YOUR CREATIVITY AT GREEN FRONT
From traditional to modern and everything in between, discover tailor-made furnishings, hand-knotted rugs, and home décor. Come uncover what Green Front has in store and begin your home’s unique story with us.
UNC HEALTH PRESENTS
CARY’S KOKA BOOTH AMPHITHEATRE
Save with Lawn Flex Passes starting at $26 per ticket!
Plus, kids 12 and under are always admitted FREE on the lawn!
OPENING NIGHT
Rhapsody in Blue
SAT, MAY 24 | 8PM
The Music of John Williams
FRI, MAY 30 | 8PM
A Summer Night in France
FRI, JUNE 6 | 8PM
Disco Fever
SAT, JUNE 7 | 8PM
Beethoven Symphony No. 5
FRI, JUNE 13 | 8PM
Tropical Rock for 5 O’ Clock Somewhere
SAT, JUNE 14 | 8PM
Mozart & More
SAT, JUNE 21 | 8PM
From Classical to Broadway
SAT, JUNE 28 | 8PM
Songs of the ’70s
SAT, JULY 5 | 8PM
The Catalinas
SAT, JULY 12 | 8PM
The Symphony will not be performing at this concert.
My girlfriend Lisa, who lives in Birmingham, called me this morning at 8:15 a.m., 7:15 her time. It’s not really a great time to talk on the phone — I’m most likely to be in the bathroom, brushing my teeth or doing a kid’s hair — but in this season of life, it’s never really convenient. We’ve given up on scheduling calls and just pick up the phone whenever it occurs to us.
Either way, my younger daughter answered with a bright, “Hi, Auntie Lisa!” and we squeezed in a quick catch-up before getting out the door.
All of my college girlfriends are “Aunties” to my girls. These women who have known them since they were babies have a special place in their lives, just like their three “real” aunts do.
I grew up with eight aunts through my family (not always the same eight, a couple cycled through divorce and remarriage). Taken together, they offered me a range of perspectives on what womanhood could look like. You could be soft-spoken or sarcastic, a hard-charging professional or queen of the domestic realm. It’s instructive and inspiring to see the different paths their lives have taken and to hear anecdotes from my parents about how their childhoods informed where they are now.
I also have a couple special aunts-
through-friendship, including my Aunts Jet and Elaine. They are friends of my mom’s who go way back, the ones who can tell the juiciest stories about my parents (not that they’re telling). And they’re both quite cool. My Aunt Jet lives in the Bay Area, never had kids and, like my mom, didn’t change her last name when she married. My Aunt Elaine lives in chilly Edmonton, Alberta, also never had children, and shares my parents’ love of adventurous world travel. I have fond memories of these aunts coming to visit us when my dad was stationed in Central America or meeting us while we were on vacation. They were endlessly patient while reading books, playing with My Little Ponies and enduring elaborate “talent shows” by me and my sister.
I know lots of cultures have aunties as part of their traditions, so my village of auntie-friends isn’t unique. But I’m super grateful for this community of women who share my love for my children, and who shared my parents’ love for me growing up.
Ayn-Monique Klahre Editor
MAY 2025
Editor
AYN-MONIQUE KLAHRE ayn-monique@waltermagazine.com
Creative Director LAURA PETRIDES WALL laura@waltermagazine.com
Associate Editor ADDIE LADNER addie@waltermagazine.com
Contributing Writers
A.J. Carr, Jim Dodson, Mike Dunn, Paul Jones, Susanna Klingenberg, Colony Little, David Menconi, CC Parker, Rachel Simon, Helen Yoest
Contributing Poetry Editor Jaki Shelton Green
Contributing Copy Editor Finn Cohen
Contributing Photographers
Liz Condo, Charles Harris, Juli Leonard, Bryan Regan, Joshua Steadman
Contributing Illustrators
Jenn Hales, Gerry O’Neill
Interns
Emmie Brooks, Carsen Fessey
Publisher DAVID WORONOFF
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
Inquiries WALTER OFFICE 984-286-0928 info@waltermagazine.com
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JACK ANDREWS, FRANK DANIELS III, DAVID WORONOFF In memoriam FRANK DANIELS JR.
© 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.
Chapel Hill-based poet Paul Jones is the author of Something Wonderful (2021) and Something Necessary (2024), both from Redhawk. He’s recently been published in Rattle, New Verse Review, Salvation South and anthologies including Best American Erotic Poems. Jones is a member of the North Carolina State University Computer Science Hall of Fame and a manuscript of his poems landed on the moon in February 2024. “March is a tease. April is correctly called cruel. But by May, spring is fully underway. Who, what does not celebrate? Who, what would not sing? Even if unheard by others, like, say, bats? Who, what would not write a poem for May?”
RACHEL SIMON / WRITER
Rachel Simon is a journalist, author and writing teacher whose work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times and The Cut. A big Severance fan, she enjoyed getting to chat with scene-stealer Sarah Bock for this issue (in addition to covering Fenton’s fast-growing food scene). “The 18-year-old Bock can hold her own against Emmy-winner greats, in part thanks to her childhood training in her hometown of Raleigh.”
Charles Harris is an advertising and editorial photographer based in Raleigh. Adventurous from the start, his “wilding youth” in Texas, Louisiana and Colorado eventually led him skyward, piloting — and photographing from — airplanes, then traveling to shoot portraits and scenes all over the world. Harris is a lover of travel, but home in Raleigh is where the heart is. “I love spending time with people all over North Carolina who I might not ordinarily get to meet. Secretary Cashwell was no exception. She is so warm and friendly, and it was great to shadow her around for a while in such a beautiful location as the NCMA.”
JOSHUA STEADMAN / PHOTOGRAPHER
The son of a newspaperman and a teacher, Joshua Steadman inherited a love of learning and telling stories — and believes both are used in what he does. A commercial and editorial director and photographer, Steadman’s work has appeared in The Bitter Southerner, Salvation South and Our State. “When Julia started out our day by referencing Philippe Halsman’s portrait of Salvador Dali, I knew I was in for a fun time. Her studio is a great space, and she gave me a lot of time to play and find the images with her. At the end of our session, she let me throw some pillows at her and her dog Edie!”
Ya’ll loved this year’s April Fools’ jokes!
“As an NCSU alum, this is just plain wrong!”
— Cayce Dunn, on the NCSU name change
“You almost got me! #willraceforbiscuits”
— Ercia LaGarde, on the Bojangles 16K
“AMAZING!”
— Blair Miller, on the Canes’ TV show
sent this
“Thanks to this article, a group of friends got together and bought a sweatshirt for a friend battling cancer in Montana.” Lynda Covington
“I was deeply touched by Jim Dodson’s article on healing. We had to put down our beloved, elderly horse the week I read his article, which was a comfort during a tough time. Please tell Jim I’m sorry about Boo Radley. I enjoyed re-reading his 2022
’‘The Cocktail Cat’ article many times. ”
— Genie Safriet, about Jim Dodson’s Simple Life Column
Your next adventure awaits in our active senior living community, The Oaks at Whitaker Glen. Experience beautifully designed residences, worldclass amenities, and exceptional club-level service in Raleigh’s most sought-after neighborhood. With premium wellness and health offerings just steps away, you can live vibrantly knowing your future is secure – right here at home among The Oaks.
From theater and movie screenings to foodie fundraisers and family-friendly activities, here’s our short-ish list of things to do in May.
IT’S TEA TIME Dearest readers: Have you planned something special for Mother’s Day? If not, you might consider scheduling a Bridgertonworthy high-tea experience with your mother or maternal figure. Each of these lovely locations offers a selection of teas, tiny sandwiches and treats with its own beautiful presentation. Heights House Hotel specializes in Rishi teas served in vintage teacups alongside delicacies from lucettegrace to enjoy inside its immaculately appointed library or drawing room (by reservation on select afternoons; 308 S. Boylan Avenue; heightshousenc.com). In The Umstead Hotel and Spa’s sophisticated lounge, enjoy house-made scones and champagne to the sounds of a harpist nearby (100 Woodland Pond Drive, Cary; Wednesdays - Sundays; 2 - 3:30 p.m.; theumstead.com). On Mother’s Day itself, the North Carolina Museum of Art’s cafe will offer a personalized tea experience including both sweet and savory spring-inspired canapés (May 10 & 11; 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.; ncartmuseum.org). Each location offers walkable options to enjoy art and nature afterwards to round out your afternoon. — Addie Ladner
WALTER’s list of things to see, do and experience this month.
by ADDIE LADNER
All month | Various times
Experience the point of view of talented artists with autism at an eyeopening exhibition at Arts Access Gallery, a gallery and nonprofit that provides resources and platforms to artists living with disabilities. Kaleidoscope: Multifaceted Perspectives of Autistic Artists will showcase creative work from a range of North Carolinians such as Pittsboro-based multimedia artist Nina Scott, origami artist Alexander Roa from Durham and Amelia Collins, an art student from Leland. Collins says art has been vital for her: “I have autism and ADHD, and while the diagnoses are recent, the effect these conditions have had on my life is not. Art was the only thing I could ever really do — it’s my path to freedom and independence as an adult.” On May 10, Roa will be in the gallery speaking about his piece A Dozen Lotuses V1 for an artist talk. Free; 444 S. Blount Street, Suite 115B; artsaccessinc.org
All month | Various times
The North Carolina Museum of Art is currently presenting a stunning traveling exhibition from London that’s been displayed at the National Portrait Gallery, The Time is Always Now: Artists Reframe the Black Figure. The collection showcases and uplifts the Black figure in the arts community from the perspectives of Black artists. More than 20 figure and portrait artists have pieces in this incredible body of work, including Amy Sherald, whose career took off after painting Michelle Obama’s official White House portrait, and Kenyan-British artist Michael Ar-
mitage. From $17; 2110 Blue Ridge Road; ncartmuseum.org
Thursdays | 6 - 9 p.m.
North Hills’ Midtown Beach Music Series is back this year with its Thursday night summer concerts in the amphitheater. Grab food from nearby restaurants, like burgers and fries from Five Guys or tapas from Las Ramblas, before unfolding your lawn chair or blankets to hear the music. May’s lineup includes a mix of genres, including jam cover band The Tonez (May 1), soul and funk specialists The
Chairmen of the Board (May 15) and North Carolina ensemble Jim Quick & Coastline (May 29). Free; 4011 Cardinal at North Hills Street; visitnorthhills.com
May 3 - 4 | 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
The Creative Kitchen is a company out of New York City that hosts youth classes and festivals to get kids excited about food, how it nourishes our bodies and ways to cook with it. This month, they’re coming to Raleigh to partner with Marbles Kids Museum to host a daylong food fest for aspiring chefs or nutritionists. Enjoy a museumwide scavenger hunt, demonstrations
All information is accurate as of press time, but please check waltermagazine.com and the event websites for the latest updates.
Hold on to this moment, and the dress that made it.
from James Beard Award-winning and -nominated chefs, and, of course, lots of things to eat! Free admission; 201 E. Hargett Street; marbleskidsmuseum.org
May 7 | 6 - 8 p.m.
Since 1994, Raleigh-based nonprofit Community Music School has worked to make sure all children have access to affordable, quality music lessons, from flute to guitar to saxophone; the organization provides lessons for as little as one dollar a week. This month the group is putting on its fundraiser, Brighter Futures Through Music: An Evening of Impact and Philanthropy, at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts. Actor and director Ira David Wood III will be the host of the musical night, and John Brown, Duke University’s vice provost for the arts and director of the jazz program, will be giving a special keynote speech and musical performance along with students of the nonprofit. Prior to the performances, attendees can enjoy a live art auction, light hors d’oeuvres and beverages. The event is a tribute to the late Tom McGuire, a philanthropist who dedicated his life to the well-being of children, especially through musical enrichment. From $100; 2 E. South Street; cmsraleigh.org
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May 15 | 7 p.m.
