Vote in the 10th Annual Best of Downtowner Awards: Triangle Downtowner Magazine, Issue 149

Residential & Commercial Real Estate - Buy/Sell/Investments Guarded by four majestic oak trees, this stately basement home built on a huge .44 acre lot is a classic Cameron Village property in the heart of Raleigh! Many possibilities abound in this estate with a large, bright sunroom that anchors the back of the property overlooking the lush, fenced yard. Large kitchen has island & dining area. Family room has pine flooring, large gas log fireplace. Upstairs loft, office, porch, & more. No HOA! 2671 SF, 3 BR, 3 Full BA, .44 Acres!

What’s your home style? You can find almost every style of

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Call, text or email to tour this home, shop for other homes, or for help selling yours!

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Crash Gregg • 919.828.8888 • hello@callcrash.com Voted Best Lender Downtowner Award

2017 & 2018

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Voting begins for the 10th Annual Best of Downtowner Awards From the Publisher Triangle Dining – SmokeStacks Cafe in Historic Oakwood Community Leader Interviews – Wake County Commissioner Sig Hutchinson Music - Peaks & Valleys: a fundraising album for KidzNotes Crossword Puzzle

Crash S. Gregg Randall Gregg, Sig Hutchinson Brittany Hogin Brian Adornetto Cyndi Harris Darryl Morrow, Crash S. Gregg,

ON THE COVER: Cast your votes now in the 10th Annual Best of Downtowner Awards at www.TriangleDowntowner.com.

Randy Bryant (in memoriam)

Photo by Crash S. Gregg

Brian Adornetto, Christy Griffith,

Writers

Peter Eichenberger (in memoriam)

Follow us on our social media pages for photos and more news between print issues.

social media & Madison Callahan print support

The Triangle Downtowner Magazine is a locally-owned monthly print magazine dedicated to positive, honest, and hyper-local coverage of the Triangle area. Current and archived issues of the Downtowner are available at

www.facebook.com/triangledowntowner www.twitter.com/WeLoveDowntown www.instagram.com/triangledowntowner

www.TriangleDowntowner.com

Read archived issues from 2006 to current online at www.TriangleDowntowner.com

© Copyright 2005-2020, Triangle Downtowner Magazine/Raleigh Downtown Publishing, LLC. The name, logo, and any logo iterations of the Triangle Downtowner, Triangle Downtowner Magazine and the Downtowner D graphic are

Please recycle or give to a friend after you’re done reading!

a trademark of Triangle Downtowner Magazine/Raleigh Downtown Publishing, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced without express written permission.

This magazine is proudly printed on recycled paper and uses toxin-free, environmentally-friendly, soy ink.

The Downtowner is a proud member of the following organizations

ISSUE 149

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t’s time to vote again for the Best of Downtowner Awards, where you get to tell us all your favorites throughout the Triangle. We’ll tally up the votes and share the winners with you and our other 145,000 monthly Downtowner readers, who really appreciate all the great recommendations each and every year: where to find the best pizza, freshest oysters, where to cut a rug, adopt a new furry friend, or that go-to place for pub grub.

Your votes help to promote all the great places to dine, drink, shop, and visit throughout the Triangle, which we’ll present in our upcoming 10th Annual Best of Downtowner Awards issue.

The Downtowner Awards are about promoting local and you, our loyal readers. We are truly grateful to be able to live, work, and play here and truly enjoy showing off all the great locally owned businesses that make the Triangle a great place. Share the voting link with your friends, co-workers, running mates, and drinking buddies. The more votes we have, the more we can include all the great winners throughout the Triangle.

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Ready to vote?! Remember, being a locally-owned business ourselves, we support the heck out of local business in our Best of Downtowner Awards by not allowing large national brands in our results. Don’t forget, voting ends on March 30, so vote soon and help your favorites take home the blue ribbon! Check back in our Best of Downtowner Awards issue for all the winners!

We’ve added some demographic questions to help us learn more about you and as our way to say Thank You, we’re giving away 100 Downtowner T-shirts and over $500 in restaurant gift cards, tickets to see the Hurricanes, NC Theatre, Carolina Ballet, and more to randomly chosen voters. You get one entry into the contest for each category vote you cast! We’ll contact you by email if you’re a winner.

Head over to www.TriangleDowntowner.com, click on the VOTE NOW banner, and tell us all your favorites. Good luck and happy voting!

