Cary Living magazine March April 2022

MARCH/APRIL 2022

HOME & GARDEN DOWNTOWN DIGS, LARGE LOTS URBAN BEE HIVES VINTAGE WEDDINGS

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MARCH/APRIL 2022

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here’s something about a sophisticated urban condo that appeals to the metropolitan in all of us. Who wouldn’t love a glamorous patio view of the skyline, or short walk to a favorite downtown restaurant? In this edition of our annual home and garden issue, you’ll meet retired Raleigh professional Betsy Hood who, after living more than two decades in a home she built with her husband on Dixie Trail, embarked on a Hayes Barton downsize at The Wade— a five-story condominium complex in downtown Raleigh featuring classic pre-war architecture, 10-foot ceilings and ample square footage. Working with Judy Pickett of Design Lines—the same interior designer who decorated her Dixie Trail home—Hood created a bright, contemporary space filled with favorite pieces, custom embellishments and plenty of room for family gatherings. Learn more in “Designing Women” on page 22.

And then there are those who prefer the best of both worlds: neighborhoods not too far from city centers that offer new homes on large lots with increased privacy and a sense of natural serenity. Find out where these homes are popping up in “Stretching Out” on page 32.

Having extra land makes planning—and planting—a garden easier, but even condo dwellers can carve out enough space for container gardens. “Garden Secrets” on page 36 offers tips for how to produce a fruitful harvest, no matter where you live. And on page 42, discover one of Raleigh’s greatest garden secrets in “Cultivating Fairview,” which features Jo Ann Dewar, a trailblazing entrepreneur who has owned and operated Fairview Garden Center since 1974.

Where there are gardens, there are bees. And thanks to local beekeepers, you’ll also find them in rooftop hives belonging to companies like Bandwidth, Bank of America, Capitol Broadcasting Company, Cisco, Microsoft, Murphy’s Naturals and SAS. In “Thriving Hives” on page 48, learn how these important critters are improving urban environments, and why they’re buzzing at the center of data analytics projects and leadership training programs.

On page 54, walk down the aisle with local brides who donned vintage attire in honor of a loved one—or simply because they love the look. And on page 60, stroll through Historic Oakwood Cemetery—sacred grounds that have served and educated the Wake County community for 150 years.

Soak up a spring tour of Winston-Salem’s historic gardens on page 62. And on page 66, discover how Vietnamese Chef Michael Chuong’s MC Cuisine, located on a foundation laid by history in downtown Cary, has become one of Western Wake’s most popular restaurants.

One more thing: If you’re planning to buy, sell or renovate a home, check out our Home & Garden section on page 20 and Wake’s Top Realtors on page 27.

Whether you’re looking for a new home, planning a renovation, growing your own garden or preparing for a vintage wedding, we hope you’ll take the March/April issue of Cary Living along for the journey. Here’s to a beautiful, bountiful spring!

Beth Shugg, Editor 2 | caryliving.com

Photo by Bruce DeBoer

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PUBL I S H ER Ronny Ste ph e ns EX EC UTI V E EDI TO R Be th Sh ugg A RT A N D WEB DI R ECTO R Sean Byrne G R A PH I C DES I G N ER A d am Cave GRAPHIC DESIGNER AND COPY EDITOR Ci nd y H untle y CON TR I BUTI N G EDI TOR Jani c e Le w i ne S O C I A L MEDI A A N D CO MMUN I TY EN G AG EMEN T MA N AG ER Me li ssa W i ste h uff ACCO UN T EX EC UTI V ES Ste fani e Mc Clary Sh e rry Brasw e ll Laura Dickinson DI STR I BUTI ON J oe L i z ana, Manage r D i stri b uTe c h . ne t CON TR I BUTI N G WR I TER S Elliot Acosta, Kurt Dusterberg, Spencer Griffith, Marilyn Jones, Janice Lewine, Charlotte Russell, Anita Stone, Cailtlin Wheeler, Melissa Wistehuff CO N TR I BUTI N G PH OTO G R A PH ER S Bruce DeBoer, Smith Hardy, Marilyn Jones, Josh Manning, MASH Photography, Brian Mullins Photography, New Depth Creations Cary Living magazine is published six times annually. Any reproduction in part or in whole of any part of this publication is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.

Copyright 2022. All rights reserved.

Cary Living magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photography, or art. Unsolicited material is welcome and is considered intended for publication. Such material becomes property of the magazine and is subject to editing. Cary Living magazine will not knowingly accept any real estate advertising in violation of U.S. equal opportunity law.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

6 print issues (1 year) Available online at caryliving.com 4818-204 Six Forks Road Raleigh, NC 27609 Phone: 919.782.4710 Fax: 919.782.4763

4 | caryliving.com

The Premier Periodontal Practice of the Triangle Drs. Aakash Mehandru, Justin Valentine, Michael Stella, Reinaldo Deliz-Guzman and Michael Kretchmer are committed

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team will address every question and concern. Your oral health needs, goals, and priorities are the focus of your customized treatment plan. We want to work with you to create the beautiful, healthy smile of your dreams. In its 20th year of providing

conservative, compassionate care, Tar Heel Periodontics has been the leader in providing world class continuing education for dentists in the Triangle. If you are new to the area and have found a new general dentist, they most likely have attended our courses. Our doctors enjoy giving back in dentistry, which includes teaching at Adams UNC School of Dentistry and volunteering at Wake

Smiles Dental Clinic and the UNC Student Health Action Coalition. Our doctors have also served as presidents of both major local dental societies, covering the entire Triangle.

Tar Heel Periodontics also supports local sports teams in North Carolina. We are proud

partners of the Durham Bulls, the North Carolina FC and NC Courage soccer teams and supporting sponsors of NC State Athletics.

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5 OFFICE LOCATIONS 10931 Strickland Rd.

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MARCH/APRIL 2022

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CONTENTS M A R C H / A P R I L

F E AT U R E S 22

DESIGNING WOMEN A Raleigh resident and designer reconnect for

New Depth Creations

a downtown downsize 32

STRETCHING OUT The search for homes with large lots may be shor ter than you think

22 36

GARDEN SECRETS Explore a guide to fruitful vegetable gardening in Nor th Carolina

42

CULTIVATING FAIRVIEW Jo Ann Dewar propagates a legacy at Fair view Garden Center

Karolina Pora

48

THRIVING HIVES Bees are buzzing in urban areas thanks

32

to help from local beekeepers 54

TIMELESSLY ROMANTIC Modern brides take a vintage turn

ON THE COVER: Betsy Hood’s patio at The Wade in Hayes Bar ton.

Bruce DeBoer

Photo by Smith Hardy.

42

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MARCH/APRIL 2022

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CONTENTS M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

Brian Mullins

D E PARTM E NT S

60

60

H I S TO RY

62

T R AV E L

66

C H E F ’ S TA B L E

Historic Oakwood Cemetery celebrates 150 years of prominence and purpose

Soak up a spring tour of Winston-Salem’s historic gardens

MC Cuisine gets a front-row seat to Cary’s evolution

Marilyn Jones

I N E VE RY I SSU E 10

O N T H E S C E NE

68

OUT & ABOUT

Social Scene ǀ New Around Town ǀ Home Styler ǀ Sister Cities

Events ǀ Dine & Draft ǀ Sightings ǀ Kaleidoscope

62

MASH Photography

S P O N S O R E D C O N T E N T

66

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HOME & GARDEN

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WA K E ’ S T O P R E A LT O R S

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H E A LT H Y L I V I N G

2022

DIAMOND

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BY CARY LIVING READERS

MARCH/APRIL 2022

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SOCIAL SCENE

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ONtheSCENE NEW AROUND TOWN

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HOME STYLER

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SISTER CITIES

Lights shine from The Cary Theater after a brief snowfall in January.

The Cary Living Diamond Award gold winner for best pizza, Di Fara Pizza Tavern, installed igloos on its patio, giving diners not only the best pizza in town, but the coolest—and warmest—spot in which to eat it. Photos courtesy of Di Fara Pizza Tavern.

Andy’s Frozen Custard in Morrisville is the cure for all sweet-tooth cravings.

The Selig family of Fuquay-Varina constructed this 11.5-foot-tall snowman to commemorate the Triangle’s January 22 snow. Photo by Beth Selig.

Get Social With Us! 10 | caryliving.com

caryliving.com

TE X T AN D PHOTO S BY ME LIS S A WISTE HUF F (Unless otherwise noted)

@ carylivingmag

@ caryliving

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SOCIAL SCENE

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ONtheSCENE

NEW AROUND TOWN

URBAN ANGEETHI BRINGS FLAVORS OF INDIA TO WESTERN WAKE

A new Indian restaurant offering a unique culinary experience has opened its doors in Cary. With a focus on incorporating contemporary charm into traditional-style Indian cuisine, Urban Angeethi prepares its dishes with the finest and freshest ingredients, providing a classical touch with maximum flavor. The restaurant’s warm, pleasant ambiance, complete with modern huts, allows for a comfortably elegant dining experience.

Photo courtesy of Urban Angeethi.

5033 Arco Street, Cary 919.234.5555 urbanangeethi.com

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HOME STYLER

APEX WELCOMES A NEW HYDRATION CLINIC

Prime IV Hydration & Wellness has opened its newest location in Apex’s Beaver Creek Crossings shopping center. The clinic’s drips are designed to increase energy, boost the immune system, decrease inflammation and aid in muscle recovery. They can even help you quickly bounce back from a hangover. Their proprietary blends of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and IV fluids are infused directly into the bloodstream by skilled and medically licensed staff to give cells rapid access to the nutrients required for healing. Photo by Stefanie McClary.

2034 Creekside Landing Drive, Apex 919.267.6989 primeivhydration.com/locations/ north-carolina/apex-nc

LOCALS BRING NEW NEIGHBORHOOD PET STORE TO CARY 9/11 first responder Ray Skeeter and his wife Jenn, local pet lovers who are excited to start a new venture, have opened Pet Supplies Plus in Cary. The store offers a wide selection of natural pet foods, goods and pet services at low prices, and focuses on a unique, rich in-store experience. Dogs are always welcome in the store, and owners can even bring their pup in for a wash at the self–pet wash stations.

Photo courtesy of Pet Supplies Plus.

651 Mills Park Drive, Cary 919.323.4400 petsuppliesplus.com

BY CIN DY H U NTLEY 12 | caryliving.com

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SISTER CITIES

YOGA POWERHOUSE OPENS IN LOCHMERE PAVILION

Cary Yoga Collective, powered by Yoga Garden of Apex and Yoga-Mojo of Cary, has opened in Cary’s Lochmere Pavilion. With the 20-plus years of combined experience these studios bring, Cary Yoga Collective offers mindful yoga practices, teacher training, and special events to support the mind, body and spirit. The collective presents 25 classes each week in a variety of styles to suit everyone.

Photo courtesy of Cary Yoga Collective.

2425 Kildaire Farm Road, Suite 407, Cary 919.533.YOGA (9642) caryyogacollective.com

BEAVER CREEK COMMONS DENTAL OPENS IN APEX CRYOTHERAPY SPA OPENS IN CARY

iCRYO, a cryotherapy spa focused on recovery and wellness, has opened in Cary’s Waverly Place. The company offers a variety of services including cryotherapy, IV vitamin and hydration therapy, infrared sauna, body sculpting and compression therapy. Monthly memberships are available through iCRYO’s Lifestlye Pass program. Photo courtesy of iCRYO. 316 Colonades Way, Suite C209, Cary 984.200.2876 icryo.com/location/cary-nc

Beaver Creek Commons Dental, a full-service, state-of-the-art family dental practice, has opened its doors in Apex. The new practice is fully equipped with the latest products and equipment available in the dental industry, offering Drs. Vanee Patel, DDS, and Akeadra Bell, DMD, and their dental team the opportunity to provide the most up-to-date procedures and services to their patients.

