Chapel Hill Magazine March/April 2025

CHAPEL HILL

MARCH/APRIL 2025

CHAPELHILLMAGAZINE.COM

EDITOR

Jessica Stringer

EDITORIAL

EXECUTIVE MANAGING EDITOR

Amanda MacLaren

EXECUTIVE EDITOR, CHATHAM MAGAZINE

Morgan Cartier Weston

SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Anna-Rhesa Versola

MANAGING EDITOR, HEART OF NC WEDDINGS Renee Ambroso

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Leah Berry

EDITORIAL INTERNS

Alexandra Borda, Laney Crawley, Hailie Davidson, Phoebe Martel, Taylor Motley, Emilia Rivadeneira, Lauren Rouse, Addie Rowells, Becca Savidge, Sabrina Shaw, Jordann Smith-Burgess and Emma Unger

CONTRIBUTORS

James Dupree, Sinclair Holian, Moreton Neal and James Stefiuk

ART & PRODUCTION

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Kevin Brown

PHOTOGRAPHER

John Michael Simpson

GRAPHIC DESIGNER & PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Lindsay Scott

AD MANAGER

Khadijah Weekes-Nolan

ADVERTISING

For advertising inquiries, email advertising@chapelhillmagazine.com

Melissa Cooley melissa.cooley@trianglemediapartners.com

Melissa Crane melissa.crane@trianglemediapartners.com

Sarah Davis sarah.davis@trianglemediapartners.com

Lucinda Poole lucinda.poole@trianglemediapartners.com

CORPORATE

PRESIDENT Rory Kelly Gillis

VICE PRESIDENT, SALES

Chris Elkins, chris.elkins@trianglemediapartners.com

VICE PRESIDENT, CREATIVE OPERATIONS

Ashlin Acheson, ashlin.acheson@trianglemediapartners.com

VICE PRESIDENT, CLIENT SERVICES Sally Scruggs

VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION

Amy Bell

ACCOUNTING AND ADMINISTRATION MANAGER

Cassady Orsini

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

Ellen Shannon

MULTIMEDIA PUBLISHER & DIRECTOR OF CLIENT DIGITAL STRATEGY

Jenna Parks

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER, HEART OF NC WEDDINGS

Meagan Culkin

DIGITAL OPERATIONS MANAGER

Brian McIndoo

DIGITAL CAMPAIGN MANAGER

Jack Fry

MULTIMEDIA CONTENT DIRECTOR

Morgan Cartier Weston

DIGITAL CONTENT SPECIALIST

Renee Ambroso

DISTRIBUTION

Matt Bair

A Note From Our New Company President

ear readers, clients and friends,

I’m thrilled to announce that I have purchased Triangle Media Partners, the parent company of Chapel Hill Magazine, from my business partners and company founders Ellen Shannon and the late Dan Shannon, effective as of Jan. 7, 2025.

After 15 years of invaluable mentorship from Ellen, Dan and our talented team, I’m honored to step into this leadership role. Ellen will remain by my side throughout 2025, helping to ensure a smooth transition while continuing to grow our marketing and events department.

As we approach two major milestones – the 20th anniversary of our business in 2026 and the 40th anniversary of our acquired multimedia title, Heart of NC Weddings magazine – we’re reflecting on and reinvesting into our mission: connecting the Triangle to help visitors and residents alike live their best lives. Placemaking, storytelling and celebrating community remain at the heart of everything we do, and we are here to exercise those values each and every day.

Since joining the company in 2009, I’ve been privileged to contribute to its growth in various roles, from sales and marketing to event planning and digital strategy. I’ve also spearheaded innovative multimedia products and services like Triangle Digital Partners, our digital agency, and The Triangle Weekender publication.

My commitment is to continue showcasing the people and organizations that make this vibrant community special. Together alongside my talented team, I promise to keep delivering high-quality content, marketing services and events while supporting local business and endeavors with our time, talents and resources to ensure the Triangle thrives.

Thank you for your unwavering support. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team or to me directly with feedback, story ideas or marketing opportunities – I’d love to hear from you.

Rory Gillis President, Triangle Media Partners

rory.gillis@trianglemediapartners.com

PHOTO BY RICHARD BARLOW PHOTOGRAPHY

MARCH/APRIL

136 Serving Up the Future How Vietri’s new CEO is honoring tradition and crafting a bold future for North Carolina’s iconic dinnerware company 138 French Twist Paysage blends Southern charm with Parisian home decor finds in Meadowmont

Worth the Drive Spend a day exploring the downtown of nearby Cary

Finding Her Voice Leandra Strope’s all-girls choir empowers young singers

4 A Note From Our New Company President

Letter from the Editor

About Town Events not to miss

What We’re Eating News from our restaurant community, plush a dish we love

Bookin’ It A quick glimpse at the latest books from Orange County authors 42 Head for the Hills

After the hurricane, restaurants in western North Carolina need our support – and they’re serving up plenty of reasons to visit

& PLACES

Hill Historical Society’s 2024 Community Treasures

Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award

Chapel Hill Young Professionals

Darby & Davis

Anguita Maeso & Knuth

Blobe & McFadden

Presley & Wolf

CONTENT 38 Cast Your Vote

Best of Chapel Hill 2025 Our annual poll is back! You can cast your ballot now for your local favorites

PHOTO BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON

NAVARRA

Sentimental Snapshots

The weekend before we went to press with this issue, our annual Home & Garden edition, I dashed up the road to Richmond, Virginia, to help my dad clean out my late great-uncle Alan’s house. Alan, ever happy to see his pen pal in person, was always game to eat lunch with me at whatever downtown hot spot I wanted to try when I was in town, so I had actually never stepped foot into his suburban home. Our homes and the things we fill them with say so much about the people we are. Walking through the rooms, I knew Alan was a man of faith, a fan of Washington’s football team and someone who gave to causes that benefited veterans, shelter animals and more. I didn’t know that last thing until I cleared out countless donor knickknacks; my soft-spoken greatuncle was as humble as they come.

VOTE FOR THE BEST OF CHAPEL HILL!

Our annual poll is back! Cast your ballot today.

We all have pieces in our lives that hold meaning beyond their function – items that carry sentiment or simply the joy of discovery. In Alan’s house, I found pottery from Seagrove, North Carolina, a Christmas ornament from the Alamo, a silver souvenir spoon from Baton Rouge, Louisiana – evidence of a life welllived with my late great-aunt Sharon.

Nellie Holland Vail similarly filled her Colony Woods dwelling (page 60) with art from her travels and pieces from her great-aunt’s collection. In Carrboro, Dolores Clark is quite literally surrounded by the very walls built 146 years ago by her relative Toney Strayhorn (page 78). Treasures like castiron pans, once used by family members across generations, now line those walls. These choices, like my great-uncle’s keepsakes, speak to what we cherish. As for me, I brought back a colorful glazed bowl from Alan’s house that will join other beloved belongings – my late great-aunt Dotty’s floral curtains, my late grandparents’ bar cart – each piece holding a bit of family history. CHM

SPRING FORWARD

Our best recipes for upcoming holidays, from Easter to Passover.

YOUR GUIDE TO SUMMER FUN

Search our online directory to find the perfect camp for your kiddo.

jessica.stringer@chapelhillmagazine.com

THE COVER

Photo by John Michael Simpson

SPRING

INTO ADVENTURE

WITH HENDRICK SUBARU SOUTHPOINT

CROSSTREK WILDERNESS

An off-road compact SUV for adventure on the edge

ABOUT TOWN

EVENTS NOT TO MISS

Compiled by Alexandra Borda

EVENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE; CHECK WITH ORGANIZERS PRIOR TO ATTENDING

5K for Education

publicschoolfoundation.org

Run or walk to support teachers, schools and the community at the annual 5K and 1K fun run presented by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation

This community event promotes health, fitness and school spirit.

MARCH 15 8:30 A.M.

Rachmaninoff Piano

Concerto No. 2

March 6, 7:30 p.m. ncsymphony.org

Join the North Carolina Symphony for an unforgettable evening of live music at Memorial Hall. This performance features a curated program that showcases works by Cindy McTee, Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky.

ABC Sale at The Chapel of the Cross

March 22, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. thechapelofthecross.org

Shop for jewelry, furniture, art, children’s clothes and more all while supporting great causes in the community. The 60th annual sale aims to raise $60,000 for the Chapel of the Cross’ Faith in Action Ministries, supporting organizations like the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service and Club Nova 

The race kicks off at McCorkle Place on UNC’s campus.

Feels Like Family

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

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

Visit DLC today and experience the difference for yourself!

Voted Best Of Chatham 2019-2024

Voted Best Of Chapel Hill 2017-2024 10441 US 15-501 N

Chris G. Adigun, MD, FAAD

Amanda K. Suggs, MD, FAAD

Karlee Wagoner, ANP-BC

Diana Walker, PA-C

Amy Rodriguez, PA-C

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

carolinaperformingarts.org

Experience the power of movement as the worldrenowned New York City-based modern dance company once again takes the stage at Memorial Hall. Known for its powerful storytelling, the group will present a dynamic program that blends classic works with new choreographic innovations in a celebration of lineage and legacy.

MARCH 18-19

7:30 P.M.

The Center Will Not Hold

April 9-10, 7:30 p.m.

carolinaperformingarts.org

Spend the evening at Memorial Hall with award-winning New York City-based Dorrance Dance Company and enjoy a captivating performance that pushes the boundaries of contemporary dance. The expansive showcase features live percussion by John Angeles and a collective of artists skilled in street, club and vernacular dance styles like hip-hop, tap and house.

UNC Science Expo

moreheadplanetarium.org

Crop Hunger Walk

March 23, 2:30 p.m.

crophungerwalk.org

Join the community to raise funds for programs that seek to eradicate hunger. A quarter of the funds raised go to the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service, and Church World Service will receive the remaining funds for local and global efforts. Live music and other activities start at Carrboro Town Commons at 1:30 p.m. Be sure to take a photo with UNC mascot Rameses, who will be there to cheer on participants!

This hands-on event at the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center brings science to life with interactive exhibits, exciting demonstrations, games and behind-the-scenes lab tours. Browse from more than 100 booths staffed by UNC students and researchers at the signature event of the monthlong North Carolina Science Festival.

APRIL 5 11 A.M.

‘Little Shop of Horrors’

April 9-27

playmakersrep.org

PlayMakers Repertory Company presents this unforgettable cult-classic musical set to a Motown groove. Follow the story of Seymour, a down-on-his-luck florist, and his strange plant in this darkly comedic, rock-infused show.

Touch a Truck

April 13, noon to 4 p.m.

touchatruckchapelhill.com

This family-friendly event at The Friday Center offers kids the chance to explore an exciting variety of more than 40 vehicles, from construction machinery to emergency vehicles. On-site food trucks will be available for refreshments. Admission is $6 per person, with a maximum of $24 per family, and free for children under 2. All proceeds benefit UNC Children’s Hospital and Boy Scout Troop 39. 

PHOTO BY DARIO CALMESE

PHOTO COURTESY OF MOREHEAD PLANETARIUM AND SCIENCE CENTER

Puppies in the Plaza

April 14, noon chapelhillarts.org

Bring the whole family (and furry friends!) to this fun-filled event hosted by Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture at 140 West Franklin Street Plaza. Learn about the work of local animal rescues, play with puppies searching for their forever homes and browse handmade creations from a number of vendors.

Monet Richardson

Running with the Angels 5K

April 26, 8 a.m.

monetrichardsoncommunityfoundation.com

Lace up your running shoes because the Monet Richardson Community Foundation is putting on its fourth annual 5K walk and run at East Chapel Hill High School. MRCF is a nonprofit founded to provide backpacks and scholarships to youth in the community, a legacy foundation created in memory of Kristian “Krissy” Monet Richardson. Wearing angel wings for the event is optional but highly encouraged.

High Performance Home Tour

April 26-27, noon to 5 p.m. hbadoc.com

This self-guided tour will showcase greencertified homes throughout the Triangle, highlighting energy-efficient features, some of which are hidden behind the walls in unfinished spaces. Visitors can explore at their own pace and view as many homes as they’d like!

Festa Della Terra

April 26, 2 p.m. nataliemarronehomes.com

Join Porch Chapel Hill-Carrboro for its fifth annual “artful” food drive hosted by Natalie Marrone Homes. In past years, this event has supported 350 to 500 area families through generous food and monetary donations. Browse works by local artists and experience an afternoon filled with joy and community spirit. CHM

Lewis Black

carolinaperformingarts.org

After nearly 40 years on the road, the two-time Grammywinning comedian will retire from touring, with one last performance at his alma mater’s Memorial Hall. Laugh the evening away as Lewis uses his trademark style of comedic yelling and finger pointing to expose the absurdities of life.

APRIL 29

7:30 P.M.

WHAT WE ’ RE EATING

My first trip to Italian Pizzeria III was 10 years ago, as a middle school soccer player fueling up to watch my inaugural UNC women’s soccer match. Walking into the restaurant years later as a UNC student, I was greeted by the same familiar scene: walls lined with sports memorabilia, quaint red booths and the prominent scent of pizza out from the oven.

IP3 celebrates 45 years of business in 2025, and the classic Chapel Hill restaurant remains just that: classic. The owners, brother duo Angelo Marrone and Vincenzo Marrone, greet many customers by name and effortlessly spark conversations that make everyone feel like family.

“It’s amazing,” Angelo says.

“It makes you feel good. It makes you feel special. Especially when customers who you’ve had for many years come in.”

Lucky for me, the menu hasn’t changed much since that initial visit, offering a collection of beloved favorites, including the classic Margherita pizza. The soft but sturdy crust perfectly holds the gooey mozzarella topped with fresh tomatoes and shredded basil, combining for a comforting bite that makes you want to go back for more. –

By Becca Savidge 

NEWS BITES

Sidetrack Bar & Lounge opened in January at 5906 Millhouse Rd., taking over the former Allen & Son Barbecue space. The neighborhood bar offers live music and outdoor patio seating, plus prosecco and nine rotating local brews, including Bull City Ciderworks’ Cherry Tart cider, on tap, as well as handcrafted cocktails. While the bar’s kitchen is still a work in progress, owners Amy Anderson and Rod Anderson welcome outside food in the meantime.

Hillsborough welcomed its newest hot spot along West Margaret Lane on Jan. 3. The Rookery, owned by B.J. Patel – who also operates Nomad just a block away and Indian restaurant Viceroy in Durham – offers a diverse drink menu featuring draft beers, wines and signature cocktails like the Hillsbrew, featuring bourbon and apple and black tea syrup. While in-house snacks are still in the works, customers can order takeout from Nomad.