• Fantastic Chicken Wings • A dozen more Oysters please • Get your hands of my French Fries • Delicious authentic Dumplings • Their Desserts are OMG • The Vegetarian/Vegan Dishes here are totally awesome • Favorite foodie-centric Happy Hour Deals • Tastiest Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt/Desserts • Pass me all their Bloody Marys please • Muy bueno Margaritas

FOOD & DRINK • Most Delicious Appetizers • Can’t live without their Sandwiches • Perfectly-cooked Steaks • Incredible Sushi • Just-caught-this-morning Seafood Dishes • Worth driving miles for this Pizza • Best Tacos ever • Finger-lickin’ Ribs • The Triangle’s best BBQ • Most incredible Burgers • Fluffiest Biscuits • Yummiest Mac & Cheese • Gotta have this Fried Chicken • Not your average Hot Dogs

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TRIANGLE DOWNTOWNER MAGAZINE

RESTAURANTS & BARS • Best New Restaurant that Opened in Last Year –Wake County/Durham County • My go-to All-Around Favorite Restaurant – Wake County/Durham County

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• Super kid-friendly at this Family-Friendly Restaurant • Never-disappoints Fine Dining Restaurant • Bada-bing Italian dishes • Most authentic Mexican/Latin American cuisine • Scrumptious Mediterranean/Middle Eastern dishes • The most amazing Japanese cuisine • Delish Chinese food • Magnifique French cuisine • I heart all the Indian cuisine here • Seriously authentic Thai food • Spend every morning at this Coffee Shop • Mmm, the smells at this Bakery • You can’t eat just one of these Doughnuts • My go-to Breakfast Joint

• Local Neighborhood Bar where “everyone knows your name” • Hippest Place to Hear Jazz/Blues • Get your Karaoke fix here • Satiate your daily Juices/Smoothies fix here • Mouth-watering Food Truck

• Favorite Brunch worth waking up for • Buy beans by the wheelbarrow from this Coffee Roaster • Your body says thanks for the Healthy Food here • You’ll love the Value for the Money at this restaurant • Ah, this is real Southern Comfort Food • Best Restaurant for a Business Meeting • That awful-yet-awesome Dive Bar • Their Bar Food is better than most bar food • Most helpful Butcher Shop

• Come home to this great Real Estate Agency • Best place to learn Gymnastics/Dance Studio • Pets love this Veterinary Office/Animal Hospital • Get limber at this Yoga/Pilates/Barre • Take it to the limit at this Crossfit Studio • Tattoo Parlor with the most talented artists • Most caring place to Adopt a New Furry Friend • I filled my house at this New Furniture Store • All my Home Accessories come from here • Hippest place for Vintage Furniture • Shoppers know to go here for the best Antiques • Got you covered at this Flooring Store • Find the good stuff at the Clothing Thrift Store • They know their grapes at this Wine Shop • Beer-knurds love this Bottle Shop • Buy everything at this Gift Shop

RETAIL & SERVICES • Most impressive Wine Menu • Mixologist-inspired Craft Cocktails here • Super spirits from this local Distillery • My favorite Brewery – Wake County/Durham County • Busiest Bar Inside a Brewery • Sitting on their Outside Patio rocks • Most extensive Bourbon/Whiskey Selection • Cheer for your favorite team at this Sports Bar • Friendliest Restaurant Staff makes this place rock • My favorite place to go Dancing • Best Restaurant for a Romantic Date • Greenest Irish Pub • Their Late Night Food is worth the trip • Love the view from this Rooftop Bar/Restaurant

• Business with the best Customer Service – Wake County/Durham County • Go-to Hair Salon for Women • A super haircut at this Hair Salon/Barbershop for Men • Mani/pedi heaven at this Nail Salon • Convenient, fast and friendly Local Pharmacy • Not just sew-sew service at this Tailor • I see clearly at this Optometrist/Eyewear Office • They sell the Coolest T-shirts here • Most invigorating Gym or Place to Work Out • You’ll love coming to this Med Spa/Day Spa • Always wrinkle-free at this Dry Cleaner • That aaaahhh feeling at this Chiropractic Office • We always rely on this Catering Company • They do a great job at this Local Auto Repair Shop • Even McGruff uses this Law Firm • The IRS hates this CPA/Accounting Firm • Clients love this PR/Marketing/Ad Agency • Trust this Plastic Surgery Practice with your skin • Perfect smile every time at this Dental Practice • Get straightened out at this Orthodontic Office • It’s no worries with this Wedding Planner • Never a leak with this Roofing Company • Paperwork is a no-brainer with this Mortgage Broker ISSUE 149

• Most fashionable local shop for Women’s Clothes • Quite dashing local place to buy Men’s Fashions • Best place to buy Fine or Custom Jewelry • It sparkles at this Place to Buy Diamonds • Most convenient local Hardware Store • Best Car Wash/Mobile Detailer • Most-read Independent Bookstore • My green thumb loves this local Garden Center/ Nursery • Woof-tastic Dog-Friendly Business • Favorite Art Gallery for collecting art • Earth-friendly Green/Sustainable Business • Most interesting Store Front or Window Display(s) • Coolest Co-Working Space • Local Charity making a real difference in our community

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OUT & ABOUT

PEOPLE • Most talented Local Chef – Wake County/ Durham County • Craft cocktail mastered Bartender • Buy everything this Local Artist creates – Wake County/Durham County • Massage Therapist can make every knot disappear

• Call this Attorney when you need the best • Most stylish Interior Designer • Spin-tastic DJ/Event Emcee • Most entertaining Local Band or Singer • Don’t-Miss Podcast/Podcaster • Most passionate city, county, or state Elected Official/Government Employee • Most prolific community-involved Entrepreneur

• Greatest Place to Hear Live Music – Less than 100 people/More than 100 people • Photo-worthy Special Event/Wedding Space Venue – Wake County/Durham County • Perfect Place for a Girl’s Night Out • Cool Place for a Guy’s Night • Discover this Hang Out for People Over 30 • My favorite Movie Theater • This local Hotel never fails to impress – Wake County/Durham County • Best Designed New Building • Most Blah New Building • My big-time favorite local Sports Team • Craziest Sports Mascot • Well-designed Golf Course • Best Place to Work (local business) • Most awesome Outdoor Event • My go-to Place to Take Out-of-Town Tourists • Favorite Place to Pick Up the Downtowner • What New Business, Attraction, or Service would you like to see in the Triangle?

