WALTER Magazine - December 2019

DECEMBER 2019

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Celebrate!

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WHITE CHRISTMAS The sun is shining, the grass is green The orange and palm trees sway There’s never been such a day In Beverly Hills, L.A. But it’s December the twenty-fourth And I am longing to be up north I’m dreaming of a white Christmas Just like the ones I used to know Where the treetops glisten and children listen To hear sleigh bells in the snow I’m dreaming of a white Christmas With every Christmas card I write May your days be merry and bright And may all your Christmases be white -Irving Berlin

GREENFRONT.COM

DEPARTMENTS

Volume VIII, Issue 4 DECEMBER 2019

Smith Hardy (HANUKKAH); Eamon Queeney (BOYES)

74

Jake Satisky (second from left) with friends and family.

58

OUR TOWN 50

WINTER BUCKET LIST

52

THE USUAL: A Family Band Strong ties at the Mission

54

GIVERS: Ringing for Relief Wake’s Salvation Army efforts

58

GIGS: Reel Diva NCMA’s Laura Boyes

62

LOCALS: Mr. Forgione’s Opus An inspiring Cary band teacher

64

SHOP: Vintage Finds The duo at Father and Son

66

70

SAVOR: Dinner & a Show Kanki’s much-loved teppanyaki

74

NOTED: A Menorah in the Window An inclusive Hannakuh celebration

IN EVERY ISSUE 16

Letter from WALTER

20

Contributors

22

Your Feedback

26

Happening Now

117 The Whirl 130 End Note: A Capitol Christmas

QUENCH: Get Into the Spirits Miracle Pop-Up at The Haymaker

On the cover: Entryway at the N.C. Executive Mansion; photography by Keith Isaacs

10 | WALTER

Allure

Build. Renovate. Preserve. allurehomesnc.com

FEATURES Smith Hardy (BELL RINGERS); Joshua Steadman (COULTER)

98

82 12 | WALTER

76

A NEW CHALLENGE Brooks Bell finds purposes in a diagnosis

by Liza Roberts photography by Eamon Queeney

82

PAINTING JOY Dare Coulter’s expressive art

by Ilina Ewen photography by Joshua Steadman

88

DECK THE AISLES Beyond groceries at Smith’s Red & White

by Addie Ladner photography by S.P. Murray

98

BEHIND THE BELLS The change ringers at Christ Church

by Joel Haas photography by Smith Hardy

106 GRAND TRADITIONS Holidays at the Executive Mansion

by Ayn-Monique Klahre photography by Keith Isaacs

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Shooting first lady Kristin Cooper with pets Jenny and Ben at the Executive Mansion. “Jenny loves the ginger bread houses.

She pretends to be Godzilla and walks through the village,” says Cooper.

C

onnections. For me, they’re at the core of the spirit of December: Celebrating family, friends and the community. I was reminded of this as we reviewed the photos of the Executive Mansion (pg. 106). We shot that last year, my first week on the job, before I really knew anyone at WALTER or many people in Raleigh. While we were there, we tentatively inquired if the first lady might be able to come down. She graciously indulged us, pets in tow, photoready and full of interesting details about the decorations. Then Jenny—just a kitten at the time—took off through the dining room and wedged herself under the tree in the ladies’ parlor. Soon we were all on our hands and knees trying to coax her out. It was a reminder that even in the grandest spaces, there is still room for sweet, humble moments.

That was also the day I met one of our writers, Ilina Ewen, at the time the first lady’s chief of staff. And it was through Ilina that I met Dare Coulter, whom she wrote about this month (pg. 82). The founding editor of this magazine, Liza Roberts, introduced me to Brooks Bell,

who came to WALTER to share how she’s found purpose in her unexpected diagnosis (pg. 76). And Joel Haas, who wrote the piece on the change ringers, was kind enough to host me for lunch at Christ Church Episcopal to peek into the bell tower myself (pg. 98). All connections I never would have made without this magazine.

So I’m closing out 2019 with gratitude to our WALTER community: Thank you to our talented contributors, who bring these stories to life through their words and photos.

Thank you to my wonderful team, that fits all the pieces together into a smart, beautiful publication. And thank you to all the people and places we’ve been honored to profile in our pages this year; I’m so proud that we can share your stories. I’m blessed to live in a city that’s full of the true spirit of the holidays, 365 days a year.

Ayn-Monique Klahre Editor

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X Yourself

E PRESS

LETTER FROM WALTER

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VOLUME VIII, ISSUE 4

EDITORIAL

PUBLISHING

Editor AYN-MONIQUE KLAHRE

Publisher SARA GLINES

Creative Director LAURA PETRIDES WALL

Advertising Sales Manager JULIE NICKENS

Associate Editor CATHERINE CURRIN

Senior Account Executive & Operations CRISTINA HURLEY

WALTER is available by paid subscriptions for $25 a year in the United States, as well as select rack and advertiser locations throughout the Triangle. Subscribe online at waltermagazine.com/subscribe

Editorial Assistant KATHERINE POOLE

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For customer service inquiries, please email us at customerservice@waltermagazine.com or call 919-836-5613.

Contributing Writers

Advertising Coordinator ROBIN KENNEDY

Address all correspondence to: WALTER Magazine, 421 Fayetteville St., Suite 104 Raleigh, NC 27601

SIMMONS ANDREWS, JACKSON COOPER, JOEL HAAS, ILINA EWEN, HAMPTON WILLIAMS HOFER, ADDIE LADNER, SARAH NAGEM, SHELBI POLK, LIZA ROBERTS, JAKE SATISKY, LORI D. R. WIGGINS

Contributing Photographers TYLER CUNNINGHAM, WILLIAM DICKINSON, SMITH HARDY, KEITH ISAACS, BOB KARP, WORKSHOP MEDIA, TAYLOR MCDONALD, S.P. MURRAY, EAMON QUEENEY, JOSHUA STEADMAN

Circulation JERRY RITTER BRIAN HINTON WALTER Interns MADISON BAGWELL JULIA ZANZOT

DECEMBER 2019 Published 10 times a year by The News & Observer Publishing Co. A McClatchy Company

WALTER does not accept unsolicited manuscripts.

Please contact Ayn-Monique Klahre at ayn-monique@waltermagazine.com for freelance guidelines. © The News & Observer. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the express written consent of the copyright owner.

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CONTRIBUTORS

DECEMBER 2019

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wonderful ear!

KEITH ISAACS /

Ewen works by day as Director of Community Engagement for the Dorothea Dix Park Conservancy and spends her nights using her voice as a writer and an advocate.

“The moment I met Dare Coulter, I knew she was someone to watch.

Her talent and energy are unparalleled, and she has a gift to make all who meet her feel special. I love how she uses art both to spread joy and to share an important message about reframing our own perceptions and misperceptions.”

P HOTO GR A PH ER Isaacs is an award-winning architectural photographer based in Raleigh. His work has been published in ARCHITECT Magazine, Architectural Digest, Dwell, Domino, USA Today and bon appétit. “It was an honor to have the opportunity to photograph North Carolina’s First Lady and the Governor’s Mansion all decked out for the holidays. I found myself imagining what being in the house would have been like at the turn of the century… I’m sure they threw a good holiday party!”

Courtesy contributors

ILINA EWEN / W R I TE R

CO-OWNERS Paula Fullerton + Katherine Gianakos

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P HOTO G R A P HE R A Raleigh-based photojournalist, Queeney is usually exploring the state for clients like The New York Times and The Washington Post, between fits of breakfast food, bike rides and dog hugs. This month he got to explore every patch of light in Raleigh’s new Union Station while photographing the moving story about Raleigh tech entrepreneur Brooks Bell and her campaign to fight colon cancer. “Hearing Brooks’ story was incredible on its own, but I was also struck by how much of an impact she’s already had in peoples’ lives. Awareness is one of the best tools in the battle of prevention and it’s readily apparent that her voice is going to go a long way.”

LIZA ROBERTS / W R I TE R Roberts is a longtime journalist and the founding editor of WALTER magazine. She was inspired this month to write about technology entrepreneur and nonprofit founder Brooks Bell, whose courage, enthusiasm and ingenuity know no bounds. Roberts is currently writing a book about the art of North Carolina for UNC Press. You can follow her reporting on Instagram at @theartofthestate.

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JOY OF THE SEASON aAn annual tradition offers something for everyone

A

s seen on TV: The North Carolina Master Chorale’s Joy of the Season Concert This is the 20th year that the North Carolina Master Chorale will be been performing holiday favorites in a grand, merry concert at Meymandi Hall. And since 2006, the show has aired on WUNC-TV on Thanksgiving night, and again around Christmas, to drum up holiday spirit. But, while rousing, the television version doesn’t compare to witnessing the show in person: A chorale of 170 of North Carolina’s best singers, accompanied by some of the state’s top instrumentalists. “It’s pretty exciting to hear that many voices all singing together,” says Dr. Alfred E. Sturgis, the Master Chorale’s music director. “It’s stirring.”

This is Sturgis’ 27th season with the chorale, and under his

26 | WALTER

tenure the group has grown from producing two or three programs a year to 10 performances per year, and added a smaller chamber choir to its ranks. This concert underscores the North Carolina Master Chorale’s “vital” place in Raleigh, says Christine Kastner, the chorale’s Executive Director. “The ballet has the Nutcracker, the symphony has Messiah or Pops, and we have Joy of the Season.”

“It’s a nice, warm evening,” agrees Sturgis, “and I’m glad it’s become a tradition.”

Over the course of the show, the audience will hear from the full chorale as well as the 16-person chamber choir and Garner High School’s Women’s Ensemble. The group rehearses for about two months leading up to the show, and while all audition to be in the chorale, many of the members

DECEMBER have other jobs. “Many have degrees in music, but they’re not necessarily making a living at it—we have doctors and lawyers in there, too,” says Strugis.

The instrumentation varies from year to year; for 2019 it will feature a brass ensemble alongside an organ, percussion and piano. “Brass always makes those big, festive sounds,” says Sturgis.

“What brings people back is that it’s just a really fun concert,” says Sturgis.

“These songs spark memories of their childhood Christmas, and people want to bring their kids and enjoy it together.” The family-friendly show is an hour and a half long, including an intermission, a length that’s more “digestible” for younger listeners or guests who may not be serious chorale enthusiasts.

Every year the lineup includes a mix of classic carols, new songs and unexpected interpretations of holiday favorites.

“The fun thing for me is getting the right balance of new works that people don’t know, to engage the singers, and familiar things that the audience loves,” says Sturgis. “We just have to be careful to not get too schlocky or corny, because some things do register on the cheese-o-meter.”

“The repertoire is always different, but we’ve found a formula that works,” says Sturgis, who says they always open with the big group singing historic, more familiar songs, before getting into the lighter music on the back end.

“We’ll include more contemporary pieces, like an Elvis song or one from Charlie Brown,” he says. “And there’s always a new tearjerker piece.” This year, he’s especially excited for a “slick” arrangement of Jingle Bells, and a gospel version of Home for the Holidays. The only mainstay is the grand finale: “We always end with a bombastic arrangement of Joy to the World.”

—Ayn-Monique Klahre 7:30 pm; from $29; ncmasterchorale.org

DECEMBER 2019 | 27

Happening NOW

all month

/QHFHM@Kǝ V HM DÉDQV Ǎ @ÉNQESK MNÇD At Garland, rocker/restaurateur Cheetie Kumar shares her «>Ãà v À v ` >à Üi >à y >Û Àà vÀ iÀ V ` ` Ü Ì Û Ã Ì Àà > ` V> à > i° iÀ >Ì > Þ ÀiV } âi` ÀiÃÌ>ÕÀ> Ì Ã«iV > âià ` > > ` *> Ƃà > ` à iÃ] Ài Ûi Ìi` Ü Ì - ÕÌ iÀ y > À° >À > `] > } Ü Ì Õ >À½Ã V V Ì> L>À] i«ÌÕ ià *>À ÕÀ] > ` } ÌV ÕL] -] >Ài > À } > « >Vià iÀi ,> i } Ì i Þ Ü Ì vÀ i `à > ` v> Þ° Learn more at visitRaleigh.com/family.

The Durham Arts Council is currently showing Material Process, a group exhibit featuring five artists whose work has strong references to the environment.

“We were really struck by the artists' sense of design and their focus on process,” says Susan Tierney, artist services manager for the Durham Arts Council. Durham artist Deborah Kruger’s pieces made from fused, sewn and silk screened plastic bags heavily reference environmental issues. Gibby Waitzkin of Hillsborough is showing handmade paper and natural fiber compositions. Jackie MacLeod, a former surgeon from Durham, showcases large scale patina metalworks. Virginia artist Reni Gower’s cut paperwork pieces explore connections between disparate cultures. Photographer Holden Richards of Hillsborough exhibits prints made using silver gelatin, Kallitype, salt print and cyanotype. The Arts Council will host a special holiday reception December 20 featuring the Durham Children’s Choir with cookie decorating and arts and crafts. The show runs through January 3 in the Allenton and Semans Galleries at the Durham Arts Council.

See website for gallery hours; free; 120 Morris St., Durham; durhamarts.org

HAPPENING HOLIDAY The red dots highlight our picks for festive fun in the Triangle.

