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JUNE/JULY 2023 VOL 16 NO 3
durhammag.com
EXECUTIVE MANAGING EDITOR
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EDITORIAL
EDITOR, CHAPEL HILL MAGAZINE
Jessica Stringer
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MANAGING EDITOR, CHATHAM MAGAZINE
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SENIOR STAFF WRITER
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EDITORIAL INTERNS
Oishii Basu, Ellison Beaver, Ben Crosbie, Sinclair Holian, Katie MacKinnon, Mila Mascenik, Lena Miano, Olivia Paul, Haley Pineles, Ginny Smith and Sara Mac Wood
CONTRIBUTORS
James Dupree, Elizabeth Egan, Sarah Hill, Matthew Lardie, Cameron Renfrow and Cornell Watson
ART
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Kevin Brown
GRAPHIC DESIGNER/PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Lindsay Scott
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Khadijah Weekes-Nolan
PHOTOGRAPHER
John Michael Simpson
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For more than 30 years, Schoolhouse of Wonder has created kind, curious, and confident kids through nature-based, outdoor adventures. Schoolhouse is a safe place where children from all walks of life are nurtured and challenged to become their best selves.
Summer & Track-Out camp registration is open. Visit schoolhouseofwonder.org today.
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42 Global Palate
These restaurants highlight cuisines from around the world –here’s just a sampling of their most impressive dishes
52 Wake-Up Call
Three long-standing restaurants and coffee shops remain popular places to start the day, 20-plus years later
58 Perfectly Pour Decisions
Make the right selection at these four bottle shops and brew houses
62 You’re Gonna Be Popular
Our readers’ fave local food products are ready for their close-up
70 Thrift Seekers
Prop stylist Cameron Renfrow shares his tips and tricks for finding the perfect pieces to accent your home
76 Join the Club
Members tell us what they love most about these favorite sports clubs
82 Treat Yourself
Enlist a few of our Best of Durham winners to help you indulge in the ultimate self-care day
88 Encore!
Beyu Caffé’s live music series hits all the right notes in its triumphant comeback
94 Best of Durham 2023 Winners
106 Agents of Change
Emily K Center is the inaugural recipient of Durham Magazine’s social impact award
108 Unconventional to Unforgettable
Couple turns not-so-traditional Hope Valley house into a home of artistic splendor and tranquil innovation
AGING & WELLNESS
124 Play On Older adults stay active and social through Durham Parks and Recreation programming
128 Seen & Heard
Retired couple finds fulfillment in their golden years through their respective projects
132 Directory of Assisted Living, Continuing Care, Independent Living, 55+ Living and Cohousing Retirement Communities
DURHAM INC.
140 East Durham: The Next Chapter A neighborhood fosters Black-owned business and community growth
145 Networking: Durham Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting
146 Hot Shot
We chat with Mill & Meadow owner Elyse Burns
DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS
8 Letter from the Editor
10 Go.See.Do.
Our top picks for a sizzling summer
28 Noted
38 Talking Shop
Influential members of our community share their visions for the city’s future
150 Engagement & Wedding
PEOPLE & PLACES
16 The Gathering
18 Museum of Durham History’s “Making History Together” reception
22 Durham Library Foundation’s All Booked Up After-Hours Party
SPONSORED CONTENT
36 Adopt a Pet
Meet a dog and a cat waiting on their forever homes at the Animal Protection Society of Durham
In December, the White House passed The SECURE 2.0 Act, which included a valuable package of retirement savings provisions. To see how you may be able to harness this legislation to positively impact you and your family’s financial future, please contact us.
For anyone turning 50 or older in 2023, the Catch-Up Contribution for a retirement plan or IRA increased $7,500, translating to the potential for an individual to stock away up to $30,000 in an employer sponsored plan.
For sole proprietors and business owners, you can now use SEP and SIMPLE IRAs to make Roth (after tax) IRA contributions.
Student-Loan payments can be treated as Employee Elective Deferral for purposes of matching contributions. The employer is able to treat the loan payment as ‘active’ participation and make a matching contribution to the employee’s 401(k) on their behalf.
College Savings Plans, or 529s, can be converted to a Roth IRA. Starting in 2024, beneficiaries of 529 plans may roll over up to $35,000 during their lifetime to a Roth IRA, although restrictions do apply.
Ialways get sentimental when our Best of Durham issue rolls around. The first publication I edited for Durham Magazine featured the results of the inaugural awards (back when we used to give out “medals” instead of buttons!).
It’s hard to believe that, 13 years ago, I was in my first editorial internship with my nose to the grindstone, fact-checking the names of every Durham restaurant, art gallery, salon, veterinarian and gift shop that our readers had dubbed “the best.” Truthfully, it was such a fun and comprehensive introduction to my new hometown, and it gave me a lot of knowledge and confidence when making recommendations to my friends about where we’d go out for dinner that night or which museum we’d visit next.
It’s my hope that others who read this issue year after year end up feeling the same and use this list as a guide to discover new ways to love the Bull City. After all, the Best of Durham is a reflection of our community’s collective voice, a resounding chorus of recommendations and testimonials that illuminate the outstanding establishments and individuals that shape our city. Each winner represents a testament to our city’s vibrant tapestry, from the top restaurants and bars to the finest local cultural experiences and services.
You can find the complete list of winners on page 94, but start on page 40 to learn more about a few of them and make plans to visit any businesses you haven’t patronized before. Trust us – and our infallible readers –you won’t be disappointed!
READ ALL ABOUT IT Flip through The Triangle Weekender, our newest guide to all there is to do, see, eat and explore in the Triangle.
By Kevin Brown | Illustrations by Lindsay ScottFor even more curated picks (and pics!) of what to do, follow The Triangle Weekender on Instagram. IT’S
If you’d like your recent engagement featured in Durham Magazine, share it with us!
JUNE 14, 21, 28 & JULY 5
Local bands and musicians perform during this Duke Performances outdoor concert series that returns to Sarah P. Duke Gardens. This year’s lineup includes two-time Grammy winner Terrance Simien with the Zydeco Experience band, soulful solo artist XOXOK, country singer Melissa Carper and Americana/roots rock guitarist Christian Lopez. Get a taste of The Palace International’s authentic African cuisine and stay cool with ice cream from Scoop Local at the concerts, which are now free and open to all.
JUNE 10 & 24, JULY 8 & 22, AUG. 5 & 19
Durham Parks and Recreation brings back this free monthly series of outdoor concerts and movie nights at community parks. Country singer Rockie Lynne, Burlington-based songwriter Dale Kimber and the 11-part salsa, cumbia, merengue, bolero and Latin jazz group Orquesta K’che will perform at Forest Hills Park, Rock Quarry Park and Southern Boundaries Park, respectively. Be sure to bring a picnic blanket or chair to watch “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” “Turning Red” and “Top Gun: Maverick” at Durham Central Park
THROUGH AUG. 22
One of the largest and most influential modern dance festivals in the world marks its 90th annual season this summer and features more than 23 choreographers and dance companies taking part in 32 performances across Durham. Dancers from emerging and long-standing companies like BodyTraffic, Rennie Harris
Puremovement and Pilobolus perform at Reynolds Industries Theater, the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, Page Auditorium and Rubenstein Arts Center
Compiled by Haley Pineles
JUNE 18-19
Celebrate the national holiday as well as Black Music Month at Durham Central Park during this festival and vendor market featuring nearly 70 Black-owned organizations presented by Green Eimaj. Participate in the Black Vegan Street Market and fitness-, fashion- and food-related activities for all ages. Enjoy a Black Music Month tribute, dance off with Dad, musical chairs competition, live music and games on day one, and Juneteenth festivities, including a water zone, a vegan potato salad cook-off, four DJs, a dance fitness party and live performances, on the following day.
JUNE 20 – JULY 2
The six wives of Henry VIII take the stage – and the microphone – at the Durham Performing Arts Center in this Tony Awardwinning musical featuring pop tunes that reimagine the historical heartbreak that took place nearly 500 years ago.
JUNE 22
The Grammy-winning duo, best known for a style of guitar playing that’s rooted in classic rock, heavy metal and flamenco, perform at Carolina Theatre’s Fletcher Hall
JUNE 24
Duke Homestead hosts a family-friendly educational day that teaches about farm animals, wildlife, rescue organizations and more. Come out to meet creatures typically found on a 19th century homestead. Visitors will get the chance to enjoy crafts and games as well as learn about the importance of animals, birds, pollinators and more on North Carolina farms, both historically and today.
JULY 1 & 4
One of the region’s premier Fourth of July celebrations includes live performances on four stages, craft artists, local foods and a beer garden – all along the banks of the Eno River. Proceeds benefit the Eno River Association and its efforts to preserve this beautiful area’s natural, cultural and historic resources.
JULY 7,
AUG. 4, SEPT. 1 AND OCT. 6
Durham Central Park and WNCU
90.7FM
partner on this free outdoor concert series at DCP’s Pavilion and lawn. This year’s lineup includes Rissi Palmer (July 7), The Veldt (Aug. 4), Queen Esther (Sept. 1) and Diali Cissokho and Kaira Ba (Oct. 6). Concerts take place every first Friday from May to October, rain or shine.
AUG. 5
Take part in this 5K run/walk and leisurely 9.6-mile bike ride through downtown to raise money for Habitat for Humanity of Durham. The post-run/ ride party includes live classic rock music by Kings of the Highway, plus a barbecue dinner plate and a free beer for runners 21 and older.
Boxyard RTP is a hyper-local community housed in 40 upcycled shipping containers located at the western side of Hub RTP, the Park’s 100-acre downtown district. Here, people can unwind and enjoy an experience unique to the Triangle. Committed to social entrepreneurship, Boxyard RTP represents the BEST OF the region, a diverse mix of vendors, offerings and events.
We are so proud of our senior class, who together earned $2.3 million in merit-based scholarships and helped make Trinity the #1 Best Christian High School in North Carolina.* They now join more than 450 Trinity Lions who are making a difference in their communities across the globe. Together, we’re roaring louder and stronger, spreading our mission far and wide.
$2.3 million
In merit based scholarships
#1 Best Christian High School in NC*
May the Lord bless and keep each and every student as they head out to the following institutions of higher education:
Auburn University
Belmont University
Berry College
Columbia University
Elon University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Furman University
Hope College
Kenyon College
North Carolina A & T State University
Northwestern University
Patrick Henry College
Penn State University
Rochester Institute of Technology
The University of Edinburgh
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina Wilmington
University of Southern California
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Wake Forest University
Wofford College
Daniel Arcidiacono Ben Ballentine Amari Brightman-Dorns
Christian Calderon-Vidal Will Cavender Gray Chandler
Karissa Cinque Brandon Clark Holly Copeland
Anna Darr Annie DeGuzman
Peter Dunson
Annie Friesen Tarey Gettys Ben Gribnau Nick Gribnau Will Hahn Hannah Hawkins
*2023 Niche Best Schools Report
Dozens of women business leaders in our community joined together in a networking event hosted by Triangle Media Partners and the Adam Dickinson Realty Group at Nest Realty in late March. Guests mingled and noshed on local hors d’oeuvres inside a modern home listed by the realty group (in fact, Nest Realty won a Best of Durham award this year as one of our readers’ favorite real estate companies!), getting an inside peek at the home’s amenities all while making lasting connections.
1 Mara Bishop of WholeSpirit and Carolyn Kinneen with Adam Dickinson Realty Group at Nest Realty. 2 American Dance Festival’s Katrin Deil with Adam Dickinson Realty Group at Nest Realty’s Teisha Wymore.
3 Triangle Digital Partners’ Rory Gillis with Rebecca Lee of Museum of Durham History.
4 Durham Public Schools’ Sheena Cooper, Triangle Media Partners’ Ellen Shannon and North Carolina Central University’s Ariel Germain.
5 Mimi O’Brien of The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation, Dr. Desiree Palmer of Bull City Dental and Monica Edwards of Morehead Manor.
The Museum of Durham History hosted an appreciation event for its supporters, volunteers and community members at the Durham Arts Council to commemorate its own 10 years of history. Guests at the “Making History Together” reception reminisced on moments shared since the museum opened its doors in October 2013 and spent the evening enjoying hors d’oeuvres, desserts and beverages from local vendors as guitar and bass duo Red Nucleus entertained the crowd.
1 Raleigh-born singer, public speaker and actor Clay Aiken. 2 Indulge Catering owner Jacqueline “Jay” White, Durham County Board of Commissioners Chair Brenda Howerton and Downtown Durham Inc. President and CEO Nicole Thompson.
3 Mayor Elaine O’Neal. 4 MoDH community volunteer Marjorie Yarbrough Burton, former ETC Group Research Director Hope Shand and Duke University Professor of the Practice of Cultural Anthropology and Documentary Studies Charlie Thompson.
(CONTINUED)
Highlights of the evening included special appearances by singer and activist Clay Aiken along with Durham Mayor Elaine O’Neal
Over the past two years, MoDH shifted from a traditional museum to a hybrid model, complete with virtual content, programs, exhibits and tours – a transformation sparked by the pandemic. Engaging a larger audience means the museum is beginning to outgrow its space in a repurposed bus transfer station, and the hope is to move into a larger location in the future.
YOU’VE SPENT 30 YEARS BUILDING YOUR NEST EGG. NOW COMES THE HARD PART: MAKING IT LAST ANOTHER 30.
The challenges facing today’s retirees are unique. Higher inflation, sky-rocketing healthcare costs, longer life expectancies, and complex Social Security rules all make much of the conventional retirement wisdom of the past obsolete. In this new era, it’s crucial that you take a fresh look at the challenges ahead and create a comprehensive plan to address them.
For 30 years, we’ve been working with people like you to address the challenges of the transition from accumulating their nest egg to using support their retirement lifestyle. Get in touch today to schedule a complimentary consultation.
For over 30 years, Dr. Brent L. Blaylock has been a trusted dentist in Durham. Continuing education is important to Dr. Blaylock, and he has completed many courses in the principles of complete dentistry. His focus has been identifying and treating problems with the TMJ and occlusion, and the impact of oral inflammation and disease on the heart and rest of the body.
PatrickMucklow, adding that the museum has been working to find a more suitable site to continue sharing its growing educational resources with Durham.
BY GINNY SMITH
PHOTOGRAPHY BY PATRICK O’GRADY AND KATE MEDLEY
The Durham Library Foundation hosted “All Booked Up, an After-Hours Party” at the Durham County Main Library on April 29 to coincide with the third annual Library Fest: The Storytelling Edition. The normally quiet spaces were filled with the sounds of more than 200 guests enjoying one another’s company, as well as hors d’oeuvres and refreshments provided by
1 Nikki Lane and Julie Lane.
2 Kelli Cotter, Becky Hacker, Stephen Conrad, Meredith Pittman and Billy Cotter. 3 Paul Newman, Genese Newman and Mark Gustafson. 4 Andrew Hutson, Meaghan Mulholland Hutson, Jessica Luginbuhl and Michael Schwartz.
5 Xaris Martinez and Marian Fragola.
12
13
Durham School of the Arts social studies teacher Leah Amos was named the 2023 High School Teacher of the Year by the North Carolina Council for the Social Studies after being nominated by a fellow DSA teacher, Holly Loranger. Leah met criteria for the award including demonstration of a broad knowledge of subject matter and curriculum, implementing creative instructional strategies, fostering a spirit of interest and engagement among students and more.
A team of four Northern High School culinary students (pictured left to right: Sydney Rogers, Kendall Keaton, Caroline Barber and Alex DeMaeyer) taught by chef Peter Brodsky won second place in the 2023 North Carolina Junior Chef Competition. The team’s recipe entry for a sweet potato steamed bun with
honey-garlic glazed chicken, topped with a kale and apple salad, follows the competition guidelines to meet National School Lunch Program nutrition standards while using at least two North Carolina-grown products and included a cost and nutrient analysis. During a cook-off against eight other teams from across the state, the students used ingredients they helped to grow at the Durham Public Schools’ teaching garden at The Hub Farm
Jessica CardaAuten was appointed to fill a vacant seat on the Durham Public Schools
Board of Education through June 2024. Jessica works as a project manager and qualitative research and survey development specialist at the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Disease and has previously volunteered with the Lakewood Elementary PTA and as an at-large board
Alley Twenty Six revives its annual pop-up, Islands in the Alley, from June 6-Sept. 10. A retro-themed cocktail menu features faux tropical favorites like the “Cobra’s Fang” and “Junglebird,” as well as new creations from the Alley’s bar team. Enjoy special menu options like coconut shrimp and the “Big Kahuna” burger at the restaurant’s bar and namesake alley at 320 E. Chapel Hill St., both of which will be decked out with festive decorations.
member and vice-president. She fills the spot of Matt Sears, who stepped down in February to take a position with the Durham Public Schools Foundation.
Students from Lowe’s Grove Magnet Middle School, Neal Magnet Middle School and James E. Shepard Magnet Middle School got a firsthand look at careers in renewable energy, engineering and cyber fields during a tour of Duke Energy’s operation center on Hillsborough Road on March 21.
The Students@Work opportunity allowed the more than 60 middle schoolers to hear from employees, view an outdoor live drone demonstration and get a look inside an electric vehicle.
area jumps up three spots from its No. 6 position last year, a rank based on value, desirability, job market and quality of life.
Durham middle schoolers explored the tools and process of design during a weeklong camp hosted by nonprofit Prism Design Lab and NorthStar Church of the Arts, which took place at NorthStar during Durham Public Schools’ spring break in March. Students participated in art, architecture and design workshops and took walking field trips to visit nearby architecture studios, an art museum, an art gallery and the makerspace at Durham Public Library’s Main Branch. The week ended with a reception at NorthStar with campers, families and artists.
Christina Hammock Koch is one of four astronauts who have been chosen to take part in the
first crewed mission of Artemis II aboard NASA’s Orion capsule and Space Launch System. The mission is set to orbit the moon after launching from Kennedy Space Center in late 2024. Christina, who has already set the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman (328 days in space) and participated in the first all-female spacewalks, will serve as mission specialist during the 10-day journey.
