by Melissa Howsam | May 30, 2023 | June 2023, Stuff
Words you thought you’d never read: Bangs are back. The ’70s curtain bangs a la Goldie Hawn and Farrah Fawcett are back as a flattering French bangs refresh (ooh la la!) being rocked by the likes of Jenna Ortega and Olivia Wilde.
Shorter in the center with longer side pieces, and oft parted like a curtain (hence the name) down the middle or swept to one side to frame the face, the style serves as an easy fash refresh—rising from regretful post-breakup fashion faux-pas to chic style.
“I love this trend because it’s flattering for a lot of hair types/lengths,” says local Loxxe on Jones salon founder/stylist Natalie Philcox. But, if you’re on the ledge (had to) about the style for summer, “fall is a better season for bangs,” she suggests, “because of the cooler temps and no humidity—making it easier to keep your style intact.” Any natural bend in your hair mixed with humidity, she adds, can mean a hot mess.
But, hey, fashion over function, right? NTM those French bangs chic up that summer updo. So whether you sport the effortless ’do for summer or file the fad away for fall, either way, bangs are officially,
well, bangin’.
by Melissa Howsam | May 30, 2023 | Eat, June 2023
Hot—er, cold!—off the presses… juices are on trend—and, no, it’s not 2012. … If you thought the trend was so 10 years ago—you’re right—and it’s clearly packed with staying power. The main squeeze has now gained global popularity for its myriad health benefits and on-the-go ease—NTM a host of celebs reach for ’em (s/o to that green juice Gwyneth Paltrow brought to court). Thanks to its immune-building, well, building blocks, the potable potion continues to rank high in beverage market trends. In fact, according to Market Data Forecast, “the cold-pressed juice market size is expected to reach $1.05 billion by the end of 2027 in terms of value, with a compound annual growth rate of about 7%.” No surprise, given the immune system takes the cake—er, juice—for health goals at 66%, followed by digestion at 56%, heart health at 53%, and so on, according to FMCG Gurus. Add to that the bang for your buck—read: not having to buy all the expensive low-shelf-life fruits and veggies and press them yourself—and, well, it’s sort of a no-brainer that this liquid gold is likely here to stay. And if you’re lookin’ to up your flavor game, Flavorman predicts a tropical lean for 2023 (hey, pineapple, mango, grapefruit!)—and that’s a vibe we can get behind. Here, the juices that have us sippin’ into summer.
1. Cold Off The Press
West South Street
Powerbeet
Beet root, cucumber, pineapple, lemon, turmeric, ginger
2. Raleigh Raw
Hargett Street
Rock Steady
Beet, carrot, cucumber, apple, celery, parsley, lemon, ginger
3. Juicekeys
Quail Corners; Lafayette Village
Orange Juice
Oranges
4. Pure Vegan Cafe
North Raleigh
Paradise
Grapefruit, orange, apple, ginger, cayenne
5. Pure Vegan Cafe
North Raleigh
Energy
Pineapple, mint, wheatgrass
6. Harmony Farms
North Raleigh
Good to be Green
Celery, cucumber, kale, spinach, wheatgrass, chloroxygen, ginger, lemon
7. Juicekeys
Quail Corners; Lafayette Village
Orange Vitality
Orange, carrot, turmeric, apple, ginger
8. Cold Off The Press
West South Street
Happy Green
Cucumber, green apple, celery, pineapple, kale, romaine, cabbage, lemon, ginger
9. Raleigh Raw
Hargett Street
Salt N Pepa
Grapefruit, lemon, Himalayan sea salt, cayenne pepper
by Melissa Howsam | May 30, 2023 | June 2023, Stuff
Worth a “power trip” (nod to J. Cole’s OG Born Sinner viral banger)—NC is home to a host of hot homegrown celebs. From the Sedaris sibs to Lauren Kennedy to Ariana DeBose, the arts are clearly alive on the NC streets. That gift of fab stretches from stage to screen to screens (hey, bball legends!). But which stars are most searched? Worth a Google. According to Bet Carolina’s hyperlocalized analytics, these 10 NC-born celebs are on the tip of everyone’s fingertips.
by Melissa Howsam | May 25, 2023 | Eat, May 2023
Alfresco “soup” of the day? Tequila sunset. … Swap Netflix for sunsets and rise above the grounding BS via more rooftops, less worries (problems always look smaller from up here, obv)—NTM elevated vibes and views worth getting “high” for. To celebrate prime Raleigh rooftop season, we asked our staff and contribs for their fave heightened POV. Alexa, play “Golden Hour.”
“Highgarden—especially with that botanical G&T tree”
—Gina Stephens, Publisher, @ginasdawgs
“If you listen to our podcast you know I’m gonna pick two. For dining, Jolie, corner table please–best sunset views on deck in town against a DTR backdrop; for drinks, The Willard serves up skyline views for days”
—Melissa Howsam, Editor-in-Chief, @mahowsam
“Highgarden, gotta love the view surrounded by beautiful greenery🌱”
—Liz Comella, Creative Director, @liz.comella.design
“The Willard! The DTR views are immaculate, and the drinks are always on point.”
