by Lauren Kruchten | Oct 28, 2024 | Eat, November 2024
Meet DTR’s newest watering hole.
Prepare to tap in, Raleigh. Highly anticipated sports hub The Brass Tap is opening its first NC location on the ground floor of 400H in Nov. 11. Not your typical sports bar or college bar, owner Niraj Bidari sees it as a mod community-based watering hole catering to all walks of life—a “one-stop shop for all groups of people,” he maintains. And adding yet another true DTR sports and sips destination serving TVs both inside on the patio.
To wit, ahem, tapping into the local beer scene (NC recently ranked No. 1 in the nation for loving craft beer), The Brass Tap will feature 45 taps of local, national and global craft brews, not to mention a full bar boasting wine, spirits, mocktails and classic ’tails—think martinis, margaritas and old-fashioneds.
Add to that ample food ops sure to sate any hankering, from burgers (including an Impossible Burger), handbreaded chicken tenders and wings to pizzas to tacos, quesadillas and wraps. And perf for noon kickoffs and weekend brunch.
“Based on our location [and offerings], we’re very confident in having a variety of people coming to the bar,” emphasizes Bidari. “Raleigh is big right now in terms of growth, and the beer scene is pretty big here.”
Emphasizing community even further—and leaning into that one-stop shop—The Brass Tap will also be very big on activities. Think live music, trivia, cornhole tourneys, DJ nights and watch parties. Bidari says they’ll also aim to go big on celebrating holidays like Cinco de Mayo, Halloween and the Fourth of July with special drinks and decor. And despite NC’s ban on happy hour, expect various specials for teachers, hospitality industry folks and the like.
“We want to support local businesses as well,” adds Bidari, “and focus on helping the community. I’m a big-time local guy.” Cheers to that! brasstapbeerbar.com
by Lauren Kruchten | Oct 28, 2024 | Eat, November 2024
Sir Walter Coffee brings vibey coffee and cocktails to City Plaza.
Fueling Fayetteville Street’s momentum, find Sir Walter Coffee’s long-awaited second DTR outpost bookending Main Street—opposite newly opened Birdie’s.
Delivering an all-day affair ideal for a to-go coffee and pastry, leisurely brekky or lunch, evening happy hour meeting, date night, or anything in between, the new hot spot promises to percolate an otherwise sleepy section of DTR.
“We’re excited,” says co-owner Kevin Frazier, who came from the bar world (think Charlie Goodnights and City Limits Saloon—to name but a couple) up until he “got tired of the 3am” and hoped to get some of his “Starbucks coffee money back” in 2016. “We feel really good about it and we love the location. We’ve [already] seen a lot of traffic down here.”
And, not shocking because, in short, it’s a vibe. Intentionally counter to everything the typical coffeehouse is, SWC swaps the standard “white subway tiles, crappy furniture, and either phenomenal or a little pretentious baristas” for its intentional “coffee, craft, comfort” MO, says Frazier.
To wit, an exterior patio alive with uplighting, massive orange underlit umbrellas (“because orange is such a warm color,” he says) and tunes welcomes people to stay and play—or even work. Patio tables and Adirondack chairs surrounding a repurposed firepit border accordion doors and windows for that indoor-outdoor alfresco feel. “Highwoods wanted a Sir Walter Coffee but elevated, so we’re a Sir Walter Coffee but elevated,” says Frazier.
Inside, find a thoughtfully crafted concept with ample cozy nooks and seating ops, from church pews and a UK-flag adorned leather couch (a nod to Sir Walter Raleigh’s British roots—though, fun fact, the cafe/barroom’s moniker is actually dubbed for Sir Walter Raleigh Tobacco, a nod to what Frazier’s father smoked, not to the English statesman) to custom-made booths and coffee trays, classy bar stools and beautiful finishings.
Building further on Sir Walter’s OG Davie Street locale, the core menu, served till 4pm, features elevated food options across breakfast and lunch. Think bagels shipped directly from New York, sandwiches, breakfast tacos, avocado toast, salads and more—transitioning to such late-night bar bites (from 4–10pm) as bruschetta, potato skins, deviled eggs and spicy sausage cheese balls, not to mention daily blue plate specials like meatloaf Mondays and fish taco Fridays.
