WALTER Magazine | July 2025

CHEVRON COLLECTION

Furnishings by Taylor King Furniture, Signature Pillows, Legend Accents, Woodbridge Furniture and hand-knotted rug from Pakistan.

Box Office: 919-719-0900

Single Tickets On Sale July 1st.

Box Office Pre-Sale begins July 1st (Use Code: WALTER)

Tickets available online starting July 8th.

Raymonda Variations

September 11th–28th

Carmen Suite

February 5th–22nd

The Seven Deadly Sins October 16th–November 2nd

Snow White March 12th–29th

La Valse November 20th–23rd

Celebration of America April 23rd–26th

The Nutcracker December 11th–24th

by

Beauty and the Beast May 14th–17th

presented

Bert

VanderVeen (JIM

DODSON); Forrest Mason (LAGANA); Mike Dunn (FLOWERS); Gerry O’Neill (FLAG)

JOIN US FOR OUR UPCOMING EVENTS

July 16

An Evening in Paris

An immersive, French-inspired event with art, beauty, aperitifs and more in celebration of author Jennifer Dasal’s The Club.

July 23

Book Club with James Dodson

Join author and columnist James Dodson to hear about The Road That Made America, a lively book that shares untold stories in our nation’s history.

September 5

WINnovation

At this celebration of leaders and innovation, hear from four accomplished local women. Plus: enjoy networking, professional workshops and more.

October 22

Taste of the Wild

Taste an exclusive menu from Prime BBQ’s Christopher Prieto and Native Fine Diner chef Luke Owens that celebrates North Carolina food traditions and the joy of eating local.

WINnovation

EDITOR’S LETTER

There are mornings when my alarm goes off and it’s just sooo hard to get out of bed. I have one “snooze” built into my morning — I do like to lay there and think about the day ahead — but sometimes when the alarm goes off again, I’m tempted to hit “snooze” one more time.

But I know that if I do that, my mornings get hectic. Those 10 minutes cut into the time it takes to pack a kid’s lunch, do my little weight-lifting routine, blow-dry my hair or stand in front of my closet, deciding what to wear. I know that I will be happier if I just fight that inertia and peel myself out of the sheets. But it can be a struggle.

I’ve been thinking about the idea of inertia lately — that tendency for an object at rest to stay at rest. For me, it’s so easy to fall into the routine, to just sort of manage the day-to-day and not prioritize new and different experiences.

Going into summer, for example. I have this whole bucket list of things I want to do (Hike! Farmers Market! Beach! Shows! Pool! Travel!), and yet often the weekend rolls around and I’m like, yeah, that street festival would be cool, but… it’s so hot outside! Maybe I’ll just putter around the house instead. But I know that if it gets to be September and I’ve spent more of my favorite season puttering than doing things, I’ll be mad. What’d you do this summer? Oh, just housework.

To be fair: life can be a little hectic with work and kids and such, so down time is necessary. But it can’t all be down time! We’re lucky that in Raleigh, there is always LOTS going on, enough that sometimes it’s hard to choose between great options.

So my goal this month: lock myself into new experiences. To buy the ticket, to book the Airbnb, to make the plan with the friend that I can’t bail on. So that when I get caught in the inertia, I’ve got that little extra incentive to change course.

Ayn-Monique Klahre Editor

P.S. We have some great WALTER events coming up this month if you’re feeling the same! Check out the writeup just to the left of this column and scan for tickets!

Left: Addie’s daughters met First Lady Anna Stein and NC Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green at the High School Poet Laureate Reception at the Executive Mansion. Right: The WALTER team, including intern Molly, at our first Book Club event of the year.

JULY 2025

PUBLISHER

DAVID WORONOFF

EDITORIAL

Editor

AYN-MONIQUE KLAHRE ayn-monique@waltermagazine.com

Creative Director

LAURA PETRIDES WALL laura@waltermagazine.com

Associate Editor

ADDIE LADNER addie@waltermagazine.com

Contributing Poetry Editor Jaki Shelton Green

Contributing Copy Editor Finn Cohen

Contributing Writers

Michael Beadle, Catherine Currin, Jim Dodson, Mike Dunn, Hampton Williams Hofer

Colony Little, David Menconi, CC Parker, Helen Yoest

Contributing Photographers

Mehmet Demirci, John Hansen, Autumn Harrison, Bob Karp, Forrest Mason, Jaclyn Morgan, Catherine Nguyen, Bert VanderVeen, Geoff Wood

Contributing Illustrators

Gerry O’Neill, Tesh Parekh

Interns

Lexi Amedio, Molly Asbill, Helen Connor, Annie Fairey

BUSINESS

Advertising Sales Manager JULIE NICKENS julie@waltermagazine.com

Senior Account Executive & Operations CRISTINA BAKER cristina@waltermagazine.com

Finance STEVE ANDERSON 910-693-2497

Distribution JAMES KAY

Owners

JACK ANDREWS, FRANK DANIELS III, DAVID WORONOFF In memoriam FRANK DANIELS JR.

GENERAL Inquiries

WALTER OFFICE 984-286-0928 info@waltermagazine.com

Address all correspondence to: WALTER magazine, 421 Fayetteville Street, Suite 104 Raleigh, N.C. 27601

WALTER is available by paid subscriptions for $36 a year in the United States, as well as select rack and advertiser locations throughout the Triangle. Subscribe online at waltermagazine.com/subscribe

For subscription and customer service inquiries, please email us at customerservice@waltermagazine.com or call 818-286-3118. WALTER does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. Please contact Ayn-Monique Klahre at ayn-monique@waltermagazine.com for freelance guidelines.

© WALTER magazine. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the express written consent of the copyright owner. Published 12 times a year by The Pilot LLC.

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CONTRIBUTORS

MICHAEL BEADLE / POET

Michael Beadle is a poet, author and teaching artist living in Raleigh. His work has appeared in Kakalak, Broad River Review, NC Literary Review and Apple Valley Review. A former journalist, magazine editor and high school English teacher, he teaches creative writing workshops as a touring writer-in-residence. “What brought you joy today? It’s a simple question, a daily practice I use to honor and observe moments of gratitude, a reminder to be thankful for the gifts of life. I wrote the poem ‘I Do’ as a tribute to my partner, a litany of some of the happiest memories we’ve shared together.”

GEOFF WOOD / PHOTOGRAPHER

There’s too much adventure out there and there are too many incredible people to work with. So Geoff Wood’s plan is to dive headfirst into life behind the lens, getting dirty and — whenever possible — hanging off the side of a boat. “If the question ever arises, Do you want to go in, on or around a body of water? My answer is always yes! So I cannonballed in with my best splash to photograph some of our area’s most beautiful lakes. Go visit these featured locations. Grab friends, jump in, paddle, go tubing, wash off the work week and recharge.”

AUTUMN HARRISON / PHOTOGRAPHER

Autumn Harrison is a Raleighbased photographer celebrated for her editorial eye, emotionally rich storytelling and ability to see light as art. With over 16 years of experience, she specializes in weddings, personal branding and photojournalism. Her work blends effortless elegance with intentional detail, drawing in clients who value authenticity, style and substance. “Getting to work alongside both Robert and Stuart Dance means I’m surrounded by double the talent with each bringing such unique brilliance to the table. Stuart inspires me daily with his creativity and passion, while Robert’s paintings remind me that true art takes time, patience and trust.”

MIKE DUNN / WRITER

Mike Dunn is a retired educator/ naturalist/photographer with decades of experience leading natural history workshops in the wilds of North Carolina and beyond. “Red flowers like the Beebalm and Cardinal flower have always been some of my favorites because they attract so many pollinators. Oddly, it seems that bright red is not a very common color in our native flora. But if you want to attract hummingbirds, plant native reds!”

OUR TOWN

Have fun in the sun this month with music, baseball and festivals galore — then top it all off with fireworks!

IN BLOOM If you’ve ever admired a cluster of flowers or a lovely tree in one of Raleigh’s parks, chances are you have a volunteer gardener to thank — and two long-standing community gardening groups are celebrating anniversaries this year. The Raleigh Garden Club turns 100 this year, and an exhibit at the Raleigh City Museum, Planting Power, will showcase the its contributions, which include planting roses and redwoods at the Raleigh Rose Garden and the maintenance of the courtyards at Fred Fletcher Park. At the COR Museum, expect to find a wall display of the RGC’s history, flower-forward installations (including a photo backdrop with live plants!) and interactive activities like seed-packet decorating for visitors (learn more at raleigh-garden-club.org or visit the exhibit at 220 Fayetteville Street; cityofraleighmuseum.org). The Oakwood Garden Club is honoring its 75th anniversary by revitalizing Vallie Henderson Park, a shaded pocket park across from Oakwood Cemetery that’s named for the founder of the club. “We’re working with the City of Raleigh to add a ton of native plants and hardscaping to open the park up but keep its canopy,” says volunteer Miranda Miller (learn more at historicoakwood.org/garden-club). — Addie Ladner

Jaclyn Morgan

WALTER BOOK CLUBS

July 16 & 23 | Various times

Join WALTER for two different book club experiences this month. Each will combine literature, conversation, food, drinks and great company. On July 16, WALTER will host art curator, podcaster and writer Jennifer Dasal to celebrate the launch of her new book, THe Club: Where American Women Artists Found Refuge in Belle Époque Paris. Hosted at Gallery C, a womenowned exhibition space in a historic building downtown, it’ll be a French soirée complete with fine wine, hors d’oeuvres, a book talk, makeup tutorials and a live portrait artist ($125; 540 N. Blount Street). On July 23, we’ll be hosting New York Times best-selling author (and WALTER columnist!)

Great Heights,” “All in Good Time” and “Each Coming Night,” along with I’m

With Her’s twangy tracks like “Ain’t That Fine” and “Crossing Muddy Waters” in this evening of thoughtful melodies. From $60; 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary; boothamphitheatre.com

RALEIGH UNDERGROUND MARKET

July 13 | 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Event producers Oak City Music Collective and MAKRS Society have put together a fun daytime market and concert series at Midtown Park. On the second Sunday of the month, enjoy local food trucks, artisans, art installations, music and more at the Raleigh Underground Market. For July, Charlotte native Emanuel Wynter, a songwriter and violinist, will take the stage. Free; 4011 Cardinal at North Hills Street; makrs.com

SPAFFORD WITH CHILL PAXTON

July 17 | 7 - 10 p.m.

At neighborhood beer and pizza spot Bowstring Brewyard, catch two Raleigh-born jam bands in one night. Spafford — a rock band that has performed at festivals all over the country, including Bonnaroo — will headline the evening. Funk-blues fusion quartet Chill Paxton will open. For dinner, consider pairing Bowstring’s New York-style pizza with a Surfside Vodka Lemonade for a quintessential summer evening. From $25; 1930 Wake Forest Road; raleigh.bowstringbrewyard.com

NATE BARGATZE

July 17 & 18 | 7 p.m.

