by Anna Beth Adcock | Jun 28, 2024 | Buzz, Do, July 2024/August 2024
Come on in, the water’s fine! So go with the flow and test your smarts on North Carolina’s myriad water attractions—then bucket list it and spend your summer traipsing the state to soak it all in.
- Pull up to Pullen Park—NC’s first public park!—for pedal boating and swimming ops galore. What attraction did the OG park also have on the roster back in the early 1900s?
a. An aquarium
b. A zoo
c. A museum
d. A roller-skating park
- What popular area in Raleigh once housed a now-razed uberpopular pool that attracted visitors in droves from around NC for a splash during its prime circa ’50s to early ’80s?
a. Boylan Heights
b. Hayes Barton
c. Historic Oakwood
d. Village District
- Make a splash, scuba dive or live out your Wipeout contestant dreams at Wake Forest’s Fantasy Lake Adventure Park, the former site of a circa-1800s quarry that’s stone was used for construction on which piece of infrastructure?
a. The Lincoln Tunnel
b. The Sundial Bridge
c. Chesapeake Bay Tunnel
d. Niagara Falls Whirlpool Bridge
- Before being sold and replaced by townhomes to much public outcry in 2010, Silver Lake Waterpark on Tryon Road boasted a waterslide that was how many stories tall?
a. Two
b. Three
c. Four
d. Five
- For shore! At which NC beach town—also affectionately dubbed “Hollywood East”—was the ’90s cult classic Dawson’s Creek filmed?
a. Wilmington
b. Topsail
c. Surf City
d. New Bern
- OK, NC, we see you flexin’ that star status! Which local lake famously appeared in Dirty Dancing?
a. Falls Lake
b. Lake Norman
c. Jordan Lake
d. Lake Lure
- This spring, a lineup of Raleigh residents noted their tap water was tasting and smelling off due to algae blooms in which local lake that provides ~80% of Raleigh residents water?
a. Lake Johnson
b. Jordan Lake
c. Falls Lake
d. Lake Crabtree
- Hungry (for water) like the wolf? Concord’s year-round indoor water park resort the Great Wolf Lodge boasts what as its claim to fame?
a. Longest Water Slide in NC
b. Largest indoor water park in NC
c. Biggest pool in NC
d. Most-visited attraction in NC
- The City of Oaks has a plethora of lakes and ponds for water sports fanatics to get their feet wet—but Piedmont locals oft spend summer months flocking east for their H2O fix. Which coastal county boasts the claim as the fastest-growing in the state?
a. Beaufort
b. Pender
c. New Hanover
d. Brunswick
Answers: 1. B; 2. B; 3. C; 4. D; 5. A; 6. D; 7. C; 8. B; 9. D
by Anna Beth Adcock | Jun 28, 2024 | Eat, July 2024/August 2024
It’s no secret summer in NC is sweltering—er, borderline unbearable—leaving many a Raleighite to seek a reprieve from the heat in the form of a chilly treat. The *cool* news? Our city flaunts oodles of ice cream + milkshake outposts that’ve earned both local and national acclaim—not to mention the industry rakes in millions of moo-lah (get it?!) for the state. Here, six go-to ice cream oases around town to channel your summertime chill.