On the bar side, aka Sir Walter’s “alter ego,” dubs Frazier, find five coffee cocktails (hello, espresso martinis!), five specialty cocktails and five classic cocktails—plus three cocktails, four beers and prosecco on tap. Rounding out the bar program, there’s mimosa flights, Tiki drinks, and a “funky G&T” feat. St-Germain and served for four via an Oscar Award-esque vessel that will promise to make you a regular.
And, of course, at its very core, there’s coffee. The Charter Square spot will keep churning out the coffee and espresso drinks for which it’s known, complete with eight specialty blends of its own branded Cardinal Sin espresso and abundant housemade syrups. “We’re not reinventing the wheel, but we’re definitely doing coffee a little differently,” maintains Frazier. And Raleigh is here for it. sirwaltercoffee.com
Fun fact: Sir Walter Coffee is not actually named after Sir Walter Raleigh, but the cans of Sir Walter Raleigh Tobacco Frazier’s dad used to smoke.
by Lauren Kruchten | Oct 28, 2024 | November 2024, Real Estate & Home
It’s time to give my plant a little TLC. How do I know if it needs to be repotted or fertilized—and how do I do it?
—Feeling Soiled
Dear Feeling Soiled,
The signs for each situation are different. To determine if a plant needs repotting, check underneath the pot to see if roots are peeping out and/or pop the plant out of its pot and examine the roots. Other clues include top-heavy plants that fall over easily, slowed growth, potting mix that dries out quickly, crusty white buildup of salts on the soil surface, and frequent wilting by the plant.
When selecting the new pot, go up just one size or a couple inches wider than the original pot. Repot with a potting media suited to your plant (ask your garden center which one you need).
Gently loosen matted roots or rub them so the roots point out and can start growing away from the center of the root mass. It’s not a bad idea to Google whether your plant hates root disruption. If it does, don’t mess with them—just leave the soil level about half to one inch below the lip of the pot to make watering easier.Signs your plant needs fertilizer are an overall pale hue to the leaves, lack of vigor and roots, and slower than normal growth. Spots or lesions are usually a sign of a cultural problem or a disease—not a need for fertilizer. Fertilizing should be done spring through fall at full-strength and half-strength—or not at all in winter. Use one formulated for houseplants and use according to the label directions. Personally I like organic fertilizers.
Tina Mast is the communications director for Homewood Nursery & Garden Center in North Raleigh. When not gardening in her shady woodland, she spends her time taking lots of flower and kitty pics, practicing ukulele, or finding a new restaurant to check out.
by Lauren Kruchten | Oct 28, 2024 | Eat, November 2024
’Tis the season to explore a multitude of Raleigh Christmas bar pop-ups.
It’s a Christmas miracle! Adding to the spirited magic, Raleigh’s got six holiday pop-ups to get you frosted—with brand-new Miracle at Killjoy adding some jingle juice to longtime Miracle at The Haymaker, fourth-timer St. Nick’s Christmas House, sophomore Miracle at Broadsides & Brews in Wake Forest and Wye Hill’s Sippin’ Santa, and first-year festive AVA Wonderland in Fenton.
Elfing up the Killjoy Christmas experience is Miracle vet Josh Gagne, who assures there’s more than enough room in the market for all the holiday hooch—and their various vibes. “We’re trying to have a little more fun [by] creating a different experience,” he says.
Decking the halls four ways, Killjoy brings in all the jingle ladies—and gents—for a choose-your-own-adventure winter wonderland, Santa’s workshop, “girly pink Christmas” or the lights-strewn patio, plus such draws as puppy sweater and ugly sweater parties and a drag Christmas show.
For that explosive Christmas-on-steroids feel, there’s classic The Haymaker, while Broadsides is upping the ante. “Every nook and cranny will be filled with something to find and see each time you come in,” emphasizes owner Joni Falvey after a festive first-year experience. (It’s giving Elf on the Shelf and we’re here for it.)