Thanks for voting and we look forward to finding out who the winners are for the 10th Annual Best of Downtowner Awards!

Fine Dining with a French Quarter Flare Just 15 minutes from downtown Raleigh

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| THE TRIANGLE’S LONGEST RUNNING MONTHLY | ISSUE 149

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if dining , wine charit o ou t s , s l t n e a s o n c e y i i r t h s i e s u s t a b n n f e i , d , s f t trucks ics o h l g l i e h w p t s h o a t g odFrom i . e l m r l h e e the Publisher g g h h n i t t a h o i d r d I rs. We the T n u l o r , a e v e s i s d t e s a e s acro m uniti s posi n by rea busy com features writte loca he magazine article otos by ur ent with s and ph contal author loc t’s hard to believe it’s already been a year since the last Best of Downtowner Awards. A lot has happened since then, with a myriad of new restaurants, bars, and retail opening throughout the Triangle. Just a few short years ago, it was almost impossible to find a decent place to eat or shop in downtown Raleigh, aside from a few trailblazers like Slim’s Downtown, The Roast Grill, Deco Raleigh, and The Raleigh Times, but thankfully, now there are so many great choices to dine, drink, and shop.

I’m curious to see where some of the new kids on the block will land in our awards this year and how many, if any, longstanding regular winners might be dethroned. We all have our favorites, and sometimes it’s hard to knock the king off their hill...

I’m excited about the upcoming additions to the magazine we’re implementing over the next few months, including more articles on arts and business. Want to help? We’re always searching for new contributing writers who want to pen any of a wide variety of topics for print and online, so feel free to drop us a line to writers@welovedowntown.com and be sure to include a few samples of your work.

Interviewing Sig Hutchinson at Dix Park Along with more articles, we’ll also be interviewing a diverse and inclusive list of Triangle personalities and community leaders each week, with videos on our YouTube channel under Downtowner Magazine. We’ll include links to the interviews in each issue as well as on all our social media channels.

Speaking of great leaders, I’d like to thank Sig Hutchinson for joining us in this issue for an interview to talk about his role as Wake County Commissioner for the past few years, some of the projects he’s been working on, and some of what is in store for the future. Sig was one of the three founders of the Downtowner back in 2005 – along with myself and my brother Randall, who is no longer with us – and his support and connections were instrumental in getting the magazine off the ground in just three short months. It’s hard to fathom we’ve been around for over 15 years, affording Downtowner Magazine the distinction of being the longest-running monthly publication in the Triangle, an honor we’re very proud to claim. We have you, our great readers, advertisers, and supporters, to thank for that achievement. Cheers to the next 15 years!

Crash S. Gregg Publisher, Triangle Downtowner Magazine • 919.828.8000 Residential & Commercial Real Estate Broker, 919.828.8888

2020 B�I�GS �EW �ETAIL A�D �ESTAU�A�TS TO ATC, STA�TI�G WIT� PA�KE� A�D OTIS’ �EW �ETAIL S�OP A�D MO�E TO BE A��OU�CED SOO� !

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The Assorted Cheese Plate consists of a beautiful wooden cutting board artfully displaying a variety of fancy cheeses, homemade preserves, briny pickles and olives, and crostini.

The SmokeStacks team, sister and brother Holly and Ben Schultz

By Christy Griffith • Photos by Crash S. Gregg

I

looking forward to expanding our cusliterally had no idea what I was walktomer base even further.” ing into. The last time I had been The Crispy Chickpeas ($5) arrived in inside 701 East Lane Street had been a brown paper bag atop a Southern Livto write about Quality Grocery. After that ing-approved white ceramic plate. (The restaurant shuttered, I had not been back juxtaposition in this place is real, y’all!) to any of the other eateries that occupied Fried until crisp and airy, the chickpeas the small white building in beautiful Hiscome seasoned in a garlic-herb butter, and toric Oakwood. “Let’s check out Smokewarm, chewy, addicting pieces of shaved Stacks,” I was told by our publisher. WithParmesan are mixed throughout. I’m pretty out bothering to look it up, I jumped in sure that if you added a glass of wine, the car and headed toward what was sure EXPERTLY PAIRED BY YOUR LEVEL to be just another barbeque restaurant, TWO SOMMELIER HOLLY, you would be home of the latest “world’s best” pulled instantly transported into a big, crazy city pork sandwich on a sheet of wax paper where very important people are very busy lining a red plastic basket. doing very important things and here you Immediately crossing the threshold, With Holly and Ben’s dedication to quality and delicious homemade dishes, SmokeStacks feels right at are, living your best life as a professional I was instead greeted with a beautiful home in the old Historic Oakwood Quality Grocery built in 1909.