Cary’s beloved Bharath Cafe expanded beyond its hometown on Jan. 3, bringing authentic biryani, matar paneer, samosas and more to Chapel Hill with a brand-new location at 1704 E. Franklin St., Ste. A

Chapel Hill’s Alfredo’s Pizza Villa is moving out of its longtime location at University Place to a bigger space in the 900 Willow apartment community adjacent to the mall. This new location offers a big-screen TV, plus new pizza ovens and equipment.

Indigenous Mexican-inspired eatery Xolos Tacos + Tlayudas in Southern Village is now in full operation, after a monthlong soft open mode during December. The restaurant, which took about two years to convert from office space, offers a delectable immersion into Oaxacan culture with specials like Tlayuda Oaxaqueñas and classic tacos.

At press time, Kolapasi Indian Canteen was slated to open a new location in downtown Chapel Hill by the first week of March, taking over the former Bul Box location at 200 W. Franklin St.

– Compiled by Emilia Rivadeneira CHM

PHOTO COURTESY OF SIDETRACK BAR & LOUNGE

OCHAR Awards Gala

The Orange Chatham Association of Realtors held its annual awards gala on Jan. 24 at The ArtsCenter. Guests dressed to impress in creative attire for networking and artistic inspiration while enjoying heavy hors d’oeuvres and libations. All proceeds from the evening’s raffle supported the NC Realtors Housing Foundation’s Hurricane Helene recovery efforts. The recipients of the 2024 OCHAR Realtors of Distinction Awards included Desiree Goldman (Realtor of the Year), Randy Cox (Broker-in-Charge of the Year), Tom Grasty (Community Service), Randy Voller (Organizational Service Award), Tom Holt (Affiliate of the Year), Jasmine Lubbad (Rising Star Award), Pat Serkedakis (Realtors Choice), Gayle Claris (Milestone Award), Paula Hoge (Milestone Award), Virginia Ferguson (Milestone Award) and Shannon Julian (Milestone Award). Photography by John Michael Simpson CHM

1 Cat Moleski, Jaye Kreller, Matt Fowler and Wendy Gordon.

2 Realtor of the Year Desiree Goldman.

3 Sharon Gupton, Tom Grasty and Danielle Y. Clermont.

4 Trey Tanner, Gayle Claris and Woody Claris.

5 OCHAR CEO Ashley Johnson, immediate past OCHAR president Kyle Rank and OCHAR president Kristine Holm.

6 Jay Walden, Randy Cox, Pat Serkedakis and Jane Serkedakis.

Crook’s Corner Book Prize

Thao Thai won the 12th annual Crook’s Corner Book Prize for the best debut novel set in the American South in January at The Crunkleton. The Ohio-based author earned the $5,000 prize for “Banyan Moon,” a story centered on three generations of Vietnamese American women reeling from the death of their matriarch. Award-winning author Megan Mayhew Bergman, this year’s judge, called the book “a striking debut novel that will captivate readers with its stunning prose and lush descriptions of the surrounding world. … With deeply developed characters, this incredibly moving book invites us to explore the complex bonds of love and family, making it a deserving selection for the Crook’s Corner Book Prize.” Photography by Erin Scannell CHM

1 Jamie Fiocco, Nancie McDermott, P.J. Gardiner and Cindy Sellars with the winning book, “Banyan Moon” by Thao Thai.

2 Gary Crunkleton.

3 Daniel Wallace and Paul Jones.

4 Anna Hayes, Mig Hayes, Alice May and Michael Hayes.

5 Elaine Maisner, David Perry and Kate Torrey.

6 D.G. Martin, Mary Flanagan and Judy White.

The Giving Party

The 16th annual Giving Party on Dec. 5 raised more than $24,000 during a festive evening to support three local nonprofits: Wheels4Hope, Equity Before Birth and United Way of Rutherford County. Members of each organization spoke with guests about their missions and volunteer opportunities. The annual event is hosted by sisters Allison Polish, Tamara Rice and Carrie Norry with the goal of building a stronger community and bringing people together. CHM

1 Kim Jeffs and Tina Clossick.

2 Wendy Smith and Chapel Hill Magazine’s Jessica Stringer.

3 Amy Grau and Tricia Billy.

4 Carrie Norry, Tamara Rice and Allison Polish.

Community Treasures

The Chapel Hill Historical Society honored its 2024 Community Treasures during an award ceremony on Nov. 9, hosted at the Seymour Center. The program acknowledges individuals for their contributions to Chapel Hill, Carrboro and the surrounding area, recognizing their roles as community leaders, public servants, business figures, mentors and advocates for civil rights. This year’s honorees, Jay Bryan, Russell “Rusty” Edmister, the late Vivian Foushee, Bruce Runberg and Harold Russell, received a proclamation from Carrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee, Orange County Commissioner Jean Hamilton and Chapel Hill Town Council member Paris Miller-Foushee, declaring each individual to be a true “community treasure” for their work to make our area more welcoming and inclusive.

Photography by Earl Bynum CHM

1 Community Treasures awardees Jay Bryan, Russell “Rusty” Edmister, Gerald Foushee (who accepted award on behalf of his late mother, Vivian Foushee), Bruce Runberg and Harold Russell.

2 Jay Bryan and Carrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee.

3 Orange County Commissioner Jean Hamilton and Harold Russell.

4 Chapel Hill Town Council member Paris Miller-Foushee and Bruce Runberg.

Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award

Brenda Stephens was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, granted by the Office of the Governor, in December 2024. The order is given to those who make “significant contributions to the state and their communities through their exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments,” and grants them membership to North Carolina’s highest honorary society. Brenda retired from a career in public service in 2008, which included roles as the Orange County Public Library director, an Orange County Schools Board of Education member and officer and more.

Additionally, former Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine on Dec. 4, 2024, during a ceremony at Chapel Hill Town Hall. Pam served as the mayor of Chapel Hill for eight years before leaving office at the end of 2023. She also previously served four-year terms on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education and the Orange County Board of Commissioners and volunteered on several advisory boards and committees for both the town and community. CHM

1 Brenda Stephens.

2 Carly Hemminger, former Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger and Brad Hemminger.

Chapel Hill Young Professionals Networking Social

The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro’s Chapel Hill Young Professionals embraced the holiday spirit with a festive networking social on Dec. 3 at coworking space Industrious Chapel Hill. Decked out in their most cheerful holiday sweaters, attendees mingled over drinks, light hors d’oeuvres and games. Brief remarks from Chamber staff and Industrious’ member experience manager Deven Dale highlighted the evening, celebrating the group’s commitment to connection and community. CHYP is open to professionals under 40 and offers monthly opportunities for networking, growth and giving back. Words and photography by Leah Berry CHM

1 Nicole Comas (with Joel I. Levy, CPA), Habitat for Humanity of Orange County’s Krissy Dunn, Jessie Quinones (of Bold Construction) and Bold Real Estate’s Becca Farris Chavez.

2 The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro’s Hayley Loftus, Cassie Nelson and McKenzie Steagall.

bookin’ it

“Be BOLD Today: Unleash Your Potential, Master Your Mindset, and Achieve Success” by

Leigh Burgess

Released November 2024

This book is a visionary guide that empowers readers to make audacious moves toward success in their lives. The BOLD framework – Believe, Own, Learn and Design – provides the necessary tools to transform distant goals and ambitions into tangible realities. Leigh Burgess, an experienced consultant and speaker, helps readers identify their aims and achieve them in actionable ways while encouraging participants in the BOLD experience to become leaders in their own right.

A quick glimpse at the latest books from Orange County authors

Compiled by Hailie Davidson

“Port Anna” by Libby Buck Available July 2025

In this exploration of love, loss and self, protagonist Gwen Gilmore returns to her hometown on the coast of Maine after a series of personal and professional mishaps. Author Libby Buck weaves together mysterious changes, new and old romances and personal growth in a compelling smalltown narrative. Libby’s debut novel tells an emotional journey of second chances and elements of the supernatural to highlight the drama of returning to an unfinished past.

“The Fabulous Ordinary: Discovering the Natural Wonders of the Wild South” by Georgann Eubanks

Available April 2025

Georgann Eubanks takes her audience on a tour across seven states, showcasing the vibrant ecosystems of the Southeast. Readers can experience the fascinating interplay of insects, animals, plants and more in diverse ecosystems from North Carolina to Alabama. Through these beautiful, unique displays of animal life, “The Fabulous Ordinary” represents the perseverance of nature and the dedication of those who work to protect it from habitat destruction, human interference and more.

“Beneath the Moon and Long Dead Stars” by Daniel Wallace Available May 2025

Daniel Wallace brings together a collection of flash fictions that take small, mundane moments in his characters’ lives and transforms them into something far more mysterious and almost magical. The characters he creates in these short narratives long for connection and find that all of their wants and desires hinge on these minor instances and details. Each story invites readers to take comfort as they witness the characters and their lives change.

“Solving for X” by Pam Durban Released December 2024

In a collection of brief but hearty flash essays, Pam Durban takes small everyday moments and uses them to explore complex concepts of love, morality and time. Pam’s essay collection marks a departure from her usual fiction, sparked by a moment of reflection as she faced a box of 5,000 staples and the impossible task of using all of them. CHM

UNPARALLELED ARTISTRY EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY

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VOTE TODAY CHAPEL HILL IN BEST OF

You can cast your ballot now for your local favorites.

This poll is meant to highlight the best of the best in Orange County, and we can’t emphasize it enough: Winning this award means so much to local businesses, so take this contest as one more way you can ensure that your favorites – whether it’s a coffee shop, real estate agent, museum or gym – are wellknown and well-loved by everyone in our community. Help us showcase the places that make our towns special. Our

Over the next few pages, you’ll find several businesses that are vying for your votes – if you love them, support them! Every vote counts, so be sure to participate and promote the places that make our community thrive!

VOTING STARTS

March 3, 2025

A Quick Review of the Rules: Categories

DINING

HOME & GARDEN

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Visit our website at chapelhillmagazine.com/ best-of-chapel-hill or scan the QR code to cast your ballot.

• One ballot per person. The email address you submit is essentially your ID – you can come back at any point to finish the survey at your leisure. We’re only counting one ballot per email address. We want to keep ballot box stuffing to a minimum.

• All questions are optional. Though we’d love for you to vote in all the categories, you are welcome to pick and choose.

• Write in your favorites if they’re not nominated. We did the best we could to be comprehensive in the categories with nominees, but the write-in box is there for a reason – use it!

• Be specific in write-in categories. Where applicable, please use the full name of a business and/or person.

WINNERS ANNOUNCED

July 2025

The results will be announced in our July/August 2025 issue, complete with features about a few of our winners.

Scan now to cast your ballot. Happy voting!

March 31, 2025

MARCH 31

Winners of Chapel Hill Magazine’s annual Best of Chapel Hill poll gathered for a celebration held in their honor at The Carolina Inn in 2024.

PHOTO BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON

JOYOUS

COOKING

head for the hills

After the hurricane, restaurants in western North Carolina need our support – and they’re serving up plenty of reasons to visit

By Moreton Neal

Our trip to the mountains was scheduled for Sept. 29. Never would I have dreamed a hurricane, of all things, would prevent us from going.

Sylva, our destination, was spared from the floods. Its problems were caused by rumors of roads closing in the area. It wasn’t true, but tourists, the lifeblood of local businesses, just didn’t show up.

Everyone in that part of the state suffered, but the tourist-dependent restaurants took an especially hard hit. 12 Bones Brewing and its neighbors in the French Broad River and Swannanoa valleys were completely wiped out. Others remained empty because of water and power issues.

Now that the infrastructure has been restored and some businesses are open, it’s time to go back

and give all those resilient mountain cooks some extra mouths to feed! As the sign outside a favorite dive says, “You don’t eat, we don’t eat.”

Asheville is packed with world-class restaurants. Some of our favorites include Zambra, Table, Fig Bistro, La Bodega, Cúrate and for a posh dinner, The Dining Room at the Biltmore Estate. And then there are the old standards – Early Girl Eatery, Tupelo Honey and our go-to lunch destination, the Moose Cafe. Though Asheville is a food lovers’ mecca, other mountain towns offer too many irresistible eateries to count. Jefferson’s Plaza del Sol is worth a side trip. Its authentic beautifully

Photo by James Stefiuk

Moreton Neal is a food writer, an interior designer and a former restaurateur who lives in Chapel Hill.

prepared Mexican cuisine and colorful setting will make you smile.

At the other end of the Blue Ridge, Haywood Smokehouse, with locations now in Franklin and Waynesville as well as the original in Dillsboro, is worth standing in line for superior pulled pork barbecue, brisket and smoked chicken.

Sylva is home to one of our favorite dining destinations in North Carolina, Ilda, owned and operated by chef Santiago Guzzetti and his sommelier wife, Crystal Pace. The upscale restaurant occupies the same spot that housed the first Italian eatery in the area, Meatballs, founded by Crystal’s legendary stepmother and restaurateur, the late Karen Martar. Its sister venue, Meatball’s Pizzeria, still serves delicious pies on Main Street.

Lamb Bolognese Serves 6

1 large yellow onion, chopped roughly

1 carrot, chopped roughly

1 celery rib, chopped roughly

3 Tbsp. olive oil

4 oz. chopped pancetta or bacon

2 lb. ground lamb Salt, to taste

Fresh ground pepper, to taste

1 1/2 cup white wine

1/3 cup tomato paste

Pinch chili flakes

1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

3 cup chicken broth or more

1 cup milk

1 lb. cooked pappardelle or mafaldine pasta

Grated Parmesan to taste

In a food processor or blender, process the vegetables until finely minced (or, chop finely).

In a Dutch oven over medium heat, warm the oil. Add the vegetables and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the pancetta and lamb and cook until brown. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add wine, tomato paste, chili flakes and nutmeg, and cook until wine has mostly evaporated, breaking up clumps of lamb while cooking. Add chicken broth and milk. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for about 3 hours until the sauce is quite thick. Check and stir every 30 minutes or so and add water or more chicken stock if it reduces too much. Taste and add salt and pepper if needed.

Serve over mafaldine or pappardelle pasta and sprinkle with Parmesan.

Note: This may produce a lot of fat, depending on the bacon and lamb used. The fat rises to the top while it’s cooking. I spooned some out each time I checked the sauce before I stirred it.

