Midtown Magazine

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2019

Celebrate the Season

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE • PARTY FASHION PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE Doreen Colondres Opens Vitis House Wine School in Raleigh

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2019

When the weather outside is frightful, a bright smile is so delightful.

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Publisher’s Letter L ADIES

and with consummate attention

BOUTIQUE

to detail. It’s rare to find one individual who can pull off both hair and face across multiple looks in a tight timeframe— and, in this case, working from a staging area that was never intended to be a dressing room.

Photo by Mick Schulte

North Hills Adjacent to Renaissance Hotel 919-788-4200 Raleigh North Carolina

T

Speaking of which, fashion features at this level would never happen without the support of key partners.

For this one, we have to give a shout out to the City of Raleigh hat was us! In case

and to SkyHouse Raleigh (permits and

you’re one of the folks

a place to work are essential!)

who happened upon our holiday fashion produc-

Then there are the real stars of the

tion in Moore Square on

show: retailers and boutique stylists

a crisp October night. We created quite

who shared their fashion and expertise

a stir in the downtown hotspot, much

in pulling together outfits. So many

of it after midnight. But the late-night

conversations and visits ahead of time—

hours are barely a fraction of the time it

one of the gorgeous dresses was flown

took to pull together our “Night on the

in ahead of schedule just to be included,

Town” fashion feature.

and another was sold the day before the shoot and the purchaser agreed to let

You can see the results beginning on

us borrow it!

page 92, and here’s a behind-the-scenes

MartasofRaleigh.com

meet Gene Kagan OW N E R / DESIGNER OF LO L A + S O P H I E F R I DAY, N OV 8 1 2 TO 6 P M

6 | MidtownMag.com

debrief: It starts with a dramatic vision,

And the sparkle that iced the cake?

thanks to photographer Joe Reale, who

Thanks go to Davante Falls, marketing

brought together an amazing group—

and merchandising manager at

including his assistants, who, like Joe,

Diamonds Direct. He not only selected

have careers in other industries but

the pieces for each outfit—he and off-

pursue their photography passions on

duty officer Andy also attended the

the side. Fun fact: Joe works in medical

entire photo session, exuding a sense of

sales and his assistant, Liz (also his

security that made it easy to relax while

sister), is a paralegal.

we frolicked in the park after midnight.

Our holiday model, Claire Galt, kept her

Wishing everyone the merriest of

charisma burning all night. I imagine

seasons, with at least one exciting

we’re all going to say we knew her

night on the town to report!

when, but not because of her runway aspirations. A student at UNC–Chapel Hill, she’s set her sights on a job in broadcasting. Makeup and hair stylist Deidre Mattingly transitioned Claire from one look to the next in record time

Connie Gentry Editor / Publisher

Your opinions matter to us. Let us know what you think of this issue of Midtown magazine.

Please email connie@midtownmag.com with your comments.

Publisher / Editor Connie Gentry Design Director / Copy Editor Cindy Huntley Graphic Design Jennifer Heinser Advertising Design Jordan Beard Social Media / Community Engagement Brittany Murdock Senior Account Executives Meredith Mills Charis Painter Cary Living Associate Publisher Maddi Blanchard Distribution Manager Joe Lizana Editorial Contributors Elizabeth Brignac, Alex Dixon, Kurt Dusterberg, Kat Harding, Katie Jansen, Elaine Klonicki, Bryan Reed, Mick Schulte, Anita B. Stone, Cherie Ann Vick, Ginny Williams

Contributing Photographers Scott Kelly, Mash Photography, Warren McCormack, Abby Moreno, Joe Reale, Mick Schulte, Ginny Williams

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 U.S. equal opportunity law.

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

8 | MidtownMag.com

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CONTENTS /

features 60

DE C E MBE R

2 0 1 9

Photo by Joe Reale

NOV E MBE R

Festive Holiday Looks Create a party face with French style.

66A The 2019

Holiday Gift Guide Fun to frivolous, there are presents for the young and young at heart.

A Café for the Community Farmhouse Cafe brings Danish “mood food” to Wendell Falls.

86

Toasts of the Town Raleigh wine experts recommend the best pairings for festive occasions.

92

92

Light Up the Night Photo by MASH Photography

78

Fashion that sparkles and shimmers with holiday style.

102

Glazed & Enthused Eight of the best spots to claim your favorite sugar rush.

114

People Helping People Ordinary individuals providing extraordinary acts of care.

102

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CONTENTS NOV E MBE R

on the scene

/

friend can benefit local rescues.

20 Travel Experience a colonial Christmas in historic Edenton.

24 Entertainment The year in music.

30 Arts Voices of the North

Photo by Scott Kelly

Holiday portraits of your four-legged

2 0 1 9

Photo by Abby Moreno of Paws Fur Joy Photography

16 Community

DE C E MBE R

Carolina Symphony.

departments

16

32

32 Chef’s Table

Chef Eric Montagne serves Carolina catches at Locals Oyster Bar.

36 Game-Show Celebrity

Raleigh teacher spins the wheel

and wins.

40 Living Well

Windowsill gardening creates

a healthful indoor oasis.

46 Revisiting a Dark Chapter

A local attorney’s debut book reviews the 2006 murder of Michelle Young.

52 Candid Conversation A celebrity chef opens

a wine school for all.

68 Home Cooking

Cinnamon rolls, gingersnaps,

and winter kale salad.

in every issue 14 Social Scene

sponsored content 137

BEAUTY EXPERTS

Tastes of the City

SPECIAL SECTION

76

Foodie Focus

134

Home Styler

84

Sister Cities

136

Healthy You

150

Shopping Trends

0050

157 Out & About

• Dine & Draft

• Holiday Performances

• Midtown Mingles

• New Around Town

178 Kaleidoscope Living

ON THE COVER: Photography by MASH Photography Loading Dock 1053 on Whitaker Mill Road, the setting for the cover shoot, features dramatic neon lighting by acclaimed artists Nate Sheaffer and Louis St. Lewis.

We saved a little summer for you in Corolla.

Corolla.

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The legendary wild horses of Corolla, unique historical sites, family friendly beaches and warm breezes are just a few of the reasons why fall is a great time to visit.

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On the SOCIAL Scene

Let’s Connect!

BY BRITTANY MURDOCK

As the weather gets cooler, be sure to pop in to A Place at the Table for their warm Chai Spiced Waffles complete with butter, maple syrup, and whipped cream.

Midtown got a look inside the NC State Howling Cow dairy farm. We met the cutest cows, learned how the milk is handled before it leaves the farm to be processed, and wrapped up the tour with some delicious Howling Cow chocolate ice cream. Follow @ ncstatehowlingcow for future tour dates!

The heat was on at the Midtown Farmers Market Iron Chef Challenge as we judged the fierce competition. Congratulations to Mia Francesca for winning the Iron Chef Award and Kings Dining & Entertainment for taking home Best Presentation!

Get Social With Us! 14 | MidtownMag.com

midtownmag.com

MidtownMagazine

MidtownMag

@midtownmagazine

We’ve got your back.

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On the COMMUNITY Scene

ROMEO, A 1.5-YEAR-OLD AMERICAN FOXHOUND AND BORDER COLLIE MIX ADOPTED BY JULIA SAGERDAHL.

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project

Paws-Giving

BY BRITTANY MURDOCK

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ABBY MORENO, PAWS FUR JOY PHOTOGRAPHY

Paws Fur Joy Photography aims to help local rescues by offering professional photos of your favorite furry friend.

For Abby Moreno of Paws Fur Joy Photography, it was her childhood golden retriever Penny that helped her cope with the loss of her mom at a young age.

It was the first time she realized just how much joy a dog could bring into the world and the various gifts they give us—a lick after a long day at work, their unconditional love, and the comfort they provide in times of need.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

| 17

GREG, AN 8-YEAR-OLD PUG ADOPTED BY JULIA BROWN

With her full-time job keeping her busy during the week, Abby spends her weekends volunteering with local rescues—snapping photos of dogs ready for adoption or photographing one of their local events. While brainstorming with her husband one evening, she decided to merge her love for photography and dogs into a fundraiser—Project PawsGiving. It’s the perfect opportunity to receive professional photos of your fur baby while giving back to the community.

Every weekend through the end of November, pet parents will have the opportunity to sign up for a 45-minute photo shoot at one of the many parks here in the Triangle—Historic Oak View County Park, North Cary Park, the North Carolina Museum of Art, and Falls Lake. Add fun props, outfits, collars, bandanas, or anything else that complements the personality of your pet.

The cost for receiving five fully edited images is up to you: Abby accepts any donation of the pet parent’s choosing, and 100 percent of the proceeds will be split evenly and donated

18 | MidtownMag.com

to three local rescues (Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue, Pawsitively Pugs Rescue, and Love Mutts Rescue). The money will go toward vet costs and assist with surgeries, vaccines, microchipping, and much more.

While a photo shoot is fun for many, other dogs are rather camera shy—but Abby insists that’s nothing to worry about.

“My top priority is making the dog feel comfortable,” she says.

“I get them used to the noise of the camera and make sure they warm up to me before the shoot. A lot of people tell me their dog doesn’t photograph well, but it only takes a fraction of a second to capture the shot—and if the dog is hyper or more active, we can grab action shots.”

While Abby is not aiming for a specific dollar amount in donations, she hopes it is enough to make an impact. To reserve your time slot and your preferred location, contact Abby at pawsfurjoy@gmail.com—but hurry as slots are booking fast!

All of Project Paws-Giving proceeds will be split evenly and donated to three local rescues: Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue, Pawsitively Pugs Rescue, and Love Mutts Rescue.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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Photo by Kip Shaw Photography

On the TRAVEL Scene

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Christmas

BY ELAINE KLONICKI

Colonial Style Historic Edenton is a scenic respite all year, but the holidays make it even more special.

A

s a colonial city, Edenton is steeped in history. Situated just two hours from Raleigh on the Albemarle Sound, this inner coastal locale with restored homes dating from the 1700s to the early 1900s is one of the prettiest small towns in North Carolina.

For our 35th anniversary trip in August, my husband and I wanted to relax somewhere by the water without having to drive too far. Since we’re history buffs, we selected Edenton, established in 1712, in part because of its significance as the first European settlement in our state and onetime capital of the colony.

Nicholas Sparks fans will remember Edenton as the location of the story in his book, The Rescue. Sparks described it as “a small town with a strong sense of community.”

To his point, the townspeople were warm and friendly from the start of our visit to the end. We arrived at the welcome center on the waterfront to find that the next Edenton Bay Cruises tour was leaving in five minutes. The helpful gentleman at the desk ran outside and asked the captain to hold the boat for us.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

| 21

CUPOLA HOUSE OPEN HOUSE

Photo courtesy of VisitEdenton.com

Captain Mark Thesier extended a hearty welcome as we boarded the six-passenger “Liber-Tea.” With the boat hugging the land in the shallow bay, the captain told us of Edenton’s dramatic transition from a loud, industrial port that exported lumber and cotton to a quiet bay surrounded by elegant waterfront homes.

CONFECTION PERFECTION SWEETS BY THE SOUND

In 1795, a hurricane silted the inlet, forcing the shipping traffic to move to nearby Norfolk. Over time, fill was brought in and the waterfront was redesigned, which led to the building of the stately homes seen there today. The resourceful people of Edenton further transformed the area through some impressive engineering feats: they rolled the Penelope Barker house on logs from its downtown setting to the waterfront; crafted a riverfront walkway from a recycled highway bridge; and moved the 1886 Roanoke River Lighthouse to the bay.

After the boat ride we enjoyed sandwiches at 309 Bistro and Spirits, and then checked into our hotel, returning to the waterfront in time to view an amazing sunset. We took a stroll, following it with a sumptuous late-evening meal at The 51 House, overlooking the sound.

Photo courtesy of VisitEdenton.com

The next morning, we visited St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, built in 1736, before boarding the trolley. Our knowledgeable guide was Sharon Keeter, a fixture in the local area. She pointed out the homes of prominent North Carolinians from Edenton, an impressive list from signers of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution to a former enslaved African American turned published abolitionist.

38TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CANDLELIGHT TOUR

We learned about the Edenton Tea Party in 1774, where 51 women, headed by Penelope Barker, sent letters to King George III and a British newspaper, eschewing British tea and textiles due to the “taxation without representation.”

The British government ignored the women’s demands, and London publications labeled the ladies of Edenton “uncontrollable.”

On the trolley, the townsfolk waved to us and we waved back, celebrity style, and the street busker’s music enlivened the downtown storefront area. More adventurous folks might have gone kayaking or hiking, but we opted for lattes at Edenton Coffee House, a central gathering spot and the meeting place for a Saturday afternoon knitting group.

Photo courtesy of VisitEdenton.com

The nearby Chowan Arts Council gallery featured beautiful artwork, sculpture, and jewelry. In response to our question about the high season there, the saleswoman explained that although June and July are the busiest months of the year, the holiday season is the most magical, drawing many visitors who want to take a step back in time.

If you’re craving a one-day or weekend getaway in a charming Southern town, this is the perfect time of year to head to Edenton. It’s an easy drive, and your blood pressure will thank you.

22 | MidtownMag.com

The Edenton Holiday Schedule EDENTON CHOWAN CHRISTMAS PARADE

December 6th Christmas Tree Lighting and Flotilla, Children’s Choir, and Santa!

December 7th Edenton Chowan Christmas Parade

December 13th–14th The 38th Annual Christmas Candlelight Tour of Historic Private Homes Cupola House Open House James Iredell House Open House with Costumed Interpreters and Cookies Confection Perfection Sweets by the Sound at the Chowan Arts Council Gallery Photo courtesy of VisitEdenton.com

For more information on upcoming holiday festivities, go to VisitEdenton.com.

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On the ENTERTAINMENT Scene

THE YEAR IN

MUSIC BIG STAGES AND RISING STARS MADE FOR A MUSIC FAN’S DREAM IN 2019.

BY BRYAN C. REED

In the thaw of early spring, the stalwart Raleigh punk label Sorr y State Records issued American Idylls, a sprawling compilation of local punk bands intended to offer a memento of a place and time in the city’s perennially productive underground hardcore and punk scenes.

And as a long summer stretched into fall, a pair of Raleigh natives—11-year-old violinist Tyler Butler-Figueroa and singer Christal Sanders Rheames, a member of the Voices of Service militar y vocal group—competed in the nationally broadcast finals of America’s Got Talent.

24 | MidtownMag.com

From the underground scenes of boutique record labels and tiny club shows to the nation’s biggest stages, Raleigh has proved time and again that it’s a hotbed for musical talent of all stripes.

And, increasingly, the City of Oaks is playing host to some big stages of its own.

FESTIVAL SEASON ALL YEAR ‘ROUND Last fall, Hurricane Florence washed out the highly anticipated Dreamville Festival, organized

by North Carolina native J. Cole. But the cancellation might have been a blessing in disguise. Having been scheduled for an already crowded September weekend, Dreamville benefitted from the delay to claim a sunny April weekend all to itself. Dreamville brought Cole, Nelly, Grammy-nominated North Carolina–native Rapsody, and rising star SZA, among others, to Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh.

As for September? It stayed plenty busy in 2019.

The weekend following Labor Day, Hopscotch Music Festival celebrated its tenth iteration. The festival’s headlining sets boasted indie-rock icons Sleater-Kinney and Chvrches, as well as R&B impresario Raphael Saadiq, along with the recently reunited,Triangle-bred hip-hop duo Little Brother. Club stages were packed with sounds ranging from hip-hop and electronic pop to heavy metal and psychedelic rock.

Soon after, the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) held its annual conference and festival—Wide Open Bluegrass—and, for the first time ever, made its main stage performances free to the public. For fans of the high-lonesome sound, that meant a gratis pass to see super groups like Del McCoury Band with Sam Bush, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Jon Fishman of Phish, and others, as well as I’m With Her, the trio of Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan, and Nickel Creek’s Sara Watkins.

The month ended with the North Carolina State Fair hosting its annual Homegrown Music Fest; its headlining performances drew longtime icons like the Charlie Daniels Band and beach-music pioneers The Embers, as well as jazz impresario Branford Marsalis and rising country-rock band American Aquarium. The fair’s daytime shows offered a wide array of interesting acts as well—ranging from the heavy rock of Lightning Born and Solar Halos to Boulevards’ neo-funk and Bombadil’s charming folkpop; from The Holland Brothers’ classic Americana to “neo-cosmic Americana jams;” and from Kamara Thomas to Young Bull’s electro R&B. Clearly the live music scene gave music lovers plenty of opportunities to dive deep into their favorite sounds. But the Triangle’s bands didn’t just stick to hometown gigs. Big studio releases from some of the area’s finest have earned acclaim well beyond the Old North State.

26 | MidtownMag.com

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2019’s BIGGEST BREAKOUTS Notable releases from local bands arrived on a regular basis throughout 2019. No matter where your tastes lie, there was something to whet the appetite.

Heavy metal supergroup Lightning Born (featuring members of Corrosion of Conformity and Demon Eye) debuted with a self-titled slab of vintage hard-rock riffs and searing vocals. Boulevards continued their streak of compelling funk revival with Yadig! while the widely acclaimed folk-rock outfit The Mountain Goats took inspiration from Dungeons & Dragons for their latest, In League with Dragons, and Mandolin Orange issued another vital piece of emotionally stirring acoustic Americana.

Little Brother—a group that has seen the highs and lows of success in the music industry—made a righteous comeback with the surprise release of May The Lord Watch, their first album in almost a decade, and a clear return to form for the group.

But few stars shone brighter than violinist Tyler Butler-Figueroa. North Carolina has spawned more than its fair share of telegenic talent-show stars, from Clay Aiken and Scotty McCreery to Chris Daughtry and Kellie Pickler. So it’s not surprising that the talent-rich region launched a charismatic performer to the finals of America’s Got Talent. What took the 11-year-old musician to that stage is more than just the heart-wrenching backstory of surviving school bullying and leukemia: It’s the fact that he’s

EVE, BY RAPSODY

developed a prodigious talent for performance, from merging his fluid violin melodies with contemporary pop songs to commanding a stage and an audience.

And Butler-Figueroa isn’t alone in the state in earning remarkable accolades. For the Snow Hill– born rapper Rapsody, accolades are almost expected.

