Stories That Take You Places
As the summer sun shines brightly over Greensboro, it’s the perfect time to embrace the spirit of adventure and explore all that our community has to offer. Whether it’s discovering hidden gems, revisiting beloved local spots, or stepping outside your comfort zone, July invites us to connect with the world around us in new and exciting ways. In this issue, we’ve curated stories that inspire exploration. From a local attorney who travels exten sively when she’s not working to a Triad creator who developed a mobile walking tour app, this month is all about celebrating the spirit of discovery. We’ll also introduce you to a businessman helping homeowners create backyards worth exploring, along with a travel Q&A featuring a local realtor with a passion for seeing the world.
We hope this issue encourages you to explore not only the physical spaces around you but also the connections and opportunities that bring meaning to our lives. So, grab your favorite summer drink, flip through these pages, and let the adventure begin!
Warm regards,
CAITLIN BRAXTON, PUBLISHER @GREENSBOROCITYLIFESTYLE
July 2026
PUBLISHER
Caitlin Braxton | caitlin.braxton@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Kari Smith | kari.smith@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Autumn Hollifield
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Rachel Otto
LAYOUT DESIGNER Meredith Wilson
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Anna Minnick Proverbs
PROFESSIONAL BOLD CRAFTED
AUTUMN HOLLIFIELD
city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
@GSOCHAMBER
1: Supporting a beautiful cause: fundraising for summer care and therapies for children with special needs. 2: Smiles abound at Greensboro Power Studios' Barefoot and Black Tie event benefitting Yoga For Educators. 3: A mother-daughter night out at the touring production of SIX: The Musical. 4: New and familiar faces filled Pantry Fried Chicken for a Restaurant Takeover lunch. 5: Excitement is building for NC Folk Fest and headlining acts The Roots and Molly Tuttle. 6: Fisher Park Downtown Meet & Eat neighbors enjoyed a nice meal out at Blue Denim. 7: We had a wonderful time celebrating our May issue at Bubbles & Blowouts!
Want to be seen in the magazine?
JACLYN DOVICO
NC FOLK FESTIVAL/TRIAD MEDIA STUDIOS BLUE DENIM
JENNIFER PEDERSEN
IMAGES BY AUTUMN
business monthly
A ROUNDUP OF NEWS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES
A Reason to Slow Down
Built for those who don’t rush, this new space is centered around culture, connection, atmosphere, and community. By day, No Rush provides curated coffee blends, pour-over experiences, and a welcoming work-friendly environment. In the evenings, the space transitions into a lounge with handcrafted cocktails, selfpour beer taps, outdoor seating, and elevated energy designed for conversation and connection, featuring an additional hidden experience for guests to discover.
Greensboro's Newest Taproom
Three Rabbits Brewing is bringing a cozy, community-focused taproom to 214 Commerce Place in Greensboro, near the Grasshoppers stadium and Tanger Center. Specializing in German and European lagers while also offering IPAs, stouts, and sours, the brewery plans to create a welcoming pub atmosphere with food trucks, music, and events throughout the week. Stay tuned for their grand opening later this summer!
Glass Doctor Earns Top Honors
Local auto glass shop Glass Doctor, located at 128 Furlong Industrial Drive, Unit E, in Kernersville, recently received the 2025 Rookie of the Year award at the national Glass Doctor Conference. The award recognizes a new shop’s performance during its first full year of business and is based on factors including growth trajectory, revenue, and customer reviews. Additionally, technician Parker Layne was named Service Professional of the Year across all Glass Doctor locations.
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beyond the courtroom
A
Greensboro defense attorney finds purpose in both advocacy and exploration
For many, law is a profession. For one Greensboro attorney, it’s also a calling shaped by service, perspective, and a willingness to explore — both inside and outside the courtroom.
Originally from Chapel Hill, Christon Halkiotis arrived in Greensboro in the mid2000s to begin what would become a 15-year tenure as an Assistant District Attorney in Guilford County. Those years, she recalls, were deeply fulfilling. “It felt like you were doing something good,” she says, reflecting on a role that aligned naturally with her upbringing in a family rooted in public service.
Drawn to law early on, Christon sought a path that was anything but routine. Criminal law offered exactly that: an ever-changing landscape where each case brings new challenges, stakes, and human stories. Through internships and hands-on experience during law school, she quickly found her footing in the courtroom. That foundation would later become a defining advantage.