Photo courtesy of Beaver Creek Commons Dental.

1200 Beaver Creek Commons Drive, Apex 919.355.5516 beavercreekcommonsdental.com

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SOCIAL SCENE

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ONtheSCENE

NEW AROUND TOWN

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HOME STYLER

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SISTER CITIES

1

Nail the First

IMPRESSION If you want to make a memorable first impression on house guests, the living room is a great place to start. Put your sense of style on display in both big and small spaces. Set this room apart from others with an inviting seating arrangement, vibrant wall

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hanging or unique accents.

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5 4 1. Thursday sectional with left arm bumper, starting at $4,485 | Furnish 2. Martinique round side table with rattan, $440 | Steven Shell Living

BY KU RT D USTERBERG Photos provided by vendors unless otherwise noted 14 | caryliving.com

3. FLÎKR Fire personal fireplace, $94.95 | NOFO @ The Pig 4. Lambswool throw, $275 | La Maison

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SOCIAL SCENE

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ONtheSCENE

NEW AROUND TOWN

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HOME STYLER

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SISTER CITIES

SWEEPING VISTAS OR CRASHING WAVES? Explore two of North Carolina’s idyllic wedding destinations

BY M EL ISSA WISTEHUFF TUCKASEGEE

BALD HEAD ISLAND

Nestled between the quaint Western North Carolina towns of Sylva

Across the state and a short ferry ride from North Carolina’s

and Cashiers in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Tuckasegee is known for

mainland, Bald Head Island is home to a car-free village located on

its beautiful farm lands; fishing opportunities along the Tuckasegee

the east side of the Cape Fear River. Small, nature-filled and remote,

River and nearby mountain lakes; and a laid-back, small town feel,

this picturesque town encompasses nearly 10,000 acres of dazzling

making it a dreamy location for couples who love the mountains.

beaches, marshes and maritime forest preserves, and is perfect for

Western North Carolina’s only fully-functioning castle, Castle

couples who prefer an ocean view for their nuptial backdrop. Perched

Ladyhawke, offers stunning views of the Tuckasegee River Valley and

on the island’s dunes overlooking a spectacular view of the Atlantic

provides the perfect setting for a wedding fit for royalty—inside and

Ocean, Shoals Club serves as the quintessential beach destination

out. Its majestic staircases, stone walls and authentic Scottish tower

wedding location.

make it one of North Carolina’s most unique wedding destinations.

Bald Head Island also offers picturesque sunsets, which can

Castle Ladyhawke partners with nearby Bear Lake Reserve,

provide an unforgettable setting for couples who dream of an intimate

where wedding guests can spend their weekend breathing in fresh

wedding ceremony or reception. Learn more at baldheadisland.com.

mountain air while kayaking, hiking or golfing on the scenic property.

Situated along the shores of Bear Creek Lake, the community offers a secluded getaway with luxury resort amenities. Learn more at castleladyhawke.com.

16 | caryliving.com

Photo credits, from left to right. Top row: Castle Ladyhawke, AMW Studios, Fotosearch/Getty Images.

Bottom row: Will Watson Photography, Fotosearch/ Getty Images, Fotosearch/Getty Images.

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HOME & GARDEN Discover new developments and builds, design professionals and landscaping resources.

MARCH/APRIL 2022

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COMPLETE KITCHEN AND BATHROOM REMODELING—FROM START TO FINISH

Dream Home Design is a family-owned, full-service remodeling company founded more than 10 years ago, specializing in the design and renovation of kitchens and bathrooms, and blending those new designs into the rest of your home.

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With 30-plus years of combined experience as both a general contractor and design firm, Dream Home Design is a one-stop shop offering expert craftsmanship, experienced installers and the highest quality materials. From tile, cabinets and hardwood flooring, to granite, marble and quartz, Dream Home Design has the extensive selection you need to make the best choices for creating a more beautiful home.

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DESIGNING 22 | caryliving.com

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2/17/22 1:26 PM

A Raleigh resident and designer reconnect for a downtown downsize at The Wade

B

etsy Hood never imagined being in her current living space. Light streams into her open-plan residence from every direction.

Architectural lines blend with her window treatments and furniture in ways she can’t fully explain, but the artistry is apparent to her. “I love the openness, I love the natural light, I love the flow,” she says. “The design itself is so livable and workable.”

Four years ago, Hood stepped away from her professional career at a nonprofit, ready to ease into retirement. First on the to-do list was a makeover for the home she and her husband built on Dixie Trail in Raleigh back in 1999. The update called for a home office and playroom over the garage for their grandchildren. Within a few months, however, her husband passed away unexpectedly. “It was a lot at one time,” she says.

The renovation plans were already underway. Hood was working with Judy Pickett, owner of Design Lines Signature, a Raleigh-based interior design company on Jones Franklin Road near Crossroads Plaza shopping center in Cary. The two had joined together on furnishing Hood’s Dixie Trail home nearly two decades earlier, and Hood decided to enlist Pickett’s help again. “I couldn’t decide whether to scratch plans for renovation,” Hood says. “It was a lot to take care of.

So, I thought, ‘Let’s get Judy’s input.’”

WOMEN

BY KURT DUSTERBERG

MARCH/APRIL 2022

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A NEW BEGINNING

Pickett started Design Lines in 1979.

Her work is featured in residences across the Triangle, but also in settings like the Johnston [County] Regional Airport and the Delta Gamma sorority house at North Carolina State University. At the time Hood was second-guessing her renovation, Pickett was the designer of record at The Wade, a new five-story condominium complex located at the corner of St. Mary’s Street and Wade Avenue in Raleigh’s Hayes Barton Historic District.

“In December, Judy came over and said, ‘Why aren’t you downsizing?’”

Hood says with a laugh. “It was an easy decision. I knew right away I needed to jump on this. Two days later, I went from thinking I was renovating to signing the contract to move in here.”

Her relationship with Hood already established, Pickett went right to work on the new residence with colleague Jennifer Harris. They accounted for factors such as space, behaviors, colors and acoustics.

They knew Hood’s taste ran toward contemporary with bright-colored accents.

“With her, that trust factor was already established,” Pickett says. “When we did the living room, we gave her three choices of sofas, a custom rug and a color scheme.

We put it together in a presentation. She’s very outspoken, and she makes decisions really easily.”

Hood also knew how she wanted to use the space in her 2,286-square-foot home.

One of her three bedrooms was reserved for her 9-year-old granddaughter and 5-year-old grandson, both frequent visitors for dinners and sleepovers. Bunk beds were just a start. Pickett helped choose a rug with squares that were perfect for PREVIOUS PAGES Judy Pickett, Betsy Hood and Jennifer Harris enjoy a visit in Hood’s new home.

Photo by New Depth Creations

OPPOSITE PAGE Picket and Harris knew Hood wanted contemporary, bright-colored accents.

Photo by Smith Hardy

THIS PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM Pickett and Harris accounted for space, behaviors, colors and acoustics when designing Hood’s new home.

The designers gave Hood three choices for her sofa, rug and color theme. Hood made her decisions quickly.

Photos by Smith Hardy

MARCH/APRIL 2022

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2/17/22 1:26 PM

children’s card games, and a closet space was converted to a desk area with magnetic wallpaper—replacing the refrigerator as the children’s art gallery.

The home was also designed for entertaining—a reality that still feels bittersweet for Hood. The kitchen, dining room and living room can easily accommodate 20 people, but her move-in at the start of the pandemic put some of those plans on hold. Prior to Christmas, Hood eagerly anticipated having her entire family of at least 15 over, adding that “there is plenty of room” for everyone.

The rest of the home is marked by elegant touches. Pickett commissioned three custom bowls that form the centerpiece of the dining room table. “Other than two rooms, she started from scratch as far as furnishings,” Pickett says. “She kept a lot of her art, but otherwise it’s a brand new space for her.

A brand new beginning.”

SECRETS TO SUCCESS

Hood brought some features forward from her previous home. The master bedroom is positioned identically with the same furniture.

But most of her condominium is filled with new furniture and features. She can’t imagine her living space without the professional touches of an interior designer. “They know how to take every little detail and put it together in ways that you don’t even think about,” she says. “Something as small as the design of your tile work or your curtains or your furniture—if you’re picking out things yourself, you’re not going to be thinking about how it coordinates with the architectural lines, or with your fabric.”

Some of the design success comes from building a relationship. “Our clients become very close to us,” Pickett says. “We really do try to put together all things for our client, both obvious and not so obvious, and help them through their life stages. We’re advocates for them. Sometimes it is handholding, but our process is really good in that we try to listen really well up front.”

Hood looks forward to the day when she can welcome all of her family members to the place she now calls home. “For me, having an interior designer and decorator is an integral part of creating a living environment that integrates function, comfort, beauty and joy,” Hood says. “I’m really proud of my place. It feels good, and I love being here.”

THIS PAGE Vibrant colors take center stage in Hood’s condo. The bathroom is no exception.

Photo by Smith Hardy

26 | caryliving.com

030422CL_FEA_DesigningWomen.indd 26

2/17/22 1:26 PM

WAKE’S TOP

REALTORS

HOME & GARDEN Showcasing the new developments and builds, design professionals and winning landscapes.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

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WAKE’S TOP REALTORS ⅼ KOURTNEY THOMAS OF IVY RESID ENT I AL

KOURTNEY THOMAS IVY RESIDENTIAL

TAKING A CLIENT-CENTRIC APPROACH Ivy Residential is a boutique sales and marketing team dedicated to meeting the unique needs of its esteemed clients. Kourtney and her team’s mission is to make a difference in the lives of their clients by delivering high-end luxury real estate service, no matter the price point.

Kourtney Thomas, Owner and Broker of Ivy Residential

Ivy Residential has a client-centric approach at the heart of everything its team members do. The firm has combined local real estate industry expertise with the national power of Compass to provide the absolute best service to clients through progressive real estate industry technology and innovative marketing.

Through Thomas’ efforts and relationships with clients, builders and industry insiders, she has created a successful referral-based business, and is quickly expanding and growing her team. She’s excited for what the future holds for Ivy Residential.

4509 Creedmoor Road, Suite 201, Raleigh, North Carolina 27612 ⅼ 704.644.9061 ⅼ ivyresidentialhomes.com 28 | caryliving.com

LU X U RY HOME MARKET I NG GROU P ⅼ WAKE’S TOP REALTORS

LUXURY HOME MARKETING GROUP REAL ESTATE LEADERS IN THE LUXURY HOME MARKET

FRONT ROW: Gretchen Coley, COMPASS • Linda Trevor, COMPASS • Sheri Hagerty, Hodge & Kittrell Sotheby’s International Realty Linda Craft, Linda Craft & Team, Realtors • Kimberly Conroy, Coldwell Banker HPW • Lindsay Taylor Jackson, Keller Williams BACK ROW: Margaret Donovan Struble, COMPASS • Ann Watters Matteson, Hodge & Kittrell Sotheby’s International Realty Leslie Young, Coldwell Banker HPW • Shawn Britt, Realty World–Triangle Living Mollie Owen, Hodge & Kittrell Sotheby’s International Realty • Kathy Beacham, Coldwell Banker HPW Debbie Van Horn, COMPASS • Michelle Roberts, Keller Williams • Jill Rekuc, Olde Raleigh Real Estate

A coalition of real estate leaders sharing their knowledge and expertise of the luxury market.

• Powerful advertising across multiple platforms.

Get to know the Luxury Home Marketing Group at luxuryhomemarketinggroup.com (or use this QR code to find out more).

• A group tour of your home with personalized recommendations to appeal to the discriminating buyer.

• Marketing your home to the group’s collective network of luxury clients.

• A network of preferred vendors for a seamless experience throughout the process.