One of the most popular stand-up comedians in the country is coming to Raleigh for two special shows. As part of his summer Big Dumb Eyes

World Tour (set to coincide with the release of his new book, Big Dumb Eyes: Stories From A Simpler Mind), Nate Bargatze will take the stage at the Lenovo Center to deliver his dry, monotone humor. Bargatze has had three wellreceived Netflix specials, been nominated for a Grammy and gained a wide

audience in recent years thanks to his clean, kind and funny family-friendly bits. From $54; 1400 Edwards Mill Road; lenovocenter.com

SUMMER SIDEWALK SALE

July 18 - 20 | Various times

Want a summer refresh for your wardrobe or home? Shop the sidewalk sales of more than 20 retailers at The Village District. From Bailey’s Fine Jewelry to Great Outdoor Provision Co. to If It’s Paper stationery to Kannon’s Women, there will be a variety of vendors offering a range of store markdowns. In between all the shopping, consider stopping into one of the many food or beverage outlets for a refresher — maybe wine from Postino or a wood-fired pizza at Tazza? Free; 2068 Clark Avenue; shopvillagedistrict.com

GALAXYCON

RALEIGH

July 24 - 27 | Various times

A four-day celebration of comic books, sci-fi, fantasy and anime, GalaxyCon is an opportunity to suit up as a favorite character and mingle with other fans at the Raleigh Convention Center. The three-day event includes panels featuring artists, writers, voice actors and creators from (almost) every

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fandom in the galaxy. Nearly as fun as the event: walking around downtown to see what the 30,000-plus guests are wearing. From $45 for a day pass; 500 S. Salisbury Street; galaxycon.com

HADESTOWN: TEEN EDITION

July 25 - August 10 | Various times

Experience a captivating retelling of the ancient Greek myth about free spirits and lovers Orpheus and Eurydice, whose relationship is intertwined with

the immortals King Hades and Lady Persephone. Hadestown incorporates jazz and folk elements in its score, and the storytelling will offer themes of passion, loyalty and fear in this musical production that caps off the theater’s 2025 Teens on Stage and Teens Backstage summer program. From $16; 301 Pogue Street; raleighlittletheatre.org

OUTLAW MUSIC FESTIVAL

July 27 | 3:45 p.m.

Established in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 2016, the Outlaw Music Festival celebrates rock, blues, country and folk music in America. It has since grown into one of the largest annual touring musical festivals in the world, featuring longtime headliner Willie Nelson and Family plus iconic musicians like Neil Young, Sheryl Crow, Chris Stapleton, Bonnie Raitt and Sturgill Simpson in past years. This summer, the Outlaw

Music Festival will again make a stop at Coastal Credit Union Music Park. Joining Nelson will be Bob Dylan, country acts Turnpike Troubadours and Charles Wesley Godwin, and rock artist Willow Avalon for a long, hot afternoon filled with legendary music. From $68; 3801 Rock Quarry Road; coastalcreditunionmusicpark.com

RALEIGH’S PREMIER WHITE GLOVE DELIVERY SERVICE

We’re

CHILL FACTOR

A mostly upbeat — but sometimes mellow — summer playlist

by DAVID MENCONI

SUP EARLY IN THE MORNING Jennyanykind

SUMMER’S HERE James Taylor

VOLUNTEERS Megafaun

GROOVE BABY Hobex

I CRAVE MY PIG MEAT Blind Boy Fuller

MORPHINE GIRL Watchhouse

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME

Doc & Merle Watson

HEARD IT ALL BEFORE Sunshine Anderson

ORANGEANDMAGENTA Wes Collins

CUMBERLAND PLATEAU

Darin & Brooke Aldridge

NEW YORK STUDIO 1959 Flat Duo Jets

ummertime in North Carolina is when thoughts turn toward lazy days, balmy nights and seasonal pleasures like baseball, cookouts and vacation getaways. But there can be a melancholy aspect to it as well — a wistfulness for the carefree days of childhood, perhaps a lingering heartache for summer romances past or an undercurrent of sadness that the season will, too soon, come to an end. And so we present this summer playlist, which includes 11 songs featuring North Carolina artists that are mostly upbeat, but occasionally mellow.

JENNYANYKIND, “UP EARLY IN THE MORNING” (2000)

We begin with identical twin brothers Michael and Matthew Holland, who have been playing in bands together for decades (most recently as regular contributors to HBO’s comedy series The Righteous Gemstones). During the 1990s and into the 2000s, they led a countrified blues-rock band called Jennyanykind. With its churchy keyboards and wide-eyed vocals, this opening track from 2000’s I Need You LP feels like a stroll into morning sunlight.

JAMES TAYLOR, “SUMMER’S HERE” (1981)

Honorary Tar Heel Taylor, who spent his formative years in Chapel Hill, was in a rough patch in the early ’80s with his marriage to Carly Simon on the rocks. He made a downcast breakup record called Dad Loves Work, on which this modest little deep-cut ode to the season seemed like a brief respite: “Summer’s here, that suits me fine/It may rain today ‘cause I don’t mind/It’s my favorite time of the year and I’m glad that it’s here.” The rainy day man, indeed.

MEGAFAUN, “VOLUNTEERS” (2010)

“Sunlight, silhouettes and dogwood trees/Swayin’ all alone in the Carolina breeze…” The chorus and slowly ambling pace of Megafaun’s “Volunteers” feels like lying in a shade-tree hammock on a bright July afternoon. But listen to the rest of the song by these Wisconsinto-Durham transplants, and it’s actually a pointed on-the-verge-of-a-breakup ultimatum.

HOBEX, “GROOVE BABY” (1998) Hobex started out in the mid-1990s as a side project for Greg Humphreys, frontman of the Chapel Hill pop band Dillon Fence. But Hobex ultimately outlasted Humphreys’ main band, and three decades later they’re still at it with bright, sunny funk-pop that’s perfect background music for cookouts — especially this song, from the LP Back in the 90s.

BLIND BOY FULLER, “I CRAVE MY PIG MEAT” (1939)

Speaking of cookouts, Raleigh resident Marshall Wyatt assembled two-dozen old-time blues songs about the many facets of barbecue for the 2011 compilation Barbecue Any Old Time, released on his Grammy-nominated reissue label Old Hat Records. Here’s one of the tunes, the great 1930s-vintage Durham bluesman Fulton “Blind Boy Fuller” Allen holding forth about the pleasures of pork.

WATCHHOUSE,

“MORPHINE GIRL” (2013)

This one is from Andrew Marlin and Emily Franz’s early days as Mandolin Orange, before they changed their name to Watchhouse in 2021. “Morphine Girl” was a highlight of their breakout third album This Side of Jordan, with Franz’s spectral fiddle creating an atmosphere as thick as humidity. It’s trance-inducing.

DOC & MERLE WATSON, “TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME” (1983)

The late great folk-guitar legend was always able to spice up pretty much any old tune, including this instrumental take on the classic ode to America’s national pastime originally composed by Albert Von Tilzer. Merle passed in 1985 and Doc’s been gone since 2012, but their version of the ballpark anthem still plays during the seventh-inning stretch at Durham Bulls games.

SUNSHINE ANDERSON, “HEARD IT ALL BEFORE”

(2001)

It sounds like a discovery story from a movie: Anderson was a student at Durham’s North Carolina Central University when a classmate overheard her singing while walking to the cafeteria. That led to her connecting with producer Mike City, who produced this very sassy R&B number about hapless two-timing dudes.

WES COLLINS, “ORANGEANDMAGENTA” (2018)

Before turning to music full time, this Chapel Hill singer/songwriter’s day job was librarian at Chatham Community Library — which means he comes by his facility with words honestly. A song about going someplace remote to try and forget about someone, “Orangeandmagenta” has an almost reverential tone (and nary a syllable out of place), subtle as shimmering heat waves rising off the beach.

DARIN AND BROOKE ALDRIDGE, “CUMBERLAND PLATEAU” (2017)

The biggest draw of this Cherryville duo is Brooke’s voice; she’s won the International Bluegrass Music Association’s female vocalist of the year four times over the past decade. It’s easy to hear why on “Cumberland Plateau,” a song written by the couple’s frequent collaborator John Cowan (from New Grass Revival).

FLAT DUO JETS, “NEW YORK STUDIO 1959” (1998)

The guitar/drums duo of Chris “Crow” Smith and the late Dexter Romweber almost always played at a breakneck pace. But here’s a lovely instrumental where they slowed down and even added strings to evoke a sense of vintage late-night classiness, big-city-style. A perfect wind-down number from the Jets’ final LP, 1998’s Lucky Eye.

LISTEN TO THE SUMMER PLAYLIST HERE

Meat Up

“Mby CATHERINE CURRIN

FORREST MASON

y goal was always to have a burger joint,” says Luis Zouain, co-owner and chef of LaGana. And since last October, that’s where you’ll find him, four days a week: taking orders at the door, chatting with guests at the bar and monitoring the sizzling flat top. “LaGana has been on my mind forever. Back in the day, it was a little different, but it’s always been burgers,” he says

The restaurant is co-owned by Zouain with Carlos Lemus, Sr., and Carlos Lemus, Jr. (who are father and son). Zouain got to know them through a recreation-

al soccer league that he joined after he moved to North Carolina from the Dominican Republic in 2021. A dentist by trade, Zouain always loved spending time in the kitchen as a creative outlet. So when he moved here, he set his sights on the Raleigh restaurant scene, working at Mandolin and Bloomsbury Bistro, then as the founding chef at Madre. “Before I started my own thing, I wanted to make a name for myself here in town,” Zouain says.

As their friendship developed, Zouain and the Lemuses talked about going into business together. Carlos Sr. had worked for 40 years at The Cheesecake Factory, working his way up from dishwasher to director of operations for its corporate office, where he helped perfect their famous dessert recipes. “ Carlos Sr. always encouraged me: If you ever wanna open a restaurant, let’s do it together,” Zouain says. Carlos Jr. brought along a background in property management and business development.

In 2024, Zouain learned that Prospects restaurant and bar on West Street was closing, so he jumped on the opportunity to secure the space.“I saw the place and thought that this would be perfect for my dream restaurant,” Zouain says. He’d always envisioned a small restaurant — LaGana seats just 25 — and felt this layout would lend itself to a unique communal dining environment: “The kind of connection that we create, the vibe that happens here is a beautiful thing. I don’t think we could achieve it if it were bigger.”

Inside LaGana, a bar anchors the length of the room, looking toward the open kitchen, where guests at the counter can watch their burgers get smashed in real time. But it’s not your typical burger joint. Every smashburger is made with Wagyu beef from Wilders Farm, which raises 100 percent full-blood Wagyu cattle about 30 minutes away in Turkey, North Carolina. “That level of

LaGana brings smashburgers to West Street

photography by

quality translates directly to the plate,” says Jaclyn Smith, who co-owns Wilders with her husband Reid. “When Luis shared his vision for LaGana, we were immediately excited about the concept — an elevated burger spot in downtown Raleigh, featuring a Wagyu smashburger. It felt like a natural partnership.”

Zouain says the menu will always be short and sweet, offering just three burgers and a handful of appetizers and sides. The menu mainstay is The Textbook burger, aptly named as a classic for its combo of “Yankee cheddar” cheese, shredded lettuce and onions, and a secret sauce (a creamy and tangy topping slathered on the bun). LaGana will also rotate two burger combinations each month, plus a seasonal cake flavor in addition to the Cacao, a decadent double-layer chocolate cake topped with chocolate frosting.

The menu includes nods to Zouain’s home country, plus riffs on Southern American traditions. “The influences of the Dominican Republic will be in anything that I do. It may be a plate, or even just an ingredient,” he says. One example: the Tar Heel Tostones, in which you dip twice-fried plantain slices, a Dominican staple, into Zouain’s take on pimento cheese. “We do a cheese foam that is an elevated French technique. And then we add the chili oil that we make here inhouse,” Zouain says. “That combination of flavors is what it’s all about here in LaGana, and that’s what you're gonna see every time that you come in.”

