Chapel Hill Magazine December 2022

Sweet treats to enjoy with family and friends

CHAPEL HILL

DECEMBER 2022

CHAPELHILLMAGAZINE.COM

EDITOR Jessica Stringer

EDITORIAL EXECUTIVE MANAGING EDITOR Amanda MacLaren

MANAGING EDITOR, CHATHAM MAGAZINE Anna-Rhesa Versola

DIGITAL EDITOR Kevin Delgado

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS

Renee Ambroso and Brooke Spach

EDITORIAL INTERNS

Ellison Beaver, Valeria Cloës, Sam Edge, Sinclair Holian, Katie MacKinnon, Haley Pineles, Isabella Reilly and Caitlyn Yaede

CONTRIBUTORS Eric Johnson and Megan Tillotson

ART CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kevin Brown

GRAPHIC DESIGNER/PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Lindsay Scott

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Khadijah Weekes-Nolan PHOTOGRAPHER John Michael Simpson

ADVERTISING

For advertising inquiries, email advertising@chapelhillmagazine.com Melissa Crane melissa.crane@trianglemediapartners.com

Kem Johnson kem.johnson@trianglemediapartners.com Lauren Phillips lauren.phillips@trianglemediapartners.com

Lucinda Poole lucinda.poole@trianglemediapartners.com Dana Statkun dana.statkun@trianglemediapartners.com

DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE OPERATIONS Ashlin Acheson

CORPORATE FOUNDER/CHAIRMAN

Dan Shannon

PRESIDENT, TRIANGLE MEDIA PARTNERS Ellen Shannon

PRESIDENT, TRIANGLE DIGITAL PARTNERS Rory Kelly Gillis

VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION Amy Bell

VICE PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER, CHATHAM MAGAZINE Chris Elkins chris.elkins@trianglemediapartners.com

PUBLISHER, HEART OF NC WEDDINGS Jenna Parks

CREATIVE DIRECTOR, TRIANGLE DIGITAL PARTNERS Sally Scruggs

DIGITAL OPERATIONS MANAGER Lizzie Jones

DIGITAL CUSTOMER SERVICE SPECIALIST Brian McIndoo

OFFICE ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT Cassady Orsini

DISTRIBUTION

Matt Bair, Tristan Cook, Matt Mansell, Jim Shaw

Chapel Hill Magazine is published 7 times per year by Triangle Media Partners 1777 Fordham Blvd., Ste. 105, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 919–933–1551

Subscriptions $38 for 2 years – subscribe at chapelhillmagazine.com

Dashing Through the Dough

t was love at first sight when I spotted an expertly adorned Rameses cookie while scrolling through Instagram. After perusing more examples of themed iced cookies on Keri Efird’s @baker.street.cookies account, I knew a few custombaked goods would make the perfect cover for our December issue. We’re always thinking a few months ahead at the magazine, so asking photographer John Michael Simpson to take a suitable holiday photo amid the fall foliage can be tough. Seasonal cookies by a UNC alumni would solve that yearly puzzle!

After a long phone call where we connected over her previous life as a graphic designer and our mutual affinity for Halloween, Keri was game. I made a list – and checked it twice – of some of our favorite Chapel Hill holiday things (including the cutest Carolina blue firetruck decked out with tiny twinkling lights!).

I picked up the treats from Keri, and we turned our conference room into a makeshift photo studio. Everyone got in on the action as we worked together like elves in a workshop, with colleagues from different departments popping their heads in to see the magic happen. Digital Editor Kevin Delgado even recorded the whole thing in a time-lapse video! (Visit our Instagram account, , to see the behind-the-scenes action.) The final cover is the result of a major team effort, much like the work that goes into creating this magazine all year long.

If you’re looking for more sweets, turn to page 22 for three delectable recipes to savor and share with loved ones. Then flip to page 36 for fun things to do this month as a family, from gingerbread-decorating classes to the 1-mile Running of the Elves in Hillsborough. We wish you happy holidays and hope you have a chance to recharge this season. CHM

by Keri Efird; photo by John Michael Simpson

ABOUT TOWN

EVENTS NOT TO MISS

FRANK Gallery Holiday Show

Runs through Dec. 24 frankisart.com

FRANK Gallery hosts returning member and guest artists like Luna Lee Ray, B. Michele Maynard, Gordon Jameson and more at its holiday show featuring mixed media paintings, acrylic and flashe paint on canvas and abstract paintings.

A Day Out with ‘Emma’

Dec. 3, noon janeaustensummer.org Become immersed in the world of Jane Austen’s classic novel with teatime, crafts, Q&As and presentations hosted by the Jane Austen Summer Program. Then cap off the day with a performance of PlayMakers Repertory Company’s modern 21stcentury take on “Emma.” Tickets for the experience are $25, $125 or $150.

DEC. 7 8 p.m.

‘LOVETRAIN2020’ carolinaperformingarts.org

Head to Memorial Hall to experience a performance choreographed by Emanuel Gat that combines visuals, dance and music to celebrate the music and ambiance of the 1980s. This performance is produced in collaboration with American Dance Festival, Duke Arts and NC State LIVE.

‘Edible North Carolina’ Book Event

Dec. 7, 6:30-7:30 p.m. ediblenc.com/events

Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews hosts food historian and UNC Professor Emeritus Marcie Cohen Ferris, Lantern chef Andrea Reusing and anthropologist and Duke professor Courtney Lewis for a discussion of the book, “Edible North Carolina: A Journey Across a State of Flavor,” published by UNC

Press. Edited by Marcie with contributions from Andrea and Courtney, the book explores the food landscape of North Carolina, explaining its history, dishes and food cultures.

The Soul of the Dutch Golden Age: Art and Literature at the Ackland Dec. 9, 3:30-5 p.m. events.ackland.org Attend a discussion facilitated by the Ackland Art Museum’s Carolyn

Allmendinger and Dana Cowen about the museum’s upcoming exhibition and the book “The Anatomy Lesson: A Novel” by Nina Siegal. Tickets are $30, which includes a copy of the book and light refreshments.

End-of-Season Shows

Dec. 11 and 18, noon to 5 p.m. schoolofrock.com

Enjoy performances by the School of Rock Chapel Hill students as their season culminates in two special nights of music at Cat’s Cradle $10 donations encouraged. CHM

Compiled by Valeria Cloës EVENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE; CHECK WITH ORGANIZERS PRIOR TO ATTENDING

Emanuel Gat’s “LOVETRAIN2020” is a choreographic ode to the sound of the ’80s, as embodied in the music of Tears For Fears.

PHOTO BY JULIA GAT

TABLE Capital Campaign Kickoff

TABLE celebrated the purchase of its new space at 311 E. Main St. in Carrboro with a private event on Sept. 21. The occasion also kicked off the public phase of its Room to Grow Capital Campaign to raise funds to renovate the space located just a block east of its current operations. Nearly 100 community members attended the event, including Chapel Hill Town Council members Karen Stegman and Michael Parker, Carrboro Town Council member Susan Romaine and Carrboro Mayor Damon Seils. At press time, TABLE had raised more than $2 million of its $3.25 million goal.

1

2 Donald McDonnell and Mary McDonnell.

3 Ashton Tippins, executive director of TABLE and Chapel Hill Magazine’s Ellen Shannon.

4 Susan Romaine and Damon Seils.

5 Luis Zambrana, Maria Pia Zambrana and Ianary Gutiérrez, a family who receives TABLE services.

6 Colleen Minton and Michael Parker.

Photography by Eric Waters Photography CHM

Mark Moshier, Karen Stegman, Michael Parker and Alyson Grine.

Did you know?

67 cents of every dollar spent at a local business stays in the community.

What can you do?

Keep it local when shopping in person, ordering online, or buying gift cards. Decide to donate to local charities. Write a positive online review of a local business. Encourage others to shop small this holiday season.

Scan the QR code to see a directory of extraordinary Chamber members ready to help you find the right gifts this season!

*Small Business Economic Impact Study, American Express

1 Angela Kadoura, Zidane Kadoura, Summer Kadoura, Ambara Kadoura, Alaa Saber and Jamil Kadoura.

2 Liz Coughlin, catering director, and Ruby Brinkerhoff, catering assistant.

3 Stephanie Orlando, Emily Brickner and Molly Thomason. 1

The Story Showcase

By Valeria Cloës

The Story, an event venue located in a historical building renovated in 2021 by Jamil Kadoura of Mediterranean Deli, Bakery and Catering, recently showed off its spaces with an open house on Oct. 19. The venue – located at 450 W. Franklin St. – features exposed brick walls, hardwood floors and professional lighting and includes four main spaces – the ballroom, the rooftop, the game room and the bridal room. Photography by Melissa Crane CHM

2 3

1 3

‘The Questioneers’ Exhibit Grand Opening

By Caitlyn Yaede

On Sept. 24, Kidzu Children’s Museum welcomed a traveling exhibit by DuPage Children’s Museum that emphasizes inclusion, creativity and selfempowerment. Based on the bestselling book series by Andrea Beaty and illustrator David Roberts, “The Questioneers: Read. Question. Think. Play!” is on display until Jan. 8 and gives kids the opportunity to learn about math, science, art and civic responsibility through the eyes of the characters: Ada the scientist, Rosie the engineer, Iggy the architect, Sofia the “future prez” and Aaron the illustrator. Photography courtesy of Kidzu CHM

1 Hannah Martin, Cheryl DeMent, Roy Campbell, Katey Ahman, Melanie Levinson, chief creative officer of Kidzu, Jamie DeMent Holcomb, chief executive officer of Kidzu, Marion Robboy and David Holcomb.

2 Jamie DeMent Holcomb.

3 Julia Robinson. 2

NOTED .

WHAT WE’VE HEARD AROUND OUR TOWNS … Compiled by Haley Pineles

WHAT AN HONOR

Smith Middle School seventh grader Max Chen joined the Scholastic Kids Press program for the 202223 school year and plans to interview leaders and experts in the community, reporting “news by kids, for kids.” Read his first story on North Carolina elections at kpcnotebook.scholastic.com

Durham Academy student Lylah Camire, 14, represented the U.S. on a global platform during the Children’s General Assembly in Billund, Denmark, on Sept. 15. She discussed world challenges – such as international cooperation and education-focused programs and policies – with 80 students from 42 countries around the world. Participants in this program are building a manifesto focused on global sustainability, diversity, inclusion, mental health and more.

UNC hosted its annual Three Minute Thesis competition on Oct. 11. The competition, an exercise for graduate students to practice presentation and communication skills, requires contestants to explain their

research in great detail and advocate for its importance to an audience of people who are not experts in the contestants’ selected fields. Mackenna Wood won first place, Lauren Herlihy won second place and Rachel DuMez won the “people’s choice” prize. All three are pictured right with Mayor Pam Hemminger (far right), who served as one of the judges.

UNC was named the second best university to attend in North Carolina, according to personal finance website WalletHub’s 2023 college and university rankings. Academic institutions were ranked in seven different categories, including student selectivity, cost and financing, and career outcomes.

The Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange & Chatham Counties announced the home design winners of its annual Triangle Parade of Homes open house tour on Oct. 8. Orange County- and Chapel Hill-based gold winners included Easterling Fine Homes, Collins DesignBuild (pictured are Chad Collins and Emilee Collins) and Bold Construction while The Rexford Group won a silver award.

Bleep’s Eclipse, a no-mask sleep apnea support device, was nominated as a semifinalist for the Coolest Thing Made in NC contest, which is organized by the North Carolina Chamber, the state affiliate for the National Association of Manufacturers. The Eclipse is advertised as a CPAP/PAP machine that prioritizes the comfort of its users with a clinically proven, no-leak seal.

BIZ BRIEFS

The frame shop Framemakers, which has been in business for 40 years, announced that it changed its name to The Frame & Print Shop after Becky Woodruff took over ownership last year. The shop has a location at University Place and in Timberlyne Village.

The Dib Studio, a Hillsboroughbased jewelry and lifestyle business founded by owner and CEO Jessie Dib, celebrated its 10-year anniversary with the launch of a “rebirth campaign” on Oct. 10. This campaign aims to

Send us your noteworthy moments!

From births to awards to new biz and more –noted@ chapelhill magazine.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF SCHOLASTIC KIDS PRESS

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH POINDEXTER

recapture the essence of the brand’s “street, modern, underground, unisex vibe,” as modeled at right.

Chapel Hill Eyecare held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and eyecare raffle giveaways at its new office at 101 Cosgrove Ave., Ste. 170 on Oct. 11. After 30 years in business at its previous location in Elliott Square, Chapel Hill Eyecare moved in order to accommodate its growing number of patients.

BOOKIN’ IT Chapel Hill resident Ed Burmila authored the political science book “Chaotic Neutral: How the Democrats Lost Their Soul in the Center,” which was published in September. The book calls upon Democrats to remember their roots “as a party for the poor, the marginalized and the working classes” and redirect their efforts to pursuing social justice through the states.

UNC Press and the UNC Department of Athletics collaborated to publish “Together: The Amazing Story of Carolina Basketball’s 20212022 Season” in October. The book (pictured right) – written by Adam Lucas, Matt Bowers and Steve Kirschner – delves

into Hubert Davis’ first year as head coach and the story of the Tar Heels’ accomplishments through words and photos.

The New York Times bestselling author Jeffery Deaver’s newest novel, “Hunting Time,” was published in November. The book features “reward seeker” Colter Shaw’s latest adventure: Tracking down Allison Parker and her teenage daughter, both of whom disappeared in order to hide from Parker’s violently vindictive ex-husband.

GIVING BACK

The Be Loud! Sophie Foundation celebrated its ninth annual Be Loud! ’22 show at Cat’s Cradle on Sept. 24. The nonprofit raised $28,743 during the concert, which featured local musicians Preeesh!, What Peggy Wants,

hen I first came to Ignite, I could hardly walk. I had back pain, knee pain and ankle pain. I also had sciatic nerve pain down the back of my leg. Since coming to Ignite Wellness, I no longer have any back pain, leg pain or knee pain. And the most important thing is—I used to run. Since coming here, I’ve been able to run. This past week, I ran my first 5k in over 2 years! It’s all because of the wonderful treatment that I’ve gotten here at Ignite Wellness. I also feel better emotionally, mentally and I’m much more alert!”

—Tracy

“Iam so lucky and thankful I found Ignite Wellness! I was having severe lower back pain and my right leg had been collapsing at times due to pain and weakness. Ignite took x-rays and found out that I had a severe scoliosis (spine curvature) causing my pain and leg weakness. I started adjustments and decompression therapy. I am back to walking for exercise without my leg giving way and my back is much more flexible!

was experiencing low back pain which resulted from a compressed bulging disc. I tried treatment from another facility that was not a chiropractor and received no relief, so I decided to come to Ignite to see if they could offer any help. I began decompression therapy, cold laser, and chiropractic adjustments. I started to feel relief after only five treatments. Four months later, I have 100% improvement and can walk and stand without pain.

“W

The Sex Police and The Connells, who covered songs by influential acts of the 1980s. All funds raised go toward its mission to support young adult cancer patients and their families at UNC Hospitals

Nora El-Khouri Spencer – the founder and CEO of Hope Renovations, a Carrborobased nonprofit created to prepare women for entering construction trades – was featured on “The Drew Barrymore Show” on Oct 14. Nora, founder and CEO, showed viewers how to fix a leaky faucet and was surprised with a $10,000 donation for her organization from 84 Lumber.