SHARE YOUR NEWS!
Torrey Flores (pictured above with Superintendent Pascal Mubenga) was named Durham Public Schools 2023 assistant principal of the year in April. Torrey is a lifelong educator who worked as a reading recovery teacher for 23 years before moving to a
Submit noteworthy items, from award and scholarship winners to new book and album releases.
central office position as a literacy specialist, and has been in her current role as assistant principal at Southwest Elementary School for the past 12 years.
Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill senior Abigail Jacob and North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics senior Christopher Mitchell were among six high school students awarded a total of $10,000 in scholarships by the Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange & Chatham Counties
The scholarships are distributed to students who plan to pursue college degrees in fields related to construction.
Two teams from North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics were among 100 national finalists who competed in the American Rocketry Challenge event May 20 in The Plains, Virginia. This
• Chef Zweli Williams and her husband Leonardo Williams (owners of Zweli’s Kitchen & Restaurant) opened Zweli’s Ekhaya, a tapas eatery inspired by the food of the Bantu region of Southern Africa, at American Tobacco Campus on March 23. The Williams also announced via Instagram that Zweli’s Kitchen closed temporarily in March in order to relocate to Brightleaf Square and is slated to open in August 2023.
• Jen Heath Kremer and chef Ray Williams opened Corner Yaki at Durham Food Hall in the former Old North Meats & Provisions space in April. The restaurant offers a medley of popular Asian dishes like bao buns, dumplings and rice bowls, and adds to the “corner” empire that the pair have built at the food hall, which includes neighboring vendors Everything Bagels and Napoli Pizzeria & Gelateria
• The Spicy Hermit’s Sweet Onion Kimchi and Fullsteam’s “Biscuit” hefeweizen were among 289 winners of the 2023 Good Food Awards announced in November 2022. These Durham businesses were honored for their superior-tasting products in tandem with their social and environmental responsibility.
U.S. News and World Report named Raleigh and Durham the No. 3 best place to live in the nation out of 150 of the most populous metropolitan areas. Our
• Weldon Mills distillery will partner with the Durham Bulls to produce the minor league team’s official spirit, Snorting Bull bourbon, which should be available in June.
year’s competition required each team to design, build and launch model rockets that safely carry one large hen egg to an altitude of 850 feet, stay airborne and return safely to the ground.
Bull City Press Director and UNC creative writing professor Ross White’s debut full-length poetry collection, “Charm Offensive,” will be released July 1. The book explores, among many themes, the juxtapositions of daily life, the dangers of being alive and the joys of remaining defiant.
• Lula and Sadie’s opened its new restaurant at 2022 Chapel Hill Rd. in Lakewood after vacating its Durham Food Hall location. The upscale Southern eatery is now open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday with brunch on weekends and serves up comfort food favorites like bacon-pecan cinnamon rolls and the “Mama’s Meatloaf Sandwich” with
Mayanthi Jayawardena completed a new mural entitled “Lotus Rising – An Ode To Women” in downtown Chapel Hill. The Durham-based Sri Lankan artist completed the mural during Women’s History Month on the side of a femaleowned restaurant, Lantern, to create a community space that celebrates and uplifts women and marginalized voices.
Durham-based singersongwriter Tre. Charles released his single “Lately” on March 15 along with an accompanying YouTube video.
Grammynominated jazz vocalist and songwriter Nnenna Freelon and her son Pierce Freelon released their family-focused album “AnceStars” on May 19. The album, written and produced in Durham, explores the wonder and mystery of the ancestral spirit world and features 13 original songs created for all ages to nurture a healthy curiosity about life, afterlife, transformation, healing and legacy.
Durham Arts Council will utilize $1 million of the City of Durham’s American Rescue Plan Act funds to help reverse the negative impacts of the pandemic on Durham arts and culture by supporting DAC’s Culture & Arts – Invest to Restart program, which provides grants and training for arts and cultural organizations, businesses and Durham’s more than 4,400 artists and creative professionals.
The Barnes Family Foundation donated $2 million to the Museum of Life and Science, the largest single gift from a private donor in the museum’s history. This donation will help renovate and maintain the new Barnes Welcome Hall, which was unveiled during a ceremony attended by Christy Barnes and Lee Barnes (pictured above right), as well as create an endowment to support future growth, summer
camp scholarships and community outreach to underserved families in the Triangle.
Miracle League of the Triangle opened its new baseball field at 473 Morehead Ave. on March 25. The baseball league for kids and adults with disabilities got its Triangle foothold in Cary in 2006 and, with the addition of the Durham field, now operates three parks in the area. The new park hosts Miracle League’s adult and youth teams (for players 5 and older) during eight-week spring and fall seasons thanks to support from Duke University, Durham Housing Authority and Capitol Broadcasting
Life-saving patient warming technology called the HotDog Patient Warming System, which is comprised of blankets and mattresses constructed in a lightweight, flexible polymer, were delivered to two hospitals in Tanzania by Durham’s Mid-South Medical in early 2023. The device helps to warm patients before, during and after procedures, which decreases recovery time
• Spanglish changed its name to Kokí due to a trademark issue. The downtown Puerto Rican restaurant also opened a new south Durham location, serving its signature bowls, breakfast platters, empanadas, soups, salads and more at 10970 Chapel Hill Rd. in April.
and overall mortality of patients. Mid-South’s founder and managing partner Tommy McNeill spearheaded the project and traveled to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to present the systems to both hospitals.
• After 37 years in business, Yamazushi in Woodcroft Shopping Center served its last customers on March 26. The traditional Japanese kaiseki restaurant, owned by chef George Yamazawa and Mayumi Yamazawa, closed as its lease expired, and the couple now anticipate opening a tea room. A documentary titled “Becoming Yamazushi” detailing the life of the restaurant premieres at the Carolina Theatre on June 6. The film is the directorial debut by hiphop artist, slam poet and performer G Yamazawa, and honors his parents legacy. The event will include a haiku poetry slam, a tea ceremony presented by Mayumi and an audience Q&A dialogue moderated by NPR’s Frank Stasio
• Durham Distillery is slated to open Conniption Cocktail Bar at Raleigh-Durham International Airport’s Terminal 2 by late 2023. Like the distillery’s Corpse Reviver Cocktail Bar, the new location will boast expertly crafted cocktails and a chic atmosphere where patrons can relax and enjoy a drink before or after a flight.
Sherry Taylor became executive director at Durham Community Land
Trustees in April after serving as interim executive director since December 2022. The community land trust develops, manages and advocates for permanent affordable housing.
The Joyce, a mixedincome senior community at 487 Morehead Ave., celebrated its grand opening on April 14. Speakers included Mayor Elaine O’Neal and Durham Housing Authority Board of Commissioners Chair Daniel Hudgins and Director of Development Anthony Snell (pictured above). The community of 80 one- and two-bedroom apartment units will serve seniors with incomes ranging from 30% to 80% of the area median income. The Joyce is named after
Joyce Thorpe Nichols, a Duke University graduate and the first woman in the country to be formally educated as a physician assistant. Fleet Feet opened its newest store on Ninth Street with a soft opening on April 13. The running apparel and gear shop’s grand opening is on Global Running Day on June 7, with several events hosted throughout the week.
An updated Play to Learn experience opened to the public at the Museum of Life and Science after more than four years in the works. The space, which is almost three times the size of the previous exhibit, encourages babies, toddlers and preschoolers to explore, create and experiment with others and features a gentle zone, ball play, building and pattern play.
Katherine Werwie (pictured below left), a scholar of medieval art, joined the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University as associate curator June 1. Jade Packer (pictured center) joined the museum March 1 as director of community initiatives and is charged with building and sustaining meaningful relationships and partnerships. Diana Peña (pictured below right) joined the Nasher Feb. 1 as director of education and public programs, overseeing tours, K-12 student and teacher outreach and special events.
California-based special occasion fashion retailer Windsor Fashions opened April 27 at The Streets at Southpoint
Durham-based poet Alexis Pauline Gumbs is among eight winners of the prestigious 2023 Windham-Campbell Prize. The award, announced in April, provides $175,000 per writer and recognizes Alexis as an activist, critic, poet, scholar and educator who uses hybrid forms to reenvision old narratives and engage with the history of Black intellectual-imaginative work.
• Michael De Los Santos is slated to open Mike
D’s BBQ Smokehouse & Retail on Driver Street this spring next to the upcoming Congress Bar & Cafe (the second concept from the Rofhiwa Book Café owners Beverley Boitumelo Makhubele and Naledi Yaziyo, which is slated to open this summer). A combination barbecue supply store and functioning smokehouse, the location will serve smoked meats along with sides like smoked corn and beans, and will stock Mike D’s awardwinning line of sauces and dry rubs.
Durham was named the No. 9 city for urban minimalists out of 96 cities with populations above 200,000, according to a recent study by RentCafe.
Janet Northen (pictured above left) and David Crabtree (pictured below left) are among this year’s NC Media and Journalism Hall of Fame inductees, celebrated during a gala at The Carolina Inn on April 21. Janet is the executive vice president and director of agency communications at McKinney, and David is the CEO/general manager of
PBS North Carolina and a 16-time Emmy-winning broadcast journalist.
Duke University computer science professor
Cynthia Rudin was named one of the top ten women in the world of artificial intelligence by AI Magazine. Known for her pioneering work in the fields of machine learning, applied machine learning and causal inference, Cynthia is a threetime winner of the INFORMS Innovative Applications in Analytics Award.
BIZ BRIEFS
TC’s of Durham is under new ownership and will rebrand to Edge Express Car Wash. Former owner T.C. Anderson, who
purchased the facility in 2003, passed ownership to Charlotte’s John Hallett and Luke Murray; all staff will remain on board.
President Joe Biden kicked off his administration’s Investing in America Tour March 28 at Wolfspeed’s headquarters in Durham. In his speech, Biden highlighted a workforce preparation partnership between the silicon carbide producer and Durham Technical Community College – a 12-week program that covers chemistry, electronics, mechanics, robotics, sensors and more for individuals training to work at Wolfspeed’s anticipated facility in Chatham County.
As part of a multiyear redesign of its network, Verizon completed a revamp of its Durham architecture, including expanded coverage on Duke University’s
• Also opening on Driver Street this summer is Homebucha’s kombucha bar and production facility. Homebucha’s Geer Street location shut down in May to prepare for the move, but its drinks remain available at the Durham Farmers Market and at more than 50 locations in the Triangle, including Bull City Ciderworks, Durham Food Hall, Guglhupf, Refectory Café and Namu in Durham. The new tasting room is expected to open by September.
campus and near the intersection of Junction and Cheek roads near Chatham Steel Corporation and the Bull City Little League fields, as well as a new macro site for coverage along the I-885 corridor. An additional site was built to improve coverage along Cole Mill and Umstead roads and in the vicinity of Eno River State Park
Raleigh-Durham International Airport announced in March that Frontier would increase weekly flights to 112 and add two new seasonal destinations. Service to Chicago begins June 16, and service to Houston begins June 18. Avelo Airlines will also expand its service, adding a nonstop flight to Wilmington, Delaware beginning June 22, bringing Avelo’s nonstop destinations to 12.
On April 19, the Durham Sports Commission and Women Leaders in College Sports hosted the
inaugural Emerging Women in Sports Leadership Summit at the Durham Convention Center The summit featured conversations with sports leaders including Duke University’s Vice President and Director of Athletics Nina King and Deputy Director of Athletics and StudentAthlete Experience Heather Ryan
Robert “Bob” Ingram, a leader in North Carolina’s life science industry and former CEO of GlaxoWellcome (now GlaxoSmithKline), died on March 24 at the age of 80. After his retirement, Bob served as a general partner at Hatteras Venture Partners. Bob also formed and chaired the CEO Roundtable on Cancer at the request of former President George W. Bush and
was appointed to the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Advisory Board. Bob received the North Carolina Award for public service in 2014.
Durham’s City Budget Director John Allore died on March 30 at the age of 59 after being hit by a car while biking to work. John, who worked for the city for nearly 25 years, was also an author, researcher and podcaster. He coauthored “Wish You Were Here: A Murdered Girl, a Brother’s Quest and the Hunt for a Serial Killer” about his own search to unearth the person responsible for his sister Theresa Allore’s murder in 1976.
Thank
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Many people who travel abroad or to U.S. towns with vibrant shopping districts cite visiting local businesses and food spots as one of their favorite parts of travel. Even brief encounters such as these add opportunity for community and give people those cherished “third places.”
THE OWNER AND GRADUATE GEMOLOGIST AT HAMILTON HILL JEWELRY, WHICH WAS FOUNDED BY
SARAH AND MICHAEL HAMILTON IN OCTOBER 2001 AND HAS BEEN NAMED A BEST JEWELRY STORE IN DURHAM MAGAZINE ’S BEST OF DURHAM POLL MANY TIMES OVER, INCLUDING THIS YEAR.
Hamilton Hill has played a part in Durham’s retail scene for the past two decades, and I’ve had thousands of conversations on the topic of retail in the Bull City. Lately I’m beginning to feel like I’ve seen it all, especially when I add childhood memories of clothes shopping at fine stores downtown in the 1960s and ’70s.
You want to know some of my wishes for Durham’s future? Here’s a partial list:
• I wish I could see creative retailers with expertise in their fields open new shops (and perhaps provide services, too) to provide for the growing residential community. They can also serve outof-town visitors and, if they return in significant numbers, office workers. At Hamilton Hill, we are regularly asked, “Where’s the shopping district?” and “Is this all there is?” Eek.
• People downtown or in any part of the city willing to make the effort it may take to shop in person at local businesses. We can’t go back to a bygone era, but we can tweak our behavior and recommit to supporting small businesses. Every day that we order most everything online is a day we make our voices heard loud and clear. Businesses will (continue to) disappear.
• Recognition of how much joy and knowledge can come from human connections made at small businesses.
• Continued support from the incredibly cool, gracious and grateful people who visit Hamilton Hill and other small businesses. They ask, “How’s business?!” They want us to be successful! Many visitors to Hamilton Hill comment on the attractiveness and appeal of Brightleaf Square. They want it to be dynamic and exciting, and that means retail, food or services on the ground floor. I know the Durham and greater Triangle community will support excellence, get excited about it, talk it up.
• For Durham to be a viable home for people who don’t have a car. I bought my first car at age 30 when I moved here from Washington, D.C. Many people coming here now from big cities try to make it without owning cars. Let’s help them by working on the complicated subject of parking. Let’s not pave paradise (using that term loosely!).
• Sidewalks in good repair across the city. Covered bus stops. Public parks, even tiny ones!
• Street life! Walking, making eye contact, saying hello to friends and strangers is so much fun. And you see so much more that way!
• Affordable rent for small pharmacies, groceries, bookstores, clothiers, home décor shops, makers’ markets, art galleries, jewelers(!), etc.
Maligned for years, Durham had to be told to “love itself” (remember the T-shirts and buttons in the early 2010s?!). One way to show that love is to shop small and reap the many benefits!
Our 13th annual Best of Durham poll unveils top picks across nearly 100 categories
Handmade pasta is the backbone of Mothers & Sons Trattoria. The tagliatelle al ragu is a mainstay of the restaurant’s menu, and chef Josh “Skinny” DeCarolis notes that its simplicity belies both its importance and the care that goes into making it.
“I attended pasta school in Bologna, and that dish is one of only a few consumed almost daily by locals,” he explains. The noodles are hand rolled “al mattarello,” meaning with a large wooden rolling pin, creating a distinctive texture for the slowsimmered ragu sauce to cling to. Almost everything for the dish is sourced locally, including the eggs for the pasta and the beef and pork for the sauce. “[It’s] simple, classic, not fussy and made from locally sourced and sustainably raised animals,” Josh says. “It’s kind of a microcosm of Italian culinary ethos.”
These restaurants highlight cuisines from around the world – here’s just a sampling of their most impressive dishes
It’s hard to pick just one dish at Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar, which is why there are two here that truly represent this popular restaurant’s cuisine. The butter chicken, a staple of Indian restaurants across the country, is a creamy tomato-based curry with chunks of roasted chicken. The Bombay lamb chops are an elevated take on classic tandoori cooking. Marinated in yogurt and Lime & Lemon’s special blend of spices, the chops are roasted at high heat in a clay oven. Pair either with an Indian mule, a South Asian twist on the popular vodka and ginger cocktail, for the perfect balance of spicy and sweet.
“The chicken shawarma sandwich is one of our most popular dishes,” says Mediterranean Grill & Grocery manager Kristi Page, and it also happens to be a favorite of chef and owner Marwan Qandeel Shawarma is one of those street foods that has taken on a life of its own and can be found from the halal carts of New York City to takeout joints across Europe and Latin America. Here in the Bull City, Mediterranean Grill & Grocery marinates its chicken for hours in a tangy and spicy yogurt sauce before it’s grilled. The shawarma is placed in pita bread and topped with garlic sauce, pickles, tomatoes and onions. A side of one of the restaurant’s many salads and vegetable dishes (like fattoush salad, stuffed grape leaves or vegetable biryani) and a piece of baklava for dessert complete the picture.
One of the newest additions to Durham’s bustling Mexican food scene, Mezcalito has already made a name for itself with upscale takes on classic Mexican-American cuisine. The La Jefa carne asada fajitas are a prime example –they’ve taken the time-honored marinated and grilled steak dish and turned the volume way, way up with shell-on shrimp, corn on the cob, jalapenos, pico de gallo, guacamole and more. And wait till you see its cocktails – impressive doesn’t begin to cover it. The classic margarita receives a stunning glow-up, with many options to wet your whistle. There’s the tropical mangonada margarita, a play on the popular Mexican street food snack of mango with spicy chamoy topping. Or you could opt for childhood nostalgia and go for the Jolly Rancher margarita, which comes with a giant slice of watermelon. Pair either with the La Jefa for an unforgettable experience.
