Founded by industry thought leader Dr. Sue Ellen Cox, Aesthetic Solutions is known for expertise in aesthetic medicine. Dr. Cox, Dr. Ishii and team pair proven products, lasers and devices with a highly skilled, compassionate team of healthcare professionals
Lucinda Poole lucinda.poole@trianglemediapartners.com
Corporate
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Dan Shannon
PRESIDENT, TRIANGLE MEDIA PARTNERS Ellen Shannon
PRESIDENT, TRIANGLE DIGITAL PARTNERS Rory Kelly Gillis
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VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION Amy Bell
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Durham Magazine is published six times a year by Triangle Media Partners Subscriptions, $38 for two years, are available at durhammag.com To purchase copies, call 919.933.1551.
august/september
2024 contents
FOOD & DRINK
40 Goodness Grows
How one woman’s quest for healthy eating inspired a return to her rural roots and a new path in agriculture
44 Little Bites
Gather the family for a meal out at these 6 kid-friendly dining spots
48 Sweet Dreams
… are made of these Bull City desserts
52 Brew Through
Have a cold one – or two –at these walkable watering holes
FALL ARTS
62 Raising the Barre Downtown dance studio cultivates confidence and community among its students and beyond
64 The Reel World
Follow the Retro Films maestro’s cinematic journey at Durham’s historic theater
66 Strong Notes
An award-winning musician and community-loving curator trumpets Durham’s arts scene
67 Fall Arts Guide
Can’t-miss concerts, exhibits and more
70 Good Egg Artist brilliantly blends classical Ukrainian folk tradition with modern creative expressions
FEATURES
24 Going Coastal
Explore 85 miles of beaches, historic charm and hidden treasures along the Southern shores of the Outer Banks
32 Forever Friends
Eight women reunite to celebrate decades of connection, shared history and the legacy of a dear friend
74 Finding Home Again
A couple rediscovers the joys of a city neighborhood
89 Building Dreams
Discover the future of home design at the 2024 Triangle Parade of Homes
DURHAM INC.
94 Biz Briefs
98 Networking: Take No Bull Women’s Conference
100 A Tale of Two Cities Pillars of Durham’s food and beverage scene tap into coastal opportunities in Wilmington
DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS
6 Letter from the Editor
10 Go.See.Do.
End the summer on a high note with these hot and happening events
28 Noted. What we’ve heard around our city …
38 Savor the Moment Kianna Daye, better known as DelishDish_Foodie on social media, is a content creator who sees a bright future for Durham’s food scene
103 Weddings Tying the knot, Bull City-style
PEOPLE & PLACES
14 Triangle Media Partners’ Women of Achievement luncheon
16 Animal Protection Society of Durham’s Walk for the Animals
17 The Carolina Theatre’s Dancing With the Carolina Stars Fundraiser
18 Boys & Girls Clubs of Durham and Orange Counties’ 2024 Great Futures Breakfast
20 Note in the Pocket’s Durham Socks & Undie 5K Rundie
21 Urban Ministries of Durham’s Empty Bowls Elevated Auction Gala & Dinner
SPONSORED CONTENT
56 Duke + Durham
Reflecting on Duke University’s long history with the City of Durham
83 Adopt a Pet
Take home one of these wonderful pets from The Animal Protection Society of Durham today!
91 Home Services & Builders
Highlighting professionals who are available to assist with your residential needs
PHOTO BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
Take the Cake
I’ve never been much of a baker – it’s far too precise a science for me to truly feel like I can create a dish worthy of sharing with others, and my type A personality simply won’t let me settle for anything less. Instead, I’ve always relied upon the talented pastry chefs of Durham who so skillfully transform ingredients into culinary masterpieces that not only delight our palates but also create lasting memories anytime my sweet tooth aches – discover several delightful desserts to try for yourself on page 48.
Every meal shared, every drink enjoyed is a thread in the fabric of our collective memory, weaving together the stories of our lives. That’s precisely what we aim to celebrate with our 15th annual food & drink issue.
The arts, too, play a crucial role in shaping our experiences and preserving our history. Whether it’s a local venue showcasing the work of a homegrown musical artist, or a theater production or dance recital that moves us to tears, the arts capture the spirit of our times and reflect our community’s unique identity. They remind us of where we’ve been, and inspire us to dream of where we can go. This publication is also our 12th annual arts issue, and we invite you to learn more about just a handful of Durham’s talented makers, curators and performers beginning on page 62.
Food and the arts are inextricably linked with memory and nostalgia. A bite of a favorite dish or a glimpse of a familiar painting can transport us back to moments of joy and connection. They are powerful reminders of the beauty and richness of our lives. In this issue, we celebrate the incredible food, drinks, farms and arts that make Durham a place we are proud to call home. We urge you to explore these vital homegrown businesses –visit a local farm, spend an afternoon lounging at a new beer garden or attend a gallery opening (start planning for a busy arts season with can’t-miss concerts, exhibits, dance performances and more on page 67!).
Above all, this issue highlights the stories of those who pour their hearts into their craft, feeding the soul of our vibrant community. By supporting them, we can ensure that the flavors and creativity of Durham continue to flourish.
amanda.maclaren@durhammag.com
Photo by John Michael Simpson
OUR FULL FALL ARTS GUIDE
’Tis the season for new exhibits, plays, live music and more
’GRAM WORTHY Looking for food, arts and entertainment in Durham and beyond? Follow The Triangle Weekender on Instagram. MEMORIES THAT LAST A LIFETIME Did your kid have the best summer camp experience? Tell us about it, and your response could appear in our February/ March issue!
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Summer Patchwork Market
AUG. 11
Shop for small-batch, one-of-a-kind and handcrafted pieces along with thoughtfully collected items from more than 55 creative local artisans and small businesses – including Little Dog Print Shop, Beyond the Scarf and Adrienne Oates Art, among others – at the Durham Armory. Arrive early for a free, limited edition tote bag, available only to the first 100 shoppers!
Death of Cochise
AUG. 20-21
Embark on a journey of identity, culture, struggle, responsibility and accountability at the Carolina Theatre during this hiphop and spoken word production starring award-winning poets and performing artists Dasan Ahanu and Bluz. The pair use emceeing, vivid imagery and compelling storytelling to convey the expanse of Black lives and Black creative expression through this program directed by Quentin Talley and commissioned and presented by the Hayti Heritage Center and the Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College.
do see go
Sweet Social: Auntie’s Ice Cream
SEPT. 11
MLB’s Home Run Derby X
SEPT. 7
The Durham Bulls host the final event in a four-city tour of Major League Baseball’s three-on-three co-ed competition that features a new baseball format built around power hitting and defensive hustle. Notable players competing at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park include Andruw Jones, a Durham Bulls and MLB legend, MLB stars Nick Swisher and Jonny Gomes, plus softball and women’s baseball stars Skylar Wallace, Amanda Lorenz, Tiare Jennings and Ashton Lansdell.
END THE SUMMER ON A HIGH NOTE WITH THESE HOT AND HAPPENING EVENTS
Compiled by Shea McIntyre
Indulge your sweet tooth at this dessert pop-up on The Roof at The Durham Hotel featuring Auntie’s Ice Cream, an ice-cream business inspired by bold African ingredients and flavors in a way that pays homage to African women and how they nurture and express their love through food. Take your ice cream to-go, or enjoy it on The Roof with a cocktail and views of downtown.
NO PLANS?
Rooted: Ayodele Casel
SEPT. 27-28
The American tap dancer, choreographer and 2023 Doris Duke grant recipient culminates her two-week residency at Duke University with two Duke Arts Presents performances at Rubenstein Arts Center’s von der Heyden Studio Theater.This intimate, interactive work delves into the deep roots of tap dance, featuring live music and a talented company of artists.
Pride: Durham, NC
SEPT. 28-29
The LGBTQ Center of Durham hosts this seventh annual celebration of love, community and activism. This year’s Pride festivities center on the theme “Give Them Their Flowers,” which honors the leadership and courage of trans communities, particularly Black and brown transgender women and nonbinary folks. Shop a pop-up market, featuring more than 100 vendors at Lot 8 and the Chapel Hill Street Lot; take your pick of fare from food trucks at Durham Central Park; and enjoy music and live entertainment at CCB Plaza on Saturday. Join in the parade, which includes marching groups and community organizations stretching for more than 2 miles, and community kickback at Duke University’s East Campus on Sunday.
& Juliet
OCT. 1-6
Catch this vibrant new musical that changes the narrative of one of the greatest love stories of all time at the Durham Performing Arts Center. Join Juliet on her new journey – one that didn’t involve ending it all over Romeo – told through a playlist of pop anthems.
Pumpkin Patch Express
SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS IN OCTOBER
Create fall memories at the Museum of Life and Science! Hop aboard this annual festive fall train ride on the Ellerbe Creek Railway to visit its pumpkin patch. Pick out the perfect pumpkin to decorate, and enjoy other activities including a hay maze, duck races, nature bingo and more before climbing on the train for a ride back to the station.
(Credits, clockwise from top left) Page 10 MLB’s Home Run Derby X photo by John Michael Simpson; Sweet Social: Auntie’s Ice Cream photo by John Michael Simpson; Death of Cochise photo courtesy of the Carolina Theatre Page 12 Rooted: Ayodele Casel photo courtesy of Duke Arts Presents; "& Juliet" photo by Matthew Murphy; Pumpkin Patch Express photo courtesy of Museum of Life and Science
1201 S. Briggs Ave., Ste. 100, Durham, NC 27703 919-403-6960
To ensure every child in Durham enters school ready to succeed, we lead community strategies for children birth to five and their families that promote healthy development and learning and enhance access to high-quality care.
Background:
Since 1994, Durham’s Partnership for Children, a partner in the Smart Start network, has served our community by identifying needs and mobilizing partners to benefit the 23,000 young children in Durham. We invest more than $11 million annually through Smart Start, Durham Pre-K/NC Pre-K, Early Head Start, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, and other collaboratives, including Campaign for GradeLevel Reading, Ending Family Homelessness, Transition to Kindergarten, and NCCARES360.
people &places
Wonder Women
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
Durham Magazine, Chapel Hill Magazine and Chatham Magazine hosted the annual Women of Achievement Luncheon, which celebrates the outstanding female community leaders featured in our publications, at The Carolina Inn on May 31. Attendees enjoyed networking and mimosas followed by lunch and dessert catered by Crossroads Chapel Hill. Keynote speaker Ashleigh Shelby Rosette, the James L. Vincent professor of leadership at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, utilized her research on the intersection of leadership, gender and race to guide an enlightening discussion on how stereotypes and bias affect present-day organizations. Triangle Media Partners’ Lauren Godwin, Melissa Crane and Lucinda Poole recognized the 2024 magazine honorees, and Triangle Digital Partners President Rory Gillis and TMP Vice President Chris Elkins encouraged attendees to get involved in mentoring programs, especially those catered toward young girls.
1 2024 Women of Achievement honorees and luncheon sponsors. 2 Keynote speaker Ashleigh Shelby Rosette. 3 Spring Council and Duke Energy’s Indira Everett. 4 Jeanie Rhoads and Kelly Smedley of Waypoint Counseling & Maternal Wellness. 5 Durham Coca-Cola’s Barbara Sullivan and Robin Clause. 6 Marie Baker of Baker Wealth Advisors, Rachel Jones of Wake Radiology and Triangle Media Partners’ Lauren Godwin. 7 Anna Latta, Poonam Nandani and Barbara Earle of Hendrick Southpoint Subaru.
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2828 Pickett Road, Suite 170
Walk This Way
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY AMANDA MACLAREN
The Animal Protection Society of Durham hosted its annual Walk for the Animals on June 1. Attendees visited Duke University’s East Campus to meet animal-focused vendors and adoptable dogs; enjoy food truck fare, pet contests and activities for furry friends like a canine agility course, sniffari, paw painting and pet portraits; and participate in raffle drawings and a 1.5-mile charity walk. Durham Magazine was a proud sponsor of this year’s event, which surpassed APS’s fundraising goal of $120,000, raising $127,288 to support the thousands of animals that APS cares for each year. The Velvet Hippo Bar & Lounge hosted a “Yappy Hour” after-party with drink specials that benefited APS.
BY
1 APS staffers Shafonda Davis, Leah Santelli, Carolyn Wiley, Megan Whitney, Anna Wilcox, Kristen Vuchichevich and Daniel Fraser II. 2 APS alumnus and 2024 Grand Marshal Cinco leads the walk. 3 Jen Myxter-Iino and Erik Myxter-Iino with Kiki, Ralphie and Bubba. 4 Vets to Vets United Executive Director Dr. Terry L. Morris with Stella, Jennifer Gantenbein with Lily and Kyle Holeman with Kwik. 5 Robyn Neaville with Jax. 6 Lydia Donley and Ainsley McDowell of Camp Bow Wow – North Durham with Lola. 7 Jessica Kennicott and Andrea Allen with Sandy. 8 Molly Gehring with Canyon, an APS rescue.
PHOTO
CATHI BODINE
Dance the Night Away
BY BEN BRICKNER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY HUTHPHOTO
The Carolina Theatre hosted its annual “Dancing With the Carolina Stars” fundraiser on May 21. The evening began with warm welcomes from Mayor Leonardo Williams, Downtown Durham Inc.’s Nicole Thompson and Durham Magazine’s own Lauren Godwin before Carolina Theatre President and CEO Randy McKay and Senior Director of Development Rebecca Lee took the stage to introduce this year’s contestants including Farad Ali, co-founder of Ali | Heijmen, who was paired with ShaLeigh Comerford of ShaLeigh Dance Works and joined onstage by his daughter, Ellington Ali, who ShaLeigh had instructed as a child. Other stars included Meals on Wheels Durham Executive Director Jason Peace, El Centro Hispano President and CEO Pilar Rocha-Goldberg and Ella West Gallery founder Linda Shropshire. Rory Gillis, president of digital marketing agency Triangle Digital Partners and co-owner of Triangle Media Partners, which publishes Durham Magazine, performed with her dance partner, Nicole Oxendine, founder and CEO of Empower Dance Studio and the Empower Circle. Judges Adam Dickinson of Adam Dickinson Realty Group at Nest Realty, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Rissi Palmer and Stormie Daie of House of Coxx gave live commentary following each performance, and the evening concluded with a grand finale group dance choreographed by Willie Hinton followed by an after-party featuring a mesmerizing dance duet on roller skates by Stormie and the Disco Ball Diva. The fundraiser brought in $161,775 to support the historic theater and its programming.
1 Meals on Wheels Durham Executive Director Jason Peace dances with Tanu Sharma. 2 Kreativityyy’s Kyndall Owens creates a painting live during the welcome reception that was auctioned off later in the evening.
3 Juan Matta dances with Linda Shropshire of Ella West Gallery.
4 Durham Magazine’s Rory Gillis (center) surrounded by Triangle Media Partners founder Dan Shannon (far left) and President Ellen Shannon (far right), her parents, John Kelly and Cathy Kelly, and her daughter, Rowan Gillis, 8, after she and Empower Dance Studio’s Nicole Oxendine won first place in the competition. 5 El Centro Hispano President and CEO Pilar Rocha-Goldberg and Mambo Dinamico Dance Company founder Norberto “Betto” Herrera.
6 Judges Adam Dickinson of Adam Dickinson Realty Group at Nest Realty, Stormie Daie of House of Coxx and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Rissi Palmer.
Rise and Shine
BY OLIVIA PAUL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAUREN PARLIER
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Durham and Orange Counties hosted its 2024 Great Futures Breakfast at its Durham club location on May 9. More than 100 friends of the organization and community members enjoyed breakfast, heard from several presenters – including volunteer leaders, Club member ambassadors and Mayor Leonardo Williams – and pledged their support to the nonprofit. The breakfast exceeded its fundraising goal of $100,000, providing operational funding for summer camps at BGCDOC’s locations in Durham and Chapel Hill. “The Great Futures Breakfast stands as a testament to the power of community solidarity in uplifting the lives of our youth,” says BGCDOC Chief Executive Officer Jerome Levisy. “We extend profound appreciation to each individual and organization for their invaluable contributions to today’s success.”
1 Pinnacle Financial Partners’ Dom Cole Johnson with London, a BGCDOC club member, and Kimberly Williams of Right Time Realty. 2 LeChase Construction’s Denise Barnes, Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead and Angelique Stallings of the Durham Chamber of Commerce.
PHOTO BY STAN CHAMBERS JR.
3 Durham Bulls General Manager Tyler Parsons and Durham Sports Commission Executive Director Marcus Manning. 4 Susan Ross of moss + ross and Tom Hadzor with BGCDOC club member Mason.
Shawn Pepple of DPR Construction.
Lenovo’s LaTosha Smith and SGS Contracting President Brandt Smith with their daughter, London Smith, a BGCDOC club member.
PHOTO BY STAN CHAMBERS JR.
Going the Extra Mile
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY LEAH BERRY
Note in the Pocket – a nonprofit that provides high-quality clothing to impoverished and homeless children and families – hosted its inaugural Durham Socks & Undie 5K Rundie on April 27 at NewHope Church. The event drew 252 in-person participants and 15 virtual racers, plus 21 kids ages 2-11 who took part in the Kids Fun Run. Bull City Inflatables provided a playground for the little ones in a Kids Zone, and Bull City Running Co. was also on-site. “Note in the Pocket has a goal to clothe 1,500 Durham children and families this year,” says Note in the Pocket Executive Director Dallas Bonavita. “The successful kickoff of our annual Durham Socks & Undie Rundie has helped to get the word out of our need for volunteers, quality clothing and financial support. It has been amazing to see the community come to support our work in such a positive and powerful way! Durham does everything in a big way and with a huge heart!”
1 Isaiah Jarvis and Erica Rodgers after the race.
2 Race winner Jalen Diggs. 3 Kate Spillars, Michael Spillars and Charlie. 4 Participants launch into the race after the buzzer sounds.
5 Audrey Tannous-Taylor, LeQuandra Ballen, Kirsten Ford and April Robinson man Note in the Pocket’s information table during the race.
6 Clark Dudek, Erin Hayes, Annie Chu and Stef Walton sport boxers for the Socks & Undie 5K Rundie. 7 The “Bucket Hat Bullets:” Sam Johnson, Savannah Fairchild, Abby Keller, Kaley Morimoto and Josh Trump.
Bowled Over
BY OLIVIA PAUL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROTCELIS ROSE PHOTOGRAPHY
Urban Ministries of Durham celebrated 40 years of community service at its Empty Bowls Elevated Auction Gala & Dinner at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club on April 19. ABC-11’s DeJuan Hoggard emceed the event, which featured remarks by musician, educator and author Pierce Freelon and Mayor Leonardo Williams The gala drew 320 attendees who enjoyed a seated dinner and participated in an engaging live and silent auction. The event raised more than $175,000, directly supporting UMD’s mission to end homelessness and poverty by providing shelter, food and hope to families and individuals in need.
1 Coastal Credit Union’s Elizabeth Ziegler, Wendolyn Filmore-Mitchell, Tarkisha Poole, Emily Nail and Abhishek Dasgupta.
2 Savannah Mozingo, Brendon Dorrance, Alyssa Flippo and Felecia Robinson.
3 Guest speaker Pierce Freelon.
4 Trophy Brewing Co. co-owner Les Stewart and his wife, Nicole Stewart, director of engagement at the A.J. Fletcher Foundation. 5 Urban Ministries of Durham Executive Director Sheldon Mitchell and his wife, Cassandra Mitchell. 6 N.C. Department of Public Safety’s Jamila Little and Lee Little, program manager of Aging & Adult Services for Durham County’s Social Services department.
7 Mayor Pro Tempore Mark-Anthony Middleton and Mayor Leonardo Williams.
going coastal
Explore 85 miles of beaches, historic charm and hidden treasures along the Southern shores of the Outer Banks
WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNA-RHESA VERSOLA
Aweekend beach getaway is always a good idea, no matter the month or season. Traveling to the coast in the fall or winter when the crowds are gone and more shells are left to discover along the shoreline makes for an easy, relaxing, off-peak season vacation. Discover the special allure of rural waterfront communities east of Beaufort down to Cape Lookout National Seashore and Cape Carteret. These barrier island towns hold treasures for history buffs, seafood lovers and those who revel in the great outdoors. So, if you’re in desperate need of a break or just a slight change of pace, take our tips for a mini-holiday along North Carolina’s Crystal Coast.
Sailboats moored in the harbor channel waters by Sugarloaf Island in Morehead City.
Set off on the slightly more than three-hour drive east on Highway 70, and check into the Bask Hotel in Morehead City. Be sure to ask for a high-level center suite for the best panoramic views overlooking Bogue Sound and Sugarloaf Island. The waterfront hotel is located a block from the historic Big Rock Landing weigh station and a short walk from restaurants, coffee shops and boutiques. The hotel also features a nightly cocktail reception from 5:30-7 p.m. Alternatively, you can book a rustic fishing cabin at Cape Lookout, or pitch a tent at Hammocks Beach State Park.
IF FISHING IS YOUR THING ...
Morehead City and Atlantic Beach are widely known for their fishing opportunities, including the annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, which broke records in 2023 with a fleet of 271 registered boats and a $5.8 million total purse. Mark your calendars now for other saltwater competitions beyond the summer months, like the Sixth Annual Emerald Isle Fall Fishing Tournament on Sept. 28 or the Atlantic Beach King Mackerel Fishing Tournament held Oct. 5-26.
