog

Cryotherapy This anti-inflammatory and antibacterial freezing procedure increases the rate of cellular turnover and leaves skin feeling cool and tight. Cryotherapy is a great procedure post-peel, after extractions, or to spot treat trouble areas. What sounds like crunchy ice is liquid nitrogen or solid carbon dioxide doing its magic. >>$20-$30 per treatment

When in a bind, you may be able to “zap” a spot with a Kenalog injection. Kenalog is triamcinolone, a corticosteroid which immediately helps reduce inflammation. While this is a great cure for cysts that can’t be extracted, Kenalog is not recommended for regular treatment, and should only be used on cystic acne lesions. Be sure to find a credible provider for your Kenalog injections. >>$15-$30 per injection

Breakthroughs for Breakouts! Show acne who’s the boss

You can’t escape it! Acne doesn’t discriminate – whether you’re a squeaky teen or distinguished CEO, you’re bound to battle breakouts. Statistically, 54 percent of women over age 25 have some form of facial acne, according to the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology. Fortunately, there are many products and treatments on the market that target acne and anti-aging, all in one. Based on my extensive experience with the latest advances in acne treatments, here’s what I recommend... by anna churchill, Synergy Spa, Aesthetics & Wellness, feelsynergy.com

Avène TriAcnéal Day and Night Moisturizers This newest pair from Avène is all the rage for keeping breakouts at bay. The daily mattifying moisturizer helps reduce excess sebum, smooths skin complexion and hydrates. The nighttime moisturizer has a light amount of Retinol (one of my superpower skin care ingredients) and minimizes the appearance of blemishes and residual scarring. Even better, these non-irritating formulas can be used alone or in combination with other acne treatments. >>$55-$60 38 | midtownmag.com

Laser Light Therapy Advancement in laser technology has significantly increased treatment for acne, with very little to almost no downtime. Blue light therapy is a mild but effective treatment for killing the type of bacteria that causes redness and swelling with acne. Clear and Brilliant is a moderate laser treatment that forces the skin to produce new collagen by creating micro-indentions that trick the skin into thinking it needs to repair from injury, forming new, clear skin. Halo by Sciton is a more aggressive combination of ablative and non-ablative wavelengths that not only helps with pigmentation left behind from acne lesions, but also shrinks pore size and lessens the appearance of acne scarring. >>Prices vary and several sessions may be required.

Synergy Clarifying Pads This isn’t a shameless plug, but my own skin care line features one of the most powerful ingredients for battling the bacteria that causes and perpetuates acne. These pads contain mandelic acid, which is a wonderful antibacterial ingredient derived from almonds, and is effective on various skin types. Apply a pad on clear, dry skin daily for best outcome. Results will be undeniable, as mandelic acid is a great exfoliant and promotes cellular turnover. >>$70 for container of 60 pads, Synergy Spa

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beer& barrel photograph courtesy of Farm Boy Farms

All About The Hops North Carolina Hops and Fresh Hop Beers By julie johnson

Three ingredients are essential to making beer: malted barley, water, and yeast. But one ingredient is essential to making beer tasty: hops. Hops provide a balancing zing to what would otherwise be a sweet stew of fermented barley juice. They add aromatic notes that range from bitter to piney to citrus; hops are also a preservative. Hops became the brewer’s spice of choice about four centuries ago. The plant – it’s a bine, not a vine, but to my eye, it’s still a long, leggy plant that climbs up a trellis – grows best around the 48th parallel, either north or south. Germany, southern England, our Pacific Northwest and New Zealand are among the prime hop-growing zones. Although North Carolina is not a natural location, researchers at NC State and collaborating universities have been developing varieties that might thrive here. Efforts underway since 2010 have identified about 10 varieties that show promise. “Hops production is in its infancy in the Southeast,” according to Jeanine Davis, Associate Professor of Horticultural Science at NC State. “Our

Newly-picked hop cones added during the brewing process produce a beer that is fresh and aromatic.

yields here are very low compared to up north, because hops are sensitive to day length and we are really too far south for current commercial varieties to perform well.” Despite these challenges, the popularity of locally-produced beers brewed from local ingredients is sufficient to assure NC hop farmers a market. And their ultimate advantage is the popularity of “fresh” or “wet-hopped” beers, brewed with flowering hop cones straight from the field, for beers that are bright, earthy and grassy. Dan Gridley of Farm Boy Farms sells his entire hop crop to Triangle breweries. “In the middle of July, I select a harvest date and inform the brewers. Fermenter space is made available and a brew day is set. Fresh wet hops, once harvested, need to be used in the brewing process within 48 hours, as their brewing quality deteriorates quickly.” This year, Gridley’s hops will be featured in wet hop beers at four local breweries: Crank Arm, Regulator, the new Pittsboro

photograph courtesy of Jeanine Davis

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Experimental hop fields have allowed NCSU researchers to identify hop varieties suited to North Carolina’s day length.

Brewing Company, and Neuse River. Crank Arm’s brewmaster, Mike Morris, will use Cascade, Centennial and Nugget hops to brew Wet Road Pale Ale. He explains: “This nice, light pale ale allows these hops to shine. Mother Nature only lets us do this beer once a year, so get it while it lasts.” Look for Wet Road in Crank Arm’s taprooms and select draft accounts. At Fullsteam Brewery in Durham, head brewer Brian Mandeville is planning on brewing a 100 percent NC bière de miel, a Belgian style honey beer, with North Carolina grain, yeast, water, honey and hops. The timing is tricky – “hop bines can be very fickle plants,” he explains. “We will be serving this beer at our tavern and also distributing it locally.”

In Saxapahaw, Ben Woodward, co-owner of Haw River Farmhouse Ales, anticipates brewing a wet-hop version of Newlin’s Original, their year-round Belgian oatmeal pale. “Assuming we’re able to source the volume we’d need (200-250 pounds, since fresh hop flowers are mostly water-weight), we should be able to plan a full turn on our production system, which would allow us to produce a full 20-barrel batch that’d head into kegs for wholesale customers throughout North Carolina.” The hop harvest usually falls in mid to late summer, with the beers to follow after a few weeks. Beer lovers who want to experience this freshest of beers will have to act fast once the kegs are tapped: once they’re gone, that’s it for this year.

SANDLIN FAMILY LAW GROUP

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close tohome

Trinity Baptist Church

A community within a community By carol wills photography By colburn collective

From the outside, the first thing you notice about Trinity Baptist Church is its size. The buildings are large and spread out, with plenty of parking space around them. From the inside, the first thing you notice is the light from all the windows. Then you notice the friendly faces, the smiles of the office staff as they greet you. Trinity is a church that has truly earned its description as a community within a community. Founded in 1956 in an old school building long since demolished, Trinity has grown tremendously since its beginning. “People ask why the church wasn’t named ‘North Hills Baptist Church’,” says the senior pastor, Dr. Jeff Roberts, laughing. “The truth is the church was founded before there was a North Hills.” From that beginning, the church has developed wonderfully in its capacity for mission. With a membership of 2,400 people, Trinity is always seeking to help people in Midtown and throughout the world. Besides providing the community with a Recreation Outreach Center, a walking track and space for community meetings, it hosts the Sanderson High School senior breakfast (in the fall) and its baccalaureate (in the spring). In addition, Trinity maintains a 20-year commitment to McCreary County, Kentucky – helping people in that area with needed construction, sponsoring Vacation Bible School for the children, and donating clothes to the thrift store. They also contribute to the Santa Elena Primary School in Belize and make frequent medical mission trips to Ukraine to minister to the needs of the Roma people. 42 | midtownmag.com

Dr. G. Jeffery Roberts is the Senior Pastor at Trinity Baptist Church in Raleigh.

Trinity is one of the six churches who are founding members of the North Raleigh Ministries, which is located at 9650 Strickland Road, Suite 161 (call 919.844.6676 for days and hours when they’re open). Many other churches have since joined in this effort to provide a center for crisis help for North Raleigh residents, which may include help with food, medical expenses, rent and utility bills, Backpack Buddies (sending food home with children who may not have food at home over the weekends) and even help applying for and securing steady employment. North Raleigh Ministries supports five schools and 100 children each week through the Backpack Buddies program. As Pastor Roberts notes, “We are trying to use a more holistic approach in helping people – that is, to get to the heart of their situation and to help them get back on their feet.” Trinity is one of the founding sites for Jobs For

The Recreation Outreach Center provides a space for play that is safe and welcoming to the whole community.

The sanctuary at Trinity serves an intergenerational congregation that values fellowship and missions as well as worship.

Life in Raleigh and is part of a worldwide ministry. Jobs for Life class provides students with work-readiness skills including resume writing, interviewing, and developing a vocational plan. Jobs for Life classes will be offered in late spring and early summer. Check the Jobs for Life website (jobsforlife.org) for details about upcoming classes. And in the fall and spring, Trinity joins thousands of other churches across the US in “a revolution of Christian compassion.” Operation In As Much is a one-day mission blitz into Raleigh, Wake County and the surrounding area in which church members go into the community and offer whatever help is needed. Some of their recent projects included light construction repairs, making homemade soups for residents of retirement homes, gleaning fruits and vegetables from local farmers’ fields, bottom one and putting together hygiene kits from donated items and has white “bgood” delivering them to homeless people downtown. They also do wheelchair ramp construction on homes designated through Resources for Seniors. MIDTOWN PARK AT NORTH HILLS Raleigh, NC (I-440 at Six Forks Road) Ť 919-916-5410 Ť BGOOD.COM When disaster strikes in the form of weather-related incidents, the church members may volunteer as Disaster Where Our Real Food Comes From Relief teams (in partnership with the Red Cross) to offer HARVEST KALE - $8.49 marinated kale, brussels short-term and long-term responses to sprouts, thosemanchego whose lives Ice Cream & Milk Seasonal Produce cheese, sunflower seeds, beets, Vollmer Farm, Bunn Maple View Farm, Hillsborough vinaigrette have been affected. This may take the garbanzos, form ofsherry removing CHICKEN CAESAR - $8.99 romaine, parmesan, trees and debris from dwellings, placing tarps on leaking homemade croutons, lemon-caesar dressing roofs, providing clean water and dry clothing, and medical SOUTHWESTERN CHICKEN - $8.99 mesclun, avocado, tomatoes, black beans, toasted corn, Raleigh assistance. Disaster Recovery continues longcorn, after Relief chipotle puree, balsamic vinaigrette has finished, to help families rebuild their homes and lives. ROASTED BUTTERNUT - $8.49 baby spinach, Beef Harris-Robinette Every September, Trinity Baptist members don their butternut squash, sharp cheddar, apples, tamari Pinetops pomegranates, maple-mustard vinaigrette running shoes to take part in the Northalmonds, Raleigh 5K. This CITRUS & AVOCADO - $8.49 red leaf lettuce, Cheese Bread fun run raises money for Backpack Buddies. And its Sweet Potatoes The Bread Shop Ashe County Cheese orange, grapefruit, avocado, pistachios, goat cheese, West Jefferson Burch Farms, Faison Pittsboro fennel, lemon-mint vinaigrette Upward Basketball Program gives church and community members a chance to meet in friendly competition. Theor bowl add to any salad for $1.29 season concludes with an Upward celebration * local eggnight. chicken or organic tofu for $2.79 * grilled The church has sponsored a weekday preschool for made as you pick BURGER OLIVER - $6.99 many years, as well as summer camps for children. Their * COUSIN all-natural, local, lettuce, tomato, onion, Chef Tony’s homemade pickles yearly Vacation Bible School will take place this year from grass-fed & house-ground Choose organic quinoa or our super grain mix SIDE - $7.49 * WEST June 7th-11th, from 6-8pm. And it’s free. TURKEY BURGER SPICY AVOCADO & LIME - $9.99 kale, sauteed avocado, cilantro, fresh salsa, chipotle puree, lime natural & hand-formed veggies, avocado, fresco, black beans, corn, grape Trinity Baptist Church meets for worship on queso Sundays $7.49 DOWNTOWN RALEIGH tomato, lime, cilantro, chipotle purée, red pepper * BUFFALO -blue VEGGIE BURGER cheese, marinated carrots, shaved celery at 8:45am and 10:55am, featuring a 90-member choir AT CITY PLAZA! buffalo sauce, vinaigrette MIDTOWN PARK AT NORTH HILLS homemade & vegan 555 Fayetteville StreetEL GUAPO - $7.49 NC (I-440 at Six Forks Road) and orchestra. There are ministries for POWER all ages. More RALEIGH, BOWL - $9.99 kale, local egg, super* CHICKEN bacon, homemade jalapeño slaw, jalapeño ranch grains, lentils, carrots, brussels sprouts, shiitake 919.803.3233 919.916.5410 • BGOOD.COM information at tbcraleigh.com. SANDWICH

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financial focus

Financial Planning at Every Life Stage By Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc

Just like there are four seasons in a year, there are different seasons of financial planning during your lifetime. Financial planning can help you can gain a better understanding of where you are at financially, how to prepare for challenges that may be ahead, and how to plan for where you want to go. Of course, every situation is unique, including the age and circumstances under which you begin implementing a financial strategy. And what suits you at age 25 is typically different from what meets your needs at age 55. In a nutshell, the stages include: •

Building assets At the beginning of your career, your financial focus is typically on accumulating your assets. Your ability to earn income may be your most valuable asset, so investing in your career is critical. It’s also important to establish an

44 | midtownmag.com

emergency fund, build your personal savings and pay off student loans. •

Investing for the future When you grow more successful financially, you will increase your discretionary income. During this stage, you’ll start planning and saving for future goals, such as a child’s college education and/or a comfortable retirement. Make sure you have a well-balanced and tax-diversified portfolio to provide potential growth opportunities. • Planning for retirement As you near retirement, planning for it often becomes your financial priority. Begin by thinking about your retirement goals and dreams. Then, create a detailed plan that will help you get there. You’ll want to make sure you have the flexibility to take income in tax-efficient ways that will enable you to continue your lifestyle

and be prepared for the unexpected in retirement. •

Generating retirement income Once it’s time to enter retirement, begin implementing your retirement plan and enjoying the assets you’ve accumulated. After a few months, reevaluate your plan and make adjustments so you stay on track.

•

Leaving a legacy As you become older and more financially secure, leaving a legacy becomes paramount. Legacy is about the impact you’ll make on people, charities and causes that are important you. It’s also about making sure you have the right beneficiaries in place to protect your assets.