Deborah Kruger Homeland

DURHAM ARTS COUNCIL SHOW

Getty Images

DECEMBER

all month SANTA'S REINDEER ROUNDUP EXPRESS

all month

LOCAL MUSIC ACTS

All aboard Santa’s Reindeer Roundup Express at New Hope Valley Railway in New Hill December 7-8, 14-15 and 21. Passengers can mingle and pose for photos with the big man on the train ride while helping track down his missing sleigh team. Enjoy activities at the rail yard as well. Visit the reindeer stables and check out the Garden Railroad, a large-scale model train set up with multiple tracks and landscaped vistas. Mel’s Many Minis Food Truck will be on hand to fuel the fun. Slay this ride.

Hit pause on the 24-7 holiday music loop to catch some local sound. Several acts with strong ties to the Triangle will be performing special December shows. Catch the Mountain Goats at the Haw River Ballroom December 6-7; Southern Culture on the Skids play their annual show at the Cat’s Cradle December 7; Delta Rae returns to the Lincoln Theatre December 13-14 and 90s indie rockers Dillon Fence reunite at the Lincoln Theatre December 20. You may now resume the 1,000th rendition of Frosty the Snowman.

See website for ride days and times; from $11; 3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill; triangletrain.com

See individual websites for show dates, times and ticketing; hawriverballroom.com; catscradle.com; lincolntheatre.com

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KWANZAA

Celebrating 25 years at the Cary Arts Center

F

or 25 years, the Town of Cary has celebrated Kwanzaa in collaboration with The Ujima Group. This year, Maulana Karenga, who founded the holiday in 1966, will speak during the program at the Cary Arts Center December 27. The Ujima Group’s founder, Lester Thomas, has been involved since the beginning of the festival. “It is a time for the community to come together and celebrate our diversity,” he says. “Kwanzaa is a community cultural celebration that highlights AfricanAmerican heritage and family through seven values—unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.”

30 | WALTER

The day of free activities will include an official Kwanzaa ceremony, performances like a procession of elders and a Harambee Circle, plus a vendor market full of handmade and local wares. There’s also a Children’s Village, with arts and crafts, making the festival a family-friendly event. Robbie Stone, Arts Coordinator for the Town Cary, says this is one of the many examples of the area’s diverse community. “It’s a great way to experience something different right after Christmas. It’s not just for those who celebrate Kwanzaa, but for anyone curious in learning more.” —Catherine Currin 11 a.m.; free; townofcary.org

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all month Visit Piper Lights, Wake Forest’s own winter wonderland this month. Piper Lights is a family-run, homegrown holiday display featuring over one million lights. Load up the family sleigh and take a leisurely drive through the Christmasthemed light show, then park and take a ride on the Santa train, enjoy a warming beverage and pick up a little something from the old-fashioned candy store featuring treats, popcorn and gift items.

(Please note the store is cash only.) And, if you time it just right (7 - 9 p.m.) on a Wednesday or a Friday-Sunday, you might catch a glimpse of Santa himself.

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DECEMBER

12/1-1/12 CHINESE LANTERN FESTIVAL

Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary lights up the night with the return of the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival now through January 12. Stroll the amphitheatre grounds and take in the extravagant light display and cultural performances (weather permitting) as you enjoy holiday treats and drinks from the venue’s food and beverage stands. Plan on 45 to 75 minutes to observe the lanterns along the ½ mile walkthrough. Please note that the venue is not able to provide wheelchairs, but patrons are welcome to bring their own.

6 - 10 p.m.; from $10; 8003 Regency Pkwy, Cary; boothamphitheatre.com

1-8

A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS

Hi ho ho ho! NC Theatre presents a new family musical event: A Snow White Christmas December 1-8. This tale of Snow and her party of seven is billed as a wickedly funny re-telling of the classic in the style of British panto, which for the uninitiated means over-the-top costumes, big musical numbers, plenty of slapstick humor and gender crossing actors. The production stars Garrett Clayton (Hairspray Live!), Jared Gertner (The Book of Mormon) and Neil Patrick Harris (yes, that one) starring as the Magic Mirror via video projection. Take a bite out of this juicy little number.

See website for show dates and times; from $18.79; 2 E. South St.; nctheatre.com

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6-22

CINDERELLA

If the shoe fits… Raleigh Little Theatre’s beloved production of Cinderella returns for a run December 6-22. As audiences have come to expect, the production has all the trimmings: lavish costumes, elaborate scenery, singing, dancing and a cast of characters that includes crowd favorites M. Dennis Poole and Dr. Timothy Cherry, reprising their roles as the evil stepsisters for the 21st year running. (The good messieurs will not play the full run, so check the website if you want to behold them chewing the scenery.)

See website for show dates and times; from $25; 301 Pogue St.; raleighlittletheatre.org

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BOYLAN HEIGHTS ARTWALK

The 27th Annual Boylan Heights ArtWalk is coming to a neighborhood near you December 8. The porches, yards and sidewalks of the historic Boylan Heights neighborhood transform into an open air gallery to kick off the holiday season. Shop from over 100 artists and craftspeople offering works in glass, metal, wood, fiber, clay, ceramics, photography, print, painting and jewelry. Pick out gifts to give (and one for you, too), meet the artists and enjoy a bite to eat—food will be available to purchase from the Boylan Neighborhood Association.

12 - 5 p.m.; free; historic Boylan Heights; boylanheights.org

courtesy News & Observer (CINDERELLA); Autumn Cobeland Americcan Tobacco Trail

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‘Twas 17 sleeps before Christmas and all through William Peace University’s Main Parlor… many creatures were stirring for the 9th Annual Holiday Story Hour. Nestle in with your sugarplums and hear a classic holiday tale, make a craft, enjoy sweet treats and participate in a meet-and-greet photo op with the elf with a belly like a bowl full of jelly. There are two time slots for pictures with St. Nick and registration is required. Now dash away all and get your tickets.

1:30 - 3 p.m. or 3:30 - 5 p.m.; from $15; 15 E. Peace St.; eventbrite.com search 52097280368

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The Beth Meyer Synagogue is hosting a special performance December 8: Celebrating the Triangle Jewish Chorale’s Silver Anniversary: A Concert in Honor of Founder Gayla Halbrecht. The Triangle Jewish Chorale was founded to educate and entertain by sharing Jewish music of all kinds with the community. The Chorale will perform a selection of all-time favorites, from liturgical arrangements to traditional folk songs. Admission is free, but you can show your appreciation with a donation to the organization.

4:30 p.m.; free; 504 Newton Road; trianglejewishchorale.org

Getty Images (STORY); courtesy Triangle Jewish Chorale

HOLIDAY STORY HOUR

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DECEMBER

13-22

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BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE EXECUTIVE MANSION

Turn to page 106 of this issue. Want to see more? Go Behind the Scenes at the Executive Mansion with WALTER magazine. Join us for an exclusive holiday tour, and enjoy refreshments and hors d’oeuvres while First Lady Kristin Cooper and members of the Mansion’s Fine Arts Committee discuss the home’s history. Guests will receive tours and access to rooms that are normally closed to the public.

6 - 8:30 p.m.; $60; 200 N. Blount St.; waltermagazine.com/savethedate

MAKE

A

THE SANTALAND DIARIES

Is there anything worse than a 33-year-old man applying for a job as a Macy’s Department Store Santa’s helper? Discover the depths to which Crumpet the elf sinks in the one-man show The Santaland Diaries, adapted for stage by Joe Mantello and based on the story

by Raleigh’s own David Sedaris. Jesse Gephart returns to Theatre in the Park December 13-22 to reprise the role he has made famous in these parts since 2007. Please be advised: Crumpet is no angel—this show is for mature audiences only. #TeamCrumpetTIP (It’s trending.)

See website for show dates and times; from $19; 107 Pullen Road; theatreinthepark.com

S TAT E M E N T

D I A MOND S , E S TATE AND A N T IQU E J E WE L R Y L O O S E D I A MOND S OF AL L S H A PE S A N D S I Z E S C ERT I FI ED A PPR AI SAL S • E XPE RT J E WE L R Y R E PA I R S W E B U Y D I A MOND S , G OL D A N D P L AT I N U M 345 S. WILMINGTON STREET

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courtesy Burning Coal Theatre

Happening NOW

CAMELOT

Burning Coal Theatre’s take on a classic

R

aleigh's Burning Coal Theatre Company kicks off their production of Camelot December 5. The musical tells the legend of King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot and the sword in the stone, accompanied by some modern musical twists.

Now in its twenty-third season, Camelot may seem like a surprising choice for the nonprofit theater, which typically showcases productions around weightier topics (see: the recent staging of The Container, an immersive story about immigration in which the audience watches from inside a freight shipping container). So what makes Camelot Burning Coal material? Director Jerome Davis says that the show’s themes remain relevant today: issues of economic disparity, the morality of war and the quest for idealism. “At its core, it’s the idea of whether or not human beings are capable of perfection, and what the cost of that is on a person’s soul and community,” says Davis.

Burning Coal is modernizing the show’s music with a rock band accompaniment rather than an orchestra. Davis sees this 38 | WALTER

as replicating the original, speaking to today’s generation the way it first spoke to audiences in the 60s. “Theater survives by new ideas versus relics, to survive you need to produce new works and re-create vintage ones,” says Davis. The goal is for the audience to feel part of the production. With high energy performances and minimalist production values, Burning Coal’s mission is “to make theatre that is experienced, not just seen—we want to make people really feel it,” says Development Director Nathalie Tondeur. Camelot will be Burning Coal’s last production of 2019, but their current season will include two more performances running through April.

Camelot runs December 5-22 with an entirely local cast, and Tondeur says the show is a family-friendly affair. “It’ll be fun for kids, but parents will also have something fun to watch—it’s sure to be a unique experience with something for every generation.”—Simmons Andrews $25; 224 Polk St.; burningcoal.org

DECEMBER

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Happening NOW

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HISTORIC OAKWOOD CANDLELIGHT TOUR

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The halls will be decked for the 48th Annual Historic Oakwood Candlelight Tour December 14-15.

Residents of the Historic Oakwood neighborhood welcome visitors to tour their homes, most of which date back to the mid1800s and early 1900s, and are built in the Victorian, Queen Anne and Craftsmen style. Enjoy the holiday decor and learn about the history of each home from a docent. Know before you go: a map of homes on the tour comes with the purchase of a ticket. Visitors may tour homes in any order and at their own leisure. Comfort stations and restroom trailers are noted on the map. Tour is held rain or shine and walking between homes is encouraged as parking is limited, so be sure to don the right apparel. Fa la la la lock in tickets early, the event is usually a sell-out.

1 - 7 p.m.; from $23; Historic Oakwood; historicoakwood.org

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Hickory Furniture Mart • South Side • Level 2

Create your own home sweet home at the Marbles Gingerbread Jamboree December 14-15. Kids of all ages can make and take a fully customized gingerbread abode—Marbles supplies all the building materials, including a reusable plastic base that can be purchased for $20. (If you have a gingerbread base from a previous jamboree, you are allowed to bring one back to decorate.) Run off the sugarfueled building frenzy in the museum afterwards—admission is included with the ticket to the event.

10 a.m. - 12 p.m. or 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.; from $12; 201 E. Hargett St.; marbleskidsmuseum.org

LESS COOKING. M O R E C E L E B R AT I N G .

Our Bakery and Deli are here to help with holiday entertaining.

Visit your local Publix or order online at publix.com/HolidayPlatters.

Please allow 24 hours for platters.

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LANGSTON HUGHES' BLACK NATIVITY

The Justice Theater Project presents Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity December 15-17 at Stewart Theatre on the campus of N.C. State University. The production, written by Langston Hughes and first performed Off-Broadway in 1961, is a retelling of the nativity story featuring an entirely black cast. Now in its ninth year, the production is directed by Dr. Stephanie Asabi M Howard, an associate professor of theatre at North Carolina Central University and features original choreography by the late Chuck Davis and rousing gospel versions of traditional Christmas songs performed by a multicultural choir. This year the Justice Theater Project has partnered with the N.C. Museum of Art for two special performances of The Music of Black Nativity December 12 and 14, which will be peformed at the museum. (See NCMA website for ticketing to this event.)

See website for show dates and times; from $21; 2610 Cates Ave.; thejusticetheaterproject.org

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NEON QUEEN Take a chance on Neon Queen: An Alternative ABBA Experience at Kings music venue December 28. These super troopers bring it all: synth beats, strong harmonies and plenty of sequins. What sets them apart from campier acts is a fresh reimagining of ABBA’s undeniably catchy pop hits, so you can still dance and you can still jive.

9 p.m. from $12; 14 W. Martin St.; kingsraleigh.com

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18-29

THE NUTCRACKER The Carolina Ballet's production of The Nutcracker returns to the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts December 18-29. (There are also performances at UNC's Memorial Hall December 7-8 and at the Duke Performing Arts Center December 14-15.) And there is quite a bit of Drosselmeier-like magic bringing it to life. It takes 36 production crew members more than 16 hours to haul 3 semi trucks full of scenery, costumes, lights and props to each venue. There are 333 stage lights that in two days will use more electricity than the average home uses in a month. Many of the costumes were built for the original production 18 years ago, which means they have been worn almost 400 times by over thirty different performers. And, we love this bit of cosmic trivia: the mice heads were created by a company in England that also makes Darth Vader's helmets for the Star Wars films. That's quite the nut to crack.