Award-winning documentarian Ken Burns is coming to Raleigh for one evening only! Burns will be facilitating a private screening of his forthcoming documentary series The American Revolution, which comes out this fall, in partnership with PBS North Carolina. After the preview, Burns will be accompanied by fellow historians Warren Milteer, Jr. and Kathleen DuVal to discuss our state’s role in this historic time of upheaval. From $70; 2 E. South Street; martinmariettacenter.com
May 3 | 7 p.m.
Me Fine Foundation helps families experiencing unexpected medical crises by providing emotional and financial support. Hiss Golden Messenger frontman M.C. Taylor, who’s known for his Americana sounds, is hosting a charity concert at The Rialto to raise money for the Durham nonprofit. Expect to hear favorites like “Saturday’s Song” and “Sanctuary” at this intimate show, with all proceeds going towards Me Fine Foundation. From $82; 1620 Glenwood Avenue; therialto.com
GOT TO BE NC FESTIVAL
May 16 - 18 | 12 - 10 p.m.
Did you miss the NC State Fair this year? Don’t worry, you’ll have a chance to celebrate all things North Carolina at the Got to Be NC Festival, a free event hosted by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. The event has something for everyone, including the NC Craft Beer and Craft Cocktail gardens, the Pig Jig for BBQ, carnival rides for kids and farm demonstrations aplenty. Free admission; 4285 Trinity Road; ncagr.gov
ARTSPLOSURE
May 17 & 18 | Various times Raleigh’s longest-running and largest festival of the arts returns! Artsplosure is a free, two-day event centered on Fayetteville Street that celebrates art in all forms, from glass-making to singing to dancing to drawing. Enjoy site-specific art installations as well as
Grace Hartigan: The Gift of Attention explores the creative exchange between Hartigan and the bold New York poets who inspired her.
May 14 | 6 - 9 p.m.
Join WALTER as we host Joy Callaway, internationally bestselling author of What the Mountains Remember, All the Pretty Places, The Grand Design, Secret Sisters and The Fifth Avenue Artists Society. Callaway will be in conversation with fellow author Kristy Woodson Harvey to talk about her newest books, The Star of Camp Greene and Sing Me Home to Carolina Your ticket includes cocktail hour, dinner, unlimited wine, a book talk and a signing opportunity with both authors at Maywood Hall. From $40; 622 Maywood Avenue; waltermagazine.com
the art market, which showcases makers from all over the United States, the Kids’ Zone (which always has the coolest crafts) and local musicians of various genres on two stages. Free admission; downtown Raleigh; artsplosure.org
May 17 | 1 - 4 p.m.
Independent theater production company Switch Theatre Co., in partnership with the City of Raleigh, is hosting a series of outdoor productions of the famed Shakespeare play Othello across the Triangle this summer. In May, catch the performance on Fred Fletcher Park’s lush grounds, where you can watch the classic, tragic story of Othello’s intense paranoia, jealousy and rage unfold under the stars. Free; 820 Clay Street; raleighnc.gov
GETTIN’ PIGGY WITH IT
May 18 | 1 - 5 p.m.
Sixty years ago, the Frankie Lemmon School and Developmental Center was created to provide early childhood education and resources for children living with and without disabilities. The teams behind Trophy Brewing and Lawrence BBQ have teamed up for the third year in a row to host their Gettin’ Piggy With It benefit party. Chefs, brewers and food purveyors from across the state will convene at Maywood Hall for food and family fun. Look forward to (ish) delicatessen’s Matt Fern serving up scrumptious sandwiches, Locals Seafood offering fish-forward bites, Matt Register’s signature whole-hog barbecue and, true to the name, live music. Children 11 and under get in free. From $150; 622 Maywood Avenue; frankielemmonfoundation.org
May 21 | 6:30 p.m.
To celebrate 50 years in business, Irregardless restaurant is hosting a series of special fixed-price dinners celebrating each decade it has been in existence. This month’s dinner will harken back to the 1980s, with a three-course meal of baked oysters with nduja, herb-crusted lamb, acorn squash soup, baked polenta and a creamy almond bavarois — all inspired by items from the restaurant’s 1985 menu. While you’re dining, expect the comfortable atmosphere and live jazz in the background that locals have come to love over the years. $75; 901 W. Morgan Street; irregardless.com
May 23 | 6 - 10 p.m.
How far will you go to see Moana 2 under the stars? The Town of Cary will be screening the film in Downtown Cary Park in honor of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month and in partnership with The Cary Theater. Arrive early for the showing to enjoy themed activities with the kids and bring your comfiest lawn chair or picnic blanket to stretch out for the film. Want a bite before the show? Try nearby SAAP for Laotian food, Pro’s Epicurean for Italian or Hank’s Downtown Dive for fried chicken. Free; 327 S. Academy Street; downtowncarypark.com
May 31 | 12 - 4 p.m.
Barbecue washed down with champagne? Why not! Head to the Fenton retail and entertainment development to sample BBQ from 10 area pitmasters, including Longleaf Swine and Corner Boys BBQ, alongside more than 20 variations of sparkling wine from purveyors like Dram & Draught and Raleigh Wine Shop. It’s the first-ever BBQ & Bubbly event, and kids are welcome to tag along to enjoy lawn games, giveaways and a DJ. A portion of funds generated from this event will go towards CureSearch, a nonprofit funding
Campbell University invests in each student. We prepare each one to make a life, to make a living and to make a difference. Our students are welcomed into an inclusive community of family, and mentored to become leaders who will impact the world. Inspired by our faith and belief in the power of education, we encourage each student to grow academically, spiritually and socially through the world of opportunities that surround them.
research to end childhood cancer.
From $55; 21 Fenton Main Street, Cary; fentonnc.com
CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS
May 31 | 1 & 4 p.m.
French composer Camille Saint-Saëns wrote Carnival of the Animals in 1886 inspired by wildlife he saw on a visit to Australia. Each of 14 scores within the work represents a different animal species or family, from chickens to kangaroos to an aquarium full of fish. This month, the North Carolina Symphony will perform this family-friendly piece in partnership with Raleigh Dance Theatre, the performance training company of The Raleigh School of Ballet. “Carnival of the Animals has a playful and imaginative nature that’s cherished by the young and the young at heart,” says Emma Wall, assistant VP of marketing at the symphony. From $26; 2 E. South Street; ncsymphony.org
May 22 | 4 - 6 p.m.
Want to jump on the needlepoint craft trend? Brick and mortar retail store Needlepoint.com offers a basics class this month for new stitchers to familiarize themselves with the hobby’s foundations, from the first sketch to adding the finishing threads. All supplies will be provided except cutting utensils and magnifying glasses for seeing your work in progress up close. $55; 3811 Hillsborough Street; needlepoint.com
After this year’s chilly winter, the signs of spring are especially welcome, even if they do arrive with a dusting of yellow. If the spirit of starting fresh nudges you to give back, consider supporting one of these 25 local organizations, whether they’re nurturing the soul, helping neighbors in crisis or simply stocking elementary school classrooms.
This list is not meant to be comprehensive; the Triangle has many organizations worthy of your support. But as you focus your resources, we hope you’ll use this list as inspiration for generosity with your time, talents and donations to help our community thrive.
ArtGivers purchases art from emerging artists and offers it, for free, to shelters, drug rehab centers and free medical clinics to hang in their facilities. “It’s a new concept that benefits both the view-
ers and makers of art,” says co-founder Adam D. Cohen. “So, essentially two causes in one!” artgivers.org
“We cut through the problems,” says executive director Jimmy Evans. The Barbershop Therapy Foundation equips barbers to be mental health advocates, disseminates mental health resources and provides vouchers for regular cuts and styles for kids living at or below the poverty level in North Carolina. barbershop-therapy.org
Forced to flee their country due to persecution, war or violence, refugees can face significant barriers to integration. BELONG NC helps pave a path forward, providing free preschool, job training, English-language instruction and early employment to support refugee integration into our community. belongnc.org
As our city continues to evolve and grow, support these 25 groups that are helping our community flourish.
by SUSANNA KLINGENBERG
CAHEC
Safe, high-quality, affordable housing is increasingly hard to come by in the Triangle. CAHEC, a community investment organization, aims to change that. They provide affordable housing and create opportunities for growth and revitalization of communities through collaborative partnerships, innovative investments and supportive service initiatives. cahec.com
Cake4Kids partners with human service agencies to bake and deliver cakes marking milestones for at-risk kids who wouldn’t otherwise have a celebratory treat. “It’s humbling, the sense of purpose that comes from being a part of such a worthy cause,” says Cake4Kids Triangle chapter ambassador Mashavu Gordon. cake4kids.org/chapters/raleighdurhamtriangle
This welcoming space has been part of the recovery community in Raleigh since 1985. The Camel Club is a hub for 12-step meetings, support for teens and affected families, fun events, recovery resources of all kinds and strong, hot coffee — always on the house. camelclubraleigh.org
An unexpected cancer diagnosis can undo even the most carefully tended finances. That’s when the Caring Community Foundation steps in. They provide cancer patients in North Carolina with emergency financial assistance for essentials such as rent, utilities and transportation. caringcommunityfoundation.org
Started by a small Facebook group of moms who wanted to help other parents, Carolina Cares has grown into a thriving nonprofit focused on increasing dignity and decreasing food insecurity. They support locals by providing food, clothing, hygiene products, diapers, formula, school supplies, holiday gifts and meals. carolinacaresnc.org
This student-run nonprofit at North Carolina State University organizes diverse student teams to solve problems for local business owners in the Raleigh area. Their pro-bono consulting practice has helped over 150 small businesses and nonprofits in the area through access to resources and services. cycncstate.org
For those experiencing illness, mental health crises, divorce or domestic violence, it can be difficult to stay ahead of monthly housing expenses, even with a steady paycheck. In these challenging circumstances, the Cooper Charitable Foundation provides housing grants, with the goal of preventing homelessness or getting people into stable housing. cooperfoundation.com
“Pets are important for many people’s well-being,” says DEGA founder and veterinarian Dr. April Gessner. “Especially unsheltered people, who may have no one else in their lives.” DEGA (Determined for Everyone to Gain Access) Mobile Veterinary Care provides free basic care to low-income and unhoused pet owners across North Carolina. degamobilevetcare.org
The 70,000 Wake County residents without health insurance often have to choose between paying rent, purchasing food and buying their medicine. FIGS, which stands for Filling in the Gaps, provides prescription assistance, over-the-counter medicines and medical supplies at no cost to people who need them. figsofwake.org
“Golf is our vehicle, but character is our destination,” says Matt Furlough, vice president of marketing and engagement for First Tee Triangle. Their programs use the game of golf to build inner
strength, self-confidence and resilience — skills that help kids succeed not just on the course, but also in life. firstteetriangle.org
Did you know even people with visual disabilities can enjoy WALTER, thanks to volunteer readers at North Carolina’s Accessible Books and Library Services? Friends of the Library supports this and many more services for readers in NC with visual, physical or reading disabilities. friendsnclbph.org
Home gardening yields delicious, convenient healthy produce but requires substantial investment and knowledge. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle’s Gardens for Everyone program removes barriers by providing garden boxes, healthy soil, seeds and ongoing support at a pay-whatyou-can price from $25 to $200. foodshuttle.org/gardens-for-everyone
“In 2024, Grey Muzzle awarded $1.1 million to 100 nonprofits helping senior dogs,” says its executive director, Denise Fleck. “This helps older best friends find forever homes and get much-needed medical care, so they thrive in their senior years.” Based in Raleigh, Grey Muzzle’s passion for helping senior dogs extends nationwide. greymuzzle.org
When a survivor of sexual assault seeks help in an emergency room or advocacy center, Layers of Dignity provides them a tote filled with clean clothes, toiletries, a resource packet and a handwritten note — tangible reminders that the community stands with them. layersofdignity.com
MAAME, Inc. is dedicated to improving maternal and infant health for Black and brown families as well as others historically excluded from services in North Carolina. They provide culturally tailored doula care, mental health support, lactation assistance and community programs to empower families as they welcome new life. maameinc.org
Children love to dance, and NC Arts in Action is harnessing that enthusiasm in the classroom. They provide curriculum-integrated dance residencies in elementary schools statewide, helping students develop self-esteem, resilience, critical thinking and collaboration, regardless of ability or socioeconomic status. ncartsinaction.org
Life can be unpredictable for teens and young adults navigating substitute care systems like foster care, group homes or mental health placements. SaySo (Strong Able Youth Speaking Out) is a youth-led advocacy organization that champions this vulnerable population, working to improve the substitute care system and offering tangible, ongoing support and resources. saysonc.org
Cancer treatments can wreak havoc on the body, and those changes can reduce quality of life for patients. Survivor Friendly provides women with breast prostheses, wigs, hairpieces and compression garments to help them reclaim
their positive body image during and after their fight with cancer. survivorfriendly.com
Teachers in North Carolina spend an average of $1,300 each year on school supplies out of their own pockets — Tools4Schools combats that. “Since opening in January 2022, WakeEd Partnership’s Tools4Schools has distributed more than $1 million in new classroom supplies to over 11,000 teachers across 100% of Wake County Public Schools,” says president Keith Poston. wakeed.org/ tools4schools
With a focus on tree planting and reforesting diverse communities of Raleigh, We Plant It Forward facilitates hands-on environmental work, from education to sapling giveaways to community tree plantings. Says executive director Maggie Bailey: “Now more than ever, we need to work together to preserve and restore our tree canopy.” weplantitforward.org
In a city with little public transit, a car is key to keeping a job, meeting family obligations and pursuing education. Wheels 4 Hope repairs donated cars, turning them into reliable transportation. Each refurbished car is then sold for a reduced rate to applicants who couldn’t otherwise afford one, opening a world of opportunity for a deserving neighbor. wheels4hope.org
Run by youth, for youth, YAS (formerly General Services Foundation) mobilizes high school students by teaching them how to execute community service projects and connecting them to nonprofits through internships. In this way, they get to use their unique talents in civicminded service to their community. youthambassadorsofservice.org
SUPPORTING SPONSOR
moderated by Kristy Woodson Harvey
Wednesday, May 14
Maywood Hall
(622 Maywood Ave, Raleigh) 6-9 p.m.