MARCH/APRIL2022

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WAKE’S TOP REALTORS

Photo courtesy of Cherokee Media Group

ⅼ NANCY GRACE OF KELLER WILLIAMS LEGACY

NANCY GRACE KELLER WILLIAMS LEGACY LIFE IS SHORT, GET MOVING! Realtor Nancy Grace has been recognized as Cary Living’s 2022 Gold Diamond Award winner for Best Real Estate Agent in Western Wake, and Bronze Diamond Award winner for Best Customer Ser vice.

She has been helping home buyers and sellers in Car y, Apex, Morrisville, Holly Springs and Pittsboro since 2007.

Nancy and her amazing team of professionals offer a wealth of experience when it comes to preparing homes for sale, getting top dollar and navigating the home-selling process—to help make each client’s transaction as smooth as possible.

Nancy began her real estate career after relocating to the Triangle area from Buffalo, New York. (Go Bills!) Since

then, she has helped hundreds of clients relocate to the area and find their perfect home. She brings extensive experience to working with new-construction home buyers, first-time buyers, downsizers and clients who have outgrown their homes.

Being part of the community is what makes Nancy really stand out. She is proud to be a founding financial supporter of Esteamed Coffee in downtown Cary, which provides employment opportunities for individuals with various disabilities. She is also an active member and supporter of local schools and community organizations.

Nancy embodies honesty, integrity and commitment, and consistently delivers more than what her clients expect.

1483 Beaver Creek Commons Drive, Apex, North Carolina 27502 | 919.616.4139 | nancygracehomes.com 30 | caryliving.com

T HER ESA LU NT ⅼ WAKE’S TOP REALTORS

THERESA LUNT OF EXP REALTY SELLING LIFESTYLES THROUGH REAL ESTATE A North Carolina resident since 2007, Theresa Lunt has always been drawn to real estate. She built an accomplished career on Wall Street, then began buying and selling properties, which inspired her to pursue her real estate license in 2016. Right away, she earned Rookie of the Year honors. Then she began working in the niche area where she lives to become a West Cary expert.

As a listing specialist with a team of trusted partners and vendors, Lunt has a talent for pricing homes. “My clients trust that if they follow my lead, we can sell their home quickly and at the highest value,” she says.

In this fast-moving market, Theresa still spends time educating sellers on what it takes to get the most money, and often breaks records in many neighborhoods. Her preparedness, knowledge and willingness to communicate throughout the sales process has helped her stand out and earn a trusted reputation—with the majority of her volume coming from repeat clients and referrals.

Theresa Lunt, Owner and Broker

Lunt, voted a “neighborhood favorite” on Nextdoor in West Cary, is just as attentive when assisting buyers. She helps them uncover the best investments and guides them through this competitive market every step of the way. “This is what I love to do,” she says.

3818 Page Road, Durham, North Carolina 27560 | 919.473.6341 | theresa@theresalunt.com | theresalunt.exprealty.com MARCH/APRIL2022

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midtownmag.com 32 | caryliving.com

stretching out

the search for homes with large lots near metropolitan amenities may be shorter than you think B Y S P E N C E R G R I F F I T H

I

t’s no secret Wake County’s real estate market is red-hot,

chain issues and labor shortages), Coley believes buyers

setting records seemingly on a monthly basis. As condo,

who may have otherwise decided to update their homes

townhome and cottage court developments continue to

now see the appeal of choosing new construction. “The

sprout up in downtown Raleigh and Western Wake, some

choice becomes very easy when someone starts running

homebuyers are looking elsewhere. These discriminating

the numbers and the only place they can get a brand-new

house hunters prefer the best of both worlds: neighborhoods

house on an acre lot in the $550,000s is just across the

away from city centers that offer new homes on large lots

[Wake] county line in Harnett County.”

with increased privacy, a sense of natural serenity and room to stretch out.

“We’re finding that a lot of buyers are willing to drive a little bit further to not have to make a sacrifice on the type of house they’re getting,” says Gretchen Coley, founder of The Coley Group in Raleigh. She has seen increased interest in areas like Clayton, Fuquay-Varina and northern Harnett County.

“People in Raleigh have traditionally lived in planned unit developments with smaller lots because they want

MODERN COMFORT IN THE COUNTRY Prince Place, a new development with a Fuquay-Varina address, offers homes starting in the $390,000s less than 5 miles from the Wake County line in Harnett County.

Prince Place features wooded lots up to an acre in size on what was formerly a family farm—and the neighborhood is just minutes from Fuquay-Varina’s revitalized historic Fuquay and Varina districts.

The Coley Group represents Halcyon Homes, one of

the amenities that come with those neighborhoods—the

three custom homebuilders in the neighborhood crafting

convenience of the grocery store, or a Target or Walmart

homes with a modern, livable aesthetic that is comfortable

[nearby], along with activities for their kids,” she says.

and warm. Halcyon Homes also incorporates a variety of

But over time, some of those same families begin yearning

natural materials into a home’s overall design, such as cedar

for an expansive retreat—with more room to entertain

accents or reclaimed wood from nearby tobacco barns.

guests and a bigger yard for children to play in.

“When you can pick anything from anywhere, having a

Due to expensive renovations and potentially long wait

designer to help pull it all together creates an aesthetic

times for completing them (caused by the current supply

where you can see and feel the difference,” Coley says.

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BIG LOTS NEAR THE CITY

you drive through 50 years from now and you won’t know

Buyers seeking spacious homes on large lots near big-city

when it was developed because the architecture is so

amenities don’t have to travel far to find them. North Raleigh’s

timeless,” she says. The homes will also incorporate modern

Shadow Creek Estates offers homesites averaging 1.25 acres

technologies like energy-efficient designs and solar power.

just off Durant Road between Six Forks and Falls of Neuse roads. Shadow Creek Estates offers the best of both worlds: secluded properties just minutes away from popular shopping and dining destinations like North Hills (6 miles away) and downtown Raleigh (11 miles away). Raleigh-Durham International Airport is a quick trip west on Interstate Highway 540 (15 miles away).

Like Prince Place, Shadow Creek Estates sits on a former family farm, with lots that feature mature landscaping and expansive views of rolling hills. “The initial piece of property is absolutely stunning,” says Christina Valkanoff, owner of Raleigh-based Christina Valkanoff Realty Group. “The natural topography is unparalleled—and before we even touch it, there are beautiful views from every lot with the way the land sits.”

Shadow Creek Estates is the first community of homes constructed exclusively by Apex-based Loyd Builders, a luxury homebuilder that has partnered with Valkanoff to offer homes beginning at $2 million. “Loyd Builders has an incredible reputation in our market as one of the best— if not the best—custom builders in the Triangle, and the craftsmanship that goes into one of their homes is really

THE GREAT OUTDOORS Larger lot sizes offer more opportunities for outdoor living through the addition of recreation and relaxation spaces.

Some Shadow Creek Estates plans feature indoor and outdoor sport courts—pickleball is an increasingly popular choice—along with pools and waterslides. After completing a sun study on the property, Shadow Creek Estates designers create an architectural plan that blends outdoor and indoor spaces seamlessly via phantom screens and open porches that integrate with pools, patios and decks.

Prince Place will also afford its residents plenty of space to add customized outdoor recreational spaces—something that has taken on an increased importance during the pandemic, as homeowners everywhere have turned their private outdoor space into a refuge for relaxation where they can experience a sense of normalcy.

So, Raleigh and Western Wake house hunters: Don’t give up on finding that perfect home—and property. The same market trends that are making Prince Place and Shadow Creek Estates such popular communities, won’t be going anywhere soon.

impeccable,” she says.

Loyd Builders is committed to ensuring a consistent style across the neighborhood. “There’s a cohesive plan where every piece of property in the community will be working together to create a vision of classic architecture, with homes that last for generations to come,” Valkonoff says.

These “tried and true” architectural styles, Valkanoff says, will include natural materials such as cedar and limestone, and allow plenty of design flexibility to reflect current trends, like white painted brick. “We’re not trying to build something super trendy, but rather a neighborhood where

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PAGE 50, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Halcyon Homes

Photo by Karolina Pora and Staging by Linden Creek Staging

The Sanctuary at Yates Mill

Photo courtesy of the developer

Halcyon Homes

Photo by Karolina Pora and Staging by Linden Creek Staging

The Sanctuary at Yates Mill

Photo courtesy of the developer

BACKGROUND IMAGE

Photo by Annie Otzen/Getty Images

How to Choose the Right Real Estate Agent

BY SPENCER GRIFFITH

With no sign of the Triangle’s real estate market cooling off anytime soon, how should prospective buyers and sellers go about choosing a real estate agent who will best meet their needs? Gretchen Coley of The Coley Group and Christina Valkanoff of Christina Valkanoff Realty Group weigh in with some advice. Here are the skills they believe good real estate agents should have mastered.

Possesses Market Knowledge “The most important thing to look for when choosing an agent is their connection to the industry and knowledge of the market,” Coley says. With a limited supply of inventory, having a database of connections—and knowing when they’re getting ready to move—is of the utmost importance, she adds. “So many transactions are happening off-market now, so if you don’t have an agent who is willing to take the time upfront to see what it is exactly that you’re looking for—and then has the ability to go find that for you—it’s going to be impossible for you to win.”

Valkanoff echoes Coley’s advice to seek out a seasoned veteran in Triangle real estate who knows the market, understands contracts and is a great negotiator.

Knowledge of the market—and connections with builders—is even more important when dealing with new construction.

“New construction is not in the database, so if an agent is not in the know with builders and doesn’t know what’s coming on the market, [the clients] don’t even know what their options are,” says Valkanoff— adding that, at the time this issue went to press, Shadow Creek Estates was not yet listed on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), so clients have only been introduced via knowledgeable agents.

Sets Realistic Expectations “It’s going to take longer to build the house than you think, and there are going to be obstacles in the way,” Coley attests.

“Making sure you choose someone who has experience [representing buyers in new construction] is going to save you money and help your expectations be properly set throughout the process.”

Willingly Shares Experience Level How can a potential buyer or seller best identify an agent with the experience he or she needs? In Valkanoff’s opinion, they simply need to ask the agent about it. He or she should be able to answer that question— whether it’s how many clients the agent has served, how many multiple offer negotiations he or she has won, or how many sellers he or she has helped navigate multiple offers for within the past year.

“Ask them, ‘What is your advice about the market right now?’” Valkonoff suggests.

“Do they know how to guide you, and will they guide you? If they can’t guide you before you even really start the process, how can they guide you through the process?”

“There are so many people who come to us who’ve had a horrible experience because they chose someone who didn’t have the knowledge,” Valkanoff says.

“They’re blaming their bad experience on the market—which is tough. But with the right guidance, it doesn’t have to be a negative experience.”

Coley concurs. “Let’s face it: In every industry, there are a lot of experts but there are also a lot of people who aren’t,” she cautions. “Making sure you pick the right agent is going to assure you that you’re going to find a house and you’re not going to overpay for it.”

Stretch Out Here These Triangle neighborhoods offer larger-than-average lots.

Overlook at Mount Vernon:

homesbydickerson.com/communities/ the-overlook Papillon Park: papillonpark2.com Prince Place: halcyonhomesnc.com/princeplace Shadow Creek Estates: shadowcreekestates.com The Sanctuary at Yates Mill:

sanctuaryatyatesmill.com

Sunset Grove: sunsetgrove.com

SHADOW CREEK ESTATES

THE SANCTUARY AT YATES MILL

ABOVE

Photos courtesy of respective developments

TOP OF PAGE

Photo by SDI Productions/GettyImages

MARCH/APRIL 2022

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Garden Secrets a beginner’s

guide to fruitful vegetable

gardening in

North Carolina

BY MELISSA WISTEHUFF

S

pring is a time of renewal. Trees bud, birds sing and chilly mornings give way to warm afternoons.

Spring is also when nature sends signs that it is time to plot our plans for summer vegetable gardens.

Novice gardeners may feel overwhelmed with the notion of starting from scratch, but take heart, as there are many options for a successful harvest. Vegetable garden designs are numerous, regardless of how much space, time or experience you have.