Of course, there is some overlap in each of these stages. For example, you may take steps to get the right protection in place while laying a foundation to grow your assets. Or you may take retirement income while planning ways to transfer your wealth. Regardless of the stage you’re in, it’s important to make sure that your legal and financial documents are properly structured to ensure the most efficient and effective transfer of your assets – including property, personal belongings and investments – in the event of your death. Doing so can give you the added peace of mind that comes from knowing your family is financially stable; no matter what happens. James M. Richardson, CFP®, ChFC®, APMA®, is a Private Wealth Advisor and Certified Financial Planner™ practitioner in Raleigh, NC with Richardson, Carrington, Weaver & Associates, a private wealth advisor y practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc . He specializes in fee-based financial planning and asset management strategies and has been in practice for 25 years. To contact him at www. jamesrichardsonadvisor.com or (919) 874-0024, ext. 101 (office located at 3720 Benson Drive, Raleigh, NC 27609). Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates do not offer tax or legal advice. Consumers should consult with their tax advisor or attorney regarding their specific situation. Investment advisory products and services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., a registered investment adviser. © 2015 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. File # 1360342

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giving back

The Lucy Daniels Center

Supporting Emotionally Healthy Children By carol wills photography By matt williams photography

The Lucy Daniels Center, which is located in a beautiful wooded area off Weston Parkway in Cary, is the Triangle’s largest nonprofit provider of mental health services for children. Named for its cofounder, Lucy Daniels, granddaughter and daughter of editors/publishers of The Raleigh News and Observer, the Center has reached thousands of children and their families through workshops and other resources. Dr. Daniels, who currently maintains a private practice in psychoanalysis in Raleigh, has written a number of books, including a memoir published in 2002 titled With a Woman’s Voice: A Writer’s Struggle for Freedom. In it she tells about experiencing a difficult and lonely childhood, and later on, as a young woman, spending several years in hospital treatment for anorexia nervosa. These early health and mental issues sensitized her to the plight of young children who need special care and guidance to help them adjust to daily life and achieve their full potential. The Lucy Daniels Center, which remains under the guidance of Dr. Daniels’ colleague and cofounder, Dr. Don Rosenblitt, now serves about 700 families and children each year. Some of these children attend the Lucy Daniels School, which has classes for preschool to third grade. These children are experiencing mental and emotional challenges and need an intensely personal and therapeutic classroom setting. Currently there are 33 children enrolled. The Center’s mission is to help 46 | midtownmag.com

The Center’s Therapeutic Teaching Garden is maintained and used by parents, children and teachers.

these children live emotionally healthy lives through in-depth evaluation and treatment, family involvement and education. Besides the school, the Lucy Daniels Center offers SecurePath, a crisis-prevention outreach program for children in their home or child care setting. Therapy, in partnership with Wake County SmartStart, is offered in both English and Spanish. The Center also provides the Family Guidance Service (FGS), where therapists see children and families on the Center’s campus. Many of these are referred to the Center by pediatricians, teachers and school guidance counselors. Ellen Fort serves as the Director of Development and Communications for the Center, which is a 501 (3) (c) tax-exempt, nonprofit, charitable organization. Ellen Fort is the Director of Fort is enthusiastic about Development and Communications the many ways the Center for the Center. provides services to needy

Children’s artwork lines the walls of the Center, brightening the space for all who visit.

children regardless of their family’s ability to pay. In keeping with their commitment to serve all children regardless of family income, the Center provides nearly $300,000 annually in financial support to families receiving their services. “Approximately 70 percent of these families pay less than the actual cost of the Center’s services, and one in six receives services for free,” says Fort. She emphasizes that early intervention is critical. “The earlier you work with a child who is struggling with challenges like grief, loss, trauma or anxiety, the better chance of success,” says Fort. Lucy Daniels Center’s LDC 4 Early Success offers informative and educational programs to the public, including Lucy’s Link, which sends child-development specialists to preschools and child care centers to assess a child’s behavior and train teachers and parents on how to cope. Early Success also includes First Friends, an eight-week program and twoweek summer camp for children focused on helping them to develop social skills; Lucy’s Book Club, which provides free appropriate reading material stressing positive emotional and social skills to area child care centers; and finally, free parent guidance workshops offering trained educators and therapists on different subjects such as separation anxiety, eating issues and other problems. The Center receives financial support from a combination of foundation and government grants, corporate gifts, school tuition and insurance reimbursements. The Center also encourages individual and business support through two major fundraisers. The upcoming 5k Walk/Run for Children’s Mental Health will take place on Saturday, June 11th, beginning and ending at 9003 Weston Parkway in Cary. Runners will begin at 7:30am, walkers at 8am. There will be music, family activities, and prizes in each age group. If you’d like to participate, you may register at app.racereach.com/r/the-inside-out-5k-run-walk/ register. The cost is $30 for early birds and $35 after June 6th. On Sunday, October 23rd, the Center will hold its 2016 Expressions Gala celebrating food and art. The site is The Umstead Hotel & Spa in Cary, which along with WTVD/ABC 11 will be one of the major sponsors. The featured artist will be Master Potter Ben Owen III. Mike Lata, the James Beard Awardwinning chef of FIG and The Ordinary in Charleston, will be the guest chef. The Umstead’s executive chef, Steven Devereaux Greene, will lead the chef team. Proceeds from the dinner and live auction will go to the Center’s Family Support Fund. Check the Lucy Daniels Center’s website at lucydanielscenter.org for further details. midtownmag.com | 47

raising thebar

Employer Responsible? we’ve got answers to your legal questions

My wife met another man at work and is leaving me for him. I had a good marriage until this man destroyed it. Do I have any legal recourse against the man who has ruined my life?

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.

48 | midtownmag.com

Yes. North Carolina is one of only a few states that continues to recognize civil claims against third parties for interference in a marriage. As such, you may have two claims against your wife’s paramour. A claim for “Alienation of Affection” is aimed at recovering damages from the person who has caused your marriage’s demise. A claim for “Criminal Conversation” is aimed at recovering damages from the person who engaged in sexual intercourse with your spouse without your consent. If you pursue a claim for Alienation of Affection against your wife’s paramour, you will have to prove that you had a marriage in which genuine love and affection existed, that the love and affection that existed was destroyed by paramour, that paramour’s conduct was the proximate cause of the marriage’s demise, and that you have been damaged as a result of paramour’s conduct. Note that paramour’s conduct does not have to be the sole cause of the alienation of your wife’s affection. Usually claims for Criminal Conversation and Alienation of Affection are filed together.

Now that my wife is leaving me for her co-worker, I have been reflecting on the business trips they took together. I think her employer bears some responsibility for my wife leaving me. Can I sue her employer for its role in my marriage’s destruction?

No, not anymore. In the past there had been the possibility of suing an employer under these kinds of circumstances in North Carolina, but the law has changed and such a claim is now barred by statute.

My husband’s high school girlfriend who lives in California reconnected with him on Facebook about a year ago. Since then, they have been communicating constantly on social media and by texts and emails. She has never been to North Carolina. He tells me that he loves her and wants a divorce. Can I sue her in North Carolina for Alienation of Affection? Probably. But the California girl will certainly claim that she cannot be sued in North Carolina since she has not been to North Carolina. Once she asserts such a claim, the North Carolina court will engage in a constitutional analysis of the fairness of allowing a suit to proceed against her in light of all the facts and circumstances. North Carolina courts have previously considered a similar matter and determined that electronic or cyber contacts with a North Carolina resident were enough to allow a lawsuit against a non-resident to proceed. It’s complicated.

My husband has been a total jerk for the last five years of our 20-year marriage. Can I sue him for alienating my affection? No. Alienation of Affection is a third party claim, which means that you cannot sue your husband for alienating your affection, no matter how much of a jerk he has been.

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sundaysupper

Fire and Your Belly grilling and chilling in style By paul savery photography By davies photography

The Kamado Grille restaurant takes its name from an ancient Asian-style grill called a kamado. Kamado Grille claims to be the only restaurant in the world cooking on kamado-style grills, and they are the stars of the show in an interior reminiscent of the outdoors with live olive trees, water features and over 1500 live plants. With 40 craft beers on tap, diners get the complete outdoor grilling experience. The culinary team, lead by Chief Culinary Officer Eric Gephart, is redefining what it means to grill. Located in the former Lucky 32 location (832 Springfield Commons Drive in North Raleigh), founders Tom Allen and Joe Dunn opened the doors of the highly anticipated Kamado Grille in May 2015. All of Kamado’s meat, seafood and vegetables are of superior quality, sourced ethically, and cared for all the way to the table. In addition to steaks, ribs and BBQ there are menu items such as crab cakes, roast oysters, reverse seared pork bomb, king wings, apple cake with salted caramel sauce, and chocolate and seasonal berry cobblers cooked on the ceramic, natural lump charcoal-fueled grills. Top-selling dishes include New Zealand lamb lollipops, sustainable salmon from the Danish Faroe Islands, Harris Ranch beef wrangled in by cowboys, and Cheshire pork from family friends just down the road in Goldsboro. Nearly every dish is grilled, smoked or baked on the kamado-style grills, and Gephart enthusiastically speaks about his joy with giving modern context to the fundamental elements of fire and smoke. Gephart, a human dynamo with a zealous passion for education and community, states through the restaurant’s Give program, “We are able to champion causes of our choosing, and my cause is to fight hunger. We have helped raise money for thousands of meals for those 50 | midtownmag.com

in need through our partnerships with Stop Hunger Now, Taste of the NFL, The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina and other great organizations.” On June 6th, Kamado will host an event with Chef Vivian Howard of A Chef’s Life and Chef Walter Royal of The Angus Barn. Together they will put on a cooking class and serve a collaborative meal that will help “Stop Summer Hunger”. In his early years, Gephart enjoyed the restaurant lifestyle of late nights and camaraderie with team members as an outlet for his energy and his search for a “Eureka!” moment to find a direction to go; he says the work is physically and mentally demanding and can consume you, but it can be very rewarding if handled with professionalism and care. When asked what he would convey to aspiring chefs, Gephart says, “Increase your listening skills, emotional intelligence and consistency. By focusing on the growth and success of those around us, we focus on our own growth and success. Everything matters and everything is connected.” Chef Gephart was raised in nearby Hillsborough; he then started on his career path at nearby UNCWilmington, where he completed his BA in literature and professional writing. He continued at the CIA in Hyde Park, New York, then went on to his first job in Auckland, New Zealand at the famed Harbourside. He returned to the US and worked in several restaurants in New York City and Naples, Florida. In 2008 he returned to Wrightsville Beach to open local favorite Buoy 32, and was named Best New Chef of Wilmington the same year. In 2009 Wilmington Magazine and Star News ranked him in the Top Five Chefs, and the following year Gephart was crowned the 2010 “Top Chef” by the same publications. He left Wilmington to help open The Chefs Academy, a fully accredited culinary school awarding degrees in both Culinary Arts and Baking and Pastry. While at the Academy, Tom Allen presented Gephart with the idea of Kamado Grille and discussed the giving nature of its purpose and aggressive growth plans. He jumped at the chance and feels he has assembled an excellent team at Kamado Grille, and above other considerations he says he hires people for their passion. “We created a people culture, not just another restaurant.” Gephart’s two young daughters, Hyland June and Valen Clare, enjoy playing in the garden and raising chickens, pigs and vegetables with his wife Jenny Gephart, an amazing gardener, farmer and mother. More times than not, they find themselves enjoying the grilling lifestyle while cooking the bounty from their garden. He adds at the end of our conversation a note to the home cook: “Remember, recipes are just guidelines. Be inventive and don’t forget to have fun.” Kamado Grille cooking classes are held Saturdays from 11am-noon; sign up at kamadogrille.com. midtownmag.com | 51

Salmon Beet Berry Salad with Gail’s Poppy Seed Dressing Serves 4

Ingredients 1 lb Scottish salmon (cut into four 4 oz pieces) 1 golden beet 1 red beet ½ pint blackberries 1 oz almonds, toasted 1 oz crumbled goat cheese ¼ oz dill ¼ oz mint 2 oz fennel, slice thin and grilled 3 heads romaine, chopped 1 bag mixed greens poppy seed dressing Directions Roast all of the beets, skin them and slice them one eigth of an inch thick. Slice and grill the fennel. Grill salmon to desired temperature, preferably medium rare. Pick all of the herbs and mix them in with the romaine; mix greens, toss with dressing and place in serving bowl. Top with almonds, beets, berries and goat cheese. Place the grilled Scottish Salmon atop the salad and enjoy. 52 | midtownmag.com

poppy seed dressing   3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar 2 Tbsp honey 1 Tbsp poppy seeds ½ cup olive oil pinch ground dry mustard salt and pepper to taste  Directions Combine the vinegar, honey, poppy seeds and ground mustard in a food processor. Process till smooth. Slowly incorporate the oil to form an emulsification. Season with salt and pepper.

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the interview

10 Questions With:

Frank Stasio

Thoughts of an accidental talk show host By corbie hill photography By davies photography

Frank Stasio never really wanted to work in radio. It just sort of happened. In college, he broadcast for a school station. That led to an internship, and soon he found himself with a resume that listed radio experience and very little else. He kept trying to quit – he can’t count the times he left a broadcast job – and kept getting hired back. “When I finally left NPR, I had to do something,” Stasio says. “People were calling me back because I had name recognition, saying, ‘Hey, can you fill in for our talk show host?’ Because I needed work, I said yes.” To his surprise, he loved it. Today, Stasio is the host of WUNC’s The State of Things, a popular North Carolina-centric show that broadcasts six days a week. In it, he has finally found the right application of his accidental career. “It was never anything I aspired to do,” Stasio says. “I never in my life considered the possibility.”

“

...life is always teaching lessons all the time...

