Flavors on Wheels For good food that’ll put you in a good mood, feed your South Indian Desi cravings with *dal-icious* flavors and spice-forward menu items like potato bajji, chilli chicken and chitti punugulu (aka crispy fritters). For bevs, think refreshing faves like a mango and sweet lassi or chai—plus, roll over Saturdays and Sundays to get in your breakfast fix of idly and dosa.@flavors.on.wheels
Doo Wop Desserts Sweet dreams are made of custom brownies, cookies, cupcakes and ice cream sandwiches in flavors like Aztec chocolate, pumpkin pie, peanut butter bacon, and raspberry lemonade—in short, any flavor you can dream—all perfected through years of baking. Pro tip: sampling encouraged. It’s sure to hit the sweet spot! @doowopdesserts
Bon Fritay International flavors gone local? Say less. Spreading love and Haitian street food, find fritay a la bowls and handhelds that promise to hook you. Think pulled chicken plantain sandwiches, rice bowls, fried beef hot dogs, green plantain nachos and the like. Can’t decide? Dig into the chicken or pork fritay bowl with sides like breadfruit green or sweet plantains and sweet potato fries. Bon appetit! @bonfritaytruck
Al’s Market Truck One of life’s small pleasures is stopping by a good neighborhood bodega—and this one can come to you. Get your caffeine and snack fix on the go via locally sourced coffee, bites and market goods from vendors including Joe Van Gogh Coffee, Crumble Cups, Lunchbox Deli, 1 in 6 Snacks and Slice Pie Company. And for the messy mornings and inconvenient incidents, browse the convenience section stocked with Advil, hand warmers, tissues and sunscreen. Coffee and convenience—what more could we ask for? @alsmarket24
Discover the must-see stops and shops in Iceland’s quaint and cozy capital city.
What comes to mind when you think of Iceland? Volcanoes, hot springs, waterfalls and fjords? The same went for me–that is until I took the six-hour direct flight from Raleigh to Reykjavík and discovered all its other amazing qualities and attractions—and instantly fell in love.
Admittedly, my 24 hours in the country were a last-minute scramble following a canceled flight and next-day rebooking to my final destination of Estonia (tragic, right?). But after years of friends and family singing the praises of the stunning landscape and with time to spare, I decided to book a night in the capital city.
The quaint city dotted with pastel-colored homes is often overshadowed by the country’s raw natural beauty, but there’s no question that it’s worth a stop. Here’s what to do and see if you find yourself stranded in Reykjavík for 24 hours.
Hot To Go In shocking news, I’ve never gotten through customs faster following an international flight. The transportation options from Keflavík airport to Reykjavík were also great (see: the Flybus shuttle service), and picking up a rental car was a breeze (bless).
I went the car rental direction because I had planned to stop at the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa near the airport, but Mother Nature exploded my plans (quite literally) via a volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula whose lava flow destroyed the famous attraction’s parking lot. Nevertheless, I still made use of the rental car on the easy 50-minute drive to Reykjavík with jaw-dropping views of the volcanic eruption along the way. Land of Fire and Ice, indeed!
Not All Who Wander Are Lost My best advice for optimal exploration? Just wander. Reykjavík is a walkable city—but stay central to optimize your time. For stunning views of the harbor and the must-see glass Harpa Concert Hall, enjoy a night at the chic Reykjavík EDITION. Pro tip: the best place to see the Northern Lights is along the harbor, so download the Aurora app and keep an eye on the sky.
To wit, my stay at an eclectic Airbnb just a stone’s throw from the iconic Rainbow Street—with a direct view of Hallgrímskirkja church to boot!—allowed easy access to the plethora of unique shops and cafes. Shop til you drop at local Icelandic stores like NOMAD, 66°North and The Old Bookstore, then hit Reykjavík Roasters for a caffeine pick-me-up.
Dog Days When it comes to chowing down, if fermented shark meat isn’t your thing (no judgement here) opt for another local staple. Serving up tasty food and a memorable experience, the five-square-meter stand Bæjarins Beztu hot dog stand has been serving up delicious lamb meat dogs since 1937, making it a must-try. Get saucy with toppings like sweet mustard, ketchup and remoulade, plus fried or raw onions for a little extra crunch. Don’t let the long line scare you away—I promise it moves fast!
Plane and Simple Fun fact: If you book a transatlantic flight with Icelandair, you can add a stopover in Iceland with no additional airfare. The airline also offers various vacation packages with excursions around the island—and I can indeed confirm the country is “so incredible, it’s hard to leave.” Happy wanderlusting!
