WALTER Magazine | January 2026

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EDITOR’S LETTER

LET’S GET SOCIAL!

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The other night we went out salsa dancing at Cuya to celebrate a friend’s birthday. The evening started with a short lesson, rotating partners as we learned a few moves to go with the basic steps.

It had me trying to remember the last time I’d gone out dancing — maybe 20 years ago? I forgot how much I loved it. I’m not great, but I’m not terrible, either. I took cotillion in middle school, learning the basics of ballroom dances like the waltz, foxtrot and cha-cha-cha. (I can still hear it: ONE, two, cha-cha-cha; ONE, two, cha-cha-cha.) A point of pride was winning some sort of dance challenge at a lesson and taking home a cassette single of “The Sign” by Ace of Base.

In high school, my girlfriends and I would occasionally head to the social dances at a local park on a Saturday night. After a short lesson, we’d dance with each other or whoever asked. I particularly remember one repeat partner, a man who seemed impossibly old (I mean, maybe he was in his 40s?). He was sweating so hard that his white linen shirt was practically see-through, which my friends and I found hilarious. But he was a great dancer and I definitely learned some new techniques.

On weekends home from college, we’d sometimes head to the over18 clubs for the Latin dance nights, though I found those more crowded scenes less to my taste.

Fast-forward another decade or so, and Josh and I took a few ballroom dance lessons in advance of our wedding. We choreographed our first dance to include

a lift at the end and everything!

But since then, my dancing has been limited to the occasional wedding or fundraiser — though we do like to show off some of the moves we learned together. Our recent night out brought me back to those early days, learning the moves, trying not to step on my partner’s toes. I kept up pretty well and even got asked to dance twice once the lesson was over. (Josh, who was less into it, retreated to chatting with friends in the safety of a booth.) While I was enjoying myself, the irony was not lost on me that most of my dance partners looked about half my age — which means now, I’m probably the one who seems impossibly old.

It was also a reminder of how many opportunities there are in Raleigh to try something different. This issue’s chockfull of ideas to do just that, from dining at a new-to-you restaurant to tackling your reading list to heading to a quirky performance that just might become a beloved tradition. So that’s my 2026 challenge to myself, and to you: get out of your comfort zone!

Ayn-Monique Klahre Editor

JANUARY

2026

PUBLISHER

DAVID WORONOFF

EDITORIAL

Editor

AYN-MONIQUE KLAHRE ayn-monique@waltermagazine.com

Creative Director

LAURA PETRIDES WALL laura@waltermagazine.com

Associate Editor

ADDIE LADNER addie@waltermagazine.com

Contributing Poetry Editor

Jaki Shelton Green

Contributing Copy Editor Finn Cohen

Contributing Writers

Donna Beal, Catherine Currin, Jim Dodson, Mike Dunn, Colony Little, David Menconi, Joe Miller, Jarrett Van Meter, Helen Yoest

Contributing Photographers

Rodney Boles, Food Scene, Forrest Mason, Jude McDonald, Cindy McEnery, Bryan Regan, Joshua Steadman

Contributing Illustrators

Gerry O’Neill, Eric McRay, Bob Rankin

Design Intern

Kate Shepherd

BUSINESS

Advertising Sales Manager JULIE NICKENS julie@waltermagazine.com

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Distribution JAMES KAY Owners

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

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Making Raleigh Smile Since 1899

CONTRIBUTORS

MIKE DUNN / WRITER

Mike Dunn has retired after working for the state for 36 years at the North Carolina State Parks, the NC Museum of Natural Sciences and the NC Botanical Garden. Over the years, he has conducted hundreds of educational workshops on the flora and fauna of our state and beyond. “I always enjoy finding animal tracks and signs on my walks. It is good to know what lives in an area even if I don’t see it. And following the footprints of an animal like a black bear or a bobcat can certainly give you a sense of true wildness on any outing.”

GERRY O’NEILL / ILLUSTRATOR

The youngest of six kids, Gerry O’Neill always had someone to outdraw, outwit or outrun. With a degree in commercial art, O’Neill worked in Washington, D.C., advertising agencies before striking out as a freelance illustrator. He put down roots in Durham in the ‘90s and his love for North Carolina only grows stronger. “Each painting or illustration is an opportunity to engage with a new viewpoint and capture its essence. Jim Dodson’s writing evokes a sense of wonder and humor to which I’m privileged to bring my own lens.”

FORREST MASON / PHOTOGRAPHER

Forrest Mason is a photographer and Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker based in Chapel Hill. An avid fan of the food and beverage industry and all of the delightful personalities it attracts, Mason has committed his career to capturing all the tastiness one can point a camera at. On shooting “Where to Eat & Drink” for 2026: “Friends who play you new music are awesome, but friends who show you new restaurants are my favorite. The F&B industry is full of the kindest, most interesting folks I know, so it was a genuine pleasure getting to meet and work with almost a dozen restaurants for this story! I can tell you first-hand that it’s a fantastic list.”

DONNA BEAL / POET

Donna Beal is a writer living in the mountains of Western North Carolina. “The first snow of the season inspired this poem as I remember how my childhood family came together during one long-lasting winter storm. Snow storms and weather forecasts are grand opportunities for exaggeration. So is poetry.”

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OUR TOWN

Kick off 2026 with cozy indoor performing arts shows, gallery exhibitions and independent films — or brave the chill for some strolls outside.

ALL THAT JAZZ “Jazz music is collaborative. You’re responding to the other musicians or the crowd’s energy, so you can hear the same band play over and over, but each time, it’s different,” says Lisa Veronica Wood of jazz fusion band Sidecar Social Club. They’ve been a fixture in Raleigh’s jazz and cabaret circuit for 15 years, along with other local legends like Al Strong and Peter Lamb and the Wolves. Raleigh’s jazz scene has experienced a resurgence over the past year, with local bars, restaurants and nightclubs hosting regular gigs and crowds filling rooms late at night to enjoy these soulful, improvisational sounds. Sidecar Social Club will play at Figulina for its jazz night on the first Sunday of the month, a revival of a favorite tradition from the restaurant’s previous incarnation as Humble Pie. Expect a lively, diverse setlist from Sidecar to enjoy alongside a special “Lasagna Lounge” menu from chef and owner David Ellis (Jan. 4; 5 - 8 p.m.; $10; 317 S. Harrington Street; figulinaraleigh.com). Boatman Spirits Co. in Seaboard Station hosts Al Strong & friends for Jazz Night every Wednesday (8 - 11 p.m.; 713 Seaboard Station Drive; boatmanspirits.com). And Moon Room in Smoky Hollow offers live jazz performances from various groups (jam sessions, too!) Wednesday through Saturday evenings (8 p.m.; 500 N. West Street, Suite 150; moonroomraleigh.com) — Addie Ladner

DATEBOOK

WALTER’s list of things to see, do and experience this month

by ADDIE LADNER

A LIFE WELL LIVED

Now - Jan. 10 | Various times

Durham-based artist Laura Shubert’s life has been filled with wonder and color, having spent most of her youth living in Spain and Florida, then studying in France. Her latest body of work, A Life Well Lived, is a collection of 16 oil and acrylic paintings on view at downtown’s Gallery C. It harkens back to European summers featuring scenes like kids riding bikes on dirt roads in the French countryside and serene seascapes from the Spanish coast. “Laura’s work resonates because she finds the extraordinary in life’s most treasured experiences,” says Charlene Newsom, owner of Gallery C. “Her paintings invite us to pause and appreciate the simple luxury of a well-lived life — whether it’s the golden light filtering through a French villa window or the peaceful solitude of a beach afternoon.” Free; 540 N. Blount Street; galleryc.net

FIRST DAY HIKE

Jan. 1 | 2 - 4 p.m.

Step right into 2026 with this annual community hike hosted by the Eno River Association. Meet at the Cox Mountain Trailhead at the Eno River State Park (arrive early; the parking lot is small and fills up quickly), then check in near the Fews Ford Shelter to hear remarks from the park’s superintendent before you embark. You’ll have two choices: a 1-mile path along the Eno Trace Trail and or a 4-mile route that covers the Buckquarter Creek, Ridge and Fieldstone Trails. Afterward, enjoy complimentary hot chocolate at the picnic shelter. Free; 6101 Cole Mill Road, Durham; enoriver.org

FIRST FRIDAY

Jan. 2 | Various times

Don’t miss the first First Friday of the year! For the unfamiliar, this is a

monthly event where dozens of area art galleries, retailers, bars and restaurants extend their hours and have special offerings to celebrate the rich culture, creativity and community in downtown Raleigh. It’s a great excuse to explore an area of downtown you don’t visit as often or haven’t been to at all. A highlight this month will be the last chance to experience the Illu-

minate Art Walk, a maze of captivating light installations scattered around downtown. Some examples: In Smoky Hollow, check out Downtown Dance Floor by MOSCA Design, a neon, tiled platform that changes colors as you step on it (421 N. Harrington Street); in One City Plaza, walk through Trumpet Flowers by Amigo & Amingo, a magical garden and soundscape of towering, glowing blooms that also function as gramophones (421 Fayetteville Street). Free to attend; various locations in downtown Raleigh; downtownraleigh.org

FIRST SATURDAY BIRDING

Jan. 3 | 8:30 - 11 a.m.

The Triangle Land Conservancy and members of the New Hope Bird Alliance are leading the year’s first birdwatching hike through the George and Julia Brumley Family Nature Preserve. Bring your binoculars and wear com-

All information is accurate as of press time, but please check waltermagazine.com and the event websites for the latest updates.

REVOLUTION: MUSIC OF THE BEATLES

Jan. 16 & 17 |

Various times

Journey back to 1969 London at this experiential Beatles tribute performance from the North Carolina Symphony and visiting vocalists

Paul Loren, Colin Smith and Daniel Berryman. Hear more than 20 of the British rock band’s hits, from “Hey Jude” to “All You Need Is Love,” while you watch projections of more than 100 rarely seen archival images and videos for a completely immersive musical experience. From $70; 2 E. South Street; ncsymphony.org

fortable shoes to enjoy a 2.5-mile trail, stopping often to observe the avian life that abounds within the state’s second-most-visited spot for birding. Pre-registration is required. Free; 3055 New Hope Church Road, Chapel Hill; triangleland.org

NC MODERNIST MOVIE SERIES

Jan. 6 | 7 p.m.

Join fellow modern design lovers for the NC Modernist Movie Series at The Rialto on the first Tuesday of each month (now through May). Each evening features engaging documentaries celebrating modern architecture and design — plus door prizes! This month kicks off the series with a double feature. Making a Mountain is a 2020 documentary about the design

and construction of CopenHill, a joint recreational spot in Copenhagen that’s also a massive power and heat waste-to-energy plant. Counterweight introduces the audience to awardwinning Seattle architecture firm Olson Kundig, known for its work in kinetic design, as well as its resident “gizmologist,” Phil Turner. Doors open at 6:15. $16; 1620 Glenwood Avenue; therialto.com

KNIT NIGHT

Jan. 8 | 6 - 8 p.m.

January is the perfect month to get back to that knitting project you started last year — or keep up the momentum on a current design. All skill levels are welcome to join Oberlin Re-

gional Library’s Knitting & Crocheting Club. It meets on the second Thursday of each month, and it’s a great way to pick up tips or converse with other enthusiasts. Bring whatever you are working on and knit at your own pace at this volunteer-led session. Free; 1930 Clark Avenue; wake.gov

LIZ MIELE

Jan. 9 - 11 |

Various times

Rising New York City comedian

Liz Miele is making a stop at Village District comedy club Goodnights. Miele’s relatable and laughable bits are known to touch on mental health, dating life and her love of cats. The popular comedian has appeared on NPR’s Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me and been featured in THe New York Times. “We’re thrilled to welcome Liz back for the fourth straight year,” says Hannah Palermo, the marketing manager at Goodnights. “Her quick wit and fearless storytelling are the perfect match for the smart, lively comedy crowd here in Raleigh.” From $30; 401 Woodburn Road; goodnightscomedy.com

RASCAL FLATTS

Jan. 15 | 7 p.m.

