Chapel Hill Magazine September/October 2025 by Triangle Media Partners

Chela Tu and Costen Irons raise a glass at Wedgewoodʼs horseshoeshaped bar in Carrboro.

CHAPEL HILL

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025

CHAPELHILLMAGAZINE.COM

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EDITOR

Jessica Stringer

EDITORIAL

EXECUTIVE MANAGING EDITOR

Amanda MacLaren

EXECUTIVE EDITOR, CHATHAM MAGAZINE

Morgan Cartier Weston

ASSISTANT EDITOR Renee Ambroso

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Sharon Kinsella

EDITORIAL INTERNS

Addie Bloom, Emily Gessner, Ali Grau, Kaitlyn Harmon, Kate Loeffel, Alexandra López, Taylor Motley, Jamell Mumford, Shaye Phillips, Hannah Posner, Rebecca Savidge, Melissa Sawyer, Chloe Snow, Libby Wakefield, Payton Wilkins, Piper Winton

CONTRIBUTORS

Matt Lardie, Lindsay Metivier, Lauren Rouse, Anna-Rhesa Versola

ART & PRODUCTION

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Kevin Brown

PHOTOGRAPHER

John Michael Simpson

GRAPHIC DESIGNER & PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Lindsay Scott

AD MANAGER

Khadijah Weekes-Nolan

ADVERTISING

For advertising inquiries, email advertising@chapelhillmagazine.com

Melissa Cooley melissa.cooley@trianglemediapartners.com

Melissa Crane melissa.crane@trianglemediapartners.com

Sarah Davis sarah.davis@trianglemediapartners.com

Lucinda Poole lucinda.poole@trianglemediapartners.com

CORPORATE PRESIDENT Rory Kelly Gillis

VICE PRESIDENT, SALES Chris Elkins, chris.elkins@trianglemediapartners.com

VICE PRESIDENT, CREATIVE OPERATIONS Ashlin Acheson, ashlin.acheson@trianglemediapartners.com

VICE PRESIDENT, CLIENT SERVICES Sally Scruggs

VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION Amy Bell

ACCOUNTING & ADMINISTRATION MANAGER Cassady Orsini

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Ellen Shannon

MULTIMEDIA PUBLISHER & DIRECTOR OF CLIENT DIGITAL STRATEGY Jenna Parks

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER, HEART OF NC WEDDINGS Meagan Culkin

MANAGING EDITOR, HEART OF NC WEDDINGS Renee Ambroso

CLIENT ONBOARDING & OPERATIONS MANAGER Brian McIndoo

DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Jack Fry

MULTIMEDIA CONTENT DIRECTOR Morgan Cartier Weston

MULTIMEDIA CONTENT PRODUCER Caleb LeJeune

DISTRIBUTION Matt Bair

CO-FOUNDERS

Dan Shannon & Ellen Shannon

Modern Art from the Collection of Julian and Josie Robertson

André Derain, French, 1880-1954, The Jetty at L’Estaque, 1906, oil on canvas, 15 x 18 inches (38 x 46 cm). Lent by the Robertson Foundation, in honor of Julian and Josie Robertson.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

This exhibition is made possible by the Robertson Foundation. Additional support has been provided by John Watson and Betsy Blackwell.

22 A Cut Above

Wedgewood Cheese Bar elevates

Carrboro’s dining scene with artisanal selections and stories behind every bite

30 Bar None

Four unique watering holes to frequent this fall

40 From Porch to Powerhouse

What began with cans of tuna on neighborhood porches has grown into a hunger relief network feeding our community

42 What We’re Eating

News from our restaurant community, plus a dish we love

FALL ARTS

46 License To Thrill

Local band Chiroptera grows in popularity with a genre-bending sound

52 Framed for the Future

Photo Farm balances its roots in analog photography with forwardthinking workshops and collaborations designed to inspire

58 A Brush With Purpose

Tiffney Marley’s creative journey blends personal healing with community activism

62 The Write Stuff

A quick glimpse at the latest books from Orange County authors

64 Canning Creativity

Pittsboro artist wins Eno River Brewing’s design contest

66 Murals on the Move

Chapel Hill’s past and future ride side by side in this rolling piece of history

67 Cold Case, Hot Mic

A new podcast reopens the unsolved 1951 murder of trailblazer

Rachel Crook, unearthing long-buried clues and challenging the story Chapel Hill thought it knew

68 Fall Arts Guide

Can’t-miss concerts, events and more

FEATURES

74 Making Waves, Breaking Barriers

Special Olympics Orange County fosters friendships, confidence and connection through year-round sports

80 Back to Nature

How conservationists protect land in Cedar Grove as a sacred space for natural burials

84 Rooted in Renewal

A globetrotting family blends the home’s original charm with modern updates to create their perfect Chapel Hill retreat

DEPARTMENTS

6 Letter from the Editor

10 About Town

Events not to miss

12 Blast From the Past

The Danziger family’s legacy

16 Glow Getters

Brenda Baldwin

PEOPLE & PLACES

100 Chapel Hill-Carrboro CROP

Hunger Walk

102 SECU Family House Classic

102 South Green Flats ‘Going Vertical’ Celebration WEDDING

104 Finn & Vandermel

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON

Come Hell or High Water

Flooding from Tropical Depression Chantal devastated the Eno Arts Mill in July, destroying decades of work and displacing 15 Orange County artists along with the headquarters, offices, classroom and gallery of the Orange County Arts Commission. It also cast doubt on whether Uproar, the biennial public art festival featuring 60 larger-than-life works, would take place. But the show must go on. OCAC Director Katie Murray and her team pressed forward. A week later, I visited their makeshift Hillsborough headquarters, where papier-mâché animal heads guided me through rooms stacked high with supplies and a once-bland space was transformed into a cheerful studio for campers working on projects. I could accutely sense a palpable resiliency in that building.

The following week, I spotted a cube-like Pinocchio sculpture, “Pinocchump,” on a night walk in downtown Hillsborough. On a rainy morning soon after, I watched teens interact with a whimsical doors installation. These moments reminded me that art matters – it brightens, challenges and connects us. At press time, I’m eager to see how the rest of the Uproar pieces will bring joy and meaning to our community. CHM

 jessica.stringer@chapelhillmagazine.com

A catastrophic amount of rainfall caused drastic flooding across Orange County, heavily damaging businesses – especially those in Eastgate Crossing and University Place in Chapel Hill, and institutions like The Expedition School in Hillsborough – many of which are still recovering. The community can support affected businesses by visiting temporary locations while they work to reopen, shopping online, spreading the word and donating to GoFundMe pages. Scan the QR code to learn more.

Photo by John Michael Simpson

ABOUT TOWN

EVENTS NOT TO MISS

Empty Bowls

tablenc.org

Join Table for its 13th annual fundraiser at Carrboro Town Commons, featuring dinner and desserts, live music and handcrafted bowls made by local artists. Proceeds provide healthy, fresh food to more than 1,125 kids in Orange County.

Hillsborough Hog Day

Sept. 12, 6-10 p.m. and Sept. 13, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. hogday.org

Orange County’s largest and oldest festival, Hog Day has been a community and family tradition since 1983. Pig out on some stellar ’cue, shop from local arts and crafts vendors, enjoy live music from local bands, pull out your running shorts for the Annual Hog Day 5K and quarter-mile Pork Run, peruse a car show and more. All proceeds from the event benefit children’s projects, schools and nonprofits within Orange County.

She Tris Sprint Triathlon

Sept. 14, 7 a.m. shetris.com

Test your mettle in this all-women’s triathlon that includes a 250-yard swim in the pool at UNC Wellness Center at Meadowmont and a scenic 9-mile bike ride and a 2-mile run through the streets of Meadowmont

Participants also enjoy complimentary training plans, informative clinics and group support leading up to the event, designed to foster a welcoming environment for women and girls to enjoy the sport.

Compiled by Payton Wilkins

Attendees of Table’s Empty Bowls enjoyed soup and desserts from

all in the name of providing healthy meals

The Gala

Sept. 26, 6 p.m. secufh.org

SECU Family House at UNC Hospitals hosts its annual gala at The Carolina Club, featuring a cocktail reception, auctions, seated dinner and music and dancing. Proceeds help provide affordable lodging, meals, transportation and a caring environment for patients and their families traveling to Chapel Hill for critical medical care.

Carrboro 5K/10K

Oct. 4, 8 a.m. runsignup.com

Stretch, smile and sprint your way through the second race in Le Tour de Carrboro’s 21st annual series. Both routes start at McDougle Middle School and wind through Carrboro neighborhoods before finishing on the McDougle track.

Historic Hillsborough Half-Marathon and 5K

Oct. 5, 7:30 a.m. runhillsborough.com

Hillsborough Running Club hosts its eighth annual race showcasing the town’s historic sites and scenery. Runners pass the Orange County Historical Courthouse, Burwell School Historic Site and Occaneechi Indian Village, and take a lap on the Historic Occoneechee Speedway Trail

Root Fest

Nov. 1, 9 a.m. to noon carrborofarmersmarket.com

Kick off the first Saturday of Carrboro Farmers Market’s winter hours with a fun-filled celebration of root vegetables. Enjoy vendor specials, educational displays, root vegetable recipe samples, trivia, a raffle and more. CHM

local restaurants

to kids in our county.

PHOTO BY ERIC WATERS OF ERIC WATERS PHOTOGRAPHY

In 1939, Edward “Papa D” Gustav Danziger, a refugee from the Nazi takeover of Austria, arrived in Chapel Hill. His family operated a confectionery and candy business in Vienna, and in September 1939, with the help of a $500 grant from the American Friends Service Committee, Papa D opened Danziger’s Old World Candy Shop at 153 E. Franklin St. It quickly became a hangout for UNC students, locals and visitors.

Papa D’s son Ted Danziger followed in his father’s footsteps and opened the Rams Head Rathskeller in the basement beneath the candy shop in 1948.

“The Rat,” as it soon came to be called by students, was the first restaurant in Chapel Hill to serve draft beer and pizza, which was then considered a novelty, in 1951.

The candy shop’s oldworld atmosphere and European style attracted a growing clientele and soon transitioned into a fullservice restaurant, the renamed Danziger’s Old World Restaurant Influenced by their experiences as refugees, the Danzigers opposed segregation and employed members of the Black community, including chef creations included the Gambler steak and the “bowl of cheese” lasagna, both longtime favorites of students.

Ted continued the family tradition of restaurant ownership with the opening of the Ranch House, an upscale steakhouse, and the Zoom Zoom Room. However, changing economic times led to the closure of the Old World Restaurant, the Ranch House and Zoom Zoom, all between 1979 and 1982. The Rathskeller remained a favorite until its closure in 2007.

The Danziger family, and especially its patriarch, Papa D, can be credited with bringing old-world sophistication and elegance to Chapel Hill dining. Their story is, as the name of Edward’s 1967 book put it, truly “a saga of love and cooking.” – by the Chapel Hill Historical Society CHM

2025 SUBARU FORESTER HYBRID

2025 SUBARU FORESTER HYBRID powertrain

The Forester Hybrid switches between its gas engine and electric motors to maximize efficiency and power whether you’re running errands or climbing a snowy mountain road. The Forester Hybrid delivers the lowest emissions of any Forester in history and outstanding fuel efficiency, so those adventures are easier on your wallet.

STANDARD SYMMETRICAL all-wheel drive

The 2025 Forester Hybrid is equipped with the legendary capability of standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. Optimizing traction for rain, snow, rough roads, and even off-road driving, Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive constantly evaluates acceleration, braking, and cornering in real time to continuously deliver power to all four wheels.

wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration, and wireless device-charging.

Built on the foundation of the Subaru Global Platform, which is made from high-strength steel for crash protection with active safety systems like EyeSight Driver Assist Technology, which acts like an extra set of eyes on the road, and the available DriverFocus® Distraction Mitigation System, which can give a helpful alert if a driver becomes distracted or drowsy.

glow getters

BRENDA BALDWIN

By Laura Zimmerman Whayne

by John Michael Simpson

You’ve probably seen it on social media – a “yellow” is someone who brings light into your life. Lately, I’ve made it a point to notice the yellows around me: the people in Chapel Hill who brighten our days with a wave, a smile, a kind word. In this column, I’ll continue to spotlight those everyday rays of sunshine –the ones who lift us up when we need it most. Because the world could always use a little more light. – Laura Zimmerman Whayne

In 2022, after breaking my foot, I found solace on an exercise mat overlooking the pool at UNC Wellness Center at Meadowmont. I soon noticed a woman in the water nearly every day, joyfully singing along to the music during water aerobics. We always ended up in our spots around the same time, exchanging smiles and waves – an unspoken ritual that brightened our mornings for years. Her smile always lifted me, and during a difficult time in my life, that small connection felt like magic.

She was bald, confident and moved with such determination. One day, I wrote a note with my name and contact info – signing it as “the waving woman upstairs” – and

Photo

*Artist Rendering

glow getters

nervously handed it to her after class. She smiled. I smiled. And I said, “Reach out if you’d like.”

