WEB EXCLUSIVE You’ll never experience an event quite like this one…
Get ready, get set, (outhouse) run! If you’re looking for a little change of scenery and a whole lot of fun, escape to Jackson County for its annual Outhouse Races—yep, you read that right—held Feb. 19 (weather permitting).
A wild and wacky tradition that was named a top 20 event in the Southeast for February by Southeast Tourism Society, competitors in the Outhouse Races must construct their own outhouse complete with a seat, a hole and a roll of toilet paper, of course. The options are limitless—outhouses can be made from cardboard, wood, plastic or any other homemade material.
And, to win, two racers must push their skiing thrones down a 120-foot race course while the third teammate sits inside. Crazy outfits and fun themes are highly encouraged!
“Jackson County’s own Sapphire Valley Resort hosts the Outhouse Races each year, and it is an opportunity for residents and visitors to celebrate the end of ski season and let out a good laugh,” says Nick Breedlove, executive director of the Jackson County TDA. “Not only is the event free and fun to watch, but all proceeds raised benefit local charities [the Boys and Girls Club of the Plateau and the Blue Ridge School in Jackson County]. The races provide unrivaled entertainment.”
Keep the fun going by turning your trip into a weekend getaway. Jackson County offers plenty of other fun things to do, from hiking trails to delish restaurants to just good ole mountain air. And people racing in homemade outhouses is not something you see every day—but is too good to pass up. Let the best outhouse win!
WEB EXCLUSIVE Combatting the statewide blood shortage or self-care day? Why not both?!
If the allure of orange juice and cookies just aren’t enough to get you to “B+” (be positive, get it?) about donating blood and rush to the nearest center, what if we added a self-care spa sesh feel to the mix?
Enter the new boujee blood donation experience that is Trusting Heart Blood Center, a spa-like blood center that opened in Raleigh this week in an attempt to help combat the statewide blood shortage while elevating the blood donor experience. Think donor suites complete with cozy chairs, snacks, free Wi-Fi, TVs, integrated entertainment systems—oh, and did we mention you also get paid? So… saving lives while you binge-watch Ted Lasso and make bills… clearly donor efforts not spent in vein.
“The ongoing availability of a safe platelet supply is absolutely essential to the U.S. health care system,” says Vijai Mohan, founder and CEO of Secure Transfusion Services. “Platelets are used in the delivery of care for some of the most complex and life-threatening conditions treated at hospitals—in surgery, trauma, transplant recipients, cancer patients and others.”
And the demand for blood platelets has only continued to surge as hospitals struggle to keep up with demand. As a matter of fact, the American Red Cross is currently facing its worst blood shortage in over a decade, thanks to the ongoing national blood crisis.
Doing its part in the effort to end the platelet supply shortage in the U.S., Trusting Heart Blood Center is implementing a community-focused approach by “partnering with local donors to improve access to life saving treatments in their communities,” says Mohan.
He adds, “We are reimagining the typical platelet donor experience through our spa-like facilities, responsible compensation model, and friendly and professional staff, and we are thrilled to be able to partner with heroes in the Raleigh-Durham community who want to help deliver life-saving platelets to those in need.”
DTR’s new Gathering Gallery does good by promoting inclusivity and supporting local.
If you’re all about making your dollar count, check out one of DTR’s newest storefronts, Gathering Gallery. Founded by former Wake County Public Schools teacher Erica Heilmann, the East Hargett Street shop is dedicated to selling locally made items and curated brands that are ecofriendly, handmade, fair trade, women-opened or Black-owned—and not on Amazon (think Designed for Joy, the first local brand with which Heilmann partnered).
And—extending her mission to do good and make an impact—at the beginning of the year, Gathering Gallery also started employing adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The ultimate pivot, Gathering Gallery was born out of Heilmann’s desire for a career change that maintained her impact on the community once she determined returning to teaching wasn’t in the cards. After taking a leave of absence during the virtual 2020–21 school year to give students safe in-person interaction—teaching four children from three families (her “pod family”)—she joined The Locality, a hub for Triangle-based female entrepreneurs to connect and collaborate, which earned her the know-how to make Gathering Gallery a reality.
“When I landed on the concept of having my own retail store and employing adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” she says, “I knew I had found the right fit.”
So Heilmann sold her house in Cary to fund her business and moved to Downtown Raleigh, putting together her store in a matter of weeks with the help of her pod family—with intentional design details like a kids’ nook complete with comfortable seating, and space between the aisles for strollers and four-legged friends. And speaking of those four-legged friends and being all-inclusive, you can of course pick something up for Fido (think dog toys, treats and accessories) while shopping for yourself.