So, whether you have a green thumb or consider yourself an amateur, we’re here to disbud your worries and help your North Carolina vegetable garden take root.

MINT TO BE? First things first: Measure how much space you realistically have for a garden, keeping in mind that most vegetables need full sun and room to grow in order to produce a harvest.

There are plenty of choices for all types of spaces, whether you’re working with a large yard, deck, patio or balcony. A raised garden bed works well for vegetable gardening because you can control what type of soil you use.

North Carolina is home to sandy and hard clay soil, which can be challenging for plants to take root in. With a raised garden bed, you are starting with fresh and fertile soil instead of potentially unreliable earth.

Heather Rollins, marketing director at Fairview Garden Center on Holly Springs Road in Raleigh, says soil is the most important factor in any garden, particularly vegetable gardens.

“Almost all vegetables are annuals, which means they begin and end their life all in one season,” she explains. “Therefore, they are heavy feeders—and a rich soil will not just keep them growing strong, it will also help ward off disease and pest problems,” she says.

If you’re unsure of your soil quality, Rollins suggests doing a soil test to determine its pH, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus levels. The NC Cooperative Extension office, a joint effort between North Carolina State University and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, will test your soil at no charge, and your local garden shop will most likely sell home soil testing kits if you’d rather test it yourself. The bottom line: Healthy soil is key if you want a successful garden.

CONTAIN YOUR EXCITEMENT Container gardens and pots are a great way for beginners to get their hands dirty, since you can place them in your yard’s sunniest spot. Containers are also perfect for people who have busy lifestyles since pots don’t take as much time to prepare as garden beds. You simply fill them with

quality soil, plant a healthy seedling, place it in the sun and water it regularly.

Vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, herbs and leafy greens flourish in containers, Rollins says. Cucumbers are also a good option if planted with a trellis, to allow its vines to climb. Hanging baskets are an option for tomatoes since tomato stems are strong enough to withstand the weight of the hanging fruit. This can be a great use of space for those who lack room for a traditional garden.

Indoor gardening has become a hit in recent years among those who want to grow their own produce year-round, as well as people who live in apartments or condos and therefore lack outdoor space.

Picking fresh herbs and vegetables from the comfort of your kitchen is appealing and doable, thanks to indoor gardening kits that come with built-in lights that simulate daylight to instigate plant growth.

Cherry tomatoes, microgreens and herbs are excellent indoor gardening choices.

SEEDLING GREEN Once you decide the location and format of your garden, and prep the soil, it’s time to decide if you want to grow your plants from seeds or buy plants that have already started growing. If you opt to start with seeds, begin the process indoors, away from the cold and several weeks before the last frost date, Rollins advises.

MARCH/APRIL 2022

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“Some vegetables take several months to mature from seed, so it’s not practical to directly sow them in the garden,” she says.

“When it comes to long-season vegetables like tomatoes, peppers and eggplant, most folks start their plants indoors or buy seedlings from their local garden center.”

If you choose to plant seedlings, check the bottom of the plants before buying them. Rollins says healthy plants should be well rooted in their growing containers, with white roots visibly emerging from the bottom of the pot. Keep in mind that too many white roots will require more water and care once the plant is transplanted.

Also, “plants should be a bright to deep green—not yellow or bright chartreuse,” Rollins says. “A deep green means a well-fertilized, watered and cared-for plant.”

THYME IT RIGHT Plan to put your plants in the ground as soon as the last chance of frost has passed. That’s typically mid-April here in the Triangle. Remember, gardening is meant to be a fun, relaxing and healthy activity. Most gardeners admit that it takes years of trials, tweaks and mistakes to figure out what works best in each unique space. Start small and remember the recipe for a fruitful garden is sunlight, water, soil—and patience. We’re rooting for you!

Sources used for this article can be found in the “Additional Resources” sidebar.

PREVIOUS PAGES, LEFT

Photo by Gollykim/Getty Images

PREVIOUS PAGES, RIGHT (SET OF 3)

Photos by Amanda Dorenkamp of Wake Forest, @thehappyhomesteadnc

THIS PAGE, TOP

Photo by the Wistehuff family of Raleigh

THIS PAGE, MIDDLE AND BOTTOM Photos by the Wahl family of Apex

38 | caryliving.com

LOCAL CHEF GIVES NEW MEANING TO ‘FARM TO TABLE’

By Melissa Wistehuff

For Sean Fowler, executive chef and owner of Raleigh’s Mandolin restaurant, fresh ingredients take center stage on seasonally evolving menus. In 2013, Fowler constructed and planted Mandolin Farm at his home in North Raleigh, where he harvests crisp produce, herbs and flowers year-round. In addition to his home gardens, he has also surrounded Mandolin’s patio with container gardens.

Since Fowler’s menus feature a unique take on Southern food, he relies on his gardens to yield specific ingredients—like greenhouse tomatoes and specialty peppers—that might otherwise be hard to find at a market, particularly during the off-season. Those ingredients aren’t limited to produce. Fowler’s Mandolin Farm hens produce deep yellow egg yolks for the restaurant’s weekend brunch menus. Talk about farm to table!

GREEN THUMBS UP! Here are some vegetables that grow well in our area of North Carolina, according to Heather Rollins, marketing director at Fairview Garden Center in Raleigh.

Broccoli

Eggplant

Cabbage

Escarole

Brussels sprouts Cauliflower Celery

Chinese cabbage Chives

Collards

Endive Kale

Okra

Parsley

Peppers

Tomatoes

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES •

For soil testing information, as well as expert advice on gardening in this region of North Carolina, visit NC State Extension at gardening.ces.ncsu.edu.

•

For a beginner’s guide to vegetable gardening, visit almanac.com, and look under the “Gardening” then “Beginner Gardening” tabs.

•

Check out gardeners.com to read tips for both novice and expert gardeners.

•

Ask your local garden center for guidance on what vegetables will best suit your space.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT

Photo of Mandolin Farm by Josh Manning;

photo of Fairview Garden Center by Bruce DeBoer; photo of Mandolin’s patio courtesy of Sean Fowler; photo of Sean Fowler by Josh Manning.

MARCH/APRIL 2022

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S P O N S O R E D C O N T E N T H E A LT H Y L I V I N G

Your Most Important Organ The skin and how to treat it Our skin is a big deal–literally. It is not only the largest organ in the body, but also one of the most complicated. Skin plays many roles in the journey of life and health via temperature regulation, vitamin production, immune defense and sensation. It is also prone to many potential problems—take adult acne, pigmentation, wrinkles and long-term congested skin as examples. These are inevitable issues that may arise even if you have been diligently keeping up with a strict skin care routine. Some of these issues come with age, some with diet, and some arise as a result of improper usage of skin care products— all of which you may not know.

radicals, which can build up and cause damage to cells. This damage can institute skin conditions such as pigmentation, loose skin, and even dry, dull or sensitive skin.

Your skin is unique in many ways, but no other organ calls for so much attention and concern in states of health. Our daily lifestyle constitutes a considerable role in how bright our complexions are, with poor choices leading to skin damage later in life. Some skin care issues are deeply rooted. Concerns like smoking, prolonged sun exposure, stress and poor diet can cause free

When it comes to your most important organ— your skin—you should be maintaining it daily to slow the signs of aging. For those who want to optimize or improve their skin, consistency and taking the correct steps are fundamental to making that difference. More importantly, love your skin, as you will be wearing it for the rest of your life.

Luckily, with the vast advancement of the aesthetics industry, you do not have to combat these problems alone. There are devices such as fractional lasers that are noninvasive; when combined with proper post-care, they can absolve any hyperpigmentation, rosacea and loose skin you may have. Other treatments, such as facials and microdermabrasion, can aid in skin tone and texture improvements and leave you glowing!

Avail Aesthetics CEO Stephen Rhodes and Dr. Nathan Davis, M.D. have created an award-winning med spa providing industry-leading aesthetics, where everyone is welcome!

Avail Aesthetics 251 Keisler Drive, Suite 201, Cary, North Carolina 27518 919.322.5440 | availaesthetics.com

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

40 | caryliving.com

ADVERTISE WITH US IN OUR MAY/JUNE 2022 ISSUES

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| 41

Cultivating Fairview HOW JO ANN DEWAR TURNED A HOBBY INTO HER LEGACY

BY M E L I S S A W I ST E HUFF

T

P HOTO S BY B R U C E DeB OER he recipe for sprouting a plant is much like that of creating a solid business plan: Add light, nourishment and room to grow. For Jo Ann Dewar, however, who had aspirations to start a garden center in the early 1970s as a female

entrepreneur, the formula wasn’t quite so straightforward.

Now 90 years old—and still the first to arrive and last to leave

Fairview Garden Center each day—Dewar looks back on her decades as a business owner, saying she wouldn’t change a thing. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes along the way—probably enough to write a book—but I try not to make the same ones twice,” she says. “You won’t be blessed with success if you don’t learn from your mistakes.”

Raised on a tobacco farm in Harnett County, Dewar discovered her passion for plants as a young girl. “I’ve always loved playing in the dirt and seeing what I can get to grow,” she says. Growing up on a farm comes with not only fun, but hard work as well. “I have always been a hard worker, and it taught me from an early age that you have to work hard to get what you want,” she says.

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Sewing the Seeds

A chance meeting at Dewar’s high school led her to work at the FBI in Washington, D.C. as a fingerprint analyst under the direction of J. Edgar Hoover. Though the handful of years she spent away from farm life makes for an interesting fun fact, she knew she was meant for fresh air rather than the confines of a federal building. “Fingerprints are much like propagating plants,” she muses. “Each root is like its own signature, as is a fingerprint.”

When she and her husband, Tom, moved to a rural stretch of land on Holly Springs Road in the 1960s, it wasn’t long before the mother of four turned her green thumb into a backyard hobby. Tom built a Quonset hut-style greenhouse for his wife to “play around in.” Unbeknownst to her at the time, this small greenhouse set the scene for a generational legacy.

“What you see here today is the result of a hobby that grew into a business before we really knew what we were doing,” she shares as she looks around the now 62,000-squarefoot greenhouse. “We didn’t set out to start a business, but we knew that my product was good and there was a demand for it.”

Trailblazing Tenacity

Knowing she had the talent, drive and ambition to start selling her plants, Dewar set out to turn her passion into a business. Little did she know, she would become a trailblazer in a male-dominated industry.

When business started to take off, she and Tom did all the manual labor themselves; pouring concrete and hammering nails. She would plant all day and keep the books at night, raising her children in-between. Though she didn’t want to borrow money, they couldn’t afford the infrastructure, let alone the cost of heating the greenhouse and insurance to protect all they had built.

In the early 1970s, however, women could not apply for credit without a man co-signing the loans. Passage of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which would allow women to obtain credit cards apart from their husbands, did not happen until 1974. “The banks wouldn’t even talk to me without my husband there to sign the papers,” Dewar says. “We didn’t even know what a business plan was; we just knew that I was good with plants and that there was a demand for it.”

With no formal education in business or horticulture, the idea to turn her hobby into a business “took a lot of guts, I’ll tell you that much,” she says. “But doesn’t everything that’s worth it?”

Open for Business

Fairview Greenhouses opened as a wholesale company in 1974. It started out by selling to local grocery stores like Winn-Dixie, and continued operating that way for nearly a decade until the family opened their first retail garden center in 1986. By that time, neighborhoods with new residents who wanted to buy flowers had begun populating the area. As more customers came, they built more greenhouses to suit their demand. At that time, Dewar and her family began referring to the business as Fairview Garden Center.

Additional family members stepped in to help the flourishing business. Dewar’s parents assisted with planting, and her sister drove the delivery truck. Dewar’s children began to work at the garden center as teens, making it a true family affair. Fairview Garden Center is now in its third generation as a family business.