“

54 | midtownmag.com

Midtown Magazine: If you could, would you travel forwards or backwards in time? Frank Stasio: Probably Rome in the rise of the Roman Empire. I’m curious about any time between, let’s say, 200 BC to about 300 AD. It would be a cool period to zip around in. The other period I’d like to live in is everything that was before the socalled Agricultural Revolution. They have a sense – and there’s pretty good evidence – that humans had bigger brains, that they were actually smarter and they were more capable. I’d like to see precisely how they organized themselves socially. There was probably a lot more egalitarianism among groups, and I think there’s some evidence that we were far less violent because we had not become accumulative beasts. I think that we have been domesticated by animals, we’ve become domesticated by domesticated animals. We’ve become domesticated by agricultural crops to be a more accumulative kind of people, and that has tended to

culturally make us more violent. I am curious to test that theory and the scant evidence that we have to find out what it was like to really roam around the earth when fight or flight was your only choice. I’ll bet people flew more often than they fought. I would love to go back to that period 40,000 to 50,000 years ago and see what we looked like before we settled down and began to accumulate things. MM: What is your earliest memory? FS: My earliest memory was bashing the family car at the age of four. I was pretending to drive the car and I flipped it into neutral, apparently. I was on a hill and it started rolling backwards and I realized I couldn’t drive, to be honest with you. I opened the door and rolled out. The door caught the fence on our driveway and that pretty much sprung the door. The worst of it was, my parents were just about to trade that car in for a new car. MM: Do you have a favorite podcast? It’s probably Radiolab or This American Life. FS: What was your favorite toy as a kid? I had a thing called a Vacuform. It would be illegal now, but you would heat up these sheets of plastic in a chamber that would be locked in with a perforated edge. They would lock into this chamber with a handle and then it heated to a certain temperature. On the other side would be a mold of something, and it would have a little air hole in it. You would flip this heated plastic over the mold and pump the

midtownmag.com | 55

vacuum that would draw the flexible plastic over this mold. Then it would cool, and you were actually making something. You made all these plastic toys and these Frankenstein beasts – you could take a piece of this and a piece of that and kind of jam them together. MM: What did you want to be when you grew up? FS: There was a brief time when I wanted to be a lawyer – you could talk, you could argue cases, you could persuade people. Then, later, I really wanted to be a priest. If that was the case, I would have to become a Jesuit to blend both of those professions. MM: If you could no longer do radio, what kind of job would you want? FS: I think charcuterie - making cured meats. That and songwriting. There are actually a lot of salamimaking songwriters in the country, they just don’t get the right coverage... MM: What is the kind of music that would be played at your funeral? FS: The blues, and not because it’s sad, but because it’s happy. MM: When are you at your happiest? FS: When I’m doing the show and when I’m with my grandchildren and family. MM: Who would play you in a movie of your life? FS: I think it would have to be somebody who I could resurrect in his prime - I think it would have to be James Garner. James Garner in his prime would have to play me. MM: What superpower would you have? FS: Let’s say flight. MM: What is the most important lesson life has taught you? FS: It’s the fact that there is not a lesson, but that it is constantly teaching you. At some point, I have come to be open to the fact that life is always teaching lessons all the time, whether the thing that just happened appears to be a good thing or whether the thing that just happened appears to be a bad thing. For the most part, we are attracted to pleasure and repulsed by pain and suffering, right? If we keep trying to navigate between those two poles, then we’re not open to the lesson you are learning in all cases. If you don’t look at your existence as “how much pleasure can I accumulate?” and “how much pain can I avoid?” but rather, “how much can I learn from any experience, whatever it felt like at the moment?” then it’s kind of cool. What I have learned over time is that everything that happens is indeed a lesson, not a pain or a pleasure. Therefore, I should try to figure out what the lesson is and not pay so much attention to the pain or pleasure that appears to come with it.

56 | midtownmag.com

2016

DIAMOND

AWARD BEST FURNITURE SHOP

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what’s app?

Kids Can Manage Finances the top picks for may and june

Nickel • Free Trial

My Blend • Free

With Nickel, kids can learn to handle money responsibly: how to earn it, when to spend it, and how it can grow. Parents maintain oversight while children face everyday financial choices. Dinner out or a movie in? Play video games or wash the car? These decisions bring consequences and valuable lessons learned. Using the app, parents set up their family, and kids activate their Nickel Card. Nickel is free to try for two months. After that, it’s only $5 per child per month.

My Blend is a new lifestyle app dedicated to turning email newsletters, blogs and brand promotions into a personalized, curated, visually stunning magazine. This app will change the way you view and use email. My Blend brings together newsletters, promotions and blogs into one beautifully curated visual feed.

Quartz • Free

It’s an ongoing conversation about the news, sort of like texting. Quartz sends you messages, photos, GIFs and links, and you can decide when you’re interested in reading more. Each session lasts just a few minutes, so it’s perfect for the train, elevator, grocery store line, or wherever you have a spare moment. Medly • Free

Just pick your instruments and start drawing notes. Medly breaks up your song into Sections of 1, 2 or 4 bars. Sections are easily picked up, moved, deleted, copied and pasted. You can also create linked copies, effectively letting you quickly create loops. Manything • Free

Manything converts your spare iOS device into a sophisticated video monitoring camera in seconds. With live streaming, motion alerts and cloud recording, it’s the easy way to watch your home, business and pets when you’re away. No need to buy a camera. Watch your live streams, review motion events and remotely control your Manything cameras from anywhere. *Prices are subject to change.

58 | midtownmag.com

foodie • Free

The very app that pops into your mind when you’re faced with food. Select from over 26 filters (customized for taking food photos) that suit your style. You can even spice up your shots with the app’s professional editing features to make pictures that will catch everyone’s attention. Remente • Free

With Remente, you can reach your goals, take control of your life, balance it and increase your wellbeing. Remente helps you find out what’s important, and makes sure you do the stuff that matters. Set, track, reach goals and form good habits. Featuring courses, tools and advice on how to manage and improve your life. Letterboxd • Free

Letterboxd for iPhone puts the popular social network for film lovers right in your pocket, so you can log films and catch up on your friends’ activity with ease. Browse popular, highly rated and most anticipated films; log films with date, rating, review and tags; view film info (including cast & crew, popular lists and reviews) and rate, like, watchlist or mark as watched; view (and filter) your activity feed; view and comment on lists and reviews; view member profiles and follow their activity.

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wine review Chemin des Sables IGP Cotes Revees

Bellini Orvieto Classico

South of France, France Chemin des Sables offers freshness, lightness and delicious flavors. The wine has a beautiful pale pink color. This pleasurable wine is distinguished by its quality and its packaging. To be enjoyed chilled.

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy From the area of Orvieto that has the longest tradition of winemaking comes this inexpensive beauty. A light bouquet of citrus and a hint of sparkle make this wine the quintessential aperitif.

Fresh, Strawberry, Citrus, Light-bodied

Crisp, Citrus, Mineral, Light-bodied

999

99 Belvino Pinot Grigio Veneto, Italy A crisp, light- to medium-bodied Pinot Grigio that is full and rich. Presents fresh

ripe apple and pear aromas and flavors, with a hint of peach in the middle and elderflower on the finish. Crisp, Apple, Pear, Light-bodied

699

$ 87pts

Wine Spectator

Dune Gris de Gris

Conte Priola Pinot Grigio

South of France, France Fresh and creamy, with juicy white cherry and berry flavors, matched with floral and zesty undertones. Offers a finish tinged with savory herb and spice details.

Italy Crisp yet delicate, this dry, light-bodied wine has refreshing citrus flavors and represents an excellent value. Have it as an aperitif with light hors dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;oeuvres or with a seafood lunch or dinner.

Fresh, Grapefruit, Peach, Light-bodied

Crisp, Citrus, Apple, Light-bodied

999

BY michael gallo, CSW, Wine Manager â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Total Wine & More 60 | midtownmag.com

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your home

Vibrant

Chalk Painted Wingback Chair, $275 Distressed Wood Painted Wall Art, $45 Available at Affordable Chic Shops

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Brightly Colored Pillow, $45.99 Contemporary Orange Lamp, $349.99 Available at The Galleria

“Law of Past Experience” 40"x60" Framed Giclee, $1,715 “Caroline” Margo Selby Lumbar Pillow, $120 Available at beyondblue

Leather Sofa, $3,600 and up Available at Ambiente Modern Furniture

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Vintage Baker Bench, $1,250 Hand Embroidered and Beaded Manuel Canovas Pillow, $80 Available at DT&Co.

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Floral Print on Canvas, $38/ea Hand Painted Antique Dresser, $345 Available at Revival Antiques

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2016

FACES of

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The annual sweep of accolades for Raleigh and Wake County is hard to keep up with â&#x20AC;&#x201C; already in 2016 we are within the top five in best place to live, best city for young professionals, healthiest county, best city for young families, and best state capital in the nation. It comes as no surprise, then, that Raleigh continues to keep and draw some of the most creative, forwardthinking entrepreneurs and professionals around. Meet some of the leaders and behind-the-scenes brains of some of our local businesses in our first-ever Places and Faces of Raleigh. photography by david davies

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a family business Flowers Plantation >>> Joshua Flowers Finch, Jordan White Finch Joshua Flowers Finch and Jordan White Finch grew up on their family’s farm, during a time of great transition. Their grandfather, Joshua Percy Flowers, lived to see them born, but died two weeks after their birth, in 1982. Their grandmother, Delma “Dell” Flowers and their mother, Rebecca Dell Flowers, began a plan to slowly convert the cotton and tobacco fields into communities unlike any other in the Research Triangle. Joshua and Jordan, identical twins, believe it was their destiny to develop a love for all things old and Southern. They graduated from The Savannah College of Art and Design, acquired North Carolina General Contractors licenses, and began following in the tracks of the family’s love and respect of their Southern history. They now are also developing neighborhoods within the Flowers Plantation. There are presently over two dozen neighborhoods and several commercial areas, as well as the new “Harris Teeter” mixed-use area at Flowers Crossroads. 120 Flowers Parkway, Clayton, NC 27527 | 919.553.1984 ext. 206 | flowersplantation.com

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2016

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Body Contouring Raleigh Plastic Surgery Center >>> Dr. Glenn Lyle M.D., Dr. Rhett High, M.D. At Raleigh Plastic Surgery Center, Doctors Rhett High and Glenn Lyle have over 40 years of combined experience in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. Their forte is body contouring â&#x20AC;&#x201C; tummy tucks, liposuction, mommy makeover, buttock augmentation via fat grafting, thigh lifts and arm lifts. Body contouring also includes breast augmentation, breast lift, and breast reduction as well as post-mastectomy reconstruction. They also help patients improve their appearance after massive weight loss â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whether it is after weight loss

surgery or achieved with diet alone. Their surgery center is fully accredited and licensed with the State of North Carolina. At RPSC, both doctors are Board Certified in Plastic Surgery and utilize a Board Certified Anesthesiologist. Surgery is performed in a safe, private and comfortable environment. They are committed to educating their patients and helping them feel confident about their decisions. Dr. High and Dr. Lyle are focused on providing beautiful, natural results while providing excellent care for their patients.

1112 Dresser Court, Raleigh, NC 27609 | 919.872.2616 | raleighplasticsurgery.com 68 | midtownmag.com

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diamond jewelry diamonds direct crabtree >>> At Diamonds Direct, your love is celebrated through our passion for diamonds. In 1995, Diamonds Direct changed the landscape of fine jewelry retail by eliminating the middleman and selling diamonds directly to the end consumer. Our unique retail concept is accompanied by exceptional customer education, a vast selection of diamonds and fine jewelry, and customer service guarantees and warrantees that are unmatched in the industry. We are proud to have called Raleigh home since 2008 and cherish all the friends weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve made along the way. 4401 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27612 | 919.571.2881 | DiamondsDirect.com

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2016

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judgement free dentistry MIDTOWN SMILES DENTAL CARE >>> Dr. Hanna Zombek, Dr. Debra Zombek Dr. Hanna dreamed of singing on Broadway, but she decided on a more “sound” future. She first obtained a bachelor’s degrees in communication studies & psychology. Her devotion to dentistry began as a dental assistant for her mother, Dr. Debra. There she realized the need for effective, judgment-free communication to help put patients at ease in the chair. She is driven to help perfect the community’s smile while she channels Broadway and sings her way through each day. Proud to be part of the only mother/daughter dentistry team in Raleigh, she works alongside Dr. Debra. This means more treatment options readily available for you under one roof. Their team approach is built on effective listening and explaining their recommendations in detail. They offer comprehensive treatment catering to your desire, believing you should have choices when it comes to your dental care. Together they provide an unrivaled class for the face of judgment-free dentistry and a fresh approach for you and your family. 107 Windel Drive, Suite 101, Raleigh, NC 27609 | 919.787.5599 | midtown-smiles.com 72 | midtownmag.com

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THE FACE OF

luxury salon suites salons by jc >>> Hair • Nails • Face • Body For you We host the most driven and talented beauty/ wellness specialists in your area, and we let them run their business their way. Enjoy a variety of beauty and wellness services inside our beautiful and modern salon suite concept, all customized to your specialist’s needs. Find your favorite specialist or discover one that matches your style, personality and needs through our Raleigh web directory. For the specialist No matter what your discipline is, our luxurious salon suites are fully customizable and ideal for self-employed beauty/wellness specialists to be independent and prosperous in a professionally managed center. North Ridge Shopping Center: 6140 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh, NC 27609 | 919.981.7376 | salonsbyjc.com

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the ultimate dining experience Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern >>> In 1995, Ted Reynolds and his family purchased the historic Dodd-Hinsdale House in downtown Raleigh and developed a strategy to restore the property to its initial grandeur. On September 9th, 1997 they opened the doors of Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern, led by owner/operating manager Kim Reynolds and owner/executive chef Daniel Schurr. The owners, chef, management and staff have combined their efforts, commitment and talents to develop and present for you a special and unforgettable dining experience in an

atmosphere of classical history and elegance along with a selection of cuisine that is as exquisitely unique as it is delicious. Their delectable menus and polished service have won them the AAA Four Diamond Award, the DiRoNA Award and the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 1998. The Tavern and Atrium Room provide a more casual feel and lighter fare menu without sacrificing excellence. Simply put, a trip to Second Empire is an experience unlike any other.