We don’t just improve

IN MEMORIAM

Lois Ann Hobbs died on Oct. 2 at age 100. In a 2021 interview with Chapel Hill Magazine, she discussed her long life of adventure, during which she married, had six children and traveled to 45 different countries. She was a dedicated social activist who fought for peace, women’s rights, equality and conservation of historical sites. Her son Grimsley T. Hobbs Jr. and grandson Taylor Hobbs own Hobbs Architects, a Pittsboro-based architectural design firm that carries on her legacy by upholding the philosophy of “preserving the past, designing the future.” CHM

PHOTO BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON

Three local bakers share favorite recipes

By Jessica Stringer Photography by John Michael Simpson

SUGARPLUMS VISIONS OF

SUGARPLUMS VISIONS OF

SUFGANIYOT

Meital Cohen says her family eats sufganiyot during their eight days of Hanukkah celebration every year. “Sufganiyot is a round doughnut that we deep-fry, fill up with jam and sprinkle with powdered sugar. I like to fill them with pastry cream, pistachio creme or raspberry cream, and instead of powdered sugar, you can drizzle some with chocolate ganache. Every year during November or December my family and I make a few batches of sufganiyot – they are so soft and fluffy and filled with a sweet spread that it’s hard to resist. Now you only need a good, warm Moroccan tea next to your plate, and you are all set!” 

HOLIDAY

1 cup warm water

1 Tbsp. dry yeast

100 grams sugar (1/2 cup), plus 1 Tbsp., divided

2 large eggs

55 grams canola oil (1/4 cup), plus more for counter surface and frying

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. salt

550 grams flour

1 Tbsp. brandy

Your favorite jam Powdered sugar

In a measuring cup, mix warm water, yeast and 1 Tbsp. of sugar, and set it aside for 5 minutes.

In a mixing bowl with the dough attachment, combine eggs, oil, vanilla, salt and 100 grams of sugar. Then add the flour and finally, the warm water mixture. Mix on low speed for 10 minutes. Add the brandy and mix for 2 additional minutes.

Place the ball of dough into a greased mixing bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let it rise at room temperature for 1-2 hours, or until it has just about doubled in size.

Slightly oil your counter surface and divide the dough to about 17 balls (50 grams each). Using your hands, roll each ball until it is smooth and round.

Line a sheet pan with lightly oiled parchment paper, and place balls about 2 or 3 inches apart. Cover the dough slightly with plastic and let rise for about 30 minutes.

In a low pot (about 4” tall), add about 2 inches of canola oil. Heat up the oil to 320-330 F using a thermometer. Keep monitoring the oil temperature and keep it at the same range.

Gently, lift each dough ball, trying not to deflate the dough, and carefully start frying, about 3-4 at a time. Fry them for about 1 ½ minutes on each side and carefully remove them to a tray lined with paper towels. Repeat with the remaining balls and then let them cool down for a few minutes.

Meanwhile, fill up a squeeze bottle with your favorite jam (make sure to use one without big chunks of fruit). Create a hole at the top part of the sufganiyot using a strong paper straw or a long piping tip and then insert your jam using the squeeze bottle until you feel the sufganiyot getting heavier. Sprinkle some powdered sugar on top and enjoy!

Shear Cohen, 12, and Roni Cohen, 8, measure out flour and sugar with their mom.

Meital Cohen got her start working as a pastry chef for Westville restaurant group in 2006 after graduating from The French Culinary Institute (now known as Institute of Culinary Education).

After living and working in New York City for two decades, she and her family moved to Chapel Hill two years ago. At first, Meital took some time off to be with her kids, ages 15, 12 and 8.

Then her baking itch brought her back to the kitchen for more. “After three weeks, I thought, ‘I’m bored. I just want to bake a little. Nothing crazy,’” she recalls. Meital got her kitchen certified, and Even Dough was born, popping out delectable offerings from babka and challah to cranberry-pear pies. Perhaps her most showshopping pieces are her custom cakes, which have grown in popularity through word-of-mouth and repeat customers. “When people come back, I know I’m doing something right,” she says.

While she’s mulling a physical location, Meital says it would be less of a storefront and more for intimate baking classes. “I really love hosting people. We always have people at the house, and I came to a realization after doing this for so many years that I want to get people together,” she says. “I want to be the person who connects them and creates new relationships, so [others] have fun and just forget about reality.” 

Happy holidays!

Where art, science & technology meet....

MONKEY BREAD

Leslie Heintzman says it’s a family tradition on her husband’s side of the family to have monkey bread on Christmas, so she usually makes that, plus biscuits and gravy and a frittata, for breakfast. “Typically, I would do what most people do – get the two cans of Pillsbury biscuit dough, pop ’em open and make the bread,” she says. “One year, I couldn’t find [the Pillsbury tubes] in the fridge. So I was like, ‘Screw it, I’ll make my own biscuits,’ which I do anyway, because I make [homemade] biscuits for the biscuits and gravy.” Leslie says homemade biscuits are easier than most people think. (But if you’d rather save a few steps, two cans of Pillsbury biscuits will swap in fine.) 

10.

ABOVE Leslie gets some assistance from son Maximus Heintzman,

HOLIDAY

After graduating from The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, Leslie Heintzman worked in fine dining restaurants. “But then when I moved down here, got married and was pregnant, I did not want to do the 60- or 80-hour workweek in the restaurant industry and have kids,” she recalls.

Leslie noticed a pastry void after a visit to the Carrboro Farmers Market and knew she needed to get baking.

BISCUIT DOUGH

4 cups all-purpose flour

2 Tbsp. sugar

2 tsp. salt

4 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 cup butter chilled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1 1/2 cup buttermilk

SUGAR MIXTURE

1 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 cup pecan or walnut pieces, if desired

CARAMEL

9 oz. (2 sticks plus 1 Tbsp.)

unsalted butter

1 1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 Tbsp. dark rum

Grease a 12-cup Bundt pan. Preheat oven to 325 F. In a large bowl, mix all biscuit dry ingredients together and cut cold butter in with a pastry cutter until pea-size chunks. Add buttermilk and mix until dough just forms together. Don’t overmix.

Roll dough into ½-inch thickness and cut into ½-inch strips. Cut strips into small squares. Roll squares of dough in cinnamon-sugar mixture.

In greased Bundt pan, place the dough chunks and add pecans or walnuts if desired.

In a small saucepan, melt butter for caramel mixture and whisk in brown sugar, salt, vanilla and rum. Pour caramel mixture over the dough evenly and bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes.

Once done, place a platter on top of the Bundt pan and flip the monkey bread carefully upside down and remove the pan. Serve while still warm and enjoy!

“I thought, ‘Oh, my gosh, we live in such a crazy oasis of local ingredients,” she says, recalling favorites such as nearby Lindley Mills’ organic flour and Maple View Farm’s buttermilk. She and a partner started Sari Sari Sweets, which translates to “variety” in Tagalog. It’s an apt name given the assortment of treats from kouign-amann to toasted almond-fig scones to baklava croissants. Her partner has since bowed out of the business, but Leslie says, “Fifteen years later, here I am, still selling pastries at the farmers market.”

Though she’s all about local, Leslie’s baked goods have found a global reach. Leslie’s husband, Chris Heintzman, has told customers that he calls her caramel-pecan sticky buns “the life-changer.” “Some customers will come back and say, ‘You’re so right. It changed my life.’” Leslie laughs. “I love that. And I have people who ship them or travel with the buns to Australia, Mexico, Norway, [France] and England.” 

HOLIDAY

APPLE CAKE ‘TATIN’

Yields 6 servings

Mena Choi has come a long way since appearing on the September/October 2016 cover of Chapel Hill Magazine as a 10-year-old along with her mom, Tracy DeLozier, and former first lady Michelle Obama. She was fresh off a trip to the White House for her win as North Carolina’s representative in a national cooking contest for kid chefs. Now she’s a senior in high school working on her college applications and carving out time to whip up shrimp and grits and vodka pasta for family and friends. Here, Mena shares a favorite Ina Garten recipe for Apple Cake “Tatin” that her family makes during the holidays and other special times. 

HOLIDAY

6 Tbsp. (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus extra for greasing the dish

1 1/4 Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced into 12 pieces

1 3/4 cups granulated sugar, divided 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature

1/3 cup sour cream

1/2 tsp. grated lemon zest

1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. kosher salt Confectioners’ sugar

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Generously butter a 9-inch glass pie dish and arrange the apples in the dish, cut side down.

Combine 1 cup of the granulated sugar and 1/3 cup water in a small saucepan and cook over high heat until it turns a warm amber color, about 360 F on a candy thermometer. Swirl the pan but don’t stir. Pour evenly over the apple slices.

Meanwhile, cream the 6 tablespoons of butter and the remaining ¾ cup of granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, until light and fluffy. Lower the speed and beat in the eggs 1 at a time. Add the sour cream, zest and vanilla and mix until combined. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt and, with the mixer on low speed, add it to the butter mixture. Mix only until combined.

Pour the cake batter evenly over the apple slices and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool for 15 minutes, then invert the cake onto a flat plate. If an apple slice sticks, ease it out and replace it in the design on top of the cake. Serve warm or at room temperature, dusted with confectioners’ sugar.

(Recipe from Ina Garten, as listed at foodnetwork.com.) CHM

Tracy DeLozier (center) and her kids, William Choi and Mena Choi, prep the Apple Cake “Tatin.”

h lidaygiftguide

RANDOLPH COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

500 Albemarle Rd., Asheboro 336-626-0364, ext. 102 heartofnorthcarolina.com

North Carolina Zoo Society Membership, $59

Make memories with your family and friends at the North Carolina Zoo with an annual membership; discounts available on other Association of Zoos & Aquariums-accredited facilities, too. Membership pricing as low as $59/year; find additional details at nczoo.org/become-zoo-member.

JEWELSMITH

2200 W. Main St., Durham 919-286-2990 jewelsmith.com

Mountain Laurel Earrings, $1,150

These 18-karat yellow gold earrings were created in-house by goldsmith Patrick King using recycled gold and inspired by Durham’s Eno River State Park.

CACKALACKY

cackalacky.com

Carolina Tar Heels® BBQ Sauce

(Officially Licensed Collegiate Product), $8.95 per jar

Round out your game day tailgate or at-home cookout with the Carolina Tar Heels® BBQ Sauce by Cackalacky® –made by Tar Heels for Tar Heels. Get yours at tarheelssauce.com

CITRINE SALON

3110 Environ Way, Chapel Hill 919-929-2209 citrinesalonnc.com

Eminence Organic Skin Care Starter Sets, Establish or enhance your skin care routine with these Eminence Organic Skin Care sets, either by targeting your specific needs, creating an ageless look or keeping your skin healthy and nourished.

A good night’s sleep begins with finding the most well-fitting pillow for your body. Get measured at Carolina Spine Specialists for a Pillowise pillow in your size, which aligns your cervical spine and keeps you aligned throughout the night.

THE FRAME & PRINT SHOP

University Place

201 Estes Dr., Ste. 400C Chapel Hill 919-942-7306

Timberlyne Village

1129 Weaver Dairy Rd., Ste. W Chapel Hill 919-942-3291 frameshopchapelhill.com

$100 gift certificate for framing and a complimentary “Doors of Chapel Hill” art print by Catharine Carter (19-by-26 inches), $50 value Give the gift of framing this holiday season and receive a complimentary print, the “Doors of Chapel Hill” by Chapel Hill artist Catharine Carter. (No other discounts apply.)

MODE

1000 W. Main St., Ste. 1B, Durham 919-806-3434 modeconsignment.com

Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM Tote Roomy enough for a winter scarf, yet sleek enough for a night out, this tote blends classic design with practical elements – ideal for the fashionforward friend on your gift list.

MAX HUGO INTERIOR DESIGN

5850 Fayetteville Rd., Ste. 104 Durham 919-806-3638 maxhugointeriors.com

Rose Quartz Barware Set of three, Ideal for a hostess gift, stocking stuffer or gift exchange item, this barware set adds a unique pop of glam. All you need is a holiday beverage!

WHITEHALL ANTIQUES

1213 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill 919-942-3179 whitehallantiques.com

Octagonal Bamboo Two-Tier Side Table, $795 Crafted around 1870 and now with decoratively decoupaged surfaces, this English two-tier side table is an example of the bamboo furniture items carried at Whitehall – perfect accent pieces for any home!

DELORES POTTERY

1601 E. Geer St., Ste. C, Durham delorespottery.com

Blue Tree Bark Vase, 15-inches tall, $150 Created using a locally sourced clay body, this vase is handmade with a warm, dark clay and colored slip for a striking contrast. Enhance the design of any living space with this unique piece. CHM

HOLIDAY

Give back this season by bringing donations for Be a Santa to a Senior, Toys for Tots and the People & Pet Food Drive to either of the Orange County Public Library locations. Through Dec. 15, orangecountync.gov

Explore a winter wonderland at 1870 Farm’s sixth annual Holiday at the Farm event. Cozy up with blankets and hot apple cider on a hayride through the animal pasture, pet pony “reindeer,” grab a candy cane from the peppermint forest and meet Santa and Frosty the Snowman. Through Dec. 24, 1870farm.com

HOLLY JOLLY HOLLY JOLLY

Celebrate the season at Spring Haven Farm’s Winter Wonderland with Goats. Pick out the perfect tree, sip hot cocoa on a train ride, design your own ornament and snap a festive family photo in the decorated Wonderland Barn. Through Dec. 31, springhavenfarm.com

Support the Hillsborough Gallery of Arts at the annual Art of Giving showcase. The gallery is owned by 21 local artists and features giftable art perfect for the presents. Through Dec. 31, hillsboroughgallery.com

Start off your winter season with the reimagined Chapel Hill Carrboro Community Parade. Hosted by Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture, Carrboro Recreation, Parks, & Cultural Resources and Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership, the festive celebration will highlight a variety of cultural traditions in the community. Dec. 3, chapelhillarts.org

Shop for the perfect gift at St. Thomas More Catholic School’s 17th annual Christmas Holiday Shoppe Craft Show, featuring 60 talented artisans from

Join the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, five-time Grammy winner Dianne Reeves and emerging vocalist Samara Joy at Memorial Hall as they spread cheer during the annual Big Band Holidays tour. The musical evening will feature soulful renditions of holiday classics and entertaining storytelling suited for audiences of all ages. Dec. 2, carolinaperformingarts.org

BY LUIGI BEVERELLI

throughout North Carolina. The event will include lunch and a raffle giveaway. Dec. 3, stmcsnc.org

Check off your gift list and make a positive impact at the Inclusive Business Holiday Gift Market at Blue Hill Event Center Co-sponsored by Extraordinary Ventures and Work Together NC, the event features local vendors that are committed to employing an inclusive workforce. Dec. 3, extraordinaryventures.org

Be a part of a 19-year tradition and create your own festive decoration at West Queen Studio’s Wreath-Making Workshop. Dec. 3, westqueenstudio.com

Bring the family to The Carolina Inn's Brunch with Santa for a breakfast buffet, magic show, face painting and a meeting with Santa himself. Dec. 3-4, 10-11 and 20-23, destinationhotels.com/carolina-inn

Catch a performance of the classic “The Nutcracker” by the Triangle Youth Ballet at East Chapel Hill High School Dec. 3-4, triangleyouthballet.org

Head over to The Carolina Inn Holiday Market for a European-style shopping experience featuring handcrafted Yuletide treats, jewelry, ornaments and more. Browse the Biergarten for a lineup of craft beers, wines and signature cocktails while you shop. Dec. 4 and 18, destinationhotels.com/carolina-inn

PHOTO

Gather the family and head over to The Carolina Inn for a children’s gingerbread decorating class. Every little architect will be given an apron, chef’s hat and treats – with no cleanup for parents! Dec. 3, 10, 20, 21 and 22, destinationhotels.com/carolina-inn

Kick off the holiday season in downtown Hillsborough. First, watch the fourth annual Running of the Elves, a 1-mile race from Mitchell Street down Churton Street to the historical courthouse, followed by the return of the Light Up the Night Hillsborough Holiday Parade. Don't miss the annual tree lighting and community singing immediately after. Dec. 4, hillsboroughchamber.com

