by Kelsie Barton | Oct 30, 2023 | Buzz, November 2023
WRAL true crime journalist Amanda Lamb relives a haunting case from her youth in her latest podcast.
Just in time for cozy season, WRAL has released the perfect true crime podcast to pair with a glass of red wine and your favorite chunky knit throw. Written and hosted by veteran true crime journalist Amanda Lamb, The Killing Month August 1978 is a new documentary-style podcast detailing the grisly story of The Johnston Gang murders that took place in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in August 1978.
“I think I always knew someday I would write about it in some form,” says Lamb of the case, which she watched unfold as an adolescent in a very intimate way, given her father was the lead prosecutor who helped bring the family of killers to justice. This personal connection makes for a captivating listen as Lamb revisits the shocking events that ultimately shaped her future career path.
“Not only am I telling you the story from the perspective of all the people who were there—including attorneys, investigators, witnesses and victims’ family members—but I’m telling you my story, the story of how I viewed this as a child and how I view it now,” she reveals. “My dad did not sugarcoat or hide anything from me at the time. He answered my questions and allowed me to come to the trials. There’s no doubt this was what piqued my interest in journalism and covering the crime beat.”
“And there’s really a backstory here about what I learned through this process about my father,” Lamb adds. “It’s been an incredible journey.”
Now available on all podcast apps, the eight-episode series is suspenseful, spine-chilling (brace yourself for episode four) and completely addictive—all the elements of a bingeworthy true crime podcast.
“There’s obviously something so gut-wrenching, so raw and so devastating about all of these stories, but I also see the passion of the investigators to solve the cases and the resilience of the victims’ families as something very hopeful,” Lamb shares. “I am always humbled when people agree to talk to me about such intense stories. But I truly believe there is a way to tell them with humanity.” Available wherever you stream your podcasts
by Kelsie Barton | Oct 30, 2023 | November 2023, Stuff
Raleigh Magazine Editor-in-Chief Melissa Howsam debuts an uplifting children’s book inspired by her beloved fur baby.
Anyone who has encountered Melissa Howsam’s Maltese mix, Millie, knows the petite pup radiates main-character energy. And that’s exactly what led the Raleigh Magazine EIC to pen I May Be Small But I’m Still Important, her debut children’s book that emphasizes the power of self-love and self-confidence no matter your size.
The concept for the heartwarming “tail” came to Howsam soon after she adopted Millie in 2016. The pair would take walks around their Village District condo, often linking up with two of Howsam’s best friends and their dogs, a Frenchie named Blanche and a medium-size, mixed-breed rescue named Henry (both of whom are featured in the book’s illustrations alongside Millie).
“We would walk and they would just naturally walk ahead of us because she was smaller,” Howsam remembers. “And one day both of us were lagging behind and I was like, ‘Hey, guys (in her voice)—I may be small but I’m still important!’ And a lightbulb just went on. I was like, ‘That would totally make a great children’s book.’”
Although she was joking at the time, Howsam couldn’t shake the idea—especially given her mother had always encouraged her to write a children’s book. After leaving Village District in 2018 post life-saving surgery to embark on a new chapter in Raleigh, she used the fresh start as motivation to finally jot down the words that had been swirling in the back of her mind for nearly two years.
As Howsam began to navigate the complex world of self-publishing, there was one thing she was still missing: an illustrator. Fast-forward to 2021, and a serendipitous discovery revealed local artist Mayanthi Jayawardena—whom Howsam had previously interviewed for a story about murals and art initiatives around town—also had owned a Maltese and had experience as an illustrator. “I said, ‘Hold up. You’re an illustrator?’” Howsam recalls. “‘I have a children’s book. I need an illustrator.’” And Jayawardena proved to be just the person for the job, bringing Howsam’s vision to life through vibrant, playful illustrations that perfectly capture Millie’s big-hearted spirit.
After finally hitting publish in early October (on Millie’s birthday), Howsam has been overwhelmed by the “pawsitive” response to her book from both kids and kids at heart. Her friends share that their little ones are charmed by Millie from the moment they lay eyes on the book’s cover, which depicts the pint-size pooch perched on her real-life window seat “throne,” as Howsam calls it. “She was always meant to be a star,” the author says with a laugh. (Up next, Howsam is already hard at work on a second children’s book about a human sibling duo—with a cameo by Millie, of course.)
However, it is the book’s timeless and inspirational message—that size does not equal significance—that truly captivates even the youngest of readers till the very last page. “I feel like the hardest thing for all of us at any age to really tap into and remember is our own worth,” says Howsam. “The older I get, it’s something I realize you can start learning and embracing really from birth, in the way that people interact with you and the way they teach you to interact with yourself.”