But you don’t have to enter a competition to enjoy the rewards of the sport. Just grab your fishing license (anyone 16 or older must have a license to fish in North Carolina; you can purchase a license online at gooutdoorsnorthcarolina.com) and cast a line into the surf to hook bluefish, red drum, black drum, speckled trout or Spanish mackerel
near the Fort Macon rock jetty, or by the Bogue Inlet Pier in Emerald Isle, or the Oceanana Pier in Atlantic Beach. Or charter a boat with fisheries biologist David Berrane of Hawk Charters, who knows the deeper waters well beyond the breakers, or with Jason Frivance, U.S. Coast Guard vet and owner of Back Sound Fishing Charters.
IF YOU LOVE SEARCHING FOR SEA GLASS AND SHELLS ...
Plan a visit during the off-peak season when frequent storms stir up buried treasure. Experienced shellers know the best time to look for intact specimens is at low tide before rising waters reclaim these marvels. We found more lettered olive shells than we could hold from Fort Macon State Park beach. We also collected a wide variety of Atlantic surf clams, sawtooth pens, banded tulips, whelks, augers, oyster drills, disk dosinia, shark’s eye and baby’s ear moon shells on this outing.
After shelling, we explored the bookstore, exhibits and restored quarters inside Fort Macon, which was originally designed by Brig. Gen. Simon Bernard after fighting alongside Napoleon in 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo. More than 1 million visitors each year hike and bike the nature loops at the 389-acre state park and climb the fort’s ramparts overlooking the waters of Beaufort Inlet.
IF YOU ARE LIKE AQUAMAN ...
You’ll want to take a behind-the-scenes tour at the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, where a guide leads visitors through a maze of holding tanks, water filtration systems and marine labs. Say hello to the green or loggerhead turtles swimming in the rehabilitation unit. In another part of the tour, you can watch jellyfish gracefully drift and propel themselves through their aquatic realm. The highlight was climbing to the top of the 115-foot Living Shipwreck exhibit, tossing portions of food into the 306,000-gallon ocean habitat and watching the frenzied feeding of fish and sharks. The saltwater exhibit features a replica of the U-352 German submarine sunk by the U.S. Coast Guard off of North Carolina’s coast in 1942. Sport divers can visit actual submerged wrecks along the coast, including three U-boats, to see how large debris becomes unique habitats for aquatic wildlife. The aquarium provides visitors a dry opportunity to view how nature adapts itself to human-made structures.
Check out the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores and discover creatures like the mesmerizing sea nettle jellyfish, which can deliver a painful sting.
Visitors can walk the ramparts of a pre-Civil War stronghold at Fort Macon.
IF YOU ENJOY HISTORY AND LEARNING SOMETHING NEW ...
Take your time exploring the educational exhibits at the NC Maritime Museum in Beaufort to discover the ecological past of the coast and learn about Black maritime history – one local story describes menhaden chanteymen, Black fishermen who sang rhythmic songs to aid their efforts in netting and hauling tons of shad from the ocean. Another unique museum feature is the working archaeological conservation lab inside, where artifacts recovered from the shipwreck of Queen Anne’s Revenge are treated and restored. You can see many items displayed on-site, like coins, pearl buttons, utensils and tableware.
At the Beaufort Historic Site, guides dress in period clothing to interpret the town’s history during its formation before the Revolutionary War and life through the Civil War era. Or embark on an adventure into the past with Port City Tours’ ghost walk, where daring history enthusiasts can delve into the architectural features of old homes while listening to tales – like the story about the heartbroken girl in the blue dress at Beaufort’s Langdon Bed & Breakfast – that still haunt residents to this day.
IF YOU ARE A FOODIE ...
Reserve a table at the lively Circa 81 in Morehead City for tapas. Start with the biscuit crackers with pimento cheese or the charred Brussels sprouts before sampling the scallops special and the best Key lime pie you’ll taste in this lifetime. Enjoy the intimate ambience at Beaufort’s Blue Moon Bistro (formerly the historic Dill House, which was built in 1827), and order from a full menu of modern French cuisine made from locally sourced ingredients. The lobster bisque was delicious paired with courgette fries before diving into a bowl of wild-caught shrimp atop a fried grit cake covered in Cajun tasso sauce.
After working up an appetite trekking through Morehead City and Beaufort, we found ourselves at the Front Street Grill, where the strawberry goat cheese salad was a refreshing accompaniment to so many seafood options at the waterfront restaurant. We had spectacular views of yachts, kayaks and sailboats right outside our window.
For breakfast or brunch, visit the friendly staff at The Banks Grill to sample grit fritters –cooked grits rolled in cheddar and Jack cheese, coated in breading and then fried to golden perfection. A fun option for coffee and a light breakfast of bagels or scrambled eggs is the Mug Shot, where the walls are covered with framed photos of notorious celebrities.
LEFT Dive into decadence with Blue Moon Bistro’s lobster bisque, featuring poached lobster tail and a grilled baguette – the perfect blend of luxury and Crystal Coast flavor.
BELOW LEFT Learn all about the many dozens of fish species featured in the tanks at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.
NEXT TIME ...
A single weekend is not enough time to fully discover all the gems of the Crystal Coast. The next visit will include a visit to Bonehenge Whale Center to learn how to help in cases of mammal stranding on the beach. We might book a tour to watch dolphins or go on a photo safari in search of wild horses and estuarine wildlife at the Rachel Carson Reserve, which is only accessible by boat. Birdwatchers will enjoy the more than 200 species of birds found at the reserve, as it is along the Atlantic Migratory Flyway.
Back in Beaufort, there are some delightful little boutiques and antique stores … I want to browse Christina Cuningham’s shop, Beaufort Linen Co., to find the perfect summer coverlet or a blue and white ginger jar to add to my collection. And I want to look for jadeware amid all the goods inside The Marketplace Antiques and Collectibles. I’ll be back, and recommend you extend your own trip by a few days to fit in all the sights, meals and shopping you can, too.
ABOVE Be sure to give yourself enough time to browse the collections at all the local shops along Front Street in downtown Beaufort.
noted.
COMINGS & GOINGS
Yoga Off East announced its plans to relocate to the American Tobacco Campus in the fall, after eight years on Ninth Street. The expansive space will accommodate 40 mats, nearly tripling its current class size capacity. It will also feature infrared panels, a tea bar and more. The new location ushers in the leadership of Kim Tupper (right), a member of the Yoga Off East teaching team who will coown the studio with founder Kathryn Smith (left).
Multisport simulator bar State of Golf opened at the American Tobacco Campus in June. The venue offers more than 30 dynamic sports simulations, from baseball to golf to soccer, as well as a full-service bar with an extensive selection of beers, wine and craft cocktails inspired by the 19th hole.
GIVING BACK
Emergency service members from critical care transport programs across North Carolina united to support National EMS Week at the Battle of the Blades softball tournament held May 18 at the Historic Durham Athletic Park. The tournament featured four teams composed of crew members from programs like Duke Health Life Flight, AirLife North Carolina and UNC Carolina Air Care and raised
more than $5,100 for the North Carolina Air-Medical Association educational scholarship.
El Futuro, a bilingual mental health advocacy group dedicated to uplifting Latino communities, marked its 20-year anniversary with a fundraiser luncheon at the Durham Convention Center Guests enjoyed fare from Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken while program executives and community members gave presentations honoring the organization; the event raised more than $15,000.
COMPILED BY IZABELLA COUNTS
PHOTO COURTESY OF VERITAS DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTO COURTESY OF BURT
Fans of 321 Coffee’s flavorful offerings can now purchase its four signature roasts at local Whole Foods locations. The roaster and coffeehouse employs more than 50 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities; the packaging on its products uses names, sketches and quotes from this dedicated team to further highlight the valuable contributions of people with disabilities. “We’re so excited for the potential to grow beyond this first set of stores,” says 321 Coffee co-founder and CEO Lindsay Wrege, “because this is about way more than coffee; it’s about creating a more inclusive future.”
PHOTO BY ANNA ROUTH
PHOTO BY CHRISTINA SHELTON
PHOTO BY CRISTOBAL ALVAREZ
ARTS & CULTURE
The federal Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded the Pauli Murray Center for History & Social Justice a Museum Grant for African American History and Culture of $330,800. The timing of the grant emphasizes the importance of uplifting Black, queer voices like Pauli Murray’s, and the funding will be used to create museum exhibits at Pauli’s childhood home in the West End.
The American Dance Festival dedicated its 2024 season to two local dance educators, Annie Dwyer and Gene Medler, honoring both at a ceremony in July at Reynolds Industries Theater Annie has spent more than four decades creating innovative and inspiring dance curricula and programs throughout the state, from Carolina Friends School to Saxapahaw’s Culture Mill.
The Durham County Library and the Museum of Durham History cohosted a panel discussion on June 8 titled “Why Local History Matters” to celebrate the 100th birthday of acclaimed historian Jean Bradley Anderson, whose books and research have greatly contributed to the preservation of Durham’s history. The event was moderated by Judge Willis Whichard and included guests like former public
Durham City Council member Eddie Davis and historians John Schelp and Jim Wise, among others. Jean, whose birthday was June 6, participated in a Q&A following the panel discussion.
Author Frances Mayes releases her newest book, “A Great Marriage,” on Aug. 13. The story revolves around a broken engagement, weaving a multigenerational tale of love, marriage and consequences, using Frances’ trademark warmth and humor reminiscent of her enduring memoir “Under the Tuscan Sun.”
culture through these festivals and in her work for mental health nonprofit Get Happy.
IN OUR SCHOOLS
Durham Public Schools students and staff pushed and pedaled their way to class May 8 and 10 for National Bike and Roll to School Day, promoting the importance of safer pedestrian routes, increased physical activity for children and care for the environment.
Bike Durham partnered with DPS to help organize walking and biking groups at schools across the county, including Club Boulevard Magnet and George Watts Montessori elementary schools and Lakewood Montessori Magnet Middle.
NEWS BITES
• The South Durham Farmers Market moved to Hub RTP in July. The new location offers plenty of room with ample parking and is only minutes down the road from the previous location at the Greenwood Commons Shopping Center. The market runs every Saturday from 8 a.m.noon, April to October, and 9 a.m.-noon, November to March.
Durham Parks & Recreation honored both DJ N.A.B.S and Crystal Taylor with a Homegrown Hero Award at the 54th annual Bimbé Cultural Arts Festival The award celebrates the outstanding contributions of individuals who embody the spirit of Durham and serve as role models for future generations. DJ N.A.B.S got his start as a high school saxophonist in Durham and grew into an international sensation, collaborating with artists like Kris Kross, Mariah Carey and Ludacris as one of the first “turntable instrumentalists” – a term coined by the DJ three years before the music industry recognized the official title “turntablist.” He strives to better the entertainment industry both locally and internationally.
Crystal, who is the founder of The Underground Collective and the Beats n Bars Festival, empowers communities of color and promotes the admiration and enjoyment of Black music and
The Durham Public Schools Board of Education unanimously selected Anthony S. Lewis as the new superintendent of DPS, effective Aug. 12 through June 30, 2028. Anthony brings 22 years of experience as an educator to his new role, including six years as the superintendent of Lawrence Public Schools in Lawrence, Kansas, where he worked to bridge achievement gaps by developing and implementing the district’s first equity policy.
• Beyu Caffé’s flagship location in downtown closed June 19 after 14 years in business. In a social media post, the business cited financial strain in the face of high parking rates, ongoing construction and the impact of remote work as the cause of their closure. It subsequently closed its Boxyard RTP coffee shop on July 16 after nearly three years, stating on social media that its “focus is now on enhancing the customer experience at our Raleigh-Durham Airport and Duke University locations.”
• Rooftop restaurant The Lenny is set to open atop 555 Magnum this summer. Sip an agave-centric cocktail, enjoy shareable small plates and take in a stunning view of Durham Bulls Athletic Park at the newest culinary venture of Joel Ibarra and Charlie Ibarra, the duo responsible for popular Raleigh restaurant Jose and Sons Bar and Kitchen.
• Indo-Californian fusion restaurant chain Curry Up Now opened in University Hill on May 23. The fast-casual restaurant creates unique street food by combining traditional Indian dishes with SoCal conventions and flavors.
• Anjappar Chettinad Indian Restaurant, a Cary establishment that specializes in traditional South Indian food, is slated to open its second location in Durham by the end of summer.
• The much-anticipated food truck park The Can Opener opened July 17. Up to seven food trucks will park outside the location at the intersection of South Gregson and West Pettigrew streets, offering a variety of food, dessert and drink options from the likes of Korean barbecue restaurant Bulkogi and chopped chicken sandwich shop Chick-N-Que
• Coffee roaster Joe Van Gogh opened its sixth location in May at SouthCourt office park alongside a bakery that it opened last year, which supplies all six locations with muffins, scones and breads.
PHOTO BY DARE KUMOLU-JOHNSON
PHOTO BY SATSUKI “SUNSHINE” SCOVILLE
PHOTO BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
PHOTO BY STEPH PERRY
• Alex Pasterkiewicz was promoted from sous chef to University Club’s executive chef in July after spending the past two years devoting friendly, creative and passionate service to the dining club, where he utilized his Italian heritage and knowledge of French cooking to augment its menu selection and food and wine pairings. UClub also bids farewell to chef Alejandro Uribe after 16 years at the restaurant and eight as executive chef.
• Season to Taste, a company dedicated to providing exceptional culinary education founded by Durhambased chef John Eisensmith, launched a scholarship program to make its purposeful home cooking lessons accessible to all. Local recipients gain access to inperson classes, while those outside of the area can utilize online videos, guides, e-books and more in order to learn simple culinary techniques.
noted
Joy Harrell and Wendell Tabb joined the DPS Board of Education this summer, beginning their four-year terms July 1. Joy uses her degrees in music, theater and education to bolster student learning and create safer spaces in schools, emphasizing the power of artistic expression. She is the executive director of Bump: The Triangle, a youth arts program dedicated to African diasporic cultural enrichment. Wendell is a graduate of N.C. Central University with 35 years of experience teaching. He retired from his role as Hillside High School’s director
of drama, but he continues to enhance students’ academic, artistic and personal growth as president and artistic director of Triangle Performance Ensemble
The BOE also elected a new chairwoman and vice chair, Millicent Rogers and Jessica Carda-Auten, respectively. Millicent began her advocacy career while attending Durham School of the Arts, and she plans to continue advocating for all working class families in Durham as chairwoman. The time she spent on her son’s school’s PTA informs much of her work, inspiring her service to the North
Carolina PTA and Durham People’s Alliance. Jessica, who has 15 years of experience in public health, joined the BOE in March 2023 to promote the importance of quality public education for every child, no matter their race or background. As vice-chair, she will utilize her experience and passions to continue representing diverse populations.
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics student Nikhil Vemuri won first place in the Earth and Environmental Sciences category at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in May. Nikhil was awarded $5,000 for his project, “ANOMaLY: A Real-Time Globalized System for Effective Regional Mitigation of
PHOTO BY DEVYN EDWARDS (CENTURYFX PHOTOGRAPHY)
PHOTO BY DEVYN EDWARDS (CENTURYFX PHOTOGRAPHY)
PHOTO BY ANNA CARSON DEWITT
PHOTO BY ANNA CARSON DEWITT
PHOTO COURTESY OF SOCIETY FOR SCIENCE/LISA FRYKLUND
Agricultural Nitrous Oxide Emissions,” for which he collected more than 1,200 samples from seven different North Carolina farms. The competition featured nearly 2,000 young scientists representing 49 states and nearly 70 countries, regions and territories across the world.
HOME MAKEOVER
Latino civil rights and advocacy organization
UnidosUS awarded Durham Community Land Trustees a $75,000 “Premio” Home grant for the continuation of its efforts to increase affordable housing opportunities and empower Latino voices.
“At DCLT, we align with UnidosUS’s vision of an America where all people have access to economic, political and social progress,” says DCLT Executive Director Sherry Taylor
DCLT also marked NeighborWorks Week June 1-8, where the program reaffirmed its commitment to green spaces by revitalizing the Ashe Street Garden. The team rearranged garden beds, cleaned up litter and eliminated weeds to create a healthy stretch of greenery.
DCLT additionally heralded the groundbreaking of Guthrie Village, where DCLT will introduce one- and twobedroom accessory dwelling units, over Memorial Day weekend during the East Durham Block Party
DCLT unveiled its ADU design in Washington, D.C., in June at the Innovative Housing Showcase, engaging industry experts with its sustainable and costeffective housing units built from shipping containers.
COURTESY
• June 28 marked the closing of two BB’s Crispy Chicken locations, including the one at University Hill. BB’s social media announcement pointed to industry changes as the cause, as well as a desire to focus energy on its Cary location.
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Submit noteworthy items, from award and scholarship winners to new book and album releases.
“The response to our ADUs at the showcase was overwhelmingly positive,” says DCLT Executive Director Sherry Taylor. “We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to present our work on such a prestigious platform and engage with other innovators and policymakers committed to addressing the nation’s housing challenges.”
• Clouds Brewing transitioned into Clouds Brewcade + Kitchen in July with the introduction of a brand-new dining and arcade experience to its bar model. Guests can enjoy new menu items to pair with Clouds’s signature craft beer and cocktails while playing vintage and modern arcade games.
WHITEHALL ANTIQUES
Elizabeth Lindquist, President-Owner & her father, David Lindquist
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friends forever
Eight women reunite to celebrate decades of connection, shared history and the legacy of a dear friend
Most first crossed paths in kindergarten or later in junior high, but by 1967, a band of friends proudly graduated together from Hillside High School This summer, these women gathered in Durham for their 57th class reunion, reconnecting to commemorate their latest accomplishments and the lifelong bonds they forged during their youth in the Jim Crow era.
“Most of us are [or] will be 75 this year,” Alice L. Sharpe, an Urban Durham Realty agent and active community volunteer, says of her inner circle. “The majority of us met before we were 6 years old – a few, literally since birth. We have a few ‘stars’ in the group, like Minnie [M. Forte-Brown] and Bonnie [D. Logan], who was inducted into the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame – she was a tennis prodigy from a young age, right here in Durham, and was a true trailblazer. People are always amazed that we [all] have been friends, more like sisters, for all these years.”
THE CIRCLE
Minnie met Alice in the first grade at W.G. Pearson Elementary School and Bonnie in their neighborhood – which lay between North Carolina Central University and what is now Lincoln Community Health Center – and at White Rock Baptist Church. Minnie then met Betty Jo Street (now Betty Jo Street Gilmore) at Chamberlain Studios, where several more girls in the friend group took piano lessons and played duets together. She finally met the other “ride or die” girlfriends in seventh grade at Fayetteville Street Elementary School They stayed connected during the pandemic through calls, emails and a group thread with those who live out of state, including Jeanya Cobb McMillan in Vancouver, Washington, plus three others in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., metro area.
They sadly lost a dear member of their sisterhood, Ora Geraldine “Gerri” Horton, to brain cancer this past November. “Gerri was our glue,” Minnie, a retired educator and former elected official, says. “She was always so calm, mature, steady and positive. Her beauty was not only physical, but also spiritual. I claimed her as my best friend, but she was everybody’s best friend.”
“The sisters in Durham get together at one another’s homes,” Minnie says. “We love to go to the roof [at Alice’s] and on the deck [at my home and at Brenda “Bren” Toomer’s] for libations.”
Doris E. Howard, who was born in Durham, now lives in Washington, D.C., where she retired from a career in government work focused on justice issues. She says it was inevitable that she would befriend Jeanya, Patricia “Pat” Ricks Williams and Thomasine Bass Perry in kindergarten because their parents had grown up together and were friends. Doris met Gerri, Minnie and Bonnie in the aforementioned junior high school classroom
WORDS AND PHOTO BY ANNA-RHESA VERSOLA
Thomasine Bass Perry, 4, (standing) was head majorette at Scarborough Nursery School in Durham when she met Jeanya Cobb McMillan, 4, (second from the left) in the school’s marching band in 1954.
10 WAYS TO BUILD A LASTING FRIENDSHIP
at Fayetteville Street Elementary. When Bonnie went to tennis practice, Doris, Minnie and Gerri went to band practice.
“Gerri, Minnie and I walked home together every day after school,” Doris says. “[Gerri’s] family welcomed us to her large family reunion each year; we felt just like it was our family. Gerri was the serious one who would advise us on our escapades as well as our friendships with others. I remember her preventing some girls from beating us on the way home; however, we learned how to run fast, too.”
THE TIMES
Alice and her friends grew up during the tumultuous years of the civil rights movement, navigating a world where schools, churches and many other places were still segregated. Alice, a dedicated member of the Carolina Theatre’s Confronting Change Exhibit Committee, vividly recalls the days when Black moviegoers were forced to buy tickets at a separate window and could only sit in the uppermost balcony, which lacked
air conditioning. She remembers, as a preteen, climbing the 97 steps of the original staircase, now gone following renovations to the historic theater.
The City of Durham finally desegregated the public venue in 1963 after years of protests; Alice was in high school. Today, the upper balcony offers some of the best seats in the house. “But it’s the context, you know, [of] having no choice,” Alice says. “Not being given the same privilege as other folks was the main thing.”
