It wasn’t long ago that the area at the northern end of downtown, west of Capital Boulevard, east of Glenwood and centered around Peace Street, didn’t have a lot going on. There were a few small businesses (RIP, Finch’s) but the streets were more of a thoroughfare into and out of downtown rather than a destination in their own right. But now, all that has changed; with hundreds of new residences, downtown’s first large grocery store chain, not to mention the future site of a greenway-connected park and the city’s tallest tower, Smoky Hollow, located smack between the Glenwood and Seaboard/North Person Street districts, is almost like a new downtown district unto itself. Any guesses as to what it will be called? In the map below, we break down what’s already built in Smoky Hollow, and what’s in the works for downtown Raleigh’s northern gateway.
1. PEACE APARTMENTS – NOW OPEN 417 modern, convenient urban living apartments situated directly above a Publix grocery store. Creative Office @ Smoky Hollow 5,200 square feet of collaborative office space located on the first two floors of the apartment building.
2. DEVEREAUX MEADOWS PARK – IN PLANNING A 14-acre urban park located between Capital Boulevard and Pigeon House Branch. Plans include open areas, walking paths and a greenway connector from Crabtree Creek to Downtown Raleigh.
3. 40-STORY TOWER -APPROVED Phase 3 of Smoky Hollow at North Harrington and West Johnson Streets. Slated to be the tallest building in Raleigh.
4. 40-STORY TOWER -APPROVED 506/508 Capital Boulevard. A mixed-use development at Peace Street and Capital Boulevard. Zimmer Development
5. RAINBOW UPHOLSTERY BLDG Rainbow Luncheonette, OPENING Early 2021. Short-order, country-style, open-kitchen diner. Pink Boot, OPENING 2021. Mini modern honky tonk private bar.
6. 421 N. HARRINGTON STREET – DEC. 2020 225,000 square feet of office and retail space. Ground-level lobby to include a bicycle center.
7. THE HOLLOW – APR. 2021 Street-level promenade with restaurants and retail. Sidewalks will connect offices, outdoor spaces and event courtyard.
8. THE LINE – NOV. 2020 283 urban apartments with world-class amenities.
Venture outside of Raleigh (while practicing social distancing!) this month.
Brecotea Baking Studio
CARY
Richmond-based Brecotea Baking Studio’s second location in Cary delivers a serene space for patrons to enjoy a variety of unique drinks, pastries and desserts. On the Asian-inspired drinks menu you’ll find everything from avocado cream tea to purple potato matcha milk to a standard cappuccino, while pastries, prepared daily include croissants, sweet and savory buns, danishes and more. You’ll want to spend all day in the modern cafe, bouncing back and forth between Brecotea’s tables, barstools and banquettes over breakfast, lunch and dinner. Grab a book from the bakery’s library and get cozy. brecotea.com
Wake Forest Veg Fest
WAKE FOREST NOVEMBER 1
Whether you’re already a vegan, looking to become one or just appreciate good plant-based food, you’ll love Wake Forest’s 100 percent vegan festival which happens this year on World Vegan Day. The event will include live music throughout the day, local art vendors and vegan food and drink vendors such as Cilantro Mexican Cuisine, Deelicious Deelights, Garden of Flavor, Royal India and Kitoko Bites. Educational nonprofits like Triangle Veg Society and aPlantBasedDiet.org will be there to answer any questions about the health and environmental benefits of veganism, while professional speakers explain the science behind it. wakeforestvegfest.org
Da Kine’s Kava
DURHAM
Husband-and-wife team Brent Waffle and Zoey Best are bringing a new form of relaxation to Durham through their recently opened kava bar, Da Kine’s. Kava is a tropical shrub that grows in the Pacific islands and provides natural stress relief while reducing anxiety and delivering physical relaxation. Da Kine’s kava is made from Polynesian kava root extract, all-natural juices and flavors, cane sugar and water and can help with sleep and sore muscles. At the bar, the kava—which includes cucumber mojito, ginger beet and hibiscus lemonade—is made into tropical non-alcoholic cocktails that reap all the same benefits for you while delivering an extra source of stress relief. dakineskava.com
Ran-Lew Dairy
SNOW CAMP
For some of the best farm-to-scoop ice cream and milk in the area, head out to Ran-Lew Dairy, a family-run dairy farm that specializes in non-homogenized, pasteurized milk. Fifth generation dairy farmer Randy Lewis uses the farm’s fresh milk to make delicious gelato every Saturday. Flavors include traditional vanilla, chocolate, buttermilk cream and pawpaw, a seasonal tropical-esque fruit native to the eastern United States that some say tastes like a cross between a mango and a banana. During the holiday season, the eggnog gelato is also in high demand. Pick up a couple pints or a cup on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. ranlewdairymilkco.webstarts.com
Dirtbag Ales Art After Dark
HOPE MILLS NOVEMBER 19
Dirtbag Ales’ MO is “leaving behind the routines and normalcy to experience a life that is an exception to the rule,” according to its website. This applies to both the beer—which goes against the status quo and is made with unique ingredients and flavor profiles—and the art market. Art After Dark features bizarre, curious and extraordinary artists and makers, so you never know what kind of quirky pieces you might find. You might see something that’ll make the perfect Christmas gift for a friend or family member! Grab a beer or two while you browse the market; you may even run into a tarot card reader. dirtbagales.com
Picturesque cobblestone streets, moss-draped trees and pastel-colored antebellum houses attract visitors year-round to the South Carolina port city of Charleston. Founded in 1670, Charleston evokes the past—wait until you see the horse-drawn carriages—with Southern charm balanced by contemporary boutiques, hotels, art galleries and some of the most highly rated restaurants in the country.