Early in her career, Rapsody caught the attention of producer 9th Wonder, who signed her to his label, It’s A Wonderful World Music Group. Collaborations with the likes of Raekwon, Jean Grae, and Kendrick Lamar soon followed, and in 2016, she signed with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label to release 2017’s two-time Grammy-nominated Laila’s Wisdom.

So to say Rapsody set a high bar for herself would be an understatement. Naturally, she hurdled right over it with this year’s follow-up, Eve. Accolades abound, with Rolling Stone calling the album “a masterpiece of hip-hop feminism” and “easily one of the best rap records of the year.”

It doesn’t feel right to name any year the “Best Ever,” but for music fans, this one certainly had a lot to offer.

Here’s hoping that momentum carries into 2020.

28 | MidtownMag.com

Experience the lives, loves, and influence of two art icons of the 20th century.

Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Mexican Modernism from the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection is organized by the Vergel Foundation and MondoMostre in collaboration with the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura (INBAL).

The exhibition is made possible, in part, by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources; the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation, Inc.; and the William R. Kenan Jr. Endowment for Educational Exhibitions.

Research for this exhibition was made possible by Ann and Jim Goodnight/The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fund for Curatorial and Conservation Research and Travel.

PRESENTING SPONSOR

MEDIA SPONSOR

SUPPORTING SPONSOR

2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh Nickolas Muray, Frida Kahlo on Bench (detail), 1939, carbon print, 177⁄8 × 141⁄8 in., The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection of 20th-Century Mexican Art, The Vergel Foundation, Conaculta/INBA, © 2003 Nickolas Muray Photo Archives

ARTS

Photo by Mick Schulte

voices

of the North Carolina Symphony

BY CHERIE ANN VICK

What would the holidays be without special music? Whether your taste runs to popular songs, Christmas carols, brass groups, or bell choirs, there is something special for the ears this holiday season.

One very special concert is Handel’s Messiah, scheduled for December 6th and 7th at Meymandi Concert Hall in the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. It will be performed by the North Carolina Symphony, soloists, and the North Carolina Master Chorale, the Symphony’s resident chorus.

30 | MidtownMag.com

Photo courtesy of the NC Master Chorale

T

his latter group is comprised of 180 volunteers, all chosen through open auditions each August. While vocal ability is certainly important in Master Chorale candidates, previous ensemble experience is critical. “If a person has had lots of vocal training but has never sung in an ensemble, that can sometimes be problematic,” explains Al Sturgis, the group’s director since 1993. “We typically find singers who have sung in choruses either in high school, college, or other semi-professional community ensembles in other cities or markets.

We have a lot of folks moving to Raleigh right now; I would say most of my auditionees are people moving [here] from other areas.”

Rehearsals for the Chorale’s full performance season begin on the last Tuesday in August and continue throughout the school year. Singers sign in and take seats in their sections. Sturgis begins warmups promptly at 7:30, then directs the choir to the evening’s work. Baton in hand, he moves the group forward, stopping as needed to coach the dynamics, emphasis, vowel sounds, and placement of consonants. He doesn’t explain as much as demonstrate, singing in the bass clef one moment then moving in falsetto to the treble to quickly convey what he wants. If pitches are still shaky, he assigns measures for homework.

A singer undertaking a new work might spend weekends listening to recordings and practicing outside the rehearsal.

Because careful marking of the scores is critical to a quality performance, each section has a leader who serves as intermediary between the section and the conductor. Cathy Brawner, the alto section leader and a 30-year member, takes particularly good notes and keeps track of markings for dynamics, and breaths. (Yes, the conductor decides where the singers can breathe.) “Because Al is very consistent over time, when he repeats a performance, I will send out the notes already in my score to members of the section in advance so they can have Al’s markings in front of them before we even start rehearsals.”

THE NORTH CAROLINA MASTER CHORALE SERVES AS THE SYMPHONY’S RESIDENT CHORUS, AND ALSO PRESENTS CONCERTS ON ITS OWN.

For this Messiah, Sturgis has selected a portion of the chorus—about 60 members—for their knowledge of the work and vocal flexibility. Singers need to do the melismatic passages (singing of a single syllable across several quick notes) with articulation. That means a voice that is not too heavy or too dark, with an understanding of Baroque style. At the first rehearsal, he will center everyone’s attention on unified articulation and meaning of the text. He will coach some of the more challenging choruses: For Unto Us a Child Is Born, He Shall Purify, and His Yoke Is Easy. “His Yoke Is Easy is a tricky one,” Sturgis says.

Grant Llewellyn, the NC Symphony’s music director, will attend at least one of the two piano rehearsals and let the singers know any special interpretation he wants for his performance of Messiah with the Master Chorale. There will then be two rehearsals at Meymandi Hall with the orchestra the week of the performance.

This is Sturgis’ hand-off to Llewellyn, though Sturgis will attend these rehearsals and later email his chorale with any suggestions.

Reflecting on Messiah, Jack Neely, a 16-year member and the tenor section leader, says, “This is one of those unique pieces where every time you perform this work, you come away with something new. There is some new aspect you learn, some bit of technique that becomes better, some higher plane of existence that you get a glimpse of. There are very few works that are like that, and this is the genius of Handel.”

So when the tenor soloist finishes making the “rough places plain”, and Llewellyn cues the alto section, be prepared to hear the glory of the Lord in a fresh, new way.

Handel’s Messiah will be performed December 6th and 7th by the North Carolina Symphony, the North Carolina Master Chorale, and soloists.

For information, visit NCMasterChorale.org.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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CHEF’S Table

32 | MidtownMag.com

Fresh

CATCH

BY ALEX DIXON P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y S C O T T K E L LY

At Locals Oyster Bar, Chef Eric Montagne is

highlighting the bounty of the North Carolina coast.

If it were up to Chef Eric Montagne, the mullet would go by a different name.

It’s not the most appetizing name for a fish, he acknowledges, particularly when chefs like him are attempting to raise public awareness of eating sustainable seafood. You may not recognize

varieties like mullet, grunt, and porgy, but in the hands of a chef like Montagne, they can be just as flavorful as more popular counterparts like flounder, salmon, or snapper.

Montagne is the chef of Locals Oyster Bar, a restaurant developed by North Carolina seafood wholesaler Locals Seafood and Person Street Bar. Located in Transfer Co. Food Hall in downtown Raleigh, the restaurant has a regularly changing menu of creative takes on underappreciated and readily available seafood from the North Carolina coast.

Familiar preparations include items like fish and chips made with a changing fresh catch and served with tartar sauce and lemon; peel-and-eat shrimp, and ceviche served with radish, jalapeño, avocado, and sweet potato chips. But Montagne also offers numerous unexpected preparations in an attempt to reduce waste across all aspects of the restaurant. Take the tuna bloodline burger, for example, which guests can order as a single or double patty with cheddar cheese, lettuce, mustard, and pickles. It’s made from a red muscle in the tuna that is almost always cut out and discarded, and it comprises about 10 percent

of the animal—almost 80 to 100 pounds of lean meat. In addition to grinding it for burgers, Montagne also turns it into a Bolognese on the dinner menu, served with ricotta gnocchi, sofrito, pecorino, and savory cream.

“If you’re trying to serve something really weird, you have to serve it in a relatable fashion, which is why I serve the [fish] collars chicken-fried and the bloodline in a cheeseburger,” he says. “Those are common preparations where I can bridge the gap of something foreign with something common.”

Locals launched a casual counter-service menu in the food hall when it opened earlier this year, which includes a raw bar focused on North Carolina–cultivated and wild oysters and clams. In August, the restaurant began offering a full-service dinner menu on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. The simpler preparations from the counter-service menu become more involved on the dinner menu, including dishes like grilled swordfish pastrami with sauerkraut, charred cabbage, capers, pears, and a fish demi-glace, and a grilled whole vermillion snapper with peperonata, butter beans, olives, and mint.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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SHRIMP SALAD ROLL

Locals Oyster Bar

Shrimp Salad COURTESY OF CHEF ERIC MONTAGNE,

“The full-service menu was a way for me to express some creativity and a desire to have 100 percent utilization of fish, and try pushing some boundaries in that aspect,” Montagne says. “Doing seafood charcuterie and dry-aging whole fish is not something that’s being done.

Trying something completely new and taking a risk like that with your business is very scary, and I think without the setting we’re in at the food hall, I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing at the restaurant.”

Montagne grew up around the water. His father was a commercial fisherman in South Florida, and when his family moved to North Carolina nearly two decades ago, Montagne thought he was going to be an architect.

34 | MidtownMag.com

But, he began cooking to pay the bills during college and soon realized he wanted to pursue a career as a chef.

This led him out to Denver, but he eventually came back to North Carolina to lead chef Vivian Howard’s Boiler Room Oyster Bar in Kinston before going to take the helm of Raleigh’s Standard Foods following chef Scott Crawford’s departure. He didn’t plan on becoming the head chef at Locals, but his experience in preparing seafood and passion for using the wholesaler’s product made him a natural fit.

“The restaurant is an outlet for me to try new things, express my creativity, and really engage with diners who are interested in sustainability and the full utilization of seafood,” he says.

LOCALS OYSTER BAR

Ingredients

1 lb ¼ cup ¼ cup 2 1 cup ½ cup 3 Tbsp 1 tsp 1 tsp 1 tsp 1 Tbsp

steamed shrimp chives, sliced thin dill, picked from stem lemons, zested and juiced crème fraiche (can substitute sour cream) Duke’s mayonnaise smoked Spanish paprika chipotle powder garlic powder onion powder salt

Instructions 1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the crème fraiche, mayo, lemon juice and zest, and all spices.

2. Chop the cooked shrimp, then fold into the seasoned cream. Add all herbs and mix.

3. Allow mixture to marinate for 1 hour before serving.

Game-Show CELEBRITY

36 | MidtownMag.com

Word Play Pays Off Raleigh teacher spins the wheel and finds her fortune.

BY KURT DUSTERBERG / PHOTOS BY MASH PHOTOGRAPHY

R

achel Sirbaugh spends her days teaching fifth graders the nuts and bolts of writing. Each day is full of grammar, parts of speech, and diagramming sentences. “I try to make it fun, I try to be creative,” says Sirbaugh, in her fourth year teaching language arts at North Raleigh Christian Academy.

“It’s one of those subjects not everyone loves.”

Not everyone is a language lover, but—as she found out recently—there is money to be made in the wordsmith business. Growing up, she had a knack for solving the puzzles on “Wheel of Fortune,” the longrunning TV game show that relies on word skills, one vowel or consonant at a time. “My mom and I watched it every night when I was growing up,” Sirbaugh says.

“We always joked about how one of us had to be on the show. It kind of became a bucket list thing of mine.”

After an audition in Raleigh, she flew to California to be part of the show’s Teachers Week, which was filmed during the summer. And she won big, coming home with $71,980 in cash and prizes.

Sirbaugh’s winning appearance aired on the first episode of the new season in September. It all happened quickly, she recounts. After a trip through hair and makeup and a quick rehearsal, she was tossed into the game-show limelight with legendary hosts Pat Sajak and Vanna White. “I was shaking a little bit when I went up there.

It was definitely a little scary at first,” she says. “It’s totally different in real life because it’s always your turn when you’re sitting at home.”

She fought off the nerves and won the first round, solving the puzzle, “We’re back and better than ever.”

She didn’t realize her spin landed on a trip to Costa Rica until Sajak reminded her. “It was fun winning the trip in the first round because it boosted my confidence level,” she says. “That’s when I was like, ‘Okay, I’ve got this. I can do it. I don’t have to freak out so much.’”

She went on to solve four more puzzles in the main rounds including “Permission slip” and “Peanut butter and jelly.” She won a trip to Ireland for correctly calling “Blooming Shamrocks.”

All that success sent Sirbaugh to the bonus round, where she wondered if fate might align the letters one more time. She had recently been searching or a new car, setting her sights on a brand new, white Ford Edge. When she couldn’t make that happen, she bought another Edge, settling for a used one, and not her preferred color. But when she arrived for the show, her dream wheels were on Wheel. “So when I walked into that studio and I saw a brand new, white Ford Edge Titanium, which is exactly what I wanted, I was like, ‘Oh my goodness, that’s my car!’”

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

| 37

SIRBAUGH KEPT HER WIN A SECRET, AND RECIEVED CONGRATULATORY HUGS AND WELCOMES FROM STUDENTS AND COWORKERS THE DAY AFTER THE SHOW AIRED.

_ O _ SE

_D_ _O.

“After I picked my random letter, I’m like, it’s Boise, Idaho,” she says. “It was definitely the Os that helped.”

When Sajak opened the prize card to reveal she had won the car, Sirbaugh’s smile lit up the studio. She was quickly joined on stage by her mother and her husband, Nathan, for a celebration.

But that’s where the party ended, at least for a few weeks.

Contestants are not supposed to reveal that they were on the show until just before the scheduled airdate, and they are forbidden from revealing the outcome before the episode airs.

“We had some friends over to watch, and they were all cheering for me because they didn’t know what was happening,” she says.

“It was fun for us to keep it a secret so they actually found out when they watched the show.”

That was just the beginning. “I came to school the next morning and it felt like all of my students that I’ve ever had [were] coming into my classroom and giving me hugs,” she says. “I had a lot of staff coming to congratulate me, and all my friends were just blowing up my phone.”

“

38 | MidtownMag.com

The two trips and the car will provide a little lifestyle upgrade for newlyweds Rachel and Nathan, who were married last November. And there is also some money—a little more than $12,000—that will provide a nice nest egg. Otherwise, Sirbaugh is settling back into her routine. She is happy teaching at the K-through-12 school where she graduated in 2009. She is also the assistant coach for the varsity cheer and competition squad.

“Any extra money we have is going in the bank account for savings,” she says. “I have student loans I would love to pay [off] a little bit. We want to be smart and we want to start a family soon, so putting some money aside is probably the wise decision for us.”

Returning to her everyday life is fine with Sirbaugh, who says, “I really don’t like a lot of attention on me.” She plans to play golf with her husband, stay active with their dog, and spend time with friends. But she will have quite a story to tell at parties for many years to come.

“Vanna actually did pay us a special visit in the contestant room, just to thank us for being teachers, which was really cool,” Sirbaugh says. “The people who work there say she normally doesn’t come back before the show. The only time I saw Pat was when we were out doing the show. We chatted in-between commercial breaks.”

It’s totally different in real life because it’s

always your turn when you’re sitting at home.

“

To claim that prize, she was given the category “On The Map,” and she had to solve this:

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An Indoor 40 | MidtownMag.com

The beauty and harvest of windowsill gardening

T

he bright outdoor blooms of summer, gentle summer breezes, and the aroma of freshly cut grass may be missing this time of year, but one way you can keep the season alive and brighten your home is through indoor windowsill gardening.

Oasis

BY ANITA B. STONE

Healthy and happy green plants are a welcome respite from winter blahs; by using your windowsill to grow vegetables or display colorful plants, the winter doldrums can be sent packing. On a cold, gray day, houseplants bring comfort—and in mid-winter, they are especially satisfying, displaying color and texture to interior rooms and bringing nature indoors. Windowsill gardens also offer health benefits by releasing oxygen and increasing household humidity. They can solve decorative issues, create their own green privacy drape, or fill spaces in any room.

If you have no windowsill, a small table placed by a window can create a space for growing plants. And selecting the right plant for the right location is a fun project.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

| 41

Indoor Gardening

Tips & Tricks

• Tropical houseplants thrive with lots of sun and humidity. A south window is the choice for these plants so they can reach their peak. Possibilities in

this category include bamboo, snake plants, and some palms, or—if you

want color—miniature roses.

• Charming displays can be created from varieties of herbs, ferns, and succulents. Herbs are great choices because they can grow in any container. For a windowsill herb harvest, group rosemary, cilantro, thyme, parsley, and basil together.

• If you are looking for a high-impact,

low-maintenance approach, cactus

and succulents are the answer; both are perfect plants for the windowsill.

Their small size, water-saving habits, and low-light requirements are

a winning combination, and they require very little care. A wide variety of succulents are readily available.

Combined with potted miniature roses

for color, hens and chicks, jade plants, and ponytail palms pack a visual punch and are easy to care for.

• Did you know you can grow salad

greens inside your house all winter long? No lights, no equipment, no greenhouse required—and you don’t need a large window with southern exposure, either. Radish, sunflower greens, and lettuce are good varieties to start your indoor garden, and the process is easy (see sidebar on next page for instructions). Successive plantings yield continuous production, giving you a year-round harvest.

• Growing vegetables in a windowsill offers delightful displays of color.

Grouped together, red or green kale, lettuce, carrots, beets, and green, red, or yellow peppers add texture to your windowsill garden. If you prefer growing a colorful combination of flowers and greenery, add bromeliads, orchids, or African violets.

Before you start planting, make sure to invest some time in choosing the right shape and size for each pot. Some roots spread on or near the soil surface and some grow with a single deep taproot, so the pot needs to accommodate the shape the plant and roots will become. If you are growing carrots, for instance, a large, deep pot will be necessary. For a shamrock plant, use a shallower pot with enough soil to cover the corms. Always select a pot with drainage holes.

The needs of indoor greenery are no different from those of their outdoor cousins: They require moisture, appropriate soil, and proper temperatures for the plant’s growth. For plants that require constant moisture, place a tray or saucer of small gravel, with added water, under the potted plants.

42 | MidtownMag.com

Even though your garden is indoors, there are still pests waiting to attack your plants. Use fresh potting soil to avoid weed seeds, spores, insects, and disease, and check for hitchhikers every week.

If you spot invaders, take care of them immediately with a mixture of dish soap and water, sprayed liberally on the infected plant. You can also give each plant a strong rinsing under the kitchen faucet every two weeks, then spray or mist the plant with lukewarm water. And don’t forget to wipe down or dust your plant leaves periodically for a fresh look.

Also keep in mind that plants grow slower indoors, and soil nutrition may become depleted. Evaluate each plant and decide whether to fertilize or not.

For plants that go into dormancy, simply keep them nourished and fed with water and organic fertilizer.

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• Start by soaking the seeds in glass jars in fresh water for 24 hours.