Minnie, a former chair of Durham Public Schools’ Board of Education, explains the complex history of segregation within the school system and its lasting impact on their generation. “You know, you don’t have the same treatment,” Minnie says. “Yes, you get the old books, you do. But, the material is the same.”
The friends leaned on one another for support during challenging times, a bond that remains strong to this day. “We never felt like we were less than … we knew we were smart, and we were capable. We knew we were going to college. We knew we
Lessons learned from Alice L. Sharpe, Betty Jo Street Gilmore, Bonnie D. Logan, Brenda “Bren” Toomer, Doris E. Howard, Jeanya Cobb McMillan, Minnie M. Forte-Brown, Patricia “Pat” Ricks Williams and Thomasine Bass Perry
1. Befriend someone for who they are, regardless of what others may think
2. Be supportive, even when you agree to disagree
3. Keep it real, and be honest
4. Be yourself, flaws and all
5. Listen with an open mind and a closed mouth
6. Be present, especially when a friend needs you
7. Be dependable; if you say you’ll meet a friend for coffee, show up on time
8. Be positive, because no one appreciates a downer
9. Choose to stay connected
10. Show your appreciation; let your friend know you value them
Lifelong friends Thomasine Bass Perry, Doris E. Howard, Brenda “Bren” Toomer, Minnie M. Forte-Brown, Bonnie D. Logan, Betty Jo Street Gilmore, Patricia “Pat” Ricks Williams and Alice L. Sharpe at the Durham Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Not pictured: Jeanya Cobb McMillan.
would own businesses. Alice’s daddy owned a business. Bonnie’s people, they owned the Black theater. We knew we were gonna be OK. We all knew.”
THE MEMORIES
They choose to cherish the good times, too. The women’s laughter and lively conversation fill the room inside the Durham Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., located at 1000 E. Forest Hills Blvd. They reminisce about high school parties, where a parent’s flickering of the lights signaled it was time to break up the fun, and recall the various beach trips and vacations shared over the years. No matter how much time passes between visits, their friendships remain seamless.
“My chosen street sisters,” says Bren, who works in the administrative offices at N.C. Central. “God placed each and every one of them in my life at different times and stages when I needed them.”
Thomasine offers sage advice to younger generations on building lasting friendships: “Be there for one
“We learned how to be friends from our mothers, who had friendships that were genuine and real, based on love and respect. There was no backbiting, lying or distrust. We were taught to love one another. You can only be what you see.
– Minnie M. Forte-Brown
another in good times and bad times; encourage one another, support one another in [both] individual and career pursuits; and take time out from busy lives to simply talk, listen, laugh, sing and dance. Be the friend you want to have.”
Alice agrees, noting the enduring strength found in this kinship of women, especially after losing Gerri.
“Death does not end our relationship with Gerri,” Alice says. “She is a part of who we are. After knowing one another for this long, we have a bit of the collective DNA in each of us.”
Pat, a retired attorney in Washington, D.C., fondly remembers Hillside’s homecoming last October when she, Bonnie, Minnie, Bren and Betty Jo danced and sang “Special” by Lizzo as a bedridden Gerri watched and smiled, despite their unchoreographed dance moves and the need for auto-tune.
“Something tells me Gerri is still watching and smiling,” Pat says. “Gerri had a gift for being able to enjoy life and look on the bright side.”
Building a Greener, Healthier Durham
Help preserve, strengthen, and expand our City Parks: Become a Durham Parks Foundation member today! 400 Cleveland St. Durham, NC ∙ 919-560-4355 durhamparksfoundation.org
A LIFE
IN SCIENCE:
academic and personal support to Durham’s young residents as they pursue new careers.
The BULLS Life Sciences Academy creates new pathways to prosperity for Durham’s young residents through community partnerships.
magine a hometown and county where multiple pathways to prosperity exist for all residents, a robust pipeline of talent exists for businesses, and our whole community thrives. at's the vision driving Made in Durham's work to create local partnerships among educators, businesses, government, and nonprofits for aligning resources build career, life, and business
ANearly a decade ago, a group of intrepid residents came together to survey Durham's Education-to-Career system. Born of this localized data and insights, Made in Durham came into being through the support of Durham County to address the gaps and needs identified in this initial study. A systems-based approach was employed to reduce obstacles and increase opportunities for residents and businesses. Engaging both ends of the employment cycle produces stable, prosperous pathways for all, and in particular younger, traditionally under-represented populations in our city.
manda Gorman, the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, said, “The only way to correctly predict the future is to pave it, to brave it.” These inspiring words apply to each of us, and yet they don’t diminish the importance of partnerships and mutual support.
BULLS is an initiative in Durham that assists young residents in earning industry-specific BioWork certifications. Once enrolled, the program supports students in academic success, professional growth, and emotional well-being.
“A Life in Science” highlights the journeys of local young people who have discovered and embarked on new paths. While their lives and stories vary, science has been their avenue to new careers and opportunities, with the BULLS Life Sciences Academy serving as a proven pathway.
BULLS not only provides educational support for industry-specific certifications in Life Sciences industries but also supports students in all aspects of their academic and personal development.
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Durham County and NC Biotech have played crucial roles in both establishing and building BULLS. Made in Durham and Durham Technical Community College work closely with BULLS students while they work toward achieving their goals.
Damon Saunders, BULLS Graduate (Cohort 6)
what does that look like? In the case of the BULLS Life Sciences Academy, Made in Durham created a comprehensive approach with our partners that guides students through essential milestones to attain industry-specific BioWork certifications. ese credentials make Durham's young residents eligible for living wage opportunities in the biomanufcturing and Life Sciences industry.
they studied and attended instruction. BULLS o ers educational support toward industry-specific certifications in the Life Sciences industry, but it also paves a clear roadmap toward successful employment and career
Students work toward industry-specific certifications and careers in life sciences industries under the tutelage and guidance of Durham Tech faculty, counselors, and support staff. They access academic tutoring and study sessions, professional development activities such as mock interviews and resume training, and soft skills coaching to help them in
I quickly learned I had an amazing support
In doing so, BULLS helps shape the talent landscape in Durham's Life Sciences sector. e systems-based work is pointed toward a vision where employment opportunities for all residents and a productive workforce for local businesses.
Made in Durham extends wraparound support to the students through success coaching. This includes weekly one-on-one check-ins and individualized assistance outside the classroom setting. Whenever possible, both immediate and long-term needs of students are addressed to help them remain on track with their academic and life goals.
e BULLS experience is about more than curriculum. From the moment prospective cohorts are introduced to Made in Durham and BULLS, they are exposed to opportunities in Life Sciences by our community engagement teams and local partners. ey begin learning about Life Sciences before they receive an application through a host of information sessions and community events.
Once enrolled, youth engagement teams comprised of success coaches and resource specialists prepare cohort students for interviews and professional environments. Additional partnerships create wraparound support including childcare. Life stipends are a critical component that help create the space for students to excel their work and preparation for a life-changing career.
And it's working. e efficacy of the initiative continues to grow, as evidenced by our most recent and sixth cohort. As momentum builds, opportunities expand. e current BULLS class has increased to thirty students and ongoing progress toward a new
The journey for Durham’s youth in the BULLS Academy happens in class work and instructional labs, tutoring and study sessions, community-building activities, and a host of workshops and experiences geared toward personal development and soft skills. Success coaches, faculty, resource specialists, and more are there from Made in Durham and Durham Tech to fill in any gaps students may encounter.
the program really care about your future. If you need somebody to listen, they’re here
— Damon Sanders, BULLS Cohort 6 Graduate,
While graduation and certification are pivotal milestones, that's not the end of students' journeys. BULLS alumni and corporate engagement includes post-graduation counseling and support targeted at job opportunities, employment, and career advancement. e teams work on behalf of students and alongside corporate partners to align their skills to fit the needs of BioWork employers. By offering life stipends, wraparound support, optimized curriculum, and academic support, the BULLS initiative equips Durham's young residents with the necessary experience, knowledge, and skills to succeed in the competititve Life Sciences field. Ultimately, they're prepared for a career and a more prosperous life in science.
Through the support of Durham County, NC Biotech, Durham Technical Community College, Made in Durham, and additional community organizations and resources, a support system geared toward personal success and achievement is realized. These efforts reflect students’ commitment to pave their own way and brave their journey toward a new Life in Science.
The percentage of BULLS students who graduated from the most recent cohort, making them eligible for employment in the Life Sciences industry.
Learn more at: madeindurham.org
Through wraparound support and the focused commitment of students, more and more of Durham’s youth are reaching more of their potential through the BULLS Life Sciences Academy.
The average BioWork course graduation rate of the three most recent BULLS Cohorts (AUG ’23 – JUN ’24)
Learn more at: madeindurham.org 87%
PHOTO BY SALEEM RESHAMWALA, KIDETHNIC
Savor the Moment
BY KIANNA DAYE
KIANNA DAYE, BETTER KNOWN AS DELISHDISH_ FOODIE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, IS A FOOD CONTENT CREATOR AND A PASSIONATE EDUCATOR OF 11 YEARS; SHE CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AT HENDERSON COLLEGIATE HIGH SCHOOL. KIANNA LIVES IN THE HISTORIC MERRICK-MOORE COMMUNITY WITH HER HUSBAND, DARIAN DAYE, AND 6-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.
As a born and raised native, Durham has been my home and heart for the past 33 years. Growing up, I attended Southwest Elementary School, Rogers-Herr Middle School and Jordan High School. I hold the vibrant diversity and history that my city embodies very near and dear to my heart. I proudly throw up the “Bull City” hand sign every chance I get. Durham has fostered growth, creativity and a strong sense of belonging not only for me, but also for my family. We often attend Merrick-Moore community events, where we feel seen as Black homeowners, as well as National Night Out, food truck rodeos, the Durham Farmers Market and children’s events held at Book Harvest and Durham County Library’s Saturday reading times. I am proud to continue the growth of my family and build a community in a city that has provided me with experiences that molded and shaped me into the person I am today.
I come from a family of public servants. My dad is a retired police officer with the Durham Police Department, and my husband is currently a corporal for the DPD. My late aunt Gussie Ray was a retired hospital worker with Duke University Hospital, and my late uncle Billy Ray, a retired Duke University Transit bus driver. They taught me the value of dedication, integrity and community service. Their influence also sparked my passion for food and culinary experiences; I often still lean on my parents, Dock Culver and Karen Culver, to learn about some of Durham’s longest-running restaurants and
their favorite spots, like Parizade, Bullock’s Bar-B-Cue, Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant and Italian Pizzeria
As a food content creator, I have the privilege of exploring, tasting and sharing our city’s culinary delights, which is quite the treat. This journey has opened my eyes to the incredible potential within our food scene – from historic restaurants and family-owned eateries to innovative food trucks. In the next few years, I see Durham growing as a huge melting pot and the center of some of the best culinary experiences in North Carolina, putting us well on our way to being one of the best food cities in the United States. Durham is truly a haven for food lovers like myself. The city’s progression is undeniably amazing. I envision it to be a city where all citizens, old and new, can thrive, as well as be a city that continues to embrace and promote diversity. I dream of a safe and nurturing environment where everyone can feel supported by a community that values them, by continuing to create spaces where individuals feel heard and can continue to show up as their authentic self such as Black August in the Park, the Pride: Durham, NC dance party, and Durham County’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Game Day, to name a few. Durham’s unique blend of history, kinship and culture makes it an incredibly special place to call home; I hope to continue contributing to its growth through my own culinary journey.
goodness grows
How one woman’s quest for healthy eating inspired a return to her rural roots and a new path in agriculture
BY ANNA-RHESA VERSOLA
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
Valarie Jarvis has beef with meat. The geriatrics nurse, who grew up in a “no stoplight kind of rural” area, returned to her farming roots after changing her perspective on food.
Valarie holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Virginia and was working as director of nursing at a skilled nursing facility when her brother was diagnosed with colon cancer.
“He was the one who started teaching me about food and its correlation with our bodies,” she says. “You would think that we would learn this in nursing school, but most doctors and nurses aren’t trained on nutrition and how our food really affects our bodies, particularly the chemicals and the additives.”
Valarie says her brother, who worked in computer science for a company in Research Triangle Park, shared research articles and published studies about the correlation between certain additives and cancer. “He was very much a fast food guy,” she says. “You know, busy working long hours, fast food at every meal. I watched him go from that to a very clean diet.”
Her brother went on a medical leave of absence and took the time to carefully prepare his meals. The cancer went away. He returned to work and his previous lifestyle.
“The cancer came back, and he didn’t survive it that time,” Valarie says. That was in 2012, and she began delving into the materials her brother had shared. “It literally altered me,” Valarie says. “I was still
working in the nursing home, and the more I learned, I was like, ‘This is probably the reason that most of my patients are sick.’”
She began paying closer attention to the nutritional value of food and how it was processed, choosing to avoid meat from animals treated with antibiotics and preservatives.
Recollection
Valarie grew up in Spencer, Virginia, where her father and grandfather grew tobacco. Valarie’s dad also raised pigs, butchered them on the farm, and stored the meat in a freezer. She recalls how the meat her family raised tasted differently than the processed meat she would buy from the grocery store.
“It tastes nothing like the meat that I had back then,” Valarie says. She decided she wanted to consume chemical-free meat but couldn’t find organic meat producers nearby. “So at that point,” she says, “I might as well just grow my own pig.” As her personal hobby expanded, Valarie started selling the meat to offset costs. It wasn’t long before Valarie’s husband, Immanuel Jarvis, supported her interest in developing the project into a side business.
“Not only did I want [a source of] meat, but I felt like I had the opportunity over time to solve that problem for other people,” Valarie says.
“We just wanted to eat better,” Immanuel agrees, “so then, we kind of just took a deep breath and started plowing through it.”
THIS PAGE Campers help feed the goats, chickens and rabbits as part of their agricultural experience. Below left, a few of the kids get ready to toss potatoes into the pigpen.
The couple formally established Jireh Family Farm in 2017; two years later, they formed a nonprofit, Jireh Farm Foundation, as an outpost for animal husbandry, homesteading and educating the public about natural foods. By 2020, both Valarie and Immanuel had left their jobs to farm full time. Today, their services include agricultural summer camps, farm-to-table dinner experiences, adult herbal classes and more.
Rejuvenation
Immanuel is president of the Frederick Douglass Foundation of North Carolina and has spent most of his career in sales. He was a real estate investor in 2016 when Valerie came across the property that would become their 4-acre homestead adjacent to Mystic Farm and Distillery on Mineral Springs Road
“I saw the intrinsic value of this place,” he says of the 3,200-square-foot home. Their family renovated the four-bedroom, threebathroom brick ranch to suit their needs, including expanding storage space downstairs to accommodate a commercial brooder for hundreds of chicks and a second kitchen area with multiple chest freezers. Immanuel also applied for and received grants from the Durham County Soil and Water Department and the North Carolina Cooperative Extension to upgrade the electrical wiring for the whole house and to install solar panels for the on-site market shop.
“We’ve done a lot,” Immanuel says. “We’re just that family that’s always pushing to the next level. There’s always progress to be made.”
The couple added a new structure on the farm last year where they butcher and process meat from ducks (from a companion farmer), turkeys and chickens. “To create high-quality food en masse and be able to scale it up, there’s more infrastructure, more paddocks, more barns and things like that,” Immanuel says.
In the front yard, about 100 chicks peck on a grassy lawn inside a large chicken tractor, which can be moved to another section of grass when needed. About a dozen rabbits lay in a long hutch in the side yard in sight of seven large pigs in the nearby pen. Twenty goats roam a larger section by the hen house, where 100 egg layers roam their area. Next
OPPOSITE Valarie Jarvis checks on the pigs while kids from the farm’s summer camp program take turns holding a baby chick.
to the covered carport is a storage building and a separate roadside shop with several chest freezers of meat and coolers for eggs, plus other farm products for sale to the general public.
Renewal
Immanuel estimates that the farm produces about 4,000 pounds of meat and eggs each month; he and Valarie expect to increase productivity.
“We have been incredibly blessed with an opportunity to get in more contract work,” Immanuel says. “Right now, we have a contract for 300 chickens a month, and that’s a lot for us.”
Immanuel expects to have about three dozen turkeys later this fall in time to raise, pre-sell and process for Thanksgiving. Similarly, they will move hundreds of pounds of pork, Black Angus beef and chicken.
“We don’t move goat meat that much,” Valarie says.
“We’re going to start, because I have a reason now,” Immanuel says, chuckling about how the goats escaped their pen while the family was away; a neighbor kindly herded the goats back onto the farm, but not through the original gate. “They just ate my garden,” Immanuel says.
“They’ve literally destroyed everything in it, like grape tomatoes and peppers. I’ve picked at least two [goats], and I think there’s another two I’m going to send to ‘freezer camp.’”
Valarie says the garden usually includes herbs for her tea remedies, which she sells while educating people on how plants and foods can help with ailments. “If I teach people how to alter their diet, they can improve their blood sugar levels, which affects their organs and can prevent diabetes,” she says, noting the chronic disease runs in her family. Valarie grew up caring for her diabetic grandmother, who later developed Alzheimer’s disease, an experience that Valerie says inspired her to become a nurse with a focus on geriatric care. She expresses concern about a growing body of medical and clinical research on “Type-3 diabetes,” a term some scientists proposed to describe Alzheimer’s because they believe insulin dysregulation in the brain may cause dementia.
“It’s just a big circle of what we are eating,” Valarie says. “Like we’ve heard for a long time, we are what we eat. Truly, we are what we eat.”
and family.
Valarie and Immanuel Jarvis inside their roadside market shop with several products available for purchase, like herbal tea remedies, eggs and frozen meats.
little bites
OLIVIA PAUL
JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
Hop to It
Treat your family to a delightful breakfast or lunch at Monuts. Kids will love greeting Benjamin, the restaurant’s friendly rabbit statue, while savoring a plate with three sides like eggs, bacon and home fries. Build-yourown sandwich options on a bagel or biscuit make it easy for everyone to find something they enjoy – for the parents, we recommend the chicken-and-pickle biscuit with ranch and hot honey or Turkish eggs and avocado. Plus, every order comes with an animal information card to make mealtime both fun and educational.
Pizza Perfection
Tuesday nights are special at The Loop, as kids meals are just $1.99 with the purchase of an entrée! Children 10 and younger can choose from one-topping pizzas, two-piece chicken tenders, mac and cheese or cheeseburgers, all served with a side and a kid’s drink. Combine delicious food with creativity, as coloring pages and crayons are provided for little ones!
Pocket Full of Flavor
Makus Empanadas’ warm pastries range from chicken to beef to sweet corn and are perfect for little ones who haven’t yet mastered utensils. Kids meals include one empanada or one empadog, a cookie or chips and a drink. The family meal feeds plenty with 10 empanadas and four sides.
Burger Bonanza
Kids 10 and younger can take their pick from a burger, “puppy dog,” grilled cheese or veggie burger at downtown’s Bull City Burger and Brewery. All are served with a small order of
Ava James Simpson has her eye on the prize: a plain glazed Monuts doughnut.
DRINK FOOD
dirty fries and a kid’s cup drink or apple juice, with the option of milk or chocolate milk for $1 more. Meanwhile, the adults can sip a pint of Parrish Street Pale Ale and have their own fun choosing among the more adventurous burger toppings, from Gruyere and poblano peppers to house-made chimichurri and pimento cheese. And don’t miss the adorable “Future Beer Drinkers” corner stocked with all kinds of items to keep the kiddos entertained.
The Chill Factor
Nothing beats ice cream on a hot summer day! At Two Roosters, children can indulge in smaller size options of familiar flavors like classic chocolate, dark chocolate mint chunk and double-fold vanilla. Meanwhile, adults can choose among a selection of forever favorites such as coffee bourbon and blackberry hibiscus, or try one of the rotating menu items. Grab a cup or a cone to enjoy while the kids burn off some energy in the open green space next to the shop.
If anyone’s in need of dinner before dessert, Cugino Forno and 19FiftyOne are just across the way, making this Golden Belt location the perfect spot for a family outing.
Family Feasts
Step into Elmo’s Diner for a warm, casual dining experience that families have enjoyed for the past 27 years. The breakfast kids menu offers eggs and toast, oatmeal, French toast, pancakes and sides like sausage patties or a fresh fruit cup. For lunch, youngsters can choose from a variety of options including: spaghetti; noodles and cheese; grilled cheese; a grilled ham and cheese, turkey, or peanut butter and jelly sandwich; burgers; and sides of applesauce, small French fries and more. Parents will love the friendly hometown atmosphere and classic diner dishes like made-from-scratch pancakes and waffles with a side of grits or sausage gravy, Reuben sandwiches and Italian meatloaf.
ABOVE Patti Isaacs serves warm, soft goodness in the form of a plate of pancakes at Elmo’s Diner.
BELOW Most important decision at Two Roosters: Cup or cone?