See website for show times and dates; from $24; 2 E. South St.; carolinaballet.com

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CHEVY CHASE LIVE

In need of a vacation after Christmas vacation? Take a night off for An Evening with Chevy Chase Live following a Screening of Christmas Vacation December 30 at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. Following the showing of the irreverent Christmas classic, Chevy Chase himself will share stories from a storied career that has spanned 40-plus years. And, who knows, maybe you will find out if Rusty is still in the Navy.

7:30 p.m.; from $50; 2 E. South St.; dukeenergycenterraleigh.com

Tom Wolf (NATIVITY); Armes Photography (NUTCRACKER); Waring Abbott (ABBA); courtesy Warner Brothers (CHEVY)

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DECEMBER

THE DREAM TEAM Photo by Somer Handley

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Happening NOW

JOIN THE CHORUS xExperience the music of the season

W

hether it’s trolling the ancient yuletide carol or cranking up the jingle bell rock, the Triangle offers a sleigh full of shows to lift your holiday spirits. We’ve rounded up a few noteworthy performances, so strike the harp while it’s hot.

Get a sentimental feeling Stir memories from your childhood or create new ones for your own family with an over-the-top musical production. Hermey, Yukon, Charlie-in-the-box and the Bumble bring the holly jolly

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to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts December 1-24 (raleigh-theater.com). Treetops glisten and children listen (at least through the intermission) during Irving Berlin’s White Christmas presented at the Durham Performing Arts Center December 8 (dpacnc.com). And finally, it just would not be Christmas in Raleigh without Ira David Wood III and IV and Theatre in the Park’s irreverent but heart warming Christmas Carol December 11-15 at Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts and December 18-22 at Durham Performing Arts Center (theatreinthepark.com).

DECEMBER The new old fashioned way While all the other Who’s are a-snooze, slink out to one of the area’s venerable music halls for an alternative night of Christmas cheer—there will be no shortage of trimmings, trappings or holiday spirits. Robert Earl Keen’s Countdown To Christmas rocks the Carolina Theatre in Durham December 4 (carolinatheatre.org). The Squirrel Nut Zippers Holiday Caravan rolls into the Lincoln Theatre December 12 (lincolntheatre.com).

The Reverend Horton Heat hauls Horton’s Holiday Hayride to the Cat’s Cradle December 14 (catscradle.com). Suzy Bogguss: Swingin’ Little Christmas makes merry at the Fuquay-Varina Arts Center December 19 (fuquay-varina.org). Chatham County Line’s Electric Holiday Tour 2019 shines at the Haw River Ballroom December 20 (hawriverballroom.com).

Let the Christmas spirit ring The Triangle is home to a host of talented musicians both professional and amateur and this holiday season offers many opportunities to celebrate their gifts to our community. The North Carolina Symphony performs Handel’s Messiah with the North Carolina Master Chorale December 6-7 then presents its popular Holiday Pops show December 13-14—both at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts (ncsymphony. org). (For more about the North Carolina Master Chorale, see p. 26.) The Really Terrible Orchestra of the Triangle is a really not so terrible ensemble who tout members with no previous experience playing instruments.

Their holiday show A Mildly Italian Christmas will be held at the Cary Arts Center December 10 (rtoot.org). White Memorial Presbyterian Church presents Sounds on Oberlin Concert Series: Advent Magnificat December 15, featuring their adult choir with guest soloists and orchestra (whitememorial.org). The Raleigh Boychoir performs Carols of Christmas December 20 at Edenton Street United Methodist Church (raleighboychoir.org). The Raleigh Ringers handbell choir rings in the season with their Annual Holiday Concert December 21-22 at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts (rr.org) —Katherine Poole

NOVEMBER 2019 | 45

Happening NOW

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What are you doing New Year’s Eve? If you are like thousands of locals, you’ll be hitting up WRAL First Night Raleigh. First Night is a day-long festival that culminates in the dropping of the acorn (designed by David Benson).

Produced by Artsplosure, a Raleigh nonprofit that produces art and cultural events, your First Night ticket gives you access to 20 blocks—from the Capitol to City Plaza—of art, music, comedy, theatre and more. V.I.P. passes are available as well, which get you priority access to venues as well as to a special viewing area for the acorn drop. First Night is family-friendly, with plenty of kid-centric activities and performance throughout the day, including an early acorn drop and fireworks at 7 p.m. See website for a full list of performers and venues then order up some noise makers and 2020 novelty glasses.

2 p.m. - 12 a.m.; from $11; downtown Raleigh; firstnightraleigh.com

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FIRST NIGHT RALEIGH

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VIENNA WITH A TWIST Say auf wiederschauen to 2019 with the North Carolina Symphony’s New Year’s Eve: Vienna with a Twist December 31. The annual concert will once again feature traditional Viennese waltzes, but with an added twist that will swing you into the new year—George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and other big band classics.

8 p.m.; from $25; 2 E South St.; ncsymphony.org

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DECEMBER

The Triangle goes all out for the holidays. See how neighboring communities get decked.

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Lake Myra Christmas Lights Wendell all month lakemyrachristmaslights.com Christmas at Oak View Park: How They Celebrated from 1850-1950 December 2-21 wakegov.com

RALEIGH, NC • TEL: 919.852.0570 WWW.DESIGNLINESSIGNATURE.COM

Sleigh Ride in Downtown Fuquay-Varina December 5 fuquay-varinadowntown.com Christmas on Salem Street Apex December 6 apexdowntown.com Light Up Main Garner December 6 garnernc.gov Lighting of Wake Forest December 6 wakeforestnc.gov Wendell Wonderland December 6 townofwendell.com Town of Cary Christmas Tree Lighting December 7 townofcary.org

k a n non s c lot h i n g . c om MEN 4 3 5 D a n iel s S t ree t . | 919 . 3 6 5 . 7 074

O Our

There are so many festive things to do in December! From food to films to family fun, here are 19 things we’ve got on our December bucket list.

FESTIVE FIELD TRIPS Pick out a wreath or Christmas tree at the N.C. Farmers Market ncagr.gov Watch a Living Nativity at Hayes Barton Baptist or Ephesus Baptist Church hbbc.org; ephesusbaptistchurch.com Visit the Chinese Lantern Festival at Koka Booth Amphitheatre through January 12 boothamphitheatre.com

SEASONS EATINGS Sip a gingerbread latte at Yellow Dog Bread Company or a hot chocolate at Videri yellowdogbread.com; viderichocolatefactory.com Pre-order your buche de Noel at Lucettegrace and your artisan snowmen bread from La Farm Bakery lucettegrace.com; lafarmbakery.com Have an ice cream date at Two Roosters and try their Nutcracker-themed flavors (in partnership with Carolina Ballet) tworoosters.com

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EAT

LOCAL TRADITIONS Take the family to Ira David Wood’s A Christmas Carol, December 11-15 in Raleigh and December 18-22 at DPAC theatreinthepark.com Enjoy a free holiday tour of the N.C. Executive Mansion December 9 Go on the Historic Oakwood Candlelight Tour December 14 and 15 historicoakwood.org

WATCH LIST Marbles IMAX: Catch Frozen 2 through December 12 imaxraleigh.org The Cary Theatre: Look for holiday favorites like The Grinch and The Polar Express all month long. Also in the lineup are some special audience participation screenings: Home Alone Quote-A-Long, White Christmas Sing-along and Elf Snowball Fight. thecarytheater.com The Rialto Theatre Monday at the Movies: Buy your tickets ASAP, these sell out fast!

Elf December 2, White Christmas December 9 and It’s a Wonderful Life December 23. facebook.com/rialtotheatre

THE USUAL

A FAMILY BAND Twice-weekly practices create loyalties between generations

by LORI D. R. WIGGINS photography by SMITH HARDY

I

f you’ve been to a parade anywhere between here and the rest of the Tar Heel State, chances are you’ve been lucky enough to be entertained by the Helping Hand Mission Marching Band.

The Helping Hand Mission Marching Band delivers the show-style, highstepping swag reminiscent of marching bands at Historically Black Colleges and Universities: knees lifted to a 90-degree angle with most every step, strutting, 52 | WALTER

acrobatics and dancers who effortlessly kick their legs past their heads. Less obvious is another cornerstone of HBCU bands: These bandmates consider each other brothers and sisters. Family.

Composed of volunteers, amateur musicians and dancers of all ages, the band is a program of the Helping Hand Mission on Rock Quarry Road in Southeast Raleigh. Opened in the mid1970s, the Mission has helped individuals and families in need work toward

self-sufficiency with food, clothing, furniture and shelter. Mission founder Sylvia Wiggins created the marching band as a safe, positive outlet for children at risk of being derailed by social ills. Within the band, children (and now adults, too) find opportunities for physical fitness, discipline, outreach and community service. For decades, the band has been practicing twice a week, Tuesday and Thursday at 6 p.m. The beat of drums and whirl of instruments

can be heard for blocks surrounding the Mission. But the band remains unseen until showtime.

“I used to come up here with my grandmother while she shopped,” says Larry Brodie, now 47, who’s been a Helping Hand drummer since he was five.

“I’ve been in the band ever since. It keeps me occupied and busy, plus I like playing drums. I’m in it for life.”

Willie Thorpe joined the band at 14. A year later, he was a drum major. Thorpe’s last parade was Christmas 2018. But he’s still family.

“I lived, breathed and slept the Helping Hand Mission Band; the way it made me feel, all of us were family,” says Thorpe, a recent graduate of William Peace University who now is pursuing his entrepreneurial dreams as owner of Rogue Fashen Modeling and Talent. “I came from a great home, but for me, the band has been a journey of peace and love, and a sense of pride. That’s why we come back in droves.

We know it’s a legacy.”

Three years ago, youngster Jariyyha Henderson was shy. Then, tagging along with her older sister, she joined the band.

“Now, I have friends that can dance with me,” says Henderson. “We sometimes get in little arguments, but we’re always still real friends.”

In every performance, the audience absorbs the good energy created by friendships and community outreach, says Christopher Swinnie, 32, who joined the band as a drummer a decade ago.

“We’re one band, one sound and we’re all one family,” Swinnie says. “What our audiences see is energy, fun and colorful personalities. And when it’s time for us to perform, they’re ready for all of that; they’re ready for us.”

Nine-year-old Liah Gardner’s godsisters invited her to join them in the band as a dancer. Gardner is glad she did, mostly, she says, because she likes to dance, travel, meet new people and hang out

as a group away from band. “We’re all friends; we have a good bond. We’re like sisters,” Liah says. “Our dancing is really cool, too!”

Her mom, Shemetris “Mei-Mei” Gales, sees beyond the fun. “I love how the band is more than just a group; they are an actual family,” she says. “They help each other and they help the community.

I see her confidence level has truly been boosted, too. It’s great.”

Both in their 20s, Tyree Debnam and Terrell Battle have been dancers with the band for over a decade. “It’s a community band that keeps you out of trouble when you’re young,” says Debnam. “Now, it’s about the love, the fun, the spirit and wisdom. We learn a lot from Sylvia and each other. It’s like a whole other family when we’re together.”

“It’s like a family you never had,” added Battle, who joined the band as a drummer in 2003 and became a dancer in 2008. “They’re always there.”

DECEMBER 2019 | 53

RINGING in RELIEF Wake County’s chapter of The Salvation Army offers broad services with a local heart

by HAMPTON WILLIAMS HOFER

S

tarting November 23, volunteers stand with The Salvation Army’s signature red kettles, ringing bells outside more than 60 grocery and Walmart stores around Wake County. For many, that sound marks the dawn of the holiday season.

At one of those locations, a Raleigh

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woman will slide a few folded dollars into a kettle, as she has done each year since her family lost everything in a fire. When that happened, The Salvation Army provided her and her children with food, clothing and gifts. She has vowed that she will never again buy a single Christmas present until she puts money into a red

kettle. Her story is one of redemption, thanks to The Salvation Army, which exists to meet human need wherever, whenever and however possible.

This year, The Salvation Army of Wake County, which has been operating since 1887, will provide relief for over 100,000 individuals in our area. Shelter for the

Sher Stoneman / News & Observer (BELL RINGER)

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6I[HPU [OL 7YVWLY[` 9LWVY[ YLX\PYLK I` -LKLYHS 3H^ ILMVYL ZPNUPUN HU`[OPUN (SS PUMVYTH[PVU PZ ILSPL]LK [V IL HJJ\YH[L I\[ PZ UV[ ^HYYHU[LK ;OPZ PUMVYTH[PVU ZOHSS UV[ JVUZ[P[\[L H ]HSPK VɈ LY PU HU` Z[H[L ^OLYL WYPVY YLNPZ[YH[PVU PZ YLX\PYLK ;OPZ information and features and information described and depicted herein is based on proposed development plans, which are subject to change without notice. Actual development may or may not be as currently proposed. No guarantee is made that the features, amenities, or facilities depicted by an artist’s rendering or otherwise described herein will be built, or, if built will be the same type, size, or nature as depicted or described. © 2015 Blowing Rock Resort Venture, LLC.

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From left to right: Katie Ward, Director of Social Ministries; Director of Development Shana Filter

with roots in more than 130 countries.

They provide aid in emergencies, work toward social justice, and support those struggling to meet basic human needs.

But Raleigh’s chapter is among the best, says Shelter Director Stephen Gruver, who previously worked at shelters in cities from Los Angeles to Chicago. “We are fortunate to have partners like Wake Smiles and The Raleigh Rotary Club, who operate a full-service dental clinic literally inside our Center of Hope, providing much-needed services,” says Filter.

The Salvation Army of Wake County is able to serve an exceptional number of people in such a variety of ways, thanks to the individuals and local organizations that answer the call of the bells.