Boricua Soul owner Toriano Fredericks combines the best of Puerto Rican cuisine with the foodways of North Carolina. “Our food is Southern soul, Caribbean flair, Euro-African roots, and this [Boricua Soul] bowl represents us best,” he says. “It blends iconic celebration foods from both Puerto Rican and Southern tables.” Slow-roasted pernil – pork shoulder – tops arroz con gandules (Puerto Rican yellow rice with peas) and is served with macaroni and cheese, collard greens and tostones. It’s a Southern meat-and-three meets Puerto Rican barbecue bash and is consistently one of the American Tobacco Campus restaurant’s most popular dishes.
Namu is known for fusion dishes like its Korean barbecue tofu quesadilla, yet it’s difficult to find a more culturally significant Korean dish than bibimbap, which is why it’s been a go-to on the menu for years. “It is a dish rooted in tradition, so we wanted to make sure that our version was done well,” says Namu General Manager Mark Chandler The marinated and grilled Korean barbecue beef is served on a bed of white rice alongside pickled cucumbers, shredded carrots and chilled bean sprouts. It’s then topped with a fried egg, though you can ask for it to be cooked most any way you like it. Pair the bowl with a pint from Namu’s extensive beer hall list, close your eyes, and you might just think you’ve been transported to Seoul. “[Bibimbap] showcases our roots and our history,” Mark says.
Pincho Loco Ice
Cream serves a mashup of both American and Mexican frozen treats at its shop just off Ninth Street, where aromas of cinnamon and fresh fruit hit you as soon as you step inside its colorful door. Its mangonada is a version of one of Mexico’s most popular street foods, with sweet chunks of ripe mango drizzled with a spicy chamoy topping, while the horchata milkshake marries an iconic Mexican drink, horchata (which is made with rice soaked in water and flavored with cinnamon and vanilla), with an equally iconic American drink –the milkshake.
– by Matthew Lardie
The word “chirashi” in Japanese translates to “scattered,” a perfect name for a traditional dish that invites creativity and playfulness. M Sushi’s take starts with a bed of sushi rice and a citrusy zing of ponzu sauce. Layers of thinly sliced sashimi are then added to the bowl, followed by house-pickled vegetables and crispy garlic. A sprinkle of microgreens and pea shoots infuse a fresh, delicate element to the dish, and ikura, or salmon roe, adds a burst of flavor and color as the finishing touch. We recommend pairing with miso soup. – by Morgan Cartier
Ask anyone in Durham where you should go for breakfast, and there’s a good chance that answer will be “Elmo’s.” The Ninth Street anchor has fed hungry Durhamites for more than a quarter century and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. Owners Cammie Brantley and her husband, Wayne Hodges, are still involved in the diner but passed the reins of day-to-day operations to their co-owners, Amy Testa and Mark Schueler What made Elmo’s successful back in 1997, they say, continues to help it thrive today.
ise and shine, it’s breakfast time! The Bull City has no shortage of options when it comes to grabbing your morning cup of joe or omelet, but there are three iconic and beloved spots that have remained a steady, and delicious, presence in our restaurant scene for more than two decades. South Durham mainstay Bean Traders has kept folks caffeinated going on 23 years now. Guglhupf Bakery, Cafe & Biergarten brought a touch of Europe to Durham when it opened 25 years ago. And on Ninth Street, Elmo’s Diner has been a favorite of bleary-eyed N.C. School of Science and Math and Duke University students and early risers for more than 26 years.
their talents and dedication have helped Elmo’s be the success that it is today,” Amy adds.
“We have always tried to be an upbeat restaurant where both regulars and new customers are given the same warm, friendly service,” Mark says. “We have many longtime staff members, and
Speaking of familiar waitstaff, Elmo’s has been around so long that young customers have grown up to be employees. “We have some folks on staff now who first came to Elmo’s as babies,” Mark says. The owners have also witnessed entire families growing and changing. “We have so many multigenerational customers who we celebrate life events with; it is both joyous and sometimes painful,” Amy says. “Just recently one of our customers was picking up takeout and shared a picture of her new grandson, who is the child of one of our former servers.
“I suspect that we are Durham’s version of the six degrees of separation, but with fewer degrees,” Cammie laughs. “I think at the
Three long-standing restaurants and coffee shops remain popular places to start the day, 20-plus years laterElmo’s hearty chilaquiles has a kick to it thanks to a spicy homemade sauce. Peppers, onions, cilantro, feta cheese and scrambled eggs are served over crunchy corn tortillas with a side of black beans.
most you only need three degrees of separation to find someone locally who has either worked at Elmo’s or eats with us regularly.
“We have a quilt that a regular customer made for us many years ago that says ‘All Roads Lead to Elmo’s,’ and it is signed by our employees,” she adds. “It is still very true today.”
Elmo’s continues to make nearly everything fresh daily while still managing to offer one of the most affordable breakfasts in town. From pancakes to omelets, biscuits and gravy to the quiche of the day, Elmo’s menu offers a comforting sense of normalcy and continuity in a rapidly changing Durham. The food comes out fast and hot, the line for a table (if there is one) moves quickly, and from the moment the doors open at 7 a.m. sharp, the diner is filled
with the sounds of neighbors catching up with one another and their regular server while the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafts through the space.
As year 27 approaches, Elmo’s owners plan to lean hard into the diner’s strengths and reputation as a community touchstone. Diners who voted Elmo’s one of Durham Magazine’s best breakfasts and kid-friendly restaurants can expect the same big smiles from servers, the same classic varied diner menu and the same neighborhood atmosphere. “During COVID-19, we had to learn to constantly adapt and have become quite skilled at it,” Cammie says. “We made some major changes during that period. So, for the future, we are happy not to make any big changes.”
“We have tried really hard to keep up with the times without losing sight of our core values as a restaurant, so what we plan for and hope is in store for Elmo’s is many more years of friendly, fast service, comfort food to help ease someone’s day, coffee cups kept full and our great community continuing to share their lives, their stories and their friendships with us,” Mark says.
“[We] plan to continue offering Durham a warm, consistent local diner that our customers can count on,” Cammie adds. “It has been a recipe for success, and we don’t change good recipes.”
Generations of Durhamites have flocked to Guglhupf to start their workdays or weekends over the years, and it shows, as they continuously vote it one of the best dessert, coffee and breakfast/brunch spots in the annual Best of Durham poll. The secret to its longevity, owner Claudia Cooper says, can be summed up in one word: quality. Quality products, quality staff, quality setting. “You kind of can’t go wrong with that [mentality],” Claudia laughs. “I can’t compromise; it’s gotta be good.”
You can find the “good” each morning in a pastry case stocked with almond “schneckes,” cheese Danishes and fresh, hot croissants. There’s also plenty of egg dishes, breakfast sandwiches and an Alsatian potato leek tart for a more hearty breakfast. You can even get pork schnitzel, if the mood strikes you!
This commitment to high standards, not to mention one of the most unique dining settings in Durham, helped Guglhupf weather the many changes and challenges that faced the Bull City restaurant scene over the years. “You have to morph, because clearly the market now is very different,” Claudia says. One thing that hasn’t changed is the dedication of her staff and customers. Several employees have been with her for 20, 23, even 24 years. And on the flip side, “we’ve had [guests who’ve visited] from birth to [now] getting them married,” Claudia says. Yes, that’s
right – Guglhupf hosted a wedding for a customer whose parents first brought them to the restaurant as an infant. “It’s a community place, and you become part of their life,” she says.
Twenty-five years is a long time for any restaurant to be in business, and Claudia says the slow, incremental way Guglhupf grew helped it stay afloat. They’ve always had the bakery and breakfast fare, but switched to counter service and did away with the finer aspects of dinner service, a change that Claudia and her staff aren’t necessarily mad about. “We miss fine dining, but I think it’s better and more fun than what it was before,” she says. “We’re having more fun!”
Looking ahead to the next five, 10 or 25 years, Claudia and her team plan on doing more of the same. There’s a good chance that a whole new generation of Durhamites will grow up beginning their mornings at Guglhupf. “There’s always room for improvement,” Claudia says, but, “I’m really super happy with where we’re at.”
“Slinging Beans. Making Pie. Embracing Community.” It’s a simple and straightforward ethos, one that Bean Traders has upheld for more than two decades, creating space off Highway 54 in south Durham for neighbors and strangers alike to gather over piping hot coffee and freshly baked pies, pastries and more. Owners Christy Chapman and David Chapman methodically created a space that is more akin to a community center than a coffee shop, and it’s fitting that the pair would pour so much of their hearts into making Bean Traders a home; coffee has been a part of their own love story from the very beginning. As the tale goes, David first saw Christy when she was a barista, and he was a high school student stopping by his local coffee shop before class. Twenty-three years later, both the couple and the business have
grown, and they now roast and sell their own beans with wide-ranging options, from single varietals like Ethiopian Yirgacheffe to flavored offerings like chocolate truffle and Southern pecan. An extensive gourmet tea selection rivals that of their coffees. Then there are bagels and quiches and smoothies and scones. The vanilla buttermilk pie is popular (who says you can’t have pie for breakfast?), as are its gluten-free waffles. You can even buy iced coffee by the gallon! It’s no wonder Bean Traders remains one of the most popular coffee shops in Durham, winning over Durham Magazine readers year after year. We’ll raise a latte to that!
– by Matthew Lardie
The house-made gluten-free waffles are a huge hit at Bean Traders.
“New Zealand lagers have started to pop up a lot more recently – it’s going to be a trending style this summer,” Kerri says. Charlottebased HopFly Brewing Company’s “All Times” New Zealand Pilsner (5.5% ABV) is “made as a traditional lager but uses hops from New Zealand, which have a specific flavor profile that’s known to be floral, tropical and have flavors of stone fruit,” she says, making for a crushable summertime brew to quench your thirst.
ummertime, and the drinkin’s easy. At least, the fine folks at these fave spots for draft beers endeavor to make it so! Kick back and relax with their top recs:
Local, national and international brews populate Beer Study’s 40 rotating taps. Beverage Director Kerri Hoffman says that Starpoint Brewing, which operates a production facility inside Beer Study’s location at Rockwood Shopping Center, typically claims anywhere from 10 to 15 taps. The rest are devoted to a mix of established industry veterans as well as small-scale and up-and-coming brewers which, Kerri says, “have quality stuff that people should pay attention to.” Enjoy a saison or hoppy India Pale Ale (we’re partial to Starpoint’s yearround “Surfin’ Buddha” West Coast IPA) with a BLT, burger or bowl from The Boot Room – the adjoining soccer pub that offers comfy leather sofas.
“Our philosophy is to make sure there’s a beer [available] for everyone’s tastes,” says Growler Grlz co-owner and founder Karen Poulsen. Brown ales, sours, stouts, lagers, IPAs and more all have a home on the
blackboard tap list at the Hope Valley Road bar and bottle shop, which celebrated its ninth anniversary in May. Karen says she’s spent the bulk of that time working alongside co-owner and beer buyer Mike McRoberts, who joined Growler Grlz in 2018, to develop excellent relationships with many North Carolina breweries. “I believe a big part of why our selection is so good is because of our relationship with [each brewer],” she says.
“Our collection of beers is constantly rotating,” Karen explains – as soon as one keg kicks, a different brew of the same style replaces it. This allows for exciting new options across Growler Grlz’s 42 taps nearly as quickly as distributors can deliver them.
“We try to look for top-quality beers with a balanced flavor profile [that fulfill] what customers are looking for,” Karen says. “When that person comes in who is an IPA drinker, they don’t just have one or two to pick from – they’ve got 11. They can come in four days or a week later, and most of that beer has rotated.” Growler Grlz maintains four taps devoted to cider, ginger beer and nonalcoholic root beer as well.
Tobacco Wood Brewing Co.’s “False Motivation” New England Hazy IPA (7.3% ABV) “is our bestselling beer,” Mara says. “It’s really citrus-forward.” Tobacco Wood developed the recipe for its debut New England-style IPA during its first year in operation. It’s available on tap year-round as one of six core beers. Mara’s tip for warm-weather drinking? “It makes a great summer shandy with a little bit of lemonade.”
Female- and veteran-owned Tobacco Wood Brewing Company originated almost five years ago in Oxford, North Carolina, where it operates a production and bottling facility and 16-tap brew house. Its Durham taproom off Meridian Parkway features double the number of taps, allowing for about half of those to be filled by guest beers, which rotate weekly.
Beat the heat with Twenty-Six Acres Brewing Company’s “Reptar Juice,” a hazy New England IPA (7.2% ABV) and fill up one of Growler Grlz’s 32or 64-ounce growlers, or bring your own to take home.
“It allows us to pay it forward to the breweries that were kind enough to put us on tap when we were starting out,” says Tobacco Wood President Mara Shelton. The majority of those options come from North Carolina producers. “We have great beers here,” Mara says. “We’re one of the fastest growing beer states in the country.”
Tobacco Wood keeps up a lively production schedule of its own, releasing about four seasonal brews per month. “As far as our beer goes, we don’t specialize in one [style] or the other,” Mara says, meaning there’s usually something on draft that’ll suit anyone’s tastes. You’ll always find cider and seltzer options, served from dedicated lines that have never come into contact with beer, for gluten-sensitive customers. Stop in for a summery seasonal release like “Pull the Pin” pineapple pale ale as Tobacco Wood celebrates its second anniversary in Durham this June.
This bar and bottle shop is an oasis for beer lovers in northwest Durham. Neighbors Gert Blüschke, Erin Blüschke, Eric Cannon and Laura Cannon met mid-pandemic and found themselves seeking a watering hole near their Westwood Estates homes that would eliminate the need to trek downtown. The couples set forth to open their own spot that they dubbed Der Nachbar, which means “the neighbor” in German. Gert grew up near Munich, so “there was a German influence that came in naturally,” Erin says. “Gert has a lot of ties to brewers near his hometown.” A portion of Der Nachbar’s European cooler and several of its 20 taps feature imported German beers.
“We hear a lot from our customers that we fill a gap in the area,” Eric says. Patrons can find German mainstays like Radeberger Gruppe’s Radeberger Pilsner Zwickel and a traditional hefeweizen on tap alongside rotating local and regional brews from Fonta Flora Brewing, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and Durham Magazine readers’ favorite brewery Fullsteam, among others. Erin says taking into account their customers’ preferences is foundational to the draft selection process – if guests request a specific beer or varietal, it may very well end up on tap, like the Morland “Old Speckled Hen” English pale ale that a regular suggested. “People loved it so much that we left it on continuously,” Erin says. Der Nachbar also stocks wines, offering them by the glass and the bottle, plus nonalcoholic beer, sparkling lemonades and limeade, and Boylan Bottling soda. – by Renee Ambroso
Erin says that Der Nachbar’s permanent No. 17 tap, Radeberger Gruppe’s Sion Kölsch (4.8% ABV), has a unique floral note that’s especially enjoyable during the dog days of summer. “There’s a very distinctive flavor of beer brewed in Cologne, Germany, which is the origin of the name [kölsch].” Drop by for a pint, and enjoy it on the pet-friendly patio paired with a Guglhupf (another Best of Durham winner!) pretzel, available FridaySunday.
Our readers’ favorite local food products are ready for their close-up
urham doesn’t lack for choice when it comes to delicious foodstuffs. The five winners for artisan food products in this year’s Best of Durham poll run the gamut from roasted coffee to homemade salsas to sweet, sweet toffee. If you haven’t had an opportunity to try them all, here’s your chance to get to know these products and the people behind them. Although trust us – the ultimate verdict is the taste test – go seek them out ASAP!
• Founded 2016
• Mission This “home-based family adventure,” as founder Rebecca Burnett puts it, is dedicated to “stirring up sweet gifts and inspiring connections throughout our hometown and beyond.”
• Most Popular Product Its original and bestselling product is, of course, toffee, which Rebecca describes as “buttery-crunch caramel goodness drenched in organic 72% cacao dark chocolate and sprinkled with slivered almonds.”
• What’s Next? With demand for the toffee currently outpacing their ability to make it, Rebecca and her husband, David Burnett, are taking some time to plan next steps. “We hope to expand both our capacity and our impact in Durham simultaneously over the next few years.” It’s likely their children, Sophie Burnett, Hannah Burnett, Gabby Burnett, Blaise Byrd and Brooks Byrd (ages 16 to 24) will continue to pitch in as well.
• Founded 2015
• Mission Create and deliver fresh, high-quality Mexican food and salsas crafted with care and respect for Mexican culture and tradition. “We are committed to serving the local community by creating a space where all [its] members feel welcome,” says owner Maria Pacheco
• Most Popular Product Salsa verde. A staple in every Mexican kitchen, salsa verde simply means “green sauce” in Spanish and is crafted primarily from Mexico’s naturally tart tomatillo, a distant relative of the tomato. Blended with only a few fresh ingredients – serrano peppers, cilantro, onion and garlic – Cilantro’s salsa verde is zesty and tangy, with a heat level that can range from mild to medium, depending on the spiciness of the peppers.
• What’s Next? Maria is currently looking for space and funding to open Cilantro’s first brick-andmortar in Durham sometime in the next six to nine months, and is also seeking to grow the brand through regional and national distribution of its jarred salsas.
• Founded 2021
• Mission “We strive to make the best traditional bagels we can, rolling by hand and using locally milled organic flour from Lindley Mills,” says owner Isaac Henrion
• Most Popular Product
The everything bagel. “It’s generously seasoned with sesame, poppy, garlic, onion and flaky Maldon sea salt,” Isaac says. Crisp outside with a fluffy interior, the bagel benefits from a 48hour fermentation process.
• What’s Next? Isaac’s will open a storefront this September on West Chapel Hill Street near the Durham Co-op Market serving up its fresh-baked bagels, plus coffee, pastries, salads and deli items.
• Founded 2017
• Mission An outgrowth of Cocoa Cinnamon, owners Leon Grodski Barrera and Areli Barrera Grodski infused Little Waves with the same ethos as their coffee shops. “We are a Latina majority-owned and womenforward company,” Leon says. “Our team is composed of people of different cultures, genders, languages, faiths and beliefs. We are small, independently owned and operated, and quality-, service- and heart-driven.”