“Life is a highway…” and Rascal Flatts is about to ride it all the way to Raleigh. The longtime country music band known for bittersweet tunes like “What Hurts the Most” and “Bless the Broken Road” will be making a stop at the Lenovo Center. They’ll be joined by fellow country music artists Lauren Alaina (an American Idol alumna) and songwriter Chris Lane (from Kernersville, North Carolina), who will open the concert. From $32; 1400 Edwards Mill Road; lenovocenter.com

SHE WHO STANDS

Jan. 26 | 11 a.m. & 1 p.m.

To bring the exhibition THe Book of Esther in the Age of Rembrandt to life, the North Carolina Museum of Art commissioned the Broughton High School Dance Department to choreograph a performance inspired by Esther’s story. Nineteen students will perform the resulting dance, She Who Stands, to celebrate the Biblical queen who defied her husband to save Jewish people from genocide in the fifth century — and later became a muse for Dutch artist Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn. Betsy Graves, director of dance at Broughton High School, says she dove deep into Esther’s stories to draw inspiration for the dance’s choreography: “This concert pays tribute to the agency, courage and enduring impact of women like Esther — figures whose strength and resilience have shaped narratives across cultures and throughout history.” Free; 2110 Blue Ridge Road; ncartmuseum.org

GABBY’S DOLLHOUSE LIVE! Jan. 18 | 4 p.m.

See this wildly popular children’s TV show come to life at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium. In this stage musical, Gabby goes on an adventure after unearthing a magical acorn that needs a rainbow to grow. True to form, the scheming CatRat character has other plans — and separates all the colors in the rainbow! Gabby and her companions must find a way to put the rainbow back together and save the adorable acorn. For parents or grandparents of young children who can recite “a pinch on my left, pinch pinch on my right, grab Pandy’s hand and hold on tight,” this is a must-see. From $66; 2 E. South Street; martinmariettacenter.com

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CELEBRATIONS

Jan. 18 & 19 | Various times

There are multiple ways to pay homage to the late civil-rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. in the weekend leading up to the national holiday. Two to bookmark: On Saturday, Millbrook United Methodist will host a moving reenactment of King’s speech, THe THree Evils of Society, followed by group discussions, then refreshments. They’ll also have various kids’ activities (Jan. 18, 4 - 6:30 p.m.; free; 1712 Millbrook Road; millbrookumc.org). On Sunday, the City of Raleigh is hosting “When Community Comes Together,” at the John P. “Top” Greene African American Cultural Center in partnership with the North Carolina Black Women Empowered 50+ Group. Enjoy refreshments, entertainment and hands-on activities (Jan. 19; 3 - 6 p.m.; free; 401 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard; raleighnc.gov).

ASTRONOMY DAYS

Jan. 25 & 26 | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

One, two, three… blast off at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences for Astronomy Days. Themed “Passport to the Moon,” it’s two days of galactic activities like a Mars Rover-making station, solar observing opportunities (using extra-cool telescopes for safety) and the chance to make your own bottle rocket! Also get up close with materials found in space, enjoy simulated moon experiences and get to know real-life astronauts. Free; 11 W. Jones Street; naturalsciences.org

RALEIGH’S PREMIER WHITE GLOVE DELIVERY SERVICE

JK Transportation has been providing white glove delivery services to the Raleigh-Durham area since 2020. We partner with Interior Designers for full installations. We offer shipping and receiving in our climate-controlled warehouse.

DATEBOOK

MADAMA BUTTERFLY

Jan. 30 | 7:30 p.m.

Hear the heart-wrenching, operatic tale of Cio-Cio-San, a Japanese woman who falls in love with an American naval officer in the early 1990s. She marries him, only to be abandoned and left to raise their son, but still longingly waits for his return. Performed in Italian, this tale of sacrifice, identity, passion and betrayal will keep the audience captivated, says Eric Mitchko, general director for the North Carolina Opera: “Puccini’s Madama Butterfly is a true masterpiece that belongs on every arts and culture lover’s ‘must-see’ list. Francesca Zambello’s production captures the intensity of human longing in a way that audiences will remember long after the final note.” From $35; 2 E. South Street; ncopera.org

TRIANGLE RESTAURANT WEEK

Jan. 26 - Feb. 1 | Various times

If the recent MICHELIN Guide American South announcements or regular James Beard nods are any indication, our area has an all-star culinary scene. During Triangle Restaurant Week, dozens of restaurants will offer a three-course lunch for $15 and a two- to three-course dinner for $25 to $50. It’s a great opportunity to try someplace new — or even hop over to Chapel Hill or Durham. “We’re looking forward to a fabulous turnout and new restaurants joining the line-up as the Triangle continues to grow,” says event organizer Damon Butler. “With food prices continuing to rise, din-

ers can expect great value during this year’s 19th Triangle Restaurant Week!” The list of participating restaurants will be released closer to the date, so check the event website. Various prices; various locations; trirestaurantweek.com

SUPER DIAMOND: THE NEIL DIAMOND TRIBUTE

Jan. 29 | 8 p.m.

Fans of the legendary musician known for classic sing-alongs like “Sweet Caroline” will love this tribute show at Five Points’ historic theater, The Rialto. San Francisco quintet Super Diamond has traveled around the country, appearing on CNN and the the pages of Rolling Stone magazine for their spirited, authentic takes on Neil Diamond

songs. Doors open at 7 p.m. From $42; 1620 Glenwood Avenue; therialto.com

APPALACHIAN ROAD SHOW

Jan. 30 | 7:30 p.m.

Appalachian Road Show is a folk and bluegrass powerhouse made up of five Grammy-nominated and -winning string musicians and vocalists: Jim Van Cleve, Barry Abernathy, Todd Phillips, Darrell Webb and Zeb Snyder. At this energetic performance, they’ll play songs inspired by their namesake mountains at A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater for the second show of PineCone’s Down Home Concert Series. “We’re thrilled to bring Appalachian Road Show back to Raleigh,” says David Brower, executive director of PineCone. “They’ve got a unique way of capturing both the history and spirit of life in the Appalachian Mountains through stories and songs, and they’re a lot of fun.” From $25; 2 E. South Street; pinecone.org

AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CELEBRATION

Jan. 31 | 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Join the North Carolina Museum of of History at its 25th annual kickoff to African American Heritage Month, this year hosted at the NCMA. Expect a showcase of artistry, culture and history thorugh performances, demonstrations and workshops at this familyfriendly event. Free; 2110 Blue Ridge Road; ncmuseumofhistory.org

Playing the HITS

The Great Cover Up is a chance for local musicians to show their range — and have some fun

by DAVID MENCONI

photography by RODNEY BOLES

Anticipation is high in the dimly lit room. The fans in the audience have waited in line, paid their covers, ordered their drinks. But they don’t know who will appear on stage. Years past have featured detailed recreations of everyone from Shania Twain to Run-DMC to the Grateful Dead, but the lineup isn’t announced in advance. Only a trusted few know who or what they’ll see before the curtains part.

This is the fun of The Great Cover Up, an annual series of shows at Kings. A sort of Halloween for the music scene, it’s a chance for local performers to pay tribute to their influences and idols, dressing up and mimicking them. It’s become one of the Triangle’s longest-running annual events, a quirky fundraiser for those in the know.

The event dates back to the fall of 1999, after Hurricane Floyd ravaged Eastern North Carolina with devastating floods. Kings had just opened in downtown Raleigh, and the owners were pondering how to pitch in. They wanted to do something more offbeat than a simple fundraising benefit. An out-of-town friend had a suggestion.

“A guy from Champaign, Illinois, told us about an event up there where bands dressed up and played covers,” says Kings co-founder Paul Siler. “So we ran with the idea and did a weekend, four or five bands a night, and raised a nice amount to donate. It was so much fun we decided to do it again the next year.”

More than a quarter of a century later, The Great Cover Up still raises money for causes (including Hurricane Helene flood relief last year; KidzNotes, SPCA and InterAct in years past) and has expanded into multiple weekends, with scores of bands participating. (The 2026 edition will take place Jan. 23 & 24, 30 & 31 and Feb. 13 & 14). The musicians aren’t paid, but they still line up to play.

Cover Up subjects have included Aerosmith, ZZ Top, Blondie, The Rolling Stones, INXS and more. Sometimes the participants are actual full bands like The Backsliders or Siler’s Birds of Avalon. But as often as not, they’re ad hoc ensembles brought together for the occasion.

Some of the most memorable Cover Up star turns from years past have been women in gender-switching roles, like Caroline Mamoulides as Journey’s Steve Perry. Before her death from cancer in 2024, Reese McHenry was a Cover Up legend, covering Led Zeppelin, the Black Crowes and AC/DC.

Doing a cover subject justice usually involves dressing up. (Though in 2017, members of the cover band 1999 Problems played as the Red Hot Chili Peppers in a state of undress, with strategically placed instruments keeping it PG-13.)

“I try to schedule a balance between accessible and hipster. It’s such a cool tradition. It can really evoke the feeling of seeing Led Zeppelin or AC/DC in a small room.”

— PAUL SILER

Musicians often go all-out with elaborate costumes and wigs to evoke the likes of Meat Loaf or Dolly Parton.

Chelley Godwin, who portrayed legendary country icon Parton last year, found a suitably elegant sequined dress at the vintage clothing store TrunkShow.

“Got a wig to go with it, and it was perfect,” says Godwin. “Dolly was a big one, very important to get just right. For others, I’ve made the outfit myself, like cutting off a tank top for No Doubt. I love a craft moment. Anytime I have an opportunity to make a costume, it’s great.”

As outlined in a 2025 PBS documentar y about the Cover Up phenomenon, Godwin is a longtime regular. She’s covered a dozen different acts going back to 2012, when she overcame stage fright to make her debut as Karen O of New York punk band the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. She has since covered The GoGo’s, The Cranberries, Pat Benatar, Cyndi Lauper and Alanis Morissette. Godwin’s parents, who are always in the audience for her Cover Up performances, especially liked those last two.

“Me doing Cyndi Lauper struck a chord with my mom because she says I would sing along to ‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun’ as a 2-year-old,” she says. “She also remembers me screaming along to Alanis’ ‘Jagged Little Pill’ as a teenager in my bedroom. When I did Alanis, I was taken aback at the crowd response because everyone was singing along.”

Along with serving as host and MC, Siler has played the event countless times himself as everyone from Devo

to The Who. Keeping things moving can be very hands-on work. One time when a band didn’t show up, Siler and two friends jumped onstage for a 10-minute power-trio version of Bruce Springsteen’s “Glory Days.”

“Just turning lemons into lemonade,” says Siler. “Cover Up is something I look forward to and dread at the same time, because of all the logistics. I try to schedule a balance between accessible and hipster. It’s such a cool tradition. It can really evoke the feeling of seeing Led Zeppelin or AC/DC in a small room.”

Keyboardist Greg Rice has played in even more Cover Ups than Godwin — “17 that I can remember,” he says — covering everyone from The White Stripes to Electric Light Orchestra. He says it’s always a blast, even just hanging out

watching everyone else.

“The best part is the clubhouse feeling of belonging that you get,” says Rice, who has played in The Cartridge Family, Backsliders and Terry Anderson’s OAK Team. “It’s like a high school or family reunion. We all pooh-pooh cover bands, but everybody in the crowd winds up singing along. Get right down to it and everybody’s a Jimmy Buffett fan, whether they’ll admit it or not.”

Clockwise from top left: Performers as Sleater-Kinney, Rush, Alanis Morisette and The White Stripes.