As you would expect, Ilda’s wine list is expertly curated, and the cocktails are delicious riffs on classics. Try the Sky High, a clever rendition of the Aviation, and the maple-scented Ilda Old Fashioned.

We never miss a chance to dine at Ilda when in the area. Though every menu item is delightful, it’s hard for me to order anything other than the Mafaldini with Lamb Bolognese. Since I can’t get to Ilda often enough, I tried to recreate this memorable dish at home – with great success!

Yes, we all missed leaf-peeping in our beautiful mountains last fall. Let’s make up for it and head for the hills for rhododendrongazing this spring. While you’re there, support the hospitality industry by visiting some of the terrific restaurants in that part of our state. You will be well rewarded. CHM

Environmental Research Study

The US EPA is seeking adults 18 and older for a research study. This study requires filling out a questionnaire form, collecting capillary blood (2 samples, about 10 drops each) and saliva samples at home and shipping samples to EPA at EPA’s expense. You may also collect an optional indoor air sample by hanging a small device with a special sorbent inside your home over 1 week. Completing all study procedures will take from 2 hours 20 min to 3 hours of your time (with an air sample). You will receive $100 for your blood and saliva samples and additional $50 for an air sample. For more information, please call 919-966-0604. Compensation up to $150.00

DRIVEWorth the

Spend a day exploring the downtown of nearby Cary

Photography by John Michael Simpson

The first phase of Downtown Cary Park – an acre featuring the Frantz Square fountain and performance area – was completed in 2017. An additional 6 acres opened to the public on Nov. 17, 2023. This vibrant oasis is centrally located in downtown’s social district and features The Bark Bar, an open-air, all-season bar near the Barkyard dog park that serves beer and wine as well as nonalcoholic beverages and light snacks. Market 317, located in Academy Pavilion, is a grab-and-go style cafe offering wraps, sandwiches, charcuterie boards and more. Traverse the elevated Skywalk to take in the full view of the park, and stay up to date on the nearly 500 events happening throughout the year, from fitness classes and demonstrations to concerts, yoga, book clubs, public art walks, story times, movies and so much more.

A CLOSER LOOK AT ... DOWNTOWN CARY

This walkable, charming and historic urban space boasts a rich legacy dating back to before the American Revolution. Railroads brought prosperity to the region in the mid-19th century, and the town was officially incorporated in 1871 (it measured only a square mile at the time!). Today, it remains the heart and soul of Cary, featuring iconic landmarks, historic structures, craft breweries, a farmers market, celebrated restaurants and much more, making it a must-visit destination for residents and visitors alike.

Experience authentic Laotian cuisine in a cozy atmosphere at SAAP, known for its flavorful dishes curated by chef Lon Bounsanga that include green papaya salad, Lao beef jerky, banh mi, chicken satay and chicken curry. Handcrafted cocktails and mocktails with Southeast Asian ingredients –think ube, lychee, lemongrass and hibiscus – and tropical flavors complement the experience.

Catch concerts, movies, celebrations and more on stage at the performance pavilion located in the center of Downtown Cary Park.

PHOTO BY BAXTER MILLER

The Great Lawn at Downtown Cary Park has plenty of space for spectators to enjoy events on stage at the Pavilion and also provides a lovely backdrop for Rebekah Beebe-Karim and her husband, Saad Karim, to take an afternoon stroll with drinks from The Bark Bar in hand.

Good times flow as freely as the beer at Cotton House. Inside the circa 1900 historic Pasmore House, contemporary updates blend seamlessly with craftsmanship of the past, from exposed brick fireplaces to a Prohibition-era bar adorned with Italian marble. Step outside under string lights to enjoy a flight on its back deck overlooking a lush backyard and views of downtown.

Experience the artisanal bread, pastries and sandwiches of the beloved La Farm Bakery, which was founded by master baker Lionel Vatinet and his wife and partner, Missy Vatinet, in 1999. The bakery embodies centuries-old French baking traditions and is nationally renowned for its dedication to preserving the art and science of bread making.

Cary’s Pocket Community Garden fosters a sense of camaraderie through shared gardening spaces and educational programs.

The Cary Regional Library offers a wide range of books, digital resources and engaging events for all ages as a hub of knowledge and creativity.

Discover a dynamic arts scene with galleries, workshops and performances showcasing local talent in visual and performing arts at the Cary Arts Center

The captivating “All Aboard” mural by Sean Kernick pays homage to Cary’s rich history with a vibrant depiction of a train displaying the year of incorporation, 1871, symbolizing the town’s connection to transportation and community growth. You can check it out at 122 W. Chatham St.

The Mayton is a charming boutique hotel that exudes Southern charm and modern elegance. Indulge your palate at its on-site restaurant, Peck & Plume, featuring dishes like shrimp and grits and a bone-in short rib. Cozy up with a cocktail in the study, or enjoy brunch out on the terrace. CHM

Real quality beach time.

Spend a little more time enjoying the beach with the ones you love and a little less time fighting for your spot in the sand at North Carolina’s uncrowded coast. Book your trip at CrystalCoastNC.com/Chapel.

finding her voice

Sunset streams through the windows, casting a warm glow over the audience at Binkley Baptist Church. The soothing hum of chatter slowly falls to a hush as Sisters’ Voices director Leandra Strope steps in front of the crowd. Gracefully, she raises her hands, preparing to conduct. 

Leandra Strope’s all-girls choir empowers young singers

By Sinclair Holian Photography by John Michael Simpson

With the sweep of Leandra’s arms, a spell is cast – young voices sing out the enchanting melodies of a Finnish folk song, their sparkling harmonies echoing throughout the sanctuary. As the winter concert stretches on, Leandra leads the all-girls choir through 10 more international songs, many in different languages, exploring themes of home and belonging.

Leandra has been leading Sisters’ Voices since founding the group in 2008, but her own interest in music started much earlier. She was just 2 years old when she first started playing the violin, and over the years, she took up the piano, guitar, oboe and flute. “My mother was very intentional about making sure my brother and I had instruments,” she recalls of her upbringing in Chapel Hill. “We always had opportunities to sing and make music.”

Leandra’s passion for choir direction was sparked in high school by her longtime mentor, Sue Klausmeyer, who directed the Binkley Church choirs Leandra sang with. Sue encouraged her talents by inviting her to assist with the children’s choir on Sunday afternoons. “She really took me under her wing and helped me understand myself as a teacher,” Leandra says. After graduation, she continued her musical journey at Meredith College, where she studied flute performance, though her deepest passion always remained choir direction.

She pursued this dream at Yale School of Music, receiving her master’s degree in choral conducting in 1993. While taking doctorate courses at Indiana University, Leandra began spending her summers teaching at North Carolina Governor’s School in Winston-Salem, where she developed a strong connection to the program

THE SOUND OF COMMUNITY

The music of Sisters’ Voices is made possible by a steady drumbeat of support from its community partners. Leandra says that over the years, the group’s performances have been supported by generous individual contributions and organizations such as:

• Carrboro Music Festival

• Girls on the Run Triangle

• Voices chorus and its Cantari ensemble

• The ArtsCenter

• Paperhand Puppet Project

• Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance

• El Día de los Libros Siler City

• ClydeFest

The choir tackled songs that explored the ideas of home and memories during its winter concert.

and returned for 10 summers – a pivotal chapter in her career as an educator. “It was just such a vibrant learning community and a very exciting place to be during the summers,” she says. “It really shaped my thinking and the way I wanted to work on choral music.”

In the summer of 2000, Governor’s School leadership gave Leandra her first opportunity to lead an all-girls choir, an experience she found uniquely inspiring. “When there were just girls in the room, the kids were just on fire to learn,” she recalls. It was then she made a decision: she would create an all-girls choir of her own.

In 2002, she moved from Pennsylvania to Pittsboro after accepting a position at Binkley. Amid working, becoming a massage therapist and adopting her daughter, Pasha Strope, now 16, Leandra never forgot that dream. In the fall of 2008, with an encouraging grant from the Triangle Community Foundation, Sisters’ Voices was born.

With support from groups like the Orange County Arts Commission and nonprofit Strowd Roses, the choir has grown immensely since its founding. The original

I have been with Sisters’ Voices since second grade. I’ve found my voice, not just as a singer but as a person. It is a special space for everyone.”

– Lian Petrella, 11th grader, Carolina Friends School

ensemble, which started as 17 singers from fourth to eighth grade, has expanded to include singers from kindergarten to 11th grade. To support its growing membership, the group also relocated from Pittsboro to Chapel Hill. But its core values – “courage, curiosity and connection” – have remained the same. While the group practices in spaces at Binkley, Sisters’ Voices is secular. Their performances reflect the community’s commitment to inclusivity, incorporating songs from diverse cultures.

Leandra’s teaching style balances firmness and flexibility, encouraging singers to take risks in a supportive environment. “We all know one another’s strengths, and we all know where we’re challenged,” she says. “There’s no

Sisters’ Voices singers fill Binkley’s Fellowship Hall with music, a spot where the group often rehearses, performs concerts and hosts summer and teacher workday camps.

surprise when somebody stumbles over something – we’re just encouraging of one another.”

Over the years, the choir’s community has transcended music. After Saturday rehearsals, the older girls enjoy meaningful conversations over dinner. Tenth grade singer Amina Kasim, who has been in Sisters’ Voices since middle school, says that Leandra has been instrumental in building her confidence. “She really understands us and listens to us,” Amina says. “She helped me find my voice.”

Looking to the future, Leandra hopes Sisters’ Voices will continue to expand,

Kristin Trangsrud has served as the organization’s pianist for the last five years.

Sisters’ Voices is very meaningful to me. The growth I have had since fourth grade beyond singing is stunning, changing me from a shy, stagefrightened kid into a young leader in the organization.”

– Genevieve DeAlmeida, 10th grader, East Chapel Hill High School

taking on more singers and more complex pieces. They also hope to seek out additional staff, a new space to accommodate growth and more opportunities. In June, 16 singers will travel to Cincinnati to participate in the Queen City Choral Festival, the group’s first national festival.

“When you feel like you’re soaring because you’re singing with a group of people, there’s something really exhilarating about that,” Leandra says, reflecting on the program’s impact. “Being part of something that’s bigger than the individual is really powerful.” CHM

Leandra has also trained and worked as a licensed massage and bodywork therapist, learning more about movement and breath.

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allunder one

roof

This blended family turned a quick flip of a midcentury modern house into the forever home of their dreams

By James Dupree | Photography by John Michael Simpson

ellie Holland Vail and Daniel Sartain’s journey began almost eight years ago, having met through a mutual friend at Durham’s Bar Virgile, where Daniel is owner and operator.

Both navigating new chapters in life, they instantly connected over their shared love of travel, live music, good food and mutual interest in each other’s careers. The couple now also co-own popular Bull City cocktail lounge Annexe and the bar High Dive.

Nellie had been renting a home in Carrboro with kids Flossie Holland-Vail, 11, and Linus Holland-Vail, 13. Meanwhile, Daniel was raising two kids of his own, JoJo Sartain, 10, and Naomi Sartain, 14, in Durham. “Since we both worked

in Durham and I love Carrboro, we wanted something that could accommodate us,” Nellie says. With this in mind, in the fall of 2020, the couple set their sights on Chapel Hill as an ideal place for their blended family to thrive.

Nellie had heard good things about the Colony Woods area from her neighbors in Carrboro, so the couple decided to check it out for themselves. In October 2020, they made an offer on a split-level midcentury modern house built in 1965. Nellie has a soft spot for homes with character and charm that reflect the era in which they were built. “Many newer homes can sometimes feel a bit generic,” she says. “What stands out about split-level homes is their incredible space efficiency. There aren’t any big, unnecessary hallways or wasted areas. They balance functionality and space. They provide enough room to accommodate a larger family and host gatherings without requiring a massive house.”

The home’s original 2,300 square feet were, for Nellie, a reminder of growing up in the small town of Elkins in northwestern Arkansas. Her family lived in an 1800s farmhouse that

ABOVE Nellie and Daniel took a simple outdoor patio and reimagined it into a warm, inviting indoor sanctuary – perfect for gathering, unwinding and making lasting memories in every season.

BELOW The tall pines and lush border of bamboo makes this secluded backyard a natural playground where the kids – JoJo, Naomi, Flossie and Linus – can create endless fun together.

home &garden

was 1,700 square feet with just one bathroom shared between her parents and two siblings. “I always loved the cozy, quaint vibe of that home – being within earshot of everything happening around me felt comforting,” she says.

Before Nellie and Daniel moved in, some remodeling was necessary to open up the main living spaces to more comfortably fit everyone, including two fluffy orange cats, Texas Pete and Ouisa, and three dogs: DeeJay, a goldendoodle; Vegas, a long-haired dachshund; and finally JuneBug, a silky wirehaired dachshund who joined the family last summer. “The house had been run down but had been given a quick flip,” Nellie says. “So it was ready for us to move in, but the style wasn’t really to my taste.” From fall of 2020 to early 2021, Nellie and Daniel enlisted the help of thenconstruction consultant Johnny Crncic to remove the walls separating the kitchen, dining room and living room. Next, they vaulted the ceiling from 8 feet to 12 feet to further the open concept motif. 

ABOVE The family comes together for good food and quality time. BELOW Johnny Crncic knocked down walls and vaulted the ceiling, while CV Woodwork did a full remodel of the kitchen.

The top floor was designated for the kids’ three bedrooms, so the couple wanted to create a private place for themselves. “One of the reasons I fell in love with this house was the working fireplace [on the bottom floor],” Nellie says. “I didn’t see a need for a den, so I wanted to make it our bedroom instead.” The couple added his and hers closets that split the space in half with an entryway down the middle. The entryway leads into Nellie’s home office where she spends most of the week working remotely as the chief financial officer for the Durham-based tech company Spreedly. “My life is built around flexibility,” she says. “I was a single mom for years, and since COVID, I have been used to being at home.”

Not much exterior work was needed – Agape Lawn Company handled the hardscape, adding a stone walkway from the backyard and a firepit lounge out front. Meanwhile, Nellie’s parents, Bob Holland and Julie Holland, owners of the Holland Wildflower Farm in Arkansas, helped revive the front garden with various native perennials, including creeping Jenny, purple coneflower, coleus and goldenrod.

The couple’s longest project consisted of removing the small outdoor patio attached to the back of the home and adding an extra 450 square feet of indoor living space with an entrance off the kitchen. “[Even after the remodel] the main living room still felt pretty small for our family of six,” Nellie says, “And this neighborhood is great because we have kids and their parents stopping by all the time. So, we thought we should extend our entertainment space, giving us room to spread out even more.”