In 2019, after nearly two decades as a prosecutor, she opened her own criminal defense firm in downtown Greensboro. The transition, she admits, was both natural and eye-opening. “The law is the same,” she says, “but the perspective is entirely different.” Years spent building cases now inform how she dismantles them. She reads police reports with a prosecutor’s eye, anticipating arguments before they’re made.
ARTICLE BY KARI SMITH
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AUTUMN HOLLIFIELD; CHRISTON HALKIOTIS
But the shift also came with a new weight. As a defense attorney, the stakes feel more immediate, and more personal. “You have someone sitting across from you whose future is on the line,” she says. “That changes everything.”
One case in particular affirmed her path. Early in her defense career, she represented a young client facing life-altering charges. After months in custody, the client was ultimately spared from decades in prison. “That was the moment,” she says. “I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be.”
Her approach is grounded in honesty and preparation. She makes a point to walk clients through every possible outcome, never promising results, but ensuring there are no surprises. It’s a philosophy shaped by experience on both sides of the system and reinforced by her distinction as a Board Certified Specialist in State Criminal Law by the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. No easy feat, that qualification is a benchmark of excellence only
achieved by meeting specific professional criteria, passing a six-hour exam, and receiving approval from a committee of peers.
Outside the courtroom, her life takes on a different kind of intensity — one driven by curiosity and exploration. Christon documents travel through her Instagram account @whereintheworldisyourlawyer, sharing journeys that span continents, from climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in honor of her late mother to connecting with fellow attorneys abroad. Her travels have taken her to all edges of the world: Mexico, Peru, Morocco, Spain, Japan, and beyond. Most recently, she checked Iceland off her list. Next up: Thailand.
For Christon, packing a suitcase and hopping on a plane is a creative outlet, and a healthy “reset.” Travel, she says, has also reshaped her worldview. “You realize quickly that we’re not the center of everything,” she explains. “There’s so much to learn from other cultures, other ways of living.” That openness carries into her legal work, strengthening her ability to connect with clients from all backgrounds.
Christon’s definition of exploration extends far beyond travel. It’s about maintaining curiosity about people, places, and even one’s own potential. “We can learn from every person we encounter,” she says. “There’s always more to discover.”
Follow Christon’s travel adventures on Instagram at @whereintheworldisyourlawyer and learn more about her legal services at www.cshlawpllc.com.
Fabulous Flatbread
This dish is from Chef Evon Profitt, the director of culinary operations for all of Westside Concepts in Arizona. This flatbread with grilled peaches, house-made rosemary paneer cheese, soppressata, fresh mint, and pistachios with a balsamic drizzle is to die for.
Grilled Peach Flatbread with House-Made Rosemary Paneer Cheese
Yield: 4 flatbreads
INGREDIENTS:
• 2 peaches cut into 8 pieces each
• 12 slices soppressata or any salami
• Fresh mint
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• ¼ cup pistachios, chopped
• Balsamic reduction
• 4 baked naan bread
FOR THE PANEER CHEESE:
• 6 cups whole milk
• 2 tbsp. rice wine vinegar
• ½ tbsp. fresh rosemary, chopped
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
HOW TO MAKE PANEER CHEESE:
Paneer cheese is made by curdling milk using an acidic additive such as lemon juice or vinegar. Paneer cheese does not use any kind of rennet, nor fermentation or aging.
In a pot, bring 6 cups of whole milk to 200 degrees. Once milk has reached temp., stir in the 2 tbsp. of vinegar and turn off heat; milk will begin to separate. Allow milk to curd for 5 minutes, strain whey and curds into a cheesecloth-lined colander. Transfer curds to a mixing bowl and add chopped rosemary and 1 tsp. kosher salt, mix ingredients together, reserve the cheesecloth for the next step. Place the curds back into the cheesecloth, pull the corners of the cloth together, ring out excess whey from the curds, and hang for 30 minutes to continue draining. Once the curds have drained, place cheesecloth-wrapped curds back into the colander and place a heavy item on top, in order to press the curds into shape and press more of the whey from the cheese, for 3-4 hours. Use cheese fresh or keep refrigerated up to 4 days.
FLATBREAD:
Brush olive oil onto both sides of naan flatbread, and place in oven on rack for 10 minutes at 400 degrees, or grill for 2 minutes each side. Grill peach slices for 2 minutes each side, or place in oiled sauté pan till each side begins to caramelize. On a cutting board, lay flatbread down, and place grilled peach slices around flatbread. Take small pieces of Paneer cheese and place throughout over the peaches. Be creative and find place for the soppressata or salami of your choice. Garnish with crushed pistachios and torn fresh mint. Cut flatbread, transfer to serving plates, and drizzle with balsamic reduction.