“Ringing the bell truly is the most humbling and uplifting thing I do all year; in fact, it is the perfect antidote to the commercialism that makes it so hard to get into the Christmas spirit,” says John Connell, who has been ringing the bell for over 20 years. His post has rotated through the years, from downtown on Fayetteville Street and now to the Walmart on New Hope Church Road. “We wear the official

Salvation Army apron—and you know it’s hard for a UNC grad to wear red—and ring that bell, all the while extending holiday greetings to shoppers and thanking the many generous souls who stop to put their dollars and spare change into the bucket.” Proceeds from the red kettles help fund programs year-round, but Christmas is The Salvation Army’s busiest season: Over 8,000 children will participate in the Christmas Cheer Program, receiving new clothing, toys and stockings. The Angel Tree program allows community members to “adopt” children in need by buying them clothes and toys. And thousands of stockings are picked up at the Center of Hope facility, filled with goodies by volunteers, and returned for distribution.

The Salvation Army, with its many programs and supporters, offers relief for so many members of the community.

Relief from hunger, homelessness and cold. A second chance. And for Wake County’s most vulnerable children, it means more than a bike or a new LEGO set for Christmas—it means celebrating the season with joy.

TYLER CUNNINGHAM

homeless, food for the hungry and programs for at-risk youth constitute only a fraction of their work. There’s also Project FIGHT, which aids victims of human trafficking with immediate care and comprehensive case management. Project CATCH, Community Action Targeting Children who are Homeless, seeks to support and maximize the potential of children experiencing homelessness.

There are summer camps, athletic programs, tutoring, parenting workshops, companionship for the elderly and much more, all made possible by generous donors and dedicated volunteers.

Shana Filter spent years driving past The Salvation Army’s Judy D. Zelnak Center of Hope every day, unaware of the transformative work happening inside. Now, she’s the Director of Development. “I am extremely proud to be here,” she says, of the building that provides shelter for more than 100 women and children experiencing homelessness, including those fleeing domestic violence.

“I’m so motivated to do this work, to raise as much money as possible in order to continue our incredible impact.”

Filter says that their work often deals with widespread, long-term issues—but sometimes, it’s as simple as immediate relief for an empty belly. Each week, Monday through Friday, an average of 60 people per night sit down to a free meal at the Salvation Army on Capital Boulevard. “There are no requirements or proof of identification necessary,” says Katie Ward, Director of Social Ministries. “The Soupline provides a warm meal for anyone in need.” Additionally, more than 50 bags of food are distributed each week to families and individuals fighting hunger. The Salvation Army also runs two Family Stores in Raleigh— there, community members can drop off items like gently used furniture, houseware, clothing, books and jewelry; and families in need receive vouchers to shop free of charge.

The Salvation Army, a Christian ministry with humble beginnings in London 154 years ago, is one of the most prolific charitable organizations in the world,

GIGS

REEL DIVA Laura Boyes reflects on 20 years as NCMA’s Movie Diva

by JACKSON COOPER photography by EAMON QUEENEY

L

aura Boyes is not afraid anymore. In the early years of the film program at the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA), she’d get nervous speaking in front of an audience about the film they were about to see. But this year, as Boyes celebrates her twentieth season as film curator for NCMA, the audience feels like family: Some familiar faces, some new, but everyone there to experience a new film together as a community.

For the last two decades, Boyes has

58 | WALTER

programmed the year-round film series at NCMA, which screens September through May in the SECU Auditorium.

The films range from exhibition-themed to special restorations of forgotten niche classics. Boyes selects the films, books them, writes copy and introduces them when they screen, making her one of the few curators at NCMA that regularly engages with guests face-to-face. The program, which is funded through ticket revenue, is one of the longest-sustained public programs that the museum offers.

And certainly, its success is built on the diverse selections that have fostered a devoted audience of film lovers.

One day, back in 1999, Boyes heard from her colleague Nancy Kalow that NCMA was looking for someone to curate a new film series. Kalow, a folklorist at Duke University, knew George Holt, the now-retired Director of Performing Arts and Film for NCMA, through his work with the Folklife program through the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. She quickly connected the

two; they hit it off right away. Holt advocated for the program’s growth internally at NCMA, updating equipment, securing exceptional marketing materials and seeking funding to support the program.

But, Holt says, it was Boyes who was the catalyst that “took film programming to a new level.”

“Laura’s passion for classic cinema and her superb communication skills quickly won her a devoted audience that was delighted to discover the cinematic gems she brings to the screen on a regular basis,” Holt says. “And her introductions remain a highlight of the NCMA film-going experience.” Her talks are insightful, accessible, funny and lively.

She never talks down to the audience, instead, her introductions balance warmth and intellect. It is very clear that love flows through every sentence: love of the film and love of the audience.

“When I started the program, I needed to give people a reason to get out of the house,” says Boyes. She foresaw the problem movie theaters would face in the dawn of Netflix: why go out when you can just stay in? A guaranteed good movie—even if you’ve never heard of it before—with an informed, casual introduction: that would be compelling. “I always wanted people to trust what they were going to see, to take a chance on it, even if they don’t know the title.”

Often, Boyes will select films that enhance the exhibition experience—a series of Americana films, for example, to complement the Norman Rockwell exhibition, or a retrospective on Mexican and surrealist cinema around the current Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Mexican Modernism exhibit. Boyes’ curation goes beyond just “picking films;” it’s thoughtfully selected to enhance the museum-going experience.

To Boyes, the most powerful audience for a film is children. “These days, I see fewer and fewer parents bringing their kids to classic films because they are scared that a black-and-white movie will be ‘boring,’” she says. “But in fact, it’s quite the opposite.” She pointed to a recent sold-out evening of silent

Holiday Film Picks from The Movie Diva A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983) I’m fond of this one because it was filmed in my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, and I especially love the scenes in the old Higbee’s Department Store downtown. Also: the mean Santa is my second cousin, Jeff Gillen.

He was not a particularly successful actor, and he died young of a heart attack in 1995, before this film became a cult favorite. What would he have thought that the holidays are now heralded by his rosy Santa face being published everywhere?

ABOUT A BOY (2002) Not technically a Christmas movie, but it ends around Christmastime— and who can resist Hugh Grant’s posh London twist on Scrooge?

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946) This is actually a terribly depressing Yuletide story. Director Frank Capra and star James Stewart came back from WWII unable to make the same optimistic films they used to. If you want to cry buckets of tears, this is the one to watch.

MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1947) Is Santa real? A cynical little girl, played by the adorable nine-year-old Natalie Wood, doesn’t think so. There is no more perfect Kris Kringle than Edmund Gwenn (sorry, cousin Jeff).

THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER (1942 & 2000) A beloved radio star—actually a tyrannical curmudgeon—breaks his hip at the home of an Ohio family and upends their Christmas. I love both the original with Monty Woolley and Bette Davis, and the Nathan Lane remake, too.

THE HEBREW HAMMER (2003) A parody of both Blacksploitation films and Christmas movies, in this film Andy Goldberg plays a badass Jewish hero determined to save Hannukah from Santa’s evil son, Damian.

THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL (1992) Any version of this story is satisfying for me, but the Muppets do a surprisingly faithful version of this classic, and Michael Caine just may be my favorite Scrooge.

DECEMBER 2019 | 59

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comedy shorts, screened at NCMA with live accompaniment. “Quite a bit of the audience were parents with kids, enjoying wholesome, hilarious entertainment.”

And while “screen time” can sound like a dirty word these days, Boyes points out that watching a movie together is an altogether different experience than handing a kid a tablet. “Separate screens do not create teachable moments for kids, but movies create dialogue between us and ultimately respect for one another,” says Boyes, “I used to bring my daughter Adrian to films, and we, along with my husband Will, would talk about it on the car ride home. Now, I can tell that these films have taught her about the world and life.”

Her website, MovieDiva.com, once created to store her research for the films she programmed and give her audience access to her notes, is now referenced in books and DVD commentaries. It’s even made her film-circle famous: In Los Angeles two years ago at the Turner Classic Movies Film festival, a programmer spotted her from across the room, exclaiming, ‘You’re the Movie Diva!’

Boyes was surprised and pleased that all the way on the West Coast, her website could spark new interest in film.

Today, twenty years after she signed on at NCMA, the movie-watching landscape has changed. These days, you can curate a watch list from the ease of your sofa, and often the movie is one of many screens you’re engaging with at the same time. Boyes challenges us to truly watch movies—putting down our phones, turning out the lights and paying undivided attention—and to remember the value of trusting an expert and discovering a film alongside an audience.

“My job is to get people to see life and film in a way they haven’t seen it before,” says Boyes.

Boyes’ 20th anniversary 2020 series runs now through March 15 at NCMA.

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LOCALS

Mr. Forgione’s OPUS A Cary band teacher inspires admiration—and talent

by ADDIE LADNER photography by BOB KARP

“N

o conducting, just listen to each other,” Chris Forgione says, standing over his class of percussion students. On the wall behind him, a plaque reads: “Mr. Forgione’s Way or the Highway.” It nods to his teaching style: firm, but fun. Forgione has been

62 | WALTER

the Band Director at Davis Drive Middle School for 23 years. There, students, parents and administrators agree, he’s done more than just teach kids how to play the flute or the drums. The constant clatter in his classroom doesn’t come from just instruments; it comes from laughter, chants the students recite to learn scales and the running, open discussion

between Forgione and his charges. “I don't know how he's been doing this job for this long with the noise,” Assistant Principal Jason Ganoe says—especially because 90 percent of the kids that enter his classroom haven’t picked up an instrument before that first day. “To see these kids go from zero to possibly making it a career, their life? He has this

magic in him,” Ganoe says. Ben Sparrow, now a professional saxophone player and an elementary music teacher in Florida, was one of Forgione’s students.

“Some of my 8th-grade teachers didn’t get the full picture of who I was, but Mr. Forgione did. His room was a safe place,” says Sparrow. At the time, Sparrow was experiencing sudden onset Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, that brought with it panic and anxiety. He found reprieve in Forgione’s room. Sparrow says Mr. Forgione would encourage, but not pressure. “I remember one time I was trying to process what was happening in those months. I was talking about being in my head and he said, ‘Nothing outside of you has changed. It’s how you’re seeing it.’

That stuck with me.”

Sparrow went on to earn a Bachelors of Music in Saxophone Performance and a Master of Arts in Teaching from East Carolina University (where Forgione also studied). He says he uses Forgione’s example when forming meaningful relationships with his own students.

Forgione’s first job out of college was at Wake Forest-Rolesville Middle School, where he grew the band program from about 65 students to over 200. “He is a funny teacher and teaches in compelling ways. Knowing he puts in hard work gives us a sense of responsibility to work hard,” one student says. Forgione says he doesn’t see his 6th-grade band

students as beginners, but rather, future 8th-graders ready to compete. With the students, he emphasizes the value of practice. “I try to help them understand if you want to be good, you have to stick with it,” says Forgione. “It’s a three-part cycle: You play, you get better, you want to play more.” When students aren’t interested, he says, it’s because the cycle is broken. “Usually, they’re not practicing.”

During a time Forgione refers to as a mid-life crisis and feeling burnt out, he enrolled in the Raleigh Police Force Academy.

“I went from seeing kids at their best to seeing them at their worst,” he says. “This here is a utopia. We’ve got great kids, great parents, great resources.” The experience gave him a new perspective: “I learned so much on the streets of Raleigh. Things that used to stress me out, don’t.”

“But the biggest turnaround was when I became a dad,” he says. Forgione and his wife now have four children, on top of the hundreds of students he treats as his own.

Forgione sees band as a metaphor for life.

“It teaches individual responsibility to a group, learning how to succeed and fail together,” he says. Most of his students will proudly go onto Green Hope High School, a school nationally known for its band program. “It’s bittersweet because I only have them for three years. I get them playing at their best—then I send them on their way.”

“It’s bittersweet because I only have them for three years. I get them playing at their best—then I send them on their way.”

—Chris Forgione

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VINTAGE FINDS The Father and Son team settles in to a new location

by SARAH NAGEM photography by EAMON QUEENEY

B

rian and Kiyomi Ownbey always had a thing for Midcentury design: the vibrant colors and garish themes of American Kitsch, and also the clean, calm lines of wooden Scandinavian furniture.

But the couple say it was a “fluke” that they ended up opening Father and Son, a vintage store in downtown Raleigh where shoppers can get a Herman Miller chair for $3,800 or a Joan Baez record for five bucks. (Oh, and there are the old-school Christmas blow molds, plastic

64 | WALTER

Santas and snowmen and choir singers that have really made a comeback).

“I can’t say enough about how lucky we’ve been,” Brian Ownbey says. “This was a crapshoot.”

The couple, both 52, didn’t set out to run a business. They met as undergrads at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, then headed to Ohio, where Brian Ownbey earned a master’s degree in creative writing from Bowling Green State University. He tried unsuccessfully to land a job as an English professor in the Triangle, and Kiyomi

Ownbey wasn’t sure what kind of work she wanted to pursue.

So in the mid-1990s, they turned their vintage hobby into a business, renting space at an antiques store in City Market. There weren’t many places around to buy Mid-century goods, and customers couldn’t get enough of the couple’s flea-market finds, especially during their Friday-night events.

“The line would be out the door,” Kiyomi Ownbey recalls. “It was like a feeding frenzy.”