The estimated completion time was six months, but while construction was underway, they encountered a major setback that would extend the work over the next two years. Part of the roof near the kitchen was left exposed, and combined with soil erosion, it caused serious flooding and a forced remodel of the kitchen. “It was a real mess, but honestly I wasn’t completely sad about it,” Nellie laughs. “Because the home was a flip, the kitchen had a lot of cheap stuff that wasn’t really my style.” 

Nellie’s home office is a light-filled, spacious haven that radiates warmth and comfort, offering her a delightful sanctuary for working from home.

ABOVE Agape Lawn Company designed the hardscape of the house, incorporating a stone walkway from the backyard and a cozy firepit lounge in the front yard. BELOW The white side table is a vintage piece from Gibson Girl Vintage in Durham.

Nellie and Daniel saw this as their chance to breathe new life into an outdated setup, adding new appliances, cabinets and an island with the help of CV Woodwork. Brian Plaster Designs installed a beverage station, complete with a wine cooler and espresso maker. “Brian was a huge help,” Daniel says. “We’ve known him for 10 or 12 years from the restaurant industry. He also built the pergola that sits over the hot tub in the back.”

As a veteran in the hospitality industry, Daniel does most of the cooking. “This time of year, I like to cook single-pot anything – soups, stews, dumplings or chili,” he says. “In the spring, we grill. Bar Virgile is famous for its burgers, so the kids love it when we grill burgers here,” he says. Nellie adds, “The whole neighborhood loves it. When they smell it, they want to come by.” On days when Daniel doesn’t feel like cooking, they enjoy trips to Bin 54, Pizzeria Mercato or The Casual Pint

In the fall of 2024, CV Woodwork finished converting the patio into an extended entertainment space, offering a great spot to entertain while leaving room for the kids and their friends to hang out. “When it’s just Daniel and I, especially when the kids are at

ABOVE Nellie and Daniel used the split-level layout to create private spaces for both kids and adults, with the children’s rooms located on the top level and the primary bedroom located on the lowest level, ensuring both family connection and personal retreats. BELOW Nellie’s youngest, Flossie, enjoys spending time in her room, the design reflecting her love for bright colors and Taylor Swift.

“

Lindsay B. and Ala n H., Chapel Hill

Music Makers

The home’s revitalized living spaces have seen plenty of use since their completion.

“We are big music lovers,” Nellie adds. “My dad is a musician. He plays a lot of different instruments like the mandolin and fiddle. So I grew up in a household where music was very important.” Much of the record collection displayed in the living room belonged to Nellie’s father. Daniel and Linus both enjoy strumming on the guitar in their free time as well. “We had a cool moment over Thanksgiving where Daniel’s nieces came over. They play cello and Linus plays viola, so we had a family jam session,” Nellie says.

their other parent’s house, [this place] feels manageable and functional –not too big for just the two of us,” she says.

Nellie not only merged her family with Daniel’s but also seamlessly blended the home’s midcentury modern structure with her love for bold color and vintage decor. She found many of her favorite eclectic pieces at Durham’s Gibson Girl Vintage and Glass Box on Franklin Street. Artwork collected from her travels in Italy adds a personal touch, including pieces from a small market in Florence and another from the hilltop town of Cortona, the last of which hangs over the fireplace in their bedroom. A custom painting by Daniel’s friend Clark Hipolito – known for his large-scale murals throughout the Triangle – immediately draws the eye in the living room. Additionally, Nellie has incorporated artwork from her late great-aunt Jacqueline Holmes’ extensive collection from her career as an art curator, keeping meaningful pieces to honor her legacy.

Now that remodeling is complete, Nellie continues to dream of ways to improve their home. “I always have to have a project,” she says. “I think what this space lacks is a mudroom or entryway. I’ve made do with hooks on the wall for coats and backpacks, but there’s no place for shoes. I’m thinking about pushing the entryway out more with an angled roof that makes the whole house look a little more modern.” But for now, that idea will wait as the family just enjoys the cozy modern-meets-vintage home they have crafted. CHM

Daniel and Nellie stand on the front porch with their children, as well as a few of their furry family members, DeeJay, JuneBug and Vegas.

PHOTO BY MIKE BENSON

still standing

Descendants of one of the area’s first Black families preserve their ancestral home and history

By Anna-Rhesa Versola Photography by John Michael Simpson

olores Hogan Clark, 91, leans on her cane and places a foot alongside an impression in the painted concrete hearth of the kitchen fireplace. “That’s my footprint,” she says about the discovery made during a restoration project at her home last summer.

“I was raised in this home,” Dolores says. Her great-grandparents, Toney Strayhorn and Nellie Stroud Strayhorn, who were born into slavery in 1850 on different plantations in Orange County, met and married in 1876. They worked and saved $5 a month to purchase 30 acres off of a dirt path now known as Jones Ferry Road 

Lorie Clark and her mother, Dolores Hogan Clark, hold a framed family photo while sitting in the “fancy room,” where the original log cabin remains enclosed by the walls of home additions. Above the vintage settee are the portraits of their ancestors, Toney and Nellie Strayhorn, who were freed from slavery during the Civil War. The Strayhorns became one of the earliest known Black families to settle in the town known today as Carrboro.

Toney and Nellie were among the area’s first emancipated settlers in 1879. Toney cleared trees to build a single-room log cabin, adding rooms as his family grew. The original footprint was 120 square feet and is now a two-story home with 1,876 square feet. Toney and Nellie farmed the land, growing vegetables and flowers and raising milk cows, chickens and pigs. Family members built their own homes along the road into town.

By 1911, the area eventually incorporated as a town first called Venable, honoring Francis Preston Venable, a chemistry professor and president of UNC. Two years later, the state legislature renamed the town Carrboro.

“[The home] wasn’t modernized like it is now,” Dolores remembers of her early childhood. “We had an outdoor toilet because we had no running water. To take a bath, which was once a week on Saturday nights, we set a great big, round, tin tub filled with water [from the well] right in front of the fireplace in the kitchen. My cousin, who lived next door, was like my sister; we would take turns jumping in. It was fun. We heated up by the fire after we got out of the water.”

Today, Dolores enjoys hosting visitors in the “fancy room,” where the original cabin walls still stand. The logs, hand-hewn by Toney, remain behind the painted panels and tucked beneath the wood floors. And as with any residence, maintenance is required. Phillip Lyons, a trustee of Preservation Chapel Hill, worked to secure funds to cover the costs of much-needed home repairs. 

ABOVE Cast-iron skillets used by the earliest Strayhorns hang over the kitchen fireplace across from a list of family rules and words to live by.

BELOW The original single-story log cabin built in 1879 by Toney and Nellie Strayhorn is enveloped by the walls of room additions and renovations over the centuries. The original well stands in front of the side porch.

Family

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“There are two things that are just terrible for historic structures – water damage and vacancy,” he says. Thankfully, the Strayhorn house has remained occupied and owned by Toney and Nellie’s descendants for its entire history.

Phillip says the Greensboro-based Marion Stedman Covington Foundation granted $20,000 to replace ducting for the air conditioning system. “It was in terrible shape, and some of it was open and blowing air,” he says. An additional $35,000 in individual donations was raised in 2023 to restore the foundation, replace rotten joists, fix an original fireplace, and install new kitchen cabinets.

“I feel blessed that we took this project on because we just love the family so much,” Phillip says. “There’s a little bit of work to be done, and we have a small amount of money left that we will use to complete the task as we started it. It’s close to being finished.”

Dolores’ daughter, Lorie Clark, a coordinator of student leadership and engagement with Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, has spent her life collecting documentation in support of her family’s stories. They have binders filled with deeds, receipts, birth certificates and other papers and photos. 

The Airbnb House Next Door

Hope Colen happened to see someone hammering a for-sale sign in front of 107 Jones Ferry Rd. and immediately recognized a rare opportunity in 2018.

“Oh, my god, I have to have that house,” Hope says, recalling the moment. She was familiar with older homes after living in a few outside of Boston. Her family moved to Cary in 2005 and then to a farm in Pittsboro about 12 years ago.

Hope had no idea the fourbedroom, three-bath house she purchased was part of local lore.

The original owner, William Strayhorn, Toney and Nellie’s son, was a secondgeneration brick mason who died unexpectedly in an auto accident in 1933. Some of his descendants who lived in the house were known as “Flower Ladies,” who grew and sold flowers in Carrboro and Chapel Hill.

“I feel like I’m the steward of this house,” Hope says. “I feel honored to own it. It’s a beautiful home. It’s got a great energy to it.”

Hope, who owns rental property, originally intended to restore the home for her own family’s personal use. For now, she lists the 2,579-square-foot home on Airbnb, mostly on weekends, she says.

ABOVE Dolores fills binders with records and photos documenting the family’s history.

BELOW A vintage oak cabinet is one of many family heirlooms still used today.

“That’s rewarding for us as a family to be able to say this is what we know,” Lorie says. “I’m glad my mom has so much of that information and is always willing to share because it’s important. I don’t want it to ever be lost.”

Lorie continues to pursue a name missing from her sprawling Strayhorn family tree, which includes surnames like Andrews, Atwater and Hogan.

“A really phenomenal story is that [Toney] was separated from his mother when he was 7, and we don’t know her name,” Lorie says. “So I’ve been trying to research that through the records in Hillsborough, through the slave auctions. That means in about 1857 she was auctioned and sold to a family in Hillsborough. Toney never saw his mom again. That’s as far as I’ve gotten [in my research].”

We are keeping the history of our family. I’m writing my story for my children – all of this for my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Dolores

Hogan Clark

Dolores and Lorie share another often-told story about the dangerous times in which Toney taught himself to read and write by moonlight. Dolores heard stories of how members of the Ku Klux Klan would patrol at night, knocking on the doors of homes where they saw light from oil lamps or candles. Toney, whose work in brick and stone masonry can still be seen today in chimneys, homes, commercial buildings and churches throughout the area, ultimately became a minister and a founding member of the Rock Hill Baptist Church (now First Baptist Church).

Toney and Nellie’s family prevailed through the decades following the Civil War and the Jim Crow and Civil Rights eras. The world has changed in many ways, Dolores says.

“I remember growing up and having chores – not like the children now, but having lots of chores, bringing in wood from the outside to make a fire for the next day,” she recalls. “I remember feeding the chickens and gathering eggs. I remember when they had corn shuckings. My great-grandmother prepared things because [the family] fed the people who came to help [on the farm]. My cousins and I grew up right next door to one another. I remember just having a good time with my cousins, because we didn’t have things to do back then, so with little games in the yard or whatever. But yes, I pass it on to my children, and my daughter has been very thorough; she has done a lot of research, and I’m proud of that. She’s continuing to do it so that we keep passing it down. I don’t know how far we’ll get, but we’re going to keep on trying.” CHM

The Town of Carrboro installed a Truth Plaque in 2023 in recognition of the home and the family’s historical significance.

A painting by great-granddaughter Georgia McCoy Bradsher hangs above a pitcher and water bowl used in the time before the home had indoor plumbing.

remarkable

Some of our town’s most talented architects and interior designers spotlight their latest one-of-a-kind creations

By Leah Berry | Photography by John Michael Simpson

Extreme Makeover: Playroom Edition

The Johnson family’s home just got a serious upgrade, but it’s not your typical renovation – it’s a space where rock walls, trapeze swings and dress-up closets come together to create a kidapproved paradise. 

rooms

"Our vision was to create a fun and functional space that would grow with the girls," Scottie Sparks Johnson says of her family's updated playroom. "We wanted it to be both stimulating and safe. Michelle [Murphy] was instrumental in designing the layout and bringing a cohesive design to the room that made it fun but also calming enough that parents can enjoy spending time in the space as well."

home &garden

UNC alumni Scottie Sparks Johnson and Will Johnson wanted a haven for their girls, 9-year-old Claire Johnson and 5-year-old Chloe Johnson, to safely burn off their energy, develop motor skills and let their imaginations run wild.

And with the expertise of Michelle Murphy, principal designer of Demi Ryan, the vision became a reality in the family’s Hidden Hills home. “I wanted to create a space that was as functional as it was fun – a true kids haven that parents would love too,” Michelle says.

The playroom – which took around three months to complete – brings childhood dreams to life with its enchanting details and playful touches. “Both girls like to challenge themselves on the rock wall and trapeze, while Claire enjoys building elaborate forts with the Nugget [pieces],” Scottie says of the local company started by UNC grads. “Chloe loves to utilize the dress-up closet and then put on little shows for us with her friends. The monkey bars and cocoon swing are a constant source of entertainment for all family members, parents included!”

The space features a soothing palette of soft neutrals and natural, organic wood, accented with vibrant pops of color to bring energy and whimsy to the space.“I loved the challenge of balancing these bold, active pieces, like the monkey bars and rock-climbing wall, with a neutral base to keep the room feeling open and cohesive,” Michelle says.

The playroom also includes cozy nooks for reading or imaginative play, offering the girls a range of both quiet and active activities.

Located on the second floor next to the girls’ bedrooms, the playroom is perfectly placed for endless fun without disrupting the rest of the house. And positioned above the garage, it features extra insulation to minimize noise from their lively activities.

Michelle notes that one of the biggest challenges in designing the playroom was making the best use of the space while ensuring it remained functional and accessible. “I had to carefully plan the layout to avoid obstructing windows and closets, as natural light and storage access were essential for the room’s usability,” she says.

Kari Kuhn, owner of Winston-Salem-based Tartan Organizing, helped the family organize the space effectively. “All games, costumes and larger toys are put away in the closet, maximizing our floor space,” Scottie says. “The toy bins have easy-to-understand categories that help to limit frustration during cleanup time.”

That sense of organization and harmony extends beyond just aesthetics. “Having a designated space for play has significantly reduced clutter in other areas of our home and created a more peaceful environment for everyone,” Scottie says. 

Scottie particularly loves the incredibly versatile Nugget foam couches in the playroom. "They provide soft cushioning for falls from the rock wall but also offer endless possibilities for building forts, tunnels and obstacle courses in the playroom and outside hallway," she says.

Hitting the Right Notes

Local musician Greg Hawks sought a sanctuary where his creativity could thrive, his music could echo uninhibited and his hefty gear could settle into its rightful place – needless to say, a compact spare room in his Chapel Hill home wasn’t cutting it.

Greg and his wife, Lyn Hawks, saw an opportunity to use inheritance from his late mother to create the extra space they had long dreamed of.