Instagram influencer who just happens to wooden cutting board artfully displaying wear big sunhats and bigger sunglasses indoors while a variety of fancy cheeses, homemade preserves, briny restaurant kitchens in North Carolina before joining his some unseen photographer snaps photos of you looking pickles and olives, and crostini. The Assorted Cheese sister in New York to learn more from established and slightly off-camera to the left (that’s your best side) caught Plate ($13) was the last thing I expected to see in “just respected chefs. Eventually, the two ran a Spanish tapas mid-laugh so all your followers know you’ve not a care in another barbeque restaurant.” And there were no dis- restaurant with Holly as the executive chef, where they the world! #selfcare #vegetarian #staygrounded #blessed gained loads of experience in high-end plating, catering, posable BBQ bibs to be seen!

So, you like sharing delicious crunchy things with Sibling superstars Holly and Ben Schultz opened and management. After the better part of five years up your friends? Why not also get an order of the Sweet SmokeStacks Cafe this past fall, with Ben as the chef and north, the Schultz siblings were ready to head back south.

Potato Chips ($5) dusted in their rib rub and served with “Within a week of moving back, we found this buildHolly running general operations. They make it look so ranch? This time pair them with a beer, because chips easy, but that’s because they’ve put in a lot of work over ing in Historic Oakwood and decided to take a chance on and beer go together like… chips and beer. I’ve been let the years. Holly graduated from the Culinary Institute all the potential it had to offer. After closing the business down by lots of things in this world, but chips and beer of America in Hyde Park, NY. After earning degrees in deal, we gave the inside a facelift and opened for brunch have never been one of them. “Our beer selection is a both Culinary Arts and Advanced Wine, Beverage, and the next weekend,” says Holly. “We take great pride in combination of local and personal favorites we’ve had Hospitality Management, she spent time in California having all of our products made in-house: meats, sauces, while working in different places. By spring, we hope to becoming a Level 2 Sommelier. Meanwhile, Ben real- pickles, breads, biscuits, desserts, and market goods. have more beers on tap and to create a lounge on our ized his passion for cooking by moving up the ranks in The neighborhood has been very supportive, and we’re

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Spending time in the outdoor smoker gives the St. Louis Ribs and Signature Wings a deep, woody flavor that permeates all the way through.

Pair either of these with the Crispy Chickpeas, and you’ve got a meal worth writing home (or Instagram) about.

outdoor patio with firepits, games, and a laid-back environment,” says Holly. Look for their bottle shop in the front to grow in the future, and in the meantime, find their current full tap and bottle list on the Untappd app.

If you’ve eaten your limit of vegetables already and are ready to skip straight to the meat, be sure to order Ben’s favorite, the St. Louis Ribs ($14): a half-rack smoked and lightly dressed in their finger-lickin’ bourbon BBQ sauce. Slightly sticky, tender, and full of caramelization, these things are the reason I carry individually packaged lemon-scented wet wipes in my purse. Equally hard to pass up are the Signature Wings ($13), smoked before

being crisped up in the fryer. My favorite was dressed in their garlic buffalo sauce, and since I carry the adult version of baby wipes, I felt just dandy eating these like the cotillion dropout I really am – I’ll gnaw the meat off a bone until a forensic dentist with access to my dental records could determine my identity.

Those who would take a fork and knife to some meat on a bone and then leave a lot of meat on the bone would also be the type of people who spend their Sundays prepping yogurt parfaits filled with acai and chia seeds for the week. Holly’s favorite menu item, the Pulled Pork Parfait ($11), is for the rest of us. Picture it: a bowl

ISSUE 149

full of baked beans, topped with a heap of pulled pork, coleslaw, their vinegar sauce, and then the world’s finest cucumber pickles made by Holly and Ben’s mom, Ellen.

According to Holly, “Our mom has been making pickles for many, many years. She adapted her grandfather’s garlic salt pickle recipe while she was in college.” I’M NOT EVEN JOKING, if you’re vegetarian, get this dish for the pickles and then slowly realize pickles are a gateway food as you give up trying to get the smoky shreds of delicious porkiness off your fork, which you realize you can’t, because it turns out you were wrong to forgo all that unctuous pig your last semester in college and now you have at least a solid decade’s worth of time to make up for. (But if you truly can’t bring yourself to eat meat, that’s okay; they sell the pickles in jars!)

So much delicious pork to be had in this place. But sometimes I can’t eat as much meat as my heart wants me to. Sometimes I also need a giant plate of French fries. More than I can reasonably eat at once. The heart wants what the heart wants. My heart, and I trust yours, too (unless you are a strict pickletarian) wants the SmokeStacks Poutine ($13) all hours of the night.

But sadly, SmokeStacks is not open all hours of the night, so you must get these during regular business hours.