To my delight, Brenda Baldwin called me right away. We met for lunch, hugged and laughed about how much we’d meant to each other from afar. She wore a vibrant outfit that matched her spirit. I told her how much I admired her energy and joy, and for all those years, how she had lit up my world.

Brenda began by telling me she was born in 1947 in Jackson Springs, North Carolina. She was first raised by her grandmother, Rillar, who was born in 1889, in the “country,” which meant no running water, no bathrooms inside or even outside the house. She told me that she would get teased at school for not being bathed and how much it hurt her feelings. Brenda had one teacher in third grade named Mrs. Hannah who would greet her at the bus, take her to the bathroom to help wash her up and would even bring her clothes. She thought that Mrs. Hannah was one of the kindest women in the whole world.

Rillar had arranged for her brother, Luther Baldwin, to raise Brenda in Louisburg when he and his wife, Doris, were situated, to have a chance of getting an education. Luther was the first African American agriculture extension agent in Louisburg, North Carolina, and Doris was a teacher. When Brenda turned 9, she went to live with the couple and their 3-year-old daughter, Linda. Her path shifted instantly, and she knew right from the start that education was her “way out.” Brenda’s uncle and aunt expected her to study hard, work hard and stay out of trouble so she could go to college. She really appreciated that they believed in her, and in 1965, she left for North Carolina Central University in Durham.

As an English and sociology major, she got her first job at the Office of Management and Budget in Washington, D.C. in 1970. Brenda was initially told that she could not have children, so it came as a surprise when she became pregnant in 1975 with her son, Michael. She continued to work and raised Michael for most of his life as a single mom but missed North Carolina dearly, so they moved back to reconnect with her roots in 1979.

Once back in North Carolina, Brenda had an opportunity to become the first African American adult home specialist for Franklin County. She didn’t think she was going to get the job but tried her best to be honest and to express her work ethic. She said it was not easy being an African American woman and doing that job, but she always wanted to work hard and not complain. Integration had begun but it was “slow to trickle down” in 1979.

Brenda worked in Franklin County until 1994 when she moved back to Durham and got a job as a social worker for Adult Protective Services. She knew that it was important to have her regulation book with her at all times and to “do everything by the book.” Brenda said it wasn’t easy to go into people’s homes as an African American woman to bring up complaints and concerns,

Love is an action word. You have to show some love, sacrifice because of love and put other people before you.

but she knew that she was kind and straightforward. She retired in 2009 after working there for 15 years.

She never considered herself to be the religious type until she met one of her work colleagues named Joyce Hunter, who really helped shape her life in terms of faith. She had known that Joyce was facing some incredibly terrifying personal experiences that turned her world upside down. Brenda asked Joyce one day how she could still be content and untethered given all she had gone through. Joyce explained that she was a “believer in God” and that she had to trust that “He would provide” for her. It was that simple. Taking inspiration from Joyce, Brenda has followed Christ ever since.

One day, Brenda opened her purse and took out a handful of old family photos. They were black and white and square as old photos are. I looked at the faces of her siblings, grandmother and uncles. There was a softness in her grandmother’s eyes like Brenda’s. I sat there for a moment taking it all in, thinking about what it felt like to grow up the way she did.

As Brenda and I got more comfortable with each other, she opened up to me about her experience with cancer. She said that growing up no one in her family would mention the “C” word. Her Aunt Lena had died of cancer because she didn’t get a hysterectomy that would have helped save her life. As a result, they didn’t talk about cancer.

In 2016, at nearly 70, Brenda found out that she had a very aggressive form of uterine cancer. Brenda told her son that she would “either be here on Earth or here in heaven.” She underwent surgery in January 2017 under the eyes of Dr. Brittany Davidson, a gynecologic oncologist at Duke Health. The surgery was long, but Brenda knew that her surgeon took extra special care of her. Afterward, her lymph nodes were clear. She was grateful that her radiation after the surgery was so simple compared to the patients she saw down the hallway who were stuck there all day. Today she remains cancer-free.

My biggest takeaway from getting to know Brenda is that she has this way about her that just says, “I am so happy to just be here.” If you have seen her in her water aerobics classes as I have, her entire energy is about “working hard and lifting others.” There are people you meet that grow bitter from life’s hard times, and then there are people who can turn hard times into lifedefining moments. Brenda told me that in childhood when she was teased and then later when she lost her hair from cancer, she learned when others are unkind, “That’s on them!” She also told me that “Love is an action word. You have to show some love, sacrifice because of love and put other people before you.”

Every time I reach out to a stranger who has made my life better by simply waving or smiling, I am reminded of the beauty in humanity. We get so caught up in our own circles of friends, families, jobs, responsibilities, workouts and even heartaches that we don’t take a moment to pause and connect with someone new. CHM

A cut Above

Wedgewood Cheese

Bar carries around 100 varieties at a time, including Fourme d’Ambert, Jake’s Nettle Gouda, L’Amuse Signature Gouda, Pleasant Ridge Reserve, Redbud from Boxcarr Handmade Cheese, Brie Fermier, OG Goat and Marcel Petite 36-month Comte, pictured here.

Wedgewood Cheese Bar elevates Carrboro’s dining scene with artisanal selections and a story behind every bite

SBy Matt Lardie

tepping inside the new Wedgewood Cheese Bar, you’re immediately greeted by the three glass-front cases stuffed to the brim with a dizzying array of cheeses, prosciuttos, salamis and more. Here, cheese is the raison d’être, the singular thread pulling the operation together, the gooey, creamy heart of the whole thing. You’ll forgive me for waxing poetic about cheese, but spend a few moments talking to Michelle Webb and Stevie Lee Webb, the big cheeses behind Wedgewood, and you’ll be daydreaming about Délice de Bourgogne or yearning for Yorkshire blue as well. As they celebrate their transition from a small counter inside Glasshalfull to their very own brick-and-mortar location, I caught up with the duo to chat about all things cheese.

For Stevie, the head cheesemonger at Wedgewood, it was a simple side gig that launched his love for cheese. 

Photography by John Michael Simpson

While working in emergency medicine in New York City, he got a job as a cheesemonger at Brooklyn’s The Greene Grape on his days off. “I remembered not just how wonderful cheese can be but also the fantastic stories that live behind all of them,” he recalls, referring to his time spent working in restaurants in Britain. “Telling those stories and giving people little bits of wonderful cheese made me realize how much I enjoyed it. It was the best day of the week – no one got hurt, no one died. You can’t really give anyone any other food over a counter and see them light up instantly and be rapt with its tales. Is cheese addictive? No, but that experience is.”

For Michelle, a corporate communications background fed into a desire to do something more hands-on. “I’ve spent my entire 20-year career in health care communications, but my aspiration was always to take the skills and rigor that I developed in the corporate sector and bring them to a small business,” she says. “Not necessarily a restaurant that we owned, but hey, here we are.

“My expertise in cheese has really been built working with Stevie and the team so closely over

ABOVE Wedgewood stocks items from all over the globe, such as tinned fish from Spain and Portugal, wines from Loire Valley chenin blanc to Iberian amaro and cheese-centric cookbooks. BELOW Costen Irons and Chela Tu share bread, butter and radishes over a glass of wine on the upstairs balcony.

the years and being incredibly drawn to the stories that each one tells,” Michelle continues. “As a communicator by trade, I’ve taken these stories and tried to transform cheese as an afterthought or a garnish to a main character. You see that in our social media, our blog, classes, menu, to the way we train our staff. People will remember the stories – not the hard [cheese] facts.”

The partnership with Glasshalfull was the perfect beginning. After all, who doesn’t love a good wine and cheese night? But as the popularity of what was then known simply as The Cheese Shop grew, it was clear there was enough of a craving for cheddar to sustain the business as its own entity.

“Wedgewood was always the goal, but we knew it had to evolve incrementally,” Michelle says, explaining the evolution. “The counter was a hit, but we knew we had a broader range, which included making great cheese and ingredients the center of a diner’s culinary experience. We outgrew our location at Glasshalfull very quickly … so when presented with an opportunity to expand in Carrboro, to be a part of a Brewer Lane revival with Cat’s Cradle opening another music venue across the street, and anchored in a community that is demanding a more sophisticated food and beverage scene, we jumped at the chance.”

That dream of a dining experience centered on cheese has now come to fruition. With the new space, including an impressive cheese counter, horseshoe-shaped bar and intimate dining room upstairs, Wedgewood is poised to become one of the premier culinary experiences of the Triangle. “Visually, Wedgewood is a tribute to a modern twist on British Wedgwood porcelain,” Michelle explains. “The traditional blue-and-white toile is refreshed with bright cerulean and lapis blue.

“Wedgewood is our vision at full horsepower,” she continues. “Let’s be honest, you can grab a cheese plate and a glass of wine at any restaurant, but few, if any, can

Michelle Webb and Stevie Lee Webb started their business as The Cheese Shop, a popup located in Glasshalfull, before launching Wedgewood Cheese Bar.

dive deep into the makers, terroir, origin stories [and] historical and cultural context that helped get it to your plate.”

Diners experience that thought and care in dishes like the Caesar salad showered with bright orange Mimolette, or the pimento cheese made with Quicke’s English cheddar. And then there’s the “omaqueso,” a nod to the Japanese omakase style of coursed dining, an offer that it’s safe to say exists nowhere else in the Triangle, let alone the state. “There are different kinds of people who will walk in the doors, and the omaqueso is for someone who wants to be adventurous or just wants to be relieved of choosing,” Michelle said. “The omaqueso is composed of uniquely off-menu selections that rotate monthly with the season and are truly a surprise when they hit the table.”

few, if any, can dive deep into the makers, terroir, origin stories [and] historical and cultural context that helped get it to your plate.

After all this time spent envisioning Wedgewood, you’d think that Michelle and Stevie would need a break from cheese, but you’d be wrong. They still have time to gush about their current favorites. Michelle prefers Jake’s Nettle Gouda. “This cheese is made by an Amish family in upstate New York and is what we call ‘chicken soup cheese,’ full of herbaceous notes from nettle, parsley, chives, celery, garlic and pepper.” Look for it on the menu this fall.

As for Stevie, it’s Quicke’s cheddar. “It’s grassy, mineral-y, punchy and even hits you with a touch of horseradish at the end. It’s everything I love about British cheese, and it’s fun to watch people react to it at the counter or the bar, or when they taste our pimento cheese. It’s completely unexpected – cheddar that bites back.” CHM

The menu includes shareable cheese boards with thoughtful tasting notes, plus crisp salads, sandwiches served with pickles and cheese on toast.

bar none

Four unique watering holes to frequent this fall

Compiled by Sharon Kinsella

Photography by John Michael Simpson

Leah Colbath, Jasper Arora, Buffy Maske, co-owner Smita Patel and Sean Pecor cheers at The Rookery bar.

Libations

We use all fresh and homemade ingredients here, focusing on simple but tasty drinks. A few of our favorites are the “Off the Cusp” and the “Hillsbrew” – a sweet tea-inspired drink using an apple tea syrup with bourbon. We guarantee creative drinks you will only find here.

The Rookery

Owners Smita Patel & BJ Patel

Credentials Nomad in downtown Hillsborough and Viceroy in downtown Durham

Established 2025

Open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 4-11 p.m.; Saturday 3-11 p.m.; Sunday 2:30-11 p.m.

The ambience Our vibrant tropical wallpaper and pink neon “Rookery” sign are the stars of the show. We blend that vibe with a slightly rustic feel from the previous design and history of the building, which used to be a feed shed. What’s a rookery anyway? A collection of nests where large groups of birds gather to live. Our bar is a safe, relaxed place where [folks] can come with their family and be a part of a larger community. Our regulars are mostly local Hillsboroughians – with a nice variety of ages and vibes.

Good times Trivia every Wednesday at 7 p.m., music on the weekends from 7-10 p.m., yoga on Sundays at 1:30 p.m., karaoke on Sundays from 5-9 p.m. and movies on the lawn every other Thursday at 9 p.m. 

ABOVE The “Off the Cusp” cocktail combines tequila, cinnamon and grapefruit for a perfectly balanced sip that’s both warming and refreshing.

LEFT Bartender Tony Rignola mixes up a signature cocktail.

What to sip this fall

Crossroads Barroom at The Carolina Inn

The brains behind the bar Ryan Garrison, food & beverage specialist

Established 1924 and rebranded as the “Barroom” in summer 2024

Open Sunday through Thursday, 2:30-11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday until midnight

The feel Crossroads Barroom boasts a modern vibe steeped in a 100-year history. It’s a warm environment where people come to catch up with one another and find friends new and old. People come and go, but when they return it’s always a bit like coming home. It’s the true embrace of familiarity that comes from sitting in one of your favorite spots, in one of your favorite towns, with a drink in your hand. We are here for the big celebrations (go Heels!) and the quiet everyday moments of life. The firepits are a perfect place to indulge and catch up.

The inn crowd We see locals from Chapel Hill and surrounding towns, UNC visitors and guests from all over the world. It’s a unique melting pot.