• Put one tablespoon of compost in the bottom of a flat tray, and fill the tray with soil mix.

• Cover with newspaper and set on the sill.

• When sprouts begin to grow, remove newspaper and let the windowsill sun take over.

44 | MidtownMag.com

Plants bring joy, visual bounty, and a commitment to nature into your home. Have fun creating your perfect garden by experimenting with different textures and colors; group them together or line them up in fashionable attire to fit into your home decor. Then sit back and enjoy the beauty and healthfulness of your indoor oasis.

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BOOK Review

46 | MidtownMag.com

Revisiting

a Dark Chapter

BY KURT DUSTERBERG

/

PHOTOGRAPHY

B Y S C O T T K E L LY

A local attorney’s debut book recalls the 2006 murder of Raleigh’s Michelle Young, and unanswered questions from the case.

Steve Epstein never expected to become a true-crime writer­—not after almost 30 years of his own law career.

But the attorney at Poyner Spruill law firm in Raleigh has one of the top-selling books in the genre, which examines the details of actual crimes. Released in June, Murder on Birchleaf Drive recounts the 2006 murder of 29-year-old wife and mother Michelle Young.

The case drew the attention of Triangle residents and people around the country.

Young, who was pregnant, was found beaten to death in her Raleigh home while her husband, Jason, was away on business in a Virginia hotel. The sad details include the presence of Jason and Michelle’s daughter, two-year-old Cassidy, who tracked her mother’s blood throughout the scene of the crime.

Police investigators argued that Jason checked into his hotel in southwest Virginia, and then drove 169 miles back to their home to kill Michelle before returning to Virginia.

While Epstein had no connection to the case, he felt an affinity for Michelle Young: Both had grown up on Long Island before settling in North Carolina. His office was next door to the building where she worked at Progress Energy. And years later, he remained fascinated with the details of the case. “I recognized that this case in particular had a tremendous emotional component to it,” he says. “Because of that, it would connect to a much larger audience.”

Epstein obtained the transcripts of the two trials and pored over footage made available

by WRAL. When the book was released, he felt he had captured the many twists that resulted in vastly different outcomes. One of the mostly surprising occurrences came when Jason testified at the first trial in 2011.

The jury deadlocked 8–4 in favor of acquittal.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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EPSTEIN’S BOOK, MURDER ON BIRCHLEAF DRIVE, WAS RELEASED THIS SUMMER.

The two trials revealed one of the unmistakable realities of the criminal justice system. “The difference between success and failure depends on so many variables that are almost beyond the control of the lawyers and the judge,” Epstein says.

“There is so much that happens in a trial that just can’t be foreseen until you’re in there.”

After a guilty verdict in the second trial, Young is now serving a life sentence. But Epstein notes that unanswered questions remain. “The one thing the prosecution team admitted in closing arguments in both trials is that there was every possibility that there was a second person involved beyond Jason,” Epstein says. “They had to acknowledge that possibility because there were shoe prints on a pillow in the bedroom that were two different sizes: a size 10 and a size 12. Jason wore a size 12.

It wouldn’t have made sense that there were both right and left shoe prints of both sizes if there was only one person involved in the murder.”

The unresolved elements add to the intrigue of the case and the appeal of the book, which was released this summer. “Jason had a very, very short timeline to drive from his hotel, 170 miles away in Hillsville, Virginia, commit this crime, and get back in order to preserve his alibi,” he says. “And yet, some things would have taken a long time to do, such as cleaning up Cassidy.

She was found squeaky clean, and yet her bloody footprints are all over the upstairs of that house.

So somebody had to clean that child.”

“It was an eyebrow-raiser that almost literally allowed him to live in free society for the rest of his life,” Epstein says. “He connected with the jury; they wanted to believe what he was saying. He came across as authentic and remorseful, but at the same time, not someone who would have plotted and then done this act.”

But, in his second trial, Young was found guilty. In the book, Epstein helps the reader understand how Young’s strategy to testify in the first trial had clear implications for the second trial.

“It is very unusual for a case like this to be tried twice,” Epstein explains.

“When the defendant takes the stand in the first trial, it gives the prosecution a huge advantage in the second trial that it didn’t have in the first. It removes the one advantage the defense team had in the first trial. “The prosecution now has the benefit of seven months of time to figure out how to do things much better, including how to pick apart Jason’s testimony. That’s why they got a unanimous conviction in the second trial.”

48 | MidtownMag.com

After 24 years as a civil litigator, Epstein’s practice now focuses on divorce law. In some proceedings, he observes the seeds of violence that warn of dark outcomes. “From my own experience as a divorce lawyer, I can say there is enough pent-up hate in so many people who are going through the divorce process,” he says.

“I can see how that intense hate, under the right circumstances, can go from verbal abuse to wanting to end the other spouse’s life.”

Espstein said sales of Murder on Birchleaf Drive have amounted to roughly 100 copies each day.

Most of the interest comes from outside of the Triangle, owing to the widespread demand for true-crime writing. He notes the popularity of TV programs like 48 Hours and Dateline, as well as true-crime podcasts.

“If you pick the right topic, and it allows readers to connect, the electronic word-of-mouth is going to get out there,” he says.

TASTES of the CITY Contact Raleigh Food Pics to be featured on their Instagram feed: raleighfoodpics@gmail.com

1

2 4

3

(1) bartaco Spicy Cucumber Salad, Grilled Corn Off the Cob, and assorted tacos (2) Wye Hill Wye Fries with Wye spice and truffle herb aioli (3) Oak Steakhouse Seafood tower with NC Shrimp Cocktail and Oysters on the Half Shell (4) O-Ku Samurai Roll: spicy tuna, avocado, tempura flake, toro, kimchi aioli, sriracha sesame

50 | MidtownMag.com

CANDID Conversation LOADING DOCK 1053 ON WHITAKER MILL ROAD FEATURES DRAMATIC NEON LIGHTING BY ACCLAIMED ARTISTS NATE SHEAFFER AND LOUIS ST. LEWIS.

Wine Wisdom

BY KURT DUSTERBERG

MidtownMag.com 52 52 || MidtownMag.com

For All

PHOTOS BY MASH PHOTOGRAPHY

A celebrity chef brings her food and beverage expertise to Raleigh with the Vitis House Wine School.

F

or many years, Doreen Colondres has been a woman on the go. She breezes into a room with her hands full and a smile on her face, eager to share her story and happy to be coming from her whirlwind, busy life to where she is now.

But for Colondres—a celebrity chef who has had her hand in a lot of pots—life isn’t slowing down. After years spent as a celebrity chef, a brand and corporate spokesperson, and a multi-platform food and beverage professional via the brand The Kitchen Doesn’t Bite, she is now ready to indulge another passion: Colondres has opened Vitis House Wine School in Raleigh.

This latest venture comes after she recently completed her coursework with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), a worldwide organization that offers educational training for professionals in the industry as well as wine enthusiasts.

Raised in Puerto Rico and a longtime Miami resident, Colondres never imagined settling in Raleigh, but that all changed a year ago when she was charmed by a visit to the Triangle. Now she is ready to give up her life of constant travel in hopes that she will leave her signature on the Triangle’s palate.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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How did you come to have your love for cooking?

My grandfather was a professional chef. In my grandmother’s family, we used to have 30 different ingredients [growing] in the backyard, so always, food was my passion. I started cooking for my family when I was nine.

How did you get your professional start?

I studied marketing and business and worked in the food industry for a few years, did a lot of cooking classes and tasting for friends at home, and [ultimately] created the brand The Kitchen Doesn’t Bite. From there, I started becoming a celebrity chef, doing cooking shows all over.

MidtownMag.com 54 54 || MidtownMag.com

I had three shows in 16 countries with FOX, in Spanish.

You went to college in Puerto Rico, culinar y school in the United States, and you’ve been a brand ambassador for a lot of companies: Frito Lay, Goya, Bumblebee tuna, Barilla pasta.

How did you become involved with them?

I was working in promotions in Puerto Rico at 16, and I moved to Miami when I was 23. I was a spokesperson for different brands at food events and conventions. Using my markteting background, I helped create content and recipes, and I helped them approach U.S. markets.

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It doesn’t matter if the show that I’m doing is for five people or 3,000 people, there is always a mission to deliver a message.

56 | MidtownMag.com

Your other passion is wine, which led you to Raleigh. How did that happen?

Last year one of my clients hired me to do a healthy cooking show for their employees in Raleigh. So I came, and I completely fell in love with the people. I was staying at The Umstead when I got the call from WSET saying that I had passed my Level 3 [test], so I had to go downstairs and ask for some bubbles. I fell in love with the wine I ordered, then I became really good friends with the importer, who is based here in Raleigh. After that, I started calling him and saying, “What about a wine school in North Carolina?” I came back for two or three weeks last October, did some research, and [realized] I like this place! I want to do it. So I went back to Miami and sold everything in two months.

you’re going to learn a lot. There’s so much to tell of the story behind a city—the history, the winemaking process. But there is nothing formal.

You’ve opened Vitis House Wine School at the Loading Dock in Raleigh, Dock 1053.

So, tell us about it.

It is a wine and cooking school, but we’re starting first with the wine. We have classes and courses. The twohour classes I’ve designed are two hours. It’s not the typical tasting that most people get. It’s a fun tasting, but

How did your first class go?

Outstanding! WSET celebrated its 50th anniversary recently, so they developed this special course for all the schools to celebrate. It was a pairing course, and it sold out in a week. The most beautiful thing is we had all types of people.: young people, seniors, people of all colors and nationalities. It was really awesome.

What about the courses, how are they different than classes?

The courses are WSET courses. It’s the most prestigious wine school in the world. They have about 750 program providers like me. They’re designed for wine lovers, people who work in the industry, collectors. Anyone can take the courses. You take an exam at the end. Depending on your score, you will get a pin. That is very important. It is recognized worldwide. If you work in the industry, you’re going to sell more, make more money [when you have that recognition]. You’re going to get a better reputation.

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“

”

I don’t drink wine; I taste wine.

At the end, the best wine is the one that you like.

Do you have a timetable for cooking classes?

Cooking classes will begin early next year. Each class will be for two hours, with 12 people, and the food will be mostly Mediterranean and Hispanic. I have always dreamed about having my own cooking school. If I’ve been saying to people that the kitchen doesn’t bite, I can’t open a restaurant; it has to be a cooking school, but a fun cooking school.

There are an awful lot of people today who consider themselves foodies. A lot of people cook, and a lot of people want to cook.

Yes, and especially in North Carolina. It’s almost ready to explode; it has everything. People are so open to learn and discover new types of food and taste new flavors and ingredients; I think it’s going to be awesome.

With my expertise, I can see even a local chef taking one of the classes to understand, for example, ceviche. I will show you a Peruvian ceviche versus a Mexican ceviche versus one from my country—they are all totally different. Then the final goal will be to do culinary trips and wine trips—to Spain, to France, to Argentina.

With your background—the wine, the accent, the Hispanic cooking influence—I imagine you’re excited to bring something different to an American audience. Is that part of what you enjoy?

Yes, but I also enjoy the opportunity to help communities.

I have the opportunity to spread the word about healthiness. Sometimes we think, because we live in great cities, that everyone gets information. It doesn’t matter if the show that I’m doing is for five people or 3,000 people, there is always a mission to deliver a message.

58 | MidtownMag.com

Back to wine for a moment: Is it difficult to develop an educated palate for wine?

Practice will get you there. Don’t push yourself to look for an aroma or look for a flavor—if [a label] says chocolate, close your eyes and try to connect with that chocolate. Chefs are supposed to have more delicate senses, but it took me a while with wine. [At first], I was always tasting with someone who had more experience than me.

So, despite your expertise, you’re not a wine snob?

I’m not, and I never will be! (Laughs.) Part of it is to enjoy the time that you [spend] tasting the wine. I don’t drink wine; I taste wine. At the end, the best wine is the one that you like.

NEGIN NASERI, VISITOR EXPERIENCE ASSOCIATE AT THE NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF ART,

IS ALSO A FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER AND INSTAGRAM INFLUENCER. SHE’S PASSIONATE ABOUT ART AND TRAVEL.

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Festive Perfection

Model your party face with a French connection.

STORY AND STYLIST DESIGN BY KAT HARDING

According to Julie Hafer, it’s not that French women have a je ne se quoi, but that they are bien dans la peau (comfortable in their skin). French women have an effortless and timeless style, which has been the subject of countless blogs, articles, and books.

Through Hafer’s skincare and beauty line, Beauty Ethics, as well as the classes offered at her French Beauty School, she aims to bring some of the carefree French confidence to the American woman (or man).

“The stereotype for French women is that they’re very confident,” says Hafer, explaining some of the motivation behind her classes. “That’s a huge part of what I’m trying to [help] people [become] more comfortable with.”

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A Raleigh native, Hafer lived in France for a year while in college, where she majored in French, and her love of the country and culture solidified. She has kept her passion for the language alive through tutoring and conversational groups stateside, while working as a makeup artist. She travels back to France yearly for a skincare conference, and she and her husband recently bought a fixerupper chateau there.

P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y S C O T T K E L LY

Hafer has always paid close attention to what ingredients were working on her clients’ faces, noting that while everyone’s skin is different, there are some standout ingredients. After years of observation, she decided to start a skincare line—and Beauty Ethics was officially born in 2012.

The line now features skincare products (serums, micellar water, and moisturizer) and makeup (eyeliner sticks, blush, and bronzer), plus a full line of brushes. Clients can pop in to the shop and leave with a custom lipstick, uniquely mixed for their color preference and skin tone.

“To have a drawer full of lipsticks that you never use, versus just having one or two custom colors that you really like—that’s amazing,” Hafer says. More than a makeup artist, Hafer is also a skincare advisor; she encourages clients to bring in all of their skincare products to cull through and figure out the essentials. Her website features pre-built routines for skin issues like acne, aging, and dryness, or just for the curious NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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beginners. Above all else, she wants to create products that people love to use. When she started working with a female chemist, who better understood the goals of Hafer’s makeup, everything clicked into place.

“I don’t think you should engage in beauty routines if you don’t enjoy it,” Hafer declares. Which leads us to January 2019, when she started the French Beauty School, the perfect combination of her passions. Her class topics have ranged from the smoky eye to subtle foundation tips and tricks.

Throughout all of the lessons, she serves up select French vocabulary lists, including makeup translations and the ethos of French women: confidence, pampering, and being at ease with oneself. And of course French wine and cheese are on deck. “While I’m doing makeovers, I use the words and get people to repeat the words, and I tie it into whatever lesson I’m doing,” Hafer says. “And I’m serving French wine and cheese, turning it into a party, all while giving makeup lessons.”

“It’s really freeing to be able to feel comfortable in your own skin and to let your skin show,” says Hafer, after pointing out one of her favorite words on her French vocab list: insouciante, or carefree.

For the holiday season, Hafer took us through two Frenchinspired looks, perfect for your festive date night or office celebration. Done up, but just enough to keep you feeling coquette, or stylish—not travaillé, or overdone.

Joyeux Noël!

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KAT HARDING, PR MANAGER OF THE NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF ART AND FREELANCE WRITER, LOVES MUSIC, CATS, AND ART.

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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HolidayLooks Exclamation Eyes!

The second look plays up your eyes, instead of your lips.

Start the look much like the first, with Five Factor Gel and Quick Cover concealer. Add some excitement with a hint of blush on the apples of your cheeks, blended with a soft highlighter on your cheekbones, and polish it off with a light layer of Dual Activ Powder for extra coverage.

For drama, start with a bold color on the lids of your eyes, taking care not to apply too high (which will create creases). Hafer chose a festive dark green cream eyeshadow for this holiday statement.

Add shimmery gold liner at the upper lash line.

Blend into the lid, and then use black liquid eyeliner to add definition.

Simple Sophistication The first look is a simple, fresh face with a bold lip.

Hafer notes the French like a look that doesn’t appear too fussed with—so keep in mind your look doesn’t have to be “perfect,” and you can feel empowered to let your skin show through.

Start with Beauty Ethics’ Five Factor Gel to prep your face and help control oil, then add concealer (try BE’s Quick Cover) as your coverage where needed.

Add dimension with a swipe of blush or bronzer, blending around your face. Set your makeup with a light powder, like BE’s Dual Activ Powder, which will even out skin and provide a little extra coverage.

Keep the eyes simple with Champagne-colored eyeshadow over the lid and a brush of mascara.

Bold lips are the showstopper! Start with one coat of a bright color, like this pink from Beauty Ethics. Apply with a brush for more precision, and do not get into the corners of your mouth—you don’t want color settling there. Blot before applying a second coat.

Dust everything with an oil-absorbing blotting powder and add another touch of mascara, and you’re ready to go!

64 | MidtownMag.com

Complete the look with a simple irridescent lip gloss.

Add a swipe of blotting powder to set your look, finish off with a touch of mascara, and off you go!

