Crafted for Living PRESTON PUMPKINS' PORCHSCAPES
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LOADS OF HOPE WITH UPLIFT LAUNDRY October 2026
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WHERE IN THE OBX CAN YOU DISCOVER ADVENTURE BEYOND THE SUMMER?
Only in The Northern Outer Banks
Fall transforms The Northern Outer Banks into a place where every sunset seems to linger a little longer. Discover iconic landmarks, walk miles of quiet beaches, and wander through the timeless charm of Historic Corolla Village. Here, nature leads the way. Start exploring today.
N o r t h e r n O u t e r B a n k s .c o m
Join us at Niche Cocktail & Wine Lounge for your Holiday Celebrations!
THIS IS THE PLACE FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO ENJOY OUR AMAZING DECORATIONS AND PHENOMENAL COCKTAILS! WE ARE PROUD TO BE NAMED “THE BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE” 1 0 9 N . M A I N S T R E E T I H O L LY S P R I N G S , N C • O P E N 7 D AY S A W E E K • 5 P M T O M I D N I G H T
F O L L O W U S O N FA C E B O O K @ N I C H E W I N E L O U N G E
in this issue
18
Compounded Interest
32 Backyard Bliss
48 One Corner, Three Callings 58 By Design: The Second Act of Jeff Dale
69 Special Section: All Things Home 86 Back in Service
99 Special Section: Excellence in Education
8 CARY MAGAZINE
A porch-step display in every fall gourd there is, courtesy of Preston Pumpkins — which will bring the bounty to your doorstep. Photo by Jonathan Fredin
OCTOBER 2026 9
in every issue october 2026 • Volume 23, Number 8
17 Things to Do
EXECUTIVE
41 Small Business Spotlight: Preston Pumpkins
78 Pay It Forward: Uplift Laundry Truck
106 Garden Adventurer: The Dainty Daffodils
109 Liquid Assets: Garden Club Margarita 111 Recipes From Readers: Almost
Bill Zadeits, Group Publisher Kris Schultz, Publisher EDITORIAL
Erin McKnight, Editor Tara Shiver, Digital and Copy Editor Emily Uhland, Senior Editor CONTRIBUTORS
Lea Hart L.A. Jackson David McCreary Joe Overby Teri Saylor
PHOTOGRAPHY
Jonathan Fredin, Chief Photographer Annie Kimura
Pumpkin Butternut Squash Pie
PRODUCTION
Atiya Batts, Graphic Designer Dylan Gilroy, Web Designer Beth Harris, Graphic Designer Matt Rice, Webmaster/SEO Rachel Sheffield, Web Designer Lane Singletary, Graphic Designer
departments
12 Editor’s Letter
112 Happenings 114 Write Light
ON THE COVER: Jeff Dale in his metal workshop, welding table covered in blue stained glass and steel templates mid-fabrication, offers a look into his fine and functional craftwork. Photo by Jonathan Fredin
ADVERTISING
Paige Gunter, Senior Account Executive Maureen Powell, Senior Account Executive SOCIAL MEDIA
Arlem Mora, Social Media Coordinator PUBLIC RELATIONS
S&A Communications, Chuck Norman, APR ADMINISTRATIVE
Kristin Black, Accounting Lisa White, Senior Event Coordinator and Distribution Manager Valerie Renard, Human Resources
Cary Magazine © is published nine times annually by Cherokee Media Group. Reproduction or use, without permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. Subscriptions are $18/year. CARY MAGAZINE
701 Cascade Pointe Lane, Cary, North Carolina 27513 (919) 674-6020 • (800) 608-7500 • Fax (919) 674-6027 www.carymagazine.com This publication does not endorse, either directly or implicitly, the people, activities, products or advertising published herein Information in the magazine is deemed credible to the best of our knowledge.
Love local stories? Get more delivered straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter. Cherokee Media Group is a proud member of Cary Chamber of Commerce, Holly Springs Chamber of Commerce and FuquayVarina Chamber of Commerce.
10 CARY MAGAZINE
All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All dwellings advertised are available on an equal-opportunity basis.
Jonathan Fredin
Awarded the 2025 “Apex Citizen of the Year!”
editor’s letter
Life is short, Get moving!
Erin McKnight talks with Jeff Dale at his home studio in Cary, where three decades of graphic design and a growing body of sculpture share the same roof.
Find out why Nancy is the NUMBER ONE AGENT at Choice Residential! Nancy and her team of professionals have been assisting Wake County buyers and sellers since 2007. Whether you are an empty nester ready to downsize or a new family looking for your dream home, she is here to help you achieve your goals. Give her a call today and see what all the talk is about!
NANCY GRACE
Broker/Realtor®
There’s a particular kind of fall morning when the porch light is still on, a contractor’s truck is already in the driveway, and a pile of half-raked leaves sit ready to scatter again by lunch. This is the mood our whole homes issue is built around. Start with “Compounded Interest.” Six houses. One extended family. And a piece of land in Apex. It isn’t a subdivision. It’s closer to a small village, laid out on purpose so nobody in the family has to live far from anyone else again. No two of the houses look remotely alike, and that’s not an accident. It’s the best kind of home story: not what a house looks like, but why it exists. Elsewhere, Jeff Dale proves “home” can mean reimagining the space between (and beyond) four walls you already know by heart, not just building new ones. And we’ve got the rest of October covered too: Uplift Laundry Truck, which offers free laundry services for people in need; a dining visit to Lloyd’s Full Service, the kind of local spot that became a fixture through rounds of transformation and an enduring presence; Preston Pumpkins, because nothing says fall like a porch full of them; and a look at the Crunch Fitness coming to the old Barnes & Noble on Walnut — which, a generation before that, was St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church. Different tenants, but the same corner doing what it has always done in giving people a home away from home. Taken together, it’s an issue less about square footage than the small, patient investments that turn a house into a home and a neighborhood into family. Enjoy the issue.
Thanks for reading!
Erin McKnight, Editor
Choice Residential 225 N. Salem St, Apex
919-616-4139 | nancygracehomes.com @nancygrace.realtor
12 CARY MAGAZINE
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What’s
Poppin’on the
PODCAST? Host Melissa Wistehuff takes you beyond the pages of
Calling the Canes: Behind the Mic with Carolina Hurricanes Broadcaster Mike Maniscalco
Home Sweet Home: Exploring the Triangle Real Estate Market with Van Starling of Hodge & Kittrell Sotheby’s International Realty
EPISODE 81 EPISODE 82
EPISODE 83 The Greatest of All Time: Meet Wake County’s Goats with Smith Farm Goat Sanctuary and Goats on the Go
LISTEN NOW
Follow us on YouTube @WhatsUpWakeNC
14 CARY MAGAZINE
EPISODE 80
The Other Side of Raleigh: Tyree Dudley Shares the Stories of Raleigh’s Unhoused Community
Ghosts of the Triangle: Local Legends & Spooky Stories with Liz Pardue
EPISODE 84
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THINGS TO DO Hum Sub Diwali October 10, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary humsub.org/hum-sub-diwali-2026 Enjoy a full day of cultural performances celebrating the Hindu festival of lights. Exhibition booths, food vendors, demonstrations, and special programs are spaced throughout the day. This year’s featured performer, Vidya Vox, takes the stage at 6 p.m., and a grand fireworks finale lights up the sky at 8:45. Free admission, reserved seating available for a fee. Parking $10 general, $20 preferred.
Pumpkin Flotilla
Boo Bash
October 23, 5–7 p.m. Bond Park Boathouse, Cary
October 29, 6–8 p.m. Morrisville Community Park
Rent a boat or settle in along the shoreline to watch illuminated jack-o’-lanterns float their way around the lake at sunset. Boat rentals begin at 4 p.m. Live music and food trucks add to the fun.
Kiddos, it’s time to show off those costumes! Visit candy stations and enjoy music, face painting, giveaways, and more spooky surprises.
Barkitecture
Zombiepalooza
October 10, 1–5 p.m. Downtown Cary Park barkitecture.org
October 23, 6–9 p.m. Downtown Cary Park thecarytheater.com/zombiepalooza
Admire (or bid on) more than 20 unique pet-centric creations by architects and designers from the Triangle at this annual design competition benefiting Hope Animal Rescue, Connie’s Kittens, Paws for Life NC, and German Shepherd Rescue & Adoption. Bring your pet for the Howl-o-Ween costume contest, along with food and litter donations for SAFE Haven for Cats. Don’t miss the Kitten Cuddle Room and adoptable animals from more than a dozen rescues.
Hosted by The Cary Theater, this short film competition, now in its 11th year, invites North Carolina filmmakers of all ages and skill levels to submit zombiethemed films of 5 minutes or less. A kids’ costume contest and braineating contest precede the showings, plus zombie musical chairs and other themed activities. Audience members vote on an award winner. This year’s film theme: sports. OCTOBER 2026 17
COMPOUNDED INTEREST
WRITTEN BY ERIN MCKNIGHT
PHOTOGRAPHED BY JONATHAN FREDIN
18 CARY MAGAZINE
Six houses, one extended family, and a piece of land in Apex where multigenerational living is under construction. OCTOBER 2026 19
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Several of the sprawling family’s siblings, while searching for a location for their extended family to relocate to, built PowerPoint decks. The way a company might scout a new HQ, they compared regions of the country — demographics, politics, school districts, proximity to each other — and presented their findings back and forth until a consensus was reached. What they landed on wasn’t a subdivision or golf-course community. It was a swath of former farmland in Apex. “They purchased the lot, subdivided it, and family members are now purchasing the plots and coming and building the houses,” says Cheryl Bafford, principal of Cheryl Bafford
Interior Design (CBID), who has spent years folding herself into the family’s plans, one home at a time. “They’re coming from all over.” Today that land holds six houses, with more lots still open and four townhomes under construction. Remarkably, and not by accident, no two of the finished houses look anything alike. Known informally as The Compound in honor of its address and interconnected lifestyle, the community sits just over the town line in Apex, though it wound its way through the Town of Cary’s planning department for years. What’s grown there since the PowerPoints and the paperwork was intentionally designed by
family members who wanted, more than anything, to stop living so far apart. The first house belongs to Matt and Michelle, the family point of origin for the clan’s undertaking with Compound Cove. Theirs is a home traditional in style, with a front porch and upper balconies. Two generations are tucked around the same porch, with Michelle’s mother living there and Matt’s sister residing in an apartment attached to the house. Upstairs, tucked into the roofline, is the detail Keith Shaw, of Shaw Design Associates, is proudest of: an attic designed entirely around the family’s own history. Michelle and her mother are the historians, tracing ancestors back to the Mayflower.
Megan Granda of CBID opens the door on a house mid-build, as one more room in The Compound comes together.
OCTOBER 2026 21
22 CARY MAGAZINE
Two of Compound Cove’s houses take shape within sight of each other, proof that a multigenerational neighborhood here means proximity, not identical houses. Image courtesy of CBID/Abigail Jackson Photogaphy
The attic reflects that storied past with rope railings, ceiling beams curved to echo a ship’s hull, and lateral files stacked with maps and ancestry charts. “That whole attic was designed around elements found in the Mayflower,” Keith says with perceptible excitement. “It’s something else!” From there, The Compound grew the way families do, with one household vouching for the next yet each insisting on its own identity. Matt’s niece JJ and her husband, Hassan, wanted steel, glass, and black, a house color Keith wasn’t initially on board with. “He really didn’t want to do black,” Cheryl says, laughing, “so he recommended that JJ and Hassan talk with us,” she explains. “So we swooped in, and we could sit down and really listen, and we could advocate for the homeowner and advocate for Keith at the same time.” When it comes to the color of the home, the homeowners admit that “There was quite a bit of skepticism from other people, but Cheryl and the CBID team saw the vision immediately. … They had the confidence to support a choice that was distinctive and a little unexpected.” As a designer, they say Cheryl “knows when to push, when to reassure, and when a great design is worth taking a risk for.” The house, in the end, is boldly black. JJ’s mother and stepfather live in a smaller attached house, close enough to help JJ and Hassan with their two young children. JJ’s cousin Laura moved here from New Orleans with her husband, Will. They brought their own architect, Corbett Scott, to design a house that carries the city with them. Gas lanterns hanging out front, it’s a silhouette that wouldn’t look out of place in the Garden District. Matt’s son Justin and his wife, Maryann, built next. Justin’s sister wanted a home organized around the idea of a library. And down the road, Ali and Dan are under construction on a French country house. Dan isn’t blood — he and Justin were swimming teammates in college — but on this stretch of land, it’s a distinction that doesn’t really matter.
