by Anna Beth Adcock | Nov 30, 2022 | December 2022/January 2023, Do
Gimmick wrestling is going down in DTR.
Ready to rumble, Raleighites? For the first time since the pandemic, G.O.U.G.E. Wrestling (aka Gimmicks Only Underground Grappling Entertainment) is bringing the brawl back to Boylan Heights—literally.
Founded by wrestling promoter Greg Mosorjak, aka “Count Grog,” this premiere NC wrestling association first found its humble beginnings amid the Raleigh beer scene as Southern Championship Wrestling. When SCW ended, G.O.U.G.E., a more modern and classic version of wrestling, was born circa 2006 in its wake—hosting its first show at now-closed Kings. It eventually made its way to quirky DTR art gallery and local grocery Rebus Works a little over a decade ago, when owner Shonna Greenwell found her photography muse in these one-of-a-kind wrestling matches and its
comedic participants.
“I was at one of the matches and knew this was what I wanted to photograph and the story I wanted to tell,” says Greenwell. “I loved everything about it because it’s so good-versus-evil, theatrical and entertaining.”
And entertaining it is, with each show featuring anything from hot dog referees and onstage beard shavings (!) to weird themes, sideshow oddities and outrageous costumes. The performers keep the shenanigans going with their own individual shticks—think pingpong champs, cowboys, mafia members, carnies and more (ever seen a cowboy fight the Italian Mafia?!).
As Mosorjak puts it: “If you’re a wrestling fan, you’ll love it, but you don’t have to be a wrestling fan to love G.O.U.G.E. It’s interactive, fun and we don’t take wrestling seriously.”
“It is performance art,” adds Greenwell. “It’s kinda lowbrow, but has the ability to connect with all kinds of people”—as proven by the range of spectators in attendance, from families to young adults to neighborhood residents to recently reelected Rep. Deborah Ross, who posted up at G.O.U.G.E.’s October event.
“It’s absolutely hilarious,” says Ross. “People stand on the bridge, watch and cheer, and I stopped by and walked my dog down. It’s entertainment and it’s part of being in this community.”
If you missed the brawl’s initial comeback in October, the blood, sweat and tears—er violence, humor and fun!—will be returning to Rebus Works for round two in the spring (!). … And it’s sure to be a real knockout. facebook.com/gougewrestling
by Anna Beth Adcock | Nov 30, 2022 | December 2022/January 2023, Stuff
Elevate your senses at La Parfumerie.
OOh, la la! Transport your senses via the scent-sational experience that is La Parfumerie, which recently bowed at Crabtree Mall. The female-led fragrance boutique brings luxury scents from around the world to the Triangle via whiffs of award-winning perfumes you know and love—think Montale, Carner Barcelona, Luigi Borrelli and Nicolaï—along with niche brands carefully curated by the La Parfumerie team.
“Many of our loyal clients and perfume connoisseurs live in Raleigh and surrounding areas,” says founder Viktoriya Martynova. “Having a shop at Crabtree Mall is a thrilling milestone for us, as we can host our customers, provide them with an amazing shopping experience and represent the best European perfume houses.”
And for an added touch of decadence—fun fact: Martynova began her business when she was on the hunt for a perfect chocolate fragrance (!) and the idea for a selective parfumerie came to mind. And all it took was one sniff. … After her voila moment, she founded the La Parfumerie concept online in 2017 to provide customers with exclusive luxe scents—and she’s never looked back since.
Now, with her flagship boutique storefront spicing up the scene, Martynova is upping her mission to help people find their exclusive scent to “unlock the symphony of their souls” via educational events, including a Meeting with Perfumers Series and personalized perfume sessions. As they say, “You are never fully dressed without perfume.” Spritz on! laparfumerieusa.com
by Anna Beth Adcock | Nov 30, 2022 | December 2022/January 2023, Eat
Raleigh-based brothers perfect—and simplify—the backyard BBQ game.
There’s barbecue sauce, rub, marinades… now, enter Meat Sweats to your BBQ lineup—the first-ever ready-made BBQ spritz products, concocted right here in Raleigh (!).
Taking the defeat-dry-meat DIY out of meat prepping is this brainchild of locally based brothers and co-founders Scott Chalkley and Adam Bell, who began getting piggy with it during the pandemic while digging into recipes for flavoring meats. “We just started experimenting with flavor profiles, cooking meat and sharing it with our family and friends,” says Chalkley.
Keeping things juicy, Meat Sweats offers three signature spritz flavors, from flagship spray Hog Wash to beef and brisket spray Bull Spritz to sweet-heat spray Bird Bath—all of which help keep your meat moist with the bonus of the smoky bark of your dreams.
And not resting on their pork buns, these BBQing brothers have plans to cook up even more for their meaty business, with a wild game spray in the works and a seafood spritz set to launch as soon as this winter. As backyard barbecue people themselves, Chalkley and Bell believe their Meat Sweats lineup helps take the sweat out of the smoke—read: less time slaving away in the kitchen, bonus quality time around the smoker with the fam.