In addition to the everyday burger menu, Zouain is hosting a monthly omakase, a form of Japanese dining where the chef dictates each course for guests. “I love burgers, but I also need to keep creating and continue to evolve. And the idea of doing whatever we want with an omakase was the go-to,” says Zouain. (It’s in keeping with LaGana’s motto, “do whatever you

want,” a loose translation of the restaurant’s name.) Sometimes, he says, he’ll offer true omakase with a sushi tasting menu (think clam crudo, otoro nigiri and ceviche); he’s also riffed on omakase-style evenings, like one with Mexican-inspired cuisine for Cinco de Mayo and an evening of aphrodisiacs for Valentine’s Day. The first two omakase dinners sold out in minutes.

“I love burgers, but I also need to keep creating and continue to evolve.”

— LUIS ZOUAIN

“It’s about sourcing the best product and having a theme for it — they were fantastic,” he says.

Carlos Sr. bakes the cakes LaGana serves each night for dessert. “The cakes are as homey as possible. You feel like your grandma made it,” says Zouain. “I want each bite to offer a new experience,” says Carlos Sr., “something memorable for every customer.”

Carlos Jr. supports the operations of

the restaurant. “ Carlos Jr. is the backbone here — he manages all the numbers, all the things that everyone else hates,” laughs Zouain. Carlos Sr. says he loves working with Zouain and his son at LaGana. “My son always reminds us that our five-star reviews aren’t about being flawless,” he says. “They’re a reflection of our honesty, imperfection and the care we put into everything we do.”

Zouain’s ultimate goal is to make guests feel at home in his restaurant. “We'll make you feel amazing, not only because the food tastes good, but because of all the little details that got us there,” he says.

Clockwise from top left: Chef Luis Zouain; smashburgers on the grill; finishing touches.

BUYTICKETSNOW!

featuring

Jennifer Dasal

Step into Belle Époque Paris with Jennifer Dasal, the art historian behind the ArtCurious podcast. Her latest book, The Club, shares the stories of women artists living and working in Paris — so we’re celebrating with an immersive, salon-style soirée. What to expect:

Book Talk

Live Art Sessions

French Makeup Consultations

Heavy Hors d’oeuvres

Unlimited Aperitifs

July 16 | 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Galler y C

540 N. Blount Street, Raleigh

$125 per person

PRESENTING SPONSOR

SUPPORTING SPONSOR

Guardian of STORIES

C.J. Roberts takes the reigns of eight North Carolina History Museums

by HAMPTON WILLIAMS HOFER photography by MEHMET DEMIRCI

In April, C.J. Roberts began his new role as executive director of the North Carolina Division of State History Museums, which includes the flagship Raleigh museum and seven regional history museums around the state. The NC Museum of History downtown is undergoing substantial renovations, to be unveiled in the fall of 2028, which will include both essential updates (HVAC, accessibility, leak repairs, and the like) as well as expanding the physical space with exciting, reimagined exhibits. It’s a new era for the iconic museum, a pillar of our state’s cultural heritage that boasts some 150,000 artifacts paying homage to 14,000 years of North Carolinians.

Roberts will also oversee the extensive repairs from Hurricane Helene’s damage to the Mountain Gateway Museum and Heritage Center in Old Fort, a tribute to the rich history of music, art, food and the natural world at the gateway to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Other regional museums under his directorship include the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras, the Museum of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City, the Museum of the Cape Fear in Fayetteville, the NC Maritime Museums in Beaufort and Southport, and the Tobacco Farm Life Museum in Kenly.

Certainly, North Carolina’s history is dense and dynamic, sweeping from the mountains to the sea, from pirates and planes to Revolutionary War frontiers. Protecting the keepers of these stories is no small feat, but Roberts knows what he’s doing. As president and CEO of the Tampa Bay History Center for the past 20 years, he took the museum from concept to completion, earning it accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums and expanding it across numerous sites. Prior to that, he served as president and CEO of the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Savannah, Georgia, and director of the George C. Marshall Museum at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington. Not to mention, Roberts led the team that established the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, a 6-acre campus of state-of-the-art historical exhibits and pavilions that was designated by Congress as the official WWII museum of the United States.

We caught up with Roberts to learn more about his enthusiasm for a new adventure in North Carolina.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA THAT MADE YOU WANT TO TAKE THIS JOB?

I’d been in my current role in Tampa for 20 years, and when thinking about the next chapter, this opportunity checked a lot of boxes. My wife and I love the location and are excited to immerse ourselves in the community and all the state of North Carolina has to offer, on both the recreational side and the cul-

tural side. This will be my third museum-building project, and as I look back on my career, what I’ve enjoyed the most is when I’ve had the chance to build new physical spaces, like what’s happening in Raleigh, in addition to new programs and exhibits.

IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS THE VALUE OF HISTORY MUSEUMS IN OUR COMMUNITIES?

We often say “study the past to make decisions for the future” — and I truly believe that the more we understand our history, the more we understand each other. In some ways, the donated artifacts have the most value. These pieces have stories behind them because we know where they came from — when a family donates a great-great-grandfather’s Civil War uniform, for example, we have a name and an artifact that can really be brought to life. As the artifacts from the NCMH are carefully being packed and stored nearby, it’s a reminder that preserving these things is important, as is making them accessible to people — it joins communities. Ultimately, diverse experiences and cultures make for better places to live.

That exhibit will now incorporate newer technologies to tell broader and deeper stories; it will be at the front end of design. I think this is going to be an exciting transformation and our visitors will be very happy to see more stories, more artifacts, and broader interpretation.

“As the artifacts from the NCMH are carefully being packed and stored nearby, it’s a reminder that preserving these things is important, as is making them accessible to people — it joins communities.”

— C.J. ROBERTS

WHAT CAN VISITORS EXPECT FROM THE NEW SPACE?

In a few years, the museum will look completely different, with a new entrance atrium, new plaza, new restaurant and overall just a complete renovation of the building, with expanded space and new systems throughout. We are redoing the museum’s signature exhibit, THe Story of North Carolina, which covers some 14,000 years of history from the state’s earliest inhabitants — think, the signature wigwam and canoe — to the 20th century.

IS THERE A PARTICULAR PERIOD IN HISTORY THAT DRAWS YOU, OR AN EXHIBIT YOU’VE NEVER FORGOTTEN?

I would have to say 19th-century American history, though I’m no historian. Having spent so many years working for militarythemed museums, I’m drawn specifically to the pre-Civil War and Civil War era. That said, an exhibit that has made a lasting impact on me was THe Blitz exhibit at the Imperial War Museum in London. You could actually go into a simulation of the German air raids on Britain, and understand how it felt to be there — the sounds, everything. It was just really well done — immersive and powerful.

WHAT EXCITES YOU MOST ABOUT YOUR NEW ROLE?

When I left New Orleans, having led the team that built and opened the National World War II Museum, there was a goingaway party where a donor came up to me and asked how it felt to come into a new community and leave it a better place. That question really made an impression on me. I had never thought about my work in those terms, but in a way, this idea defines my job now. I can come to North Carolina, and as a steward of these important historical institutions, I can make it a better place.

PERSPECTIVES

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Beckoning Blooms

North Carolina’s native red flowers have unique adaptations to attract pollinators

words and photographs by

MIKE DUNN

When I worked at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, I once told an applicant for an educator position that she would need to know five native red wildflowers in order to get the job. I now don’t remember my exact reasoning for that statement, but she hesitantly named five red flowers and got the job (not just because of that), and she has gone on to become a fantastic naturalist.

There aren’t many native red flowers in the Piedmont. There are a number of plants that can be considered red if you’re lenient with pink or purple shades, but what I had in mind was that vivid red you see in a male Northern cardinal.

Maybe a better question would have been “Why are there different colors of flowers?” Scientists believe that flower colors evolved as a means of attracting specific pollinators. For example, yellow, blue and purple flowers are more attractive to various species of bees. Bees see a different color spectrum than humans and are more sensitive to blue, purple and ultraviolet light, which makes these flowers particularly bright to them. Alongside the shape, structure and other adaptations of a plant, its color helps ensure future generations of its species.

Red flowers are more attractive to certain butterflies and hummingbirds. It turns out that hummingbirds have a dense concentration of cones in their retina that enhances their ability to see red and yellow hues! The relative scarcity of red flowers in our landscape may be due to the fact we have primarily a single species of hummingbird in the East, the Ruby-throated hummingbird. In the western United States, there are several species of hummingbirds in most areas, so many species of plants have evolved to be attractive to these specialized pollinators.

Here are my favorite red flowers — plus a closer look at each to understand why they’re so important within our landscape.

A

Ruby-throated hummingbird at Beebalm.

BEEBALM, MONARDA DIDYMA

Beebalm goes by a number of other common names including bergamot and Oswego Tea. The latter comes from the use of this plant as a tea. John Bartram, a botanist and explorer in the mid-1700s, learned that the plant was used by native tribes in upstate New York as a tea to treat chills and fevers. He was near Fort Oswego, the native name of the nearby river, and that became the name of the plant. After the Boston Tea Party of 1773, tea made from Beebalm became even more popular, calling it Oswego tea. Being a member of the mint family, all parts of the plant have a wonderful aroma. The flowers and leaves have a scent similar to that of a bergamot orange (hence the other common name), and dried leaves can be used in potpourri. The most popular common name, Beebalm, comes from a salve derived from the plant’s juices used to ease the pain from bee stings. Bees are not this plant’s best pollinator since the nectar is stored in long, arching tubes they can’t reach easily, but it is readily visited by large butterflies and hummingbirds.

WILD COLUMBINE, AQUILEGIA CANADENSIS

Wild columbine is one of the early red bloomers in our yard. Though more common in habitats in the mountains, it does very well in the Piedmont. It blooms in spring when hummingbirds return from their wintering grounds. The flower appears to be upside down, with its parts hanging out of the bottom, but the nectar is in the swollen tips of its five long upright spurs. This requires something with a long tongue to reach it — like hummingbirds. That said, the flowers are said to be primarily self-pollinated.

Bumblebees also relish the nectar but can’t reach it, so they cut a hole in the spurs to get to it. Another insect sign to look

NATURE

for are light-colored squiggly lines on the leaves. These are made by a leaf miner, the larva of a small fly that specializes in the leaves of columbine. An egg is laid on the bottom of the leaf and the larva chews into the leaf and feeds between its, leaving a trail.

wers mature. The petals drop off and the flower head tilts upward.

The fruit consists of five small green tubes, joined together at the base. When they dry, the now-tan tubes split open, revealing numerous shiny black seeds. These are shaken out by the wind or the brush of a passing gardener’s leg. It is one of the easiest wildflowers to germinate, and our yard is blessed by dozens of these flowering beauties.

SILENE VIRGINICA

The Fire pink is a member of the pink or carnation family of flowers, despite the fact that its flowers are fire engine red (which perhaps explains its common name). It is a poor competitor, so you often see it isolated or in small clumps in areas where there is sparse vegetation. The five petals are distinctively notched at their tips. The whorled sepals and stems are adorned with minute sticky hairs. This may be an adaptation to prevent crawling insects like ants from stealing the nectar. Once flowering is complete, the equally sticky seed pods droop down, releasing the seeds onto the ground below.

