by Kara Scott | Oct 12, 2023 | Eat, October 2023
Now Serving cooking up good via Oct. 21 F&B event
Let’s eat, drink and serve together! Now Serving, a Raleigh-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is brewing up an event to uplift the community and bridge the gap between food abundance and scarcity. Dubbed Now Serving Food + Wine, the culinary fest will take place Oct. 21 at Smoky Hollow, with a goal to continue bolstering the MO of the org: leveraging the power of food service to empower communities and bring solace to Raleigh neighbors in need.
“We think the restaurants and hospitality industries are really important, and at the same time we think that hunger is a problem that shouldn’t exist,” says Now Serving Executive Director Greg Lowenhagen. The nonprofit was founded as Sunday Supper in 2016, with its inaugural event gathering ~1,000 people on Fayetteville Street to raise $189,000 for the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund. The model adapted to “to directly support the most vulnerable among us.”
“The question is: How can we get our hospitality industry involved in a more efficient way to help fight that problem?” Lowenhagen adds. “We also want to help our partnered restaurants thrive in business. . … Our partnerships are a great way to tackle both things at once.”
Boiling up bunches of excitement, the Saturday soiree is slated to showcase a lineup of leading local chefs, restaurants and beverage brands from beloved spots such as Blackology Coffee Company, Hummingbird and Oak Steakhouse, to name but a few.
Attendees will also be treated to an outstanding selection of wines from distinguished wineries such as Donelan and Sangiacomo, among others. Craft beer lovers are in for a treat too, with offerings from R&D Brewing, while Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Young Hearts Distillery will be providing the spirits. And beyond the appetizing array of eats and drinks, fuel the fun-filled day with music and cooking demos to boot. With all the wonderful F&B collaborations, the celebration is sure to be a delicious one—but the cherry on top is that every ticket purchased directly supports meals for Now Serving’s six community agency partnerships: Brentwood Boys & Girls Club, Meals on Wheels Wake County, The Women’s Center, New Bethel Food Pantry, Lincoln Park Pantry and Solid Rock Ministry. Dining and drinking for a good cause never tasted so good!
by Kara Scott | Sep 30, 2023 | October 2023, Stuff
From ballet slippers to microphone—check out this Raleigh artist’s musical journey.
McKenzie Van Oss may have retired from the Carolina Ballet—but she hasn’t permanently hung up her ballet slippers just yet. The 27-year-old multitalented artist recently released the latest music video for her single “reminder,” which not only incorporates her professional ballet background, but also features her former colleagues from the Carolina Ballet (dancers, costume, hair/makeup).
The Wisconsin native-turned-Raleighite joined the local ballet company at 18 years old—but during a period of less strenuous rehearsals and no school, she began dabbling in songwriting and performing at open mics. It wasn’t until an injury that led her to leave the Carolina Ballet in March that her music career really took off. Now, the indie-rock artist creates music about her life and experiences while still honoring her dancing roots in music videos. Here, we chat with the rising star about her artistic identity.
How has your training shaped your career as both a dancer and musician?As a kid, I had no time for other extracurricular activities because all my time went to ballet. Then, as I got older, I just really started loving music—but I love I was able to use my body to interpret it. Around age 11, I decided I wanted to be a professional dancer. It’s funny—when I was in the eighth grade, a friend and I wrote in our yearbook what we wanted to be when we grew up. I wrote ‘ballerina musician,’ which is hilarious—but at that time, I was taking the ballet route. Music was always there, but I put it on the back burner.
What finally sparked the transition from ballet dancer to musician? I got injured during COVID, and in 2021, I found out my back was broken. I was in a lot of pain, so I decided to write songs that I wanted to make bigger than just me. I got to work with my brother who’s also a musician, and he produced one of my songs. I was like, ‘Wow, I really want to do this. I love being in a position of artistic freedom and creating a safe and fun environment—no judgment or pressures.’
What influenced your latest single, “reminder”? I wrote this song during COVID. It was to give myself therapy—looking at my younger self and seeing it from a perspective of growth. I think “reminder” can be applied to my experiences within a toxic relationship and my hardships with ballet. It’s funny sometimes how multiple things can be happening in your life and have a similar effect.
What do you have coming up next? At the moment I’m pretty much locking myself away in my room and writing. I’m securing grant funding and raising money to make another music video for my single ‘Hot Air Balloon,’ which will be out in November. And on Oct. 28, I’ll be performing in the third annual Hauntaculer at Bond Brothers Eastside in Cary.
by Kara Scott | Sep 20, 2023 | Eat, September 2023
Fall for Emily Martin’s Cinnamon Rolls this season
“They see me rollin’” … and they craving Emily Martin’s Cinnamon Rolls—especially now that ’tis the season for baked fall treats (!). Available year-round at Cantina 18, these gooey rolls make the perfect quick breakfast or snack—or gift for a sweets-loving friend or family member (hey, holiday season!).
Creator/owner Martin’s recipe for the delightfully decadent old-fashioned treats blends tradition and innovation, using a sourdough yeast starter and a craveworthy creamy glaze on top. “Cinnamon rolls have been a tradition in my family for as long as I can remember,” shares the cinnamon roll chef. “When I learned to make them, I began sharing them with family and friends—and our tradition soon grew.”