“Barbecue brings everybody together,” says Bell. “You see people sitting down, eating and talking. I don’t think BBQ will solve the world’s problems, but it’s a pretty good start.” Well done, indeed. meatsweatsusa.com
by Anna Beth Adcock | Nov 30, 2022 | December 2022/January 2023, Eat
Chip, chip, hooray! National Cookie Day is Dec. 4—so we thought we’d put your knowledge to the test on these Raleigh cookie companies, bakeries and all the crumbs in between. Maybe grab a friend to chip in a few answers. Think you’re a smart cookie? Let’s bake it happen!
1. Talk about a new chip on the old block. … Warm cookie delivery company Tiff’s Treats recently opened its doors in the Village District. Started by Tiffany Taylor and Leon Chen with only “$20, a cellphone and a dream,” this couple-run biz was born in which city?
a. Phoenix
b. Austin
c. Charlotte
d. Baltimore
2. Supporting local is pretty sweet. Oakwood Cookie Co. owner, mom and avid cookie decorator Taylor Whitworth has been in the cookie biz for how many years?
a. Two
b. Three
c. Four
d. Five
3. Cookies and milk? Name a better dessert duo—we’ll wait. Where did Captain Cookie and the Milkman owners Juliann and Kirk Francis meet as undergrads?
a. UNC Chapel Hill
b. NC State
c. Appalachian State
d. Duke
4. “We’re all mad here…” Mad Hatter’s Cafe & Bakeshop in Durham boasts a daylong brunch, lunch staples, cupcakes and cookies, natch. From which local farm does this community-focused cafe source ingredients?
a. Maple View Dairy Farms
b. Chapel Hill Creamery
c. Holly Grove Farm
d. All of the above
5. “Me want cookie!” What job did Southern Sugar Bakery creators/co-owners (and Meredith College grads!) have before operating their sweet shop full time?
a. High school counselors
b. Chefs
c. Baristas
d. Nurses
6. Cary-based Andia’s Ice Cream (opening a new location at Raleigh Iron Works in 2023!) is known for its enormous ’Grammable Monster Shakes—seriously, they’re insane. What’s the name of its loaded Oreo milkshake?
a. Just Dough It
b. Cookies and Dreams
c. Cookie Monster
d. Double Stuff
7. Consider your sweet tooth satiated. The family-owned and -operated Sweet Cherry Bakery offers custom-decorated cookies (plus cakes, cupcakes and other sweet treats!) for sweets lovers throughout the Triangle. The bakery’s name came from which family member who baked a cherry cake each year?
a. Mother
b. Grandmother
c. Great-grandmother
d. Grandfather
8. Sugar and Spice Kitchen owner Preeti Waas baked her way across the world—from India to our very own City of Oaks—and now dishes some of the best chocolate chip cookies you’ve ever tasted. Waas’ other venture, Cheeni Indian Food Emporium, serves up these delectable cookies, plus tiffin, the Indian word for what?
a. Snacks
b. Cookies
c. Dessert
d. Tea
9. The bigger the cookie, the better. Raleigh-based The Cookie People serves up supersize cookies that are about as big as your head (!). Its popular oatmeal golden raisin cookie is made with honey from which
NC-based company?
a. The Carolina Bee Company
b. Bee Blessed Honey
c. Blue Ridge Honey Company
d. Killer Bees Honey
Answers: 1. B; 2. D; 3. A; 4. D; 5. A; 6. D; 7. C; 8. A; 9. B
by Anna Beth Adcock | Nov 30, 2022 | December 2022/January 2023, Eat
Raleigh’s only German/Polish restaurant is back—and better than ever.
Missed J. Betski’s famed pierogies? Well, you can finally get your fix again, as the treasured Raleigh restaurant has officially reopened at its new home in Highpark Village after shuttering its Seaboard Station location over the summer.
Still at the helm, and in his element in the kitchen, is owner and executive chef John Korzekwinski, who, along with those mouthwatering potato and cheese pierogies, is also dishing out popular Eastern and Central European-inspired dishes from the OG concept like panko-crusted schnitzel and buttery spaetzle. You’ll also find modern takes on his German and Polish family recipes like cabbage and cauliflower, braised sauerkraut, fresh kielbasa and bratwurst, and more.
Round out dinner with J. Betski’s elevated craft cocktails. Be sure to try the Beet Jammer, a beet-infused vodka, ginger beer and lemon combo that packs a spicy punch. And don’t sleep on that smooth and rich buttered bourbon Old-Fashioned. Then satisfy your sweet tooth at the end of your meal (or at the beginning—no judgment!) with a decadent sweet and savory chocolate torte cake drizzled with caramel and topped with bacon bits—or slurp a signature soda float made with scoops of housemade ice cream.
Despite its new digs, J. Betski’s 2.0 elicits the same friendly and welcoming vibe that makes you feel like family as soon as you step inside—complete with rollup garage doors and a covered patio. The alfresco-esque indoor/outdoor space promotes a casual yet classy dining experience fit for a date night, fam dinner or a drink at the bar.
“We’re just excited to be back,” says Korzekwinski. “When you’re gone, you realize how much you miss it.” … Clearly Raleigh feels the same—as indicated by a full restaurant from day one with folks eager to nosh on the authentic German/Polish fare they’d missed. “This is a great place to be,” adds the chef/owner. “We have good people here and great things in the works.” Prost to that! jbetskis.com