CORAL HONEYSUCKLE, LONICERA SEMPERVIRENS

Coral honeysuckle was a plant I heartily recommended to schools and landowners in my time at the museum. This native vine typically grows in partial shade but has more blooms on plants growing in full sun. It is not as aggressive as known (and invasive) cousin, Japanese honeysuckle, but can provide a pleasing

Wild columbine

Fire pink

Coral honeysuckle

display when planted along a fence or other place where it can climb. Its scarlet tubular flowers dangle in clusters from the tips of vines in early spring when hummingbirds first arrive. Scan it for caterpillars of the Snowberry Clearwing moth (a day-flying moth that resembles a bumblebee) and Spring Azure butterflies on the leaves. Historically, humans chewed the leaves to relieve pain from bee stings. The fruits are eaten by birds and, of course, hummingbirds love the flowers.

CARDINAL FLOWER, LOBELIA CARDINALIS

Another summer bloomer is the Cardinal flower. The common name is in reference to the red robes worn by Roman Catholic cardinals. The intense color of this odd-shaped flower has long made it popular among gardeners and botanists. Roger Tory Peterson, the famous naturalist, artist and author of numerous classic field guides to North American flora and fauna, singled out this plant as “America’s favorite” in his Field Guide to Wildflowers. John Burroughs, a famous 19th-century naturalist, described it this way: “There is a glow about this flower as if color emanated from it as from a live coal.”

The Cardinal flower is the perfect pairing for hummingbirds. If you look at their range maps, they overlap to a great degree, owing, no doubt, to the dependence of the flower on the pollination compatibility of these hummingbirds. Cardinal flower

grows naturally in damp areas, often along stream banks. It is adaptable and grows well in any area with good soil, sun or part shade. The flower stalk can bloom from July into September, with flowers opening from the bottom up. The plants are protandrous, meaning the male parts (stamens and anthers) mature before the female flower parts (style and stigma). The stamens form a tube around the immature style. When a flower first opens, it has pollen dangling from the tip of that tube, ready to be deposited on the head of a visiting hummingbird. As the flower matures, the style continues to grow and extends beyond the flower tube, the anthers wither, and the stigma becomes receptive to pollen. On any one stalk, you will likely have flowers near the top releasing pollen while those below have receptive stigmas ready to receive pollen. As a hummingbird pushes its bill into flowers for nectar, the fused tube bends down, allowing it to pick up pollen on top of its head and deposit pollen grains on the receptive stigmas of others.

Cardinal flower Catch the Action

BOOK CLUB

JAMES DODSON

Wednesday, July 23 Theatre in the Park

107 Pullen Road, Raleigh 5:30-8 p.m.

Join WALTER as we host author and columnist James Dodson to celebrate The Road That Made America: A Modern Pilgrim’s Journey on the Great Wagon Road. This lively book shares untold stories in our nation’s history of the 800-mile route that American settlers forged from Philadelphia to Georgia. Your $62 ticket includes a book ($30 without book), hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer, a book talk and signing opportunity.

GARDEN

THE DOG DAYS

We have entered the dog days of summer, and sure enough, these days my pup Pepper can often be found on the back patio’s daybed, lounging under the ceiling fan. THis season, I start working in the garden in the early morning and continue throughout the day. If I can’t begin until later, I’ll skip working in the garden, grab a good book and tell Pepper to scoot over so I can join her. Be careful in the heat. Acclimate yourself and hydrate! — Helen Yoest

WATER, WATER, WATER

July is Raleigh’s wettest month, but rain events aren’t necessarily weekly. In dry spells, you’ll want to supplement watering, especially for new plants and vegetables. As a rule, water in the morning to reduce evaporation and target the base of the plant to keep the foliage dry. For containers, the smaller the pot, the more often you’ll want to water, especially if it’s located in full sun; larger pots in the shade may only need watering weekly.

WELCOME MONARCHS

Got Milkweed? Native Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.), are the only larval host plant for the monarch butterfly — their survival depends on it. Milkweed is a drought-tolerant plant that can still be planted now, giving it time to get situated to host monarchs on their return migration to Mexico, around September and October.

HARVEST YOUR VEGGIES

Tomatoes are ripening, as are cucumbers, beans and summer squash. Pick your veggies when they’re ripe, otherwise they’ll go to seed, signaling the plant to stop producing. If you love tomatoes as much as I do, plant more this month — this’ll extend your tomato growing season through the first frost.

DEADHEAD (OR DON’T)

Making Raleigh Smile Since

Many folks like to deadhead flowers like black-eyed Susans, coneflowers and shasta daisies to extend the blooming season and offer more fodder for pollinators. But if you let them go to seed, birds like goldfinch or chickadees will have more to feed on. I think doing half and half is the best of both worlds.

Zipping to ZEBULON

…for the love of peonies, but finding so much more

words and photography by CC PARKER

Steve Taras, the beloved local floral designer and owner of The Watered Garden, waved a bouquet of eye-popping peonies at the audience of his sold-out Art in Bloom demonstration at the NCMA. As the crowd gave a collective ahhh!, Taras pointed to a person in the crowd. That’s David, he said, of Oak Ridge Farms in Zebulon. He supplies me with most of my peonies.

Sitting with my bestie, Molly, in the audience, we hatched a plan to visit Oak Ridge. We did a little online research: turns out they raise cows, pigs and chickens for meat and grow seasonal flowers “to feed the soul.” David’s known for his prize-winning dahlias, but he also grows hydrangea, zinnias and daisies for cutting in the summer, and they’ll grow sweet peas and tulips in a greenhouse in

the cooler months. He also hosts a weekly farmers’ market with other vendors that’s open to guests. It was definitely time for a field trip.

AJust a few weeks later, Molly and I set out to Oak Ridge from our homes in Five Points. I confess that in my 50-plus years residing in Raleigh, I had never been to Zebulon and, in fact, was unsure where it was actually located. We headed east on Highway 64, and I had barely finished my coffee when we pulled into the Oak Ridge Farm about 20 miles later.

Once on the property, we immediately saw David’s new farmhouse, and to the right was the commercial shed that houses the market. Being early in the day, there was a smallish crowd and

we pulled our car right up front. Molly and I both consider ourselves “black belt shoppers,” so in short order we both were fully loaded with a variety of David’s organic meats, his fresh asparagus and of course bunches of his white peonies. We wandered through the other vendors, sampling the arugula pesto (delish!) and homemade body butter by the nearby My Zen Acres. We rounded off our shopping trip with treats for our families: popcorn and muffins made by Pretty Bakes in Knightdale.

After loading the car, we took a walk across the charming farmyard to take in a little more. We saw turkeys and pigs in the field nearby, a hoop house for ducks and chickens and what looked like an emu in the distance. I went over to gobble at the turkeys and they literally

puffed in unison and huffed and gobbled right back, quite indignant that we were invading their space. (Being married to a turkey-hunting-obsessed man, I’ve developed a fairly good gobble, if I do say so myself). We took the hint, but not before stopping to admire Cora the Queen, an enormous black hog splayed out in the mud nearby. She did not respond to our greeting — perhaps my oink is not as convincing as my gobble.

We were so charmed by David’s market that we decided to drive into town. What a lovely discovery! Zebulon’s downtown is a real-life Mayberry. North Arendell Street serves as its main drag, lined with cute restaurants, shops and breweries. Lots of people were out and about and — miracle of miracles! — we easily found a parking spot.

First order of business: a caffeine stop at The Creative Cup, where “A Whole Latte Fun” is promised on the front door. The shop was bustling with folks circulating through for their morning coffee (the shop also serves ice cream and has a separate art studio in the back for group classes). Molly noticed a flier on the community bulletin board for a garden club plant sale that very day, only two blocks away.

The Steel Magnolias Garden Club sale was being held at the Zebulon Community center. We were latecomers — the sale was ending shortly —

but the Magnolias told us to grab a red wagon to haul our plunder. It didn’t take long to fill the Radio Flyer with hollyhock, hostas, ginger lily, curly willow plants and various shades of foxgloves. But what really caught my eye were the various basket gardens planted in all manner of containers, each filled with lovely mixtures of blooming flowers and greenery and carefully labeled with care instructions — I threw two of those in, too. At checkout, Molly bought a raffle ticket for good measure.

Such a friendly group — the Magnolias even invited us to join them for a beer after the sale at The Norse Brewing Longhouse, their favorite watering hole. We abstained; we wanted to poke around town a bit more.

the shop’s proceeds go toward the cause. She suggested our next shop: Chocolates by Whitney, just 4 miles down the road in Wendell. Located in a tiny old brick building, the shop has glass display cabinets filled with silver trays brimming with gorgeous confections. Selections made and wrapped, we noticed that a long line of regulars trailed out the door, all waiting patiently for their turn.

Steering our car toward home on Poole Road, we happened upon Grasshopper Farm in Knightdale, a charming farmstand-style venue with a tiny general store, food trucks, a plant area, outdoor dining area and even an old-fashioned outhouse. It felt vaguely familiar, even though I was certain I’d never been there (turns out, it’s affiliated with Logan’s Garden Shop in Raleigh). The store serves ice cream, freshly popped popcorn and freshly picked strawberries. Ice cream in hand, we made our way through the property, enjoying the festive air and happy families, and even had a Bigfoot sighting! (He was 6 feet tall and made of concrete — I briefly considered how my neighbors might react if they saw him in my yard.)

We’d only been gone for four hours, but it felt like we’d taken an overnight trip. We’d visited new shops, talked to friendly strangers and taken in the fresh air and farm views that are hard to come by in our increasingly urban city.

Then it was time to head home. We’d only been gone for four hours, but it felt like we’d taken an overnight trip. We’d visited new shops, talked to friendly strangers and taken in the fresh air and farm views that are hard to come by in our increasingly urban city.

Mona Pants Mintage Funky Finds and Gifts was our next stop, filled with a cool assortment of vintage this-and-that. Debi, the store’s owner, is passionate about raising money for animal rescue and also funds K-9 bulletproof vests and pet oxygen kits for first responders. All

Lucky for me, I ended up with the ultimate souvenir: Molly’s raffle ticket won, and she passed along her prize to me. Now I’ve got a wooden chair with its seat planted with summer flowers by my front door, a little piece of Zebulon to enjoy at home.

Well Done, Bravo

And may there be more questions and answers on the road ahead

by JIM DODSON illustration by GERRY O’NEILL

My wife, Wendy, and I are a true marriage of opposites. She’s your classic girl of summer, born on a balmy mid-July day, a gal who loves nothing more than a day at the beach, a cool glass of wine and long summer twilights.

I’m a son of winter, born on Groundhog Day in a snowy Nor’easter, who digs cold nights, a roaring fire and a knuckle of good bourbon.

With age, however, I’ve come to appreciate our statistically hottest month in ways that remind me of my happy childhood.

Growing up in the deep South in an era before widespread air conditioning, I have fine memories of enjoying the slow and steamy days of midsummer.

Like most American homes in the late ’50s and early ’60s, the houses where we lived were cooled only by window fans and evening breezes. The first time I encountered air conditioning was in a small town on the edge of South Carolina’s Lowcountry, where only my father’s newspaper office and the Piggly Wiggly supermarket were air-conditioned.

Trips to the grocery store or his office were nice, but I had my own ways to beat

the heat. I’d pedal my first bike around the neighborhood or crawl beneath our large wooden porch, where I’d conduct the Punic Wars with my toy Roman soldiers in the cool, dark dirt.