They opened their own store on

Hargett Street in 1997, and Father and Son quickly gained a reputation as an oddball place that sold everything from second-hand clothes to wooden desks and tables. The store had loyal fans, but its location was also ideal for passersby who just might be in the market for a Blenko vase. “We would get attorneys in between court cases,” Kiyomi Ownbey says, noting the proximity to the Wake County courthouse.

The following year, the couple had their daughter, Grace, who is now 21 and attends Appalachian State University. As she grew up, so did downtown Raleigh, and the inevitable happened: A developer bought the old, gritty building on Hargett, marking the end of an era for Father and Son as it was. So in early 2018, the store moved to West Street in the fast-changing Warehouse District, next to the new Union Station and across from The Dillon.

The Ownbeys say they like the space, but it’s less than half the size of the old building. So they had to pare down their inventory. A lot.

Shoppers can get a Herman Miller chair for $3,800 or a Joan Baez record for five bucks.

“We’re hoarders,” Kiyomi Ownbey says. “We can’t let go.”

Fortunately, the customers have followed the pair to the new location.

Patty McGaffagan, who owns a Mid-century home with her husband in Smithfield, rattles off the things she has bought from Father and Son over the

years: Kai Kristiansen tables. An Ingmar Relling rocking chair. An abstract painting by Brian Ownbey, who sells some of his artwork in the store.

“They know what they have,” McGaffagan says. “But their prices are extremely reasonable.”

Brian Ownbey says the store sells a lot of items to vintage dealers, who snap up furniture pieces and sell them at a higher price in bigger cities across the country.

“If I could, I would sell everything locally,” he says, but it’s just not feasible.

The local crowd can’t get enough of the store’s clothing items, many of which are featured on Father and Son’s Instagram page.

A yellow and orange plaid coat? Yes, please.

“It’s a fun place to come in and look around,” Brian Ownbey says. “Even if it wasn’t my store, I would enjoy coming in.”

DECEMBER 2019 | 65

QUENCH

GET INTO THE SPIRITS The Haymaker celebrates the holidays

by SHELBI POLK

F

or most of the year, The Haymaker is a tastefully eclectic cocktail bar, decorated in oversize florals and nods to old-school hip hop, its carefully crafted drinks served in vintage glasses.

But come December, it transforms into a veritable winter wonderland: bartenders and staff break out the ugly sweaters, the bar is wrapped in tinsel and lights, 66 | WALTER

photography by TAYLOR MCDONALD

and dozens of rolls of wrapping paper lend a cheerful mix of patterns to the walls. Welcome to the Triangle’s only Miracle Pop-Up Bar. From November 29 to December 30, The Haymaker will host an annual pop-up that has appeared in bars across the world. Miracle Pop-Up Bar began in New York City in 2014 and has since taken over bars from Montreal to Paris.

The organization plans the cocktail menu and provides themed glassware, like this year’s dinosaur-shaped SantaRex mug.

But the wrapping paper? That’s all on The Haymaker, as it has complete control over decorations in the space.

Manager Josh Gagne says the team enjoys the chance to be a little extra extra.

“It is over-the-top in every single aspect,”

Gagne says.

The pop-up isn’t just an excuse for the staff to wear ugly Christmas sweaters, Gagne says; it cements a connection between people all over the globe. “On social media, you can see all of these people sharing the same cocktail as you, but they’re in a different bar with different decor,” Gagne says. “You get to see what everybody’s take on an overthe-top Christmas is, around the whole world.”

Underneath all the delightful kitsch, Miracle requires participating bars to have high standards for their cocktails. The Haymaker will make their own pecan-infused whiskey and spiced cranberry syrup, and Gagne says the challenge is fun for the team. “We love talking about spirits and cocktails, so when you finally get a challenge that allows you to showcase your knowledge and your skill set—it’s your time to shine,” he says.

Gagne says the crowd gets bigger and

bigger each December—the typically low-key bar transforms into a holiday haven, buzzing with merriment. Every year, Gagne says the staff has been prepared to welcome swarms of people looking for holiday cheer, and even so, every year, they’ve underestimated the response. “It brings a lot of new faces into the bar, but it is a little crazy,” Gagne says.

This year will be the Haymaker’s third time to welcome the pop-up, and it’s been one of the most consistent places to find Miracle’s brand of seasonal joy. It’s also a nice little bump in business for the three-year-old cocktail bar, since construction on Fayetteville Street has nearly obscured them from view for half the bar’s existence. Gagne says he’s really looking forward to all the new people and businesses that will be moving in soon. “The construction definitely limited us over the last year-and-a-half, but we’ve adapted,” Gagne says.

During the regular season, The DECEMBER 2019 | 67

SNOWBALL OLD FASHIONED Ingredients 2 ounce Caramelized Pecan Bourbon ¼ ounce Spiced Molasses Syrup 2 dashes wormwood bitters Orange zest In a cocktail shaker, mix the bourbon and syrup; shake well, then pour over a single ice cube. Top with bitters and orange zest.

Haymaker hosts frequent events, like monthly DJ sets and live painting sessions with local artists, which have encouraged people to navigate the construction around the bar. Day to day, the bar offers a relaxed atmosphere, cozy enough for an after-work drink or cocktails with friends. But Gagne says he has fun with the challenge, and as he readies for this round of holiday cheer, he's still focused on the core of The Haymaker’s mission.

“The folks at Miracle figured out what people enjoy around the holidays— photogenic cocktails that taste great, in a fun atmosphere,” he says. “But we understand that ultimately, people frequent a bar because they feel comfortable there. That's really the priority for us to offer to the people coming into our place.”

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SAVOR

Chef Albert Lambert, Master Chef at Kanki's flagship location in Raleigh's Crabtree Valley Mall

DINNER & A SHOW For 47 years, this teppanyaki spot has delighted customers

by CATHERINE CURRIN photography by EAMON QUEENEY

70 | WALTER

A

t Kanki, tradition is a priority. That’s true for the staff—many team members have worked there for decades—and for the patrons, too. The stalwart in Crabtree Valley Mall is a Triangle-wide destination for guests to mark birthdays, anniversaries and more. “It’s a unique place to celebrate,” says Master Chef Albert Lambert.

Kanki has been around since 1972.

Sam Longiotti, who also founded Crabtree, fell in love with a similar teppanyaki-style grill in Atlanta and wanted to bring it to Raleigh. It opened on the lower level of Crabtree because it was a space that was less desirable for a retailer, says Tom Mukoyama,

Kanki’s corporate General Manager. As popularity and demand increased, the restaurant eventually opened two additional locations, in North Raleigh and Durham.

Mukoyama started out as a bartender at Kanki while attending N.C. State, and the rest, he says, is history.

After 33 years with the restaurant, he now splits his time between Kanki and his newest venture, Tonbo Ramen in downtown Raleigh. “When I tell people I work at Kanki, the first reaction I get is, ‘I love that place!’,” he says. True, the restaurant triggers a sense of nostalgia for many Raleighites: memories of birthdays celebrated, family dinners or a quirky chef with jokes and tricks throughout the meal. Lambert has

contributed to the memories—he’s been cooking at the tables’ flat-top grills at the Crabtree location since 1991. “Kanki is like family. I’ve worked with some of these co-workers for as long as I’ve been here.” Originally from the Philippines, Lambert trained under Master Teppanyaki Chef Hal Ueda and cooked in numerous teppanyaki restaurants throughout the country before joining the team at Kanki.

While many visit Kanki for old reliables—salad with the famous ginger dressing, mushroom broth and endless, delicious hibachi combos—Lambert says the restaurant flexes its creativity to accommodate food trends and allergies. “The menu we had years ago was very simple. To keep up with the DECEMBER 2019 | 71

competition, we have added many more items to our daily and seasonal menus like specialty sushi rolls and unique happy hour deals.” The bestselling item by far is the filet mignon, says Mukoyama. “I also love the ribeye and especially the garlic butter shiitake mushrooms.”

Lambert says that in addition to the food, the cooking spectacle plays a big role in returning customers: “They get to watch how their

food is cooked right in front of them. Everything is freshly made—and everyone loves our yum yum sauce, of course.”

Mukoyama says that while Kanki was the first, it’s not the only anymore.

Competitors have entered the teppanyaki market, but he believes Kanki has kept up on quality and service. “Aside from the tradition, we still have that top brand of consistent service and food quality.”

“Kanki is like family. I’ve worked with some of these co-workers for as long as I’ve been here.”

— Tom Mukoyama, general manager

72 | WALTER

Kanki boasts such consistency, in fact, that some patrons visit the restaurant almost daily. There’s one family that’s come in every Friday night for 27 years (since before the kids were born and after the oldest left for college); another, says Mukoyama, that visits the restaurant six to seven times a week with their son, who was paralyzed in a car accident. “It’s his favorite place, and he feels comfortable here. When they walk in, we move things around to make sure there’s a seat.” Lambert says that the general feeling in the restaurant is the sentiment of one big family—and that includes more than just staff. “I’ve cooked for some of the guests that have been coming here for years, that they have become just like family too.”

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YUM YUM SAUCE Kanki can’t share its famous ginger dressing, but here’s a scaled-down version of Yum Yum Sauce—Tom Mukoyama says the restaurant makes the sauce in 10 gallon batches.

Ingredients 2 cups heavy duty mayonnaise or a high-quality mayonnaise (a heavy duty mayonnaise has a higher eggto-vinegar ratio) ½ cup water 1 teaspoon tomato paste 2 teaspoon sugar ½ teaspoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon butter ½ teaspoon granulated garlic ¼ teaspoon paprika Cook the garlic, paprika and butter until warm throughout. Combine all the rest of the ingredients and blend well.

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NOTED Along with his family, Raleigh native and Duke University student Jake Satisky shares his Hanukkah with neighbors of every faith

Smith Hardy

A Menorah in the Window

W

hen I was young, I would get nervous reciting the Hanukkah story. In front of me were my friends and neighbors, yarmulkes awkwardly perched on their heads, bellies full of latkes and Hebrew National pigs-ina-blanket. They’d give me their rapt attention, like I was their Sunday 74 | WALTER

School teacher and they were my doting students. They hardly knew anything about Judaism.

We’d light the menorah and my mom would dim the lights. The candles would cover the living room in a soft, golden light. I’d glance at my younger brother, who was also slightly uncomfortable.

It wasn’t that long ago that we were learning this story ourselves, at our

synagogue, in a classroom of our peers.

Now, we were the teachers. How would I convey a story that has little religious significance—yet exalts the resilience of the Jewish people?

“A long time ago, the Assyrians conquered Israel and banned Jews from practicing their religion,” I’d begin.

Once I started, the rest was a breeze.

For the last decade-and-a-half, my

During the party, the kids head downstairs to gobble up latkes and play with the dreidels. Upstairs, the adults... well, I don’t know what the adults are up to, but I imagine they also gobble up latkes. family has thrown a neighborhood Hanukkah party every December. We are the only Jewish family where we live, so the party is more than just a chance for my mom to host a get-together. My family—my mom Graham, my dad, Keith, my brother Luke and myself—aims to provide our non-Jewish friends with firsthand insight into the rituals behind Hanukkah, the “festival of lights.”

Hanukkah is basically Jewish Christmas, but for eight nights instead of one.

Each night, we light an additional candle on the menorah, a nine-pronged candelabra, and recite two prayers. There are a host of traditions that accompany the lighting of the menorah, including eating delicious potato pancakes known as latkes, spinning the dreidel (a four-sided top with Hebrew letters on the sides) and giving out small presents.

Though Hanukkah does not have the same religious significance for Jewish people as Christmas does for Christians, it is a rich cultural holiday. It symbolizes the Jewish struggle against powerful enemies and celebrates God’s miracles.

Here’s the short version of the Hanukkah story: The Assyrians conquered Israel and imposed the ancient Greek religion onto the Hebrews. Frustrated at not being able to practice their religion, a small army known as the Maccabees rebelled against their conquerors—and won. But when they arrived victorious in Jerusalem, the Maccabees found their holy Temple in disarray, with only enough oil to keep the eternal light aflame for one day. Miraculously, the menorah in the Temple stayed lit for eight days, enough time for the Jews to gather more oil. That story explains the four Hebrew letters on every dreidel: nun, gimel, hay and shin, representing

Nes Gadol Haya Sham, or “A Great Miracle Happened There.”

The great miracle at the Satisky household began when I was in kindergarten and one of the only Jewish kids in my class. During Hanukkah, my mom would invite some of my friends over for a playdate after school, so we could play the dreidel game with chocolate coins called gelt (even though I hated chocolate). A few years later, she decided to formalize the party by inviting our neighbors, and it has become an annual tradition. (My mom tried to stop hosting it one year, but was met with such furious resistance from everyone who enjoyed it so much that she continued.)

During the party, the kids—some of us now, technically, adults—head downstairs to gobble up latkes and play with the dreidels. They stare at the unusual symbols on the tops as Luke and I keep explaining how landing on gimel means you get all the gelt, while landing on shin means you lose a coin.

Upstairs, the adults… well, I don’t know what the adults are up to, but I imagine they gossip about us kids downstairs, and also gobble up latkes.

After a couple hours, everyone puts on a yarmulke (a Jewish skullcap) and then watches my family light the menorah, say the prayers in Hebrew and English and recount the tale of the Maccabees.