Join WALTER and Kristy Woodson Harvey as we welcome Charlotte author Joy Callaway, whose two new books, The Star of Camp Greene and Sing Me Home to Carolina, are coming out this summer. Callaway is an international bestselling author of historical fiction and Southern contemporary romance. Your $60 ticket includes a copy of The Star of Camp Greene ($40 without book), hors d’oeuvres by HL Kitchen, unilimited drinks, a book talk and signing opportunity. SUPPORTING SPONSOR
Tickets are limited. Buy them today at
In springtime, keep an eye and ear out for these delightful croaking critters
words and photographs by MIKE DUNN
Way back when I was a seasonal naturalist at Umstead State Park, I was walking along a creek and heard a loud squeenk sound, followed by a splash. I couldn’t tell what made the noise, but a few feet further it happened again, and this time I saw a frog swimming underwater before quickly hiding beneath some debris.
I looked in my field guide and learned this is an alarm call given by Green frogs as they leap into the water to escape potential predators. So began my acquaintance with one of the most widespread and common frogs in North Carolina. Found through much of Eastern North America, the Green frog (Lithobates clamitans, formerly Rana clamitans) is a medium-sized frog (2-4 inches) that can be
found in almost any aquatic habitat, from the shorelines of lakes and ponds to pools in marshes or the banks of a stream. As its name implies, it usually has some green color, especially on the head and lips. But the body is often a brownishgreen to bronze color with faint spots or bars on the back and legs. The belly is usually white and adult males have a yellow throat. A distinguishing feature is a fold of skin, called a dorsolateral ridge, along each side of the back that extends to the middle of the body.
Hoping to attract frogs and aquatic insects, I created my first tiny water garden in Raleigh by burying a plastic concrete mixing tub in the backyard and adding a couple of aquatic plants. I soon had dragonflies hovering around, and it wasn’t long until I saw my first frog, a small Green frog. That pattern was repeated when we moved to our home in the woods in Chatham County, where we created two water gardens using pond liners. Sure enough, after a short time, I saw my first frog, again, a Green frog. No one is quite sure how frogs find new sources of water, but they do move about on rainy nights. One study suggests one species may be able to smell pooled water. Breeding season for this species begins in April and runs through the summer. We often hear the males giving their advertisement call, a loud c’tunk. Some say it sounds like someone plucking an out-oftune banjo string. You can easily imitate it with a throaty gulp noise. I admit, I find myself frequently “conversing” with our frog neighbors as I come and go in the yard with an occasional twangy gulp. When a female chooses one of the calling males, the male clings to her back (a position called “amplexus”) and fertilizes the eggs as she releases them into the water. Green frogs lay 1,000 to 3,000 or more eggs in a loose cluster on the water surface, often anchored to an aquatic plant. The eggs hatch in a few days and
tadpoles turn into frogs within a few months (many overwinter and transform the next year). These tadpoles contain chemicals that make them distasteful to most fish, so unlike many of our other amphibian species, they do quite well in aquatic habitats containing fish.
Adult Green frogs eat a variety of invertebrates including beetles, caterpillars and spiders, as well as larger prey such as small fish, tadpoles and other frogs. I think they are a major predator of the treefrogs that use the same pools for breeding. I once saw the hind legs of a Cope’s Gray treefrog sticking out of the mouth of a large Green frog. In turn, they are eaten by numerous predators including raccoons, snakes and the local Red-shouldered hawk, a reptile and amphibian aficionado.
One creature can be a major predator of all our aquatic life when it occasionally shows up in our little ponds: the American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus). I think our ponds might be a bit small for a resident population of America’s largest frog, an adult being 6 to 8 inches in length and weighing in at 1 to 3 pounds. But we do occasionally hear the distinctive call of a male, a deep jug-o-rum, jug-o-rum.
American bullfrogs look similar to Green frogs, but can be identified by their size and the lack of a dorsolateral ridge down the back. Instead, bullfrogs have a fold of skin that starts near the eye and curves around their eardrum, or tympanum. Just as with Green frogs, the tympanum of a male American bullfrog is much larger than its eye (often twice the size), whereas that of a female is about the same size as her eye. Maybe male frogs are better listeners than males of other species (I guess I need bigger ears).
When I worked at the North Carolina Botanical Garden, one of the highlights for our school groups was seeing the huge bullfrog tadpoles in the pond. They can reach lengths of 5 to 6 inches! They are slower to transform than other frogs, with many living two or even three years as a tadpole before changing to an adult frog. Tadpoles feed on algae, organic debris (including dead organisms) and
perhaps small invertebrates. Like their cousins, bullfrog tadpoles are also distasteful to fish.
Adults of both species are sit-and-wait predators. Bullfrogs are voracious feeders and will eat anything they can swallow, including many invertebrates and small vertebrates such as other frogs, fish, small mammals and even birds. I once saw a large frog (not sure which species) leap at — but miss — a hummingbird hovering low over one of our water gardens.
In prime habitats, you may hear many bullfrog males making calls to attract females and establish their territories. Territories vary in size, but are roughly 5 to 15 feet across, depending on the quality of the habitat. One spring years ago, we were hiking along a lakeshore where bullfrogs were calling. As I started to photograph one big male, another one came skipping across the water surface and slammed into the first. Frog fight!
After some leg flailing, the frogs locked arms and began a marathon shoving match. I’m not sure about the rules in frog wrestling, but I think the goal is to dunk your opponent until he cries Uncle and makes a hasty retreat out of your prime spot. My original frog seemed to have one primary strategy: shove your nose into the throat of the other guy. After a couple of minutes of struggle, the throat-shoving proved to be a winning strategy, and, as quickly as it had started, the battle was done. The vanquished frog turned tail and hopped away to fight another day.
Though these battles rarely cause any harm, there is a price to pay for all this posturing. Male bullfrogs tend to be more exposed in their habitat than the reclusive females, and they are more noticeable as they call and move about defending their territories. This makes them more susceptible to predators, of
« May 11, 2:00 pm: Chamber Sessions Series: Astralis Chamber Ensemble
which there are many. That was confirmed later that day when we saw a Great Blue heron snag a large bullfrog (a distracted courting male perhaps?) and gulp it down in just a few seconds.
Also, this month at Weymouth Center:
May 3, 3:00 pm: Horses Benefit Kids
May 15, 5:00 pm: The Country Bookshop welcomes Brendan Slocumb
May 19, 10:30 am:
Women of Weymouth, Strawberry Festival Garden Luncheon
May 20, 2:00 pm:
James Boyd Book Club: The River Knows Your Name by Kelly Mustian
May 27, 6:00 pm: Song Circle Jam Session
May 30, 5:30 pm: Ladies Wine Out
Scan the QR code for tickets and additional information! 555 East Connecticut Avenue, Southern
Bullfrogs hold a special place in American culture, perhaps due to their impressive size and popularity as a game animal and dietary delight. In some areas, like Washington state, where they have been introduced out of their native range, they are cursed as an invasive species that are outcompeting native frogs. In others, they are praised for their athletic abilities. Inspired by an 1865 short story by Mark Twain, THe Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, frog jumping contests are still held in many areas across the United States. Distance is measured from the starting point to the point where the frog lands after it jumps three times. The record jump of 21 feet 5 ¾ inches (a little over 7 feet per jump) was set in 1986 at the Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee by a bullfrog named “Rosie the Ribeter.”
I love the fact that the competitors who bring their own frogs and encourage them to jump are called “frog jockeys.” I’ll never have that coveted title, but I am a frog appreciator!
As you hike near some wetlands or enjoy your own backyard mini-pond these next few months, listen for an army of frogs (that’s the collective term for a group of frogs) and their choruses. And if you don’t mind your neighbors hearing you, go ahead and practice a c’tunk or a jug-o-rum and see if you get an answer.
Phil Cook’s latest album is a stripped-down culmination of many influences
by DAVID MENCONI
Listening to Phil Cook’s lovely new album Appalachia Borealis, you’ll probably have at least one moment where you wonder: Are the bird songs you hear on the record, or outside your own window?
In some ways, birds served as Cook’s collaborators on this album’s 11 piano instrumentals. Following an emotional split with his wife, Cook was living alone on a farm in Orange County, where he grew accustomed to hearing birds constantly.
He took to recording them, and one day he started listening to them in his headphones while warming up at the piano.
“Getting into that zone, I felt an immediate sense of calm with the sounds of the birds in the forest in my headphones,” he says. “Right away, I wrote two or three songs that are on this album. I realized that it was putting me at ease.”
While the 45-year-old Cook has made solo instrumental records before, he touts Appalachia Borealis as the most personal music he’s ever made, in that it synthesizes all of the other styles he’s played down to their barest essence. Cook has been a familiar sight on local stages the past 20 years, mostly playing keyboards, guitar and piano in groups including Hiss Golden Messenger, the freak-folk trio Megafaun and his own band. He also has an impressive list of sideman credits for everyone from folk-rocker Hurray for the Riff Raff to rapper Travis Scott.
But piano was Cook’s first instrument while growing up in Wisconsin, where he met Justin Vernon. Cook joined Vernon’s high-school band Mount Vernon and they were later bandmates in DeYarmond Edison when they moved to the Triangle two decades ago. Cook and his brother Brad have also collaborated frequently with Vernon’s Grammy-winning group Bon Iver. Their history made Vernon a natural choice to produce Appalachia Borealis.
“Justin’s voice is always what’s in my head when I’m writing,” says Cook. “Even when it’s instrumental music, he’s always in the room with me — the core memory of how I chase music. So it made sense to reach out to my phantom voice: I would like you to play a role where you’re the only other person there to listen and help me choose the most essential pieces this record could be. It was my favorite recording experience ever, so chill.”