“I love the use of fresh, locally sourced peaches, and giving people the chance to make an easy, versatile cheese at home with ingredients that many already have in their refrigerators and pantries.”
Or maybe
Exploring the World, One Step at a Time
LINDA CARNELL IS HELPING PEOPLE EVERYWHERE EXPLORE MORE FREELY THROUGH HER MOBILE WALKING TOUR APP
ARTICLE BY KARI SMITH | PHOTOGRAPHY BY LINDA CARNELL; ANNABELLE HARTWICH PHOTOGRAPHY
For Linda Carnell, exploration isn’t just a pastime; it’s a way of life. She’s traveled the world and lived in various cities across the country, now calling Winston-Salem home. Her journey has been shaped by curiosity, creativity, and a desire to understand the world more deeply.
That spirit of discovery is what ultimately led her to create Walksy, a walking tour app designed to help users experience cities on their own terms.
“I’ve always loved walking tours,” Linda says. “It’s my favorite way to see a city.” But a frustrating experience while traveling abroad revealed a gap in the market. Overcrowded groups, rigid schedules, and limited accessibility made traditional tours feel more restrictive than enriching. “I remember thinking that there has to be a better way.”
When Linda couldn’t find the answer to her problem, she made her own solution: Walksy. With the help of her daughters and a developer in California, Linda created a mobile app that puts the power of exploration directly into the user’s hands. The concept is simple but transformative: Instead of following a guide through a fixed route, users can begin anywhere, move at their own pace, and engage with a city in a way that feels natural and flexible.
“It’s like having your own personal tour guide in your pocket,” she says.
The app offers curated walking tours with multiple stops, allowing users to jump in at any point, skip locations, or linger where they choose. With multilingual capabilities and built-in navigation, Walksy removes many of the barriers that often come with traditional tours. There’s even a “what’s that?” feature that uses image recognition to identify landmarks in real time.
“Being able to see a place and get a richer understanding of how it came to be — that’s what explore means to me,” Linda says. “When you understand the history, the culture, the people, it brings everything full circle.”
While Walksy is designed for travelers, it’s equally valuable for locals. In developing tours for Winston-Salem, Linda found herself uncovering details she had never noticed before, from historic landmarks to hidden gems tucked into familiar streets.
“It’s only when you start to understand the stories behind a place that you realize how much there is to explore,” she says.
The app also opens new doors for creators. With plans to allow local experts, guides, and even content creators to build and share their own tours, Walksy aims to become a global marketplace for
exploration, what Linda describes as “the Airbnb of walking tours.”
It’s an ambitious vision, but one rooted in a simple idea. People value their time as much as their money and they want meaningful, flexible experiences.
As Walksy continues to grow — with hundreds of tours already available and more added each week — Linda remains focused on the same principle that sparked the idea years ago: making exploration easier, richer, and more accessible for everyone.
At its core, exploration isn’t about checking off landmarks. It’s about understanding the story behind them, and having the freedom to discover it your own way.
Adventure is just a download away
Walksy is available in the App store. Download it today for free and start exploring. Learn more about the Walksy app at www.walksyapp.com.
Seattle, WA
London, United Kingdom
Barcelona, Spain
Linda Carnell and her daughters
Beaufort, SC
Winston-Salem, NC
JUST OUTSIDE Your Door
Piedmont Decks creates outdoor spaces worth exploring
ARTICLE BY KARI SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY BY JDB FILMS PRODUCTIONS
Perhaps unsurprisingly, decks remain one of the top value-enhancing improvements you can make to your property. In fact, the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report by the Journal of Light Construction found that decks can deliver a 95% return on investment. Beyond the numbers, though, decks and outdoor spaces can serve as a natural extension of our living areas.
One local man is helping clients across the Triad create the outdoor space of their dreams. Zachary Grist does more than just build decks. He’s building a business rooted in instinct, ambition, and a lifelong familiarity with construction. “It’s in my blood,” he says, recalling his childhood days in Akron, Ohio, where he grew up around a family construction business. Photos from those early years show him already at work, learning the trade long before he could have imagined where it would take him.
After moving to North Carolina in 2021, Zachary launched Piedmont Decks and Outdoor Living in 2023. What began as a general contracting effort, taking on everything from siding to decks, quickly evolved into a focused specialty. “I really enjoyed outdoor spaces,” he says. Today, his young and ambitious team of 10 concentrates exclusively on creating layered, functional backyard environments, serving communities across Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and surrounding areas, with a second location and showroom now open in Mooresville.
