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jessica@chapelhillmagazine.com
his is the first letter I’ve written at 40,000 feet in the air, from my aisle seat on a Southwest flight. I felt a familiar thrill as we ascended into the clouds on my way to Colorado in June. Denver isn’t my inaugural post-pandemic trip, though – I got choked up at Progressive Field while watching fans’ feeble attempt to start “the wave” at a Cleveland Indians baseball game in May. There was just something about having a live, shared experience again. Someone who shares my love of adventure is 99-year-old Lois Ann Hobbs. She regaled me with stories about her international bike rides in her 70s and trips with her grandkids during our in-person interview (another “first” in what feels like forever) at her Carol Woods apartment. Lois Ann lives by the motto, “Audace sempre audace,” which means, “Be daring, always be daring.” I left inspired by her vim, with a loaf of her homemade bread and a promise I’d take advantage of any trips with my own grandmother. (Lois Ann, we’re all booked for September!) Get to know this amazing nonagenarian for yourself on page 68. Of course, the thing about being away from home for a week is that you miss home. This, our 10th annual Best of Chapel Hill issue, celebrates our readers’ favorites around our towns. I’d like to think that the uptick in voting this year reflects your excitement to be out and about, frequenting these picks in person. You can find the list of all the winners starting on page 52, and our coverage of local faves like Mediterranean Deli, Bakery and Catering (which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year!), the Carolina Basketball Museum and Chapel Hill Tennis Club. By the time you read this, I’ll have hiked in Rocky Mountain National Park and given my maid of honor speech at my best friend’s wedding. After nearly a year-and-a-half in quarantine and with a newfound urge to get out and explore, I encourage all of you to, as my new friend Lois Ann would say, “Audace sempre audace!” CHM T HE COVER P h o to by J o h n Mic ha el Sim pson
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chapelhillmagazine.com
July/August 2021