They looked to the serene woodlands that envelope their home to build a custom sound studio brought to life by Heather Washburn, the visionary behind Calico Studio. “We knew that we needed to work with somebody who appreciated and understood what you need as an artist,” Greg says.

Heather crafted the 400-square-foot brick studio just 50 feet from the Hawks’ home to be a true reflection of Greg’s personality and

Greg says his new recording desk "might be the best thing of all,” highlighting how it brings all of his gear within arm’s reach, making his creative process smoother and more efficient.

home &garden

passion – from exterior brick detailing shaped to mimic his favorite chord, Asus2, to purple ceiling panels inspired by Prince’s iconic “Purple Rain,” a tribute to one of Greg’s greatest musical influences.

“The brick brought in all of the natural colors of the surroundings,” Heather says. “That building is going to settle more and more over the years. It’ll look like it has always been there.” This feeling is enhanced by the peach-colored soffit, which seamlessly blends with the surrounding red clay soil.

Heather explains that the primary challenges in constructing the sound studio were addressing the area’s water issues – mainly redirecting the water that flows from uphill – and infusing more character into what initially seemed like a straightforward design. And the final project – which stretched nearly a year

due to a brief pause needed to address the intricate interior details and the complex acoustical setup – is proof of accomplishing just that.

The studio now gives Greg ample room to teach music lessons – “that’s more or less my day job,” he says – and store his collection of instruments and gear. But perhaps its greatest gift is the escape it offers, a sanctuary of uninterrupted peace and quiet and a blank canvas for beautiful sound when inspiration strikes.

With its windowless design to ensure soundproofing, the structure also serves a dual purpose, doubling as a sturdy storm shelter. “It’s really like a music box,” Heather says. “You’ve got this outside that doesn’t tell you a whole lot about what’s going on inside. You open up the box and then there’s magic that’s in there.” 

"I wanted [the sound studio] to be something that would be a great place for recording but also a great meeting place and a place that I could create and play drums or guitars or any other loud music at any time of day or night with no one knowing the better," Greg says.

Making Space for Fun

What once stood as an unused “fancy room” in the Hessick family’s Southern Village home is now a lively retreat.

Carissa Hessick and Andy Hessick, both professors at the UNC School of Law, ended up redefining the entire first floor of their abode – including the formal sitting room adorned with heirloom furniture – with the creative expertise of Caroline Shillito, owner and principal designer of emma delon

“When Caroline and her team asked us about how we used the space on our first floor, we mentioned that we ended up playing games at our kitchen table because the decorative table in ‘the fancy room’ was not large enough,” Carissa says. “It was during the course of that conversation that the idea was born to use this room as a game room.”

The “fancy room” is now a hub for fun, with grass cloth wallpaper to create texture, a stylish – and bigger – table and deep garnet statement chairs. But it’s also a reflection of the family’s rich experiences and interests. A wine cabinet showcases bottles of Australian shiraz, a tribute to their months living in Australia in early 2024, and Russian nesting dolls commemorate the semester that Carissa spent as a high school exchange student in St. Petersburg. 

ABOVE After spending countless hours at home during COVID-19, the Hessicks were eager to refresh their first floor, which had grown cramped and worn from years of use. BELOW The game room not only boasts fresh upgrades but also showcases personal photos and sentimental decor.

"Although we had each played games a lot growing up and together with friends after getting married, it wasn’t until the COVID-19 lockdown that we started playing [more] games with our kids," Carissa says. "As they have gotten older, we have been able to introduce more games, and we are all pretty competitive and want to win."

Even the banjos, a nod to their COVID19-era hobbies, tell a story – though only Andy followed through on learning to play.

The couple was also adamant that the Turkish light fixture they discovered years ago in a shop in Charleston, South Carolina, be part of the redesign. Andy spent a semester in college split between Turkey and Greece, and in 2011 he and Carissa spent some time traveling in those countries before spending the summer teaching in Italy.

The emma delon team introduced other thoughtful first-floor design upgrades from the powder room to streamlined kitchen storage and reimagined both the mudroom and garage entry for a seamless blend of style and functionality.

“Ultimately, the structural changes that [they] suggested were not that significant, but they really improved our ability to use the space,” Carissa says.

“As for the decorative changes, Caroline and her team were fantastic. … Caroline is a master at figuring out what we actually care about and then offering us some options that really appeal to us.”

After a year of thoughtful design and preparation, construction on the Hessicks’ first floor began in March 2023, transforming their vision into reality by August. By late October, most details were finalized, thanks in part to the craftsmanship of local vendors, including Chapel Hill-based Ramirez Painting and Hughes Contracting, Inc

Caroline and the Hessicks are already looking ahead to a secondfloor renovation, where they’ll carry forward the vibrant blues, greens and magenta seen downstairs, along with incorporating more Moroccan and Turkish influences for a cohesive, global-inspired feel. CHM

Michael Wolfe imagined every detail of his tiny home before it was ever built. He plans to one day add a highend guest house at a distance well beyond the bathroom window.

mighty small but

By Anna-Rhesa Versola

rielle Schechter knows a thing or two about compact, functional designs.

“I think it’s important to offer smaller buildings because they’re much more energy-efficient, for one thing,” says the Chapel Hill-based architect. “You can put your money toward the important stuff. You’re not wasting space.”

Arielle learned this lesson in 1987 when she renovated a 850-square-foot house in Hillsborough after graduating from NCSU’s School of Architecture. “My dad and I would go renovate it on weekends,” she remembers. “I opened up walls and brought in more light. I knew the potential of a small space being something really beautiful, grand and livable. I put every square inch of that house to use, and it taught me the way.”

Her passion for net-zero homes resulted in Micropolis, her collection of designs for smart living within a smaller footprint. And though the definition of a tiny home varies, her designs range in size from 150 to 1,500 square feet. 

Photography by John Michael Simpson

A closer look into the world of tiny homes

The architect, who this year was named to Forbes Magazine’s inaugural list of the top 200 residential architects in America, has lost count of the number of Micropolis homes she has built but estimates fewer than 100 globally. “Some people hire me for the Micropolis houses but end up doubling and tripling the size,” she says. “I design houses of all sizes. I’m designing one right now that is almost 7,000 square feet and has similar performance for efficiency. I’ve had people throw in the towel and just give up on a tiny house after I’ve told them there isn’t room for a whole mudroom or a laundry room; instead, you’d have to make do with a laundry closet or something, and you’d have to pare down your belongings. Some people decide, ‘No, this is just going to not going to work for me.’”

Arielle has certain rules of success for clients who are ready to adapt to tiny home living. “One is that there has to be at least one space with a higher ceiling, and that gives it a more lofty feeling,” she says. “And there have to be at least two outdoor spaces, preferably three.” Arielle emphasizes the importance of decks, terraces or screened

porches to expand a home’s livability at a lower cost.

She says the costs of highquality materials and construction continue to rise following the pandemic and expects prices to climb even higher with the anticipated tariffs. “Before the pandemic, my houses were coming in at $225 per heated square foot,” Arielle says. “After the pandemic, I’ve done my own survey around the state for good, quality construction, which is ranging from $400 to $500 per heated square foot.”

The Jewel Box

Michael Wolfe grew up in a house on his family’s 100 acres of forested land adjacent to Duke Forest and a Triangle Land Conservancy preserve near Union Grove Church Road. After high school, he joined the U.S. Army when wars raged in Iraq and Afghanistan and learned to live in tight spaces. During his 15 years abroad in various countries, Mike developed a keen eye for high-end furniture design and began to collect pieces that would one day inhabit his dream home. And when he was ready, he chose Arielle’s design called Tadpole to build his 900-square-foot modern house at the end of a milelong gravel drive on his family property. He says his home is a jewel box in the forest.

“I feel like this space is representative of me,” he says, crossing his left leg over his right and stretching his arm across the top of a vintage leather couch. He surveys the light-filled, vaulted room. The wood fire flares in the furnace. Three walls bear his neatly stacked book trophies. Pocket doors and unadorned windows provide a clear view of the forest at every turn. The Tadpole floor plan by Arielle was customized to Mike’s preferences and built by Kevin Murphy of Newphire Building.

The home’s net-zero efficiency is primarily due to high-quality building materials, insulation, a solar array power source, a mini split

ABOVE Mike and Annabel St Louis often enjoy hosting friends for a homemade meal and fine wine.

RIGHT A mauve Mario Bellini sofa pops against the amber gold walls in the media room.

BELOW The low-set love seat by Danish designer Poul Kjærholm allows a clear sightline to the furnace from inside the sapphire bedroom.

A WORKSPACE THAT WORKS FOR

PRIVATE OFFICES • CO-WORKING • EVENTS AND MEETING ROOMS

The 79°West Innovation Hub is a 22,000+ 8,500 square-foot workspace situated in MOSAIC, a 44-acre mixed-use community that’s part of the rapidly growing Live-WorkPlay-Learn Chatham Park community just north of historic downtown Pittsboro, NC.

At 79°West, coworking, innovation programming, and private offices converge with mentorship and community collaboration in this all-in-one hub that blends work with play, personal with professional, and passion with production.

HVAC system with a good air filtration system and a design that optimizes sunlight exposure.

Mike now shares his home with Annabel St Louis, a data science analyst who was trained as an industrial engineer. She grew up in Haiti, where her father is an architect. “Focus on what you need,” Annabel recommends for anyone considering tiny living. “Focus on what’s functional for you, make it your own, but also embrace it.”

Alternative Housing Solutions

One builder who is wading into the tiny home arena is Jennifer Hoffman of the newly renamed West End Building Company in Carrboro. For the last decade, she and her team have designed and built residences all over the area. Now, they are launching a side initiative to provide stick-built homes that can be delivered to a buyer and placed on a permanent foundation.

“These would not be custom oneoff builds,” Jennifer says. The concept offers a choice of floorplans and elevations, plus a curated menu of interior options, like countertops and cabinets. “The only unknown cost is the foundation because every site is different.”

When

you live in a 900-squarefoot house, you have to account for what’s important to you and what you need.

Mike Wolfe,

homeowner

Meanwhile, Lisa Fischbeck, a priest at Episcopal Church of the Advocate in Chapel Hill who co-founded Pee Wee Homes in 2015, continues to follow her passion to provide affordable housing for those living well below the poverty level.

“It’s pretty evident that there’s an affordable housing crisis in our community,” Lisa says. “In fact, it’s all across the country.”

Lisa explains that affordable housing is defined as spending no more than one-third of your income on housing costs. “Let’s say your income is $2,400 a month, you’d have to find housing that’s $800 a month,” she says. “If your income is $1,200 a

Once a home is fully built off-site, Jennifer says, it would be transported by truck to the homebuyer’s property. She emphasizes that these homes are not built on wheels like some of the tiny homes seen on Airbnb or reality TV shows because zoning restrictions prevent using a wheeled home as a permanent residence. Similarly, shed conversions and accessory dwelling units are subject to strict building codes, permits and zoning requirements that can limit where to place a tiny home.

Entry-level costs begin roughly at $150,000. “I usually tell people that when I’m doing a site-built home, we’re going to start at $350 per square foot and go up,” Jennifer says of ground-up custom residential construction. “[But] if we’re building off-site, we can bring the cost down.”

Perhaps the biggest challenge is finding affordable, available land where a potential homeowner might build a permanent foundation for a future home. “Most jurisdictions are rezoning because they recognize that we need to allow building with more density in urban areas and connect people to existing amenities, like public transportation,” Jennifer says.

month, you’d have to find housing that is $400 a month. And there simply is not that kind of housing available.”

With unflinching support from the community, tiny homes are squeezed onto parcels of land belonging to the church, the Town of Chapel Hill and the Town of Carrboro. Seven single-family and duplex homes have already been built with plans to add more. “Land is hard to come by in Chapel Hill and Carrboro,” Lisa says. “If you get out of the southern part of the county, there’s more land available.”

The church and Pee Wee Homes continue to raise funds, apply for grants and appeal to the kindness of others to make it possible to build a 360-square-foot house, a size that would occupy the inside of two standard parking spaces. “Cities and towns are slowly catching on, and the rules are changing,” Lisa says. “It’s an exciting time.” CHM

A glass-walled rooftop terrace overlooks the south-facing lanai. The cedar wood for the exteriors are naturally rot-resistant. Mike plans to install stone steps and paths accented by native plant landscapes.

h i g h - p e rf o r ma n c e, d e s i g n + b u i l d

c r u s h i n g c o nven t i o n s t o m a k e h o me li f e the b e s t li f e

growing legacy

The Hillsborough Garden Club celebrates its centennial roots this spring

By James Dupree

he Hillsborough Garden Club marks its 1925 inception with a centennial garden tour on May 3 showcasing 10 private gardens. “We are very excited about our tour,” says Hillsborough Garden Tour Chairperson Frances Harris. “Six of the gardens are attached to 100-year-old or older homes. The other gardens evoke a sense of history with their plants and garden designs.” Another spot on the tour is the Hillsborough Visitors Center located inside the Alexander Dickson House built in 1790. The club sponsored the renovation of the surrounding garden to commemorate the club’s history and the history of Hillsborough.

Photography by Nancy Beach and Tammy Dorfman

a storied garden

Located in the Hillsborough Historic District, Johanna Wilson and Will Wilson’s half-acre property has plenty of stories to tell. A yard sign reads “WalkerWilson House” with the year 1969 underneath as a tribute to the history of the property’s past and present owners. The Walker family, who have offered funeral home services in Orange County since 1922, built the house in 1969. “We hear there were many fun poker nights in the basement,” Johanna says.

But it’s not just the land or the home that has a story. “Almost everything in my garden, I can tell you where it came from,” Johanna says. “For instance, in 2021, Will and I went to Sunset Beach, North Carolina, over the summer, and I spotted this beautiful hydrangea at this cottage near the beach. No one was there, so I went over and got a few cuttings. When we got back home, I rooted the cuttings, and now I have my Sunset Beach hydrangea.” Similarly, many of the

ABOVE The front walkway garden features peonies, allium and self-seeded love-in-a-mist. LEFT This hopeful fisherman statue was bought at an estate sale and sits perched on a log found on a neighbor’s property. RIGHT A double pink peony blooms in the front garden. Some of the peonies are from family and friends while others were bought.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NANCY BEACH

“Our house in Charlotte was so shaded it was really hard to grow anything,” Will says. Johanna adds, “Working full time and raising three boys, I didn’t garden a whole lot either.” But now retired, they can spend every day kneeling with their hands in the dirt.

irises and peonies can be traced back to Johanna’s sister’s and grandmother’s yards, while the azaleas were rooted from Will’s mother’s garden. “Yes, some things may not be technically native but they are quintessentially southern,” she says.