There’s also the Santa hat-adorned 12-foot skeleton, immersive lighting fixtures to keep you lit, Christmas karaoke, Sick of Xmas Music DJ Party, ugly and pup sweater parties, and, the milk to our cookie, a new-this-year Snap Shots with Santa. Read: an exclusive experience in the workshop with the Clauses to snap a shot and take a shot.
On the opposite end of the, ahem, pole, Tiki and Christmas collide in the jingle joyride that is Sippin’ Santa at Wye Hill. “It’s wildly unique,” maintains co-owner Sara Abernethy, whose beachy vision with husband/co-owner Chris Borreson taps into their Cali past. “We are known for our outdoor space, and bringing a little bit of tropical leisure vibes to the holidays really suits the space we have. You really have to go above and beyond to set your experience apart from everybody else out there.”
Clearly, holiday pop-ups are the moment, and that moment is about the mems—and the escapism—natch. “With all the challenges we face throughout the year,” says Falvey, “these Christmas-themed spaces provide a whimsical getaway from the everyday grind”—adding: “What’s more fun for an adult than being reminded of the magic of your childhood Christmas, but in an adult package?” Resting grinch face—gone.
“It’s really fun to put on these events and decorate all out and make these over-the-top cocktails—and see the joy on everybody’s face when they come in.” Sara Abernethy, Wye Hill co-owner
Raleigh Christmas Bar Pop-Ups:
- AVA Wonderland, Cary | Nov. 14–Dec. 29
- Sippin’ Santa at Wye Hill | Nov. 15–Dec. 31
- St. Nick’s Christmas House | Nov. 15–Jan. 11
- Miracle at Broadsides & Brews, Wake Forest | Nov. 27–Dec. 29
- Miracle at The Haymaker | Nov. 29–Dec. 31
- Miracle at Killjoy | Nov. 29–Dec. 31
by Lauren Kruchten | Oct 28, 2024 | Eat, November 2024
Prepare to get buzzed with Cathead’s new coffee-flavored vodka
If you thought the world was over the espresso martini craze, think again. Shaking things up even more is Cathead Distillery’s new ready-to-serve Hoodoo Espresso Vodka, available at NC ABC stores starting early November.
Jumping off the buzzy tini renaissance of the past four-ish years—a cyclical trend Cathead co-founder Richard Patrick first saw playing out about ~20 years ago, paired with the popularity of espresso shots of the time—Hoodoo Espresso Vodka is the bev brand’s answer to inconsistencies and timeliness Patrick’s witnessed with today’s espresso martinis.
“You can order three at a bar in one night and each might be different,” he notes. Not to mention, “if you go to a bar and order an espresso martini and their machine is down, you’re getting cold brew or coffee or an amalgamation of liqueurs.”
Streamlining and simplifying the ever-popular espresso-forward drink, Cathead’s coffee-flavored vodka is made with just three ingredients: Cathead vodka, direct-trade (aka a direct relationship with the farmer) coffee sourced from Louisiana- and Mississippi-based Northshore Specialty Coffee, and demerara sugar.
And as a ready-to-serve (read: Shake it with ice and serve up in a martini glass), it’s compelling “as far as speed, efficiency and convenience—without substituting any quality,” says Patrick.
“Hoodoo Espresso Vodka is an exceptional product,” adds Owen Jones, Cathead’s control markets director of sales. “There is no other coffee-flavored vodka like it. Whether you’re making cocktails at home or behind the bar at a restaurant, the infusion of rich, natural coffee flavor and caffeine with Cathead Vodka makes it simple for anyone to make a delicious espresso martini.” We’ll cheers to that. catheaddistillery.com
Buzzy Riffs
Espresso Highball
Add 2 oz. Hoodoo Espresso Vodka in a highball glass with ice cubes and soda water; serve with a twist of lemon.
Carajillo
Shake equal parts Hoodoo Espresso Vodka and Spanish liqueur Licor 43 with ice and serve up.