TRACK Tales

The footprints our local animals leave behind teach us more than we realize

words and photographs by MIKE DUNN

Ifirst learned about animal tracks when I was a young boy following my dad through the woods as we hunted for deer. The initial lessons were pretty basic: What animal made this track? Which way was it going? Was it walking or running? I was fascinated that you could learn something about animals around you even if you never saw them.

Of course, an animal passing through a habitat may leave traces of its presence besides just the impressions of its feet in the substrate. These include scat (animal droppings), pieces of fur or feathers, signs left by feeding (like chew marks or prey remains), and territorial marks (like rubs or claw marks on trees).

The first step in learning about animal tracks is finding them. Whenever I am walking along a waterway, I look for mud banks or sandy deposits. Beaches are also great, as are trails through the woods with

bare soil exposed. And snow (remember when we used to have that?) is obviously a great place to find tracks. The substrate can make a big difference in the appearance of a track. Mud and snow can make a track seem bigger, since these softer substrates displace more easily. And the passage of time and weather can lead to distortions in the track, making it more difficult to decipher.

To identify tracks, I suggest getting a field guide (there are many to choose from), a ruler and a camera. Then start looking. As with most things in nature, your track probably will not look exactly like the drawing or photo in the field guide. But there are things that can help you narrow your choices, including the size of the track, the number of toes, the presence or absence of claw marks, and the track pattern. The pattern can often be more useful than the track itself. Let’s say you find a track in the snow that has four toes and shows claw marks. That tells you it is probably a canid (dog family) track, as a felid (cat family) has retractable claws. But is it a domestic dog, fox or coyote? Size will narrow the choices, as fox tracks are generally smaller than those of coyote. But what about dogs? It can be tough to tell from the track alone as there are so many breeds and sizes of dogs. Fox and coyote tracks tend to be a bit oval in shape, whereas most dog prints are more round in outline, with the toes splayed out a bit more. Then there is the walking pattern itself. Wild canids like foxes and coyotes tend to walk in a rather straight line, often with a direct register (hind foot lands in front print). This is a more energy-efficient way of walking and, if you are a wild creature, that matters. Domestic dogs tend to meander and have an irregular path.

One of my favorite track experiences happened many years ago while working at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. I was leading a guided trip to a

Whose track is it?

Test your knowledge of common species of wildlife in our area.

manipulate its food.

E. This animal moves with a bounding gait where the larger hind feet land in front of the smaller front feet.

resides in all 100 counties and can even be found on our ocean beaches.

F. One of the most likely tracks to find, this ungulate (hoofed mammal) can be found in almost all of our state’s habitats.

wildlife refuge in eastern NC. With the permission of the refuge, I drove onto a normally closed road and parked at the edge of the woods. I hoped to show my guests some bears in the wild. We walked the woods for a few hours seeing lots of bear signs (well-worn trails through the woods, scat, rolled logs, claw marks on trees) but no bears. However, when we got back to my car we were amazed to find 32 muddy paw prints from two different bears (based on the size differences in the prints) all over my vehicle. There was no food in the car, so I am guessing they were just curious about what this thing was in their “backyard.” I didn’t wash that car for weeks afterward and got plenty of interesting stares and comments.

C. This large bird track was found along a sandy trail in a longleaf pine forest.

G. This large omnivore walks flat-footed, with the heel, sole and toes of each foot touching the ground at each step.

If you want to preserve tracks you find in the soil, you can make plaster casts. Mix some Plaster of Paris with water to the consistency of pancake batter, then pour the wet plaster into the track impression. The cast will harden in a few minutes (it takes longer in cold weather). Then, gently pry the cast out of the soil and you have a great raised impression of the animal’s footprint. Over the course of my career as a naturalist, I taught this skill to countless teachers and students. It is a great way to take home a memory of a field experience. I even helped some schools build track boxes on their grounds to see what animals might be roaming the area. If you want a better chance of finding tracks at home, you can either clear

H. This secretive predator has retractable claws, which means you rarely see claw marks in its tracks.

a muddy spot or make a simple bed of sand somewhere that wildlife is likely to traverse. You can bait the track box with pieces of apple or birdseed and see what animals leave their tracks in the sand.

Paul Rezendes, author of the excellent reference Tracking and the Art of Seeing: How to Read Animal Tracks and Signs, describes tracks as “an animal’s signature, a way in which it communicates to the world.” I still get excited when I see a track and enjoy trying to figure out what the animal is telling me about its life.

How many animal tracks do you recognize? Above, find the tracks of a few of North Carolina’s common species of wildlife. Use the clues to help, or find the answers at the side of the page.

Thursday, January 22, for Museum

Thursday, February 5, for general public

$50, Members $45

ncartmuseum.org/artinbloom

TURNING A NEW LEAF

As I look toward aging in place, I have a long-term goal of creating a more open, low-maintenance landscape. January is a good time to evaluate your garden to see what can be added, moved or removed. I’ve taken out a lot of fruit trees that make beautiful blooms but, alas, no fruit, like apple, apricot, cherry and guava. Additionally, I’ve added more manageable shrubs (like our native dwarf yaupon hollies) to replace invasives I’ve taken out of my yard. Here’s what I’m working on this month. — Helen Yoest

PLANT PERENNIAL ASPARAGUS

Asparagus is a delight when it emerges in the spring‚ but it must mature for two to three years before harvesting to establish its root systems. Plant it in a permanently sunny area, amending the soil with lime and compost to improve fertility and drainage (asparagus prefers less acidic soil than we have here in Raleigh). Plant bare-root crowns, the part of the plant where the stem and roots meet, 6 to 8 inches deep, and cover with soil. As spears grow, add more soil. My favorite variety is Mary Washington; another beautiful and tasty species is the Purple Passion, which is sweeter and higher in vitamin C.

PLANT PERENNIAL HERBS

Mediterranean herbs like oregano, sage and thyme have provided me easy seasoning for years. They require full sun and well-draining soil, but otherwise little attention until you snip them. To save herbs for later use, rinse and let dry. Then loosely tie in small bundles at the stem ends and hang upside down in a warm, low-humidity area, out of sunlight. Once the leaves are crisp (after about a week) strip them from the stems. Store the herbs in airtight jars.

CONSIDER COLORFUL SHRUBS

For color in your garden with less maintenance, consider trading out needy perennials for vibrant shrubs. Consider adding Florida anise for amazing yellow color or dwarf viburnum for abundant white flowers in April, plus sporadic flowering from fall through spring.

Backcountry Escapes

SHINLEAF RECREATION AREA TO NC 98 (Day-Hike Section H)

3.0 miles, one way

by JOE MILLER

The Mountains-to-Sea Trail runs through some pretty wild terrain on its 1,200mile journey across North Carolina. To the west, it starts in the Great Smoky Mountains, then it heads over the highest point in the east, the 6,684-foot Mount Mitchell. It crosses the Linville River, which drops 2,000 vertical feet through its namesake gorge and proceeds directly to the wet and wild Wilson Creek area. Eventually, it makes its way to the coastal Croatan National Forest, whose lush vegetation makes it nearly impenetrable in spots.

Wild as its journey is, though, perhaps nowhere is the MST’s ability to distance us from civilization more appreciated than on its 62-mile run along Falls Lake through the Triangle. You may cross an occasional road; you may bump up against someone’s backyard. But for the most part, you’re insulated from the nation’s 41st-largest metro area by a veneer of forest, meadow and lake.

That 62 miles along the lake’s shoreline, from Falls Lake Dam in west Wake Forest to Penny’s Bend Nature Preserve in Durham, is divided into 18 day-hike sections ranging in length from just under a mile to slightly more than 7 miles. Each section has its own personality, but five in particular excel at offering backcountry escapes.

Below are descriptions of each of those five stretches, including length, trailhead locations and, if you prefer not to set up a shuttle and don’t want to hike the entire stretch twice (out and back), a convenient turnaround spot. Note that portions of these trails may be on game land, so it’s a good idea to wear some identifying blazeorange item if hiking between September and May (find hunting seasons on the Butner-Falls of Neuse Game Land at ncwildlife.gov).

From the hiker’s parking area (a halfmoon drive on your left, shortly after passing the entrance gate), continue walking up the road a short distance to pick up the white-circle-blazed MST on your left. Immediately descend into a longleaf pine forest and cross a couple of small creeks before entering a hardwood forest. You don’t pick up the lake until you’re three-quarters of a mile in; from there you’re dipping in and out of secluded coves for the next mile and a half. You’ll find great views of the lake and get in more elevation than you might expect. The cove hiking stops at about the 2.5-mile mark, where you continue on an upland route until you begin hearing traffic on NC 98, your turnaround point.

For a shorter hike: The fourth cove you duck into is fed by a small farm pond just up from the trail. It makes for an easy turnaround and a total 2.8-mile hike.

Trailhead: Shinleaf Recreation Area, 13708 New Light Road, Wake Forest

NC 50 TO NC 98 (Day-Hike Section K)

7.2 miles, one way

This is the longest segment of MST along Falls Lake and excels at avoiding humanity. And, with the potential for a 14.4-mile out-and-back, it’s a great way to spend an entire day. Starting from NC 50 and hiking west, you spend the first 2 miles hiking along the lake, catching a view of the Rollingview Marina across the way. The trail explores the forest above the lake for another couple miles, heading through a long-abandoned farm with a tobacco shed on your left and a barn foundation on your right. You’ll cross old roadbeds and encounter other signs of life as it was before the Neuse River was dammed in the 1970s to create the lake. You’ll snuggle up to the lake again, passing through narrow corridors of green, for the last half mile. It’s a good stretch to clear your mind.

For a slightly shorter hike: After glimpsing the Rollingview Marina, you’ll follow a cove, then head upland; hike for another 10 minutes to get the feel of this higher terrain, then return, for an overall 6.5mile hike.

Trailhead: Roadside parking off NC 50 just north of the right turn into the Falls Lake Visitor Center, 13304 Creedmoor Road, Wake Forest

RED MILL ROAD TO RED MILL ROAD (Day-Hike Section S)

4.6 miles, one way

ROLLING VIEW ACCESS TO SMALL BEACH

(Day-Hike Section M)

2.5 miles, one way

From the far corner of the gravel parking lot, pick up the blue-blazed access trail, which Ts into the MST in a half mile; go left. This hike takes you, for the first mile or so, through some of the more mature hardwood forest you’ll find along Falls Lake. It’s also got some of the most elevation, giving the trail more of a mountain feel; that feeling is enhanced a mile and a quarter in by a 10-foot waterfall (provided it’s rained recently). You’ll get your first good view of the lake about a mile and three-quarters in and a densely vegetated cove just beyond.

At the 2.5-mile mark, there’s a small sand beach that makes for a nice spot to stop and enjoy the lake. It also makes for a fitting turnaround spot.

For a longer hike: The hike described makes for an enjoyable 5-mile out-andback, but if you want more mileage, continue hiking another 2 miles to the Lick Creek Bridge, where you might encounter an angry beaver known for slapping his tail at visitors.

Trailhead: Rolling View MST Access, located on your left just before the gate to the Rolling View Recreation Area, 4201 Baptist Road, Durham

Such variety on this stretch! From the northern trailhead, enter a bottomland forest that can get swampy after a good rain. The trail bumps up against a farm pond, then takes in a sweeping view of a swampy stretch of Falls Lake that’s more wetland than lake. The trail passes through a planted pine forest, follows the edge of a long meadow, crosses a power line, then crosses an active rail line. There’s an abandoned farm with a good-size barn in decline, then another rail line (this one abandoned). Cross a clearcut, then find yourself in a wooded area along New Hope Creek. This section ends at Red Mill Road — not where you started, but less than 2 miles south, making for a quick shuttle.