Cheryl Bafford
Inside Laura and Will’s finished living room is the New Orleans warmth the couple asked for in the form of a curved terra-cotta sofa, book-stacked marble coffee table, and brick and firewood by the hearth.
Image courtesy of CBID/Abigail Jackson Photogaphy
OCTOBER 2026 23
Even the land carries its history forward. An older farmhouse that once stood near where Ali and Dan are building was lifted, moved to a lot nearer the neighborhood entrance, and set on a new foundation. It is now home to Justin’s brothers. “These houses are extremely different from each other,” Cheryl explains. “They’re not even coordinated. They are such different styles.” But, she says, “Each one represents the homeowner, which is lovely.” Laura, the owner of Bayou Bungalow, designed to echo New Orleans, agrees. “I was referred to Cheryl by family members whose style is extremely different from mine,” she says. “Since then, I’ve also seen her work on a number of other houses in our community. If you put all of those houses next to each other, I don’t think anyone would guess that they were designed by the same interior design team.” She continues: “Every house is completely different. The styles are different, the materials are different, and they all feel very personal to the people who live there. I think Cheryl and her team are especially good at
understanding their clients’ individual styles and then helping them bring out the best version of that.” They also handed Cheryl’s team an unusual mandate with two young kids and little spare time: no showrooms. “We really did not want to spend our time going to showrooms,” she says. CBID “did the legwork, found a few options they thought we would like, and brought those choices to us. We ended up not going to a single showroom.” What came back — custom cabinetry in natural wood, antique mirrored glass, and mesh fronts; a heavily patterned entryway wallpaper she worried would overwhelm the room but instead makes it feel lighter — convinced her the trust was worth it. “Our house feels like our house,” she says, “rather than a house that was designed to look like a Cheryl Bafford house.” Cheryl didn’t start out chasing kitchens and primary suites. A pre-med, art-and-humanities grad bound for medical illustration, she found her way instead through store remodels for an import chain, then a flagship
JJ and Hassan’s finished house stands apart from every other house on The Compound.
24 CARY MAGAZINE
“Every house is completely different. The styles are different, the materials are different, and they all feel very personal to the people who live there.” – Cheryl Bafford, Principal, Cheryl Bafford Interior Design
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Discovery Channel store in DC — 40,000 square feet, a full-size T. rex, a V-25 bomber bursting through a wall — then a commercial architecture firm in Baltimore, followed by a furniture company that let her run its design division from home. That was her opening into residential design. By the time she and her husband landed in Chapel Hill 20 years ago, DC clients and local architects were telling her to hang her own shingle. “I had a total imposter syndrome,” she says, laughing. The first five to seven years were solo kitchen-and-bath remodels, clients’ credit cards in hand. It took roughly a decade to build the infrastructure Compound Cove would eventually demand. That range is part of why Keith leans on her so heavily now. Their partnership goes back further than Compound Cove,
Image courtesy of CBID/Abigail Jackson Photogaphy
Laura and Will’s kitchen features hand-glazed green tile, a copper-topped oak island, and brass hardware throughout.
26 CARY MAGAZINE
through a string of coincidences almost too tidy to be true. They first crossed paths on a friend’s new build, when Cheryl was guiding the homeowner’s selections. Not long after, a contractor whose daughter went to the same school as Cheryl’s son mentioned to Keith that Cheryl knew contemporary design from her years of high-end work in DC. So Keith called Cheryl and asked if she would take on a modernist house in Governors Club where the husband wanted black and straight lines; the wife wanted white and curves. “Keith and I hung in together and finished out this house together,” Cheryl says. “I think we both kind of said, if we can have this great relationship after this experience, we can work together.” The partnership deepened again a few years later, when Keith’s interior designer
of two decades passed away in the middle of a project. Cheryl stepped in and finished the house, and she’s been Keith’s go-to ever since — six or seven projects together, by his count, before The Compound came along. That shared history is why Keith continues to hand conversations to Cheryl, and why she describes the arrangement as more a division of labor than a referral network. “We fill Shaw’s voids,” she says, “and Shaw fills ours. There’s a point where an architect just can’t … it’s too much. Contractors and architects hear voices differently than we do.” For his part, Keith credits the whole enterprise to attitude more than process. “There’s no such thing as a bad idea,” he says. “Let’s just explore it and see how we can make it better and better.” Cheryl helps make that a reality.
Image courtesy of CBID
Corey Shaw (right) of Shaw Design Associates onsite at Compound Cove as JJ and Hassan’s build comes together.
Image courtesy of Shaw Design Associates
She’s also cautious not to expect trust up front, even from clients who’ve found her through a cousin or sister-in-law. “It’s just not realistic,” she says. “We have to earn that trust, and it takes the whole duration of the project. They’re trusting us with large sums of money.” For Ali, whose French country house is currently under construction and who doesn’t yet live in the Triangle, she most appreciates CBID’s project management help. “It has been a huge relief to have help with timely decisions, checking in on the project, and generally making sure it all stays on track. They go above and beyond what is strictly required for a design team to make sure our project will be not only stressful, but actually fun and enjoyable for us. “It’s like having a trusted friend and a confidant, beyond purely a designer,” she says. “They are not spending our money unnecessarily, nor are they just trying to push their own vision through. They are helping us make our dream home a reality, crafting a home that is uniquely and truly us. I fundamentally trust CBID to help us navigate this process end to end and do what is right for us at every turn.” On a compound where the client list is also a family tree, that trust compounds fastest of all. JJ recommended CBID to Laura and Will. Their experience then carried word to the next house down the road. Some of that trust is built through infrastructure most clients never think about. CBID runs projects through a client-facing platform, so homeowners can track, line by line, how their money is moving. The fiveperson team also communicates through a walkie-talkie-style app that keeps Cheryl, Faith, Megan, and Erin — the core members of CBID — in near-constant contact with clients and with each other, by Cheryl’s estimate 20 times a day or more. It’s part of what she calls “a position of service at all times” — to homeowners and CBID team members, but also to the contractors and tradespeople onsite. And on The Compound, there’s more to come. A log cabin with an orange roof Corey Shaw
OCTOBER 2026 27
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The botanical wallpaper, black marble, and brass fittings prove that the New Orleans influence extends into every room.
OCTOBER 2026 29
Image courtesy of CBID
“I am just so honored to be part of this adventure to bring the family together.” – Keith Shaw, Principal Architect, Shaw Design Associates Between them, Cheryl Bafford and Keith Shaw make sure no detail ever gets left to chance.
at the back of the property that’s original to the farm is being converted into a clubhouse, the garage on its way to becoming a pub. A swimming pool that had organically turned into what Keith calls “a frog farm” is being replaced with a new one. A handful of lots remain open for family members who haven’t yet made the move. And four townhouses, developed by Justin, are already under construction for family members who want a foothold on the property without building a full house or who prefer townhome living. It’s the kind of specificity Keith doesn’t always get. He’s designed a house around the golden ratio for a client whose whole brief was, essentially, “My windows are my artwork,” using spiral pathways and a floor plan built on the Fibonacci sequence. Compound Cove multiplies that kind of specificity six times over, one family history at a time, which is part of why Keith and his son, Corey, keep saying yes to more of it.
30 CARY MAGAZINE
Right now, they’re drawing plans for an entirely different family who bought a farm outright and are building several houses for relatives to move into. This one is more coordinated for both Keith and Cheryl, as CBID is also under contract on this project, rather than each house doing its own thing, but is built on the same instinct that proximity, done right, is worth building for. Keith, who has designed plenty of houses meant to be sold someday, says The Compound project is different in a way he doesn’t take lightly. He spent his own birthday this summer at a mountain house in Boone that Cheryl helped him design, surrounded by three brothers, their wives, his father, and his wife. It’s the kind of gathering that gets him thinking about The Compound. It calls to mind, he says, his wife’s grandfather, one of 17 children raised on a family farm in Nebraska, living under a single roof out of sheer necessity.
What The Compound’s family members are doing, centralizing in Apex, looks nothing like that, but Keith sees the same instinct behind it: “the importance of family, and allowing diversity, but accepting the diversity,” he says. “Your siblings are the only other people on the planet, if you have any, that follow your life path with you. … I’ve always told Matt I’m just so honored to be part of this adventure, to bring the family together.” Six houses in, with more to come, what compounds on this stretch of former farmland isn’t sameness. It’s proximity and the years of small, patient investments — a shared architect, a trusted designer — that turn a subdivided lot into something closer to what a family actually is. t cherylbafford.com @cherylbaffordinteriordesign shawdesign.us @shawdesign.us
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OCTOBER 2026 31
Beautifully landscaped and situated steps from the home, kitchen gardens by The Nourished Garden feature edible herbs and vegetables and emphasize a calming connection with the outdoors.
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BACK YARD BLISS Edible gardens made easy
WRITTEN BY EMILY UHLAND | PHOTOGRAPHED BY JONATHAN FREDIN
OCTOBER 2026 33
Water. Fertilize. Mow. Weed.
It’s a cycle common to many trying to keep their lawn lush with green grass. A cycle that can sometimes feel like a battle. Corinne Beirne thinks there’s a better way to love your landscaping. Better not just for our homes, but for our health as well. “If we could turn toasty grass into a place where something productive and beautiful can be grown, that’s a win,” she says. Corinne owns The Nourished Garden, which designs and implements kitchen gardens and coaches homeowners on growing their own herbs and produce. “A kitchen garden is a beautifully designed space that is front and center in your yard. It has the foods you eat in it: lettuce, carrots, tomatoes. It has a beautiful archway; it’s also an entertaining space,” she says. Under Corinne’s practiced guidance, gardens are no longer relegated to the back corner of the lot, but become beautiful landscape features with raised beds, trellises, and plentiful plantings mere steps from the back door. “Have you ever had a recipe that required basil, and you went to the grocery store to pick up a pack of $8 basil then used four leaves and the rest sat in the refrigerator? It’s a waste of money, and that basil probably sat on a truck for a week before it got to you,” Corinne laments. “With a kitchen garden, if I’m making a salad or pasta sauce tonight, I’m gonna just step outside and pinch off what I need.” Her passion for gardening grew out of a search for calm and quiet in the midst of a busy lifestyle as a working mother of two.
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Owner Corinne Beirne loves working in the garden with her children, Kennedy and Beau, finding that “there’s something different” about eating food that they’ve grown at home.
“I am a yoga instructor, and I’ve been teaching people how to calm their nervous systems for the last several years. I discovered that plants and gardening can really help with our nervous systems and help us heal in ways that we can’t in a yoga studio.” Lingering health issues led Corinne to deep research on herbalism, gardening, and how to restore her own well-being.
“I became very fascinated with growing my own food in addition to growing my own medicine. It started with herbs, and then I wanted cleaner tomatoes and cucumbers that didn’t have pesticides all over them. “I started doing this gardening work for my own nervous system. It’s not about the tomatoes. It’s about getting outside
“
With a kitchen garden, if I’m making a salad or pasta sauce tonight, I’m gonna just step outside and pinch off what I need.
”
– Corinne Beirne
OCTOBER 2026 35
Grow Your Own Backyard gardens made easy with The Nourished Garden’s full-service approach
Step One: Planning Owner Corinne will identify the most sunny and practical location and design the garden layout. Working with the homeowner, she’ll create a vision board for what they want to grow. “I really listen to, ‘What do you eat?’ If you don’t eat beets, we’re not going to plant beets.”
Step Two: Installation The landscape team prepares the site and installs the raised boxes, trellises, and irrigation.
Step Three: Planting “So I come out, and I coach and teach people, and I plant with them,” says Corinne, who supplies the seeds and seedlings to start the garden.
Step Four: Follow-Up Clients of The Nourished Garden receive monthly return visits for planting checks, coaching, and troubleshooting with Corinne. “I visit once a month until … they feel empowered to grow on their own.”
36 CARY MAGAZINE
The Nourished Garden ensures that designs are beautiful, as well as functional, so that kitchen gardens become entertaining spaces for family and friends.
and honoring your circadian rhythm with sunlight and fresh air,” she explains. “I’ve become hyper focused on how to create an environment for ourselves where we live well. That means slowing down. What are ways we can do that? The research says to be outside and to eat healthy food.” As her knowledge expanded, Corinne became a resource for friends, family, and neighbors, and eventually, The Nourished Garden took root. Education is a large component of the business, and you’ll often find Corinne hosting planting workshops at local garden centers or leading children’s gardening activities at farmers markets. “A lot of people want to garden, but they don’t know how,” she says. “They don’t know where to start.” The Nourished Garden’s full-service model — including landscape design, raised bed construction and installation, planting assistance, and monthly follow-ups — means a kitchen garden is achievable for almost anyone with space and desire, no experience required. “If you want to grow food, I’m gonna hold your hand; I’m gonna show you how. We’re going to grow what you want with your vision, but I’m going to make it easy,” she says.
