WEB EXCLUSIVELocal artist Taylor White opens new pop-up exhibit in Downtown Raleigh.
Local artist Taylor White’s colorful, eye-catching murals are hard to miss. Chances are you’ve passed one or two of them while strolling through Downtown Raleigh (or Durham and beyond). There’s “Abstracted Motion,” an augmented reality mural on the side of the City Center Parking Deck in collaboration with Google Fiber; “Bacchanaila,” which covers the back wall of the bar at Whiskey Kitchen; and “Flora and Fauna,” painted for the Wake Forest Renaissance Center and the United Arts Council—to name just a few of White’s astounding art pieces.
Now, the nationally recognized artist is showcasing her work through her first solo exhibition, Pursuit of Happiness, a collection of large-scale abstract figurative paintings through which White explores the modern dilemma of individuals identifying themselves as apart from nature.
“I have wanted to produce a show for several years, and what at one point seemed crazy in the context of global events, now seems serendipitously well-timed,” says White.
The collection features works that White has worked on during the last 18 months in response to the events of 2020, “a period in which foundations were shaken, plans were upended and emotions were at an all-time high,” she wrote in an Instagram post announcing the gallery. “The world in which we now live is tech-centered; nature-detached; and disconnected from ourselves, our source and each other. My work approaches these issues with irreverence, and keeps it playful.”
Viewers of the self-funded and self-produced pop-up gallery—which runs through Aug. 28—can expect to see visually captivating pieces from White that utilize bold colors, textures and shapes to study the human form and confront the noise of the internet age in the context of this past year’s global upheaval. Perhaps on White’s pursuit of happiness, you’ll get to thinking about the world around you as well. taylorwhite.art
WEB EXCLUSIVE You’re going to get hooked on husband-and-wife team Dean Neff and Lydia Clopton’s long-awaited historic downtown Wilmington seafood restaurant and oyster bar, Seabird, which champions North Carolina’s sustainable fishing, aquaculture and farming practices.
“We’re uniquely fortunate to have so many small-scale seafood sources for exceptional fish and shellfish delivered straight from the boat to our door,” says Neff. “There really is no better place to enjoy North Carolina seafood than here in its home on the coast.”
Stop in in the morning before a day at the Wilmington Beaches (see our travel guide here!) for grab-and-go pastries and biscuits baked fresh by Clopton, former owner of the beloved Lydia Bakery & Café, which are best served with a cup of Counter Culture Coffee.
The evening menu features raw and baked oysters; small plates, including ghost pepper sorghum pork ribs, peel-and-eat NC shrimp, slow-smoked yellowfin tuna, and more; entries (think steak and seafood, natch); and a Seabird Seafood Tower, featuring an ocean’s worth of various seafood and sauces. Talk about feeling salty.
Seabird’s aquatic-inspired interior—which, along with the exterior, underwent a yearlong restoration and redesign—provides the perfect atmosphere for relishing in all that North Carolina’s coast has to offer, and feels like you never even left the beach at all. seabirdnc.com
Follow our guide to 7 of NC’s nearby lakes for a summer vacay that’ll really float your boat.
North Carolinians are all about that beach and mountain life, but many folks overlook the 59 lakes that are scattered across the state, each of which provide ample opps for fun in the sun, whether you’re looking to swim, boat, fish, kayak, stand-up paddleboard—or just lay out on the dock with a beer (no judgement!). Pretty perf for a summer weekend getaway if you ask us. All you have to do is find a place to stay (Airbnb’s, vacation rentals and campgrounds are aplenty)—we’ve already hooked you up with the best local spots to pull up the boat for a bite, pick up snacks, rent a kayak or SUP (or boat!), keep yourself entertained on a rainy day, and more. Use our in-depth guide to keep it reel this summer.
Lake Gaston at sunset. (VisitNC.org)
LAKE GASTON
DRIVE TIME: 1.5 hours
Straddling the border of North Carolina and Virginia, Lake Gaston is a 20,000-acre man-made lake just an hour-and-a-half away from Raleigh. Its 350-plus miles of shoreline offer boundless activities for all ages, from boating and fishing to camping and swimming.
Aerial view of Lake Norman near Jetton Park in Cornelius. (VisitNC.org)
LAKE NORMAN
DRIVE TIME: 3 hours
Located just outside of Charlotte, Lake Norman does double duty as a destination for both relaxing in the sun and getting out and about to explore the surrounding shops, galleries and restaurants. And with over 520 miles of shoreline, there’s plenty to do for outdoor adventure-seekers as well. #LakeLife at its finest.
A suburb of Charlotte, Lake Wylie sits on the border of North and South Carolina and is most especially known for its summer watersport offerings—from tubing to kayaking to stand-up paddleboarding and more. Clearly, a day spent on this 12,000-plus-acre lake (with its 325 miles of shoreline) is a day well spent.
Mountain life meets lake life at Lake James, which is situated in the mountains of Western North Carolina—about an hour from Asheville. The gorge lake boasts more than 150 miles of shoreline, plus a plethora of outdoor activities in the surrounding Lake James State Park.
If you’re looking for a quiet and relaxing lake getaway, Kerr Lake is the place to be. As part of the 50,000-acre John H. Kerr Reservoir that reaches into Virginia (it’s huge), Kerr Lake is great for those who are in need of some fresh air and peace and quiet. #GoodVibesOnly
Lance Johnson with his dog Biscuit row on Lake Lure.
LAKE LURE
DRIVE TIME: 4 hours
Nobody puts Lake Lure in the corner. Famed as the film location for Dirty Dancing, Lake Lure is hoppin’ during the summertime. Out-of-towners and locals alike come to this “crown jewel of North Carolina” tucked away in the Blue Ridge Foothills for fun and sun, whether that means hiking, fishing, boating, kayaking, biking or water skiing—or just carrying a watermelon (had to).
Vertical of High Rock Lake reflection of foliage and sky at sunset. Taken under cloudy sky with foliage in background.
HIGH ROCK LAKE
DRIVE TIME: 2 hours
Named after the neighboring High Rock Mountain, High Rock Lake is the northernmost of the Uwharrie Lakes and the second largest lake in North Carolina (behind Lake Norman). Its 15,180-acre water surface (that’s 365 miles of shoreline) is especially known for its reel-y great boating and fishing opps. Hook, line and sinker.
Where to sip, sup, shop and more just outside Raleigh this month
Osteria Georgi CHAPEL HILL
Say “ciao” to Osteria Georgi, the latest Italian restaurant from Giorgios Bakatsias and chef/partner Daniel Jackson. Jackson is a Chapel Hill native and UNC grad who’s since worked at such top-tier NYC restaurants as Eleven Madison Park and Italian trattoria Cafe 2 at the MoMA. At Osteria Georgi, Jackson wields his Italian cooking experiences into a modern menu that utilizes local and Italian cheeses, North Carolina seafood, and a variety of housemade pastas. The meatballs, burrata, mushroom risotto and rigatoni all’Amatriciana are just a few of the resto’s mouthwatering dishes—enjoy them out on the stunning patio with a glass of vino for Italy vibes without the plane ticket.osteriageorgi.com
Simons Says Dip This DURHAM
Simon says to dip your ice cream, so you better do it. Pick a cone, cup or sandwich base; then choose from 24 dip flavors and tons of delicious toppings—from crushed Oreos, Reese’s Pieces and sprinkles to cereal, nuts and popcorn. The combinations are endless, so… Simon says to go there every day to try them all. The sweet spot also offers a selection of housemade stuffed cookies, freeze-dried candies, chocolatey treats and five flavors of Simons Says Spread This artisanal nut butters, which you can—and should—take home with you to make the most amazing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.simonssaysdipthis.com
Dinosaur World FAYETTEVILLE