By sharing this lesson through the eyes of her own pet, Howsam hopes to build up kids everywhere—including her best friend’s sweet baby boy, Parker, to whom she dedicated the story. “It’s not about size or stature or value, how loud you are, how tall you are, or, ultimately, for adults, how much money you make or what you do,” she says. “It’s something that comes from within.” amazon.com
by Kelsie Barton | Oct 30, 2023 | November 2023, Stuff
In need of a little “man”-tenance this fall? Consider these top cosmetic treatments.
JUST LIKE WOMEN, men want to look good and feel good. “They also want to save time,” says Amaris Balkus, COO of Blue Water Spa. That’s why more and more dudes are opting for quick, noninvasive aesthetic treatments—think everything from “Brotox” to manscaping via laser hair removal—that can be done over a lunch break. Here, local experts break down the top cosmetic procedures for men seeking a glow-up on the fly.
EmSculpt
The secret to obtaining a chiseled bod sans hours of working out at the gym? EmSculpt, a noninvasive body-shaping procedure that firms and tones muscles through high-intensity electromagnetic therapy. “Men love EmSculpt,” says Balkus. “It’s like doing 2,000 sit-ups, squats or leg lifts with no downtime or pain!” Um, sold.
“Sometimes men are surprised by how life-changing treatments like EmSculpt can be,” adds Balkus. “What we’re all looking for is increased confidence.” And confidence with a quick clock out—even better. A consultation is performed prior to each service, and for optimal results, Blue Water Spa recommends six 30-minute treatment sessions over the course of a two-week period.
Toxin Injections
Amanda Olsen, nationally certified and licensed physician assistant injector at Specialists in Plastic Surgery, says that wrinkle-diminishing toxin injections—aka Botox, Dysport and Xeomin—are in high demand among her male patients looking to turn back the clock.
“Men want to stay in the job market longer, and a youthful appearance makes them feel more confident in the job sector,” she explains. “Men also elect for anti-aging treatments before a big event because they want to look like the best version of themselves for photos and seeing friends and family.”
So, what facial zones are fellas targeting? “Men usually love treatment around the eyes to soften their smile lines and look less tired,” says Olsen. She notes that the 11s (glabella and corrugators) between the eyes are also popular, as well as horizontal lines across the forehead. “This softens an angry/tired look and lifts the brows, giving a more awake appearance,” she maintains.
Toxin appointments are scheduled for 30 minutes “as we offer a lot of TLC,” she says (think ice and numbing cream, if needed). However, the busy man can be in and out in 15 minutes. Toxins typically last about three to four months, and a second appointment is advised.
Laser Hair Removal
For many guys, being hairy isn’t necessarily a problem—if anything, it’s a lack of hair that plagues most men as they age. But this blessing still comes with its fair share of headaches, like constant upkeep, excess sweat and, of course, hair growth in not-so-welcome places.
Enter laser hair removal. “Men love laser hair removal for all areas of the body and face—and when we say all areas, we mean all,” says Balkus. “So many people feel like they are the only one with unwanted hair in a particular area. That is simply not true.”
Although laser hair removal isn’t a one-and-done deal (several appointments are typically needed), each session is short enough that most gents can have their follicles zapped and still grab a sandwich before heading back to the office. “It depends on the areas, but many treatments take less than an hour,” adds Balkus. And she assures the results are worth it: “A hair-free neck, for example, means no ingrown hair and less time shaving.” Sounds like a win-win to us. bluewaterspa.com; specialistsinplasticsurgery.com
by Kelsie Barton | Oct 2, 2023 | Buzz, October 2023
A collection of high-end, net-zero-energy homes has hit the market near the Village District, marking a first for our area and a win for the environment.
A few decades ago, using the term “green” when describing a home would have conjured an image of some crunchy, solar-powered cabin tucked away in the woods. Fast-forward to today and low-impact living has become the epitome of modern luxury, as evidenced by Tower Raleigh, the stunning new collection of sustainable homes situated ITB near Village District and Jaycee Park.
Tower designer Will Alphin, also the founder of sustainably minded local firm REdesign.build, was perfectly suited to tackle this project given his 20+ years of experience designing and building for clients and working in existing neighborhoods.
“The combination of wanting to do something to push the envelope on sustainability, having a comfort level with understanding what folks want in a home, and also having a reputation as a good design-build team—it felt like those three things we could pull together and do a for-sale project,” he shares. “So that’s where it all started.”
The high-performance community—a partnership between REdesign.build, Chappell [Powered by Compass] and Southern Energy Management—is comprised of four net-zero-energy homes; that is, they can generate as much renewable energy as they consume, if not more. And it stands out as one of the first single-family residential developments of its kind in the Triangle.
“We knew we were going to be doing something like had never been done before, so we built one house first to completion and took an opportunity to learn how we could do things better,” explains Alphin, who loved the concept so much he decided to purchase the home.