Watch your favorite festive films on the big screen during Silverspot Cinema’s Flashback Cinema series. The movies include “Elf” (Dec. 4), “Scrooge” (Dec. 11) and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (Dec. 18). silverspot.net

Relax with a lavender-infused evening at Lavender Oaks Farm’s Holiday Open House. Enjoy appetizers by Beau Catering, sample lavender cocktails and pick up seasonal stocking stuffers at the Lavender Boutique. Dec. 11, lavenderoaks.farm

Support the Orange County Rape Crisis Center at the nonprofit’s 35th Annual Gala and Live Auction at The Carolina Inn. Attendees will have the opportunity to win a trip to Costa Rica and enjoy sweets in the dessert auction. Proceeds will support the nonprofit’s free, confidential services and community prevention programs. Dec. 11, ocrcc.org

Enjoy cookies, crafts and a children’s show at the Carrboro Century Center’s family-friendly Kids, Cookies & Candy Canes event. Dec. 15, townofcarrboro.org

Bring your creativity to The Root Cellar Cafe & Catering’s annual gingerbread house decorating event. Every participant will receive one fully built house, plenty of sweets for decorating and house-made icing for piping – no construction needed! Dec. 4, 11 and 18, rootcellarchapelhill.com

HOLIDAYS HOLIDAYS

Make your tree sparkle with your very own handmade ornaments. Mosaic artist Theresa Arico leads the Mosaic Holiday Ornaments workshop at Eno Arts Mill Dec. 4, artsorange.org

Head to the Carrboro Century Center to watch the Columbia Marionette Theatre perform the classic tale of Cinderella against a magical winter landscape. Dec. 7, townofcarrboro.org

Celebrate American folk and bluegrass traditions at The ArtsCenter’s Holiday Circle Show. This year’s event will be filmed as part of “Songs from the Circle,” a documentary by Rebecca Newton and Clyde Edgerton. Dec. 9, artscenterlive.org

Gather at Carrboro Town Hall for the official lighting of the community tree. Usher in the season with music and fun. Dec. 9, townofcarrboro.org

Cozy up with free hot chocolate from La Vita Dolce Espresso & Gelato Cafe and enjoy caroling led by Danny Gothman during Southern Village’s Miracle on Market Street event, also featuring an outdoor showing of the favorite “The Polar Express” with The Lumina Theater. A very special guest will light the tree and pose for pictures. Additionally, Southern Village will serve as a drop-off spot for new, unwrapped toys for donation to the Marine Toys for Tots Program from Dec. 1-12. Dec. 3, southernvillage.com

Compiled by Sinclair Holian

Experience the sounds of the season with Voices’ December choir concert, “Winter Joy.” The performances at UNC’s Moeser Auditorium in Hill Hall will feature a diverse selection of arrangements reflecting different aspects of the season. Dec. 16-17, voiceschapelhill.org

Join Santa and Frosty the Snowman to get in the spirit and support those in need at Lanza’s Cafe Holiday Extravaganza. In lieu of admission, guests are asked to bring a food or toy donation per child to support Porch and the Orange County Department of Social Services’ foster care program. Dec. 17, lanzascafe.com

Light up the longest night of the year and usher in winter with the Solstice Lantern Walk. Participants are encouraged to bring a handmade lantern for the procession starting at the Eno River Farmers Market Pavilion, traveling through River Park along the Riverwalk. This year’s event will feature more local artists, live music, hot drinks, warm food and more to be enjoyed before and after the walk at the first Solstice Market. Dec. 21, hillsboroughartscouncil.org CHM

Get in the spirit of the season with these festive events

SHINE BRIGHT SHINE BRIGHT

Residents in Lake Forest spread cheer through festive light displays and community donations

By Isabella Reilly | Photography by John Michael Simpson

The water at Eastwood Lake shines brighter in December, as residents of Lake Forest decorate their docks with colorful light displays to welcome the holiday season and give back to the community.

In 2014, Lisa Carey, distinguished professor for breast cancer research and deputy director of clinical sciences at UNC, and husband Matt Ewend, chief clinical officer at UNC Health, spearheaded the efforts. As Lisa and Matt thought about making their usual endof-year donation to the SECU Family House at UNC Hospitals, they had the idea to increase the number of lakeside displays as part of a neighborhoodwide fundraiser.

“We and a couple of others thought it would be fun to get everybody involved and say, ‘The more lit up docks we see down by the lake, the more we’ll give,’” Lisa says.

Decorations typically begin going up around Thanksgiving, she says, and remain up until New Year’s. Past displays have ranged from multicolored holiday light balls strewn in backyard trees and string lights to an entire holiday bakery display. Lisa says her family puts out a 10-foot Christmas tree each year.

Resident John Watkin, owner of MVP Video, creates a short film of the displays each year and has enjoyed seeing a growth in neighborhood participation. Since 2014, he says the tradition has grown from two to almost all 40-something houses on the lake. “It’s this really nice celebration of lights,” John says. “We try to not make it about any specific holiday.”

While the number of homes participating has increased over the years, so have the nonprofits receiving donations. In 2018, residents

Each year, residents choose a night either near or on Christmas Day to collectively paddle around the lake – some in rowboats, canoes or party barges that are just as festive – to admire the displays. “It’s not like we get together all the time,” John says. “It’s really special.”

Daniel, who doesn’t celebrate Christmas himself, says he has enjoyed seeing the different traditions that have blossomed from this annual display of lights. At the end of the paddle, he says residents gather for food and drinks around a fire pit at an outdoor after-party hosted by one of the houses near the end of the flotilla.

“We didn’t do [the after-party] during COVID, but I suspect this December, we will revitalize that part of the flotilla, which to me was a really important component,” Daniel says. “When you’re out on the lake, you don’t get to see everyone, but when we all collect together as a community, it’s a great way to finish the event.”

In the future, Lisa says she would love to have residents who live in the neighborhood but not on the lake get involved by decorating Eastwood Lake Park.

She adds the tradition has turned into a “great pleasure” for Lake Forest. “I think everybody likes their community to feel close-knit,” Lisa says. “Having shared experiences, where people lean in on creating that experience, gives everyone those warm and fuzzy feelings. I think this is Lake Forest neighborhood’s way of doing that.” CHM

Daniel Pomp, a UNC professor, and Andrea Eisen, a Refugee Community Partnership co-founder, felt it was important to add RCP, a social services organization, to the list that also includes Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill.

Marion Couch, Ed Couch, Abby Carey-Ewend and Lisa Carey stay warm on the dock while enjoying the celebration of lights.

SPIRIT OF GIVING SPIRIT OF GIVING

Christmas House has been a Chapel Hill tradition since 1950. Run by the more than 50 active members and over 100 life and sustainer members of the Chapel Hill Service League , the program is back to serving families in person this year after the pandemic prompted a drivethrough version.

“We have been serving our community’s children and families by hosting a one-day event where parents and guardians can come and select gifts, coats and books for their children. The families are selected by the school social workers in each of the schools in Orange County,” says Tracey Himmel , a longtime member who served as president of the CHSL in 2011-12. “The families are welcomed by volunteers who speak a variety of languages and guide them through a personalized shopping experience.” Every year, members and the community donate more than 2,500 books, 900 coats and thousands of toys each year, assisting more than 890 families each season. Tracey says it takes thousands of volunteer hours and is generally a year-round project.

Want to help the cause? Donate books at Flyleaf Books and the Barnes & Noble in New Hope Commons at any time through the holidays. Visit the CHSL website to learn more. CHM

ABOVE Chapel Hill Service League members Kimberly Zirkle (co-chair of Christmas House), Natasha Smith, Cindy Shea and Lynda Baker at last year's event.

Chapel Hill Service League’s Christmas House provides gifts for local families

Mission Statement

As a champion for local public education, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro PSF provides additional funding for innovative programs and projects that advance student achievement and teacher development.

Background

Since its inception in 1984, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation has distributed more than $12M for innovative programs and projects that otherwise would not have existed. It is our continuing mission to play the role of champion for public education by advocating for positive change in our schools. Our ultimate goal is to prepare all district students for lives as successful adults, which will benefit not only our children, but also our entire community.

What We Do

• Provide students with academic support, enrichment, and scholarships.

• Empower teachers with grants for innovative projects to engage all students to achieve academic excellence.

• Support teachers with financial assistance for professional development.

• Recognize excellence in teaching through annual teaching and staff awards.

• Engage our community to create excellent and equitable schools.

Vision

All students in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools receive an excellent and equitable education from the highest quality teachers.

Upcoming Events

• Teacher Supply Store in August: Kicking off the school year with supplies for teachers

• Novice Tea in November: An event for first year teachers to show our support

• 5K for Education in March: A community event to celebrate public education

• Teachers First Breakfast and Roses in April: An event to honor teachers and raise funds for vital teacher programs and support

• CHCCS Staff Awards and Recognition in May: An event to recognize outstanding school staff for their excellent work

publicschoolfoundation.org

Email: psf@chccs.k12.nc.us PO Box 877 Carrboro, NC 27510 (919) 968 -8819 @publicschoolfoundation @CHC_PSF

Our Mission

SECU Family House at UNC Hospitals provides a safe, nurturing, affordable home for patients and their loved ones who travel great distances to UNC Hospitals for life-saving procedures and serious illnesses.

Background

Since opening in 2008, Family House has served more than 28,000 guest families from all 100 N.C. counties, 45 other states and multiple countries. Guests are afforded not only lodging, but are also offered meals, transportation, activities, programs and a supportive environment to help them rest, heal and gather strength when they need it most. With a recent expansion to meet demand for our unique accommodations, the House now offers 75 guest rooms and suites. The House’s beautiful and comfortable common areas, including great rooms with fireplaces and large, modern kitchens, set the House apart, providing guests opportunities to form friendships and networks of support with those connected by similar circumstances.

Signature Events

Each year, SECU Family House welcomes community friends to our two wonderful events that benefit the work we do. The Gala is held every fall and the Family House Golf Classic is in the spring. For more information on volunteering, tickets and sponsorships, visit secufamilyhouse. org/events.

Ways You Can Help

You can make a meaningful difference in the healing of those with serious health conditions. Here are some ways you can get involved:

• Contribute to the Heart of the House fund: Guests pay what they can, and your donations offset the actual cost of their stay.

• Become a volunteer: At the heart of Family House are the people within – which includes our many wonderful volunteers.

• Donate wish list items: Please help us keep our pantry stocked so families can use these items as necessary.

Get in Touch!

(919) 932-8000

123 Old Mason Farm Rd. Chapel Hill, NC 27517 secufamilyhouse.org

Our local nonprofits, how they support the community and how you can get involved

Sponsored Content

Our local nonprofits, how they support the community and how you can get involved

Sponsored Content

Background

Duke Children’s serves patients in the Triangle and beyond and strives to provide the highest quality care through advanced treatment, compassionate support, and full family participation. Duke Children’s is recognized for its clinical programs, research initiatives, educational opportunities for medical students, residents, and fellows, and strong advocacy efforts for children. Duke Children’s is affiliated with the Department of Pediatrics at Duke University School of Medicine.

Our Mission

Duke Children’s is committed to achieving and maintaining a standard of excellence in all we do. Most importantly, we consistently strive to make the patient experience a model of quality care through advanced treatment, compassionate support and full family participation and communication. Our mission is to provide:

• Excellence in the clinical care of infants and children

• Innovation in basic and applied research

• Leadership in the education of health care professionals

• Advocacy for children’s health

• Patient- and family- centered care

Brag Lines

• US News andWorld Report ranks Duke Children’s as the No. 1 children’s hospital in North Carolina and the 4th in the southeast. Duke Children’s is nationally-ranked in nine pediatric specialties, and is ranked 7th nationally for cardiology and heart surgery.

• Duke Children’s ranks #1 nationally in NIH funding for pediatric medical research; five Duke researchers are among the top 50 for individual funding, including three of the top four.

• Duke Children’s is a Level 1 Children’s Surgery Center, the top ranking designated by the American College of Surgeons.

• Duke Children’s is your local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content

Wish List

Your options for supporting Duke Children’s are as varied as the children we treat. Options for giving include:

• Annual and monthly gifts to help the greatest needs of our patients and families

• Corporate partnerships to increase community awareness and support

• Estate and planned gifts to leave a legacy that can support medical discoveries

• Transformational gifts to underwrite research and education

We are happy to work with you directly! For more information on giving to Duke Children’s, please visit giving.dukechildrens.org

Signature Events

• Season of Hope Radiothon on MIX 101.5 giving.dukechildrens.org/ events/soh-radiothon

• Duke Children’s Charity Stripe Challenge with Duke Men’s Basketball giving.dukechildrens.org/ events/charity-stripe

• Over the Edge for Duke Children’s giving.dukechildrens.org/ events/over-the-edge

Get in Touch!

Websites: giving.dukechildrens.org dukehealth.org/dukechildrens

Social: facebook.com/DukeChildrens twitter.com/Duke_Childrens instagram.com/duke_childrens

Our local nonprofits, how they support the community and how you can get involved

Our local nonprofits, how they support the community and how you can get involved

a CLEAN SLATE

One local entrepreneur’s skin care journey inspired her to design an allergy-friendly line

By Isabella Reilly | Photo by John Michael Simpson

Dumpster diving to make ends meet was the reality for 19-year-old Judith Jones. While struggling to complete a degree in nursing, she was diagnosed with highly reactive skin, joining her existing woes of lifelong eczema. “I was on my own and trying to figure out what was going on with my skin,” Judith says. “Basically, I was like, ‘I have no money.’”

Her reactive skin stemmed from allergies to 17 common chemicals, such as sulfates and fragrant oils, found in bath and body care products. No longer able to use familiar skin care items – including what she once used to treat her eczema – Judith began developing her own formulas. “I would just take a little bit of money at a time and kind of piece together a little recipe here and there to try and figure it out,” she says. Her father, Joey Jones, also helped put her through soap-making and skin care classes at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College to aid her experimentation. Unable to afford holiday presents, she began gifting her handmade product to friends and family members. “People were like, ‘I love this soap. Can we get more?’” Judith says. “So that is sort of how it started.” In 2013, Judith listed her first products on Etsy and left nursing school to pursue

her new venture full time. “When the business started taking off, I never looked back,” she says. Today, Judith operates Good Juju Herbal, an allergy-friendly skin care line named after her lifelong nickname, “Juju.” Her team of six makes 13 products ranging from bar soaps to clay masks. “The thing that really makes us stand out is that we make a high-quality product for an affordable price and try to make that as accessible as possible,” Judith says.

Good Juju’s 2,100-square-foot warehouse in Raleigh operates as a zero waste facility with a 100% biodegradable product line. Packaging-free options are available to customers, along with a 50-cent incentive to return bottle containers to Good Juju Herbal. “[Sustainability practices] have always been important to me and my family, and I think to our customers as well,” Judith says. The company is slated to begin construction on a slightly larger Jones Ferry Road facility in January. Judith says the new location will operate on solar power, have a rainwater collection system and also be zero waste.

One passion project that emerged was The Happy Skin Project, which provides free and discounted bars of soap to cancer treatment patients. “My mom has terminal cancer,” Judith says. “Seeing how thin and fragile your skin can get from different medications and radiation and [chemotherapy], there’s not a lot of education around skin care in that community.”

Another favorite part of the job is having customers believe in her product so much they then return to purchase it for friends and family.

“I think that’s a true testament to the products,” she says. For first-time customers, she suggests trying out the sensitive skin starter kit or the mini skin care set, though her personal favorites include Good Juju’s bar soap, essential salve and the herbal skin food moisturizer. Though the products are mainly available online, the company does offer in-person warehouse pickup.

Judith hopes to continue to grow nationally through wholesale partnerships with West Elm, Madewell and most recently, Magnolia, based in Waco, Texas. She is proud that a product she began creating for herself has grown into a staple for others.