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2019

GIFT GUIDE P R O D U C T P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y WA R R E N M CC O R M A C K

PHOTO COURTESY OF KENDRA SCOTT

Myles Hoop Earrings, $68 Walker Link Necklace, $138 Kendra Scott

Avery Collection 14k Yellow Gold 1.20ct Rose-Cut Diamond Pendant with Rose-Cut Diamond Accent, $750 (Chain Sold Separately) Metallicity Jewellery Design

Leopard Scarf, $24 Swagger

The 9th Tassel Sueded Shoulder Bag, $75 Oxford Green

Orijinal Cuff, $30 each The Local Squirrel

Nazz Ares Hand-Painted Little Sister Wallet, $46 DECO Raleigh

Beeglow Lantern, $55 Cocoon Gallery

Simon Pearce Sterling Pond Trees, $155–$240 Quintessentials

Raleigh Night Skyline Pillow, $145 DECO Raleigh

Bridgewater Candle Company Sweet Grace Collection, $30–$34 Koket Boutique

Reclaimed Lobster Trap Rope Doormat, $35.95 Green4Life

2020 Hobie Compass Kayak in Seagrass Green, $2,099 Great Outdoor Provision Co.

Frosted Champagne Coupe Glasses $16.50 each PaperBuzz Prinzregenten Seven-Layer Torte $75 (Whole Torte) Annelore’s German Bakery

Blue and Gold Horizon Teapot, $29.95 Gold and White Smooch Mug, $12.95 each Zest Cafe & Home Art

Staub 4-Piece Stoneware Set in Cherry, $189.99 Whisk

Asparagus Serving Board, $167.95 PaperBuzz

Poole’s: Recipes and Stories from a Modern Diner

by Ashley Christensen, $35 The Local Squirrel

Gold Leaf Tumbler Glasses, $14.95 each NOFO @ the Pig

The Goodliest Land Gift Basket, $85 Gingham & Posh

Gourmet Custom Gift Basket, $105 The Olive Wagon

bkr Water Bottles, $42–$48 GLOW Raleigh

SoberDough Artisan Apple Fritter Bread Mix, $9.95 Bourbon Blueberry Jam by Copper Pot & Wooden Spoon, $12.50 The Olive Wagon

Soy Candles, $15 Wicks for Wags

Where Chefs Eat—A Guide to Chefs’ Favorite Restaurants, $35 DECO Raleigh

Bruce Julian Gourmet Seasoning and Bloody Mary Rimmer Bruce Julian Bloody Mary Mix, $6.99–$9.99 Whisk

Marble Initial Coasters, $22 Initial Copper Marble Board, $40 Swagger

Shearling, Suede, and Leather Jackets See Store for Pricing Liles Clothing Studio

Forever Journals, Starting at $54 Oxford Green

Poppy Hand-Crafted Popcorn in Pimento Cheese Flavor, $6.25 DECO Raleigh

Gentlemen’s Hardware Campfire Poker Set, $32 Apex Outfitter & Board Co

Mona B Ronin Backpack, $99.95 Green4Life

Fjällräven Zip Card Holders, $30–$40 Apex Outfitter & Board Co

Logan Table 2-Drawer Chess Set, $533.40 Steven Shell Living

The Scruffy Puppy Book, $11.95 Jellycat Really Big Puffles Puppy, $94.95 Lamb’s Ear

Parkland Rodeo Lunch Bag in Veggie, $24.99 Edge of Urge

The Neighborgoods Baby Onesies, $28 Edge of Urge

I Should Have Known That! Trivia Game Goat Yoga Wooden Stacking Game $21.99–$22.99 StUf n SUCh

The Joy Doll, $59 The Flourish Market

Muslin Swaddle Blanket, $24.95 Green4Life

Toy Box Nelly the Baby Narwhal, $12.99 Fluff & Tuff Jimmy the Parrot, $19.99 Chewy Vuiton Dog Toy, $14.99 Woof Gang Bakery

Specialty Dog Treats, $7.96 each Furbaby Desserts

CBD for pets, $30–$50 Your CBD Store Apex

Easy Tiger Dog Bandanas, $15.99 each StUf ‘n SUCh

Tiki Cat Dash Cat Food Topper, $8.99 Cat Toys, $3.09–$4.99 Phydeaux

Dear Santa Advent Calendar, $26.50 Gate Nine Boutique

Candy Cane Dress with tulle skirt, red satin bow with rhinestone center, velvet body, and white collar. Holiday dresses feature a built-in D-ring and include a matching leash for easy walking.

PHOTO BY BRIAN MULLINS

The Christmas Candy Cane Dress $24.99 Gate Nine Boutique

HOME Cooking

MidtownMag.com 68 68 || MidtownMag.com

Christmas Morning

Maple Cinnamon

Rolls

RECIPES & PHOTOGRAPHY

BY GINNY WILLIAMS

For the Dough:

Directions

3 Tbsp 1 cup 1 packet 3 Tbsp ¼ tsp 2½ cups

1. In a pot on medium heat, heat the

butter and milk just until melted and hot. Pour mixture into a large bowl.

Sprinkle yeast evenly over the top and let sit for 10 minutes.

butter milk instant yeast sugar salt flour

For the Filling: ¼ cup 2 Tbsp 2 Tbsp 2 tsp

butter, softened maple syrup sugar cinnamon

For the Frosting: 1 cup powdered sugar 1 Tbsp maple syrup 1 Tbsp milk

2. Add the sugar and salt to the yeast mixture and stir to combine. Add the flour in three parts, stirring in-between each pour to form a dough. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 1 minute.

3. Lightly grease a bowl with cooking spray or butter and add the dough ball.

Cover it tightly with plastic wrap and let sit on the counter to rise for 1 hour.

4. Beat together the butter, maple syrup, sugar, and cinnamon and set aside.

5. Preheat oven to 375°.

6. Remove dough from bowl and place on a lightly floured surface. Roll into a long rectangle using a rolling pin.

7. Spread the filling over the dough, leaving a 1-inch strip along the top.

Starting at the bottom (the side closest to your body), begin to gently roll the dough up into a long log shape until you reach the top. Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into nine pieces and place in a lightly greased 9-inch cast iron pan or square baking dish.

8. Bake for 26–28 minutes until rolls are golden brown. While you wait, prepare the frosting by stirring together the powdered sugar, maple syrup, and milk until smooth. Remove rolls from the oven and let cool for a few minutes.

Add the frosting on top and enjoy right away!

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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Winter Kale Salad

with Maple Tahini Dressing For the salad:

Directions

2 cups 1 Tbsp 4 cups 1 cup 1 cup 1 /3 cup

1. Preheat oven to 425°. In a large baking dish, add the butternut squash and toss with the olive oil, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Bake for 35 minutes, stirring halfway through.

butternut squash, cubed olive oil kale, chopped red cabbage, chopped pomegranate seeds pecans, halved salt & pepper

For the dressing: Âź cup 2 Tbsp 2 Tbsp 2 Tbsp 70 | MidtownMag.com

tahini sauce lemon juice maple syrup warm water

2. A few minutes before the squash has finished cooking, whisk together the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.

3. Assemble the salad. In a large bowl add the kale, followed by the red cabbage, pomegranate seeds, pecans, and cooked squash. Drizzle with the maple tahini dressing.

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Chocolate Chip

Pumpkin Bread Ingredients 2 cups

1 cup 1 tsp ½ tsp 1 tsp 1 Tbsp 1 cup 1 cup

½ cup

2 tsp 1 Tbsp 1 cup

whole wheat pastry flour or all-purpose flour organic cane sugar baking powder baking soda salt pumpkin pie spice canned pumpkin puree unsweetened almond or unsweetened coconut milk pure almond butter, roasted and runny apple cider vinegar vanilla dark chocolate chips

Directions 1. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice.

5. Lightly grease a 10"x5" inch loaf pan.

Pour the batter into the pan, smoothing out the top using a spatula.

2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, milk, almond butter, apple cider vinegar, and vanilla.

6. Bake at 350° for 1 hour, rotating halfway through.

3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined (don’t over-mix).

4. Gently fold in the chocolate chips.

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7. Let the bread cool completely before removing it from the pan. Slice and enjoy with some hot coffee or tea.

Gingersnap

Cookies

Ingredients

Directions

1 cup 1 cup ½ tsp ½ tsp ½ tsp ½ cup

1. Preheat oven to 375°. In a large mixing bowl, stir together almond flour, brown rice flour, spices, and baking soda.

2 /3 cup ¼ cup

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almond flour brown rice flour cinnamon ground ginger baking soda vegan butter (softened; slightly melted and runny) light brown sugar, packed molasses

2. In a separate mixing bowl or a stand mixer bowl, combine the the vegan butter, brown sugar, and molasses. Stir well.

3. Pour half of the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir using a large spoon.

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4. Roll dough into golf ball–sized balls and place on a baking sheet. You should have about 16 balls.

5. Bake for 12–14 minutes or until golden brown.

Let sit for 1–2 minutes on the baking sheet before moving to a cooler pan.

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FOODIE Focus

Mark Your Calendar: Sunday, November 10th from 12 to 2 pm is the annual Triangle Chili Challenge that brings out some of the best restaurants, food trucks, caterers, businesses, and organizations as they compete for the title of “Best Chili in the Triangle.” The Triangle Chili Challenge will donate a portion of this year’s proceeds to Special Olympics North Carolina.

Opening Soon: The Dillon rooftop is about to get even snazzier: Siblings Van and Vanvisa Nolintha and their business partner Patrick Woodson—the trio behind the popular Brewery Bhavana—announced plans to open Luang Prabang, a Laotian grill and garden bar in that coveted setting.

One of the most memorable contestants in the history of Top Chef (Bravo’s culinary reality competition) is opening a restaurant in downtown Raleigh. Chef Katsuji Tanabe plans to open a live-fire restaurant later this year in Raleigh’s City Market. The unnamed restaurant will be around the corner from MOFU Shoppe, moving into the space at 208 Wolfe Street. Tanabe, his wife, and two children are moving from Los Angeles to make Raleigh their full-time home. The Mexico-born chef has six other restaurants spread out around the country—in New York, Chicago, Las Vegas, and California. The name is still being developed, and Tanabe declined to put an opening timeline in place, but he hopes to start serving by the end of 2019.

Denver-based Snooze Eater y is bringing its concept to Raleigh in Midtown East. They tout themselves on taking creative twists on America’s favorite breakfast classics. This will be their first Triangle-area location.

SNOOZE EATERY

Durham chef and restaurant owner Matt Kelly plans to reopen Saint James Seafood in January 2020. The restaurant has been closed since a nearby natural gas explosion on April 10th in Durham’s Brightleaf Historic District. Kelly’s restaurant was one of several businesses closed in the aftermath of the explosion that injured 25 people and took the lives of two people—Kaffeinate Coffee Shop owner Kong Lee and Jay Rambeaut, a gas company worker. Kelly also owns four other restaurants in Durham— Vin Rouge, Mateo, Mothers & Sons Trattoria, and Lucky’s Delicatessen.

Come Hungry!

Open Now:

BY SEAN LENNARD / TRIANGLE FOOD GUY / TRIANGLEFOODBLOG.COM

Dare we say it: As of our press date the highly anticipated opening of Rosewater Kitchen & Bar had announced an opening date of Monday, October 28th. Rosewater is the newest concept from the Giorgios Group, and will be located in the Park District at North Hills, in the old Bruegger’s space. It will be a full-service restaurant that offers grab-and-go options during breakfast and lunch hours, a weekend brunch, and a seated dinner service.

The brother/sister team of Ben and Holly Schultz opened their new restaurant SmokeStacks Cafe at 701 E. Lane Street in Raleigh. SmokeStacks offers specialty dishes made from fresh ingredients and smoked meats. The food promotes an eclectic twist on popular North Carolina dishes as well as some international cuisine. The menu changes with the seasons and offers daily specials. And in nearby Knightdale, the Lassiter Distilling Company, a rum distillery that has been open for three years, recently opened the doors to its tiki bar, called The Cove on First.

76 | MidtownMag.com

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

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

| 77

New EATERY

A Café

ROASTED SALMON WITH LEMON AIOLI, NAPA CABBAGE SLAW, ROASTED TOMATO-PEA RELISH, CRISPY POTATO STICKS, AND SWEET PEA URBAN GARDENS MICROGREENS

78 | MidtownMag.com

for the

COMMUNITY

BY KATIE JANSEN

PHOTOS BY MASH PHOTOGRAPHY

Experience the delights of one chef’s Danish “mood food.”

When Chef Patrick Cowden moved to Wendell Falls with his wife, he didn’t realize he’d one day be able to skateboard to work. A little over a year after the Cowdens moved to the new community, the coffee shop inside the Farmhouse— which is the neighborhood’s beloved community gathering space—decided against renewing its lease. Cowden saw opportunity in the Farmhouse’s clean lines, high ceilings, and sustainable architecture.

He consulted with Daniel Whittaker, his business partner in two other ventures—Raleigh’s The Pharmacy Cafe, a modern lunch counter and soda fountain, and their ecofriendly catering business, Green Planet Catering—and together, they decided to take the leap. Farmhouse Cafe opened September 16th, just two weeks after Cowden and Whitaker received the keys to the building.

“The space reminds me of a Scandinavian farmhouse,” Cowden says. “In designing the restaurant, we stayed true to this theme, from the IKEA furniture to one of the main features on our menu—smørrebrøds.”

A smørrebrød is a traditional delicacy served in Denmark and Sweden that resembles an open-faced sandwich. A good smørrebrød, Cowden says, starts with a quality bread, and he uses the Nordic rye from Raleigh’s Boulted Bread—just one of many local partnerships the menu relies upon.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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The first component of a smørrebrød is a shmear or aioli—critical, Cowden says, to prevent the smørrebrød from getting soggy, as it traditionally sits in a deli case all day as a grab-andgo option.

As for toppings, Cowden says pretty much anything goes, although his creations veer outside of the traditions of pickled ingredients, fish, and charcuterie. He describes the initial three smørrebrøds on the café menu as “white tablecloth meals made more casual and approachable.” Think salmon with lemon aioli, arugula, Napa cabbage slaw, and tomato relish, topped with potato sticks and microgreens. Or roast beef with pesto butter, marinated peppers, charred artichokes, olive tapenade, and balsamic drizzle. There’s also a vegetarian option topped with goat cheese, mango, and cardamominfused cranberries.

For the smørrebrøds as well as other menu items, Cowden describes his approach as “mood food,” which

gives him flexibility by enabling him to focus on whatever he feels like making at the time. Initially, the food at Farmhouse Cafe will be reminiscent of The Pharmacy’s, with an all-day menu offering creative sandwiches along with healthy bowls. Also like its sister restaurant, the Farmhouse Cafe serves breakfast, with a wide variety of options: Diners looking for a hearty start to their morning can enjoy breakfast tacos with house-made chorizo, while those on the go can grab items like chia seed pudding with fresh berries and coconut milk. On Sundays, the restaurant transforms into a brunch buffet, complete with a buildyour-own mimosa bar featuring the café’s Prosecco on tap.

Staying true to the building’s roots, Farmhouse Cafe intends

to be a community gathering space, both for the Wendell Falls community and for those venturing from other places. (For those coming from Raleigh, Cowden notes the distance between The Pharmacy Cafe and Farmhouse Cafe— a mere 17 minutes.) To help instill this sense of community, Farmhouse Cafe plans to host food-centric events, such

CHEF PATRICK COWDEN

ROAST PORK LOIN, FIG JAM, KALE-RAISIN SALAD, CIDER-CARAMELIZED ONION GRAVY, PICKLED RED CABBAGE, AND TOASTED ALMONDS

80 | MidtownMag.com

Christmas

at North Hills

Presented By

Tree Lighting Saturday, November 23 3:30–7:30pm on Main Street

Santa lights the tree at 6:15pm, and children can visit with Santa at 6:30pm. Activities include trackless train rides, face painting, children’s crafts, a vendor village, sledding slopes, balloon twisting, and a bounce house.

Holiday Sip & Shop Saturday, November 23 Noon–4pm at North Hills

Enjoy the sights & sounds of the holiday season as you sip complimentary holiday beverages while shopping for everyone on your list.

Santa Claus

Sunday, Dec 8 & Saturday Dec 14 1-3pm in the Shepherd’s Way Christmas Tree Lot Don’t forget to bring your Christmas list when you visit Santa Claus at North Hills!

VisitNorthHills.com

as the Oktoberfest party it hosted within two weeks of opening, complete with Cowden grilling brats on the lawn. Other events to be on the lookout for are an oyster roast and a crawfish boil, planned for the spring. These special occasions supplement regularly occurring events designed to bring people together, from trivia nights to open bluegrass “picking” sessions. The outdoor area, which can easily seat up to 70 people, has already become a favorite place for neighbors to gather to enjoy a glass of wine and a beautiful sunset. And for those chilly fall evenings, the café offers blankets so that diners can cozy up next to the fire pit.

Another reason why Cowden says he knew Wendell Falls was the right community for his next venture is the community’s commitment to sustainability, which is evidenced through the development’s green building, pocket parks, and mountain biking trails. From its compostable cups to its locally sourced ingredients, Farmhouse Cafe shares the community’s dedication to going green.

“It’s nice to have that alignment of missions, and we consider ourselves ambassadors for the Wendell Falls community,” Cowden says. “When people come here, they’ll see how amazing the community is and realize they could live within biking distance to a really cool café.”

82 | MidtownMag.com

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Sister CITIES

Holiday Traditions

Around the State

Historic villages, candlelight tours, and family outings.

Old Salem at Christmastime

Photo courtesy of VisitNC.com

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of our modern-day holidays with a trip to Old Salem Museum & Gardens in Winston-Salem.

A preserved and restored Moravian village, the historic district at Old Salem includes over 90 buildings and 100 acres of gardens and landscapes, and features hands-on demonstrations by historic craftsmen at select stops. The village celebrates the holidays from mid-November through January 1st, with authentic period decorations true to the village’s past. The village also hosts a special weekend celebration, Salem Saturdays at Christmas, as well as a candlelight evening, Salem Night: Softly the Night is Sleeping.

Did you know? North Carolina Fraser firs have been selected for White House Christmas trees more than any other state—13 times since 1971.

Last year, a tree from Mountain Top Fraser Fir Farm in Newland adorned the White House’s Blue Room.

And what better way to create holiday memories than with a trip to the mountains to choose and cut your own Christmas tree? Many farms offer campfires with marshmallow roasting, hay rides, Santa visits, and Christmas shops. Whether you make the trek in one day or plan to spend a long weekend, the change in elevation will energize your soul. (Visit NCChristmasTrees.com to search for tree farms by town or type of tree.)

84 | MidtownMag.com

Photo courtesy of NC Christmas Tree Association

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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SETH HOFFMAN, Raleigh Wine Shop 86 | MidtownMag.com

toasts of the

TOWN B Y K AT H A R D I N G / P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y M I C K S C H U LT E

Raleigh’s wine experts recommend the best pairings.

The best parts of the holidays revolve around food: Thanksgiving dinner, holiday cookies, office potlucks.

And where there’s food, there’s usually wine. We asked wine experts around Raleigh for the bottles (and cans and boxes) they grab on the way to the party. Heed their recommendations to make the perfect pairing.

Seth Hoffman has been running the Raleigh Wine Shop on Glenwood Avenue for nine years.

Organized geographically, the shop is a wonderland of interesting wines from around the world. Hoffman tells us what he’s buying on the way to a get-together.