Cook recorded around eight hours of
piano instrumentals (some with audible bird songs from outside the studio), and Vernon helped him pare it down to 11 tracks and 31 minutes of music. The tight running time was by design. Cook cites the late English folk artist Nick Drake’s 1972 classic Pink Moon, which is just 28 minutes long, as his all-time favorite album. And like Pink Moon, Appalachia Borealis still feels like a full-album experience despite its brevity.
“I am so grateful to be alive and around as Phil has re-embraced the piano, his original instrument,” says Amelia Meath, frontwoman of Sylvan Esso, whose Psychic Hotline imprint released the album. “He explored all these other musical branches and knit that into this beautiful in-the-moment expression. We’ve always supported Phil in various ways and we’re grateful he keeps coming back to us.”
A recent morning found Cook sitting at his piano at home playing some of the Appalachia Borealis tunes over the phone (with birds audible through an open window). Demonstrating a point about his approach, he riffed a bit on the album’s one cover, Gillian Welch’s 2003 song “I Made a Lovers Prayer.”
“I can also play that on banjo, Dobro, harmonica, electric guitar,” Cook says. “There’s this awesome polyphony of expression available, and one of those will call to me. It’s like I’m incorporating the voices of other stringed instruments into the piano.”
Much of Cook’s current musical mindset can actually be traced to something he gave up: his piano’s sustain pedal, which he admits he relied on too much. When he took a piano lesson from Chuckey Robinson, a Grammy-nominated gospel producer who teaches music at NC A&T University, Robinson challenged Cook to stop using the pedal.
“I am so grateful to be alive and around as Phil has re-embraced the piano, his original instrument.”
— AMELIA MEATH
being on a trapeze without a net,” Cook says. “If you want to hold a note without the pedal, you have to really hold it. But it’s revolutionized my playing, really tightened up the sound. Using sustain only for effect when it’s really needed was such a simple shift, but it meant everything. And this is the most personal work my life could give right now — the culmination of this wonderful instrumental journey I’ve had through musical language.”
so satisfying, you shouldn’t expect to see Cook leading another band anytime soon. He’ll still do sessions as a sideman, which provides most of his income nowadays. But his own music will be a solo trip for the foreseeable future.
“Giving up the sustain pedal was like
Indeed, it’s an evolution that’s been
“I got a solid dose of bands, with an unbelievable set of experiences and memories I’ll always cherish,” says Cook. “But this is a reinvention, figuring out where it all comes from as I see, know and learn about myself with the space to understand. Playing piano solo is what I did my entire first 18 years. Going back to that feels like the right thing now.”
Wednesday, July 16
Gallery C
540 N. Blount Street, Raleigh 6:30-9:30 p.m.
PRESENTING SPONSOR
Join WALTER for a French-themed evening featuring art historian, curator and podcaster Jennifer Dasal. Dasal’s latest book, The Club, explores the experiences of women who studied art while living together in Belle Époque Paris. Your ticket includes a book talk, live art sessions and French makeup consultations, as well as heavy hors d’oeuvres and unlimited aperitifs.
On the court and off, Tommy Burleson supported those around him
by A.J. CARR
The distant rumble in the small mountain town of Newland, North Carolina, in the late 1960s wasn’t a tremor — it was the sound of college basketball coaches stampeding into an Avery County gym to watch Tommy Burleson, the 7-foot-2-inch “Newland Needle” and highly ranked prep All-American, play at his high school.
Intensely recruited by multiple schools and contacted by more than 300, Burleson said some even illegally offered him money to play. But he refused all pay, accepting
only a scholarship that was allowed under NCAA rules and signing with North Carolina State University in 1970.
“I’d set a goal to go there when I was 14 years old,’’ explains Burleson, who had attended several 4-H camps in Raleigh and on one occasion met Wolfpack coach Norm Sloan.
It couldn’t have worked out much better for Burleson — or for State. He was the tallest player on a unique team featuring National Player of the Year David Thompson and talented contributors Tim Stoddard, Phil Spence, Moe Rivers and Monte Towe. Together, they won two regular-season and two conference tournament titles, went 27-0 in 1973 and capped their run in 1974 with a National Championship and 30-1 record.
Burleson played a major role: scoring, rebounding, blocking shots, intimidating opponents. He’d also influenced Thompson to join him at State. “You don’t win a national championship without David Thompson,” Burleson says. “He made everybody around him better. Bill Walton [the UCLA superstar] called him the best player of that era.”
Playing before freshmen were eligible for varsity competition, Burleson maximized his opportunities as a three-year starter. He led the team in scoring once and rebounding three times, and produced double-double stats in scoring and rebounding each season. A team player and unselfish, he ranked second in assists as well.
All that netted him lofty honors: All-America twice, All-Conference three years, ACC Tournament MVP two times, All-Final Four. Another accolade came from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill coach Dean Smith, who said he was “the most difficult player I ever had to prepare for.”
At NC State, Burleson was listed as 7-foot-4, which was nettlesome for him: it was a stretch, and he thought it depicted him as a circus side show when he was, in
fact, a star player in a premier basketball show. His size was a plus, but not the biggest reason he succeeded.
“He was a great athlete; he could play,” said Eddie Biedenbach, a former State star and assistant coach, adding that “Coach Sloan helped him so much, encouraged him tremendously.”
Encouraged, yes, but in a tough-love way. “Coach Sloan was military like my father; he was very strict,” says Burleson. “It was what I needed, and he instilled the team concept, to play within the system.” Burleson put in the extra work, often showing up an hour or more before practice to refine his individual skills.
Spurred on by the demanding Sloan and augmented by teammates, Burleson had a knack for delivering in the moments that mattered most.
Rewind to 1974: After earning first team All-ACC two seasons, he was voted second team his senior year, behind Maryland’s Len Elmore.
That demise added fuel to Burleson’s competitive fire. In a classic conference tournament championship game, he responded with a dominating 38-point, 13-rebound performance to win MVP honors and lead the Wolfpack to a victory when only the tourney champion qualified for the NCAA playoffs.
In the following NCAA tournament, Burleson added more glitter to his resume. Going against UCLA great Bill Walton, he scored 20 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and helped State end the Bruins’ seven-year national championship reign in a double-overtime thriller. Two days later, the Pack conquered Marquette to win the title at a rocking Greensboro Coliseum.
In the midst of his State career, Burleson was selected for the 1972 U.S. Olympic team, both an honor and horrifying experience, as that was the year that Palestinian militants attacked the Olympic Village in Munich, West Germany, and captured Israeli athletes. During the violence, Burleson was held at gunpoint while hostages passed by. The U.S. also suffered its first-ever Olympic basketball defeat, a controver-
sial one-point loss to the Soviet Union that still stings 53 years later.
For Burleson, there would be basketball after the Munich madness: two more seasons at State and a stint in the NBA. He earned All-Rookie team honors and logged seven years in the league before suffering a career-ending injury.
Not long after his playing days, Burleson and his wife, Denise, returned to his hometown of Newland, where they raised three athletic sons.
“We wanted to raise our family in a Christian environment,” said Burleson, who grew up in a strong faith-based home there and whose grandfather, Harrison Burleson, was a Baptist preacher.
After working a few years with Mountain Heritage Electrical and Lighting Supply, Burleson made a commitment to being a public servant. He was a twoterm county commissioner, then spent 28 years as planning inspections director, assisting land developers and helping keep buildings up to government standards.
In the meantime, he and Thompson teamed up again to run a basketball camp, which they’ve been doing for 41 years. Burleson also became an ordained minister, a member of the Protestant Reform Church, and now preaches periodically around the county. He delivers a weekly sermon by phone — several of his old
Wolfpack teammates dial in — and has led mission trips to Africa.
While ever busy, he plays some golf, makes time for family and faithfully attends his two grandchildren’s events. For all his good work, former NC Gov. Roy Cooper honored him with the Old North State Award in 2022 based on “Dedication and Excellent Service Beyond Expectations.”
Life hasn’t been without hardship, however. He’s among the multitude of mountain residents impacted by Hurricane Helene, which did tens of thousands of dollars in damage to his home. Making matters worse, he had a heart issue during that crisis, which meant he had to find an escape route out of his flooded area and travel to Winston-Salem for a procedure. Following a recovery period, Burleson returned to Newland, working again to help his devastated county. He donated money from his Christmas tree farm sales to pay bills for needy residents. He helped some displaced residents get temporary housing and helped others find jobs to support their families.
Just as he had on the basketball court at NC State more than five decades ago, Burleson delivered for his community in the moments that mattered most. “That was God; it wasn’t me,’’ Burleson says.
“He gave the resources.”
This month, North Carolina indie roots band Watchhouse will release their ninth studio album, Rituals. It’s the second album from married musicians Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz since the duo changed their group’s name from Mandolin Orange in 2021. Rituals is an 11-track body of work that showcases Watchhouse’s signature serene harmonic vocals and stacked acoustic guitar sounds. The album was three years in the making. “We’d come together and do these iterations until we got it just right,” says Marlin, who typically writes the lyrics, with Frantz editing them. “As the years keep ticking on, I find myself more and more patient, and these songs benefit from that. The patience is palpable in this album.” Rituals feels like an intimate look into their thoughts, touching on the themes of growth, identity, truth and the beauty in both the awe-inspiring and grueling moments in life. Marlin says his favorite track on the album may be “Shape,” a simple tune with repeating riffs. “It’s so easy to play,” he says. “Whenever I sit down and pick up my guitar, I start playing it, which is a good indication that I love the song.” What a nice ritual. —
Addie Ladner
May kicks off the summer season for the home gardener. Garden center shelves are packed with a kaleidoscope of desirable plants. My favorites are ones that benefit wildlife as a host plant, like milkweed, coneflowers and salvia. Here’s what I’ll do this month:
The sooner you prune, the better, for next year’s floral display. Once azaleas and rhododendrons fade or drop, trim shrubs to shape or resize. If you wait too long into summer or fall, you’ll likely remove bud sets for next spring.
Plant tomato transplants now through July. (This is when I start dreaming of the first tomato sandwich of the season.) Direct sow or add transplants of broccoli, beans, cucumbers, melons and squash. Watch for pests, like cabbage worms and flea beetles; pick off as needed. Remember to water every few days, depending on rainfall.
Before you get overzealous at the garden center, assess your yard. Know your sun exposure (full sun, part sun or shade), soil type (probably clay) and soil conditions (dry, moist, always wet). Then plant with a vision of the future: At maturity, will the plant fit the allocated space? Will the plant compete with established focal points?
Plant angelonias, begonias, coleus and geraniums. Direct sow zinnias, sunflowers, cosmos and marigolds from seed. These annuals offer four full months of color, so they’re worth the effort (deadhead for continuous blooming). For perennials, try Asiatic lily, bee balm, black-eyed Susan, blazing star or milkweed. Just be patient and remember this gardening phrase: the first year they sleep, the second year they creep, the third year they leap! — Helen Yoest
presents
Our Town will be a valuable tool for visitors and newcomers to Raleigh and will be available at Raleigh hotels and area retailers. Whether someone is searching for an incredible culinary experience, a chic spot for a cocktail, a locally-owned boutique to find the latest fashion or ideas to explore Raleigh’s rich cultural scene and beautiful landscapes, they’ll find just what they need in Our Town.
This Cary development boasts commute-worthy eateries with Raleigh roots
by RACHEL SIMON
Between the opening of a $68 million park and the multiple new developments currently being built downtown, Cary has spent the last few years successfully proving that it’s more than Raleigh’s little sister. One major factor in the town’s changing reputation? The development of Fenton, an increasingly popular destination for shopping, entertainment and dining that’s just 20 minutes from downtown Raleigh.
With over a dozen spots to grab a bite now in the area — including outposts from Triangle culinary stars Scott Crawford and Mike Lee — Fenton has become a foodie destination. If you haven’t made a trip out there yet, take advantage of the spring weather and enjoy a beautiful
meal or cocktail (or both!) at one of Fenton’s many great eateries, including the options below.