“I think something I’ve really valued is that I’ve just followed my own instinct,” she says. “I really believe in what we do.” CHM

“ I think something I’ve really valued is that I’ve just followed my own instinct. I really believe in what we do.

get loose

By Brooke Spach Photo by John Michael Simpson

A boutique fitness franchise gives stretching its ‘due attention’

One morning in February, Susan Evans, 68, woke up and was unable to walk. She’d been dealing with back pain for years – mostly sciatica, but she’d never experienced anything like this before. Forced to use a walker just to move around her home, Susan sought relief from The Joint Chiropractic and a physical therapist. She visited the chiropractor five times that week, but she knew she needed something more to make a full recovery. Around that time, she noticed an unfamiliar business while driving through Meadowmont.

Flash back to 2020, when Judithe Andre opened Stretch Zone, an assisted-stretching studio franchise, in the shopping center. After working as a marketing consultant for 20 years, Judithe had been looking for an opportunity to find more passion in her work. When she had her first stretch at the Wake Forest location, she immediately fell in love.

“[I said] this is it,” Judithe recalls. “This is going to be my career 2.0, if you will. It’s going to allow me to impact people, change lives and feel like I’m making an actual tangible difference. Stretch Zone kind of checked all the boxes. … It allowed me to tie my fitness background, my entrepreneurial background and my personal need to be of service to people all in one.”

Susan, who worked as a nurse for more than 50 years at UNC Hospitals and Duke University Medical Center, knew surgery was her absolute last resort. As a final Hail Mary, she scheduled her free consultation at Stretch Zone and started going for appointments three times a week. She was able to walk again by March, just six weeks later.

“I improved so much, it was like a miracle,” she says. “I was like, ‘I’m your poster child. This is awesome.’ … It made such a difference in my life.”

I improved so much, it was like a miracle. ... It made such a difference in my life.

–Susan Evans

Susan attributes her success to the combination of professional treatments and says that her chiropractor was impressed by how stretching relaxed her muscles and made their sessions more effective.

“Chapel Hill is a community that values health and wellness, and we fit right in with our service,” Judithe says. “It’s complimentary to a number of different other existing health and wellness services in the area.”

Judithe has a staff of three full-time and five part-time stretch practitioners. Marquez Young is the full-time assistant manager, and he emphasizes that stretching and flexibility are often overlooked and neglected compared to other aspects of health. He says his favorite part of the job is helping clients turn back the clock and feel a bit more like their younger selves.

“Everybody’s main goal, especially as we get older, is just to live comfortably,” he says. “When you’re feeling tightness or any type of aches or soreness, it can get in the way of that dramatically. Stretching keeps everyone safe.”

Susan still visits her usual practitioner, Selena Tran, on a weekly basis and emphasizes how universal the benefits of stretching are. Now, she’s back to doing what she loves: taking walks through her neighborhood, working in the yard and spending time with her grandchildren.

“I tell everybody – strangers, people I meet at the grocery store – everywhere,” Susan says. “It really saved my life.”

Judithe adds, “Whether you’re young or old, Stretch Zone has something for everyone because we all can benefit. I call it the ubiquitous, one-size-fits-all fitness – one does not need to be in tiptop shape to go and do stretching. In fact, we’ll do all the work for you.” CHM

“We’re not stretching enough as a country,” says Judithe, pictured above with client Melanie Bizal. “As a business, we’re giving stretching its due attention.”

“

sense of purpose

Erika Grace shares her passion for pelvic health

By Anna-Rhesa Versola Photography by John Michael Simpson

After experiencing postpartum depression in 2008, Erika Grace reevaluated what she needed to create a deeper, meaningful life. She needed a career change.

“I think it’s important to be open about things like that,” Erika says. The Chapel Hill High School alumna had earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology at Emory University along with two UNC master’s degrees, one in social work and another in public health with a specialty in maternal and child health. Erika was considering all her options, including medical school, when her mom underwent pelvic therapy. “And once I heard of it, I just knew that it was the perfect combination of all of my interests of mental health

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and wellness, public health and women’s health, and direct health care. It was clear to me that it was what I was born to do.”

Erika completed her doctorate in physical therapy at Duke University School of Medicine in 2013. She opened her first practice in Chapel Hill within months of graduating. Grace Physical Therapy & Pelvic Health grew quickly, and she opened a second clinic in Raleigh in 2015 and then a third in Durham two years later.

Erika and her team most often treat patients for pain with intercourse, which can be related to childbirth, hormonal shifts or a urinary tract or yeast infection. “[Patients] recover from that, but the brain gets confused and just keeps sending pain signals,” Erika says. “If people have that, they’re very embarrassed to talk about it and feel very alone, but it’s actually extremely common.” After an initial in-person physical exam, patients typically return weekly to the clinic for physical therapy.

One thing she cautions is that people should have a pelvic health assessment – before self-treating at home – to learn the underlying cause of their issue. “My myth-buster would be that most people should not be doing kegels,” Erika says. “[For] most people, their problems are related to too much tension of the pelvic muscles, and doing kegels can actually make that worse.”

Erika notes that pelvic therapy is standard postnatal care in many countries around the world, particularly in Europe, but not in the U.S. “We certainly believe it should be here,” she says. “It’s kind of nuts.”

To this day, one of Erika’s most memorable experiences happened early on in her career. “I was working with a mom who had just had a baby. She had already been in for her sixweek follow-up visit with her midwife and discharged from postnatal care,”

“

I just knew that it was the perfect combination of all of my interests of mental health and wellness, public health and women’s health, and direct health care.

she says. “I realized that, though she and her baby were physically healthy, the mother had experienced significant emotional trauma during childbirth.” Erika says she contacted the midwife and worked to get the patient the mental health assistance and support she needed.

“That mother later contacted me to let me know that she credited me with saving her life, as she was becoming suicidal at the time I intervened.” CHM

Chris G. Adigun, MD is a board certified dermatologist and a recognized leader in dermatology. She is known for her expertise in laser and aesthetic dermatology as well as her warm, compassionate and down-to-earth personality. Dr. Adigun’s team is comprised of top notch, dermatology-trained professionals, offering the latest technology and treatments.

There is a reason DLC has been voted Best of Chapel Hill and Best of Chatham every year since we opened the doors. It’s simple, DLC treats everyone like family!

Chris G. Adigun, MD, FAAD

Karlee Wagoner, ANP-BC

Diana Walker, PA-C

Jenny Jahoo, LME

Best of Chatham 2019-2022

Erika meets with Katie Simpson for a consultation.

Downtown Development

A peek into what’s to come with the Innovation District

By Eric Johnson

ig changes are coming to downtown Chapel Hill, a makeover for Blue Heaven driven by the University’s need for more room to launch startup companies and the town’s desire to revamp Franklin Street

After years of quiet discussion between Carolina’s leaders and town officials, a plan is underway to turn a district of takeout food and T-shirt shops into a hub for biotechnology startups, young professionals and freespending visitors.

“I think we’ve reached a tipping point where this has to happen,” says Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz. “For the University to grow the way it needs to, to become the anchor for economic development in this region, we need a strong and vibrant downtown.”

For the first time in decades, the University and the town have a shared vision for what that might look like. Last spring, Kevin and Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger announced a joint development strategy, led by Innovate Carolina (UNC’s initiative for entrepreneurship and economic development) and the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership. Their plan envisions thousands of square feet of new offices and commercial lab space on East Rosemary Street rising just behind Sutton’s Drug Store, the Shrunken Head Boutique and the Franklin Street post office.

The plan also calls for moving UNC’s admissions office and its 50,000 annual visitors to a new office building on the south side of Franklin Street near Carolina Coffee Shop along Porthole Alley. Downtown streets and sidewalks will get an overhaul sometime next year to accommodate more pedestrians, green space, outdoor dining and retail shops.

“You have a lot of smart people who are all pushing in the same direction,” says Matt Gladdek ’12 (MPA, MCRP), executive director for the Chapel

Adjoined buildings, 136 Rosemary and 137 Franklin, are located at the heart of Chapel Hill's growing life-science ecosystem.

Hill Downtown Partnership. “We have a chancellor, a mayor, a town council and a town manager who all understand the importance of creating a beautiful downtown and an economic development strategy to go along with it. Right now, I think all the stars are aligned.”

FALLING BEHIND

That alignment was helped along by the realization that Chapel Hill is behind the rest of the Triangle and other college towns nationwide in the race to nurture startup businesses and build an urban center that can attract business investment. Clay Grubb ’93 (JD), the CEO of Grubb Properties, which is leading one of the largest redevelopment projects, says Franklin Street long ago lost its status as the coolest and most vibrant spot in the Triangle, falling behind neighboring cities as they invested more in their downtowns. “The last 10 years have not been good to Franklin Street,” he says. “Everyone has flocked to Durham and Pittsboro and Raleigh.”

Clay blames what he views as the town of Chapel Hill’s general opposition to development – “trying to stop all growth, put everything like it’s in a museum,” he says – but there’s also been a lack of coordination between the University and the town on how to redevelop the area.

Over the last three decades, while N.C. State University built Centennial Campus in south Raleigh to welcome public-private partnerships, and Duke invested hundreds of millions of dollars to transform downtown Durham into a technology and innovation hub, Carolina pursued a piecemeal strategy. UNC added startup labs in the Genome Sciences Building, tucked behind the School of Nursing; a small coworking office for entrepreneurs above a Franklin Street restaurant; and high-tech workshops where students can tinker with 3-D printers. But there was no master plan to link that activity to economic growth in Chapel Hill.

Carolina is one of the largest research institutions in the country, bringing in more than a billion dollars in grants each year from the federal government, state agencies, foundations and private businesses. Despite outranking Duke in federal research dollars – UNC is the sixth largest recipient and Duke ranks ninth – Chapel Hill doesn’t have the scale of medical and life-science startups clustered in downtown Durham. In 2021, Innovate Carolina counted more than 446 UNC-affiliated startups employing more than 12,000 people in North Carolina. But the startups created in the past 10 years account for fewer than 1,000 jobs in Orange County.

Matt, who oversaw Durham’s downtown development plan before coming to Chapel Hill, pointed to the growth of commercial “wet-lab” space in Durham as a key element for business investment there. Wet labs are specially engineered facilities that can safely handle chemicals, tissue cultures and other biological materials that are requirements for companies in the life-sciences industry. Low-cost lab space, with shared equipment and short-term leases, has contributed to the growth of

biotechnology startups working on everything from more accurate cancer detection to better water purification. Durham has more than a million square feet of off-campus commercial wet-lab space. Chapel Hill has none.

“A lot of those people are locating [in Durham] to have proximity to Duke and Duke faculty and access to well-educated people who will work in those jobs,” Matt says. “That’s what we want to see in Chapel Hill.”

A deeper town-gown partnership came together in 2021. Doug Rothwell ’78 (MPA) retired to Chapel Hill after spending his career working for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Business Leaders for Michigan. He recognized that Carolina’s status as a research powerhouse was at risk without more off-campus labs and offices where faculty could partner with private companies. “Downtown just really didn’t have the bones to support the University’s aspirations for innovation,” he says.

THE LATEST

The Town of Chapel Hill announced a new project on Nov. 11 at its Council Economic Sustainability Committee meeting. The proposed wet lab and office would be a 1.84acre site with modern and sustainable design and a pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly focus. “It is so very exciting to see Chapel Hill taking its place on the map as an innovative place to be,” Mayor Pam Hemminger says. “We have such creative energy in our community, and we are bringing it all together in a sustainable ecosystem!”

Last year, Doug made his case to Kevin, showing the chancellor a benchmarking study that compared Chapel Hill’s meager commercial partnership space with larger efforts at the University of Virginia; University of California, Berkeley; and UCLA. “We were the only top five public research university without an innovation district near campus,” Doug says, who now chairs the Chancellor’s Economic Development Council and in June completed his threeyear term on the Downtown Partnership board.

The University’s innovation district launched next spring, when Innovate Carolina moves into the newly refurbished office complex that Grubb Properties is redeveloping at 137 E. Franklin Street and 136 E. Rosemary Street. The old Bank of America tower –“arguably the ugliest building in Chapel Hill,” Clay says – has been gutted, and its exterior is now sheathed in sleek glass panels. It will house coworking space where entrepreneurs can rent desks or small offices by the month, and where University leaders hope national firms might open offices to be closer to Carolina faculty and recent graduates. 

150 Rosemary will create space for hundreds of new jobs in downtown Chapel Hill.

COURTESY GRUBB PROPERTIES

hill

E. Rosemary Street

136 E. Rosemary St. 150 E. Rosemary St.

525 E. Rosemary St. Parking Deck Post O ce Alley down town chapel

Town Green Urban Park

Columbia Street Henderson Street

Varsity Alley Amber Alley

Franklin Street

The GAA’s alumni records department helped identify the largest employers of recent graduates, as well as science and technology firms that employ high concentrations of Tar Heels. University officials have made pitches to some of those companies and floated the idea of alumni using the coworking space as a remote office during visits to Chapel Hill.

Clay’s decision to invest was driven by Carolina’s commitment as an anchor tenant and Chapel Hill’s decision to designate downtown an “opportunity zone,” a special status created by the 2017 federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that gives large tax breaks to developers for investing in economically distressed areas. “It is a pretty odd anomaly in the world of opportunity zones,” Clay says. “And it’s primarily because of all the [zeroincome] student base you have inside that zone.”

PROXIMITY IS THE KEY

A recent tour of The Gwendolyn, a smaller Grubb Properties office building just completed a mile from campus in the Glen Lennox neighborhood off of U.S. 15-501, offers a preview of what startup space downtown might look like. Floor-to-ceiling windows illuminate furnished office suites ready for eager young professionals to plop down laptops and work. Each floor includes shared conference rooms, kitchens and common seating areas – “collision spaces,” in industry jargon – where colleagues from different businesses might rub elbows and collaborate on a project.

The more flexible arrangements fit the University’s vision of making commercialization and private-sector partnerships easier for faculty. “The amount of time and resources it takes a young company to go through the real estate process is really challenging,” says Michelle Bolas, who has been at UNC since 2013 and was named

Carolina’s chief innovation officer this year. “The easier that is for a faculty member to navigate, the easier we can build a vibrant startup ecosystem in Chapel Hill.”

Michelle pointed to AnelleO, a small firm founded by Rahima Benhabbour, a UNC biomedical researcher. Using 3D-printing technology, Rahima developed an inexpensive vaginal ring to deliver hormone and drug therapies. The technology could lead to improvements in women’s health – if Rahima can navigate the path from the research lab to the pharmaceutical market. She works out of the University’s KickStart Accelerator in the Genome Science Building, where AnelleO leases a small office and lab space as it continues to refine the technology.

“It’s great because I don’t have to travel off campus,” Rahima says. “It makes it a lot easier for me to check in with the company.”

THE LATEST (CONTINUED)

The site – where businesses such as The Purple Bowl, Launch Chapel Hill and Blue Dogwood Market are – would have wide sidewalk spaces, ease of mobility, rooftop amenities, open community parking and congregation spaces. “It will help anchor the innovation district downtown and provide additional opportunities for job creation,” Director of Economic Development & Parking Services Dwight Bassett says. “It is a very exciting addition to our Downtown Together work.”

But when AnelleO needs to hire more employees and lease more space, the logistics get complicated. The University’s current startup space is big enough for only a handful of employees, so fast-growing companies have to look for space in Durham or Research Triangle Park.

The planned lab space on East Rosemary Street is designed to put larger-scale facilities within walking distance of campus. BioLabs, the private company that will manage much of the space, already runs similar facilities in Princeton, New Jersey; New Haven, Connecticut; Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Durham. The firm specializes in working with academic researchers, and some Carolina faculty already lease space in BioLabs’ Durham location.

“To be able to go just one block down instead of driving to RTP or to Durham, that will be amazing,” Rahima says. “It’ll be so much larger than anything we have now, and I think that will help with attracting

talent to Chapel Hill, attracting funding, helping us bring in business leads.”