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Fragrant herbs such as thyme, rosemary, and basil outline Corinne’s garden beds for natural pest protection.
“My gardens are intensively planted. They’re bordered with herbs for organic pest protection. The pests really don’t like the smelly, stinky herbs like basil, rosemary, and thyme. And then we intensively plant on top of each other tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, lettuce, radishes, sugar snap peas, all of it. And they grow beautifully. It actually makes watering easier with all those root systems together; they don’t need as much watering because there’s not as much dry space in between.” In Corinne’s own home garden, she’s found a beautiful refuge from life’s hustle and bustle and a place to connect with her children, ages 5 and 14. “My son is 5. He was horrified when I put peas on his plate for a few nights for dinner. But now we grow peas together, and he sits in the garden and eats the peas right off of the vine. “That is a beautiful thing. There’s something different about eating food that you grew from a seed,” she says.
38 CARY MAGAZINE
Involving the entire family makes a kitchen garden that much more impactful. “It’s a place where children can reconnect with nature in this digital world and find an excuse to be outside. They learn how to care for something that is alive and to nurture it. It teaches patience. “It’s also taught me and my kids to appreciate the bees. They’re not just a nuisance anymore. They are the reason that we have the fruits of our labor.” The Nourished Garden’s Instagram account (@the_nourished_garden) serves as another avenue for sharing expertise and planting tips and getting to know Corinne herself. “I’m trying to use the platform to teach and educate, and to reach people,” she says. “Learning to harvest herbs and food when they’re in season and just slowing down — it’s something that people, I’m finding, are really thirsty for.” Above all, Corinne wants her clients and the local community to feel empowered to garden on their own in order to reap the
“
I’ve become hyper focused on how to create an environment for ourselves where we live well.
”
– Corinne Beirne
culinary and wellness benefits, connect with nature, and feel the sense of accomplishment that comes with harvesting your own food. “I’m really passionate about teaching people. If you’re making popcorn tonight, chop up some rosemary and melt it in the butter and drizzle on popcorn. Go use your herbs and make them a part of everyday life. It’s not only medicinally (beneficial), but just being outside and the feeling of pulling something from the garden and eating it slows your nervous system down. A slower nervous system is what we all need right now for health.” t thenourishedgarden.com @the_nourished_garden
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40 CARY MAGAZINE
small business spotlight
WRITTEN BY LEA HART | PHOTOGRAPHED BY JONATHAN FREDIN
OCTOBER 2026 41
“
The reception to it has been so great.They’ve embraced me and think it’s a great idea. It helps you keep going when people are giving you positive feedback.
”
— Kaitlyn Ballbe, Owner, Preston Pumpkins
The heart and soul behind Preston Pumpkins: Kaitlyn and Claude Ballbe pose with their two young daughters among one of their front porch creations.
Claude does some of the heavy lifting as Kaitlyn directs.
Drive through many Cary neighborhoods in early October and festive signs of fall can be seen everywhere. Piles of pumpkins in every size cascade down front porch steps, wind along railings, and spill across lawns. Thanks to the magic of Preston Pumpkins, the family-run seasonal decorating business founded in 2025 by Kaitlyn and Claude Ballbe, many of those fallscapes appear without the homeowner ever lifting a finger.
career, seeing an opportunity to turn her seasonal obsession into something bigger. She found partner suppliers to bring down costs and cut the hassle, and thus Preston Pumpkins was born. Cary turned out to be the perfect place to plant that idea. Kaitlyn describes her neighborhood as exactly the kind of familyfriendly community she wanted to serve: one where a decorated porch isn’t just décor, but a small, shared moment of fun for everyone who walks or drives by. That mission has stayed the same from day one: keep it low pressure, keep it joyful, and give families something exciting to come home to.
From Corporate Marketing to Curbside Magic
Kaitlyn’s path to pumpkin entrepreneur
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didn’t start with pumpkins at all. It started with a corporate marketing career and a passion for holiday décor. When previously living in Dallas, she embraced the philosophy that everything is bigger in Texas, from Christmas lights to pumpkin displays. When she came to live in Cary, she’d deck out her own porch every fall, and the compliments rolled in year after year. “Why not do it bigger, and make it more fun?” Kaitlyn says of her decorating approach. But she found sourcing the perfect pumpkins on her own was expensive and time-consuming. After the arrival of her second daughter, Kaitlyn made the choice to step away from her corporate
It’s a team effort as the Ballbes create fall magic across the area’s front porches and lawns.
OCTOBER 2026 43
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Kaitlyn and Claude work together to perfect a front porch scape. Claude’s role has shifted from handling the heavy lifting to also serving as a creative partner as Kaitlyn crafts her designs.
How It Works
Preston Pumpkins keeps its offerings simple and approachable, with something for every kind of porch. The entry-level option, playfully described as “a cozy touch of fall charm,” pairs jack-o’lanterns of various sizes with an assortment of specialty and pie pumpkins, with full setup onsite. For families who want to go bigger, the fuller festive display ups the pumpkin count and tosses in hay bales for a fuller autumn scene. There’s also a simpler, DIY-friendly route for customers who just want the pumpkins themselves without the hassle of carting them home — a batch of classic orange, or a two-tone orange-and-white mix, with or without setup, depending on how hands-on a family wants to be. Add-ons like extra hay bales and corn stalks round
things out for anyone looking to build on their display. It’s a lineup designed to flex with whatever a family has in mind, whether that’s a quick pop of orange by the front door or a display elaborate enough to stop foot traffic. Pricing starts at $60, and for the bigger packages, Kaitlyn and her husband will drape pumpkins down a stairwell or cascade them across an entire porch for that full pumpkin patch effect. There’s even a “set it and forget it” option once the season winds down: for $100, the team will come back out and handle removal and disposal of all the pumpkins and hay bales, so homeowners don’t have to figure out what to do with a porch full of softening gourds come late November. And if none of the standard packages quite fit the vision, Kaitlyn is quick to point out that
the menu is really just a starting point. She and her husband are always happy to talk through a custom design tailored to a specific porch. The process is low-pressure for customers. Kaitlyn speaks with clients beforehand to talk through their vision, such as porchwide or clustered in one spot, though she says most people are happy to hand over the creative reins entirely. After booking online, customers simply pick a delivery date. On the big day, Kaitlyn arrives with Claude, who handles the heavy lifting involved in hauling and loading pumpkins. Claude has become a creative partner over the past year as well, offering ideas to tweak Kaitlyn’s designs rather than just executing them. The design itself comes together onsite. Kaitlyn scouts each house ahead of time to plan OCTOBER 2026 45
When the work is done, Kaitlyn and Claude take pride in bringing the joy of the season to another local family.
Preston Pumpkins customers don’t need to lift a finger and come home to a finished product that creates a sense of seasonal wonder.
around its layout while drawing inspiration from other displays she’s researched, but she says the real creativity happens in the moment. “A lot of it comes to life when I’m there,” she explains. “Moving pumpkins back and forth, seeing what looks good.” Together, Kaitlyn and Claude can transform a porch in 30 minutes to an hour, she says. Customers don’t even need to be home — they just come back to a fully decorated porch waiting for them. A Fast-Growing Fall Tradition
Business ramps up at the end of September. While families are often focused on Halloween, many keep their displays up well past the holiday, often through Thanksgiving. It’s a remarkably fast trajectory for a business that launched quickly last fall. Kaitlyn recalls simply deciding, around
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October 5, “let’s do it.” The first season came together from there. They’re on track this year to well surpass the number of families served last year. Much of that growth traces back to marketing, Kaitlyn’s professional wheelhouse. Last year, she got the word out to local neighborhoods; this year, she’s leaned heavily into Instagram and social media. She’s also reached out to local influencers as she looks to build even more buzz. Separately, Preston Pumpkins has partnered with several Cary-area realtors, who now gift the packages to clients moving into new homes this fall as a seasonal “welcome to the neighborhood.” The Heart Behind the Hustle
For Kaitlyn, the appeal goes well beyond pumpkins. Her favorite part of the business
is the community connection. She loves getting to know neighbors and families throughout Cary and beyond — they’ve gone all the way to Durham already — and watching kids come home from school to a porch that’s been magically transformed while they were away. “Seeing the joy of the holiday come to life for them is really fun,” she says. Her own daughters are part of this journey and Kaitlyn hopes that, as her girls get older, they’ll come to appreciate the business their parents built together and maybe even join in on delivery days. Running a small business while raising two small children isn’t without the occasional challenge, Kaitlyn admits. Fitting deliveries around the rhythm of family life takes some juggling. But she says the payoff is worth it, especially given how warmly Cary and surrounding towns have welcomed the idea. And that positive reception is a big part of what keeps her going and growing. Looking ahead, Kaitlyn is eager to continue to expand beyond the standard menu. Preston Pumpkins is also open to custom projects for events and commercial businesses alike. “The reception to it has been so great,” she says. “They’ve embraced me and think it’s a great idea. It helps you keep going when people are giving you positive feedback.”t prestonpumpkins.com @prestonpumpkins
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OCTOBER 2026 47
ONE CORNER, THREE CALLINGS WRITTEN BY JOE OVERBY
Jonathan Fredin
48 CARY MAGAZINE
Much like its predecessors, Crunch Cary aims to nurture community in former home of Barnes & Noble, St. Mike’s OCTOBER 2026 49
Joe Overby (center in skeleton costume, holding hands with his little sister, aka Super Girl) at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Cary during the late 1980s. The church was located on the exact ground on which the new Crunch Fitness is opening.
Joe Overby
50 CARY MAGAZINE
Joe Overby
It’s a bit surreal. The exact location I attended preschool and church potluck dinners as a child will soon be the spot I’ll (struggle to) lift weights and ride a stationary bike as a 40-something adult. From CCD classes at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church to HIIT classes at Crunch Fitness. “Lord Almighty” being uttered by yours truly in both instances. Some three decades have passed since the church where I received my First Communion decamped for an eventual larger facility. And the commercial development in Cary that replaced it on the property adjacent to the intersection of Walnut Street and SE Maynard Road may seem like just another shopping center in a town full of them. Flanked by a gas station and a high school, its tenants include offices, retail storefronts, and a Mexican restaurant. But the places occupying this land, religious and secular alike, have nurtured souls, broadened minds, and put food on the table (literally and figuratively) for decades. And the future anchor tenant of this plaza, Crunch Fitness, is looking to be an “extension of the community,” much like the gathering places that have come before. Places like St. Mike’s, which formed the bedrock of my faith as well as thousands of others’. Or the next tenant, Barnes & Noble, that fostered a fascination for reading and rock music, at least for one tragically unhip Cary middle schooler in the mid-’90s. For some, like my future sister-in-law who lived nearby, the bookstore was also a place to study. And just across the parking lot, Romano’s Macaroni Grill was a place where college kids, like my older sister, could earn a buck and show off their server skills to the family. The newest gathering place on the block, Crunch Fitness, is set to open around the first quarter of 2027. As a Crunch member myself, former St. Mike’s parishioner, and frequent listener of alt-rock CDs at Barnes & Noble as a teen, I
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Images courtesy of JFF North America/Crunch Fitness
Crunch Cary will feature: Kids Crunch HIITZone Group Fitness Hot Studio Ride Studio Posing Room Tanning Red Light Polar Wave (Dry Cold Plunge) Hydromassage Human Touch Chairs Hyperice Tools Abs & Glutes Room
52 CARY MAGAZINE
was intrigued by this full-circle moment coming to the neighborhood where I spent much of my youth. So, I talked with the folks behind the new Crunch, and what I found is that they’re aiming to foster a similar sense of belonging that the previous tenants brought. This gym will be the third location in the Triangle for franchisee JFF North America, which currently has 37 Crunch gyms throughout the Southeast and MidAtlantic, with another eight on the way. “One of the things I automatically think of (about Crunch) is that it still feels a lot like a mom-and-pop local gym,” says Ashton Harrell, president and chief operating officer of JFF North America. “That’s really what we consider ourselves.” The entire JFF executive team and vice president–level employees originated at the group’s first gym, “so we consider our team and our members like our family,” Ashton says. “I can still go back to the first gym I ever worked at in our company up in Richmond, Virginia, and I see the same members,” she says. “I still know their names. They still know me. And that was 10 years ago. “I think what’s really cool is that Crunch is a franchise, but they allow so
much independent operating plays as well, that it really allows you to have this local, family-oriented gym feel … “When you talk about big brands and chains and things like that, you lose so much of that, and we still have so much of that local neighborhood gym feel.” Maintaining that neighborhood vibe is a priority emphasized by existing Crunch members, says Jonny Braddock, senior vice president of growth and facilities at JFF. “We’ve had tremendous success with our two clubs over in Raleigh,” Jonny says, referring to the Crunch locations on Creedmoor Road and in the Village District. “And one thing we’ve been hearing a lot about the feedback from our members there is that they want locations closer to home. And when we’re looking through what that means, a name that kept coming up was Cary. I think there’s a high need here,” he says. The team has already started making itself at home in Cary. Crunch ambassadors have been out and about in the town this summer, reaching out to local businesses, hosting membership signup drives, and meeting folks in the community. “We have a whole process whenever we open a new gym (where) we hire a
The Cary location of Crunch Fitness will have a similar layout and amenities to this one on Ireland Drive in Fayetteville.