Get ready for a rawr-some experience at Sweet Valley Ranch. Dinosaur World takes guests into the prehistoric age through a woodsy, paved trail (take the shuttle or walk) featuring 25 animatronic dinos in their natural habitat, an abandoned research lab, observation booths and plenty of ’Grammable opps. The sounds, woods and additional attention to detail make you feel like you’re in a real Jurassic Park—mind the scary T. rex who’s trying to eat you. Guests will also be able to enjoy a fossil museum, reptile house, fossil dig and dinosaur playland, as well as walk the grounds to view the hundreds of animals on the farm for a day that’s without a doubt dino-mite. sweetvalleyranchnc.com
The Gilded Bean Coffee Bar GIBSONVILLE
Deja brew. The Gilded Bean owner Charles Beard recently rebranded and revamped the old Twin City Hives on Main Street with triple the seating, new decor celebrating the history of Gibsonville and a specialty dessert menu—think oatmeal cream cookies, cake, cheesecake and more—that pairs perfectly with house-roasted coffee. The cozy interior is great for, well, cozying up with a brew and a good book or meeting with family, friends, neighbors or co-workers (now that we’re allowed to do that again!). Plus, you can take a bag of beans home so that even after you leave, you won’t be depresso. facebook.com/thegildedbean
Wild Dogs Brewing SANFORD
BYO dog to this new Fido-friendly brewery and tasting room in Old Town Sanford occupying two buildings at 136 and 138 North Steele St. The owners completely renovated the building into the cool and casual space it is today (reusing a ton of the original building’s materials), which includes a bar from Black Dog Salvage in Roanoke, Virginia, and an original Coca-Cola advertisement along one of the interior brick walls (super vintage!). Wild Dogs features seven or eight barrels of primarily German-oriented pilsners and traditional beers—with plans to feature a light food menu of hot dogs and bratwursts, and open a rooftop bar and garden area.@wilddogsbrewing
Five Points’ Aycock Street will be renamed Roanoke Park Drive, thanks in part to a petition led by Steve Mangano.
Steve Mangano has lived on Aycock Street for 20 years. The Five Points road—which runs from Glenwood Avenue to Reaves Drive—was named after Gov. Charles Aycock, one of the perpetrators of the Wilmington Massacre in 1898, in which a white mob, urged by Aycock, burned down a Black-owned newspaper and murdered at least 60 Black Wilmington residents.
Mangano and a few neighbors started a petition to change the name of the street in August 2020—following the death of George Floyd and the protests that followed—in an effort to build a brighter and more inclusive future in the Raleigh community.
“The name change is driven by a collective desire to recognize why and who was honored in the past and to remove those honors while creating a new history that represents this moment of racial justice,” says Mangano. “Rather than have a street named after someone who sowed division and hate, we can meet this moment in history and use it as an opportunity to build a new chapter.”
In May of this year, Raleigh City Council unanimously voted to change the name of Aycock Street to Roanoke Park Drive (a tribute to Roanoke Park, a place where people of all walks of life can come together and connect in a welcoming environment) after Mangano’s petition garnered signatures from property owners on the street. The road signs will be changed July 1.
Aycock Street is not the first white supremacist-related icon in Raleigh to go. Regency Centers renamed Cameron Village to the Village District earlier this year due to the name’s connection to the Cameron family, which was one of North Carolina’s largest slaveholders. Additionally, Raleigh’s tallest Confederate monument (formerly at the State Capitol grounds), as well as the statue of white supremacist and former The News & Observerpublisher Josephus Daniels in Nash Square, were both removed in June 2020.
Mangano says that these changes “demonstrate to our kids the importance of inclusion and how the past can have an impact on the future.” By removing the name honoring Aycock, Raleigh is making not just an important statement as a community, but a needed step toward equity and unity. As one of Mangano’s friends put it, initiatives like this are a drop in the ocean, where every drop matters—and there are still lots of drops to be had.