Originally, the property consisted mostly of grass and large overgrown boxwoods that lined the driveway and around the home. After Johanna and Will moved to Hillsborough from Charlotte in 2019, it wasn’t long before they got to work bringing renewed energy to a dormant landscape. The couple started their garden in the spring of 2020 after they submitted a landscape plan to Hillsborough Historic District Commission for an added front porch, a screened-in back porch and several large garden beds. Casey Collins of Casey Collins Creative designed a planting bed that bordered the front porch and breezeway, as well as a parallel bed that went along the driveway. All but two of the boxwoods were removed, which Johanna and Will affectionately refer to as “The Legacy.” Now serviceberry trees line the drive, with their white blossoms in the spring, red berries in the summer and beautiful reddish-orange leaves in the fall.

Currently, the front garden hosts a wide variety of joe-pye weed, primrose and larkspur to name a few. A multicolored coneflower hybrid has over time spawned purple, pink, red and blue flowers throughout the garden, each color a remnant of the hybrid’s genetic history. But it is not the only happy accident the couple have discovered in their garden. “One thing I love about this place is there are many things that grow and bloom here that I didn’t plant,” Johanna says. “We have sunflowers popping up from where birds dropped seeds from the feeder. We also had larkspur seeding themselves where we had dumped some prunings near the road.”

Surrounding the stepping stones leading to the back garden, blue star creeper, creeping phlox, thyme and low-growing mint create a whimsical patchwork of greens, teals and yellows. “Will and I went to a workshop at JC Raulston Arboretum about ground covers, so this is a grand experiment to see what species wins out,”

Johanna says. “And when the clematis and poppies are blooming and the gate is open, it’s just a beautiful view looking up to the perennial bed.”

The backyard, once mostly lawn and woods, has undergone a significant redesign as well. The couple reduced the amount of grass with garden beds now home to a wide array of native and non-native species. Backed by blue hydrangeas and across from the firepit where family and

ABOVE A view of the Walker-Wilson house from the street. RIGHT These Itoh peonies (variety Cora Louise) are a cross between tree peonies and herbaceous peonies, combining the best features of each.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NANCY BEACH

Saltire Gallerie

Shopping

108 Churton Boutique / 108 S. Churton St.

Anne & Arthur Fine Art Supply / 220 S. Churton St.

Carlisle & Linny Vintage Jewelry / 112 S. Churton St.

Dwell / 107 N. Churton St.

Eno Arts Mill / 437 Dimmocks Mill Rd.

Hillsborough Bake Shop / 110 S. Churton St.

Hillsborough Gallery of Arts / 121 N. Churton St.

Hillsborough Wine Co. / 118 S. Churton St.

Kim’s Bake Shop / 111 N. Churton St.

Margaret Lane Gallery / 121 W. Margaret Lane

Matthew’s Chocolates / 107 N. Churton St.

Melissa Designer Jewelry / 105 W. King St.

Paws4Ever Resale Store / 246 S. Nash St.

Purple Crow Books / 109 W. King St.

Re-Invintaged Home Décor / 120 S. Churton St.

Saltire Gallerie / 209 Burnside Drive

Spiral Studios / 115 N. Churton St.

Steve’s Garden Market / 610 N. Churton St.

Thomas Stevens Gallery / 126 W. King St.

Uniquitiques / 125 E. King St.

Restaurants and Bars

American Hero Grill / 640 N. Churton St.

Anna Maria’s Pizzeria / 670 N. Churton St.

Antonia’s Restaurant / 101 N. Churton St.

Colorado Burrito / 122 S. Churton St.

Hillsborough BBQ Co. / 236 S. Nash St.

Jay’s Chicken Shack / 646 N. Churton St.

Nash Street Tavern 250 / S. Nash St.

Nomad Restaurant / 122 W. King St.

Pizza Cornicione / 230 S. Nash St.

Saratoga Grill / 108 S. Churton St.

Tacos Los Altos / 126 W. King St.

Samantha’s Pupusas / 117 Cornelius St.

Spencer’s Tavern / 153 W. King St.

Village Diner / 600 W. King St.

Whit’s Frozen Custard / 240 S. Nash St.

Willie’s Pizzeria / 670 N. Churton St.

Wooden Nickel Pub / 113 N. Churton St.

Yonder Southern Cocktails / 114 W. King St.

home

neighbors often gather, is a Golden Falls redbud, its vinelike vegetation spilling over itself and masking the thin trunk creating the illusion that it is floating above the ground.

On the eastern side of the home, a beautiful array of perennials bloom in a smaller bed just below the kitchen window. “I love this spot because you look down from the window and there are plants you don’t see when you’re outside,” Johanna says. These hidden jewels include perennial violas, cyclamen, more primrose and a variety of spring bulbs. At the end of the bed by the gate to the front yard, a stone owl sculpted by Simchock Stone sits atop a signpost made by Johanna and Will’s grandkids. Arrows labeled Charlotte, Robersonville, Durham, Greenville and more point in the direction of family, friends and past cities they called home.

Johanna, having learned much from growing and maintaining her garden, is currently a master gardener with the Hillsborough Garden Club. Many of the plants in their garden were shared back and forth by neighbors and club members. “When we travel, our neighbors water and tend for us and we reciprocate,” Johanna says. “We are so blessed to be here, and each time I’m on my knees weeding, I think about this.”

a spot Englishofwonder

Nestled in a wooded patch of land neighboring the Orange County Public Library is an English-inspired garden. This wonderland of shaded twisting paths and hidden green spaces is where Sally Boericke and Jim Boericke have called home since arriving from Philadelphia in 1973. “We’re only the second owners,” Sally says. “The house was built right after the turn of the 20th century by E.A. Brown for his fiancee and himself, but she jilted him right before it was finished. So he sold the property to his mother, Julia Brown, who farmed the land.” Much of the 0.75-acre property was used for farming crops that reached up to the back of the house. In the 1950s, the house was briefly converted into three apartments.

When they purchased the house, the couple were given a blank slate to build their garden since the crops were no more. “When we bought the property, there was a dogwood, a redbud and a pear tree. That was mostly it.” Sally says. “It would get so blistering hot in the summer. We needed more shade. At the time, the only nursery near us was Sears, Roebuck and Company,” she says. The couple bought several one-gallon containers marked with an ambiguous “evergreens” label. Those evergreens turned out to be Burford hollies and privet, which now form part of the front hedge by the street. Off to the side is a seating area where, when the weather is nice, the couple enjoys their breakfast under an umbrella. “It’s just one of our little places to sit and eat throughout the garden,” Sally says.

The couple’s next alterations started with figuring out how much grass they wanted to mow each week, which came out to four small green spaces. The rest was gradually turned into garden beds surrounded by winding paths. Jim built a lengthy brick wall that serpentines throughout the property to hide some green space and to establish their desired theme. The couple also worked together to hand-build the numerous brick pathways that lead to each part of the garden. “Jim is a mechanical engineer by training,” Sally says. “So I can tell him how I want something to look, and he can sketch it all out for me. Then we get to work.”

Over the years, the property has evolved, sporting heavy tree cover, hedges and densely planted tiered garden beds that provide shade and

The front garden is a wonderful habitat for birds. The beautiful birdhouse and birdbath welcome feathered visitors year-round. This mature garden includes peonies, irises, azaleas, dogwoods and lilies. There is a patio nearby where the homeowners can enjoy their morning coffee.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TAMMY DORFMAN

ABOVE Next to the swimming pool, American wisteria graces the arbor. It provides welcome shade and is wonderfully aromatic. It is native to North America and less aggressive than the non-native variety.

privacy throughout. It has also served an occasional stop (most recently in 2013) on the club’s biennial tour. The landscape’s design was inspired by their two-year stay in England courtesy of Jim’s work with IBM. The couple often toured the local gardens, falling in love with the English aesthetic. In 1989, Sally returned to England to take a course led by the late John Brookes, an award-winning landscape and garden designer.

Where the original owner had kept chickens, Sally and Jim installed a swimming pool where the three youngest of their five grandchildren now come to play. The pool is bordered for privacy by trees and a gorgeous planting bed sporting many of their favorite flowering plants like roses, blue hydrangeas and Asiatic lilies. The pool building was designed to mimic the style of the main house with its white trim and inviting yellow siding. One can spot several stainless steel butterflies with iridescent wings sculpted by Gary Caldwell and added for an extra bit of whimsy.

Coming down from the pool, positioned in front of the added raised deck, are several more garden beds featuring pink hibiscus, geraniums, azaleas, a cherry tree and more lilies and hydrangeas. Within this dense vegetation sits a fig tree. “My grandmother brought the tree home to Tennessee from Italy, where she was raised,” Sally says. “I took a cutting of it years ago, and now it is doing beautifully.”

Crossing the back green space is a stone path with a brick entrance. The path leads to the biggest section of the lawn where their youngest granddaughter, Lily Mallia, 14, and her friends have taken up badminton. They have a loyal audience in the group of “painted ladies” created from

old fencing by artist Carol Stein. And back in 2007, their daughter, Genie Boericke, married her husband, Jamie Mallia, in the same space. “We had the ceremony here with a large tent for the reception in the back when it wasn’t as wooded. We had a little over 100 people,” Sally says.

Sally and Jim have had their fair share of gardening successes and failures over the years. “When we lived in Pennsylvania on a very small lot, we had this exquisite garden,” Sally says. “We would have everything ready by Memorial Day, and we wouldn’t have to do anything else all summer other than deadheading a few roses. Insects weren’t a problem either. So we thought gardening was easy,” she says. When they moved to North Carolina, reality set in. “I have what I call my cemetery file,” Sally says. “It catalogs all of the plants that worked so well in Pennsylvania that just don’t like it here. We’ve certainly learned a lot over the years.”

return to your roots

On Baldwin Road, less than half a mile from Eno River Farm is a piece of land that has remained in the Baldwin family for a century.

“My grandfather [Guy Heth Baldwin Sr.] bought it in 1924,” Alex Baldwin says. “The property was originally 300 to 400 acres. But he lost the farm in the Great Depression. My father, [Guy Heth Baldwin Jr.], went to sea as a coal passer, and he sent money back to my grandparents so that they could buy the farm back.” But by the time Alex’s grandparents could afford to buy it back, much of it had been split up with only about 56 acres still available. Alex and his sister, Laura Baldwin, gained control over the property when their father died in 2001. Laura converted an old barn once used as a chicken house into her nursery and landscaping business, Reba & Roses, which she ran until 2007. Then Alex bought her remaining share of the land.

But Alex and his wife, Ellen Baldwin, spent little time there at first since his role as a project manager for BP’s pipelines had them living all over the world from England to Turkey and Azerbaijan. While Ellen would return to Hillsborough on occasion to manage the property, Alex continued his travels. But there really is no place like home, and in early 2022 Alex retired with his wife to the family farm.

With so much land comes opportunity but also regular upkeep. So the Baldwin family decided to start hosting weddings to help cover the costs of maintaining a property with multiple buildings, pastures, garden beds and a 7-acre orchard of over 100 chestnut trees. Operated primarily by Alex and his sons, Guy Alexander Baldwin and John Patrick Baldwin, the venue, Sunnyside at Baldwin Farms, gets its name from Capt. John Berry, previous owner of the property and a builder of many of Hillsborough’s structures, churches and government buildings. “Berry named [the property] Sunnyside due to the beautiful sunshine that comes through this area,” Alex says. 

RIGHT Peony buds ready to burst in early May.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TAMMY DORFMAN

home &garden

Since opening in September 2021, the property has become the perfect rustic and woodland experience. Around the main house is a stone wall garden housing an assortment of prospering perennials like rosemary, thyme, roses and Japanese maples. Purple blooms of the clematis hang from the side of a separate smaller building that was once the kitchen for the main house. “Back in the day they kept the kitchen separate from the house because of the heat and smoke,” Alex explains. “Now we use it to store toys and sports equipment for the grandkids.”

Across the field lies the venue side of the property with two main buildings and multiple covered seating areas. The Great Hall was once a chicken house and then Laura’s nursery but has since been renovated into a 2,600-square-foot air-conditioned dining hall with an adjoined 600-square-foot prep and catering space. The double door entrance was fitted with custom stained glass depicting a sunrise created and installed by Guy Alexander Baldwin. The other building is a cozy 1,200-square-foot gettingready suite and lounge blending modern elegance with rustic comfort.

Surrounding the buildings are multiple garden beds, filled with perennials like hydrangeas and cherry trees, ensuring beautiful backdrops for photos.

One of the most popular spots for ceremonies is the central path leading from the getting-ready suite and the Great Hall to a brick semicircle. On either side of the path are patches of colorful wildflowers. “I felt it was easier to let it go wild over something that would need painstaking detail and maintenance,” Alex says. “It turned out to be a beautiful thing where now it’s all blue and white blooms, but in the summer everything will be yellow.” The variety of species ensures gorgeous

backdrops throughout the year. The semicircle sits under the lush green of the surrounding oak forest in the warmer months and vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows in the fall. Another popular spot for tying the knot is the pond and rustic red barn (originally the cover for a bridge on St Mary’s Road). Set in the heart of the venue, within the covered meadow, the pond is bordered by more perennials and wildflowers and presents a tranquil setting. In the center is a 20th-century fountain and a small waterfall. “The pond had been in total disrepair,” Ellen says. “Alex did a lot of work cleaning and getting it all fixed up.”

Alex adds, “The pond is like a swimming pool. The water gets pumped through filters and is recirculated into the pond. So the quality of the water is very high. We also have fish which we never added ourselves but somehow they are here.”

Behind the venue area is a 3,500-square-foot greenhouse. “The [idea behind] the greenhouse was to allow us to generate our own flowers for the venue,” Alex says. They also use the space to grow and harvest their own tomatoes, squash and other produce and herbs for personal use. “Lavender can be really hard to start from seed, but we’re going to do it this year since we have the greenhouse,” he says. If successful, Alex plans on planting lavender around the stone wall at the front of the main house.