• Most Popular Product Little Waves has two bestsellers. First is the Amor Prohibido blend, named after the famous Selena song. Then there’s the limitededition Edwin Enrique Nureña Pink Bourbon, a collaboration with Colombian coffee farmer Edwin Enrique Nureña that Leon says was instrumental in Little Waves winning the 2022 Micro Roaster of the Year award from Roast Magazine
• What’s Next? The roastery is working toward a larger space and coffee lab as it continues to broaden wholesale and coffee subscription sales. In the past year alone, Little Waves shipped to more than 2,000 zip codes in every state in the country.
• Founded 2010
• Mission Founder Carmella Alvaro’s goal is to honor the traditions of Italian food and, simply, to make the best and most delicious pasta. “Fresh, local, seasonal,” she says. “Our pasta is like a hug from Nonna.”
• Most Popular Product The jumbo ravioli, which comes in a variety of flavors, from traditional spinach and cheese to a North Carolina-inspired pimento cheese filling.
• What’s Next? Melina’s is going to keep on keepin’ on. “We are happy with our little pasta shop and selling directly to our customers at farmers markets along with some local stores for added convenience for customers,” Carmella says. She also notes that she hopes to offer expanded pasta-making classes soon.
– by Matthew Lardie 
here’s no better feeling than when a guest comes into my home and picks up a oneof-a-kind vintage treasure on their way through the halls and questions where I’ve found such a piece. Actually, the feeling improves when I tell them that it came from a local thrift store and for only a few bucks. A large portion of my home, if not most of it, is layered with sourced goods I’ve found over the years; many came from Once & Again Consignment Gallery, Pennies for Change Thrift Boutique and TROSA Thrift Store, all three of which were named some of Durham Magazine’s readers’ favorite stores for thrift/consignment and/or home furnishings and accessories. I’m a prop stylist who is always on the hunt for unique items that add character to a shoot or space, which keeps me in these shops on a routine basis. I consider myself something of a pro-thrifter, and you can be one, too, with these few tips:
• TROSA has one of the largest selections I’ve ever seen. Their inventory changes daily, making it my home away from home. All the pros start their Wednesdays here at noon, when TROSA opens back up after restocking from the week before. Saturdays are extremely busy – you will be waiting in a long line – so I advise coming during the week.
Prop stylistCameron Renfrow
shares his tips and tricks for finding the perfect pieces to accent your homePHOTO COURTESY OF CAMERON RENFROW
• You can expect an abundance of clothing, furniture, decor, art, books, lighting and much more. The best time to go is during a parking lot sale. You have to be in the mindset to dig through bins, but it’s worth it, I promise!
• Their peer-driven, multiyear residential program provides free meals, clothing, housing and much more for recovering individuals. The thrift store closes periodically to celebrate program graduates, so follow their socials to stay updated. You’ll also be able to see when there’s a storewide sale!
• I’ve gotten a lot from TROSA in the past years, but my most recent find was this mid-century swivel chair in my living room for $10! I bought it to recover one day, but it’s convincing me otherwise. It’s so comfortable and perfect for drinking coffee out of my Pennies’ pottery mug, also pictured.
• Though small in size, Pennies for Change leaves a large impact on the community. It offers women’s clothing, shoes, jewelry, furniture, textiles, art and more at a very affordable price. Pennies is a program of the Durham Crisis Response Center, which provides support services to survivors of domestic, sexual and family violence and human trafficking in Durham – so you’re shopping for a good cause!
• I tend to stroll through midday Wednesday through Friday. The staff are always setting out new items, so keeping this place on your radar is a must! Pro tip: Attend one of its themed and curated sales.
• The beautiful window display always catches my eye when driving by and piques my interest to stop in occasionally. I tend to look out for vintage art and pottery here – some of the best pottery and kitchenware I own came from Pennies.
• The best time to visit is Friday and Saturday mornings. Nothing beats getting up early and scoring a secondhand find to start the weekend strong. Once & Again is a great place to start your hunt because of its close proximity to other stores on the Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard stretch (like Pennies!).
• What I love about consignment shopping in particular is that stores regularly discount items based on how long it has been on the floor. Make sure to set calendar reminders so you don’t miss out on that perfect piece.
• This shop has a nice mix of new, vintage and higher-end furniture, rugs, art, decor, clothing and jewelry. Even if you wander in without a need, you most definitely will find something you want. For me, it was an antique chest of drawers that now lives in my guest bedroom.
Now that you know the ins and outs of these top-rated thrift stores, I hope to see you there! Keep in mind that shopping secondhand takes time; don’t give up if you can’t find anything the first few tries. I call it “hunting,” because you never know when or what you’re going to find.
As a Durham Native, I couldn’t be prouder to be chosen as a Best of Durham Real Estate Agent leading a Best of Durham Real Estate Company, again this year. We strive to give the best service to our Sellers and Buyers and protect their interest through every step of the transaction. As the Firm owner, it makes my heart happy to work with these fantastic real estate Brokers as well as our loyal clients who call on us again and again and continue to refer us to their family and friends. We sure do appreciate you, Durham, and look forward to serving your buying and selling needs in the future.
Thank you Durham, for voting for me as Best Real Estate Agent for the fifth year in a row! It is an honor to work with my buyers and sellers on their moves and being able to do what I love every day! I’m grateful to be a part of such a dynamic market and look forward to helping more of the Durham community!
When you work with Real Estate by Design, we provide a personalized plan that best suits your wants and needs. Our team will help you get it all done with our expertise and resources: purging, painting, cleaning, staging, selling, and more. Call us today for a free consultation!
his volunteer-run club develops and promotes a unique winter sport. It offers options for curlers at every interest and skill level, from younger players (juniors) to adults, from beginners to those more comfortable out on the ice. Programs include classes focused on learning fundamentals as well as competitive leagues for members who are ready for gameplay. The club also offers a series of curling tournaments – known as “bonspiels” in the sport – throughout each season.
Brothers Owen Best, 12, and Ryan Best, 15, are both junior competitive curlers at TCC. “I have been curling at Triangle Curling Club for about two-and-a-half years,” Ryan says.
“I love playing vice or skip (the third and fourth positions on a curling team), and I have competed in the finals of a junior national qualifier with my brother, Owen, at our club. My favorite part of [the] club are probably the people and volunteers. Triangle Curling Club volunteers make everything
at the club possible, from bonspiels to junior advanced commitment leagues, and the community is truly special at TCC. I also love the events the club puts on, like the over-under spiel, Carolina classic and club spiel. It’s the little things the volunteers contribute to the club that make Triangle Curling Club so special.”
“I’ve been curling for about four years,” Owen says. “TCC, being run by volunteers, has a great, friendly community of people. Being a junior myself, I really appreciate the amazing junior coaches who always show up for practice and help me be a better curler. Everyone at TCC is great – from ice makers [those who prepare and maintain the ice for players], junior coaches and bonspiel organizers, everyone at TCC plays their role in trying to make it a great place to hang out and have fun.”
Gina Wilpiszeski and Jason Boettger recently moved to the Parkwood neighborhood from Knoxville, Tennessee, and typically kick off their weekends at TCC’s Friday night league. “What I most love about being part of the Triangle Curling Club is the camaraderie,” Gina says. “Curling is such a social sport! We play in the Friday night league, which seems to attract a low-key crowd, and it’s nice to end the week with a friendly game [of] ‘broomstacking.’ We joined the club when things started opening up in 2021, and we were immediately welcomed into the fold even though we were new to the area and didn’t know anyone.”
“What I appreciate most about the club is the flexibility around involvement,” Jason adds. “Folks can curl only occasionally as a substitute, or they could join several leagues and play multiple days/nights a week. We don’t need to devote most of our free time to still enjoy curling; once a week is a good amount for our schedule. But if you’re looking for a new passion to take up all your free time, the club has plenty of people who seem to be at just about every event!”
This Muay Thai-based training gym opened its doors in 2012. Classes focus on teaching technique to members of every experience level, from novices looking for a kickboxing workout to professional fighters. The gym offers programs including Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, youth classes and yoga.
Longtime Durham resident Kelly Joy joined the club in December 2018. At 55, Kelly trains in group Muay Thai classes and also receives private instruction. She’s even competed in a full-contact Muay Thai event. Kelly enjoys supporting other women who train at United and always volunteers to partner up with new female members.
“I love being part of the United family,” she says. “You can come here whether you’re experienced or just a beginner, and you still get a great workout. The coaches and trainers here are great and really know what they are talking about. I learned more in my first year at United than in 14 years at other gyms in the Triangle.”
Triangle Rock Club offers the largest indoor bouldering space in the state – 27,057 square feet of climbing terrain – a place for members of all ages to reach new heights when it comes to adventurous activities. TRC members also have access to yoga and fitness classes, a variety of exercise equipment, a functional fitness area, a top-rope climbing room, a community lounge and even a private party and conference room.
Varalakshmi Gangadhara –Lakshmi, for short, who was named TRC’s member of the year – says that the benefits of climbing go beyond physical exercise. The mental rewards of the sport help her to focus and stay present, a connection that’s quite personal to her. “The meaning of the name Lakshmi is ‘Lakshya,’ which means ‘focus,’” she says. “I focus on the activity and try to learn as deeply as I can.
“When I moved to North Carolina in 2020 during the pandemic, I found a way to connect with new people through [climbing] and took [up] membership with Triangle Rock Club,” she says. “Climbing challenges me physically and mentally, and it helps me to be in the moment. I developed a pure love and passion for climbing. I have met many awesome climbers who, from my life experience, are the most humble human beings. I am very grateful to the TRC community. It’s not just the climbing, the gym, fitness, yoga, meetups, TRC competitions and monthly challenges. I have found my best friends. It’s always a fun, healthy and active community.”
- by Sinclair HolianDurham’s Triangle Rock Club has courses that are suitable for all skill levels, plus day passes and rental equipment that are available for beginners.
Enlist a few of our Best of Durham winners to help you indulge in the ultimate self-care day
tart by reaching out to one of our readers’ favorite cleaning services, like Lucie’s Home Services or Natural Zen Cleaning, to care for your home while you’re out for the day. And why not have your car cleaned, detailed and/ or serviced, too? Spiffy comes to you! Begin this indulgent day with a soothing massage at Auroraflow followed by a haircut or facial at Posh The Salon. Once you’re feeling refreshed and looking your best, stick around Brightleaf Square to do a little shopping at S s S
BELOW Lo & Behold skin care products are made in Durham from local,
Mode Consignment Boutique, Hamilton Hill Jewelry, Mill & Meadow and Indio (be sure to pick up some Lo & Behold products there, which you’ll be glad to have later!). Recharge with a nourishing lunch at The Refectory Cafe, Happy + Hale or Pure Soul, then invigorate your body and jump into an afternoon class at Arrichion Hot Yoga + Circuit Training or Neighborhood Barre Durham. Treat yourself afterward to Two Roosters Ice Cream or a crisp beer at Hi-Wire Brewing to reward your efforts (you earned it!). If you have kids, order dinner
ABOVE Two Roosters Ice Cream at Golden Belt offers a rotating menu of creative seasonal flavors – it’s always worth going for that second scoop!
BELOW Mode’s high-end consignment collection is one of many great shopping opportunities in Brightleaf Square.
Saladelia’s party platters will please even the pickiest eaters, with options ranging from Mediterranean tapas to cheese boards to Southern chicken tenders.
for the fam from some of our first-rate restaurant caterers, like Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken, Foster’s Market or Saladelia Cafe & Catering (the latter’s new location on Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard is also perfect for alfresco dining in the summer). Then grab a grown-up meal for yourself downtown at Viceroy or COPA, our readers’ top overall restaurants with their fave chefs. End this marvelous day on a high note with a nightcap at Annexe or Queeny’s before heading to bed. Relax in your pristine abode, and try out your new skin care routine from Lo & Behold before slipping into a restful slumber.
– by Morgan Cartier Weston 
downtown institution, Beyu Caffé is part coffee shop, part restaurant and bar, and, prior to a few years ago, a popular spot for live entertainment. But its stage went dark about three years ago when balancing live music four nights a week with the regular demands of running a business became a bit too large. Today, the bands and artists are back and bringing their all, earning Beyu a win as one of our readers’ favorite smaller venues for live music. Performances amped up in December to coincide with the start of The Bullpen, downtown’s social district that allows visitors to purchase alcoholic beverages togo and walk around a designated area, but this programming wasn’t originally intended to return as a permanent fixture.
“It was more so just a short-term Christmas gift to give back and celebrate the holidays,” says Dorian Bolden, founder and CEO of Beyu Group. But its resurgence was met with such demand and positive feedback that the series is now here to stay.
Dorian says the current iteration of these live shows closely resemble its past weekend performances, albeit on a slightly smaller scale. Events are held every Saturday night, with tickets ranging from $10 to stand to $20 for seats. Dubbed the “Weekend Supper Club Experience,” the restaurant serves
its full food and beverage offerings – including wine, beer, coffee and cocktails –for guests to savor while they listen.
Dorian says that the atmosphere truly encapsulates that supper club sensation where you can indulge in delectable food, unwind and revel in exceptional music while supporting local artists. When it comes to the entertainment, he and Beyu’s music team meticulously select both established and emerging musicians from the area who effortlessly embody the cafe’s distinctive “soulful vibe.” He expressed his enthusiasm for the wide range of soulful genres showcased in the series, including hip-hop, smooth jazz, R&B and even a touch of pop. The goal, he says, is to deliver “good music and a good experience.”
Buoyed by the success of the series and several sold-out shows, Dorian says that the cafe plans to expand it in June to two nights a week, featuring events on both Fridays and Saturdays. Fridays, in
particular, will be dedicated to celebrating the richness of Black music, starting the weekend of June 16.
In its pursuit of innovative collaborations, Dorian says he’s looking to further partner with Boxyard RTP, which houses another Beyu location and already hosts many events in the summer. He also aims to integrate the live music experience with other aspects of the business, such as introducing a rewards or incentive system for ticket buyers.
As the series continues to flourish, Dorian says he’s focused on striking a balance between the music and other elements of the business, including two new Beyu coffee spots in the Raleigh-Durham International Airport, which will replace the Starbucks locations in Terminals 1 and 2. Dorian says he’s excited and proud to showcase a small, Black-owned, Durham business in the airport, and is dedicated to maintaining a seamless connection across all aspects of his operations. “We’re just keeping the glue together on everything, [and doing] it the right way,” he says. – by Elizabeth
Egan
Summer Camp
Event Space
The Museum of Life and Science is one of Durham and North Carolina’s top-rated destinations. It’s an interactive science center, a nature park with animals, and 84 acres of open-ended experiences. We’ve got bears, dinosaurs, train rides, treehouses, NASA artifacts, and butterflies from around the world. Visit today!
lifeandscience.org
*All results listed in alphabetical order
**The presence of five winners is the result of a tie
Overall Restaurant
COPA
M Sushi
NanaSteak
Viceroy
New Restaurant
Krill
Mezcalito
QueenBurger
Succotash Southern & Creole Kitchen
Burger
Burger Bach
Bull City Burger and Brewery
Only Burger
QueenBurger
Fries
Bull City Burger and Brewery
Burger Bach
The Federal
QueenBurger
Sandwiches
Eastcut Sandwich Bar
Ideal’s Sandwich and Grocery
Parker & Otis
Toast
Breakfast/Brunch
Elmo’s Diner
Guglhupf Bakery, Cafe & Biergarten
Monuts
Press Coffee, Crepes & Cocktails
Coffee Shop
Bean Traders
Cocoa Cinnamon
Guglhupf Bakery, Cafe & Biergarten
Joe Van Gogh
Dessert/Pastries
Dulce Cafe
Guglhupf Bakery, Cafe & Biergarten
Loaf
Sweets by Shayda
Place for a Date Night
Alley Twenty Six
COPA
Mateo Bar de Tapas
M Sushi
Vin Rouge
Place for Late Night
Alley Twenty Six
Annexe
Cosmic Cantina
Kingfisher
Queeny’s
*All results listed in alphabetical order
**The presence of five winners is the result of a tie
Barbecue
Backyard BBQ Pit
Moe’s Original BBQ
The Original Q Shack
Picnic
Place for Vegetarians
Earth to Us
Goorsha
Happy + Hale
Pure Soul
The Refectory Café
Seafood
Locals Seafood
M Sushi
Nantucket Grill
Saltbox Seafood Joint
Mexican Food
Cosmic Cantina
Mezcalito
NuvoTaco
Taqueria La Vaquita
Asian Food
Juju
M Sushi
Namu
Thai Cafe
Sushi
M Sushi
Sake Bomb Asian Bistro
Shiki Sushi Asian Bistro
Sushi Love
Viceroy’s achari paneer features homemade cheese nestled in onions, peppers and tomatoes, which is marinated for more than 24 hours in spicy pickled masala, fresh garlic, chili and ginger, and then grilled in the restaurant’s tandoor.
Indian Food
Indian Monsoon Restaurant & Bar
Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar
Sitar Indian Cuisine
Viceroy
Latin/Caribbean Food
Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken
Boricua Soul
COPA
Luna Rotisserie & Empanadas
Greek/Mediterranean Food
Bleu Olive
Mediterranean Grill & Grocery
Neomonde Mediterranean
Parizade
Italian Food
Cucciolo Osteria
Locals Seafood serves fresh options like these Carolina Dream oysters, cultivated by Falling Tide Oyster Co. in Stump Sound, North Carolina.