We love bringing our non-Jewish friends over and teaching them about the story and customs of Hanukkah. It is especially important to my mom, who grew up in a devout Catholic family, but converted to Judaism before meeting my dad. For my entire life, we have bridged the religious gap with my Catholic side of the family by reciting both Hebrew

prayers and Grace at family dinners, as well as celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas together.

Our Hanukkah parties are also extremely important to me. My synagogue offered me a strong Jewish community growing up, but I was always one of only a handful of Jews in my neighborhood or my schools. As such, I received my fair share of questions, comments and jokes about Judaism (some of them occasionally off-putting). My peers did not necessarily mean to offend me— they just knew very little about Judaism.

Therefore, I strive to continue my parents’ mission of sharing our faith with those around us.

When we started inviting our non-Jewish friends to Passover Seders at our house, I begged my parents to let me lead them, carefully explaining each ritual as I go. I got motivated to resurrect my high school’s Jewish Culture Club my senior year. I even wrote my college essay to Duke about sharing Judaism, and I now write this article outside my dorm in Durham, at a school where I celebrate Jewish holidays with Jewish students from all over the world.

As they emphasize in the musical Fiddler on the Roof, Jews love tradition.

So, as is tradition, we put an electric menorah in our window each year through the duration of Hanukkah. The rabbis teach us that placing a menorah in your window shows that you are proud to celebrate Hanukkah—and more importantly, that Jews do not live in fear of practicing their religion.

I feel fortunate to live in a time and place where I don’t have to be afraid to express my cultural identity. Everyone should feel safe putting a “menorah” in their window.

DECEMBER 2019 | 75

Brooks Bell finds purpose in a scary, unexpected diagnosis

A NEW CHALLENGE

by LIZA ROBERTS

B

photography by EAMON QUEENEY

rooks Bell didn’t have time to be sick. She didn’t have time for inconvenient symptoms, she didn’t have time to call a doctor and she certainly didn’t have time to be examined.

What she did have was a mandate to run the highly successful website optimization company that bore her name. She’d founded Brooks Bell Inc. 15 years earlier, built it into an industry leader and had been steering it through a stressful few months. But she’d faced worse on the job before, and she knew what she needed to do: work harder. She had meetings to run, places to go, planes to catch, people to manage.

But something made the 38-year-old stop in her warp-speed tracks: blood in her stool.

“Nobody wants to talk about blood in your stool,” she says. “It’s just not sexy.”

In truth, many—if not most—people

B

76 | WALTER

in her situation, particularly at her young age, might have been embarrassed by such a symptom, found it hard to talk about or simply wished it away. They would likely have been relieved to hear what the doctor told her: The problem was simply hemorrhoids, nothing more.

She was too young for graver concerns.

Few people would have done what Bell did next, which was to see another doctor for a second opinion, ignore the second identical diagnosis, do her own research, decide her symptoms didn’t make sense, then cold-call a gastroenterologist to schedule a colonoscopy, pay for the procedure herself—and get it all done in just a few days.

But she did. And because she did, Bell is alive today, and because she did, she wants you to know what she knows now: Colon cancer is striking people younger every year. It is deadly, invisible and, most importantly, preventable. The answer, she says, is simple: colonoscopies.

DECEMBER 2019 | 77

50 Under 50 Brooks Bell’s goal was to get 50 local people to sign her pledge to get colonoscopies—she hit her mark in months, and it included people all over the U.S. and folks over 50, too.

Here are a few who signed.

DECISIONS The photo Bell saw of the tumor in her colon the day of her colonoscopy was chilling. There was a real possibility that the cancer was already at Stage Four, with a 14 percent survival rate. She and her husband, fellow technology entrepreneur Jesse Lipson, spent the next few days considering the ramifications of such a sentence. When they found out, instead, that her disease was Stage Three, with an 85 percent survival rate over five years, Bell describes herself as “euphoric.”

Euphoric, but confounded. Why had she needed to fight so hard to learn that her life was in mortal danger? What if she hadn’t been the relentless, self-advocating, intuitive, determined, data-driven person she was? What if she hadn’t been able to afford the test? And why hadn’t she known any of this to begin with?

“Great decisions begin with really great people and a simple statement: I don’t know,” says Jim Collins, the famed author of Good to Great and five other bestselling business books. “The leaders who…produced extraordinary results over time, and a series of great decisions over time…were very comfortable saying ‘I don’t know’ until they knew.”

And so it went that one of North Carolina’s most prominent young business leaders faced her questions about the things she didn’t know, got them answered and made some big decisions, even as she launched into a series of chemotherapy treatments. It was time for Brooks Bell, the business, to take a back seat. Brooks Bell, the human being, needed her.

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“We came home, it was a Friday evening,” she recalls, “and we began the process of changing my life.” She and Lipson talked it through, and agreed that something drastic was in order. “I thought that to some degree, being the CEO was a contributing factor to getting cancer. Just the stress and the pressure, the constant travel I had been doing for the last few years. I was exhausted. And so I thought, I can’t continue doing this to myself. I need to focus on healing, and my company needs someone else in that role.”

It was a major decision for a person whose adult life had been defined by professional success. But it wasn’t just her own health that needed her help, Bell realized. Literally countless other people did too. They, like she, were in the dark about the risks and realities of colon cancer. One in 20 people get colon cancer, she learned. It is the third most common and second-deadliest form of cancer. Ten percent of those diagnosed are under the age of 50, and that percentage is growing faster than any other age group. The number of diagnoses in people under 35 is expected to grow 90 percent in the next decade.

“This is a kind of epidemic that is happening to young people,” Bell realized.

“It’s a problem, and it is not on anyone’s radar. Some awareness is percolating, but it hasn’t hit a tipping point yet, and I just want to get us there faster.”

There was something else she learned about the disease that fired up her sense of urgency, something she found par-

Sarah Bell, 36 Anne Berry, 48 Cliff Bleszinski, 44 Tabitha Cavanagh, 33 Heather Clarke, 34 Janie Cone, 44 Andrea Conner, 53 Kellie Davis, 38 Jaime Donato, 37 Mark Dunkley, 40 Lori Edwards, 40 Kelly Fitzgerald, 37 Jedidiah Gant, 38 Adam Greco, 48 Margaret Hall, 39 Allison Hartsoe, 48 David Hassell, 42 Ryland Herring, 38 Scott Hoaglund, 48 Eliza Jacobs, 41 Heidi Jurgens, 40 Lee Kennedy, 32 Lauren Kirkland, 31 Jen London, 40 Allison London Brown, 48 Shannon Massey Lowry, 37 Jodi McDermott, 46 Leslie McDow, 48 Sue Mitchell, 48 Lauryn Paiva, 39 Julia Perkins, 43 Jennifer Probasco, 40 Sophia Ramos Auburn, 24 Billy (William) Reese, 41 Whitney Rowe, 36 Eric Scanlon, 36 Jennifer Schreiber, 39 Sean Scott, 27 Dillon Shaw, 30 Amy Smith, 43 Caroline Sullivan, 53 Russ Swindell, 46 Liz Tracy, 33 Mark Turner, 50 Ashley Vertefeuille, 27 Julie von Haefen, 48 Suzanne Wachman, 38 Melissa Waddey, 43 Jason Widen, 45 Alicia Woerner, 26 Find the full list and learn more at 50colonoscopiesunder50.org

“I was really surprised when I found out about how common colon cancer is, how deadly it is, and how underfunded it is. I just had no idea.

I thought of it as an old man’s disease. Something that people far away from me get. Young, healthy people don’t. I just had no idea that I had any risk.”

— Brooks Bell

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Their Stories “I want to inspire a million colonoscopies over the next decade.” —Brooks Bell

ticularly astonishing: the diagnostic test that finds colon cancer—the colonoscopy itself—is also the most effective preventative measure against the disease.

“It’s almost like a vaccine,” she says. “It’s the only thing that actually prevents it…

You can snip out your polyps before they become cancerous. It just blew my mind.”

Within weeks, Bell had formulated her plan: she’d destigmatize the colonoscopy, tout its cancer-preventing powers, take the shame away from “talking about poop” and bring the test out of its mysterious, icky, old-people shadows. She’d get 50 local people under 50 to publicly put their names on a published list, proclaiming their pride in having been tested before the age that most insurance companies cover the cost. They’d tell their stories; they’d spread the word. By creating a new nonprofit, 50 Colonoscopies Under 50, she’d help save lives.

Bell got her first 50 names in no time.

The list is now over 80 people, and is growing by the day. These people will be celebrated at “The Colonoscopy Gala” at Raleigh’s Contemporary Art Museum February 28, a “fun, shameless” fundraiser complete with “tasteful toilet humor” and awareness-raising stories, statistics and calls to action. In the meantime, Bell has completed her treatments and overhauled her life. She has taught herself to cook for the first time, and is making healthy meals. She is training for a triathlon. She is running her new nonprofit.

And she says she is happier than she’s ever been.

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A MASSIVE OPPORTUNITY Beyond the new lease on life, the 50 Colonoscopies Under 50 organization, and the gala, Bell has even bigger plans— which would come as no surprise to anyone who knows her. If another maxim of business strategists is that problems are opportunities in disguise, Bell has found a big one.

“I see this as a massive opportunity to have a lot of impact,” Bell says. “I want to inspire a million colonoscopies in the next decade. By helping change the conversation, by reframing this procedure as an obvious thing to do, by creating consumer awareness.”

In fact, Bell says she had been wondering for a good while how she could make an impact beyond her business, but hadn’t had the time to focus on it. It just so happens that her skills and personality are ideally suited to the task, she says: She has already built an organization from scratch, so this will be similar, even if the mission is different.

“Having the background in persuasion and understanding data… it’s all very useful for this effort. It’s like major arbitrage,” she says. “To take this very serious, very big market, one that no one knows about, that I actually now have credibility in, is incredible. And it has a great stigma associated with it that I can just dive right into. It’s great. I love that.

Plus, it’s perfect for my sense of humor.

I just feel like I’m like handpicked to do this work.”

“Six years ago, I went through a series of testing before I was finally sent to a gastroenterologist. The first doctor I saw tried to prescribe me medication, so I got a new recommendation. That led to an endoscopy, then a colonoscopy, where they found the polyps. My doctor said that the polyps would have turned into cancer in about two years. He was surprised and recommended that my siblings get checked too; then my sister found pre-cancerous polyps. She was only 25. Having a good doctor is so important, and we as patients have to keep pushing.”

—Liz Tracy, 33 “I struggled with GI issues most of my life and managed it, but was too embarrassed to address it with a doctor. When I finally did, my primary care physicians would brush it off like it was no issue. I’m happy I got a colonoscopy because now I have a baseline. Now I know what I need to do to stay cancer free, rather than having to guess or worry.”

—Eric Scanlon, 36 “I had unexpected colon resection surgery about 10 years ago. My colon was twisted and leaking into my abdominal cavity. I was in the hospital for a week. Ever since then, I never miss a check up with my GI and I never miss a colonoscopy. I have one or two polyps every time. Now, I’ve had three colonoscopies and each one gets easier—plus, you get to take a nice nap with no guilt!”

—Julie von Haefen, 48 “My fiance Tadhg was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer in May 2016. He passed away in April of 2017, at age 43. He was an incredible person, and I still can’t believe he is gone. Before he died, Tadhg gave me access to all of his accounts. I stumbled across the fact that he had been searching for signs of blood in the stool for months before his diagnosis. I only wish I had known! The earlier it’s caught, the better. Now, thankfully, all of his siblings have had colonoscopies, and we discovered that it ran in his family.

Get yourself checked!”

—Whitney Rowe, 36

Clockwise from top left: Liz Tracy, Eric Scanlon, Julie von Haefen, Whitney Rowe

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Painting

Dare Coulter celebrates black history and culture through her art

JOY

by ILINA EWEN photography ph t ph by b JOSHUA STEADMAN

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shapes you. Her years at the College of Design at N.C. State University further developed her sense of place in the years since she has called Raleigh home.

So it was fitting that Coulter wanted to meet for our interview at the historic Chavis Park carousel. Hearing Please Mr. Postman play on repeat on the organ sent the artist into laughing fits, and if you’ve had the pleasure of meeting her, you know that laugh is gloriously contagious. Coulter works to elevate black history, while ensuring it’s not erased, and her art itself is a form of storytelling. “There needs to be more storytelling about black Raleigh’s roots to impart knowledge and celebrate a rich, important history,” Coulter said as she told me the background of the whimsical setting we were in. She talked about how the

Chavis Park carousel was offered to African Americans at a time when Raleigh was segregated, since they could not enjoy the similar carousel at nearby Pullen Park. Built in 1913 and installed in the park in 1937, the carousel was a highlight for African American families, who traveled from across the state to enjoy it. “Show up and patronize these places to honor those for whom this park was a refuge to experience joy and happiness,” Coulter says. It honors black history, both the good and the bad.

“I’ve been learning about heritage, history, spaces and places to unearth their stories and the people who influenced them,” says Coulter. She is a font of information who can rattle off facts as if she’s auditioned for Jeopardy.

Coulter is so focused that she says, in

Courtesy Dare Coulter

D

are Coulter is aptly named.

She is daring in how she uses her platform, and her art dares us to think about everyday, accepted narratives in new ways.

When you meet Coulter, chances are she will greet you with a giant, earnest grin, arms outstretched, asking, “Can I give you a hug?” An electric energy fills her aura as she follows her guiding principle, “Artists do good.”