Set this out while hosting: Bridge Lane Red Blend.

Box wines have come a long way since the days of Franzia. This Bridge Lane Red Blend is the perfect box to put out on your counter and let your guests self-serve while you’re finishing up in the kitchen on Thanksgiving Day. Each box holds four three-liter bottles, so no one will be bugging you to find the wine opener and ask where the recycling is.

This well-made, tasty wine has broad appeal, and— if you don’t finish it up in one day—can last about a month after opening.

Drink this with your beer-loving buddies: Sprezza Vero Spritz Italiano drinks are vermouth cocktails. (Vermouth is a fortified aromatized wine, so it makes the list!) These cocktails in a can have a low ABV and are housed in a lined aluminum can, so there’s no risk of aging. Crack one open while hanging with the craft beer crowd or pour into a glass and garnish with a twist of orange. A little bit bitter, a little bit sweet, these cocktails are perfect for a holiday get-together.

A wine for a feast: Uncork the 2015 Vietti Barolo Castiglione during a big meal. Made from Italy’s Nebbiolo grape, this heavy, rich wine is perfect for fall and food, cutting through full-fat meals and cleansing your palate. An elegant wine, it can stand up to meats like short ribs or veggie meals like mushroom risotto.

The perfect wine for your flawless holiday meal!

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ASHLEY MALINOWSKI, Crawford and Son, Jolie

Another of Raleigh’s wine connoisseurs, Ashley Malinowski has been busy lately.

A 20-year industry vet, she’s been in North Carolina just a year, managing Crawford and Son and serving as the wine pro at Raleigh’s hottest new restaurant, Jolie, where she built up their wine list from scratch. She told us what to order when celebrating the holidays at Jolie.

Drink with ever ything: Malinowski recommends a Clos Cibonne made from the Tibouron Rogue grape. This earthy, herbal, and light wine pairs well with any food. It can play well with stuffing,

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turkey, or any of the other heavy foods of feasts. A truly versatile wine, this one will please the vegetarians, omnivores, and everyone in-between.

Sip this if you’re missing your summer rosés: Holiday weather in North Carolina is completely variable. Are you going to get to wear your new jacket? Who knows!

If you love the summer and don’t want to give up your rosé, snag a bottle of Clos Cibonne’s rosé. Made from the Tibouron grape with a touch of Syrah and Grenache, this one is closer to an orange wine. It has a little oomph that ages well and will be

the perfect transition wine between summer and fall, and on into winter.

For a special occasion: Plan to propose over the holidays? Congrats!

Celebrate the special occasion (or any special occasion, really) with an Anthill Farms Pinot Noir from their Campbell Ranch Vineyard. This wine is not widely distributed, as it is a small production, and is usually limited to a subscription list. However, Malinowski has stocked the tasty bottle on Jolie’s reserve wine list. Made from 20-year-old vines, the wine is savory and classic.

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MATT ARNOLD, Wine Feed 90 | MidtownMag.com

Where there’s

FOOD There’s usually WINE Rounding out our experts list is Matt Arnold of Raleigh’s Wine Feed, truly a serious sommelier. By his own words, he’s addicted to studying wine—and his business reflects that, stocking thoughtful and storied wines. He grew up with family dinners and an appreciation for wine, and has even spent time making the beverage in California.

Perfect for a party: Charles Orban Carte Noir Brut Champagne features Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes and packs a punch. The bubbly beverage goes well with just about any food, making it the perfect bottle to bring to that party where you’re unsure of the menu. Plus, there’s nothing like hearing the cork pop to signal that it’s time to celebrate.

CHARLES ORBAN CARTE NOIR BRUT CHAMPAGNE • LA MAIALINA GERTRUDE TOSCANA • IL CHIOSSO FICOROSA ROSÉ

Bring to impress the art lovers: La Maialina’s Gertrude Toscana is the ultimate crowd-pleasing wine.

Made from a blend of red grapes, it has rustic, leathery notes with a higher acidity, sure to match any dish. A party wine, it has a slightly higher ABV than other blends. Plus, like Arnold points out, it has a cool label. While he doesn’t recommend picking wine based on the label alone, it’s a great conversation starter!

Potluck pleaser: Like Malinowski, Arnold doesn’t shy away from a fall and winter rosé. The Il Chiosso Ficorosa Rosé tastes like a really dry red wine, with lots of fruitiness. Like any Italian wine, it goes well with food and works great at a potluck, where many parts of the meal are a mystery. You might not know what’s in every casserole, but you can be sure this wine will go with it.

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LIGHT UP the NIGHT Shimmer and sparkle in holiday style!

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOE REALE

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Sara Roka wrap dress with leopard Animaleria skirt: $698 Ribbon belt with smoked topaz and crystal medallion: $278 Marta’s / North Hills 18kt white gold floral twist earrings, featuring 4.84cts of pear-shaped diamonds and 0.10cts of marquise and round brilliant diamonds: $9,000 14kt white gold floral tennis bracelet, featuring round brilliant and baguette cut diamonds, 3.35cts: $6,380 Diamonds Direct / Raleigh

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Emerald velvet midi dress with ruffle embellishments from Self Portrait: retail $575, now $275 dress. / Raleigh Valentina Rangoni Firenze Mondeo bootie: $420 Rangoni Firenze / Cameron Village

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Champagne metallic maxi dress: $67 Koket Boutique / Lafayette Village Pella Moda metallic ankle-strap heels: $145 Main & Taylor / North Hills 14kt white gold stud earrings, featuring round brilliant cut diamonds, 3.29cts: $17,900 14kt white gold “Y� necklace, featuring round brilliant and baguette cut diamonds, 2.50cts: $5,600 Diamonds Direct / Raleigh

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Aqua floral chiffon halter dress: $220 Kannon’s Clothing / Cameron Village Pella Moda kid suede booties: $160 Main & Taylor / North Hills 14kt white gold tennis bracelet, featuring round brilliant cut diamonds, 3.01cts: $6,400 Diamonds Direct / Raleigh

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Black mink jacket with detachable sleeves, convertible to a vest: originally $4,495, now $1,995 Douglas Furs / Oak Park Shopping Center

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Sara Roka black wrap dress with leopard Animaleria skirt: $698 Ribbon belt with smoked topaz and crystal medallion: $278 Marta’s / North Hills Stuart Weitzman patent leather ankle-strap heels: $398 Main & Taylor / North Hills 18kt white gold floral twist earrings, featuring 4.84cts of pear-shaped diamonds and 0.10cts of marquise and round brilliant diamonds: $9,000 14kt white gold floral tennis bracelet, featuring round brilliant and baguette cut diamonds, 3.35cts: $6,380 Diamonds Direct / Raleigh

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Lace panel midi dress from Self Portrait: retail $395, now $175 dress. / Raleigh 14kt white gold stud earrings, featuring round brilliant cut diamonds, 3.29cts: $17,900 Diamonds Direct / Raleigh Pellegrino strappy pump from Amalfi by Rangoni Firenze: $270 Rangoni Firenze / Cameron Village 14kt white gold ring, featuring one London Blue Topaz, 8.90 cts, with a double diamond halo, 0.57cts: $2,820 Diamonds Direct / Raleigh

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THANKS Photography: Joe Reale Makeup & Hair: Deidre Mattingly Model: Claire Galt Special appreciation to the City of Raleigh and SkyHouse Raleigh for the opportunity to work in their spaces.

Special thank you to our retail partners: Diamonds Direct / Douglas Furs dress. / Kannon’s Clothing / Koket Boutique Main & Taylor / Marta’s / Rangoni Firenze

The little black dress with floral bodice by Aidan Mattox: $176 Kannon’s Clothing / Cameron Village Manfredo sling pump from Valentina Rangoni: $335 Rangoni Firenze / Cameron Village 14kt white gold stud earrings, featuring round brilliant cut diamonds, 3.29cts: $17,900 Diamonds Direct / Raleigh 10 0 | MidtownMag.com

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Glazed & Enthused

BY ELIZABETH BRIGNAC

/

PHOTOS BY MASH PHOTOGRAPHY

Eight of the best spots to claim your favorite sugar rush.

In cold weather, what tastes better than a fresh, warm doughnut with a cup of coffee? If your brain just hollered, “Nothing! Nothing tastes better than that!”— keep reading. This article covers some of the best locally owned places in the Triangle, where you will find fresh doughnuts made from scratch in the store or food truck where you purchase them.

Sola Coffee SolaCoffee.com

Type: Storefront coffee shop Location: North Raleigh Doughnut Type: Miniature cake doughnuts Customer Favorite: Espresso, Cinnamon Sugar

When Sola Coffee opened, the owners “wanted to find something that, with every order, people could fall in love with—this little thing, just to tag onto their coffee,” says café manager Sally Luther, daughter of Jeanne and John Luther who opened the popular North Raleigh café in 2012.

“And kids, adults…everyone loves a hot doughnut made fresh-to-order.”

The owners’ prediction proved correct: Sola’s doughnuts are a hit and can be flavored traditionally (think cinnamon sugar) or more adventurously (like the Gonza, a habanero-ginger-lime flavor).

An order of six mini doughnuts: $2.50 Sola includes doughnuts on their catering menu.

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Baker’s Dozen @Baker’sDozenDonuts on Facebook

Business Type: Storefront Locations: Cary, Raleigh, and Durham Doughnut type: Variety, including both yeast and cake doughnuts Customer Favorite: Apple Fritter

The brothers who own the three Baker’s Dozen stores take a traditional approach to making doughnuts: They use classic recipes, make their doughnuts fresh every day, and focus on making them well. There’s a wide variety, so if you enjoy a traditionally flavored doughnut of any kind, chances are good that you can find it here. “We stick to basics,” says E. Reth, owner of the Cary store. “We keep the prices low because we put a lot of the time in ourselves.”

Price of a baker’s dozen (13) glazed doughnuts: $7.99 Customers can place advance orders for pickup, but the store does not cater or deliver.

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Warm Wishes for Holidays filled with health and happiness!

Main Street Grille MainStreetGrilleCafe.com

Business Type: Storefront restaurant and bakery Location: Wake Forest Doughnut Type: Variety, including both yeast and cake doughnuts Customer Favorite: Apple Cider

Main Street Grille makes a standard selection of large doughnuts every day, and adds specialty options over the weekends. Are apples in season?

Time to use apples in the specialty doughnuts. Someone thinks it might be fun to experiment with cereal?

Doughnuts flavored with Fruity Pebbles appear on the shelves. Main Street creates unique holiday flavors as well.

At Thanksgiving, they offer filled Pumpkin Pie doughnuts and Cranberry Pistachio doughnuts. Last holiday season, they sold Gingerbread Cookie and Chocolate Peppermint doughnuts.

A dozen glazed doughnuts: $10.95 Main Street includes doughnuts on their catering menu, and can create custom flavors.

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The Raleigh Mini Donut Company @RaleighDonuts on Facebook

Business Type: A booth in Morgan Street Food Hall Location: Downtown Raleigh Doughnut Type: Miniature cake doughnuts Customer Favorites: Cinnamon Sugar, Oreo

When her husband found a machine that he “really liked,” he purchased it, Nicole Johnson says, adding, “And I had no idea that it was coming.”

Thus began the Raleigh Mini Donut Company. The couple spent over a year honing techniques, researching, and networking with experienced doughnut-makers before opening a stand at the Raleigh Flea Market.

They moved to the Morgan Street Food Hall earlier this year. A single order includes several mini doughnuts, made-to-order, and covered with the customer’s choice of glazes, sugars, drizzles, and sprinkles. Among the cold-weather, seasonal offerings you’ll find Apple Cider doughnuts, covered with cinnamon sugar and served with apple topping.

Price for a dozen mini doughnuts: $8.50 Catering and doughnut parties are available.

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Duck Donuts DuckDonuts.com

Business Type: Storefront Locations: Raleigh, Cary, and Durham Doughnut Type: Cake doughnuts Customer Favorites: Cinnamon Sugar, Maple Bacon

Outer Banks–based Duck Donuts opened their fourth store in Cary in 2012. Since then, Triangle locals have embraced Duck Donuts as their own. Orders start with full-sized, made-to-order vanilla cake doughnuts, to which

customers may add a wide variety of glazes, coatings, toppings, and drizzles. The stores offer seasonal varieties as well. This fall, they are selling Pumpkin Streusel doughnuts, and their past Christmas offerings have included Mint doughnuts and candy cane toppings.

“It’s the made-to-order aspect of it that makes the doughnuts special,” says Brandon Trimyer, owner of the local stores. “Every doughnut gets personal attention.”

If you’re traveling from one of our neighboring Triangle towns, you’ll find these shops well worth the drive.

Price of a dozen assorted doughnuts: $13.50 Customers may place advance orders for pickup or delivery.

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Carolina Glazed Doughnuts

Type: Storefront Location: Durham Doughnut Type: Variety, including both yeast and cake doughnuts Customer Favorite: Glazed, Jelly-Filled

For light, delicious doughnuts in a variety of traditional flavors, try the ones at Carolina Glazed Doughnuts, located in an unassuming strip mall in Research Triangle Park. Store manager Krogna Huon says the doughnuts are made from scratch every day. Customers can order glazed or chocolate-covered doughnuts with the filling of their choice, then watch servers fill the doughnuts right in front of them. Fillings include raspberry, lemon, custard, blueberry, white cream, and cream cheese.

A dozen glazed doughnuts: $7.99 Customers can place advance orders for pickup, but the store does not cater or deliver.

Cocoa Cinnamon

Type: Storefront coffee shop Location: Durham (Lakewood location) Doughnut type: Churros Customer Favorite: Cinnamon Sugar Churros

If you want to experience authentic, made-from-scratch churros, try them at Cocoa Cinnamon’s Lakewood location.

Owner Areli Barrera Grodski researched churros extensively in Mexico before opening this location. Cocoa Cinnamon churros are cooked to order, rolled in sugars, and flavored with a choice of cinnamon, orange, cardamom, or a seasonal option (currently Harvest, a pumpkin-based flavor).

Customers can order dipping sauces—chocolate, condensed milk, and carjeta—to go with their churros, which they can enjoy with Cocoa Cinnamon’s home-roasted coffee. All of the churros and sugars are vegan.

An order of four churros: $4 Cocoa Cinnamon utilizes a community coffee program that allows people to pay what they can afford for an order once a week.

Customers can place advance orders for pickup, but the store does not cater or deliver.

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YOU CAN LEAD HERE

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We pair a stimulating curriculum with collaboration, hands-on learning, and leadership skills. We graduate confident, wellrounded students who are prepared to thrive in our complex world as educated citizens and leaders.

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Mr. A’s Beignets SquareDoughnuts.com

Business Type: Food truck Location: Based in Apex; you can find the truck’s

day-to-day location on the website.

Doughnut Type: Beignets

Customer Favorite: Traditional Beignets Arlton Cangelosi learned how to make beignets 41 years ago in New Orleans, where he was managing a beignet shop. In 2015, he started his food truck. “Not many people have commercial background with beignets,” Cangelosi explains, which led him to decide, “That’s what I’m going to do.” Mr. A’s offers the traditional square French doughnuts—made with choux pastry and served in trios, sprinkled with powdered sugar, and accompanied by a choice of three dipping sauces.

Customers can enjoy New Orleans–style coffee with chicory alongside their beignets.

Price for a trio of beignets: $4 Mr. A’s will cater, bringing the truck on-site for events.

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People

People Helping

TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHY

B Y M I C K S C H U LT E

As the Triangle continues to grow and prosper, there are still individuals

who live with challenging circumstances. In this season of sharing and thankfulness, Midtown wants to celebrate and say thank you to some of the people who recognize the needs of underserved populations and are giving back. Through education, music, meals, and more, these everyday heroes are building relationships with people in need. In their professional or volunteer roles, the individuals recognized in the following pages make our community better by caring for others.

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Mallory Magelli McKeown

FA MILY NAVIGATOR FOR WA KE M E D CHILD R E N ’S HOS P I TAL

A

fter working as the WakeMed chaplain for six years, Mallory Magelli McKeown moved into her current role as a family navigator, which involves advocating for families when medical decisions need to be made, or when crisis moments arise in their child’s care.

Her position was created by the WakeMed Foundation with WakeMed’s top priority in mind—patients and their families.

“I feel very lucky to have this incredible job,” says Magelli McKeown. “I’ve learned that people care infinitely, and that you can’t make assumptions. I’ve been moved in particular

by the support that our NICU families have wanted to extend to each other, because they don’t want them to feel alone on this journey.”

One of Magelli McKeown’s favorite moments in her role was when she officiated a wedding for a couple who had a baby in the NICU. The ceremony took place in the hospital, and the couple walked down the aisle with their newborn baby in their arms. “That was a really incredible day to be at work, and a truly special moment to be a part of.”

More than anything, Magelli McKeown appreciates the trust extended to her in this position. “Being able to support both our medical staff and the families in a meaningful way is something I carry deep in my heart.”

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Derek Graham

MEALS ON WHEELS VOLUNTEER

VISITING WITH FRIENDS HE’S MADE VIA MEALS ON WHEEELS, LIKE MRS. MARTHA WHO IS ONE OF HIS FAVORITES, BRIGHTENS DEREK’S DAY AS WELL.

D

erek Graham is one of some 2,000 Meals on Wheels volunteers working in Wake County. He started volunteering when he worked for the NC Department of Public Instruction as the section chief for transportation, and he’s delivered food on a monthly basis for the program for over 20 years now.

“Working in downtown Raleigh, it was something I could do on my lunch hour,” Graham says.

He recounts times when he realized his monthly meal drop-offs meant more to the people he visited than he ever imagined. “When one of the men I delivered meals to turned 95, I took him to the Farmer’s Market restaurant for his birthday. We had a picture taken of us at lunch together, and I put it in a little frame for him. It was the only photo he had in his living room, and I’m just some guy who comes by once a month,” says Graham.

After retiring from state government and now working as a consultant, he continues to deliver meals on his regular route, and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. “I continue to volunteer because I can, because there is a need, and because maybe I can brighten someone’s day. They certainly brighten mine!”

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Laurie Harrell

F OUND E R OF W E E CA R E T U IT ION - FR E E P R E SCHO O L

L

student recruitment, teaching in the classroom, fundraising, community outreach, and much more. We also have a very engaged board and a community of volunteers who take on all aspects of the program with me,” Harrell explains.