Gocciolina
Mothers & Sons Trattoria
Pulcinella’s Italian Restaurant
Pizza
Hutchins Garage
Pizzeria Toro
Pompieri Pizza
Randy’s Pizza
Wings
Chicken Bee
The Dankery
Heavenly Buffaloes
M Kokko
Place to Buy Frozen Treats
Locopops
The Parlour
Pincho Loco Ice Cream
Two Roosters Ice Cream
Kid-Friendly Restaurant
Bull City Burger and Brewery
Elmo’s Diner
Makus Empanadas
Pompieri Pizza
*All results listed in alphabetical order
**The presence of five winners is the result of a tie
Food Truck
Bulkogi Korean BBQ
Chirba Chirba Dumpling
El Jefecito
The Latin Effect
Chef
Roberto Copa Matos, COPA
Juan DiGiulio, Succotash Southern & Creole
Kitchen
Matthew Kelly, Mateo Bar de Tapas and Vin Rouge
Shawn Holland, Sophisticated Catering and Event Planning
Chetan Vartak, Viceroy
Restaurant Catering
Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken
Foster’s Market
Pure Soul
Saladelia Cafe & Catering
Full-Service Catering
Indulge Catering
The Pit Durham Event Venue
Sage & Swift Gourmet Catering
Southern Harvest Hospitality Group
White Clover Catering
Cocktails
Alley Twenty Six
Bar Virgile
COPA
Kingfisher
Craft Alcoholic Beverages
Bull City Ciderworks
Durham Distillery
Honeygirl Meadery
Mystic Farm & Distillery
Wine Shop
Hope Valley Wine & Beverage
LouElla Wine, Beer & Beverage
Total Wine & More
Wine Authorities
Wine Selection at a Restaurant
Mateo Bar de Tapas
NanaSteak
The Refectory Café
Vin Rouge
Brewery
Fullsteam Brewery
Flying Bull Beer Company
Hi-Wire Brewing
Ponysaurus Brewing Co.
Beer Shop
Beer Study
Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps
The Glass Jug Beer Lab
Sam’s Bottle Shop
Draft Beer Selection
Beer Study
Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps
Growler Grlz
Tobacco Wood Brewing Company
Artisan Food Product
Cilantro Artisan Foods
Durham Toffee
Little Waves Coffee Roasters
Isaac’s Bagels
Melina’s Fresh Pasta
Gift Store
Mill & Meadow
Parker & Otis
Smitten Boutique
Vaguely Reminiscent
Jewelry Store
Fink’s Jewelers
Hamilton Hill Jewelry
Jewelsmith
Light Years
Clothing Store
Mode Consignment Boutique
Rumors
Smitten Boutique
Vert & Vogue
Thrift/Consignment Store
Durham Rescue Mission Thrift Store
Mode Consignment Boutique
Pennies for Change Thrift Boutique
TROSA Thrift Store
*All results listed in alphabetical order
**The presence of five winners is the result of a tie
Home Furnishings & Accessories
Indio
Once & Again Consignment Gallery
TROSA Thrift Store
Vintage Home South
Durham-Made Product
Bright Black
Conniption Gin
Durham Toffee
Lo & Behold
New Business
Auroraflow
Salon Lofts – Downtown
Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps
Durham Cat Company
Veterinarian
Eno Animal Hospital
Park Veterinary Hospital & Urgent Care
Southpoint Animal Hospital
Urban Tails Veterinary Hospital
Scan QR Code
Pet Boarding
The Barkmore House
Camp Bow Wow – North Durham
GoDog Durham
Park Veterinary Hospital & Urgent Care
Pet Sitting
Barbie & Company Pet Services
Bull City Pet Sitting
Dickinson Animal Services
Kate’s Critter Care
Car Wash
Autorific Express Car Wash
Bull City Car Wash
Edge Express Car Wash
The RipTide Car Wash
Spiffy
Audiologist
Better Hearing Rehabilitation Center
Duke Otolaryngology & Duke Speech Pathology and Audiology Clinic
Hearing Health Care Services
North Carolina Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat
Optometrist/Ophthalmologist
Academy Eye Associates
Duke Eye Center
Dr. Tonica Johnson, Eye Physicians & Surgeons of Durham
Rosenstein Vision Center
Cosmetic/Plastic Surgeon
Duke Aesthetic Center
Duke Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Gunn Plastic Surgery Center
Jelic Center
Dermatologist
Dr. Garrett S. Bressler
Regional Dermatology of Durham
Skin Wellness Dermatology Associates
Triangle Dermatology Associates
Chiropractor
Bella Vita Chiropractic
Chiropractic Partners
University Chiropractic
Dr. Latisha Wright, Lifetime Chiropractic
Accountant
Anthony F. Armento, CPA, PC
Balentine & Borg, PLLC
Bridget A. Ryan, CPA, PLLC
Thomas, Judy & Tucker, PA
Financial Advisor
Bryan L. Piccirillo, Edward Jones
Bryan Wylie, Northwestern Mutual
Kuhn Advisors
Tamra K. Ellis, Edward Jones
Bank
Coastal Credit Union
M&F Bank
State Employees’ Credit Union
Truist
Child Care
KIN Childcare
Kreative Kidz NC
Primrose School at Hope Valley Farms
Sprouting Scholars Preschool
Summer Camp
Camp Riverlea
Forge Fencing
Museum of Life and Science
Schoolhouse of Wonder
Place to Get in Shape
The 360 Approach
Arrichion Hot Yoga + Circuit Training
The BodyGames Center
Neighborhood Barre Durham
2023
*All results listed in alphabetical order
**The presence of five winners is the result of a tie
Yoga/Pilates/Barre Center
Arrichion Hot Yoga + Circuit Training
Base Moves
Neighborhood Barre Durham
Yoga Off East
Sports Club
Hollow Rock Racquet & Swim Club
Triangle Curling Club
Triangle Rock Club
United Thai Boxing & MMA
Spa
Auroraflow
Bella Trio Salon & Spa
Fluffy Tiger Massage
Fuzion Professional Massage Therapy
Hair Salon
Ego Barber Lounge
Fuss & Bother
Posh The Salon
Rock Paper Scissors Salon
Nail Salon
Bliss Nail Bar
La Vie Nail Spa
Lee Spa Nails
Posh Nail Spa
Professional Photographer
Carolyn Scott Photography
Fifty Two Hundred Photo
Morgan Crutchfield Photography
Ripptowne Photography
Tangmo Choi Photography
Videographer
Big Dog Little Bed Productions
Fifty Two Hundred Photo
Little Light Creative
Mark Maya Films + Photography
Event Planner
Enchanting Events & Designs
Sabrina Seymore Events
Socialite Events
Virtue Events
Hotel/Bed-and-Breakfast
21c Museum Hotel
The Durham Hotel
Morehead Manor Bed and Breakfast
Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club
Lawyer
Ellis Family Law
Hopler, Wilms & Hanna, PLLC
Lockamy Law Firm
Patrick Law, PLLC
Travel Company
AAA
Angela Murphy, Key to the World Travel
Venue for Live Music (Small)
The Blue Note Grill
Beyu Caffé
Motorco Music Hall
The Pinhook
Art Gallery
21c Museum Hotel
Durham Arts Council
Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University
Steven Ray Miller Gallery and Frame Shop
Museum
21c Museum Hotel
Dance Studio
All In Dance Academy
Davis Dance Company
Empower Dance Studio
Fred Astaire Dance Studio
Venue for Community Theater
Carolina Theatre
The Fruit
Hayti Heritage Center
Walltown Children’s Theatre
Venue for Live Music (Large)
Boxyard RTP
Carolina Theatre
Durham Central Park
Durham Performing Arts Center
Museum of Durham History
Museum of Life and Science
Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University
Event Space
The Cookery
The Cotton Room
The Fruit
Museum of Life and Science
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
Group Outing
Duke Lemur Center
Durham Bulls
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
Urban Axes
*All results listed in alphabetical order
**The presence of five winners is the result of a tie
Real Estate Agent
Lisa Ellis, Lisa Ellis & Company, Real Estate by Design
Carl Johnson, Carl Johnson Real Estate at Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston
Theresa Olson, Real Estate by Design
Emily Jo Roberts, Inhabit Real Estate
Real Estate Company
Inhabit Real Estate
Nest Realty
Real Estate by Design
West & Woodall Real Estate
Commercial Builder
BridgePoint General Contracting
CT Wilson Construction
The Daniele Company
Gateway Building Company
Residential Builder
BuildSense
Cadence Construction
CoCreations Construction & Design
Grau Building Company
Architect BuildSense
Ellen Cassilly Architects
Grant Group Architecture
Linton Architects
SoliDeo Design Studio
Kitchen Designer
CoCreations Construction & Design
CQC Home
The Kitchen Specialist
Linda Dickerson Interiors
Little Corner Construction
Interior Design
Four Over One Design
Linda Dickerson Interiors
LK Design
Max Hugo Interior Design
True Design
Landscaper
Carolina Garden Company
For Garden’s Sake
Lawns by Carlito
TROSA Lawn Care
Landscape Architect & Designer Carolina Garden Company
John Hykes, Design Bank
For Garden’s Sake
TMTLA Associates
Cleaning Services
Lucie’s Home Services
Natural Zen Cleaning
Rosa’s Cleaning Service
Spotless Clean and Carpet Care
Roofer
Alpine Roofing
Baker Roofing Company
Cole Roofing & Construction
Gonzalez Painters & Contractors
Painter
Atlantic Coast Painting
Gonzalez Painters & Contractors
Hansell Painting Co.
Zarazua Painting
HVAC Repair
Air Innovations Heating & Cooling LLC
Alternative Aire
Hays Heating and Air Conditioning
JD Service Now
Electrician
Braco Electric Company
JD Service Now
Power Tech Electrical Services
Storage Facility
Ample Storage
Brassfield Self Storage
Public Storage
TROSA Moving and Storage
Moving Company
Miracle Movers
TROSA Moving and Storage
Truckin’ Movers
Two Men and a Truck
Florist
Blossom and Bone Florals
Floral Dimensions
Ninth Street Flowers
Pine State Flowers
Neighborhood Garrett Farms
Northgate Park
Trinity Park
Woodcroft
ew to our Best of Durham issue this year is the honor of presenting Durham Magazine’s first Social Impact Award to the Emily Krzyzewski Center. This distinction recognizes people and organizations doing good in our communities, and the Emily K Center’s work to effectively support kids who are traditionally underrepresented in higher education, in our view, goes above and beyond in that worthy endeavor.
“It was hard choosing just one organization in Durham,” says Ellen Shannon, president of Durham Magazine parent company Triangle Media Partners.
“The Emily K Center was selected because of the large social impact they
have on so many local young people and their families.”
The Emily K Center was formed as an independent nonprofit in 2000 by Mike Krzyzewski, who retired this past year after 42 seasons as the Duke University men’s basketball head coach. He named the organization for his mother, Emily Krzyzewski. The center opened in 2006 and served 38 students through a single program. This year, more than 2,000 students from Durham-based schools, including first through 12th graders as well as college students, received free enrichment programs for academic support, college readiness and college completion.
About 82% of kids at the center are students of color who face systemic barriers to higher education, career prospects and
leadership opportunities. “Our commitment to seeing traditionally underrepresented students reach equitable outcomes and achieve economic and social mobility won’t change, but the execution of the work and the strategies will continue to evolve,” says Emily K Center CEO Adam Eigenrauch. “If there is a way to get bigger, or more impactful, that we can sustain, then we’d like to find it. One answer to that may be in exploring new or different partnerships. Center alumni and other young people in the community are also ready to step forward into leadership roles to help to see change forward.”
Ghasan Ahmed has been involved with the Center since his freshman year at Durham School of the Arts in 2015. “I [was a] first-generation student, first-generation immigrant,” he says. “My parents knew nothing about the college process here; we didn’t even know what an ACT or SAT was.” Ghasan volunteered with the Center throughout high school and went on to work part time at the front desk while earning his bachelor’s in statistics and analytics at UNC. A 2023 graduate, he continues to volunteer at the Center, and begins his career in the tech industry in Charlotte. “Seeing the impact that [the Center] had on my life, I want to be able to give back,” Ghasan says.
Board of Directors Executive Vice Chair Jamie Krzyzewski Spatola is proud that the center bears her grandmother’s name. “Hardworking and a sense of humor,” Jamie says. “That is how I would describe her.”
Emily Krzyzewski, who was a child of Polish immigrants, left school with an eighth grade education. “She was not somebody who had much education, nor was she somebody who had much access,” Jamie says. “She didn’t have the things that we hope for … but she believed in education. They found a way, with her salary as a cleaning
woman at the Chicago Athletic Club, and my father’s father as an elevator operator, to pay for their two sons to have a private education in the hopes that it would lead to futures better than their own.” Jamie recalls that her dad often mentioned he and his brother had everything they could need, while their mother had only two dresses. “I get chills when I think about that,” she says.
Though Mike Krzyzewski was the first in his family to graduate with a college degree, he was not the last.
“We talk about generational change that can occur in a family when somebody has access to educational opportunities,” she says. “It’s the story that has been told here [at the center] and in our family.”
The Emily K Center is wholly donor-funded by individuals, corporations and foundations to help it offer year-round and summer programs. The Center closely collaborates with Durham Public Schools and partners with as many as 50 local community organizations to create opportunities for its students. The Center’s high school graduation rate is 100%, and over 85% of students complete undergraduate degrees, which exceeds the national level of 60% overall, and 40% for Black and 54% for Latinx degree-seeking students, says Valerie Anderson, the Center’s chief impact officer. The Center also helps students who are more interested in trade school or a certification program.
– by Anna-Rhesa Versola
BY JAMES DUPREE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
Christina Mosley and her husband, Brian Mosley, first discovered their home on Rugby Road during a bout of homesickness in 2004. The couple were briefly living abroad in a hotel room in Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore), India, while Christina was working for IBM. Christina was browsing real estate options in the United States when she noticed a property not far from their then-current home address, a traditional ranch house off Devon Road. Much of the house wasn’t shown
“We love to cook together, and that was one of the criteria we gave Grant Group,” Brian says. “We needed room for two cooks in the kitchen.” Brian and Christina now have plenty of room to prepare meals in their spacious redesigned kitchen.
in the listing, further piquing her interest. The pair returned to Durham in 2005 and went to see the 2-acre property in person.
“We walked in, and it was the most unusual house we had ever been in,” Christina says. The home was built in 1957 by its original owners, Muriel Roll and William G. Roll; it eventually became something of a local hangout for the community, with the Roll family hosting numerous pool parties. Christina says current guests and even repair workers have commented about visiting the home before the Mosleys occupied it. “It feels like half of old Durham has been in this house,” she says.
One of the more unique features was the corridor connected to the main entryway, which required visitors to walk down a 94-foot hallway past several bedrooms before reaching the kitchen and living room. “[Muriel] had an amazing art collection displayed in the hall, and she wanted everyone to enjoy it,” Christina says. “Every local artist of a certain age has been in this house because she collected so much art.” Toward the far end of that corridor was a narrow galley kitchen with no oven, a flat-top cooker, and a washer and dryer. “We asked Muriel, ‘What do you do when you cook?’” Brian recalls. “And she said, ‘Oh, darling, I cater.’”
But Christina and Brian’s mindset shifted once they entered the living room and saw the floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the hilly wooded landscape. “We saw the view and were like, ‘Oh, my,’” Christina says. Still, with such an unusual layout, the spouses had trouble visualizing the home’s potential.“The entire time, Brian was like, ‘No. We are not buying this house. It’s weird.’” she says.
2023
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ABOVE This vibrant piece punctuates the otherwise serene scheme in the primary bedroom.
RIGHT Brian and Christina, along with dogs Anna and Molly, like to relax by the patio fire pit on cool evenings.
BELOW The home’s most recent addition of a screened porch gives the Mosleys more options for entertaining year-round, and provides a perfect transition to the expanded open deck and patio.
“But at that time, finding 2 acres in this neighborhood was crazy, and [it’s] even crazier now.” The two knew they needed a second opinion prior to putting in an offer.
The couple contacted Georgia Bizios and Brian Grant of Bizios Architect (now Grant Group Architecture, a readers’ favorite architect in Durham Magazine’s 2023 Best of Durham poll).
“Engaging an architect even before purchasing the house was a wise decision,” Georgia says. “Christina and Brian were excellent communicators, clearly outlining their needs, dreams and budget.”
ABOVE Christina has worked remotely for much of her career, so having a comfortable home office was essential. BELOW Brian and Christina couldn’t be happier with their screened porch addition. “We could spend most of the year out here,” she says.
The pair ended up purchasing the house and, after taking a few months to get a feel for the place, were ready to start their first phase of renovations in February 2006. They designed a plan, with the help of David Roberts Construction and Grant Group, to alter the existing 2,737 square feet of space, stripping the entire first floor down to the studs. Knocking down the walls separating the kitchen and living room turned the area into one massive open-concept space. That onceexceedingly long hallway was shortened and reconstructed purposefully, with an aging-inplace mentality and leaving enough room for wheelchair accessibility throughout the house.
The other end of the hallway was incorporated into the master bedroom, continuing the openconcept style. The home’s entrance on the far west end was relocated to what was once the northside door leading to the in-ground pool.
With the first set of renovations came Brian and Christina’s biggest challenge. “We lived
in the house throughout the construction process,” Christina says. “Downstairs had a full bath, bedroom, living room and kitchenette. At the time, we thought it was a good idea to live down there rather than spend more money renting somewhere else.”
“It was rough,” Brian says. “We cooked meals out on a Coleman stove in the driveway. There was lots of noise and no air conditioning during the summer. We had to prop open the door to get airflow and would see snakes and other animals go by.” But those inconveniences led to the completion of their most major phase of renovations at the end of the year, and they celebrated by preparing a late Thanksgiving
dinner in their new kitchen, now with an oven, microwave, full stovetop and more than enough room for two cooks.
Today, the hallway and much of the living spaces honor Muriel’s original intention, continuing to display artwork from locals like Nancy Tuttle May and Lisa Creed as well as other artists’ work the couple has collected while attending the Durham Art Walk, The Makrs Society’s Summer Fest and Art of Cool Festival. The interior design is minimalist, with beds, desks, couches and the kitchen’s main sink all positioned to face the numerous large windows throughout the house, drawing the eye toward the densely vegetated backyard and wooded hillside.
RIGHT Brian and Christina are thrilled with their screened porch addition, which features a grill, a cooktop, a smoker and a mounted TV. “We could spend most of the year out here,” Christina says.
Since their first remodel, Brian and Christina took Georgia’s advice to heart and spaced out their major home projects. “Georgia came by just last Friday,” Brian says. “To have started our relationship in 2005 and still have it in place almost 18 years later is outstanding.”