Whiskey business We have one of the best whiskey programs in the Triangle with more than 100 bottles specifically selected to meet anyone’s preference. Our blossoming antique program “Aperitions” offers 11 different American whiskies distilled between 1956 and 1982. We invite our guests to taste a part of history, learn a bit about American whiskey and have an unmatched beverage experience.

Perfect pairings Brunch: Aperol or Hugo spritz + buffet | Dinner: passionfruit caipirinha + honey-whipped feta to start; then Bourgueil cabernet franc + grilled bone-in heritage pork chop | Dessert: 1980 Eagle Rare bourbon served neat + grilled bourbon peach Melba sundae | After dinner: espresso martini + chocolate chip cookies from the front desk 

We’re very excited for our new barrel-aged cocktails. We will have old favorites such as the Vieux Carre and boulevardier, in addition to a new Martinez. Each cocktail has been aging all summer and is just dying to jump into a glass. Try the Daly Bulleit – Bulleit Bourbon, chamomile syrup, lemon and unsweet tea – or the Passion Fruit Caipirinha – Leblon Cachaca, spiced brown sugar syrup, Key lime and passion fruit Giffard.

NOW

OPEN! NOW OPEN! PUDDIN'S BEER SHACK PUDDIN'S BEER SHACK

only at only at

AL'S BURGER SHACK AL'S BURGER SHACK

Rotating draft beers and wines!

New indoor booth seating!

5 big TVs with all the big games!

Same great AL's burgers and fries!

PUDDIN'S BEER SHACK PUDDIN'S BEER SHACK

WHERE TAR HEELS GO TO TAILGATE! WHERE TAR HEELS GO TO TAILGATE!

Lapin Bleu

Owner Michael Benson

Past credentials Southern Rail in Carrboro and Franklin Motors in Chapel Hill

Established 2022

Open Monday through Friday, 1 p.m. to midnight; Saturday and Sunday, noon to midnight

The spirit We are a jazz bar with a hockey problem. We regularly have live jazz (there’s never a cover) and jazz-adjacent styles of music. We feature all Carolina Hurricanes and UNC football and basketball games. The look of the bar is of a vintage canteen you’d find in the heart of New York City in the ’50s.

Popular picks Guinness on draft, Norm’s sangria and our Helsinki mule (pictured right); also strawberry margaritas and Havoc Brewing Company’s “Actual” Mexican-style lager

Usual suspects

A cross between professionals, musicians, artists and UNC employees and graduate students

The lineup We feature a jazz jam on Sunday evenings with UNC Department of Music students forming the core band. We have also had guest speakers do pop-up science series and even book presentations and signings.

BYO bites We allow outside food from other establishments. You can bring in a pizza from Italian Pizzeria III, a burger from Al’s Burger Shack, birthday cake [or anything you want]. 

Trey Tanner, Maria Jacavino, Norm Underwood, Chip Hoppin, Mike Benson, Jonathan Lillie and Jackie Tanner enjoy a round together.

Experience fall at Kersey Valley Attractions in Archdale. Navigate their Corn Maize, buy a pumpkin from their pumpkin patch, get your haunts on at their awardwinning Spookywoods! winning Spookywoods! participating potters.

Find your perfect pottery pumpkin or gourd on the Potters’ Pumpkin Patch Trail along NC Pottery Highway 705 in Seagrove, weekends, during the month of October at participating potters.

From apple picking and apple slushies, to hayrides, pumpkin patches and more, Millstone Creek Orchards in Ramseur is the perfect fall excursion for families, friends and children of all ages!

Shop the Liberty Antiques Festival with 400 dealers from more than 25 states at the Pike Family Farm in Staley, Friday & Saturday, September 26th & 27th from 8:00 AM-4:00 PM. Admission charged, free parking.

Sidetrack Bar & Lounge

Owners Rod Anderson & Amy Anderson

Credentials Farm House Restaurant, opened by Amy’s parents in 1969

Established December 2024

Open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 3-10 p.m.; Friday, Saturday and Sunday, noon to 11 p.m.

The everyday ensemble A diverse mix of locals from the bordering north Chapel Hill, west Durham and south Hillsborough neighborhoods 

The “Allen & Son” margarita pays homage to the beloved barbecue joint that once called this building home.

The vibe

Stylish, comfortable, casual and welcoming with fun ’70s-themed interior decor and a breezy, pergola-shaded beer garden

The sip list Playful, creative cocktails made with fresh-squeezed lemon and lime juice and a thoughtful selection of wine and beer. Popular picks include the “Allen & Son,” a margarita made with mezcal and Ancho Reyes chile liqueur, and Burial Beer Co.’s “Surf Wax” IPA on draft.

Happenings Live music most Friday and Saturday nights beginning at 7 p.m.

Getting there Located on the corner of Hwy 86 and Millhouse Road, it’s easy to get to with ample parking. CHM

Chris G. Adigun, MD is a board certified dermatologist and a recognized leader in dermatology. She is known for her expertise in laser and aesthetic dermatology as well as her warm, compassionate and down-to-earth personality. Dr. Adigun’s team is comprised of top notch, dermatologytrained professionals, offering the latest technology and treatments.

There is a reason DLC has been voted Best of Chapel Hill and Best of Chatham every year since we opened the doors. It’s simple, DLC treats everyone like family!

Visit DLC today and experience the difference for yourself! Chris G. Adigun,

power house from Porch to

What began with cans of tuna on neighborhood porches has grown into a hunger relief network feeding our community

By Kaitlyn Harmon

On a morning in 2010, Christine Cotton packed extra sandwiches for her son, Matthew Cotton, to take to school so he could “bulk up.” But she and husband John Cotton suspected he had different reasoning for the request, and in fact, they were for his friend at school who didn’t have enough food to eat. Christine was proud of her son’s generosity but simultaneously shocked. “I live in Chapel Hill. I was the PTA president,” she recalls. “How could I not know that there are kids in our town that are hungry?”

That afternoon on the McDougle Middle School bleachers, Christine shared this story with her friends, Debbie Horwitz and Susan Romaine, who had coincidentally been discussing the idea of collecting food for a local pantry. The trio reached out to their Lake Hogan Farms neighbors, asking them to leave canned tuna on their

BELOW LEFT

Executive director

Erin Riney. RIGHT Christine Cotton, Debbie Horwitz and Susan Romaine.

PHOTO BY JONATHAN DRAKE

front porch. PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro still uses this method of food collection to serve its program participants.

PORCH’s story began with a simple idea: neighbors helping neighbors fight hunger through community-driven food collection. After seven years with the organization, Christine helped start PORCH Communities, a separate organization that helps other communities do what Chapel Hill did 15 years ago, and was recently made CEO. Debbie and Susan remain on PORCH Chapel HillCarrboro’s leadership board today.

by the numbers

PORCH Chapel HillCarrboro

– serves over 2,530 individuals per month

– provides 1,500 pounds of nonperishable food to local pantries per month

– has distributed more than $7 million in hunger relief

Today, 15 years in, PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro continues to grow and thrive and is run by three full-time employees, including Erin Riney, executive director, and Sofia Edelman, volunteer and communications manager.

In November 2024, it moved to its first location on South Greensboro Street in Carrboro, which functions as more than just an office – it operates as a mini grocery store for families in need. Rather than receiving pre-packaged bags of food, participants now visit the hub once a month to select their own items, including canned goods, dairy, meat and snacks. This shift was guided by surveys and conversations with the community. “We’re happy to elevate their voices and amplify them,” Erin says.

Along with the original program, Food for Pantries, there are three additional programs: Food for Schools, Food for Families and Food for

Thought. These programs include providing each school in Chapel Hill and Carrboro with snacks with the support of local businesses, inviting more than 700 local families to shop their free market each month and engaging the community in education and advocacy, respectively.

Within these programs, PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro works with a lot of organizations, including the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, Diaper Bank of North Carolina, 15 smaller area food pantries and more. “It really is all about the partnerships,” Erin says. “And if we couldn’t have leveraged our partnerships, we could not be doing what we’re doing right now in this space.”

Equally vital are volunteers with around 150 unique helpers each month. “Our doors are open to engagement from the community all the time,” Sofia says. Volunteer support is especially important as needs fluctuate with changes in federal food assistance programs, employment, unpredictable weather and more. The opportunity to join PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro as a volunteer is always open, and every contribution matters.

PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro will hold a 15th anniversary event in the spring, where the organization will make a big announcement –“something big and exciting and celebratory coming,” Erin says. CHM

WHAT WE ’ RE EATING

NEWS FROM OUR RESTAURANT COMMUNITY, PLUS A DISH WE LOVE

Step into Kolapasi Indian Canteen and you’ll be welcomed with south Indian warmth and madefrom-scratch dishes.

Founded by a homesick graduate student longing for his mom’s south Indian cooking, Kolapasi now has locations all over the world.

Bhuvana Jayaraman opened her spot on West Franklin Street in June – it’s the third Kolapasi location in the U.S. and 100% womanowned. Bhuvana chose Chapel Hill in part because daughter Rachel Dhinakar is a sophomore at UNC “We were definitely attracted by the history and charm of Franklin Street,” Bhuvana says. “The walking crowd [is] like most downtowns, yet the cordial nature of the people walking by was vividly noticeable.” She also recognized the opportunity to add a quick-serve Indian cuisine option to the buzzing culinary landscape. “Choosing the location was a no-brainer,” she says.

The name Kolapasi comes from Tamil, the family’s native language – and one of the oldest living languages in the world. “‘Kola’ means kill, and ‘pasi’ means hunger,” Bhuvana says. “You’re either so hungry that hunger is going to kill you, or you’re hungry enough to kill somebody. It’s not a real word. It’s a quirky type of slang.”

For those familiar with South Indian cooking, Kolapasi tastes like home. “It makes us really happy when people who know these flavors taste it and say, ‘OK, this is like homestyle,’” Bhuvana says.

Less acquainted guests are encouraged to sample dishes before

Kolapasi Indian Canteen 200 W. Franklin St., Ste. 130 kolapasi.us

PHOTO COURTESY OF EZ CATER

ordering as a way to help them feel comfortable exploring new flavors.

“One key thing that we focus on before giving out the samples is we ask people if there are any dietary restrictions,” Bhuvana says. “We have gluten-free options, dairy-free options, nut-free options – there’s something here for everybody.”

Those varied menu offerings include a specialty drink of tender coconut payasam, plus mainstays of Indian cuisine like biryani rice and classic butter chicken – “the kids’ favorite,” Bhuvana says. The creamy chicken dish, cooked with fragrant spices, is a hit with younger eaters. Her personal faves are okra or eggplant with lentil soup, rice or chicken chukka. “Sambar rice is a staple food for us,” she says. “During my childhood in India, I ate it at least two to three days a week.” – by Lauren Rouse

NEWS BITES

Sera Cuni, chef/owner of The Root Cellar Cafe & Catering, competed on an episode of “Chopped” that aired July 8 on Food Network. Sera shouted out her nonprofit, Feed-Well Fridges, which as of press time has distributed 80 tons of food and 65,000 meals across six Chatham County fridges.

Puddin’s Beer Shack, named in honor of Lindsay “Puddin” Faucette, the culinary head of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house for more than 30 years, opened as an extension of Al’s Burger Shack. It offers 10 draft beers, a variety of wines, additional indoor seating for the burger shack and five big TVs for game watching.

Chef Brandon Sharp, seven-time Michelin star recipient and owner of Hawthorne & Wood, Bluebird and Próximo, debuted a new podcast, “The Restaurant Incubator,” in

February. Each week, Brandon draws on decades of culinary experience to share practical strategies for aspiring chefs, offering industryfocused advice from asking for promotions to managing stress and finances.

A new halal restaurant, White Sauce Grill & Bar, opened May 27 at 104 W. Franklin St. Its menu includes Mediterranean gyros and platters, including chicken, falafel, fries and a large variety of house-made sauces.

Beloved Asian fusion restaurant Elements in East 54, opened by chef Michael Chuong, closed June 22 after 14 years in business. Elements has merged with its sister restaurant, MC Modern Asian Cuisine, located in downtown Cary.

Market and Moss, a seasonal contemporary American restaurant and Chapel Hill favorite in Southern Village, closed June 20 after 5 years of service. – compiled by Piper Winton CHM

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TH ILL RLICENSE TO

Local band Chiroptera grows in popularity with a genre-bending sound

By Sharon Kinsella

Cass DeLuca likes to sleep – which isn’t ideal when your band needs its drummer to rehearse. Meanwhile, without a ride, Finn Brown, Avery Byrne and Mili Ruiz Vasquez turned to the second-best vehicle to haul their equipment to Cass’ house: a wheelbarrow. “We loaded up our gear in a wheelbarrow, and we tried walking there,” says Finn, the band’s bassist. “Then this truck came by us and offered us a lift.” The group says they declined because, “you know, stranger danger,” but then realized

Photography by John Michael Simpson

Chiroptera’s Finn Brown, Cass DeLuca, Mili Ruiz Vasquez and Avery Byrne onstage at Local 506 – one of their favorite venues to play.

they actually knew the driver. So, they loaded their stuff in the back of the truck and rode the rest of the way.