Dr. Lei Cao, Dr. Sutasinee Liu
Sticky buns and cinnamon rolls reign supreme at Lutra Cafe and Bakery. Owner Chris McLaurin offers baked treats that are so craveable, you’ll find yourself coming back for more week after week. Lutra’s signature white miso and blueberry buns ($7) are a tantalizing blend of sweet and salty that you simply can’t resist. The cafe pops up twice a week – preorder your favorites by noon on Thursdays and pick them up at Cocoa Cinnamon on Hillsborough Road from 7-9:30 a.m. on Fridays. Or join the “Sunday Bunday” festivities at Queeny’s from 8-11 a.m., where you can preorder by the four-pack and half-dozen until noon every Saturday, though Chris says there’s plenty available for walk-up customers, too. Chris is on the hunt for a brick-and-mortar of Lutra’s own and plans to broaden its menu to include breakfast and lunch alongside its sweet treats when the right location comes along.
sweet dreams
… are made of these Bull City desserts
BY LEAH BERRY PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
Confectioneries are the cherry on top of our vibrant food scene, which is flourishing with an array of bakeries, ice cream parlors and frozen pop shops. Whether you’re a fan of classic flavors or adventurous new combinations, go on and treat yourself to these delectable delights.
As the summer sun blazes overhead, La Monarca Michoacana is hustling and bustling, serving up a refreshing escape from the heat. This family-run business, established in 2008, features more than 40 flavors of homemade ice cream and ice pops, plus mangonadas (natural fruit in a sorbet-like state mixed with chamoy, lime and chile powder), corn, nachos, smoothies and other treats. La Monarca is a chain paletería based in Mexico but has locations throughout the United States, including in Raleigh and on Avondale Drive in Durham. Treat yourself to a classic scoop of ice cream, like vanilla and cookies ‘n’ cream, or choose from unique flavors like cheese with blackberry, Ferrero Rocher or soursop. The paletas, made with fresh fruit and natural ingredients, are an exceptionally popular – and refreshing – choice at $3.49 apiece. Try the rice pudding, coffee or cheesecake pop for a more dessert-like treat, or go with the guava, strawberry and mango pops for a fruitier delicacy.
Chef Chick’s Bakery is a womanowned and -operated bakery and kitchen featuring fresh, made-fromscratch European baked goods and breads. Margaret “Gosia” Szewczyk opened the doors at 2500 Meridian Pkwy., Ste. 135 in fall 2022. “We strive to invoke nostalgia from the Old World and time travel through taste and smell,” Margaret says. “Our mission is [to ‘bake] it to the next level’ with ‘a taste of Europe in your home.’” Chef Chick’s makes specialty cakes, pies, breads, and sweet and savory pastries, and offers coffee from Carrboro Coffee Roasters. It can also provide special orders, catering and wholesale. Margaret says her most popular treat is Babcia’s Crumb Cake – available in blueberry, strawberry rhubarb and the original sour cherry (pictured here) at $4.75 a slice or $43 for a whole cake. “Baking with my babcia (grandmother) ignited my passion and sparked my lifelong dream of opening a bakery,” she says. “Babcia’s moist, buttery cake and delicious streusel topping will bring a smile to your face and warm your heart!”
The Mad Hatter’s Café + Bakeshop is a community hub that has emphasized fresh, local ingredients and wholesome recipes since it opened in 1992. Here you’ll find Duke University students poring over textbooks with a steaming cup of espresso, while professionals converge at the West Main Street locale for productive teamwork sessions. Breakfast is served all day, and lunch highlights sandwiches, wraps, soups, salads and more, but the sweet treats are a must on any visit. The sought-after strawberry shortcake here is a delicate white cake layered with fresh strawberry filling and crowned with homemade whipped cream, creating a perfect blend of light, airy texture and natural, fruity sweetness. Buy a 6-inch cake for $39, or opt for a full sheet cake to share with friends and family for $185. The cake features milk and cream from Grayhouse Farms, strawberries from Lyon Farms, flour from Lindley Mills and eggs from Latta Family Farms.
Little Barb’s Bakery started from the ground – or rather, the kitchen – up. Owner Barbara Nigro pivoted from her career in the health care industry to pursue her dream of owning her own bakeshop in 2021. She started by perfecting her desserts at home and, just 10 months later, opened her own storefront at the Durham Food Hall, where she continues to craft elevated treats that invoke a sense of nostalgia – like cookies, cheesecake bites, cinnamon rolls, tartlets and more – while cultivating a welcoming environment for her customers. The bakery’s standout favorite are the “Barb-tarts.” “It’s our version of the good ole fashion Pop-Tart!” Barb says. “We use a homemade butter pie crust that we make in-house and all fresh, homemade fillings.”
Pick up your own – available in strawberry, brown sugar cinnamon, s’mores and blueberry – for $4.50, and stay tuned for a variety box option that Barb hopes will be available soon.
New to the scene is MilkShake Factory, which launches its first North Carolina store, headed by Alex Chandler and Kindall Palmer, in August at the American Tobacco Campus. The business originated in Pittsburgh and has since established itself as a neighborhood dessert destination renowned for its housemade ice cream, handspun milkshakes and premium chocolates. Its signature milkshake menu is the star attraction, boasting flavors like Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry, Campfire S’mores and Cookie Jar (pictured). The latter, a cookie lover’s dream and perpetual crowd favorite, retails for $8.95 and is made with MilkShake Factory’s proprietary ice-cream base, cookie dough, crushed cookies and cream, and peanut butter cookie crumbles. It’s then topped with MilkShake Factory’s homemade whipped cream and finished with a chocolate-covered Oreo.
La Recette Patisserie – a community-driven small business founded by Djamila Bakour in 2015 – brings culturally diverse desserts to the Bull City. The bakery started its journey in a one-bedroom apartment kitchen and now serves French pastries infused with Algerian and Middle Eastern influences. “Our goal is to deliver a joyful experience in a welcoming atmosphere,” Djamila says. Choose from a number of conventional baked goods – like custom cakes, cupcakes and cake pops – plus macarons, opera (coffee cake with chocolate ganache) and lemon meringue cakes, and pistachio framboise tarts – a buttery pastry filled with almond cream and fresh raspberries, topped with Chantilly cream and toasted pistachios that retails for $8. “Our monthly menus are crafted with care, aiming not only to deliver amazing flavors but also to evoke cherished memories,” Djamila says. “We aim to educate about the origins of pastries and foster a community around high-quality Algerian and Middle Eastern desserts!”
We all scream for The Parlour’s handmade ice cream! The creamery, opened in 2011, houses rotating flavors inspired by both the seasons and the beloved food memories of owners Yoni Mazuz and Vanessa Mazuz – from classics like vanilla and cookies ‘n’ cream to Vietnamese coffee, plum lassi and summer corn with blueberry swirl – using dairy from Simply Natural Creamery in Ayden, North Carolina, and fresh fruit from local farms. Along with the shop’s original brick-and-mortar at 117 Market St., its second location, The Parlour Junior, is a mini scoop shop based out of The Common Market on the corner of Iredell and Green streets. This satellite venture features a smaller selection of scoops, shakes and toppings Tuesdays through Sundays (the downtown location also serves coffee drinks and homemade baked goods every day of the week). Get the fanfavorite brownie sundae ($8.50), crafted with two ice-cream scoops of your choice, housemade brownie bites and hot fudge, whipped cream and malt powder.
brew through
Have a cold one – or two –at these walkable watering holes
BY LEAH BERRY | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
The Bull City welcomed a few new libations locations over the past year or so, all just a few blocks from one another (and within the northern boundaries of The Bullpen social district!). Take yourself on a quick tour of these four happenin’ hot spots; we recommend starting with a Flying Bull brew on Morris Street and working your way up to and along West Corporation, ending with some stellar sips on Durham Beer Garden’s spacious patio.
A Flying Bull flight of Recession Proof Kölsch, My Roots Are Showing blonde ale, Brewing in My Dance Shoes IPA and Black Flower imperial stout paired with bacon jam-topped deviled eggs and a pork chop served over an onion and potato hash with a sunny-side-up egg.
Reach for the Sky
You might be familiar with Flying Bull Restaurant and Brewery’s Ninth Street location, which has been pouring beer since 2020; the debut of its Morris Street taproom in January marked an exciting expansion for the business into downtown’s vibrant Innovation District
“The Flying Bull is a communityforward brewery,” says owner and brewer Joel Miles, a concept that’s reflected in the space’s impressive 150-seat capacity and ability to book private events, plus its dogfriendly outdoor patio.
The brewery offers about 15 of its own beers on tap, including New England hazy IPA Bull in a Bottle Shop, Aches and Alements Scottish ale, My Roots Are Showing blonde ale, Mackinaw Peach wheat, Saison Du Taureau Belgian-style ale and many more.
The Morris Street location also houses a craft kitchen and cocktail bar. “We are quickly becoming known for our craft cocktails, such as a double-smoked old-fashioned,” Joel says. The food menu features offerings that pair well with both beer and cocktails, Joel says, across its starters, handheld salads, small plates and large plates. “Our bacon smash burger or Cuban sandwich are excellent places to start,” he says, “and our small plates – like tuna tartare, bone marrow or fried Brussels – are delicious with a glass of wine or a cocktail. … [The] large plates, such as our duck leg with carrot puree or the pollo a la brasa, are also great choices.”
Check out the frequent food specials – one of Joel’s faves is salmon on a bed of zucchini, grape tomatoes and red onions deglazed with white wine and lemon juice. “Specials are always at our disposal with what’s available, even from the farmers market on Foster Street,” Joel says. “We often pair our food specials with cocktail specials as well.”
The taproom often hosts music events in Morris Green Park across the street as well as indoor events – stop by on Sundays for jazz! Joel says guests can also expect trivia and karaoke in the fall.
“We are a brewery, [but] we are trying to redefine what that may mean to the common customer,” Joel says. “We offer brewery food while at the same time offering elevated small and large plates that are to die for.”
Try Atomic Clock’s new tropical sour ale Tide Pool on draft (ask for it with passion fruit popping boba!) or snag a four-pack to bring home with you.
Perfect Timing
Atomic Clock Brewing Co. started ticking in April 2024. It’s run by sibling duo Colleen Quinn – who’s also the general manager –and head brewer Brian Quinn. “Atomic clocks are the most precise timekeeping devices, and a group of them around the world set the world time,” Colleen explains. “We felt the name Atomic Clock represented our brewing and business philosophy: the endless pursuit of perfection, innovation and collaboration.”
stout, Mocha Shake. And don’t sleep on the Billy Pilgrim, a unique Grätzer – or smoked wheat ale – crafted in collaboration with Eno River Brewing.
“[Brian and I] have both been in the craft beer industry for 10-plus years, and we’re excited to create a brewery that equally values quality of beer and beverages and quality of experience,” Colleen says.
The business is located in City Place at 501 Washington St., in a historic garage once used by the city. “The building is nearly 100 years old,” Colleen says, adding that the natural beauty of the space allowed her and Brian to create a unique experience for their customers.
Feeling hungry? The menu here is a hit. Colleen recommends the beef and cheddar empanadas, garlic fries with black garlic aioli, Pok Pok whole wings and the Brooklyn-style chopped cheese sandwich.
Drop by on Tuesdays for $10 crowlers, enjoy $5 Pilsners every Wednesday, and treat yourself to a $10 empanada and beer combo on Thursdays. Chase away the Sunday scaries with trivia every Sunday at 5 p.m., and keep an eye out for the brewery’s ticketed beer and beverage pairing dinners, typically held on the third or fourth Monday of the month.
“We pride ourselves in creating an atmosphere and menu that has something for everyone,” Colleen says. “A wide array of craft beer styles, an evolving craft cocktail menu, a curated wine list and a full-service kitchen serving elevated and approachable shareables, sandwiches and more.”
Surreally Good
2 3
Asheville-based brewery DSSOLVR Durham opened its Bull City brick-and-mortar in spring 2023. Its self-proclaimed “Vibe Lord” Will Craddock – more formally known as the head of events and marketing – works hard to keep customers happy and entertained while serving up brews of the highest quality.
The brewery offers somewhere between 13 and 17 of its own beers on tap, ranging from popular hazy IPAs like Atomichron to crisp West Coast lagers like Flick. Pilsner fans will enjoy Movement, while those seeking a hoppy amber ale can order a Pendulum. The double honey IPA Janus offers a sweet yet bold experience; folks wanting a bit more deviation from traditional brews should try the recently released tropical sour Tide Pool or the coffee-and-chocolate-infused imperial
“DSSOLVR’s motto is ‘brewed till surreal,’” Will says, “meaning we tweak, change and test recipes over and over and over and over again till it is beyond a normal beverage. That’s why we often change up our menus and release new beers every week.”
The taproom at 630 Rigsbee Ave. features 20 DSSOLVR drafts –well, 21, counting its cask system – in styles ranging from Mexican lagers to hazy IPAs and everything in between, all of which are brewed at the Asheville production facility that also churns out hard seltzers, glutenfree sours, natural wine and ciders. “Our products are canned and kegged
DRINK FOOD
and in Asheville and then shipped out to Durham to maximize freshness,” Will explains.
Will’s all-time favorite (emphasis on the all-time and the favorite) beer is the Cold Caprese Pizza, an Italian Pilsner that’s light, crushable and hoppy – and available on draft as well as in cans. “This beer was a collab with Hoof Hearted Brewing and won over our entire staff as well as patrons very quickly,” Will says. “This is our first collab beer to become a consistent staple in both distribution and draft!”
While Will consistently raves about the brewery’s beverages, he also knows the in-house events are largely what makes DSSOLVR so special to its customer base.
“We throw some wild parties, we know it!” Will says. “Being able to bring our zaniness to Durham and be received so welcomingly is the best, and we can’t wait to do some very fun and exciting things!”
DSSOLVR doesn’t have a food menu, but it often features food trucks at events and highlights nearby spots where peckish guests can order delivery or takeout.
The brewery’s weekly specials include $6 IPAs on Mondays and $5 light beers
on Tuesdays – Will’s personal fave deal, given his aforementioned love of Pilsners – plus $8 cocktails on Wednesdays or $4 Kölsches on Thursdays. Mark your calendars for Emo Night on Aug. 17 – one of the brewery’s biggest events at the Asheville location; this will mark the third one hosted in the Bull City – and Shrektoberfest in September.
“Prepare for surreal hangs, elevated drinks and elevated vibes,” Will says. “Our staff is incredibly kind and knowledgeable about all our products, and no matter what you are in the mood for, we have something for you.”
Hops and Dreams
Craft beverages and community converge at Durham Beer Garden – a treasure trove of beguiling brews and bites tucked beside Little Bull in Old Five Points
The bottle shop and beer garden on North Mangum Street offers 20 taps with a dynamic rotating selection; recent features include Durty Bull Brewing Company’s Extra Crispy Pilsner, Booneshine Brewing Company’s High Country Honey and Downeast Cider House’s Blood Orange Cider. If you’re in a rush or prefer to stay sober, pick up a grab-n-go bevvy or nonalcoholic drink from the cooler. Come August and September, stop in for its exciting lineup of German and Oktoberfest beers.
“We always have a great variety of IPAs, lagers, stouts, Kölsches, Pilsners and sours,” says David Perazzo, who co-owns Durham Beer Garden with Ann Wagner. “We do our best to support local, small breweries in North Carolina.”
Cold Caprese Pizza, DSSOLVR’s pizza-branded Italian Pilsner collaboration with Hoof Hearted Brewing, offers notes of pizza dough, wildflowers, mandarin orange, lemon balm and white tea.
The casual family- and dog-friendly business boasts 18 TVs and expansive indoor and outdoor areas, ideal for accommodating large groups. David says the space supports local artists, too, providing a platform for talented performers to play at its Music on Mangum event every Saturday night from 6-9 p.m.
Patrons can pick from a selection of pubstyle and Asian fusion small bites and entrees at the on-site food truck – David says the pork belly bao and bulgogi beef bowl are crowd favorites, or opt for a pulled pork sandwich, chicken fingers, fried pickle chips or kimchi dumplings. The beer garden offers halfprice glasses of wine and $10 burgers every Wednesday; on Mondays, enjoy 50-cent wings along with 32 oz. Kona Brewing Company’s Big Wave mugs for $9. It’s an open and welcoming neighborhood setting “that offers a little something for everyone,” David says.
Perry’s Epiphany by North Carolina’s Blackbird Brewery is a classic German-style wheat beer ideal for late summer sipping. If cocktails are more your vibe, Durham Beer Garden also offers a tropical and tangy passion fruit margarita.
“He realized that what the college needed to be in a city, where it could attract faculty and students and most importantly, funding.”
As Duke celebrates its centennial, the town and its college reflect back more than 100 years on how they chose each other.
The relationship between Duke and Durham dates back more than 100 years, when the college arrived via train to a Durham fairground now known as Duke’s East Campus.
Duke began as a one-room schoolhouse 70 miles west of Durham in Randolph County. The school grew, established ties to the Methodist Church, and was eventually named Trinity College. After the Civil War, the college was near bankruptcy and couldn’t make payroll. The college hired 29-year-old John Franklin Crowell, fresh out of graduate school at Yale, to be its next president.
Crowell was ambitious and committed to securing a financial future for Trinity College. He realized that the college needed to be in a city, where it could attract faculty and students and most importantly, funding. Raleigh offered $35,000 to entice Trinity College to relocate to the state capital. But then Durham decided to get in the game.
In the late 19th century, Durham was a new South city, bustling with energy and economic opportunities for its residents, both white and Black, chiefly in the booming tobacco industry that had been started by the Duke family. The patriarch of the family, Washington Duke, had grown up poor and had walked home 130 miles at the end of the Civil War—from New Bern back to Durham—with 50 cents in his pocket. Once home, he and his three children began selling dried tobacco from a mule-drawn cart.
By 1880, his son James B. Duke was leading the growing firm of W. Duke Sons & Co, and his father focused on philanthropy. As committed civic leaders, they were looking for ways to strengthen their hometown and lift up others.
Washington Duke had already been providing financial support to Trinity College. He saw that a college would add cultural prestige and value to the tobacco town and was determined to convince
Above: A postcard of Trinity College gates, before 1911.
Trinity to move to Durham instead. He matched the $35,000 for moving costs, added $50,000 for an endowment, and suggested that if he gave the money, his fellow Durham businessman Julian S. Carr might be persuaded to give the land. Carr owned a popular fairground called Blackwell’s Park, with an oval racetrack used for horse races that might make an ideal location for a small college.
Hearing about this bidding war, President Crowell traveled immediately to Durham to meet with each man for the first time and finalized the deal in an afternoon. An intentional and enduring partnership between college and town was born.
In August of 1892, Trinity College packed up everything it owned and moved to Durham. The college bell, clock, safe, and several thousand library books were loaded onto a railroad boxcar. Crowell’s horses and Professor Pegram’s cow followed, walking the 70 miles. Most of the faculty stayed in Randolph County to teach in a
Top right: Aerial view of Trinity College (Durham, NC Campus), circa 1913.
Bottom right: Duke brothers, 1900s.
DUKE TIMELINE
1838 Duke begins as a one-room school in Randolph County.
1859 The school is renamed Trinity College.
1887 John Franklin Crowell becomes president of Trinity College.
1892 Trinity College moves to Durham.
1896 Washington Duke offers Trinity a $100,000 endowment to admit women and build a women’s dormitory.
1898 John Merrick founds the North Carolina Mutual Provident Life Insurance Company, which becomes the largest Black-owned insurance company in the country.
1901 Lincoln Hospital is established as Durham’s first hospital for Black residents.
December 11, 1924 James B. Duke creates The Duke Endowment with $40 million. $6 million is designated to Trinity College. Trinity College is renamed Duke University.
1930 West Campus is completed with Georgianstyle buildings. Duke opens a medical school, hospital, and reorganizes the law school.
high school that opened in the old college building. Trinity College then hired new Ph.D. graduates from top universities who were eager to be part of the new venture in Durham.
Trinity College opened in Durham on September 1, 1892, with three buildings, 17 faculty members, and 180 students. Everyone pitched in: Robert Flowers, a professor of mathematics and engineering who would later serve as president, wired the new buildings for electricity.
which eventually became the largest Blackowned insurance company in the United States. NC Mutual was a pillar of the African American businesses and financial services in Durham, also supported by Washington Duke, that became known as Black Wall Street. In 1901, Duke and his sons established Lincoln Hospital, Durham’s first hospital for Black residents.
“As Durham grew, Washington Duke invested in projects that provided opportunities for all of Durham’s citizens.”
In 1896, Washington Duke offered Trinity College an endowment of $100,000 on the condition that women be admitted “on an equal footing” with men—a stipulation that was understood to mean residential education. A dorm for women was promptly built.
As Durham grew, Washington Duke invested in projects that provided opportunities for all of Durham’s citizens. In 1898, he loaned his friend and barber John Merrick money to start the North Carolina Mutual Provident Life Insurance Company,
James B. Duke emerged as president of the American Tobacco company, which grew to become the biggest tobacco company in the United States, and then the world. By the 1920s, he was considering ways to create a lasting legacy. James B. Duke was intrigued when Trinity College President William Preston Few, over several years, suggested a gift that would transform the small college into a major research university that would benefit Durham and the Carolinas. With breathtaking audacity, President Few wrote suggested text to James B. Duke, “I agree to pay within ____ years ____ millions in cash or good securities.”
James B. Duke saw that Few’s vision aligned with his own and agreed to underwrite the
Above: Aerial photo of West Campus, 1930s. Top Right: Freshman move-in, 1937.
Many saw the start-up potential of synergy between the college and the town. George Wall, a formerly enslaved man who had worked on the campus in Randolph County, moved to Durham after the college did and continued to work as a janitor on the newly built campus. He built a house and became a leader in his neighborhood, which was named for him—Walltown. In September, the East Union dining hall will be named the George and GeorgeFrank Wall Center for Student Life, honoring George Wall and his son and their contributions over decades to Trinity College, Duke University, and the Durham community. HONORING GEORGE + GEORGE-FRANK WALL
plans. On December 11, 1924, Mr. Duke signed the Indenture of Trust that created The Duke Endowment with $40 million. A sum of $6 million was designated to Trinity College, which changed its name to Duke University in honor Washington Duke. Today, The Duke Endowment supports organizations in the Carolinas in specified areas: health care, child and family wellbeing, the rural Methodist Church, and four universities—Duke University, Davidson College, Furman University, and Johnson C. Smith University, a historically Black university (HBCU) in Charlotte.
By 1930, West Campus had been built, with its dramatic Collegiate Gothic architecture. The Law School, Divinity School, and Graduate School opened and began to train professionals for a variety of fields. The School of Medicine was created as the first four-year medical school in North Carolina and one of the first in the South. When Duke Hospital opened, thousands of visitors came to see it on opening day. Education and healthcare provided enrichment and employment opportunities for Durham and the surrounding region.
Duke and Durham have a dynamic and complex history together. Today, Duke’s partnerships with Durham are led and coordinated by Duke’s Office of Durham and Community Affairs, with five focus areas of housing, health, education, employment, and community. Duke is committed to addressing anti-racism, health equity, and engaged scholarship throughout its work. Each year more than 1,400 Duke students take part in 75 service-learning courses that connect academic coursework with community engagement. In addition, Duke works with Habitat for Humanity, Self Help, Book Harvest, and many other local nonprofits. Duke continues to build authentic and sustainable partnerships with the Durham community as a private research university, healthcare provider, employer, corporate partner, and neighbor.
Bottom Left: Dusk over Baldwin Auditorium, Duke’s East Campus. Bottom Right: East campus aerial view, 1928.
I’m a daughter of Durham. I grew up dancing in church, and as a spiritually based dancer, that’s really the core of what I have grown to believe and understand about the power of movement.
Nicole Oxendine
Raising the Barre
Nicole Oxendine founded Empower Dance Studio in 2015, the same year that Misty Copeland became the first Black prima ballerina for the American Ballet Theatre in New York City.
Nicole understands what it takes to succeed as a dancer and as an entrepreneur. “Coming from a ballet perspective, with barriers to access and body image – where you’re looking at yourself in the mirror and, especially if you’re in any way different, that can be extremely highlighted – that is a core reason why Empower was created, because I experienced that as a dancer,” Nicole says.
She opened her first studio on Parrish Street while teaching dance at Hillside High School and at North Carolina Central University
During the pandemic, she flexed her creativity to grow online and doubled her physical space to 3,000 square feet on Market Street. This year, in May, her company moved into 9,000 square feet of space at the Golden Belt Campus.
Empower offers a variety of dance forms with foundations in ballet, including modern, jazz, tap, contemporary, acro and lyrical. Four separate studios provide dedicated spaces for the youngest dancers, rehearsals, formal ballet training with room for a baby grand piano and a professional-level space where Nicole can offer master classes, like a recent lesson by a member of “The Lion King” cast.
“We’re really close [to the Durham Performing Arts Center],” Nicole says. “Why not host a class where you can invite the [Empower] dancers and they can learn about the industry of dance from someone who’s actually doing what they might want to do if they want to dance on Broadway?”
Downtown
dance studio cultivates confidence and community among its students and beyond
BY ANNA-RHESA VERSOLA | PHOTO BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
Nicole and her team want to provide more opportunities for students to experience that world. A dance recital in June was held at the Carolina Theatre, and ticket sales benefited Empower Dance Foundation, which works to make dance classes financially accessible for all students. The nonprofit was formed in 2017, Nicole says, with the goal of eliminating barriers – including economic inequality, inherent racism and a lack of representation – for children who wish to pursue their interest in dance and performance. The emergence of professional dancers like Misty Copeland has inspired children of color to see a dance career as a possibility for themselves. Empower Dance Foundation is able to offer financial aid, including tuition scholarships, thanks to support from local businesses, organizations and individuals. Private donations help support the boys dance program, summer intensives, community outreach and a leadership academy.
IN THE BEGINNING
Nicole first started dancing at age 11 through a liturgical dance ministry at Life International church. “I was studying ballet, but we were doing gospel music or Christian music at the barre,” she says, adding that the program director was adamant about proper technique. “Yes, you have to have the feeling and the emotion in the movement, but also know the placement of the arms and understand what the technique is.”
By the time Nicole was dancing at Hillside High, her heart was set on following her feet to Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. “If you know anything about Hollins dance, it’s a big deal in the dance world,” she says. It’s where she trained under Donna Faye [Burchfield], who served as dean of the American Dance Festival from 2000 to 2010.
ADF opened a whole new world for Nicole in high school and college. She worked in the administrative offices as an intern. She took classes with professional dancers. She saw top-tier performances before DPAC was built. After graduating with a bachelor’s in dance and psychology, Nicole returned to Durham and visited her high school dance teacher, who asked, “You want to come teach here?” Nicole responded, “OK, I’ll do it for a year.”
Fifteen years later, Nicole was
still teaching and ended up writing the dance curriculum for Durham Public Schools. She carved out three years to pursue a master’s degree in dance therapy and counseling from Columbia College Chicago and felt better equipped to help her students when she resumed teaching at Hillside in 2012.
ON REFLECTION
“We’re all carrying things in our body,” Nicole says, and that reveals insecurities and self-esteem. “How can we move to not carry this tension? What if I were to lift, stand, engage and reach out? Before you dance, before you reach out to connect with [an audience], you have to ground yourself in this space.”
Nicole says she wishes she had an Empower when she was growing up. “I didn’t see any dance companies that represented me, and I was like, I won’t be a professional dancer because I don’t see anybody who looks like me,” she says. “If I just had that confidence boost; if I just had that someone… I look back, and I’m like, ‘I wasn’t a bad dancer.’ I thought I was a bad dancer, because that was the mentality that I had.”
She remembers the pressure she felt to be exceptional. “Ballet technique has to be astounding in spaces where I might be the only one in the classroom,” she says. “So that was very hard. I quit dance for a while. I wasn’t getting selected to be in pieces, because I didn’t quite fit. What did that do for my self-esteem?”
For that reason, Nicole says she remains committed to the emotional and physical well-being of her students and to providing opportunities for young dancers to see themselves reflected in the community and in their chosen career paths.
“I never thought I’d be a dance studio owner,” she admits. “That wasn’t in my life’s five-year or 10-year plan, because I never saw that that was something I could do. It’s so important for this next generation of children of all backgrounds to see that you can actually have a career in this, and it can look like whatever you want it to look like. Some of my students have started their own studio, and they work in different studios. I love these kids, and take care of them as my own.”
the reel world
Follow the Retro Films maestro’s cinematic journey at Durham’s historic theater
BY GEORGE SPENCER | PHOTO BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
A“great showman.” That’s how Jim Carl, senior director of film programming at the Carolina Theatre, describes himself. This jovial impresario of all things cinematic has created more than a dozen annual film festivals and series over the past 26 years that put the historic theater on the national film landscape. In the process, Jim has become something of a cult icon to devoted fans who return time and time again. He is best known for his long-running weekly Friday night double features of classic movies called Retro Films. (The theater has branded the name.) Retro, as fans call it, screens hits such as “E.T.,” “Die Hard,” “The Shining” and “It’s a Wonderful Life” mixed with cult favorites like “Harold and Maude” and “Galaxy Quest.” All films must be at least 20 years old.
Jim, the theater’s longest-serving staff member, adds a personal touch to Retro. He greets moviegoers in the lobby, where he invites them to enter a drawing for kitschy gifts. “Sign in for door prizes!” he hollers to people lined up for popcorn. (Think refrigerator magnets of Bette Davis or Cary Grant.) Before the first movie begins, he bounds onto the stage and shouts, “Hello, everybody!” After welcoming the audience, he teases coming attractions, pulls audience entries from a black plastic Halloween cauldron and – to much hooting and applause – invites winners to come down and claim their swag.
The lights lower, and smoke plumes shoot from fog machines at both sides of the proscenium arch. Colored stage lights flicker. One of his handcrafted trailers unspools a rapid-fire montage of classic movie bits. Next come film trailers that ran the week the classic movie premiered. Yet another trailer reveals trivia about the film. A final one says, “Spontaneous cheering and applause erupt!” And that is what happens.
“I enjoy being on stage with geysers and all the music swelling,” Jim says. “My philosophy has always been, ‘Interesting is good, but fun is better.’ My goal has always been to entertain, to make people happy.”
Jim initially faced a big decision – whether Retro Films would only show movies he liked. “Where I came down in my thinking was, I didn’t want this to be films I personally enjoy,” he recalls. (He has a fondness for 1970s and 1980s flicks.) “I wanted Retro to be something for everyone, for every part of the community, as much as possible.” A third of the films he screens come from each year’s 5,000 to 6,000 cauldron-collected audience suggestions.
Jim recently launched genre-specific cinema series that include MysteryRealm; FantasticRealm; RetroRocks!; Disney-Quest; RetroNoir; Kaiju-Quest (think giant Japanese monsters); Free Retro Family Days; and the Sensory-Friendly Film Series for those with autism and others needing sensory accommodations. Volunteer judges curate the Carolina’s two festivals – OutSouth (gay cinema) and Nevermore (indie horror).
Early on, Jim programmed only a few classic flicks annually to fill schedule gaps; this year, the theater will show about 230 repertory movies, not including first-run films. Annual attendance
Jim’s Choice Awards
His favorite films …
Screening This Fall
• “S.O.B.” – “Polly Wolly Doodle all the day.” (Sept. 6)
• “The Changeling” – Possibly the greatest haunted house film ever. (Oct. 11-13)
• “Prophecy” – Everyone in my middle school lost their minds over this film. (Oct. 11-13)
• “Aliens” – Equal to, if not better, than the original. (Oct 30)
• “Dolores Claiborne” – “An accident, Dolores, can be an unhappy woman’s best friend.” (Nov. 1)
• “Streets of Fire” – “Tonight is what it means to be young.” Best ’80s rock anthem, ever. (Nov. 10)
• “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” –“You’re going the wrong way!” (Nov. 15)
• “The Lion in Winter” – One of the most quotable films ever. (Dec. 15)
Related to North Carolina
• “Being There” – Shot at Biltmore. And, oh, that final shot.
• “Blackbeard’s Ghost” – Walt Disney tricked me into believing North Carolina had cliffs overlooking the ocean.
• “Blue Velvet” – Wilmington passes as Everytown, USA, severed ear and all.
• “Brainstorm” – A blast to see RTP in the early ’80s, especially the Elion-Hitchings building, which housed the Burroughs Wellcome company.
• “Bull Durham” – Who knew I’d one day work at the theater where this film premiered?
• “King Kong Lives” – Kong finds his mate in the North Carolina wilderness. More cliffs.
• “Weekend at Bernie’s” – Proof that North Carolina has the best beaches, even without cliffs.
Of All Time
• “The China Syndrome” – The first film I ever bought on VHS.
has more than tripled since 2015 from nearly 8,000 tickets sold to 25,000. The revenue growth? “Phenomenal,” Jim says.
“When it comes to repertory programming, what Jim has put together at the Carolina ranks with New York City, L.A. and other major market cinemas,” says Adam Birnbaum, director of film programming at Avon Theatre, a Stamford, Connecticut, historic film center.
Far from being a snooty cinéaste, Jim grew up watching drive-in movies. The first film he saw was “The Exorcist” at age 6. (His mother thought he was asleep in the back seat.) The lanky Sweetwater, Texas, native got his start in the industry in Manhattan as an assistant production auditor in 1990 during the first season of “Law and Order.” “I didn’t have the stamina for it,” he says. “It was very stressful.”
Fascinated by data, Jim came south planning to get his master’s in audience research and analysis at UNC-Chapel Hill but landed a job as a programming associate at the theater in 1995. He has kept attendance and revenue records on every Retro film since the first on November 13, 1998. “If you ask me about ‘Big Trouble in Little China,’ I can tell you whether it played at Retro, as a first-run or at a non-Retro series,” he says.
Newcomers to Durham often tell Jim they are astonished the Carolina offers so many film series and festivals. He has run Retro so long that, decades later, people have told him they had their first date at one of his movies and now their grown children attend, too.
“I am very grateful to the audience,” Jim says. “I truly am.”
• “Death on the Nile” – My favorite whodunnit. Ustinov is the best Poirot.
• “The Fog” – Lighthouses, ghosts and Adrienne Barbeau. Plus, cliffs overlooking the Pacific.
• “Goin’ Coconuts” – Donny and Marie are the greatest entertainers who ever lived.
• “Jaws” & “Jaws 2” – Because of these movies, I want to retire on Ocracoke Island, even without cliffs.
• “The Man Who Knew Too Much” –My personal favorite Hitchcock film.
• “Ordinary People” – My favorite movie of all time.
• “Tora! Tora! Tora!” – Definitive reenactment of the Pearl Harbor attack.
• “The Towering Inferno” – Most rewatched movie of my life. Lots of cliffhangers.
A new season of Jim Carl’s weekly Retro Film Series kicked off in July. Catch double features of classic movies presented on the big screen – complete with exciting door prizes and nostalgic movie trailers before each film – at the Carolina Theatre through Dec. 13.
strong notes
An award-winning musician and communityloving curator trumpets Durham’s arts scene
BY LEAH BERRY
PHOTO BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
Al Strong has a distinct sound – one you can frequently hear around town, whether he’s performing at a jazz brunch at Alley Twenty Six or up on The Roof at The Durham Hotel. The trumpeter possesses a creative knack in reimagining existing works and a unique ability to work a crowd in the local scene. But he’s also a champion of the arts community, bringing local talent to the forefront through his work. Al hails from a military family who bounced around from state to state early in his youth, though he spent most of his childhood in Washington, D.C. Much of Al’s appreciation for music can be attributed to his grandmother, Ruby Mae Strong, who shared in raising him early on. She played the organ and often hosted home church services with her sisters and other “Black church mothers,” Al says. “If there wasn’t music being played by her in the house, I would occasionally tinker around with the organ. I’d open up some of the piano books and teach myself the five finger positions of the major scale.”
Al plans to release new music in the fall –he says it’ll be a fusion of musical styles, from R&B to Afrobeat and beyond. “I’m just really excited about bringing all of these worlds that I often find myself in as a freelancer together into my solo artistry,” he says.
At 10 years old, Al fatefully selected the trumpet as his instrument in band at school. “Possibly because of my awareness of the trumpet great Louis Armstrong and how our last names resembled each other,” Al says. “I guess I just somehow developed an affinity for
trumpet.” He played in marching band and soon joined the concert band. “Aside from loving music, I loved the camaraderie and competitive nature of being in music situations,” he explains.
He later attended the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in D.C., honing his craft. He was playing in his school’s jazz band at a European festival when Ira Wiggins, the director of jazz studies at North Carolina Central University, recruited him. Al earned a bachelor’s in jazz studies and jazz performance at NCCU and was recruited again, this time by Northern Illinois University, to pursue his master’s. He lived in Chicago for a few years, but came back to Durham in 2009 to teach trumpet as an adjunct professor at his alma mater, a role he still holds 15 years
later. Al says he loves the Bull City and its diversity of talent, culture and people; he lives just a few blocks from NCCU, in Hillside Park. “[My neighborhood] is filled with families and some older people who keep the community there grounded,” he says.
Around the same time he returned to Durham, Al launched Al Strong Music Productions LLC, serving as executive manager, trumpet player, performer, curator and arranger. He’s taken the stage at various venues across Durham over the years, most often accompanied by local talent.
“I’m fortunate to work with really great musicians and artists,” Al says. “I think one of my great strengths is that I welcome input and feedback, and [I] identify strengths of players in ensembles and highlight them.”
His seasonal “Al Strong Presents Jazz on the Roof” series at The Durham Hotel showcases this skill. The program, which began in 2016, invites regional jazz artists to an evening of improvisation against the backdrop of the Bull City skyline every third Thursday during the summer. “Traditionally, the headliner performs a set, and then it becomes a jam session after that,” Al says.
“Pre-quarantine, I was asked to present music there on a weekly basis,” Al says. “It seemed fitting to name it ‘Al Strong Presents,’ because the curator in me, if you will, has always been inspired by the talent that is local to this area; Durham has just always been teeming with exceptional talent. The series gives me an opportunity to not only perform under my various group names but also provide opportunities for other artists to have a platform of expression. And thankfully, the community shows up and supports, regardless of who is headlining that particular evening.”
The program is less frequent now – only once a month – but Al is happy that it’s still around. “It’s just an amazing opportunity to curate such a vibrant community space on the rooftop.”
He also works with Missy Lane’s Assembly Room to curate its seasonal Summer Jazz Jam series. “It was created as a filling for my fellow colleagues at NCCU, who, during the school year, host a jam session on Thursday nights called Eagles’ Nest,” Al says, adding that “the music is continuing on Thursdays, it’s just under a different name. It’s become an opportunity for me again to showcase talent that I think people will enjoy and also players who I think have earned the right and have demonstrated a certain level of leadership to be able to run the jam session or host the jam session.” Acts he’s presented have included his former mentor, Ira Wiggins, as well as young and budding female artists like Shaena Ryan Martin and Ti Harmon.
Performing in and curating shows are near and dear to Al’s heart, but he’s just as dedicated to arts education. He assumed the directorship of Creative Arts in Public & Private Schools – CAPS – and Community Arts Partnerships at the Durham Arts Council in 2022. The program brings professional teaching artists to community-focused locales like community centers, schools, festivals and older adult centers throughout Durham, Granville, Orange and Person counties. Al manages requests from returning arts council clients and works to attract new clients to the program. The CAPS program reached 24,129 students, 631 educators and 329 noneducators, served at 114 sites and delivered 151 total programs in the 2023-24 school year.
“Arts education enhances collaborations and problem-solving skills and increases school attendance and test scores,” Al says. “It’s also critical that we are able to provide integration in schools that are historically underresourced, like Title I schools; we’re really committed to this work that serves such a wide demographic of our North Carolina community.
“What we hope will happen is that, in the arts, we’re training innovators and problem solvers, as we need those types of thinkers living within our community to overall make it a better place,” he says. “The arts are a great conduit for unifying the community through artistic voices and creating a sense of belonging.”
Fall Arts Guide
Can’t-miss concerts, exhibits and more COMPILED BY TARA THURMAN
Outsouth Queer Film Festival Aug. 8-11 – The Carolina Theatre hosts the second-largest film festival in the Southeast and the largest cultural arts event serving the LGBTQ+ community in the Carolinas, with world premiere screenings and thousands of tickets sold each year. carolinatheatre.org
Haptic Happenings: Exploring Identity Through Figure and Touch Aug. 9 – Sept. 30 – Stop by this exhibition of youth artwork that addresses personal identity and lived experiences at the Durham Art Guild’s Truist Gallery. The Haptic Happenings team aims to broaden the idea of how fine art can be made, exhibited and interacted with by its youth, utilizing a Durham Youth Leadership Fund grant for its 2023-24 season. durhamartguild.org
Donna Stubbs: ‘Found Landscapes’ Aug. 16 – Sept. 14 – 5 Points Gallery showcases the mixed-media artist’s new series with paint, paper, fabric and drawing materials that form brightly colored abstract landscapes. 5pointsgallery.com
‘The Nature of Things’ Aug. 16; Sept. 20; Oct. 18, 6-9 p.m. – Receptions for a show featuring artwork from all residents of the Golden Belt Artist Studios and Galleries space. goldenbeltarts.com
Joey Calderazzo & Lenora Zenzalai Helm Aug. 16, 6:30 and 9 p.m. – The pianist and jazz vocalist, respectively, join forces for a night of smooth melodies at Missy Lane’s Assembly Room missylanes.com
‘Second Nature: Photography in the Age of the Anthropocene’ Aug. 29 – Jan. 5 – The first major exhibit to explore the Anthropocene epoch through contemporary photography, this exhibit at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University features 45 artists from around the world and addresses urgent environmental issues and socioenvironmental trauma, offering diverse perspectives on humanity’s impact on the planet through striking visual imagery.
‘Clue’ Sept. 3-8 – Join six enigmatic guests at Boddy Manor for a night of murder and blackmail in this uproarious mystery inspired by the classic Hasbro board game and the 1985 movie that will have leave you guessing until the very end at the Durham Performing Arts Center dpacnc.com
As Water Falls Sept. 3-16 – A virtual and interactive waterfall created by Montreal-based art studio Iregular, the installation is designed for all ages and is free and open to public viewing at the Rubenstein Arts Center arts.duke.edu
Durham Singing Their Praises Sept. 6, 7:30 p.m. – Head to the Nelson Music Room at Duke University’s East Campus for a chamber music performance
PHOTO BY ANNA NORWOOD
IMAGE COURTESY OF GIDEON MENDEL AND AXIS GALLERY, NEW YORK & NEW JERSEY
by Mallarme Music, showcasing pieces for soprano, cello and piano by and for women. mallermemusic.org
‘Bull Durham, A New Musical’ Sept. 10-22 – This Theatre Raleigh production premieres at Duke University’s Reynolds Industries Theater, bringing Lauren Kennedy Brady’s Broadway touch to an adaptation of the 1988 movie classic. theatreraleigh.com/bull-durham
The Waybacks Sept. 12, 7:30 p.m. – The San Franciscobased music group brings a new twist to old school tunes at The Blue Note Grill with special guest The Karma Squad. thebluenotegrill.com
Takiri Folclor Latino Sept. 14, 11 a.m – The Durham-based group explores Latin American rhythms through dance with African, European and Indigenous influences at the Carolina Theatre carolinatheatre.org
Jarrod Lawson Sept. 14, 6:30 and 9 p.m. – The dynamic jazz singer and pianist known for his soulful voice and intricate compositions performs at Missy Lane’s Assembly Room missylanes.com
Bug Hunter and The Narcissist Cookbook Sept. 14, 7 p.m. – Fresh off the first season of their hit podcast, “Jam Mechanics,” the pair delivers impactful storytelling through songs about airplanes, fungus and ghosts at The Pinhook thepinhook.com
Susan Woodson: ‘Fish Gotta Swim, Birds Gotta Fly’ Sept. 20 – Oct. 12 –The Raleigh-based painter creates a sense of connection to nature through her paintings of fish and birds in this exhibit at 5 Points Gallery Her subjects showcase unique personalities as well as a sense of playfulness, conveyed through her vibrant use of color and powerful marks. 5pointsgallery.com
Pops on the Green Sept. 20, 6:30 p.m. – The Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle covers songs by George Gershwin, John Williams, Queen and more at the American Tobacco Campus chamberorchestraofthetriangle.org
Centerfest Sept. 21, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sept. 22, 11 a.m.-5p.m. –Durham Arts Council’s premier arts festival is back for its 49th year in the heart of downtown. Juried artists from across the Triangle and beyond exhibit their work in mediums including ceramics, paintings, photography, jewelry, fiber art, woodwork, glass and more. Watch unique street performers, musicians and dancers; visit the Kids Zone; grab a snack from food vendors; and learn more about Durham’s nonprofit and government services. durhamarts.org
BY
‘Constellations: Forty Years of Explorations Within Sacred Geometry’ Reception Sept. 21, 5-7 p.m. – Steven Ferlauto showcases a mesmerizing collection of works delving into the intricate beauty and spiritual depth of sacred geometry at Horse & Buggy Press and Friends This retrospective offers a profound journey through four decades of the artist’s dedication to capturing the harmony and symmetry of the cosmos.
Joanna Connor & The Wrecking Crew Sept. 26, 7:30 p.m. – The blues guitarist takes the stage with her band of young virtuoso musicians at The Blue Note Grill thebluenotegrill.com
Alyah Baker Sept. 27-28 – The dancer, entrepreneur and community activist presents a captivating exploration of Black queer identity by weaving together powerful narratives celebrating diversity and resilience through innovative choreography and emotive storytelling that challenges traditional ballet norms at Hayti Heritage Center hayti.org
Latin American Film Festival October – Organized by the Consortium in Latin American and Caribbean Studies at Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill, this festival features work by Latin filmmakers from more than 20 countries in Spanish, French, Portuguese and Indigenous languages, screening films and inviting speakers on issues such as migration, colonialism and globalization at locations in Durham and Chapel Hill.
PHOTO
BETH
LOWERY
good egg
Artist brilliantly blends classical Ukrainian folk tradition with modern creative expressions
BY TARA THURMAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
Leen el Naccash is a master in the intricate craft of pysanky, which involves decorating eggs with wax and dye. It’s a skill she’s perfected over several decades, and her passion remains as vibrant as the colors she uses.
The term “pysanky” is derived from the Ukrainian word “pysaty,” meaning “to write,” and holds profound cultural significance. In Ukrainian folklore, the creation of pysanky ensures that good triumphs over evil. Each design carries meaning: Animals symbolize prosperity, wheat signifies good harvest, and birds represent spring and happiness.
Leen’s journey with pysanky began in childhood when a magazine photo captured her imagination. She is self-taught and started writing pysanky with a sewing needle until she discovered the specialized kistka tool. This stylus, made for working with beeswax, enhanced the precision of Leen’s designs as her fascination with the geometry and colors grew alongside her dexterity. “When you write a pysanky, you write in reverse,” she explains. Leen honed her talent while balancing academic pursuits in applied math and statistics. She later studied at the Parsons School of Design for eight years, which further influenced her craft.
The process is meticulous, requiring wax to be applied to the egg to preserve colors during dyeing. Her retirement six years ago from the field of opinion research allowed her more time to devote to her art, and since the COVID-19 pandemic, she estimates having made slightly less than a thousand eggs.
Leen’s work is characterized by her use of cool-toned colors and unique, original designs, drawing inspiration from other crafts like quilting and mosaic tile work. Her exhibit at the Durham Art Guild’s Truist Gallery at the end of 2023 showcased 72 eggs in three acrylic tubes, each brimming with variety and imagination. In July, Leen showed “Pysanky Quilt,” which featured nine eggs with intricate quilt designs set in a geometric frame, at DAG’s annual member showcase.
Leen shares a love of art with her husband, Michael Winslow, a woodblock print artist. The couple shares a studio in their Mangum Flats apartment, often working side by side with grandchildren Oliver Ravine, 11, and Stella Ravine, 5, who both also show an interest and talent in art even at their young ages. Michael’s prints adorn the studio walls, adding to the creative atmosphere. “He’s really the one who is the artist in the family,” Leen says.
For Leen, pysanky is not only a meditative and gratifying practice, but also a means to share hope and optimism. She is excited about future projects, including coming up with new and exciting ways to display the pysanky, like using shadowboxes, and continuing teaching courses and seminars, having recently led a monthlong course at Emerson Waldorf School and conducted workshops through DAG. Leen aims to keep this ancient tradition alive through her works and inspire others with its timeless symbols of rebirth and renewal.
Each of Leen el Naccash’s vibrant pysanky eggs tells a story, blending a time-honored tradition with modern artistry.
‘The Girlfriends’ Guide to The White House’ October (dates TBD) – It’s 1998, and Hillary is having a bad night. Luckily, some former First Ladies have come to offer advice about men, marriage and politics. Join RedBird Theater Company for the best girls’ night ever with the premiere of this new comedy by North Carolina playwright Patricia Esperon.
Beerthoven October-November – Fullsteam Brewery hosts select members of the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle alongside guest musicians during this free event series. chamberorchestraofthetriangle.org
Artful Expressions: ‘The Way We See the World’ Oct. 1-31 – A contemporary show of realism and abstraction as seen through the eyes of artists Kerry Burch, Soonja Cook and Paul Gala at Golden Belt Artist Studios and Galleries goldenbeltarts.com
‘The Scarlet Letter’ Oct. 3-6 – Experience North Carolina Central University Theatre’s contemporary adaptation by JaMeeka Holloway of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, which offers a fresh take on the tale of Hester Prynne’s resilience and redemption in a puritanical society, exploring themes of sin, guilt and societal judgment. nccu.edu
Slingshot Festival Oct. 4 & 5 – Join this showcase of music, innovative art and technology featuring artists from around the world at The Fruit durhamfruit.com
Whitney Cummings Oct. 5, 7 p.m. – Join the comedian, actor, writer, producer, director and podcaster for an evening of laughter as she performs at the Carolina Theatre on her “Big Baby Tour.” carolinatheatre.org
Día de los Muertos Ofrenda Oct. 7 –Nov. 3 – Seven artists from the Inter-Latin American Artist Collective honor those who came before them with colorful oversized skulls as a Day of the Dead altar piece at Duke Chapel arts.duke.edu
Indigenous Women Artisans Oct. 8 – Nov. 17 – An exhibition by Raleigh documentarian Susu Hauser at Durham Art Guild’s Truist Gallery durhamartguild.org
Music Maker Foundation: Celebrating 30 Years Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m. – Taj Mahal, Dom Flemons and Jackson Browne lead a new generation in the mosaic of American roots music at Duke University’s Page Auditorium arts.duke.edu
Lewis Black Oct. 25, 8 p.m. – Join the King of Rant’s Farewell Tour at the Durham Performing Arts Center as the legendary comedian bids goodbye to life on the road after more than 35 years. The comedian is turning his attention to writing, expanding his podcast and returning as the voice of “Anger” in Pixar’s “Inside Out 2.” dpacnc.com
LP Giobbi Oct. 25, 9 p.m. – Enjoy a night of piano house music with LP Giobbi, the stage name of DJ and music producer Leah Chisholm, at The Fruit. durhamfruit.com
Bird-Watching: Pik-Kei Wong Oct. 25-26 – The Scotland-based choreographer from Hong Kong makes the U.S. debut of her solo performance at the Rubenstein Arts Center’s von der Heyden Studio Theater arts.duke.edu
‘Nosferatu’ Oct. 28, 7 p.m. – Watch this 1922 silent horror/fantasy film at the Carolina Theatre accompanied by Mallarme Music with a score composed by Eric Schwartz. mallermemusic.org
Annual Holiday Market Nov. 9, noon-6 p.m. – Find unique gifts of jewelry, sculpture, fiber art, leather goods, paintings, prints and other handmade goods from talented local artists and artisans at Golden Belt Artist Studios and Galleries goldenbeltarts.com
SistaStrings Nov. 14, 7 p.m. – The musical duo composed of sisters Chauntee Ross and Monique Ross, who play violin and cello, respectively, takes the stage at the Carolina Theatre as part of its Wavemakers Series curated by Grammynominated artist Rissi Palmer carolinatheatre.org
Steve Wynn Oct. 12, 7 p.m. – This member of The Dream Syndicate takes the stage at The Pinhook promoting his brand-new solo album, “Make It Right,” released in tandem with his memoir. thepinhook.com
slenderbodies Oct. 16, 8 p.m. – The indie-pop duo takes the stage at Motorco Music Hall to perform songs from their fourth studio album, “The Sugar Machine,” alongside special guest Tim Atlas. motorcomusic.com
Teddy Devereux: ‘Vitreous Humor’ Oct. 18 – Nov. 9 – Experience the Durhambased artist’s captivating science-themed – with a unique twist – fused glass artworks at 5 Points Gallery 5pointsgallery.com
‘God Talk’ Oct. 18, 6 p.m. – This documentary film screened at the Hayti Heritage Center explores the diverse and evolving role of spirituality and faith in American life, offering profound insights through personal stories and expert commentary that invites viewers to reflect on the intersection of religion, culture and identity in contemporary. hayti.org
Music in Miniature Oct. 20, 3 p.m. – The Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle kicks off the core of its performance repertoire with pieces by composers Respighi, Haydn, Debussy and Tchaikovsky at the Carolina Theatre chamberorchestraofthetriangle.org
Durham Symphony Orchestra Oct. 20, 3 p.m. – Enjoy an afternoon of classical and contemporary music performed by the semi-professional orchestra at Hayti Heritage Center hayti.org
The Temptations & The Four Tops Oct. 20, 7 p.m. – Enjoy an evening featuring two of the greatest names in American music history at the Durham Performing Arts Center. Experience the timeless hits and unforgettable performances that have defined the Motown sound for more than 50 years. dpacnc.com
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King Nobuyoshi Godwin: ‘Artist Is Having a Good Holiday!’ Nov. 15 – Dec. 14 – Check out the work of this Raleigh-based artist who embraces neurodiversity, bearing the unique gifts of autism and synesthesia, at his exhibit at 5 Points Gallery 5pointsgallery.com
Durham Art Walk Holiday Market Nov. 16-17 – Kickstart the holiday season as the Durham Arts Council hosts this annual tour featuring local artists, live music, food and fun at a number of different sites around the city. durhamarts.org
A Family Affair Nov. 17, 3 p.m. – The Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle continues its Signature Series and features compositions by various members of the Bach family at Duke University’s Nelson Music Room chamberorchestraofthetriangle.org
‘God’s Gonna Trouble the Water’ Nov. 21-24 – NCCU Theatre presents this work that delves into the depths of human struggle and spiritual triumph, offering a reflection on the power of hope through a poignant exploration of resilience and faith, intertwining historical and contemporary narratives through compelling prose. nccu.edu
The Durham Art Guild’s Truist Gallery hosts this exhibition of submitted works in various mediums and scales chosen and voted upon by DAG jurors. durhamartguild.org
Annual Holiday Concert December (date TBD) – Experience the magic of the season at North Carolina Jazz Ensemble’s holiday concert, featuring festive classics and jazzy renditions of your favorite holiday tunes at Hayti Heritage Center hayti.org
Amahl and the Night Visitors Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 8, 3 p.m. –This Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle’s Signature Series features musical guest mezzo-soprano LaToya Lain for a program of Menotti and Fauré at the Carolina Theatre chamberorchestraofthetriangle.org
The Bygones Dec. 8, 8 p.m. – The indie folk duo is joined by special guest Emma Harner at Motorco Music Hall motorcomusic.com
Oddville – Art Market and Performances Dec. 14 – Immerse yourself in this unique art show and sideshow at The Fruit, featuring music, unusual drinks and interactive experiences.. durhamfruit.com
‘A Christmas Carol’ Dec. 18-22 – Ira David Wood III’s holiday musical comedy of the Dickens classic celebrates its 51st anniversary at the Durham Performing Arts Center dpacnc.com
PHOTO
home
Bev Carr and Larry Loeser kept pieces that hold special meaning to them when they downsized from their 4,200-square-foot Chapel Hill home last year.
finding home again
A couple rediscovers the joys of a city neighborhood
BY ANNA-RHESA VERSOLA PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
Bev Carr opens her front door, steps inside, and a warm, familiar feeling returns – home.
“From the very first night we spent here, the space felt like home,” the retired marketing consultant says.
“Most days, when I wake
up, my first thought is how much I love the house, and how cozy and comfortable it feels. Almost everything in the house has meaningful memories, stories about our lives together and nostalgia.”
Bev and her husband, Larry Loeser, president of Piedmont Business Advisors and former President and CEO of Harrington Bank in Chapel Hill, lived in Chapel Hill for 24 years. Their two sons, now grown, settled in Durham with their young families. Bev and Larry have four grandchildren, ages 1, 2, 3, and 4. They found themselves driving over sometimes twice a day to help out with the little ones. So, the couple began searching for an older home with a first floor primary bedroom in the Trinity Park neighborhood to be even closer to their family. They found a gem – a 2,800-square-foot Craftsman-style bungalow built in 1930.
“After we purchased it, we didn’t know what to do with the house and how we could achieve our goals for a livable space,” Bev says. Larry spoke with his sister, Debbie Kulig, who lives in Miami, Florida, and is married to an accomplished architect, Doug Kulig. “Debbie told us to send her the floor plan,” Bev says. “The next day, Doug sent us a drawing of a new floor plan, which we loved right away. The day after that, he sent us construction plans that showed which walls had to come down and the new walls to build. We were all set!”
Larry and Bev selected Miles Honeycutt of Longleaf Building and Renovation, which prides itself on using only local subcontractors
ABOVE Summer snacks, including macarons from Rose’s Noodles, Dumplings & Sweets, and a pitcher of pink lemonade provide pops of color against the soft blue and green palette throughout the 1930 Craftsman bungalow.
BELOW Bev and Larry updated the landscape and plants in their backyard garden. Bev brought these “Bright Eyes” Phlox paniculata from their previous home.
and artisans. Design work began in November 2022, and renovations got under way in January 2023. Bev and Larry moved in six months later. “We were very happy with Miles and the wonderful job that he finished on time for us,” Bev says.
CURB APPEAL
Oak trees line the street and shade the sidewalk that curves up to the brick steps painted white. Lush garden beds with evergreen hellebores and pink roses complement the pastel exterior. A porch swing beckons on the right, and an outdoor seating area is ready on the left. A stained glass pane decorates the center of a blue front door, and a heart-shaped chalkboard bears a welcome message for expected visitors.
Larry says the location is perfect for its walkability and its strong connection to his own personal history. His mother was born and raised in Trinity Park, and she attended the nearby Watts Elementary School. Her childhood home stood on the site that Trinity Park now occupies, Larry says.
“We enjoy being able to take walks around our neighborhood and walk to the Durham Farmers Market every Saturday morning,”
ABOVE Larry teaches his grandson, Teddy Loeser, 3, some tunes in the cozy upstairs music loft.
RIGHT Bev and Larry greet passersby from their charming front porch.
FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, the practice of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates has been trusted to provide specialized care in the Chapel Hill, Durham, and Sanford communities. Our four board certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons provide the highest quality of patient care with the latest diagnostic and treatment tools available to assure patient safety and comfort.
Drs. Sacco, Vandersea, Ruvo and Serlo practice a full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery with expertise ranging from corrective jaw surgery to wisdom tooth removal.
DEBRA M. SACCO DMD, MD
BRIAN VANDERSEA DDS
ANDREW T. RUVO DMD, MD
ADAM D. SERLO DMD, MD
“Larry says. He and Bev regularly tread the gravel track on Duke University’s East Campus, where Larry lived during his undergraduate years there. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics at Duke before pursuing a master’s in finance and accounting from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
The couple left the Chicago area for North Carolina in 1999 and raised their sons, Mike Loeser and Charles Loeser, in Chapel Hill. Mike recently moved from Durham to Houston, Texas, with his wife, Sarah Skrobialowski, and their two children, Everett Loeser, 5, and Eleanor Loeser, 2 ½. Charles still lives just three blocks away in Trinity Park with his wife, Lauren Shor, and their kids, Teddy Loeser, 3 ½, and Maggie Loeser, 1 ½.
One unexpected bonus of living here, and probably our favorite thing about this neighborhood, is how friendly it is. We’ve met so many neighbors of all ages and enjoy seeing people out and about and talking to them.
– BEV CARR
ELEMENTS OF SURPRISE
Renovating an older home can sometimes reveal unexpected issues and unique details, like the knob and tube wiring – which was commonly used in homebuilding in the United States from the 1880s through the 1940s – that the pair discovered.
“We had to replace all of the electrical wiring in the house,” Larry says. “The electricians had to open every wall to run the new wiring, and every wall in the house had to be replastered and repainted.”
The walls and ceilings, including the coved ceilings in the upstairs bedrooms, bear another distinctive feature of some homes in that era – rough plaster. A team of skilled artisans repaired every crack and fissure. But, the process is messy, so all of the floors, including planks of heart pine and oak, had to be refinished.
The entire kitchen was gutted and renovated with updated appliances, cabinets and countertops. A loadbearing wall was replaced with an I-beam to allow a new configuration for the kitchen, first-floor bedroom
Little Maggie Loeser, 1, and her brother, Teddy, snack on fruit, cheese and crackers while mom, Lauren Shor, accepts a refreshing drink from Bev. Charles Loeser chats with his dad.
closet, main bathroom, a new laundry room, an added half bath and a walk-in pantry.
Other major improvements enhanced the home’s safety and function. The previously damp basement was treated, waterproofed and is now used as a storage space. Additional beams and piers fortified the nearly century-old foundation. Upstairs, the second full bathroom was completely renovated, with the exception of the ceiling and its skylights.
An unforeseen bonus has been a wholehouse generator, which came with the home and has saved the day during occasional power outages, like when Larry and Bev’s next-door neighbor was able to store her infant’s bottles of milk in their freezer while they all waited for the electricity to return.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was in the attic, where Larry discovered two handwritten notes left behind in 1973 and 1974 by Mollie V. Teer – a surname that holds a place of prominence in Durham’s history. She wanted Carolyn Warren to have blankets, linens, a trunk and other items stored in the attic. Larry left the notes in place as part of the home’s provenance.
The spacious and bright primary bathroom became a reality with a clever home layout redesign.
AD PT A PET
Veronica
This big chonk loves a good meal and is enthusiastic about new things – life can just be so exciting through the eyes of a pup! At 8 years old, Veronica is the type of dog who loves to have all the information before becoming comfortable in any situation. Let her sniffer get to work, then she’ll settle right down once she feels safe.
Stretch
This 5-year-old Great Dane is house- and crate-trained and respects personal boundaries. He knows how to enjoy the simple pleasures in life; he’s always up for a tasty treat or a cozy nap. He has a laid-back, easygoing attitude that makes everyone feel at ease, and is loyal, kind-hearted and ready to be your forever furry companion.
Hazel
Hazel is sweet and sensitive, but energetic and happy. She gets along well with other dogs, but does prefer laying in the sunshine over rough play. Hazel’s favorite activities are chasing a ball and receiving gentle affection and treats. She’s sure to win you over with her loving energy and tendency to be a Velcro dog.
Adoption fees for cats are $95 and $50 for the second cat when adopting two together. Dog adoption fees range from $125 to $175. Fees for other animals vary. The shelter, located at 2117 E. Club Blvd., is open Mon.-Tue. and Thu.-Fri., 10:30am-5pm; Wed. 10:30am-6pm; and Sat. 10am-2pm. For more information, call 919-560-0640 or visit apsofdurham.org.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ASSORTED POPPIES PHOTO
BREAK FROM THE PAST
Bev became an expert user of online marketplace platforms during the renovation process. She and Larry knew they would need to pare down the belongings from their previous 4,200-square-foot, three-level home to fit into the bungalow.