330 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27603 | 919.829.3663 | second-empire.com SPECIAL PROMOTION

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your Dream Home Arthur Rutenberg Homes >>> Every Arthur Rutenberg Home is a client’s dream home, a home meticulously tailored to match your lifestyle, meeting the needs of your family. From the earliest design meeting through budgeting, selections, construction and ultimately your move-in, our focus is on capturing your dreams in your new custom home. Our team offers more than a century of homebuilding expertise in every aspect of luxury home building, including floor plans, interior design, construction best-practices, modern building systems and compelling standard features, as well as spectacular yet functional outdoor living. We design and build in many communities throughout the Greater Raleigh area. The Enclave at Falls Lake, in Wake Forest and own premium lots in several other communities such as Wakefield Estates, Avalaire, Waterstone and The Hamptons at Umstead. Of course, we can build ‘on your lot’ or help you find a great property match. Please visit us to experience a better way to design and build your dream home. You Dream. We Build. Arthur Rutenberg Homes – Monterey Bay, Raleigh | 2101 Blue Haven Court, Wake Forest, NC 27587 | 919.570.5557 | ArthurRutenbergHomes.com

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PICKS FOR SUMMER A half dozen of our writers came up with lists of things to do and see in the Capital City this summer. Keep our curated list handy when you are feeling adventuresome and want a field trip for yourself, or take along the whole posse for a midweek or weekend safari. How many stops can you squeeze in in one day? By carla turchetti, karlie justus marlowe, corbie hill, rachel vachon, paul savery, adam sobsey

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photograph courtesy of goape

3. First Friday First Friday is a great way to kick off the weekend. During the first Friday of each month, art galleries and museums in the downtown area keep their doors open longer to welcome art-lovers of all kinds. From 6-9pm, visitors can pick up a map and tour the different locations and enjoy special offers by participating restaurants and retailers. godowntownraleigh.com

1. Go Ape Zip Line & Treetop Adventure If you’re looking to cut loose this summer and do something adventurous, Go Ape has just what you’re looking for. With a treetop zip line course, you’re bound to gain a whole new perspective of the world. Both junior and adult courses are offered, so the whole family can have a good time. For two to three hours of fun at Blue Jay Point County Park, prices range from $38-$58. goape.com

2. Sola’s Pop-up Markets If you’re all about local and handmade goods, then visit Sola Coffee’s Pop-up Markets this summer. Grab a cup of coffee and check out a variety of handmade goods from local vendors that include artists, designers and crafters. The pop-up markets take place from 10am-2pm every second and fourth Saturday of the month. solacoffee.com

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4. North Hills British Classic Car Show Want to check out some cool cars and give back to the community this summer? Look no further than the North Hills British Classic Car Show! Over 125 vintage cars will be shown at this year’s 20th anniversary show. The event donates a portion of the proceeds to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC. The free show will be at North Hills on May 14th from 8:30am to 3pm. photograph courtesy of north hills

5. Walking Greenway trails If your family likes to run, walk, bike ride or be out in nature, then visiting Raleigh’s greenway trails this summer is a must. With 117 different trails throughout the area, the fun can literally go on for hours. While there are many wonderful trails, the Capital Area Greenway is one of the largest in the nation. raleighnc.gov

6. Carolina Ballet’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream Closing out its 2015-16 season, the Carolina Ballet will be performing Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Come out to the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium May 12th-15th, and enjoy the magic and beauty brought to the stage by each magnificent ballet dancer. carolinaballet.com

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photograph courtesy of JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University

photograph courtesy of lucettegrace

7. JC Raulston Arboretum The JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University consists of over 10 contiguous acres of beautiful gardens. On special days, the arboretum hosts activities for the entire family. These Family Fun Events give families the time to connect, play, and relax together in an outdoor setting. Programs range from the Summer Solstice Family Fun Night on June 21st to the Summer Picnic in the Garden on June 25th with cake, ice cream, outdoor games, and fun. The Arboretum is located near the NC State Fairgrounds goo.gl/TEwZBs

8. Lucettegrace Daniel Benjamin, formerly of Herons, is the mastermind behind the patisserie ‘lucettegrace’ (a pairing of his young daughters’ middle names) in downtown Raleigh. The elegant and exquisite pastries taste like a European escape – indulge yourself this summer by eating in or taking away classics like chocolate eclairs made with dark chocolate cremeux, classic fondant and dark chocolate Chantilly, or try some iconic Parisian macarons. lucettegrace.com

9. Architectural gem One of the most distinctive buildings in downtown Raleigh is The First Baptist Church on Salisbury, across 84 | midtownmag.com

photograph courtesy of first baptist church

from the original state Capitol building. Designed by colorful English architect William Percival in Gothic Revival style and built in1859, the stuccoed brick building is trimmed in sandstone, and features a central entrance tower/ spire 160 feet above the ground â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the tallest spike in the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s skyline at the time. (The lower level of the building was used as a Confederate hospital during the War Between the States.) 10. Stroll through historic Oakwood Take a walk through this Instagram-ready 19th century neighborhood and historic district for a mix of Victorian turrets, and even one groovy (and now infamous) modern design. Refuel at neighboring The Station at Person Street for custom cocktails named after Historic Oakwood and also one of the burgers in Raleigh. historicoakwood.com

11. H is for Hawk Watch for red hawks soaring above the old State Capitol grounds in downtown Raleigh. Across the street, a pair has nested at the base of the steeple of the First Baptist Church for years, with full access to the six acres and its abundant supply of grey squirrels. The red-tailed hawk is the most common hawk in North America, adapting well to urban living. For information on these red-tailed hawks and other raptors, check out the Raleigh Raptors blog. opienc.wordpress.com midtownmag.com | 85

photograph courtesy of NC Museum of History

12. Set Sail for Adventure The handsome North Carolina Museum of History invites children to “have a blast in the past” at summer camps. ‘Pirates, Ships, and Lighthouses’ is one of the summer half-day camps available for grades K-2. Learn about fierce pirates like Blackbeard and Anne Bonney, wear pirate’s clothing, and taste sea rations. Grades 6-8 may enroll in ‘The Blue and the Gray’ camp, exploring the Civil War and uncovering stories of the state’s outlaws and heroes. ncmuseumofhistory.org/News-Events/Summer-Camps

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13. Dorothea Dix Park Last year the City of Raleigh acquired 308 acres of the Dorothea Dix Campus near downtown with a plan to develop a new destination park. You don’t have to wait. You can access the green space now for walking your dog, playing Frisbee or simply having a picnic under one of the magnificent old oak trees. dix306.org

14. Side Street Restaurant Take a leisurely stroll as you explore the side streets of Oakwood historic district near downtown Raleigh. The 19th century neighborhood includes hundreds of homes in a variety of architectural styles. Reward yourself with lunch at the Side Street Restaurant hidden away on the quiet corner of Bloodworth and Lane, a block from the Governor’s Mansion. The restaurant is a real time capsule specializing in Southern food and old Southern charm, and is renowned for its chicken salad. 225 N. Bloodworth Street, 919.828.4927

15. Kirby Derby Since 2002, this “neighborhood fiesta of chaos” has included a pinecar race, parade, soap box derby and after-party perfect for kids and adults alike. This year’s fairy tale theme should inspire a magical mix of princesses, dragons and knights for the June 25th festivities on Kirby Street near Pullen Park. kirbyderby.com

16. Shop downtown’s growing retail scene Grab hip homegoods at Port of Raleigh and Ramble Supply Co., shop local makers at Gather and Deco Raleigh, and treat yourself to threads at Edge of Urge and Dogwood Collection. Shop late-night during the monthly First Friday event, where retailers often extend their hours and host special events and collaborations. godowntownraleigh.com midtownmag.com | 87

photograph courtesy of Jon Davis at Paddle Creek

17. Twilight Paddle Save yourself the drive out to the coast and try out Paddle Creekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s three-mile twilight kayak or standup paddleboarding route. The kayak rental company takes care of the rentals, route, and pickup and dropoff, starting the trip at 6pm at Falls Dam and ending at its private takeout at the Capital Boulevard bridge. Prices start at $55, with discounted add-ons for children and folks with their own boats. paddlecreeknc.com

18. Triangle Food Tour Have family in town for the summer? Give them an overview of downtown Raleighâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dining scene in one fell swoop via the Triangle Food Tour. Every Saturday at 2pm, small groups sample food from a selection of six downtown restaurants, using the R-line buses to explore all five downtown districts. $45 covers the tour and tastings. trianglefoodtour.com

19. Slide the City Slide the City, the ultimate urban slip and slide, returns to Glenwood South in downtown Raleigh on June 11th with a 1,000-foot vinyl slide big enough to cover three football fields. This party is BYOIT: Bring your own inflatable tube. (A mouth guard, however, is included in the $15-and-up ticket price.)

photographs courtesy of triangle food tours

slidethecity.com

photograph courtesy of Slide the City

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20. PRAIRIE RIDGE ECOSTATION Tucked just outside the busy Wade Avenue/ Beltline interchange is a surprisingly placid 45 acres. The Prairie Ridge Ecostation, a satellite of the Museum of Natural Sciences, features forest, recreated Piedmont prairie, and a play area that blurs into the landscape. Seek out this place to get away from it all without actually leaving. naturalsciences.org/prairie-ridge

21. PULLEN PARK PADDLEBOATS Whether on a first date or out with the spouse and kids, the paddleboats of Pullen Park are a hot weather go-to. The nearby buzz of Western Boulevard miraculously fades as curious geese, ducks, fish and turtles approach your little boat – an excellent deal at six tickets (which are a dollar apiece) per half-hour rental. goo.gl/2UklOD

22. TUNE IN TO WSHA Finding a consistent radio station can be tricky – luckily the jazz and blues programming on WSHA, Shaw University’s station, is one of the city’s best secrets. Plus, Stan the BBQ Blues Man has been known to share barbecue recipes on-air. So turn the dial to 88.9 or stream it online. shawu.edu/WSHA midtownmag.com | 89

photograph courtesy of red hat amphitheater

23. OUTDOOR CONCERT AT RED HAT Downtown is a hotbed of live music, from scrappy local bands to national touring acts and polished tributes, and Red Hat Amphitheater is the crown jewel of its venues. At least one evening at this 5,000-seat outdoor stage, which is nestled between the bustle of Dawson and McDowell, is a must for your Oak City summer. redhatamphitheater.com

24. READ A BOOK BY A RALEIGH AUTHOR From Wilton Barnhardt’s wry Southern wit and lit to John Kessel’s sci-fi and Kelly Starling Lyons’ remarkable, diverse children’s books, Raleigh has all the authors you need to make it through summer. If you feel so inspired by these locals, perhaps you could try your own hand as a writer. 25. FRESH LOCAL ICE CREAM Nothing tastes sweeter in the summertime than ice cream, especially Fresh Local Ice Cream in Raleigh. Revolving flavors range from Carolina Crunch to Peanut Butter Cup to Georgia Peach, and it’s all made instore from ice cream mix that comes from Jackson Farm in Dunn. “All our ice cream is made fresh every week and served that week,” says Jason Hillman with Fresh. P.S. Look for their ice cream truck, too! freshlocalicecream.com 90 | midtownmag.com

26. LATE NIGHT EATS AT MECCA Downtown transforms after dark. Particularly on the weekends, it takes on a carnival atmosphere well into the wee hours of the morning. Mecca, that humble Martin Street diner, offers satisfying, straightforward fare along with a full bar, and functions as both home base or a stopover during a night on the town. mecca-restaurant.com

27. Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve Park The Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve Park is 157 acres of unspoiled beauty alongside Falls Lake, and is the first nature preserve in Raleigh. Dr. Wilkerson left her land to the city with specific instructions about its use for wildlife and nature education. Walk the trails, visit the hands-on displays for children, and take advantage of the loaner binoculars and kites. goo.gl/wdkPbA

photograph courtesy of three bears acres

photograph courtesy of quail ridge books

28. Three Bears Acres Three Bears Acres is dedicated to the notion that children need fewer scheduled activities and more time to just run and play outside and be a kid! This outdoor, recreational farm is 50 acres of play space that includes tree houses, paddle boats, a giant jumping pillow, mud kitchen, graffiti wall and more. Three Bears Acres is a 15-minute drive from the Six Forks Road exit of I-540. threebearsacres.com

29. Quail Ridge Books Summer is the perfect time to kick back with a good book – and Quail Ridge Books, in its new location at North Hills, is overflowing with great reads. “Whether you’re on the beach or cooped up inside during a summer storm, the number one thing you’ll need this summer is a book,” says store owner Lisa Poole. quailridgebooks.com midtownmag.com | 91

30. tour d’coop Spend an afternoon wandering through Raleigh’s backyards in search of tucked-away chicken coops at the 12th annual Tour D’Coop on Saturday, June 4th. This self-guided tour of urban henhouses benefits Urban Ministries and its anti-poverty initiatives. Buy a ticket to this parade of combs in advance online, or the day of the event at Whole Foods Markets or the Seaboard Ace Hardware.

photograph courtesy of tour d’coop

tourdcoop.com/tickets

photograph courtesy of north hills

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photograph courtesy of raleigh little theatre

31. beach music series Get your dancing feet ready for the ninth season of the Midtown Beach Music Series in the Commons at North Hills. The lineup is packed with classic beach music bands like The Catalinas, The Embers and Band of Oz. Shagging is optional but encouraged! There is a concert every Thursday night from April 21st through August 11th. visitnorthhills.com

32. rose garden Stop and smell the roses or enjoy a concert, play or outdoor movie this summer at the Raleigh Rose Garden at the Raleigh Little Theater. The garden features 56 varieties of roses that begin blooming in late May. “The Rose Garden also offers the perfect spot for picnics, reading, plein air painting, getting inspiration for your own garden, or simply enjoying the beauty of one of Raleigh’s most beautiful historical gardens,” says Shelly Crisp, RLT Board Member. raleighlittletheatre.org

photograph courtesy of trolley pub

33. TROLLEY PUB Don’t bar-hop – bar-bike. You bring the beer, about a dozen friends, and energy to pedal on a balmy night, and Trolley Pub will supply the ride of your life: a selfand suds-powered tour of the town, with or without pub stops and dinner spots. It’s a great way to burn beer calories while in the very act of consuming them! raleigh.trolleypub.com midtownmag.com | 93

photograph courtesy of north hills

34. FARMERS MARKETS It’s the best shopping there is. Farmers markets put supermarkets (and malls) to shame. Not only is there food of all kinds – far more than just veggies – you can also buy flowers and crafts, and pass an hour or two browsing (and eating). The Midtown market is a delight, but make time too for the mecca-like State Farmers Market during the bounteous summer. midtownraleighfarmersmarket.com or statefarmersmarket.org

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photograph courtesy of nc museum of art

35. OUTDOOR CONCERTS AT THE NC MUSEUM OF ART Great sound in the great outdoors makes the NC Museum of Art’s Summer Concert Series a must, from the indie-folk juggernaut Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (May 27th) to Irish-American fiddler Eileen Ivers (July 30th) to (almost) local heroes Iron and Wine (August 13th). And for the kids: Saxapahaw-based Paperhand Puppet Intervention’s legendary fantasia closes the series September 9th-11th. goo.gl/758MtX

36. FOOD TRUCK RODEOS The best way to dine outdoors in summertime isn’t on a restaurant patio, it’s at the Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo, a half-mile gauntlet spread out over 11 downtown blocks. Walk and eat, eat and walk. Plenty of seating, inexhaustible food – a wandering feast where both you and your food are mobile. downtownraleighfoodtruckrodeo.com

37. SYLVAN HEIGHTS BIRD PARK About an hour and a half east of Raleigh in Scotland Neck is Sylvan Heights Bird Park, an amazing aviary and breeding center boasting the world’s largest collection of waterfowl (about 2,000 birds are on display). It’s a glorious show of color and grace, rare and endangered species, and great photo ops. shwpark.com

and here’s a bonus... DOWNTOWN RALEIGH MOVIE SERIES Outdoor movies recall the golden age of driveins, and this year’s Downtown Raleigh Movie Series is a shout-out to the past: “Flashback Friday,” as it’s dubbed, will show an Eighties movie classic every Friday from May 27th-July 1st at City Plaza. Starting at 6pm, food trucks and a preshow DJ spinning Eighties tunes will put you in the mood; BYO Rubik’s Cube. downtownraleighmovieseries.com midtownmag.com | 95

beautiful

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photograph courtesy of louis cherry

B y C a r l a T u r c h e tt i

E S

T h e r e r e a l ly i s no place like h o m e . It â&#x20AC;&#x2122; s o u r sanctuary from the rest of the world. The place where we spend time with the people we love t h e m o s t . It i s also the spot where we live out our personal style. And w h e t h e r t h at style is clean and modern or bold and bright or classic with a t w i s t, i t c a n b e beautiful. Come along with us as we go beyond peeking in the windows and step inside a few of Raleighâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beautiful homes. midtownmag.com | 97

photography courtesy of matt williams photography

The first floor living area of the CherryGordon home is open and perfect for entertaining. The dramatic staircase is made of dark steel with white oak treads.

photography courtesy of matt williams photography

The kitchen features professional appliances and a large island with plenty of space for food prep or dining.