Together with the continued support of Grant Group, Christina and Brian embarked on three other major renovations. In 2009, they turned the previously filled-in in-ground pool on the north side of the house into an extension of the driveway, complete with an entry courtyard, a two-car carport and a breezeway that flows seamlessly into the home’s modern aesthetic. Eight years later, the downstairs living space was
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remodeled and converted into a home gym with plenty of space, which is where Brian set up his home office at the beginning of the pandemic.
The most recent phase of renovations included a 359-squarefoot extension to their screened-in porch on the southeast side of the house. “This is our favorite spot,” Christina says. “We could spend most of the year out here.” Grant Group designed the space, and Arrowhead Designs completed construction in 2022. “Christina and Brian had a clear idea of how they wanted the porch and outdoor spaces to function and really trusted us to explore the options for connecting to the gardens and interior spaces,” says Brian Grant. “As with the previous phases, the design came together as a fun, team effort.”
The elevated deck stays cool under the dense vegetation and gives the ultimate treehouse feel. Complete with a generously sized outdoor kitchen and a mounted large-screen TV, it’s an
ideal spot for the pair to cook a meal on the grill and watch a Duke basketball or football game. Another plus is the porch’s easy access between the backyard garden and the house for their almost 13-year-old corgis, sisters Anna and Molly Brian and Christina say they are satisfied with the current look and feel of their home – for now. But if inspiration strikes, they say they’ll be sure to give Grant Group a call. “Their advice gave us the confidence to buy the house, take our time with it, build it out and see what works,” Brian says.
BY RENEE AMBROSO PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
ay you want to take a guided weightlifting class, learn how to line dance or simply meet up with a few pals for lunch and a game of cards. All of these and many more activities geared toward promoting wellness and fostering community for adults 55 and older are available through Durham Parks and Recreation at each of the city’s recreation centers.
“We try to offer a wide range of programming to build mental, physical and emotional capacities [for older adults],” says recreation services manager Deirtra Spellman. July is National Park and Recreation Month – the perfect opportunity to try out an exercise or educational class that’s part of DPR’s year-round lineup, which also includes trips to North Carolina destinations beyond Durham (for instance, a group visited Greensboro’s International Civil Rights Center & Museum in February and a casino in Cherokee, North Carolina, in May). Programs are open to City of Durham residents and nonresidents alike. “Give it a shot,” Deirtre says. “You might learn a new skill and make a new friend.”
Kevin Kelly is a longtime member of the open gym basketball group for men 55 and older that meets on Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m. at W.D. Hill Recreation Center and Thursdays at Holton Career & Resource Center from 5:30-8 p.m. He was introduced to the DPR program shortly after moving to Durham about 26 years ago when there were just eight players consistently attending weekly games.
“I now have 75 people on my list who I email every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, reminding people where and when we’re playing,” Kevin says. “Out of that 75, we probably have 40 who are regular players.”
The group typically shoots 3-on-3 or 4-on-4 hoops depending on how many people show up on any given night. “Nobody sits for very long,” Kevin says. “It keeps everybody active.”
Kevin, having competed in basketball at the Durham Senior Games & SilverArts and during the state and national senior games, says that the programming available to older adults in Durham is top notch. “Having a gym for senior basketball [several] times a week is unheard of,” he says. “In fact, when we compete in nationals and meet people from all over the country, they tell us they have trouble getting two hours of gym time a week for a senior group.
“We have one of the largest active senior basketball groups,” Kevin adds. “That’s because the city supports us, DPR supports us, and they give us the facilities and good supervision.”
Southside resident Bernadette David-Yerumo has participated in DPR programs for the better part of 60 to 70 years, she estimates. She remembers attending day care programs during the summer as a child.
“There’s so much that DPR has to offer,” Bernadette says. “I knew once I reached retirement that I was going to participate in whatever DPR had to offer me as a senior.” She retired almost 14 years ago
from the North Carolina General Assembly after working in business administration and as a campaign manager for her sister, the late Sen. Jeanne Hopkins Lucas
Bernadette is an official ambassador for the Durham Senior Games, but she is also an avid spokesperson for the entirety of DPR’s older adult programs. “I wish more people knew about them,” she says. “When I hear people say they’re lonely or there’s nothing to do and nowhere to go, I let them know all about [DPR’s programs].”
Also a former tennis pro, Bernadette enjoys maintaining those skills, playing pickleball and myriad sports. She regularly joins in fitness and social activities at Walltown Park Recreation Center and has enjoyed taking part in virtual bingo that is available through Zoom.
“We need to be social,” Bernadette says. “I’ve met so many friends [through DPR programs] that I have maintained throughout the years.”
Meeting new people is one of the aspects Pattie Lopez enjoys most about the pickleball leagues and other exercise classes she attends. Pattie moved to Creekside at Bethpage, a 55-plus community, a little more than three years ago and works part time as an office manager in Cary. After playing pickleball in the Durham Senior Games, Pattie realized the wide range of options that were also available with DPR throughout the year.
“I meet new people every time I participate in either a class, a tournament or volunteering,” Pattie says. “I have also met some of the best people who run the programs.”
Upcoming ventures for older adults, in addition to the regular fitness and social activities, include a tour through some of Durham’s places of worship (including Jewish, Catholic and Muslim sites), a tour and wine tasting at Melanated Wine; a “Mysterious Magical Mystery Trip” to a yet-to-be-revealed location; and a visit to the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher.
Deirtra emphasizes that there’s flexibility in these offerings depending on input from community members. “We’re open to anybody who has suggestions for a program,” she says. “We want to serve the public, so if you have an idea [and] we can make it work, we’ll try to implement that program or that trip.”
BY RENEE AMBROSO
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
was glad to get away from Durham then,” says Sally Feather Hendrickson. “It was a dusty town.” Sally was born and spent her formative years in the Bull City and attended Durham High School in the ’40s in the building that now houses Durham School of the Arts. “You could smell the tobacco right there,” Sally remembers. She moved to Wooster, Ohio, to attend the College of Wooster in 1947.
It was there that Sally met her future husband, William “Bill” Hendrickson, but decades before they married. “It was a small school, so I knew him [then] because he was a big man on campus with his big voice,” Sally says. “We re-connected at
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our 35th college reunion when he was a widower, and I was divorced from my first husband.”
The couple tied the knot in 1987 and settled in New Jersey, where Bill had spent much of his adult life. Ten years later, Bill sold his business and the pair moved south to Orange County, and then to Woodstone Apartments in Croasdaile Farm about a decade ago.
“The Croasdaile part of Durham is such a beautiful area,” Bill says. “The management of this apartment complex is wonderful. We have to do everything ourselves … but as long as we’re capable and have enough sense and physical and mental strength, we’re happy here.”
“This property that we’re on was part of the early development of Durham,” Sally explains. “Everywhere around us are remnants of that era. The huge oak trees are still, many of them, left standing, particularly in the ponds and the wooded area around us. So [to me], it’s coming home again.”
Although he moved to the Triangle later in life, Bill wasted no time putting down roots. He was invited as a guest on a WCOMLP 103.5 radio show shortly after relocating to North Carolina, then was approached to produce his own segment through the Carrboro-based nonprofit station. “This was about 17 years ago, and I’ve done a show almost every week since then.”
In that time, Bill’s aired a few interviews more than once and had some returning guests, but his outgoing nature pushes him to bring on fresh voices whenever possible. “It’s a great way to meet people,” Bill says. Former Congressman Rep. David E. Price, former deputy general counsel for the White House Office of Management and Budget and general counsel for the U.S. Agency for International Development John L.S. Simpkin, and Duke University economics professor Connel Fullenkamp, among many others, have all been guests on “Time Out with Bill Hendrickson.”
Bill, now 94, no longer commutes to the radio station each week, and instead favors using Zoom to record his hourlong conversations with guests, which air each Monday morning.
“It’s a fun show, because there’s so many interesting people in the Triangle to interview if you can get them to sit down for a while,” Bill says. “The show has introduced me to a lot of fascinating people.”
Sally keeps busy as director emeritus of the Rhine Research Center. Her father, Joseph B. Rhine, pioneered the study of parapsychology (a branch of psychology focused on psychic phenomena) at the Duke Parapsychology Lab in the 1930s until he founded the independent research center in 1965; Sally’s mother, Louisa Rhine, was equally involved in the work. Sally also participated in her parents’ research from a young age. “When I was 15, my first job was to help re-check the data,” she says. Sally became a practicing clinical psychologist herself. As a retiree, she enjoys remaining involved with the Rhine Center during her free time.
Sally recently co-published a book, “J.B. Rhine Letters, 1923-1939: ESP and the Foundations of Parapsychology,” cataloging years of her father’s correspondence, and stays involved in events, like a panel discussion at the Durham County Main Library in April that detailed the work of the parapsychology lab.
Bill still attends First Presbyterian Church – as he has since moving to North Carolina about 26 years ago, although now he joins services via Zoom – and Sally stays in shape with a SilverSneakers group at Millenium Sports Club. The couple were avid members at Hollow Rock Racquet & Swim Club – a readers’ favorite sports club in this year’s Best of Durham poll! – in their younger years.
Bill and Sally each continue to find fulfillment and connection with others through their respective endeavors. “That’s the value,” Bill explains. “When you get to be older, in your 70s, 80s and 90s, you lose a lot of friends. So, the more active you are in something that you enjoy, like Sally’s work at the Rhine Center and my work at the radio station, [the better]. We both enjoy it, and it gives us some motivation to get up in the morning and get busy.”
BROOKDALE CHAPEL HILL ASSISTED LIVING
2220 Farmington Dr., Chapel Hill
Entrance Fee One-time community fee, call for pricing
Monthly Fee Range Call for pricing
Contract Options Month-to-month
Medicare Certified No
Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted
Contact Information 984-363-6069; brookdale.com
BROOKDALE CHAPEL HILL ALZHEIMER’S AND DEMENTIA CARE
2230 Farmington Dr., Chapel Hill
Entrance Fee One-time community fee, call for pricing
Monthly Fee Range Call for pricing
Contract Options Month-to-month
Medicare Certified No
Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted
Contact Information 984-363-6069; brookdale.com
BROOKDALE DURHAM ASSISTED LIVING AND DEMENTIA CARE
4434 Ben Franklin Blvd., Durham
Entrance Fee One-time community fee, call for pricing
Monthly Fee Range Call for pricing
Contract Options Month-to-month
Medicare Certified No
Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted
Contact Information 984-363-6069; brookdale.com
BROOKDALE MEADOWMONT ASSISTED LIVING AND DEMENTIA CARE
100 Lanark Rd., Chapel Hill
Entrance Fee One-time community fee, call for pricing
Monthly Fee Range Call for pricing
Contract Options Month-to-month
Medicare Certified No
Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted
Contact Information 984-363-6069; brookdale.com
CAMBRIDGE HILLS ASSISTED LIVING
140 Brookstone Ln., Pittsboro
This all-inclusive four-star community, which has served Chatham and neighboring counties for nearly 20 years, is a 90-bed assisted living community with a 38-bed memory care wing that offers both private and semi-private rooms and award-winning activity programs.
Entrance Fee Call for pricing
Monthly Fee Range Call for pricing; veteran discounts offered
Contract Options None. Requires 14-day notice before moving out
Refund Options Prorated for the first month from the move-in date
Medicare Certified No; Medicaid accepted
Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted
Minimum Age 65
Contact Information Ronda Stubbs, 919-545-9573 or ronda@silver-thread.com; cambridgehillsal.com
CALYX LIVING OF DURHAM
4214 Guess Rd., Durham
Entrance Fee Application fee required, call for pricing
Monthly Fee Range Call for pricing
Contract Options Monthly rate includes care, dining, activities, laundry and housekeeping
Refund Options 14-day notice required
Medicare Certified Not applicable
Long-Term Care Insurance Not required but accepted
Minimum Age 60
Contact Information 919-471-0091; calyxseniorliving.com
CAROLINA RESERVE OF DURHAM
4523 Hope Valley Rd., Durham
Entrance Fee Call for pricing
Monthly Fee Range Call for pricing
Contract Options Month-to-month, two weeks’ notice required before moving out
Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted
Minimum Age 62
Contact Information 919-892-6688; carolinareserveofdurham.com
CHATHAM RIDGE ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE
114 Polks Village Ln., Chapel Hill
Entrance Fee One month’s rent
Monthly Fee Range Starting at $4,475
Contract Options Month-to-month
Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted
Minimum Age 55
Contact Information 919-883-9767; navionseniorsolutions.com/communities/chatham-ridge
THE LAURELS OF CHATHAM (SKILLED NURSING AND REHAB FACILITY)
72 Chatham Business Dr., Pittsboro
This 140-bed facility in a serene setting near Pittsboro caters to both shortand long-term guests who work with the care team to organize a plan that’s specific to their needs. The memory-care unit and specially trained staff provide assistance to those with Alzheimer’s and other memory impairments. The staff strive to give the highest quality of care alongside recreational programs and outings to provide enrichment.
Monthly Fee Range $8,190 – $11,640
Medicare Certified Yes; also accepts Medicare HMO, commercial insurance and Medicaid
Long-Term Care Insurance Not accepted
Contact Information Facility: 919-542-6677, Admissions: 919-302-7862; laurelsofchatham.com
MEBANE RIDGE ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE
1999 S. NC Hwy. 119, Mebane
Entrance Fee One month’s rent
Monthly Fee Range Starting at $3,195/month
Contract Options Month-to-month
Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted
Minimum Age 55
Contact Information 919-737-7251; navionseniorsolutions.com/communities/mebane-ridge
ROXBORO ASSISTED LIVING
5660 Durham Rd., Roxboro
Entrance Fee Call for pricing
Monthly Fee Range Call for pricing
Refund Options Requires 14-day notice
Medicare Certified No
Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted
Minimum Age 55
Contact Information Tracey Maloney, 336-598-4697; admissions@roxboroassistedliving.com; cambridgehills.com
TERRABELLA
1911 Orange Grove Rd., Hillsborough
Entrance Fee $2,000
Contract Options Month-to-month
Medicare Certified Yes
Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted
Minimum Age None
Contact Information 919-732-9040; terrabellahillsborough.com
WALTONWOOD CARY PARKWAY
750 SE Cary Pkwy., Cary
Entrance Fee One-time community fee, call for pricing on cottages, oneand two-bedroom options in independent living; one- and two-bedroom options in assisted living and private apartments in memory care
Monthly Fee Range Call for pricing
Contract Options Year lease
Medicare Certified No
Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted
Contact Information 919-460-7330; waltonwood.com
CAROLINA MEADOWS
100 Carolina Meadows, Chapel Hill
The 166-acre campus includes a nine-hole golf course, pristine walking trails, tennis courts, community gardens and more. Residents enjoy six distinctive dining venues, a state-of-the-art wellness center and an auditorium that offers fascinating lectures and performances.
Entrance Fee Range $136,900 – $818,500
Monthly Fee Range $3,220 – $5,296
Contract Options Fee for Service: Housing, residential services and guaranteed access to health-related services in exchange for entrance fee and monthly fee. Health-related services are provided at per diem rates, which vary. Home Care services are also available. Equity: See below. Refund Options Upon departure, resident/estate receives refund based on entry fee calculation and, if applicable, additional 50% of equity in the residence; calculation is current entry fee minus remarketing and refurbishing fees compared to original entry fee, and then sharing in appreciation of unit if new balance exceeds original payment.
Medicare Certified Yes, Medicare Part B
Long-Term Care Insurance Not required, but welcome
Minimum Age 62
Contact Information 919-942-4014; 800-458-6756; carolinameadows.org
CAROL WOODS
750 Weaver Dairy Rd., Chapel Hill
Entrance Fee Range $106,000 – $522,500
Monthly Fee Range $2,577 – $5,953
Contract Options Modified: Entrance fee and monthly payments cover housing, residential services like meals and housekeeping and some healthrelated services. Health-related services are provided at a discounted rate.
Refund Options Declining Refund: Pay entry fee; full refund in first 90 days; refund declines at 2% rate each additional month; after 50 months, no refund.
Medicare Certified Yes
Long-Term Care Insurance Not required; could help pay for discounted per diems.
Minimum Age 65 (co-applicant must be at least 55)
Contact Information 919-968-4511; 800-518-9333; carolwoods.org
THE CEDARS OF CHAPEL HILL
100 Cedar Club Circle (Meadowmont), Chapel Hill
Purchase Price Range $300,000s – $800,000s*
Monthly Fee Range $3,553 – $7,162
Contract Options *Equity: Actual real estate purchase, with transfer of ownership of the unit. If resident moves to health center, no added amount except two meals per day. After 90 days, member pays discounted rate.
Refund Options Not applicable because of ownership
Medicare Certified Yes
Long-Term Care Insurance Not required
Minimum Age 62 (co-applicant must be at least 50)
Contact Information 919-259-7000; 877-433-3669; cedarsofchapelhill.com
CROASDAILE VILLAGE
2600 Croasdaile Farm Pkwy., Durham
Set on 110 acres in a pastoral landscape, which provides a country feel fewer than 6 miles from downtown Durham and 3 miles from Duke University. Croasdaile is within the distinguished residential neighborhood of Croasdaile Farm. Residents enjoy numerous green spaces with yards, gardening and plenty of walking trails, a dog park, lakes and the security of a full continuum of care on-site. The central campus buildings are connected, with a state-of-the-art wellness center, large heated pool, auditorium, woodworking shop, art studio, multiple dining venues and a chapel.
Entrance Fee Range $63,541 – $415,202
(includes single and double occupancy)
Monthly Fee Range $2,303 – $5,265 (single occupancy with second person fee $1,456 for all residential homes)
Contract Options Entrance fee and monthly payments cover housing, residential services such as meals and housekeeping and some healthrelated services. Advanced levels of health services are provided at perdiem rates. Utilities bundled.
Refund Options Declining Refund: Option 1: Pay lower entry fee; refund declines at rate of 2% per month; after 50 months, no refund.
Option 2: 50% Refund – pay higher entry fee; refund declines at a rate of 2% per month until 50% of residence fee is accrued; refund limited to 50%.