Wee Care is run out of the Hayes Barton United Methodist Church in downtown Raleigh. It is a grassroots, self-supporting program, which means Harrell wears many hats. “I do curriculum planning,

After 12 years, Harrell is just as committed to Wee Care as when she started. “The relationships I’ve made and the people I am able to serve are why I am part of Wee Care, and it is part of me,” Harrell says.

“Every child has potential to learn and grow, and we need to ensure that all children are prepared for kindergarten. That way, when they get there, they are at the same starting point as other students.”

aurie Harrell is the executive director and lead teacher at Wee Care, a program that provides free preschool education to children from economically disadvantaged families. She founded the program after teaching first grade and seeing the educational and economic disparities between students in her classroom. “I got involved because I believe all children deserve a solid foundation of Pre-K education,” Harrell says.

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Laura Reak

ES L DIRECTOR A ND TEAC HE R AT COLON IA L B A PT IST CHU R CH IN CARY

L

aura Reak tutors English as a second language and is the director of Colonial Baptist Church’s ESL (English as a second language) program in Cary. More than 300 students, from ages 3 years to adults, have studied one-on-one in her home, and she also teaches children in Korea and Japan remotely using Skype. “My expertise is with students who are very new to English, teaching in a hands-on way with experiences and games to promote natural conversation,” Reak explains.

Through the many relationships she has built over the years, Reak has endless stories of “lost in translation” moments from newcomers to America. One of her favorites is from a young boy just starting school. “His first week in America, the kindergarten teacher stood at the restroom door and asked who wanted to go potty. He wanted to go to a party, so he got in line. He told his mom after school that there was no party, just the bathroom.”

Her faith and desire to build cross-cultural relationships motivate her to continue teaching and promoting the Colonial ESL program. “ESL is a blessing to me. I have learned that God has no partiality to any group of people—he has created us all. We have hopes and fears, abilities to offer one another, and needs to be filled.

We laugh and cry together, and learn how to live our lives according to God’s plan,” she says.

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I

n her day job as the mortgage community outreach officer for North State Bank, Sondra Collins’ goal is to make an impact and strengthen minority communities through education and resources. She strives to help people build wealth through homeownership, which she says “is the American dream that every individual and family should have the opportunity to obtain, in any community they choose to live.”

In addition to her position at North State, Collins serves as chair of the City of Raleigh Fair Housing Hearing Board. “This role aligns with my passion and belief that the lack of education is a serious issue that needs to be addressed in our underserved communities,” Collins says. She is also on the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, among other committees. “I have a hard time saying no when it’s something I truly believe in, and I feel blessed to serve the community in these ways,” Collins adds.

Sondra Collins

C HA IR OF THE C ITY OF R A LE IGH

FA IR HOU SIN G HE A R IN G B OA R D

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By October, Collins and her coworker, Sean Nock, had already provided clients with more than $700,000 in first-time homebuyers’ down payment assistance funds in 2019. She plans to continue removing some of the myths and barriers of homeownership through her work, and hopes to see neighborhoods flourish. “We must invest in building healthy people and economically diverse neighborhoods,” says Collins.

“Because—as Eleanor Roosevelt said— justice cannot be for one side alone, but must be for both.”

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Hailey McCulloch

C HOIR DIRE CTOR FOR T HE A R C OF T HE T R IA N GLE

H

ailey McCulloch (pictured above in black) is the choir director for The Arc of the Triangle, an organization that supports children and adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities in the achievement of their personal goals and dreams.

After finishing her degree in vocal performance at Campbell University, McCulloch realized she wanted to use music to help the community rather than pursue a full-time career in performing. She found the choir director position at The Arc of the Triangle to be a perfect fit for her skills. “’The Every Voice Choir’ allows people of all abilities to explore their

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musical gifts, make new connections, and perform in the community,” McCulloch says.

Her role as director involves more than just singing.

“Much of what I do is behind the scenes. I make connections in the community to book performances in venues with high visibility; I curate an artistically rich and challenging repertoire for the choir; and I advocate in the community for individuals with disabilities,” McCulloch notes.

She believes in the power of music to make connections and enhance the quality of life for all people. “The act of participating in music with others is one of the most emotionally, mentally, and socially beneficial things that someone can do,” she says. “I am proud of the role I play in facilitating that experience for others.”

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Joyce Risalvato

SC HOOL COUNSELOR AT E A ST M ILLB R OOK M ID D LE SCHOOL

J

oyce Risalvato is an eighth grade counselor at East Millbrook Magnet Middle School Academy of the Visual and Performing Arts. She chose to work at this school in particular because of the diversity of the student population and the opportunity to make a positive impact on the community.

“I come to work every day because I love my students,” says Risalvato. “As a counselor, I have the opportunity to start with my students in sixth grade and move through middle school with them. This has allowed me to witness an incredible amount of growth in each of them, and I’ve been able to build strong relationships with families.”

Risalvato says—more than anything—she embraces the opportunity to learn from her students each day.

“The most valuable lesson is their resiliency. Some of them have already experienced some very challenging situations. Their ability to persevere and continue working toward their goals is so inspiring.”

128 | MidtownMag.com

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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S

carlett Dye’s personal experiences with mental health inspired her to volunteer with HopeLine, a confidential telephone service for people who are in crisis. “I ended up at HopeLine after seeing my boyfriend struggle with his mental health in his late teens and early twenties,” says Dye. “It really opened my eyes to the amount of people who struggle with mental health and suicide ideation, so I wanted to find something where I could make a difference for people going through those struggles.”

Dye’s volunteer role has shown her how differently people are impacted by their experiences. “I’ve learned that there is no one definition for the word crisis, as no one will be affected by something in the same way. So many people are more deeply bothered by things than we may realize, and it’s really helped me view others’ reactions in my day-to-day life in a more patient and objective way,” Dye says.

Scarlett Dye

H O P E L I N E C O U N S E LO R

130 | MidtownMag.com

She appreciates how doing something as simple as listening can make an immediate and powerful impact on someone’s life. “Any call where someone is audibly distressed at the beginning and cracking jokes at the end is always so great to experience,” Dye says. “It’s so cool to see how quickly we can make a difference just by being there for someone to talk to.”

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Sue Etheridge

A R T T H E R A P I S T W O R K I N G W I T H I N M AT E S

A

mong the decorations slated for the Christmas tree in the grand ballroom of the Governor’s Mansion this year are a model pawn shop and a pool hall.

It’s impossible to know for sure if such items have ever before appeared on one of the Mansion’s holiday trees. However, this is almost certainly the first time all the ornaments on a tree will be the work of inmates at Raleigh’s maximum security Central Prison.

132 | MidtownMag.com

T E X T B Y B I L LY W A R D E N

The pawn shop and pool hall are made of milk cartons— the small sort that inmates collected after drinking their contents at breakfast. They affixed patches of white quilt to the tops to look like snow, and wrapped the sides in paper adorned with hand-drawn doors, windows, and signage.

These two pieces join a model church, a log cabin, and more than 200 other ornaments of various homemade varieties slated to festoon the tree just after Thanksgiving.

All of the pieces are the work of men often convicted of grievous crimes. But it was a sprightly 73-year-old woman who conceived and led the project.

“ U N L E S S S O M E O N E L I K E Y O U C A R E S A W H O L E A W F U L LOT,

N OT H I N G I S G O I N G TO G E T B E T T E R . I T ’ S N OT.”

Four days a week, the sturdy entrance gates at Central close with a secure clank behind art therapist Sue Etheridge. “It’s a sobering sound,” Sue recounts now, perched in her cozy North Raleigh condo.

But far from feeling daunted when she gazes up at the hulking facility, she’s exhilarated: “I think about how privileged I am to bring beauty to this place.”

Since 1989, Sue has met with small groups of inmates convicted of murder, sexual assault, and more—first at the federal correction complex in Butner, and then, starting in 2014, at Central. In spartan treatment rooms, she prompts the men to create art—sketches, crafts, anything that will help the inmates constructively express themselves.

Her biggest inmate-generated projects include a largescale mobile and a mural. But the Christmas tree in the Mansion: This is the topper that’s been on her mind since she visited the governor’s official residence a few years

-Dr. Seuss

ago. There, on the back porch, a modest tree decorated in a be-kind-to-animals theme caught her twinkling eyes.

Through official channels, she pitched the idea of decorating the small tree. When an answer came back, she lit up like, well, a Christmas tree. She and her inmates would get a tree—but it would be one of the tallest, and on display in no less than the gilded grand ballroom.

Work on the ornaments started in June, with the inmates uniformly thrilled. “They couldn’t believe it,” Sue beams.

“Christmas is hard for inmates. They’re away from their families … they’ve been in the news for awful reasons, but now, in their minds, they’re accomplishing something good.”

And that seasonal joy, that shared spirit, Sue hopes, is enlightening. Yes, these amateur artists have been convicted of terrible crimes. But Sue says, “They are people, like we are people. In their ordinary moments, there’s not a dime of difference between us.”

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HOME Styler

DECK

THE HALLS

BY BRITTANY MURDOCK

Ready your home for the holidays with seasonal accents that are festive and fun.

6

134 | MidtownMag.com

1

5

3

2

4

1 Fraser Fir Candles, $23 | Homewood Nursery & Garden Center 2 Pomeroy Wilder Tree Decor, $79–$142 | Hunt & Gather 3 White Metal Lantern, $19.99 Flowers (sold separately), $9.99 | Lloyd & Lady Boutiques 4 Christmas Tree Pillows, $24.99 each | Homewood Nursery & Garden Center 5 Spectrum Trees, $5–$12 | Paysage 6 Chilewich Basketweave Napkin Ring, $18 (set of 2) | BeyondBlue Interiors

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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SPONSORED CONTENT

Healthy YOU

Three Elements to Better Sleep… and a Healthier You. Sleep is a time for your body to recover and rejuvenate; it’s good for your brain, organs, metabolism, and much more. When you don’t get a good night’s sleep, your body and your mind suffer. If a lack of quality sleep is affecting you, here are three things you can do: 1.

Fix Your Bedroom If your bedroom has distractions that keep you from falling or staying asleep, you’re not alone. Too many people sleep in an environment that’s not conducive to getting a good night’s sleep. Fixing your bedroom includes: • Keeping your bedroom cool. Warmer temperatures (75° or higher) in the bedroom tend to make it harder to fall asleep.

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What you do during the day—and, of course, closer to bedtime—

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MidtownMag.com 136 | CaryLiving.com

get regular exercise (not too close to bedtime) and avoid taking naps during the day. You also shouldn’t eat meals or drink caffeine near bedtime, and you should limit alcohol consumption as well.

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These recommendations are not meant to be comprehensive. If you fix your bedroom, change your habits, and replace your mattress, and you’re still struggling to get a good night’s sleep, consider consulting a doctor or speaking with someone who specializes in sleep disorders.

Sweet dreams!

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

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Beauty Experts

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Safety, consistently exceptional results, caring professionals and, no pressure: That is what you will find at Blue Water Spa. BODY • Emsculpting—FDA approved to build muscle and burn fat with no downtime • Emsella—FDA approved for urinary incontinence—The “Kegel Throne” no downtime vaginal rejuvenation • CoolSculpting—Freeze fat with no downtime • Laser Skin Tightening • Cellulite Treatments

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All “before and afters” are actual clients who received results in our practice (no stock before and after photos).

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BEAUTY EXPERTS \\

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6325 Falls of Neuse Road #27 919.876.5411 DouglasCarrollSalon.com

New Life Aesthetics is a boutique aesthetic medical practice. Owner Meredith Harris is a boardcertified nurse practitioner with over 20 years of experience in womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health and aesthetic medicine.

In addition to her role as a provider, Meredith travels extensively to educate and train other cosmetic specialists. She has also been featured as a speaker at national conferences, and is a highly soughtafter trainer and educator for Allergan.

At New Life Aesthetics, the personalized care that Meredith and her team deliver is what makes for a most unique experience. New guests are treated to a one-hour consultation, where extensive education empowers each individual to discern their personalized treatment course for the future. Meredith is focused on transparency and honesty, which builds trusting, long-term relationships with her clients.

Extensive knowledge of facial anatomy and decades of professional art, sewing, and design experience are the key components that make her thorough facial assessment the cornerstone of her treatment plans. Meredith is an injection artist, using Botox Cosmetic, soft tissue fillers, PDO threads, and sclerotherapy to assist her patients to stop the aging time clock, often reversing it and restoring a more refreshed, youthful version of themselves. With a degree in womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health, Meredith is also tuned in to the interplay of aging and sexual health. Specialized gynecological services assist women of all ages, including post-cancer clients, to optimize their inner beauty and restore the most healthy, vital version of themselves.

140 | MidtownMag.com

BEAUTY EXPERTS \\

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New Life Aesthetics 5816 Creedmoor Road, Suite 103B Â 919.521.8282 NewLifeAesthetics.com

The art of aesthetics does not stop with injectable medicine. Jennifer Jahoo, licensed esthetician and certified laser skincare specialist, specializes in energybased devices including lasers, broadband light, and radiofrequency. With over two decades of experience in skincare, Jen is a wealth of knowledge, and passionately serves the guests of New Life Aesthetics.

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BEAUTY EXPERTS \\

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At Aesthetics by Eileen Laser & Skin Care Medical Spa we pride ourselves in educating our patients. During your complimentary consultation we provide a personalized comprehensive treatment plan, covering preventive, corrective, and maintenance plans for all your non-surgical aesthetic needs.

Eileen has been part of the evolution of aesthetics medicine for the last 25 +years. As a pioneer, trainer, and provider, she has specialized in injectables, laser light, energy-based technology, and pharmaceutical-based skin care. We track your progression over the years with photos, measurements, and visualization tools, so you can see the years peeling back. Your Truskin age is revealed, much younger than you are. We take pride and joy in delivering these results.

Whether you are looking for science-based skincare, clinical information to understand the realm of injectables, or which laser and energy-based technology best suits you, we would like to empower you with the knowledge you need to make decisions. Our focus and mission is to combine art and science to keep you “youthfully you”—all in a professional, comfortable environment with state-of-the-art technology.

142 | MidtownMag.com

Aesthetics by Eileen 5540 Munford Road, Suite 101 919.881.2100 Aesthetics-By-Eileen.com

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The team of expert nurse injectors at Blue Water Spa— Ashley, Mari, BJ, and Bethany—do one thing and one thing only: aesthetic injections. Our nurse injectors receive consistent top-level training from experts all over the world.

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BEAUTY EXPERTS \\

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Drybar is a blowout bar that focuses on one thing and being the best at it, and for us, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blowouts.

When you come into the shop, you will be greeted and offered a drink (yes, we serve wine!). Your stylist will have a consultation with you to decide what style you are looking for, and then will wash, blow-dry, and style your hair. We also do updos and braids.

Drybar Cary at Waverly Place 302 Colonades Way #206, Cary 919.238.7264 NOW OPEN Drybar Raleigh at Midtown East 1111 Mercantile Drive, Suite 100, Raleigh 919.670.1072 T h e D r y B a r. c o m

144 | MidtownMag.com

Drybar is dedicated to making women feel confident and happy. We do that through thorough education and over-the-top customer service. Brand consistency is super important to us, and no matter which of our nationwide Drybar locations you walk into, you should expect the same quality and customer service in every shop. Plus, our shops look and smell nothing like a regular salon, and we have thought of every little detail to help you relax and have a great time. With two local shops and a wide range of hours, Drybar can take care of all of your styling needs.

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Eighteen years ago, Nina Milano opened La Thérapie Spa in Cary, one of the Triangle’s first luxury spas. Milano’s vision to provide a remarkable spa experience for her guests drew upon her vast aesthetic training and elegant European style. “I want every guest who enters the spa to feel like they are the most important person in the world”, Nina explains of her guiding principle at La Thérapie and her Cameron Village Spa, Lorena Luca.

Both award-winning spas believe that beauty and wellness begin with taking the time for self-care. Using the area’s most soughtafter massage therapists, estheticians, and healthcare providers, guests are invited to relax into a journey that is all about them.

Both La Thérapie and Lorena Luca specialize in customized treatments—offering facials, massage, medical aesthetics, cosmetic injectables, body contouring, laser services, and medical-grade skincare. The salons also host bridal parties and other private spa events.

For the perfect gift, talk with a spa concierge about one of the many beautifully crafted spa packages, which are always a holiday favorite.

La Thérapie Spa 1000 Darrington Drive #100, Cary 919.380.0041 LaTherapieSpa.com Lorena Luca Spa and Skin Clinic 412 Woodburn Road, Raleigh 919.977.0090 LorenaLuca.com

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BEAUTY EXPERTS \\

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Mark Christopher Salon is consistently rated a top salon for both color and cut services in the Triangle. We provide a welcoming, upscale environment in the heart of Raleighâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Five Points district.

We offer products that deliver resultsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;products that are versatile and unique; weightless, yet reparative; ultra-concentrated, yet gentle. Like the Oribe, Serene Scalp collection, which bines more than 30 years of styling heritage with centuries-old craftsmanship and cutting-edge innovation. This line delivers the highest levels of performance and luxury. Inspired by skincare technology, our Serene Scalp Collection provides a step-by-step hair regimen targeted for overall hair health.

Mark Christopher Salon 5 0 9 W. W h i t a k e r M i l l R o a d 919.239.4383 S a l o n M a r k C h r i s t o p h e r. c o m

146 | MidtownMag.com

BEAUTY EXPERTS \\

The MedSpa 1112 Dresser Court 919.333.4418 TheMedSpaRaleigh.com

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The MedSpa believes that beautiful skin is for everyone.

Skincare doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be complicated, or expensive and out of reachâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;it just needs to work for you and your lifestyle.