OCTOBER 2026 53
team of really passionate fitness enthusiasts who go out and share the word with everyone in the community,” says Jake McCabe, JFF’s chief marketing officer. “So it’s things like 5K races and health fairs and really meeting and engaging the community where they are. “And then from the marketing side, we look for all the places where our potential customers are at to engage them both on traditional media, as well as social media on Instagram and TikTok and Facebook,” he said. “But really the whole idea is to get out of the construction area out into the community and find people where they are.” Meeting people where they are, so to speak, is part of the mantra at Crunch, Ashton agrees. The gyms are designed to be for all fitness levels and meet the needs and goals of
a wide variety of members. That includes equipment ranging from hammer strength machines and powerlifting platforms to free weights and cardio. Classes and studios specializing in Zumba, HIIT, cycling, rest/ recovery, and hot yoga. Whether your needs are training, toning, or tanning, Crunch aims to serve a wide base of needs and goals, Ashton says. “It really doesn’t matter who you are, there’s something for you here,” she says. “Whatever your fitness goals are, whatever your background is, there’s something here to help you and for you.” Just like Crunch aims to be a fit for its members, Cary was a natural fit for JFF North America, especially the neighborhood into which the gym is moving. “Cary actually has been a market we have been looking at for years, trying
to find the right box in the right place in Cary,” Ashton says. “It’s a fast-growing space in Raleigh. It really fits our target demographic.” There are also population-dense residential neighborhoods surrounding the shopping center, as well as Cary High School and multiple shopping centers nearby, including Crossroads Plaza and Fenton, both of which are off major highways. “So we’re very conveniently located as you’re just running out and about your errands coming to and from work. You really are going to be easily passing by our location. So it’s convenient for people,” Ashton says. “The market is great for us. And our plan is to really continue building out the Raleigh market. And so this is a perfect piece in that puzzle.” t
Image courtesy of JFF North America/Crunch Fitness
“Whatever your fitness goals are, whatever your background is, there’s something here to help you and for you.”
54 CARY MAGAZINE
— Ashton Harrell, President & COO, JFF North America
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OCTOBER 2026 55
DRY PLUNGE & HOT YOGA: What’s on tap at Crunch Cary
going to have anything from tanning and red light therapy to massage guns, multiple different kinds of massage chairs, a posing room for people, whether they want a selfie or wheth-
You’ve likely heard of a cold plunge.
er they’re a competitive bodybuilder. I’m sure we’ll get a mixture
But a dry plunge?
of both in there.”
“It looks like an oversized hydromassage chair, and it’s a cold plunge without the mess, essentially,” says Jonny Brad-
And, of course, the dry plunge, which looks remarkably similar to existing hydromassage chairs at Crunch’s Raleigh locations.
dock, senior vice president of growth and facilities at JFF North
“In fact, it’s even that same brand. So anyone who’s used
America, the franchisee bringing a Crunch Fitness location to
one of those would be very familiar with how the console looks.
Cary in early 2027.
They’re able to adjust specific temperatures, whether it be on their
“It’s great for recovery, reducing inflammation, and it also improves people’s mood,” Jonny says. “I think a cold plunge in the morning is an incredible way to start off the day, sans caffeine.” The PolarWave Dry Cold Plunge from WellnessSpace
arms or their neck, so they can adjust the individual zones on the touchscreens, just like hydromassage,” Jonny says. The layout of the facility will also have a more distinct separation of activity zones.
Brands is one of several amenities that JFF has planned for its
The first thing guests will see walking in will be a straight
upcoming Cary gym, which will be located in the former Barnes
view of the new secondary turf, Jonny says. The various studios
& Noble building near the intersection of Walnut Street and SE
will be around the perimeter of the facility, including the Kids
Maynard Road.
Crunch studio that will have its own theater.
JFF plans to make the location, which encompasses more
As far as classes, most will be similar to what Crunch’s
than 40,000 square feet, its flagship Crunch location in North
Raleigh locations offer, but one new twist is the Hot Stuff Stu-
Carolina, says Chief Operating Officer Ashton Harrell.
dio, which will start by offering hot yoga and eventually other
It will be the group’s third location in the Triangle, joining existing Crunch gyms in Raleigh on Creedmoor Road and in the Village District. The Cary facility will be built to reflect Crunch’s 3.0 model, Jonny says, so it will have a different layout and set of amenities than the two Raleigh gyms.
classes like hot Pilates and hot barre. “One thing that’s pretty cool now with the new turf space is (that) the HIIT zone itself is sectioned off into its own room,” Jonny says. “That’s, of course, available when classes aren’t going on just like normal, but even when classes are going on, they’ll still
“We have additional turf spaces, which is really cool for
have a similar space out on the main floor,” he says. “So it’ll be
functional workouts, stretching, that kind of stuff,” Jonny says.
similar classes, but an expanded schedule because of the extra
“There’s also a fully dedicated relax and recover area, which is
studios and extra space.” t Image courtesy of JFF North America/Crunch Fitness
56 CARY MAGAZINE
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OCTOBER 2026 57
By Design:
The Second Act of J eff D ale Three decades of graphic design taught him to say more with less. Now he’s saying it in wood and metal.
Jeff Dale’s kinetic wind sculpture, Arbor, turns in his Cary garden on ball bearings with the lightest breeze.
WRITTEN BY ERIN MCKNIGHT | PHOTOGRAPHED BY JONATHAN FREDIN
58 CARY MAGAZINE
“I realized I don’t have the interest in the digital side of things as much as I do the tangible.” — Jeff Dale
Jeff’s background is in fine art and, for three decades, as a graphic designer.
There’s a chair in Jeff Dale’s gallery that was sketched out in the backseat of a car. It was 1980, early in Jeff’s relationship with his wife, and their destination was a family reunion. At the time, they were living in Washington, DC, and Jeff was enamored with Southwestern art. It was in the DC apartment that he would fabricate and paint the chair that would be boxed up and forgotten until years later when he’d find it and realize, “Oh, that’s still cool.” Downstairs, in his metal studio, sparks are already flying off another project. It’s a custom-designed garden gate featuring an exquisite combination of green and blue stained glass and a handle engineered for one-handed use and shaped to echo the gate’s architectural lines. Both are Jeff Dale. Neither is the whole story. For more than 30 years, Jeff has run Dale Design, building brands, logos, and print collateral for a long roster of clients. For the last eight, he’s been building something else alongside it. Jeff Dale Art forms a body of sculpture and functional furniture in wood, metal, and concrete that has landed him three gallery shows, a Best in Show ribbon, a public sculpture that strangers stop to admire, and, increasingly, the question of what happens when the artist who spent three decades solving other people’s problems gets to start solving his own. Jeff didn’t set out to be a designer. He wanted to be a soccer player, and he got semi-pro close while working nights at a print shop. It was the shop’s owner who changed his trajectory. “Hey, you do art,” he said. “I’ve got a client here that needs a logo.” Jeff agreed and, as he recalls, “That was the click.” When the soccer career didn’t pan out, the choice was obvious. As he was already studying fine art at the time, the shift into graphic design happened quickly thanks to internships around the DC area, a finished degree, and three years of experience banked before he and his wife moved to Cary in 1990. OCTOBER 2026 59
Jeff test-fits a gate handle against his working drawings, beside stained glass made for the same piece.
60 CARY MAGAZINE
In his wood shop, Jeff holds a digital rendering of a sculpture still in progress.
After working briefly for someone else here, Jeff started Dale Design. For three decades, he says, “If there was a creative opportunity involved, I was all in” — logos, packaging, displays, signage, books, annual reports, the occasional website or ad campaign that came along as a byproduct of client work rather than the point of it. The space that houses both businesses was constructed 15 years ago at Jeff’s home. The plan was for him to run his design studio upstairs with fabrication happening downstairs. The woodshop came first. Jeff grew up in his father’s shop. The metal side arrived by accident. A father-son car project (still sitting under a tarp outside) meant acquiring metal fabrication equipment, which meant, eventually, Jeff’s wife’s car got permanently evicted from the garage.
That unplanned metal shop is what allowed a body of sculptural work — some dating back to decades-old sketches — to finally get made. About eight years ago, as Jeff’s kids grew and the design industry moved further online, he started circling back to the fine art he’d set aside when graphic design first found him. “I realized I don’t have the interest in the digital side of things as much as I do the tangible,” he explains. Walk the gallery space Jeff built above his studio and the vocabulary repeats: a circle here, a square there, a load-bearing triangle somewhere in between. It’s a discipline he traces directly back to his logo work. “If I could design a logo with a piece of type and make it say everything, that was like a home run for me,” he says. “I’m an abstract artist, and I work with some of the simplest of forms — squares, circles, and triangles.”
That restraint shows up across scales and materials. Unbroken, a sculpture of raw wood and steel welded to resemble salvaged shipyard metal, sits on a mirrored base so the piece appears to extend into infinity. Jeff describes it as “a pure celebration of the two materials.” His Form Over Function chair series, which includes The Talking Chairs and the newer Trinity Chair, started in wood decades ago and is now being reworked in metal simply because Jeff finally has the equipment to do so. Stroll and its companion piece Dance earned Best in Show at a competition in Hickory. A second, refined version of Stroll later sold at a show at The Centerpiece Gallery in North Raleigh, which has held onto several of his pieces since. Jeff’s first public show, years earlier, came from a friend rather than a gallery. Dan Campbell, a local painter Jeff had befriended OCTOBER 2026 61
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62 CARY MAGAZINE
Although it is a different register entirely from his recent work, this patterned chair in enamel red, green, and gold is a similarly architecturally inspired form despite being crafted in 1980.
OCTOBER 2026 63
after designing a Cary Visual Art logo for free, wanted him to exhibit at an auction whose proceeds went to charity. Jeff had been hesitant, feeling he needed a deeper body of work first; Dan pushed anyway. Behind nearly every completed piece is a stack of sketches. For The Thinker, an homage to Rodin, Jeff filled page after page trying to work out the balance between top and bottom before the shape finally clicked into place. “I don’t like to do the same thing twice,” he says of his broader approach. Even when he returns to a form he’s used before, he pushes it somewhere new rather than repeating it outright. Once a sketch holds up, he’ll often build a small study, in wood or 3D print, partly to test an idea that reads well on paper. “When you put it in your hand, it just takes on a different form,” he says. From there, the design moves into CAD, where he can test scale, work out how much material a piece will require, and send files out for CNC routing or plasma cutting. He builds small on purpose, testing whether an idea holds before committing to size — because his instincts tend to run the other direction. “A lot of what I design and think up, I envision big,” he says. Material dictates a lot of that process. Wood, he says, punishes mistakes outright. Metal is more forgiving of error but unforgiving of heat. Increasingly, Jeff works in both at once, plus concrete on occasion, drawn to how differently each material catches light and touch. His influences run in a similarly spare direction: Rodin for form, M.C. Escher for Arbor, the kinetic wind sculpture in his yard, and Keith Haring, whose flattened, highcontrast line work Jeff says he’s always loved. But the clearest throughline isn’t a sculptor at all; it’s the discipline of a good logo, still doing the job it always did. “I’m trying to express myself, express the statement, express an idea, through simplicity and through basic form,” he says. Say the most with the least. The medium just changed.
64 CARY MAGAZINE
Framed by pieces of a work in progress, Jeff grinds steel in his metal shop.