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photography courtesy of matt williams photography

The loft area in the second floor of the home was designed as a retreat for the owners and feels both open and private.

oakwood

photograph courtesy of Louis cherry

The home was nestled into a petite lot, but the backyard still contains dining, seating and grilling areas as well as raised garden beds.

photography courtesy of matt williams photography

Homeowners Marsha Gordon and Louis Cherry. Louis was both the architect and builder of their home.

Marsha Gordon and Louis Cherry are certain they are living in the perfect home for them. “We wanted to make a perfectsized house – no more than we needed, and no less either,” says homeowner Louis Cherry, who was both builder and architect of their home. “It is 2,150 square feet total. There is not a single room of the house that we don’t use every day, and that was a very deliberate part of the design.” Another deliberate part of the home in Raleigh’s Oakwood neighborhood is the sustainable elements, like solar panels and geothermal wells. “Louis wanted to be sure that the home had the optimal relationship to the sun – with a south-facing roof, which is optimal for solar panels, and as much natural light as possible, without creating unwanted solar gain,” Marsha says. The main floor is warm and informal, and the kitchen and living room are one open space. The upstairs, with its master bedroom and den, is a haven for the couple. “During the design process we thought of it as our loft apartment and it really feels that way, with lovely views, a sense of openness, but also privacy,” Marsha says. And the couple wanted to create a home that was lived-in, and not like a museum. “We both like art and books and music, and we didn’t want it to read as just an empty box,” Marsha says. “ Walking the balance between clean and open but also warm and welcoming was really important to us.”

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photography courtesy of Tad Davis Photography

north raleigh If it hadn’t been for the rhino, Sally Medicke’s home in North Raleigh would have had a completely different feel. She set out to create a space that was sparkling in jewel tones of teal and cobalt blue. But that came to a screeching halt when she fell in love with a piece of art featuring a gray rhinoceros. “Who else would do a whole house after a sassy rhino?” Sally asks. So the new palette became shades of gray, subtly different in every room, with accents of gold and silver and black. “Gray needs a friend to warm it up, so I put it with orange or metallic golds,” says Sally, who owns Tres Belle Designs. “It’s very peaceful when life is crazy, but still interesting with a lot of visual movement.” Sally describes her home as a transitional ranch with a walk-out basement. The ceilings are 10 to 11 feet tall throughout the house and 14 feet in the family room. The 8-feet windows were inspired by their previous living quarters. “My husband and I lived in North Hills in the Park & Market on the very top unit in the corner. It had 26 feet of glass and it overlooked the entire city. I loved the tall windows and glass in my apartment, so I put them in my house.”

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The kitchen dining area offers great views from the outside thanks to the tall windows that were inspired by the couple’s previous home in a high-rise apartment in North Hills.

The gleaming kitchen of the Medicke home is painted in Sherwin Williams Colonnade Gray, which is one of six different shades of gray found throughout the interior.

This rhino was the design inspiration that changed the entire palette of the home from jewel tones to shades of gray.

The deep gray of the study is warmed up by metallic accents.

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100% Organic, Gluten, GMO and Soy Free FRESH LEVANT BISTRO >>>

A little Mediterranean bistro created around intentional cooking, curating our food meticulously to showcase the freshness of every ingredient and the traditions of Levantine cuisine. Our unwavering commitment to non-GMO and gluten-free foods keeps us focused on sourcing our ingredients from local farmers and regional suppliers who share our passion for organic practices and earth-friendly principles. Our guiding principles are simple: clean, fresh, delicious food created with love, free of any artificial additives, coloring, preservatives or things you cannot pronounce. 8450 Honeycutt Road #106, Raleigh, NC 27615 | 984.200.3999 | freshlevant.com

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aesthetics SYNERGY SPA, AESTHETICS & WELLNESS and Collins Plastic Surgery >>> R. Stewart Collins, MD, Anna Churchill The unique combination of Synergy with Collins Plastic Surgery makes it the Triangleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only fullservice beauty destination. We offer our clients a state-of-the-art plastic surgery center with private operating room, as well as award-winning spas featuring advanced clinical skin care. When visiting Synergy and Collins Plastic Surgery you will be supported by an expert team of over 75 talented medical and spa professionals, all of whom are dedicated to bringing you the latest advances in plastic surgery, medical aesthetics, skin care, nail care and body therapy. Inside the Beltline: 2603 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27608 North Raleigh: 8300 Health Park, Raleigh, NC 27615 919.510.5130 | feelsynergy.com SPECIAL PROMOTION

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an exceptional salon experience salon blu >>> Salon Blu was founded in 2002 by owners Todd and Jennifer Fincher with a simple goal â&#x20AC;&#x201C; offer exceptional hair services and an amazing salon experience to every guest. Entering any one of the three Triangle locations, you can expect a warm greeting, a vibrant atmosphere, and the feeling that you will be well taken care of. Salon Blu is proud to offer the most sought-after salon services including balayage, ombre, bridal styling, extensions, makeup application and more. One visit to Salon Blu and you will have found your salon home.

Falls Village: 6617-103 Falls Of Neuse Road, Raleigh, NC 27615 | 919.848.0555 Brier Creek: 7854-120 Alexander Promenade Place, Raleigh, NC 27617 | 919.598.7666 North Hills: 141-108 Park at North Hills St, Raleigh, NC 27609 | 919.900.8212 salonbluhair.com 104 | midtownmag.com

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2016

photograph courtesy of bailey’s fine jewelry

FACES of

RALEIGH

THE FACE OF

Antique Jewelry Bailey’s Fine jewelry >>> Marci Bailey Mother, wife, designer, curator, treasure hunter. While her official title is Curator of the Bailey’s Antique and Estate Collection, “treasure hunter and story teller” works just as well. Since founding the Estate Collection in 2008, Marci Bailey has been on a jewel-encrusted hunt for perfect pieces. What’s on Bailey’s ultimate wish list? Jewelry that tells a story. “Whether it’s a pin from a Civil War soldier, a locket passed through a family, or a cocktail ring worn at 1950s parties, my job is to find pieces with history and give them new life.” cameron village – 415 Daniels Street, Raleigh, NC 27605 | 919.829.7337 | baileybox.com Bailey’s Fine Jewelry also has locations in: Raleigh’s Crabtree Valley Mall, Rocky Mount and Greenville SPECIAL PROMOTION

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2016

FACES of

RALEIGH

THE FACE OF

antiques and home furnishings revival antiques >>> Tim Ukena, Leah Jenkins, Jodie Hinge (with Bella), Joe Hinge At Revival, you will find two stores in one. Our furniture and accessories showroom is artfully designed in room-type settings that inspire the imagination. Both new and antique pieces combine with lighting, art and accessories to make you feel at home. And just down the sidewalk, our warehouse is chock full of as-is vintage and antique furniture. The crafty can take them as they sit, or let our team transform your find into the perfect match for your home. With more than 12,000 square feet between the two, Revival is Raleighâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most unique shopping experience! We invite you to visit in person or view our website for more details. 1505 Capital Boulevard, Suite 14, Raleigh, NC 27603 | 919.833.3444 | revival-antiques.com 106 | midtownmag.com

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2016

FACES of

RALEIGH

THE FACE OF

anxiety-free dentistry sedation dental care at raleigh smile center >>> Daniel Davidian DDS, PA, Tracy Davidian DDS, PA Drs. Daniel and Tracy Davidian have been the face of sedation in Raleigh for the last 15 years. With a passion and expertise for alleviating dental anxiety, both modestly agree it’s the Sedation Dental Care team that makes the magic happen. “We provide many levels of sedation, from light nitrous oxide gas sedation, IV/oral sedation and general anesthesia. We often see patients that haven’t seen the dentist in as many as 15-20 years, doing in one appointment what would normally take seven to ten”. Daniel Davidian DDS, PA • Implants • Premier dentures • Full mouth reconstruction • Same-day crown and bridge

Tracy Davidian DDS, PA • Ultra high-end cosmetic • TMD/TMJ therapies • Migraine and facial pain • Sleep apnea appliances

3917 Sunset Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC 27607 | 919.783.9686 | raleighsmilecenter.com SPECIAL PROMOTION

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2016

FACES of

RALEIGH

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Award-Winning Wedding Planning LA COSA BELLA EVENTS >>> Gina Myers From the start of her business in 2010, Gina Myers has had a carefully thought-out vision of creating an event business where quality of service is paramount and attention to detail a must. Being methodical has paid off, as she has won nine International Special Event Society Trinity Awards in the past three years, including Best Wedding Under $75K and Best Wedding $75K to $200K for the past two years. She has also been a Wedding Wire Coupleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Choice Winner for five consecutive years. The La Cosa Bella Events team provides Full-Service Planning, Month of Planning and Event Design, with customizable packages for budgets ranging from $20K-$200K. 2920 Elmgate Way, Raleigh, NC 27614 | 919.349.0518 | lacosabellaevents.com 108 | midtownmag.com

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2016

FACES of

RALEIGH

THE FACE OF

ballroom dance instruction and development a step to gold >>> Changing lives one dance at a time with a captivating environment of venue and instructors, and offering the experience and magic of social and competitive style ballroom dancing. Owner Melanie Dale and her staff pride themselves on offering the “Triangle’s Finest Dance Experience”. All professional dance teachers foster personal dance development and growth within a culture of fun, friendship and achievement. Students appreciate all the personal service, group activities, graduation parties and performance opportunities during the year. Our Quickstart Program for 2 Private Lessons, 1 Group and 1 Practice Session is only $39 for new students. Call today! 6278 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27612 | 919.578.4411 | asteptogold.com SPECIAL PROMOTION

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2016

FACES of

RALEIGH

THE FACE OF

beauty

Blue Water Spa / Michael Law MD Aesthetic Plastic Surgery >>> Mari Beth, aesthetic maven at Blue Water Spa for 13 years, defines beauty. She and her team have beautified 49,000+ Blue Water Spa clients. Removal of unwanted hair, younger-looking, beautiful skin, or whatever your beauty concern, Mari Bethâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team, supervised by Plastic Surgeon Michael Law MD, delivers results. Our approach is no pressure for clients and no quotas for staff. Listening, caring, and providing consistently safe and effective treatments is the culture of Blue Water Spa. 10941 Raven Ridge Road, Suite 101, Raleigh, NC 27614 | 919.870.6066 | bluewaterspa.com 110 | midtownmag.com

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2016

FACES of

RALEIGH

THE FACE OF

Best Dental Experience Renaissance Dental Center >>> Dr. Anna Abernethy, Dr. Anita Wells, Dr. Jill Sonner Does your smile project your self-confidence? Is it as healthy as it could be? At Renaissance Dental Center, we combine personalized care with professionalism and expertise to make your dental experience a success in every way. Whether you seek general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry or restorative dental care, we will work together to define a treatment plan that’s perfect for your unique needs. Our customized approach to dental care ensures that you have a comfortable – even luxurious – experience. From televisions and warm neck pillows to massage chairs and a relaxing paraffin hand therapy…we put the “treat” in treatment. 3803 Computer Drive, Raleigh, NC 27609 | 919.786.6766 | renaissancedentalcenter.com SPECIAL PROMOTION

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2016

FACES of

RALEIGH

THE FACE OF

better sex in the city

Raleigh Gynecology and Wellness, PA >>> Dr. Lorena Benavides Are you suffering from vaginal dryness or painful sex? About half of menopausal women experience these symptoms. Dr. Lorena Benavides is committed to helping women save their sex lives. She has provided gynecologic care in Raleigh since 2006 and is the first to offer MonaLisa Touch®, an innovative laser therapy to treat vulvovaginal atrophy. The procedure is painless, takes five minutes, avoids medications and hormones, and it really works! “I have never been so excited to bring a new technology to my office,“ says Dr Benavides. 2304 Wesvill Court, Suite 210, Raleigh, NC 27607 | 919.782.6700 | gynraleigh.com

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2016

FACES of

RALEIGH

THE FACE OF

Breast Augmentation Davis & Pyle Plastic Surgery >>> Dr. Glenn M. Davis After spending 12 years in the Navy as a flight surgeon, Dr. Davis moved to Raleigh to focus his area of expertise on plastic and reconstructive surgery. For more than 25 years since, he has been Raleighâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Breast Surgeon. With an impeccable eye for detail and an understanding of the subtleties in breast augmentation, his niche in this town has carved itself out. The motto on his website is Experience, Education, Excellence. After an hour long, faceto-face consultation, it is easy to understand how he is one of the most experienced, educated and excellent surgeons in America. 2304 Wesvill Court, Suite 360, Raleigh, NC 27607 | 919.785.1220 | dpraleigh.com SPECIAL PROMOTION

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photograph courtesy of tolnitch surgical associates

2016

FACES of

RALEIGH

THE FACE OF

Breast Surgery in the Triangle

Tolnitch Surgical Associates >>> A member of the Duke Cancer Institute Dr. Lisa Tolnitch, MD, Dr. Gayle DiLalla, MD, Dr. Laura Lazarus, MD For 25 years Tolnitch Surgical Associates has been synonymous with cutting-edge treatment of both breast cancer and benign breast disease. Patients come to TSA knowing they will receive not only excellent surgical care but emotional care and support as well on their journey back to wellness. In July 2016, TSA will embark on a journey of their own as they join the Duke Cancer Institute at the newly formed Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cancer Care Center at 4101 Macon Pond Road, where they will join their expertise with Medical and Radiation Oncology and Radiology Imaging to offer the best care to the women of the Triangle. 2301 Rexwoods Drive, Suite 116, raleigh, nc 27607 | 919.782.8200 | carolinabreastcare.com 114 | midtownmag.com