“We had a three-car garage with a storage room and a 1,200-square-foot [unfinished] attic with 15-foot high ceilings [at our old house],” Larry says. “It had a pool table and a pingpong table and miles of storage.”
The new home does not have a garage, and all the closets are tiny, which is typical for older dwellings in the region. Even the previous pantry, with its shelves barely deep enough for a single can, left much room for improvement.
Bev and Larry check emails from their breakfast nook and built-in office space next to the kitchen, enjoying the backyard garden view through large windows.
Larry was skeptical about downsizing at first. “It is kind of a surprise,” he says, “a big house with all the space you could ever dream of and more – and you think, ‘How will you be able to live in half this [space]?’” The answer, he found, is, “Yes, you can. It’s, in fact, better.” BY
“We measured and re-measured many times to envision what furniture we’d bring and how we’d lay out the spaces,” Bev says. “All of our measurements and plans worked exactly as we had envisioned them, with one exception: a massive rolltop desk, which we had thought would be useful in the second-floor guest room. When we got here, we realized that it was much too big to get up the relatively narrow stairs and would be too large in the room. We ended up donating it.”
Bev praises Larry for his tenacity in cleaning out, painting, rebuilding and reorganizing the small closets throughout the house. “He performed miracles in creating a dry, functional storage space in the basement – previously a dungeon,” she says.
COMIN’ IN
H“Tapered” ring by Niessing. Our diamond or yours.
Square
A beloved Victorian-era oak and glass secretary desk displays Bev and Larry’s cherished antique china and pottery collection.
HAPPY PLACE
Bev and Larry say all the hard work and many adjustments ultimately paid off in spades.
“We spend a lot of time in the kitchen and breakfast room, which also serves as our office,” Bev says. Large windows provide a scenic view of the backyard patio they installed, featuring large flagstones and flowering plants. “We can enjoy looking out into our garden,” she adds. “Our [firstfloor] bedroom is a serene setting, and our [primary] bath is a spacious and bright space. We opened up the previously nonfunctioning fireplace and have enjoyed many fires with our grandchildren. The front porch with its porch swing has been another favorite spot.”
The Trinity Park neighborhood brings back a sense of community they felt when they lived in Evanston decades ago. In case it wasn’t already clear, Bev and Larry adore where they live – and the feeling is reciprocated. “One thing about this neighborhood is that we have made so many friends,” Bev says. “Our son’s friends live all over the neighborhood, and they have little kids. We’ve met so many nice people.”
YOUR DESIGN
BUILD PARTNER
Specializing in kitchen and bathroom remodeling as well as extensive renovation, we help clients all over the Triangle improve their homes with the kind of caring attention that makes us feel like family.
Visit cqchome.com or call 919-971-5119 to schedule your personalized consultation today.
Larry and Bev love strolling through their neighborhood, whether it’s to visit their son, Charles, and his family, or to head to the Durham Farmers Market on Saturday mornings.
Building Dreams
Discover the future of home design at the 2024 Triangle Parade of Homes
COMPILED BY LEAH BERRY
The Home Builders
Associations of Durham, Orange & Chatham Counties and RaleighWake County are gearing up to present the 2024 Triangle Parade of Homes – a self-guided tour showcasing new home construction with innovative designs, products and technology at various price ranges – on Sept. 28-29, Oct. 4-6 and Oct. 11-13 from noon to 5 p.m. each day.
The free event features more than 200 homes throughout Durham, Orange, Chatham and Wake counties, where prospective homebuyers are encouraged to tour the homes in a relaxed and comfortable setting.
“The Triangle Parade of Homes is a great opportunity to check out new home building technology as well as the latest green building techniques,” says HBADOC CEO Holly Fraccaro.
“Furthermore, the Triangle Parade event provides insight into the local real
estate market,” HBARW executive vice president/CEO Paul Kane adds. “Visitors will get a sense of current pricing trends, the types of homes available in the area and community amenities where the homes are located, all of which are valuable to those searching for a new home or considering a move.”
Builders’ designs run the gamut, but HBADOC Director of Special Events Julie Carrow says she’s noticed trends across the board this year, including: gourmet kitchens fully equipped for entertaining, open floor plans, energy-efficient features (such as spray foam insulation, advanced framing techniques and electric vehicle charging outlets in garages), phantom screened porches, first-floor owners’ suites, coffered ceilings and oversized guest retreats, ensuring comfort and privacy. Join this year’s tour to see it all for yourself and find inspiration in these innovative homes.
Beazer Homes’ entry in the parade is a stunning 3,428-square-foot residence located in Stonewood Estates at 1100 Balsawood Dr. The home’s highlights include an induction cooktop, a guest suite with a full bath on the first floor, and Mohawk Revwood flooring throughout the first floor and loft. The elegant interior features ceramic tile in the full baths and laundry room, 9-foot ceilings and a gourmet kitchen with a range hood vented to the exterior. Additional amenities include a serving pantry with wood shelving, a free-standing tub and walk-in shower in the primary bath, and quartz countertops.
Emphasizing energy efficiency and sustainability, this home is U.S. Department of Energy Certified Zero Energy Ready, Energy Star Certified and Indoor AirPlus qualified. It features advanced framing techniques with 2-by-6 exterior wall framing, R5 continuous insulation, R21 spray foam insulation, Ply Gem dual-pane windows with low-emissivity glass, and a whole-house fresh air system. The exterior is clad in low-maintenance James Hardie ColorPlus fiber cement siding, and the fully conditioned attic is insulated with R40 spray foam and features a thermostat. The Daikin 18 SEER heat pump furnace with MERV 8 or better filters and a high-efficiency hybrid
Sage Built’s 2024 home entry features clean geometry and minimalistic modernity, with large windows and energy-efficient features throughout.
This David Weekley Homes’ kitchen is fully equipped for entertaining, with a spacious island, ample cooking space and practical storage components, ensuring that homeowners are prepared for dinner parties and gatherings of the like.
heat pump 50-gallon water heater ensure optimal comfort and energy savings. There’s also a 240-volt/50amp EV outlet in the garage, and the house is built solar ready with conduit and a dedicated spot in the circuit breaker.
“Beazer Homes is proud to build our very first community where 100% of the homes are certified by the U.S. Department of Energy as a DOE Zero Energy Ready Home,” says Beazer Homes Senior Marketing Manager Taylor Brossman. “This home received a HERS [Home Energy Rating System] score of 39, which is 61% more efficient than a typical new home!”
Homes by Dickerson boasts three houses on the tour, each embodying unique character, from urban farmhouse to elegant grandiose.
“The Grandeur,” located at 1421 Bivins St., is a 4,241-square-foot home. The manse is aptly named; it embodies prestige and refinement, having drawn unique inspiration from the Mary Duke Biddle Estate, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and located on an adjacent property. “We incorporated arched details seen at the estate into features like the front door and kitchen range hood,” says designer Katherine Trogdon. “Throughout Durham, you’ll find many Tudor and Arts and Crafts-style homes, and our design reflects this heritage. Our goal was to introduce a fresh take on these classic architectural styles that have defined Durham for centuries.” The color palette of the home is neutral, with darker elements incorporated to enhance the sophisticated atmosphere and brass metals mixed in to complement the elegance of the home. “We used lilac marble, which has a unique purple undertone,” builder Cam White says. “This material was chosen to evoke the classic, traditional feel of the Pinecrest mansion [Mary Duke Biddle Estate], but with a modern twist.”
“We meticulously thought through every detail,” Katherine says, “from the stained windows to the cabinetry and the media/theater space, to ensure it embodied our desired style and aesthetic. The Grandeur serves as a gateway to the upcoming Pinecrest neighborhood, incorporating elements from the historic mansion into a modern design.”
“Sumptuous Serenity” at 1012 Whitehall Circle, is the largest of Homes by Dickerson’s three entries at 4,569 square feet. “Our vision when designing this home was to create a space that combines opulence with a serene atmosphere, offering a retreat-like experience amid the modern lifestyle of the community it is in, which is 751 South,” Katherine says. The house blends urban colonial architecture with artisanship, offering a home that harmonizes with its surroundings while embodying a refined sense of style. The home integrates classic red brick exteriors and carefully considered roof massing, which is complemented by custom rail details and a warm sage trim color. “In Sumptuous Serenity, we’ve focused on bringing warmth and craftsmanship throughout the interior,” builder Terry Karlson says. “You’ll find stain-grade elements such as columns, beams, hardwood and cabinets that truly stand out.”
“The color palette was carefully chosen to enhance the home’s feel and ambiance,” Katherine says. “We opted for natural elements, like stained wood and classic marbling, complemented by soft pastels. These choices parallel a serene journey, reminiscent of walking along a road not taken.”
The home strikes a balance between aesthetics and functionality, with designated spaces that facilitate both communal living and private retreats. “When people walk into this home for the first time, we want them to feel comfort and warmth,” Katherine says. “A place of tranquility in an active and vibrant community.”
“Siloside Splendor” is a 3,064-square-foot home at 1049 Coldspring Circle that draws inspiration from the natural surroundings and historical elements nearby. “The proximity of the barn and the silo in this community influenced the urban farmhouse style we embraced,” Katherine says. “We’ve chosen a bold exterior paint palette complemented by cedar accents to modernize classic farmhouse details, harmonizing with the established Croasdaile Farm neighborhood. Inside, warm and earthy selections are balanced with neutral marbled and ceramic elements, creating a mellow and inviting space.” The name originates from the 1940s, when the land was renowned for its prized golden Guernsey cows and milk production. The 1,110-acre farm also cultivated corn, hay, soybeans, tobacco and apples; the barn and silo, which once housed the cows, are all that remains, now picturesque elements of the community.
“The farmhouse style with a modern-day flair really embodies the character of the neighborhood while adding a unique touch,” builder Chad Hutton says. “We’ve been building in Croasdaile Farm for a decade and have valued our partnership with the developer. This latest phase, named Bronze Leaf, may be our last opportunity to build townhouses in the neighborhood, so we aimed to deliver a quality and cohesive design.”
ABOVE This living room by Beazer Homes (exterior pictured below) demonstrates a more open floor plan, providing an abundance of natural light, spacious sightlines and convenience in entertaining.
A Seamless Move!
n Durham, North Carolina, Virginia, the visionary behind VK Home Design, faced an unexpected opportunity. An unsolicited offer on her modern showcase home led her to a new chapter in Chatham County. She needed a trusted partner to handle the logistics of moving her delicate art pieces and bespoke furniture.
Enter TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, the locally owned moving company Virginia had trusted since 2004. Virginia shares, “Their professionalism and attention to detail have always impressed me. Whether it’s my personal move or a client’s luxury relocation, they deliver exceptional service every time.”
Offering a comprehensive suite of services, including packing, moving, storage, and junk removal, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK ensured every item was transported safely. For Virginia, overseeing the design and construction of her new home, this reliability was invaluable.
“Moving can be incredibly stressful, but TWO MEN AND A TRUCK made it seamless,” Virginia recalls. “Their team managed everything, allowing me to focus on my new home.”
As Virginia settled into her new art-inspired residence, the movers carefully positioned her cherished sculptures and paintings. The process, from the initial knock on her door in Durham to the final placement of art in Chatham County, was a testament to the impeccable service provided by TWO MEN AND A TRUCK.
Virginia’s testimonial underscores the importance of choosing a trusted partner for any move, big or small. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK ensured a smooth and stress-free transition, allowing her to continue creating stunning designs for her luxury clients.
Live Well Every day
pcon Communities aims to build homes, neighborhoods, and lifestyles that offer a remarkable experience. Our communities are designed to help homeowners enjoy the best moments of life. From award-winning floor plan layouts to state-of-the-art amenities, Epcon homes and communities are perfect for entertaining, relaxing, and cherishing time with family and friends.
Take Your Time Back
At Epcon Communities, we understand that you have more important things to do than maintenance work. Whether it’s making memories with your family, spending quality time with friends, or pursuing your hobbies, you deserve a comfortable and hassle-free living experience. Our homeowners’ association-maintained communities ensure that you can focus on what truly matters to you.
Your Private Oasis Awaits
Our homes are designed to connect you to the outdoors and your community. A private courtyard forms the centerpiece of your home, providing access to a quiet, peaceful oasis just steps from anywhere in your home.
Your New Lifestyle Awaits
Epcon Communities are more than just places to live; they are designed to enhance your lifestyle and provide the comfort and convenience you deserve. Our homes and communities offer the perfect backdrop for creating lasting memories, enjoying time with loved ones, and pursuing your passions.
The Courtyards on Farrington
• Offering single-family homes
• Starting from the Upper $500,000s
• Located in Durham, moments from Chapel Hill
• Amenities include clubhouse with fitness center, pool and walking trails
The Courtyard at Oak Grove
• Offering single-family homes and townhomes
• Starting from the $400,000s
• Located in Durham, moments from Brier Creek
• Amenities will include clubhouse with fitness center, pool, pickleball, pocket parks and walking trails
Ready to experience the Epcon difference? Contact us today to schedule a tour and discover how you can Live Well Every Day with Epcon Communities.
BIZ BRIEFS
Compiled by Lauren Rouse
COMINGS & GOINGS
Research
Triangle Foundation
President and CEO Scott Levitan was named among the state’s most influential leaders in economic development, life sciences, real estate and construction, education, nonprofits, transportation and more on Business North Carolina’s Power List 2024. Levitan joined the foundation that manages Research Triangle Park – which is currently adding housing and recreational projects to complement its traditional office-lab mix, including the projected $1.5 billion Hub RTP development – in 2017.
City Manager
Wanda Page announced her retirement after 36 years of service. In her letter to Mayor Leonardo Williams and City Council members, Page said she “believes now is the right moment to begin the transition of passing the torch to new leadership and allow fresh perspectives to shape the future of our beloved city.” Page joined the City of Durham in 1987 as a senior staff accountant and served in several progressively responsible positions before being named deputy city manager in 2006. She was named interim city manager in October 2020 and officially appointed in March 2021.
The Durham Chamber of Commerce held a ribboncutting ceremony for Braxton Townhomes’ new community in May. Leasing specialist Stacey Sopko (pictured) cut the ribbon during the event, which included several Chamber members, Chamber ambassadors, a representative
from Congresswoman Valerie Foushee’s office and local businesses. Braxton Townhomes is located at 719 Graphite Dr. and offers three-bedroom, twoand-a-half-bath townhomes with varied layouts and price points to fit diverse needs.
Tiny Earth Toys, a Durham-based startup focused on making children’s toys more sustainable, shuttered after four years. Co-founders Rachael Classi (pictured) and Catherine Bhattachar initially focused on subscription toy rentals and later pivoted to design a dollhouse that would convert into a bookshelf as a child grew up. While this product generated excitement in a successful Kickstarter fundraiser, transitioning it into a physical product in a highly competitive
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joined Gov. Roy Cooper on a summer construction tour of North Carolina, with visits to Raleigh, Winston-Salem and Durham, in July. While in Durham, Secretary Buttigieg, Gov. Cooper and Mayor Leonardo Williams celebrated the recent announcement of a $12 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) federal grant through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for the Holloway Street: Safe Access to Durham’s Busiest Transit route project to improve 33 intersections between Elizabeth Street and Junction Road, including adding ADA curb ramps and crosswalks, tightening curb radii, upgrading bus stop amenities and closing sidewalk gaps. The project is scheduled for completion by 2027, with the city contributing an additional $3 million. Buttigieg also met with some of the small business owners and community members who will benefit directly from this investment and visited other infrastructure projects across the state.
space proved too heavy a lift. The company canceled its Kickstarter campaign, did not bring in any of the backers’ funding. “Our priority is to maintain transparency and ensure that your time and trust in us are respected,” the company posted to its Instagram. “Please stay tuned on how we plan to keep this community alive.”
AWARDS & HONORS
Triangle Business Journal recognized its 2024 Life Science Award winners, celebrating individuals and research organizations blazing trails in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, clinical research, human health, medical devices and diagnostics.
Sheila Mikhail (pictured), co-founder of Asklepios BioPharmaceutical Inc., received a Lifetime Achievement Award; Jude Samulski, AskBio cofounder, former president and chief scientific officer, also won an award for outstanding research from universities or research institutes. Other Durham honorees recognized for groundbreaking contributions to the field include: Creo
President and co-founder Mike Townley (Best Consultant); KBI Biopharma Inc. President and CEO J.D. Mowery (CEO of the Year); Harpe Bioherbicide & Traitology Inc. (Best Ag-Bio Companies); Asensus Surgical (Best Medical Device Company); Novo Nordisk (Company of the Year – Public) Kriya Therapeutics (Company of the Year – Private); and Gilero (Best Early-stage Product Development Company).
Coastal Credit Union is among Business North Carolina’s 2024 Best Employers. This is the seventh time Coastal has won the award over the past eight years, and it marks the 10th year in a row that the company has earned at least one best workplace award. “It’s great to be consistently recognized as one of the top employers in North Carolina, an amazing state with plenty of great companies,” Coastal Credit Union President and CEO Tyler Grodi said. “For Coastal, success is never about the trophies; it’s always about our people. Our strategy and our commitment is to develop an awesome, intentional culture that will help us attract and retain great employees [who] will help the credit union, our members and our communities to succeed together.”
PHOTO BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
PHOTO BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
PHOTO COURTESY OF DURHAM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
PHOTO COURTESY OF U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Landscape architecture studio Surface 678 earned a general design award from the American Society of Landscape Architects for its work on Burdens Creek, an eco-friendly oasis of community space that aligns with the vision of Hub RTP in Research Triangle Park. Sustainable landscape design enhancements to a former channelized storm drain created a recreational amenity that features native plants and connected boardwalks, providing a habitat for natural pollinators and a serene space for all to take in while also mitigating storm surge demand and increasing biodiversity.
MOVEMENT & DEVELOPMENT
Apple announced it would pause plans for a 3,000-job campus in Research Triangle Park. The company announced in 2021 that it would invest $1 billion over 10 years, including more than $550 million toward construction in RTP, but has decided to delay the project for up to four years after a review of its real estate.
Biotechnology company TruLab announced its new headquarters at Frontier RTP in June. Four large pharma and numerous biotech organizations globally trust TruLab to reduce the risk of delays, improve patient retention and ensure protocol compliance by providing realtime technology for clinical trial oversight. “We are thrilled to relocate TruLab to Frontier RTP,” CEO Scott Ogle said. “This move marks a significant milestone in our journey to drive growth and achieve our strategic goals. Frontier RTP’s emphasis on the life sciences community and innovative thinking aligns perfectly with our vision, and we are excited to witness the opportunities this relocation will bring.” TruLab COO David Chung said that with this move, he plans on hiring another 100 people over the next couple of years.
Custom golf club fitter Club Champion opened its newest store at 8128 Renaissance Pkwy, Ste. B5, in June. The location
features two indoor hitting bays with Trackman launch monitors for analyzing performance, a SAM PuttLab system to find the perfect putter and a build shop for repairing and assembling golf clubs by hand. The roughly 2,300-square-foot space also includes a demo matrix to display the head and shaft options that make up its 65,000 hittable combinations. “Our goal is always finding the best combination of components to help customers lower their scores and better enjoy the game,” said founder Nick Sherburne. As part of the store’s grand opening, golfers can get full bag fittings for $100 with an equipment purchase through Aug. 18.
FUNDING
The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded GoTriangle a $25 million RAISE grant to help build the $58.2 million Triangle Mobility Hub – a multimodal transportation center incorporating 10 new 40-foot battery-electric buses and charging infrastructure located at the intersection of NC Highway 54 and the railroad corridor owned by North Carolina Railroad Company in Research Triangle Park. “GoTriangle has been working to improve regional transit connectivity, and this federal RAISE grant will allow for a giant leap in that effort,” said GoTriangle President and CEO Charles Lattuca. “The mobility hub will provide better linkages [among] local and regional bus service, on-demand microtransit and future bus rapid transit and passenger rail projects.” In addition to the grant, the project will be funded with local allocations from the voterapproved, dedicated half-cent sales tax for transit in Wake, Durham and Orange counties.
An additional $5.5 million of the cost will be supported by federal funds that the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization awarded to the project. Rep. Deborah Ross, Rep. Valerie Foushee and Rep. Wiley Nickel requested a further $9 million to support the project as a part of the FY 2025 Appropriations bill.
The Coastal Credit Union Foundation awarded $438,000 to 16 nonprofits in North Carolina during its Q2 2024 grant cycle. The grants given to these nonprofits will improve access to resources and support financial well-being programs throughout the community. Durham recipients include Urban Ministries of Durham ($50,000), Children’s Miracle Network/ Duke Children’s Hospital ($5,000), United Way of the Greater Triangle ($100,000), Youth Ambassadors of Service ($10,000) and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Durham and Orange Counties ($20,000).
El Futuro, a leader in providing bilingual and culturally responsive mental health services, received a significant funding commitment from Alliance Health to support and expand its Mentes Fuertes (Strong Minds) program. The initiative draws inspiration from the successful promotoras movement within Latin American communities and global mental health strategies like friendship benches, setting a precedent for community-driven mental health care. This vital support, totaling more than $464,000 annually over the next two years,
will enhance and solidify the presence of community mental health workers in the region. “I am deeply grateful for the support and commitment of Alliance Health … to El Futuro,” said Mary Jones, client care and engagement manager and director of the Mentes Fuertes program. “Our community mental health workers exemplify the profound impact and compassion required to change lives, showcasing what it means to be community-led.”