OCTOBER 2026 65
Jeff also thinks deliberately about how pieces work in relation to each other. Placing a small “model study” beside the larger sculpture it led to, he’s noticed, changes how people see both. “You see a sculpture like Stroll, and it intrigues you,” he says. “You see another sculpture like Dance sitting right next to it, and then your brain starts to see everything in between.” That connective effect is, he says, part of why he keeps circling back to related forms rather than treating every sculpture as an isolated statement. Some of Jeff’s most personal work never went up for sale. A piece he calls God Bless America, made from a wood panel salvaged from his own house, carries the faint handprints of his two now-grown children along its edges. It’s a folk-art response to September
11 that arrived, he says, without a single preliminary sketch. A second piece called Anguish is handcarved with 20 screaming mouths and pierced by 40 rusted spurs to mark the year 2020 and needs no explanation beyond the pandemic moment it commemorates. “Sometimes there’s pure clarity in what you want to do,” Jeff says. “That happened to be one.” Elsewhere, his work is meant to be lived in rather than looked at from across a room. He’s built garden gates, railings, credenzas, and tables for clients. One outdoor table was commissioned twice by the same client, once for a mountain home and once for the backyard left behind. Because Jeff didn’t want to repeat himself, from 20 paces the two tables look identical, but the mix of wood and metal up close is entirely different.
The garden gate he designed and is currently completing folds the same circle-squaretriangle logic into wrought steel and stained glass, with an ivy motif and blue-and-green palette chosen in honor of the client’s late wife. In his own front yard, Arbor spins on ball bearings, opposing shapes checking each other so it never spins away. “I’ve come out here when we’ve had the worst of windstorms,” he says, “thinking it’s going to just spin off, and it, so far, continues to keep itself in check.” His largest public piece to date, a 16.5foot steel sculpture titled Sunflower, stands on Kildare Farm Road on the Glenaire property. Built from I-beams, from a distance the whole thing reads as a flower forged from industrial steel. Another sculpture, once installed in his own backyard, now stands at the entrance to the UNC Surgical Center in Chapel Hill.
In the home gallery he built above his studio, Jeff is framed by pieces from across his fine and functional art, including, at right, God Bless America, inspired by 9/11.
66 CARY MAGAZINE
Jeff aims “to express myself through simplicity and through basic form.”
Sunflower is a large-scale steel public sculpture built from I-beams so that from a distance the piece reads as a flower forged from industrial steel.
“I would love to have a big shop that wouldn’t limit me as to what I can explore.” — Jeff Dale
A smaller version of that same Unbroken design, scaled down to about a foot tall in wood and metal, became a wedding gift for his daughter. The same symbolism, sized for a different kind of permanence. Jeff wasn’t looking for validation when Sunflower was installed, but he got some anyway. While photographing the finished sculpture one afternoon, he overheard a stranger walking her dog say to no one in particular, “I can’t tell you how much this brightens my day.” She had no idea the artist was standing right there. “I’m grateful that I get the opportunity to give back in some way,” Jeff says. Jeff still does work for select Dale Design clients, some quietly becoming its
own tradition. For approximately 15 years, he’s donated design services to an annual golf tournament fundraiser; for the last several years, he’s also fabricated the event’s trophies. The pull toward scale keeps growing. “If I were greedy,” he says, “I would love to have a big shop that wouldn’t limit me as to what I can explore.” Museums are on his mind, too, less for the validation than for what they’ve always given him. “The amount of time I’ve spent at museums for pure inspiration,” he explains. “I need to see something that will help me think.” If he had one dream left to chase, he says, it would be to have a piece in a museum setting.
For now, the work keeps stacking up in the shop downstairs — half-finished metal frames waiting on a second wood-and-metal version, a 9-foot sculpture nearly ready to leave the studio, sketches for chairs that haven’t been cut yet. Jeff isn’t in a hurry to call any of it finished. “I will never say I’ve succeeded,” he says, “because when you do, you’re done.” Whatever comes next, it will still be circles, squares, and triangles — the same simple forms he once used to say everything a logo needed to say, now saying something that’s entirely his own.t jeffdaleart.com @jeffdaleart OCTOBER 2026 67
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HOME
Because home is where life happens, getting it right takes the right people. This special section spotlights local experts helping homeowners build, buy, and settle in: general contractors bringing renovation visions to life, realtors guiding every step of the market, fiber-optic providers keeping homes connected, and senior living communities offering comfort and community for the next chapter. Meet the local pros who know home best.
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OCTOBER 2026 69
A Smarter Home Starts with a Stronger Connection Today’s home is more connected than ever. From the moment we wake up to the moment we turn out the lights, technology has become part of the way we live, helping us work, unwind, stay entertained, feel secure, and keep in touch with the people who matter most. A reliable connection is what brings it all together. With a strong fiber-optic network at its foundation, a connected home can seamlessly support everything from streaming your favorite shows in 4K and video calling family to working remotely and managing a growing collection of smart devices. Smart home technology can add another layer of convenience, allowing homeowners to control compatible lighting, thermostats, locks, cameras, and security features even while away from home. And as our homes become smarter, the technology behind them needs to be ready for what comes next. Hotwire Communications delivers 100% fiber-optic connectivity designed for today’s connected lifestyles and tomorrow’s possibilities. Through its Fision® services, Hotwire brings multi-Gigabit Internet together with entertainment, voice, home security and smart home automation solutions that help make technology feel like a natural part of everyday life. For homeowners, however, a great technology experience is about more than speed. It’s about knowing that when you need help, there are people nearby who understand your community. Hotwire combines future-ready technology with dedicated local resources and personalized, conciergelevel service throughout the Carolinas. Because the smartest home isn’t simply the one with the most technology. It’s the one where everything works together simply, reliably, and around the way you live.
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70 CARY MAGAZINE
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Transforming Your Home: A Local Contractor’s Approach Whether you’re improving the home you want to stay in, or preparing to sell and purchase a new home, Cary General Contractor can help you transform spaces and make them more functional and valuable. Some of our most popular projects this year have been bathroom and kitchen updates, creating new bedrooms or office spaces, and building wood or composite decks for outdoor entertaining. Having an idea for a new project is the exciting part — finding the right contractor to bring that idea to life can be the challenge. We suggest finding someone who is licensed, insured, has great reviews, and handles projects similar in size and scope to yours. Your contractor can serve as your single point of contact, coordinating the different trades involved so you don’t have to.
Another conversation we frequently have with clients is: Do we renovate what’s already there, or replace it entirely? The answer depends on the condition of the existing space, your goals, and your budget. Sometimes a small renovation is the quickest and most cost-effective way to achieve goals. Other times, a complete replacement or rebuild is the safer choice and better long-term investment. Bathroom remodels are a great example. One homeowner may simply want to replace an outdated garden tub with a walkin shower, while another may benefit from reworking the entire bathroom with a new layout, vanities, tile, and light fixtures. A good contractor shouldn’t automatically push you towards the biggest project. They should help you understand your options and scale the project to fit your budget, needs, and vision.
(919) 349-1032 carygeneralcontractor.com
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OCTOBER 2026 71
Kimberlee Edwards Howard Hanna Allen Tate Award-winning Realtor Kimberlee Edwards brings strategy, strong advocacy, and a discerning eye to every real estate opportunity. An agent with the Cary office of Howard Hanna Allen Tate, she serves clients across Cary, Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and surrounding Triangle communities. Kimberlee’s expertise spans luxury and executive homes, custom building, new construction, relocation, move-up purchases, and investment properties. Sellers benefit from her ability to recognize a home’s strongest features, position it effectively, and negotiate with purpose. Buyers rely on her to
evaluate opportunities carefully and protect their interests in a competitive market. Known for anticipating details and remaining composed through complex decisions, Kimberlee keeps each transaction organized and moving forward. Her approach is attentive, responsive, and centered on achieving the strongest possible outcome for every client. Outside real estate, Kimberlee enjoys attending exotic car shows with her husband, sharing wine with friends, and spending time with her two corgis, Blaze and Dash.
150 Wellesley Trade Lane, Suite 200, Cary, NC 27519 (919) 653-2501| kimberleeedwards.howardhanna.com
72 CARY MAGAZINE
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Linda Trevor & Co. COMPASS
There’s a reason so many Triangle homeowners turn to Linda Trevor & Co. when it’s time to make a move. Experience matters, and so does having the right team by your side. Our award-winning team combines experienced agents, dedicated support, creative marketing, and extensive knowledge of Cary and the surrounding communities. By working together, we’re able to stay ahead of the details, navigate challenges, and make the buying or selling process as smooth as possible from start to finish.
We’re proud to be recognized among the top real estate teams in the Cary area and across North Carolina, but the relationships we build with our clients mean just as much. Many come back to us years later for their next move or refer friends and family, and we consider that one of the greatest measures of our success. Whether you’re ready to buy or sell, or just starting to think about what comes next, Linda Trevor & Co. is here to help you move forward with confidence.
201 Fenton Gateway Drive. Suite 200, Cary, NC 27511 (919) 378-1807 | LindaTrevor.com
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OCTOBER 2026 73
theresa lunt eXp Realty
Luxury real estate is about more than buying and selling homes; it’s about creating opportunities and delivering exceptional experiences. Theresa Lunt, of the Lunt Real Estate Group at eXp Realty, has built her business on thoughtful preparation, strategic marketing, and trusted guidance that consistently delivers outstanding results. Specializing in West Cary and the Triangle’s premier communities, Theresa is known for helping sellers maximize their home’s value while guiding buyers with insight, professionalism,
and a calm, confident approach. Her commitment to personalized service, innovative marketing, and strong communication has earned her recognition as West Cary’s #1 Realtor on Nextdoor, the Top 1% in the Triangle, and the trust of clients who return and refer their family and friends year after year. Whether representing a first move, a luxury estate, or a relocation to the Triangle, Theresa believes every client deserves an elevated experience from the first conversation through closing and beyond.
150 Preston Executive Drive, Cary, NC 27513 (919) 473-6341| theresalunthomes.com
74 CARY MAGAZINE SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION MAY 2026 74
Retire in Style SEARSTONE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY Every Great Story Has a Next Chapter
There’s No Place Like It
Situated at the heart of Raleigh-Durham’s Research Triangle, Searstone is the Life Plan Community of choice for people who have never stopped following their curiosity in life. To those residents, Searstone offers an extensive variety of spacious and contemporary apartment homes, a choice between fine and casual fare, a wide range of educational and recreational programming, and thoughtful amenities throughout our green and walkable campus in Cary, NC. Senior Living Reaches New Heights
Ranging from gorgeous estate homes to select oneand two-bedroom apartments featuring natural light and sleek, modern finishes and appliances, the residential options at Searstone are as richly varied as the people who call them home. Residents also take comfort in the knowledge that they have access to the full continuum of on-site care services including physical rehabilitation, assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory care. Plan Today for What’s Next
Searstone is currently welcoming future residents through our Wait List. With demand for our community continuing to grow, joining the Wait List is an important first step for those who see Searstone as part of their future. Establishing your place today gives you the flexibility to plan ahead while continuing to enjoy life right where you are. Schedule an appointment to experience Searstone for yourself, learn more about our Wait List, and discover why so many people are planning their next chapter here. Call (919) 897-7471 or visit searstone.com.
17001 Searstone Drive Cary, NC 27513
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OCTOBER 2026 75
Retire in Style THE TEMPLETON OF CARY
Experience the Best of Senior Living Vibrant Living at the Templeton of Cary
Senior living communities offer more than a comfortable place to live. They create supportive environments where older adults can thrive physically, socially, emotionally, and mentally. Life enrichment activities are a key part of this experience, providing meaningful opportunities for engagement that reflect residents’ unique interests, abilities, and preferences. Learning, Discovery & New Experiences
At The Templeton of Cary, residents enjoy a lifestyle designed around curiosity, connection, and lifelong learning. Recent highlights included partnering with NC State University for a Science Olympiad event featuring science trivia, hands-on challenges, and friendly team competition. Residents also explored new interests through engaging mixology classes and educational experiences that bring fresh opportunities to learn, laugh, and connect. Creativity, Connection & Giving Back
A vibrant lifestyle means more than staying active. It means having opportunities to express creativity and make a difference. Flower arranging remains one of the community’s most popular activities, offering residents a chance to create beautiful arrangements while enjoying time with friends. During National Volunteer Week, residents demonstrated their generous spirit by collecting needed items for Doorway of Hope, showing that community living can be just as fulfilling as it is enjoyable. Entertainment, Adventure & Everyday Fun
From themed social events to one-of-a-kind presentations, there is always something happening at The Templeton. Residents recently enjoyed a lively Casino Night filled with friendly competition and entertainment. Another memorable event featured Hawk Manor Falconry, where residents learned about birds of prey and experienced the excitement of seeing live falcons up close. These unique programs, combined with a full calendar of social, wellness, and cultural activities, create an atmosphere where residents can pursue their interests, build friendships, and embrace each day to the fullest. At The Templeton of Cary, vibrant living isn’t just a promise, it’s a way of life. Learn more at TempletonofCary.com.
