Scrub-a-dub-dub with The Living Soaperie’s natural and delightfully scented soaps, sprays, scrubs and more.
Your spa days just got a whole lot better thanks to The Living Soaperie, a family-run business specializing in handmade soaps and other bath and body products that stir the senses—and beg you to treat yourself to a nice, long soak in the tub…
Founded in 2015 (with a fresh rebrand in July), The Living Soaperie offers bar soaps (which could easily pass as works of art), liquid soaps, bath bombs, body butters, lip balms, hand sanitizer and more. Each sense-sational select is crafted with high-quality, natural ingredients like essential oils, sustainably harvested rainwater, natural clay, botanicals and spices in creative year-round and seasonal scents—think classics like Lemon Basil, Herbal Zinger, Lavender Milk and the Exfoliating Brewer’s Bar (loaded with pale ale and spent grain from a local Raleigh brewer), plus this summer’s Tidal Wave suds made with lemongrass and seaweed.
It all stems from The Living Soaperie’s founder, Jennifer Evarts, who believes in taking care of people with simple, natural ingredients. She lovingly blends each of her small-batch products by hand to spark joy for customers, whether it’s a thoughtful gift for a hardworking mom, a quick thank-you to a co-worker or boss, or a self-care purchase for yourself (again, get that bath water ready!).
Besides soaping yourself up at the end of a long day, The Living Soaperie’s also got you covered against creepy-crawlies with its Bug Off! natural insect repellent. And there’s no better way to start off—or end—your day than with a deep breath of fragrant essential oil blends or a spritz of an aromatherapy mist. With so many products and uses, it’s no soap-rise that The Living Soaperie is racking up tons of rave reviews.
And while you’ll love the summer scents (we couldn’t get enough of those fresh citrus smells!), get excited for all the fall offerings—looking at you, Pumpkin Spice bar soap, Chai Latte bath fizzies and Harvest Spice body butter (OK, we’re ready for fall now). So, thanks, The Living Soaperie, for raising the bar… of soap. thelivingsoaperie.com
Raleigh resident and Wolfpack alum Cadwell Turnbull’s forthcoming novel No Gods, No Monsters is a page-turner you’ll want to get your hands on.
How would you respond if you discovered that your perception of fantasy was reality? Rising star in speculative fiction—and NC State creative writing professor (and alum!)—Cadwell Turnbull poses this compelling question in his highly anticipated second novel, No Gods, No Monsters, slated to drop Sept. 7.
The first book of his The Convergence Sagatrilogy, Turnbull’s latest immerses readers into a mysterious world of monsters and secret societies that examines the fracturing effect of grappling with the existence of these creatures (i.e. for or against)—and thereby pushes readers to likewise scrutinize the demons that afflict society today.
Photo by Anju Manandhar
Inspired by reading urban fantasies with his wife, Turnbull—a writer of color who grew up in the U.S. Virgin Islands—decided to try his hand at the genre. Once apprehensive, Turnbull has embraced authoring speculative fiction, sci-fi, fantasy and horror, with his personal journey geared toward anchoring the speculative elements in human stories.
“Once I started writing, I started thinking about these [monsters] interjecting with areas of marginalization, race, gender and sexual orientation,” says Turnbull. “It seemed like the premise itself was a good starting point, but it needed to be anchored in real experience. I tried to borrow from [both] my own and then other people’s experiences, figuring out how that would gel with the greater parts of the story.”
The page-turner delivers on the captivating prose, formidable characters, perceptive social commentary and speculative elements readers and critics have quickly come to expect of Turnbull. (And eager fans will be thrilled to know his second book of the Saga is already in the works—with the storyteller adding, “It’s kicking my butt.”)
And, paying it forward—when the Wolfpack grad returned to his alma mater last year to teach, he says the biggest lesson he wanted to impart to his students was something he learned himself: being confident in your passions without worrying about outside expectations. So, in essence, if you can see it, you can be it—and now they can. Hardcover $26.99, Quail Ridge Books; amazon.com; cadwellturnbull.com
We’ve rounded up 17 fun things to do in Raleigh—and beyond—this week, from food and drink festivals to comedy shows to concerts.