For a shorter hike: The first rail line you encounter, the active line, is 3 miles in and makes for an easy-to-find turnaround and 6-mile hike.

Trailhead: Red Mill Road North Trailhead, Durham. If you are coming from I-85, take the Red Mill Road Exit north and go 3 miles. Parking for the trail is just off the left side of the road, though hidden until you get there. GPS: 36°05.041,’ 78° 49.429’. To pick up the trail from the parking area, walk south along Red Mill Road for about 50 yards; the trail enters the woods on your left.

BE THE FIRST TO KNOW

PENNY’S BEND TO RED MILL ROAD

(Day-Hike Section T)

4.1 miles one way

The pacing on this hike is ideal, with a good warmup and a juicy carrot at the end. The first 2 miles or so offer a rolling ramble through bottomland forest and farmland not worked in 30 to 40 years. There’s a pine grove and a hardwood forest. About a mile and a quarter in, take the marked campsite spur for 100 yards to one of the nicest camping spots around. At just under 2 miles, you’ll climb a bluff overlooking the Eno River. You’ll hike a mix of old roadbeds and hiking trails for another mile or so, reaching a spot at the 3.2mile mark that offers the best view of the Eno River below and, in winter, to the north as well. The last mile or so is a descent through forest with minimal understory, offering good sightlines into the woods.

For a shorter hike: Ascending the first bluff 2 miles in gives you a view and an easy-to-identify turnaround spot. Trailhead: Same as previous. Red Mill Road North Trailhead, Durham. If you are coming from I-85, take the Red Mill Road Exit north and go 3 miles. Parking for the trail is just off the left side of the road, though hidden until you get there. GPS: 36°05.041,’ 78° 49.429’. NOTE: To pick up the trail from the parking area, walk south along Red Mill Road for about 50 yards; the trail enters the woods on your left.

For more information on these hikes, go to mountainstoseatrail.org.

Go Speechless

The

trend attracts readers with accountability — and community

by ADDIE LADNER

photography by JOSHUA STEADMAN

On a cold, dark Friday night in City Market, folks sit elbow-to-elbow at Blackbird Books & Coffee. But unlike the nearby bars and restaurants, which bustle with music and conversation, it’s so quiet here you could hear a pin drop. Each guest has their head in a book, enjoying a new and unusual version of happy hour.

This is the premise of a Silent Book Club: a date to read quietly in the company of others. It’s a trend that originated in San Francisco about a decade ago with a pair of friends who decided to forgo the organized discussion template of a traditional book club in favor of a more low-stakes reading commitment. The idea was to get together regularly at a nearby bar to read whatever they fancied at their own pace. Afterwards, if they wanted to discuss their reading material, they would, but it wasn’t a requirement. Soon, they made it a more organized thing, coining the term Silent Book Club and inviting friends to create the first chapter in their area.

Since then, it’s become a global phenomenon. Part of the appeal is the accountability to tackle those books piling up on your nightstand, with the ability to read your own selections at your own pace. The general format is an uninterrupted hour or so committed to reading, often with opportunities for conversation before or after.

Raleigh boasts several official and un-official Silent Book Clubs, each with its own personality. So if you’re finding yourself wanting to read more in 2026 or sit in community with like-minded literary folks, consider one of these meet-ups.

BLACKBIRD BOOKS & COFFEE

This cozy book and coffee shop in City Market hosts two weekend Silent Book Clubs per month. “We started with one but had a full house every time, so we added a second,” says co-owner Bre Brunswick. She says the demographic is a mix of ages, but mostly Gen Z to younger millennials, with a tendency to read study material, general romance and fantasy. “It’s pretty interesting to see what people are reading. It tends to be fairly lighter things and whatever is newest,” she says. And even though it’s optional, people do end up conversing afterwards — not necessarily about books — and sometimes even head out to dinner or exchange information. “We’re a fairly small space, so people have to get cozy,” says Brunswick. Friday & Saturday of the second full weekend of the month; 5 p.m.; 323 Blake Street; blackbirdbooksandcoffee.com

NORA CAFE

Teens and retirees alike gather at NoRa Cafe’s Silent Book Club in North Raleigh. The cafe has a small side room, dubbed the library, with a collection of inexpensive used books for sale, making it a perfect spot for a quiet reading session. “Guests can purchase some wine or coffee or even a book if they need,” says Colleen Gross, who owns the cafe with her husband Matt (they also own Dog-Eared Books off Atlantic Avenue). “We close the sliding barn door that separates the reading space from the main cafe and turn on some mellow music.” After reading for an hour, folks can linger as late as 8 p.m. to converse. “It’s been a great way to unplug and give yourself permission to relax and read without distraction,” she says. First & third THursday of the month; 6 p.m.; 12333 Strickland Road; instagram.com/ thelibraryatnora

OBERLIN REGIONAL LIBRARY

The Oberlin Regional Library is the only branch in Wake County that offers an official Silent Book Club chapter. “It gives me a set time to read and be with others while collectively enjoying peace for 90 minutes,” says adult services librarian Elizabeth Mankin. She says the evening attracts a small-ish group from their early 20s to 60s, who often make plans for dinner at one of the Village District eateries afterwards. At the start of each meeting, folks are given the option to introduce themselves and share their current reading material. “The titles people choose range from current bestsellers to classics they’ve always wanted to read,” she says. “Some people use digital books/eAudio books and others bring magazine articles — it’s really up to the attendee!” First THursday of the month, restarting in February; 6 - 8:30 p.m.; 1930 Clark Avenue; wake.gov

VAULT CRAFT BEER

Vault Craft Beer is going on its second year of hosting a Silent Book Club that attracts casual readers who tend to enjoy a round of drinks before or after. Mondays are historically quieter nights in the brewery scene, but the book club crowd packs the Vault. General manager and bartender Christopher Curtis Smith says working his first one in December was a surprising albeit pleasant experience. “It was a full house, but completely quiet — it’s funny as a bartender to have a room full of quietness,” he says. “It was also interesting because many folks ordered wine, ciders and sours instead of the beers that were on special, which is unique for our customers.” First Monday of the month; 518 W. South Street; vaultcraftbeer.com

The THUNDER

Raijin Sumo Club offers its members a chance to wrestle — and reconnect

by JARRETT VAN METER

by BRYAN REGAN

To those outside the know, the two men were a spectacle. Time after time, on the grass of Miller Fields at North Carolina State University, they rumbled towards each other and collided in a thundering clap of flesh. The two bodies — Eric Huynh clocking in at 285 pounds and Jared Faulk at 180 — locked into a brutish sort of waltz, tussling, pushing and scrapping for leverage. After a few seconds, they released and took a few steps in opposite directions. Once 15 feet apart, they turned back around to face each other and do it all again.

This was the origin of Raleigh’s Raijin Sumo Club, founded in 2021 by Huynh and Faulk. Today the club boasts more than 20 members, but in the early going it was just two of them.

“We would get a lot of looks, obviously,” remembers Faulk.

Sumo wrestling traditionally pits two competitors against one another in a raised ring called a dohyo. The objective is to push the opponent outside of the boundary or knock them off balance enough that any part of their body, other than the soles of their feet, touches the ground. Sumo is the national sport of Japan; countries like Russia, Mongolia and Ukraine have become global powers, but in the United States, most Sumo participants are hobbyists who find their way to the sport through other martial arts or pure curiosity.

Both Huynh and Faulk found Sumo during the pandemic while browsing online martial arts videos. A former high school wrestler, Huynh threw himself into the sport by registering for the 2020 US Sumo Open with no experience in the form. Faulk, a student

at NC State at the time, was back home in Statesville for the lockdown period, where he built himself a DIY dohyo. He hoed up a section of his parents’ backyard, lined it with piping purchased at Lowes, and recruited his brother, a high schooler, to be his first opponent. Both Huynh and Faulk were immediately hooked, but they just needed a means to continue.

When NC State resumed in-person classes, Faulk returned to Raleigh and posted a query for training partners on the Reddit. Huynh, who was living in Wilmington at the time, responded. Huynh had 100 pounds on Faulk (though he’s bulked up since them), but they bonded immediately and began their one-on-one battles on the Miller Fields. By summer 2021, they added a third consistent member, Edobor Konyeha from Winston-Salem. Konyeha brought a fresh perspective, elite athleticism and a name idea for the group: Raijin Sumo Club, named for the god of storms in Japanese mythology and the Shinto religion. It stuck, and more people trickled in. Sunday practices were formalized and moved from Miller Fields to the dirt infield of the Pullen Park softball diamond, which more closely approximates the sand and clay surface of a traditional dohyo floor. Huynh moved up from Wilmington in order to be closer to the club.

But as the group began to grow, so did the need for actual instruction.

“It got to the point where we said, Whoa, we’re getting people that’s not just me and you anymore, Eric… We can’t just smash into each other,” says Faulk. “We can only teach them stuff if we know how the stuff works.”

So the two became students of the sport, watching films in their spare time and disseminating what they learned to the club. Today, teaching, collaboration and education are as much a part of the club’s ethos as brute force. Raijin is co-ed and has grown to over 20 members of all body types, ability levels and ambitions.

“We coach each other. We teach each other,” says Huynh. “It’s a community.”

In addition to the hobbyists, Raijin

boasts some of the country’s top Sumo athletes. Huynh competed in the Sumo World Championships in Alabama in 2022 and Japan in 2023; Seth Adams went to Worlds in Poland 2024 and competed in Thailand in 2025, placing sixth. Konyeha, who has since moved to Texas, is a top lightweight in the world rankings, but is in a new club now. Faulk placed first in nationals in 2024 in the middleweight division, and several others compete in local and regional events.

As one member grows, so do the others. “Each new person that joins, you have to build them up, and as you build people up, you raise the level of the entire club,” says Faulk.

The Pullen Park baseball diamond doesn’t get as much foot traffic as Miller Fields, but passersby still stop and watch the Raijin athletes in action. Warmups consist of shikos, a sumo exercise of squatting, lifting a leg high in the air and stretching it as much as possible, returning it to the ground, squatting again and repeating with the other leg. Then the thunder begins. They typically wrestle for two hours.

After practice, exhausted and depleted, it’s time to eat. Buffet restaurants are

a favorite landing spot, but on special occasions, like holidays, tournaments and a camp that the group recently hosted, Huynh and his wife make Chanko Nabe, a traditional Japanese Sumo meal of rich, fatty meat and lots of vegetables.

The post-practice calories are needed, but the real point of the meals is the fellowship. It’s a way to unwind after hours of adrenaline, exertion and “seeing red” in the ring. “It’s a good way to catch up, but it’s also a good way to assess if anybody has any issues or is feeling down, because when it comes down to it, we’re still a club,” says Huynh. “We’re community based.”

Raijin operates as a nonprofit organization and is thus far the only sumo club in North Carolina. It doesn’t yet have the exposure, size or resources of clubs in some states, specifically Texas, but it competes well for its size. Faulk says in addition to the immediate goal of gaining their own indoor practice facility, he wants Raijin to be in the vanguard as the sport grows domestically.

“I think the ultimate goal is just to raise the level of athletes in America and Raijin sumo,” he says. “We’re trying to lead that charge.”

A New CLASSIC

Mr. Henry is a new bar — but it feels like it’s been in the Village District forever

by CATHERINE CURRIN

Outside: a facade painted forest green, the trimwork almostblack, the bar’s names in a classic serif in a brassy gold. Inside: a polished-wood bar, leather booths, petite marble-topped tables. Plaid pillows echo the wallpaper insets in the ceiling, and an Oriental rug adds a homey touch.

This is Mr. Henry, a new bar in the Village District that offers a complete departure from its neighbors. “We wanted a space that felt timeless,” says co-owner Matthew Bettinger, “like it could’ve been there for 50 years and will still feel right 50 years from now.”