Known for its excellent dim sum and impressive beer selection, downtown Raleigh’s Brewery Bhavana is on track to open its second location in Fenton this month. The impressive 2,000-squarefoot spot is designed to look like a greenhouse, with high ceilings offering plenty of light and adorned with hanging plants and a Garden of Eden mural, and has some lighter food options in addition to the original restaurant’s classic menu. What really makes the Fenton locale stand out, however, is its spacious
outdoor beer garden featuring classic brews, limited-edition options and togo drinks (Fenton is a Sip and Stroll district). “Cary has always been an important beer sales market for us — their diverse crowd has long supported our wide range of our beer offerings,” says Patrick Woodson, Brewery Bhavana’s owner and co-founder. “We are excited to bring our many different products and experiences closer to them.”
Since its 2022 opening by Charleston’s The Indigo Road Hospitality Group, Colletta (which also has an Atlanta counterpart) has established itself as a must-visit for lovers of Italian food. The restaurant features seasonally changing brunch, lunch and dinner menus based on hand-crafted ingredients (spring 2025’s include a pork tagliatelle and wild boar bucatini, among other standouts). Guests have the choice of sitting inside the elegant dining room full of cozy wood tables and quirky lamps, at the spacious bar overlooking Fenton’s walkways, or outside in the vibrant, partially covered patio ideal for al fresco drinks and meals.
“W hen we initially chose to open Colletta at Fenton, we knew it would be a place that people could not only spend the day, but also a place focused on growing the culinary scene here in Cary,” says general manager Diana Guzman. “We get to welcome guests for a meal, but we also have the opportunity to be a part of an all-day experience that includes our amazing neighbors and the residents that call Fenton home.”
Scott Crawford is one of the Triangle’s most well-regarded — and prolific — chefs. From the original Crawford & Son to French bistro Jolie to Croatian-inspired Brodeto, the James Beard Award finalist is committed to offering a variety of high-end dining experiences. Crawford Brothers Steakhouse, which opened in December, continues that tradition. Taking up 4,500 square
feet of space, the restaurant has a dinner-only menu featuring all you’d want from an upscale steakhouse, like a 40-ounce porterhouse and a dazzling seafood tower. That’s not even mentioning the three Wagyu beef dishes and a dry-aged steak burger (a first for a Crawford location), as well as the elaborate and beautifully displayed drinks selection. “All the details are thoughtful and elevated,” says Crawford. The chef,
who began his North Carolina cooking career as executive chef at Herons in The Umstead Hotel & Spa, adds that he’s proud to have “been able to introduce an iconic, time-honored restaurant experience to the region.”
The building itself is reason alone to visit: the stunning, wood-and-leather dining room has floor-to-ceiling windows as well as a wine library and artwork created by acclaimed Raleigh
artist Thomas Sayre. In addition to the main space, there are two private dining rooms. One offers a full view of the kitchen, the other is a smaller, tuckedaway space that Crawford has coined “the gangster room,” due in part to its red walls and tiled table.
Al ready a Triangle stalwart, with its Glenwood location a favorite among Raleighites, Dram & Draught came to Fenton upon the development’s launch in June 2022 and has grown a passionate following since. With more than 400 cocktails, beers and wines (not to mention mocktails!) available, it’s a go-to spot for visitors looking to grab a drink during their evening out — perhaps with a snack or two. Fenton is the only one of the bar’s seven locations to offer food, and the menu includes flatbreads, dips, salads and more.
“We’ve designed the menu to complement both our drinks and the exceptional dining options around us,” says Kevin Barrett, Dram & Draught’s founder. He adds that he loves the “vibrant” feel of Fenton’s culinary scene, noting that “whether you’re grabbing a cocktail after work or settling in for some late-night bites, Fenton has become a destination where great drinks, food, and company come together.”
Anyone who’s visited one of M Restaurant’s multiple Durham eateries knows that the group’s Japanese- and Korean-inspired menus never disappoint. Fenton is lucky enough to be home to two top-quality offerings: M Sushi, which offers plenty of its Durham counterpart’s most-loved dishes but focuses more on nigiri and sashimi, and M Test Kitchen, which is set up right next door with an outdoor patio and is home to an ever-changing menu of experimental dishes (like a fish in green curry and “duck sauce” duck). Both eateries have a dark and intimate cocktail-bar-like interior and seating at either tables or the bar.
www.landonestate.com @landonestate info@landonestate.com
UNC graduation: Family (and friends who feel like family), plus tradition.
What’s the difference between a Northern and Southern graduation? A little… and a lot
words and photographs by CC PARKER
Last May, my two eldest children graduated from different colleges — the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City — within two weeks of each other. Like the children themselves, the ceremonies were very different.
My son graduated first. UNC graduation is always Mother’s Day weekend, but the preparations start 365 days earlier, as parents wait for the stroke of midnight to book The Carolina Inn’s graduation weekend rooms.
From there, the mothers of my son’s fraternity brothers circled up to begin party preparations. Activities included a pledge class photo shoot, graduation day brunch, father-son golf outing, sit-down family dinner at La Rez and food-truck dinner with subsequent beer party at Pantana
Bob’s. That, plus custom t-shirts, tips for the fraternity house staff and personalized gifts for each boy. For 12 months, the mom text thread was humming.
Meanwhile, I hadn’t received any communication from FIT. I finally called and left a message, dismayed at how much my accent sounded like Aunt Bea from The Andy Griffith Show. Fortunately, the FIT representative who returned my call could understand me, pointedly noting that “commencement” information (not graduation — whoops), would be posted on the website when they get around to it. She ended our call with a quick click. We booked a nearby Hilton, just in case. Ironically for this COVID class, UNC had a graduation date change, shifting the ceremony from Sunday morning to the evening before. This was a wonderful change for folks coming in from out of
town, as well as the students who had been celebrating nonstop for three days. We gathered for a late Saturday lunch, then migrated through campus to Kenan Stadium around 6 p.m. I noticed that the dress was more casual than my 1991 graduation — more Peter Millar than Nowell’s. My youngest son was annoyed that I made him wear a tie and my husband regretted his dark suit. Still, we enjoyed a lovely jaunt through campus — and memory lane. My husband pointed out to the kids the exact spot where he and I met approximately 150 years ago. We were younger than our son who was graduating. How could that be?
UNC graduation felt like a homecoming for us parents and the grandparents, too. So many of us attended the school and met lifelong friends there. At lunch, my husband’s great friend, there for his
own son’s graduation, ran to hug my mother-in-law. It had been 35 years, but they have a shared history as well.
The event ended with fireworks and then we were off for drinks around the firepit at The Carolina Inn. Even my father, a dyed-in-the-wool North Carolina State University fan, was all smiles. It was an event filled with family, history and tradition.
Two weeks later, on a Tuesday afternoon, we reassembled in New York City’s Central Park for the FIT graduation.
The festivities started the night before at Fraunces Tavern, a bar inside a Revolutionary-era building that’s a cross between a speakeasy and a museum. We started with hard cider and scotch eggs, then moved on to charcuterie and scotch. Next we visited The Dead Rabbit for a nightcap; its walls are covered in dollar bills. Then family time was over, and my son and daughter ambled up the street for their own adventures.
The next morning we headed to Grand Banks, a wooden sailboat turned restaurant, for a champagne and oyster brunch. (I’ll hand it to them: my kids did a great job of pretending to not be hungover — both calm, cool and collected, though a tad pale behind their sunglasses.) We had plum seats for
FIT graduation: A family portrait in Central Park and party at a dive bar.
beautiful people-watching. Then it was on to the Trailer Park Lounge, a kitschy dive where we were hosting a graduation party. They literally rolled out the Astroturf within a fenced-in area to create a patio for us, right on 23rd Street. We met our daughter’s friends and their families for the first time since she started school four years prior.
We took a cab to Fifth Avenue and 79th Street to make our way to the commencement venue, which was nestled in the trees and hills of the park. There were street carts selling graduation balloons and teddy bears.
Entering the venue, there were dispensers of organic herb- and fruit-infused water at every turn. Snacks abounded — fresh fruit, chips, dips, ice cream — all free for the taking. The music was thumping, and there was no Peter Millar in sight: these folks were dressed for church. The students, many being in the fashion school, did fabulous jobs of personalizing their caps and gowns (we saw everything from satin wraps to boas to big fake rats). The commencement speaker, fashion icon Mickey Drexler, was so excited to talk to these kids. He truly wanted to send them out with his last piece of advice for their next step. The audience, I noticed, was primarily
parents and siblings — few grandparents with our lower ticket allotment.
FIT may be a technical school, but the students’ friendships run just as deep as our state schools with their Greek systems. As the graduates walked across the stage, there were catcalls, giggles, tears and cheers. ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” played as our daughter got her diploma. Afterwards, we navigated past musicians, roller skaters, stroller-pushers and tourists to get our photos in front of the big pond.
And then it was over. Our daughter flew out that night for a work commitment. We flew home. I reflected on the FIT graduation: urban excitement, grit and incredible creative energy.
My children were entering the “real” world. Their childhood, and my role in it, was over. I felt a profound sense of loss.
Then sadness gave way to joy. My husband and I did some quick math about our tuition-less “pay raise” — how would we spend it? Elk hunting trip (my husband)? Fancy dining room wallpaper (me)? Facelift (speaking for a friend)?
A few weeks later, our youngest child came home from high school and announced that he’d be going to a small boy’s college called Hampden-Sydney in Virginia starting in 2025. So much for the wallpaper.
by JIM DODSON illustration by GERRY O’NEILL
According to latest government projections, a record 3.9 million high school kids and 4.11 million college students will graduate this spring. In a world turned upside down by partisan politics and unpredictable economics, worries about the future are understandable.
Once upon a time, I was there myself, waiting for the direction of my life to present itself.
In late spring 1976, America’s Bicentennial year, I was enrolled in a new MFA writing program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and working part-time for my dad in advertising until I could figure out what to do with my life. America was slowly coming out
of a powerful recession and job prospects were thin on the ground.
Sadly — or maybe not — I turned out to be a lousy ad salesman. I could talk up a storm with my old man’s clients but never quite close the deal.
I also had an alternative plan of caddying for a year on the PGA Tour, which proved to be a bust when I was assigned a wisecracking CBS TV star for the Wednesday Celebrity Pro-Am who’d never played the game. He told vulgar jokes to young women in the crowd and roguishly passed gas loudly to amuse the gallery. After a long and humiliating afternoon fetching my client’s lost golf balls from creeks, backyards and thorny bushes, he handed me a $2 tip and ad-
vised with a wink, “Don’t spend all that in one place, Sonny.”
I hurried straight to the Sedgefield Country Club bar with just that in mind.
At that early hour of the evening, the bar was empty save for an elderly gentleman sitting around the corner of the bar, nursing a cocktail.
As I drank my beer, to my shock and delight, I realized the gentleman at the end of the bar was none other than Henry Longhurst, the celebrated Sunday Times golf writer and CBS commentator — one of my literary heroes.
“Young man,” he spoke up with his charming grumble, “you look like I feel most mornings when confronting myself in the bathroom mirror.”
When I mentioned my horrible afternoon of caddying for a farting buffoon who killed my dream of caddying on the Tour, Henry “Longthirst” simply smiled. He asked what other options I had in mind. Confessing that my heart wasn’t into my graduate studies, I boldly commented that my real goal was to someday become a golf writer.
The great man nodded and slowly rose, placing a fiver on the counter. As he headed to the door, he placed his hand on my shoulder and said quietly, “Well, young man, if you do decide to write about this ancient game, you will find no shortage of rogues, bounders and peculiar characters, but also inspiring champions and some of the finest people on Earth. Good luck to you, then!”
I was thrilled by this encounter, taking it as a sign that the universe would deliver something good down the fairway of life.
A few days later, I received a phone call from Juanita Weekley, the managing editor of the city’s beloved afternoon newspaper, where I’d interned for two summers. She invited me to drop by for an interview.
instructed by personnel to hire a female. My question to you is, why should I even consider a skinny white kid from the west side of Greensboro?”
I understood her point. But I also had nothing to lose. I was still buzzing from meeting one of my sports journalism heroes.