Option 3: 90% Refund – pay higher entry fee; refund declines at a rate of 2% per month until 10% of fee is accrued; refund limited to 90%.
Medicare Certified Yes; rehab on-site
Long-Term Care Insurance Not required, but welcome
Minimum Age 62
Contact Information 919-384-2475, 800-960-7737 or 919-238-1159 for general inquiries; croasdailevillage.org
THE FOREST AT DUKE
2701 Pickett Rd., Durham
Celebrating 30 years of community, The Forest at Duke is a vibrant continuing care retirement community located in the heart of Durham. It offers five floor plans for apartment living, six floor plans for cottages and individual homes, and, coming in 2025, 10 all-new apartment floor plans debuting in its 71-residence expansion, The Terraces. Each home provides spacious, contemporary living with access to a range of amenities, coupled with myriad opportunities for fitness, wellness, socialization, entertainment, self-discovery and lifelong learning. The Forest strives to strengthen the community and organizations that enrich the lives of Durham residents.
Entrance Fee Range Call for pricing
Monthly Fee Range Call for pricing
Contract Options Modified: Entrance fee and monthly payments cover housing, residential services such as meals and housekeeping, and some health-related services. Health-related services are provided at a greatly discounted rate and are free for a specified number of days.
Refund Options The Forest retains $10,000 of each person’s entry fee as a health care reserve. The remaining balance of the entry fee, the residence fee, is refundable based on the following: 2% of the residence fee accrues to The Forest at Duke each month. The refund decreases to zero over 50 months.
Medicare Certified Yes
Long-Term Care Insurance Not required, but welcome
Minimum Age 65 (co-applicant must be at least 62)
Contact Information 919-490-8000; 1-800-919-278-9729; forestduke.org
3000 Galloway Ridge Rd., Pittsboro
Crafted with heart, soul and Southern charm, Galloway Ridge is a secure, health-conscious lifestyle destination. The 50-acre campus is just south of Chapel Hill and adjacent to Fearrington Village, an 1,100-acre planned community, offering miles of trails and sidewalks. Jordan Lake and the Haw River are just a short distance away for outdoor enthusiasts. Galloway Ridge’s main building includes 248 independent living apartments, library and business center, living room, Chapin Auditorium, Weathersfield Café, Bistro Dining Room, Camellia Fine Dining Room, Belties Lounge, billiards room, Players Lounge, a movie theater with stadium seating, art studio, woodworking shop, multiple meeting spaces and conference room. The Arbor, a Medicare-certified health care center, is connected to the main building and offers 96 private rooms for assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing. The residents of the 52 independent living villas have a short walk to all of the amenities of the main building. The Galloway Ridge WellPlex allows residents to maintain their optimal level of health and well-being. It includes the Duke Center for Living, a 20,000-square-foot fitness center, Duke Primary Care and the Center for Physical Rehabilitation For on-campus primary care services, residents can choose between UNC Health Care within the main building or Duke Primary Care in the WellPlex. Residents and staff volunteer thousands of hours each year to local agencies and partnerships.
Entrance Fee Range $244,000 – $1,421,000
Monthly Fee Range $3,732 – $7,181
Contract Options Extensive: Entrance fee and monthly payments cover housing, residential services such as meals and housekeeping and unlimited assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing. Additional meal fee required as one moves from one level of care to another.
Refund Options Declining Refund: Option 1: Time-Sensitive – Pay lower entry fee; refund declines at rate of 4% in first month; 2% each additional month; after 4 years, no refund. Option 2: 75% Refund, Not Time-Sensitive –Pay higher entry fee; receive 75% of what you paid in.
Medicare Certified Yes
Long-Term Care Insurance Not required
Minimum Age 62
Contact Information 919-545-2647; gallowayridge.com
GLENAIRE
4000 Glenaire Circle, Cary
Entrance Fee Range $75,000 – $861,000
Monthly Fee Range $2,872 – $5,991
Contract Options Modified: Entrance fee and monthly payments cover housing, residential services such as meals and housekeeping and some health-related services, which are provided at a subsidized rate or are free for a specified number of days.
Refund Options Option 1: Declining Refund – refund declines at rate of 2% per month for 48 months. Option 2: 50% refundable. Option 3: 90% refundable.
Medicare Certified Yes
Long-Term Care Insurance Not required
Minimum Age 62 (co-applicant must be at least 58)
Contact Information 919-460-8095; 800-225-9573; glenaire.org
17001 Searstone Dr., Cary
Searstone opened on the site of a picturesque former horse pasture in 2013. Immerse yourself in its vibrant community that fosters meaningful connections and a zest for life. Indulge in culinary delights with friends at one of its dining venues, take a walk along its beautiful lake, get a quick workout in the gym, or relax in the comfort of one of the elegant apartments. Health care services are available directly on campus. Searstone is on track to open a brand-new, four-story expansion, The Highview, in 2024, and is embarking on exciting renovations to its Winston Clubhouse. The retirement community offers a perfect balance of luxury, independence and lifelong care – every moment is filled with opportunity and choice.
Entrance Fee Range $397,000 – $927,000
Monthly Fee Range $3,720 – $8,170; second person fee of $1,670
Contract Options Type A LifeCare contract. Residents pay a one-time LifeCare fee to cover costs of assisted living, skilled nursing and/or memory support. The LifeCare program has significant tax advantages and works well with long-term care policies.
Refund Options Entrance fee 100% refundable
Medicare Certified No
Long-Term Care Insurance Yes
Minimum Age 62
Contact Information 919-234-0339; info@searstone.com; searstone.com
SPRINGMOOR
1500 Sawmill Rd., Raleigh
Entrance Fee/Monthly Fee Range Call for pricing
Contract Options Modified: Housing, residential services and some healthrelated services in exchange for entrance fee and monthly fee, which includes 30 days of free health care (with a maximum balance of 90 days), then is available at a discounted rate.
Refund Options Option 1: Life Occupancy – Residence & Care refund declines at 4% per month for 25 months, then no refund. Option 2: 50% Life Equity – refund declines at 2% per month for 25 months. The remaining 50% is returned to the resident or estate after residency is terminated and within 30 days of re-occupancy of the residential unit. Option 3: 100% Life Equity – 100% of the Residence & Care fee is returned to the resident or estate after residency is terminated. The refund is available, once residency is terminated, six years after initial move-in date, or 30 days after reoccupancy of the residential unit, if six years has passed.
Medicare Certified No
Long-Term Care Insurance Not required
Minimum Age 62
Contact Information 919-848-7080; springmoor.org
THE TEMPLETON OF CARY
215 Brightmore Dr., Cary
Entrance Fee Range N/A. Community fee is equal to one month’s rent.
Monthly Fee Range $5,082 – $8,432
Contract Options Rental community with 13-month lease, but can give 30-day notice at any time.
Medicare Certified Yes, for skilled nursing
Long-Term Care Insurance Yes
Minimum Age 62 (for couples, at least one spouse must be 62) Contact Information 984-200-3688; thetempletonofcary.com
TWIN LAKES
3701 Wade Coble Dr., Burlington
An intentional community that draws people from all over the country who have one thing in common: They want a well-rounded life surrounded by people who are engaged and living purposefully. More than 550 people in independent living enjoy the 218-acre community and all the amenities that create a lifestyle where people of all types thrive. In addition to the spacious campus, this is a unique CCRC: there’s no mandatory meal plan; Twin Lakes offers comparably lower fees; and the neighborhoods are filled with people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences.
Entrance Fee Range $58,000 – $481,000
Monthly Fee Range $1,755 – $4,042
Contract Options Fee-for-service contract only
Refund Options 30-month declining refund and 50% refund available
Medicare Certified Yes
Long-Term Care Insurance Not required
Minimum Age 62 (co-applicant must be at least 62)
Contact Information 336-538-1572; twinlakescomm.org
1860 Brookwood Ave., Burlington
The Village at Brookwood’s intimate size allows the building of strong friendships. Residents can participate in a full array of physical activities that promote healthy living, feed their competitive spirit with fun games and mental challenges, de-stress with their favorite hobby or just relax. In addition to a heated saltwater pool in the wellness center, the community boasts a pickleball court, putting green, raised plant beds and a dog park for physical activities. The community prides itself on its dining, including lunches in its tavern, lunches or dinners at its Edith Street Café and a fine dining experience at Lakeside Dining. Enjoy an engaging conversation with friends over a meal prepared by the executive chef while the dining staff tends to your every need.
Entrance Fee Options start at $111,500
Monthly Fee Range $2,628
Contract Options Option 1: LifeCare: Garden Homes & Apartments, bundled services, campus amenities, maintenance and guaranteed future health care all covered by the entrance fee and monthly fee. When moving from one level of care to another, the monthly fee reflects a significant reduction of the daily per diem skilled nursing rate. Option
2: Fee for Service – Garden Homes & Apartments, limited bundled services, campus amenities, maintenance and guaranteed access to future health care are provided in exchange for entrance fee and monthly fee. Health-related services are provided at the per diem rate. Refund Options All contracts offer a declining refund over 47 months.
Medicare Certified Yes
Long-Term Care Insurance Not required, but can help with costs related to assisted living, memory care or skilled care for Fee-for-Service or LifeCare plans
Minimum Age 62 (co-applicant must be at least 55)
Contact Information 336-570-8440; 800-282-2053; villageatbrookwood.org
HILLCREST CONVALESCENT CENTER
1417 W. Pettigrew St., Durham
Entrance Fee No deposit or application fee required
Monthly Fee Call for pricing
Contract Options All-inclusive monthly rate for short-term, long-term, assisted living or respite stays
Refund Options Pay only for the days spent, any unused daily rate refunded
Minimum Age N/A
Contact Information 919-286-7705; admissions@hillcrestnc.com; hillcrestnc.com
HILLCREST RALEIGH AT CRABTREE VALLEY
3830 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh
Entrance Fee No deposit or application fee required
Monthly Fee Call for pricing
Contract Options All-inclusive monthly rate for short-term, long-term or respite stays
Refund Options Pay only for the days spent, any unused daily rate refunded
Minimum Age N/A
Contact Information 919-781-4900; admissions@hillcrestraleighnc.com; hillcrestnc.com
HILLCREST HOME HEALTH OF THE TRIANGLE
1000 Bear Cat Way, Ste. 104, Morrisville
Personal care, in-home support and companion care, and respite care.
Contact Information 919-468-1204; agencydir@hillcresthh.com
HILLCREST THERAPY & WELLNESS
4215 University Dr., Ste. B2, Durham
Physical therapy, specialty treatments and wellness programs. Contact Information 919-627-6700; rehab.durham@hillcrestptw.com
SIGNATURE HEALTHCARE OF CHAPEL HILL
1602 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill
Entrance Fee None. No application or deposit fee.
Monthly Fee Range $8,010/month
Contract Options All-inclusive monthly rate long-term or respite stays; room and board rate and other expenses available for short-term
Refund Options Refunds for any days not used
Medicare Certified Yes
Long-Term Care Insurance Not required, but accepted
Contact Information 919-967-1418; liaison@signaturehealthcarellc.com
Independent Senior Living
BARTLETT RESERVE
300 Meredith Dr., Durham
Entrance Fee One month’s rent
Monthly Fee Range $4,200 – $4,950
Contract Options Month-to-month; 60 day notice to leave
Medicare Certified Yes
Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted for personal care and veterans benefits
Minimum Age 55
Contact Information Steve Foshay, 919-634-2197; sfoshay@bartlettreserve.com
BRIER POINTE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
Entrance Fee One month security deposit (partially refundable)
Monthly Fee Call for pricing on studios, one-, two- and three-bedrooms
Contract Options Month-to-month
Medicare Certified No
Long-Term Care Insurance Can be utilized for additional care
Contact Information 919-378-2902; rlcommunities.com
THE CAMBRIDGE AT BRIER CREEK
7901 TW Alexander Dr., Raleigh
This new luxury independent living community is perfectly situated in Raleigh and next to Durham, a location that provides the best of both worlds, from cultural events to outdoor adventures and everything in between. As an Optimal Living community, The Cambridge provides a total wellness approach that engages its residents physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, and offers a variety of spacious and comfortable apartment floor plans for you to call home. With a unique hybrid community model, residents have access to on-site primary care, therapy, home health care and rehabilitation. The Cambridge partners with in-house health care providers to create a true age-in-place community.
Entrance Fee Range Equivalent to two month’s rent
Monthly Fee Range $4,575 – $8,100
Contract Options Month-to-month or one-year leases
Medicare Certified Medicare accepted through on-site physician and with WakeMed Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy
Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted
Minimum Age 55
Contact Information Marketing Director, 919-737-7000; briercreekinfo@cvsliving.com; thecambridgebriercreek.com
Using
CAMBRIDGE VILLAGE OF APEX
1000 Cambridge Village Loop, Apex
Life at Cambridge Village goes beyond retirement living. The Optimal Living community focuses on improving every aspect of its residents’ lives by providing a total wellness approach that engages its residents physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, and offering a variety of spacious and comfortable apartment floor plans for you to call home. With its unique hybrid community model, you have access to on-site primary care, therapy, home health care and rehabilitation. Cambridge Village partners with inhouse health care providers to create true age-in-place communities.
Entrance Fee Equivalent to two month’s rent
Monthly Fee Range $2,900 – $6,400
Contract Options One-year or month-to-month lease options
Medicare Certified Medicare accepted through on-site physician and with WakeMed Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy
Long-Term Care Insurance Accepted
Minimum Age 55
Contact Information Marketing director: 919-363-2080; kfaulkner@cvsliving.com
DURHAM REGENT
3007 Pickett Rd., Durham
Entrance Fee Range $2,750 – $4,250
Monthly Fee Range $2,200 – $4,200 single occupancy, second-person fee
Contract Options Month-to-month leases, all independent living
Medicare Certified No medical services included
Long-Term Care Insurance N/A
Minimum Age 55
Contact Information 919-490-6224; durhamregent.com
EMERALD POND
205 Emerald Pond Ln., Durham
Entrance Fee Range Community fee of $2,850 – $4,700
Monthly Fee Range $2,244 – $4,599
Contract Options Month-to-month leases. No buy-in fees.
Refund Options Community fee non-refundable
Medicare Certified No medical services included
Long-Term Care Insurance N/A
Minimum Age 55
Contact Information 919-493-4713; emeraldpond.net
TWIN RIVERS INDEPENDENT SENIOR LIVING
25 S. Rectory St., Pittsboro
This 31-unit complex offers a friendly, social and communal atmosphere for independent older adults. Staff is available on-call seven days a week, and residents have use of a communal kitchen, game room and other shared spaces.
Entrance Fee $1,500 per person; second-person fee $500
Monthly Fee Range Starting at $2,000/one bedroom, $3,500/two bedroom; VA/public servant discounts available
Contract Options None. Requires 60 day notice prior to moving out
Medicare Certified No
Long-Term Care Insurance N/A
Minimum Age 65
Contact Information 919-545-0149; 919-637-7117; michelle@silver-thread.com; silver-thread.com
CAROLINA ARBORS BY DEL WEBB
357 Carolina Arbors Dr., Durham
Price Range of Houses Call for pricing
Number of Units 1,289
Resale Status Resale only
Average Size of Houses 1,100 – 2,600 sq. ft.
Amenities Included 37,000-square-foot clubhouse, lifestyle director, fitness center, tennis courts, bocce ball courts, pickleball courts, indoor pool and outdoor pool.
Contact Information 984-219-7051; contactarbors@gmail.com; ourcarolinaarbors.com
CAROLINA PRESERVE
115 Allforth Pl., Cary
Price Range of Houses From the $450s
Number of Units 1,360
Resale Status Resale only
Average Size of Houses 1,200 – 3,500 sq. ft.
Amenities Included Tennis courts, bocce ball courts, indoor pool, outdoor pool, fitness center, clubhouse, pickleball court and access to Town of Cary Greenway and Amberly Clubhouse
Contact Information 919-467-7837; carolinapreserve.com
CORBINTON AT KILDAIRE FARM
809 Churton Pl., Cary
Price Range of Houses $400s – $500s
Number of Units 60
Resale Status Resale only
Average Size of Houses 1,698 – 2,175 sq. ft.
Amenities Included Walking trail, dog park, yard and exterior home-maintenance.
Contact Information 888-523-9070; info@corbintonliving.com; corbintonliving.com/cary
OVERTURE CHAPEL HILL
5910 Farrington Rd., Chapel Hill
Imagine carefree, maintenance-free, 55+ active adult living where you can truly focus on yourself. This community offers spacious living, an engaging lifestyle and meaningful mind, body and social amenities while also being close to everything.
Price Range of Apartment Homes Starting at $1,030/month
Number of Units 184
Resale Status N/A
Average Size of Houses 598 – 1,365 sq. ft.
Amenities Included Heated outdoor pool, outdoor lounge and terrace, fire pit, elevator-accessible floors, happy hours and yappy hours, fitness center and yoga studio, grand club room with demonstration kitchen, 24hour self-serve coffee bar, movie theater, game room, arts and crafts room, on-site guest suite for friends and family, Lyft ride-sharing scheduling through management, 24-hour maintenance and carports available. Contact Information 919-907-2200; overturechapelhill.com
ELDERBERRY
60 Elderberry Ln., Rougemont
Price Range of Houses mid-$200s
Number of Units 18
Resale Status Resale only
Average Size of Houses 700 – 1,200 sq. ft.
Amenities Included Self-developed, community-oriented cohousing, hiking trails, community garden, community-shared tools and equipment, and common house.
Contact Information Mary Bennett, 919-452-4222, richard.mangeot@usa.net; elderberrycohousing.com
VILLAGE HEARTH COHOUSING
4900 Buttonbush Dr., Durham
Price Range of Houses mid-$300s to high-$400s
Number of Cottages 28
Resale Status Resale only
Average Size of Houses 650 – 1,150 sq. ft.