On hot summer afternoons, I’d sit in a wobbly wicker chair on the screened porch, reading my first chapter books beneath a slow-turning ceiling fan, keeping a hopeful eye out for a passing thunderstorm (probably the reason I dig ferocious afternoon thunderstorms to this day).

July also brings the Fourth of July, our national Independence Day. I unexpect-

edly gained a new appreciation for this holiday while researching my new book about the Great Wagon Road over the past six years (find an excerpt on page 70). This Colonial-era backcountry highway brought my Scottish, German and English ancestors to the Southern frontier in the mid-18th century.

My fondest memor y of celebrating the Fourth was sitting on a grassy fairway at the Florence Country Club, watching my first fireworks display. My mother brought along cupcakes decorated with red, white and blue icing.

That same week, Mr. Simmons, a cranky old fellow on our street, told my best friend Debbie and me that “only Yankees celebrate the Fourth of July because they won the war between the states.”

My dad, a serious history buff, told me this was complete hogwash and began taking my older brother and me to hike the Revolutionary War battlefields of South Carolina at Camden, Kings Mountain and Cowpens, drawing us into the story of America’s fight for independence from Great Britain. When we moved to Greensboro in 1960, one of our first stops was the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, where the pivotal battle of the Revolutionary War was fought.

Another favorite Fourth of July celebration took place at Greensboro’s BurMil Clubhouse in the mid-1960s. It was a lovely affair that featured races in the swimming pool and a par-three, ninehole golf tournament for kids, followed by a huge company picnic in the dusk before a fireworks display.

That summer, I joined the club’s swim team and even briefly set a city record for 10-and-under in the backstroke, developing a daily routine that made beating midsummer heat a breeze. Every morning after swim practice, I played at least 27 holes under the blazing sun (bleaching my fair hair snow-white by summer’s end), grabbed a hotdog and Coke in the club snack bar for lunch, then headed back to the pool to cool off before my dad picked me up on his way

home from work.

Looking back, it was hard to beat that summertime routine.

CFast forward several decades, I was thinking about these pleasant faraway summers on the first day of my journey down the Great Wagon Road, beginning in Philadelphia. The city was still draped in the tricolors of Independence Day amid a record-breaking heat wave. After a morning hike around the historic district, I walked into the shady courtyard of the historic Christ Church, hoping to find some relief. Instead, I found Benjamin Franklin sitting on a bench.

I couldn’t believe my good luck. Rick Bravo was a dead ringer for Philly’s most famous citizen, and is one of Philly’s beloved Ben Franklin actor-interpreters.

He invited me to share the bench with him while he waited for his wife, Eleanor, to pick him up for a doctor’s appointment.

Over the next hour, Ben Franklin Bravo (as I nicknamed him) regaled me with several intimate insights about my favorite Founding Father, including how “America’s Original Man,” as he calls him, shaped its democratic character and even had a hand in designing the nation’s first flag, sewn by Betsy Ross.

I thanked him for his stories and wondered if I might ask one final question. He gave me a wry smile and a wink.

“God willing, not your last question nor my last answer,” he replied with perfect Franklin timing, casually mentioning that he was scheduled to undergo

heart surgery within days.

I asked him what it was like channeling Benjamin Franklin.

Bravo glanced off into the shadowed courtyard, where a mom and three small kids were cooling off with ice cream cones, chattering like magpies. My eyes followed his.

He grew visibly emotional.

“Let me tell you, it’s simply… wonderful. Next to my wife and children, being Ben Franklin is the most meaningful thing in my life.”

He told me how he met Eleanor many decades ago in the first of their many musical performances together, a major production of Oliver.

“Like America itself, we’ve weathered the ups-and-downs of life with lots of grace from the Almighty and a good sense of humor. As Ben Franklin himself observed, both are essential qualities for guiding a marriage or shaping a new country.”

Looking back, my hour with the man who was Ben Franklin proved the most memorable conversation of more than 100 interviews I conducted along the Great Wagon Road.

He even suggested that I drop by Betsy Ross’s shop over on Arch Street to buy a replica of the young nation’s first flag as a symbol of the birth of America.

Over the next five years, I carried this beautiful Ross flag down the road of my ancestors. With its red-and-white stripes and circle of thirteen stars, it was the only purchase I made during my entire 800-mile journey.

To celebrate publication of my Wagon Road adventure this month, my Betsy Ross flag will proudly hang in front of my house for the first time, a gesture of gratitude to the dozens of inspiring fellow Americans I met on my long journey of awakening.

It will also hang in memory of my dear friend, Ben Franklin Bravo, my first interview on the Great Wagon Road, who died in January 2022.

I understand that Eleanor sang “Where is Love?” to him from their first musical together as he passed away.

I Do

by MICHAEL BEADLE

illustration by TESH PAREKH

Remember slow-dancing in the kitchen while chicken sizzled in the skillet and Patty Griffin belted out Oh Heavenly Day?

Remember strolling through rows of towering sunflowers at Dix Park?

Remember when I first put my arm around you as we watched fireworks burst like giant gumballs over the Raleigh skyline?

Remember kayaking in the ocean surf and flipping over so hard our bathing suits came loose?

Remember staring beyond the breaking waves of the Atlantic as if we could already see our future sailing toward us?

Remember sweaty kisses after morning trail runs at Umstead and epic bike rides along the Neuse River Trail?

Remember summer days sailing Sunfish and dolphin-watching at Dawson’s Creek?

Remember that night we saw more stars than we thought the sky could hold?

Remember that muddy Sunday tromping through the pines at Falls Lake when I dropped to one knee and quoted that poem from Mary Oliver?

Remember when we said yes to whatever adventure came next as long as it meant we could do it together?

A Sunfish sailboat taking a cruise at Bond Lake at Fred G. Bond Metro Park in Cary, the town’s largest municipal park. Near the lake, there’s a boathouse where visitors can find boat rentals, ice cream and rocking chairs.

SOAK UP THE FUN

You don’t have to head to the beach to enjoy the water this summer

by ADDIE LADNER photography by GEOFF WOOD

Beyond the popular Sunfish offerings, Fred G. Bond Metro Park offers canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals.

Left to right: Jenna Costa tries out a sailboat at Bond Lake; Walker Satterfield carries a kayak; Claire and Seamus O’Driskill get ready for a fun afternoon.

Summertime brings wind in your hair, sun on your skin, toes in the sand and, hopefully, some dips in the water. Lucky for us, the Raleigh area has some lovely lakes that offer a range of recreational water activities.

One of the largest is Falls Lake State Recreation Area in northwest Wake County. It was formed in 1981 by the Army Corp of Engineers as a flood control and freshwater source and offers over 12,000 acres of water and 175 miles of mostly undeveloped shoreline, which makes it popular for both recreation and nature-gazing. Visitors can access the lake by walking the trails or through one of its seven boat launches, from which they can take in the diversity of wildlife that lives along its banks, including turtles, bald eagles, herons and osprey. “Falls Lake might be one of the most underutilized lakes in North Carolina,” says Randy Geist, a captain for Motor-Boatin’ recreation rental company, noting that even on peak days, there’s ample space to zip around the water, set up anchor by a shore or canoe through its bays. Geist says their pontoons are particularly popular for friends or families in July. “Groups come over with packed coolers, we have music on the stereo and just get on out there,” says Geist. “Everyone returns to the dock happy.”

By contrast, the smaller Lake Crabtree County Park — which doesn’t allow motorized vessels — tends to attract visitors looking for quieter, more solitary water activities. This 520-acre reservoir near Raleigh-Durham International Airport can be accessed easily from hiking paths or one of its boat access points near the pavilion at the boathouse. One popular way to enjoy it is by kayak or canoe, which folks can rent for free. “It’s very family-friendly and appealing for folks not as comfortable on the water,” says park manager Drew Cade. The lake also attracts sailing groups, including high school and college teams, looking for calm, accessible waters with just enough wind. “Even though we have an airport and I-40 nearby, this feels like a fun respite from the rest of the world,” Cade says.

From stand-up paddleboarding to tubing to sailing to chartering a ski boat, read on for the great recreational options on lakes in the Raleigh area.

LAKE LIVIN’

You don’t have to drive three hours to the beach to enjoy a sunny day on the water. These public lakes offer fun options for all skill levels and interests.

BOND LAKE

About 30 minutes from downtown Raleigh in the Fred G. Bond Metro Park, this lake is run by the Town of Cary. Here, you can rent kayaks, pedal boats, paddleboards and sailboats or bring your own to the public boat launch; note that no gas-powered vessels are allowed (carync.gov).

FALLS LAKE

Falls Lake State Recreation Area is about 45 minutes from downtown Raleigh. In addition to three designated swimming areas, there are numerous drop-in spots for kayaks or speedboats. You can also rent chartered pontoon and speed boats, jet skis, tubes and fishing boats through Motor-Boatin’ at Falls Lake (motor-boatin.com) or pontoons and jet skis through BBB Boat Rentals (bbbboatrentals.com).

JORDAN LAKE

The anchor of the Jordan Lake State Recreation Area, Jordan Lake offers more than 13,000 acres of water about 30 miles west of downtown. Nine access points offer spots to swim, put in a boat or hike or camp near the water. It’s especially popular for fishing and spotting bald eagles. Visitors can rent kayaks and paddleboards through WakeRack (wakerack.com).

LAKE CRABTREE

Near Raleigh-Durham International Airport, the quiet Lake Crabtree County Park has an access spot for playing in the water and offers double and single kayaks, pedal boats and stand-up paddleboard rentals in two-hour increments for free on a first-come, first-serve basis; motorized vessels are prohibited (wake.gov). It’s also popular for leisure fishing, as you can cast a line from the platform near the boathouse. If you don’t have your own, rent rods, reels and other supplies through the NC Wildlife Resources Commission’s Tackle Loaner Program (ncwildlife.gov/fishing).

LAKE JOHNSON

Lake Johnson Park, just 10 minutes southwest of downtown, offers a tranquil 150-acre lake surrounded by over 300 acres of woodlands. Access points include the Waterfront Center and Thomas G. Crowder Woodland Center, as well as two trailheads. Visitors can rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards via WakeRack lockers near the Waterfront Center (raleighnc.gov). A pier parallel to Avent Ferry Road is also a popular fishing spot.

LAKE RALEIGH

A hidden gem for nature lovers, this lake on North Carolina State University’s Centennial Campus is great for people who want an easy access spot to bring their own canoes, kayaks or stand-up paddle boards. There isn’t an official swimming access, but there are plenty of spots to tuck in for a picnic, as well as a fishing pier (centennial.ncsu.edu).

LAKE WHEELER

Less than 20 minutes south of downtown, Lake Wheeler Park offers shaded, sandy spots to relax near the water, as well as a canoe drop-in spot and personal boat launch (raleighnc.gov). Small motorized boats (with the exclusion of jet skis), skiing and tubing are allowed, but swimming is not; visitors can also rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards via WakeRack (wakerack.com).

Thad Aman uses a stand-up paddleboard at Lake Crabtree County Park. Since motorized vehicles aren’t allowed on these waters, it’s a popular spot for human-powered vessels.

Summertime brings wind in your hair, sun on your skin, toes in the sand and, hopefully, some dips in the water. Lucky for us, the Raleigh area has some lovely lakes that offer a range of recreational water activities.