Brazenly, I replied, “Because I’ll write circles around them all.”
Ms. Weekley did not appear amused. Instead, she reached over her desk, picked up the wickedest-looking letter opener I’d ever seen and tapped it slowly on her desk.
“OK,” she said after a long pause. “I’m going to take a chance on you. But listen closely. If you’re not the best damn writer in this newspaper in a year, I’ll chase you out of the building with this thing.”
“Think of it this way, you’ll be our version of Charles Kuralt, writing about rural life and colorful characters you meet along the way. It’s right up your alley.” – JUANITA WEEKLEY
“Be here at 5:30 sharp,” she said. “But don’t get your hopes up. You have lots of competition.”
I found her alone in her office the next afternoon. “Come in and close the door,” she said in her famous no-nonsense way.
Ms. Weekley was a newspaper pioneer, one of the first women to edit a major newspaper in the state, a tough, plain-spoken redhead who reminded me of Lou Grant, the crusty editor from THe Mary Tyler Moore Show.
As I sat down, she pointed to a stack of folders on her desk. “These are applications from half a dozen outstanding candidates for this job. They are all women from top journalism schools. I’ve been
I spent the next year writing like mad to avoid being run off by her sharp tongue and even sharper letter opener. At one point, however, Ms. Weekley called me into her office and handed me the keys to a wheezing, 1970 day-glow orange AMC Pacer staff car and instructed me to drive a 75mile circumference around the Gate City, searching for “good stories about country life” for the Sunday paper’s Tar Heel Living section.
“Think of it this way,” she said. “You’ll be our version of Charles Kuralt, writing about rural life and colorful characters you meet along the way. It’s right up your alley.”
She wasn’t wrong.
Over the next six weeks, roaming the backroads of the western Piedmont and the Blue Ridge foothills, I found
an assortment of fascinating small-town stories and colorful folks to write about, including several homegrown artists, a brilliant physician running a clinic in an impoverished mountain town, an award-winning poet, a famous moonshiner, the biggest bluegrass festival in history and the winner of a Bear Creek talent show, whose mom invited me to marry her daughter after she graduated from high school. I politely declined.
Looking back, it was the best job any rookie reporter ever had — one that shaped my life.
My “country” tales won a major newspaper award and landed me a staff job at the Sunday magazine of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where I was the youngest writer of the oldest Sunday magazine in the South.
Two decades later, I was back in my hometown on a national book tour for my bestselling memoir, Final Rounds.
I stopped off to say hello to Ms. Weekley, the pioneering woman who took a chance on me way back when, and to bring her a signed copy of my book.
She was in declining health. But her face lit up when she opened the door. We hugged and sat for an hour, and I thanked her for not running me off with her letter opener.
As she walked me to the door, she took my hand. “I knew you were going to be a superb writer,” she said, holding back tears. “I just didn’t want you to know that! I couldn’t be prouder of you, dear. Hiring you was one of the best things I ever did in my career.”
I kissed her cheek and thanked her. “It would never have happened,” I said, “without you.”
Juanita Weekley passed away in 2003.
Gone but never forgotten.
by PAUL JONES
illustration by JENN HALES
So far from the harsh winds of March, just past the cruelties of April, day by new day blooms fresh in May.
But there is hunger there: Young birds greedy to learn the ways of air. Moist ground starved for trails of new roots.
Bullfrogs boom out their “broom, broom, broom” to sweep the worst of weather away.
The creek’s sun-warmed enough to wade through, to overturn storm-slick rocks to show what once wore flesh, pale bones —
claw-cleaned, fish-pecked, sand-worn, smooth. Water bears them away. Now night, insect-rich, comes later when bats
with their elusive certainty replace the confusion of wrens.
A conversation with NCDNCR Secretary Pamela Cashwell
as told to AYN-MONIQUE KLAHRE
photography
by
CHARLES HARRIS
In January, Pamela Brewington Cashwell was named the new secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, which oversees all of our state’s arts, culture, history and natural areas. This includes more than 100 locations — among them historic sites, museums, parks and trails — across the state. Cashwell, a longtime public servant who previously served as secretary at the North Carolina Department of Administration, is a member of the Coharie and Lumbee tribes, which makes her the first Native American woman to head a cabinet department in our state.
CAN YOU GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR BACKGROUND?
Well, I’m from North Carolina, and a double Tar Heel — I went to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for both my undergrad and law degrees — so I’m North Carolina through and through! After law school, I clerked with Judge James Wynn on the Court of Appeals, then moved to Washington, D.C., for 10 years. There, I worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture as part of the first Clinton administration, as well as for the White House Counsel’s Office, then went to the U.S. Department of Justice. I worked in a couple different divisions, but my dream was to work for the Civil Rights Division. It took me a little while to get there. I did a lot of Title IX work with the goal of being a criminal prosecutor in civil rights cases, then went to the Eastern District of Virginia to get some prosecutorial experience, which allowed me to move into criminal prosecution in the Civil Rights Division.
WHAT WORK WERE YOU MOST PROUD OF THERE?
Well, one thing was a major police pattern of practice cases [investigating repeated, similar violations] in Maryland, which was the first consent decree that the Department of Justice had ever entered into with a state for a police power practice case. I was the lead attorney on that and negotiated that consent decree, so I was very proud of that. Then when I moved to the criminal section, most of my work was in prisons, often working on sexual assault cases within prisons, prosecuting bad correctional officers. I did a number of human trafficking cases as well. That really became kind of my passion work, human trafficking cases.
During that time, I got married, and my husband, David, and I had our first child. My parents were getting older, and my job had me traveling all over
the country, all the time. Our plan had always been to move back to North Carolina. So we moved back here when our first son, Sam, was 8 months old and I took a step back from work for a few years. I knew that ultimately I’d want to work in state government — my mom worked for the state growing up, in the Commission for Indian Affairs, and I traveled around with her a lot when I was out of school, visiting tribal communities. When I got back into work, I started at a nonprofit, then went to a contract position at the State Ethics Commission, and we had our second son. I was very lucky that I was able to be part-time when the kids were very young so I could be very engaged with them and their schools. A lot of that time, of course, involved bringing them to all of our great museums downtown.
HOW DID YOU RAMP BACK UP?
The deputy director position came open at the State Ethics Commission
while I was working there, so I moved into that role in 2014. Then in 2017, I sort of fell into the position at the Department of Public Safety as the chief deputy secretary. It was an amazing experience working there for four years. We had a great team. At the end of Gov. Cooper’s first term, he asked me to be secretary at the Department of Administration.
When I worked at the Department of Public Safety, it had nearly 20,000 employees — it was this massive agency where a lot of big things happened — so when I moved over to the Department of Administration, which has 500-ish employees, it felt like, oh, I’ve got this. That department is sort of the business manager for state agencies — motor fleet management, mail service center, state parking, procurement tracking, those operational type things. But there’s also an advocacy arm, like the Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses and the Commission of Indian Affairs — that’s where my mom had worked. So it was the department that I knew from the time I was growing up. So it was cool in many ways, sort of nostalgic to be in that agency. My mom passed away while I was there last year, so it felt like a full circle. I still care deeply about the employees there, we did some really great work.
It’s very different, in all great ways! This is a position I sort of coveted for years — I always called it the Department of Fun. I mean, if there is a cool government job, this is the one! But it’s also a very different mission. We are the most forward-facing, public facing department in state government. People who travel across the state or who come into North Carolina are meeting our staff because they’re visiting one of our many historic sites, or the aquariums when they’re visiting the beach, or one of the museum of art locations. And
“People who travel across the state or who come into North Carolina are meeting our staff because they’re visiting one of our many historic sites, or the aquariums when they’re visiting the beach, or one of the museum of art locations.” — Pamela B. Cashwell
obviously they’re enjoying our beautiful state parks and all the trails! We manage over 100 sites.
DID YOU COME IN WITH ANY PARTICULAR GOALS OR DIRECTIVES?
Our first priority is to get Western North Carolina back up. We had 18 sites that were impacted by Hurricane Helene. Three state parks continue to be closed, but will be opening or partially opening soon. So a big goal is to have all of our sites that were impacted be fully functional, ideally built back in a more resilient way.
I ALWAYS FORGET THAT THE PARKS ARE PART OF THE NCDNCR…
Well it’s interesting you say that, because one of my other goals is to marry those two things — natural and cultural resources — together. The museum of art here in Raleigh is a perfect example of how you mix nature with art, right? It’s a beautiful park that has wonderful art in it. Another example of merging cultural and historical sites is the recent exhibit, Whippersnappers, Maya Freelon installed at the Stagville Historic Site.
I WENT WITH MY FAMILY TO SEE IT, AND HAVING THAT LIMITED-TIME EXHIBIT WAS A GOOD INCENTIVE TO MAKE THE TRIP OUT THERE.
That’s what happens when we combine these things, it offers new perspectives and brings in new people. Another example was the exhibit last year at the NCMA, To Take Shape and Meaning, which featured Native artists. It was a phenomenal exhibit, and there’s
no question it brought in people who’d never been there before, but now they’ll go back again. So we want to do more of that, think of different and interesting ways to bring new communities into spaces that have never visited them before.
LIKE YOU WILL BE BUSY WITH ALL THESE SITES!
Yes, I underestimated much we have going on! I started the first Monday in January and have worked almost every weekend — whether it’s an Astronomy Day, or the NC Indian Unity Conference or a reenactment at the Alamance Battleground State Historic Site or visiting the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum and Historic Site. Not to mention supporting performing arts like the NC Symphony or NC Opera, which aren’t technically part of our department, but are certainly part of our cultural landscape. It’s all a great reflection of the diversity and breadth of cultural resources in this state.
INFORMS YOUR WORK FOR THE DNCR?
I say it all the time, but public service is my passion. My mom was a public servant, and I care a whole lot about state employees. The amazing thing about this department is that our employees are so mission-driven and passionate about what they do. Working with them has been a real blessing.
Herons’ on-site farm brims with fresh ingredients to fuel its creative chefs
“I’m always looking for different techniques to apply to a single vegetable,” says chef Steven Greene of Herons, the restaurant at The Umstead Hotel and Spa, North Carolina’s only Forbes Five-Star hotel. Take the cucumber: he’ll make it taste like caviar by salting it, squeezing it through cheesecloth and compressing it into tiny, tangy bits. Or he’ll thinly slice the cucumber into linguini-style noodles; he may also blend its pulp and freeze it into sorbet-style scoops. He’ll chop a batch of cucumber and soak it in different flavors — say, a citrus-forward yuzu juice or a soy-based white shoyu — to use as dish enhancements.
These iterations make their way onto the menu at Herons, where the offerings are seasonal and farm-to-table, but neither simple nor rustic: here, ingredients are often disguised or unrecognizable and served in unique vessels (you might be served what looks like an oversized mandarin orange, for example, but in reality, it’s foie gras). The dishes invite a pause to absorb the form and presentation before that first bite enlivens the senses.
The biggest source of inspiration for these dishes, says Greene, is what’s in season at restaurant’s 3-acre culinary farm. Called One Oak Farm, the farm is under a mile away from Herons on the SAS campus. It was started by Scott Crawford, a champion of the farm-to-table movement who was executive chef at Herons in the early 2010s.
“We want to be able to tell a story, we want the best stuff and we want to be connected to our ingredients,” says Herons’ chef de cuisine, Spencer Thomson. Shortening the distance to the farm — and strengthening the relationship with the farmer — has made room for even more creativity within Herons’ offerings. During peak harvest season, upwards of 70% of the ingredients for their dishes come this farm.
One Oak Farm has expanded over the years and is now divided into two areas. A roughly 1-acre area off Apple Tree Lane
Greene and Thomson in the Herons kitchen assessing herbs, edible flowers and other garnishes from the farm including lemon balm, marigold, violet, basil and dill. This page, bottom: A dish showcasing various preparations of One Oak Farm cucumbers: as gazpacho, pickled as a salad, as a tart and stuffed with yuzu and basil.
is the workhouse of the farm, producing massive amounts of frequently used fruits and vegetables including sweet potatoes, squash, melon and John Haulk corn, an heirloom varietal from South Carolina that the team grows to be dried and ground for grits and other culinary applications.