Though Dewar’s husband has passed away, she is surrounded by children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren daily. “I can’t imagine having done all this without my family by my side,” she says, gratefully. “It fills me with pride that they want to continue what I started all those years ago.”

When Dewar is not “playing in dirt,” she enjoys fishing on the coast. But whether she’s in a greenhouse or boat, she is always in her element. “I get to see God’s beauty every day, not only in nature, but in people and family,” she says. “What more could I ask for?”

PREVIOUS PAGES Jo Ann Dewar, now 90 years old, opened Fairview Greenhouses in 1974. It would be known as Fairview Garden Center by 1986.

OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM During the 1980s, new neighborhoods in the area created more demand for Fairview Garden Center’s plants and flowers.

Dewar is the first to arrive and the last to leave the garden center each day.

ABOVE, TOP TO BOTTOM Fairview Garden Center also offers a gift shop that sells unique home decor items.

What started out as a hobby grew into a 62,000-square-foot greenhouse that has become Dewar’s legacy.

Flower images by Logorilla/Getty Images

MARCH/APRIL 2022

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THRIVING HIVES

BEES ARE BUZZING IN URBAN AREAS ACROSS THE TRIANGLE THANKS TO HELP FROM LOCAL BEEKEEPERS

BY CAITLIN WHEELER

“H

oneybees are the pandas of the insect world,” says Leigh-Kathryn Bonner, founder and CEO of Bee Downtown, a Morrisville-based company that maintains beehives on corporate rooftops and campuses not only in

the Triangle, but throughout the Southeast. These clever insects do more than produce honey—they are expert and efficient pollinators, and play a pivotal role in our ecosystem.

Over the last decade, parasites, disease and habitat destruction have made life in the wild difficult for bees, creating a more urgent need for beekeeping. No one is more aware of this than Raleigh’s “celebrity” beekeepers, several of whom have founded companies to showcase the talents of these important little critters.

THE BUZZ TURNS INTO A BOOM Bonner learned beekeeping from her grandfather on their family farm. It’s a tough business. “A beekeeper works crazy hours, constantly at the whim of the bees—Mother Nature is always in control,” she says. “You can work hard all year and you’ll never know until you open the hive: There might be honey, there might not!”

Bonner grew up so enthralled with beekeeping that, while studying global studies at North Carolina State University, she asked her apartment landlord if she could keep a hive on the roof.

When he said “no,” she turned to her internship manager at the American Tobacco Campus in downtown Durham. Burt’s Bees, which has a corporate office on W. Pettigrew Street, gave her an emphatic thumbs up. “They loved it, and I loved it,” Bonner says of the two hives she put on Burt’s Bees’ rooftop.

Local media also loved it, and soon after her hives made news, Bonner got requests for rooftop hives from Capitol Broadcasting Company, SAS, Bandwidth and Murphy’s Naturals. “It wasn’t meant to be a business,” Bonner says. “I just wanted to keep bees.”

Today, Bee Downtown maintains nearly 600 colonies in five states, including local companies like Bank of America, which has two beehives atop its North Hills tower; Align Technology; Biogen, Microsoft, Cisco, Freudenberg Performance Materials, MetLife and the Carillon tower in Charlotte. “Surprisingly, honeybees really thrive in an urban environment,” Bonner says, crediting the long growing periods and wide variety of ornamental plants and flowers in public and private gardens.

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A DESIRE TO BEE INVOLVED Corporate beehives are a win for businesses that install them and the employees who work there. Bonner quickly learned that many of her clients’ employees wanted to get involved in the beekeeping process. “As soon as we put bees on a corporate campus, employees are interested,” she says.

In response, Bee Downtown now offers two ways employees can participate and learn through bees: a Corporate Hive Program that includes beekeeping classes, hive tours and honey tastings; and the BDT Leadership Institute, which offers leadership and teamwork training based on lessons taken from how honeybee colonies operate.

SAS gets this. “People want to work for companies that stand for something more than just making money,” says SAS Chief Environmental Officer Jerry Williams.

Bonner also took some lessons from her bees when it came to structuring her own company, deciding that Bee Downtown was better positioned as a for-profit, totally self-funded social enterprise. “We have to be self-sustaining to be sustainable,” she says.

“We want to set a healthy standard for corporations: Do good and do well.”

SAS takes that standard seriously. The Cary-based company has been inspired by its Bee Downtown hives to launch a data analytics project. “We use advanced analytics and event stream processing to stream data from the hive to the cloud so we can continuously measure the health of the hive,” Williams explains.

BACKYARD BEES If the thought of observing a bee colony up close intrigues you but you don’t work for a corporation that hosts a rooftop hive, Buddha Bee Apiary is happy to install one in your own backyard. “When I was a boy, I was terrified of bees,” says Alfredo Salkeld, Buddha Bee’s head of hive growth. “If a bee flew by at a picnic, I would run inside.”

Then, while working as a marketing director in Raleigh a few years ago, Salkeld sampled some local honey, had an interesting chat with the purveyor and decided it was time to overcome his fear. He asked if he could visit the honey purveyor’s bee yard.

“Once I put on my first bee suit and walked in with the bees, I was hooked,” he says.

Justin Maness, former lead beekeeper at Bee Downtown, founded Buddha Bee Apiary in 2019 to help people fall in love with bees, as well as to make a lasting impact on the environment. Salkeld is committed to the mission Maness established for Buddha Bee Apiary. “There’s just something that clicks when you open up the hive and see the bees with pollen covering their legs, or their

bellies full of honey, and you think, ‘This could be coming from my shrubs.’ It makes you more aware of the natural environment.”

When working with clients, Salkeld carefully selects the perfect spot for the hive.

Each Buddha Bee Apiary box includes an established queen bee (selected by the hive), 30,000 female worker bees and 300 male drones (whose sole purpose is to eat and mate with the queen). Every two to four weeks a Buddha Bee beekeeper checks in on the health of the bees. “People think the hive is like a plant, that you can just occasionally water it and that it will thrive on its own—but they really need extensive upkeep,” he says.

The company’s beekeepers regularly check to make sure the bees are bringing in food and the queen is healthy. They also make sure the bees aren’t carrying diseases, or hosting mites or other parasites.

A healthy colony can quickly outgrow its space. When this happens, they “swarm,” taking approximately 60% of the colony with them. Salkeld says he can usually sense when the colonies are getting big, and then splits the hive, taking a few frames of food, a few frames of brood (baby bees) and eggs, and the queen. “Opening the hive is the fun part,” he says. “You never know what you’ll get when you look inside—there’s always something new to learn.”

As soon as the original colony senses the loss, the bees naturally raise a new queen by setting aside a few promising eggs and feeding the potential queens a special diet known as “royal jelly,” a honeybee secretion used to nurture

larvae and adult queens. These developing queens will fight to the death to determine which one will ultimately rule the hive. Salkeld keeps an extra careful watch during this process until the new queen has gone on her first mating flight and is laying eggs.

A BEE-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT A passion for horticulture led Alice Hinman to beekeeping. Like Bonner, she tends hives on Raleigh rooftops through her Raleigh-based nonprofit Apiopolis, caring for the hives while the businesses below enjoy their tiny penthouse guests and slather their bees’ honey on English muffins. However, unlike beekeeping-focused Salkeld and peoplefocused Bonner, Hinman devotes most of her attention to naturalizing the local environment through native-plant gardens.

“Re-wilding is the key to having a sustainable relationship with bees,” Hinman explains, adding that while bees can fly up to 5 miles from their hive, the closer their food source, the better. “A colony needs a full acre of multifloral plants to be really healthy.”

In pursuit of creating a more bee-friendly Raleigh, Apiopolis was awarded a grant to start a native plant nursery, which Hinman hopes will attract environmentally-aware gardeners throughout the Triangle. She is also collaborating with the City of Raleigh to create native flowers, plants and prairie grass installations in vacant lots.

To make this work, Hinman has had to think outside the box—or hive. “Honeybees are not native to the United States, and we have to take

some extra steps to maximize their viability,” she says. “Beekeepers have used Langstroth hives since the 19th century. I thought some improvements were overdue.”

Prior to 1851, beekeepers dating back to the sixth century used domed baskets, called bee skeps, for hives. Before that, the Egyptians kept bees in cylindrical hives made of clay.

“Bees evolved to live in a hollow tree and do best at about 76 degrees,” Hinman says. So, to maximize survival of her hives, Hinman wraps them with simple insulation.

Hinman’s front yard reflects her priorities.

“I accidentally grew a forest,” she says.

“There’s an absolutely overgrown black-eyed Susan out there that self-keeps like crazy. The birds and butterflies love it.”

PREVIOUS PAGES Developing queen bees fight to the death to determine who will rule the hive.

Photo courtesy of Buddha Bee Individual bees by Antagain/Getty Images

OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM Justin Maness founded Buddah Bee Apiary in 2019.

Photo courtesy of Buddha Bee

Ben Dictus, principal beekeeper at Bee Downtown, shows visitors an active hive.

Photo courtesy of Bee Downtown

BELOW Leigh-Kathryn Bonner is founder and CEO of Bee Downtown.

Photo courtesy of Bee Downtown

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BEE MINDFUL OF THE NATIVES Alison McAfee, who studies queen bee quality and fertility within NCSU’s top-ranked Department of Entomology, says there are 4,000 bee species native to America, and the honeybee is not one of them. Honeybees are singled out among bee species, she says, because they are essentially livestock.

Colonies can be trucked in and out of fields, and managed to be ready for specific crops—as with almond pollination jobs in California, which require over one million honeybee colonies each year.

While honeybee health is vital, McAfee cautions that an overpopulation in any one area can pose a risk to native bee species, which are also important to ecological health.

“Honeybees compete with other bees for food sources, and research suggests that honeybees and native bees can transmit pathogens to each other—particularly viruses,” she says. “The more honeybee colonies there are, the more opportunity there is for spreading disease.”

McAfee is supportive of the Raleigh beekeeping community because spotlighting honeybees opens up discussions about native species, many of which are at greater risk than honeybees. She hopes honeybee supporters will follow Hinman’s lead. “If you really want to help pollinators, put your efforts into creating pollinator-friendly habitats,” she says. “Plant native forage sources, transform public and private lands into pollinator corridors, donate to funding agencies or get involved with native bee societies.”

BELOW Founders of The Pleasant Bee, Sarah Myers and her father, Al Pleasants, with Myers’ children: Eleanor (4) and Jackson (6).

Photo courtesy of The Pleasant Bee

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THE SWEET STUFF

Sarah Myers epitomizes the savvy, modern beekeeper. Known as “The Bee Lady,” Myers got hooked on bees while attending NCSU, where a fellow student recommended fulfilling a science requirement by taking a “Bees and Beekeeping” entomology course. “I really fell for bee biology—the idea of these individual creatures functioning like a super-organism, all working for the benefit of the whole,” she says.

By the time she graduated, Myers had the equivalent of a minor in entomology. Since then, the single hive she and her father, Al Pleasants, won at a workshop has grown to more than 20, and she has served as the first female president of the Wake County Beekeepers Association.

Myers and her father produce raw honey for The Pleasant Bee, a father-daughter venture they created in 2008.

Raw honey allows the natural pollens and nutrients to remain in the final product. Myers points out that while grocery store honey is highly refined for uniform texture and taste, local Piedmont honey is usually ambercolored and often comes from tulip poplar trees. But there is some variation. “We have some hives near cotton and soybean fields, as well as a few hives that gather nectar from the arboretum, so each jar might have a slightly distinct taste.”

Myers has used her bee smarts at previous day jobs as well. Originally recruited to lead a bee health outreach program for Bayer CropScience, she also put her knowledge to work at SAS, where she used data from the company’s Bee Downtown hive analytic software to more effectively manage beehives.

Myers and Pleasants sell The Pleasant Bee honey at the Midtown Farmers Market, which sets up on Saturdays from April through November at The Commons in North Hills. Their honey and beeswax products are also available through their online shop at thepleasantbee.com.