That irresponsibly-sized order of hand-cut fries you wanted? DRESSED TO THE NINES: cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, cherry peppers, juicy pulled pork, bark-covered brisket burnt ends, and drizzles of both their bourbon BBQ and signature sauces, the latter > > >

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If you are wearing your prissypants and are just determined to eat something with a knife and fork, break them out for a Cathead Biscuit ($10).

If you’re not familiar, this is not your giant, flaky, layered biscuit your grandma got up early to make. The inside is still tender, but the outside is a bit darker and the bottom is sublimely crunchy. It’s said that these biscuits are meant to be as big as a cat’s head, but The SmokeStacks Poutine is dressed to the nines with cheddar cheese, caramelized The Southern Fried Chicken Sandwich is served on a soft onion roll, onions, cherry peppers, juicy pulled pork, bark-covered brisket burnt ends, and in perfect contrast to the extra-crunchy (I’m talking audibly crunchy) chicken.

I’ve currently got my cat in my drizzles of both their bourbon BBQ and signature sauces. lap right now and either she’s small or SmokeStacks’ biscuit is just plus-sized, which me be the one who invites you. This sandwich is served best described as a BBQ chipotle aioli. Some might sugis a bank error I’ll happily accept in my favor. My bison a soft onion roll, in perfect contrast to the extragest you use a fork to eat these but I’m #teamfingers. cuit came split and filled with pulled Buffalo chicken crunchy (I’m talking audibly crunchy) chicken. The Who are you, a member of the royal family? Meghan and blue cheese dressing. Will this thing win any beauty menu describes it as spicy-marinated, but I didn’t detect and Harry just peaced out so they could be free to eat pageants? No. Will it make you finally realize that true a lot of heat in my sandwich on the day I dined, so if with their hands. Get messy and lick the forks God gave beauty comes from within? Well, I wouldn’t have phrased you are spice-adverse, you might be safe. I did detect ya. And then maybe you just figured out how to make the question that way if I didn’t want you to understand those amazing pickles, though, and for that, I am etersure no one asks to share these with you. how exquisitely beautiful this knife-and-forker tastes. nally grateful that Ellen walks this earth. The addition of More food that you can eat with your hands includes And also, to draw attention to how problematic beauty coleslaw and signature sauce make it a little messy, and the Southern Fried Chicken Sandwich ($13). In the pageants are in general, unless they decide to swap the everyone knows that the best sandwiches are not the great fried chicken sandwich wars of 2020, we learned evening wear category with a sandwich-making comneat ones. If there isn’t a little something dripping down nothing about SmokeStacks. And as sad as I am about ponent and then you can correctly assume I would be your arm, you’re doing it wrong. Unless you’re holding that, I’m thinking the regulars aren’t trying to invite incredibly supportive. a baby, and then that’s bad. long lines and fights into their favorite restaurant. So, let

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If you try nothing else, be sure it’s the Edisto Shrimp’ N’ Grits with goat-cheese and homemade Cajun spice blend infused grits covered with plump, juicy charred shrimp, bacon, enoki mushrooms, and microgreens.

I did love everything that appeared in front of me at SmokeStacks, but I would be lying if I said I loved everything equally because there was one thing that I loved even more than the rest. Parents who have more than one kid know what I’m talking about. My absolute favorite from the menu was the Edisto Shrimp’ N’ Grits ($17).

The texture of these grits – coarse yet dreamily creamy – are a far cry from whatever packet of instant grits you add hot water to at the Holiday Inn breakfast buffet.

With Ben’s addition of goat cheese and a homemade Cajun spice blend, these grits taste like you’re at the Four Seasons! The shrimp are plump, juicy, tender, and arrive with a beautifully spiced exterior and a kiss of char. In other words, rapture from the sea. Gilding the lily are

bacon, enoki mushrooms, and microgreens, turning this dish up to eleven. It’s the best shrimp and grits I’ve ever had, and I have opinions. A lot of them. Among them is that I’ve got really great opinions on food. If you don’t like these shrimp and grits, you’re just wrong.

Ben tells us the secret to many of their delicious dishes (in addition to using local ingredients and the extra care that goes into everything they make) lies in their outside wood-fired smoker. He uses a special blend of apple and hickory wood chips to infuse a light but crisp smoke flavor in all their meats. There’s definitely a big difference in flavors from indoor smokers and those amazing flavors and aromas from an authentic wood-fired smoker.

You’ve got two new foodie fans right here, Ben.

Their menu is evolving, so be on the lookout for exciting new additions coming soon, such as “The Pitmaster,” which will feature all of their smoked meats, homemade country bread, sauces, and pickles. In other words, wear your stretchy pants.

In summation, I think we owe a great debt of gratitude to Holly and Ben’s parents, Ellen and Roger Norris, whose own deli inspired the siblings to go for it. “Teaching us about BBQ, making and canning pickles, smoking whole hogs, and any helping hand we may need…we are a family of foodies who spent all our time together around their kitchen island.” From the collective Greater Raleigh area, we salute you, Roger and Ellen!