8/26, 8/28 THE QUADRIVIUM PROJECT
NC State’s faculty rock band is bringing in the fall semester hot, performing live in Talley Student Union at Stewart Theatre and featuring the music of Genesis and Pink Floyd. Get ready to be schooled by the classics. arts.ncsu.edu
8/27-28 EDDIE GRIFFIN
Funnyman and actor—well known for his very own comedy series Malcolm and Eddie—is hitting up the City of Oaks to stir up a few laughs. Make sure to check it out! improv.com
8/26–28 NIGHT IN THE COUNTRY CAROLINAS
It’s just country boys and girls gettin’ down on the farm—or at the Tryon International Equestrian Center—for this inaugural country music fest in Mill Spring (aka three days and nights of country heavy-hitters like Miranda Lambert, Big & Rich and more). nightinthecountrycarolinas.org
8/27 BROTHERS OSBORNE
This country music brother-band duo is bringing their We’re Not For Everyone tour to Red Hat. redhatamphitheatre.com
8/27 DRAM & DRAUGHT DURHAM GRAND OPENING
Our fave Raleigh cocktail bar has opened a new location in Durham, and, this Friday, Dram is cheersing the space with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening celebration complete with live jazz music by the Brian Horton Trio, live painting by artist Tesh Parekh, a Champagne sabering presentation, and lighting of The Chesterfield building. dramanddraught.com
8/27-29 DONNELL RAWLINGS
Roar with laughter as Donnell Rawlings, a talented comedian, pushes the envelope and produces chuckles no matter what he’s talking about. goodnightscomedy.com
8/28 CAMP GLADIATOR POP-UP WORKOUTS
Break a sweat and celebrate Camp Gladiator’s 13th birthday with free, all-level fitness workouts led by CG’s certified trainers, special discounts and giveaways. campgladiator.com
8/28 BOURBON, BAGPIPES AND BACON
Refreshing bevs, live music and food trucks are in order! Celebrate with the Olde Raleigh Whiskey Society as they launch the third batch of the distillery’s flagship brand this Saturday. olderaleighdistillery.com
8/28 I LOVE THE ’90S BASH BAR CRAWL
Stop. Collaborate and listen! The ’90s are back, y’all. Time to lace up your hightops, slap on your fanny pack and get jiggy with it in DTR. ilove90sbash.com
8/28 INTERNATIONAL FOOD FESTIVAL
Enjoy cultural cuisine from all around the world and swing and sway to live music at Raleigh’s premier international foodie fest. visitraleigh.com
8/28 CINCH WORLD’S TOUGHEST RODEO
Peep plenty of action and be astounded by some intense competition! Witness world-class cowboys compete for the Pro Rodeo’s World Champion title with edge-of-your-seat action, eight seconds by eight seconds. pncarena.com
8/28 VICTORY RIDE
Never give up on the V Foundation Victory Ride’s goal: victory over cancer. Riders can choose their own adventure (10- to 100-mile routes or Spin classes), and if you aren’t ready to roll, donations are always welcome to help roll out cancer for good. thevictoryride.org
8/28-29 LAZY DAZE ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL
Take yourself over to Cary’s two-day-long (free!) art fest featuring live music, activities for the kiddos and over 300 artists. townofcary.org
8/29 SUNDAY FUNDAY
Did someone say Cheerwine Bourbon Slushees? Sam Jones BBQ has caught our attention with a night full of sipworthy drinks, bangin’ BBQ and live music. samjonesbbq.com
8/30 V FOR VICTORY
Here’s a pairing you won’t want to miss. Come sample pizza and cocktails at V Pizza, all while raising money for locals with cancer. vpizza.com
9/1 DELIA OWENS
Where the Crawdads Sing fans—and books fans in general—this one’s for you. Barnes and Noble is celebrating its grand opening in the Village District with a meet-and-greet featuring author Delia Owens. See you there! shopvillagedistrict.com
9/1 DIX PARK PLAZA AND PLAY: ARTIST ENGAGEMENT WALKING TOUR
Culture vultures, lace up for this 1.5-hour walk visiting the future Dix Park Plaza & Play along Lake Wheeler Road—and walking alongside the project artists for the ultimate sneak peek. raleighnc.gov