SPECIAL PROMOTION

2016

FACES of

RALEIGH

THE FACE OF

capital city signage capital sign solutions >>> Patrick Mills, CEO Capital Sign Solutions provides the expertise for creating signage to elevate your brand, visibility and perception. CSS is a full service manufacturing and service provider, who handles all phases of production – from design through permitting, fabrication and installation. We specialize in custom signage of all types and are here to meet your needs! Contact us today at 919.789.1452. Featured Clients: • Alliance Architecture • American Tobacco Campus • Bank of North Carolina • ChannelAdvisor • Durham Bulls

• Grubb Ventures • Highwoods Properties • PDQ • Wine and Design • York Properties

5800 McHines Place, Raleigh, NC 27616 | 919.789.1452 | capitalsignsolutions.com

SPECIAL PROMOTION

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photograph courtesy of catering works

2016

FACES of

RALEIGH

THE FACE OF

Catering and Special Events Catering Works, Inc. >>> Lorin Laxton, Jill Santa Lucia

Cooking the recipe for success for over 26 years are sister co-owners, Jill Santa Lucia and Lorin Laxton. Their commitment to quality has rendered Catering Works as a leading catering and special event company in North Carolina as well as one of the top women owned businesses. Jill’s passion for cooking started in her grandmother’s kitchen; she became fascinated with Grandma’s leg of lamb and homemade chocolate iced cookies. Lorin’s background in technology and the USN was a perfect complement and culminated in the development of the company’s proprietary software. 2319 Laurelbrook Street, Raleigh, NC 27604 | 919.828.5932 | cateringworks.com 116 | midtownmag.com

SPECIAL PROMOTION

works

2016

FACES of

RALEIGH

THE FACE OF

catholic education k-8 Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School >>> Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School is a nationally recognized, Kindergarten through 8th grade school with a proud legacy of educating the Raleigh community for 62 years. We provide a quality curriculum with enrichment courses that integrate traditional teaching with todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s technology to prepare students for future challenges. Lourdes partners with parents to provide an affordable education that focuses on the spiritual, intellectual, emotional and social growth of our students. Come witness our rich past and be a part of our exciting future. 2710 Overbrook Drive, Raleigh, NC 27608 | 919.861.4610 | olls.org SPECIAL PROMOTION

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2016

FACES of

RALEIGH

THE FACE OF

Comfortable, Modern Design beyondblue >>> Susan LaFera, Beth Bridgers BeyondBlue, a full-service design and retail showroom, started when friends Beth Bridgers and Susan LaFera saw a need for clean-lined, modern furniture not available in the Triangle. BeyondBlue has been the source of modern, comfortable designs in the Triangle for almost 11 years. Bridgers and LaFera continually seek new products for customers to enjoy, and customers canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to see the latest finds. The showroom is open seven days a week, and complimentary design services are available. 4350 Lassiter at North Hills Avenue, #102, Raleigh, NC 27609 | 919.896.6630 | beyondblueinteriors.com 118 | midtownmag.com

SPECIAL PROMOTION

2016

FACES of

RALEIGH

THE FACE OF

Confident Retirement Richardson, Carrington, Weaver & Associates >>> Financial advisor James M. Richardson, CFP, ChFC, APMA is a big believer in dreaming big. He just thinks it’s necessary to separate fantasy from reality to achieve one’s retirement goals. Richardson and his team offer a comprehensive financial planning approach primarily for individuals and couples who are retired or approaching retirement. “We have a new, exclusive ‘Confident Retirement Approach’, which helps people see a bigger, more detailed picture of retirement,” he says. Once we understand the client’s goals and unique personal circumstances, we start working on pre-retirement and retirement planning. 3720 Benson Drive, Raleigh, NC 27609 | 919.874.0024 ext 101 | jamesrichardsonadvisor.com SPECIAL PROMOTION

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2016

FACES of

RALEIGH

THE FACE OF

Cool body sculpting Blue Water Spa / Michael Law MD Aesthetic Plastic Surgery >>> Adrian, Lisa and Leeann, our expert CoolSculpting® providers, are workout fanatics, but they still had areas of stubborn fat. Their physiques are the result of hard work and CoolSculpting®. They have helped thousands achieve their goals of looking their best. With two CoolSculpting® systems (treatments in half the time) and a pristine treatment room with a big screen TV and Netflix, Blue Water Spa clients enjoy relaxation, and fat loss with no downtime. 10941 Raven Ridge Road, Suite 103, Raleigh, NC 27614 | 919.870.6066 | michaellawmd.com 120 | midtownmag.com

SPECIAL PROMOTION

2016

FACES of

RALEIGH

THE FACE OF

Corporate Residential Leasing Block & Associates Realty >>> Joshua Furr Joshua Furr is a rental broker and relocation specialist, specializing in leasing rental properties throughout the Triangle over the last 13 years. He has been the No. 1 Independent Rental Broker since 2012 and running strong! Joshuaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s services include exceptional rental assistance for property owners, builders, investors, Realtors and corporations. Each year thousands of property owners in the Triangle rent their homes and depend on Joshua to provide them with a high-caliber tenant that will treat their property as if it were their own. With such an incredible passion for real estate, Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to see why Joshua has achieved such success! 107 Edinburgh South Drive, Suite 100 Cary, NC 27511 | 919.606.3461 | JoshuaFurr.com

SPECIAL PROMOTION

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2016

FACES of

RALEIGH

THE FACE OF

Door Hardware and Plumbing Bird Decorative Hardware & Bath >>> Jay Johns, Michelle Silvis For the past eight years, Bird Decorative Hardware & Bath has been the Triangle areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trusted source for decorative hardware and plumbing fixtures. Michelle Silvis and Jay Johns offer the Raleigh area over 25 years of combined hands-on industry-specific professional knowledge. Bird Decorative Hardware & Bath is the largest independently owned decorative hardware and plumbing company in the Carolinas. Ranging in styles from traditional to contemporary, there is something guaranteed to enhance a project of any caliber. 1505 Capital Boulevard, Raleigh, NC 27603 | 919.833.5580 | birddecorativehardware.com 122 | midtownmag.com

SPECIAL PROMOTION

LOCALLY made

things we

LOVE There

something

really special about locally Buying is

made

items.

local

items

making

investment

an your

Raleig community. It supports

your it

neighbors

keeps

circulating

and

dollars

nearby.

But the best part of shopping locally might

discovering

that

your newest favorite

product is made right

in the neighborhood. by carla turchetti

124 | midtownmag.com

Raleigh

Happy Tassels

Happy Tassels began in September 2014 with owner and designer Caroline Price, a sixth grade year-round English teacher and recent graduate of UNC-Wilmington, wanting to learn how to do something new. She began hand-making jewelry, which began as tassels only, and wearing it herself. Soon, boutiques, friends, coworkers and family members wanted to buy her handmade jewelry. Happy Tassels has expanded beyond tassel jewelry, and Caroline now hand crafts unique necklaces with some of her favorite things including elephants, seashells, deer antlers and horns. “I hand-make all of my tassels, and hand-string all of my necklaces, and I think that’s why people have really bought into Happy Tassels,” Caroline says. “I’m inspired by bright, fun, vibrant colors like pink, electric blue and orange creamsicle, but at the same time I do love soothing, coastal colors like mint, coral and aqua. I try to create pieces that combine all of that fun energy so that the customer has an eye-catching, made-with-love piece.”

igh

To purchase

Palm Avenue and The Purple Polka Dot boutiques, and online at squareup.com/store/happytassels.

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Raleigh

NC State Brew

While there are many college students who know a thing or two about beer, at North Carolina State University it really is a science. The University has its own brewery that is operated within the Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences in support of teaching and research activities within the department. “For the past several years we have been allowed to provide our beer exclusively to oncampus university events,” says Dr. John Sheppard, Professor at NC State and Undergraduate Coordinator for Bioprocessing Science. “In February of this year we obtained an ABC distributor’s permit, which also allows distribution to commercial establishments, but not to the general public. I expect the beer to be available in select outlets, on tap only, this spring.” At university-affiliated venues or events and beyond, look for Pack Pilsner, Brickyard Red and the seasonal Wolf-toberfest in the fall.

To order

Online at goo.gl/oTkQQC.

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Klen Shop

Raleigh

Leigh Noonan and Allison Mays have built a business out of being concerned moms. Allison noticed that her 2-year-old daughter loved lip products, but that she mostly licked them or ate them right off her lips. So the founders of Klen Shop created lip balm good enough to eat – and free of alcohol, which the Klen team says companies add in order to dry lips out further, and create a cycle of needing lip balm. “We are able to create a product that has four ingredients,” Allison says, “They are all-natural and safe to ingest.” “With our four ingredients we have made a really great product that moisturizes your lips and does what all of these other companies are saying their stuff does – yet they have so many ingredients, and half of them you can’t even read off the back of the package,” Leigh says. Klen has expanded into body cream, shower melts, and soy candles. Every product has six ingredients or less.

To purchase

The Green Monkey and Oxford Green boutiques in Raleigh, or klenshop.com.

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Raleigh Raw

If you are looking for healthy food fast, look no further than Raleigh Raw Cafe and Juice Bar. Stop in for raw, 100 percent organic, coldpressed juice blends in their downtown location, or they will deliver them to your doorstep or even your desk. A 17-ounce juice contains up to five pounds of produce. The growing menu now also includes the West Coast favorite, poke’. “It’s a fusion between Japanese and Hawaiian cultures where you have hot rice on the bottom, raw sashimi grade fish on top with seaweed salad and micro greens, and we top that with avocado and house-made sauces,” says Raleigh Raw co-owner Leslie Woods. “We’re the only place in North Carolina – maybe even the Southeast – that has that.” For a new take on your favorite cup of joe try Raleigh Raw’s Cracked Coffee which trades cream and sugar for coconut oil and grass-fed butter. The additional fats are said to boost metabolism, satisfy you longer and slow the release of caffeine into the system.

To purchase

Raleigh Raw Cafe and Juice Bar, 7 West Hargett Street, or online at raleighraw.com.

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Raleigh

Hail Mary Bloody Mary Mix

Hail Mary Bloody Mary Mix is handcrafted in Raleigh for connoisseurs who don’t want a side of chemicals with their favorite cocktail. Kelly and Blake Smith were tired of grocery store mixes with too much salt and too many additives, so they turned to Grandma Edna’s recipe for homemade tomato juice as the base for a small-batch, all-natural, fresh Bloody Mary mix. “We use a couple of different kinds of fresh peppers, fresh

Raleigh

horseradish root and a blend of really high quality spices,” Kelly says, “What makes our product unique to the market is that we use the fresh juiced tomatoes. A lot of other products are made with a tomato paste and water, or powder and water. Our is fresh, healthy, and all-natural.” And in case you think Bloody Mary mix is still just for brunch, Kelly suggests incorporating it into your recipe repertoire. “In the wintertime it makes a great chill base, and in the summer I make gazpacho with it,” Kelly says.

To purchase

Retailers including Southern Season, NOFO at the Pig and The Butcher’s Market, and online at hailmarybloodymarymix.com.

Raleigh

Slingshot Iced Coffee

The perfect pour of iced coffee is as close as a bottle of Slinghhot Cold Brew concentrate. The husband-and-wife team of Jenny and Jonathan Bonchak brews small batches of concentrate for cold brew coffee out of organic, inseason beans. And they brew it all in Raleigh. “At Slingshot, we expertly brew a coffee that is incredibly balanced with a smooth body, exceptional clarity and distinct flavor profile,” Jenny says, “The versatility of Slingshot’s concentrate allows anyone to easily mix an iced or hot coffee, craft delicious cocktails, bake desserts or even make a savory marinade. Use recipes from our website, or get creative on your own.” Slingshot is also brewing Cascara Tea by the bottle.

To purchase

Local stores including Whole Foods, Southern Season and Tasty Beverage, or online at slingshotcoffeecompany.com. midtownmag.com | 129

Emily Brooks Designs

Raleigh

Raleigh native Emily Brooks has a way with a pen. A trained designer who draws, paints and writes in elegant calligraphy, her local business was born when she stepped up to produce a goodie bag with a map for out-of-town guests attending her sister’s wedding. They were a crowd favorite among the wedding guests, and Emily started selling the canvas bags and quickly expanded the line. “I added other cities and then the state of North Carolina, and it’s been a lot of fun,” Emily says. I also really love doing custom work and wedding work as well.” Emily’s maps have graced custom save-the-date wedding cards and in addition to tote bags, they appear on prints, postcards, mugs and more. And her calligraphy items will leave you wondering why they ever stopped teaching cursive handwriting in schools.

To purchase

Deco Raleigh, Relish Cafe, or online at emilybrooksdesigns.com.

Always Poppin’

Always Poppin’ Gourmet Popcorn is bursting with family tradition. Owner Scott Brammer is a huge fan of family movie night - and what family movie night is complete without popcorn? At the Always Poppin’ Gourmet Popcorn Store in Raleigh, the locally-popped flavors for sale range from savory to sweet, satisfying palates with tastes ranging from dill pickle to red hot cinnamon. Pick some up for family movie night, stuff a tin or basket for a tasty gift or choose popcorn as a party or wedding favor. “Popcorn makes people happy, that’s why it is associated with movies and sporting events,” Scott says. 130 | midtownmag.com

Raleigh

“We’re trying to make people happy with something they love and enjoy. I love what I make.” Insider tip: Check out the best-selling Triangle Blend of caramel, yellow and white cheddar popcorn.

To purchase

Always Poppin’, 8801 Lead Mine Road, or online at alwayspoppin.com.

House of Swank

If you are clear on the dividing line in North Carolina between vinegar-based barbecue and tomato-based barbecue, well, House of Swank, has a tee for that. This Raleigh company features t-shirts, coozies, hats and more imprinted with designs that hit close to home, like “Bless your heart”, “Blackbeard is my homeboy” and the everpopular “Let’s make some poor decisions”. Owner John Pugh describes the line as rad, and says it represents how he feels about his home state. “I was born and raised in the big city of Climax, North Carolina and grew up with a deep love for my state,” John says. “From the mountains to the coast, North Carolina has it all. The people, the places, the events, the history. I love it all.” You probably already have someone on your list who needs the coozie that says “Hold my beer and watch this!”.

To purchase

Online at houseofswankclothing.com. midtownmag.com | 131

photography courtesy of Kelley Deal Photography

Stop!