“I chose the name Gathering Gallery because I want my store to be an oasis—a comfortable, peaceful space where everyone is welcome,” says Heilmann.
Stocking her store with local products to support her surrounding community was also important to Heilmann, as, she says, “I couldn’t have done it without the community around me,” adding: “That is why I think of it as the store the community built and the community the store built. The second part is just beginning.”
Plans for that second part include art openings, pop-ups, private shopping parties, First Friday events and more—making Gathering Gallery the perfect place to gather. We’ll see you there, Raleigh. @gatheringgallerync
Stay warm this winter by sipping on some deliciously dark brews from our fave local breweries.
As the temps drop this winter, instead of reaching for a hot cocoa, spike things up with one of these decadent dark brews. (After all, that alcohol blanket really makes a difference…) This trio of local winter warmers is guaranteed to keep you toasty (or toasted!) through the cold.
Looking for a beer to satisfy your sweet tooth? Pour out a pint of Carolina Brewery’s Chapel Hill Toffee Stout that puts everything you love about Chapel Hill Toffee in a pint. This dessert in a can is full of flavors of dark and milk chocolate combined with the sweetness of caramel. Cozy up with a pint this Valentine’s Day at a Carolina Brewery taproom!
“After a long time on the tough trails, your wheel bearings can get super crunchy, but fear not, these Crunchy Bearings won’t let you down,” says Crank Arm co-owner Adam Eckhardt. An oatmeal milk stout, this silky smooth, berry-forward brew features Madagascar vanilla, raspberry and blackberry.
Trophy Brewing Company’s Milky Way Stout is ideal for keeping the winter chills away. This salted caramel stout is the perfect combo of sweet and salty—and is the perfect accompaniment to Trophy’s creative pizzas and snacks. Our fave pairing? The Milky Way Stout and Daredevil pizza. Sip on this beer at Trophy locations and State of Beer, or pick up a six-pack at the grocery store.
Enjoy some winter fun at these ski resorts perfect for a long weekend escape.
There’s no better way to spend a chilly winter weekend than heading to surrounding ski resorts for some cold weather fun. Whether you’re all about hitting the slopes for skiing and snowboarding, loafing down the hill on the tube, or just sitting by the fire with a hot cocktail (après ski, please!), there’s something for everyone at the following resorts—all of which are within a six-hour drive from Raleigh. Ski ya there!
Sugar Mountain Resort
Don’t flurry, be happy, as this top NC skiing destination is only about three hours from the City of Oaks. The resort has trails for all levels of skiers—from beginners on the Easy Street trail to experts on the double black diamond Whoopdedoo trail. And you can enroll your little skiers in Sugar Bear Ski School or Polar Bear Snowboard School to help learn the basics of schussing down the slopes. skisugar.com
Beech Mountain Resort
Another quintessential NC ski spot, Beech Mountain is home to a bunch of different ski trails for all skill levels—plus ice skating and tubing. You can even go night skiing! After a long day on the slopes, après ski over to Beech Mountain Brewing Co., complete with fireplaces (natch) and a bevy of brews guaranteed to warm you up—plus stick around for fun events like S’mores and Pours, and live music from local bands and DJs to keep the fun going all night long. beechmountainresort.com
Wintergreen Resort
There’s snow place like Wintergreen. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the resort offers skiing, golfing, a spa (!), fantastic dining options and Virginia’s largest tubing hill—plus a terrain park (think a skateboard park covered in snow). With the layout constantly changing and over 40 features, there’s something for every skill level each time you visit. wintergreenresort.com
Snowshoe Mountain Resort
It’s all uphill at West Virginia’s Snowshoe Mountain Resort, what with over 60 skiing trails, 40 bike trails, snowmobiling, swimming, tubing, a ski village, a world-class spa, 30 different accommodation options and so much more—so even if you’re not a big skier, you’re guaranteed to have a great time. Schuss down the trails on Snowshoe Mountain before heading to The Village for a hot toddy, shopping and delectable dinner; then relax and unwind at The Spa at Snowshoe. Sounds like the perf winter getaway, if we do say snow ourselves. snowshoemtn.com
Ober Gatlinburg
Tennessee’s only ski resort gives powder to the people with ice skating, a mountain coaster, ice bumper cars and an alpine slide, in addition to the standard skiing, tubing and snowboarding. The whole fam can get in on the fun—and you’ll be booked with fun things to do throughout the weekend. obergatlinburg.com