Coulter credits her mother and two sisters for encouraging and supporting her as an artist, starting when she was a small child drawing on the whiteboards of her mother’s office in Washington, D.C. She grew up in Lorton, Virginia, and understands what it means to profoundly feel a sense of place and how it

COWBOY CULTURE Dare Coulter stands with present-day black cowboys in front of her mural in Greensboro.

half jest, “I am in a relationship with art.”

Her voice is her art, and her art is her platform, and she uses it thoughtfully and deftly in her own form of activism.

Coulter speaks of the everyday joy of black family life that she doesn’t see depicted in art or literature; her role is to elevate what she calls “black joy.”

Painting black joy is a form of activism, she explains, because these works defy stereotypes and shift our thinking around imagery we are not used to seeing—namely, positive imagery of black people. “I am moved by the fact that the things I am creating can change people’s perceptions of themselves and disrupt some deep-seated beliefs that are not positive,” says Coulter. “People feel that they can celebrate themselves by interacting with my work.”

In both Coulter’s sculptures and her paintings, you will see tender father-and-baby moments, motherhood and childhood glee, all universally expressed and relatable. With her infectious grin and braids swinging as she gesticulates excitedly, she says, “It’s exciting to be a part of the story of joy because we all need to be reminded.”

You might recall the Dare to Dissent mural on the Boylan Pearce building. The ACLU of North Carolina commissioned the mural, and it quickly became an iconic feature and popular selfie spot in downtown Raleigh. But in the summer of 2018, it was defaced with racist vandalism. In true Coulter form, she engaged the community to help repaint it, and it’s in this community support that she found the proverbial silver lining.

Coulter has since painted a 143-footlong mural in Fayetteville, the longest in town, on the back of The Capitol Encore Academy. On it, children’s imaginations come to life as they steer their own ship—an allegory for driving their own destiny. Her most recent mural depicts black cowboys in Greensboro, another narrative she dares us to see differently.

She painted a portrait of Nina Simone to support the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which is working to restore the singer’s childhood home in Tryon, North Carolina. And she’s illustrated a book: her vibrant style will bring color and energy to My N.C. from A-Z, a children’s book available February 2020 through the N.C. Office of Archives and History & N.C. African American Heritage Commission. Conceived and written DECEMBER 2019 | 85

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Courtesy Dare Coulter (ART)

by Michelle Lanier, it celebrates pride of place, creates connections to North Carolina’s rich African American heritage and teaches about human equality and social justice.

Coulter’s next big project is a monumental sculpture, coming soon to Durham. “My passion is sculpture. I want to create memorialized depictions of our joy. I want to contribute things to make people believe that life will be good.”

Coulter’s talent is unparalleled, yet she is brimming with humility. She describes her success as a kismet twist of “luck meets preparation.” Wise beyond her 26 years, she starts every project pondering, “What is it that I’ll leave behind? I want the work that I’ve left behind to have done something important.”

Dare Coulter, through her art and her activism, is making her own name, for herself.

ODES TO JOY This page, clockwise from above: Mural in progress at The Capitol Encore Academy in Fayetteville; portrait of Nina Simone; Dare to Dissent mural in Raleigh; A shot of A black male, wearing a dark hoodie, heavyset, about 40 years old and bald (sculpture); Opposite page: Dare Coulter in multiple exposures.

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DECK the AISLES Smith’s Red & White offers country-style groceries with a burst of seasonal enthusiasm

by ADDIE LADNER

photography by S.P. MURRAY

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wo ladies have just driven over an hour from Oxford to an unassuming shopping center outside of Rocky Mount in Dortches, North Carolina, to fill their car with sausage, jelly and chicken salad. As they pass collards, ham chips, peanuts and preserves, a large nativity scene sits above them. While scanning the nearly 100 different varieties of old-fashioned, USA-made candy, a C-scale engine train whistles by. Behind them, a little girl counts a row of nutcrackers. They bid farewell to eight large storefront windows painted with retro holiday scenes.

Above one of the windows, large red letters read: PORK CENTER. Merry Christmas from Smith’s Red & White, a good ole’ country grocery that’s an actual hog heaven for people across North Carolina. Smith’s has attracted customers with its house-made sausage, made the same way since its inception in the early 50s. They also come for the coleslaw, Brunswick stew, chicken and pastry, and all those other classics that second-generation owner Bruce Smith starts cooking when he arrives to work each morning at 3:30 a.m. “I can get things here that remind me of food my mama and grandmother used to make,” says one shopper, pointing to the fig preserves and cubed beef in her cart. A woman from Smithfield says she’s headed to a family reunion in Virginia—she was told not to show up without Smith’s links. And some pimiento cheese for her cousin, too.

This time of year, though, Smith’s Red & White offers more that just groceries: They’ve got ambience. Stroll past the lengthy meat aisle and a Santa village greets customers as they choose from every cut of pork and chicken one might need. Christmas trees are tucked into various corners of the store, where customers congregate to talk holiday menus and football. No need for the usual fluorescent grocery store lights—thousands of white string lights do the trick. Live out classic stories like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer as you scan the frozen food section. Even the windows have been transformed into cozy murals of country homes in the snow and jolly Santa Claus with his bag of gifts by North Carolina painter Jim Womble.

“It started as just a tree,” store manager Terry Coggin says of Smith’s becoming a holiday shopping destination. As Coggin noticed how much joy a simple Christmas tree brought customers, he decided to add to it. It fits right in to the Smith’s company ethos, which Coggin says was built on tradition, quality and customer service.

Leading up to Christmas, Smith’s elves spend roughly eight weeks bagging about 2,500 cases of haystacks, bonbons, chocolate-covered peanuts, jellies and other classic confections. It’s a Smith’s holiday specialty which began in 1975 with only about 18 cases of sweets. Coggin says by December 25, it will all be gone. The store produces about 25,000 pounds of sausage each week come Christmastime; that’s more than double what they make during the rest of the year. “It’s whole hog, which means they didn’t pull all the good pieces out and grind up the rest,” says Mike Higgins of Raleigh, holding a parcel of sausage the size of a small bundle of firewood. Whenever he’s in the area for work, friends and family ask him to stop by Smith’s to get them sausage.

Especially this time of year at the store, he’s glad to do so. The decorations are both an attraction and a treat, for patrons who drive for miles for Smith’s specialty groceries.

“You always gotta look up,” Coggin says. “Our hope is during these months people can forget about their daily routines and troubles when they come to the store and just enjoy the atmosphere.”

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The change ringers at Christ Church work together in an arcane and exacting practice

Behind the

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On Sunday mornings in downtown Raleigh, eight men and women convene in a ten-foot-square room in the base of Christ Church Episcopal’s bell tower.

There, standing in a circle, each focused on a single rope dangling before them, they practice the art of change ringing.

While other mechanical or recorded church bells sound all over town, this group will ring eight bells by hand, in a precise series of patterns developed over centuries by the Church of England.

Bells have always played a role in religious life. In the Anglican or Episcopal tradition, they don’t just ring out to call people to worship, they ring out in a unique form of musical expression, evocative of a time when a village church was completely integrated into the fabric of the community. The bells are like the voice of the church structure itself, speaking out in joy or in sorrow, always welcoming.

Christ Church is one of only 52 churches in North America with a true bell tower. (The only other one in North Carolina is at St. James Episcopal in Hendersonville.) Its three-floor bell tower, built in 1860, was designed to resemble an English village church. In it, a one-ton bourdon bell hangs in the topmost tower chamber behind louvred windows. The bourdon does not ring with the change ringers; it is rung just before services and after the change ringers. The change ringers’ bells were installed on the second floor in 1987.

Change ringing is an arcane and exacting practice, full of its own language, methods and apparatus. These bells don’t

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chime, for example, they peal (a chime is the sound you hear when clapperless bells rung are struck from outside). To the untrained ear, a cascade of peals may sound random, but they are, in fact, ringing through at least 5,000 patterns, called changes, which can last between two and four hours for an eight-bell tower such as Christ Church.

Inside the tower, the bells are numbered one through eight; the smallest is the treble and the largest is the tenor.

The musical notation looks like a sudoku puzzle: columns and numbers filled with zig-zagging lines. A puller grasps the sally, a fluffy, colorful handhold on the rope. To begin a peal, the lead puller calls out the changes—patterns with fusty old English names like “Whittingtons,” “Queens,” “Plain Bob” and “Grandsire”—to signal the order in which the bells are to be rung. Then he’ll intone “treble’s going” as he tugs the rope down and “treble’s gone” as he releases it, the signal to the other pullers to start ringing their bells in the exact right order.

Pulling ropes to move heavy bells for an hour and a half requires dedication, stamina and biceps—at their Thursday practices and Sunday peals, the ringers work for hours without a break. Christ Church’s largest bell weighs 500 pounds and could send a man crashing into the ceiling if uncontrolled. Rope burns are common. To complicate matters further, the bells are in a chamber above the pullers; often they can neither see nor hear their bells to know if they’ve rung the correct pattern.

“Bell ringing invites continuous improvement, you are working an intricate pattern rendered in time,” says ring master John Mabe. “Even when you get it right, it could always be better. Then you go out for a beer and talk about it.”

But, says tower captain Harry McKinney, “When it all comes together, it is truly an amazing experience. I haven’t found anything else that duplicates it.”

photography by SMITH HARDY

Change ringing bells rest with the openings up (at right). When a rope is pulled, the wheel rotates, and the clapper (hanging down here) strikes the sound bow along the rim of the bell.

Anatomy of a Bell Change ringing bells are different than the ones you normally see (the ones that hang vertically with a clapper that hits the sides). Each bell sits in its own pit, attached to a wooden crosspiece called the headstock. The bell is fixed to a wheel that’s attached to the headstock with a rope slung over it. The bell rests opening-up instead of hanging down. When the rope is pulled, it winds and unwinds on the wheel, setting the bell to swing. On each upswing, the metal clapper strikes the sound bow along the bell’s rim, emitting a loud peal first, and then a second, softer one.

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“Ringing scratches an itch you didn’t know you had. It has music, patterns, its own language, an element of physicality and a social aspect. It’s sort of like square dancing— but instead of weaving a pattern in space, you’re working an intricate pattern rendered in time. It’s fun to see and hear the changing pattern in the rows of music. But there also is an attractively obsessive element to standing in a band, trying to make the best piece of ringing you can.”

—John Mabe

“I love the movement from disorder to order. What I did not know, until I had been ringing for a while, is that there are moments when the bells swing in pattern as if they are let loose and not controlled by our handling.

It is exhilarating when that happens, to be a part of their freedom. The bells hang in the tower, obedient to gravity.

They await us, they need us, to set them free.”

—Liz Hartzell

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“As the newest ringer in the tower at Christ Church, I have to admit that it has been one of the most challenging things I have ever tried. I have learned so much but still have a long way to go. Each person in the group is a teacher by example and more than willing to share their observations and answer my myriad questions.””

—Laveita Brinson “At my job, I am entrenched in digital technology—but change ringing is a craft that has truly gone unchanged for “I have to admit, there is a almost 500 years. It provides certain thrill of power. As a a deep connection to tradition visually impaired person, and to the past. Since change I can’t drive a fast car—but ringing is about ringing comI can handle a large bell, the binations on multiple bells, it sort that is dangerous is by nature a group activity. if you are untrained.”

It requires a band that can —Miriam Dixon work together in unison for a common purpose. Ringing a method activates a lot of sensory and motor skills within myself. When I am ringing, I am listening to the other bells, I am watching the other ringers, I am sensing the position of my own bell through as I pull the bell rope… sight, sound and touch are all working in unison, while my mind is running through the memorized pattern that is guiding me and the other ringers.”

—Harry McKinney

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This page: Bell ringers Liz Hartzell, Laveita Brinson, Ed Futcher, Jim Fletcher, Lindsey Hutt-Fletcher, Brodie Burwell. Active ringers not pictured are John Mabe, Margo Acomb, Miriam Dixon, James Ostick, John Gray and Harry McKinney. Clockwise from upper left: Brinson, Hartzell, Hutt-Fletcher, Burwell, Futcher and Fletcher holding the ropes to ring.

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HAVE A BALL The tree in the ballroom often celebrates a community cause; past years have included a military tree and an education tree.

GRAND

by AYN-MONIQUE KLAHRE

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photography by KEITH ISAACS

Traditions History, N.C. pride and personal touches in the Mansion

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he week after Thanksgiving, the North Carolina Executive Mansion closes. For five days, staffers work tirelessly to transform the ornate Victorian home from its everyday splendor to a magnificent winter wonderland.

Giant, live trees—from N.C. farms, of course—are the focal points. These are displayed in four rooms on the first floor, usually the men’s lounge, ladies’ parlor, ballroom and sunroom, as well as in second- and third-floor windows above the home’s main entrance. Evergreen garlands wrap columns and banisters, locally-grown poinsettias fill every nook and oversized arrangements mixing greenery, baubles, ribbons and more top every available surface. Outside, millions of lights twinkle and blinking orbs shine from the limbs of enormous trees.

“We have a lot of lights, but not as many as Dolllywood!” jokes David Robinson, the Director of the Executive Mansion.

The first spouse historically takes charge of the holiday decor, aided by a team of volunteers and input from the N.C. Arts Council. The planning starts in July, and, while some elements may repeat from one year to the next, “we never want it to look the same within the governorship,” says Robinson, who has managed the home for seven years.