SmokeStacks Cafe

In Historic Oakwood 701 E. Lane Street, Raleigh, NC 27601 919.736.6408 www.smokestackscafe.com www.instagram.com/smokestackscafe Monday: 9am-9pm Tuesday & Wednesday: closed Thursday: 9am-9pm Friday, Saturday & Sunday: 9am-10pm Downtowner Tip: SmokeStacks is open at 9am every day except Tuesday and Wednesday, so stop by for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and be sure to check them out for delicious brunch on Saturday and Sunday!

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C O M M U N I T Y

L E A D E R S

Sig Hutchinson

Wake County Commissioner Interviewed by Crash S. Gregg

W

e recently sat down with entrepreneur, open space advocate, and Wake County Commissioner Sig Hutchinson for an interview about his work as Commissioner, his passion for greenways, and future plans for Wake County. Sig was one of the founders of Triangle Downtowner Magazine in 2005, along with our publisher, Crash S. Gregg and brother Randall Gregg, who is now deceased.

Crash: Sig, we appreciate you taking the time to sit down with us amid an election primary. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your great nickname, Mr. Greenjeans.

Sig: I was born in Lubbock, Texas. I moved here as soon as I could because there are no trees in Lubbock like we have here in NC. I’ve lived here for 35 years and the last 25, I’ve been an active community advocate. I earned the nickname Mr. Greenjeans for leading eight bond referendums for the county and the City of Raleigh for things like our amazing greenway systems, open space preservation, numerous parks throughout the region, affordable housing, transportation and transit. I ran for County Commission in 2014, primarily around a transit issue, and was successful in winning. We put together a transit plan in 2015 and got it on the ballot in 2016.

Crash: Tell us a little about your time as a Wake County Commissioner and what that entails.

Sig: Basically, I’ve been a Commissioner for the last five years. Wake County is the second fastest-growing large county in America (of 3,000 counties nationwide).

We have 4,000 county employees, about a $1.4B budget, just in terms of top-line stuff that the county does. We give the Wake County Public School System its budget. We also handle Human Services: childcare, public health, food services, food stamps, WIC programs. We handle the sheriff ’s budget. We do environmental services, so we inspect all the restaurants. We also have a Parks and Recreation program.

Crash: How would you describe your work over the years with regard to greenways and open spaces?

Sig: Well, if you haven’t experienced our amazing greenways, everyone needs to get out on it. People absolutely love it. I originally got involved in greenways because my family was involved in cycling. When I first arrived, I got into mountain biking and discovered this greenway system that was developed back in the 70s when they decided it wasn’t a great idea to be building in the floodplains. So while they were putting all the floodplains on the planning maps to say you couldn’t build there, an NCSU grad name Bill Flournoy said well, if you’re going to get an easement on these flood maps,

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why don’t you go ahead and get an easement for a greenway at the same time. Tom Bradshaw was mayor then (1976) and the city council put 267 miles of greenways on the planning maps. That’s actually the only reason we have such a great greenway system here. By the way, there’s an RGreenway app that you can download and see where you are and where you’re going on the trails.

Crash: What important initiatives are you involved with for Wake County?

Sig: There are many important issues we’re working on. Water is something we’re always aware of. Making sure we have enough drinking water, being careful of wastewater management, where all the runoff rainwater travels and what it impacts. Another big issue I’m interested in is behavioral health. We have a whole new initiative with a multiyear plan on how we can impact mental health.

When Dix Hospital closed – which was a state facility – it had about 400 beds there. By contrast, Wake County currently only has 26 beds for mental health patients. This is a huge problem and we’re working on a big plan to help alleviate that deficit. Opioids are another big issue, a huge one, actually. We really need to expand Medicaid since we just do not have the finances or facilities to deal with the behavioral and mental health problems of the opioid crisis using our current resources.

Crash: Anything new on track for Wake County?

Sig: The next big thing that the county is really working on right now that I’ve been involved with are transportation and transit issues. A lot of people are living here. A lot of people are moving here. The congestion will only get worse. In 2016, we passed a $2.3B transit referendum to help lead that effort. I serve as Vice-Chair of Go Triangle (our regional transit agency). Part of that plan is to triple bus capacity from around 17 miles to close to 70 miles and also increase the frequency. We’re moving from one-hour frequencies to 15-minute frequencies, and more hours throughout the day. This will create a better transit system that works better for riders. We also have a new system called Bus Rapid Transit, or BRT, which is kind of a blend between bus and rail. It’s bigger than a bus and runs on dedicated corridors. We’ll have 20 miles of BRT going north, south, east, and west from downtown Raleigh. And then the last piece is over 30 miles of commuter rail, which will start in Garner, run to Union Station in downtown Raleigh, then on to Cary, Morrisville – with a spur to the airport – and then on to RTP and Durham. That’s planned to be rolled out around 2027.

Crash: You’re well known for your social media presence and post often at events and places, showcasing all the great things happening here in Wake County and the

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Triangle. How has that helped and what have you learned from being on social media?

