As athletes around the globe train for the 2028 Summer Olympics in LA, a different kind of elite team is sharpening its skills—knives included. The American Culinary FederationCulinary Team USA is already hard at work prepping for the 2028 Culinary Olympics in Stuttgart—and right here in Raleigh, Wake Tech is playing a key role in the effort.
Beyond opening its kitchens to ACF Culinary Team USA for practice sessions and public tasting dinners, Wake Tech is also proudly sending two of its own pastry chefs to compete on the world stage.
Chef-instructors Eric Stopka and Josephine Herbert have been tapped to rep Team USA, which Department Head and lead baking instructor Caralyn House chalks up to WTCC’s standout baking program and its semiannual ACF-sanctioned pastry competition.
“We’ve got one of the stronger pastry programs in the country,” says Herbert, “and we always bring in three judges who are certified by the ACF”—many of whom also coach Team USA. The pair’s selection was cemented at the most recent competition, when the team’s coaches took notice. And, now, what started as a local rivalry in the kitchen could become a global win.
Last year’s Culinary Olympics boasted 1,200 chefs from 55 countries, with only the creme de la creme landing a spot on the podium. To prep, Team USA training kicked off this spring, with chefs crafting a monthly three-course meal at host sites across the country—including Wake Tech.
“The presence of the USA culinary Olympic team in our community is a testament to the strength of our local food and restaurant scene,” emphasizes Wake Tech President Scott Ralls, “and the unique role played by Wake Tech as our region’s ‘culinary college’—growing the regional culinary, baking and pastry, and hospitality management talent pool.”
Olympians in the kitchen? Impeccable precision, endurance and drive are all part of the recipe—and come 2028, Wake Tech just may be bringing home the gold. wtccbaking.squarespace.com/team-usa
Skate Raleigh is returning to Hopscotch Music Fest for its third spin—this time ramping things up on Martin Street. Kicking off the weekend with a BMX show Thursday night, BMX celeb and professional park builder John Saxton takes on pro-level ramps with a crew of top-tier riders in tow. Friday dials up the energy with a BMX jam and street disco, with a classic skateboarding competition on Saturday rounding out the weekend—complete with a Red Bull-sponsored cash prize for best trick. With Oak City Soul spinning tunes and New Belgium pouring bevs, Martin Street has your Hopscotch weekend bucket list on lock. skateraleigh.com
Fashion is nothing if not cyclical, and these statement-making slides are back on the docket
You heard it here first: Clogs and other rustic-inspired footwear have tiptoed their way back onto the runaway (s/o Paris Fashion Week). No longer just a boho statement or your grandma’s house shoe, clogs have clomped out former presumptions and rebooted themselves as a sassy-yet-sophisticated staple. And with wood, suede and even rubber ops for all weather and walking distances, well—it’s a clog world, and we’re just walking in it. So, this fall, dig your stompers out of the back of your closet or slide into one of these local selects.
The indie-rock band chats with RM ahead of their show.
Mt. Joy seems to be everywhere, all the time. The indie-rock five piece is set to play Koka Booth Sept. 23 on their Hope We Have Fun tour—marking their fourth local set in as many years.
A jampacked schedule is nothing new for the group. Since the 2016 release of their debut single, “Astrovan,” Mt. Joy has been on the move—cruising from small venues (think The Pour House, Lincoln Theatre and Cat’s Cradle) to opening up for the likes of The Lumineers and The Head and the Heart to headlining festivals and playing nationally broadcasted sets.
Despite now boasting a literal mountain of accolades and millions of fans, the Philly-based band refuses to lose focus of their music—their song remains the same. “I just think we’ve gotten better as a band, as we’ve gotten to play with each other,” guitarist and vocalist Matt Quinn tells RM. “To me, that’s the biggest thing. And, then, you know, we’ve experienced a lot in life since then—so hopefully some of that is shining through too.”
Their years together echo in their chemistry—reflected in production, performance and dynamic—but their sound hasn’t grown up, only out. And despite the momentum, success hasn’t altered their songwriting process: “Expectations can definitely mess with your head,” he says. “We try to keep it simple—just make songs we love and let the chips fall where they may.”
On their latest record, Hope We Have Fun, those chips fell in favor of their classic sound: firmly rooted in rock with a signature indie crunch. Some moments—like a feature from recent indie breakout Gigi Perez—add a fresher feel, but, at its core, the band doesn’t overthink their sound.
When asked about standout tracks, Quinn points to “Pink Lady” as the clear fan favorite—and while he is “not really surprised,” they’re not complaining because it’s such a fun tune to play live and jam out to. And jam seshes are both a given and welcome at their shows, with smooth transitions into covers by everyone from The Flaming Lips to Grateful Dead to Gorillaz.
“We try to bring songs we love to our shows as much as possible,” muses Quinn. But the band finds its way back into their groove. So, prepare to head to Koka Booth this month—there’s room for everyone on Mt. Joy. boothamphitheatre.com
NC DMV audits call out failures and proposal fixes.
DMV frustrations just got receipts: Two audits released in August validate long-standing concerns, prompting NC State Auditor Dave Boliek to recommend splitting the DMV from the Department of Transportation entirely.
Giving new context to the department’s well-documented challenges, the audits found the average DMV visit clocks in at one hour and 15 minutes, and ~13% taking over two-and-a-half hours. And to try to sidestep those waits, nearly half skip their local office for a farther one.
Boliek emphasized that the economic toll of such inefficiencies—including missed work and school days—calls for immediate intervention. So, what exactly would a DMV/DOT breakup fix?
The audit cites “structural challenges” tied to the DMV’s current status as a DOT division: no financial autonomy, little say in statewide decisions and a lack of performance tracking.
“DOT needs the DMV, not the other way around,” said Boliek, noting that while the DMV reins in 30% of NCDOT revenue, it receives just 3% of that funding in return.
Despite NC’s population growing by 2.5 mill over the last 15 years, the state has only added 52 license examiner positions—160 still sit vacant.* Boliek proposed the General Assembly add 40 more examiners and introduce market-based salaries to combat chronic staffing shortages and employee burnout.
Meanwhile, a new law signed by Gov. Josh Stein suspends the expiration of Class C driver’s licenses, allowing them to remain valid for driving purposes for up to two years post-expiration date. That said, the law does not address ID requirements for air travel, alcohol purchases or loan applications—meaning a haul to the DMV may still be in your future.