DON’T WORRY, BEE HAPPY

Leigh-Kathryn Bonner, founder and CEO of Bee Downtown, insists that getting to know bees will inevitably boost your environmental stewardship. Why? Because bees recognize faces.

If you’re calm and gentle, Bonner says they are happy to see you. If you’re stressed or unhappy, they can get riled up and loud—and may even sting you. “They can tell if you’re bringing bad energy,” she says. “You have to go in saying and thinking, ‘I love you, I’m here to do good.’”

BEE SMART Want to learn more about bees and beekeeping? Check out these resources: Apiopolis: apiopolis.org

Bee Downtown: bee-downtown.com

Buddha Bee Apiary: buddhabeeapiary.com The Pleasant Bee: thepleasantbee.com

Wake County Beekeepers Association: wakecountybeekeepers.org

North Carolina State University’s Beekeeper Education & Engagement System (BEES): entomology.ces.ncsu.edu/apiculture/bees

TO P- 1 0 0 W O R L D - R A N K E D W E D D I N G P H OTO G R A P H E R

919.414.0869 R A L E I G H C O M M E R C I A L P H OT O S . C O M / B R I A N M U L L I N S P H OT O G R A P H Y. C O M MAY/JUNE 2021

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Timelessly Romantic

From gowns to veils, modern brides are incorporating vintage elements into their big day

BY JANICE LEWINE 54 | caryliving.com

W

hen Britain’s Princess Beatrice married Edoardo Mozzi two summers ago, she didn’t wear a custom gown by one of the world’s top designers.

Instead, she paid tribute to her royal heritage by borrowing a stunning taffeta dress her grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, had worn on special occasions.

Moved by sentimentality, style preference and budget, modern brides are following Princess Beatrice’s lead and opting for throwback attires that capture the romance and glamour of decades past. They’re unwrapping delicately preserved heirlooms; ordering retro-inspired creations of satin, organza and lace; and adding timeless embellishments like beadings, sequins and fringes to their dream dress.

Today’s brides are wearing history—or a nod to it—for their memorable walk down the aisle.

SOMETHING OLD For her January 1, 2022 nuptials at Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral in Raleigh, Catherine Piaskowski proudly donned the gown her grandmother and mother

wore for their weddings in 1957 and 1989, respectively. “I had always thought the dress was so pretty when I looked at their wedding photos,” Piaskowski says. “I tried it on, but it didn’t button up all the way so I took it to a vintage restoration tailor. They were able to open up a couple of the seams to let out some fabric. … The sleeves were also a little tight. I couldn’t bend my arms at a 90-degree angle,” she laughs. “I love weight lifting but told myself for the next five months, there will be no arm workouts!”

Catherine’s grandmother, Patty Revord, remembers buying the dress with its chapellength train at Marshall Field’s in Chicago.

“It was just very pretty, lacy with a train, and I liked the cream-ivory color,” she says. Revord preserved the gown so it could be adorned by a future bride. Little did she know that would happen with two consecutive generations.

“It was classy and elegant. I liked the beading and the overall gestalt of it,” says Mary Schricker, Piaskowski’s mother, who wore the dress three decades later. “I never tried any other dress on. It fit like a glove and I felt like a queen.”

This past January, there were plenty of misty eyes when Piaskowski took her vows

in the 65-year-old gown. “It was an amazing feeling, seeing her wear it so beautifully and so in love,” Schricker says.

Piaskowski and her husband Dan will travel to Rome in March for the “Sposi Novelli” (newlyweds’ ceremony), in which Pope Francis greets and blesses couples—in their wedding attire—who were recently married. She’s opting to wear a J.Crew dress for the occasion, to safeguard her family’s precious heirloom. “I’m so thankful for the very fruitful and loving marriages that came from it,” she says.

LEFT Catherine Piaskowski, in her grandmother’s dress, reads her vows before the ceremony.

Photo courtesy of Cole Pickard of griffindavisphoto.com

ABOVE Catherine Piaskowski wore the same wedding dress worn by her grandmother, Patty Revord, and mother, Mary Schricker, who are both holding their bridal portaits.

Photo courtesy of Cole Pickard of griffindavisphoto.com

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SOMETHING NEW Kelly Zelna’s vintage-inspired wedding dress perfectly befitted her October 15, 2021 ceremony at Raleigh’s historic Haywood Hall House & Gardens. “I didn’t want a traditional white dress. I wanted something warm, timeless and one-of-a-kind-looking,” she explains. “I love the vintage feel of the embroidery and the warm champagne coloring of the skirt. My veil had handmade, beaded trim with dainty flower-shaped designs that tied perfectly with the floral embroidery on my dress. I also wore a beautiful gold headpiece to complete the vintage look I was going for.”

Zelna’s love affair with her gown began after watching a bridal try-on session with influencer Hannah Godown. “After ordering it, I discovered it was not true-to-size and not returnable, but I was determined to make my dream dress work.” She consulted seamstresses Bea and Laura of Becoming Bridal Alterations in Angier. “Bea took apart the entire bodice and sleeves, and put it back together to make it the absolute perfect fit,” Zelna says.

Then, due to the pandemic, they had to postpone their wedding. “My husband JP had

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to wait so long to see this dress [because of the pandemic],” she says. “During our first look, he said it was well worth the wait. The photo of his face when I came around the corner in my dress is one of my favorites!”

She shares reassuring advice: “Don’t be scared of having alterations done to make your vintage bridal dreams come tr ue. There’s someone out there who has the vision to make it work for you.”

SOMETHING BORROWED Olivia Oates of Apex says weddings were a frequent topic of conversation with her mom and grandmother when she was growing up.

“We’d talk about my future wedding, what style of dress I would wear,” she reminisces.

“I’m getting married November 12 at Evermore Farms in Apex. When my grandma offered her veil, I knew I wanted to try to use it,” she says.

Sharon [Trimmel] Longstaff was married in Ohio in 1973 and kept her veil in a box, securely nestled in tissue paper. “I have a long train and wanted a cathedral-length veil. Her veil was the perfect length,” Oates says. “The appliques that are already on it are very close to what I have on my dress.

My dress is a blush-nude color, so the fact that the veil is not bright white will match it perfectly. I’ll be adding some appliques to my dress that I will also add to the veil to give it an extra touch.”

Oates is touched by her grandmother’s gesture. “It means a lot that she thought of me and offered her very own veil,” she says.

“I know that she is so excited and happy that I will be wearing it down the aisle.”

VINTAGE IS VOGUE

RESTORING VINTAGE

Retro has reawakened and dress designers are returning to the styles of yester year, according to local bridal shop consultants. “They’re bringing back the puff sleeve, but with a modern twist—along the arm instead of right at the shoulder—and returning to fabrics like lace, tulle and mikado satin. High necklines and long sleeves are also popular again,” says Chasity Graham of Coastal Knot Bridal.

Pamela Fey of Gilded Bridal notes, “We’re seeing trends coming back around like the fuller sleeve and dresses made of silk and other lightweight materials.” More brides are also choosing to pair vintage accessories with a new gown.

Christina Chiosa of CC Bridal Atelier, who has created and altered bridalwear for more than 12 years, says as long as the size isn’t too far off, today’s brides have the option to wear an heirloom dress that doesn’t fit properly or has suffered the effects of time.

If the dress is one or two sizes too small, she says, “I can let the dress out completely to make it fit, if there’s enough fabric. I can also add material.” For brides who are several sizes larger, “the only option is to incorporate some of the original dress into a new one.”

Chiosa recommends professional gown cleaning and preservation as soon as possible after the wedding. For dresses that have permanent stains or degradation, “I can cover those areas with lace or another fabric, and make everything look symmetrical,” she says. “We have our tricks to make dresses look their best.”

OPPOSITE PAGE

Kelly Zelna chose a vintage-inspired wedding dress that Becoming Bridal Alterations in Angier carefully altered for her wedding day.

Photos courtesy of Justine Montigny

THIS PAGE

Olivia Oates will wear her grandmother’s veil when she marries Drew Juliano November 12.

Photo courtesy of Arika Jordan Photography

Sharon Longstaff wore this veil in 1973.

Her granddaughter will wear it in 2022.

Photo by Josh Manning; bouquet by Fallon’s Flowers

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Now the Triangle has a Good Time Oldies Station…

Done Just Right!

The Biggest Pop, Rock, & Motown Hits of the ‘60s and ‘70s

58 | caryliving.com

MARCH/APRIL 2022

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D E PA R T M E N T S H I S TO R Y

HISTORIC OAKWOOD CEMETERY

A sacred space celebrating more than 150 years of prominence and purpose

BY ANITA B. STONE

PHOTOS BY BRIAN MULLINS

F

ew people would put the final resting place of those who have passed at the top of their “can’t-wait-to-see” list— especially in light of modern-day cemeteries that lack any sense of originality. But Historic Oakwood Cemetery, established in 1869 and located at 701 Oakwood Avenue in Raleigh, rises above expectations and presents itself as an up-to-date, innovative and imaginative 19-century gem.

The cemetery’s grounds accommodate ancient trees lining miles of paved paths that beckon visitors to step beyond the iron-scrolled entrance to a treasured garden-park in downtown Raleigh, where many come to relax, eat lunch, stroll along the paths or play a game of bridge.

PURPOSEFUL PROMINENCE

Raleigh’s oldest private cemetery is cared for by the Sons of Confederate Veterans and accommodates a cross section of more than 20,000 of the area’s citizenry, including prominent city, state and national leaders.

Upon entering Historic Oakwood Cemetery’s sacred grounds, visitors often sense a sharp awareness of the importance of where one’s final resting place is set. Stately willows hover over headstones throughout the landscape, and elaborate granite sculptures enhance a walk through this historic space, which has held meaning to Raleigh and Wake County for more than 150 years. Thirty acres have been reserved for future needs and are located in what is often referred to as “Old Raleigh,” where Victorian homes and tidily tended lawns line the streets.

Historic Oakwood Cemetery’s grounds were originally part of the plantation belonging to Moses Mordecai, a prominent Raleigh attorney. Mordecai’s son, Henry, donated the grounds for the cemetery in 1867. The Mordecai House, built in 1785 and located at 1 Mimosa Street in Mordecai Historic Park, is the oldest house in Raleigh in its original location; it is a designated Raleigh historic landmark, and accommodates a museum that is open to the public.

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UNEARTHING RESPECT

Historic Oakwood Cemetery contains several sections devoted to individual purposes. Within the grounds is the Raleigh Hebrew Cemetery, founded in 1912 by Jewish community members. Moses Mordecai was raised in an Orthodox Jewish family and was faithful to this religion throughout his life. All headstones in the Raleigh Hebrew Cemetery contain personal stories, with some including memorial rocks of remembrance that face east.

Oakwood’s Historic Confederate Cemetery is located on land that was specifically delegated in 1866 “for such a special purpose”

by Henry Mordecai. The Wake County Ladies Memorial Association arranged for the land to be cleared to ensure proper burials for the men who gave their lives for the South. Prior to their relocation in the Historic Confederate Cemetery, most of the Confederate soldiers who died in Wake County had been buried in Rock Quarry Cemetery, now known as Raleigh National Cemetery. When federal troops moved in to carry out Reconstruction orders, they took possession of Rock Quarry Cemetery, demanding the removal of Confederate soldiers’ bodies and reportedly announcing that if they were not removed within two days, they would throw the bodies in the street.

According to the Historic Oakwood Cemetery website, Raleigh residents rallied and, through hard manual labor, dug up and removed more than 500 Confederate dead— 494 from Rock Quarry Cemetery, 20 from the city cemetery, 14 near Henry Mordecai’s property, eight from Wake Forest, six from Camp Mangum (the current site of the state fairgrounds and Meredith College), two from Camp Holmes and two from farms located in Chapel Hill. Women related to the laborers walked alongside them as they unearthed and removed the bodies, encouraging them

and supplying refreshments. Today, Historic Oakwood Cemetery serves as the final resting place for 1,388 Confederate soldiers and two Union soldiers.