Sig: I love it. I have a communications background and have always been involved in that field, so when social media started becoming popular, I wanted to learn as much as possible. It’s a great way to reach more people.

I have three major platforms: Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Each platform has a different audience and there’s a different way to communicate with each, so I like them all. I’ve learned a lot and picked up a strong following. I enjoy showing people what we’re doing out there and telling them about all the great things taking place in our amazing community.

You can watch the full-length video of our interview with Sig (and other Triangle leaders) on our YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/downtownermagazine. Videos are posted by the middle of the month in which they appear in print (for this interview, by Feb. 15).

Follow Sig on the platforms below and learn more about his initiatives, events, and work he does for Wake County and the Triangle: www.sighutchinson.com www.facebook.com/Sig4Wake www.linkedin.com/in/sig-hutchinson-82822b www.instagram.com/sighutchinson www.instagram.com/sig4wake

M U S I C

Peaks & Valleys: A Neomonde Album Release The album cover artwork done by Brad Magner is a rendering of the Saleh family’s village Mazraat El Toufeh in the mountains of northern Lebanon.

From the Saleh Family: “North Carolina has

been such a wonderful place for us to call home. Our family, and family of restaurants, has been enriched through connecting to the local community in too many ways to count, including a very unexpected one: Music.

We have been most fortunate to have several notable musicians and supporters of the arts pass through our doors, allowing us to develop friendships and participate in the vibrant and developing musical culture that has grown up in Raleigh and throughout the Triangle area over the decades. We have been waiting for several years to share a special project, but now the time has come!

One such notable musician is Colonel Bruce Hampton, a southern rock legend who first gained attention as the leader of the Hampton Grease band in the ’60s and early ’70s, having produced a truly unique and eclectic sound. After Neomonde’s owner, Sam Saleh, noticed the development of his son Christopher’s love for music and great appreciation for the Colonel, he invited the musician to his restaurant. This began a friendship between the two that lasted long throughout the years.

The famous musician would stop by Neomonde for lunch whenever visiting the Raleigh area. Bobby Patterson was another frequenter of Neomonde – a bass player and singer for the funk band from Raleigh, DAG, which formed in 1989 and eventually signed with Columbia Records in 1994. And so was John Custer, DAG’s producer as well several others: Corrosion of Conformity, a prominent local metal band, and The Connell’s, an old school band who used to come in and visit Neomonde as well. As you can imagine, it was an unexpected treat to connect with so many notable musicians that also called Raleigh home.”

In general, the “college music” scene – the term for “indy” music before it was indy – was quite significant in the area. Raleigh, and the Triangle region at large, have been in such a high season of growth and forward progress of culture over the decades.

It was in this community atmosphere and being introduced to influential musicians and supporters of

the arts that Chris Saleh grew up and discovered his own passion for music, specifically the drums. He and his childhood friend Matt Battle had known each other since kindergarten on through high school at Sanderson. They formed a high school rock band and opened for Colonel Bruce Hampton at the old Player’s Club in the mid 90s.

Rooming together at East Carolina University, and then leaving after a year to go to Georgia State University’s School of Music, they later wound up in Los Angeles working as session players – Chris on drums and Matt on guitar – while writing songs and arrangements on weekends. Eventually, they decided to launch a fulltime recording operation under the name Boom-Batt Productions. The “Boom” stands for Chris’ drums and the “Batt” as an abbreviation of Battle’s name. It’s also a nod to rapper KRS-One’s early ’80s production company, Boom-Bap Productions.

With hard work and determination, Boom-Batt Productions was able to collaborate with many notable artists – Nelly, Snoop Dogg, Mario Winans, Bobby Valentino, Paloma Faith, Fat Man Scoop, Jah-Free, OutKast, and many more have had hits and gold records produced by this bicoastal dynamic duo. They were music composers/producers for The Tom Joyner Show on ABC and wrote the theme song for The Steve Harvey Project show and his stand-up comedy film “Don’t Trip, He Ain’t Through with Me Yet.” “We collaborate on everything,” Christopher says, speaking of times in LA as well as now. “When we’re working with an artist, usually I’ll get on drums while Matt will knock out some chords on guitar for whatever the singer wants to do. That’s how we write.”

Having a string of successes and adventures in developing their sound, Chris moved back to North Carolina in April 2010 to join the family restaurant business at Neomonde, while Matt stayed in LA as a musician.

Though now living on separate coasts, the two best ISSUE 149

Album producers Chris Saleh and Matt Battle on their CD sleeve art.

friends have continued to pursue their musical interest and talent as much as possible.

Their most recent project, Peaks and Valleys, has been composed of various influences and experiences from many different worlds. It represents a journey of family and friends experiencing life on many levels. From the mountains of Lebanon to the Piedmont of NC and City of Angels, this collaboration is a work of heart that brings together middle eastern influences, rhythms, and beats. The album is dedicated to Neomonde and its 42-year history, with plenty of peaks and valleys along the way.