With so many gorgeous spots on the property, it can be hard to choose a favorite. “We love the chestnut orchard and the creek that flows the length of the property, the large venue pond and the many flower beds,” Ellen says. “We’ve had so many people come out and say, ‘This place feels amazing.’ They want to just come and stay here.” CHM

ABOVE The front walkway of the Baldwin home. Plantings here include iris, Japanese quince, Japanese garden juniper, rosemary, coralberry and arborvitae. LEFT The area in front of the wedding venue features a photo-ready rose arbor and a colorful meadow planted with wildflower seed mix.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NANCY BEACH

TAILORED PLANNING FOR MODERN FAMILIES How Living Trusts Adapt to Your Needs

By Mark Costley

These funds can cover therapies or education, ensuring quality of life while maintaining eligibility for Medicaid or SSI. Appointing a trustee offers peace of mind that a loved one’s needs will be met, even after caregivers can no longer provide support.

Living Trusts for Every Family

Today’s families often don’t fit the traditional mold, and their estate planning needs reflect that reality. Modern families require tools offering both flexibility and protection. A living trust has become a cornerstone of estate planning, helping avoid probate, streamline asset transfer, and address unique family dynamics.

Blended Families: Managing Complexity with Clarity

Blended families often face inheritance questions. Without tailored planning, state laws may favor biological relatives or neglect stepchildren. Living trusts ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes and minimize disputes, protecting relationships during difficult times. A trust can also safeguard a child’s inheritance, even if the surviving spouse remarries, keeping your legacy within the family.

Single Parents: Safeguarding the Future

For single parents, ensuring financial security for their children and naming a guardian are essential steps in estate planning. Living trusts name a trusted individual to manage assets for minors, avoiding court oversight. Structured inheritances can release funds at milestones like college or career start, ensuring thoughtful management for children unprepared to handle substantial inheritances.

Families Supporting a Loved One with Special Needs

Special Needs Trusts within living trusts provide for loved ones without jeopardizing access to government benefits.

Living trusts aren’t just for the wealthy—anyone with assets or dependents benefits. Early planning ensures your wishes are documented, and your family is protected from potentially devastating events. By avoiding probate, you can prevent unnecessary stress, delays, and expenses while protecting your privacy.

Blended families, single parents, and caregivers all benefit from living trusts. Trusts shield the inheritance of your adult children from creditors, lawsuits, or divorcing spouses. Trusts even allow you to choose who will manage which aspects of your life in the event of your incapacity. This avoids the expensive, humiliating, public process of court-controlled guardianship. Living trusts offer clarity, flexibility, and security for navigating life’s uncertainties.

For more information about living trusts and estate planning, consult an experienced North Carolina Estate Planning Attorney. Proactive planning leaves a lasting legacy of care and consideration for generations.

Mark Costley is a trusted estate planning attorney and the founder of Clarity Legal Group in Chapel Hill, NC. With decades of experience, he helps families create tailored plans to preserve their legacies. Learn more at claritylegalgroup.com/chapelhillmagazine.

Celebrating 55 Years of Care and Gratitude!

As we mark 55 years of serving our community, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported us along the way. From our dedicated staff to our generous donors, loyal patients, and community partners—this milestone is a testament to what we can achieve together.

Thank you for trusting us to provide compassionate, quality care. Your continued support inspires us to keep growing, innovating, and making a difference for the people and families of our community.

Here’s to many more years of service and impact!

Make a Difference in Our Community!

Your support can change lives. Our community health centers deliver essential care to individuals and families, but we can’t do it without you. Join us in making an impact! Consider donating to our organization, proudly serving central North Carolina and beyond for over 50 years.

Douglas Sanford, DDS

Your Health Matters. Be Well.

Piedmont Health Services, Inc. (PHS) is a non-profit, Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) organization serving northcentral North Carolina since 1970. Dedicated to delivering toptier, comprehensive, and inclusive primary healthcare, PHS is steadfastly committed to reducing barriers to primary healthcare access for everyone.

PHS interdisciplinary healthcare teams expertly meet individual needs for medical, dental, behavioral, pharmacy, WIC, nutrition, and care support services, and collaborate with multiple local partners to coordinate full-spectrum care. PHS operates community health centers for individuals of all ages, PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) adult day health centers, and mobile health units.

Erin Van Scoyoc, MD, MPH

natural masterpieces

Art in the Garden has blossomed over 30 years from backyard beginnings to a beloved tradition

By Emma Unger

Photography by John Michael Simpson

rt and nature intertwine in Hillsborough’s springtime landscape of lush greenery, vibrant florals and dense, towering canopies. The woodland scene at 1902 Borland Road gives way to serene meadows and garden nooks as visitors every spring explore winding grass pathways, discovering sculptures framed perfectly by nature’s elements at every turn.

These three acres of beautifully cultivated land provide the setting for Art in the Garden, an annual outdoor sculpture exhibition where regionally and nationally recognized artists display and sell their work. This year, the event celebrates its 30th anniversary. “I feel very sentimental about it,” event

Figurative ceramic sculptor Tinka Jordy poses next to her kiln with some of her creations, an owl and a standing hare.

organizer and artist Tinka Jordy says. “And I feel very fortunate to have been a part of this.”

The event began in 1995 as a small-scale backyard sale, where Tinka and friend William Moore, a Pittsboro sculptor, sold their sculptures while Tinka’s next-door neighbor held a plant sale, allowing visitors to wander between both gardens.

“You really want to have [your pieces] outside because that’s where you imagined it to be,” Tinka says. The setting helped viewers better visualize how the large sculptures intended for home gardens would look in their own outdoor spaces. “There was no place for us to display outdoor work in terms of galleries,” William added. “So we created our own outdoor gallery, really.”

It was a spur-of-the-moment decision, Tinka recalls, that continued to grow. “The next year, we were like, ‘Well, that was really fun. Let’s do it again,’” she says. “And it just kept going on.” Each year, more artists participated, the garden expanded and the number of pieces increased. Now the event

ABOVE "Passages" blends in perfectly in Tinka's garden.

BELOW Tinka works on "Diana's Muse."

COURTESY OF TINKA JORDY

features 10 artists, with about 100 pieces total on display.

Larger-than-life sculptures may catch visitors’ attention, with pieces reaching 15 feet, but the artwork can be as small as a toothpick. Tinka ensures that each artist’s work is unique, with no overlap in size, style, medium or subject matter. “Everybody who we have in the yard is going to be somebody who’s completely different from somebody else,” she says.

Despite the sculptures’ differences, the pieces always complement one another and the surrounding nature harmoniously – and it all happens naturally. 

Elizabeth Lindquist, President-Owner & her father, David Lindquist

As Tinka and her husband, Mark Donley, work on the garden year-round, she says they create spaces to suit a sculpture: “You make a little alcove and you say, ‘Well, this is going to be perfect.’” But from there, artists allow nature to guide placement as they decide where each piece will go. As Tinka says, “It choreographs itself.”

Attendees of this year’s event held May 3, 4 and 10 can once again expect high-quality sculptures from experienced artists in every direction, along with some celebratory surprises. But at its core, Art in the Garden is about community. “This is where [we] come to see one another,” Tinka says. Year after year, participating artists reconnect, and fans return to see their favorite artist.

William still participates in every Art in the Garden 30 years later. “It’s a fabulous way to talk directly to collectors and to people who are buying art,” he says. “It’s really [been] years of friendship and supporting the arts.” CHM

ABOVE The stoneware clay figure is titled "Spirit Guide."

ABOVE RIGHT AND RIGHT A bluebird totem and "Gaia" are both works by Tinka.

COURTESY OF TINKA JORDY

the art of

arrangement

Creativity bloomed at Design Matters as three designers crafted bold, art-inspired displays

Photography by Anna Routh Barzin

Morgan Moylan, West Queen Studio

The inspiration behind Tori Mellott’s table (shown left) at Design Matters: I relied heavily on Tori’s direction and desire to complement the table setting and linens. She wanted airy with grasses and dahlias and was incredibly gracious in her direction and license to play.

Flowers in this arrangement: My neighbor allowed me to abscond with several stems of their shy and rarely blooming “Crimson Beauty” knotweed, which I had been dying to find a place for. The delicate, papery pink petals added the perfect balance and texture to offset the fun, locally grown dahlias and burgundy amaranthus from Fireside Farm.

Personal favorite flower: Impossible to say, and if you ask me tomorrow, it will be different! Today it is sweet peas because we are just coming into season. They are so long-lasting and add romance and a lovely scent to everything.

The inspiration behind this arrangement at Design Matters: I love to teach and design on the fly, so a part of Design Matters was a two-hour drop-in fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants (or stem-of-the-plants!) design class. Folks dropped in and out as I created several designs and explained the mechanics for creating the piece, how to process the blooms used and the principals of design for each piece.

JFlowers in this arrangement: Some fantastic fall-blooming and wonderfully leggy abelia was the base for this particular piece, and I layered in dahlias and amaranthus from Fireside Farm and accented with rain tree pods and blue thistle.

My green thumb could be described as: I have an absent-minded green thumb and even took classes in horticulture at the Ag Institute at NC State. Things that do well for me can’t be high maintenance, but the process itself is super therapeutic, even if the plant is a fail. I have a cutting garden for the studio and try to grow colors and textures that I can use in my work.

My inspiration in general comes from: Texture and movement. I love layering textures and get excited about seasonal textures: pods, the changing of a leaf, seasonal blooms that aren’t available on a regular basis and trailing flowers that have lovely tendrils.

Most unexpected material I’ve incorporated into an arrangement: Okra after it has bolted is a great addition to fall centerpieces. I once made boutonnieres out of shotgun shells and used HVAC ducts in centerpieces for a groundbreaking.

A flower or plant that’s underrated and deserves more love: Mums. I hate the way they smell, but the heirloom varieties that local growers like Full Circle Flowers, Fernrock Farm and Bluebird Meadows have been growing as cut flowers are stunning, long-lasting and fill a void after everything is crispy from the summer heat.

Favorite garden or outdoor space in the area: I am mesmerized by water and how it is ever changing. If you take one of the side trails at the Occoneechee Speedway and follow the river, it is quite meditative and full of great mushrooms. 

Evans Sutton, Sutton Stems

The inspiration for my arrangements came from: I was fortunate to work with three designers for Set the Table –Martha Midgette and Kate and Kelley of The Maximalist Mix. They provided two unique inspirations from the fabrics, china and other elements that they selected for their tables, creating a springboard for my arrangements.

Flowers in these arrangements: For The Maximalist Mix one [shown below], I leaned into their playful nature with the use of primary colors and incorporated funky flowers like pincushion protea, strawflowers and lisianthus. Martha Midgette’s table [shown right] was known as the “frog table” from her amazing collection of brass frogs, and I grew a creeping Jenny vine in her antique cement urn as the base for the floral design. I also incorporated florals like light green cymbidiums, dahlias and asclepias “Moby Dick” that embraced the focal lily pad design fabric on her table.

My inspiration in general comes from: Truthfully I am a bit old-school in that I enjoy reading magazines and seeing what unique arrangements are featured in home design magazines and flower magazines. I also am impressed by those with a great Instagram presence. This social media platform brings floral works from designers around the world right to our fingertips. Having lived in Australia, I often find myself drawn to a lot of floral designers from down there.

Personal favorite flower: This is like asking a painter to pick their favorite color – so many! I love the hardiness of a hellebore (or called a Lenten rose) and how it blooms in the early spring. I find it to be the first sign of the beauty that is to come with the warm weather. Anyone who has been to my workshops knows that I love a lisianthus. Specifically the Japanese lisianthus in the double brown varietal is one of my favorites due to the unique palette. And I’d be remiss not to mention the elegant yet funky foxglove.

My green thumb could be described as: Gaining skills in the gardening department is definitely a goal of mine. Other than planting a handful of zinnias, I don’t have the space to grow bulk flowers in my yard.

Most unexpected material I’ve incorporated into an arrangement: Champagne!

A flower or plant that’s underrated and deserves more love: I think the carnation got really bad branding in the ’90s. I am still convincing my mother on this! The antique pink carnation from my wholesaler is really beautiful, and even better, it’s durable.

Favorite garden or outdoor space in the area: Last spring I went on the Chapel Hill Garden Club garden tour and walked away incredibly inspired by the gardens of so many homes right here in our area. 

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Henry House, University Florist

The inspiration behind my work at Design Matters came from: Inspiration comes by the second/ minute. “This one goes here, this one goes there.” There is no rhyme or reason until it’s done. Design Matters provided a color palette, and we just rolled with it.

Flowers specifically in the arrangement: Local dahlias are the best. They are sourced strictly from North Carolina farms.

Personal favorite flower: Dahlias, for sure. Lots of texture and variety.

My green thumb could be described as: I wish. I leave that to the professionals.

My inspiration in general comes from: Everywhere! Dreams, the ride to work, a TV episode watched the night before, bugs. You name it, we’ve thought about it.

Most unexpected material I’ve incorporated into an arrangement: Tires, clock parts, dryer tubing, computer monitors/keyboards, drumsticks, shoes/heels, light bulbs –nothing is sacred.

A flower or plant that’s underrated and deserves more love: Maybe not underrated, but craspedia deserves all the love.

Favorite garden or outdoor space in the area: I live in the woods – lots of critters, crawlies, ferns and moss to keep it flowing. CHM

In addition to our auto and home insurance, we also received excellent service for LIFE insurance. From the very beginning, they made the entire process incredibly smooth and easy. This has given us peace of mind knowing my loved ones are protected. I highly recommend Chan Wright Insurance Agency to anyone looking for a reliable and caring insurance provider.

- KATIE S.

We are so honored to be recognized as a Best of Chapel Hill insurance agency. Thank you to our clients who have made this possible for us!

off the

wall

How wallpaper is making a stylish comeback in every room of the house

By Debra Zinn | Photography by Anna Routh Barzin

n southern Florida where I grew up, wallpaper was a staple wall treatment in most homes.

Grass cloths and florals were the norm, bringing texture and color to spaces. Then, sometime in the ’90s, wallpaper sales started to drop when minimalism emerged and gray and white walls dominated design trends. Thankfully, color and texture are back, and wallpaper shows no sign of slowing down. Few design elements can transform the look of a space than wallpaper. And the best part? It’s often more affordable than other design options and can add value to your home. Wallpaper adds depth, texture and personality to even the dullest spaces. Whether your design style leans toward a maximalist or simple look, there is a wallpaper for everyone. Wallpaper, with its versatility, is the most transformative design element you can use to show off your style and personality in your home.

Powder rooms are usually dark and boring, and wallpaper instantly transforms them into something special.

Grass cloth applied to the back of bookshelves is a great way to add depth and a pop of color.

ABOVE Grass cloths are an excellent “starter” paper for people who are nervous about using wallpaper. It’s a simple way to add color and texture to a room. This soft blue grass cloth adds a soothing touch to this guest suite.

