Umstead Park’s ruins tell a story of North Carolina’s rural history. BY ERIC MEDLIN William B. Umstead State Park is one of the most-visited state parks in North Carolina. According to the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the park had over a million visitors in 2021. A large percentage of these visitors…
You name it and James Beard Award–Nominated Chef Cheetie Kumar has probably done it. BY ELLIOT ACOSTA Between her time as an critically acclaimed chef, a restaurant owner, an entrepreneur, an independent restaurant advocate and a musician, Chef Cheetie Kumar has become celebrated throughout the City of Oaks as a multifaceted tour de force. But…
PICTURED ABOVE: The exterior patio of The Mayton Inn in Cary looks out over Cary’s Downtown Park. The Mayton has built a strong relationship with the much-celebrated new park, which is already a Cary community centerpiece. It’s the details that set apart these North Carolina boutique hotel experiences. BY KURT DUSTERBERG Not all hotel experiences…
Harvesting Change
The impact of female farmers on local communities
BY KRISTEN SCHRUM
A new kind of farm is flourishing in Wake County under the care of its women farmers. These pastoral pioneers sow more than just seeds in the soil; they cultivate a community conscious of the richness that comes with shopping locally and embracing…
Honoring Moments with Savor + Fete:
The Art of Intimate Tabletop Settings
BY KRISTEN SCHRUM | PHOTOS COURTESY OF SAVOR + FETE
In the heart of every memorable gathering is a table—a silent witness to laughter, stories, confessions and toasts. At the dining table, bread is broken, wine is poured and the essence of connection is…
Universal Design
Where attractiveness meets accessibility—for everyone
BY SAMANTHA GRATTON | PHOTOS COURTESY OF PARAGON BUILDING GROUP AND LAUREY GLENN
When you arrive at Paragon Building Group’s showcase home in Pittsboro, the first thing you see is a stately house with a large set of steps leading to a beautiful front porch. You drive up a…
Personal Sanctuaries
Crafting identity in a Jamison Park house
BY KRISTEN SCHRUM | PHOTOS COURTESY OF ABIGAIL JACKSON PHOTOGRAPHY
AIn a world where the line between home and life blur more with each passing day, interior design has evolved into more than just aesthetics—it’s about creating a space that reflects the souls of those who inhabit it. Kristyn…
Going—Virtual—to School
North Carolina online academic programs gain popularity
BY JANICE LEWINE
When Alex Kocsis was in third grade, the onset of the COVID pandemic forced him and countless students across the country into a remote learning environment to stem the infection rate. Teachers quickly pivoted to creating effective experiences for their students, who adjusted to…
Horses Healing Hearts
Equine-assisted therapy benefits all participants
BY JANICE LEWINE
Horses possess traits that are unrivaled in the animal kingdom. As prey animals highly attuned to their surroundings, equines depend on their survival by being aware of everything in their environment and communicating with each other. When humans enter their space, they become aware of the feelings…
Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Which Approach is Right for You?
BY ELIZABETH BRIGNAC
At the age of 53, Raleigh attorney Jenny Leisten wakes up 20 times a night due to hot flashes. “It’s incredible how hot you become,” she says. As a result, for the past three years, she’s been exhausted. “It’s … probably why menopausal women are…
The Diminishing Role of Primary Care Causes, Consequences and Cures BY KRISTEN SCHRUM According to a recent KFF Health News article by Elisabeth Rosenthal, “The Shrinking Number of Primary Care Physicians Is Reaching a Tipping Point,” the percentage of U.S. doctors in adult primary care has fallen to 25%. Furthermore, numbers suggest that over 100…
Christian Tamburr is building a new music legacy in the Triangle
BY KURT DUSTERBERG | PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHRISTIAN TAMBURR
Christian Tamburr’s sense of humor comes in handy in his professional life. The Apex resident and accomplished musician has played in more than 60 countries alongside legendary performers and with his namesake quintet. It makes a great conversation…
Scrooge Takes a Final Bow
Ira David Wood III prepares to hang up his top hat after 50 remarkable years
BY MELISSA WISTEHUFF. PHOTOS BY BRIAN MULLINS.
Few landmarks, fixtures and traditions have withstood the countless changes Raleigh has experienced in recent decades. Natives wax nostalgic when asked about their fond recollections of yesteryear, with stories…
Connecting with Color
BY CHARLOTTE RUSSELL
In her Holly Springs studio, artist Heather Eck starts her spiritual art practice by meditating with essential oils, sage, journaling and prayer. Feeling and color serve as the roots of her intuitive painting process. She connects her color selections to the chakra system, in which each chakra is associated with…
Stargazing in the Triangle BY MARIO BOUCHER | PHOTOS BY BRUCE DeBOER (unless otherwise noted) Stargazing offers us an opportunity to look up at the marvels of stars and planets. Jonathan Pishney, head of communications at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ Nature Research Center in Raleigh, reminds us that astronaut training isn’t necessary…
Go on a summer reading adventure with local romance authors BY DOLLY R. SICKLES (Dolly Sickles writes romance novels under the pen name of Becky Moore) PHOTOS BY PEYTON SICKLES (unless otherwise noted) I was 35 when my first romance novel was published by a now-shuttered small e-book publisher in Canada. Close friends…
Radio’s Sweetheart’ is an open book—and proud of it
BY MELISSA WISTEHUFF | PHOTOS BY BRIAN MULLINS
When you think of the Triangle, majestic oaks, tall pines, Tobacco Road rivalries and Carolina barbecue may come to mind. But iconic personalities also enrich the region’s allure. With over two decades as the voice of G105’s morning…
...to keep your child engaged over the summer BY JANICE LEWINE Summer is in full swing, which means plenty of sun and fun. While these lazy days offer endless playtime for kids, they can also usher in the phenomenon known as “summer slide,” which is a regression in academic proficiency that many students experience when…
Try something new with your family this summer BY MANDY HOWARD At the beginning of last summer, my family was going through a tough season. A middle schooler and two high schoolers meant we were in for a year’s worth of academic stress—amplified by ongoing issues surrounding COVID, combined with life’s everyday anxieties and frustrations.…
Morrisville boasts a thriving cricket community for kids and pros BY KURT DUSTERBERG | PHOTOS OF THE MORRISVILLE RAPTORS BY ROB MIRACLE Babar Baig is accustomed to being asked how his favorite sport is played. The easiest way to start is with a quick overview, so he explains that cricket is a ball-and-bat sport. “Our…