For two years, Matthew, his wife, Catherine, and business partner Jeff Kinard, the three leads at CMJ Hospitality, had been on the hunt for their next

project. After closing downtown Raleigh’s beloved jazz bar C Grace in 2022, the co-owners of Hank’s Downtown Dive and Sidebar in Cary felt something was missing closer to home.

“We thought, maybe we should open the bar we wish existed,” says Matthew. So when the former Which Wich sandwich shop space in the Village District became available, Catherine immediately saw the vision. She designed the space, leaning into her childhood memories of riding horses to weave an equestrian theme throughout the bar. The narrow space has a long bar lit by glass-encased pendants, with vintage illustrations of horses and riders on its walls. To keep the space from feeling “too new,” they brought in hand-me-downs from their other spaces,

including pre-loved tables from Hank’s.

The bar’s general manager, Skyler Spaulding, has worked for CMJ hospitality for more than seven years, most recently as general manager of Sidebar. Spaulding says Mr. Henry’s menu is robust and there’s an array of approachable cocktails, beer and wines for any situation, from friends looking for a casual drink before heading to a comedy show next door at Goodnight’s to couples wanting an intimate nightcap after dinner at a nearby restaurant like Tazza or Piccola Italia.

“It’s a small space, and we decided to keep it strictly a bar, and for ages 21 and over. No televisions. We really wanted to focus on creating an exceptional drinking and conversation environment,” says Matthew.

Mr. Henry comes at a time of growth for the Village District’s nightlife, with even more bars, restaurants and a new hotel on the horizon. Matthew says his goal is for the bar to be a place for

“We really wanted to focus on creating an exceptional drinking and conversation environment.”

— MATTHEW

BETTINGER

Raleighites to go in any situation. “If you want a beer and a shot, great. If you’re in the mood for a martini, perfect. Maybe you just want a glass of wine or a simple highball — we’re happy to do that too,” says Matthew. “That’s the ethos for all of our endeavors. We never want anything to feel exclusive or make anyone think they’re drinking the ‘wrong’ thing.”

Spaulding says that the bar’s mission is to serve elevated versions of classic cocktails with a Mr. Henry spin. “One of our best-selling drinks is what we call the Mr. Henry Martini,” says Spaulding.

Its signature ingredient is a house-made brine. “We spent a lot of time developing it, and it really makes the drink special. It brings together a mix of flavors, like dill, classic kosher salt, even a little MSG,” he says. “It tastes like you combined every style of martini — dirty, dry, citrus-forward — and let them coexist in the same glass.”

The Bloody Mary is another staff favorite, a homemade mix with ginger, Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce. “It drinks a little bit lighter than your classic Bloody, but you still get the foundation of the tomato base,” Spaulding says.

Spaulding says that at first glance, the bar may come across formal or fancy, but the team wants everyone to feel welcome and at home at Mr. Henry. “It’s really not that precious. It’s for anyone, anytime,” Catherine says. “Maybe it’s your quick stop on the way home after work. Maybe it’s a special occasion. Or maybe it’s just a random Tuesday. All of that is welcome.”

Words of Wisdom

Fodder for the journey ahead, from my collection of journals

by JIM DODSON illustration by GERRY O’NEILL

I’m often asked by readers where I find my ideas each month.

“It’s simple,” I reply. “Life.” (Hence the title of this column.)

It helps, however, that I also have four leather journals, several with cracked bindings from age, that I began half a century ago. In their pages, I’ve recorded memorable quotes, funny observations and the wisdom of others who graciously provided fodder for the journey ahead. These journals anchor my writing desk and library shelves, crammed full of helpful words — some famous, others anonymous, comical, spiritual or plain common sense — resources I turn to when life seems out of whack or I simply need a shot of humor or optimism to face the moment.

A new year strikes me as the perfect

time to share some of my all-time favorites.

“I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world, as a result, will have a generation of idiots.”

— Albert Einstein

I had to put this one out first because I’m a confirmed Luddite who writes his books with an ink pen and can only function on a computer with proper adult supervision — in the form of my wife, Wendy, a techno-whiz. Recently, I heard a “super AI expert” warn that “living authors” will eventually be a thing of the past. That’s a world I don’t wish to live in.

“I knew when I met you an adventure was going to happen.” — from Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne

This gem hung with an illustration of Pooh, Piglet and Eeyore on my childhood bedroom wall. Stop and think for

a moment about the amazing people you didn’t know until they unexpectedly, perhaps miraculously, stepped into your life — and a new adventure began.

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” — from “The Summer Day” by Mary Oliver

This timeless poetic question hung on a banner over my daughter Maggie’s beautiful autumn wedding three years ago at her childhood summer camp in Maine. It’s one we all must invariably answer, even late in life. Especially late in life.

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” — from Walden; or, Life in the Woods by Henry David Thoreau (poet, naturalist,

transcendental rock star)

I discovered — and memorized — this stanza in Miss Emily Dickenson’s English Lit class in 1970 (it is, by the way, her real name). So moved by it, I vowed to someday retreat to the northern woods. Looking back, I think it partially explains why I built my house on a forested hilltop in Maine. That gold-and-green woodland enchanted my children and their papa, a would-be transcendentalist who has learned more from the solitude of the forest than in any city on Earth.

“There will be a time when you believe everything is finished; that will be the beginning.” — Louis L’Amour, Western novelist Useful advice for those of us anxious about the fate of American democracy.

“Solvitur ambulando.” — St. Augustine

Translation: It is solved by walking. Amazing what a good walk around the block or hike through the woods can do to calm the mind, work out a solution or simply remind one how life’s ever-changing landscape can clear away the cobwebs.

“Stop looking at yourself and begin looking into yourself. Life is an inside job.”

Someone once said this to me, but I can’t remember who. I sometimes remind myself of this when I’m shaving in the morning and see myself in the mirror, often followed by a second observation: I thought getting older would take more time.

“If something is lost, quit searching for it. It will find its way back to you.”

Sage advice passed along from a longtime golf pal’s mama. I’ve found it works splendidly with misplaced car keys, eyeglasses, wallets, golf balls (mostly) and Christmas candy. Not so much with politics or old romances.

“The meal is the essential act of life. It is the habitual ceremony, the long record of marriage, the school for behavior, the prelude to love. Among all peoples and in all times, every significant event in life — be it wedding, triumph, or birth — is marked by a meal or the sharing of food and drink. The meal is the emblem of civilization.” — from Life Is Meals: A Food Lover’s Book of Days by James and Kay Salter

A well-loved book in our household, one every food lover should own, this gloriously entertaining volume is chock full of quirky, fun and extraordinary gems about the origins and traditions of food, drink and fellowship at the table.

“In an age of speed, I began to think, nothing could be more invigorating than going slow. In an age of distraction, nothing could feel more luxurious than paying attention. And, in an age of constant movement, nothing is more urgent than sitting still.” — from The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere by Pico Iyer

This note from this wise little book pretty much summarizes my personal ambition for 2026 — to go slower, to pay closer attention, to sit still as often as possible.

“Modern American society is marked by a high degree of mobility, a decline in voluntary civic activities and an emphasis on rights (i.e. what others owe me). The result is rootlessness and detachment from family and friends. Higher crime rates, chiefly among youth, show a strong statistical correlation with lack of self-control. And moral disputes are often marked by dogmatism, the inability or unwillingness to see the moral force behind another point of view. In response, the possibilities for improvement include (1) reinvigorating our civic associations, (2) developing and inculcating self-control, and (3) demanding higher levels of mutual respect and tolerance in the way we speak to and treat one another.” — from Civility & Community by Brian Schrag

May you all have a safe and much more civil New Year.

Raleigh Curated

Pick up Our Town, an insiders guide to Raleigh living from the editors of WALTER.

This annual guide is full of ideas for where to eat, drink and shop — plus suggestions to rediscover the neighborhoods, museums and parks that make Raleigh a vibrant place to live, work and play. Find a copy at WALTER partner sites including: Fink’s Jewelers

Great Outdoor Provision Co. Haydon & Company

If It’s Paper Reliable Jewelry

The Umstead Hotel & Spa

Scan below to have a copy mailed to you:

waltermagazine.com/ourtown @ourtown_bywalter

We Still Talk About the Weather

by DONNA BEAL illustration by BOB RANKIN

The year a foot of snow took the entire month of January to melt it covered the steps to our house until there were no steps.

We stayed inside without power and waited.

Some may speak of long incurious weeks until the ground thawed; yet, in those snowbound days during the exaggeration of winter our lives came together and touched.

From quick bites to special nights, the pros share their favorite restaurants, bars, coffee shops and more

WHERE to EAT&DRINK 2026

by AYN-MONIQUE KLAHRE photography by FORREST MASON

If 2025 brought us anything, hospitality-wise, it’s street cred. We celebrated our first appearance in the MICHELIN Guide for the American South, with 14 restaurants in the Raleigh area earning placements on the Bib Gourmand and Recommended lists. Their selections include many beloved spots that celebrate both North Carolina traditions (hello, barbecue!) and cuisines with international roots. We also saw more than a dozen new spots open in town, including unique collaborations between established chefs, bartenders and restaurateurs that speak to the friendly nature of our local hospitality community.

So we have a good problem: With so many great spots to choose from, where do you go to get something to eat or drink? We think the best way to decide is to get a recommendation from a person who knows their stuff. That’s why each year we tap local foodies and hospitality folks to share their favorite spots based on their years of experience and excellent palates. Their selections include a broad range of tastes — from fine-dining experiences to quick-serve comfort food — that consistently deliver. Read on for more than 100 ideas for great culinary experiences in our area, and find even more recommendations on waltermagazine.com

CRAIG HEFFLEY OWNER,

WINE AUTHORITIES

Heffley has been a wine professional since 1991, working in fine dining, retail, importing, distribution and wine education. He opened Wine Authorities in 2007 with the philosophy of carrying exclusively high-value, small-production, family-owned estate wines.

HIDDEN GEM El Toro Supermarket. It’s always bustling with people in there, but I don’t see it get much buzz. I love the tacos they do there, especially the cabeza tacos. I also go to Pho Far East pretty regularly.

LUNCH (ish) delicatessen, Sam Jones BBQ, Benchwarmers Bagels or Toast in Durham — their soups are world-class!

TAKE AWAY Oakwood Pizza Box. With pizza that good, the purist in me wants a margherita or cheese pizza.

BEVERAGE Natural Science.

COFFEE Black & White Coffee Roasters.

SWEETS I love Guglhupf in Durham. Everything’s freshly baked, day-made, and it really is like a fine patisserie you’d expect someplace like Austria, Germany or France.

NEW FAVE TaTaco in Durham.

DANIELLE CENTENO CO-OWNER, ESCAZÚ CHOCOLATES

Centeno moved here from Venezuela for the culinary program at Wake Technical Community College, then attended the Culinary Institute of America. She worked in kitchens in New York City, Dallas and Aspen and sold wine before getting into artisanal chocolate making 18 years ago.

SPECIAL NIGHT Stanbury, without a doubt!

GO-TO SPOT Gussie’s. I usually get the chili burger and fries. It truly feels like a neighborhood restaurant.

HIDDEN GEM Heirloom’s dinner menu.

LUNCH Taipei 101 in Cary.

TAKE AWAY Pana’s Flavor food truck. I order tequeños, cachapas and empanada de pabellón.

BEVERAGE Feature Flora for tea.

SWEETS Escazū is truly where I get most of my sweets. Now that we scoop ice cream, it’s hard not to eat it every day. I also like Sugar Koi in Cary.

NEW FAVE Mala Pata. It’s as close to traditional as you get.

CAN’T WAIT FOR Stanbury’s new concept at our old spot on Blount Street. Taipei

BHAVIN CHHATWANI CHEF, TAMASHA

MODERN INDIAN

A 2025 James Beard Foundation Emerging Chef nominee originally from India, Chhatwani attended the country’s most elite chef-training program, then worked at luxury Taj-owned restaurants, including the twoMICHELIN-starred Taj Campton Place in San Francisco.

SPECIAL NIGHT Herons.

GO-TO SPOT I love Neomonde for its freshness. I like Sushi Mon and O-Ku for their sushi.

HIDDEN GEM Noodle Blvd. Their Curry Ramen is my goto — with extra pickles, spice level 3.

LUNCH I enjoy Press. My go-to order is the Salmon Hashbrown Waffle, paired with a sesame coffee with oat milk.

TAKE AWAY Shish Kabob on Fayetteville Street.

BEVERAGE Sous Terre. I rarely drink, but I enjoy the Sbagliato Bianco and the Spicy Melon Margarita.

COFFEE I love 42 & Lawrence — the owner, Christina Kwak, is incredibly down-to-earth and always present.

CAN’T WAIT FOR Chai Pani chef Meherwan Irani’s Botiwalla opening at Iron Works.

SARAH SHEPHERD CO-OWNER, HEIGHTS HOUSE HOTEL

The Optimist Raleigh

Shepherd has called Raleigh home for 15 years and opened Heights House Hotel in 2021. It operates as a boutique hotel, event space and bar. THey also host afternoon tea and Sunday Sauce nights with rotating local chefs serving up fresh pasta dishes, plus other collaborations. SPECIAL NIGHT Stanbury. I love the classics like the fried oysters, bone marrow, curds, ribeye — it never disappoints.

GO-TO SPOT Standard. It’s great with the kids. We always get the smash burger, truffle fries and cobb salad.

HIDDEN GEM Akami Sushi Bar in a gas station in Apex. The sushi is so fresh! I also love Heirloom for dinner. I get the chicken rice porridge and the crab claws.

LUNCH Omakase by Kai, Sushi Mon or lucettegrace.

TAKE AWAY Mustang House or the Lao-Lao Food Truck.

COFFEE Iris Coffee Lab.

SWEETS Holl & Stone Farm. New Zealand-style soft serve!

NEW FAVE Toyo Sake Shop & Tasting Bar in Cary and St. Pierre Wine Shop & Bar. Both have such a great variety within their niches.

CAROLINE MORRISON CHEF AND OWNER, THE FICTION KITCHEN

THis North Carolina native opened THe Fiction Kitchen with her partner and wife, Siobhan Southern, in 2013. She has a culinary degree from Wake Technical Community College. A recognized entrepreneur, she was a 2019 James Beard Women’s Entrepreneurial Fellow.

GO-TO SPOT Poole’s Diner. It’s one of the first places I bring people — they have some slammin’ veggie options.

HIDDEN GEM Chuan Cafe. They’re not afraid of flavor and heat. I’m semi-obsessed with their eggplant and cabbage.

LUNCH I’ve been drooling over the tofu banh mi at Midtown Pho. I add extra jalapeños and extra cilantro.

TAKE AWAY MoJoe’s Burger Joint.

BEVERAGE Lynnwood Brewing Concern. I love their Mosaic Pale Ale. It’s low ABV, but hoppier than most ales.

COFFEE Cup A Joe. I worked there for years during college and made some great friends. I like an iced coffee with light ice, light hazelnut and oat milk.

SWEETS Little Blue Bakehouse.

CAN’T WAIT FOR I haven’t been to Bitter Social yet!

MASATOSHI TSUJIMURA FOUNDER, WARAJI

JAPANESE RESTAURANT

Born in Japan, Tsujimura started his sushi career in America in 1982 and moved to North Carolina in 1984 to open the sushi bar at Kanki Japanese House of Steaks. In 1997, he opened Waraji Japanese Restaurant, which he sold in 2021. He now consults and trains sushi chefs.

SPECIAL NIGHT Seoul Garden and Pho Far East. We like Korean or Thai restaurants. They tend to be very flavorful and refreshing, but not expensive.

GO-TO SPOT I pretty much cook at home, but when I go out, I like Ashten’s in Southern Pines. You can tell they use very good ingredients and the service is great.

LUNCH Soo Cafe, they have the best Korean fried chicken.

COFFEE I drink coffee at home, brewed in a French press. I do like to have coffee while I drive, so if I’m on the road, I’ll go to Sheetz. They make it fresh, so it’s pretty good.

SWEETS Tepuy Donuts. Their donuts are almost like cake, and you can buy a half dozen and eat them for days.

CAN’T WAIT FOR I’m fond of chef William D’Auvray and still need to try East End Bistrot.

aONE DAY

DESIGN LINES

This page: This page: “Get Well Soon” by Lamar Whidbee in Dorothea Dix Park (Jan. 19). “I love the idea of hope that the girl offers,” says McEnery. Opposite page: The train tracks near DPAC in Durham (Jan. 12).

In January, photographer Cindy McEnery makes a practice of taking daily walks to capture images

by AYN-MONIQUE KLAHRE photography by CINDY McENERY

According to photographer Cindy McEnery, “January is the absolute down time for me. It’s grey, it’s cold, there’s nothing going on.”

That’s why about three years ago, she challenged herself to take a picture every day of the month. “It forces me to get up every morning, grab a coffee and get the dog in the car,” McEnery says. “We’ll roam around and delight in discovering alleys and passageways you don’t normally notice when they’re full of people... Though sometimes if it’s too cold outside, I’ll take a photo of something in the house.”

A serious amateur, McEnery started focusing on photography about two decades ago, when she retired from a career in sales for IBM. “I enjoyed using a camera as a child. I always had one around and I’d piddle with it,” she says. After a “brush with breast cancer” in 2014, she combined her interest in photography with the practice of strolling. “My doctor said, I don’t care how bad you feel, walk every day,” she says. (She’s been cancer-free for 11 years.) So she’d grab her iPhone to seek out images as

a way to add dimension to her walks. After that, she started taking lessons, learning more and more about the practice. And while she has the full range of professional cameras, she just as often uses her iPhone’s camera to capture photos.

She often takes 30 to 40 shots of the same thing, trying different angles — like one side or the other, or higher or lower, or close-up or further away. “It becomes something different as you learn and understand it,” she says. “I’ll spend a lot of time on one subject. I tend to be drawn to the details; I never see the forest for the trees.”

McEner y generally prefers urban architecture and finding her images along city streets. “I like to pick up the sense and the vibes of the city,” she says. “Right now, Raleigh is so exciting.” Sometimes she’ll set off with an idea of the direction she’s going in, like the Warehouse District or Oakwood Cemetery. “Other days, I’d have no idea,” she says. Dorothea Dix Park is one of her favorite places to shoot. “I love to go there and take my dog to the run, then see what’s out there. It’s exciting to see the energy there, with all the kids and strollers and dogs and bikes,” she says.

McEner y has found that her pictures evolve over those 31 days. “Initially, color catches my eye,” she says. “I love murals, they’re amazing, and the way buildings are being painted in Raleigh right now.” Over time, she’ll find she’s looking for more nuance, paying closer attention to the intersections between spaces and people, experimenting with different photography techniques or ranging wider in her search for something interesting to shoot. “When I start out, it’s a lot easier than it is by the 31st of January!” she says. “But when I make the effort, I’m always rewarded.”

For this issue, McEnery shared some of her photos from last year’s challenge in hopes that it might inspire a creative practice for others. “In January, everything can be viewed through a new perspective,” she says. “There’s so much joy out there, but you have to take the time to look for it.”

COOL MOMENTS

Opposite page: A glimpse into a window off Glenwood South (Jan. 30). “I was drawn to that heart,” says McEnery. This page, clockwise from top: An exhibit inside the North Carolina Museum of Art (Jan. 7); near the Convention Center downtown (Jan. 7); inside the State Farmers Market (Jan. 17). “It’s fascinating to see what farmers sell in January, it’s a whole different space. It was cold as the dickens and these veggies still had ice on them,” she says.

WARM HUES

Opposite page: Near the former Sir Walter Raleigh hotel on Fayetteville Street (Jan. 1). “This was the first picture I took. Raleigh has some fascinating streetlights if you really look at them,” she says. This page, clockwise from top: Inside the Krispy Kreme on N. Person Street (Jan. 21); a folded paper decoration in North Hills (Jan. 29); a mural in the Warehouse District (Jan. 31). “I loved the message here, that there’s beauty in the mundane — that pretty much sums it all up,” McEnery says.

VIBRANT CITY

This page, clockwise from top: A walker on Boylan Bridge (Jan. 25); Thomas Sayre’s “Sunflower Power Poles” near Dix Park (Jan. 16); Lisa Gaither’s “Color Pop Corner” mural outside of Marbles Kids Museum (Jan. 26). “This has been photographed so much, so I played with a blur effect to see it differently,” says McEnery. Opposite page: A mural by Suzanne Gasperini O’Hara near Glenwood South (Jan. 2). “I loved the color running down the steps, but also its relationship with the doorway and the pipes,” says McEnery.

ART ENTERPRISE &

Eric McRay creates work with an eye towards making a living

by COLONY LITTLE

For Eric McRay, making art and making a living with his art are one and the same. His website offers his creations for a range of budgets — prints as low as $20, original paintings in the low four-figures — and a mix of wall-friendly renderings of jazz greats, pop-culture iconography, abstracts and Raleigh landmarks like the iconic Krispy Kreme sign on Person Street. He’s also a speaker, teacher and an art proselytizer determined to practice on his own terms.

For McRay, who grew up in Washington, D.C., this spirit was largely inspired by his family. “My father was a businessman, and I saw how he conducted himself. My grandfather was a farmer and also owned a store, so I come from people who were entrepreneurial,” McRay says. “I knew you could be paid for your skill.”

McRay remembers being into drawing and illustrating as early as 6 years old, and by the fourth grade, he found that other students were willing to pay for his

creative skills — specifically for decorating the brown paper bags they used as book covers. “Kids were into pro football, so people would ask, can you draw the Redskins helmet or a Chargers helmet? So I would draw all these football helmets, and I would get a nickel or a dime,” he says. In the 1970s, that change added up. “You could get a lot of ice cream for a dime and a nickel back then,” he laughs.

By the time he was in high school, he was already gaining recognition for his work, creating illustrations and cartoons for a local business that specialized in hand-painted signs. Yet one important accolade evaded him: the “Most Creative” superlative in the yearbook. “I was the editor of the yearbook, I’d done murals, I did everything you could imagine a young person could do,” he says. “But when it came time to vote, the students chose another guy who played football and had name recognition. It was about politics and celebrity.” McRay was galvanized by the disappointment: “I was determined to build a name for myself.”

Encouraged by his mother and brother to pursue his artistic talents, McRay got a scholarship to attend the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), where he planned to study illustration. But the critical attitudes of his illustration teachers discouraged him from pursuing the major. “We didn’t have many cheerleaders there,” says McRay. “Some of my professors were just brutal. I told myself I’d never be torturous like that.”

McRay switched his concentration to a multidisciplinary program called General Fine Art that exposed him to different mediums and art forms.

“Taking abstract painting classes, illustration classes and realistic painting classes gave me a broad skill set,” he says.

After graduating, McRay worked in commercial art, first painting signage and backdrops for a design shop. Along with his wife and children, he moved to North Carolina in the late 1980s, spending his days working in multiple fields — from teaching to information technology — while painting and exhibiting his work on the side.

McRay established a studio in Artspace in 1999, creating original paintings and prints in a myriad of styles ranging from figurative works to abstract art. He found success as corporate and academic institutions including SAS Institute, North Carolina Central University Art Museum, Duke University Medical Center and North Carolina State University began adding his work to their collections.

McRay has never locked himself into a singular painting style, instead painting works in numerous series, where he experiments with different mediums that all begin with bold color. His Jazz, Rhythm, and Blues series, for example, captures the kinetic energy of performance using splatters of purple, orange and red paint around the musicians and instruments that dance on the canvas like musical notes.

Today, he works from his home studio, where he’s currently working on a series of collages in a visual style reminiscent of one of the most influential AfricanAmerican collage artists, Romare

Bearden. A piece titled Boomtown at Night shows a collaged cityscape of an imagined metropolis in the background; interior, everyday moments in the foreground include a trumpet player being watched by a collaged couple and other people walking the streets.

“People who were never into art will tell me, you made art fun.”

— Eric McRay

In many respects, his newer collaged constructions are an amalgam of the painting and illustration techniques McRay has experimented with over the years. “A former art dealer of mine told me, Eric, when I look at this work, I can see everything you ever produced,” McRay says. His penchant for marketing and selling work through active promotion

on his social media accounts keeps his work visible and recognizable. On the McRay Studios website, you’ll find a streaming carousel of photos of collectors holding his paintings. “When I went full-time as an artist, my mother said to me, you need to take pictures with people who bought your art and put them on the wall,” says McRay. Instead he opted for a more portable visual archive that he calls his “Collectors Gallery.” “I had this big book in my studio art space on the tabletop and people would flip through it and say, that’s my pastor!” he says.

Among “Collector’s Gallery” is a photo of Susanne and Nick Portanova holding a piece called Pulse Heart #5 from his Heart Series. Each of these small-scale paintings reads like a study, encapsulating the various art forms he practices, from collages to figurative works, into a 6- inch square themed heart — one may feature Star Trek iconography while others will include a cup of coffee, a Superman logo or an abstract landscape.

“Eric has done so much for the arts and artists in Raleigh,” says Susanne, who

is a ceramicist. “He brings life to his work using the energy and sound of the colors he uses — they’re bright, bold and jazzy.” Her husband, Nick, has taken classes and workshops with McRay, she says: “He always comes back from them feeling energized.”

In addition to the strong relationships with his collectors, McRay loves how art has the capacity for opening eyes and expanding the horizons of people who may not have ever thought about collecting, experiencing, or creating art.

“People who were never into art will tell me, you made art fun,” he says.

Susanne agrees: “When he had his studio at Artspace, Eric was always the busiest one, sharing his love of art with anyone. When we’d do First Fridays as a family, we’d always say, Let’s go see Eric!”

McRay loved fostering a family atmosphere in his Artspace studio, where his two children, now in their 20s, spent their childhoods hanging out with their father. “I used to paint over my dad’s old jazz paintings,” says his daughter Erica. “I would use tons of paint and he would get upset, but in a good way. He always loved me being creative. Art is a path I personally wanted to take and he was a huge inspiration, especially since I grew up in his art studio.”

Erica now has her own art practice selling vibrant, colorful works (butterflies are a signature motif) at art fairs around the Triangle. When she told her father she was struggling to sell her works, he suggested co-hosting a livestream Art-aThon on social media, where they sold archival pieces and new works together.

By being visible and open to sharing, McRay is setting an example for young artists — not just his own daughter — to learn how to market and sell their works.

In addition to working for himself, McRay has taught dozens of workshops and classes in partnership with organizations like the United Arts Council, Cary Arts Center, The Salvation Army, Wake County Public Schools, North Carolina State University and Saint Augustine’s University.

These classes and open studios have left lasting impressions on him. “I love it when young artists call me Unc or OG, or tell me, When I was in elementary school, middle school, high school, I met you and I thought I could become an artist because I saw you do it,” he says. “I love to offer that encouragement to others.”

Meet the local businesses that define our community

Byrd Tile Distributors

THE INDUSTRY LEADER IN SERVICE, STYLE AND SELECTION

Byrd Tile Distributors is a third-generation supplier of porcelain, ceramic, glass and natural stone in central and eastern North Carolina. Founded in 1975 in the Warehouse District, Herbert “Herb” Byrd opened up his own shop after 25 years as a tile installer. His son Greg took over day-to-day operations in 1982 and has continued to grow the company’s footprint with additional locations in Winterville and Wake Forest. Greg’s son Will joined in 2017 to usher in the third generation of leadership into the family business. Together, Greg and Will have led Byrd Tile to be the industry leader in service, style and selection.

One of the driving forces behind the company’s generational success is the culture. “It all starts with our people,” says Greg. “Half our staff has been with us for over 10 years. Some of my managers have been with me for over 20 — that kind of experience is really hard to duplicate.” That experience has benefited clients with comprehensive selection appointments, covering every aspect of the design to ensure no detail is missed. With access to over 75 vendors domestically and internationally, they continue to provide the latest trends to help turn their clients’ design visions into reality.

BYRD TILE DISTRIBUTORS | 3400 TARHEEL DRIVE | RALEIGH, NC 27609

919-876-5997 | BYRDTILE.COM

Closets by Design

Closets by Design creates custom-designed, built and installed storage solutions tailored to their clients’ needs. The offer free in-home design consultation to thoughtfully lay out functional and stylish spaces such as closets, home offices, laundry rooms, garages, pantries, wallbeds, media centers and hobby rooms.

Closets by Design’s Raleigh location has been locally owned by Chantale and David Persinger for 23 years. They love supporting the Triangle community through their unique skills. They offered free closets to healthcare workers during the pandemic, donated funds toward rebuilding after Hurricane Helene and have twice created custom spaces for Make a Wish clients.

At Closets by Design, business feels like family, with most employees having been there for more than 10 years — and everyone helping each other, every day, in all their operations.

Colorful Concepts Interior Design

The daughter of a United States Foreign Service Officer, Sally Williams spent much of her childhood overseas. That experience — combined with her multi-cultural French-Canadian and Peruvian heritage — fueled her creativity and ability to envision and design spaces that span a world of cultures, eras and styles.

Williams showcased fine art at the Sally Huss Gallery in City Market for seven years, where visitors would regularly comment on how the vibrant space made them feel welcome, happy and uplifted. After closing the gallery, Williams founded Colorful Concepts, a full-service interior design studio that reflected both her refined aesthetic and renewed artistic direction. Today, she’s s active in the design community as past president of the Triangle Chapter of the Interior Design Society and a member of professional associations including the Home Builders Association and the Remodeler’s Council. She also enjoys sharing her time and talents with area nonprofits such as The Green Chair Project.

Dogwood Country Club

As North Carolina’s first boutique indoor golf studio, Dogwood Country Club laid the groundwork for a new era of golf. But it isn’t just the convenience of golf simulation technology that’s made a lasting mark on Raleigh. It’s the warmth and approachability combined with the quality of experience that’s built a community around this mom-and-pop shop.

In their seven years in business, co-founders Dave and Elyssa Nastalski have laid claim to multiple local awards — from Best Event Venue to Best Birthday Party Locale and Best Place for Indoor Fun — and recently moved into a new, larger space in Gateway Plaza.

At Dogwood Country Club, business executives loosen their ties for a lunchtime break alongside long-haired World Long Drive competitors in sweatpants. It’s this heart that’s made it a sought-after spot for golf lessons, weekend hangs and private events.

DOGWOOD COUNTRY CLUB | 2431 CRABTREE BOULEVARD, SUITE 101 | RALEIGH, NC 27604 919-327-9707 | DOGWOODCOUNTRYCLUB.COM

Fink’s Jewelers

When Nathan Fink opened the doors of his first jewelry store in Roanoke, Virgnia, in 1930, he wasn’t simply launching a business — he was setting the foundation for a family legacy defined by craftsmanship, integrity and exceptional service. Nearly a century later, Fink’s Jewelers remains proudly family-owned and -operated, now guided by the third and fourth generations of the Fink family. What started as a single storefront has grown into a network of fine jewelry stores across North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee. From expert jewelers to dedicated sales professionals, the Fink’s team is united by a passion for impeccable quality and an unwavering commitment to the customer experience.

Step inside any Fink’s Jewelers showroom and you’ll find a curated selection of luxury timepieces, designer jewelery and exquisite diamonds, all chosen with care and expertise. At Fink’s Jewelers, family tradition blends seamlessly with modern luxury, carrying forward the legacy of excellence that has distinguished the brand for generations.

Hodge & Kittrell

IN SERVICE TO THEIR CLIENTS, COMMUNITY AND PROFESSION

Hodge & Kittrell Sotheby’s International Realty has been a trusted name in the Triangle since 1968, when Nadine Hodge created her real estate firm. She was a trailblazer, one of few women in the industry — and she could outwork anybody. In 1987, her son Joe partnered with Gilliam Kittrell to expand the real estate firm with a new name, Hodge & Kittrell, but the same spirit. Since then, they have built a business with offices in Raleigh, Cary and Chapel Hill and more than 70 agents. A third generation of the Hodge family, Anna Ball Hodge, has joined their award-winning team, which includes agents with diverse backgrounds in everything from dance to art to finance, some of who have been with the team for nearly 30 years.

Hodge & Kittrell joined with Sotheby’s International in 2011, which brought them unparalleled marketing tools, expanded services and amplified reach on the local, national and international level. Despite the growth, Hodge & Kittrell maintains the legacy started by Nadine Hodge: to serve their clients with integrity and honor in their search for a home.

Haydon & Company

RALEIGH’S HIDDEN GEM

Haydon & Company is a jewelry boutique that has been located on Oberlin Road since 1983. They focus their attention on offering exceptional fine jewelry featuring both timeless classics and unique pieces.

Haydon & Company is an independent firm, which gives them more flexibility and freedom to create jewelry to their exacting standards. That independence allows them to find and use the finest materials and specialty craftsmen available, with an emphasis on offering jewelry of a more conservative nature, working only in 18 karat gold or platinum. Thus, Haydon & Company features a curated collection of superb jewelry, each piece crafted with a meticulous attention to detail and enduring quality. In addition to their outstanding jewelry, Haydon & Company also offers a selection of vintage timepieces by Patek Philippe.

Haydon & Company welcomes you to visit and discover their exquisite jewelry.

ICG Homes

The management of award-winning ICG Homes has enjoyed more than 100 years of combined experience in building extraordinary homes. Locally owned and led by Ryan Perry, the company’s founding mission was to assemble a team of individuals with extensive knowledge and abilities to provide homes with innovative designs, superior quality, intricate trim details and, most of all, exceptional customer satisfaction. The ICG team embodies this mission daily by their ongoing quest to offer fresh ideas and appealing features as they create beautiful, well-built homes.

As a company dedicated to community involvement and social responsibility, ICG is honored to have built the Triangle’s firstever St. Jude Dream Home® Giveaway in 2025 and to now be building the Triangle’s 2026 St. Jude Dream Home. Visit ICGHomes. com and DreamHome.org to learn more about these projects.

If It’s Paper

Since 2010, this family-owned business has been honored to serve the Raleigh and Greensboro communities. Once a retail outlet for Greensboro’s Dillard Paper Company, If It’s Paper has been transformed to a premier gift and stationery store. Reopened by Sherrie Stewart and now shared with daughter Elizabeth Belk, the If It’s Paper stores have become destinations for life's most meaningful moments — from custom wedding suites designed by their experienced in-house team to carefully curated gifts, entertaining essentials and thoughtful baby gifts.

Every stationery piece and every celebration detail reflects their commitment to quality and the relationships they’ve built with customers who have become like family. As they look toward 2026 with plans of opening their third North Carolina location, If It’s Paper remains dedicated to the same values that started it all: exceptional design, personal service and the joy of helping you mark life's special occasions with beauty and style.

Medlin-Davis Cleaners

SERVING THE COMMUNITY FOR 77 YEARS

Medlin-Davis Cleaners was started in 1948 by Bill Medlin and John Davis. From its origin in a single store on Fayetteville Street, Medlin-Davis has grown into its third generation of family ownership, with eight stores and seven pickup and delivery routes servicing Wake Forest, Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, Morrisville, Fuquay-Varina, Pittsboro and Chapel Hill.