You don’t need a clear vision for your project before contacting Piedmont Decks. In fact, Zachary says the majority of his clients come to him with little idea of what they want and that’s exactly why they reach out. He prides himself and his team on their ability to truly serve clients. “We guide people. We’re niche and educated,” Zachary says, “and we use the best products.”
CONTINUED >
The team works to help clients understand the full potential of their spaces and the range of materials available. In many ways, they act more as consultants and designers than salespeople. Piedmont Decks also follows a detailed, tailored process that aligns with each client’s budget, including a planning and design phase with 3D renderings.
What sets Piedmont Decks apart, Zachary believes, is the guidance they provide, paired with a deep specialization. They have a commitment to intentional design. Rather than offering one-off features, Piedmont Decks approaches each project as a cohesive outdoor living experience, from multi-tiered layouts to integrated lighting systems. The result is a backyard that feels less like an afterthought and more like a seamless continuation of the home.
“Outdoor spaces are extensions of our living area,” Zachary says. Too often, those spaces go underused — too hot, too dark, too buggy. Thoughtful design solves those problems. A covered roof or pergola creates relief from the heat. Screened porches make evenings more comfortable. Gas or wood-burning fireplaces extend usability into cooler months. Multi-level decks and patios carve out distinct zones for gathering, dining, or relaxing.
Ultimately, the transformation is what Zachary enjoys most. Many of his projects begin with worn, underutilized spaces. Weeks later, they’ve become places where families gather, entertain, and unwind. “We’re taking something that’s not being used and turning it into something functional,” he says. Along the way, relationships are built. “We’re in someone’s backyard for two weeks to three months. It’s more than just a job.”
Outside of work, Zachary and his fiancée enjoy exploring the Triad, whether it’s catching a minor league baseball game or heading to nearby natural escapes like Pilot Mountain and Hanging Rock State Park. It’s a fitting parallel to the work he does each day: creating spaces that invite people to step outside, slow down, and discover what’s right in front of them.
About Piedmont Decks
Since 2023, Zachary Grist has grown his company from a small, local business into a trusted name in outdoor living throughout the Triad area. Your dream outdoor space is brought to life with a three-step process:
• Consultation and design
• Planning and permitting
• Construction and completion
Each deck, porch, and outdoor living space they create is a testament to their commitment to quality and attention to detail.
How can Piedmont Decks and Outdoor
Living help create the backyard retreat or entertaining space of your dreams?
Contact them today: 336-551-9351
www.piedmontdecks.com
ARTICLE BY KARI SMITH | PHOTOGRAPHY BY CITY ON A HILL PHOTOGRAPHY
Travel Notes
TIPS AND REFLECTIONS ON WHAT MAKES EXPLORATION MEANINGFUL
Local realtor Kaye Brinkley has moved across the country and has traveled the globe. Here, she shares perspective (and photos) from years of exploration.
WHAT’S ALWAYS IN YOUR CARRY-ON?
Lip balm, iPad, chargers for everything, and snacks.
WINDOW OR AISLE SEAT?
Window seat, always. Watching a new destination come into view never loses its magic for me.
ONE TRAVEL MISTAKE YOU’LL NEVER MAKE AGAIN?
Overpacking. Nothing will humble you faster than hauling a giant suitcase across cobblestone streets or hefting it up the stairs on a train.
FAVORITE WAY TO SPEND A FREE AFTERNOON IN A NEW CITY?
Walking with no real agenda, finding a café, people-watching, and just soaking in the energy of the city.
MOST MEMORABLE “UNPLANNED” MOMENT ON A TRIP?
While dining in Paris, I thought I heard someone mention “Harris Teeter.” Turns out the people beside us were from Raleigh, and we have been friends ever since.
HOW CAN SOMEONE “EXPLORE” LOCALLY?
Try a new restaurant, visit the farmers market or museum, take a different route home, or spend time somewhere you normally rush past. You don’t always have to go far to discover something new.
REALTOR / BROKER
Kaye knows that exploration doesn’t always require a passport. Greensboro provides a unique mix of restaurants, trails, and culture with easy access to mountains or beaches. She enjoys helping clients discover houses and also the communities, experiences, and hidden gems that make a place feel like home. Learn more about Kaye and Carolina Home Partners | EXP Realty at www.nchomepartners.com.