(984) 200-3688 thetempletonofcary.com
76 CARY MAGAZINE
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Retire in Style WINDSOR POINT
Retire Like You Mean It You worked hard for retirement. How much of it is actually yours? Between home repairs, yardwork, and the next unexpected expense, keeping up with a house can take time away from the life you planned to enjoy. For some, the questions go beyond upkeep. If your health changes, or your spouse needs more support, what happens next? Exploring your options now gives you time to make thoughtful decisions before circumstances make them more urgent. At Windsor Point, a Life Plan Community in Fuquay-Varina, planning for tomorrow goes hand in hand with enjoying today. Fewer homeownership responsibilities mean more time for friendships, favorite pursuits, and everyday moments. Residents can choose an active social calendar or simply enjoy a day with nothing on the agenda. Planning ahead also means considering how your needs may change. Independent living at Windsor Point is supported by access to additional levels of care on the same campus. That continuity allows you to consider different stages of life within one community. Retirement does not have to revolve around a house or a growing list of concerns. It can be a chance to decide what deserves your time now. To learn more or arrange a visit, call (919) 552-4580 or visit windsorpoint.com.
1221 Broad Street Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
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OCTOBER 2026 77
pay it forward
A participant loads clothes into a commercial washer at a free laundry event, part of the nonprofit’s effort to provide laundry services and supplies to low-income residents in the Triangle.
78 CARY MAGAZINE
Loads of Hope uplift laundry truck provides clean clothes and dignity to families in need WRITTEN BY TERI SAYLOR | PHOTOGRAPHED BY ANNIE KIMURA
A volunteer hands out laundry detergent and hygiene supplies at an Uplift Laundry Truck event, where community members sign in to receive free laundry assistance.
For many people, doing laundry is part of the rhythm of life, just another chore on days consumed with the drudgery of housework and running errands. And while many of us dread laundry day, there are others who consider it a luxury they can’t always afford. When access to laundromats is limited, it creates hardships that often go unnoticed. But Durham educators Yasini and Josh Carr took notice. Through their work in public schools, they’ve witnessed firsthand the suffering and low self-esteem kids and families face
when they lack consistent access to clean clothing or bedding because of cost, lack of transportation, housing instability, or limited laundry facilities in their community. “We’ve seen how unmet basic needs can negatively impact children’s confidence, health, and their ability to learn,” Yasini says. In 2023, the Carrs launched Uplift Laundry Truck, a nonprofit service that promotes dignity, health, and stability by providing individuals and families with resources for clean clothing and essential hygiene products.
Fueled by grants, individual donations, and corporate contributions, Uplift Laundry Truck hosts public laundry events in the Triangle, providing prepaid $10 laundry cards, free detergent, and other supplies to anyone who shows up. Uplift Laundry Truck also distributes basic hygiene kits for participants, and all events are open to everyone with no pre-screening or reservations required. Yasini recalls helping a woman who had been evicted from her apartment and had to move out quickly. That same week, she had lost her job and had several loads of laundry she was not able to wash. OCTOBER 2026 79
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80 CARY MAGAZINE
• High quality clothing • Unique vintage collectibles • Jewelry • Home decor • Books & more all at affordable prices 2436 SW Cary Parkway, Cary, NC 27513
984-333-0207
Monday-Saturday: 10:00-5:00 Closed Sunday
www.catangelsnc.org We gratefully accept donations of gently used items and pet supplies.
we serve a broad spectrum of people,
including families with children, people experiencing housing instability, senior citizens, and college students.”
– Yasini Carr A student nurse from NC Central University checks a community member’s vital signs, supporting Uplift’s mission to connect attendees to health and support services in addition to free laundry assistance.
“Someone referred her to us,” Yasini recalls. “She was able to come to one of our events and wash all her laundry, and it was one bright spot in the middle of a challenging time for her.” In just three years, Uplift Laundry Truck has grown beyond a simple service provider into a powerful community builder. On a warm Saturday in August, the Rise N Rinse Laundromat in Durham was a hive of activity as local residents lined up for a unique festival of washing and learning. Book Harvest North Carolina came with free books and literacy resources, representatives of United Healthcare connected families with health services, student nurses from the NC Central University nursing program provided free blood pressure checks, and Veterans Bridge Home shared resources and support for veterans. Raleigh’s A Place at the Table provided snacks for everyone. While it was just another day of service for Uplift Laundry Truck and volunteers, for the participants the event was a lifeline. Just like food and shelter, cleanliness is considered one of life’s necessities, and according to the Coin Laundry Association, millions of Americans access coin laundries every year.
A Book Harvest volunteer offers free children’s books at a partner table, part of the nonprofit’s effort to connect community members with additional resources.
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A Veterans Bridge Home representative offers information on veterans’ services at a partner table during Uplift Laundry Truck’s August event.
Josh and Yasini Carr
Giving the Basics, a nonprofit that provides hygiene products for struggling families and individuals, finds that one in three low-income families has difficulty affording basic household necessities, and nearly 74% of families who can’t afford them skip doing laundry. Of these families, more than half prioritize washing only their children’s clothes. Kids without access to clean clothes are more likely to experience chronic absenteeism, which the US Department of Education (DOE) defines as missing at least 10% of school days, or approximately 18 days in a year, for any reason, excused or unexcused. Further, the DOE cites research suggesting that children who are chronically absent for multiple years between preschool and second grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the third grade. This has been shown
Volunteers hand out resource materials and connect with a community member at a table inside Rise N Rinse Laundromat in Durham.
elsewhere to make students four times more likely to not graduate from high school. The Carrs have seen these statistics play out in real life. “We get referrals from social workers who tell us stories about children who miss on average a week of school, with parents reporting that it’s because their clothes are not clean,” Yasini says. “We view our services as a simple way to help families address a critical need and ensure their kids go to school.” Recognizing that the lack of transportation is a problem for some people, the Carrs formed a goal to purchase a truck and run a mobile laundry service that can go directly into communities. The dream is still in the making. “We quickly found out that buying a laundry truck is a very hard goal to accomplish, so we developed our partnerships with
local laundromats in place of the truck until we can fund one,” Yasini says. “So we organize our laundry events in the areas that are most accessible to public transportation.” For those with urgent needs who are unable to travel to scheduled laundry events, Uplift also runs a rapid response program addressing individual needs and providing direct assistance. Referrals from schools and social services lead the Carrs to strategic locations, enabling them to pinpoint areas with the greatest need. Local laundromats are always eager to help. Laundry events take place at least monthly and typically last four hours, running from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. With a heavy presence on social media and relationships with agencies and other service providers, the Carrs get the word out. They distribute OCTOBER 2026 83
flyers to their partner agencies and rely on word of mouth. The Carrs also attend local health fairs and festivals to showcase their services. “We serve a broad spectrum of people, including families with children, people experiencing housing instability, senior citizens, and college students,” Yasini says. “We’ve helped working households struggling to cover basic expenses while faced with deciding whether they can afford to wash their clothes, buy food, or pay their light bill.” Yasini estimates that Uplift Laundry Truck has served more than 1,200 people since 2023. Participation at the monthly
wash and wellness events has grown to about 60 families, and when the Carrs host special events, they often serve over 200 people. “The referrals keep increasing,” Yasini says The holiday season will offer several giving opportunities for anyone who wants to help. On November 11, Uplift Laundry Truck is partnering with the Kendra Scott jewelry store at Streets at Southpoint. Those who support the event will get a discount on jewelry, and Uplift Laundry Truck will receive a portion of the proceeds. “We also accept donations through our website, and anyone can sponsor a family or an individual by donating funds to enable
them to wash their clothes or sponsor an entire event,” Yasini says. Ten dollars pays for two small loads or one large load, and that includes a dryer and detergent. People can visit upliftlaundrytruck.org to request assistance, volunteer, sponsor a laundry event, or support the mobile laundry truck campaign. “We want people to understand that laundry insecurity is real, and it is something communities can solve together,” Yasini says. “We are not simply paying for loads of laundry; we are removing barriers and building healthier communities.” t upliftlaundrytruck.org @upliftlaundrytruck
we are not simply paying for loads of laundry; we are removing barriers and building healthier communities.”
– Yasini Carr A laundromat staff member assists a participant during an Uplift Laundry Truck event, which partners with local laundromats to provide prepaid $10 laundry cards and services.
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BACK IN SERVICE A vintage filling station reemerges as downtown Cary’s “cheerful place on the corner”
WRITTEN BY DAVID MCCREARY
PHOTOGRAPHED BY JONATHAN FREDIN
For nearly a century, the corner of Chatham and Academy streets has been Cary’s original crossroads, a spot where, long before parking decks and pimento cheese festivals, travelers pulled off the road to fuel up and townspeople stopped to swap stories. OCTOBER 2026 87
We are an Italian dining ristorante with a comfortable and casual atmosphere. We strive to provide each guest with an experience they will remember.
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6 private rooms seating 6-200 guests! Contact: Christina Reeves at Christina@ReysRestaurant.com
This summer, that same corner found a new reason to draw people in: Lloyd’s Full Service, a restaurant housed inside and around a filling station that has anchored this intersection since 1934. The building’s bones do most of the talking before you ever sit down. Walk in past the host stand, and you’re standing where customers once bought cans of oil and waited on a tune-up. An original window, re-paned with mirrors, hangs behind the stand. To the right, a long bar runs beneath a tongue-and-groove wood ceiling that once soared over the service bays, now
exposed after decades hidden beneath drop ceilings and layers of paint. “A lot of those design elements had been covered over the years,” says Craig Spitzer, the energetic founder and CEO of Early Bird Night Owl, the Durham-based hospitality group behind the project. “Whenever we started peeling away the layers, we discovered a lot of the architectural features that had been incorporated into the original design, and we went back to that.” The building that once stood on this corner was constructed in 1934. In 1951, owner K.M. Lloyd rebuilt and modernized
it into a stucco-sided Amoco station, complete with the green stripe accents that were an Amoco signature at the time. Sometime in the 1960s, it became a Shell station, and “Service Is Our Business” was mounted on the exterior, where it stayed for decades. Most recently, and for 47 years, it operated as Gurkan’s Downtown Auto Repair, run by a Turkish immigrant who, before ever repairing a car in Cary, had owned restaurants back home. That layered history became the blueprint for both the eatery’s identity and its name. Digging through old newspaper
Lloyd’s spacious bar invites patrons to pull up a seat, whether for a full meal or just a cocktail.
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archives and yearbooks with local historians, the Early Bird Night Owl team turned up a 1934 Cary High School yearbook ad for the original service station. Its tagline: “the cheerful looking place on the corner.” “The timing of discovering that could not have been better,” says Craig, “because we really were motivated to create a beacon of energy for this corner.” The restaurant takes its actual name, though, from Lloyd himself, whose 1951 grand-opening ad in The News & Observer promised a “warm welcome to all who come in.” The phrase became more than marketing copy. “Every decision we’ve made since has been through that lens,” Craig emphasizes. “The décor, the colors, the uniforms, our chef ’s approach to cooking. We wanted it all to feel bright and vibrant, creating a cheerful energy that radiates to our customers and out into the greater Cary community.” Craig notes the restaurant has worked to pass that history on to its staff, so they can serve as historians and ambassadors for what this space has always been: a throughline of hospitality running from Lloyd to the Gurkan family to Lloyd’s today. The renovation reflects that same instinct to preserve rather than erase. Roughly 1,280 square feet of the original service station remains intact, now joined by a 2,300-squarefoot kitchen and dining addition and a 1,200-square-foot covered patio, the result of a two-year project. The garage bays are still there, along with the exposed brick and wood ceiling. The new wing, painted forest green, incorporates upholstery in an avocado-green plaid pulled from a 1972 Chevrolet Highlander pickup, its ceiling lined with tin tiles salvaged from Cary’s Rogers Building. Along one wall, “Service is Our Business,” the old Shell-era slogan, has been hand-painted back to life at its original size and font. Joseph Giampino, owner From the patio to the bar and dining room, Lloyd’s offers a seat for every mood.
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of Raleigh’s SPCLSIGNS (Special Signs), repainted it, and he also laid the striking gold-leaf lettering on the front door. Outside, a retro 1930s Divco delivery truck will double as a satellite bar and café with its own seasonal menu. Charlotte-based Cluck Design, known for adaptive-reuse restaurant projects, handled the interior architecture. The result seats 75 guests indoors and up to 100 more on the expansive covered patio. Dining room reservations are limited to parties of up to six, though walk-ins are always welcome, particularly in the bar area and on the patio. “We want this type of neighborhood place where you can walk down the street and pop in for dinner, rather than having to book a table in advance,” Craig says.