A birds-eye view of Falls Lake and Fledge Rock, one of its seven boat launches. A bonus to visiting Falls Lake is osprey sightings; many of the birds nest in man-made structures installed by the North Carolina Wildlife Federation.

North Carolina State University students enjoy the water and the open horizon on a Bentley pontoon with boat captain Randy Geist of Motor-Boatin’, a recreational rental company that has a fleet of over 40 water vessels, including fishing and ski boats, jet skis and pontoons.

Top: Alex Puryear, Miles Matson, Lance Lawsin and Julian Harmon jump into Falls Lake.

Clockwise from top left to right: Anna Haddad, Shreeya Duvvri, Kylie Shaw and Samantha Pressley enjoy the sun; Harmon and Puryear give tubing a spin; the four women wrap the day; Lawsin flips for fun.

GATHERING SPACE

In this family-friendly living area, the walls are white, but navy grasscloth and wooden accents make the built-ins pop. The brick treatment on the fireplace was painted to match the surrounding trim and shelving.

“It gives the room some texture, and plays up the classic, traditional elements of the home,” says Leigh Mosby of Legacy Custom Homes.

Cheerful colors and flexible furnishings infuse this family home with a modern hippie spirit

HOME PLACE

by AYN-MONIQUE KLAHRE photography by CATHERINE NGUYEN

What makes a home family-friendly? Plenty of places to work and play, plus a cheerful spirit imbuing each room. “This family is very down to earth and chill — they wanted a space that was bright, inviting, comfortable and fun,” says Cate Holcomb, who worked with them to decorate the space. The new build was designed by Tony Frazier of Frazier Home Designs and built by Legacy Custom Homes. From the start, they were “very mindful with their decisions,” says Leigh Mosby, selections coordinator at Legacy. “They wanted a grown-up home, but nothing ostentatious.” From the room layouts to the surfaces and furnishings, the whole home is designed to be hardy, flexible and ready to evolve and grow with their family.

Take the dining room: The homeowners wanted a distinct space for holidays and special dinners but didn’t want it to be so formal that kids couldn’t be included. Holcomb paired their traditional dining table with two styles of Parsons chairs, with a peppy, colorful rug underneath. Around the perimeter of the room, she

worked with the Legacy team to install a picture ledge above the wainscoting at chair-rail height — the perfect place to display the kids’ artwork or photos.

The breakfast nook also has multi-use spaces. Along one wall, Holcomb ran four desks with a single wooden countertop spanning them. This creates a great place for the kids to do crafts or homework, keeping the breakfast area clear for meals. “It’s freestanding, so they can pull out the desks if they find they’re no longer using them down the road,” she says. Above it, a shelf in front of the window is a sunny spot to grow herbs and other houseplants or display any treasures the kids make or find. In the adjoining kitchen, Mosby helped them select durable marble and quartzite surfaces that could withstand food spills, Play-Doh and toys, and Holcomb set them up with performance fabrics on all the upholstery to do the same. “They have kids and they live really hard in the house,” says Holcomb.

Nearby, in the living area, the family wanted lots of space to lounge, so Holcomb paired a sectional with two deep, upholstered side chairs. (One is actually a recliner, by the husband’s request.) She

BUILT FOR FUN

A desk in the living area creates a spot to supervise kids or work while watching television. In a few select spots, the family splurged, like on this Schumacher fabric on the backs of the kitchen stools. Opposite page: The breakfast area has a vaulted ceiling, which gives it an airy feel.

Interior designer Cate Holcomb paired a table made from old wine barrels with wipe-clean chairs from Four Hands. “I tried to find things that had a little patina, to get more of that collected look,” she says. Woodmaster Custom Cabinets made the desk and shelf. The walls are Egret White from Sherwin-Williams.

put a desk behind the sofa, rather than a more typical console table, to offer a spot for someone to perch and work while supervising the kids. “It’s also a great spot if, say, a kid wants to color and watch television at the same time,” says Holcomb. A heavy-duty leather ottoman in the middle of the room is a great spot for trays of snacks — or to put one’s feet up.

While many of the furnishings are neutral, the decor gets a playful energy from accents of color and pattern. For that, Holcomb took inspiration from an unlikely source: the couple’s collection of Phish paraphernalia. “They have dozens of the band’s posters, and they’re so fun,” says Holcomb. That’s most evident in the primary bedroom and guest room, where Holcomb pulled colors like fuchsia, teal and marigold from the posters and supported them with batik-inspired patterns, grass- and raffia-inspired textures and a few psychedelic accents, like a trio of ceramic mushrooms and some crystals. “We took that fun, playful spirit and did an elevated take,” says Holcomb. “It’s sort of a modern hippie kind of vibe.”

SING THE BLUES

The primary bedroom got its color scheme from a Phish poster. Fuchsia Schumacher fabric on the bed frame, little mushrooms from Curry & Co, lamps from Uttermost, and aqua wallpaper from Kravet give the room a dreamy feel. Along the window, velvet blackout drapes offer comfort for sleeping, and a bistro table provides a spot to perch with a laptop.

TK

ROOM FOR PLAY

The second story, which is only above the front part of the house, holds two bedrooms, a family room and a bathroom. That’s where James and Rachel’s two sons, Mack and August, reign. “They basically have their own little apartment up there — it’s a nice private place for them to have friends over or chill by themselves,” says offer a leafy view. “It’s like a treehouse,” Rachel says, “and when the crepe myrtles outside are in bloom, the whole roolittle different and bold,” says Rachel.

Grey-blue walls in the dining room (Debonaire by Sherwin-Williams) give it an upscale feel, and a pinboard from PB Teen holds kids’ art in an elegant way. The built-in picture ledge offers a flexible spot to hold photos or artwork. In the guest bedroom, tie-dye wallpaper from Thibaut plays up the “modern hippie” look. Holcomb found the aqua and pink lumbar pillow at Raleigh retailer Cameron Jones Interiors.

Painter Robert Dance and his photographer son, Stuart, share a love and talent for creation

CAMERA CANVAS& THROUGH

by COLONY LITTLE

photography by AUTUMN HARRISON

In the 2024 Raleigh Fine Arts Society NC Artists Exhibition at CAM Raleigh, a pair of artworks shared a special bond. One was a painting, a captivating seascape by Robert Dance that invited the eye to wander within layers of deep blue sky, foamy waves and fine sand.

Across the gallery, a framed photograph by Stuart Dance featured the legendary burger stand Char-Grill, evoking the quietude found in the dead of night on Hillsborough Street. The image’s dark, moody tones conjure an opening scene from a 1960s film noir: in the parking lot, a lone truck’s headlights illuminate two customers placing their late-night order.

The works were literally night and day, but they each expertly rendered the relationship between light and dark — the luminosity of the sun reflecting on waves, the fluorescent light glowing in the wet pavement. And it’s no coinci-

dence that the artists share a last name: Robert, who turned 91 in May, is Stuart’s father.

Raleigh resident Stuart is the youngest of Robert’s three sons. The oldest, Scott, secretly colluded with Stuart to submit their dad’s work into the juried show. “Yeah, they surprised their father,” Robert says with a warm chuckle. “I didn't realize Stuart had the painting, Scott snuck it to him!”

Robert, who lives in Kinston, is a realist painter with an abstract sensibility that he weaves into work focused on the mesmerizing, dynamic characteristics of nature. He began painting when he was 6 years old — he recalls that his first painting was a watercolor of an iris flower. He was born in Tokyo, Japan; his father worked as a tobacconist, which sent him all over the world to buy and sell tobacco products. As a child, painting kept Robert company throughout their family’s travels; he

found early inspiration among the woodcut prints and Japanese screens in his parents’ home.

Robert’s family left Japan in 1941 in advance of World War II, then lived all over the United States (including Virginia, New Jersey, Kentucky, North Carolina and Florida). Robert matriculated at the Philadelphia Museum College of Art, where he majored in illustration. He eventually settled in Winston-Salem to raise a family with his wife, Carolyn. The two had three sons and Robert worked as a commercial artist for book publishers, magazines and advertising agencies, developing the art for marketing campaigns for clients like General Electric, Hanes Corporation and R.J. Reynolds.

He slowly pivoted to fine art in his late 30s, and his paintings caught the attention of galleries representing prominent corporate and family collectors in Winston-Salem. In the decades since, he has earned numerous awards and recognition, including from the Smithsonian and the North Carolina Watercolor Society, and has one piece — a lively woodcut print titled As the Crow Flies — in the permanent collection at the North Carolina Museum of Art. In 1991, the NCMA Winston-Salem (formerly known as SECCA) hosted a 20-year retrospective of his work.

That same year, Carolyn passed away from an aggressive form of multiple sclerosis. In the years prior, Robert had cared for his wife, finding solace in nature, gardening and model airplanes, all motifs that found their way into his work. “I often paint the flowers and birds from my garden,” Robert says. But he might be best known for his nautical works, which express his love for boats and the ocean, an affinity he cultivated during his early years. “My father frequently traveled on ships — by the age of 5, I had been around the world maybe two or three times,” Robert recalls. “I think that by some sort of osmosis, that salt water got in my blood.”

Coastal Bands of Color, the painting shown in that 2024 exhibition at CAM, is a classic example: the piece harmonizes the sky, sea and sand through gradient

Stuart and Robert Dance

The works were literally night and day, but they each expertly rendered the relationship between light and dark — the luminosity of the sun reflecting on waves, the fluorescent light glowing in the wet pavement.

Above: Coastal Bands of Color by Robert Dance. Below: CharGrill by Stuart Dance.

Work by Robert Dance. Clockwise from top left: Winston Square; Ausable; Jean Dale; Queen Conch Willets; As the Crow Flies; Winnipesaukee.

shading of cerulean blue, seafoam green and pale neutrals. Its location is Atlantic Beach, where Robert’s second wife, Coleman, an artist and jewelry designer, has a home. On the seashore, a lone fisherman casts a line over the rolling waves as gulls fly in the distance. During the opening ceremony last September, Robert sat watching visitors study the works in the exhibition. “I noticed that a lot of people would look at my painting, then they’d come back again to see little details, like Laughing gulls or Great Black Backed gulls,” he says. “They couldn’t believe that somebody actually sat down and painted something like that.”

For Robert, painting requires discipline and an affinity for problem solving. He spends up to eight hours each day in his studio and can take up to six months to complete a painting. “You have to be extremely interested in what you have picked out to paint,” Robert says. “I work in such detail trying to solve problems of reflected light and sunlight.” He frequently incorporates a technique called glazing using alkyd, an oil-based paint that dries faster than traditional oils. “I will often use up to 20 glazes for sky or water to get the feeling of depth, because light penetrates and bounces off these glazes to produce reflections, like a window in a church,” he says. “Some of the best artists, such as Vermeer, my absolute favorite, used that technique.”

His photographer son Stuart uses a similar exacting process and appreciation for slow looking and stillness when he clicks the shutter. He recalls being drawn to cameras from an early age, surrounded by creatives in the Dance household (the middle brother, Mark, is also an accomplished artist; he lives out of state). “I grew up with a darkroom in the house because my dad would photograph studies for paintings when we’d go on trips,” he says. “He would come back and develop his own film — that made an early impression on me.” Stuart has an aptitude for image manipulation and experimentation; as a child he’d pour chemicals on family photos to see how the picture corroded and morphed through its reaction. From his love for photography, Stuart began collecting rare cameras; he now

owns over 350 of them, with the oldest dating back to 1897.