The other area includes a sprawling edible garden featuring raised beds, berry patches and two greenhouses. This is where they grow niche ingredients like white pineberries, golden raspberries and African blue basil, an uncommon heirloom basil with purple coloring and a strong spicy flavor. They also grow hundreds of edible flowers, including borage, a petite, pale-blue flowering herb with
“Everything we harvest gets delivered the day of. We are less than a mile from the farm, door to door, so everything’s incredibly fresh.”
— ADAM SMITH
a sweet taste, and marigold, a brilliant yellow-orange flower with a citrusy bite.
“Ever ything we harvest gets delivered the day of. We are less than a mile from the farm, door to door, so everything’s incredibly fresh,” says farm director Adam
Smith, who started in January after working as the director of agriculture at SingleThread, a Michelin-starred farmto-table restaurant in Sonoma County, California.
The culinary team tended to the farm in its early days, but today One Oak Farm has its own dedicated staff of three fulltime employees, including Smith, as well as two part-timers. “As the demands of the farm grew we needed a designated team,” says Thomson, who serves as the primary liaison between the farm. Ingredients are harvested three days a week, with the other workdays predominantly used for tending crops.
The culinary and farm teams work closely and strategically to grow the
Scenes from One Oak Farm, where Adam
and his staff grow everything from bulk items like sweet potatoes and corn to specialty herbs, fruits and edible flowers.
opposite page: A One Oak Farm staffer tends the garden.
ingredients that will appear on plates. Inside the farm office are several dry-erase boards with detailed maps, color-coded to-do lists and production calendars. “We have action plans for each month but also daily lists, weekly lists and lists of things to do now for next season,” Smith says. “In farming, it’s important to have a microscopic view — but also that 30,000foot view.”
Daily work starts at 6 a.m., and Smith will often be at One Oak Farm six or seven days a week. “Those cucumbers aren’t going to water themselves!” he laughs (though implementing more irrigation for the seeds is on one of his to-do lists). Because the culinary team often uses all components of the plant — like the vine and flowers of the cucumber — the whole plant requires careful tending. “That’s one of the special things about working with chefs like Steven and Spencer — we get to learn more about culinary applications. They are so creative,” says Smith.
In May, the team is gearing up for peak spring produce and planning for the warmer months ahead. Summer squash is certain to be on the menu, for example, but based on the chefs’ requests, Smith is researching varieties that will produce more blossoms. “There’s a ton of work required to both maintain the plants and focus on harvest to give attention to where attention is needed,” says Smith.
Sometimes, the farmers will drive the menu, finding a varietal that surprises and delights the chefs. Last year, for example, former head farmer Daniel Holloman introduced Mochi tomatoes, a plump, red cherry-sized tomato with a squishy consistency and sweet taste reminiscent of the Japanese dessert of the same name. Greene and Thomson wanted guests to experience this unique tomato in its purest form, so they served it raw, with a tiny basil leaf on top to mimic a stem.
“We’ve had four different farmers and each has had their own ideas,” says
Thomson. “They’ve each left a legacy and mark.” This summer, Smith is excited to experiment with growing an ice plant, a flowering succulent with a crisp, briny flavor that’s native to the Pacific coastline. “It’s crunchy with a saline taste and unique texture — it’s a great crop,” he says.
Thomson visits the farm on Wednesdays for a walk-through to see what’s available and what’s forthcoming. “We tour the fields, look at what’s going in and out,” says Thomson. “Right now we’re gearing up for about five different kinds of basil and tons of tomatoes, which is always exciting.”
In the coming years, Greene, Thomson and Smith hope to add a fruit orchard and more hoop houses, which will allow them to grow their own stone fruits like plums and peaches, as well as fresh lettuces and herbs year-round. Says Greene: “It’s just the biggest gift to have this farm.”
Heirloom tomatoes and cucumbers hang on the vine. They’ll find their way onto the Herons menu in a variety of forms, and the culinary team may also use their vines, leaves and flowers in the presentation.
Joe Lapp has turned his 4-acre Raleigh homestead into a sanctuary for Purple martins
by HELEN YOEST
Purple martins are among the first migrating birds to arrive in our area, shimmering through the skies with their blue-black, iridescent wings.
“Martins generally return from their winter home in Brazil in early March to the same colony site they used the year before,” says Joe Lapp.
Much like a migrating martin, Joe and his wife, Andrea, moved to Raleigh 36 years ago from a small western New York town called Le Roy. They bought 4 acres in a mostly rural area along Yates Mill Pond Road to call home, about 2 miles from Yates Mill Pond and another 2 miles from Lake Wheeler. “We liked the idea of country living and being reasonably close to Raleigh and Cary,” says Joe.
By 1990, Joe became interested in Purple martins, Progne subis. “These birds are almost solely dependent on humans for housing,” he says. “They’re friendly and enjoy being around people. Plus they don’t mind human contact with their nestlings.” Classified as a native songbird, these martins also have impressive songs and acrobatic skills.
Joe knew that an established colony was close by when he saw the martins visiting his homestead, so he went to work on attracting the birds to his yard. It can take years to attract them, but he wasn’t deterred. First step: creating homes for the birds.
Purple martins are cavity dwellers, and in the wild, they seek natural cavities like woodpecker holes in tree snags. Today, with so much habitat loss, the birds are almost entirely reliant on man-made colonies. These often look like a cross between an old-fashioned clothesline and a small apartment complex, with dozens of gourd-shaped birdhouses hanging from a single frame.
Joe designed his gourd racks after observing several others, using mostly materials from their property. He grew his first intuitively named birdhouse
gourds, Lagenaria siceraria, using seeds he received from other martin landlords. Birdhouse gourds are vigorous vines that require sturdy support from a trellis or other structure. Joe leaves them on the vine well after the plant dies to dry out, so they aren’t available for housing for a full year after planting. (These days, he keeps seeds from the previous year’s crop but only needs to plant them every two or three years.) Once the gourds dry out, he preps them to work as houses by drilling holes for bird access, cleanup, nest checks and ventilation.
With the houses installed, Joe played the Purple martin dawn song, a recording of boisterous males chirping at sunrise, for the entire month of March. “I’d place a boom box under the racks and turn it on when I went to work, then Andrea picked it up on her way to work an hour later,” he says. “It was exciting to have our first nesting pairs the first year we installed housing!”
Over 10 years, their feathered residents grew from one rack to an entire colony. “Now, we have around 40 nesting pairs,” says Joe. They live within three racks of 16 houses. Most of the gourds are natural, but he has a few plastic gourds from Purple Martin Conservation Association in Erie, Pennsylvania. “Plastic gourds are more expensive, around $30 each, while natural gourds are free but require a lot of prep,” says Joe. “So far, the birds haven’t shown a preference.”
In peak season, the martins have an average of four hatchlings raised in each nest. “That’s around 240 birds in the air during fledging time,” says Joe.
Joe is also an avid gardener. When he and Andrea bought the property, the previous owner had already established a small vegetable garden with a few fruit trees. The couple has continued to maintain and expand the garden.
As their family grew (their children are now in their 30s), the Lapps installed an ever-changing landscape. Using granite scraps from local supply stores, they built raised beds to grow annual vegetables, including leafy greens, tomatoes, beets, onions, potatoes, sweet corn, squash, beans, melons and more.
The beds also host perennial crops such as asparagus, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries. Raised beds help control soil compaction, drainage, water runoff and weeds, and they retain heat for a longer growing season. “We try to grow fruits and vegetables that don’t require pesticides,” Joe says. After he built the raised beds, he added granite walkways. “They were time-consuming to install, but I saved a lot of time by not having as many weeds to pull!” he laughs.
“We feast on strawberries, raspberries and leafy vegetables from our May garden; we love our berries,” Joe says. “We find the garden particularly welcoming at sunrise and sunset. The martins are very active!”
Martins are aerial insectivores, meaning they hunt and eat insects in the air, feeding on dragonflies, deer flies, horse flies and moths. “I set out to attract the birds to eat unwanted insects from my vegetable garden, since I don’t use pesticides,” Joe says. “Unfortunately, they feast on insects found 20 feet above the ground and not the mosquitoes and pests in my garden!”
Since retiring from his job as a secondary school math teacher 14 years ago, Joe has plenty of time to spend working his family’s homestead and caring for his colony of Purple martins — even though he only has his feathered guests for a few months of the year. Once arriving at their summer colony here in Raleigh, the birds begin to mate. By the first of June, breeding ends as the last of their fledges (they typically have three to four) leaves the nest. In July and August, Purple martins move on to premigratory roost sites and prepare to head back to their wintering site in Brazil. That leaves the Lapps plenty of time to clean out the bird houses, tend to the garden and prep for their visitors anew.
“We are fortunate our neighbors love the martins too,” says Joe. “They especially love the morning and evening concerts from these songbirds.”
Cultivating curiosity — and a closer look — with painter Julia Einstein
by COLONY LITTLE
JOSHUA STEADMAN
You wouldn’t think that a garden in the dead of winter could reveal much about itself, but even here, Julia Einstein can find inspiration for her botanical paintings.
As she walks among the dormant garden beds at the Raleigh City Farm on a sunny February day, Einstein’s keen eye spots signs of life in the ground cover below our feet. She kneels to pick up a tiny blue flower within a patch of Persian speedwell. It reminds her of a prop she brought to a December presentation at a CreativeMornings RDU, a monthly networking session over coffee and pastries where locals give empowering speeches. “I used a magnifying glass because I wanted to talk about seeing things through the eyes of an artist,” she says, twirling the flower in the bright morning sunlight.
As an educator and artist, Einstein expresses her observations through paintings inspired by nature. Growing up in Mansfield, Massachusetts, she studied painting at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and spent her summers in Maine, working and enjoying the beaches in the coastal town of Ogunquit. She later enrolled at the Rhode Island School of Design, earning a master’s degree in Education in 1991, where she developed her teaching style from mentors including the former director of the program, Paul Sproll. “He encouraged a philosophy of teaching that was built around the idea of an artist-as-teacher and teacher-as-artist,” says Einstein. “I helped curate the graduate exhibition for our cohort based on that concept. It gave us the opportunity to select a piece of student work from a unit of study to
install alongside our educational work. I loved making those connections!”
Einstein taught high school art for 11 years in Wareham, Massachusetts, where she took a multidisciplinary approach to teaching, introducing her students to diverse mediums and art forms, often by inviting other artists or faculty to stop by and give lectures. She later brought her educational expertise to the museum sector, working as a studio learning coordinator at the Portland Museum of Art and an educational experience coordinator at the MassArt Art Museum. Her day job today is as a membership and marketing specialist at the North Carolina Museum of History. “Now it is all about engaging with visual culture, objects and artifacts; that guides the work I do,” she says. “As I’ve grown as an educator, I’ve discovered a seamlessness between the creativity
A few scenes from Einstein’s home studio, including sketches and pressed flowers.
“As I’ve grown as an educator, I’ve discovered a seamlessness between the creativity in my studio practice and in designing learning experiences.”
— JULIA EINSTEIN
in my studio practice and in designing learning experiences.”
Einstein’s painting practice revolves around objects in her physical space; early paintings from her Window Portraits series (2010-2012), for example, were largely representational: Einstein painted interior spaces, capturing the architectural features of a windowsill in her home studio, or the way light entered a room at a particular angle at different times of day.
Over time she began to focus on other captivating design elements, like the details in the floral arrangements she placed
around her home. The gestural qualities of the flowers became her fixation, taking inspiration from the shapes they create. “It was the angle and the lines, then it became the type of flowers or greenery that sort of echoed what was outside in the color or the landscape,” says Einstein. “It was always abstracted to a certain point.” Her most recent series, Flower Portraits, directs the viewer’s eye toward colorful blooms, an intersection of leggy stems crossing one another in a glass vase or a slight bend of a wilting petal. There’s a dynamism that encourages the viewer to imagine a breeze coming from a win-
dow that’s just out of focus, coaxing these flowers into gentle movement.