Wake up and smell the matcha. Located just minutes from RDU Airport, the cozy cafe serves up “good coffee by friendly humans” in a light-filled space ideal for posting up with your laptop or catching up with friends. Pro tip: Sip on a tasty periwinkle latte or an iced matcha latte paired with a doughnut or slice of coffee cake. Not your average joe, each bev also helps a network of Rwandan coffee farming communities with living wages, education, health care and clean water. Sustainable, ethical and delicious? Say less. @thousandhills.coffee
Apex Racing Lab CARY
Courtesy of Apex Racing Lab
Feeling the need for speed? Channel your inner Max Verstappen and navigate an F1 track—or even wind your way through a Mario Kart course (!)—via a unique virtual driving experience, complete with realistic steering wheels, pedals, dashboards and advanced software. To boot, drinking and driving is encouraged at this state-of-the-art simulator racing lab and cocktail bar merging tech, community and the joy of putting the pedal to the metal via raced-themed bevs like The Viper or ARL Mule. Ready, set, drive! apexracinglab.com
Love at first slice, found. Those who love a classic pie are going to want to spring for the wood-fired Margherita or pepperoni pizzas, while more adventurous types should try the likes of the spicy pork sausage or Calabria (chile oil, Calabria peppers, Spanish chorizo, goat cheese, honey) pies. Don’t sleep on the starters either (sharing is caring!), ranging from roasted turnips and burrata to pecorino and herb polenta fries—or the housemade artisanal gelato, naturally. Make it a true Euro experience by sitting on the patio with an Aperol spritz—or another tasty ’tail, beer or glass of vino—in hand. Bon appetit! napolicarrboro.com
Making a splash in Bull City, warm hospitality meets traditional dive bar at Bar Virgile and Annexe owners’ wallet-friendly drinking den. Think classic beers such as Sam Adams, Stella and Miller; simple but tasty cocktails; and an inviting vintage vibe complete with darts, a pool table, pinball machines, foosball, Golden Tee and other games—plus an old-school jukebox to set the vibes. And when you inevitably get hungry, there’s late-night bites like cheesy jalapeno nachos and free popcorn. Basically, you’ll want to jump—or, ahem, dive—right in! @highdivedurham
Kiichi Ramen DURHAM
Courtesy of Kiichi Ramen
Serving up bowls of happiness one noodle at a time is this cozy ramen eatery offering tasty bites and other belly-warming dishes. Start off your meal with the likes of Japanese fried chicken, gyoza and spring rolls, then move on to the hibachi shrimp bento box or chicken katsu curry rice bowl. Here for the oodles of noodles? Slurp up everything from the Kiichi shoyu ramen and tonkotsu ramen to yakisoba noodles and shrimp tempura udon. Soup for the soul, indeed! kiichiramenonline.com
Mask and relax your way through winter at Raleigh’s new award-winning skin care clinic Skin Pharm via vast holistic individualized trending treatments like Botox, filler, PRP and photo facials, microneedling, and beyond. You glow, girls (and boys)! @skin_pharm
Comin’ in hot, strength-training and fitness studio Heat is dropping a new location near Raleigh Iron Works—so you can sweat it out in a group or personal training class, or sign up for nutrition coaching. Get fired up! @heatraleigh
Ooh la la! Prepare to up your beauty game because Chanel Fragrance and Beauty is slated to open in North Hills’ Main District early this year, complete with the latest in skin care, makeup and more. @chanel.beauty
Take it from Millie the dog, kindness is cool! Follow the pup as she embarks on a new journey of belonging and love in the inspiring and beautifully illustrated children’s tale Bucket of Kindness by Raleigh Magazine’s EIC Melissa Howsam. amazon.com
In *bricking* news: You can now get your Lego fix at Bricks & Minifigs’ upcoming DTR locale via carefully cultivated new and used products that’ll impress even the biggest Lego lover. Snap to it! @bricksandminifigsofficial
Staycation all I ever wanted! … Recoup and recover after the holidays via The Westin Raleigh-Durham Airport’s Wellness Retreat Package, feat. an overnight stay in a heavenly bed, credit toward a nutritional brekky and late checkout (!) for optimal relaxation. Ahh! Jan. 8–March 15, @westinraleighdurham
Calling all green thumbs. Garden center Fifth Season Gardening just sprouted its second Triangle location, offering all things green—from houseplants to growing products and decor. Plant on! @5s_raleigh
Pilates is having a moment. Popular with every “body” from gymfluencers to Jennifer Aniston, the core fit philosophy is flexing via a slew of new studios, including BK Pilates, stretching onto the scene at Rockway this winter.
Celebrating a cool century since Joseph Pilates birthed the mind-body movements, the low-impact phenomenon is reforming bodies and minds via “six core principles: concentration, control, center, breath, precision and flow,” says co-founder Marina Kaydanova of BK Pilates, known for tailoring dynamic workouts “designed to develop essential mind-body connection, body definition, core strength, greater flexibility and improved posture.” Here, we tapped Kaydanova—who founded BK Pilates Raleigh, opening in January, with local entrepreneur Julia Davis—in front of their premiere Pilates locale to get to the core of the trend.
Who should do it? Pilates is truly for everyone—from athletes to prenatal and postpartum women, those recovering from an injury, finding their wellness journey or focused on aging gracefully.
Why such a good workout? Pilates is truly a transformative experience for both body and mind. The physical benefits include greater flexibility, strength, stamina, a more balanced posture, and injury prevention and recovery. Many Pilates workouts incorporate equipment, including spring-based reformer machines designed to support the spine and target specific muscle groups. Studies suggest it may also help to improve muscle endurance, reduce chronic pain, and lessen anxiety and depression.
Frequency? Start with two to three sessions per week to learn the exercises, form and machines. As you advance and want to build strength, tone and flexibility, maintaining three-plus [per] week will lead to those results.
What’s the draw? Pilates works muscles and parts of your body in ways no other exercise can—and it’s a smarter way to strengthen your entire body, tone your muscles and get fit. It’s efficient—and you can do [it] every day.