This eye for experimentation and collecting also extends to an interest in music and working as a sound engineer. “When I was 10, my father accidentally bought me a drum machine instead of a metronome; it was over at that point,” he says. “I started collecting analog synthesizers and samplers, ordering modular synthesizer kits, and building a Theremin.” Stuart studied design and production at the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, culminating his interests into sound design. After graduating he began touring with dance companies and moved to New York City, working for on- and off-Broadway productions, including Rent in the early 2000s.

During his years living in New York, Stuart struggled with mental health, addiction and self-harm, which ultimately necessitated his return to North

Carolina. “I crash-landed in Raleigh after a long period of self-destruction,” he says. “I had been drinking too much and burned out — I literally drank everything away.” Stuart lapsed into homelessness between rehabilitation treatments and periods in crisis, but during this time he returned to photography as a source of healing. “It was always an escape for me and brought me back to center,” he says. “It slowed down my mind and gave me perspective on life.” Stuart would walk around Raleigh in the middle of the night, just taking pictures. “I was depressed, not really knowing what was going to happen, not having anything, but somehow I always had a camera… it reminded me of who I was,” he says.

Dorothea Dix Park became a haven for Stuart; he often visited the grounds at night, shooting images of the abandoned buildings that once housed the Dorothea Dix psychiatric hospital. “Hearing all the stories about what happened there, I

A peek inside Robert Dance’s studio.

thought it was important to go through and take pictures of it,” he says. He’s built a body of work with the aim of preserving some of that history as Dix Park continues to evolve. “It’s interesting how something like mental health could have a stigma to it, then be reimagined. I think there’s a parallel to the human condition — we have to reimagine how we see it,” he says. He particularly enjoyed visiting the park before recent efforts to clean it up and

make it a public park: “It felt very dilapidated and dangerous; I could imagine being behind some of these fences on the other side. I felt a connection to it.”

Throughout his recovery, Stuart returned to sound engineering for select projects, and he is now focusing on developing his photography portfolio. “I take pictures of things that people pass by every day without looking twice, but seeing places with a child's

eye is fascinating; it makes life exciting again,” he says. Stuart recently started a project with his partner Autumn Harrison (who is also a photographer) called Aperture + Atlas, and over the past year they’ve traveled the East Coast photographing various points of interest, sharing the images and the lessons he’s learned through his travel with his father.

“My father’s somebody who’s like-minded,” says Stuart. “He grew up traveling all over a different world, so talking with him about art and photography has given me a lot of direction.”

Discipline guides Stuart’s work; that’s also a practice he shares with his father.

“My father once said there’s a lot of enthusiasm masquerading as art — anyone can create something beautiful, but making art is learning about yourself while you are learning how to create,” he says. “My father has shown me that a career in art can only be maintained by discipline, and in that discipline is love.” Robert is effusive with praise for his sons, always at the ready to detail their respective accomplishments. Stuart’s photography, he notes, was recently included in the 2025 print issue of the North Carolina Literary Review. “My best friends are my three sons,” he says, “like the TV show!”

While Stuart is on the front end of a career as a photographer, Robert does not consider himself ready to wind down. He cites a quote by the Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai as inspiration: “ until the age of 70, nothing I drew was worthy of notice. At 73 years, I was somewhat able to fathom the growth of plants and trees, and the structure of birds, animals, insects and fish. Thus when I reach 80 years, I hope to have made increasing progress, and at 90 to see further into the underlying principles of things, so that at 100 years I will have achieved a divine state in my art, and at 110, every dot and every stroke will be as though alive.” Robert’s fastidiously working on his submission for consideration in the next Raleigh Fine Arts Society NC Artists Exhibition, and he believes that his best work is still in front of him.

Photography by Stuart Dance. Clockwise from top left: Walk; At Work; Ball; Warm Colors.

On a journey down the Great Wagon Road, James Dodson encounters a Revolutionary War reenactor with an interesting backstory

LIBERTY man the

photography by BERT VANDERVEEN

This month, WALTER contributor and author James “Jim” Dodson will publish The Road That Made America: A Modern Pilgrim’s Journey on the Great Wagon Road. The book gathers stories about the Great Wagon Road, a route from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Augusta, Georgia, that American settlers created in the 18th century. This road became a pathway toward the Southern frontier and the wilds east of the Appalachian mountains, then an entry point to explore western America. More than 100,000 settlers traveled this route to find land for their new home, and the road became a key supply line during the Revolutionary War. Dodson traveled this road over six years, connecting with experts of all sorts to learn the hidden stories of this fabled byway — including that of Abel Johnston, the Liberty Man.

The following text is an excerpt from The Road That Made America: A Modern Pilgrim’s Journey on the Great Wagon Road.

James Dodson at home.

He sits on a garden bench outside the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, [Virginia] gazing at pear trees in bloom, dressed in the green woodland hunting frock and tricorn hat of a Southern colonial militiaman. His large hands rest calmly on the knob of an elegantly carved walking stick.

After being off the road for weeks attending to my busy life and work, I’m spending this beautiful April morning walking the grounds of the historic Glen Burnie House, the restored home and grounds of Winchester’s founder, James Wood.

As I approach, he remains as still as a statue, evidently lost in thought. “You look like a fellow waiting for the revolution to begin.”

He glances up with a half smile, white-haired, ruggedly handsome, intelligent pale blue eyes behind rimless spectacles.

“I hear that quite often, friend.”

He explains that he is waiting to meet a school group set to arrive for one of his presentations. I ask what kind.

“I tell the story of Liberty Man, Abel Johnston. He was my fourth-great-grandfather. A true American patriot during the American Revolution.”

“Maybe I should join your class. I’d like to hear about that.” He pats the bench. “My group is running late. Take a seat.”

His name is Rev. Larry Wilson Johnson, an 80-year-old resident of nearby Warren County, and a retired bishop of the Anglican Church. Over the next 20 minutes, the story he spins is the kind of lovely surprise I am beginning to realize is commonplace along the Great Wagon Road. Best of all, it involves my own home state, North Carolina.

In 1777, a young farmer named Abel Johnston married a woman named Ann Johnson. Abel was 19, Ann just 17. They lived on a farm on the banks of Middle Creek in a township called Pleasant Grove on the coastal plains of eastern North Carolina, not far from present-day

Raleigh, where they raised tobacco and cotton. At that moment, North Carolina was a hotbed of patriot rebellion. The year before, loyal Scottish Highlanders made a daring broadsword charge across a partially dismantled wooden bridge as hundreds of North Carolina patriots quietly waited in the woods with cannons and muskets poised. The loyalists were routed, marking the first significant victory for the patriot cause of the American Revolution, effectively ending British authority in the colony.

Not long after the Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge, Abel Johnston joined the fight as a militia horseman, leaving home with his Brown Bess musket and a tomahawk that belonged to his father during the French and Indian War. Over the next six years he saw action in several key engagements across the Cape Fear region and Southern Theater under the command of notable generals Nathanael Greene and Daniel Morgan. “The North Carolina militia fought all the way from Camden to Guilford Courthouse,” Larry Johnson explains, “including the key battles at Cowpens and Kings Mountain, ending General Charles Cornwallis’s plan to divide and destroy the Continental Army. Abel Johnston was right in the thick of it.”

The Johnstons, he explains, were English settlers who arrived at Jamestown and filtered down to North Carolina in the early 1700s. “The German part of the family, however, followed the Great Wagon Road to Mecklenburg County [NC] in the 1740s, eventually settling in Cleveland County. They were named Huss. But it’s the Johnstons who populate my story.”

I apologize for the interruption.

Liberty Man smiles. “No worries, I like it when the kids interrupt me. It means they are paying attention.”

“I suppose Liberty Man might have been inevitable, a case of ‘once a teacher, always a teacher.”

— ABEL JOHNSTON

As a son of Guilford County who learned the story of Britain’s failed Southern Campaign as a boy, I can’t resist interjecting: “They followed the Great Wagon Road to Guilford Courthouse.”

Liberty Man looks surprised. “Yes, they did, as a matter of fact. So, you know about the Great Wagon Road, do you?”

“Learning more every day.”

I mention that I’m traveling its recovered path to Carolina, talking with folks like him who are caretakers of the old road’s stories. His blue eyes light up.

“What a marvelous idea! Part of my family also came down it to Carolina.”

At war’s end, Private Johnston rode home, stopping to bathe himself in Middle Creek before presenting himself to his wife. He’d been gone more than half a decade, having left as a teenager and returned a seasoned soldier, with six years of warfare under his buckskins. He resumed farming and “became a father of seven children whose own children would be named Nathanael Greene, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson Johnston in honor of the Founding Fathers and defenders of our freedom.” In recognition of his six years of service, North Carolina awarded Johnston one hundred pounds sterling and a pair of land grants totaling 300 acres each. After her husband’s death in 1829, Ann Johnston never remarried, but lived to the ripe old age of 78.

“Unfortunately, she spent two decades after Abel’s death struggling to obtain her husband’s rightful pension,” her fourth-great-grandson explains. “She had testimony from veterans who’d served with Abel, men who by then were in their upper 80s, interrogated by a panel of three judges. After that the authorities insisted that she needed to provide a legal marriage certificate to prove they were married. Problem was, in those days, official marriage certificates were quite rare, especially in the rural South. Important documents were spelled

Getty Images

phonetically, which may explain why the T in ‘Johnston’ eventually got dropped. Ann found people in their 90s, however, who’d witnessed their marriage.” He pauses and shakes his head. “Unfortunately, she died before she could produce enough proof to satisfy the government.” It was the discovery of his ancestor’s unsuccessful quest, he tells me, that changed Larry Johnson’s life.

Some years ago, his daughter had phoned to say she was applying for membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution, and had been in contact with a genealogist who’d unearthed a mother lode of Johnston family connections going back to pre-revolutionary times. “She was so excited by this research and sent me a large package that I dropped on my home office desk and sadly left unopened for several weeks.”

Finally, on a snowy winter afternoon without much to do, Johnson decided to open the package to see what had gotten her so fired up. “I began reading the materials, all written by hand, and could

not put it down! About three hours later, the hair was still standing up on my neck and there were tears in my eyes. It was a true awakening. I suddenly knew what I had to do.” In 2010, Johnson applied for his own membership in the Sons of the American Revolution and eventually became president of the local chapter near his home in Warren County, Virginia. He also had the inspired idea to bring his ancestor Abel Johnston back to life as Liberty Man, an artistic resurrection that began by commissioning an Indiana firm specializing in authentic historical costumes to dress him as a backcountry North Carolina Revolutionary War militiaman. Not long afterward, a friend gave him a beautiful reproduction of a Brown Bess musket.

“That’s when I became Abel Johnston and created a program about the history of the war and our fight for freedom around his personal story,” Johnson explains. “Quite frankly, I had no idea if anyone today would even be interested. I just knew it was something I had to

do. Fortunately, it caught on.”

The first Liberty Man program debuted in 2013 in the children’s room of the Page Public Library in Luray. “I set up a display of Revolutionary War battle flags and 80 items that a typical colonial militiaman would have used during service in the war. I also brought my 12 grandchildren there to make sure I had a live audience,” he remembers with a laugh. “I hid behind the bookshelves as they came in looking totally confused, completely ignoring the displays. The older ones, in fact, were checking their smartphones, clearly prepared to be bored. I heard one of them loudly complain, ‘Why are we here?’”