Each first family puts their own touch on the decor. For the Coopers, it means hanging needlepoint stockings that first lady Kristin Cooper made for her family, as well as displaying a Christmas village scene she’s collected over time, complete with a tiny replica of nearby Krispy Kreme. “Mrs. Cooper always puts it together herself,” says Robinson. “We’ve been told to put it back up by popular demand,” says Cooper.

While the dazzling trees usually get the biggest oohs and ahs, it’s the details that delight: sprigs of mistletoe hung from chandeliers (sometimes cut from the mansion’s grounds), decorations made by local artists and nods to the N.C. state symbols woven into the decor.

Robinson loves the atmosphere the holiday decorations create: “It’s my favorite time of year.”

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GREAT ENTRANCE In the main hallway of the executive mansion, guests can see the men’s lounge to the right and ladies’ parlor to the left.

SORTING STATION The MRF uses magnets to attract steel and repel aluminum, and puffs of air to separate different kinds of plastics. The glass is broken into bits and sold as cullet; it will be sent to another facility where the different colors will be sorted by light. Once the materials are separated, they’ll be pressed into bales.

“The holidays are such a special time of year here at the Executive Mansion.

We love sharing this place and seeing the joy that it brings to others.

If feels magical.”

— first lady Kristin Cooper

MERRY & BRIGHT This page: First lady Kristin Cooper with Jenny, the cat, and Ben, the dog. Opposite page: Cardinals and dogwood on the tree in the men’s lounge.

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FINE DINING The powder-blue dining room is set with state china for special occassions.

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LOCAL FLAIR Dottie Honeycutt created the stunning mantlepiece using vintage baubles and gilded oak, pine and dogwood accents.

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PERSONAL TOUCH This page: Under the grand staircase is the more intimate living room, where the first family’s needlepoint stockings (opposite page) are on display.

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LADIES’ ROOM The tree in the ladies’ parlor is typically decorated in traditional Victorian style to match the home’s architecture.

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THE WHIRL Juli Leonard

WALTER’s roundup of galas, gatherings, fundraisers and just-for-fun events around the Triangle.

Guests gather for Raleigh City Farm’s Harvest Dinner at Whitaker and Atlantic

118 A Day with Vivian Howard 120 Taste of the Wild 122 Zaftan Fall/Winter Fashion Show 2019 122 Museum of History’s Young Associates Spooktacular Soiree 123 Fall For Art 124 NC Insider Fall Event 125 BLOOMHERE Luncheon 126 Raleigh City Farm Harvest Dinner 127 American Friends of the Chateau de Compiegne Wine Tasting 128 2019 Evening of HopeCelebration 128 Historic Oakwood Cemetery’s 150th Anniversary Celebration

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n November, 75 WALTER readers trekked to Kinston for a day with chef Vivian Howard.

The event began with a buffet brunch at the Chef & the Farmer, Howard’s acclaimed restaurant in the heart of downtown Raleigh. Brunch—inspired by Howard’s cookbook, Deep Run Roots—included shrimp and grits, buckwheat pancakes plus freshly made sausage. Following brunch, guests split into small groups to explore Kinston and get an exclusive look into Howard’s test kitchen. Howard and her sidekick from A Chef’s Life, Lillie Hardy (known as Miss Lillie), gave in-depth biscuit lessons and shared other cooking tips. Guests enjoyed biscuits, preserves and country ham and sausage. Guests also had the chance to visit downtown Kinston with

Miss Lillie shows guests how to shape biscuit dough

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private tours of Mother Earth Brewing and Social House Distillery.

To end the day, the group reconvened for a celebration at Chef & the Farmer’s event space. Heavy hors d’oeuvres were served, like Howard’s famous Party Magnet Cheese Ball and chicken samosas with a cilantro dipping sauce. Wine, beer and cocktails were served, including the Salty Dog, a vodka, grapefruit and jalapeño blend. Guests mingled with each other and shared stories with Howard, where she signed cookbooks and posed for photos. The day would not have been possible without sponsors Great Outdoor Provision Co. and Virtue Labs.

—Catherine Currin

Vivian chats with guests during the biscuit demonstration

Workshop Media

A day with VIVIAN HOWARD

Guests enjoy a private meal in the upper level of Chef & the Farmer

A tour at Mother Earth Brewing

Candied yams at Chef & the Farmer

Supporting sponsor Virtue Labs

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he evening started with oysters—raw and roasted—alongside signature cocktails and wine pairings. On a crisp October 23, WALTER, along with presenting sponsor and partner Great Outdoor Provision Co. and supporting sponsors Green Front Interiors & Rugs and Hampton Farms, presented Taste of the Wild, an event celebrating locally-sourced and sustainablyharvested food and drink.

Inside a wing of Transfer Co. Food Hall, under twinkling lights, guests mingled for cocktail hour, then sat down to long wooden tables for a familystyle meal. New friendships blossomed. As the food rolled out—among the dishes, a charred Caesar salad, smoked fish porchetta and baby Hakeuri turnips in romesco—Locals Oyster Bar chef Eric Montagne and Longleaf Swine BBQ pitmaster Marc

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Russell swapped stories about where the ingredients came from. Whoops and cheers turned to comfortable silence as forks dove in.

By the dessert course, the room was rowdy once more. Sean Lilly Wilson of Fullsteam Brewery and Greg Winget from Wye Hill Brewingn talked through the beverage pairings, which included ingredients like foraged goldenrod, persimmons and paw paws, and were met with rounds of applause for every pronouncement. At the end of the evening, bellies were full, cheeks were rosy and merry guests spilled out into the chilly autumn air.

WALTER would like to thank its partners, Themeworks, Attended Events, AlphaGraphics, Westgate Wine and Diageo brands Tanqueray, Johnnie Walker and Blade & Bow, for making the event possible.

—Ayn-Monique Klahre

Workshop Media

TASTE of the WILD

Milburnie Fishing Club in Raleigh, N.C.

Clockwise from above: Eric Montagne of Locals Oyster Bar preps swordfish porchetta; guests hear from the chefs; beer was poured from Fullsteam and Wye Hill Brewing; Sean Lilly Wilson of Fullsteam Brewery shares tasting notes; Chuck Millsaps from presenting sponsor Great Outdoor Provision Co. closes the evening; guests enjoy wine from Westgate.

DECEMBER 2019 | 121

THE WHIRL ZAFTAN FALL/WINTER FASHION SHOW 2019 Zaftan held its Fall/Winter benefit fashion show October 13 at the Mayton Inn in Cary. The 2019 beneficiary was Hope Project Futbol, a nonprofit that organizes soccer programs for low income children with intellectual and physical disabilities in the Durham, Chapel Hill and Cary areas.

Amar Reddy (ZAFTAN); Eric Blevins (SPOOKTACULAR)

Zaftan Fashion Show models

Jessica McDonald

Zankhna Parekh, Jessica McDonald

NC MUSEUM OF HISTORY PRESENTS THE YOUNG ASSOCIATES SPOOKTACULAR SOIREE The NC Museum of History Young Associates brought their annual Halloween Party back to life this year, renaming it Spooktacular Soirée. A fundraiser benefiting the NC Museum of History, the event welcomed young professionals from across the Triangle. Guests strolled the museum’s newest exhibition, Toy Boom, enjoyed spooky treats, witchy drinks and live music by The Five Nines. Proceeds from the event support the museum’s exhibitions as well as community and education outreach initiatives in Raleigh and across the state.

Payton Hardee, Lewis Sloan, Thomas Kenna, Iraida Bethencourt

The Five Nines Band

Elizabeth Gilbert, Tricia Sabol

Mary Whitby, Caleb Whitby

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Miriam Cooper, Frank Jennings, Miles Cooper

Virginia Broughton, Mary Ivey Stewart, Derek Eason

FALL FOR ART Fall For Art Opening Night was hosted by Ben Knight, Carson Clark and Sally Plyler October 3 at the Transfer Co. Ballroom.

The art show featured the work of artists Ben Knight, Michael Waller, Leah Foushee Waller and William Paul Thomas. There was also an Artists’ Panel led by Chef & the Farmer co-owner and chef Vivian Howard.

W. Plyler

Ben Knight, William Paul Thomas, Michael Waller, Vivian Howard

Melissa Peden, seated

Marjorie Hodges, Carson Clark, Sally Plyler

Crowd enjoying Artists’ Panel led by Vivian Howard

Bryan Hare, Vicki Hare, Betsy Frazier, Steve Frazier, Miriam Wilson, Betsy Barnett, Bill Barnett

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THE WHIRL NC INSIDER FALL EVENT The Insider State Government News Service held its fall event October 23 at Caffe Luna. The event, sponsored by Randolph Cloud and Associates, brought state political and healthcare leaders together to discuss potential solutions to the challenges facing hospitals and healthcare providers in North Carolina’s rural communities.

Hyun Namkoong, Rebecca Cerese

Roxie Wells, Matt Gross, Leah Burns

Drew Elliot, Deborah Ross, Dana Fenton

Rachel Beaulieu, Randolph Cloud

Valerie Arendt, Paola Learoyd, Barden Culbreth, Kay Castillo

Kate Pope Photography

Tori Ludwig, Kaitlyn Goforth, Mardy Peal

BLOOMHERE LUNCHEON A luncheon to raise funds for BLOOMHERE was held at the Bridge Club September 24. Becca Stevens, founder of Thistle Farms, was the guest speaker.

Melinda Taylor, Becca Stevens

Megan Kerns Photography

Sharon Wiley, Susan Watson, Michelle Dunn

Maggie Kane, Tyler Cunningham

Noushi Haeussler, Sundrae Miller

Sarah Poole, Anna Ball Hodge

Jill Sockman, Jonathan Wilkins, Melinda Taylor, Juanita Darden, Robin Donta

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ISABEL MARANT

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LELA ROSE

VERONICA BEARD

THE WHIRL RALEIGH CITY FARM CHARVEST DINNER Raleigh City Farm, a nonprofit urban farm, hosted its seventh annual Harvest Dinner October 13 at Whitaker and Atlantic. The dinner featured Chef Coleen Speaks of Hummingbird and PoshNosh Catering and beverage partners Wine Authorities and Fullsteam Brewery. The evening’s festivities, that included a seasonal four-course meal and a silent and live auction, netted $30,000 to support the nonprofit’s mission to grow farmers and connect the community to sustainable agriculture through workdays, tours, events and educational programming.

Carly Demler, Lisa Grele Barrie

Juli Leonard

Christina Hayward, Howard Fleming

Party scene

Miranda Miller, Billy Warden, Lucy Inman, Katie Breen, David McConnell

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Lyudmila Tomova

Juli Leonard (FARM); Patty Briguglio (WINE)

Hannah Parker, Evan Parker

AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE CHATEAU DE COMPIEGNE OLD WORLD VS. NEW WORLD WINE TASTING The American Friends of the Chateau de Compiegne held a wine tasting at the home of Zack and Samantha Wojenski October 17.

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THE WHIRL 2019 EVENING OF HOPE The 2019 Evening of Hope gala was held September 18 at the Angus Barn Pavillions. The event raised money for the Foundation of Hope, a nonprofit which supports breakthroughs in research for mental illness. Television journalist Elizabeth Vargas was a special guest.

Bruce Capps, Elizabeth Vargas, Debbie Capps

Curry Huskes, Kari Huskes, Heidi Cowley, Burke Cowley, Elizabeth Vargas, John Stanley, Blair Stanley

Doug Clifton, Sue Clifton, Jennifer Hutcheons

HISTORIC OAKWOOD CEMETERY’S 150TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Historic Oakwood Cemetery held its 150th anniversary celebration October 20 at The Fairview. The event gathered together over 200 guests, including first lady Kristin Cooper, to honor the souls that rest there.

Sam Shain, Catherine Williams

Mary Ann Poole, Dena Silver, Lyn Andrews

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Kristin Cooper, Charlie Silver

Chip Andrews, Lyn Andrews, Sam Shain

T. Berry and S. Juaniquera (HOPE); Redmond Smith (OAKWOOD)

Jeff Stocks, Elizabeth Vargas, Pam Stocks, George McNeil

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3) This artist says she is “painting black joy” 5) A local Japanese restaurant that has been around for 47 years 7) This cocktail bar turns into a holiday wonderland for one month

1) Brooks Bell is advocating for preventative medicine, with her 50 _____ Under 50 campaign 2) The Salvation Army uses this instrument to solicit donations during Christmastime 4) The Cary Arts Center has celebrated this African-American holiday for 25 years 6) Sylvia Wiggins formed this type of organization at the Helping Hand Mission

DECEMBER 2019 | 129

William Dickinson / Skynoir

END NOTE

A Capitol Christmas T

his month, the North Carolina State Capitol is aglow with holiday spirit. The State Tree Lighting ceremony on December 12—which includes festive music and performances, cookies and hot chocolate, and an appearance from Santa alongside the first family—started in 1978. The capitol tree is always from North Carolina, and this year, it’s a 24-foot tall Fraser fir from Peak Farms in Ashe County.

After the tree outside is lit, guests are invited inside the Rotunda, where they’ll find the County Tree decorated with ornaments representing each of the 100 North Carolina counties, and children can have their picture taken with Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

“For me, the season doesn’t really begin until I hear the Raleigh Concert Band play Jingle Bells just as the Governor and first lady light the tree,” says Terra Schramm, site administrator for the Capitol. “That, combined with the view of the lights lining Fayetteville Street from the Capitol to Memorial Auditorium, instantly puts you in the holiday spirit!”

—Ayn-Monique Klahre

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