8/12-15 RYAN DAVIS Go over to Goodnights for the stand-up sillies from Ryan Davis—the quick-witted, Southern internet sensation with a knack for performing live. goodnightscomedy.com
8/12–28 BEEHIVE: THE ’60s MUSICAL Celebrating the powerful female voices of the 1960s, Beehive: The Musical is told from the perspective of six young women coming of age, taking the audience from their first Beehive dance to the challenges we faced as a nation—with miniskirts, transistor radios and flower power serving up sweet nostalgia. raleighlittletheatre.com
8/13 CHRIS STAPLETON We know what we’ll be listening to this summer—Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton as he takes the stage at Walnut Creek Amphitheatre as part of his All American Roadshow tour. Pour yourself a Tennessee whiskey and Uber over for a night of great music. walnutcreekamphitheatre.com
8/13 THEATER RETURNS @ MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCES Lemme upgrade ya! The refurbed WRAL 3D Theater at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences reopens Aug. 13—raising the curtain with four fin-tactic and explosive shark and volcano shorts. Read more here. naturalsciences.org/3Dmovies
8/13–15 FAIZON LOVE Don’t miss Faizon Love—of Gimbel’s manager (“Make work your favorite!” Elf), Big Worm (“Playing with my money is like playing with my emotions,” Friday) and plenty of other fan-fave films (and sitcoms) fame—as he brings the funny to Goodnights. goodnightscomedy.com
8/14 IMAGINATION BALL Marbles’ signature fundraiser is back in an effort to help give every child access to play. Bid from home or get tickets to the Watch Party (VIPs score pre-show cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a post-show dance party). Do it for the kiddos! my.marbleskidsmuseum.org
8/15 CAM CONNECTIONS Attend this new engagement-style dinner series aimed at creating interactions between artists and attendees. One-on-one interactions with artists sounds right up anyone’s alley, are we right? camraleigh.org
8/15 SWITZERLAND You don’t have to travel far to get to Swiss Alps, where you’ll find grand dame of crime lit Patricia Highsmith with a mad book collection—and sinister stack of guns and knives—taking solace in her cats and cigs when a stranger arrives. Head to Theatre in the Park for this Sunday matinee finale to find out what happens next. theatreinthepark.com
8/16 DEAD & COMPANY Revived from the dead is band Dead & Company, consisting of former members of the Grateful Dead. Rock out and rock on. walnutcreekamphitheatre.com
8/17 BLACKBERRY SMOKE Hailing from Atlanta, this rock band will be kicking off their Spirit of the South tour at Red Hat. redhatamphitheatre.com
Raleigh’s resident downtown food hall and market has a new outdoor oasis for your next cocktail sesh. Officially open in July, Transfer Co. Food Hall’s new outdoor bar is serving up handcrafted specialty seasonal cocktails to help you finish up your summer strong (pun intended).
Feeling salty? Tantalize your tequila fancy with the Mexicali Blues, a margarita with a tart, rich blueberry taste and a touch of smoky heat, thanks to the mezcal (plus reposado tequila, lime, blueberry-peppercorn syrup and Hellfire shrub).
Or vibe with the perfect porch potable via the refreshing and herbal Mamie Taylor, a blended scotch with yellow chartreuse and ginger syrup, with fresh lime and Transfer Co aromatic bitters.
In need of ‘A Little R&R’? Then order one… TCFH’s sipper by that ever-so-apt name serves up an herbal, fruity spin on the Caipirinha—the Brazilian classic reborn with Leblon cachaca, fresh muddled lime and strawberry-rosemary syrup.
And if you’re feeling tropical (who isn’t?), wash down a Flyboy—the twist on the classic gin cocktail takes you to the tropics via coconut-washed gin, maraschino liqueur, lemon and creme de violet. Paradise found, indeed. @transfercofoodhall