The kitchen is led by Florida native Dennis Bernard, an unpretentious executive chef whose résumé includes 15 years, on and off, with Chicago’s James Beard–winning One Off Hospitality group — Publican, Blackbird, Big Star, and Dove’s Luncheonette among them. He built the brunch program at Publican, later named the city’s best by the Chicago Tribune, and helped Dove’s earn a Michelin Bib Gourmand during his run as chef de cuisine. After a few years away from restaurants working in sales, he’s back where he wants to be. “I told myself if I was going to come back, I was going to return to a unique neighborhood spot,” Dennis says with a smile. “I’m so happy. Sales is not for me.” His menu leans on lively, approachable flavors rather than heavy or overwrought
selections. “We want people to feel good when they walk out the door, not weighed down,” he explains. That intentionality shows up in dishes like the Seafood Louie, centered on little gem lettuce, a crumble of fried crab cake, chilled shrimp, avocado, and a refreshing lemon dressing. It also appears in the inventive linguine and clams entrée, featuring a broth of turmeric, orange, and house-made ginger powder, served with handmade pasta. Chef Dennis’ current favorite — and the Cary Magazine team’s as well — goes to Breakfast for Dinner: honey-glazed pork belly and a potato pavé standing in for bacon and hash browns, topped with an old-school poached egg and a frisée salad. “I think the name makes it really approachable for
The creative Breakfast for Dinner entrée shows off chef Dennis Bernard’s culinary imagination.
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This nontraditional tres leches cake gets an extra twist with chocolate. Smelt and pickles put a spin on a Southern favorite.
A Mexican-inspired seafood cocktail gets a bright lift from citrus-forward tomato sauce.
“We want people to feel good when they walk out the door, not weighed down.” – Chef Dennis Bernard
Garlic lemon roasted chicken thighs, simply done right.
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Feta-flecked beets bring a seasonal, colorful touch to the menu’s rotating sides.
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Dining Guide
Whether you’re craving a trusted favorite or looking to discover the newest spot in town, our Online Dining Guide has you covered. Find the perfect place for every palate, every craving, and every occasion.
people,” he says. “If we’d called it something more elevated, people probably would have run away from it.” Other menu fixtures include The Full Plate, a grilled protein with rotating sides, and The Corner Dog, an all-beef hot dog paying tribute to the lunch counter at the now-shuttered Ashworth Drugs, once located just across the intersection. A salt-andvinegar fish fry starter pairs smelt, a small, mild freshwater fish, with pickles and a bright herb remoulade, offering the chef ’s creative spin on a Southern staple. Among the desserts, the chocolate tres leches cake stands out. This nontraditional rendition is piled high with ricottamascarpone mousse, chocolate crumbles, and a dusting of powdered sugar. The cake itself combines sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, cocoa powder, and heavy cream. “We cook it with a little cinnamon so it tightens up,” Dennis adds. He expects the menu to keep evolving, describing it as a living thing that stays flexible enough to shift with the seasons even as a handful of favorites remain constant. For Craig, the restaurant also speaks to the block it sits on. With Downtown Cary Park a few blocks one way and Bond Brothers Beer Company a few blocks the other, he sees a gap that Lloyd’s aims to fill. “We’re trying to create a magnet in the middle of town,” he says. “We hope it will radiate out to everybody else.” More than nine decades after a filling station first opened on this corner promising a cheerful welcome, Lloyd’s Full Service is carrying that same idea forward. Motor oil has given way to olive oil, service bays to dining tables, but the spirit Lloyd and Gurkan built their reputations on remains the same: a warm welcome, on the same corner, for whoever walks through the door. t lloydsfullservice.com @lloydsfullservice
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Lloyd’s patio proves the best seat in the house might just be outside.
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St. Michael School and Preschool St. Michael School
St. Michael Preschool
Reverence • Service • Leadership
Pray • Play • Learn
Full-Day PreK, & Kindergarten - Grade 8 Christ-Centered, Academic Excellence Development of the Whole Person Athletics, Clubs, and Enrichment Programs Diverse, Welcoming Family Community Tuition Assistance, including NC Opp. Scholarship Before and After School Care Options 1st Place Maggy Award for Best Private School 1st Place Maggy Award for Best School Principal Learn More: stmcary.org | admissions@stmcary.org
Half-Day Programs (Ages 2 - 4) Preschool Hours: 9:30 - 12:30 p.m. Faith-Based Foundation Developmental, Play-Based Learning Loving, Nurturing Teachers Active Parent Community Scholarship Opportunities Early and After Care available 2nd Place Maggy Awards for Best Preschool Learn more: stmichaelpreschool.com | preschool@stmcary.org
Midwifery • Rejuvenation • y h p a r mog D Mam 3 • yn Ob/G
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919-678-6900 600 New Waverly Pl., Suite 310, Cary, NC DR. VIJAY SHESHADRI |
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Excellence in
EDUCATION A LOOK INSIDE THE TOP SCHOOLS IN WAKE COUNTY
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Excellence in EDUCATION
CHESTERBROOK ACADEMY Building Bright Minds and Strong Character
At Chesterbrook Academy Elementary and Middle School in Cary, educational excellence means challenging students to think deeply, communicate confidently, and use their knowledge to make a meaningful difference. Serving students from preschool through eighth grade, Chesterbrook combines advanced, differentiated academics with the support of a close-knit school community. Project-based learning brings academic concepts to life while small-group instruction allows teachers to meet students at their level and provide opportunities for grade acceleration in both math and English language arts. Students explore local and international topics, collaborate with classmates, tackle solving real-world problems, and practice communicating their ideas with confidence. Chesterbrook also offers a distinctive global perspective through language immersion
QUICK LOOK
CONTACT (877) 981-4091
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GRADES Grades Pre-K-8
— all students receive instruction in both Mandarin and Spanish. By incorporating language and cultural studies, students broaden their understanding of the world and become thoughtful global citizens. Just as important is the school’s commitment to character. Through daily lessons, leadership opportunities, and community service projects, students learn to practice kindness, take responsibility, persevere through challenges, and see the positive difference their actions can make. From academics and specialty classes to school dances, movie nights, and family events, Chesterbrook Academy Cary is more than a place to learn. It is a place where students feel known, valued, and inspired to reach their full potential. Learn more at Cary.ChesterbrookAcademy.com.
ENROLLMENT 215
STUDENT/TEACHER RATIO Varies by grade level
COST
Varies per program
Excellence in EDUCATION
GRACE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 801 and 1101 Buck Jones Road // Raleigh
At GRACE Christian School, our deepest desire is that every child who walks through our doors knows they are known, valued, and loved by Jesus Christ, and by the adults who teach and mentor them. This Christ-centered atmosphere sets GCS apart and helped us earn Exemplary Accreditation from the Association of Christian Schools International — making us the first in the Triangle to receive this honor. We are also accredited by Cognia, a respected nonprofit, nonpartisan accreditation organization. Our mission is to spiritually and academically equip, challenge, and inspire students to impact their world for Christ. In the elementary years, teachers emphasize experiential learning through field trips, class demonstrations, and labs. Our college-preparatory program prepares middle and high school students to excel in a high-quality academic environment, while teachers integrate the
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CONTACT (919) 747-2020
GRADES TK-12
latest technology to develop responsible digital citizens. GRACE offers a robust athletic program with 40 teams and over 75% student participation, plus a growing fine arts program that allows students to develop their Godgiven talents. Looking ahead, we’re excited to announce that we are moving and opening our new TK to 12th grade campus off Veridea Parkway in Apex for the 2027 school year. This facility will be designed to support our expanding programs and mission for generations to come. At GCS, we pursue academic excellence for each child, equipping them with the skills to thrive, not for their own glory, but for the cause of Christ. We build world-changers who will influence culture for years to come. Want to learn more? Contact admissions@gracechristian.net
ENROLLMENT 952
STUDENT/TEACHER RATIO 18:1
AVG. COST $10,600-15,600
OCTOBER 2026 101
Excellence in EDUCATION
OAK VILLAGE ACADEMY 110 Tals Rock Way // Cary
At Oak Village Academy, children enjoy learning through exploration, making decisions that build social and emotional relationships. While learning the natural way, we provide imaginative and encouraging indoor and outdoor learning environments. We operate with the highest standards when it comes to our team and learning environment. We have designed our curriculum to respect individual differences, honor every child’s culture, and see family members as equal partners in a child’s growth and learning. Through the Natural Learning Initiative at NC State University, we have created unique outdoor learning
QUICK LOOK
CONTACT (919) 377-1802
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GRADES 6 weeks to 5 years
environments that encourage children to be active while participating in learning, play, and environmental education. Oak Village Academy was one of the first preschools in the area with an emphasis on outdoor learning environments as the basis of our campus design. With much of our days spent outdoors, experiential learning in the natural world extends and enhances your child’s developmental capacity. Every day at Oak Village Academy, through exploration and play, children of all ages build relationships and reach individual milestones in all developmental domains. To learn more, visit exploreoakvillage.com. ENROLLMENT Now Enrolling
COST Please contact school directly.
Excellence in EDUCATION
PEAK CHARTER ACADEMY 1601 Orchard Villas Avenue // Apex
The concept is simple; the outcomes are profound. Rather than the traditional system of age-based placement common in American schools, Peak Charter Academy’s new admissions model will mirror international systems that place students in grades according to their academic readiness rather than their age. This flexible approach allows for rapid acceleration or strategic intervention so that when combined with Peak’s continued emphasis on a decentralized, workshoporiented classroom, the Grade-Level Placement Model will situate every student where their daily efforts build confidence, sustain motivation, and accelerate academic growth and achievement. Peak’s mission is to develop students into critical thinkers, active collaborators, and eager contributors to their learning. A leader in innovative educational practices since 2017 and located in Apex, North Carolina, Peak utilizes the workshop model across
QUICK LOOK
CONTACT (919) 377-1552
GRADES K-8
its K-8 classrooms. Its community of experienced teachers consistently produce high outcomes in student growth and proficiency. In 2026, the U.S. News & World Report ranked Peak as the 7th Best Public Middle School and 3rd Best Public Charter Elementary School in North Carolina. At Peak, your scholar will leave with the skills to excel in college, careers, and life. Now, with its 10th anniversary around the corner, Peak will offer this unique admissions opportunity to Triangle families applying for the 2027–2028 school year. This new process promises families stronger opportunities for their students, whether they seek advanced placement or academic support. It’s Open Enrollment season for the 2027–2028 school year. For more information call (919)-377-1552.
YEAR FOUNDED 2017
COST Peak is a tuition free public charter school
OCTOBER 2026 103
Excellence in EDUCATION
PRIMROSE SCHOOLS
Primrose School of West Cary // 2511 NC 55 Highway // Cary // 919-363-2700 Primrose School at The Park // 131 Lattner Court // Morrisville // 919-468-8880
Primrose School at the Park and Primrose School of West Cary are both FIVE STAR LICENSED, Nationally Accredited by COGNIA, Award Winning and have been serving the community for over 20 years.
tion. That’s why the Primrose Balanced Learning® approach brings together the best early education wisdom with modern research and learning science to inspire a love of learning through hands-on activities, music, stories, and more.
Making the Most of Your Child’s First Five Years As a parent, you watch your child grow and develop in remarkable ways every day. But did you know that 90% of their brain develops from birth to age 5? Or that more than 1 million new neural connections are formed every second in the first few years of life? This small window of time has a big impact on your child’s growth and development, which is why it’s crucial to make the most of it. At Primrose School of West Cary and Primrose School at the Park, Franchise Owner Leslie Moore-Martinez and her team of dedicated teachers and staff use a balance of purposeful play and nurturing guidance to help children build a foundation of academic, physical, social, and emotional skills that will serve them for years to come. A Curriculum That Builds Brighter Futures There is no one-size-fits-all approach to early childhood educa-
QUICK LOOK
CONTACT 800.PRIMROSE primroseschools.com
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GRADES Infants through Pre-K
Trusted Relationships with Teachers Children learn best when they feel safe and secure because it gives them the confidence to try new things. That’s why learning at Primrose starts with connection. Teachers build meaningful relationships with each child as they encourage students to make their own discoveries, practice critical thinking, and build problem-solving skills. Going Beyond Academics At Primrose, we believe who children become is as important as what they know, which is why character development is woven into every lesson. Children build valuable character traits like generosity, honesty, and kindness with help from their teachers and the 12 lovable Primrose Friends puppets. A child’s brain development in the first five years of life has a significant impact in the decades to follow, and Primrose can help you make the most of this important time.