Hammock Time

Raleigh Startup Delivers Relaxation By Jenni Hart

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photography courtesy of sluice hammocks

uburban backyards, public parks and college campuses across the country are seeing the seasonal return of a thriving species of tree-dweller: the hammock enthusiast. Swaddled in sheaths of calming neutrals and cheery blues, greens and reds, hammock fans have driven exponential growth in the outdoor gear market over the past three years. A small but growing contributor to those sales is Raleigh’s Sluice Hammocks, owned and run by Kemp Dunbar. “For anyone who has never actually been in a hammock, I would tell them it’s probably the most relaxing, comfortable thing they will ever do,” Dunbar says. With hammock sales representing the single fastest-growing segment of outdoor gear sales, Americans are proving just how committed they are to serious relaxation. At Sluice (rhymes with juice), building a hammock is about smart design, ease of use and made-in-America quality. For Dunbar, his workplace is part laboratory, where designs are tested and tweaked; and part workshop, where the best ideas take shape in small batches of handcrafted products. Banjos and fiddles plink in the background when the sewing machines stop thrumming; Dunbar says bluegrass music is his inspiration. Since graduating from North Carolina State University in 2010 with a degree in mechanical engineering, Dunbar has worked in heavy industrial manufacturing and intermittently as a consultant with his father’s engineering firm. But about three years ago, a friend bought a pricey new hammock that led to a new hobby and unleashed a bit of an obsession. Dunbar remembers inspecting the hammock – analyzing how things are made is in his DNA – and realizing how astonishingly simple the design was. The kicker? Although his friend thought his new purchase was an American-made product, they discovered a small tag that read “Made in Malaysia.” Dunbar was aware that the hammock market was heating up, and he set out to find a way to make one locally using domestic materials. midtownmag.com | 133

“You can’t just launch a product, you have to create an experience. A hammock is a sanctuary, the ultimate reflection activity.”

From his Raleigh apartment, he began by cutting up old bed sheets until he found a pattern that worked. He purchased a $60 sewing machine from Wal-Mart and taught himself to sew. A couple of sewing machine upgrades later signified a point of no return. “You get to a point where you’ve invested $5,000, and you need to decide how committed you are to seeing it through,” he says. Dunbar says the US hammock market is dominated by products made for hardcore hikers, backpackers and campers. The priority for them is lightweight fabric that doesn’t slow them down on the trail. Sluice hammocks are made from fabric with a bit more heft, and the construction and sewing that make them sturdy and long-lasting set them apart from mass-produced imports. The nylon fabric, which is surprisingly soft ~ Kemp and supple, arrives in giant rolls from a Connecticut-based supplier. Dunbar believes the difference in quality will appeal to his target market. The Sluice Hammocks buyer is less likely to be an extreme adventurer and more inclined toward recreational hammocking: hanging out at the park, taking a hard-earned study break or relaxing with a book. Other differentiators include cool features like the strap taco, Dunbar’s solution for securing the webbing straps; and the shotgun bag, which makes setup and breakdown easier

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Dunbar

•

and faster. The Infinity model offers a steel buckle adjustment over the industry-standard carabiner, providing the ultimate flexibility for hammock users looking for what Dunbar calls the “sweet spot” between two trees where comfort is at its best. Customization options include monogramming and a variety of embroidered images, as well as private labeling for businesses, schools and organizations. Here are the stepping stones that eased Sluice out of what Dunbar calls the friends and family stage of the business and into expanded markets: •

Name and logo: Gold prospectors use a tool called a sluice box to separate gold from dirt and rocks. Dunbar chose Sluice because he believes the gold standard is a fitting metaphor for his business ethic, where each choice is deliberate – from the quality of raw materials to the intuitive design and speedy setup of the finished hammock.

Website: Having control over his website, which launched earlier this year, gave Dunbar the ability to update content and inventory any time, from any location. New customers find their way to Sluice every day through the site: sluicehammocks.com.

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use code:

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New South Manufactory: When Dunbar became a tenant at New South Manufactory in October, he no longer had to move furniture around his apartment to make room for giant rolls of material. The cutting table at the site instantly quadrupled the number of hammocks he could cut in a set period of time, and with dedicated office and inventory space, and a room for testing new prototypes, Dunbar saw an immediate uptick in efficiency. New South, which opened its space inside the beltline just a month before Sluice moved in, is a cut-and-sew manufacturing facility offering design and consulting services, equipment, and space for entrepreneurs and creatives who design and sew.

•

HQ Raleigh: When Dunbar was doing engineering design work, he felt limited without the space to spread out. HQ Raleigh worked with him to define an ambassador membership that fit his needs, and he says the collaboration with fellow HQ members and professional development opportunities have been invaluable as his startup has grown. HQ Raleigh is a collective of entrepreneurs and professionals whose membership provides access to a flexible, amenity-rich workspace, opportunities for learning and connecting, and discounts on software and business services.

Having these supports in place, Dunbar envisions a lively 2016 for Sluice. He now has three part-time employees to help with sales and marketing, and he’s teaching them some aspects of the production – a boon when orders are spiking and an extra set of hands is needed. Dunbar says their passion for the product is infectious. “At some point, you’ve built something bigger than yourself. It comes with heightened expectations, and people are looking at you to see what comes next for your business,” he says. “Being able to play just a small role in reinvigorating a type of textile production in the state is pretty exciting. This could be a big year.” midtownmag.com | 135

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SOCIALSLEUTHING Digital Detectives Help Solve Their Own Crimes By Jenni Hart midtownmag.com | 137

Raleigh may be one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, but when one of our own experiences hardship, we respond with the heart of a small town. When chef Ashley Christensen’s hulking portable cooker was stolen in early January, locals took to Facebook and Twitter with a fever rivaled only by their love of fried chicken and waffles, determined to track it down. Fellow business owners and friends ponied up rewards for information, and Christensen’s own Facebook post detailing the deed logged more than 7,000 shares. The happy ending we had all hoped for didn’t materialize, but the image of that cooker is burned into the memories of thousands of would-be hero detectives with the heat of a thousand wood-burning suns. Police departments across the country increasingly credit social media and the internet with helping them track suspects and recover stolen property, so there is reason at least to remain hopeful.

In another local case, violin shop owner John Montgomery was, ahem, instrumental in helping to foil the plans of a trio of criminals whose interstate thefts of violins and other instruments spanned several months in the spring of 2015. When the first suspect entered Montgomery’s shop on Hillsborough Street, where he’s done business since 1987, he came with a couple of violins he wanted to sell and a plausible tale about their origin. “He started by telling me he didn’t play violin himself, but was trying to help an ailing elderly woman who wanted to sell her collection,” Montgomery says. “I had no obvious reason to doubt his story.” Still, owing to caution and a hint of prescience, Montgomery asked the man for identification, and he handed over his driver’s license with no hesitation. Montgomery photocopied the license for his files and 138 | midtownmag.com

purchased two of the man’s violins for a couple thousand dollars, and the man left without incident. When a different man visited the shop the following month, a few inconsistencies in his story piqued Montgomery’s suspicions. “People are fairly predictable and tend to follow the same basic patterns,” he says. “So when you pick up on an aberration, you start wondering whether you’re seeing run-of-the-mill odd behavior or odd behavior that has a criminal aspect to it.” When the man said he sold custom-made men’s suits for a living, Montgomery found it curious that his own suit was so baggy and ill-fitting. The man told Montgomery his mother-in-law had a sizable collection of violins, and he was interested in finding a buyer. In a move deserving entry in the dumb criminals file, the man returned a couple weeks later and left behind a violin for Montgomery to research further to determine its value. He also left his contact information, including a fake name but a valid phone number. Expensive violin in hand, his spidey senses tingling, Montgomery took to the internet to investigate. He explains the ease of identifying an individual violin for experienced makers and dealers. “I knew the name of the violin maker, so when a Google search pointed to a shop in the Atlanta area, I took one look at the photo on the website and knew immediately it was the same instrument,” he says. Unlike cars and other items that are often reported stolen, violins are fashioned from wood with unique grain patterns and distinct variations that make them instantly recognizable for those in the know. Montgomery contacted the Raleigh Police Department and the Atlanta store owner, connecting the dots in a crime ring involving three shops in Georgia where instruments had been poached, as well as a shop in Tennessee and Montgomery’s shop, where the thieves had hoped to sell the stolen goods. When a Raleigh officer responded to his call, Montgomery handed over the file containing his notes and the copy of the first suspect’s driver’s license. “They were happy to have so much information to work with,” he says. Officers in Georgia eventually tracked the men, a threesome in cahoots, to an Atlanta hotel room full of stolen violins and wind instruments. Before the suspects were apprehended, two professional organizations, the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers, and the Violin Society of America, were quick to alert their members to be on the lookout for stolen instruments.

Serving violin enthusiasts throughout the US, the groups can digitally connect victims of instrument theft with the niche community most able to assist them. “The whole country lit up,” Montgomery says, describing the buzz over the stolen instruments. Many speculated about Montgomery’s second suspect that his oversized suit had been used to conceal the shoplifted violins. If anything good can be said about the incident, it’s that former competitors, the three Atlanta area store owners, found a common cause to rally around. Raleigh Police Department Lieutenant David Dunmyre says that with the advent of social media, victims of theft have more opportunities than ever to help recover stolen belongings. He says that’s a good thing, but cautions homeowners and business owners to file a police report when a theft occurs and to communicate with officers as new information becomes available. Technologies to capture photos and video, and the widespread use of social media, have become part of the arsenal in investigating crime, he says. “It puts more eyes on the lookout for suspects and suspicious activity,” he adds, noting that stolen property is often taken out of state, reducing the likelihood that a local investigation will have adequate resources to pursue the investigation. Dunmyre reminds theft victims to avoid getting involved in any activity that could put them in danger. Contacting a suspected thief on a site like Craigslist, for example, is a terrible idea. “If you think you see your stolen property online or in person, you should get as much information as you safely can and pass it along to the police,” Dunmyre says. If you’ve never been a victim of theft, you probably don’t think of Facebook, Twitter or Instagram as tools for crime solving, but these platforms are now an obvious complement to traditional police work. One survey from the International Association of Chiefs of Police found that 96 percent of police departments use social media in some capacity, and more than 80 percent say it has helped them solve crimes. Should Ashley Christensen’s beloved cooker ever resurface as a result of social media detective work, let’s hope the bad guys get their just deserts. midtownmag.com | 139

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.

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dynamic lifestyle photography f8 Photo Studios >>> Cara Grace Galati There are people in this world who can light up a room with the sheer energy of their presence, and Cara Grace Galati is one of them. She moved to Raleigh in 2004 to follow her dreams of being a photographer, and sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been an unstoppable force in the photography industry ever since. From commercial work to weddings and portraits, anyone who has ever had the privilege of working with Cara can tell you that she exudes a love and enthusiasm for life that is contagious and undoubtedly shows in the beautiful images she creates. 3801 Hillsborough Street, Suite 121, Raleigh, NC 27607 | 919.835.0999 | f8photostudios.com 142 | midtownmag.com

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elite hair salon PLUM Hair Atlier >>> Ashley Collins, Erin Shebaugh At PLUM, our commitment is to create a team of passionate individuals consisting of some of the industry’s top performing hairdressers. We go to great lengths to provide an experience for each guest that exceeds their expectations. Our space is high-end yet also has the warmth of a family environment. It allows people from all walks of life to find PLUM as an oasis from their daily routine. Whether you’re striving for a classic cut or a complete image revamp, the talent at PLUM will help you find your hair’s maximum potential. 1028 Oberlin Road, suite 228, Raleigh, NC 27605 | 919.833.0107 | plumhairatelier.com

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Engagement Rings Fink’s jewelers >>> In 1930, Nathan Fink founded Fink’s Jewelers. Today, our company is owned and operated by the third and fourth generation of the founding family, with customer service remaining the cornerstone of our philosophy. We take pride in presenting our customers with an extensive selection of the finest quality jewelry, diamonds and Swiss timepieces, all while providing an experience that reflects our personal integrity, our passion for the product we sell, and our commitment to unsurpassed customer service. Come in and discover why Fink’s Jewelers is one of the country’s “Top 50” jewelers! 4321 Lassiter at North Hills Ave, Suite 120, Raleigh, NC 27609 | 919.881.8247 | finks.com

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go-to realtor in the triangle TJ Lowe Group >>> Trish Lowe We understand the importance of exceeding client expectations and making certain the home buying and selling process is as seamless and stress-free as possible. Our unparalleled service, attention to detail and excellent negotiation skills inspire confidence in our clients. Win-win is at the heart of every transaction, and our goal is to guide you successfully and easily through the contractual, investment and emotional decisions involved in the real estate process. See why the TJ Lowe Group is the best choice for all your real estate needs! Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Cary, Morrisville and Surrounding Areas | 919.272.6640 | sellhomesraleighnc.com SPECIAL PROMOTION

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FACES of

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Hair Transformation and Artistry GARNISH HAIR STUDIO + EXTENSION BAR >>> Owned and operated by veteran stylist and renowned transformation expert, Candice Motley, Garnish Hair Studio + Extension Bar is a luxury salon located in North Raleigh. Garnish delivers a fresh approach to hair transformation with sophistication and care. From color to cuts, styling and hair extensions, Garnish Hair Studio is committed to transforming the lives of each client through the art of hair. At Garnish, you can expect unparalleled customer service and thoughtful attention to creating an unforgettable experience like no other salon. 6400 Creedmoor Road, Suite 101, Raleigh, NC 27613 | 919.793.4008 | garnish-studio.com 146 | midtownmag.com

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FACES of

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implant artistry sedation dental care at raleigh smile center >>> Daniel Davidian DDS, PA

Dr. Daniel Davidian is a full-service implant dentist restoring single teeth or a full mouth. His tooth rejuvenation program uses digital technology to place and restore dental implants, achieving unprecedented functional and aesthetic results, restoring beauty and function that approaches or even exceeds the original. Designing the aesthetics before placing the implant is the cornerstone of successful cosmetic results. Providing a level of comfort to his patients with the convenience of getting comprehensive care just makes sense. • Same-day tooth replacement on qualifying cases • Full-mouth dental reconstruction

• Implant retained or supported dentures • Oral/IV sedation or general anesthesia

3917 Sunset Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC 27607 | 919.783.9686 | raleighsmilecenter.com

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Integrated Educational Services tammy lynn center >>> Since 1969, the Tammy Lynn Center has enriched the lives of children and adults through integrated educational, community and support services. Starting at birth, we provide a wide range of early intervention services for children up to age three. Our Building Blocks program adds small group developmental play to build social skills in children ages 18 months to three years. We offer a fully inclusive preschool for children ages three to five. And for children who have significant medical disabilities, we also operate a school with grades K-12. In all, more than 100 children and young adults receive services from the TLC throughout the year.Â 739 Chappell Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606 | 919.832.3909 | tammylynncenter.org 148 | midtownmag.com