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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BEAUTY BUYS

HA Collagen Booster, $116 New Life Aesthetics

Party of Four Limited-Edition Kit, $50 Drybar

Lifeline ProPlus Elastin Booster, $150 Aesthetics by Eileen

Biopelle Tensage Intensive Serum 40, $136 The MedSpa

Vita-CE with Ferulic Acid, $99 New Life Aesthetics

Oribe Serene Scalp Collection, $222 Mark Christopher Salon

Wellness Remedy Package: CBD Wellness Massage, Cause+Medic CBD Body Butter, and Lorena Luca Signature Robe, $270 Lorena Luca / La Thérapie Spa

Full-Spectrum CBD Holiday Collection (Includes CBD Oil, Topical Cream, and Roller CBD), $125 Peak City CBD

Emsculpt + CoolSculpting Complete + Emsella + Spa Robe = Fit, Firm, and Fat-Free Physique, Starting at $750 Blue Water Spa

148 | MidtownMag.com

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20

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DIAMOND AWARDS The readers of Midtown magazine have voted and selected their favorite things about living in Raleigh, and your business is on the list! This year’s Diamond Award winners will be featured in our January/February issue. Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners are eligible to celebrate in our special congratulatory Diamond Award advertising section. It’s the perfect opportunity to increase your business among Raleigh’s most affluent residents and visitors.

SPACE CLOSING: DECEMBER 3rd NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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TRENDS 1

1 Snow leopard is the trending animal print.

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2 Shades of yellow are brightening up the winter blues this season.

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4 Stay cozy yet chic with the Dumbo boots,

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5 DiOMi cashmere and wool blend

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6 Cashmere cheetah print sweater.

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7 An eye-catching dyed millennium

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150 | MidtownMag.com

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OUT NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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OAK PARK SHOPPING CENTER

Oak Park S h o p p i n g

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6001 Glenwood Avenue 919.787.0181 | OakParkShops.com 152 | MidtownMag.com

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CAMERON VILLAGE

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Show off the latest trends available at your local shop or boutique. Visit our website or call for more information.

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DECEMBER 3rd MIDTOWNMAG.COM 919.782.4710 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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Commercial Photographer + Director

ScottKelly-Photo.com | 912.655.4528 /scottkellyphoto

OUT ABOUT DINE & DRAFT

|

&

HOLIDAY PERFORMANCES

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MIDTOWN MINGLES

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NEW AROUND TOWN

Photo by MASH Photography

SOLA COFFEE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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MIDTOWN MAGAZINE

Dine & Draft A FOODIE GUIDE TO RALEIGH

American 41HUNDRED 4100 Main at North Hills Street 919.278.1478 | 41HundredRestaurant.com BAD DADDY’S BURGER BAR 3300 Village Market Place 919.297.0953 | BadDaddysBurgerBar.com BERKELEY CAFE 217 W. Martin Street | 919.828.9190 Facebook.com/BerkeleyRaleigh BLOOMSBURY BISTRO 509-101 W. Whitaker Mill Road 919.834.9011 | BloomsburyBistro.com TROPHY TAP + TABLE 225 S. Wilmington Street 919.424.7817 | TrophyBrewing.com CAMERON BAR AND GRILL 2018 Clark Avenue | 919.755.2231 CameronBarAndGrill.com CAPITAL CLUB 16 16 W. Martin Street 919.747.9345 | CapitalClub16.com CARROLL’S KITCHEN 19 E. Martin Street 919.670.3622 | CarrollsKitchen.org CLOCKWORK 519 W. North Street 919.307.3215 | ClockWorkRaleigh.com

IRIS RESTAURANT 2110 Blue Ridge Road | 919.664.6838 NCArtMuseum.org/Visit/Dining

THE STATION 701 N. Person Street 919.977.1567 | StationRaleigh.com

HAKO SUSHI 2603-155 Glenwood Avenue 919.235.0589 | HakoSushiNC.com

KINGS 141 Park at North Hills Street 919.600.5700 | KingsBowlAmerica.com

THE TWISTED FORK 3751 Sumner Boulevard 919.792.2535 | TheTwistedFork.com

IMPERIAL GARDEN 7713 Lead Mine Road | 919.846.1988 ImperialGardenRestaurant.com

LYNNWOOD GRILL & BREWING CONCERN 4821 Grove Barton Road 919.785.0043 | LynnwoodGrill.com

VILLAGE GRILL 8470 Honeycut Road | 919.890.5340 VillageGrillRaleigh.com

LEMONGRASS THAI RESTAURANT 8320 Litchford Road #142 | 919.954.0377 LemongrassThaiRestaurant.net

MIDTOWN GRILLE 4421 Six Forks Road | 919.782.9463 TheMidtownGrille.com

WINSTON’S GRILLE 6401 Falls of Neuse Road 919.790.0700 | WinstonsGrille.com

NI ASIAN KITCHEN 8817 Six Forks Road 919.916.5106 | NiAsianKitchen.com

YARD HOUSE 4208 Six Forks Road 919.881.2590 | YardHouse.com

ORCHID JAPANESE RESTAURANT 7432 Creedmoor Road | 919.890.5345 OrchidJapaneseBuffet.com

ZEST CAFE & HOME ART 8831 Six Forks Road 919.848.4792 | ZestCafeHomeArt.com

PHO PHO PHO 510 Glenwood Avenue #103 PhoPhoPhoNC.com

Asian

RED DRAGON CHINESE RESTAURANT 2513 Fairview Road | 919.782.1102 RedDragonRaleigh.com

NORTH RIDGE PUB 6010 Falls of Neuse Road 919.790.9125 | NorthRidgePub.com OAK CITY MEATBALL SHOPPE 180 E. Davie Street | 919.714.9014 OakCityMeatball.com THE POINT AT GLENWOOD 1626 Glenwood Avenue | 919.755.1007 ThePointAtGlenwood.com SECOND EMPIRE RESTAURANT AND TAVERN 330 Hillsborough Street 919.829.3663 | Second-Empire.com STANBURY 938 N. Blount Street | 919.977.4321 StanburyRestaurant.com TASTE 3048 Medlin Drive | 919.322.0568

BIDA MANDA 222 S. Blount Street 919.829.9999 | BidaManda.com BREWERY BHAVANA 218 S. Blount Street 919.829.9998 | BreweryBhavana.com BU•KU 1228 Heritage Links Drive | Wake Forest 919.435.1595 | BukuWakeForest.com

SEOUL GARDEN 4701 Atlantic Avenue | 919.850.9984 RaleighSeoulGarden.com SHABASHABU 3080 Wake Forest Road 919.501.7755 | Shabashabu.net SONO 319 Fayetteville Street 919.521.5328 | SonoRaleigh.com

CRAWFORD AND SON 618 N. Person Street | 919.307.4647 CrawfordAndSonRestaurant.com

1912 Bernard Street | 919.948.7815 JMRKitchens.com/Taste

CHAI’S ASIAN BISTRO 8347 Creedmoor Road 919.341.3715 | ChaisAsianBistro.com

DEATH & TAXES 105 W. Hargett Street | 984.242.0218 AC-Restaurants.com/Death-Taxes

THE OAK 4035 Lake Boone Trail | 919.787.9100 JMRKitchens.com/Oak

CHOPSTIX 5607 Creedmoor Road 919.781.6268 | Chopstix.com

EDWARDS MILL BAR & GRILL 3201 Edwards Mill Road | 919.783.5447 EdwardsMillBarAndGrill.com

THE PLAYERS’ RETREAT 105 Oberlin Road 919.755.9589 | PlayersRetreat.net

CO 101 Park at North Hills Street 919.258.2070 | EatAtCO.com

5433 Wade Park Boulevard 919.803.1118 | SpringRollsRestaurant.com

GLENWOOD GRILL 2603 Glenwood Avenue #151 919.782.3102 | GlenwoodGrill.com

THE RALEIGH TIMES BAR 14 E. Hargett Street | 919.833.0999 RaleighTimesBar.com

DAVID’S DUMPLING & NOODLE BAR 1900 Hillsborough Street 919.239.4536 | DDandNB.com

SUSHI O BISTRO + SUSHI BAR 222 Glenwood Avenue 919.838.8868 SushioRaleighNC.com

HAYES BARTON CAFE 2000 Fairview Road | 919.856.8551 ImaginaryStudioOnline.com/hayes

THE ROCKFORD FIVE STAR RESTAURANT 320 ½ Glenwood Avenue | 919.821.9020 511 W. Hargett Street TheRockfordRestaurant.com 919.833.3311 | FiveStarRaleigh.com

VISIT MIDTOWNMAG.COM FOR A COMPLETE LISTING 158 | MidtownMag.com

SUSHI BLUES CAFE 301 Glenwood Avenue 919.664.8061 | SushiBluesCafe.com SPRING ROLLS RESTAURANT 4361 Lassiter at North Hills 919.783.8180

THAIPHOON BISTRO 301 Glenwood Avenue #190 919.720.4034 | ThaiphoonBistro.com

WARAJI JAPANESE RESTAURANT 5910 Duraleigh Road | 919.783.1883 WarajiJapaneseRestaurant.com

Bakery & Desserts ANISETTE 209 Bickett Boulevard 919.758.3565 | SweetAnisette.com ANNELORE’S GERMAN BAKERY 1249 Farmers Market Drive 919.294.8040 Facebook.com/AnneloresGermanBakery BITTERSWEET 16 E. Martin Street | 919.977.3829 BittersweetRaleigh.com BOULTED BREAD 614 W. South Street 919.999.3984 | BoultedBread.com DUCK DONUTS 8323 Creedmoor Road 919.847.3800 | DuckDonuts.com EDIBLE ART BAKERY & DESSERT CAFÉ 4351-115 The Circle at North Hills 919.856.0604 | EdibleArtNC.com ESCAZÚ ARTISAN CHOCOLATES 936 N. Blount Street | 919.832.3433 EscazuChocolates.com GROOVY DUCK BAKERY 3434 Edwards Mill Road } 919.787.9233 GroovyDuckBakeryLLC.com HAYES BARTON CAFE 2000 Fairview Road | 919.856.8551 HayesBartonCafeAndDessertery.com LUCETTEGRACE 235 S. Salisbury Street 919.307.4950 | LucetteGrace.com YELLOW DOG BREAD COMPANY 219 E. Franklin Street | 984.232.0291 Facebook.com/YellowDogBread VIDERI CHOCOLATE FACTORY 327 W. Davie Street | 919.755.5053 VideriChocolateFactory.com

BBQ BIG AL’S BBQ 2920 Forestville Road | 919.217.0653 BigAlsBBQAndCatering.com CLYDE COOPER’S BBQ 327 S. Wilmington Street 919.832.7614 ClydeCoopersBBQ.com

Breakfast/Specialty ANOTHER BROKEN EGG CAFE 160 Park at North Hills Street 919.307.8195 | AnotherBrokenEgg.com BRIGS 8111 Creedmoor Road 919.870.0994 | Brigs.com JUBALA COFFEE 8450 Honeycutt Road 919.758.8330 | JubalaCoffee.com THE MORNING TIMES 10 E. Hargett Street | 919.836.1204 MorningTimes-Raleigh.com NEW WORLD CAFE 4112 Pleasant Valley Road 919.786.0091 | NewWorldCoffeeHouse.com

Cafe BENELUX COFFEE 402 Oberlin Road | 919.900.8294 BeneluxCoffee.com DESPINA’S CAFÉ 8369 Creedmoor Road 919.848.5007 | DespinasCafe.com

January / February 2020

WELLNESS

& QA

KALE ME CRAZY 2018 Cameron Street 919.239.4660 | KaleMeCrazy.net MANHATTAN CAFE 320 S. Wilmington Street 919.833.6105 | ManhattanCafeNC.com PINE STATE COFFEE 1614 Automotive Way | PineStateCoffee.com SOLA COFFEE 7705 Lead Mine Road 919.803.8983 | SolaCoffee.com SOSTA CAFE 130 E. Davie Street 919.833.1006 | SostaCafe.com THE DAILY PLANET CAFE 121 W. Jones Street | 919.707.8060 TheDailyPlanetCafe.com THE PHARMACY CAFE 702 N. Person Street 919.832.6432 | PersonStreetRX.com SIR WALTER COFFEE 145 E. Davie Street 919.322.0019 | SirWalterCoffee.com SUNFLOWERS CAFE 8 W. Peace Street | 919.833.4676 SunflowersRaleigh.com

OLE TIME BARBECUE 6309 Hillsborough Street 919.859.2544 | OleTimeBarbecue.com

Carribbean

THE PIT AUTHENTIC BARBECUE 328 W. Davie Street | 919.890.4500 ThePit-Raleigh.com

CARIBBEAN CAFÉ 2645 E. Millbrook Road | 919.872.4858 CaribbeanCafeNC.com

RESERVE YOUR SPOT IN THE WELLNESS Q&A!

SPACE DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 18th 919.782.4710 MIDTOWNMAG.COM NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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JAMAICAN GRILLE 5500 Atlantic Springs Road 919.873.0200

Sweet.

Southern.

MUM’S JAMAICAN RESTAURANT 3901 Capital Boulevard 919.615.2332 MumsJamaicanFood.com

Scratch-made.

Since 1982.

Catering CATERING WORKS 2319 Laurelbrook Street 919.828.5932 | CateringWorks.com DONOVAN’S DISH 10251 Little Brier Creek Lane #107 919.651.8309 | DonovansDish.com EMPIRE EATS CATERING 919.582.9470 EmpireEatsCatering.com

2019

ROCKY TOP CATERING 1705 E. Millbrook Road 919.850.2340 | RockyTopCatering.com

DIAMOND

AWARD BEST CAKES/SWEETS

4351-115 The Circle at North Hills 919.856.0604 • edibleartnc.com

Unlimited possibilities.

Unlock the flavors and discover something new.

IRREGARDLESS CATERING 901 W. Morgan Street | 919.610.0872 IrregardlessCatering.com

Deli/Sandwiches THE COMMUNITY DELI 901 Oberlin Road | 919.896.6810 TheCommunityDeli.com GROUCHO’S DELI 10 Horne Street 919.977.7747 | Grouchos.com LINUS & PEPPER’S 126 S. Salisbury Street 919.833.3866 LUNCH BOX DELI 2816 Trawick Road 919.872.7882 POPPYSEED MARKET 8801 Lead Mine Road 919.870.4997 | PoppyseedMkt.com VILLAGE DELI & GRILL 500 Daniels Street 919.828.1428 | VillageDeli.net

Eclectic Perfect for corporate holiday gifting Olive Oil | Balsamic Vinegar Handcrafted Specialty Foods Tasting Bar | Gifts 8490 Honeycutt Road | Suite 106 919.845.7266 | TheOliveWagon.com 160 | MidtownMag.com

41HUNDRED 4100 Main at North Hills Street 919.278.1478 41HundredRestaurant.com ORO RESTAURANT & LOUNGE 18 E. Martin Street 919.239.4010 | OroRaleigh.com PLATES NEIGHBORHOOD KITCHEN 301 Glenwood Avenue 919.828.0018 | PlatesKitchen.com

French CREPE TRADITIONS 141 Park at North Hills Street 919.977.3425 | CrepeTraditions.com COQUETTE BRASSERIE 4531 The Circle at North Hills 919.789.0606 | CoquetteRaleigh.com JOLIE 620 N. Person Street 919.803.7221 | RestaurantJolie.com ROYALE 200 E. Martin Street 919.977.3043 SAINT JACQUES 6112 Falls of Neuse Road 919.862.2770 SaintJacquesFrenchCuisine.com SIMPLY CRÊPES 8470 Honeycutt Road 919.322.2327 | SimplyCrepes.com

German J. BETSKI’S 10 W. Franklin Street 919.833.7999 | JBetskis.com

Indian AZITRA 8411 Brier Creek Parkway 919.484.3939 | Azitra.com GARLAND 14 W. Martin Street 919.833.6886 GarlandRaleigh.com GODAVARI 9650 Strickland Road 919.847.1984 | GodavariUS.com KADHAI THE INDIAN WOK 6260-112 Glenwood Avenue 919.785.2864 TheIndianExpressKadhai.com TAJ MAHAL INDIAN CUISINE 6611 Falls of Neuse Road 919.848.2262 TajMahalIndianRaleigh.com THE WILD COOK’S INDIAN GRILL 3212 Hillsborough Street 984.232.8530 | WildCooksGrill.com ZAYKA INDIAN CUISINE 10410 Moncreiffe Road | Suite 103 919.361.5370 | ZaykaRaleigh.com

Irish SAINTS & SCHOLARS IRISH PUB 909 Spring Forest Road | 919.878.8828 SaintsAndScholarsPub.com

THE HIBERNIAN 311 Glenwood Avenue 919.833.2258 8021 Falls Of Neuse Road 919.803.0290 | HibernianPub.com

Italian ASSAGGIO ITALIAN RESTUARANT 3501 W. Millbrook Road 919.785.2088 | Assaggios-NC.com BELLA MONICA 3121 Edwards Mill Road 919.881.9778 | BellaMonica.com BRUNO SEAFOOD & STEAKS 11211 Galleria Avenue 919.435.6640 | BrunoRaleigh.com CAFE TIRAMISU 6008 Falls of Neuse Road 919.790.1006 | CafeTiramisu.net CAFFÉ LUNA 136 E. Hargett Street 919.832.6090 | CafeLuna.com CASA CARBONE RISTORANTE ITALIANO 6019 Glenwood Avenue 919.781.8750 | CasaCarbone.com FARINA NEIGHBORHOOD ITALIAN 8450 Honeycutt Road 919.890.0143 | FarinaRaleigh.com

GRAVY 135 S. Wilmington Street 919.896.8513 | GravyRaleigh.com JIMMY V’S OSTERIA + BAR 420 Fayetteville Street 919.256.1451 | JimmyVsRaleigh.com MIA FRANCESCA 4100 Main at North Hills Street #114 919.278.1525 | MiaFrancescaRaleigh.com MULINO ITALIAN KITCHEN & BAR 309 N. Dawson Street 919.838.8595 | MulinoRaleigh.com NINA’S RISTORANTE 8801 Lead Mine Road 919.845.1122 | NinasRestaurant.com PICCOLA ITALIA 423 Woodburn Road 919.833.6888 | PiccolaItaliaNC.com PULCINELLA’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT 4711 Hope Valley Road | 919.490.1172 PulcinellasItalianRestaurant.com TUSCAN BLU 327 W. Davie Street 919.834.5707 | TuscanBlu.com VIC’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT & PIZZERIA 331 Blake Street | 919.829.7090 4035 Lake Boone Trail | 984.200.9292 VicsItalianRestaurant.com

VIVACE 4209 Lassiter Mill Road 919.787.7747 | VivaceRaleigh.com

VIDRIO 500 Glenwood Avenue #100 919.803.6033 | VidrioRaleigh.com

Mediterranean/ Middle Eastern

Mexican

FRESH LEVANT BISTRO 8450 Honeycutt Road 984.200.3999 | FreshLevant.com

CAFE CAPISTRANO 8471 Garvey Drive 919.872.1127 CafeCapistrano.com

NEOMONDE 3817 Beryl Road 919.828.1628 | Neomonde.com

CANTINA 18 433 Daniels Street | 919.835.9911 18RestaurantGroup.com

PETRA GRILL 6091 Capital Boulevard | 919.599.4959

CENTRO 106 S. Wilmington Street 919.835.3593 CentroRaleigh.com

SASSOOL 9650 Strickland Road 919.847.2700 | Sassool.com SITTI 137 S. Wilmington Street 919.239.4070 | Sitti-Raleigh.com

DOS TAQUITOS 410 Glenwood Avenue 919.835.9010 DosTaquitosNorth.com

TAVERNA AGORA 326 Hillsborough Street 919.881.8333 | TavernaAgora.com

FOGATA BRAVA GRILL & TEQUILA 3351 Cypress Plantation Trail 919.977.0168 FogataBrava.com

THE OLIVE WAGON 8490 Honeycutt Road #106 919.845.7266 | TheOliveWagon.com

GALLO PELÓN MEZCALERIA 106 S. Wilmington Street 919.835.3593 | GalloPelon.com

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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North Ridge YOUR LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD PUB WITH AN UPSCALE TWIST AND AFFORDABLE OPTIONS.