It will also transform the downtown skyline. The lab and office complex, seven stories of glass and steel set back from the corner of Rosemary and Henderson streets by a small green space, will tower above the storefronts of Franklin Street. “Having the ability to literally just go across Franklin Street and meet the private sector where they are ... is just a really, really phenomenal opportunity,” Clay says, who plans to raze a parking deck and start construction of the building next year.

Nobody imagines Chapel Hill as a rival to Boston or even Durham when it comes to supporting a biotechnology sector, but town leaders hope a critical mass of office workers and researchers will transform East Franklin Street into a more viable venue for the stores and restaurants that define the streetscape. Many Franklin Street businesses were hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic, when students and faculty were absent from campus for nearly 18 months. Even before COVID-19, East Franklin Street buildings had long vacancies and high turnover rates. For a span of a few years, the corner of Franklin and Columbia streets had three shuttered storefronts where restaurants such as Spanky’s and MidiCi Pizza used to be.

“We’re very dependent on students, and that creates a lot of

challenges,” Pam says. “We need more office workers, more adults, more people who are here 12 months of the year. We don’t want to be all bars and takeout restaurants. We want a mix of different things.”

Relocating the UNC Office of Undergraduate Admissions, currently housed in the cramped confines of Jackson Hall on the eastern edge of campus, may help sustain a more diverse mix of stores and restaurants. More than 50,000 prospective students and families visit Carolina every year for a campus tour, but many of them never set foot on Franklin Street. Putting the admissions office in the heart of Chapel Hill will increase the chance those families spend at least part of their time in downtown businesses.

Pam says she doesn’t want to lose the small-town character of Chapel Hill or the iconic streetscape of Franklin Street. But given the growth across the Triangle and the ambitions of the University, change is inevitable. “Our downtown is our backbone, and we have to keep it evolving,” she says. “We can’t stay stuck in amber, or we won’t survive.”

This article has been adapted with permission from the Carolina Alumni Review’s May/June 2022 issue. Eric Johnson is a writer in Chapel Hill. He works for the College Board, the UNC System and occasionally for UNC. CHM

CHAPEL HILL DOWNTOWN

For the University to grow the way it needs to, to become the anchor for economic development in this region, we need a strong and vibrant downtown.

-Kevin Guskiewicz

“ “ “ “ experience what’s happening.

In Perpetual Motion

By Ellison Beaver

Photo by John Michael Simpson

East Coast Electric Speed Shop, owned and operated by Christopher Carini, Jacob Torbert and Anthony DeHart, is Chapel Hill’s own electric bike central. Though in the works unofficially for years, the shop opened on the second floor at 203 E. Franklin St. at the start of this year. ECESS and its team of three mechanics have assembled over 400 e-bikes while also repairing countless others and building a limited number of custom bikes. They have assisted customers as far away as the Outer Banks with bikes, and its employees are passionate about advocating for local sustainable transportation infrastructure like bike lanes, charging stations and greenways. The business is set to open two more locations in Chapel Hill and a warehouse space in Raleigh. CHM

Reis Rothman (e-bike mechanic), Christopher Carini (CEO), Jacob Torbert (COO), Anthony DeHart (CCO) and Kiran Seligman (e-bike mechanic).

hill On Display

In the recently released book “Look Close, Think Far: Art at the Ackland,” Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs Peter Nisbet highlights 238 pieces of the 20,000+ works of art in the Ackland’s collection. We asked him for an even more impossible task – pick just three can’t-miss works at the museum. And when you’re done browsing, find the book in the gift shop.

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“ Let me begin by highlighting a work from the 283 that are illustrated and discussed in our new publication. This gorgeous bowl, from the Byzantine period and almost 1,000 years old, is on view in our gallery for ancient and early European art but often overlooked. The decoration, scratched into the pale surface, shows a lively image of a raptor (perhaps a falcon) surrounded by leaves and chevrons that seem to rotate around it.

Choosing just 283 works out of around 20,000 was agony, and many favorites fell by the wayside – such as this extraordinary staff finial by an unknown artist from southeastern Africa around the end of the 19th century, on view in our gallery for African art. The meaning of the baboon figure on two male heads with signs of Zulu authority is not clear, but the quality of the sculpture is evident.

1 Unidentified artist, Byzantine, Sgraffito Bowl with Raptor, 12th century CE, earthenware and glaze, 10 1/16 × 3 in. (25.6 × 7.6 cm). Gift of Charles Millard, 2018.46.3. Ackland Art Museum.

couple of years ago. One example recently put on view in our gallery for 19th century art is this powerful, small 1865 painting by the greatest American painter of the period, Winslow Homer.

2 Baboon Master, Tsonga, South African, late 19th/early 20th century, Staff with Finial of a Baboon on Two Male Heads (detail), late 19th century, wood, 37 × 3 7/8 in. (94 × 9.8 cm). The William A. Whitaker Foundation Art Fund, 2019.36. Ackland Art Museum.

3 Winslow Homer, American, 1836-1910, Old Woman Gathering Brush, 1865, oil on canvas, canvas: 17 × 13 1/8 in. (43.2 × 33.3 cm) frame: 23 1/2 × 19 1/2 in. (59.7 × 49.5 cm). The Peck Collection, 2022.17.1. Ackland Art Museum.

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“

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“ Although the book offers a cross section through our world-renowned collection of art from all periods and cultures, it is in a sense already out of date, as we have continued to add major works of art since the content deadline passed a

Season’s Readings

Miranda Sanchez and Jaime Sanchez opened Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews three years ago and recently expanded into the space next door with Prologue, a used and rare books shop. We asked them to share a few favorites for kids and teens in time for cozy days ahead.

“A Scatter of Light” by Malinda Lo “After a graduation party goes wrong, Aria’s parents exile her to California to stay with her grandmother. Soon, Aria is second-guessing who she is and what she wants to be, and a summer that once seemed lost becomes unforgettable – for Aria, her family and the working-class queer community that Steph, her grandmother’s gardener, introduces her to.”

“Mending the Moon” by Emma Pearl

“In this fresh story with the feel of a timeless legend, the moon falls out of the sky and shatters, and a granddaughter, grandfather and assortment of forest creatures must use their creativity to put it back together.”

“Build a House” by Rhiannon Giddens

“Grammy Award-winner Rhiannon Giddens celebrates Black history and culture in her unflinching, uplifting and gorgeously illustrated picture book debut.”

“Paola Santiago and the River of Tears” by Tehlor Kay Mejia “Paola’s mother has always told her to stay away from the river, warning her about the ancient

legend of La Llorona. Paola has always loved science and uses it to make sense of the world, but when her best friend goes missing by the river, she is forced to dive into a nightmarish, mystical world in order to get her back.”

“Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky” by Kwame Mbalia

“Kwame Mbalia’s epic fantasy is a middle-grade ‘American Gods’ set in a richly imagined world populated with African American folk heroes and West African gods. Can Tristan save this world before he loses more of the things he loves? Find out by diving into this stunning graphic novel adaptation of the original book.” CHM

WHAT WE ’ RE EATING

WRamesh Dahal began to envision a new restaurant, he knew he wanted to create an environment where guests could experience food and cocktails from around the globe without leaving Franklin Street.

The inspiration for Basecamp came to Ramesh after chatting with Momo’s customers about their expedition to climb Mount Everest on the border of his native Nepal. They shared their experiences setting up camp and cooking over a fire, which gave Ramesh the idea for his second eatery’s name. “This is not a restaurant like any other restaurant,” he says. “I’m working for the people. I learned from [opening] Momo’s Master that if I think of

Basecamp 105 E. Franklin St. 540-969-9782

basecampchapelhill.com

other people, they will return that back to me sooner or later.”

Basecamp opened its doors, just around the corner from Momo’s, in May and brings a unique twist to street food with offerings ranging from Singapore-style stir-fry noodles and a shrimp po’boy to the Basecamp BLT.

The latter pairs well with home fries and a strawberry-basil mojito made by manager and mixologist Pravin Poojari. The iceberg lettuce, fried green tomato, house-roasted pork belly and beef chuck patty are held between two brioche buns and topped with a lime-pepper mayonnaise. Ramesh says he wanted to bring a touch of Nepali and Korean spice to the American BLT with this dish. “I felt by doing this I could satisfy all my customers by giving them a little bit of everything they like in one,” he says. – by Megan Tillotson

Colorado Burrito opened its second location in downtown Hillsborough at 122 S. Churton St. on Oct. 12, nearly two years after it was announced. The original Colorado Burrito was located in Hillsborough and moved to Mebane in April 2019. Both locations are now open, serving burritos, tacos, quesadillas and more.

Top of the Hill is bottling the triumphant victory of UNC over Duke in their Final Four matchup with collector’s edition spirits. The North Carolina Straight Wheat Whiskey, Victorious, and North Carolina Whiskey Barrel Aged Rum, Triumphant, are available for online order with pickup at TOPO.

Napoli Hillsborough is now known as Pizza Cornicione With the opening of the long-awaited dining room at 230 S. Nash St. comes new entrees and appetizers, as well as wine, beer and cocktails. The same kitchen team will continue to dish out Neapolitan-style pizza, but the changes inspired a new name. “Cornicione” is the Italian word for the crust – or the edge – of a pizza.

Carolina Athletics partnered with Cackalacky to create a Carolina Tar Heels BBQ Sauce. The product is available at all Food Lion stores in North Carolina as well as select local retailers like Shrunken Head in Chapel Hill and Cliff’s Meat Market in Carrboro. “Our roots run deep with the Tar Heel community,” Cackalacky CEO and co-founder Caroline Skelton said in a press

release. “... It’s an absolute thrill for us to partner with Carolina Athletics and Tar Heel Sports Properties and to bring the fun and uniqueness of Cackalacky to Carolina fans near and far.”

Big Spoon Roasters released a limited batch of nut butter in collaboration with Rancho Gordo-Xoxoc Project, a supplier of indigenous foods of the Americas. Made with chocolate from a Mexico-based cooperative of women who grow and harvest cacao, the nut butter has an intensely rich, dark chocolate-peanut butter flavor. Perfect for toast, warm churros or right out of the jar, El Rico Chocolate Peanut Butter is available to be shipped internationally.

Grata Cafe is now Grata Diner. In a July Facebook post, the eatery says that the rebranding aims to satisfy customers’ desire for diner food in Carr Mill Mall (as the location once housed the now-shuttered Elmo’s Diner). The more diner-style menu features offerings from French toast and omelets to sandwiches and burgers. – Compiled by Katie MacKinnon CHM

Chapel Hill, Chatham, & Durham Weekenders updates on people, places and events

Home & Garden monthly look at local renovations and latest trends

Eat & Drink monthly local foodie news, events and recipes

Durham Inc. monthly rundown of Durham’s business pulse

DINING GUIDE

INCLUDES RESTAURANTS, DELIS AND BISTROS IN CHAPEL HILL, CARRBORO, HILLSBOROUGH AND NORTHERN CHATHAM COUNTY

*DETAILS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. CHECK RESTAURANT WEBSITES AND SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS PRIOR TO VISITING.

ADVERTISERS HIGHLIGHTED IN BOXES

CHAPEL HILL

East Franklin Street

1922 Coffee cafe with grab-and-go options. 140 E. Franklin St.; carolinacoffeeshop.com

Bandido’s Mexican Cafe Burritos, salads, quesadillas, tacos. 159 ½ E. Franklin St.; 919-967-5048; bandidoscafe.com

Basecamp Restaurant and bar serving small plates and a variety of international dishes. Open for dinner and Sunday brunch. 105 E. Franklin St.; basecampchapelhill.com

Bonchon Korean fried chicken. 205 E. Franklin St.; 984-234-0788; bonchon.com

Buena Vibra Authentic Caribbean cuisine. 157 E. Rosemary St; 919-903-9029; buenavibranc.com

COMING SOON – Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop

Hot and cold subs, hand-pulled meats, 12hour roasted turkey and quality cheeses. 127 Franklin St.; capriottis.com

Carolina Coffee Shop Casual American cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 138 E. Franklin St.; 919-942-6875; carolinacoffeeshop.com

Cosmic Cantina Burritos, salads, quesadillas, tacos. 128 E. Franklin St.; 919-960-3955; cosmiccantina.com

Dame’s Chicken & Waffles Chicken, waffles, schmears. ‘Nuff said. 174 E. Franklin St.; 919-240-4228; dameschickenwaffles.com

Down Time Craft beer, pizza, tacos, wraps, paninis and more. 201 E. Franklin St.; 919-240-7008; downtimechapelhill.com

Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews Independent bookstore and Mexican-style chocolatería. 109 E. Franklin St., Ste. 100; 919-913-5055; epiloguebookcafe.com

Four Corners American fare, nachos, wings, pasta. 175 E. Franklin St.; 919-537-8230; fourcornersgrille.com

Hibachi & Company Hibachi- and teriyakistyle dishes. 153 E. Franklin St.; 919-9038428; hibachicompany.com

Imbibe Bottle shop and restaurant serving pizza, salads and appetizers. 108 Henderson St.; 919-636-6469; imbibenc.com

Linda’s Bar & Grill Local beer, sweet potato tots, cheese fries and burgers. 203 E. Franklin St.; 919-933-6663; lindas-bar.com

Möge Tee Bubble tea shop offering cheese foam fruit tea, fresh milk tea, fruit parfaits and fruit yakult. 151 E. Franklin St.; 984-234-3278; mogeteechapelhill.com

Momo’s Master Made-to-order Himalayan dumplings. 110 N. Columbia St.; 919-903-9051; momosmaster.com

Pirate Captain Ramen, seafood, smoothie bowls. 163 E. Franklin St.; piratecaptainch.com

Sup Dogs Creative hot dogs and sides like jalapeño popper tots and funnel cake sticks. 107 E. Franklin St.; 919-903-9566; supdogs.com

Sutton’s Drug Store Old-fashioned diner known for its hot dogs, burgers and sandwiches like “Roy’s Reuben.” 159 E. Franklin St.; 919-942-5161; suttonsdrugstore.com Time-Out Southern comfort food 24 hours a day. 201 E. Franklin St.; 919-929-2425; timeout247.com

Top of the Hill A Chapel Hill brewery that also offers American food like burgers and flatbreads. 100 E. Franklin St.; 919-929-8676; thetopofthehill.com

Tru Deli & Wine Bar Build-your-own sandwiches and wine. 114 Henderson St.; 919-240-7755; trudeli.com

Yaya Tea Japanese cafe with a variety of bubble teas and imported snacks. 157 E. Franklin St.; 919-914-6302; yayatea.com

West Franklin Street

411 West Fresh pasta, seafood and pizzas inspired by the flavors of Italy and the Mediterranean, with a healthy California twist; outdoor dining. 411 W. Franklin St.;

Al’s Burger Shack Gourmet burgers and fries. 516 W. Franklin St.; 919-904-7659; alsburgershack.com 919-967-2782; 411west.com

COMING SOON – Ay Por Dios Mexican food. 431 W. Franklin St.; 717-802-0745

Beer Study Bottle shop with in-store drafts and growlers to go. 504 W. Franklin St.; 919-240-5423; beerstudy.com

Blue Dogwood Public Market Food hall with individually owned food stalls including Asian fusion, a bottle shop and a nutrient-dense weekly pre-order menu. 306 W. Franklin St., Ste. G; 919-717-0404; bluedogwood.com

Blue’s on Franklin North Carolina barbecue, burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches and salads. 110 W. Franklin St.; 919-240-5060; bluesonfranklin.com

COMING SOON – Bombolo Sandwiches, pasta dishes and small plates. 104 N. Graham St.; bombolochapelhill.com

Boro Beverage Co. Locally made kombucha and craft sodas on tap. 400 W. Rosemary St., Ste. 1005; 919-537-8001; borobeverage.com