Cass, Finn, Avery and Mili make up Chiroptera (pronounced kai-rawp-tr-uh), an up-and-coming “punk-adjacent” band, and the reason they couldn’t get behind the wheel that day is because they’re high school students, and none of them were old enough to drive. Yet, they’ve already signed a record deal, played gigs across the Triangle and even have an international audience.

Chapel Hill High students Finn and Cass had the idea for a band in March 2024 after getting together to jam. They recruited a singer by posting a flyer at School of Rock Chapel Hill, where Cass took drum lessons. East Chapel Hill High’s Avery studied voice there and Bassist

Finn Brown creates Chiroptera’s show posters and merch, including the edgy linocut design featured in the center.

soon joined, and with fellow Chapel Hill High student Mili, the full band met for the first time in August 2024.

The group played its first gig as Chiroptera at The Carrboro Really Really Free Market held at Carrboro Town Commons. The teens say they were met with an outpouring of support and encouragement from the community. “It was a very warm and welcoming environment,” Avery says. “They were very [open] with us about the amount of time [we took] and what [we were] doing. [They said] as long as you’re doing what you want to do, that’s what matters. I think for a gig space, that’s rare for a first encounter.”

Support from the community has given the teens the confidence to keep performing, Mili says. Since then, they’ve played at Local 506, Speakeasy, Motorco Music Hall, The Pinhook and The Night Rider in Raleigh. All-ages venues are their favorite. “We’ve played shows where we’re allowed [on stage], but people our age aren’t allowed to come to see us,” Avery says. Playing all-ages shows allows the band to connect to their peers, which has been fundamental in helping them build a following. “Without those spaces, I don’t think we would be able to build up the community we have,” Avery says.

“It’s absolutely wild,” Finn adds, describing what it’s like to meet fans. “It’s really incredible – and honestly, very shocking – to know that people who I don’t know, know that we exist and [listen to our music].”

The band’s first EP with Raleigh music label Boared to Death Records released Aug. 15. This record, they say, experiments with different genres and sounds, bringing in more dynamic contrast and complex instrumentations than fans have heard before. “We’ve played [some of these songs] live before, but having them recorded is very different sounding than it is live,” Cass says. “I think it’ll be cool for [fans] to hear that.”

As school comes back into session, the group faces a new challenge: balancing growing popularity with the demands of student life. For now, school takes priority – though with Avery getting his license soon (and Finn not far behind), at least getting to rehearsal will get a little easier. The band has no plans to slow down. They’re eager to connect with more local acts, especially other youth bands, and hope to land a spot at this fall’s Carrboro Music Festival. Until then, they’re focused on doing what they love best. “I guess it’s like punk plus more experimental,” Cass says of their craft. “To me, punk is spreading a message. It’s pulling people together.” CHM av ER y By RNE vocals

Started playing music at age 10

Favorite local hangouts

Attic 506, The Baxter and Lower Booker Creek Trail

Biggest musical influences

Neutral Milk Hotel and Mitski

Songs you listen to on repeat “Virtual Insanity” by Jamiroquai and “Son of Sam” by Elliott Smith

Guilty pleasure listen “Girls” by The Dare

f INN BRO w N bass

Started playing music at age 13

Favorite local hangouts

Local 506, Speakeasy, Rumors and The Baxter

Biggest musical influences No Cash and The Used

One song you listen to on repeat “Wasting Life Naturally” by Se Vende

Guilty pleasure listens GloRilla and Mom Jeans

Ca SS D E Lu C a drums

Started playing music at age 10

Favorite local hangouts

Local 506, Speakeasy and Rumors

Biggest musical influence

The death metal band Death (their drumming techniques and overall sound are amazing)

One song you listen to on repeat “New American Century” by KMFDM M ILI Ru I z va S qu E z guitar

Started playing music at age 11

Favorite local hangouts

The rooftop at Local 506

Biggest musical influence Slipknot

One song you listen to on repeat “From Here to the Hearse” by Wednesday 13

Guilty pleasure listen “What Is Love” by Haddaway

Be present to witness miracles and feel the magic again in a really Busy, noisy world.”

– PHYLLIS B. DOONEY, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR, PHOTO FARM

framed for the fu tu re

Photo Farm balances its roots in analog photography with forward-thinking workshops and collaborations designed to inspire

By Anna-Rhesa Versola

asteep gravel lane leads to Photo Farm’s two-story, 2,400-square-foot contemporary barn covered with rooftop solar panels. A dense hardwoodpine forest shields views of the structure built in 2022 on a hillside off Damascus Church Road at Meacham Road in Chapel Hill.

“I think this place was bubbling in my mind as a New Yorker – this idea of space,” says Phyllis B. Dooney, a third-generation visual storyteller.

“Artists need space. … At first, I thought I’d build myself a studio someday, and then it grew into this monster.” That monster became Photo Farm, a makerspace she founded last September on a 26-acre bona fide tree farm.

A short ramp from the parking area leads to a wheelchair-accessible studio with wood floors, a vaulted ceiling and a remote-controlled skylight. When needed, black Commando cloth curtains block out light from south-facing windows. A wide

Photography by John Michael Simpson

barn door slides open to reveal a flexible, light-filled space where rolling tables can be easily configured to accommodate lectures, classes or bookmaking workshops. White Homasote panels cover the walls, allowing photos to be safely pinned to them for collaborative reviews.

Downstairs, a thoughtfully designed darkroom has a light-trap hallway and nine stations fitted with modern, reliable enlargers and other equipment. “When I’m in [the darkroom] regularly, my metabolism changes,” Phyllis observes. “Your sense of time is so different, and

your patience [too]. It’s like meditation. You can’t have your phone in here, and you’re just on a completely different cycle of time and understanding of time.”

Just outside the darkroom is a separate room for chemical supplies and an open space for large digital printers, light boxes, a custom-made ultraviolet exposure unit, storage racks and work tables. Stepping into the daylight, an outdoor classroom features a rugged amphitheater with unearthed boulders as seats overlooking a firepit and a trail leading down a slope of towering trees. 

ABOVE The Photo Farm darkroom.

LEFT Serena Ajbani and Archer Boyette collect small plants to create photograms –photographic images made without a camera. RIGHT Plants soak in developer.

For Phyllis, exposure to analog photography began at an early age. Her maternal grandfather, who was president of The New York Sun, had a passion for journalism and cameras. Her father also loved photography and the evolving technology in the art form. Eventually, Phyllis became an art director in commercial photography before switching to documentary work and fine art.

In 2016, Phyllis moved to the Tar Heel State to earn her MFA in experimental and documentary arts at Duke University. These days, she is an adjunct instructor at UNC’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media and also at Duke while exploring the liminal spaces between analog and digital processes in her own work.

“Making people stop and think, assess the past and the future – to me, that’s the essence of Photo Farm and the reason I keep analog stuff alive here,” Phyllis says. “It’s got one foot in the past and one foot in the future. We’ll see what happens.” CHM

Rachel Jessen, the operations and outreach coordinator for Photo Farm, says one of the studio’s goals is to host visiting artists who can share their expertise and perspectives. Additionally, this year will feature more open studio days, a new lecture series, workshops and a variety of classes, like working with silver gelatin and darkroom basics.

“We welcome curious minds, and that’s really the only requirement,” Rachel says. “I don’t know if it’s intimidating to people, but I would like for people with curious minds to know that they have a space [at Photo Farm] because they do.”

Oct. 4 – Looking Inward: The Conversation Between Our Images and Ourselves with instructors Jenny Jacklin Stratton and Sarah Blesener, in partnership with Tacet Eye. This hands-on workshop uses objects of personal significance, such as photographs, heirlooms and memorabilia, to reimagine visual storytelling.

Oct. 25 – This meetup with Kathryn Humphries, art director of Harper’s Magazine, is part of Photo Farm’s Insider Trading series, which focuses on a specific area of expertise with an accomplished ambassador. Kathryn will share her background and discuss some of the processes for selecting photos and stories for the publication during an event held in partnership with the Do Good Fund.

Nov. TBD – Pop Art Collab with Super G Print Lab – This four-week workshop will be split across two locations – two evening sessions at Photo Farm to learn studio lighting with a pop art aesthetic and two evening sessions at the Super G Print Lab in Durham to use a studio image to create screen print posters.

ABOVE Photo Farm plans to launch an artist residency program, inviting artists to live and work in this building, use studio spaces and instruct workshops. RIGHT Sunlight creates a striking pattern as it passes through a walkway connecting two buildings.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PHOTO FARM

PHOTO BY PHYLLIS B. DOONEY, PHOTO FARM

PU RPOSE A BRUSH WITH

Tiffney Marley’s creative journey blends personal healing with community activism

By Rebecca Savidge

Photography by John Michael Simpson

Attendees visiting the Eno Arts Mill in June absorbed walls lined with mixed-media pieces – including watercolor prints, acrylic canvases, quilts and more – during the gallery’s “Liberation” exhibition. At the center of the room was a towering tree made of various kinds of paper, scattered with green leaves that said words like “freedom,” “hope” and “community.”

The tree, titled “Holy Hill, The Witness Tree,” was inspired by Courtney McLaughlin, the community engagement and outreach coordinator at the Orange County Office of Civil Rights & Civic Life. Her office planned the Orange County Juneteenth celebration, and one major part of the ceremony was related to Black family reunions, especially post-emancipation. Led by Tiffney Marley and collaborated on by several other Eno Mill

Tiffney Marley stands on a bridge on Eno Mountain Road overlooking the Eno River, where she took a photograph that inspired the artwork she’s holding, titled “Eno Flourish.” She transformed the image into an illustration, which she digitally colored to impart an otherworldly beauty.

studio artists, the tree served as an emblem for the Black community, representing its deep history and showcasing what liberation means to the people of Orange County, as well as a generational tie to nature.

“It’s just really symbolic of how embedded trees and nature are for our culture,” Tiffney says. “Because our ancestors went to them, for medicine, for food.”

Although Tiffney had long appreciated art, she never saw herself as an artist. She often practiced photography in her hometown of Whiteville, North Carolina, and during her travels, but didn’t consider it her calling. Sixteen years ago, her friend Anathea Portier-Young encouraged her during a difficult period to try painting. One day, in the midst of that struggle, she picked up some supplies and began expressing herself on canvas. When she stepped back to look at the work, Tiffney was surprised by what she had created. “It really was like an out-ofbody experience,” she says. Tiffney then started exhibiting some of her work – which included several of the paintings she initially created that she

Tiffney’s studio at the Eno Arts Mill was one of several that sustained severe flooding during July’s Tropical Storm Chantal, which led to destruction of the building and loss of artists’ work.

felt displayed her personality – in downtown Hillsborough during the Art Walk. There, she met several members of the Hillsborough Artists Cooperative, including Jacquelin Liggins, who invited Tiffney to join her as a studio mate, as well as Jennifer Miller, Tom Guthrie and Michael Brown. “They were very affirmative in encouraging me to continue and basically saying ‘you are an artist,’” she recalls. “And so that’s really where I was born.”

She stayed with this group until 2015, when she left North Carolina briefly. Eight years later, Tiffney says she was “blessed to be able to return back to Hillsborough” and officially joined as an Eno Arts Mill artist in January 2024.

Tiffney’s art draws inspiration from opportunities she had in her young adulthood to travel to different areas of the world – like South Africa and parts of

I LIk E TO cREATE

In A WAy THAT cALLS PEOPLE TOgETHER And InvITES US InTO THIS AWAREnESS Of OUR SHAREd HUmAnIT y.”

– TIFFNEY MARLEY

Latin America – during which she gained an appreciation for art in the Global South. She uses a variety of mediums, including photography, acrylic paint and paper sculpture, to reflect her community and ancestors with her work, honoring those who came before her.

“I regard this show in particular as a ‘revival show,’ which is why it was important to me to invite all the folks from the [Eno Arts Mill],” Tiffney says of her most recent exhibit, which features not only her work but that of her friends Jennifer, Jackie, Tom, Michael, Anathea and others who she credits with helping her grow.

“I like to create in a way that calls people together and invites us into this awareness of our shared humanity, shared value and our purpose,” she says. “Definitely using art as activism and for change making. … It’s about making the world better.” CHM

‘A RT A BOv E Ev ER y THI ng’

Released June 10

Stephanie Elizondo Griest explores the complex dynamics of artistic creation, speaking to diverse artists about what it means – and what it costs – to create. In this global exploration of the joys and torments of a creative life, Stephanie attempts to question and uncover the essence of art: is it sustaining and fulfilling or sacrificial and draining? This book considers that perhaps art is all of this, exhibiting stories of creation amid hardship and triumph. It shows that although the craft may differ, the need to create is a uniting imperative – deeply personal yet undeniably universal.

THE W RITE STUff

A quick glimpse at the latest books from Orange County authors

Compiled by Chloe Snow

‘T HE TATTERE d cO v ER ’

Available Oct. 28

Set amid a cozy North Carolina town on Halloween, Ellery Adams’ eighth book in the “Secret, Book and Scone Society” series creates an atmosphere of suspense and secrets. As festivities, parties and trick-or-treating are underway, bookstore owner Nora Pennington hosts a memoirist with psychic medium abilities. After a reading ends in tragedy with the medium’s sudden death, the residents of Miracle Springs are left grappling with a tangled web of mysteries – beginning with one burning question: who killed Lara Luz?

‘RO d EO H AW k I n S A nd THE dAU g HTERS O f mAy HE m’

Available Sept. 9

In his new book, Hillsboroughbased author and educator

John Claude Bemis thrusts readers headfirst into a wildly inventive graphic novel where foster kid Sidney Poblocki learns that being “special” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be – especially when your destiny might be to destroy the entire multiverse. This thrilling graphic novel (John’s first!) is as chaotic as it is clever.

‘S HA k E n’

Released March 18

Jill Amber Chafin explores themes of motherhood, mistakes and guilt in this captivating domestic thriller revolving around a young mother and her newborn son. Overwhelmed by sleepless nights, relentless crying and increasing isolation, mother Sally resorts to the unthinkable in an act of desperation, triggering a cascade of emotions and events. Jill’s debut poses profound questions about the consequences of our actions and whether those actions define us forever, while also challenging traditional ideas of “the perfect mother.”

‘S TRA ng E L I g HT: PERSO n AL Acc OU n TS O f U fO S, nd E S, A nd O THER End URI ng m y STERIES ’

Released June 30

‘A PRE c ARIOUS B ALA nc E ’

Available Nov. 11

CANNING CREATIVITY

Pittsboro artist wins Eno River Brewing’s design contest By Emily Gessner

In April, Eno River Brewing partnered with the Orange County Arts Commission to put out a call for artists to help shape its next phase of growth: canning its beer for distribution. The brewery sought designs that reflect its commitment to sustainability and nature and that honor North Carolina’s agricultural and manufacturing history.

Pittsboro’s Paget Marion Blythe of Blythe Creative answered the call, and the design, enwrapping ERB’s Modified Action American Lager, rolled out in mid-July. “ERB briefly described the ingredients – locally grown corn – and the theme of Modified Action led to research about this specialty class on the tractor-pulling circuit,” Paget says. “[That led to] brainstorming how to create a unique modified tractor with corn, landing on a touch of inspiration from the beloved children’s book author Richard Scarry, famous for his illustrations of produce vehicles.” It’s a fitting look for a crisp beer with a hint of sweetness from the whole kernel corn from neighbors just up the road at Hoof Beat Farm

“Paget’s illustration absolutely nailed the vision that head brewer Alex Leonard envisioned as he created and brewed the first batch of Modified Action in June 2023,” ERB owner Spencer Welborn says. “Modified Action has become one of our most well-known seasonal offerings, and Paget truly brought this vision to the public with her art.”

Three more of Paget’s designs are slated for release, including one for ERB’s second anniversary beer in August. CHM

The Place to Be This Fall

Concerts, festivals, markets, races and so much more–it’s all happening at ATC! Explore our full line-up of Fall events at AmericanTobacco.co/events

MURALS ON THE MOVE

Chapel

side by side in this rolling piece of history

By Kate Loeffel

If you’ve used the computers at the Chapel Hill Public Library, you might already be familiar with local artist Zac Bender’s work. His previous collaboration with Chapel Hill

Community Arts & Culture – a dynamic mural titled “Bytes of Knowledge” – is on view in the Tech Lab. Now he’s taken on a new canvas: a town bus.

Zac was given creative liberty to design a bus wrap for Art + Transit, a program aimed to enliven unsuspecting spaces, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Chapel Hill’s public transportation system. To understand its evolution, he took a dive into the town’s archives.

“I was able to look through [Chapel Hill’s] historic documents dating back to the beginning,” Zac says. His ventures into the past directed final design features. “I took one of the photos that I saw, which was a bus route from the 1970s, and recreated it.” Zac also incorporated a depiction of Mayor Howard Lee, the first Black mayor of Chapel Hill and a key figure in launching the town’s transportation services. Illustrations that look to the future of public transportation and nod to local culture adorn the other side of the bus. Lightning bolts emanating from the eyes of the UNC ram indicate movement toward electric buses and morph into a map of current Carrboro and Chapel Hill bus routes. Dogwood flowers add a touch of softness, tempering the visual and rounding out this multifaceted work of moving art. CHM

COLD CASE, HOT MIC

depth story that tied it together.” She then began to bring the story back to life and put the missing pieces together, , a now retired district court judge who knew the prosecutor of the case. The series features and dramatization by local literary luminaries such as

When Chapel Hill’s beloved Rachel Crook was murdered in 1951, the town buzzed with interest – then the story faded, leaving missing pieces and no thorough understanding of the murder. Now, a newly released podcast, “Who Killed Rachel Crook?,” revisits the decades-old cold case and introduces Rachel as a woman ahead of her time.

27 Views podcast producer and Eno Publishers editor Elizabeth Woodman got the idea for the

four-episode series after reading a collection of essays called “Chapel Hill in Plain Sight: Notes From the Other Side of the Tracks.” She found mentions of Rachel’s murder and immediately began her research. “I found Rachel Crook a totally fascinating character,” Elizabeth says of the woman who ran a fish market at the corner of Merritt Mill Road and Franklin Street. “I was hooked.”

As Elizabeth recalls, “There was lots of interest in the case at the time, but I couldn’t find an in-

to name a few. The episodes offer the most comprehensive look at the tragedy to date, including some surprising new findings regarding the suspiciously short trial of the accused man who was acquitted. It also provides listeners with a fresh, modern perspective on Rachel Crook, a woman who ran her own business and pursued a graduate degree in economics at UNC, rare on both accounts in the 1950s. Tune in to “Who Killed Rachel Crook?” on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. CHM

FALL ARTS GUIDE

Can’t-miss

concerts,

events and more

Compiled by Payton Wilkins

• Experience the 25th season of Paperhand Puppet Project’s awe-inspiring puppet show at the Forest Theatre. With live music, individually crafted giant puppets, masks, stilts, illuminated beings and shadows, this unique, larger-than-life performance, “The Gift,” is sure to inspire viewers of all ages. Weekends Aug. 15 - Sept. 28; paperhandpuppet.org

• The ArtsCenter hosts ArtSchool, a series of classes for adults and teens ages 15 and older, throughout the fall season. With more than 130 classes in 12 different disciplines – from watercolor and pottery to sewing and more –there’s something for everyone. artscenterlive.org

• Visit Lapin Bleu on Sundays for a jazz jam with Holland Majors Trio, on Tuesdays to hear mahaloJazz, on Wednesdays to watch Cajun Dance Party and on Fridays to jam out to Danny Grewen and Friends. Bring a snack or meal to enjoy as you watch these artists in action.

• View the work of Nancy Smith, Garry Childs and Sally Terrell at Hillsborough Gallery of Arts’ exhibit “Earthly Realms.” Hear from the creators themselves at an artist talk on Sept. 13. Through Sept. 21; hillsboroughgallery.com

• Browse local art at Frank Gallery, featuring pieces from artists Natalie Boorman, Shelly Hehenberger and Karen Day and guest artists Alan Dehmer and Mary Lee Kerr. Meet the artists at the opening reception on Aug. 22. Through Sept. 27; frankisart.com

• Learn about the history behind the folding fan at The ArtsCenter’s exhibit “The Folding Fan Club: Centuries of Collecting.” More than 30 fans, some centuries old, will be on display. Through Oct. 7; artscenterlive.org

• Stop by the DeBerry Gallery at the North Carolina Botanical Garden to browse an illustration exhibit featuring work by recipients of the 2025 Certificate in Botanical Art & Illustration. Through Oct. 26; ncbg.unc.edu

• The Little Market, a new collaboration between the Hillsborough Gallery of Arts and Hillsborough Real Estate Group, hosts local artists in “Visions,” a show featuring watercolor artists Beth Bale and Bill Schaefer, and “Organics,” an exhibition of paintings by Beverly Calhoun. Through Oct. 14; Oct. 31 - Dec. 16; hillsboroughgallery.com/the-little-market

• Margaret Lane Gallery presents multiple new collections: the shadow-dominated images of “Shadowland”; depictions of America’s natural wonders and historical sites in “Our National Treasures”; explorations of perseverance across human, natural and mythical landscapes in “Resilience”; and a celebration of traditions that unite communities new and old in “Gathering Community.”

Through Sept. 21; Sept. 24 - Oct. 26; Oct. 29 - Nov. 23; Nov. 26 - Jan. 25; margaretlanegallery.com

• Explore My Muses Card Shop’s fall art exhibitions: “Coming Full Circle” by textile artist Marga de Bruijn and “Soft Vase” by mother and daughter duo Kaidy Lewis and Madeline Lewis. Sept. 1-29; Oct. 1 - Nov. 28; mymusescardshop.co

• The Carolina Inn hosts artist-in-residence Meghan Rosenthal for an exhibition of “The Carolina Collection,” featuring paintings named for lyrics in UNC school songs. Celebrate the launch with an opening reception on Sept. 25. Sept. 1 - January; meghanrosenthalart.com

• Begin your sketchbook journey with My Muses Card Shop’s “Sketchbook Mornings” gatherings. Connect with fellow artists to capture people, places and the poetry of everyday life in your favorite medium. Sept. 1, Oct. 6, Nov. 3; mymusescardshop.co

• Unwind at La Vita Dolce’s ninth annual Wine Down Wednesdays, a midweek social series featuring live music from local bands, half-priced bottles of wine and a menu of special small plates. Wednesdays Sept. 3 - Oct. 22; lavitadolcecafe.com

• Carve out an evening of fun and creativity by exploring hand block printing at My Muses Card Shop. Design your own linoleum prints to make bookmarks or greeting cards, or add your prints to cotton scarves, handkerchiefs or tea towels. Oct. 17; mymusescardshop.co

• Grammy Award-winning artist Christone “Kingfish” Ingram graces the Cat’s Cradle stage with masterful blues guitar-playing and impressive vocals, creating a spellbinding listening experience. Sept. 5; catscradle.com

• Jane Filer leads an exclusive four-hour painting workshop at The ArtsCenter Participants receive individual instruction and critique from an artist whose work has been displayed in collections near and far. Sept. 6; artscenterlive.org

• Engage with the creative community over doughnuts and a hot beverage at Coffee with Frank, hosted by Frank Gallery Sept. 6 and Oct. 4; frankisart.com

• Watch fan-favorite films “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “The Greatest Showman” under the stars at Southern Village’s Movies on the Green, presented by The Lumina Theater Sept. 6 and 13; visitsouthernvillage.com

• Maria Oglesby leads an introduction to the basic tools and techniques of calligraphy at My Muses Card Shop – perfect for anyone interested in handlettering wedding invitations, envelopes and other creative projects. Sept. 7; mymusescardshop.co

• Relish the sounds of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” performed by the North Carolina Symphony at Memorial Hall, along with other Gershwin favorites like “An American in Paris,” “Lullaby” and “Porgy and Bess: A Symphonic Picture.” Sept. 7; ncsymphony.org

Carolina Performing Arts presents Pony Cam’s “Burnout Paradise,” a treadmilldriven, interactive theatrical romp.

• Enjoy nights of jazz, blues, folk, ragtime and more during Southern Village’s Sundays at Sundown live outdoor music series, concluding in a grand finale weekend with performances by The Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle and various pop and rock singers. Sept. 7, 14 and 21; visitsouthernvillage.com

• Black Sheep Comedy teaches improv classes of varying levels at My Muses Card Shop Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays Sept. 8Oct. 30; mymusescardshop.co

• Catch an exclusive early glimpse into the work of more than 100 Orange County artists participating in the 31st year of the Orange County Artists Guild Studio Tour during three preview shows held at Higgins & Myers, The ArtsCenter and Hillsborough Gallery of Arts. Meet the artists during each respective opening reception (Oct. 4, Oct. 10 and Oct. 31). Sept. 9Oct 25; Sept. 26 - Oct. 25; Oct. 28 - Nov. 9; ocagnc.org

• PlayMakers Repertory Company presents Marco Ramirez’s “The Royale,” a gripping drama following a champion boxer who dares to break barriers and battle for victory in and out of the ring. Sept. 10-28; playmakersrep.org

• Admire Durham photographer Cornell Watson’s work centering Black stories at the opening reception of Peel Gallery + Photo Lab’s September exhibit, “God’s Country.” Sept. 12; peel.gallery

• Center Theater Company brings new life to a beloved classic with a retelling of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music.” The show features two distinctly different casts with a total of 60 Triangle-based actors representing all generations. Sept. 12-28; centertheatercompany.com

• Experience a dynamic and interactive performance by The Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle at Current Studio Sept. 13; chamberorchestraofthetriangle.org

• Learn to blend and brush beautiful colors at one of My Muses Card Shop’s beginner watercolor workshops. Owner and artist Abhi Sivadas guides participants step by step, helping you master essential techniques while creating impressive paintings. Sept. 14, Oct. 19, Nov. 2; mymusescardshop.co

• Explore the intersection of art and nature at the North Carolina Botanical Garden’s 37th annual Sculpture in the Garden exhibition. Meet the artists and enjoy a first viewing of the intricate sculptures at the preview party on Sept. 13. Sept. 14 - Dec. 7; ncbg.unc.edu

• Peel Gallery + Photo Lab hosts “iPhone Photography 101,” a workshop where you’ll learn tips for composition, technique, workflow, postprocessing, printing and maximizing your cellphone camera. Sept. 14; peel.gallery

• Snip and style materials of all shapes and sizes into a personal, inspired craft at Peel Gallery + Photo Lab’s collage nights. Sept. 17, Oct. 15, Nov. 19; peel.gallery

• Sculptor Karyn Olivier discusses her upcoming memorial commemorating more than 5,000 African Americans buried at Bethel Burying Ground in Philadelphia, as a part of the Hanes Visiting Artist Lecture Series hosted by UNC’s Department of Art and Art History Sept. 18; art.unc.edu

• Journey through moments captured in vivid color at the Ackland Art Museum during the “Modern Art from the Collection of Julian and Josie Robertson” exhibition. Sept. 19 - Jan. 4; ackland.org

• Delight in the fun of live comedy with performances by Black Sheep Comedy at My Muses Card Shop Sept. 20, Oct. 25, Nov. 22; mymusescardshop.co

• Celebrate the release of author Hank Phillippi Ryan’s newest book, “All This Could Be Yours,” at The Carolina Inn with refreshments, signed books, an author talk and a Q&A. Sept. 23; carolinainn.com

• Explore the tranquil beauty of weaving, fiber art, botanical paintings and blown glass at Hillsborough Gallery of Arts’ exhibit “Serenity in Color.” Stop by the opening reception on Sept. 26 and hear from the artists at a talk on Oct. 18. Sept. 23 - Oct. 26; hillsboroughgallery.com 

PHOTO BY CAMERON GRANT

• Connect with local artists through unique exhibits, family-friendly art activities, a makers market, live music and a new microcinema film experience at Last Fridays & The Art Walk in downtown Hillsborough. Sept. 26 and Oct. 31; hillsboroughartscouncil.org

• Join Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture for a free movie screening at the Carolina Square lawn in downtown Chapel Hill. Enjoy popcorn and movie-themed activities before the show starts at sundown. Sept. 26; chapelhillarts.org

• Hear the North Carolina Symphony bring Dvorak’s “New World Symphony” to life at Memorial Hall Sept. 28; ncsymphony.org

• The annual Carrboro Music Festival returns, showcasing local artists playing a variety of genres all over town. Stop by Carrboro Town Commons for a kickoff event on Sept. 27. Sept. 28; carrboromusicfestival.com

• Artists Barbara Tyroler and Donna Stubbs, plus guest artist Tama Hochbaum, showcase their work at Frank Gallery with pieces that explore photography, mixed media, collage and painting. Look forward to an opening reception on Oct. 10. Sept. 30 - Nov. 8; frankisart.com

• Bolivian photographer River Claure discusses his career and exploration of our relationship with the landscape as part of the Hanes Visiting Artist Lecture Series, presented by UNC’s Department of Art and Art History Oct. 2; art.unc.edu

• Support global clean water projects at FlushFest, a music festival hosted by The Appropriate Sanitation Institute. Oct. 3-4; flushfest.org

• Calico Studio hosts its 10th Makers Market at 1141 Smith Level Rd., where attendees can shop for art, pottery, jewelry and photography from local artists and vendors as they listen to music, grab bites from food trucks or dance. Oct. 4-5; calico-studio.com

• Take your crafting skills to the next level at My Muses Card Shop’s paper quilling class. Oct. 5; mymusescardshop.co

• Learn the art of risograph – a craft described as “digital screen printing” –through workshops at Peel Gallery + Photo Lab Oct. 5 and Oct. 22; peel.gallery

• Find your next read and support local bookstores through the Chapboro Book Crawl. Visit Golden Fig Books, Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews, Peel Gallery + Photo Lab and Flyleaf Books for amazing deals and a chance to win raffle prizes from each location. Oct. 5

• Relive the humor and heartbreak of growing up as a fierce high school soccer team navigates drills, secrets and ambitions in Sarah DeLappe’s “The Wolves,” on stage at PlayMakers Repertory Company Oct. 8-26; playmakersrep.org

• North Carolina-bred band American Aquarium comes to Cat’s Cradle with a new album, “The Fear of Standing Still,” in tow. The album combines a gritty country-rock sound with brave songwriting to reflect on themes like Southern identity and the intersection of generational trauma and reproductive rights. Oct. 10; catscradle.com

• Grammy Award-winning mandolinist and singer-songwriter Chris Thile brings a blend of classic and innovative performances to Memorial Hall on UNC’s campus during Carolina Performing Arts’ 2025-26 season. Oct. 10; carolinaperformingarts.org

• Experience the 10th annual Bluegrass Festival at historic Moorefields with music from Slippery Hill, Pickard Mountain, GrassStreet, Vintage Blue and Nixon, Williams & Gage. Bring chairs and blankets for lawn seating on the idyllic 70-acre historical site and enjoy food and beverages. Oct. 11; moorefields.org

• Enjoy UNC’s oldest a cappella group, the Clef Hangers, as they perform new and classic songs for audiences at Southern Village, honoring a Carolina tradition with their synchronized serenades. Oct. 12; visitsouthernvillage.com

• Lend a hand to help cultivate a beautiful garden of plants that will be used to make pigments for crafting at My Muses Card Shop’s community dye garden volunteer days. Oct. 13 and Nov. 9; mymusescardshop.co

• UNC’s Department of Art and Art History presents the Creative Art History series, featuring University of Toronto professor Christy Anderson, who will discuss her work on the meanings of materials in European architecture. Oct. 13; art.unc.edu

Bring your blankets and chairs for Moorefield’s 10th annual

• Local 506 opens its doors to all ages for a “party-rock” performance by The Sloppy Boys. Oct. 14; local506.com

• Peel Gallery + Photo Lab invites you to the opening reception of its October exhibition, “Fractured.” Explore the tension between beauty and decay while examining images from photographer Christiaan Lopez-Miro’s new home in the American South. Oct. 14; peel.gallery

• Join a family-friendly celebration of the state’s native plants and animals at North Carolina Botanical Garden’s NatureFest. Families with children ages 10 and younger are invited to explore the wonders of nature through a variety of outdoor activity stations. Oct. 18; ncbg.unc.edu

• Visit Blackwood Farm Park for an unforgettable day of food, drink and music at the inaugural Salt & Smoke & Sound Festival Acme Food & Beverage Co. and Sonark Media bring award-winning chefs, musicians and the community together to celebrate the culture that binds us. Oct. 18; saltsmokesound.com

• Frank Gallery’s Off the Wall Gala – now in its 15th year – brings attendees together to enjoy unique art and delicious food and drink. Oct. 18; frankisart.com

• Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture hosts two Festifall Arts Markets – one recognizing all that makes North Carolina special and another celebrating Dia de los Muertos. Shop artisan vendors, hear live music and watch original performances at 140 W. Franklin St. Plaza Oct. 18 and Nov. 1; chapelhillarts.org

• Experience the North Carolina State Fair in a new way with Peel Gallery + Photo Lab’s fairground photowalk. Participants will walk the fairgrounds together and take photos of anything that inspires them. Oct. 22; peel.gallery

• Engage in a daring theater experience as performers from Pony Cam take the stage on treadmills at Carolina Performing Arts’ Memorial Hall Inventive choreography invites the audience to rethink the nature of theater and art as a whole. Oct. 28-29; carolinaperformingarts.org

• Drive around the county and pop into artists’ workshops during the Orange County Artists Guild Studio Tour to connect with and draw inspiration from fellow artists and art lovers. Nov. 1-2 and Nov. 8-9; ocagnc.org

• North Carolina Botanical Garden hosts its annual Jenny Elder Fitch Memorial Lecture followed by a reception and book signing. Join Teresa Speight as she shares how to use the lessons of nature – patience, dependability, stress resistance and more – in today’s world. Nov. 2; ncbg.unc.edu

• Associate Professor and Kleinheinz Family Endowed Chair in Art History at Southern Methodist University Amy Freund discusses her forthcoming book “Noble Beasts: Hunters and Hunted in Eighteenth-Century French Art” as part of the Bettie Allison Rand Lectures in Art History in UNC’s Department of Art and Art History Nov. 4; art.unc.edu

• The Philadelphia Orchestra, directed by Yannick Nezet-Seguin, performs compositions from Brahms and Beethoven in a stunning feat of strings and percussion at Memorial Hall. Grammy Award-winning pianist Emanuel Ax joins the orchestra Nov. 4. Nov. 4-5; carolinaperformingarts.org

• Discover vibrant, introspective 3D compositions laced with light and shadow at Higgins & Myers’ exhibition “Josey Jessee: Square Peg and Perfection.” Celebrate the exhibit’s launch at an opening reception on Nov. 8. Nov. 4Dec. 27; higginsandmyers.com

Bluegrass Festival.

• Multidisciplinary artist Yvette Mayorga discusses her use of the color pink and the ways her work sheds light on the struggles faced by women of color in everyday work as part of the Hanes Visiting Artist Lecture Series presented by UNC’s Department of Art and Art History Nov. 6; art.unc.edu

• Settle in for a night showcasing young bluegrass talent at Cat’s Cradle with AJ Lee & Blue Summit and East Nash Grass. The bands incorporate rock, pop, R&B and more to put a fresh spin on this classic genre. Nov. 7; catscradle.com

• Durham Community Concert Band brings a Veterans Day performance to Southern Village. Enjoy a diverse repertoire of marches, classics, Broadway tunes, movie scores and more. Nov. 9; visitsouthernvillage.com

• Get a head start on your holiday shopping with “The Art of Giving” at the Hillsborough Gallery of Arts. HGA’s 20 artists will showcase their giftable art, including a selection of unique handmade ornaments. Nov. 11 - Dec. 31; hillsboroughgallery.com

• Center Theater Company presents a youth production of “The Addams Family,” the beloved story of a kooky family that, on one fateful, hilarious night, must confront changes they’ve managed to avoid for generations. Nov. 12-23; centertheatercompany.com

• Catch Phoenix-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sydney Sprague with Gabrielle Grace at Local 506 Nov. 12; local506.com

• Revel in the spirit of Appalachian folk music as Carolina Performing Arts presents banjo player Nora Brown and fiddler Stephanie Coleman as they share the music of an extended play with audiences at The Chapel of the Cross Nov. 13; carolinaperformingarts.org

• The North Carolina Symphony, directed by Carlos Miguel Prieto, performs Beethoven’s “Eroica” Symphony at Memorial Hall Nov. 13; ncsymphony.org

• Peel Gallery + Photo Lab hosts an opening reception for its November exhibit featuring Tim Kerr and Ron Liberti, a two-man show that captures the kinetic energy and inspirational moments that have shaped the artists’ lives and work. The exhibit focuses on visual works with thematic ties to music while the opening reception features live music. Nov. 14; peel.gallery

• Spend the day shopping from local artists and enjoying holiday snacks and beverages during the fourth annual Makers at the Mill Holiday Bazaar at the Eno Arts Mill Nov. 15; artsorange.org

• Carolina Performing Arts presents a production of “Lost Lear” by Dan Colley – a bold reimagining of William Shakespeare’s “King Lear” that follows dementia patient Joy as she relives an old memory of rehearsing the play. Nov. 19-20; carolinaperformingarts.org

• PlayMakers Repertory Company presents Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman’s “You Can’t Take It With You,” a heartwarming classic that reminds us to embrace joy, love and individuality. Nov. 19 - Dec. 7; playmakersrep.org

• Shop for artisan items and creative works at the semiannual Arts on Market community event at Southern Village Nov. 24; visitsouthernvillage.com

• Experience the dynamic “Samsara” as Aakash Odedra Company blends a variety of dance styles – from ballet to Chinese folk – at Memorial Hall. The astonishing choreography brings the tales of Buddhist mythology to life on stage. Dec. 6; carolinaperformingarts.org

• Celebrate the spirit of the season with a majestic performance of Handel’s “Messiah” – including its rousing “Hallelujah” chorus – by the North Carolina Symphony at Memorial Hall Dec. 7; ncsymphony.org

• Witness the world premiere of violinist Johnny Gandelsman’s “Johnny Loves Johann” at the Joan H. Gillings ArtSpace at Current. Commissioned by Carolina Performing Arts, the piece combines a performance of Bach’s Cello Suites with original choreography. Dec. 10-13; carolinaperformingarts.org CHM

In the wake of Tropical Storm Chantal, the staff and artists of the Eno Arts Mill are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support and resources provided by our community. Thank you for standing with us and for supporting the arts community of Orange County.

Recovery continues and support is still needed. Make a tax-deductible donation at artsorange.org/give.

Photos

@ncsteve

Housing is Economic Infrastructure

Written by Ian D. Scott, Vice President for Advocacy, The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro

Housing isn’t just a community issue; it’s vital infrastructure for a vibrant economy. When businesses struggle to find workers because employees can’t afford to live nearby, and professionals seek more affordable communities, housing becomes a critical challenge demanding collaborative action. That’s why housing availability and affordability are top priorities in the Campaign for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro—a five-year strategic initiative uniting businesses, governments, non-profits, and higher education institutions.