GONZA TACOS Y TEQUILA 7713 Lead Mine Road 919.846.5478 2100 Hillsborough Street 919.268.8965 GonzaTacosyTequila.com GRINGO A GO GO 100 N. Person Street 919.977.1438 | GringoRaleigh.com JOSE AND SONS 327 W. Davie Street 919.755.0556 | JoseAndSons.com LA CARRETA 1028 Oberlin Road 919.977.3271 | LaCarretaAVL.com LA RANCHERITA 2400 Hillsborough Street 919.755.9697 | RancheritaMex.com THE ORIGINAL FLYING BURRITO 4800 Grove Barton Road 919.785.2734 OriginalFlyingBurrito.com TORERO’S 4721 Atlantic Avenue | 919.873.9116 TorerosMexicanRestaurants.com

6010 Falls of Neuse Road Raleigh, NC 27609

919.790.9125 | N o r t h R i d g e P u b . c o m

For Vegans, Vegetarians & Omnivores Alike Since 1975

Specializing in Farm-to-Fork Cuisine

Live Music | Tues-Sun Saturday Night Jazz from 9-11pm Open for Thanksgiving and Christmas

Café 919.833.8898 | irregardless.com Urban Garden | wellfedgarden.org

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VIRGIL’S ORIGINAL TAQUERIA 126 S. Salisbury Street | 919.833.3866 Facebook.com/VirgilsTacos

Seafood 42ND STREET OYSTER BAR 508 W. Jones Street | 919.831.2811 42ndStOysterBar.com CAPTAIN STANLEY’S SEAFOOD 3333 S. Wilmington Street 919.779.7878 Facebook.com/CaptainStanleys CAPE FEAR SEAFOOD COMPANY 832 Spring Forest Road 984.242.4600 CapeFearSeafoodCompany.com MARGAUX’S RESTAURANT 8111 Creedmoor Road | 919.846.9846 MargauxsRestaurant.com MASON’S FAMOUS LOBSTER ROLLS 4121 Main at North Hills Street #100 984.200.1845 | MasonsLobster.com THE COWFISH SUSHI BURGER BAR 4208 Six Forks Road 919.784.0400 | TheCowfish.com

South American ALPACA PERUVIAN CHARCOAL CHICKEN 4614 Capital Boulevard 919.713.0000 | AlpacaChicken.com

Pizzeria

BARCELONA WINE BAR 430 W. Martin Street 919.808.5400 | BarcelonaWineBar.com

CRISTO’S NY STYLE PIZZA 1302 E. Milbrook Road 919.872.6797 | CristosPizza.com

GUASACA AREPA & SALSA GRILL 4025 Lake Boone Trail 919.322.4928 | Guasaca.com

DEMO’S PIZZERIA & DELI 222 Glenwood Avenue | 919.754.1050 DemosPizzeriaDeli.com

MAMI NORA’S 2401 Wake Forest Road 919.834.8572 | MamiNoras.com

DONATOS 111 Seaboard Avenue 919.828.5111 | Donatos.com

OAKWOOD CAFE 300 E. Edenton Street | 919.828.5994 OakwoodCafeRaleigh.com

LILLY’S PIZZA 1813 Glenwood Avenue 919.833.0226 | LillysPizza.com

VINOS FINOS TAPAS AND WINE BAR 8450 Honeycutt Road | 919.747.9233 VinosFinosyPicadas.com

MOONLIGHT PIZZA COMPANY 615 W. Morgan Street 919.755.9133 | MoonlightPizza.com

Southern

PIZZA LA STELLA 219 Fayetteville Street 984.200.2441 | PizzaLaStella.com

BEASLEY’S CHICKEN + HONEY 237 S. Wilmington Street 919.322.0127 AC-Restaurants.com/Beasleys

STROMBOLI’S EXPRESS 2900 Spring Forest Road 919.876.4222 | StrombolisExpress.com

BIG ED’S CITY MARKET RESTAURANT 220 Wolfe Street | 919.836.9909 BigEdsCityMarket.com

THE PIZZA TIMES 210 S. Wilmington Street 919.832.4411 | RaleighTimesPizza.com

DRIFTWOOD SOUTHERN KITCHEN 8460 Honeycutt Road 919.977.8360 | DriftwoodRaleigh.com

TROPHY BREWING + PIZZA 827 W. Morgan Street 919.803.4849 | TrophyBrewing.com

HUMBLE PIE 317 S. Harrington Street | 919.829.9222 HumblePieRestaurant.com

MANDOLIN 2519 Fairview Road | 919.322.0365 MandolinRaleigh.com NOFO @ THE PIG 2014 Fairview Road 919.821.1240 | Nofo.com POOLE’S DINER 426 S. McDowell Street 919.832.4477 AC-Restaurants.com/Pooles RELISH CAFÉ & BAR 5625 Creedmoor Road 919.787.1855 | RelishRaleigh.com RYE BAR & SOUTHERN KITCHEN 500 Fayetteville Street 919.227.3370 | RyeRaleigh.com STATE FARMERS’ MARKET RESTAURANT 1240 Farmers Market Drive 919.755.1550 | RealBiscuits.com THE MECCA RESTAURANT 13 E. Martin Street | 919.832.5714 Mecca-Restaurant.com THE REMEDY DINER 137 E. Hargett Street 919.835.3553 | TheRemedyDiner.com

Steakhouse ANGUS BARN 9401 Glenwood Avenue 919.791.2444 | AngusBarn.com BRASA BRAZILIAN STEAKHOUSE 8551 Brier Creek Parkway 919.544.3344 | BrasaSteakHouse.com VINNIE’S STEAK HOUSE AND TAVERN 7440 Six Forks Road | 919.847.7319 VinniesSteakHouse.com

Vegetarian/Vegan FICTION KITCHEN 428 S. Dawson Street | 919.831.4177 TheFictionKitchen.com GRABBAGREEN 4421 Six Forks Road #103 919.326.7799 HAPPY + HALE 443 Fayetteville Steet 919.307.4148 | HappyAndHale.com IRREGARDLESS CAFE 901 W. Morgan Street 919.833.8898 | Irregardless.com LIVING KITCHEN 555 Fayetteville Street 919.324.3515 | LivingKitchen.com RALEIGH RAW 7 W. Hargett Street 919.400.0944 | RaleighRaw.com NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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Events

Holiday Performances

Photo by Rob Orazi

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical November 29–December 24 2 East South Street This beloved TV classic soars off the screen and onto the stage this holiday season. Come see all of your favorite characters including Santa and Mrs. Claus, Hermey the Elf, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, Clarice, and of course, Rudolph.

DukeEnergyCenterRaleigh.com

A Snow White Christmas November 30–December 8 2 East South Street Enjoy this wonderful, witty retelling of a classic fairy tale with the entire family this holiday season. With a score consisting of well-known pop songs, follow Snow White and her seven dwarves as they try to save Christmas from her wicked aunt. This British Pantostyle performance will have you laughing in the aisles and singing in your seats.

DukeEnergyCenterRaleigh.com

Cinderella December 6–22 301 Pogue Street This musical comedy is a holiday sugarplum for the whole family. Just the right mixture of comedy and romance can add the sparkle of magic to your holiday season. This visually stunning musical combines elegant costumes and scenery with singing, dancing, conniving step-relatives, and resourceful fairy folk.

RaleighLittleTheatre.org

A Christmas Carol 2 East South Street Continue a family tradition or start a new one with Ira David Wood III’s A Christmas Carol.

This wonderful holiday story is brought to life with great songs and tremendous heart.

DukeEnergyCenterRaleigh.com 164 | MidtownMag.com

Photo by Cindy McEnery

Dec 11–15

Events

Irving Berlin’s White Christmas December 3–8 Irving Berlin’s White Christmas tells the story of a song-and-dance team putting on a show in a magical Vermont inn and falling for a stunning sister act in the process. This performance is full of dancing, laughter, and some of the greatest songs ever written. Give everyone the gift they’re dreaming of with this merry and bright holiday musical.

DPACNC.com

Holiday Pops December 13–14 2 East South Street This annual tradition is getting bigger and better each year.

Featuring musical favorites, the NCS Children’s Chorus, carolers, falling snow, a sing-along, and a few surprises, this special performance will make your holiday bright!

NCSymphony.org

The Nutcracker

The Santaland Diaries

December 13–14

December 13–15, 19–22

2610 Cates Avenue

107 Pullen Road

For more than 25 years, City Ballet Raleigh has been presenting their much-anticipated hallmark of the holiday season, Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. Enjoy a full-length, richly costumed and staged version of the ballet, featuring guest artists from Carolina Ballet.

City-Ballet.com

Jesse Gephart returns to Theatre In The Park, spreading holiday cheer as ‘Crumpet the Elf’ in The Santaland Diaries.

This one-man show relives an out-of-work, young actor’s brief stint as an elf in Macy’s department store during the holiday season. Come laugh, drink, and be berry as you join Theatre In The Park for this adult-only holiday treat that is sure to make your spirits bright.

TheatreInThePark.com

166 | MidtownMag.com

Photo by Jeremy Daniel

123 Vivian Street, Durham

FALLON’S FLOWERS Serving Raleigh as a real, local, family-owned florist since 1920

Photo by Fallon’s Flowers

THE VOICES OF RALEIGH

BEST FLORIST

Performing acoustic music & writing original songs for special events.

Call today to book your holiday party!

Consider GIFTING an original song to a special couple for their upcoming wedding. www.oakcity.site 919.353.5446 facebook.com/oakcitycollaborative @oakcitycollaborative

Now booking weddings and events for 2019.

FallonsFlowers

FallonsFlowers

Ginny Williams Photography

Plant-Based Recipes, Food Photography, & Video

www.GinnyWilliamsBlog.com

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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Midtown MINGLES

TRIANGLE HOPS FOR HOPE BREWS FOR CHARITY

Photos courtesy of Cornerstone Building Brands

North Hills Midtown Park hosted Triangle Hops for Hope, a fundraising event that pairs corporate teams with local breweries to create an original brew and raise money for charity.

Teams showcased their creations to more than 1,000 attendees, and the public voted on the winner. All proceeds benefitted Children’s Flight of Hope, a 501(c)(3) organization that provides air transportation for children to access specialized medical care.

HOME FOR GOOD PROJECT BUILDS IN RALEIGH’S AUGUSTA LANDINGS Cornerstone Building Brands kicked off their official season of volunteering and home building through Ply Gem’s Home for Good project with a private employee celebration and performance by award-winning, charttopping country superstars Maddie & Tae. The Home for Good project has built more than 500 homes in 90 communities across the country since 2016, including Raleigh’s Augusta Landings neighborhood.

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reallygreatsite.com

Midtown MINGLES

BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS ENJOY FREE SPA DAY

Photos by Kelsea Peace

Aesthetics by Eileen hosted their 6th annual Breast Cancer Survivor Free Spa Day. The day featured meditation, yoga, facials, and foot massages in addition to a support group meeting and spa lunch. Attendees were also given skincare gifts to take home.

WOMEN MAKING CHANGE Dress for Success Triangle hosted its third annual luncheon, Women Making Change, at the newly renovated Embassy Suites. The luncheon featured a keynote address from Miss USA, Cheslie Kryst. Approximately 400 people were in attendance, including former North Carolina governor Beverly Perdue. The event, presented by Oracle Construction and Engineering, raised more than $87,000 to support unemployed and underemployed Triangle women with career services.

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DR. SINGLETARY PERFORMS ORAL CANCER SCREENINGS AT CAMPBELL LAW HEALTH & WELLNESS FAIR Dr. Macon Singletary of North Raleigh Periodontics participated in Campbell University Law School’s first annual community Health & Wellness Fair, held at the school’s downtown Raleigh location. Dr. Singletary shared information about the connection between periodontal and systemic health, performed oral cancer screenings, and offered practical advice for proper oral hygiene and maintaining healthy gum tissues.

RANGONI FIRENZE SHOES HOSTS FASHION SHOW WITH GREYHOUNDS Rangoni Firenze Shoes in Cameron Village hosted a fashion show to benefit the Triangle Greyhound Society. The fashion show featured Amalfi and Valentina Shoes by Rangoni, clothing

by Rudy Ribbon, and jewelry by Jill Maurer.

FITNESS CENTER SLT (STRENGTHEN, LENGTHEN, TONE) OPENS IN RALEIGH SLT, Raleigh’s newest fitness center, officially opened its doors with a full class schedule.

To celebrate the grand opening, special classes were led by Duke University graduate, SLT founder and CEO Amanda Freeman. After class, guests were treated to snacks and beverages provided by Kale Me Crazy.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

| 171

Midtown MINGLES

ANGUS BARN HOSTS EVENING OF HOPE

Photos courtesy of Cornerstone Building Brands

The Foundation of Hope’s annual charity dinner and auction, Evening of Hope, took place at the Angus Barn’s Pavilion.

The event featured an elegant five-course dinner prepared by Iron Chef Walter Royal, in addition to live auction and silent auction. Emmy-award-winning investigative journalist, TV anchor, and mental health advocate Elizabeth Vargas also delivered a keynote address to attendees.

ZAYTOUN ORTHODONTICS DELIVERS ‘A YEAR OF SMILES’ TO AREA TEACHERS To mark the beginning of “a year of smiles” for teachers who help educate children in the area, Zaytoun Orthodontics dropped off supplies to five Raleigh-area elementary schools on August 23rd. This is the second year Zaytoun Orthodontics has contributed to the increased need of resources for teachers.

172 | MidtownMag.com

NEW Around Town

FARMHOUSE CAFE

Photo by Summit Exposure

Farmhouse Cafe, the brainchild of The Pharmacy Cafe owners Patrick Cowden and Daniel Whittaker, opened its doors in Wendell Falls on September 16th. The café will debut seasonal small plates, Southern staples, and a few international items.

Guests can also enjoy a breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu of rotating seasonal features and sharable, “social” plates, plus an array of beverages—including gourmet coffees, wines, craft beer, and prosecco and kombucha on tap.

WEGMANS SUPERMARKET OPENS FIRST LOCATION IN NORTH CAROLINA Wegmans hosted a sneak peek and special tasting event for local food influencers prior to their highly anticipated grand opening in Raleigh.

The store officially opened its doors on September 29th with an estimated 3,000 people in line.

1200 Wake Towne Drive | 984.960.5600

174 | MidtownMag.com

Valerie Troupe REALTOR® & Design Consultant List

•

Stage

•

Redecorate

•

Remodel

Ready to sell? Want fresh upgrades?

I can help navigate all things real estate and design related.

Call or text 919.607.6118 vtroupe@fmrealty.com

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

| 175

NEW Around Town

DRYBAR OPENS IN MIDTOWN EAST Drybar has opened its newest location in Raleigh at Midtown East.

Book a blowout near you today!

1111 Mercantile Drive | Suite 100 | 919.670.1072

MYEYEDR. CELEBRATES FIRST LUXURY OFFICE OPENING IN RALEIGH MyEyeDr. opened their first luxury office in the new Midtown East shopping center, featuring an expanded inventory of designer eyewear collections in addition to eye health and wellness services. The new location is accepting new patients; call or visit the website tomake appointment today!

1100 Mercantile Drive | Suite 130 | 984.204.6754 MyEyeDr.com

UNITED COMMUNITY BANK United Community Bank opened its first Metro Raleigh location in North Hills at.

The full-service, two-story office includes a retail branch, space for executive and commercial team members, and the bank’s Raleigh-based mortgage team. This new location will serve as the base of the bank’s North Carolina operations.

4711 Six Forks Road | UCBI.com 176 | MidtownMag.com

Kaleidoscope LIVING

POWERFUL MOMENT

A RT I S T: JUSTIN LEITNER

Leitner, a full-time professional artist with more than 15 years of experience, is based

“Sunsets can be such a powerful source of nature,” observes artist Justin Leitner. “The colors and sky are changing every second. With my work, I strive to capture how that moment felt with the use of expressive marks and strong colors—and not just replicate a split second of the moment.” In this 4-inch by 4-inch work, Leitner successfully conveys a magnificent moment in miniature form.

in Raleigh. His work strives to capture the essence of the world with the use of powerful color combinations, intuition, and texture. He often takes inspiration from William Turner and Salvador Dali. Leitner’s mission as an artist is to bring affordable, one-of-a-kind paintings by offering miniature paintings as small as 3 inches by 3 inches, or the 4"x4" work featured here.

Visit LeitnerStudios.com to see more of his work.

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4401 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27612

(919) 571-2881

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