From this body of work, Einstein expanded her artistic aperture by creating floral portraits that focus on relationships between colors. In 2024, the artist created three large-scale paintings stemming from a series of small floral studies called Flower Power. One was exhibited at the Pullen Arts Center as part of its Field Studies exhibition last summer. The other two were exhibited at the Stanley-Whitman House in Connecticut in a show titled Motif: Museum as Studio. The works feature sinuous florals in shades of purple
of Einstein’s work, including,
from
with blue leaves and rust-colored stems against a bright, poison-green backdrop.
Within the show, Einstein included activities that encouraged visitors to discover and observe hidden details around the museum. “I found floral motifs in different rooms of the house and created these blocks to make prints,” she says. Einstein’s site-specific work also included gathering and pressing flowers to catalogue into books called herbaria.
Einstein moved to Raleigh in 2021 to be closer to her son and family. Here, she’s cultivated her educational approach to art through work at CAM Raleigh, Pullen Arts Center and a residency at the Raleigh City Farm — an idea that she herself pitched.
In Maine, Einstein had had a garden full of artistic muses, but moving to an apartment in the Warehouse Dis-
trict presented her with a challenge: no garden. “I wanted a space where I could pick flowers,” she says. A friend steered Einstein to the nonprofit urban farm, and in 2022 she became the organization’s first artist-in-residence, where she leads programming and artistic activities related to the seasonal plantings found in and around the farm. “Our partnership with Julia has benefitted countless members of our community and deepened their appreciation for our diverse plant ecosystem,” says Raleigh City Farm executive director Lisa Grele Barrie. “She thoughtfully connects people and plants with creativity, respect and joy!”
From leading printmaking workshops to hosting poetry readings to designing coloring activities, Einstein encourages guests and staff to experience the farm as an outdoor museum and visualize the
land through the eyes of an artist. “It’s about harnessing that passion that you have for it,” Einstein says, citing the book Teaching in the Art Museum: Interpretation as Experience by Rika Burnham and Elliott Kai-Kee, which encourages setting up a playful environment for art work. “I love play, and I love creativity.”
In March, she attended the “Big Idea” learning event at the Marbles Kids Museum, which brought leaders together to discuss ways to bring joy and learning to community engagement. “I left energized, with a big smile on my face,” says Einstein. “I enjoy learning new things and I’m excited to see how that spark will be brought to a large scale in a new project.”
The most sought-after gifts from area retailers for spring occasions
1. GINNY GORDON’S
Revitalize your hands with a blend of vetiver, citrus and shea butter — this lotion is deeply hydrating, soothing, and perfectly balanced. $28
2. IF IT’S PAPER
Get your table ready for spring with eco-friendly bamboo bowls and serving spoons finished with a high gloss lacquer. $48 for salad bowl, $26 for serving spoons. Other sizes available.
3. NC MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCES
This heirloom-quality jewelry by Anne Koplik Designs features an airy filigree enhanced by enameling and crystals. $85 for necklace, $40 for earrings.
4. GREAT OUTDOOR PROVISION CO. Nomadix towels are butter-soft, lightweight, quick-drying and sandrepellent — perfect for the beach, yoga, travel and camping. $39.95
5. RELIABLE JEWELRY
This 14 kt yellow gold link bracelet with turquoise clover charms is a classic accessory to wear layered or on its own. Starting at $675
6. LOGAN’S GARDEN SHOP
Design your own expertly crafted custom orchid arrangement to suit any style. Decide all the details, from the orchid to its pot! Starting at $50
7. FINK’S JEWELERS
It’s a sparkler! The Sabel Collection White Gold Cluster Diamond Ring features over 3 total carats of pear shaped, marquise cut and round diamonds. Size 6.5. $18,095
8. GREAT OUTDOOR PROVISION CO.
Made from water-resistant 75D polyester taslan, the KAVU Tide Rip is a large duffel designed for all sorts of adventures and getaways! $90
9. PAYSAGE HOME
Handcrafted in Barcelona from durable and water-resistant paper, these unique vases pay tribute to ancient ceramics. Just slip them over a water glass to arrange flowers inside and brighten any room. $20 for small, $40 for large.
10. NC MUSEUM OF HISTORY
This composite quartz jewelry gives sea glass vibes in shades reminiscent of our coastal waters — just in time for summer! $34 to $88
The most sought-after gifts from area retailers for spring occasions
12. VITIS HOUSE
Who wouldn’t love to be more versed in wine? These gift cards can be used on a variety of interesting wine and spirits classes at Vitis House. From $50
13. FINK’S JEWELERS
This Sabel Collection yellow gold Fancy Sapphire and Diamond Necklace is a versatile piece to add a touch of color and sparkle to any ensemble. $2,295
14. GREAT OUTDOOR PROVISION CO.
The SandRig Surf Cart is the ultimate solution for transporting beach and surf fishing gear, with a heavy duty, high-capacity, adjustable design for all-terrain performance. $580
15. WALTER MAGAZINE
Offer a loved one the gift of relaxation. WALTER shares beautiful, uplifting stories about our community, delivered to their doorstep every month. $36 for one year, $80 for three years.
WALTER’s roundup of gatherings, celebrations, fundraisers and more around Raleigh.
On Mar. 4, Wake Tech Community College hosted its eighth annual IGNITE event, this year with a safari theme. The event showcases Wake Tech’s mission of transforming lives by sharing students’ educational journeys. This year, communications professor Traci Rowe served as the emcee, introducing students Shana Cox, Cheval Batts, Ethan Hatch, Dusti Patterson and Lindsay Wrege presenting on behalf of Sophie Hening.
On Mar. 14, the Merrimon-Wynne House, along with Band Together and La Fête Planning & Design, hosted their annual fundraiser, An Evening to Ignite. This year’s honoree was Ripe for Revival, a nonprofit that addresses food insecurity. The tropical-themed evening included a VIP dinner, Cuban-inspired cocktails, a cigar bar, dancing and more. The evening generated more than $250,000.
Discover the charm and elegance of Grandiflora, an exclusive new home community centrally located between Louisburg and Youngsville. This premier neighborhood features 47 spacious homesites, with homes starting from the $700s, all crafted by some of the region’s most skilled custom builders. Each home reflects a commitment to quality and design, ensuring a unique and luxurious living experience for every resident.
On Mar. 8, members and friends of the historic Beth Meyer Synagogue marked the 150th anniversary of its leadership of the greater Raleigh Jewish community. The evening featured video remarks from Gov. Josh Stein and an Order of the Long Leaf Pine award presentation to Dr. Burton Horwitz, a past president of the synagogue. Guests enjoyed dancing, noshing on Meez Market & Catering’s kosher spread and a gallery of photos over the decades at Beth Meyer.
THE BEST OF NORTH CAROLINA RECEPTION
On Mar. 16, Gallery C hosted an opening reception for its annual exhibition, “The Best of North Carolina.” Each year, gallery owner, art historian and North Carolina native Charlene Newsom employs her knowledge of regional art to curate an exhibition celebrating influential North Carolina artists of the 20th century
Follow along and don’t miss a thing.
NC ARTS IN ACTION GALA
North Carolina Arts in Action hosted its annual gala on Mar. 7 at Raleigh Union Station. Themed Two Decades of Dance ~ A Lifetime of Impact, the event celebrated the organization’s 20th anniversary with dancing, food and drinks, special honorees and both live and silent auctions.
The 3rd annual North Carolina Discovery Ball presented by Martin Marietta was held on Mar. 14 at the Angus Barn. Themed Betting on a Cure, it was chaired by Katherine and Braxton Wall and the guest of honor was breast cancer survivor Leila Thomas. Since its inception, the event has raised $1.58 million to support the American Cancer Society.
On Mar. 6, Wee Care hosted its 10th annual Shell it Out fundraiser at Whitaker & Atlantic. For nearly 20 years, Wee Care has been offering free preschool education to economically disadvantaged children in Raleigh, helping them develop the social, emotional and cognitive skills needed for kindergarten and beyond. The festive evening featured a DJ, auction, raffle, oysters, hors d’oeuvres and drinks.
“JK Transportation was awesome and a pleasure to work with this past week! From the moment I scheduled my delivery, I knew I was in good hands. James always responded to my questions and went out of his way to make sure I was taken care of. His delivery guys were equally as helpful and professional. They were very efficient, careful, and courteous. I highly recommend JK Transportation Services to anyone needing movers and/or deliveries! Excellent job!” – Cyndi Chamblee
NCRLA STARS OF THE INDUSTRY
The North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association hosted its annual Stars of the Industry Awards on Feb. 24. Held at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Durham, the event celebrated 17 outstanding individuals and organizations across 10 categories for their contributions to the hospitality sector, as well as the contributions of retiring president and CEO Lynn Minges.
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.
by RACHEL SIMON
The second season of hit TV drama Severance may have left viewers with more questions than answers, but local residents can take comfort in having at least one big mystery solved: the identity of Miss Huang, the enigmatic young employee of Lumon Industries.
The role is played by Sarah Bock, a talented 18-year-old who grew up in both Raleigh and Cary. Today, she’s a student at Northwestern University, where she studies psychology and theater. “I really didn’t appreciate the seasons in North Carolina as much as I should’ve,” Bock says. “The winters here are a lot more intense.”
The actress spent her earliest years in Raleigh’s Bedford neighborhood before moving with her family to Cary. A trip up north to Broadway at age 8 sparked her interest in the performing arts, and so when Bock’s mother — a librarian at Bock’s elementary school — spotted flyers advertising the Durant Road Musical Theatre, she signed her daughter up to audition. (It helped that the children’s company was doing a production of Winnie-the-Pooh, Bock’s then-favorite book.) Bock ended up performing with the theater for the next five years before joining the North Carolina Theatre Conservatory, Moonlight Stage Company and North Carolina Dance Institute for more serious training as a teen.
“Especially in the Triangle, there are
so many great opportunities for the arts,” says Bock. For her, that included a regional production of Annie as a 12-year-old, her first professional role. “I remember being so shocked that I booked it,” Bock says, adding that she found out the news (much to her castmates’ awe) while acting in her school’s performance of Shrek Jr. Although fitting in Annie performances alongside her school schedule — along with an impressive side career training as a high-ranking youth tennis player — wasn’t easy, Bock credits the hustle for giving her younger self “a bit more confidence that, you know, maybe I can do this.”
Post-Annie, Bock quit tennis to focus on acting, with jobs ranging from small parts in indie films to voiceover work as “Baby Shark” (parents: you know who to thank). During her
sophomore year at Green Level High School, her manager snagged her an audition for Severance, which had just concluded its Emmy-winning first season. “I’d never gotten the opportunity to play with something so interesting before… it was uncharted waters for me,” she says. She doubted she’d earn the part due to her limited on-screen experience, but “something just clicked in the audition.” Not long after, Bock moved to New York to start filming Season 2. Due to the secrecy surrounding the show’s plot and characters, Bock was instructed not to tell any of her peers that she’d earned a part on the show. “They were all very excited for me, but a lot of them didn’t know what I was doing until a couple of months ago,” says Bock.
Once the show’s second season premiered this January, the actress quickly earned praise for her performance. At Northwestern, she watched the new episodes alongside her college friends while taking part in campus theater productions. While she’s gotten used to being recognized by strangers on her college campus, she’s looking forward to going home for the summer. “I can’t wait to be back in North Carolina where I know a lot of people, it’ll be a bit more normal,” she says.
Just don’t ask Bock if she’ll be back for more Severance: “I genuinely know nothing about Season 3,” she promises.
Your Family. Our Team.
Your Family. Our Team.
Your Family. Our Team.
Your Family. Our Team.
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.
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.
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.
The diagnosis is cancer. You’re scared. You feel alone. But you’re not. You have your family. Yourfriends. 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.
Your Family. Our Team.
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
wakemed.org/cure
wakemed.org/cure