At that moment Liberty Man appeared with his Brown Bess in hand. “I’d like to welcome you all to the past,” he told the gathering. “I’m your fourth-great-grandfather from the Revolutionary War, Abel Johnston, 265 years old. I’ve come back to tell you what our family and many others like it did to gain our nation’s freedom.”

As he began his presentation, curious library patrons filtered in to fill the

Twilight at Valley Forge National Park

room’s empty seats. “I told them Abel’s story and explained how ordinary Americans came together to achieve our country’s freedom. I showed them copies of the US Constitution and Bill of Rights and talked about who wrote these incomparable documents and why they were still important today. Soon there was not a cell phone being used except for taking photos. That was the beginning of Liberty Man.”

Word quickly spread, and soon the innovative program was in demand. Veterans and school groups, civic and historical organizations, church groups and book clubs across the region wanted to learn more about Liberty Man, everyone from assisted-living residents to preschoolers before nap time. As a teaching device, Johnson began bringing along a replica of the Declaration of Independence and inviting his audiences to sign it. As a pastor, he also brought the sacraments to veterans and shut-ins along with meditations based on Bible verse John 15:13—“No greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Though he is now officially retired as bishop of the Virginia Anglican Church, I learn that Johnson is still performing Liberty Man many times a year, including a recent star turn at the 246th anniversary of Valley Forge. He’s also featured on a YouTube channel and distributes DVDs of his programs to audiences promoting democracy’s story at the grassroots level, a Johnny Appleseed of American liberty.

I wonder, as we sit together, why he thinks audiences young and old are so drawn to Liberty Man.

“Because his is a timeless story, one that every American can relate to one way or another. Each of us wants to know where we came from. From our earliest days America was a rootless society, always on the move — the very reason for the Wagon Road you’re traveling! But human beings need roots to achieve a true sense of their identity. I think there is a yearning for that identity among all Americans these days. The world is so unsettled. This country is so bitterly divided. I think my presentations simply educate and maybe

even inspire tolerance in folks once they know that most of us came from someplace else to find new life and liberty in the American wilderness.” [...]

Larry Johnson grew up in a small town in Harnett County, working in the tobacco and cotton fields just like his revolutionary ancestor. At 19, he enlisted in the military to fight as a marine.

“When I got out of service in 1960, like a lot of kids in America, I basically had no idea what to do with my life or how to get there.” After attending Campbell College on a basketball scholarship and moving on to the University of North Carolina to earn dual degrees in history and chemistry, Johnson’s first job was working in a pilot program for the Raleigh public school system designed to stem the city’s high dropout rate.

With no guidelines on how to proceed, Johnson based his teaching on the principles of discipline and self-respect he learned in the Marine Corps. After a year, his work caught the eye of Governor Terry Sanford, a trailblazing figure in the development of North Carolina’s progressive public education system. “One day out of the blue Governor Sanford asked me to come see him at the state capital. So, I dressed up all my kids, coat and ties and shoes polished, and took them with me to meet the governor. The governor’s security people were alarmed to see a bunch of former juvenile

delinquents descending on them. But Sanford was an 82nd Airborne vet. He loved it. He and the kids really hit it off.”

A few days later, Johnson received a call from the state superintendent of education asking if he could install his innovative program in every school district across the Old North State. They tripled his salary and made him the industrial coordinator for a groundbreaking program that established working apprenticeship programs in 115 public schools across the state. It became the basis for a cooperative education curriculum that helped inspire the creation of North Carolina’s highly regarded community college system, today one of the leading in the nation.

Two years later, he was summoned to Washington, D.C., by the secretary of education and tasked with overseeing a national vocational tech program for 49 states. Over the next two decades, Johnson’s cooperative education system enrolled more than 5 million kids in life-changing programs. Soon after, California Gov. Ronald Reagan tapped him to write the vocational training policies manual for his presidential administration.

In the midst of all of this, Johnson earned a master of education degree from NC State and a doctorate in divinity in the Anglican Church.

“After that,” he says with a gentle smile, “I suppose Liberty Man might have been inevitable, a case of ‘once a teacher, always a teacher.’ I often think back to that slow winter day when I finally read the genealogical report on our family roots that my daughter sent me. The timing was perfect, God-sent, I think. Liberty Man has given me many years of joy — and hopefully to others as well.”

As he says this, a yellow school bus is drawing up in front of the museum. Moments later, a stream of kids begins trooping off, chattering like magpies.

“I think your next audience has arrived,” I point out.

“Ver y good,” he says, rising on his walking stick. “You were almost as good a listener as the kids,” he adds with a wink.

THE WHIRL

WALTER’s roundup of gatherings, celebrations, fundraisers and more around Raleigh.

BOOK CLUB WITH JOY CALLAWAY

On May 14, WALTER held its first Book Club of the season, hosting bestselling Charlotte author Joy Callaway at Maywood Hall. Before Callaway sat down for a Q&A moderated by friend and fellow author Kristy Woodson Harvey, guests enjoyed a cocktail hour with beer from Trophy Brewing, wine from Westgate Wine and hors d’oeuvres from HL Catering. Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Fink’s Jewelers, as well as our supporting sponsors Dress Code style and Green Front Furniture. Thank you also to The Country Bookshop, The Finch Forest, Alphagraphics, If It’s Paper and Attended Events for making the evening fun and festive — despite the thunderstorms!

Nancy Goodnight, Bubba Wilson, Joy Callaway

Parker Holland, Elizabeth Holland, Joy Callaway

Mary Daniels, Betty Dunham, Mercedes Horton

Arnette McNamara, Kelly McNamara, Jennifer Cash

“The Fine Nine” from Carolina Arbors

Joyce Khan, Edythe Poyner

Linda Johnson, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Sarah Brown

THE WHIRL

RABBI LUCY DINNER FAREWELL GALA

Rabbi Lucy Dinner was celebrated for her retirement after 32 years on the pulpit of Temple Beth Or with a New Orleans-themed Farewell Gala at the North Carolina Museum of Art, in honor of her hometown. The event began with a second line parade and the highlight of the evening was Rabbi Dinner receiving the Order of the Longleaf Pine from North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein, a Temple Beth Or member.

THE GARDEN GROUNDBREAKING

On May 21, Raleigh Rescue Mission, in partnership with the Town of Knightdale and homebuilding company Lennar, broke ground on The Garden, a new campus for women and children experiencing situational homelessness. The project is backed by more than $25 million in commitments from private foundations and donors and will expand the mission’s capacity to serve women and children by 483%. The campus will include transitional housing, family suites, a child learning center, training rooms, walking trails and more.

Jill Braden, Nancy Novell, Bruce Novell, Maxine Solomon

Peter Lamb and the Wolves

Jeffrey Dinner, Lucy Dinner

Josh Stein, Lucy Dinner

John Luckett

Jay Easterling, Mary Dee Smith, Sam Bratton, John Luckett, Jessica Day

Jessica Day Shovels

KEN BURNS DOCUMENTARY SCREENING

On May 15, celebrated documentarian Ken Burns was at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts for a screening of his new series, The American Revolution. Before the screening, PBS NC CEO David Crabtree sat with Burns for an interview, which will air in November.

JAN BURKHARD RETIREMENT

Principal dancer Jan Burkhard took to the stage on May 18 in her final performance for the Carolina Ballet. She danced the iconic lead role in Swan Lake, displaying the grace and power of more than two decades of experience.

Ken Burns

David Crabtree, Ken Burns

Jan Burkhard

Building Connections

A renovation plan for the NCMA will create more spaces for gathering and learning, inside and out

by AYN-MONIQUE KLAHRE

If you’ve lived in Raleigh for any length of time, chances are you’ve toured the galleries at the North Carolina Museum of Art, seen a show at the Joseph M. Bryan, Jr., Theater or strolled along the pathways of the Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park. An ambitious renovation project is now underway to unite these elements. “The idea is to integrate the whole campus,” says Dr. Valerie Hillings, director and CEO of the NCMA. “This project is fundamentally about physically connecting spaces that have been distinct.”

more gathering spaces, upgrade the conservation lab and make it more public-facing; updating the amphitheater and adding more accessibility features; and creating new built environments in the park for programming, displaying art, dining and interacting with the galleries.

“As our city continues to grow, we are being forward-thinking and thoughtful.”

— VALERIE HILLINGS

Construction began late last month, with HH Architecture, a local firm known for public-facing projects like the SECU DinoLab at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, as the lead architect for this project. “It’s an incredible honor to work with institutions with such great legacies,” says Siler Ransmeier, partner and director of design at HH. “We take that responsibility seriously: we’re part of this community, too, and we want to have a positive impact on the built environment as we grow.” HH is partnering with a “big and talented” design team, says Ransmeier, including design architect firm Eskew Dumez Ripple and art conservation specialist Samuel Anderson Architects.

The renovations are multi-pronged, including an update to the lower level of the East Building, which will create

“We’re rare among the urban museums to have this kind of outdoor space, and I saw great potential for the East Building, because it’s the exact space that connects to the park,” Hillings says. “One of the objectives is to draw people who love the park inside, and we want to work with our existing assets to make them for the moment, but also give them room to evolve.”

The NCMA campus and galleries will remain open during construction, but the Joseph M. Bryan, Jr., Theater in

the Museum Park will be closed for outdoor concerts through 2027.

The renovations will also better connect the museum buildings to the park. “Each of these elements developed piecemeal, so this project will better incorporate them,” Hillings says. She points to faceted mirrored paneling that will be installed at an entrance to the East Building. “Those panels will reflect back the park and whoever’s standing in front of them, visually connecting the building to the landscape and to our visitors in an artistic and interesting way.”

The renovation comes at a time when this area of Raleigh in particular is expanding, with an entertainment district in development by the Lenovo Center and a NC Health and Human Services office complex opening across Ridge Road. “We have a lot of new people that will be starting to come here,” Hillings says. “As our city continues to grow, we are being forwardthinking and thoughtful.”

Courtesy of NCMA

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Your Family. Our Team. Stronger Together. The diagnosis is cancer. You’re scared. You feel alone. But you’re not. You have your family. Your friends. Their love. Their support. And, along with each other, you have us. An experienced, talented, multidisciplinary team armed with highly advanced treatment options and a “your cancer is our cancer” confidence that says we’ve got this. Instead of alone, you feel stronger than ever. To learn more, visit us online. We believe you’ll agree, together, we make a great team.

Stronger Together.

Your Family. Our Team.

wakemed.org/cure

The diagnosis is cancer. You’re scared. You feel alone. But you’re not. You have your family. Your friends. Their love. Their support. And, along with each other, you have us. An experienced, talented, multidisciplinary team armed with highly advanced treatment options and a “your cancer is our cancer” confidence that says we’ve got this. Instead of alone, you feel stronger than ever. To learn more, visit us online. We believe you’ll agree, together, we make a great team.

wakemed.org/cure

wakemed.org/cure

wakemed.org/cure

Stronger

Your Family. Our Team.

Together. The diagnosis is cancer. You’re scared. You feel alone. But you’re not. You have your family. Your friends. Their love. Their support. And, along with each other, you have us. An experienced, talented, multidisciplinary team armed with highly advanced treatment options and a “your cancer is our cancer” confidence that says we’ve got this. Instead of alone, you feel stronger than ever. To learn more, visit us online. We believe you’ll agree, together, we make a great team.

wakemed.org/cure