Kaye Brinkley
ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
MAKEUP BY MIKAYLA CRANE
The 10% Target Mindset
Jen Cohen ON THE PRACTICE OF ASKING FOR WHAT YOU WANT
Winnipeg in the winter, and a 17-year-old waits 45 minutes in the cold for Keanu Reeves. Her fingers are numb. She is not there for an autograph. She is there to ask him to appear in her audition tape for MuchMusic, Canada’s MTV. When he finally agrees, she writes her number on a gum wrapper with a borrowed lip liner.
He calls days later.
That 17-year-old was Jen Cohen — fitness expert, host of the Habits & Hustle podcast, and best-selling author. She has built a career on the premise her frostbitten afternoon proved. She calls the practice the 10% Target: 10 attempts at whatever you want most in life.
The premise is simple. Most people never make one attempt. Almost nobody makes two. The math works in favor of the person who keeps going.
The top-rated Habits & Hustle podcast has logged hundreds of conversations with high performers and the people who study what the body does to the mind. Her TEDx talk, The Secret to Getting Anything You Want in Life, has traveled widely inside Fortune 500 sales-training rooms. On the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Cohen sits down to share the working rules that are the foundation of her latest book, Bigger, Better, Bolder.
“You have to be the CEO of your own life.”
FEATURING JEN COHEN
Discover the full 10% Target Mindset framework.
1 2
MAKE TEN ATTEMPTS
The door opens, or another door does. The unmade attempt and the refused one leave you in the same place — except one of them teaches you something.
STACK THE DECK
Cohen frames her habits as a wager: How do I stack the deck so I win more than I lose? The workout happens first, and the food decisions follow. The email follow-up gets sent, and the answer arrives. The choices compound in a single direction.
3
DISCIPLINE IS A PRACTICED SKILL, NOT AN INHERITANCE
No one is born with it. The people who look disciplined are running a routine they have rehearsed long enough that it no longer feels like effort. The reps are the skill. Miss them, and the skill fades, the same as any other.
4
SELF-TALK ONLY WORKS WHEN THE BODY BACKS IT UP
Confidence does not arrive by repeating the word. It arrives after the body has done the thing — the workout finished, the cold walk endured, the email sent. The mind takes its cues from what the body proves it can do. Talk follows action, not the other way around.
5
NEVER MISS A MONDAY
The first decision sets the slope of the rest. Skip the Monday workout, and the rest of the week tends to follow. Hold the line on Monday, and the slope tilts the other way.
Elevate Your Events With Beautifully Crafted Grazing Displays
New to Greensboro, The Grazing Table by JMP creates elevated grazing displays for weddings, celebrations, and intimate events. Simple, fresh, beautiful.
JULY 2026
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
THURSDAYS
Art in the Park
LeBauer Park Playground | 11:00 AM
Join the education team from ArtQuest and get creative! This fun, hands-on art program is perfect for kids ages 2 to 12, with exciting activities every week. Come play, explore, and make amazing art.
JULY 4TH
Fun Fourth Festival
Downtown Greensboro | 1:00 PM
The Fun Fourth Festival is a free, family-friendly celebration of the nation’s birthday. Elm Street lights up with live music, food and items from local downtown vendors. With crowd-favorite entertainment and performances, this event brings people together in a meaningful and memorable way.
JULY 7TH - 12TH
The Grasshoppers Take on Greenville
First National Bank Field
Cheer on the Hoppers in this action-packed matchup against South Carolina’s Greenville Drive. Each night offers specials, culminating in Princess Night on Friday, Grateful Dead Night on Saturday, and Family Funday Sunday. Secure your tickets today at www.mlb.com/milb/greensboro.
JULY 18TH
Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire
First Horizon Coliseum | 7:00 PM
Legendary singer, songwriter, and producer Lionel Richie and one of the best-selling bands of all time, Earth, Wind & Fire, are bringing their 2026 North American Tour to Greensboro. It’s sure to be an unforgettable night! Get your tickets today at the Box Office or on Ticketmaster.com.
JULY 28TH
Summer Sunset Series
Lake Brandt Marina | 7:00 PM
Come out and enjoy a relaxing evening at the lake. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Bring chairs and blankets and settle in for live music as the sun sets over Lake Brandt.
JULY 30TH
To Kill a Mockingbird
Carolina Theatre of Greensboro | 7:00 PM
Starring Gregory Peck and Mary Badham, this classic story is set in the Depression-era South. Peck’s powerful performance anchors this moving and enduring film about morality, empathy, and courage. This screening is part of this year’s Summer Film Festival lineup. Get your tickets today at the Box Office or at www.carolinatheatre.com.