Brandwein’s Bagels Classic New York bagels and breakfast sandwiches. 505 W. Rosemary St.; 919-240-7071; brandweinsbagels.com

Buns Gourmet burgers, fries and shakes made from fresh ingredients. 107 N. Columbia St.; 919-240-4746; bunsofchapelhill.com

Carolina Brewery The Triangle’s oldest brewery restaurant features Carolina cuisine. 460 W. Franklin St.; 919-942-1800; carolinabrewery.com

Cat Tales Cat Cafe A two-story coffee/beer/ wine cafe home to 12 adoptable cats. 431 W. Franklin St., Ste. 210; 843-345-5289; cattalescatcafe.com

Chimney Indian Kitchen & Bar Traditional Indian dishes and unique options like pista korma and lobster pepper masala. 306 W. Franklin St., Ste. D; 984-234-3671; chimneyindiankitchen.com

CholaNad Restaurant & Bar Contemporary and traditional South Indian cuisine. Catering available. 310 W. Franklin St.; 800-246-5262; cholanad.com

Crossroads Chapel Hill at The Carolina Inn New American cuisine and seasonal specialties; all ABC permits; outdoor dining. 211 Pittsboro St.; 919-918-2777; crossroadscuisine.com

The Dead Mule Club Sunday brunch, tacos, and barbecue. 303 W. Franklin St.; 919-9697659; deadmule.squarespace.com

Franklin Motors Beer Garden A rooftop and fully licensed ABC bar. The Roquette at Franklin Motors serves hand-cut fries, bratwurst and sliders. 601 W. Franklin St.; 919-869-7090; franklinmotors.net

Heavenly Buffaloes Chicken wings as well as vegan wings with more than 25 rubs and sauces. 407 W. Franklin St.; 919-914-6717; heavenlybuffaloes.com/chapel-hill

Italian Pizzeria III Pizza, Italian entrees, calzones and subs. The “place to be” in Chapel Hill for 41 years. 508 W. Franklin St.; 919-968-4671; italianpizzeria3.com

Kurama Sushi & Noodle Express Dumplings, salads, noodle dishes. 105 N. Columbia St.; 919-968-4747; kuramasushinoodle.com

Lantern Pan-Asian cuisine. 423 W. Franklin St.; 919-969-8846; lanternrestaurant.com

La Résidence French-inspired cuisine. 202 W. Rosemary St.; 919-967-2506; laresidencedining.com

Le Macaron French pastries. 140 W. Franklin St., Ste. 120; lemacaron-us.com

Mama Dip’s Kitchen

Traditional Southern specialties, brunch and dinner classics like fried chicken and Brunswick stew. 408 W. Rosemary St.; 919-942-5837; mamadips.com

Mediterranean Deli Offers healthy vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free Mediterranean options. 410 W. Franklin St.; 919-967-2666; mediterraneandeli.com

Merritt’s Grill Famous BLTs, breakfast sandwiches, burgers. 1009 S. Columbia St.; 919-942-4897; merrittsblt.com

Might As Well Bar & Grill Bar favorites. 206 W. Franklin St.; 984-234-3333; chapelhill.mightaswellbarandgrill.com

The Northside District Specialty cocktails and international small plates. 403 W. Rosemary St.; 919-391-7044; thenorthsidedistrict.com

Perennial Cafe Serving Carrboro Coffee Roasters coffee, tea and pastries. 401 W. Franklin St.; 919-914-6045; perennial.cafe

Pho Happiness Pho noodle soup, vermicelli plates and vegetarian/gluten-free options. 508-A W. Franklin St.; 919-942-8201; phohappiness.com

The Purple Bowl Acai bowls, toast, smoothies, coffee. 306-B W. Franklin St.; 919-903-8511; purplebowlch.com

Que Chula Authentic Mexican food, tacos and craft tequilas. 140 W. Franklin St., Ste. 110; 919-903-8000; quechulatacos.com

Roots Natural Kitchen Salads and grain bowls. Children 12 years old and younger eat free all day, every day. 133 W. Franklin St., Bldg. A-115; 984-322-5600; rootsnaturalkitchen.com

Saturni Sandwiches, coffee and baked goods. 431 W. Franklin St., Ste. 120; 984-234-3497; saturni-nc.com

Spicy 9 Sushi Bar & Asian Restaurant Sushi, Thai curries, bibimbap and other Asian entrees. 140 W. Franklin St., Ste. 150; 919-903-9335; spicy9chapelhill.com

Talullas Authentic Turkish cuisine; all ABC permits. 456 W. Franklin St.; 919-933-1177; talullas.com

Trolly Stop - The Beach on Franklin Specialty hot dogs and burgers. 104 W. Franklin St.; 919-240-4206; trollystophotdogs.com Trophy Room A Graduate Hotels concept serving up shareable plates, salads and burgers. 311 W. Franklin St.; 919-442-9000; graduatehotels.com/chapel-hill/restaurant

Vimala’s Curryblossom Café Traditional Indian tandoori and thali. 431 W. Franklin St., Ste. 415; 919-929-3833; curryblossom.com

YoPo of Chapel Hill Frozen yogurt, treats and shakes with unique flavors since 1982. 106 W. Franklin St.; 919-942-7867; yogurtpump.com

Village Plaza/East Franklin Street/Eastgate Crossing/ Rams Plaza

Alpaca Peruvian rotisserie chicken and sides like maduros and tostones. 237 S. Elliott Rd.; alpacachicken.com

Breadman’s

A variety of burgers, sandwiches, salads and grilled meat, with daily soup and specials. All-day breakfast; catering available. 261 S. Elliott Rd.; 919-967-7110; breadmens.com

Caffé Driade Carrboro Coffee Roasters coffee, bowl-size lattes, local baked goods, beer and wine. 1215-A E. Franklin St.; 919-9422333; caffedriade.com

The Casual Pint Upscale craft beer market with beer, wine and ice-cream sandwiches. 201 S. Elliott Rd., Ste. 5; 919-967-2626; chapelhill.thecasualpint.com

Cava Customizable Mediterranean bowls, salads, pitas and soups. 79 S. Elliott Rd.; 919-636-5828; cava.com

Chopt Unique salads, grain and quinoa bowls. Eastgate Crossing; 919-240-7660; choptsalad.com

Clean Juice Certified organic juices, smoothies, bowls and snacks. Eastgate Crossing; 919-590-5133; cleanjuice.com

Dunk & Slide at Whole Foods Market All-day breakfast, sushi and more. 81 S. Elliott Rd.; 919-968-1983; wholefoodsmarket.com

Guglhupf Bake Shop European-style breads, pastries and coffee. Eastgate Crossing; 919-914-6511; guglhupf.com/chapelhill-bake-shop

Il Palio at The Siena Hotel Italian specialties like butternut squash ravioli. 1505 E. Franklin St.; 919-918-2545; ilpalio.com

Japan Express Hibachi-style meals and sushi. 106 S. Estes Dr.; 919-928-9600

Kipos Greek Taverna Greek cuisine in a relaxed, upscale setting with outdoor dining. Eastgate Crossing; 919-425-0760; kiposchapelhill.com

La Hacienda Burritos, salads, quesadillas, tacos. 1813 Fordham Blvd.; 919-967-0207; lahaciendamex.com

The Loop Pizzas, soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers. Eastgate Crossing; 919-969-7112; thelooprestaurant.com

Min Ga Authentic Korean cuisine like bibimbap, bulgogi and a variety of homemade kimchi. 1404 E. Franklin St.; 919-933-1773; min-ga.com

Monterrey Mexican Grill Tacos, quesadillas, burritos and more. Rams Plaza; 919-969-8750; letsgotomonterrey.com

Mr. Tokyo Japanese Restaurant Unlimited sushi and hibachi. Rams Plaza; 919-240-4552; mrtokyojapanese.com/chapel-hill

Osteria Georgi House-made pasta, braised meat dishes and antipasto. 201 S. Elliott Rd., Ste. 100; 919-375-0600; osteriageorgi.com

Piero’s Pasta & Wine A variety of pasta dishes, soups and salads. 1502 E. Franklin St.; 984-999-4826; pierospasta.com

Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken Biscuits, donuts, chicken and coffee. Eastgate Crossing; risebiscuitschicken.com

Squid’s Fresh seafood options include woodgrilled fillets, Maine lobster, fried seafood and oysters. 1201 Fordham Blvd.; 919-942-8757; squidsrestaurant.com

Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen Drive-thru biscuits, sandwiches. 1305 E. Franklin St.; 919-933-1324; sunrisebiscuits.com

Sutton’s in the Atrium A cafe version of Sutton’s Drug Store with its famous hot dogs, salads and more. 100 Europa Dr.; 919-240-4471; suttonsdrugstore.com

Tandoor Indian Restaurant Traditional Indian cuisine, vegan options. 1301 E. Franklin St.; 919-967-6622; tandoorindian.com

Thaiphoon Bistro Thai cuisine, curry, stirfry, soups and salads. 1704 E. Franklin St.; thaiphoonbistro.com

Twisted Noodles Thai noodle soups, pan-fried noodles. Eastgate Crossing; 919-933-9933; twistednoodlesch.com 

University Place

Alfredo’s Pizza Villa Pizzas, calzones, salads, subs, pasta, desserts. 919-968-3424; alfredospizzanc.com

bartaco Tacos, fresh-juice cocktails, poke and mole options. 910-807-8226; bartaco.com

Flying Biscuit Cafe All-day breakfast and Southern favorites like shrimp and grits. 919-537-8974; flyingbiscuit.com

Hawkers Inspired by Southeast Asia’s street fare, this eatery features homemade favorites, from dumplings to curries. 919-415-1799; eathawkers.com

Maple View Mobile Ice-cream outpost of the iconic Hillsborough shop. 919-244-1949; mapleviewmobile.com

Stoney River Steakhouse and Grill

Southern favorites like deviled eggs meet steakhouse mainstays like the legendary 12 oz. filet. 919-914-6688; stoneyriver.com

Trilogy American cafe featuring innovative twists on classic dishes. Outdoor seating available. Silverspot Cinema; 919-357-9887; silverspot.net

Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (Airport Road)

Hunam Chinese Restaurant Cantonese cuisine. 790 MLK Jr. Blvd.; 919-967-6133; hunamrestaurant.net

Kitchen Bistro-style dining with a seasonal menu that always includes mussels. 764 MLK Jr. Blvd.; 919-537-8167; kitchenchapelhill.com

Lucha Tigre Latin-Asian cuisine and sake-tequila bar. 746 MLK Jr. Blvd.; 919-904-7326; luchatigre.com

The Root Cellar Cafe & Catering Sandwiches, salads, soups, desserts and more for breakfast and lunch.

750 MLK Jr. Blvd.; 919-967-3663; rootcellarchapelhill.com

Timberlyne/Chapel Hill North Area

Chapel Hill Wine Company Wine store with bottles from all over the globe. 2809 Homestead Rd.; 919-968-1884; chapelhillwinecompany.com

Deli Edison Neighborhood deli with bagels, sandwiches, salads. 630 Weaver Dairy Rd.; 919-929-7700; deliedison.com

Farm House Restaurant Steaks, salads, potatoes. 6004 Millhouse Rd.; 919-929-5727; farmhousesteakhouse.com

Joe Van Gogh Coffee, tea and pastries. Timberlyne Shopping Center; 919-967-2002; joevangogh.com

Magone Italian Grill & Pizza Italian mains. Timberlyne Shopping Center; 919-904-7393; magoneitaliangrillpizza.com

New Hope Market Breakfast and daily specials like burgers, soups and more. 6117 N.C. Hwy. 86 S.; 919-240-7851

OiShii Specialty rolls, teriyaki, stir-fry, sushi. Timberlyne Shopping Center; 919-932-7002; oishiiroll.com

The Pig Barbecue, fried tofu, collards and more. 630 Weaver Dairy Rd., Ste. 101; 919-942-1133; thepigrestaurant.com

PiggyBack Classic cocktails, beer and wine and unexpected, creative bar food. 630 Weaver Dairy Rd., Ste. 102; 919-240-4715; thepigrestaurant.com/piggyback

Pop’s Pizzeria & Ristorante Pizzas, calzones, stromboli, pasta. 1822 MLK Jr. Blvd.; 919-932-1040; pops-pizzeria.com

Queen of Pho Vietnamese offerings like banh mi and, of course, pho beef noodle soup. Timberlyne Shopping Center; 919-903-8280; queenofphochapelhill.com

Rasa Indi-Chinese Authentic North Indian and Chinese cuisine, with fusion and Thai dishes. Weekly specials. Patio dining. 1826 MLK Jr. Blvd.; 919-929-2199; rasachapelhill.com

Sage Vegetarian Cafe Vegetarian fare. Timberlyne Shopping Center; 919-968-9266; sagevegetariancafe.com

Sal’s Pizza & Ristorante Thin-crust and deepdish pizzas plus an array of Italian comfort food. 2805 Homestead Rd.; 919-932-5125; salspizzaofchapelhill.com

Yopop Frozen Yogurt Frozen yogurt shop featuring 14 flavors, bubble tea and smoothies. Timberlyne Shopping Center; 919-537-8229

N.C. 54 East/Raleigh Road

Amante Gourmet Pizza Create-your-own pizzas. 6209 Falconbridge Rd.; 919-493-0904; amantepizza.com

BIN 54 Steaks, seafood and other fine American food. Everything made in-house. Glen Lennox Shopping Center; 919-969-1155; bin54chapelhill.com

Brenz Pizza Co. Specialty pizzas, subs, salads. 3120 Environ Way, East 54; 919-636-4636; brenzpizzaco.com

Coco Espresso, Bistro & Bar Plant-based, fresh, locally sourced dishes, as well as classic comfort food, cocktails and mocktails, plus coffee, espresso bar, baked goods and pastries. The Gwendolyn, 101 Glen Lennox Dr., Ste. 180; 919-883-9003; cocochapelhill.com

elements Cuisine combining classical and modern Asian and European cooking techniques; check out the wine bar with full menu next door. 2110 Environ Way, East 54; 919-537-8780; elementsofchapelhill.com

First Watch French toast, pancakes and specialty omelets. 1101 Environ Way, East 54; 919-537-8488; firstwatch.com

Hawthorne & Wood Fine dining cuisine with an outdoor patio, a fully stocked bar and an extensive international wine list. 3140 Environ Way, East 54; 919-240-4337; hawthorneandwood.com

Jujube Eclectic, modern cuisine inspired by the flavors of China and Vietnam. Glen Lennox; 919-960-0555; jujuberestaurant.com

Nantucket Grill & Bar Clam chowder, lobster rolls and more. 5925 Farrington Rd.; 919-402-0077; nantucketgrill.com

NoDa Brewing Company Tapas Small plates, NoDa beer, wine and specialty cocktails. 1118 Environ Way, East 54.; 919-903-8699; facebook.com/NoDaBrewingTapas

The Poplar Cafe Coffee shop offering tea, wine, mimosas, beer and specialty drinks, plus Deli Edison bagels. 1114 Environ Way, East 54; facebook.com/thepoplarcafenc

Thai Palace Soup, curries, pad thai. Glenwood Square Shopping Center; 919-967-5805; order.thaipalacechapelhill.com

Meadowmont Village

Bluebird French bistro-style restaurant. 601 Meadowmont Village Circle; bluebirdnc.com

Brixx Wood Fired Pizza Specialty pizzas and salads. 501 Meadowmont Village Circle; 919-929-1942; brixxpizza.com

Kahlovera Mexican bar and grill. 504 Meadowmont Village Circle; 984-999-4537; kahloveratacos.com

Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar Northern and southern Indian specialties including gobi manchurian, paneer tikka, chicken tikka and hariyali murg kebab. 101 Meadowmont Village Circle; lnlrestaurant.com

