Hillsborough's Hidden Gems L
ook no further than Samantha’s Pupusas the next time you get a craving for an authentic Mexican and Salvadoran meal. All food is made to order and freshly prepared, whether you choose a burrito, chilaquiles or pupusas (the most popular menu item, naturally), or a fresh-baked strawberry tres leches cake. Chano Valencia and Maria Luz started their business as a food truck before opening their brick-and-mortar location at 117 Cornelius St. a few years ago. The restaurant is no-frills, but the authentic dishes and hospitality make it a staple in the Hillsborough dining scene.
“I
have loved and been drawn to all aspects of art, making and creating for as long as I can remember,” says Erin Campbell, founder of Anne & Arthur Fine Arts Supply. She took a step back from her digital advertising job in 2022 to live out her childhood dream: working in an art store. “I figured if I said it out loud enough times, I would have to follow through, even though it was a daunting endeavor,” she says. She and her partner saved every penny they earned and spent 10 months learning the ins and outs of running a business before Anne & Arthur opened its doors on South Churton Street in November 2023. “My own experience using many art tools has informed a lot of our inventory, but I personally am an avid researcher and am fascinated to learn about products and tools so I can better share my recommendations [with] customers,” Erin says. “We want to see people come in, get inspired and leave feeling encouraged to make something.” Anne & Arthur offers a 10% student and educator discount. “Over the past 10 years – and with amazing organizations like the Orange County Arts Commission and the Hillsborough Arts Council – the town has grown into a multidisciplinary artist haven,” Erin says. “The making [of art] was always here; I just wanted to be the place where the makers could get some tools.” 50
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PHOTO BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
This vibrant little town along the Eno River teems with places to see and things to do. But its lesser-known delights are arguably what make it so special. B Y L E A H B E RRY
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he Occaneechi Village Replica Site is a historical recreation of an Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation village along the Eno River – an important trade location where the Occaneechi people swapped goods with the Europeans as well as nearby tribes. Archaeological findings from UNC experts guided late tribal member John “Blackfeather” Jeffries in initiating the construction of the replica village in the 1990s. However, challenges with upkeep led to the site falling into disuse, and it was subsequently dismantled. Many descendants of the tribe continue to live in Hillsborough, including native and OBSN Tribal Council member Beverly Payne, who has worked alongside other members fully complete the site so it resembles its appearance in 1701. She plans to create more detailed signage and add a lean-to and a fence. Beverly believes that everything at the site – which includes huts and a work arbor made of cedar and tied together with leather – is crucial to properly educating the community on the Occaneechi people. “I want everyone to know that we’re here, as a village and as a people,” Beverly says. Check it out next time you’re along the Riverwalk, or set up a tour through The Alliance for Historic BELOW Stacey Green makes a purchase from Erin Campbell at Anne & Arthur Fine Arts Supply. Hillsborough.
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