Over the years, additional North Carolina Confederate dead have been relocated to Oakwood’s Historic Confederate Cemetery from Civil War graveyards across the country.

A House of Memory, in which American veterans of all wars are now commemorated, was constructed and dedicated in 1936 next to the cemetery’s Confederate graves.

Newer sections of Historic Oakwood Cemetery have since been established.

A portion called Mordecai’s Meadow is set aside for what is known as “green burials”— a simple and natural burial that reunites the body with the earth using biodegradable caskets, no embalming fluids, and no concrete or metal vaults. There is also a Memorial Cremation Garden dedicated for those who wish to have a place for cremains.

A SHARED SACRED SPACE

Ongoing efforts at Historic Oakwood Cemetery invite the public to enjoy nature walks, astronomy sessions, history discourses, theatrical performances, contemporary presentations and interactive programs focusing on community service and ongoing citizen outreach. The Wild Women of Oakwood offer a variety of tours, one of which brings to life the courageous works of women from Raleigh’s past by highlighting their successes in medicine, the arts and public welfare.

The Death Letter Project requests letters from North Carolinans about personal encounters with death, what they learned from those encounters and how they were changed by them. Each letter is unique and addresses specific issues outlined in the project. The letters are saved and periodically made available to the public.

This innovative program won the 2019 International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association’s “Keeping It Personal” (KIP) award.

Historic Oakwood Cemetery also supports a Day of Remembrance through which citizens write messages on ribbons that are hung from crepe myrtle branches in the cemetery’s Grove of Remembrance. Recently, an event was held to honor those lost to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During 2022, a workshop titled “Life Lessons Through Impermanent Art” will be offered by Michael Palko, the cemetery’s photographer-in-residence. Participants create designs, forms and mandalas out of natural materials during this educational activity that encourages reflection on beauty, change and the process of letting go. Raleigh’s Burning Coal Theatre presents a series of short, on-site plays that bring to life cemetery inhabitants’ intriguing histories, as well as plays by Piedmont Laureate Ian Finley and South African playwright Athol Fugard.

Historic Oakwood Cemetery’s engagement with the lives of local citizenry, reverence to the area’s historical legacy, and openness to the changing needs and attitudes of the public—combined with its innate beauty— mark it as one of the most unusual cemeteries of its kind.

Runners often frequent the cemetery to participate in races that support worthy causes, while others visit to mourn, learn, participate in an event, or simply absorb the cemetery’s natural beauty and captivating sculptures. Historic Oakwood Cemetery is not just for those who have passed—it’s for the living as well, and represents a sacred space shared between the two.

Learn more about this Raleigh gem at

historicoakwoodcemetery.org.

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D E PA R T M E N T S T R A V E L

SITES, SCENTS AND TASTES OF THE PAST

SOAK UP A SPRING TOUR OF WINSTON-SALEM’S HISTORIC GARDENS STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARILYN JONES

S

pringtime in Winston-Salem is a time to celebrate warmer weather, balmy breezes, and the sights and scents of colorful flowers and vegetables growing in the city’s exceptional gardens. Winston-Salem dates back to 1753, when 15 Moravians walked to North Carolina from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and purchased a 100,000-acre tract of land to create the settlement of Bethabara. Other members of this Germanspeaking Protestant sect who had fled Bohemia and Moravia (now known as the Czech Republic) due to religious persecution soon followed, assisting in the creation of a series of Moravian settlements in North Carolina.

These settlers were good at many things— including gardening.

HISTORIC BETHABARA PARK

Historic Bethabara Park 62 | caryliving.com

The site of the Moravians’ first home, Historic Bethabara Park, accommodates a number of gardens filled with historically accurate flowers and vegetables once grown here by its settlers. On a sunny May morning, the gardens are flowering with blooms and vegetables that are thriving and lush. The park’s “kitchen garden,” which everyone in the Moravian community tended to and benefitted from, is now called the Community Garden. It’s the only known, well-documented colonial community garden in the U.S. The Moravians’ medicinal garden contained plants used to treat ailments endured by both the settlers and their livestock during the 18th century. This space—the first European medicinal garden ever planted in America—remains intact today at Historic Bethabara Park, thanks to volunteers who abide by archeological data, and historic illustrations and maps.

The park’s pollinator garden is new, but preserves the spirit of the Moravians’ relationship with the environment and tradition of respecting and understanding nature’s balance. All of the gardens are surrounded by restored original buildings, including the Log House (1834), the Gemeinhaus (1788), the Potter’s House (1782), the Brewer’s House (1803), and reconstructions including the 1754

Old Salem Museums & Gardens

The Arboretum & Gardens at Tanglewood Park

Reynolda Gardens

Reconstructed Village and The Palisade, a stockade originally erected in 1756 to protect inhabitants and non-Moravians from Native American attacks throughout the French and Indian War.

OLD SALEM MUSEUMS & GARDENS

Old Salem, another historic town settled by the Moravians in 1766, still claims about 70% of its original structures, including privately owned homes and museum sites. More than 100 acres of interpreted gardens and landscapes flourish throughout the town. Because the Moravians were excellent record-keepers, today’s gardens are reminiscent of what you might have seen there centuries ago.

Historically in Old Salem, every house had its own garden, and everything grown had a reason for being there. Today’s gardens replicate the originals. The Single Brothers’ Garden, a kitchen garden that fed men and boys of the Single Brothers’ Choir, is laid out much like the one in the late 1700s. Heirloom vegetables, herbs and ornamental flowers grow from large squares on earthen terraces.

Orchards and family gardens are frequent sites during a walk through Old Salem.

Most of the gardens are situated at the rear of each home, and filled with vegetables and ornamental plants. Split-rail board fencing and snake-rail fencing border much of the area.

It’s easy to get lost in the moment, even with Winston-Salem’s towering buildings on the horizon.

REYNOLDA GARDENS

The Reynolda Historic District encompasses the Reynolda House Museum of American Art and the Reynolda Gardens of Wake Forest University. Reynolda House originally served as the home of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company founder Richard Joshua (R.J.) Reynolds, along with his wife, Katharine Smith Reynolds, and their four children.

Today the house functions as an art museum that displays more than 6,000 historic objects and a collection of world-renowned American art.

The Reynolds family moved into the house upon its completion in 1917. R.J. passed away the following year, and Katharine operated the estate until she died in 1924.

In 1934, Mary Reynolds Babcock, R.J. and Katharine’s second child, acquired the estate from the other Reynolds heirs. In 1964, Mary’s husband Charlie Babcock established Reynolda House, Inc. as a nonprofit institution dedicated to the arts and education.

The gardens expand across 134 acres and include a lake, golf course, formal gardens, greenhouses and woods. A walk through

the formal gardens delights the senses with stately fountains and meticulously planted flower beds that showcase a rainbow of colors. In the distance sits an art deco greenhouse. According to Jon Roethling, director at the Reynolda Gardens, these gardens mirror the past and reflect the present. The results are awe-inspiring.

THE ARBORETUM AND GARDENS AT TANGLEWOOD PARK

Another intriguing Reynolds property belonged to William Neal Reynolds, R.J.’s younger brother. His 1,117-acre country estate known as Tanglwood is located on the Yadkin River in Forsyth County, about 14 miles southwest of Reynolda Gardens.

William and his wife Kate moved into the Tanglewood manor in 1921. William eventually donated Tanglewood to Forsyth County for use as a park.

Tanglewood attractions include the arboretum and gardens, which feature separate areas of plants that grow in Forsyth County, as well as a wildflower garden, children’s garden, herb garden, formal garden, and annual and perennial displays. The park also offers a sprawling RV campground, aquatic center, tennis courts, golf course and the opportunity to horseback ride through the countryside.

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PAUL J. CIENER BOTANICAL GARDEN

Paul J. Ciener loved horticulture and toured great gardens worldwide, studying different plants and garden styles. His dream was to create a great park in the Winston-Salem suburb of Kernersville. ​Since his death in 1998, the gardens have come to life with the construction of welcome and horticulture centers. Plantings and designs that are beautifully groomed and easy to navigate occupy 5 of the property’s 7 acres. When completed, Paul J. Ceiner Botanical Garden will consist of more than 25 garden areas.

A day spent enjoying the gardens of Winston-Salem will delight and educate your senses. Here are resources that will help you plan your visit.

VISIT WINSTON-SALEM: visitwinstonsalem.com HISTORIC BETHABARA PARK: historicbethabara.org OLD SALEM MUSEUM & GARDENS: oldsalem.org REYNOLDA GARDENS: reynolda.org/gardens THE ARBORETUM AND GARDENS AT TANGLEWOOD PARK: forsyth.cc/parks/tanglewood/arboretum.aspx

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Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden

PAUL J. CIENER BOTANICAL GARDEN: cienerbotanicalgarden.org

The Kings Raleigh, NC

“Home is an invention on which no one has yet improved.”

—Ann Douglass vanfletcher.com

Photo by Gretchen Mathison

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D E PA R T M E N T S C H E F ' S TA B L E

MC CUISINE

CHEF MICHAEL CHUONG PUTS DOWN ROOTS IN ONE OF CARY’S MOST HISTORIC STRUCTURES

BY ELLIOT ACOSTA ǀ PHOTOS BY MASH PHOTOGRAPHY

A

lthough MC Cuisine is one of downtown Cary’s newer restaurants, it was built on a foundation laid by

history—regarding both its chef and accommodations. Located in the Sams-Jones House at 324 South Academy Street, MC Cuisine’ namesake comes from its owner and executive chef, Michael Chuong. After leaving his native Vietnam at the age of 15, Chuong found his way to New Orleans. It was in the Big Easy that Chuong began to cook professionally, eventually making his way into established kitchens such as The Fairmont, now known as The Roosevelt.

It was the prolific Goodnight family that brought Chuong to the town of Cary. SAS CEO Jim Goodnight, who purchased Cary’s Prestonwood Country Club in 1992, hired Chuong to take the helm of the kitchen there.

Building off his reputation from his work there, Chuong opened AN Asian Cuisine in 2006 and solidified his place as a marquee chef in the area. When he left the restaurant in 2012 to pursue other projects, like the celebrated Elements restaurant in Chapel Hill, Chuong always dreamed of returning to Cary—the town he had adopted as his home.

FRONT-ROW SEAT The Sams-Jones House in downtown Cary

THIS PAGE: CHEF MICHAEL CHUONG LEFT VIETNAM AT THE AGE OF 15. HE ARRIVED IN CARY BY WAY OF NEW ORLEANS. OPPOSITE PAGE: MC CUISINE'S WALNUT PRAWNS.

sits on the corner of South Academy and Dry streets, across from Downtown Cary Park, so it has had a front-row seat to Cary’s evolution.

The town purchased the cottage in 2014, then leased it to various restaurants until it sat vacant in 2016. Constructed in 1902, the house’s Queen Anne cottage-style architecture and link to one of Cary High School’s earliest educators, Andrew Fuller Sams, paved the way for it to be designated a Cary Historic

66 | caryliving.com

Landmark in 2017. Soon after, the town

fare. But even with his extensive experience

government began searching for a new

and knowledge, Chuong often digs into

tenant, and Chuong was selected.

cookbooks, researches dishes online and

Running a restaurant out of a cozy

even watches cooking shows for inspiration.

