by Heidi Reid | Oct 28, 2024 | Eat, November 2024
Diced revolutionizes fast food locally
If you thought Diced was a chain—think again. Thanks to the almost-immediate and widespread success of the salads, wraps and bowls mainstay—with a brand-new locale on Fayetteville Street—many don’t see the eatery for what it is: a locally owned joint born and bred in Cary.
“For the past nine years, I haven’t really put myself out there as a local business owner,” says founder and owner Michelle Woodward of her concept oft mistaken for a national franchise. “When building the brand, I tried to think of every little detail, so I think the consistency of the branding might have a franchise feel.”
Rewinding back to Diced’s origin story, as a former national and world champion college athlete, Woodward wanted to channel her ambition and dedication into something new—and aimed to fill a gap in the fast-food industry she observed during her athletic endeavors. “Diced is something I had always needed and wanted—a healthy, quick place that didn’t cut corners on freshness and quality,” she emphasizes.
So, fresh (!) out of college, the former gymnast crafted a menu and moved to Raleigh with just her vision for a health-conscious eatery, which quickly became a community fave. Now, the four locations (DTR, in addition to one on Oberlin Road and two in Cary) continue to answer the call for “fast food” that is both fulfilling and nutritious—read: a meal you can grab on-the-go to get your fill without counting calories or worrying about an upset stomach.
And curbing the true franchise vibe, the local joint has no plans to expand beyond the state. “We are going to stick to the Triangle for now and could potentially open locations in other NC cities,” maintains Woodward, adding, “Good ideas will never come to life without action. After that, it just takes a lot of commitment, patience and sacrifice to see it through—but it is worth it.” And we’re sure glad she stayed committed to the grind. dicedsalads.com
by Heidi Reid | Oct 28, 2024 | Buzz, November 2024
Raleigh clearly has a funny bone. Long before comedy clubs and stand-up was popular outside NYC and LA, our hometown had a history of bringing in improv and laughs. Think you know the Cap City’s sillier side? Raleigh comedy is calling—brush up on your facts!
1. The legendary Goodnights Comedy Club opened in 1983 on West Morgan Street. Which iconic comedian did not take the stage at the original intimate venue?
a. Robin Williams
b. Jerry Seinfeld
c. David Cross
d. Ellen DeGeneres
2. Raleigh just has such a nice ring to it. Despite being called *Raleigh* Improv, where does the comedy club actually reside?
a. Garner
b. Apex
c. Cary
d. Fuquay-Varina
3. Which NC comedian made an appearance in Office Christmas Party alongside Jason Bateman and Jennifer Aniston as an overly yappy taxi driver?
a. Fortune Feimster
b. Jeanne Robertson
c. Mamrie Hart
d. Jacqueline Novak
4. “Indiana Jones wears one!” NC comedian Zach Galifianakis of The Hangover and Between Two Ferns was just one credit shy of graduating from which local university?
a. Shaw University
b. William Peace University
c. UNC Chapel Hill
d. NC State University
5. Starting in August 2022, Goodnights temporarily operated out of the building housing which former restaurant chain before moving into its current Village District digs in early 2023?
a. Hardee’s
b. K&W Cafeteria
c. Smithfield’s Chicken ’N Bar-B-Q
d. Biscuitville
6. The town of Mayberry featured in NC comedian and actor Andy Griffith’s The Andy Griffith Show is based on which NC small town?
a. Hendersonville
b. Manteo
c. Mount Airy
d. Hillsborough
7. Apparently, laughter really is the best medicine. University researchers studied the effects of laughter using blood samples from students watching which NC funnyman’s stand-up routine?
a. Zach Galifianakis
b. Jon Reep
c. Gallagher
d. Duncan Trussell
8. We all gotta start somewhere. Which iconic Raleigh venue was originally established as the largest A&P grocery store in 1936?
a. Kings
b. The Wicked Witch
c. ComedyWorx
d. The Rialto
9. The future is only getting funnier—for most. Which local venue is hosting shows during the first-ever Raleigh Comedy Festival in 2025?
a. Goodnights Comedy Club
b. Neptunes
c. State of Beer
d. All of above
1. C; 2. C; 3. A; 4. D; 5. B; 6. C; 7. C; 8. D; 9. D
by Heidi Reid | Oct 28, 2024 | Buzz, November 2024
Here’s how to help WNC from afar.
At this point, we’ve all seen the images and videos of Hurricane Helene’s impact on Western North Carolina—cars and houses floating down murky waterways, trees pierced through roofs and entire roads washed away by mudslides. It’s uncomfortable to any viewer, and it’s absolutely devastating to WNC.
As a native of the mountains (specifically Hendersonville), I’ve felt both extremely lucky to be safe from the chaos and very helpless as I watched from afar as destruction tore through my hometown. And it’s difficult navigating what I can actually do to help my community and what just adds to the pandemonium.