Why Housing Matters to Business

The link between housing and economic vitality is clear. Our region’s housing costs have outpaced wage growth, creating a disconnect between where people work and where they can afford to live. This leads to longer commutes, more traffic, environmental harm, and difficulty attracting and retaining talent. Organizations of all sizes feel this pressure. Employers — from restaurants to local governments to regional medical centers — depend on workers who increasingly can’t afford to live in Chapel Hill or Carrboro.

The Campaign: Goals and Progress

Led by The Chamber for a Greater Chapel HillCarrboro, The Campaign aims to build 1,500 new affordable units by 2028, secure major funding, and grow the housing supply by 3,000 homes. The plan also calls for regulatory reform and streamlined development processes. We’re working with partners to identify public land for development, accelerate employer-sponsored housing, and address policy barriers that make housing more expensive and slower to build.

Early Success

Thanks to strong collaboration, major milestones have been reached. The Chamber helped pass Chapel Hill’s $15 million affordable housing bond in 2024. This year, Chapel Hill launched a $20 million Affordable Housing Loan Fund, supported by a $5 million contribution from UNC Health.

The Campaign aims to build 1,500 new affordable units by 2028, secure major funding, and grow the housing supply by 3,000 homes.

1,500

New Affordable Units

3,000 & Housing Supply Growth

Also in 2024, a coalition of business, housing, and faith-based organizations successfully advocated for extending water and sewer access along Highway 15-501 South, enabling more affordable “missing middle” housing near transit and jobs.

Policy Reform: The Path Forward

Infrastructure and funding alone won’t solve housing challenges. Regulations must evolve to make development faster, more predictable, and less costly. We applaud local governments for launching major policy reforms. Chapel Hill’s Land Use Management Ordinance (LUMO) rewrite, Carrboro’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), and Orange County’s Land Use Plan 2050 all aim to support housing needs. The Chamber is mobilizing its members to bring business perspectives to these policy discussions. Our LUMO subcommittee has submitted detailed recommendations to Chapel Hill’s Town Council, and a similar group is forming in Carrboro.

The Road Ahead

We’re continuing policy reform and expanding employer-sponsored housing efforts. A coalition has contracted with the Central Pines Regional Council to inventory public lands suitable for affordable housing. The Chamber’s role is to ensure business perspectives shape solutions to housing challenges that impact economic growth, workforce development, and community prosperity. When sectors align around shared priorities, transformational progress is possible.

More!

making breaking Waves,Barriers

Special Olympics Orange County fosters friendships, confidence and connection through year-round sports

By Rebecca Savidge | Photography by Lindsay Metivier

n a warm evening in July, athletes, staff and volunteers from the Special Olympics Orange County program filled the Hargraves Community Center pool with energy. SOOC athletes can participate in swimming – practicing their laps or simply dipping their toes in the water – while enjoying the company of others for several weeks during the summer. After the season wraps up, they can choose to take part in a variety of other activities all year long, including soccer, tennis and basketball. The program’s structure keeps athletes active year-round. Just as important,

Sam Caraway jumps in for a swim lesson with coach Max Fiffick.

it offers regular chances to connect with friends and others who share their interests – an opportunity that isn’t always available to them. For many athletes and their parents, that sense of community is the heart of Special Olympics.

“It’s about community,” Linda Guzman says. “Just belonging somewhere.” Her son, Javi Guzman, plays soccer, softball and bocce, in addition to swimming, and the people in the program are the main reason he keeps coming back.

This sentiment rings true for Greg Butler. Greg, who has been with SOOC since October 2023, is an assistant coach, athlete and team member. “I have a lot of favorite parts [of Special Olympics],” he says, “including the connections I’ve formed and regularly fighting stigmas and demonstrating competencies in front of

Sophie Faison fills her net with pool toys.

Special Olympics Orange County's 300 athletes participate in dozens of sports in addition to swimming.

Coach Luke Lee and athlete Sam Morgan are all smiles after a swim session.

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outdoors the great

the public.” Greg is an advocate for individuals with disabilities. He believes that more positive inclusion for the demographics he identifies with would help reinforce that individuals who qualify for the Special Olympics possess competencies in several areas.

Regardless of skill level, all qualifying individuals can be a part of SOOC. While several sports have competitive sections, not every athlete participates for the contest aspect. “It holds very little meaning in the scope of things,” Colleen Lanigan, coordinator of SOOC, says. “It’s really about getting together with your friends and exercising, because I believe so much in moving your body.”

Colleen has been with SOOC since 1990 and was inspired to join the Special Olympics because of her sister who was involved in the program in her Virginia hometown. She not only helps to organize events, recruit volunteers and find facilities for athletes to practice in but cares about every individual, saying “hi” to each one of them as they walk in the door for practice.

With 35 years of involvement in the program, Colleen has watched countless athletes grow and flourish. “One of the most lovely things about Special Olympics, which people don’t really realize, is that the sports programming goes through your entire life,” she says. Because there is no age limit for athletes, this aspect accounts for the different levels of competition, as well as the constant growth of the program. When she first started, Colleen had only about 20 athletes playing one sport. Now, SOOC has over 300 athletes and 500 volunteers across dozens of sports, which will continue to grow as more athletes and volunteers join, whether to play their favorite sport or to just belong somewhere with others.

“People need to be connected to other people through whatever your shared interests are,” Colleen says. “So if it’s a knitting club, book club, whatever. It’s an opportunity to be connected to other individuals who share your passion. So in our case, it’s athletics. It’s that venue for socialization and acceptance.” CHM

ABOVE Isabella Alba wraps up in a towel after making a splash.

RIGHT Athlete Jeremiah Armstrong passes a basketball with youth volunteer Ila Lanigan.

Dallas Helling practices swimming with coach Patrick Morrow.

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Back to Nature

How conservationists

protect land in Cedar Grove as a sacred space for natural burials

By Anna-Rhesa Versola

athleen Davidson wears a royal blue T-shirt with a line drawing of wildflowers and a message: “Plant Me at Bluestem.” She hopes to inspire others to join a growing demand for environmentally sustainable burial and interment practices.

She regularly leads tours along part of the 3 miles of walking trails at Bluestem Conservation Cemetery, which sits within an 87-acre nature preserve owned by the nonprofit Bluestem Community NC. The sacred space is the first of its kind in central North Carolina, where volunteers protect natural

Photography courtesy of Bluestem Conservation Cemetery

Bluestem is open to the public dawn to dusk every day. Visitors come to bird, reflect or walk, like GirlTrek, led by Seletha Pherribo (second from left), whose brother Akalema Pherribo is buried there.

ecosystems that also serve as a sanctuary for people like Kathleen, who want natural burials.

“Personally, knowing how many resources I’ve consumed in my life, to know my last act will be to give back to the Earth is such a comfort to me – I would say comfort and joy,” Kathleen says. “My friend said, ‘You better watch it, Kathleen, you’re going to be early to your own funeral.’ I just love this place.”

ABOVE Native grasses, sedges and wildflowers are part of Bluestem’s restored southeastern grassland habitat. BELOW Natural burials are integrated into the conservation mission and ensure a gentle resting place in the woods or fields.

The Hillsborough resident is a member of Bluestem’s Council of Stewards, which was formed in 2021 by Heidi Hannapel and Jeff Masten. Through generous private donations, Bluestem purchased the property and restored the former cornfields to native grasslands and woodlands.

Heidi and Jeff say that Bluestem follows guidance set by the Green Burial Council and actively partners with the Eno River Association and the Triangle Land Conservancy to restore and maintain the land, which includes part of the watershed boundary for the Neuse and Roanoke river basins.

Conservation at Bluestem

• 87 acres of protected forest and fields managed by 200+ volunteers

• Native wildflowers and grassland restoration

• Ecological diversity of plants for enhanced wildlife habitat

• Pollinator habitats supporting neighboring agriculture

• Prescribed fire used to manage non-native plants and encourage regrowth

• Erosion controls to support stormwater management

• Drought-tolerant, climate-resilient landscape

• Water-quality buffers on 4,000 feet of stream frontage

A return to nature is a philosophy for many who want to minimize human environmental impact in an age of climate change awareness. In a report released last year by the National Funeral Directors Association, 68% of people surveyed expressed interest in exploring “green” funeral options for potential environmental benefits, cost savings or other reasons.

“Everything in a burial here has to be biodegradable,” Kathleen explains. “No embalming, no metal caskets. There are wood caskets, willow carriers and shrouds.”

Instead of stone or cement grave markers, each burial or interment site has an inconspicuous aluminum marker stamped with a name and birth and death dates. GPS coordinates are provided to families to locate the plot. Loved ones also have an option to engrave a separate North Carolina flagstone, and they are encouraged to return to the nature preserve as often as they like from dawn to dusk.

Over time, the grave mounds mulched with pine needles settle naturally into the landscape. “People literally become one with the landscape,” Heidi says. “When the graves subside, either wildflowers grow above them or leaves fall down on them. And while you might not know exactly where that person is, you know their spirit is here. It’s a healing space.”

Jeff says Bluestem is a place of reverence in nature that supports a more sustainable form of burial and ensures the permanent protection of a Piedmont landscape.

“Natural burial enables families to participate in the sacred act of returning their loved ones to the Earth, simply,” he says. “It is an honor and a privilege to be of service to Bluestem families at this most difficult time in their lives.”

Kathleen points to the heart of a meadow dotted with larkspur, narrow-leaf sunflowers and bluestem grasses. Though she expects to volunteer for many more years, Kathleen’s at peace knowing exactly where she will rest. CHM

A Vibrant Community With roots dating to 1754, the oldest town in the Triangle blends a rich heritage with a progressive spirit that attracts creatives, entrepreneurs and innovators.

Prime Location Located on both I-40 and I-85, Hillsborough is minutes from Durham, Chapel Hill and Raleigh, giving you easy access to major markets.

Supportive Business Ecosystem Hillsborough’s welcoming, personalized nature makes it easy to launch or expand your business…and convenient, as we are also the seat of Orange County government.

Loyal Customers Residents value local businesses and actively support them.

Quality of Life A scenic Riverwalk, award-winning restaurants, art galleries, breweries, community events and historic architecture create a place where people love to live and work.

Small-town charm and a strategic setting to grow your vision. Use

A

HOME & GARDEN

rooted in renewal

globe-trotting family blends a home’s original charm with modern updates to create their perfect Chapel Hill retreat

By Rebecca Savidge

Jenny Neville and Tim Neville describe themselves as nomadic individuals – she served in the Peace Corps in the Solomon Islands while Tim has done volunteer work in Costa Rica and Guatemala. They spent the better part of 15 years living in different parts

of Africa, including Angola, Uganda and Zambia. When it came time to raise their family, they moved to Chapel Hill seven years ago for a solid base close to family and good schools.

After their initial move to Chapel Hill, Jenny and Tim rented a house for a year while

Photography by John Michael Simpson

Mike Dickson-Mills of Notch Design, Tim Neville, Luke Mongoven of Mongoven Building Co., José Noya of Notch Design and Jenny Neville relax in the home’s open concept gathering spaces.

searching for a more permanent dwelling. Friends from Zambia who lived nearby introduced them to the neighborhood not far from Eastwood Lake where they discovered a home they loved.

The 4,640-square-foot home with its five bedrooms, plus four full and two half baths, has the illusion of being in the forest thanks to its wooded lot. “One of the things that I like most about our neighborhood, in particular, and Chapel Hill more broadly, is that it’s a really great combination of being

ABOVE Renovations to the living room created a sequence of open spaces under the existing cathedral ceilings.

LEFT The kitchen now connects to the living room.

Intrepid Build works across corporate campuses in every sector. We safely and discreetly upgrade the workspaces this region depends on. From labs to office suites to high-security sites — we serve some of the Triangle’s most advanced facilities.We build with care, because these spaces shape the lives of families, teams, and the communities we serve. We Build differently and it shows.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SYDNEY CHAPPELL

close to nature [and urban areas],” Jenny says. “We have this feeling of being remote in the forest, but we still have great neighbors in the neighborhood and the community, and we’re close to the amenities of town.”

That proximity to the outdoors was a big draw for the active family. Tim and daughter Tess, 15, enjoy mountain biking, while Jenny and daughter Maeve, 9, like to horseback ride. All three of their children, including

Elizabeth Lindquist, President-Owner & her father, David Lindquist

Jenny and Tim enjoy spending time outdoors connecting to nature.

17-year-old Noel, run cross-country, making access to the outdoors and recreational activities essential – especially after years overseas with less room to roam.

When the Nevilles purchased the home in 2019, they had the chance to speak with the couple who had built the house 40 years earlier. When Jenny and Tim decided to renovate five years later, they wanted to ensure the original charm of the home was kept intact. “One of my objectives was to make the house work for our family while still honoring some of those parts of the house that the original owners had put so much time and love into,” Jenny says. “So we wanted it to be updated, fresh and work for our family, while still really connecting to the original heart of the house, which was beautifully done.”