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FACES of

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invisalign orthodontics Gladwell Orthodontics >>> Dr. Jason Gladwell has been serving the Triangle area for almost a decade, providing superior orthodontic services in a comfortable, patient-oriented office environment. He and his highly-trained professional staff are devoted to effective, cutting-edge orthodontic care. Dr. Gladwell is an Invisalign Super Elite provider, placing him among the top one percent of providers in the country. Dr. Gladwell continues to welcome new patients into his office and many are referred by satisfied, existing patients. The highest compliment we receive is when our patients refer their family and friends. We encourage new patients to see for themselves why Gladwell Orthodontics is the No. 1 provider of Invisalign in North Carolina. 2824 Rogers Road #200, Wake Forest, NC 27587 | 919.453.6325 | gladwellorthodontics.com SPECIAL PROMOTION

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2016

FACES of

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local craft beer THE RALEIGH TIMES >>> A lawyer, a politician and a construction worker walk into a bar. It’s not the beginning of a punch line, it’s five o’clock at The Raleigh Times in downtown Raleigh. When you’re drinking a beautifully crafted local IPA at the bar of a carefully restored newspaper building, you’re never among strangers. Consistently one of America’s top 100 beer bars, at The Raleigh Times we know that a love for local craft beer isn’t just a hobby. It goes beyond enjoying a golden White Street Kolsch on a warm day. It’s a sense of pride in what we accomplish as a community. Besides, at the end of the day, what’s better than a craft brew with friends? 14 E. Hargett Street, Raleigh, NC 27601 | 919.833.0999 | raleightimesbar.com 150 | midtownmag.com

SPECIAL PROMOTION

2016

FACES of

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Luxurious Fine Jewelry Haydon & Company >>> We love being a part of Raleighâ&#x20AC;Śits tradition, character and charm. For over 38 years, we have had the unique opportunity to provide the area with jewelry rarely seen. Our dedication to the art and craft of jewelry requires time, effort and patience, which we give to each piece regardless of size. Our experience and expertise allows us to maintain our vision of providing jewelry of the most unbending standards of quality, style and taste. Accept our invitation to experience our passion for fine jewelry. 1803 Oberlin Road, Raleigh, NC 27608 | 919.781.1293 | haydonco.com

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Modern European Furniture ambiente modern furniture >>> Ambiente Modern Furnitureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission is to bring the finest brands of modern furniture to the Triangle. In our 32,000 square foot showroom you can experience the best furniture from all around the world. We have been in business for over 30 years and are extremely proud of our reputation for quality and service. We stock many of the items that we sell and will always guarantee the lowest price. Stop by our showroom today and find out why we have been the leader in modern furniture in North Carolina for over three decades. 3915 Beryl Road, Raleigh, NC 27607 | 919.572.2870 | ambientefurniture.com 152 | midtownmag.com

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MOHS SURGERY Bain Dermatology, PA >>> Dr. E. Eugene Bain III Bain Dermatology is a comprehensive center for skin cancer prevention, detection and treatment. We offer a full range of dermatologic services and provide unrivaled, individualized patient care. Beyond being a board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Bain is a fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon. Mohs surgery is a technique that allows the surgeon to minimize the amount of tissue removed and provide the best possible cosmetic outcome, all while achieving the highest cure rate of any technique currently available. Let Dr. Bain help you decide if Mohs surgery is the most appropriate treatment choice for your skin cancer. 7200 Creedmoor Road, Suite 104, Raleigh, NC 27613 | 919.518.0999 | baindermatology.com SPECIAL PROMOTION

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mommy makeover Davis & Pyle Plastic Surgery >>> Dr. Jeremy Pyle Some people seek out a reputation in a particular space. For Dr. Pyle, it just evolved. After being mentored by Dr. Davis in drainless abdominoplasty, he has quickly evolved into “the surgeon” in the Triangle for women who struggle with the reality that their bodies change. A mommy makeover deals with the consequences of these changes with the goal of restoring confidence in, and out, of clothes. Dr. Pyle and his staff are experts at taking an uncomfortable concept and making it into an exceptional experience. 2304 Wesvill Court, Suite 360, Raleigh, NC 27607 | 919.785.1220 | dpraleigh.com

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movement PULSE PILATES >>> “Change happens through movement, and movement heals.” – Joseph Pilates Pulse Pilates is a full-equipment Pilates studio that trains individuals at every level of fitness; from professional dancers at Carolina Ballet to Miss North Carolina to seniors in their 70s and 80s. Pilates Master Ron Fletcher said “Movement should be approached like life, with enthusiasm, joy and gratitude.” Pulse approaches all sessions with that in mind. We offer group classes or private sessions with highly trained, fully certified staff. Pulse is a nonjudgmental space where Pilates is for every BODY! 7440-14 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, NC 27615 | 919.758.8557 | pulsepilates.net SPECIAL PROMOTION

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2016

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north carolina barbecue THE PIT AUTHENTIC BARBECUE >>> When it comes to barbecue, we go whole-hog. That’s how it all started over three and a half centuries ago in North Carolina. A locally grown, nationally recognized barbecue joint in North Carolina, The Pit has made a name for itself by relying on truth, not trends, because that’s how it’s always been done around here. From our North Carolina raised, free-range hogs right down to our local heirloom cabbage collards, we proudly uphold the tradition of community and celebration in North Carolina barbecue at our two locations in downtown Raleigh and downtown Durham. 328 W. Davie Street, Raleigh, NC, 27601 | 919.890.4500 321 W. Geer Street, Durham, NC 27701 | 919.282.DPIT thepit-bbq.com 156 | midtownmag.com

SPECIAL PROMOTION

2016

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paint and sip Wine & Design >>> Harriet Mills Harriet Mills co-founded Wine & Design in Raleighâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Five Points neighborhood in 2010, and a year later the first franchise opened in Cary. Wine & Design now has 65 studios nationwide that cater to first-time painters, aspiring artists, and self-proclaimed pros. At nightly painting parties, guests receive step-by-step instruction from professional artists while enjoying their favorite beverages, and everyone leaves with an individualized work of art. Studios also offer childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s programs as well as private parties, mobile events, charity events and corporate team-building programs. 1520 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 200A, Raleigh, NC 27608 | 919.803.3343 | wineanddesign.com

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midtowndowntown

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Nama-stay in Bed

Sunrise Yoga Classes Pop Up at Unique

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Loc

Yoga instructor Carrington Jackson leads sunrise yoga.

By Karlie Justus Marlowe Photography by Tyler Helikson

Locations Around Downtown

At the entrance to historic Oakwood Cemetery, a final resting place for hundreds of people for hundreds of years on the southeastern edge of downtown Raleigh, the fog slowly starts to roll in. It’s about 6:30am on a late-summer morning, and the sun that’s just now starting to rise casts an eerie but peaceful glow. This morning, though, there are more than 100 living, breathing people gathered for the 2015 season’s final sunrise yoga class, their brightly hued yoga mats lining the sloping, grassy hill just below the first of the headstones. “When the fog rolled in during savasana while we were at Oakwood Cemetery, it was magical,” said yoga instructor Carrington Jackson, who led the students through the hour-long outdoor class and meditation. Together with local “clean fuel” restaurant Happy + Hale, she created the summer-long sunrise series to introduce new students to yoga, include live musical accompaniment, and find unique locations around Raleigh – but found she got something back as well. “Someone sent a note to us after the cemetery class to tell us about her friend who had died from cancer in the last year, and they had always done yoga together,” she said. “It would’ve been his birthday, and she could feel him there. You know, we put these events out there and we never know if people will show up or get something out of them, so that was great to hear.” Jackson first teamed up with Happy + Hale to celebrate its Fayetteville Street city center location’s opening in June 2014, leading the first class in the green space next door. Co-owner Tyler Helikson remembers being surprised at the turnout for that initial class. “Two hundred people at 6am is a lot!” he says with a laugh, before noting the business’ natural tie-in to yoga and meditation. “Yoga is inclusive, and anyone can do it. We strive to do the same thing. Carrington’s students are our customers, people who are looking for whole, clean fuel.” Sarah Findle, a public relations manager who works in downtown Raleigh, has attended three sunrise sessions, and counts the classes as a major motivator to get out of bed. “I like to work out in the morning anyway, and having the chance to be outside and see the sunrise

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makes it that much easier to get out of bed,“ she said. “Sometimes it’s harder to balance because you are on uneven grass in an outdoor setting, so finding your drishti if the wind is blowing or clouds are moving can be tough. But that just makes it more challenging and fun.” After a few more follow-up classes in 2014 at city center’s green space, Jackson and Helikson branched out to new locations in 2015, leading sunrise classes on the last Friday of the month from May-September at surprising popup studios – including the Raleigh Rose Garden and the North Carolina Museum of Art, which drew more than 200 people. “At the museum, I led meditation around the reflective pool in the garden,” remembers Jackson, who also teaches at downtown studio Blue Lotus. “After class someone sent an email to Tyler, and said she didn’t get anything out of the class, but instead she left something there. The year before, she was supposed to get married there, but her fiance ditched her. The sunrise yoga session allowed her to let it go right in the same spot.” The free events quickly fill up through word of mouth and social media. There are no tickets or sign-up 160 | midtownmag.com

Poses Inspired by

Raleigh

Try your hand out at these yoga asanas, or poses, inspired by the sunrise series’ previous locations. Stay tuned for 2016 classes via @happyandhale on Twitter and Instagram. Historic Oakwood Cemetery: Corpse Pose Corpse pose, another name for yoga’s final resting pose savasana, is a class-ending meditation on the back. North Carolina Museum of Art: Sphinx Pose The Museum’s ancient Egyptian collection calls for this chest-opening asana. Lying on your stomach, set your elbows under your shoulders with forearms parallel on the floor. Inhale and lift your upper torso and head into a mild backbend. Raleigh Rose Garden: Lotus Pose Lotus, also known as Padmasana, is an advanced seated meditation pose. The legs are folded into flower-like folds, with each foot nestled into the opposite hip joint. City Center: Crane Pose This arm balance is named after the bird, not the ever-present construction cranes that dot downtown. However, it requires similar balance in mid-air: In a squat with arms on the ground in front of you, balance the knees on the triceps.

(clockwise from top left) More than 200 yogis gather at the NCMA campus; Historic Oakwood Cemetery opened early to host a 2015 class; Instructor Carrington Jackson leads a group meditation at an NCMA courtyard.

forms, or even an official website or Facebook page. “The unknown of when it’s happening or even where it’s going to be well ahead of time adds to the experience,” said Carrington. “It’s kind of magical.” The pair is on the hunt for new hosts for 2016, hoping to replicate the magic of previous years’ meetings. Locations and dates will be posted to Happy + Hale’s Twitter, Instagram and Facebook pages, with additional boosts from Jackson’s social channels. And while the sites may change, the classes’ early morning timing and spirit will remain the same. “Our sunrise yoga sessions help to lighten the mood around yoga,” says Carrington. “It can get a bad rap for ‘yoga should be this, it should be that.’ The best feedback I’ve gotten so far is when someone told me, ‘I never knew yoga could be this much fun.’”

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midtowndowntown

Gardens in the

Sky

Balcony Gardening Tips for Urban Condo Dwellers By Karlie Justus Marlowe Photography by Colburn Collective When Amy Wagher relocated from a condo in PNC Plaza to a new space at The Lincoln Apartments on downtown Raleigh’s eastern edge, she deliberately selected the space to guarantee enough sunlight for an urban garden. “I found myself always buying a few key items from the farmers’ market, and I thought that it would just make sense to have my own supply,” said Wagher, who cares for lemon and lime trees, basil, sweet mint, lemon-thyme and cilantro in her balcony garden. “And I wanted the little bit of greenery in my urban setting.” Like many of the young professionals filling up downtown’s recent spat of new highrise condos, Wagher didn’t want to sacrifice greenery for the convenience and vibrancy of the city center. Bryce Lane, a horticulture instructor at NC State, University, has noticed a recent uptick in this kind of urban garden. “I think they are becoming more popular for a few reasons. First, the millennial generation is much more interested in living downtown than any other group right now,” he said. “It also reduces the ‘food desert’ effect, where there are no fresh fruits and veggies available for sale in many urban areas.” Despite her prime sunlight, Wagher admits her efforts have been a work in progress as she

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Creating a Concrete Jungle Testing out your green thumb in a small space for the first time? Here are a few tips from Bryce Lane, horticulture instructor at NC State University, and Anne Spafford, associate professor of landscape design in NC State’s Department of Horticultural Sciences. 1. Keep in mind that east and west-facing balconies get only about three to five hours of sun. North-facing gets just an hour or two in the middle of summer, while southfacing is going to be very hot and sunny. Choose plants accordingly. 2. Always use a reputable, moisture-control potting soil with slow release fertilizer such as Miracle Gro. Browse Seaboard Station’s Logan Trading Company and Ace Hardware, gardening staples located on downtown’s southern tip. 3. The container is key. Buy sizable pots for planting, and make sure containers have drainage holes for excess water to drain. Containers that are small dry out faster. 4. Start small with eight- to 16-inch containers with forgiving herbs like rosemary and basil, or easy-to-care-for succulents. Vegetables like tomatoes and peppers require a minimum of six to seven hours of full, unimpeded sunlight, while leafy veggies do better in less sun. 5. Don’t kill your plants with kindness. Many people over-water their plants. Before saturating the plant by making sure the water runs all the way through the pot and out of the drainage hole, check soil moisture with your fingers. 6. Consider mixing plants with varying leaf color and texture, size and flowers. A golden standard is to include a ‘thriller’ that is tall and upright, a ‘spiller’ that trails over the edge of the container, and a ‘filler,’ an interesting middle-sized plant that fills up the rest of the space.

learns the ins and outs of gardening without a spigot or dirt. “Urban or balcony gardening is so different from managing a plot garden,” said Wagher. “For starters, everything is in pots. I had to come to terms with the fact that my lemon and lime trees will not get to full size as long as they stay in pots, but will stay more like a citrus bush.” Despite the drawbacks of potted plants, Wagher points to several advantages. “You can control the growth of some plants and herbs that tend to take over,” she said. “And winterizing your garden is easier when you have everything in pots; you just bring them inside to escape the cold.” In addition to easy access to fresh fruits and vegetables, balcony gardens can also provide privacy. “Vines in containers are a great trick,” said Anne Spafford, an associate professor of landscape design in NC State’s Department of Horticultural Sciences. “They can provide colorful flowers, interesting foliage, and even perhaps privacy from an adjacent balcony.” And despite the limited space, these types of gardens can be just as therapeutic and addictive as their larger counterparts. “I plan to venture into peppers next,” said Wagher with a smile.

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