The city is divided into several different areas, each with distinct offerings. There’s Mount Pleasant with its award-winning eateries and craft breweries; North Charleston, thriving with museums and historical sites, and West Ashley’s scenic vistas featuring the Ashley and Stono rivers’ ancient moss-draped oak trees.
Charleston’s beaches are also popular. Folly Beach, Sullivan’s Island, Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island and Isle of Palms offer perfect waterfront escapes with peaceful shorelines and coastal activities only a half hour from the heart of the city.
There’s so much to discover in Charleston that it’ll take more than one trip. The area stays relatively warm all year, so it’s always a good time to visit.
DO
King Street
The colorful 300-year-old King Street is, after Meeting Street, the most historically and architecturally significant street in downtown Charleston. The multi-block stretch includes a variety of shops over three districts: Lower King Street Antiques District, offering antiques from all over the world; Middle King Street Fashion District, featuring both local boutiques and brand-name stores; and Upper King Street Design and Dining District, where you’ll find sleek interior decor and some of the city’s best restaurants.
Ranky Tanky Concert at The Bend
The Bend, in partnership with the Charleston Music Hall, is using its 20-acre venue along the Ashley River to host socially distanced concerts throughout the fall. Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets, coolers with beer or wine, and snacks to make the most out of the experience. On November 14, The Bend will host Ranky Tanky, a local Grammy-winning quintet that performs Gullah music. thebendcharleston.com
Boone Hall Plantation
Two rows of massive moss-covered oak trees line the entrance to the historic plantation, offering the perfect photo op. Boone Hall was founded in 1681 by Englishman Major John Boone, whose family was influential in South Carolina. While you’re there, take a tour of the house, visit the Black history in America exhibit, take a tractor tour of the entire 738-acre property and stroll through the garden. boonehallplantation.com
EAT
Handy & Hot
Shortly after closing her famed oyster bar, The Boiler Room, in Kinston, award-winning chef and TV personality Vivian Howard opened Handy & Hot, a cafe featuring “handy” breakfast and lunch items to take on the go. Think biscuits and sandwiches—air dried sausage with grape mustard is one unique option—yogurt bowls, fruit and cheese-filled hand pies and salads paired with hot coffee drinks, iced tea, juice and lemonade, or bite-sized pieces of fruit infused with liquor. handyandhot.com
Ma’am Saab
Vibrant flavors and a colorful atmosphere define Ma’am Saab, Charleston’s first Pakistani restaurant founded by teacher-turned-chef Maryam Ghaznavi. Located in the Workshop, Charleston’s exploratory food court, Ma’am Saab’s menu features traditional Pakistani and Indian street food such as chicken pakoras, Bihari beef kabobs, butter chicken and masala aloo tikki—fried mashed potato cakes, along with mango lassi, a refreshing smoothie-esque drink. The spacious patio, dotted with palm trees, provides sunset views while you dine. maamsaabchs.com
Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ
James Beard Award-winning pitmaster Rodney Scott cooks whole hogs the traditional way, burning oak and hickory wood down to glowing coals that get shoveled under meat in a smoky barbecue pit. Scott serves the pork as a sandwich—open-faced on white bread and topped with Rod’s sauce and skins—or as a plate with two classic sides, including potato salad, mac and cheese, collard greens and cornbread. Smoked chicken wings, spare ribs and Southern fried catfish round out the menu. rodneyscottsbbq.com
DRINK
Container Bar
Built inside three reconstructed shipping containers and an old auto body shop, Container Bar is owned by renowned actor, comedian and writer Bill Murray and the team behind Rutledge Cab Co., a local, retro burger-and-sandwich shop. The cocktail menu includes drinks made with strawberry-infused vodka and champagne or tequila and lavender simple syrup, as well as beer and wine. Food trucks come by every day offering munchies that pair perfectly. containerbarchs.com
Revelry Brewing
Known for one of the best rooftops in Charleston, Revelry specializes in small batch beers that rotate often on tap. Along with classic IPAs, pale ales and porters, you’ll find unique styles such as a rice lager and a folder-aged sour ale with blackberries and beets, along with other sours and saisons. Be sure to check out Revelry’s new barrel-aging facility and tasting room, The Hold, just around the corner. revelrybrewingco.com
Kudo Coffee and Craft Beer
Before starting the day, enjoy a cup of joe under the twinkling string lights on Kudu’s outdoor patio. The coffee bar offers cortados, macchiatos, mochas, chais and lattes. For breakfast Kudo sources fare from three local bakeries. Head back in the evening for craft beer on tap. kuducoffeeandcraftbeer.com