Amenities Included Self-developed and self-governed; 55+ LGBTfocused (friends and allies welcome) intentional neighborhood; large, welcoming front porches; community-oriented with large common house, gourmet kitchen, craft room, laundry room; workshop; clustered accessible cottages on 15 acres; walking trails and community garden; 15 minutes from downtown Durham. Contact Information 561-714-8009; villagehearthcohousing.com
here’s a park bench at the intersection of South Driver Street and Angier Avenue, right in front of the sign that reads, “Old East Durham.” Sit on that bench, and you’ll witness a neighborhood in transition. Your view from that bench two years ago was certainly different, and if you visit that bench again in two years’ time, the sights are guaranteed to have changed. Past, present and future converge at this intersection as East Durham attempts to define itself and a business district is reborn. This community is, in many senses of the word, undergoing a renaissance, and its growth,
energy and enthusiasm is almost completely powered by those who live and work here.
The Angier-Driver corridor is poised to become Durham’s next Black Wall Street, a district home to flourishing Black entrepreneurs and locally grown businesses that are creating a whole new “downtown.”
Diagonal from that bench is Rofhiwa Book Café Beverley Boitumelo Makhubele and Naledi Yaziyo opened the partcoffee shop, part-bookstore, part-community center in 2021.
The pair focuses on books by Black authors, championing Black-owned roasters and brewers and providing a space for Black culture to flourish. They also happen to live just a few blocks away and were insistent on bringing their
business ideas to life in East Durham. “We are committed to the neighborhood as a place where Black people live and Black people thrive,” Makhubele explained, “and we are committed to the corridor as a place where Black entrepreneurs are enabled, supported and can flourish.” To that end, Yaziyo helped create a new Instagram account @driver_angier to highlight businesses like Bull City Sweet Shoppe, Russell’s Pharmacy & Shoppe and others. Unlike downtown, which has a taxable business improvement district overseen by Downtown Durham Inc., East Durham has no formal business organization, tax district or organized city support. Promoting East Durham, like
most of the businesses along the corridor, has become a homegrown operation.
A short stroll up from Rofhiwa, at 304 S. Driver St., sit three recently renovated storefronts. Each space is just over 800 square feet, and two will soon be home to Durham-grown businesses. All are owned and operated by Durham native Amos Cooper Jr., who incorporated the commercial real estate company Black Robin Ventures in January 2022. “Our drive is to disrupt systemic economic injustice and preserve Durham’s unique culture through strategic community partnerships,” Cooper said on his website.
“I’ve been coming to East Durham ever since I got my driver’s license to get hot
dogs at L&D Grocery & Grill, and there hasn’t been a lot of economic activity,” Cooper said. “I always liked this side of town and saw the potential it had. When the opportunity presented itself for a property in East Durham, I jumped all over it.”
One of his three spaces recently housed several exhibits from Pop Box Gallery – a popup art gallery helmed by Laura Ritchie and Mavis Gragg – in partnership with Gail Belvett of The Art Chose Me. The gallery is slated to end its run on South
Driver Street July 1, and Cooper is currently in talks with investors to preserve that location as an artistic community and event space. The other two storefronts will soon be home to kombucha brewery Homebucha and The Raw Edition Candle Company The Raw Edition founder Ticca Harris said that moving her business to East Durham was a homecoming of sorts. “My great-grandmother lived in this neighborhood for many years,” Harris said. “I would go to the playground, walk the sidewalks and even attend church [at
Greater New Birth Baptist Church on Harvard Avenue] right here in East Durham.”
Family connections also played a factor in Michael “Mike D” De Los Santos’ opening of his Mike D’s BBQ Supply & General Store on South Driver in 2020. De Los Santos’ wife worked as a community organizer in East Durham, and the family lived just down the road in southeast Durham when they moved to North Carolina in 2007. “When I started my business in 2013, I knew if I ever grew to have a brick-and-mortar location or
a restaurant, I wanted it to be in this neighborhood,” De Los Santos said. Cut to 2023, and De Los Santos ended up closing the supply shop, only to embark on a bigger venture: Mike D’s BBQ is set to open as one of the anchor tenants in the refurbished Garland Woodcraft Co. building at 455 S. Driver St., just down the road from De Los Santos’ old store. The circa 1940s building was in disrepair after years of neglect and a fire in 2016. John Warasila and Vandana Dake of Alliance Architecture, who were fresh off a major
rehabilitation project down the road at Golden Belt, partnered with Matt Thompson’s Garland Ventures LLC, which owned the buildings. Garland Ventures enlisted Gateway Building Company – one of Durham Magazine readers’ favorite commercial builders – to breathe new life into the structures, including creating an open-air courtyard where part of the roof had previously caved in. The new Mike D’s will incorporate both a smokehouse for meats and sides, plus a retail supply shop. Totaling 3,035 square feet, its space will share that outdoor courtyard with a new bar and cafe from familiar East Durham faces –Makhubele and Yaziyo of Rofhiwa.
“Bev and Naledi have become great friends, not just in business, but also in life, and [we] … share the same vision,” said De Los Santos. The concept, Congress Bar & Cafe, features nearly 1,000-squarefeet of space centered on a wavy bar designed by Zac Avant, a longtime Rofhiwa customer whose Avant Studios woodworking shop is directly across the street from Congress at 456 S. Driver St. The furniture for the bar is being built by May Young, another neighbor who Makhubele met at Rofhiwa one day and then walked her down to show her the Garland building. Blackowned Proximity Brewing Company, which has held
pop-ups at Rofhiwa in the past, will occupy the space on the other side of Congress.
Spend any amount of time with East Durham business owners, and you’ll quickly realize that this is how things go. It’s an old-fashioned way of growing local connections that can be hard to find these days. In fact, over at Russell’s Pharmacy, it’s not uncommon to have owner Darius Russell and his staff call up customers to sing “Happy Birthday” to them.
Back at the intersection of South Driver and Angier, directly across from Rofhiwa, you’ll find the old People’s Bank building. Originally built in 1921, it has, at various times, been a pawn shop, a clothing
store and a church. Today it houses the offices and furniture showroom of Design Bank, an interior and landscape design firm and retail furniture business from North Carolina native John Hykes (who was named a readers’ favorite landscape designer in this year’s Best of Durham poll) and his partner, Craven Miller. The pair bought the building in 2019 and have since transformed it into around 1,600 square feet of retail and office space. “We could sense the energy in the corridor, and we love being a part of the neighborhood,” Hykes said. “Many new businesses are moving in, and it’s fun to be part of that entrepreneurial spirit.”
Hungry customers wait in line to order from Ideal’s Sandwich & Grocery and Cate’s Hot Dogs.
Leave Design Bank and head back over to that bench. Look around, and you’ll see lines of hungry lunchtime customers in front of Ideal’s Sandwich & Grocery and Cate’s Hot Dogs
You might notice someone sporting a fresh haircut as they leave Samuel & Sons Barber Shop, Executive’s Grooming Lounge or Fuss & Bother
Another person could be headed to a workout at Top Notch Performance Fitness. There will be food truck owners prepping for the evening at the commissary kitchens in Joe’s Diner. There’s a woman-owned tattoo parlor (The Studio), a pizza, subs and wings place (Sofia’s Pizza), a local skin care shop (Little Homestead Farm) and a bakery (Bull City Sweet Shoppe).
If ever there were a place in Durham that modeled the ideals of the 15-minute city, a concept that virtually everything a person needs would be within a 15-minute walk or bike ride, East Durham would be a close fit.
That intentional creation of community is the core of what these owners hope will continue to be a thriving district helmed by Blackowned businesses.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS A PLACE WHERE BLACK PEOPLE LIVE AND BLACK PEOPLE THRIVE, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE CORRIDOR AS A PLACE WHERE BLACK ENTREPRENEURS ARE ENABLED, SUPPORTED AND CAN FLOURISH.
– BEVERLEY BOITUMELO MAKHUBELE
“I love what’s happening to the community,” said Bull City Sweet Shoppe’s Stacy Ramos “We’re here to let people know that coming to East Durham is amazing … that there are beautiful shops here to serve the community.”
As for the future of the Angier-Driver corridor? “It will be a destination for folks who don’t live in East Durham to come out to,” Cooper said.
“I think it will be this cool, Brooklyn-feeling neighborhood.”
“If we put just a little bit of effort into that corridor … in 10 or 15 years, what we really might have on our hands is a Black commerce district,” Makhubele insisted. “If we’re successful in doing that, there won’t be anything like it in Durham or North Carolina. I think it’s possible; it’s happening already.”
By Olivia Paul | Photography by Ken Huth, HuthPhoto
The Durham Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting on March 22 at the Carolina Theatre. Chamber President and CEO Geoff Durham hosted “The Durham Show,” where he talked about growth and progress in the Bull City. “We’ve been collaborating on matters like equity, inclusion, housing, affordability, education and community safety. But we want to – and can – do even more,” he said.
The 2023 Bull City Hall of Fame honorees – former Mayor Bill Bell and former North Carolina Rep. H.M. “Mickey” Michaux Jr., pictured here flanked by Mayor Elaine O’Neal and Durham County Commissioner Chair Brenda Howerton on the left, Geoff Durham center and N.C. Rep. Zack Hawkins on the right – were presented with their awards.
Novo Nordisk’s Shaylah Nunn Jones and Durham Technical Community College President J.B. Buxton discussed the global health care company’s $6 million donation to support the college’s new 35,000-squarefoot Life Sciences Training Center.
Adam Klein, director of Durham real estate for Capitol Broadcasting Company Real Estate, passed along the gavel and role of board chair to Stelfanie Williams, vice president of the Duke Office of Durham and Community Affairs
“I think the Durham that we walked into in 2022 was not the Durham that we left in 2019,” Klein said. “Google, Meta, Apple, in 2019 were things that I don’t think any of us in Durham necessarily imagined would be putting a large presence downtown.” Klein also discussed the future of the city. “It’s incumbent on us in the business community to make sure that our young folks, the folks in our community colleges or universities, certainly see themselves in those jobs,” he said. “That’s how we’re going to build a different city that’s equitable, that gets into these topics of economic opportunity and justice, that Durham can be a model and an exemplar of … the question I pose to the community is: Who’s going to do that work?” The meeting concluded with a networking reception at the Durham Convention Center
lyse Burns grew up in Chicago’s suburbs and began selling hand-painted canvases on Etsy in 2015. It was mostly a hobby – she’d started painting in 2014 but had been crafting all her life – and she had every intention of becoming a lawyer after graduating from Loyola University Chicago with her bachelor’s in 2018 and master’s in 2019. She moved to Durham to attend law school at Duke University, but Elyse Breanne Design took off when she was halfway through the program, and she was making a full-time income.
Today, Burns owns Mill & Meadow, a storefront in Brightleaf Square. The shop –which sells stickers, stationery, home goods and kitchenware that feature Burns’ original artwork – has been open less
than a year, but already has made a good impression: It was named one of the best gift stores in Durham Magazine’s annual Best of Durham poll.
We asked Burns about Mill & Meadow’s success, how she puts her law degree to use and what’s next for her brand.
What is the history of Mill & Meadow – how and when did you start it?
Elyse Burns I started Mill & Meadow in October 2022, so it’s only been seven months. We got the keys to our space in August. We had two months where we were getting ready to open it, but the idea had been in the works for a while, and actually, I signed the lease back in August 2021. I opened a retail space because I wanted to connect with customers in person and have a physical presence in the Durham community.
So, you signed the lease before graduating law school in 2022. Can you tell us more about your law background and how you use it today?
EB I decided [when I was] about halfway through law school that I was going to take my business full time after I graduated, and I finished out law school because it had always been a goal of mine and an interest of mine. I’m really fascinated by the law, and I figured it would help me with my business, which has turned out to be true. Law school doesn’t have majors or concentrations, per se, but I did focus my coursework on media law and intellectual property, specifically copyright and trademark, which has been very helpful for my business.
I have been able to file my own trademarks, I’ve been able to handle my own copyright disputes. It’s really easy to be able to be very fluent in all of the contracts that I’m negotiating and signing. And also it helps me feel pretty empowered to make business decisions that are affected by laws and regulations. I’m happy to have that background, and I’m glad that I finished law school just on a personal level as well.
How many employees does Mill & Meadow have?
EB We all work at Mill & Meadow and Elyse Breanne Design. I have 12 part-time and full-time employees, total – seven of us are full time.
What’s the revenue for the business, and how has it changed over time?
EB It’s kind of similar, where it’s all under one roof with my brand, Elyse Breanne Design. We had about $20,000 in revenue in 2019. In 2020, that went up to [around] $360,000 in revenue. And then in 2021, we did $1.2 million in revenue. In 2022, we did $1.8 million in revenue.
How did Mill & Meadow get its funding to open?
EB I actually bootstrapped the business the entire way. From the beginning, I was really just selling my hand-painted canvases. Every dollar that I made from 2015 onward I pretty much reinvested straight back into the business, and that was true every year. I have wanted to try and get outside funding – I’ve been working with a couple of different banks to get a line of credit – and it hasn’t worked out. So in some ways, I’m like, ‘Well, yeah, I did this without any loans,’ but in other ways, it would have been easier to do it with funding.
What is the best business advice you have received?
EB If something’s not working, don’t hesitate, just pivot. If something is working, don’t wait, focus on it.
Tell us about your product line.
EB Our products at Mill & Meadow are mainly our Elyse Breanne Design products, but it’s a curated selection that fits our aesthetic and color scheme [at the shop]. A lot of warm colors – pink, orange, yellow, red – and that was intentional because I thought it married nicely with the brick that is original to the building and the warm-toned wood
beams and columns that are in there. We wanted to create a distinct vibe and make it more curated than just shopping on our website. Everything on my website and most everything in Mill & Meadow are my original designs and my artwork, either hand-painted or digital works. We’ve also added some other brands [at Mill & Meadow] that we connect with; we have a few gardening items and plants, and we have other accessories that pair well with our items, too.
What has been your biggest business challenge so far?
EB The biggest challenge I am facing with my business is balancing all of its different arms: Mill & Meadow, selling our products wholesale to other retail stores, and our direct-to-consumer online site, which is sustained by social media advertising on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Combining all of our different sales channels with the fact that we carry nearly 2,000 different products, it’s a lot to juggle.
What makes your products stand out from others, and why should people purchase them?
EB All of our products are high-quality, intentionally designed, responsibly sourced and printed with my original artwork.
What are your future plans for Mill & Meadow?
EB I’d love to eventually open a second store in a different location in North Carolina, most likely. I don’t know if that’ll be possible, but I would love to do that. Mill & Meadow has been well received in Durham, so I’m really thankful for that.
BY ELLISON BEAVER
PHOTO BY PHOTOS BY CLAY
Wedding Date Dec. 2, 2023
Occupations Alicia works as an executive assistant at Duke University, and Andrew is a clinical data manager at SpringWorks Therapeutics
Crossed Paths The couple met 10 years ago during their junior year at Leesville Road High School in Raleigh. The two admit they both had crushes on each other, but Andrew says he was too scared to ask Alicia out at the time. The couple reconnected seven years later in the midst of the pandemic. After getting back in touch, Alicia came to realize a serendipitous detail: She’d passed Andrew’s house every other day while out on runs
or more than 30 years the practice of Desiree T. Palmer, DMD, PA and Associate’s mission has been to provide dental care above and beyond expectations, while bringing our patients to optimal oral health.
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with her dog, Zero. Their first date consisted of CookOut and dirt bike shopping, and the rest is history. The Proposal Andrew popped the question at Biltmore in Asheville, where he and Alicia vacationed on their first solo trip together. Andrew chose a scenic spot and enlisted a photographer disguised as a tourist to help him pull off the surprise. Andrew approached the photographer and asked him to take a photo of the couple with a phone. When Andrew dropped to one knee, the photographer switched to his camera to capture the special moment. Alicia was so excited, she almost grabbed the ring before Andrew could propose. The pair later took engagement photos at Sarah P. Duke Gardens, with Chapel Hill-based photographers Photos by Clay, who will also document the couple’s December ceremony at The Distillery in Garner, North Carolina. TOP
Wedding Date Aug. 21, 2022
Occupations Ivy is a civil rights attorney and Charlotte works as the marketing coordinator at The Cast Iron Group, which includes Ponysaurus Brewing Co., Dashi, The Cookery and The Rickhouse Crossed Paths North Carolina native Charlotte attended Appalachian State University and moved to Hillsborough after graduating to work as a journalist. A Brooklyn, New York, native, Ivy moved to Chapel Hill to attend UNC School of Law. The pair met thanks to a dating app and quickly learned they made a “really great and super fun team,” Charlotte says. The Proposal The couple agreed to get engaged after COVID-19 restrictions lessened, but one evening in April 2021, Ivy wondered aloud why they needed to wait any longer to make the engagement official; Charlotte agreed that there was no reason to delay. Later that night, Ivy proposed to Charlotte in their kitchen, and a few months later, Charlotte proposed to Ivy while the couple vacationed on the coast of Maine. The Big Day Festivities began with a rehearsal brunch at Vin Rouge and welcome drinks at Ponysaurus Brewing Co. – which, the couple says, allowed them to spend ample time socializing with loved ones before the big day. The next day, Charlotte and her closest friends enjoyed mimosas and brunch at The Durham Hotel while Ivy and her loved ones did the same at the couple’s home. The pair tied the knot at The Cookery, where Events by Emily associate planner Rebecca Gonzalez created a whimsical, wildflower-inspired theme with lush florals from Efland’s Fireside Farm and vintage decor rented from Greenhouse Picker Sisters. Tabletop rentals from American Party Rentals, catering by AC Events and a doughnut wall from Duck Donuts accompanied a custom lemon cake with berries and mascarpone icing baked by the couple’s close friend, Tacie Moskowitz. DJ Treee City kept the guests dancing before folks headed to the after-party at Kotuku Surf Club.
Favorite Moments “Our wedding day was so very us and intimate despite a larger guest count at 135 people,” Charlotte says. “We are beer drinkers and our favorites – Pabst Blue Ribbon and Ponysaurus [brews] – were flowing, and the food was absolutely incredible. Our vendors were outstanding, and we can’t thank them enough. … Our wedding was simply a big sweet cherry on top of a life we’ve already created right here in Durham.”
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