LEFT Wallpaper in dining rooms offers the opportunity to add drama and use a big, bold pattern in a room you don’t use daily. The chinoiserie pattern’s timeless appeal has endured since the 17th century, with no signs of slowing down.

RIGHT Powder rooms are usually dark and boring, and wallpaper instantly transforms them into something special. 

serving up

the future

How Vietri’s new CEO is honoring tradition and crafting a bold future for North Carolina’s iconic dinnerware company

As told to Jessica Stringer

graduate of NC State’s Wilson College of Textiles’ undergraduate and master’s programs, Holli Draughn joined Vietri in 2008 as a sales coordinator. Over the years, she climbed the ranks, most recently serving as president before stepping into the role of CEO in September, when Vietri co-founder Susan Gravely retired.

What does it mean to you to become CEO of such a beloved brand, following in Susan’s footsteps after 41 years? I really just feel so proud. Vietri is a brand that is full of integrity, and it means so much to me that I’m able to lead a company that has this world-class reputation out in the field. I think about all of the hard work that Susan and Frances Gravely and their mother [put in] to build this business 41 years ago. Their ingenuity and their curiosity and their passion and just their willingness to work really, really hard is what motivates me every day. It’s what gets me excited to continue to lead Vietri into our next [chapter].

How have your years with the company prepared you for this leadership role? I’ve had an opportunity for those 17 years to work so closely with Susan as a mentor and a teacher and to learn from the best in the business. When I started at Vietri, it was 2008 in the recession, so I [watched] a company be nimble and adapt to some really hard times in the economy. And then to be able to be a part of years where the business

Vietri launches Luna, a hospitality-grade dinnerware collection, this spring.

doubled … it’s just been incredible to see Susan navigate all of that and to learn. I think my relationship with her has always been very close – that proximity has been really helpful to be a better leader. I’ve been lucky enough to have worked very closely with Bell Leadership [Institute] in Chapel Hill. [Gerald] Bell has served on our board for a long time, and I have spent a lot of time with their leadership coaches to continue to be better. You don’t just become a great leader overnight – you have to practice every single day.

What lessons from Susan’s leadership style do you hope to carry forward? [Her] ability to empower everyone across all levels of the organization. One of the things that I’ve always loved about Vietri is that you can make a difference, your voice can be heard and the leaders at Vietri want to hear it. Susan fostered such an open environment and invited people – whether it was assistants or managers or people in the warehouse –to bring ideas and then listened to those ideas and improved on them.

Are there any specific areas where you see room for growth? We’re always looking for ways to grow. That’s another thing that Susan has taught us. It’s constant progress, always finding ways to be better. This year, we are launching a hospitality division, which is really exciting. It’s been several years of hard work behind the scenes, but this spring, we’ll be launching Vietri into the world of restaurants and hotels and catering. We’ve worked really hard to develop collections that meet the demands of restaurants and hotels and make products that are really durable. That’s one of the things that we have up our sleeves right now.

Are there plans to explore any other new materials, designs or collaborations? Our current focus right now is really to expand home decor and accessories. We find that during the pandemic years, everybody bought new dinnerware, and so now they’re looking for more home decor accessories. We’re working on that right now.

I’m actually heading to Frankfurt, Germany, for a big international sourcing show where we always find really fun new materials. [During last February’s show], we discovered shatterproof drinkware and are launching that right now. It doesn’t scratch, it doesn’t cloud, it’s sustainable, it’s environmentally friendly and it looks really great.

That sounds fun, especially now that RDU has a direct flight to Frankfurt. So do you have a favorite product or collection? I had the opportunity to travel to our top retail partners with Alessandro Taddei, the artisan behind the Old St. Nick handpainted holiday collection. He would sign his pieces, and collectors would stand in lines wrapped around these stores to just meet him. To see how much this holiday collection meant to people all over the country was just so inspiring.

What is your vision for the company going forward? We help our customers create memories with their families and friends, and we help them start traditions. And so for me, [it’s about] being able to continue that legacy and honor the legacy that Susan and her sister, Frances, built by helping people create these memories around the table.

Back in December, we had a companywide meeting where we all shared our vision for Vietri. For 41 years, Susan has been the one to set that vision. One of the things that our team felt was really important was improving their community, locally and globally. So we’ve got to take all those words and finesse it into a shorter vision statement. It shows how much of Susan’s legacy is ingrained in all of us here and that we’re all working to bring that forward. CHM

Favorite holiday to celebrate? Definitely Thanksgiving. First Vietri piece you remember buying?

Incanto is a dinnerware collection that’s very popular. We still have it today. There was a period of time where we created Incanto mirrors so that the center of the dinner plate was removed, and there was a mirror. You would buy three to five of them and group them together on your wall. I remember they were, to me, the most beautiful pieces I had ever seen.

Favorite meal to serve? It’s less about the meal, and it’s really more about the people who you’re with. Susan has always taught us that, and you can even see that in Vietri pieces, that it doesn’t have to be formal. It’s [more important] that we’re around the kitchen island or around the table and that we’re talking and creating memories together more so than what we’re eating.

How many times have you been to Italy? Eight or 10 times. It’s just an incredible place to visit and for us to be able to work in. Every time I go, I fall in love with it just a little bit more.

Favorite Italian city or town? Florence, just for the sights and the shopping and the people watching. The sense of style that Italian men and women just naturally have is so intriguing. Recently, we’ve been doing trips to northern Italy. There is a city called Trieste that I visited for the first time a couple of years ago, and I really fell in love with it. It’s a coastal town between the Adriatic Sea and Slovenia, so it has a little bit of a different feel.

What’s your drink of choice, and which Vietri glass are you serving it in? Drop Stemless Wine Glasses. They just feel so good in your hand, and they’re durable but lightweight. I really love Italian red wines like Montepulciano wine. That’s usually my go-to. I also love a glass of prosecco when we’re celebrating, and then my husband can make a really mean margarita.

Best hosting advice you’ve ever gotten? Just to be authentically you when you’re hosting – your guests are going to feel comfortable if you feel comfortable. It’s more about hosting in a way that feels like me and so that means coming over for pizza and prosecco around the kitchen island.

PHOTO BY ANNA ROUTH BARZIN PHOTO

french

twist

Paysage blends Southern charm with Parisian home decor finds in Meadowmont

By Jessica Stringer

tepping into the new boutique opened by Gigi Sireyjol-Horsley and her son, Franck Krynen, is like entering a carefully composed painting – each piece, from the North Carolina-crafted furniture to the European accessories, is picked with intention. “It needs to be harmonious,” Gigi says of her design philosophy. “And I learned from [my mother] the balance of always having a focal point.”

Born in Morocco to French parents, Gigi was immersed in design from a young age. Her mother, an interior designer, introduced her to the world of antiques. “So instead of watching TV like every single kid does today, I was following my mother, and I grew up at the knees of every single antique dealer in Casablanca,” she says. There Gigi learned to “touch with my eyes,” she says, recalling giant piles of rugs stacked taller than her. “I just absorbed it like a sponge.”

That intuitive understanding of design shaped her career. After moving to the U.S. in 1997, she lived in Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, where she worked in design and even lent her culinary talents to high-end dinner parties. Gigi settled in Wilmington, North Carolina, working part time and then full time at home furnishings store Paysage. “Eventually I became the manager and then became the first designer and then decided to buy it,” she says.

ABOVE Gigi Sireyjol-Horsley grew up surrounded by art.

BELOW While the shop features furniture from North Carolina brands like Lee Industries, most of the accessories come from France and the rest of Europe.

The second store in Meadowmont, which opened in fall 2024, is the natural next step of her evolving career with Paysage. Many of Gigi’s design clients were already based in Chapel Hill, and after running into Rebecca Rosenberg, owner of South, at High Point Market, she knew the boutique’s new location – Rebecca’s former storefront – was the right fit.

Franck brings his own strengths to the business. “We complement each other,” Gigi says. He adds: “You learn the communication and the process faster because there is that understanding. I see what she does, and I just learned. We have the same motivation, which is in our blood and DNA.” Together, they curate a selection of furnishings and accessories, traveling to markets in Atlanta and Paris to source unique finds. As Gigi says, their mission is to carry pieces that make people say, “Oh, my gosh, I’ve never seen that before.” And while Gigi has a deep love for antiques, she doesn’t limit herself to one style. “This is not an antique store, even if some pieces are antiques. I believe in a mix,” she says. “I always say that if you have a very traditional interior and you put one modern piece in, it’s going to be a focal point.” CHM

Darby & Davis

BY ALLISON MOXLEY PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEATATUM PHOTO TULUM, BEATATUM.COM

Chapel Hill native and proud

Tar Heel Hunter Davis and Marcus Darby’s love story began in an unexpected place: Ecuador. Both were volunteering with Manna Project International, and after months of flirtation, they made their relationship official on their last day in the country together in 2017. After a year of long-distance dating, Marcus relocated to Chapel Hill to be with Hunter, who had moved home to start her master’s in public health at UNC They lived in Chapel Hill for three years before relocating to their current city of Charlotte.

Marcus proposed back where it all began – in the Amazon town of Tena,

Ecuador, surrounded by breathtaking scenery and dear friends. After Hunter’s enthusiastic “of course!” the plans for an unforgettable destination wedding were set in motion.

The pair tied the knot over a threeday celebration in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, with their close friends and family, complete with an intimate dinner on Thursday, a pool day and welcome party on Friday, and a dreamy wedding in a remote beach cove on Saturday, March 4, 2023.

The theme, “jungle disco,” reflected their love for the Amazon, with a reception featuring palm fronds and disco balls. Marcus and Hunter relished in their soiree with friends and family. “It was really special to know all of those people had traveled thousands of miles just for us,” Hunter says.

Marcus works as a business analyst at Cisco, and Hunter is a research program manager at the University of California San Diego’s Center on Gender Equity and Health. CHM

Anguita Maeso & Knuth

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GIULIANA ABATE OF ABATE PHOTO + FILM, ABATEPHOTOFILM.COM

The planets definitely aligned on the grounds of the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center on a rainy April day in 2023. Megan Knuth was setting up the UNC Postdoc Association booth for the science fair when Manuel Anguita Maeso, a newcomer to the association, showed up with a smile that not even the rain could dampen and a willingness to help. Manuel had recently arrived in Chapel Hill from La Carolina, Spain, and had joined a UNC lab as a research scientist. After many enjoyable postdoc events throughout the summer, the two became a couple in early September. Megan and Manuel got engaged on New Year’s Day in 2024, while on a trip to Spain.

The pair tied the knot on Oct. 4, 2024, with a ceremony at the Newman Catholic

Student Center, followed by a reception at the planetarium, the place where their hearts first connected. The day’s events were expertly organized with the assistance of Andrew Edwards of A.Carey Events. Prior to the reception, friends and family were treated to a light show representing the exact sky of the night the couple first met. The reception kicked off with a 10-minute traditional Spanish dance between the bride and groom. In lieu of table numbers, the tables each had a designated planet. After plenty of feasting and dancing, the couple exited to another light show of sorts: sparklers!

Megan and Manuel are both scientists at UNC and reside in Chapel Hill. CHM

Blobe & McFadden

BY TAYLOR MOTLEY

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAMANTHA BROOKE, SAMBROOKE.COM

Carrboro native Sam Blobe and Morgan McFadden met at a party during their senior year at UNC and instantly hit it off. Sam, thenlinebacker for the UNC football team, asked Morgan out to their first date at Carolina Brewery on Franklin Street

After four years of dating, Sam was ready to propose and coordinated for months with Morgan’s friends and family for the perfect proposal. During a trip back to Chapel Hill for UNC’s homecoming weekend, Sam convinced Morgan that he wanted to take photos together at the Old Well. In reality, he got down on one knee to ask Morgan to spend the rest of her life with him on Oct. 29, 2022. She was met with another surprise when they met her mother and sister at Carolina Brewery for a celebratory brunch immediately after.

The couple said “I do” on May 26, 2024, with an elegant black-and-white affair in Manquin, Virginia, just outside of Morgan’s hometown of Mechanicsville. Sam’s best friend’s father, Spencer Clouatre, officiated the ceremony at Hollyfield Manor. “I will always remember seeing Morgan walk out of the manor and down the aisle in her wedding dress,” Sam says. “I had been dreaming about that moment for years and will cherish that memory forever.” The celebration continued with a vibrant reception, where Sam and Morgan danced the night away surrounded by friends and family.

The pair lives in Wilmington, where Morgan is an OB-GYN resident and Sam serves as a police officer. CHM

Presley & Wolf

BY PHOEBE MARTEL PHOTOGRAPHY BY LONA HALL, BLUEYEIMAGES.COM

Cara Wolf and Blake Presley’s love story began when they met on a dating app in January 2021. At the time, Cara, who graduated from East Chapel Hill High School in 2011, owned Blue Moon Stables, a horseback riding and training stable near Governors Village. Blake, an Arkansas native, had just moved to the Triangle for work. The pair’s relationship quickly progressed; they moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in January 2022 and bought a house together in February 2023.

Blake popped the question to Cara on a fishing trip with friends in October 2022, after pretending a fish hook was stuck in his foot. He had a photographer friend document the moment, and everyone celebrated with Champagne. Staying true to their shared love of the ocean, the couple settled on nuptials in Key West, Florida, the spot of their first vacation as a couple and where Cara’s parents, Debi Wolf and Bill Wolf, live during the winter.

Cara and Blake said “I do” on Nov. 9, 2024, at The Reach Key West. The weekend’s festivities began with a sunset catamaran cruise, followed by a rehearsal dinner at a lobster restaurant. The ceremony, officiated by Cara’s aunt, Sheila Wolf, took place in a waterfront gazebo, followed by a tropicalthemed reception with friends and family, including her brother, John Wolf, and grandparents Karen Gibson and Jim Gibson

The pair both cherished the serene ceremony, which included personal vows. “I’ll always remember when I first saw Cara coming down the aisle,” Blake says. CHM

Meet Dr. Todd Granger Primus Internal Medicine

I greatly enjoy getting to know my patients, not only by diagnosing and treating their medical conditions and advising them in matters of health and wellness, but also getting to know them simply as persons their families, what interests them, and how and why they’ve ordered their lives as they have. Not only is that personally rewarding to me, but taking the time to get to know patients personally is an integral part of their health and wellness. Over the course of my practice of medicine, I have been humbled by the trust that patients have placed in me as their physician. I take that trust seriously, and I will do all that I am able to ensure that it has been rightly placed. ”

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