Construction is now underway for the other three Tower residences, with expected completion in spring 2024. As of press time, one has already been claimed and two remain on the market, with a starting price tag of $1.95 million.
Each 4,100-square-foot, three-story home boasts eco-friendly materials, triple-pane windows, rooftop solar panels, and tech-savvy features that prioritize energy efficiency and functionality—think a Tesla Powerwall, Loxone home automation system and more. “We have the technology to be comfortable and energy-efficient, so let’s do that,” says Alphin.
But style is certainly not compromised. The modern, dark wood-accented dwellings are thoughtfully curated to be open and free-flowing, with a floating stairwell, swoonworthy chef’s kitchen and light-flooded spaces that truly bring the outdoors in.
Although Tower only recently hit the market, the cutting-edge community has already generated buzz after being awarded the coveted George Matsumoto Prize in 2020 by NCModernist—a recognition that Alphin says is “very validating.” He acknowledges that a development like Tower is a risk, but one that he’s willing to take.
“We’re saying we believe in this; we’re going to put this out there,” the designer shares. “We believe there’s enough like-minded people out there at this time who will buy these homes.”
When asked which design element he’s the most proud of, Alphin pauses to think. “The homes are high-performance, so they’re trying to accomplish more than just being nice homes. They are trying to do a lot: being hyper-energy-efficient and sustainable while also being amazing and wonderful homes to live in,” he muses. “And I think they do that very elegantly. It all has a simplicity to it. I’m proud of the overall design, and I think everything works really well in concert.”
He adds: “It’s like when you get in a really nice car. You know it has all this technology, but you just feel comfortable and safe and it’s really fun to drive. I just get a great feeling living in the house.” towerraleigh.com
by Kelsie Barton | Sep 25, 2023 | Do, October 2023
Watching TV with closed captions is gaining popularity. What’s with the need to read?
Confession time: I’m a millennial who has never watched TV with subtitles. *Cue gasps.* However, given the number of times my husband and I turn to each other during our weekend binge-watching seshes to ask, “Did you catch that?” it’s clear that a shift toward closed captioning could be in our future.
I’ve since learned that it’s not just us. Dialogue in shows and movies has become increasingly harder to hear—a problem exacerbated by slimmer TVs, compressed audio for streaming, and, of course, inconsistent sound quality across apps and devices, leaving viewers with the op to either turn up the volume or turn on the subtitles.
Yet, somewhere between the final season of Game of Thrones and our current roster of culture-defining but often difficult-to-understand shows (think Succession, Ted Lasso and The Bear, among others), an unexpected trend emerged. Using closed captions became less of a quick fix to decipher garbled sounds and more of a, well, preference.
According to a recent survey by Preply, half of the 1,200+ Americans that responded use subtitles or captions most of the time. And young people are leading the charge. The same report reveals Gen Zers and millennials are much more likely to be frequent caption users at 70% and 53%, respectively, while older respondents such as Gen X and Baby Boomers are least likely to join the movement. Blame it on the popularity of TikTok and its word-plastered videos, but subtitles have suddenly taken over TV.
So, we wanted to know: Are Raleighites saying yes to the text too? I tapped a few locals for their thoughts on the subtitle craze to find out. “At this point, I rely on them and feel I can’t ‘hear’ whatever I’m watching without them,” said one millennial user. “I definitely pick up on things I wouldn’t if not for subtitles. Whether it’s a character with an accent I can’t quite understand or a distraction that wouldn’t allow me to hear the TV, I can at least still read what’s going on.”
Indeed, closed captions are ideal for loud environments—or, alternatively, when it’s not appropriate to turn the sound up. “My husband and I both like subtitles when we’re watching TV because we have the fan on (and now the baby monitor), and we don’t want to turn the TV up so loud,” another millennial told me. For her, captions truly enhance the viewing experience. “I think we started using them while watching The West Wing, which tracks,” she said, “and you do catch little funny things with it!”
Others don’t find subtitles quite so charming, but resort to them nonetheless. After staring at a screen all day, “the last thing I want to do is read my TV,” laments one Xennial. “But if I can’t freakin’ understand them, I’m left with no option.”
In fact, she often feels so torn between watching and reading that she attempts to do both. “I don’t want to miss the art of the theatrical performances so I literally rewind scenes where I truly had to read to ‘hear’ and watch their faces,” the reluctant closed captioner reveals. “The time commitment is ridiculous.”
Will this words-on-screens frenzy ever fizzle? If streaming apps continue to roll out speech enhancers (such as Prime Video’s new dialogue boost feature), perhaps we’ll finally have the technology to make out what our favorite characters are mumbling. *Breathes sigh of relief.* Until then, we might have to continue reading what we watch.