Medlin-Davis is a full-service dry cleaning company that provides their community an array of services including free pick up and delivery, dry cleaning, laundered dress shirts, wash, dry and fold, table linens, bed linens, leather garments, comforters, bedspreads, tailoring, area rugs and outdoor cushions. They have recently elevated their service offerings by creating mdcGowns, for wedding and special occasion gowns, and mdcHandcrafted, for made-to-measure, couture garments. Medlin-Davis has been blessed with dedicated, innovative owners and associates that have brought them to where they are today. They look forward to another 77 years serving this wonderful community.

North State Bank

North State Bank is celebrating 25 years of service to Wake County. They have grown from a bold idea to become a trusted, local banking partner that places relationships above transactions. Each day, their team works hard to add value to every person, business and community they serve, combining personal service with robust products to make it easy for customers to bank how, when and where they want. Banking designed for your life and business.

Shown here, left to right: Market presidents Harryson Turner, West Raleigh; June Sadowski, Wake Forest; John Norwood, North Raleigh; Sabrina Sells, Wilmington; Kevin Payne, Garner; Sharon Moe, Downtown Raleigh; and Bret Burgess, North Hills.

NORTH STATE BANK | 6204 FALLS OF NEUSE ROAD | RALEIGH, NC 27609 919-855-9925 | NORTHSTATEBANK.COM

FDIC / Equal Housing Lender / NMLS# 411971 TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF PURPOSE, FRIENDSHIP, SIGNIFICANCE AND PERFORMANCE

Quintessentials

At Quintessentials, they believe the most meaningful moments are often found in the details. For 30+ years, their Raleigh boutique has been a place where thoughtful gifting, warm hospitality and beautiful everyday living come together.

What began as a trusted bridal registry has grown into a boutique known for its curated gifts, thoughtful pieces and the personal connections Quintessentials shares with every customer. From sweet baby gifts and timeless home décor to accessories, tableware and one-of-a-kind finds, each item is hand-selected with care and intention.

Whether you’re choosing a gift to celebrate someone special or treating yourself to something you’ll love for years, Quintessentials is here to make the experience welcoming, easy, and memorable. Thank you for supporting this small business and for letting them be part of your life’s moments — big, small and everything in between.

Reliable Jewelry

Reliable Jewelry is a third-generation, family-owned jeweler that’s built its reputation in Raleigh since 1949. Abe Horwitz started Dixie Loan Company on S. Wilmington Street in 1949, and in 1976 was able to purchase the Reliable Loan & Jewelry one block away to expand their services and offerings. In 1999, his son Alan, a GIA Graduate Gemologist, joined the family business.

Reliable Jewelry offers a wide range of services, including expert appraisals for estate and insurance purposes, in-house jewelry repair and watch services, from battery replacement to maintenance for luxury brands. Their custom design team uses CAD/ CAM technology to bring their clients’ visions to life, always keeping them involved and sharing transparent estimates up front.

At its heart, Reliable Jewelry values lasting relationships over sales. They strive to provide the kind of experience that turns firsttime customers into lifelong clients — and to carry on the Horwitz legacy of dedication to quality, value and heartfelt service.

Weaver Dentistry

HELPING RALEIGH SMILE SINCE 1899

For over 125 years, families in the greater Raleigh area have relied on Weaver Dentistry. Originally located downtown on Fayetteville Street, Weaver Dentistry is now conveniently located at 3201 Glenwood Avenue. Dr. Greg Weaver is a Raleigh native who completed both his undergraduate and graduate studies at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; while Dr. Jayme Wood grew up in Middlesex and holds degrees from both North Carolina State University and the University of Florida.

Weaver Dentistry’s goal is to provide high-quality dentistry using state-of-the-art technology with a caring, personal touch. They love to create beautiful smiles, and they love the people behind those smiles. They welcome patients of all ages, from children coming in for their first visit to Raleigh’s beloved senior population. They are proud of the rich history of Weaver Dentistry, and they are honored by the loyalty of their patients. Weaver Dentistry pledges to continue to provide exceptional dental care in a manner that blesses those they serve.

Williams Realty & Building Company

Williams Realty & Building Company, Inc. is a full-service construction, real estate, and development firm with deep roots in the Triangle region. Since its founding in 1954, they’ve established a legacy of excellence, building strong relationships and delivering high-quality results across residential, commercial and multifamily markets. Their commitment to personalized service, enduring partnerships, superior craftsmanship and quality drives every project they undertake.

Building on the strong foundation established by founder John C. Williams and strengthened by his sons — Cross, Joel and Owen Williams — Williams Realty & Building continues to uphold the values of treating people fairly, standing behind their work and doing the best job possible. Today, under Joel and Owen’s vision and leadership, Williams Realty & Building continues to evolve — expanding its reach, embracing new opportunities and upholding the enduring principles that have defined the company since its founding.

THE WHIRL

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

RALEIGH MICHELIN CELEBRATION

On Nov. 23, Mayor Janet Cowell and Visit Raleigh held a celebration for local MICHELIN-recognized restaurants at the new Trophy Five Points. The MICHELIN Guide American South launched in 2025 with 14 Raleigh-area restaurants listed for their exceptional dining options: Brewery Bhavana, Brodeto, Crawford and Son, Dampf Good BBQ, Herons, Jolie, Mala Pata, Poole’s Diner, Prime Barbecue, Sam Jones BBQ, Stanbury, St. Roch Fine Oysters + Bar, Tamasha Modern Indian and The Pit. Restaurant staffers were on hand to toast to their inclusion.

THE WHIRL

“SOPHIA FORTUNA” RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY

On Nov. 20, Raleigh Fine Arts Society (RFAS) held a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony in Dorothea Dix Park to celebrate “Sophia Fortuna,” a new outdoor sculpture by North Carolina artist Anne Lemanski. Special guests included RFAS President Graham Satisky, artists Anne Lemanski and Jim Galluci, First Lady Anna Stein, Mayor Janet Cowell, Dix Park Conservancy President and CEO Ruffin Hall and RFAS members Ella Frantz, Liza Roberts, Megg Rader and Jan Woodard, along with many community leaders. The sculpture was commissioned by RFAS in celebration of its 60th anniversary.

PINK PUMPS AND BOW TIES

On Nov. 1, Pretty In Pink Foundation hosted its 9th annual Pink Pumps & Bow Ties Gala. The sold-out, record-breaking event was at the Angus Barn Pavilion in Raleigh, welcoming nearly 400 guests for a fun-filled evening featuring a gourmet dinner, lively auctions and powerful stories that underscored the financial insecurity that too often stands between breast cancer patients and the treatment they desperately need.

FOX ROAD BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OPENING CELEBRATIONG

On Oct. 28, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Wake and Johnston Counties celebrated the grand opening of their newest location at Fox Road. This club replaces the much smaller Brentwood Club. North Carolina Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt was the keynote speaker for the event.

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

On Sept. 11, the Dementia Alliance of North Carolina gathered supporters, caregivers and community champions for A Night to Remember, its annual gala. Held at the elegant Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, it was more than a fundraiser — it was a heartfelt celebration of hope, community and the power of coming together to support families facing dementia.

DESIGN MATTERS

From Oct. 15-17, Design Matters hosted its annual multi-day event celebrating the intersection of design, art and architecture in support of UNC Children’s Hospital and the Fitch Family Comprehensive Pediatric Rehabilitation Program. Held at the Carolina Country Club during the event’s first year in Raleigh, the 2025 presenting sponsor was The O’Shaughnessy Foundation.

OPENING RECEPTION FOR “WONDER WOMEN!”

On Nov. 7, Gallery C Fine Art hosted an opening reception for “Wonder Women! Three Mid-Century Modernists from North Carolina.” This exhibit featured work by Mary Anne Keel Jenkins (1929-2017), Edith London (1904-1997) and Anne Wall Thomas (1928-2024). The event included special guests from the NC Courage, Feli Rauch and Dani Weatherholt, to showcase how women shape culture through bold vision and unwavering dedication.

OPENING RECEPTION FOR “OUR INTERIORS”

On Nov. 8, Birdland Gallery in Boylan Heights held an opening reception for “our interiors,” a solo exhibit from Raleigh artist Caprice McNeill. In this body of work, McNeill reflects on how place shapes inner space. What she refers to as “painted sculptures” trace the imprint a month in Italy left on her palette, forms and way of seeing.

On Nov. 15, Artspace hosted Art Bash, its annual fundraiser. The evening included gallery exhibitions, private and live collecting opportunities, art experiences, gourmet bites and a curated live art bid. Shawn Brewster of The Mahler Gallery, and Kaleah Smith, avid art collector, were this year’s honorary co-chairs.

Weaving Light

The Chromophobia installation in Abbotts Creek Community Center adds color and interest through recycled materials

by AYN-MONIQUE KLAHRE

Swaths of color drape from the ceiling in the two-story, windowlined entrance to the Abbotts Creek Community Center in northeast Raleigh. Teals and turquoise, shades of yellow, mixes of red, orange, pink and everything in between — they invite guests to look up and pause. “The building was gorgeous, but it was exciting what a big change the color made,” says Winston-Salembased artist Kelsey Merreck Wagner, who created the installation, called Chromophobia. “The work shimmers and changes with the shift in the sunlight during the day and to overhead lighting at nighttime.”

The installation was created as part of the SEEK Raleigh program, which was started in 2017 by City of Raleigh public art director Kelly McChesney. “SEEK projects are all artist-led; we provide the funding and support,” says Jenn Hales, who was the project manager for Chromophobia. “The city has so many cool spaces that people interact with — parks, greenways, community centers — that can be used as a canvas.”

Chromophobia is made up of four nearly 50-foot weavings suspended from the ceiling. Each is made from recycled material. It’s an invitation to think about environmental stewardship in a space that connects to an elementary school, the greenway and a park created on a borrow site south of the North Wake Landfill Park. “It’s a way to talk about plastic pollution and consumerism,” Wagner says.

Wagner uses reclaimed materials like old clothes, housewares and charge cables in her weaving. “I’m basically always collecting materials — not just from my own household, but from people in my community, my friends and family, or local businesses,” she says. Wagner sorts all of her materials and cuts it into strips, then keeps it organized by color. She never

dyes her materials since part of the point is to understand its previous life (she gets a lot of yellow, for example, from discarded Dollar General bags). “When I start with a project, I’m able to pull from a massive inventory of textures and shades and materials,” she says. She connects strips of material with a dot of hot glue to create a thread of sorts that’s wound onto a bobbin to use on a loom.

Wagner started working on this project in 2024, and it took several months to choose the site, plan for the installation and construct its components. During the summer of 2025, Wagner left a loom in the atrium for summer campers and other guests to try out. “Our SEEK projects often include a phase where the public is invited to participate in creating the art,” says Hales.

Once she finished the weavings (each has to be hemmed, and she sews in pockets for the dowels that hold them up) it took a full day on a scissor lift to secure everything to the ceiling and finesse the “linework” of the weavings, getting the drape right and avoiding things like sprinklers and lighting systems. “It’s a fun little puzzle once you’re in the installation phase, adjusting everything to get what you want,” she says.

Chromophobia, which will be up through June, fits into Wagner’s larger goal to make more art outside of galleries and museums, she says: “Art really should be everywhere and for everyone.”

Stronger Together.

Stronger Together.

Stronger Together.

Your Family. Our Team.

Your Family. Our Team.

Your Family. Our Team.

Stronger Together.

Your Family. Our Team.

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

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

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

Stronger Together.

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

Your Family. Our Team.

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

wakemed.org/cure

wakemed.org/cure

wakemed.org/cure

wakemed.org/cure

wakemed.org/cure