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Chatham Beverage District
PITTSBORO
If you’re in a festive mood, a trip to Chatham Beverage District just makes sense. Almost like a food hall for drinking spots, the intimate district features Chatham Cider Works, Fair Game Beverage Co. and Starrlight Mead, as well as Copeland Springs Kitchen—for when hunger inevitably strikes—with a refreshing menu of items made using produce from Copeland Springs Farm. Chatham Cider Works works with local apple growers to make traditional Southern ciders; if you haven’t tried mead yet, Starrlight Mead is a great place to start and Fair Game offers almost anything you could thirst for, including beer, wine, cider and spirits. chathambeveragedistrict.com
Robinson Ferry Restaurant & Spirits
WARRENTON
Known as “The Ferry” by locals, this neighborhood haunt has been a staple in historic Warrenton—just a block away from Main Street—since 2012. Co-owner and executive chef Ryan Grimm whip up some of the best American food in town using ingredients from local Warren County producers and farmers. Favorite menu items include fried green tomatoes with corn relish and pimento cheese, crab cakes and grilled pork chops with apple chutney and mashed potatoes. Grimm often throws some decadent specials on the menu, too. The Ferry’s classic and signature cocktails are a great addition to any meal and change seasonally; beer and wine are also available. robinsonferrync.com
Drive Thru Festival of Lights
YOUNGSVILLE | November 26 – December 27
Hill Ridge Farms’ annual Festival of Lights will deliver holiday cheer from the safety and comfort of your own vehicle this year. While it will be different from the traditional hayride experience, it’s guaranteed to be just as enjoyable. A mile-long path leads visitors through more than a million Christmas lights and spectacular holiday-themed displays, making this year’s festival bigger and better than ever. Christmas jammies are encouraged to fully immerse yourself in the holiday spirit; who’s going to know? Hill Ridge Farms has been closed since the onset of the pandemic in March, so the Festival of Lights is a great way to help support the farm’s operations into the new year. hillridgefarms.com
SPENGA
CHAPEL HILL
Get a head start on your New Year’s fitness goals at SPENGA, Chapel Hill’s recently opened gym that combines spin, strength training and yoga. Together, these three workouts provide one full hour of cardiovascular, strength and flexibility training, what SPENGA thinks are the three pillars of fitness and will ultimately result in one of the best workouts you’ll ever experience. Classes always start with a high-intensity spinning session, followed by personalized strength workouts and finished with restorative yoga. Workouts are fueled by energizing background music as well as rejuvenating aromatherapy in a group fitness setting. chapelhillnc.spenga.com
Refectory Cafe
DURHAM
Anyone with food allergies knows that sometimes dining out can be a real drag. Not at the Refectory Cafe, however, Durham’s first socially responsible and environmentally sustainable restaurant that caters to all diets, from vegan to gluten-free to plant-based. All menu items are made with as many locally sourced ingredients as possible and are free of chemical additives. The cafe also offers a full bar and a bountiful brunch menu featuring Benedicts, open-faced sandwiches, pancakes and more. For dinner, try the vegan ratatouille, mushroom bolognese or award-winning dal makhani, a slow cooked lentil and chickpea stew. You won’t miss the meat, but there are delicious meat-focused dishes as well. therefectorycafe.com
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