2,200-square-foot historic cottage comes

As a result, MC Cuisine serves dishes such

with its share of challenges, Chuong says—

as caprese salads with burrata and tempura

such as the dining room’s compact and

fried green tomatoes, or Land and Sea sushi

intimate environment in this post-COVID

rolls, which feature torched beef tenderloin

world—but he enjoys navigating through

and tempura shrimp with touches of various

the difficulties. And what the house lacks

different cuisines and techniques. “Expect

in interior space, it makes up for on the

the unexpected,” he says when describing

exterior. Its romantic covered patio and

the menu.

expansive front lawn offers MC Cuisine’s

The constant changes and seasonal

guests a seat in the middle of all the action

focus are not only great fun for Chuong,

of a sublime downtown Cary evening. “Some

but he believes it’s precisely why so many

days the inside of the house is empty while

diners return, again and again. In a town

the lawn is packed,” Chuong says.

that continues to transform, MC Cuisine is becoming one of Cary’s “norms.”

A CARY ‘NORM’

When Chuong arrived in Cary in 1997, he

The Sams-Jones House’s size impacts more

was smitten by its charming vibe. “I didn’t

than where MC Cuisine is able to seat

understand Southern hospitality until I came

diners—it also affects the restaurant’s menu.

to Cary,” he says. He has made Cary his

Its modest kitchen and storage capabilities

home, feeding its citizens for decades and

necessitate a smaller staff and menu. But

raising his family within its limits.

rather than allowing that to become a

Even though MC Cuisine opened in

detriment to MC Cuisine’s dining experience,

February 2020—21 days before COVID-19

it has become a strength by creating the

lockdowns began—Chuong’s adopted home

need for an ever-evolving weekly menu that

has embraced his new restaurant. “It’s been

features fresh, seasonal ingredients. Chuong

a dream of mine to come back to Cary to

works with local farmers and purveyors to

open a restaurant,” he says. “I’m thankful for

acquire those ingredients. Red drum from

the support.”

New Bern may star on the menu one week,

MC Cuisine opens at 5 p.m. for dinner,

then scallops from the Outer Banks slide

dine-in and takeout, Tuesdays through

into that spot the next week. Even Chuong’s

Saturdays. Learn more about the restaurant

signature dish, walnut prawns, is subject to

at mccuisines.com.

a temporary change to almond or cashew prawns due to the availability of walnuts.

Note to our readers: There are different

Chuong transforms these bountiful

versions of this restaurant’s name on its

ingredients by leaning into his culinary

website but Chef Michael Chuong requested

training, which spans from Southeast Asian

that we refer to his restaurant as MC Cuisine.

cuisine to classic American and French

MC CUISINE’S WALNUT PRAWNS Serves 8

INGREDIENTS 40 large shrimp, peeled and deveined 1 cup of mayonnaise 1 teaspoon of Sriracha sauce 2 teaspoons of whole-grain mustard 1 teaspoon of mirin 4 ounces of honey Vegetable oil (enough to fry all of the shrimp) Cornstarch (enough to provide two rounds of dustings of all the shrimp) 4 large egg whites Walnuts (choose the amount you prefer for garnishing the shrimp) ¼ cup of granulated sugar 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter Parchment paper PRAWN SAUCE DIRECTIONS Mix together the mayonnaise, Sriracha sauce, mustard, mirin and honey until smooth.

Refrigerate the sauce for later use.

CANDIED WALNUT DIRECTIONS Heat a medium-sized nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the walnuts, sugar and butter, then heat the mixture for 5 minutes, continually stirring (so the sugar doesn’t burn) until the sugar is melted and the walnuts are coated.

Immediately transfer the mixture onto parchment paper. Move quickly to separate the walnuts so they won’t clump together. Let the candied walnuts harden for 5–7 minutes.

SHRIMP DIRECTIONS Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot. Dust the shrimp in cornstarch, then dip them into the egg whites, then return them to the cornstarch for another dusting. Carefully place the shrimp into the pot of hot oil for frying. Once the shrimp have cooked through to a golden brown, dip them into the prawn sauce. Plate and garnish them with the candied walnuts, and serve with rice.

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EVENTS

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OUT&ABOUT DINE & DRAFT

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SIGHTINGS

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KALEIDOSCOPE

MARCH FESTIVAL OF LEGENDS: THE MYSTIC CIRCUS

March 7–25 4420 Louis Stephens Drive, Cary Known as the “Stick Wizard,” Patrick Dougherty has shaped tree branches into awe–inspiring installations all over the world.

Dougherty and his team of volunteers will create a monumental sculpture at Carpenter Park in Cary that is sure to generate wonder and amazement before eventually giving way to the elements.

townofcary.org

Photo courtesy of Philip Ravencroft

“VAN GOGH: THE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE”

March 31–June 12 Raleigh; location to be announced Encounter the brilliance of one of history’s greatest artists in 360 degrees. “Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience,” is a light and sound spectacular featuring two-story projections of the artist’s most compelling works.

vangoghexpo.com/raleigh

FOLLOW ME TO FUQUAY–VARINA CONCERT SERIES April 7 and 21, 6:30–9:30 p.m.

Centennial Square 102 N. Main Street, Fuquay-Varina Settle in for a night of great music, local brews and food truck fare in the heart of downtown Fuquay-Varina.

April 2, noon–5 p.m.

8003 Regency Parkway, Cary Throw on a sombrero and head to Koka Booth Amphitheatre for mariachi bands, dueling margarita bars, mezcals, 60-plus craft beers, a hot pepper eating contest, and tacos and nachos galore.

cary.tacosntaps.com

“VISION AND VIEW: CHAPEL HILL GARDEN TOUR”

April 23, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; April 24, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

Select locations in Chapel Hill Tour six beautiful gardens— ranging from historic to modern, mountaintop to lakeside—that have been thoughtfully created by passionate and visionary gardeners.

The tour is presented by the Chapel Hill Garden Club.

chapelhillgardenclub.net/2020-tour-home-page

April 24, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

200 W. Ballentine Street, Holly Springs Unleash your creativity and turn Holly Springs Cultural Arts Center’s sidewalks into a canvas of color. Artists ages 6 and older will be divided into three age groups. Reserve one square for $15 or two squares for $25. The public can vote for its favorite designs on the town’s Facebook page.

hollyspringsnc.us/2151/chalk-the-walk

Photo courtesy of Alycat Photography

TACOS ’N TAPS

festivaloflegends.com

CHALK THE WALK

APRIL

fuquay-varina.org

April 23, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; April 24, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

2908 Optimist Farm Road, Apex Revel in the majesty of the Middle Ages at this two-day festival featuring fairies, fiddlers and jousting knights. Watch as circus groups perform astounding feats, try your hand at axe-throwing, let the kids’ imaginations soar in the Children’s Glen, and shop the wares of more than 70 artisans.

Photo courtesy of Paul Cory

PATRICK DOHERTY: COMMUNITY RESIDENCY & SAPLING SCULPTURE PROJECT

SPRING DAZE ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL

April 30, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Fred G. Bond Metro Park 801 High House Road, Cary This annual festival showcases the talents of 170 North Carolina artists and offers entertainment on four stages, a beer garden, large-scale whirligigs from sculptor Julia Gartrell and Cary’s Earth Day celebration.

townofcary.org

CARY’S DOWNTOWN CHOWDOWN

April 10, 12:30–5 p.m.

Downtown Cary Eat to your heart’s content as some of the Triangle’s best food trucks line Academy Street. Local musicians and beer and wine vendors round out the event.

townofcary.org 68 | caryliving.com

BY JAN IC E LE WIN E

Be sure to check the websites for the events listed here before you head out to ensure they are still taking place.

BEST INDIAN FOOD

F R E S H , S P I C Y I N D I A N F O O D I N A C A S UA L A N D CO M F O R TA B L E AT M O S P H E R E 107 Edinburgh South Drive, Suite 107, Cary / 919.234.1264 / CilantroIndia.com MARCH/APRIL 2022

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E V E NT S

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OUT&ABOUT

DINE & DR AF T

INTRODUCING OUR NEW DINE & DRAFT FORMAT! Looking for our comprehensive Dine & Draft directory? Check out

caryliving.com/dine-draft

for a detailed foodie guide to Western Wake. Here’s a snapshot of what you’ll find. This list represents the restaurants that have advertised with us since the start of 2022.

Please call or check websites for takeout options.

EVENTS

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S I GH T I N GS

KA L E I DO S CO P E

BAD DADDY’S BURGER BAR 3300 Village Market Place, Morrisville 919.297.0953 baddaddysburgerbar.com

TASTEFULLY SERVED Serves Raleigh, Cary, Apex and RTP 919.760.5134 tastefully-served.com

BUOY BOWLS Food truck serving Western Wake County 919.520.7748 buoybowls.com

ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHOCOLATE FACTORY 302 Colonades Way #204, Cary 984.232.8325 rmcf.com

CHOCOLATE SMILES 312 W. Chatham Street, Suite 101, Cary 919.469.5282 chocolatesmiles.com

URBAN ANGEETHI 5033 Arco Street, Cary 919.234.5555 urbanangeethi.com

CILANTRO INDIAN CAFE 107 Edinburgh S. Drive, Cary 919.234.1264 cilantroindia.com

WASABI SUSHI & THAI RESTAURANT 107 Edinburgh S. Drive, Cary 919.460.7980 wasabicarync.com

DI FARA PIZZA TAVERN 111 E. Chatham Street, Cary 919.678.5300 difarapizzatavern.com

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DINE & DRAFT

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SIGHTINGS

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KALEIDOSCOPE

HOLLY SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

THE COMEDY EXPERIENCE BRINGS LAUGHS

NASA TECHRISE STUDENT CHALLENGE

The Comedy Experience, an underground, multi-venue comedy club, brought nationally renowned comedian Steve Gillespie to The Matthews House for its monthly “A Night Out” event. The evening featured a pop-up restaurant with catering

by Southern Harvest and a full bar. As part of The Comedy Experience’s weeklong show, additional performances by Gillespie were also held at Clouds Brewery Taproom in Raleigh and The Fruit in Durham.

NAMED A WINNING TEAM OF

Holly Springs High School has been selected as one of the 57 winning schools in the @NASA TechRise Student Challenge.

Ms. Tiffanni Craig’s Engineering Club will build their winning experiment to be launched by @UPAerospace. Congratulations to the Holly Springs High School Engineering Club.

For more information visit futureengineers.org/nasatechrise.

Photos courtesy of Holly Springs High School

BY CI NDY HUNTLEY 70 | caryliving.com

TO THE MATTHEWS HOUSE

Photo by Kurt Hilton Photography

Chocolate Smiles

Easter is April 17th

The Flavors of India at Play

Handmade Easter Bunnies Eggs & More...

Premium Handmade Chocolates Since 1984

ChocolateSmiles.com 919.469.5282 312 W. Chatham Street, Suite 101, Cary

Dine-in ⅼ Catering Party Orders 919.234.5555 5033 Arco Street, Cary URBANANGEETHI.COM MARCH/APRIL 2022

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EVENTS

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OUT&ABOUT

DINE & DRAFT

“Every painting has a story. I like to go a little deeper into that story to find more empathy and to find what we are doing in this scary time.”

-- Catherine Martin

A BIT OF HERSELF

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SIGHTINGS

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KALEIDOSCOPE

CATHERINE MARTIN THE SWIMMER, 2021 A C R Y L I C O N PA P E R 18 X 24 INCHES

BY CHARLOTTE RUSSELL

Tapping into emotion is Apex-based painter Catherine Martin’s key to success. Her latest work is allegorical and focuses on telling

the subject matter’s stories, which depict their fears and joys. In “The Swimmer” Martin paints a solitary female figure seated in front of an imaginary cityscape overlaid with a lifeguard chair. Created during the pandemic, this acrylic work on paper captures a rare moment in which the female subject has escaped the pressures of the city for some solitude and calm at the beach. An integral

aspect of Martin’s work is to leave a bit of herself in each piece. Having spent most of her life in Wilmington, North Carolina, she ties the beach into this piece as a symbol for respite.

Martin has an upcoming exhibition at the New Elements Gallery in Wilmington. You can view more of her paintings in her studio, The Red Canvas, located at 127 N. Salem Street, Suite A, in Apex, and also via Instagram @catherine_c.martin.

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