Her partnership with Cantina 18 chef and proprietor Jason Smith began three years ago in an attempt to spread the sweetness of her culinary creations with a wider audience—and they’ve remained popular ever since. “We worked together, and his team really took to learning and appreciating the art of making my cinnamon rolls,” she says of the collab.
Enjoy the goods at home via a six-pack bun bundle that requires only a quick heat-up in the oven—and results in a heavenly fragrance and a belly full of goodness. Beyond a delish dessert, the cinnamon rolls make great gifts or menu items for bridal and baby showers, birthday parties, and holiday gatherings.
“Our busiest time of the year traditionally has been holidays, but we have actually seen an increase in demand year-round as people have begun to make them a part of their own special traditions,” says Martin. That said, it’s never too early to begin prepping for the busy season…Roll models of dessert, the buns also pair beautifully with mimosas, coffee or hot chocolate (brunch, anyone?). And in addition to Cantina 18, you can also find them at NOFO. Nice buns, indeed.
by Kara Scott | Aug 9, 2023 | July/August 2023, Stuff
Local high school student’s sustainable swimwear line is perfect for your next summer getaway.
If you’re looking to make waves on your summer vacay, you’ll want to dive into Coastal Cool, the sustainable clothing line making quite the splash on the local fashion scene. This isn’t just another drop in the ocean though…
The brainchild of founder/CEO Holden Bierman, a rising sophomore at Fuquay-Varina High School, Coastal Cool emerged amid the pandemic. While everyone else was baking banana bread and taking hot girl walks, the then 12-year-old entrepreneur took his love for coastal living and created a tide-turning eco-friendly clothing line.
“When COVID hit, we went to our beach house in Carolina Beach when school was out,” says Holden. “We’ve had the place for almost 10 years now… and the lifestyle of the coastal living and beach inspired me to create this brand.”
Holden’s initial designs were a hit, but he wasn’t content to only ride the first wave of success. Craving something more, he set his sights on sustainability and found a supplier offering eco-friendly materials. Made from 90% recycled polyester (a blend of recycled plastic bottles and post-consumer recyclables) Coastal Cool’s swimwear line is the embodiment of Holden’s vision—and a perfect fit for those looking to up their summer style while reducing their carbon footprint. (Everybody wins!)
Meeting sustainability with style, the brand offers bikini sets, one-pieces, swim trunks and other apparel. And if you’re looking for more protection from the sun, Coastal Cool recently released a line of bucket hats as well.
The best part of flexing Coast Cool gear, however, is knowing you’re doing good for the planet. After all, as Holden puts it, “making a difference and enjoying coastal life—they both pair well together.” … What better way to stay cool?
by Kara Scott | Jul 24, 2023 | July/August 2023, Real Estate & Home
Habitat for Humanity’s BuildBetter with Whirlpool initiative helps cut down on families’ energy bills.
“Don’t touch the thermostat!” … a phrase that will no doubt reverberate across local households as we struggle to keep our energy bills low—especially during the sweltering NC summer.
Enter Habitat for Humanity’s BuildBetter with Whirlpool program, which helps homeowners alleviate the impact of climate change via more energy-efficient and resilient homes. Now, NC’s Habitat for Humanity affiliates are furthering the cause for Raleighites.
The Whirlpool partnership is an expansion of Habitat for Humanity’s BuildBetter program, which plans to build ~250 affordable, climate-resilient and energy-efficient homes in the next three years (how’s that for a triple dub?)—with the new collab expanding the initiative’s efforts.
As part of the program this year, participating affiliates can pursue energy-efficient home upgrades, including Energy Star, SystemVision, active ready radon mitigation systems, homebuyer disaster-readiness education and Fortified Home designations.
“When we launched the BuildBetter with Whirlpool initiative, we established a baseline goal of a 15% increase in energy efficiency over typical new construction homes,” says Adrienne Goolsby, senior vice president of the U.S. and Canada Habitat for Humanity International. “We are currently in the process of a formal study that monitors the progress of the three-year initiative, and we aim to have results of the BuildBetter with Whirlpool program available in 2025.”
The efforts are clearly much-needed. To keep up with the rising energy rates (which have increased by 7.7% since last year), low-income households across the country shelled out almost 13% of their incomes on utility bills, with many NC residents giving up basic essentials such as food/medicine to foot the costs.
Through the BuildBetter initiative, 143 out of 250 climate-resilient and energy-efficient new build homes are complete or in progress, and 120 more homes will be built in 2023. And joining the effort are six local Habitat for Humanity branches (Durham, Greensboro, Orange County,Ashe County, Goldsboro-Wayne and our very own Wake County)—with each committed to incorporating energy-efficient features. Think water-conserving plumbing and high-efficiency heating/cooling appliances in new home construction projects this year.
“This is the most rewarding job I’ve had in my entire life—and I’ve served 29 years in the military,” says Avis Rankins, who originally started as a volunteer and currently works as a construction site supervisor at the Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity. “I love this even more than what I did in the service because I’m doing this for a whole different reason. I’m improving my community where I was raised. I’m making somebody else’s life easier.”For those wanting to offer a helping hand, volunteer opps are available for all—whether you want to roll up your sleeves or assist in other ways. “There’s so much we do in a construction arena that doesn’t require heavy lifting. Even if you want to show up and just sit at the table, talk to people or fellowship with the homeowner, please come out,” says Rankins. Building a better community—literally—one person at a time…