Within a little less than a year, the entire renovation process – from initial design plans to completion – was finished thanks to José Noya and Mike Dickson-Mills at

Notch Design and Luke Mongoven with Mongoven Building Co. “Working with Jenny and Tim was a delight,” José says. “They are both very detail-oriented and have a great appreciation and taste for design, which made the design process easier. Most importantly, we all shared and were committed to a strong design vision for the house, and that was key to the project’s success.”

The primary changes consisted of alterations to the kitchen, connecting it to the main living area to make it more accessible for lots of people to gather in. “It became evident that Jenny and Tim’s lifestyle

ABOVE The house is decorated with items Jenny and Tim acquired during their years living abroad, such as this Vietnamese drum.

ABOVE RIGHT AND BELOW Pup Georgie and Sam, the family’s bearded dragon, enjoy the home’s open concept as much as their owners do.

Kim Jeffs: One Woman. Four Companies. Endless Impact.

Kim Jeffs—a licensed mental-health counselor, somaticexperiencing expert, and visionary entrepreneur—is transforming the conversation around mental wellness and leadership in North Carolina through her growing portfolio of ventures: Soma & Soul, RISE: Embodied Leadership Summit, The Resiliency Solution, and now the recent opening of SIP Clinic NC. Her journey began as a trauma-focused therapist and co-founder of the state’s first trauma clinic, earning her recognition as Chapel Hill’s Businesswoman of the Year in 2015. Drawing on nearly 20 years of clinical expertise and business acumen, Kim has built accessible and inclusive programs designed for mission-driven women, entrepreneurs, and organizations. Through executive coaching, retreats, and group programs, she helps clients “put the body in business,” embrace embodied leadership, and align purpose with profit. With SIP Clinic NC on the horizon, Kim is deepening her roots in the Triangle to expand access to comprehensive mental health care for individuals, couples, and families. In a region defined by academia, innovation, and high-pressure careers, her holistic model bridges therapy with leadership development—offering a blueprint for resilience, empowerment, and well-being. Kim Jeffs is not only building businesses; she is shaping a future where mental health and leadership thrive together.

Soma & Soul offers somatic coaching, masterminds, and retreats for women leaders seeking clarity and purpose. If you’re a mission-driven woman ready to build or lead from the inside out, visit thesomaandsoul.com

RISE Summit is a two-day event in Chapel Hill uniting women for connection, somatic practices, and real conversations on leadership. Join us at thesomaandsoul.com/rise for 2026 registration and sponsorship opportunities.

RESILIENCY solution the

The Resiliency Solution helps organizations nationally build resilient, trauma-informed cultures through training and consulting. If your team is navigating stress, change, or mission-driven intensity, learn more at theresiliencysolution.com

SIP Clinic NC provides somatic psychotherapy and integrative care for individuals and families across the Triangle. If you’re seeking therapy grounded in compassion, somatic practices, regulation, and whole-person care for yourself or family details are available at sipclinicnc.com

Founder, Kim Jeffs

2025 TRIANGLE PARADE OF HOMES

required a larger central, ‘core’ space for the whole family that could also serve as an entertaining area for dinner parties and large gatherings,” José says. “The solution was to open up the kitchen to the main living area, which created a rich and open sequence of spaces under the existing cathedral ceilings.”

Other changes to the home included repairs to cabinets, plumbing, bathroom fixtures and lighting. They also added a guest bedroom and a half bath by the garage, completed a renovation to the downstairs to make the design more modern and redid some of the exterior of the home to reflect the change in style.

The duality of honoring the former owners’ legacy and making the home align more with Jenny and Tim’s desired modern aesthetic and lifestyle was at the center of the entire process, leading the team to meet regularly with the couple in order to accomplish their goals.

“They did an amazing job keeping the old parts that we loved and making it

NORTH CAROLINA’S LARGEST OPEN HOUSE IS BACK!

The sunroom provides a light-drenched spot to relax.

more functional and a little bit more of a modern architectural style,” Tim says of the transition from warm brown woods and sectioned-off spaces to neutrals and a more open layout. “But I think it really complements the existing style of the house.”

Despite significant structural challenges in integrating the kitchen with the living room, the team resolved the issue by installing a steel I-beam to support the second floor. Rather

A circular stained glass window original to the home is a focal point of the owner’s suite bath.

than concealing it, they chose to leave the beam exposed, transforming it into both an architectural focal point and a subtle visual divider between the two areas. This thoughtful solution, paired with ongoing collaboration among all involved, was instrumental in the design’s success. “It’s like breathing new life into the home,” Tim says. “It still has the old parts, and now it has new parts. And it’s kind of exciting.” 

The 1979 home now has a modern, dark exterior, mimicking the style of the interior renovations.

While Jenny and Tim might always feel that pull to experience life elsewhere, they are planning on residing in their newly renovated home at least until their youngest daughter graduates from high school, appreciating the new and the old beauty around them. “I want to stay here because I love it even more now, but I think it’s going to be a great house for whoever lives here in the future,” he says. CHM

A pair of giraffes stand sentry next to the fireplace and modern, wood-toned tower speakers.

Chapel Hill-Carrboro CROP Hunger Walk

The 38th annual Chapel Hill-Carrboro CROP Hunger Walk took place March 23 to help combat food insecurity. More than 250 participants took the 3-mile walk from Carrboro Town Commons down Rosemary Street, the UNC campus and the Libba Cotten Bikeway. The event raised more than $50,000 from local sponsorships and donations to support the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service and Church World Service hunger relief programs. CHM

Sharon Davis, Syvil Burke, Chanda Douglas-Ward, Mary Jane Palmer, Rhea Franks, Trinnette Cooper, Katrena Neal, Valerie Green, Stephanie D.C. Robinson and Nicole Grant.

Erika Joiner, UNC mascot Rameses and Naomi Joiner.

Carrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee.

Jerry Palmer and the Rev. Mary Jane Palmer.

David Heilig and Linda Heilig.

Edith Cortes, Diego Lopez and Ricardo Lopez.

Through our Bold Goal pilot program, we’re coordinating cross-agency support around entire households, helping families create long-term plans to move out of poverty We’re also deepening housing partnerships through the Chatham Housing Collective and investing in high-impact programs through our annual allocations process Together, these efforts are changing how Chatham County supports families, and Lisa’s story is proof that it’s working

A single mother of a teenager, Lisa had just 10 days to find a new home after her rental was deemed uninhabitable She was overwhelmed, but while her son was at school, she explored every avenue for help She reached out to a few organizations, who reached out to more

Finding affordable housing in Chatham was challenging, but a friend told Lisa about a rental and convinced the landlord to accept her housing voucher While the house was being inspected, United Way’s partners helped put Lisa and her son in a hotel Five days later, they moved into their new home

Ten organizations, coordinated through United Way, came together to support Lisa’s journey from eviction to stability Weeks later, Lisa found a job in Pittsboro, paving the way for a fresh start

“I just kept the faith,” she said “Once you see the potential in yourself, others see the potential as well ”

Michael Smith, President of the Chatham Economic Development Corporation, will share insights on the future of Chatham County’s growth and how United Way’s Bold Goal initiative ensures that progress includes everyone

www.UnitedWayOfChathamCounty.org

SECU Family House Classic

More than 100 “par-tee”-goers and golfers joined sponsors and volunteers at Finley Golf Club May 1-2 for a fundraiser and golf event hosted by SECU Family House at UNC Hospitals. Attendees enjoyed a meal together and a friendly competition on the links. The event raised more than $110,000, providing 850-plus nights of care to patients and their families. Photography courtesy of SECU Family House at UNC Hospitals CHM

South Green Flats

‘Going Vertical’ Celebration

The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro helped to mark a major milestone June 25 as South Green Flats in Carrboro’s South Green shopping center began vertical construction. This long-anticipated development is the first condominium project in the community in 15 years. It aims to reduce housing shortages with a total of 63 units – 57 for-sale condos and seven for-sale commercial spaces – in three new buildings off South Greensboro Road. The project is a collaboration between Legacy Real Property Group, Terra Nova Global Properties, Tise-Kiester Architects and Ballentine Associates CHM

BY HENRY BADDOUR

Progressive Contracting Company’s Gary Muchka, Charles Hall and Joni Martin.

Ballentine Associates’ Dillon Smith, George Retschle and Drew Howe.

Mary Bus, Meghan McCann, Amy Higgins and Amanda Thompson.

Reagan Greene and Jones Angell.

Maggie Michaels and Rob Monckton.

PHOTO

The Chamber’s Aaron Nelson, Carrboro Town Manager Patrice Toney and Legacy Real Property Group’s Mark Moshier and Drew Howell.

Finn & Vandermel

BY SHAYE PHILLIPS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATHERYN JEANNE PHOTOGRAPHY, KATHERYNJEANNEPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

Liam Finn, a graduate of East Chapel Hill High School, and Raleigh native Justine Vandermel’s love story began in April 2017 when he introduced himself to her at a UNC day party during their freshman year. The couple reconnected less than a year later and officially began dating in February 2018 after bonding over their love for travel.

The two celebrated Justine’s completion of the bar exam with a trip to Europe in 2023. Liam proposed to Justine Aug. 25 on the final stop of their vacation, the beachside town of Positano, Italy. The couple wore tailored yellow outfits, ate lemon sorbet – a nod to Positano’s signature fruit – and finished the day off by drinking wine at sunset.

The pair held their welcome party and rehearsal dinner at Chapel Hill Country Club, reuniting with classmates from UNC and Liam’s childhood friends. They married May 25, 2025, at Fearrington Village with Liam’s parents, Dr. Charlie Finn of Finn Plastic Surgery and Dr. Sue Ellen Cox of Aesthetic Solutions, and Justine’s mother, Kelly Vandermel, in attendance.

The romantic English garden theme was brought to life with stunning hydrangeas arranged by Morgan Moylan of West Queen Studio. According to Liam, the theme “accentuated the natural beauty of the outdoor venue.” The perfect day continued with dinner and a surprise choreographed dance by the newlyweds to Nat King Cole’s “L-O-V-E.” The enchanting evening concluded with an after-party at Pantana Bob’s

After their honeymoon to Hawaii and Japan, Justine and Liam returned home to Manhattan’s West Village. CHM

stop searching START COZYING

VUORI

Chapel Hill Magazine September/October 2025

CHAPEL HILL

Modern Art from the Collection of Julian and Josie Robertson

Come Hell or High Water

ABOUT TOWN

EVENTS NOT TO MISS

Empty Bowls

Hillsborough Hog Day

She Tris Sprint Triathlon

The Gala

Carrboro 5K/10K

Historic Hillsborough Half-Marathon and 5K

Root Fest

2025 SUBARU FORESTER HYBRID

2025 SUBARU FORESTER HYBRID powertrain

STANDARD SYMMETRICAL all-wheel drive

glow getters

BRENDA BALDWIN

glow getters

A cut Above

bar none

Libations

The Rookery

What to sip this fall

Crossroads Barroom at The Carolina Inn

NOW

OPEN! NOW OPEN! PUDDIN'S BEER SHACK PUDDIN'S BEER SHACK

PUDDIN'S BEER SHACK PUDDIN'S BEER SHACK

Lapin Bleu

Usual suspects

Sidetrack Bar & Lounge

The vibe

power house from Porch to

by the numbers

WHAT WE ’ RE EATING

NEWS FROM OUR RESTAURANT COMMUNITY, PLUS A DISH WE LOVE

NEWS BITES

Stress Less with Real Convenience

Real People Who Really Care

Build Financial Confidence

TH ILL RLICENSE TO

framed for the fu tu re

PU RPOSE A BRUSH WITH

Tiffney Marley’s creative journey blends personal healing with community activism

‘A RT A BOv E Ev ER y THI ng’

THE W RITE STUff

A quick glimpse at the latest books from Orange County authors

‘T HE TATTERE d cO v ER ’

‘S HA k E n’

‘S TRA ng E L I g HT: PERSO n AL Acc OU n TS O f U fO S, nd E S, A nd O THER End URI ng m y STERIES ’

‘A PRE c ARIOUS B ALA nc E ’

OTHER LOCAL READS

CANNING CREATIVITY

The Place to Be This Fall

MURALS ON THE MOVE

COLD CASE, HOT MIC

FALL ARTS GUIDE

Can’t-miss

events and more

Housing is Economic Infrastructure

Why Housing Matters to Business

The Campaign: Goals and Progress

Early Success

Policy Reform: The Path Forward

The Road Ahead

making breaking Waves,Barriers

Special Olympics Orange County fosters friendships, confidence and connection through year-round sports

outdoors the great

Precision dental implants from Chapel Hill’s most experienced team

Back to Nature

protect land in Cedar Grove as a sacred space for natural burials

HOME & GARDEN

rooted in renewal

Kim Jeffs: One Woman. Four Companies. Endless Impact.

2025 TRIANGLE PARADE OF HOMES

Chapel Hill-Carrboro CROP Hunger Walk

SECU Family House Classic

South Green Flats

‘Going Vertical’ Celebration

Finn & Vandermel