ENROLLMENT Now Enrolling
STUDENT/TEACHER RATIO Varies by age
COST Varies by age
Excellence in EDUCATION
WCPSS MAGNET & EARLY COLLEGE SCHOOLS 5625 Dillard Drive // Cary
Wildwood Forest Magnet Elementary School
WCPSS Magnet & Curriculum Enhancement Programs
Centennial Magnet Middle School
Wake Forest iSTEM Magnet Elementary School
Since 1982, WCPSS Magnet Programs have offered tuition-free educational options. As a Wake County family, you have choices! These award-winning schools open doors of opportunity with programs that match your child’s unique strengths and interests. Today, WCPSS hosts over 60 school choice options organized into six program pathways. Is your child a creative soul? Arts Plus pathway schools integrate the creative and design process into learning, helping students generate ideas, solve problems, and collaborate. Want your child to follow their passions? Gifted and Talented pathway schools offer an extensive menu of elective courses that allow students to discover their individual talents and pursue their interests. Interested in global impact? International Baccalaureate and
QUICK LOOK
CONTACT (919) 533-7289 wcpss.net/magnet
GRADES PK-12
East Millbrook Magnet Middle School
Smith Magnet Elementary School
Global Studies pathway schools prepare students to lead positive change through cultural exploration and language study. Love world languages? Language Immersion programs teach Spanish or Chinese while building English skills and cultural understanding. Do they love to tinker? STEM pathway schools show students how to apply emerging technology to solve problems, improve the world, and build decision-making skills. Ready for college early? Early College High Schools, including the single-gender Wake Leadership Academies, partner with local colleges to give students a head start. To meet staff and families from all magnet and early college schools, join us at the Magnet & Early College Fair on October 24 at Millbrook Magnet High School. Drop by anytime between 9 a.m. and noon.
ENROLLMENT 160,000
STUDENT/TEACHER RATIO Varies by grade
COST $0
OCTOBER 2026 105
garden adventurer WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY L.A. JACKSON
‘Jetfire’ daffodils are petite, bicolored beauties.
Tiny Dancers: The Dainty Daffodils Daffodils are ubiquitous blooming darlings in springtime landscapes, and while tall selections will certainly stop passersby in their steps, I have a soft spot for the tiny dancers. These are dainty cultivars less than a foot in height that bring a special charm to the spring garden. Don’t sell such diminutive daffies, ahem, short. What they lack in size, they often make up for in numbers because many miniature daffodils are champs at producing bunches of bud stalks, meaning a higher concentration of blossoms. And with proper placement, such flower power can translate into pleasant sweeps of blooming color in spring planting beds.
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Another plus for these petite pretties is that, since they don’t grow as tall as other daffodils, they are less likely to be beaten down into a flattened mess by hard spring rains. Lack of height also works to the advantage of a casual gardener if miniature daffodils are interplanted with summer perennials such as astilbe, goat’s beard, daylilies, or heuchera because, in mid-spring, their short stems and foliage will yellow and droop, but this will be hidden by the up-and-coming warm-weather shoots and leaves, meaning little cleanup is needed. This month is a good time to buy tiny dancer bulbs for planting next month, and there are bunches to pick from, so finding
them either locally or online won’t be a problem. Need examples? I have enjoyed a swath of the popular ‘Jetfire’ (pictured) in my front yard for many years, and it has yet to show signs of flower fatigue. Ditto for my small island of ‘Tete-a-Tete’ — probably the poster child for miniature daffodils — which gleams with light yellow petals surrounding sunny centers. More bicolor beauty can be had with selections like ‘Sun Disc’ and ‘Minnow.’ Fancy fluffy? There are smalls that sport puffy double blooms, including the handsome yellow, spiky heirloom ‘Rip Van Winkle’ and a similar but newer pixie, ‘Tete Deluxe.’ How about a paler pleasure? Try the white-centric ‘Ice Baby’ or ‘Xit.’
To Do in the
GARDEN
October • Pumpkins are, of course, necessary accessories for fall decorating, so make sure yours remain in good shape through the Halloween season and beyond by setting them in an area that is not baking in strong sunlight. Also, picking pumpkins with a few inches of stem attached will help prolong their show-off life. • Planting in the veggie patch is winding down for the year, but at the beginning of this month, there is still time to squeeze in new crops of onions (bulbs), spinach, lettuce, or Chinese cabbage. • Still have packets of seeds left over from your buying binges this growing season? Properly store them in an airtight container or bag and place them in a cool, dry, dark location to await a second chance to get growing next spring.
ABOVE: Bought half-dead/halfprice one fall, this echinacea ‘Salsa Red’ came roaring back for me. RIGHT: ‘Tete-aTete’ is a popular dainty daffodil.
12
TIMELY TIP
9
3 6
I’ll admit it: I can be quite the cheapskate when it comes to buying plants. So much so that, at this time of year, I prowl local garden centers for end-of-growing-season sales on remaining plants, with perennials getting my special attention. Such plants might look raggedy after being on display outside through the long summer, but I check the roots for white-ish or tan coloration, which means there is probably still some spunk left in these leftovers. I don’t admire my bargains too long, however, because autumn is a prime time to plant perennials (as well as woody ornamentals) in the garden.
Planted in a sunny, well-draining spot, dwarf daffodils will not only be yearly spring showoffs, but many also naturalize and begin to spread. Potting up these petite pretties is also an option, especially for gardeners who either have limited growing space or don’t want to crouch down on all fours to get up close and personal with these wee gems. t L.A. Jackson is the former editor of Carolina Gardener Magazine. Want to ask L.A. a question about your garden? Contact him by email at lajackson1@gmail.com.
OCTOBER 2026 107
ELEVATE YOUR MOUNTAIN ESCAPE
After a day of strolling in foliage, rock climbing, fly fishing and more, return to this hotel hideaway and decompress in our Nordic spa. Come dinner time, enjoy Southern hospitality at our historic log cabin supper club, then end the night with s’mores by the fire before your head hits the pillow. BOOK NOW
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108 CARY MAGAZINE
liquid assets
Garden Club Margarita PHOTOGRAPHED BY JONATHAN FREDIN | CONTRIBUTED BY LLOYD’S FULL SERVICE
“This cocktail is really approachable” says Ashley Malinowski, vice president of food & beverage for Early Bird Night Owl, the hospitality team behind Lloyd’s. “It’s light and refreshing, and it makes for a great patio drink.” ½ ounce gin, ideally a cucumberforward or more botanical style
Add gin, lime juice, agave syrup, and Maldon salt to a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain over fresh ice. Garnish with Tajin-dusted cucumber ribbon. For agave syrup: Combine equal parts blue agave and hot water. Stir until fully incorporated and allow to cool before use.
¾ ounce fresh lime juice just over ½ ounce agave syrup pinch of Maldon sea salt
Lloyd’s Full Service is a neighborhood eatery set inside a renovated historic filling station in the heart of downtown Cary. The chef-driven menu offers creative seasonal takes on familiar American entrées, sides, salads, and starters, alongside a thoughtful drink list. Limited reservations are available for parties of up to six, but walk-ins are always welcome, especially at the bar and on the covered patio. lloydsfullservice.com @lloydsfullservice
JUNE/JULY OCTOBER 2026 109
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recipes from readers
Almost Pumpkin Butternut Squash Pie FROM ANGELA BAKER
Homemade or store-bought crusts can be used; frozen pie crust can make two thinner crusts if preferred. If the crust browns too quickly while baking, use a pie shield or aluminum foil around the edges.
2 large eggs
squash purée
12-ounce can
¾ cup sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon
evaporated milk 9-inch deep-dish
½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon ginger
Submit your family favorites at carymagazine.com/recipe-submissions
Jonathan Fredin
2 cups butternut
recipes wanted!
pie crust whipped cream
¼ teaspoon cloves
1. If using fresh butternut squash, slice in half and remove the seeds. Place in a preheated 400-degree oven and roast until tender. 2. Purée squash in a food processor (or use a potato masher). 3. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. 4. Mix sugar and spices. Beat eggs with a fork and stir into sugar mixture, then stir in milk and add squash purée. 5. Pour everything into the crust and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake an additional 40–50 minutes until set. 6. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours and serve with whipped cream.
OCTOBER 2026 111
happenings A community puzzle art piece was installed in the lobby at CEDAR
FORK COMMUNITY CENTER in September. Participation kicked off at a program themed The Power of Belonging during National Parks & Rec Month in July, with individuals painting puzzle pieces that represent how everyone plays a part in creating something meaningful. Nonprofit organization WHEELS 4 HOPE held a Car Blessing ceremony August
Campers at Camp Cedar Fork
28 for Chelsea, referred by Fellowship Home of Raleigh. She received the keys to her
completed the remaining pieces later in
Program Car following nine years without personal transportation.
the summer.
“It truly means a lot because where I work is roughly 25 minutes from where I live. Getting to and from work is difficult when relying on someone else to get me there and back,” Chelsea says. Wheels 4 Hope has helped more than 5,500 individuals and families since 2000, assisting them in overcoming transportation barriers and moving toward greater stability. The organization accepts donated vehicles in a variety of conditions. Those that meet program standards are donated to eligible recipients, and others are sold to fund the program’s mission. wheels4hope.org
76 FENCE RDU West celebrated its grand opening with a ribboncutting ceremony September 14. The Cary office, located at 280 Towerview Court, marks the third locally owned territory providing residential and commercial fencing services across the greater Triangle area. “Today is an exciting milestone for us, but we really see it as the beginning of what we want to build here,” said David Barrero, managing partner of 76 FENCE RDU West, at the event. “Our goal is to earn the trust of homeowners and businesses in our community by doing great work, communicating clearly, and following through on what we promise. We want 76 FENCE RDU West to become a local company people know they can count on and feel confident recommending to others.” 76 FENCE leadership was joined by representatives from the Cary Chamber of Commerce, community partners, and others. “We are proud to welcome 76 FENCE RDU West to the Cary business community and celebrate this important milestone alongside David, John and Tyra,” says Kelcey Ashworth, vice president of education and member business services for the Cary Chamber of Commerce. “Cary’s continued growth is strengthened by local business owners who invest in the community, build meaningful relationships, and are committed to being active partners in its success. We look forward to seeing 76 FENCE RDU West establish its presence and grow throughout the region.” 76fence.com/cary
112 CARY MAGAZINE
happenings JONATHAN MILKOVICH, an Army veteran and founder of Operation WarriorFit, is running 700 miles across North Carolina during the 17-day Operation Carolina. He departed Murphy, North Carolina, on September 21 and will conclude in the Outer Banks on October 7. He will pass through Wake County on October 1 and 2. Operation WarriorFit was founded on the premise that “finish lines are lifelines,” reflecting the founder’s personal journey with discovering racing after transitioning out of the military. The solo run aims to spotlight veterans, service members, and first responders and help them discover the mental health benefits of endurance sports. “Anyone can come out and run, ruck, or walk a stretch of the route alongside me as it passes through their community,” Jonathan says. “The more people who join, the louder the message becomes.” Sponsorships and donations are also welcomed. operationcarolina.com
Wilmington-born restaurant K38 BAJA
GRILL opened a Cary location in late August, the seventh overall and second in the Triangle.
THE SOCCER TOURNAMENT set
oriented feel and welcoming community,
records during its fourth
which aligns so naturally with who we are.
year in Cary, generating an
As we expand inland, we always want to
estimated $16.2 million in
stay true to our roots while bringing a little
direct economic impact, a 10%
bit of the beach to every new community
increase from $14.7 million
we join,” says Brian Brennen, CEO of Live.
in 2025. The tournament
Eat. Surf.
attracted 57,942 attendees, with
“Cary stood out because of its family-
Designed to capture the easygoing
an estimated 34,488 traveling
atmosphere of a beachfront restaurant,
from outside Wake County.
the new 3,665-square-foot location at
“TST’s record year is
147 E. Chatham St. in Cary offers coastal
something all of Cary can be proud of,” says Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht. “Each year, our
décor and a bright, welcoming space.
residents get a front-row seat to a world-class soccer festival right here in Cary, while our local
Named after Kilometer 38, a renowned
businesses benefit from the tens of thousands of visitors it brings. People from around the world
surf break in Baja, California, the
get to see what makes Cary special, and I’m thankful to our outstanding staff and partners who
restaurant prioritizes fresh ingredients with
work so hard to make it happen.” tst7v7.com
a seafood-forward menu. k38bajagrill.com OCTOBER 2026 113
write light
BY JONATHAN FREDIN
A window into fall Perched at an open window, a cat keeps watch over a flurry of autumn birds, bugs, and blowing leaves. The arrival of fall brings a stream of crisp air and new scents, keeping this feline observer completely mesmerized.
114 CARY MAGAZINE
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