—Lauren Kruchten, Associate Editor, @laurenn_nicol
“I love the Taverna Agora rooftop because it makes me feel like I’ve traveled to a Mediterranean oasis!”
—Anna Beth Adcock, Editorial Assistant, @_annabethadcock
“The Willard—the view, great staff and the signature G&T!”
—Debby Serena, Account Executive
“Taverna Agora—I love the rooftop—takes me to a Mediterranean oasis with all the lush greenery. I love going there and sharing the mezze items on the menu!”
—Tina Dahir, Account Executive, @tinalovesraleigh
“The Willard! The fireplace at sunset is a vibe.”
—Sean Junqueira, Contributing Photographer, @seanjunqueira
“Young Hearts rooftop—it feels cozy and secluded, but in the heart of downtown”
—Susan Holt, Contributing Photographer, Susan Holt Photography, @susanholtphoto
“Jolie’s Le Rooftop is one of my favorite perches in the city for its romantic vibe. French fare by candlelight and gorgeous city views are without a doubt the keys to my heart!”
—Kelsie Barton, Contributing Writer, @kelsie_barton
“The Dillon is top-notch for a warm but breezy morning yoga class!”—Chelsea Sutton, Contributing Writer, @chelsearsutton
by Melissa Howsam | May 11, 2023 | Eat, May 2023
Fun fact: Fox Liquor Bar is named for Ashley Christensen’s dad—an homage that plays out in stirring style across the famed underground bar’s updated decor. Reopening May 19, the little bit retro, lotta bit Raleigh bar tucked under Beasley’s with its “well-loved and lived-in” space that rewrote the local bar scene when it first bowed is back after a long closure—leaning into its legacy with a few vibey, playful tweaks that’ll keep you coming back to duck downstairs and sip on, say, the Cornershop Hideaway (dark rum, mezcal, agave, cocoa bitters).
Since we’d expect nothing less from AC—or FLB—the cocktails will be mixed mastery, the bites will be bangin’ (Carolina reaper fries on repeat, please), and the service will be polished and impeccable. And, perhaps as you may have guessed, there will be a top-notch spirit-free program—because the space really should be for everyone, whether you’re sober, sober curious, dry month-ing, DD’ing or just not feelin’ it. A little “Kindness & Curiosity” (rosemary, citrus, salt) sure never hurt no one.
In front of the reopening, we chatted with AC about all our burning questions—from niche to nostalgia.
When Fox Liquor Bar first opened as a sexy subterranean den with its chic atmosphere, cool ice and New York vibes, it was a game-changer. What’s the vibe now? I’d describe it as comfortable, cozy, a little bit retro and fun. We want it to feel more like Raleigh than New York. It’s also more personal to me since a lot of the art on the walls is in some way a thematic homage to my dad—whom the bar is named after.
What’s the inspo for the refresh? We kept coming back to the phrase ‘well-loved and lived in.’ Fox isn’t ‘new,’ and we wanted to acknowledge the history of the place while still giving it a refresh. So the inspiration has been about emphasizing the connective tissue to Beasley’s upstairs, the legacy of our previous cocktail programs, and marrying that with a vibe that feels a bit lighter, more playful, more fun (thus, the shuffleboard table).
What was the guiding factor to reopening now? We’ve been focused on reopening slowly; each of our restaurants relaunched with limited hours and added more slowly. We wanted to add Fox when we were feeling really solid about our operations upstairs, and also solidified in the new direction downstairs.
You know we’re all wondering—will you still have that now-famous ice program? We care about the components of every drink, so ice is still a factor, though not as much as it was previously. There are other bars in the city really focused on their ice program, so it’s not a niche we feel like we need to fill anymore.
Will you have a zero-proof program? Since so many people are abstaining from alcohol (myself included), I am incredibly excited about having some really great zero-proof options. I think our current menu really meets that need in a delicious, creative and welcoming way. Having options like Seedlip and Lyre’s to create complexity and depth in a zero-proof cocktail is a real game-changer. Much more to come in this arena!
Does the updated design lean to group vibes or more like the OG intimate setup? Hopefully both! One of the things I love about the space is that it has different spots to serve what you’re looking for—big six-person booths for a group or an intimate set of bar seats in the corner for something more intimate.
Something new that would surprise us? There are some old faves from Beasley’s and Chuck’s that have made their way onto the downstairs menu—the fried shrimp with roasted tomato remoulade, and the cumin-fried black-eyed peas, for example. I think people will also be surprised when they realize we’ll be open at noon on the weekends!
Photo courtesy of Lauren Vied Allen