Chris and Matt wanted to give back to the community through the album, so they’re dedicating 20% of proceeds to local charity, Kidznotes. This organization follows a “music for social change” program, developed through studies that music training is positively associated with more complex brain development, higher school achievement, and a host of other gauges of long-term social, economic and emotional well-being. Research shows the earlier the introduction to music, the greater the impact and benefit. Kidznotes serves students from K-12, providing 8 hours of intensive instruction each week to participants. Learn more about this great program at www.kidznotes.org.

Listen to track samples of Peaks and Valleys www.boombatt.com/music, download the full album on iTunes and Apple Music, listen on Spotify, or pick up a physical CD at all Neomonde locations.

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DOWNTOWNER MAGAZINE CROSSWORD PUZZLE

INSTRUMENTS

ACROSS 1. Kimono sash 4. Marge and Homer’s neighbor Want to win a Downtowner T-shirt? Email us a photo of your completed puzzle to 7. Antelope with xword@welovedowntown.com. We’ll pick a random winner each month. Need a hint? tufted tail Visit www.triangledowntowner.com and search for xword for the answer key. No cheating! 10. Top stories 16. What homeowners don’t pay 18. Valuable rock 19. Chocolate substitute 21. Showy bloom 22. Liberace’s prop 25. Quartet member 26. Aligned 27. Covet 28. Sugarland “Take Me ___ Am” 30. Now 31. Part of SEATO 32. Hanging strand 36. Away from port 40. Confidentiality agreement, for short 42. Makes drinkable 45. Carnaval site 48. It’s scratchable 50. Vasco da ___ 52. Implant 53. Novices 56. 2nd letter addendum 58. Celebratory cheer 59. Oboe and clarinet 60. Stringed instruments 66. N.F.L. stat, abbr.

67. More impertinent 70. Life jacket named for a star 71. Bonnie’s companion 73. French wine term 74. Zoo critter 75. Relaxes 77. Pennsylvania city

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79. Rear 82. Wind instrument 84. Instrument played with a bow 86. Investment return, abbr.

87. Ambulance inits.

88. Fairy tale meanie 92. Not quite 96. Writer Hunter 99. Assayer’s samples 100. Snap shots 101. Without end 103. ___ bowl 104. Coral formation 106. Fan 108. Common contraction 111. Winchester, e.g.

116. Foot phalange 117. Independent organic cell 119. Enter cautiously 120. It may be crashed on cue 125. Singer’s accompaniment 128. King of pop 129. Betting game 130. International Bollywood star (last name) 131. Spanish boy 132. Filches 133. Relaxation area 134. Atlanta-based channel 135. Mavericks’ city, on scoreboards DOWN 1. Elliptical path 2. Solution to gas 3. Out of favor 4. Neighbor of Swed.

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8. Persona ___ grata 9. German sub 10. One who receives counseling 11. James Clavell best seller “___-Pan” 12. Despite that, briefly 13. Down 14. Second-century date 15. Kyoto honorific 17. Top model, Banks 19. They’re good with nos.

20. On TV 23. “Naked Maja” painter 24. Raiding grp.

29. Down in the dumps 33. Tax form ID 34. Cup handle 35. Big name in insurance 37. Respect title 38. Spider is one 39. Rocket 41. Rock band equipment 43. It may be French 44. Chester White’s home 45. Accordion part 46. Chemical endings 47. Strange 49. Snarky laughs 51. Foundation series writer 53. Taste 54. Is in Barcelona 55. Martial art 57. Spook 61. Aired again 62. Wrinkled plums 63. Listen 64. On one’s ___ 65. Brief rule 67. Bring into harmony 68. Mix up 69. Oil source

71. Fox rival 72. Article at the Louvre 75. Letter-shaped fastener 76. Carpenter, sometimes 78. Kruger or Bismarck 79. Prefix with plane 80. Display muscles 81. Lookout point 83. French reply 84. Unit of radioactive activity 85. Medium like perception 86. Grammy nominee in 2007: Corinne Bailey ___ 89. Blow it 90. Peruvian capital?

91. Compass point 93. Pal 94. A, in Acapulco 95. Squeals 97. Prescott state 98. Yet to hit the shelves 102. Roarer 105. Lady in Munich 107. Lots 109. Shed 110. Burning 112. “The doctor ___” 113. Stinky 114. Tropical woody vine 115. Register 118. Gossip 119. Protection 120. IV amounts 121. Swerve off course 122. Dr.’s order 123. Jazz dance 124. Inn serving 126. One of the finest 127. Red wine, in slang

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A Proven Track Record of Success Creating thriving communities for you and your family.

Accomplishments: Increased Education Funding š/³ more funding for public schools Doubled Pre-K Smart Start funding in 2019 Supporting 74,000 students at Wake Tech New RTP campus, scholarships, apprentice programs

Approved More Transportation & Transit I-540 loop completion underway Youth & seniors ride buses for free Expanded bus routes, hours & weekend service Commuter rail service in 2027

Provided Support for Low-Income Citizens $14M/yr in affordable housing spending New Oak City Cares homeless center Universal School Breakfast in public schools

Expanded Natural Resources & Recreation 250 miles of greenways 7,000+ acres of protected open space $120M parks, greenways & open space bond

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