Meet Fresh Taiwanese desserts and teas. 407 Meadowmont Village Circle; Ste. 101; 984-999-4983; meetfresh.us

Quickly Hot and cold tea drinks in addition to Asian street food. 503 Meadowmont Village Circle; 984-234-0401; quicklychapelhill.com

Southern Village

Al’s Burger Shack Gourmet burgers and fries. 708 Market St.; 919-914-6694; alsburgershack.com

COMING SOON - The Critic Opinionated drinking in Southern Village. 620 Market St. (inside The Lumina Theater); thecriticbar.com

Rasa Malaysia Authentic Malaysian dishes. 410 Market St.; 984-234-0256; rasamalaysiach.com

La Vita Dolce Pastries, sorbet, gelato, coffee. 610 Market St., Ste. 101-C; 919-968-1635; lavitadolcecafe.com

Market and Moss American cuisine made with fresh local ingredients. 700 Market St.; 919-929-8226; marketandmoss.com

Town Hall Grill Sandwiches, steak, seafood, Italian dishes. 410 Market St.; 919-960-8696; thetownhallgrill.com

Weaver Street Market Food bar items, plus grab and go. 716 Market St.; 919-929-2009; weaverstreetmarket.coop

CARRBORO

Downtown

401 Main Upscale dive bar and sandwich shop serving shareable bar snacks, local brews and po’boys. 401 Main St.; 919-390-3598; 401main.com

Acme Food & Beverage Co. Entrees with a Southern touch. 110 E. Main St.; 919-929-2263; acmecarrboro.com

Akai Hana Japanese cuisine including sushi, tempura and teriyaki. 206 W. Main St.; 919-942-6848; akaihana.com

Armadillo Grill Tex-Mex burritos, enchiladas, tacos, nachos. 120 E. Main St.; 919-929-4669; armadillogrill.com

Atlas Bar Uptown drinks in downtown Carrboro. 118 E. Main St.; atlascarrboro.com

Belltree Cocktail Club Prohibition-inspired speakeasy serving creative cocktails, beer and wine. 100 Brewer Lane, A; 984-234-0572; belltreecocktailclub.com

Breakaway Carrboro A casual cafe serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and coffee. 410 N. Greensboro St.; breakawaync.co

Carrburritos Burritos, tacos, nachos and margaritas. 711 W. Rosemary St.; 919-933-8226; carrburritos.com

Cham Thai Cuisine Authentic Thai, Siamese and Chinese cuisine. 370 E. Main St., Ste. 190; 984-999-4646; chamthai.squarespace.com

Coronato Pizza Roman-style pizza, snacks and salads. 101 Two Hills Rd., Ste. 140; 919-240-4804; coronatopizza.com

Craftboro Brewing Depot Bottle shop and brewery with taps of craft beer. 101 Two Hills Dr., Unit 180; 919-240-4400; craftborobrewing.com

Glasshalfull Mediterranean-inspired food and wine; outdoor dining; all ABC permits. 106 S. Greensboro St.; 919-967-9784; glasshalfull.net

Gourmet Kingdom Sichuan cuisine. 301 E. Main St.; 919-932-7222; thegourmetkingdom.com

Krave Kava Bar & Tea Lounge Offers a wide range of tea and herbal drinks, all made from kava, a type of plant root. 105 W. Main St.; 919-408-9596; kravekava.com

Lanza’s Cafe Coffeehouse serving tea and meads in addition to local pastries, small plates and daily specials. 601 W. Main St.; 919-967-9398; lanzascafe.com

Luna Rotisserie & Empanadas South American cuisine meets the American South. 307 E. Main St.; 919-537-8958; lunarotisserie.com

Mel’s Commissary & Catering Pop-up dinners. 109 W. Main St.; 919-240-7700; melscarrboro.com

Mosaic Tapas Bistro & Wine Bar A trendy tapas and wine bar with a relaxed bistro atmosphere. 203 W. Weaver St.; 919-967-5008; mosaicbistro.com

Napoli Wood-fired pizza, espresso, artisanal gelato made from scratch, teas and local craft beer and wines. 105 E. Main St.; 919-667-8288; napolicarrboro.com

Neal’s Deli Buttermilk biscuits on Saturdays and traditional deli fare. 100 E. Main St.; 919-967-2185; nealsdeli.com

Oakleaf “Immediate” cuisine like pastas and seafood using ingredients from the chef’s own garden. 310 E. Main St.; 984-234-0054; oakleafnc.com

Open Eye Cafe Freshly roasted coffee by Carrboro Coffee Roasters, tea, beer, wine and baked goods. 101 S. Greensboro St.; 919-968-9410; openeyecafe. com

Paco’s Tacos Steak, chicken, seafood and vegetarian tacos. 109 W. Main St.; 919-240-7700

Pizzeria Mercato Pizza, antipasto, soups, fritti and gelato. 408 W. Weaver St.; 919-967-2277; pizzeriamercatonc.com

Speakeasy on Main Cocktail lounge with live music. 100 E. Main St.; facebook.com/ speakeasyonmainstreet

Spotted Dog Vegetarian- and veganfriendly entrees. 111 E. Main St.; 919-933-1117; thespotteddogrestaurant.com

Tesoro 18-seat neighborhood restaurant with house-made pasta, seasonal plates and classic sweets. 100 E. Weaver St.; 919-537-8494; tesorocarrboro.com

Wings Over 27 flavors of wings. 313 E. Main St.; 919-537-8271; wingsoverchapelhill.com

East Main Square

Amante Gourmet Pizza Create-your-own pizzas, salads and pasta. 300 E. Main St.; 919-929-3330; amantepizza.com

Gray Squirrel Coffee Co. Roastery and espresso bar. 360 E. Main St., Ste. 100; graysquirrelcoffee.com

Hickory Tavern Burgers, sandwiches and build-your-own salads. 370-110 E. Main St.; 919-942-7417; thehickorytavern.com

Iza Whiskey & Eats Japanese fusion cuisine serving small plates, sushi, ramen, whiskey, sake and cocktails. 370 E. Main St., Ste. 140; 919-537-8645; izaeats.com

COMING SOON – LA Tequila and Eats LatinAsian fusion cuisine. 307 E. Main St. Unit 170

Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken Biscuits, doughnuts, chicken and coffee. 310 E. Main St.; 919-929-5115; risebiscuitschicken.com

Vecino Brewing Co. Craft beer and flavorful small plates. 300 E. Main St., Ste. C; 919-391-6788; vecinobrewing.com

Carr Mill Mall/ North Greensboro Street

B-Side Lounge Small plates and inspired cocktails open for private parties. Carr Mill Mall; 919-904-7160; b-sidelounge.com

Grata Diner From scratch breakfast and lunch. Carr Mill Mall; 919-240-7000; gratacafe.com

Oasis Organic coffee, tea, beer and wine. Carr Mill Mall; 919-904-7343

Tandem Farm-to-table, modern American cuisine with full service bar. Carr Mill Mall; 919-240-7937; tandemcarrboro.com

Thai Station Authentic, fresh Thai dishes. 201 E. Main St., Ste. C.; 984-234-3230; thaistationnc.com

Venable Rotisserie Bistro Upscale comfort food with a heavy emphasis on seasonal ingredients. Carr Mill Mall; 919-904-7160; venablebistro.com

Weaver Street Market Hot food bar items are available as grab and go. Carr Mill Mall; 919-929-0010; weaverstreetmarket.coop

N.C. 54 West/Carrboro Plaza

Aidan’s Pizza Pizza, wings and salads. 602 Jones Ferry Rd., Ste. D; 919-903-8622; aidanspizza.com

Anna Maria’s Pizzeria Italian cuisine. Carrboro Plaza; 919-929-1877; annamariasnc.wordpress.com

Fiesta Grill Burritos, chimichangas, fajitas, tacos. 3307 N.C. Hwy. 54 W.; 919-928-9002; fiestagrill.us

Monterrey Mexican Grill Traditional Mexican cuisine. Carrboro Plaza; 919-903-9919; letsgotomonterrey.com

Wingman Wings and hot dogs. 104 N.C. Hwy. 54 W.; 919-928-9200; bestwingman.net

HILLSBOROUGH

Antonia’s Italian cuisine. 101 N. Churton St.; 919-643-7722; antoniashillsborough.com

The Colorado Burrito Burritos, fajitas and quesadillas. 122 S. Churton St.; 919-245-3335

Cup-A-Joe Coffee and pastries. 112 W. King St.; 919-732-2008; hboro-cupajoe.com

El Restaurante Ixtapa Authentic fromscratch Mexican dishes. 162 Exchange Park Ln.; 919-644-6944; ixtapa.homestead.com/ homepage.html

Hillsborough Bakeshop & Pasta Company Baked goods, coffee, wine and all-day cafe offering pasta, sandwiches and salads. 110 S. Churton St.; 919-732-6261; hillsboroughbakeshop.com

Hillsborough BBQ Company Barbecue plates and sandwiches, sides and desserts. 236 S. Nash St.; 919-732-4647; hillsboroughbbq.com

Hillsborough Wine Company Wine store with bottles from all over the globe. 118 S. Churton Street; 919-732-4343; chapelhillwinecompany.com

Hot Tin Roof Games and specialty cocktails. 115 W. Margaret Ln.; 919-296-9113; hottinroofbar.com

The House at Gatewood Supper club and special events venue. 300 U.S. 70; 919-241-4083; houseatgatewood.com

Jay’s Chicken Shack Chicken, buffalo wings, breakfast biscuits. 646 N. Churton St.; 919-732-3591; jayschickenshack.com 

J&F Kitchen Italian, American and Balkan dishes. 155 Mayo St.; jandfkitchen.weebly.com

Kim’s Bake Shop Homemade baked goods from brownies and doughnuts to “whookies” and pie. 111 N. Churton St.; downtownpies.com

La Muñeca Ice Cream Paletas, esquites and dorilocos. 131 Mayo St.; la-muneca-ice-cream. business.site

Los Altos Mexican dishes, such as tacos and chiles rellenos. 126 W. King St.; 919-241-4177; losaltosmexicanrestaurant.com

Lupita’s Meat Market and Taqueria Authentic Mexican food including tamales, barbacoa and carnitas. 633 Cornelius St.; 919-296-9000

Maple View Farm Country Store Homemade ice cream. 6900 Rocky Ridge Rd.; 919-960-5535; mapleviewfarm.com

Matthew’s Chocolates Gourmet chocolates, frozen treats and baked goods. 104 N. Churton St.; 984-245-9571

Nomad International street food-inspired eatery. 122 W. King St.; 984-217-0179; thenomadnc.com

Pizza Cornicione Neapolitan pizzeria and gelateria. 230 S. Nash St.; 919-245-8566; pizzacornicione.com

Pueblo Viejo Traditional Mexican food. 370 S. Churton St.; 919-732-3480

Radius Wood-fired pizzas, housemade pastas, salads and desserts. Outdoor dining. 112 N. Churton St.; 919-245-0601; radiuspizzeria.net

Saratoga Grill New England-style cuisine. 108 S. Churton St.; 919-732-2214; thesaratogagrill.com

Steve’s Garden Market & Butchery Sandwiches, baked goods, pimento cheese. 610 N. Churton St.; 919-732-4712; stevesgardenmarket.com

The Village Diner Southern fare and takeout pizza. 600 W. King St.; 919-245-8915; villagedinernc.com

Vinny’s Italian Grill and Pizzeria Italian favorites. 133 N. Scottswood Blvd.; 919-7329219; vinnyshillsborough.com

Weaver Street Market Food bar items are available as grab and go. 228 S. Churton St.; 919-245-5050; weaverstreetmarket.coop

Whit’s Frozen Custard Rotating flavors of frozen custard, treats, pints to go. 240 S. Nash St.; 919-245-8123; whitscustard.com

Wooden Nickel Pub Pub fare and rotating craft beer. 113 N. Churton St.; 919-932-0134; thewnp.com

Yonder Southern Cocktails & Brew Beer, wine, frose and more. 114 W. King St.; yonderbarnc.com

NORTH CHATHAM

Briar Chapel

501 Pharmacy Maple View Farm ice cream, plus malts and shakes. 69 Knox Way, Ste. 110; 984-999-0501; 501rx.com

Breakaway Cafe A casual cafe serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and coffee. 58 Chapelton Ct., Ste. 100; 984-234-3010; breakawaync.co

Capp’s Pizzeria & Trattoria Traditional Italian cuisine including fresh pastas, pizzas and more. 79 Falling Springs Dr., Ste. 140; 919-240-4104; cappspizzeria.com

O’YA Cantina Latin cuisine from all over the world. 72 Chapelton Ct.; 984-999-4129; oyacantina.com

Town Hall Burger & Beer Burgers plus tacos, wings and salads. 58 Chapelton Ct.; 984-234-3504; townhallburgerandbeer.com

Governors Village

Ciao Bella Pizzeria Pizza, pastas, sandwiches. 1716 Farrington Point Rd.; 919-932-4440

Flair Restaurant & Wine Bar Frenchinfluenced food, coffee and Sunday brunch. 50100 Governors Dr.; 919-967-9990; flairfusionrestaurant.com

Gov’s Burger & Tap Burgers, hotdogs, salads, milkshakes. 50050 Governors Dr.; 919-2405050; govsburgerandtap.com

Tarantini Italian Restaurant Italian cuisine. 50160 Governors Dr.; 919-942-4240; tarantinirestaurant.com

North Chatham Village/ Cole Park Plaza

Captain John’s Dockside Fish & Crab House American seafood dishes. 11550 U.S. Hwy. 15501 N.; 919-968-7955; docksidechapelhill.com

Guanajuato Mexican Restaurant Mexican dishes with vegetarian options. 11552 U.S. Hwy. 15-501 N., Ste. 205; 919-929-8012; guanajuatomexicanrestaurant.net

Moon Asian Bistro

An Asian fusion restaurant offering sushi, Chinese dishes like sweetand-sour chicken, Thai curry dishes, rice and noodles. 111 Knox Way, Ste. 100; 919-869-7894; moonasianbistroch.com

Panda Garden Chinese dishes like chow mein and egg foo young. Takeout is available. 11312 U.S. Hwy. 15-501 S., Ste. 303; 919-960-8000; chapelhillpandagarden.com

Ta Contento Mex Fresh Food Authentic Mexican food, like tacos, burritos, guacamole and fajitas. 11620 US 15-501 Hwy. N. Chapel Hill; 919-945-4819; ta-contento.com

Village Pizza and Pasta A neighborhood pizza place serving up subs, calzones, pastas and salads. 11312 U.S. Hwy. 15-501 S., Ste. 300; 919-960-3232; villagepizzapasta.com

PITTSBORO

U.S. 15-501/Fearrington Village

Allen & Son Bar-B-Que North Carolina barbecue. 5650 U.S. 15-501; 919-542-2294; stubbsandsonbbq.com

The Belted Goat Lunch, dinner and wine shop, offering salads and sandwiches. Fearrington Village Center; 919-545-5717; fearrington.com/belted-goat

Cafe Root Cellar American cuisine and “go big or go home” seasonal dishes. 35 Suttles Rd.; 919-542-1062; caferootcellar.com

Carolina Brewery The Triangle’s oldest brewery restaurant features Carolina cuisine. 120 Lowes Dr. #100; 919-545-2300; carolinabrewery.com

Compadres Tequila Lounge Mexican restaurant with a variety of classic dishes. 193 Lowes Dr., Ste. 107; 919-704-8374; compadresnc.com

The Fearrington House Restaurant Contemporary fine dining. Reservations are needed. Fearrington Village Center; 919-542-2121; fearrington.com/house

House of Hops Bar and bottle shop with a large craft beer selection on tap. Outdoor seating available. 112 Russet Run; 919-542-3435; houseofhopsnc.com