PARTNERSHIPS & ACQUISITIONS
DaVinci Education CEO and co-founder Allison Wood (pictured) announced that the company joined Achieve Partners’ portfolio as part of a strategic merger with Elentra, a fellow pioneer in medical education technology, in May. “I’m so excited about what we can do together, and I’m convinced that our joint efforts will have an outsized impact on the community of educators, leaders and learners we serve,” Wood said. Originally LCMS Plus, a Duke University spinout co-founded by David Wiener that used software to manage the educational programs of the university’s health science schools, the Durham-based startup eventually rebranded as DaVinci Education. It was recognized as EdTech Digest’s Best Higher Education Solution in 2020.
PHOTO COURTESY OF GOTRIANGLE
BULLS EYE VIEW
Tby Matt Gladdek Vice President of Economic Development, The Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce
his past year I’ve spoken with many companies considering expanding their businesses in the Triangle area and the most important question for all of them is, “do you have people here I can hire?” It is the easiest question to answer.
The Durham Chamber has much to celebrate in economic development: since 2020 we’ve worked on 23 business recruitment or expansion projects that account for almost 9,000 announced jobs and almost $3.3 billion in investment into our city.
create over 200 jobs and invest $10 million dollars here. Their mission is to create a reliable EV charging network across the United States, and their HQ will be right here. They chose our region because of the talent and because they felt welcomed to become part of our community.
Durham’s economic development projects are bringing remarkable benefits to our community. While the obvious advantage is the creation of high-wage job opportunities that improve the living standards of Durham County families, there are numerous other benefits to celebrate.
Our region produces over 40,000 college and university graduates a year. 54% of Durham County Residents over the age of 25 have at least a bachelor’s degree and almost 25% of residents have a graduate degree. In addition to that, Durham Tech’s customized job training programs help Durham residents create a pathway to good paying jobs in advanced manufacturing, lab work, and other job pathways without needing a college degree.
Just this past June we attracted Ionna, a company created by BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis. Ionna plans to
These projects involve significant capital investment, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue for the city and county. This revenue plays a crucial role in funding essential infrastructure improvements like roads, sidewalks, and water/ sewer lines, which are necessary for our growing community.
The increased property tax revenues enhance the quality of education in Durham Public Schools (DPS), benefiting the young residents of our county. Additionally, the influx of property tax revenue from the private sector reduces the property tax burden on residential property.
Moreover, our County Government incentive agreements, require these economic development projects to:
1. Diversify supply chains by sourcing goods and services from minority and woman-owned businesses in Durham.
2. Make environmentally sustainable decisions to reduce their carbon footprints.
Since 2010 our workforce has grown by 30% and our unemployment rate has managed to stay very low, currently it is only 2.9%
3. Collaborate with local workforce development partners to promote local hiring.
Currently, prioritizing local hiring is of utmost importance. Many major company announcements featured in the press highlight partnerships with institutions like Durham Tech Community College, NC Central University, DPS, the Durham Workforce Development Board, and other workforce partners. These collaborations aim to connect local students and residents in Durham with new job opportunities.
One exceptional public-private workforce development partnership deserving of mention is the Building Up Local Life Sciences (BULLS) initiative. BULLS focuses on equity-centered workforce development, targeting underrepresented students aged 18 to 24. The initiative aims to recruit these students for promising employment opportunities in the life sciences industry within Durham. BULLS offers scholarships and financial assistance to program participants, enabling them to receive specialized training and academic credentials in the thriving life sciences sector at Durham Tech.
BULLS is the result of a collaboration between Durham Tech, the NC Biotech Center, Durham County, Made in Durham, the City of Durham, and the Durham Chamber. Initiatives like BULLS exemplify the commitment of local partners to create opportunities for all Durham residents to engage in the community’s growth.
Additionally, in 2022 Durham residents voted for a $112.7 Million dollar bond referendum for a new Life Science Training Center, and Novo Nordisk has donated an additional $6 Million to support the project. This is the biggest donation in Durham Tech’s history.
To stay updated on the work of the Chamber, be sure to participate in events such as our Mid-Year Economic Outlook, our Leadership Forum & Holiday Reception, engaging in conversations with the Chamber, and our numerous public and private partners.
Durham’s economic transformation is an exciting journey, and the Durham Chamber wants to know: how can we help you grow?
For more information on Durham Economic Development, Scan the QR code.
NET WORKING
TAKE NO BULL WOMEN’S CONFERENCE
By Olivia Paul | Photography by Rotcelis Rose
The Durham Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Take No Bull Women’s Conference on June 13 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel Raleigh-Durham Airport at Research Triangle Park. The event invited business women and their allies to gain insights from community leaders on how to: network; advocate for themselves; be an ally and a mentor to other women; and take up space during the event’s various panels and interactive conversations.
Attendees spent the morning in breakout sessions discussing topics such as navigating a male-dominated world, the importance of female leadership and presence in the C-suite, mental health in the workplace and more.
Radio One Raleigh-Foxy 107.1-104.3 radio personality and entrepreneur Karen Clark emceed the event while DJ Twenty3 kept the crowd energized. Additional speakers included Durham Chamber President & CEO Geoff Durham and Vice President of Community Investment Angelique Stallings as well as Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams and Kompleks Creative Principal and Creative Director Tobias Rose Duke Office of Durham and Community Affairs’ Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership & Community Development Assistant Vice President Mayme WebbBledsoe was honored during the program with a Take No Bull Legacy award. The conference concluded with a keynote speech from Duke University Vice President, Director of Athletics and Adjunct Professor of Business Administration Nina King
1 DJ Twenty3.
2 Discover Durham Chief Marketing Officer Cara Rousseau and Miles Partnership Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Najauna White.
3 Longfellow Real Estate Partners Director of Design and Construction Lindsey Brown; Right Time Realty CEO Kimberly Williams; Research Triangle Foundation Vice President of Marketing and Communications Kelly Propst; and LeChase Construction Regional Director of Community Engagement and Inclusion Denise Barnes.
4 Duke Office of Durham and Community Affairs’ Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership & Community Development Senior Program Coordinator Jesse Huddleston with Durham Chamber Vice President of Community Investment Angelique Stallings.
5 WM Leadership & Legacy Coaching LLC Founder and CEO and retired N.C. Central University Director of Athletics Ingrid WickerMcCree moderated a panel on which Durham Fire Department Battalion Chief Angelica Stroud Greene, M Moser Associates Raleigh-Durham Director Jen Sisak and UNC-Wilmington Deputy Director of Athletics Tiffany D. Tucker spoke.
A TALE OF TWO CITIES
Durham’s recent economic renaissance is expanding to the coast, with several local hospitality businesses having opened locations in the Wilmington area in the past three years.
Dram & Draught,
PILLARS OF DURHAM’S FOOD AND BEVERAGE SCENE TAP INTO COASTAL OPPORTUNITIES IN WILMINGTON
BY ANNA-RHESA VERSOLA
PHOTO BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
Ponysaurus Brewing Co., Bull City Ciderworks and Cugino Forno have each established themselves in the Port City, while Giorgios Hospitality Group has opened three restaurants – Kipos Hellenic Cuisine in Lumina Station, G Prime Steak & Cellar near Landfall Park and the Commodore Club at Wrightsville Yacht Club in Wrightsville Beach.
“Since visitors often seek out familiar places when they travel, Durham visitors may enjoy experiencing their favorite restaurants and breweries when traveling to Wilmington and our island beaches,” said Connie Nelson, communications and public relations director of the Wilmington and Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Nelson said that Wilmington claimed the top spot in Southern
Living’s 2024 “Top 25 Cities on the Rise,” a first for the city. She said the coastal region has seen significant growth due to pandemic-related migration and increased investments in economic development and job opportunities. According to the state’s official destination marketing organization, Visit North Carolina, New Hanover County’s tourism industry generates more than $1 billion in
Dram & Draught co-owners Drew Schenk and Kevin Barrett toast their success with a Moonbird Negroni and a Goatz Daiquiri at the Durham location.
annual economic impact, creates 6,676 jobs and contributes $74.8 million to the state and local tax bases. With Wilmington experiencing remarkable economic growth, the city, much like Durham, is rapidly growing as a culinary hotspot.
CULINARY WAVE OF CHANGE
Nelson said that transformations along the Wilmington Riverwalk over the past 10 years include new restaurants, a riverfront park with an amphitheater and houseboat vacation rentals at Port City Marina. There’s also been a boom in the number of boutique hotels, specialty tours and cruises, entertainment and watersports.
But the most dramatic change has been in the quality of dining experiences, as Wilmington attracts more celebrated chefs and James Beard Foundation nominees and honorees like Giorgios Bakatsias. The Durhambased restaurateur and owner of the Giorgios Hospitality Group – also a previous James Beard Foundation semifinalist for “Outstanding Restaurateur” – set his sights on the city as he continues his quest to create fresh culinary concepts. Giorgios currently owns 19 restaurants statewide, including six in Durham and three in Wilmington, according to Ashley Brodie, the group’s director of marketing. Each location employs between 25 and 50 staff members.
The latest venture is a private partnership that opened in June – the Commodore Club at the Wrightsville Yacht Club. Diners can navigate the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway into the marina and dock next to the two-story, 6,000-square-foot floating restaurant that seats 150.
You must be a member to dine at the exclusive restaurant; the 2024 initiation fee is $30,896 with annual dues of $2,500.
Giorgios’ two land-based restaurants, Kipos Hellenic Cuisine and G Prime Steak & Cellar, feature gardens, very much in line with his Trianglebased concepts, which often have lush outdoor dining options. “It’s part of how he pays homage to his childhood and his family,” Brodie said. “It goes back to his [Greek] roots.”
Brodie said the corner property at Lumina Station was the Giorgios’ first property in Wilmington, opening in summer 2022. “We wanted to make it a little bit different, a little more elevated, celebrating the local seafood of the area,” Brodie said of the 140-seat Kipos. “[Giorgios] likes to work with local purveyors and be very much part of the community, so tapping into what is available locally was very important.” The second Giorgios restaurant, G Prime, opened the day after Thanksgiving last year. Its dining room offers seating for 150 guests, while the piano bar lounge area seats an additional 50. Outside, a 1,061-square-foot garden provides seating of 80 to 100 guests.
The extension of Giorgios’ Kipos brand in Chapel Hill celebrates the food and culture of Bakatsias’ homeland, with a intentional focus on the sea. “We are really excited to bring our love for the coastal cooking of Greece to Wilmington,” said Bakatsias, who learned to garden and cook with his mother in the quiet village of Karista, Greece.
RAISING THE BAR
Wilmington is now home to 20 different breweries, Nelson said, cementing itself as a craft beer destination. And the number of distilleries is on the rise, with five locally owned distilleries opening in the past five years. Nelson said the largest distillery – End of Days – opened only a month before the global pandemic shutdown and pivoted to producing hand sanitizer instead of vodka. The business has since recovered and expanded its production and facility.
Guided food tours and new culinary events, such as Port City Taste Restaurant Week (which takes place in the spring and fall), Cape Fear Craft & Cuisine (April) and Feast Wilmington (March), have grown in popularity in recent years. Peak tourist season, like so many beach and shoreadjacent communities, is Memorial Day through Labor Day. “Visitors find our shoulder seasons and
winters mild; it rarely snows on the coast,” Nelson said. “Unlike some other coastal destinations, most businesses in New Hanover County operate year-round, and Wilmington has a vibrant arts community with year-round cultural events.”
Nick Hawthorne-Johnson, co-founder and co-owner of the Cast Iron Group, which includes Ponysaurus, said Wilmington stood out to him. “It’s the shining city on the coast,” he said, citing a rising caliber of hospitality services. “It’s similar to Durham, and I think as a city it hits way above its weight with the quality of food and drink that’s being served there. You know, there are sides to the town, quite a lot of very high-quality places, and people doing really great work. Being a part of that community, linking arms with those colleagues and working together to do more of that, it’s exciting to us.”
Johnson said he remembers when the 6,000-square-foot Ponysaurus first opened in Durham in 2013. “It was Triangle Brewing and Fullsteam Brewery,”
PHOTO BY FORREST MASON.
he said, naming two of the few established breweries at the time.
“And now, I don’t even know how many there are. I get called all the time to borrow a piece of equipment, a bag of malt, some hops when somebody’s run out, or whatever. It’s not like big beer; you know, we’re all craft breweries, and craft breweries are less about fighting against one another and more about trying to establish a space for our products broadly in the bigger beer market. We work together as much as we compete, if we’re doing it well.”
Johnson said the 5,200-square-foot Wilmington Ponysaurus opened in January with a larger kitchen than its Durham location for full restaurant service, a two-floor indoor space that seats 400 and a spacious outdoor beer garden. The location, which has about 40 employees, will offer live music and events by the end of summer, he said. The hospitality group, which also owns The Cookery, The Rickhouse and Dashi in Durham, recently expanded Ponysaurus again, this time to Raleigh, opening April 1 at Raleigh Iron Works.
“It’s a terrifying, huge investment,” Johnson said.
“Without my unwavering optimism, we would never have started in Durham, so I just carry that optimism on to believe that it can be done in Wilmington, too.
“It’s an awesome city. It’s got an amazing island culture, beach culture, [even] though it’s not directly at the beach. One of [Cast Iron’s] directors, [Sarah Voran, director of marketing and strategic development] is from Wilmington. She took us down there and showed us around as we were looking at various cities, and it’s got a lot of similar things to Durham. It’s got a cool downtown with cool building stock and a vibrant food and beverage scene in the downtown area.”
SHARED IMPACT
Johnson said that Durham will attract further potential economic development, with corporations like Google and Apple wanting to be part of the Triangle (though the latter recently pressed pause on the development of its Research Triangle Park campus).
“Those are a lot of very highpaying jobs,” he said. “When you live [in Durham] and you think about going to the beach, you go to Wilmington. I think Wilmington is going to see a lot of secondary growth. It’s happening. That was part of why we thought it was good. There is a good future going forward.”
“They’ve done a lot of work in Wilmington to expand their convention center and to do more things that are programmatic beyond being a summer getaway place,” said Susan Amey, president and CEO of Discover Durham. “I think they have some of that [Durham] vibe of being a creative place that is attractive to younger generations and people who are creative types and entrepreneurs.”
Amey pointed out that many people living in the Triangle regularly visit Wilmington because of the relatively short two-hour drive from the Bull City. “I’m thinking that, for a restaurateur in Durham who wants to expand toward the east, Wilmington would be a natural
selection as an energetic city that has a population year-round that can support a successful restaurant,” she said.
Dram & Draught founder and coowner Kevin Barrett said opening a bar in Wilmington was not originally part of his larger business plan, mentioning how the pandemic “threw everything off.”
The first Dram & Draught opened in Raleigh in 2016, followed two years later by one in Greensboro. “We were expanding at a pretty steady, even pace at that point, then the pandemic happened,” Barrett said. “Durham is a big, beautiful location, and it was almost completely done, minus the furniture, and we just couldn’t open it. So, it ended up being over a year later [in 2021 before] we actually opened.”
Then, an irresistible opportunity presented itself downtown, one block from the Cape Fear River. “I used to live in Wilmington, so I have a deep attachment to that city,” Barrett said. “We had a wonderful location pop up, so it ended up being our fourth one.” The Wilmington space is smaller than Durham’s, but it features an upstairs lounge that aligns with the casual, laid-back vibe of the city.
Barrett said the current plan is to grow their clientele at all seven locations of Dram & Draught, including WinstonSalem, Charlotte and at Fenton in Cary. “After five bars in a year and a half, we’re not ready to expand anywhere anytime soon,” Barrett said. “Coming out of the pandemic was a difficult period for us, but we got through it. We have all our bars, and now we’re just letting the dust settle a little bit before we decide to go anywhere else. After 2020, I’m confident we can survive anything.”
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY FORECAST
More restaurants are hiring and the demand for quality dining options is expected to rise. The North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association launched “Serving Careers,” a campaign to help improve statewide labor shortages within the hospitality industry, last year in response to this outlook.
“Restaurants and lodging establishments are driving forces in North Carolina’s economy,” Christine Mackey, NCRLA chief strategy and communications officer.
“They provide jobs and build careers for thousands of people and play a vital role in local communities throughout the state.”
Mackey said that, combined, restaurant and lodging establishments provide 453,050 jobs, equal to 9% of the state’s workforce, and generate approximately $34.9 billion in sales annually.
Statewide, there are 20,300 more leisure and hospitality jobs in May this year compared to the same month in 2023 for seasonally adjusted employment data, according to a NC Department of Commerce report released in June.
The U.S. restaurant industry workforce is projected to grow by 200,000 jobs on top of the 15.7 million employees projected by the end of this year, according to the National Restaurant Association.
Kevin Barrett, co-owner and founder of Dram & Draught, said he feels optimistic about growing his business and expanding his clientele.
“We’ve always probably done better than our industry with staffing,” Barrett said.
“We have great retention. We have ongoing staff training. I think our managers do a good job of making everybody feel included. Our cocktail menus are a group effort.”
The Ponysaurus Brewing Co. in Wilmington was an adaptive reuse project that converted a downtown law office into a two-floor restaurant and outdoor beer garden.
PHOTO COURTESY OF PONYSAURUS
Ben Trachtman & Courtney Weston
BY LIZA SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY BY JORDAN BRANNOCK PHOTOGRAPHY
Wedding Date Dec. 31, 2023
Occupations Ben works for telecommunication company Relay, and Courtney is a senior salesforce administrator for Convene, a New York-based hospitality business.
Crossed Paths Ben and Courtney’s love story began with a swipe right on Tinder in June 2019, when they both lived and worked in Durham. Ben, who grew up here, graduated from Jordan High School, while Charlotte native Courtney stayed in the area after attending NC State. Their digital meeting quickly led to their first date at Criterion, where they discovered a shared affinity for music, travel and their beloved city, sparking an instant connection. The pair ended the night with a second drink at The Durham Hotel, the first of many more Bull City rendezvous.
The Proposal Courtney embarked on what she thought was a routine visit to Eden Nail Bar on Sept. 1, 2022. Little did she know that Ben had been plotting a proposal for months, meticulously planning to sync it with Courtney’s nail schedule and the sunset view from the top of the Corcoran Street Garage – their favorite spot for
evening strolls during the pandemic. Courtney met him atop the parking garage, and he dropped to one knee while his mother, Lynn Black, captured the moment from her hidden spot in the stairwell. They celebrated their engagement that night at Mothers & Sons Trattoria
The Big Day The couple knew they wanted two things for their wedding: a significant date and to throw a great party. Courtney landed on New Year’s Eve 2023 (123123), a rare date that occurs once every 100 years. The couple held the celebration in Durham, of course, at The Cookery, an ideal venue with its uniquely Bull City warehouse vibe. Atop their Little Barb’s Bakery cake stood Ben’s favorite wedding detail: a topper designed by Bethany Neigebauer to resemble downtown’s “Old Bull” neon sign. Guests dressed to the nines in black-tie attire danced the night away to tunes from Vox DJ Company. Greenery, candles and illuminated signage –perfectly planned and executed by Amanda Scott of A Swanky Affair – beautifully adorned the space.
Favorite Moments “The moment I’ll remember forever was our midnight kiss,” Ben says. “As the countdown ensued, it felt like time stood still, and the room got quiet; it was just Courtney and I. Our photographer, Jordan Brannock, captured the moment so eloquently.”
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weddings
Bailey Perry & Scott Upchurch
BY IZABELLA COUNTS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY COLETTE VAN HOOFT, COLETTEVANHOOFT.COM
Wedding Date Sept. 2, 2023
Occupations The couple lives in Wilmington, where Bailey works as a closing coordinator for real estate investment company LP Equity, and Scott is a project superintendent for Lackey Builders.
Crossed Paths Bailey and Scott’s love story ignited when a mutual friend reintroduced them at a house party in 2015 – eight years after they first met at Jordan High School. Bailey spent the next few years visiting Scott in Wilmington, North Carolina, until she graduated from Meredith College and came to live with him in the sunny coastal town.
The Proposal Scott proposed to Bailey on May 14, 2022, on Figure Eight Island. He hid his plans under the guise of a networking cocktail party, and Bailey only realized what was happening as they approached the beach, which was decorated in candles and rose petals. Bailey said, ‘yes,’ and their friends and family greeted the newly betrothed at the real event, their engagement party.
The Big Day The couple tied the knot at the Brooklyn Arts Center in downtown Wilmington. After a nerve-wracking week of storms, the clouds parted to reveal a beautiful Carolina blue sky for their special day. Bailey walked down the aisle surrounded by lush greenery and
dazzling white flowers. Scott awaited her under a flower arch, while sunlight streamed in from the center’s famous windows. Guests enjoyed cool cocktails in the courtyard after the ceremony before heading back inside for the reception, where everyone danced the night away to Sleeping Booty Band before the night concluded with a sparkler exit. “It was a dream,” Bailey says. “We could never have done it without the support of our families and amazing wedding team.”
Favorite Moments Bailey and Scott found the anticipation leading up to their first looks during the ceremony most thrilling. “We were both shaking with excitement,” Bailey says. Scott agrees, saying, “Seeing Bailey walk down the aisle is a moment I will never forget. She took my breath away.”
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