Andia’s Ice Cream | Our pick: Cake batter
Taste local sweetness “scooped with love” and garnering national attention (hey, Good Morning America!) via this family-run shop’s small-batch Insta-worthy creations. Inside scoop: We’re softies for the Mason jar shakes. Raleigh Iron Works, @andiasicecream
FRESH. Local Ice Cream | Our pick: Sweet honey sea salt
Serving locally sourced and produced farm-fresh ice cream till the cows come home, this dreamy dairy destination keeps the innovative flavors coming across its four Wake Co. locales—NTM its ubercool lime green on-the-go truck! Northwest Raleigh, @freshlocalicecream
Howling Cow | Our pick (and DJ Burns’): Wolf Tracks
To be ~utterly~ clear, as bball top wolf Kevin Keatts says, “Who doesn’t love ice cream?” We all scream (er, howl) for NC State’s signature scoops and shakes sating sweet teeth straight on the farm. We ~got to be~ on Dairy Lane, y’all! Southwest Raleigh, @ncstatehowlingcow
Raleigh Rolls | Our pick: Benelux Biscoffee
I’d stop the world and melt with you for some aesthetically pleasing rolled ice cream creations inspired by travels throughout Southeast Asia that promise to have ya slurping the bowl to the last bite. Morgan Street Food Hall & Wakefield Commons, @raleighrolls
Two Roosters | Our pick: Sola cinnamon donut—or any rotating monthly flavor
Launched on an old truck and a dream to serve up joy via ice cream, these cult status homegrown classic and rotating flavors first churned up on granny’s porch under the watch of two black wooden roosters (!) prove the best pick-me-up is always ice cream. Period. North Raleigh, West Raleigh & Person Street District, @tworoosters
The Yard Milkshake Bar | Our pick: The Cheerwine Float
Over-the-top milkshakes are the name of the game—and sure to bring all the boys (and girls) to The Yard to consume a day’s worth of calories in one fell scoop (worth it!). Seaboard Station, @theyardmilkshakebar
by Anna Beth Adcock | Jun 28, 2024 | July 2024/August 2024, Real Estate & Home
Designed by Tula Summerford of Design by Tula
Take the plunge into summer via your own peaceful poolside backyard oasis “designed for ultimate relaxation,” says Design by Tula’s Tula Summerford. Leaning into aquatic navy and blue hues amid myriad small yet intentional pops of color, the splashy style transforms the alfresco space into a tranquil resort-esque experience. Here, we tap Summerford for her design expertise on how to exude tranquility and calm at your personal poolside perch. Sunny + serene days await! designbytula.com
Designer’s Tips:
- Zone In
Guide the usability of the space by divvying up different activity zones—think dining, lounging or even a garden.
- Bliss Mode
Implement a small fountain or pond to flow in the soothing sound of water.
- So Layered
Incorporate a mix of materials and textures like wood, stone and metal to add visual interest. Pro tip: For added comfort, layer with rugs, throws and pillows.
Source the Look:
- Lounge chairs
Duo stackable mesh chaise lounge, JANUS et Cie online, or find similar at Arhaus
- Pillows
Striped lumbar, JANUS et Cie online, or find similar at Patio Pro
- Towels
Riverbero, Missoni, Saks Fifth Avenue
- Champagne
Veuve Clicquot, Raleigh Wine Shop
- Glasses + bucket
Vintage French acrylic Champagne cooler and flutes, Veuve Clicquot, Paperbuzz
- Flowers + shrubs
Find similar at Lassiter Mill Gardens & Logan’s Garden Shop
- Pool
Find similar at Carolina Custom Pools and Landscape
- Garden Pattern Side Table
Custom, Fuller Architectural Panels
- Sconces
Find similar at Hubbardton Forge
- Awning
Find similar at Dize Company
by Anna Beth Adcock | Jun 28, 2024 | Do, July 2024/August 2024
Fantasy Lake Adventure Park adds pickleball courts to its lineup.
~Relish~ some fun in the sun at Fantasy Lake Adventure Park for its sophomore stint of alll the water-oriented offerings—from inflatables and floating cabanas to new-this-year splash pad, kayaks and paddleboard rentals (they’ve got it all, y’all!). And, leaning into the fan frenzy, Fantasy Lake is now serving pickleball courts on-site to boot—no big dill (had to).
“With the growing popularity of pickleball, it’s a great add-on for the area,” notes the aqua oasis’ owner, Daniel Cox, who also shares on-site pickleball tournaments are on deck—er, court—this summer as well. Translation: Looks like 2024 is the summer of getting splashed and smashed. gofantasylake.com
by Anna Beth Adcock | Jun 28, 2024 | July 2024/August 2024, Stuff
Let your light shine, Raleigh.
There’s a self-proclaimed fairy “sprinkling seeds of perpetual joy” throughout Raleigh—and she’s enchanted to meet you. Enter Sunny the Fun Fairy, who’s lighting up the lives of local women and children via her mission to empower others to “fly above life’s challenges.” The daughter of the late Eric Seidel, aka Recycle the Clown, Sunny is keeping the vibrant legacy of her father alive while helping others connect with their inner child.
“This is truly a divine calling on my life,” she shares. “I feel like I have something really special, and I want the people of Raleigh to know about it. The City of Oaks is an enchanting city, so a fairy fits in really nicely with what the city is doing.”
Whether she’s hosting soirees at her own bright and bodacious fairy garden in Morrisville, fluttering into homes around town, or making appearances at local events, Sunny is truly winging into her vocation to showcase life’s shimmer.
And further leaning into magical moments, the spirited sprite recently debuted a creatively curated coloring book, illustrated by Jesus Santana, fit for kids and kids-at-heart featuring some of her fave spots in Raleigh for discovering whimsy, light and joy. Bring on the pixie dust! Coloring book: Deco & So & So Books; sunnythefunfairy.com