Mi Cancun Classic Mexican cuisine with a modern twist. Outdoor seating available. 114 Russet Run; 919-542-3858; micancunmx.com

New Japan Hibachi-style Japanese cooking. 90 Lowes Dr.; 919-542-4380

Roost Beer Garden Wood-fired pizza, local brews and live music. Open April through October. Fearrington Village Center; 919-542-2121; fearrington.com/roost

East Street

BMC Brewing Beers brewed on-site and cookies made with the byproducts. 213 Lorax Lane; 919-759-1206; bmcbrewing.com

China Inn Chinese dishes, dine in or carry out. 630 East St.; 919-545-0259

Copeland Springs Farm & Kitchen Grains and greens bowls, small plates and bar snacks. 193B Lorax Ln.; 919-261-7211; copelandspringsfarm.com

Fair Game Beverage Co. Spirits, wine, beer and cider tastings plus snacks and specialty local food items. 220 Lorax Ln.; 919-548-6884; fairgamebeverage.com

ASIAN BISTRO

Greek Kouzina Made-from-scratch hummus, gyros, kebabs and more. 964 East St.; 919-542-9950; greekkouzina.com

Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries Burgers, cheesesteaks and frozen custard. 987 East St.; 919-542-1312; hwy55.com/locations/pittsboro

Metal Brixx Cafe Vortex Roasters’ coffee and espresso plus tea, lemonade and gelato. 213 Lorax Ln.; 919-444-2202

Small Cafe B and B Offbeat, eco-friendly eatery offering farm-to-table fare for breakfast and lunch. Offering outdoor dining. 219 East St.; 919-228-8817; smallcafebandb.com

Starrlight Mead Tastings of honey wines and honey. 130 Lorax Ln.; 919-533-6314; starrlightmead.com

West Street

Al’s Diner Traditional American classics for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 535 West St.; 919-542-5800; alsdiner.net

Angelina’s Kitchen Greek and Southwestern dishes including gyros. 23 Rectory St.; 919-545-5505; angelinaskitchenonline.com

The Phoenix Bakery Small-batch and seasonal baked goods and specialty cakes. 664 West St.; 919-542-4452; thephoenixbakerync.com

Hillsboro Street/Downtown

Aromatic Roasters Small-batch coffee shop specializing in Aztec mochas, chai lattes and Thai teas. 697 Hillsboro St., Unit 101; 919-228-8345; aromaticroasters.com

The Beagle Classic and innovative cocktails and small plates like chilled seafood, charcuterie and a selection of sandwiches. 53 Hillsboro St.; 919-533-6589

Buzz Cafe at Chatham Marketplace

Sandwiches, daily changing hot bar, sushi, salads and baked goods. Chatham Mills; 919-542-2643; chathammarketplace.coop

Carolina Cravings Co.

Bakery serving traditional treats like pie bars, muffins and no-bake peanut butterchocolate cookies as well as Hispanic favorites like flan, bolillos and tres leches cakes. 84 Hillsboro St.; 919-444-2023

The City Tap Classic bar food. 89 Hillsboro St.; 919-545-0562; thecitytap.com

Davenport’s Café Diem Carrboro Coffee Roasters coffee and espresso offerings. 439 Hillsboro St.; 919-704-4239; davenports-cafediem.com

Elizabeth’s Pizza Pizza, calzones, sandwiches, salads and pasta. 160 Hillsboro St.; 919-5459292; elizabethspizzapittsboro.com

John’s Pizza Restaurant Pizzas, pastas, wraps, calzones and strombolis. 122 Sanford Rd.; 919-542-5027; johnspizzarestaurant.com

The Mod Wood-fired pizza, salads, small plates and a full bar. Outdoor seating available. 46 Sanford Rd.; 919-533-6883; themodernlifedeli.com

Postal Fish Company Fresh seafood from North Carolina’s coast. Serving dinner only. 75 W. Salisbury St.; 919-704-8612; postalfishcompany.com

S&T’s Soda Shoppe Soda fountain, American fare. 85 Hillsboro St.; 919-545-0007; sandtsodashoppe.com

The Sycamore at Chatham Mills Upscale steakhouse. 480 Hillsboro St., Ste. 530; 919-704-8731; thesycamoreatchathammills.com

Tienda Hispana El Rayo Hispanic goods including Mexican pastries and packaged foods and drinks. 119 Hillsboro St.

Virlie’s Grill Soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches. 58 Hillsboro St.; 919-542-0376; virliesgrill.com

Willy’s Cinnamon Rolls Etc. Bakery selling cinnamon rolls, scones, muffins, cookies and bread with ’40s and ’50s flair. 35 W. Chatham St.; 252-305-9227; willysrolls.com CHM

& GARDEN

homemade hospitality

By Brooke Spach Photography by John Michael Simpson

Jenifer Hofmann and David Hofmann’s home in Calvander – an unincorporated community just north of Carrboro which marks the transition from “town” to “county” – represents many things. It’s a gathering place for friends and neighbors, Jenifer’s canvas for creative experimentation and the couple’s fifth home in their 20 years

A remodeling expert uses her passion for creating beautiful spaces to design her own dream home

The Hofmanns' tree each year includes an angel and a bear from their first Christmas together.

since moving from Michigan to North Carolina. It’s also been a renovation project since 2020, spearheaded by Jenifer herself, a certified remodeling project manager and owner of J. Hofmann Homes & Design

“We’ve renovated four homes and built three [in our lifetimes], and it never occurred to me to hire anybody,” Jenifer says. “When it wasn’t work, it was a hobby.”

JUST THE RIGHT SIZE

The house, situated on just over two acres, was originally built in the ’80s and had a significant addition in 2011. The couple gutted the kitchen, remodeled the living areas and completely redid the home’s attached apartment. They also added on a breezeway (that leads to a new twostory garage complete with a fitness center on the upper level) and created a fire pit area in the backyard.

Now empty nesters after their daughter, Anna Hofmann, graduated from UNC in 2021, David and Jenifer

were able to downsize from their last home in Durham’s Hope Valley neighborhood.

“One of our criteria was we wanted to invest in a house that felt spacious but didn’t have a lot of wasted space,” Jenifer says. “We had rooms in our old home that we never used. But in this house, we use everything.”

Each of their previous homes were picked for their close proximity to the university, where David has been a senior associate dean at the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School for the past six years. They’re a Tar Heel family through and through, as Jenifer’s biggest current project is a $2.5 million renovation of the North Carolina Study Center on campus.

Jenifer was able to leverage her expertise as a designer to make important decisions throughout the home, such as how to maximize space in the relatively small kitchen and where to place the garage. She also used the semi-blank slate to try new things, like the exterior design of

Jenifer enjoys a book by the window in the primary bedroom's reading nook.

Ola S Stinnett, Agent 180

Supporting Chapel Hill – Carrboro Communities

the fireplace and tiling in the fitness center bathroom. Jenifer plans to use both of these techniques in future projects for her clients. As project manager, Jenifer says everything was made possible by her trusted vendors, including Kitchen & Bath Galleries, Ace Asphalt and Wilkinson Supply Co.

“Every project is different,” she says. “There’s a formula that you follow, but you never know what you’re gonna get into when you’re tearing into someone’s walls or floors. That makes it really challenging. Every day, you encounter something new, and you

ABOVE The cozy living area with the fireplace is the couple's favorite room in the house. "They say love grows in small spaces," Jenifer says.

LEFT Jenifer and David enjoy a cup of coffee in their backyard fire pit area.

LEFT Jenifer was drawn to the high, sloped ceilings in the primary bedroom.

RIGHT So far, they’ve expanded the walkway and added planters and landscape lighting. Jenifer can’t wait to continue sprucing up the yard.

BELOW "[The gallery wall's photos] capture our faith, beloved family and cherished experiences we’ve shared with them and dear friends over many years," Jenifer says.

encounter problems or issues that were unforeseen when you started.”

In the case of their dream home renovation, which started during the thick of the pandemic, the challenge was supply issues. The pair closed on the home in November 2020 and wasted no time getting started, demolishing the kitchen the day after. Their custom cabinets, which typically take six to eight weeks to arrive, were delayed until April 2021. Jenifer and David lived in the home throughout the entire project, so for those five months, they were without running water in their kitchen and eating lots of takeout. David fondly recalled having a long card table held up by moving

boxes with a microwave and a toaster oven on it. Now, the couple says they’re “almost there” with feeling settled into the place.

“Homeownership always includes changes in maintenance and replacement, so there’s always something that needs to be done,” he says. “There’s always a little bit of a project. But I would say we’re into typical projects at this point.”

RETURNING TO ROOTS

Jenifer fell in love with home improvement early on in life. Her mother was an interior designer, and their family lived in an 1830s home in West Lafayette, Indiana, that her parents worked to fix up for nearly a decade.

“I grew up on a construction site,” Jenifer says.

So both times she toured their soon-to-be home in Calvander, Jenifer says it just felt right. It reminded her of that childhood home in more ways than both being fixer-uppers.

“To me, this is like the dream setting,” she says. “It’s so familiar to me from my childhood – not the style of the house because I grew up in a historical house, but in terms of being surrounded by the woods and nature. I immediately felt like I loved this place.”

One goal Jenifer had in choosing a new place was an indoor-outdoor living feel. She and David both enjoy spending time outdoors and love that they can see all the way to the wooded backyard from the foyer. On an ideal Saturday, you can find David cycling on the quiet roads by Maple View Farm and Jenifer with her hands in the dirt, working on the landscaping. Another favorite activity is making the short walk from their home over to Hogan’s Magnolia View Farm (residence of UNC’s mascot, Rameses!) to feed the horses and pet the cows.

“We want to just be able to enjoy our home,” Jenifer says. “My business is really about helping other people enjoy and get to a place where they feel good about their home so that they’re comfortable inviting others into it. Hospitality to me is really important.”

“It’s a gift in today’s world,” David adds.

“It’s not about being fancy or formal, it’s just about gathering together on a heart level,” Jenifer concludes.

Despite her “occupation hazard,” as David lovingly calls Jenifer’s itch to start a new personal project every few years, it seems the Hofmanns are staying put in their contemporary forever home. The couple has plans for another small-scale remodel in the future: moving the primary bedroom to the first level to enable them to age in place. Only time will tell, but when asked if they thought they’d stick around:

“I really do,” Jenifer says. “We are old, and we are tired. And we love this place. I don’t foresee moving anytime soon.” CHM

ABOVE “We’re finally at a place where we’re really enjoying having friends over and look forward to doing a lot more during the holidays,” Jenifer says of gatherings with pals like Jennifer Hahn and Leigh Copeland. BELOW The Persian Carpet is one of Jenifer’s go-to places for rugs.

come together

The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro rallies the community through Big Bold Ideas.

The initiative is a “community engagement and goal-setting venture” that began in 2019. Here’s a look at the process and progress so far.

OCT. 12, 2019

The Chamber asks the public – in multiple languages, from Karen and Mandarin to Spanish – to submit ideas such as “build 100 miles of greenways and bike trails by 2030.” A Big Bold Idea is one that will have a lasting and positive impact on our community, is ambitious, measurable and accomplishable, and is something you are willing to work on but cannot accomplish alone.

NOV. 7, 2019

Hundreds of delegates participate in the Community Selection Conference to talk about and select three outstanding Big Bold Ideas.

JAN. 31, 2020

The implementation plans for each idea were announced and discussed at the chamber’s Annual Meeting. The three ideas picked were:

MARCH 2020

OCT. 21-27, 2019

The community was invited to help prioritize the more than 500 ideas on a crowd-sorting platform, and 20,000 votes were cast.

LATE 2019

After the ideas were selected, the chamber staff and a steering committee of 40 business, government, university and nonprofit leaders researched and identified funders and co-champions.

The pandemic started, and the process took a bit of a break.

1 Create dramatically more affordable housing 2 Accelerate innovation and workforce development 3 Increase all students’ performance and close the achievement gap

2022

All three initiatives are in different stages of development. Two committee chairs plus the Chamber’s president/CEO bring us up to speed:

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

1Jennifer Player, president/CEO, Habitat for Humanity of Orange County: “The way that we approached the recommendations was thinking about the number of units. So, how do we achieve a goal of 1,500 affordable housing units within the next five years, which is an aggressive, big, bold vision. Then we started looking at what are the opportunities and barriers that are going to face us as we try to move forward with this goal. What are the things that we need to have in place? We need more land, we need more funding and we need more help from our local governments on the policy and process of affordable housing. It took a while to put all that together. And

then once we felt good about that, we had the overall ideas steering committee bless those recommendations. Then we started having conversations in the community with important stakeholder groups – which we’re still doing – about what we’re thinking and the recommendations that we have. We are trying to keep it a bit of a fluid document in the sense that if we talk to someone and there’s something that we missed or there’s some change that we need to make, that we’d be open to doing that. … And it’s really exciting that we have partners – it’s still a large mountain to climb – but knowing that people are rowing in the same direction is really helpful.”

INNOVATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Pavani Peri, co-founder/COO, Acta Solutions: “We put together names for the committee starting in February 2022. [Ours is] a big topic, so [we got] people from the innovation side: local entrepreneurs, but also funders in the space, small-business support, and then also people in workforce development. There were supposed to be quarterly meetings, but the topic is so expansive and the committee got started a

STUDENT PERFORMANCE AND ACHIEVEMENT GAP

little later than the affordable housing one, so now [the whole committee is] meeting every two months. Then [co-chair Sheryl Waddell and I] meet weekly because we established a goal, and now we’re just pressure-testing it against some data. … The vision, broadly, is just to become the most desirable place to start, grow and sustain a business, and with that is having the workforce ready to support that growth.”

Aaron Nelson, president/CEO, The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro: “This was a priority pre-pandemic: making sure that all children are reading on grade level, to make sure that all children are successful in school. And the pandemic exacerbated that problem and has made that gap wider. … COVID-19 forced us to pause on this [Big Bold Idea] for several reasons. There was no student testing in the 2019-20 school year, we had a superintendent transition, we had online learning. … We’ve been having conversations with leaders about how best to stand this group up and how to bring together a coalition of people to work on it. I hope that we will get that underway as a priority, probably in 2023. I think we’re going to engage with partners and interested parties on their interest in joining a multisector coalition to work on this issue.”

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

Jennifer says, “Visit bigboldideas.org and reach out to someone at the Chamber. I know they're always looking for new committee members who have a passion for this work. They're always looking for new voices and new people to join that force.” CHM

Bercow & Gualtieri

BY CAITLYN YAEDE PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEN CHRISMAN OF CHRISMAN STUDIOS, CHRISMANSTUDIOS.COM

Chapel Hill native Tony Gualtieri knew almost immediately that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Alex Bercow of Miami Beach, Florida. The couple met in 2014 while attending medical school at Columbia University. Nearly four years of long distance followed as Tony and Alex completed their residencies, but they managed to travel much of the world together during this time. The pandemic put a halt to Tony’s proposal plans, but he later popped the question on the Fourth of July at her family’s home in Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina.

Miami Beach proved to be the perfect backdrop for the couple’s wedding weekend starting with a welcome party on the beach and the rehearsal dinner on the waterfront in the backyard of Alex’s childhood home. They tied the knot on Jan. 29, 2022, at The Miami Beach Edition Hotel. In attendance were Alex’s parents, Jeff Bercow and Julie Bercow, and Tony’s parents, Tom Gualtieri and Frances Gualtieri, who own the Chapel Hill staple, La Residence

Tony and Alex’s reception was a tropical party from beginning to end. They say the dance floor was never empty as guests danced the night away. The celebration continued at an after-party that lasted into the early hours of the next morning. Their big day was the perfect balance of formal and fun, achieving the couple’s goal of throwing an unforgettable party.

The couple plans to settle in Boston to complete their final years of medical training. Tony will soon begin practice as an orthopedic surgeon, and Alex is completing a fellowship in gynecologic oncology surgery. CHM

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