STAY
The Vendue
Located in the historic French Quarter district, The Vendue offers an arts program and rooftop restaurant. The hotel—which is split into two boutique hotels (19 Vendue and 26 Vendue) located across the street from one another—showcases more than 300 works of art and features two to three exhibits every year. Amenities include complimentary coffee and pastries in the morning, afternoon wine, evening cookies and complimentary bike rentals for exploring the city. thevendue.com
The Restoration Hotel
The Restoration’s outdoor spaces include a rooftop pool, The Watch Rooftop Kitchen & Spirits and a picturesque courtyard, located between the hotel and private suites in The Residences. Located on King Street, The Restoration is within arm’s reach of the city’s best restaurants, galleries and boutiques. On your way out for the day, stop by the hotel’s convenient Rise Coffee Bar for some fuel. therestorationhotel.com
Zero George Street
An 1804 building restored into a quaint hotel, Zero George Street offers 16 cozy guest rooms and studios along with two brick carriage houses surrounding a private garden courtyard. The building’s original architecture remains, with timeless design, heart pine floors and contemporary art balancing the old and the new. Amenities include a glass of bubbly upon arrival, a European continental breakfast, evening cheese and wine pairings and a 24-hour espresso bar. zerogeorge.com
For many, the dream of writing and publishing a book can take years to achieve, but North Garner Middle School student Mariya Hunter has made that dream come true at just 11 years old. Hunter says publishing a book was always a goal and she spent much of her childhood reading and writing stories in hopes of having them published one day.
“It feels amazing that I have written a book,” Hunter says. “I’ve always wanted to tell stories that are relatable to other kids like me.”
“Lucile and the Big Race,” which Hunter published three years ago, tells the story of an elementary school girl who’s competing in a school race with one of the fastest boys in school. She trains every day, determined that she’s good enough to beat him, only to slip and fall during the race. In a delightful twist, another young girl ends up winning the race after Lucile inspired her to practice more.
Hunter says the main character, Lucile, was based off of characters in books her dad gave her to read growing up, including Keena Ford in “Keena Ford and the Second-Grade Mix-Up,” Alexandrea in “Sugar Plum Ballerinas” and Penny in “Penny and the Magic Puffballs.” The messages in these books are similar: a young girl is told she can’t do something, or is doubted by others only to prove she can be successful in whatever she’s determined to accomplish. “I wanted to create a story that showed you can do anything you set your mind to, no matter what anyone else says,” says Hunter. It’s a lesson for all of us, no matter our age.
Hunter is currently working on her second Lucile book and hopes one day to become a teacher or scientist.
In queso you didn’t know, Raleigh’s got a pretty strong nacho scene. (Alright, we’ll stop with the puns now.) It’s a popular snack for good reason—the pools of creamy, hot queso, the globs of chunky guacamole, the zing of jalapeños. There are several local spots that serve their own versions of the mighty Tex-Mex dish, which actually first appeared in 1943 in Piedras Negras, a small city in Mexico close to the U.S. military base Fort Duncan in Texas. The following restaurants take the basic nacho platter and jazz it up with unique additions or modern spins, delivering a snack that you’ll be taco-ing about for days. (Last one, we promise!).
Yard House 4208 Six Forks Road
Yard House combines two popular dishes—one of Mexican influences and one of Asian influences—to create their crave-worthy Poke Nachos. Instead of traditional tortilla chips, Yard House uses a base of crispy wontons that are topped with marinated raw ahi tuna, avocado, serranos, white truffle sauce, sweet soy ginger sauce, sriracha aioli, cilantro, green onions, nori and sesame seeds.
Raleigh Times Bar 14 East Hargett Street
The nachos at Raleigh Times are pretty much legendary at this point—they’re a popular choice for lunch, dinner and late night for both Raleighites and out-of-towners. The Pit’s NC BBQ pork is the most iconic choice of topping, but there’s also a chicken tinga or black bean version available. The platter is finished off with fresh jalapeños, cilantro, a cheddar and jack cheese blend, pico de gallo, sour cream and guacamole
Wilson’s Eatery 1053 E Whitaker Mill Road
We all love chips and queso, but chips and beer queso? Even better. Wilson’s Eatery loads braised pork nachos with beer queso made with beer from Lynnwood Brewing Concern, along with black beans, pico de gallo, pickled jalapeños and cilantro lime crema. Paired with an LBC beer, it’s pretty much the perfect meal.