Even now as the flooding recedes, it’s hard to tell the true extent of the damage—both physical and economical. Hurricane Helene hit only weeks before the fall foliage peaked, when tourists usually swarm in flocks to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
To wit, about 16.7 million people visited the Blue Ridge Parkway in 2023. That’s millions of people who this year won’t buy local beer, won’t invest in local artists and won’t tip their servers. Those perennial foliage-chasing tourists spend billions and support thousands of jobs. With parts of the parkway currently closed* and entire businesses—buildings and all—washed away (the Asheville Rivers Art District and Chimney Rock’s main street are simply gone), the true economic impact remains unknown.
So while we all want to help WNC, it’s best to postpone that fall getaway—at least for now. I am as disappointed as anyone about skipping a trip to the area for peak week and brewery-hopping, but the region is currently housing first responders in hotels normally meant for tourists—meaning they are in no position to handle visitors, even though visiting may feel helpful. Instead, here is how you can help the region recover from afar, while you (hopefully) gear up for next year’s trip.
What + Where To Donate
Clothing and Winter Supplies
Relief Funds
Support WNC Goods Locally
by Heidi Reid | Oct 28, 2024 | Arts & Culture, November 2024
Artists rocking the NC music scene this year.
By Heidi Reid
Raleigh is a music town—there, we said it. Fun fact: The City of Oaks ranks No. 2 in small concert venues per 100,000 residents with 5.9 venues per capita—more than twice as many as the average city. So it’s no surprise that musicians in Raleigh, and the rest of the Tar Heel State for that matter, are constantly churning out acclaimed tracks repping every genre. Here, some of our favorite tunes from the Old North State artists playing up the scene this year.
Nail Biter by Cor de Lux
Post-punk, Outer Banks
Rudolph by MJ Lenderman
Folk-rock, Asheville
PT Cruiser by SCOBY,
Indie-rock, Winston-Salem
Rolling Praire by Fust
Alt-country, Durham
Hurts So Good by Weekend Friend
Indie-rock, Charlotte
How to Dance by Fancy Gap
Rock, Raleigh
Way Down Yonder by Chatham County Line
Modern folk, Raleigh
by Heidi Reid | Oct 21, 2024 | Do, October 2024
We chat with Ela Melo of Rainbow Kitten Surprise.
Rainbow Kitten Surprise is slated to have a jam-packed end to their year. After pulling out of their 2023 tour, the NC-based indie rock/pop band is back on the road following the release of their first album in six years and third ever, Love Hate Music Box. And what’s a tour without a visit home? The 35-stop North American tour incorporates two NC shows, including a Raleigh performance at the Lenovo Center Oct. 26.
Formed over a decade ago at Appalachian State University (s/o Boone!), the group has garnered millions of listeners and a steady following. But success hasn’t always been an easy road for the foursome—in the six years since the release of their 2018 album, How to: Friend, Love, Freefall, they’ve faced a slew of challenges, from mental health crises to creative differences and even a medical diagnosis that ultimately led them to cancel last year’s shows.
Now, the 2024 tour and release of Love Hate Music Box ushers in a new era for Rainbow Kitten Surprise. And with a new era comes a new sound—the 22-track album mulls over more fresh, poppier tunes than its previous indie-folk records. Here, we chat with Rainbow Kitten Surprise frontwoman Ela Melo about the natural progression of this sound, living in NC and giving back to their home state.
How has living in North Carolina impacted the Rainbow Kitten Surprise sound?
North Carolina is the weird little gem of the south—the mountains, the beach and the vibes. We were never a part of any kind of scene, we just made what we made. There is an energy beneath it that is specific to the South. I feel it.
What influenced the drastic change in sound Love Hate Music Box reflects?
I got kind of obsessed with the sound and that is the undercurrent of this record—not necessarily maximalist, but [a lot of instruments]. I’ve always had that in demos I’ve made, but with this one it was like, ‘let’s see how it goes.’ I think every record is a little bit different from the next one, and this one took six years to make. It’s a natural evolution of the band.
What artists have you been listening to recently?
I haven’t been digging into much. I’ve been listening to that Mk.gee record, Two Star & The Dream Police. I just love his sound; his guitar is unbelievable. I get in a hole—especially when I’m writing—I just listen to what I’m working on because it feels like progress to figure out what I’m liking and what I’m not liking.
Are you already working on something new?
It’s pretty much done with the last, on to the next. As soon as an album goes up for mastering I don’t really listen to it anymore and then I usually start [writing] right away.
Did Love Hate Music Box take six years to complete or was it a true hiatus?
I don’t know how to not work. It’s a blessing and curse. But by the time we started really digging into what the tracks were to make this record, it took a year to complete. There were other versions of things that got [denied] over the years leading up to this record, and they may or may not see the light of day at some point. So yes, it took six years.
Tell us about the $50,000 Rainbow Kitten Surprise pledged to hurricane relief in Western North Carolina.
We formed in Boone. We are from the mountains, lived there for seven or eight years and are [also] from other towns around Western North Carolina. Some of our friends and family just got power back a few days ago. Our hearts and thoughts are in North Carolina and I think about it every day. Pledging the $50K is just something we can do to help.
Answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity
