Make your wardrobe a canvas for alluring patterns and intricate designs that run the line between art and fashion for an outfit that’s worthy of an art museum.
1. Dena Lyons charmeuse poncho, $315; C.T. Weekends
2. Alice + Olivia kaleidoscope dress, $288; Uniquities
3. Oliviaceous floral top, $49; Madison
4. A New Day women’s cateye sunglasses with floral print, $14.99; Target
5. Colorful floral hoop earrings, $65; J. Crew
6. Pam & Gela bye birdy windbreaker, $328; Uniquities
Be bold in animal print everything. Work in a shoe, handbag or blouse or go all out in a cheetah print tracksuit to make a fierce statement. These striking patterns are a fun addition to your standard office look and transition perfectly to a night out.
1. Cha Sor leopard bodycon dress, $84; Scout & Molly’s
2. She + Sky leopard pullover sweater, $59; Madison
3. Giff camel/black loafers, $155; Main & Taylor
4. Entro cheetah shift, $49; Madison
5. Who What Wear women’s animal print fanny pack, $34.99; Target
6. A New Day women’s cateye sunglasses with animal print, $14.99; Target
7. Moira leopard espadrilles, $48; Madison
8. Richmond snakeskin crossbody, $59; Madison
9. Lisette Montreal leopard leggings, $144; C.T. Weekends
10. Pam & Gela oversized leopard zip hoodie, $328; Uniquities
11. Pam & Gela cheetah track pants, $248; Uniquities
As director of strategic initiatives at the NC Museum of Art, Marjorie Hodges wears many hats, from advocacy to advising to engaging the community. Hodges moved to Raleigh from Park City, Utah in 2001 and has worked as director of CAM Raleigh and as a partner at Flanders Gallery. “There are so many talented people living in our city and a distinct cultural scene here,” says Hodges, herself a classically trained pianist. “The arts bring people together to highlight the issues of our time, as well as to support each other.”
Hometown: Monticello, a small town in northern Florida known for its gorgeous plantations. My family still owns a ranch and raises Angus cattle there.
Your neighborhood: I recently moved to the Hudson in downtown Raleigh.
What you love most about Raleigh: The people. I’m astounded by the close-knit community and hospitality throughout the Triangle. The diverse population growth is making our city more interesting.
Currently reading: I just finished “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert, a terrific book about living a creative life without fear. Next will be “On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous” by Ocean Vuong.
Currently listening to: Dorothy Ashby, Chet Baker and Angel Olsen. My daughter is constantly turning me on to new and old music. Also, the Avett Brothers, Amos Lee and Al Strong. And Tift Merritt’s songs warm my soul.
Style mantra: Elegant and artful. Most of my wardrobe is navy, white, denim and black. I almost always add a statement coat, interesting pair of shoes or floral blouse. My tastes are becoming a bit more feminine. I love a dramatic ball gown for evening and a comfortable navy slip dress for day.
Style influencers: I’ve always admired Grace Kelly’s style: elegant and glamorous. Christy Turlington has effortless, elegant style. Also, Charlize Theron. She is a bit more daring.
Favorite clothing labels: My friend Wes Gordon now designs for Carolina Herrera. I love Balenciaga, Rosie Assoulin and Dries Van Noten for special occasions. Also, Ganni, Khaite and the Row. I’m editing my closet right now. Less is more. Quality over quantity.
Flats vs. Heels: Heels whenever possible, I love a glamorous pump. But, let’s face it, they’re not practical for wearing all day. I find myself living in boots and wedges. I have a collection of boots—booties, cowboy boots, feminine boots and knee-high boots.
Local go-to shop: Vermillion. I also enjoy the French influence at Vert and Vogue. Vintage shopping at House of Landor is fun for special events. Raleigh Denim for jeans and leather goods.
Last great lunch: Bida Manda. I’m obsessed with the Herb Salad there.
Go-to piece: A bubble dress by Zero Maria Cornejo, alone as a dress or with sleek leggings. I have one in black and tan.
Favorite bling: Actually, I don’t wear a lot of jewelry. When I do, it’s usually a statement piece by Lizzie Fortunato, Peppertrain or The Woods.
Travel dreaming: The Galapagos Islands.
How you stay fit: Walking [local trails and greenways] and occasional yoga or pilates.
Favorite drink: It’s hard to beat a terrific white burgundy. I start every day with a strong cup of coffee.
Style secret: Good posture. I had many years of ballet which helped me. My mother told me every single day, “Marjorie, stand up straight and hold your shoulders back.”
Moments in your life that inspired your style: Most definitely, my involvement with artists. Artists have great personal style. Spending so much time in New York has helped make black my “go-to” color.
CBS 17 sports anchor Todd “Gibby” Gibson weighs in on the home team’s prospects for the season.
It’s hard to believe the Carolina Hurricanes franchise has never been able to put together back- to-back playoff appearances. But if there ever was a time to end that stretch of futility, the upcoming season would seem to be a good bet.
Why?
Well, let’s start with a productive off-season. Priority number one was to sign forward Sebastian Aho, which the Canes did, inking the 21-year-old Finnish star to a five-year deal worth more than $42 million. Aho led the Canes in scoring last season, tallying 30 goals while piling up 83 points during the regular season. Many feel Aho is on the cusp of greatness.
And while the Canes can count on Aho to put the puck in the net, someone has to be able to stop the puck. That’s Petr Mrazek’s job. Mrazek flirted with free agency in the off-season but ultimately decided to come back to Carolina, where he enjoyed the best year of his career last season. Mrazek recently signed a two-year contract that will pay him $6.25 million.
Petr Mrazek
Like Aho and Mrazek, Canes president and general manager Don Waddell is also back in the fold. Waddell, who had been working on a year-to-year contract with Carolina, received a three-year deal after the Minnesota Wild made a surprise pitch for his services. At one time just an afterthought, Waddell has been a key factor in the Hurricanes’ recent success. His return gives the franchise a sense of stability.
Waddell has done a nice job of stockpiling young talent, with a bit of luck as well. The Canes hit the jackpot with future superstar Andrei Svechnikov. The 19-year-old Russian fell into the Hurricanes’ lap when the team miraculously received the number two pick in the 2018 NHL draft.
General Manager Don Waddell
Along with Aho, Svechnikov is expected to be the face of the franchise. The power forward scored 20 goals in his rookie season while showing flashes of brilliance at times. The sky is the limit for Svechnikov; he has the potential to be one of the game’s best players in the years to come.
Andrei Svechnikov
Meanwhile, the Canes’ defense will once again be counted on to carry the load. Jaccob Slavin, Brett Pesce, Dougie Hamilton and Justin Faulk give Carolina two blue lines as good as any in the NHL. It’s a relatively young group, sure to get even better.
The only question mark: Will captain Justin Williams return for his 19th season in the NHL? Williams will turn 38 in October and has not indicated whether or not he will retire. His return, along with an added year of experience from second head coach Rod Brind’Amour, could be just what the doctor ordered for a franchise aching to become a yearly playoff contender.
Seafood so fresh, you’d think you’re at the beach. Down-home dishes that’d make any Southern granny proud. Vegetarian delights and international influences…we’ve got it all in our comprehensive list of Raleigh’s 25 Best Dishes (plus 10 standout starters). For our annual Best Restaurants issue, let us assure you, the competition was fierce; a sheer abundance of local culinary talent, not to mention restaurants whose menus are subject to change daily, made it especially hard for us to choose from among our many, many, many standard menu faves. It was a tough job but you know we had to do it. Now it’s your turn—try them all this fall.
An exceptional vegetarian dish at an otherwise meat-focused eatery, Capital Club 16’s flavorful Farmer’s Bowl is laden with seasonal roasted vegetables, basmati rice and a basted egg.
A classic burger with a sophisticated French twist, the ever popular Royale Burger is embellished with melty gruyere cheese and au poivre aioli in a toasted Michael’s English Muffin.
Quiche
Coquette Brasserie 4351 The Circle At North Hills Street coquetteraleigh.com
Whether you choose the traditional quiche lorraine, cheesy spinach and chevre or the always tempting quiche du jour, Coquette’s sky high egg dish does not disappoint.
Sweet plantains, a fried egg and tangy guac top a hearty plate of rice and beans. Calentado is only available on Centro’s Saturday brunch menu, making it extra special.
The Mac ‘n Cheese over at Poole’s Diner is iconic. Its rich, melted cheese and crispy caramelized crust is a hit among out-of-towners and dedicated regulars alike.
Pork Schnitzel
J. Betski’s 10 W Franklin Street, Suite 120 jbetskis.com
Crispy and fried to golden perfection, the pork schnitzel at J Betski’s could be served at a Viennese Gasthaus. Austrian potato and dill-cucumber salad round out the dish.
It takes skill to get the flesh from the bones of this perfectly flaky fish served with grilled lemon and seasonal vegetables. You’ll be glad you made the effort.
Decadent crispy chunks of chicken are served tableside with a mouthwatering caramelized ginger soy sauce—stir the two together for a tasty punch of flavors.
Chicken Parm Ramen
Papa Shogun 111 Seaboard Avenue, Suite 118 papashogun.com
Chef Tom Cuomo shook up the Raleigh food world when he released his Chicken Parm Ramen, a surprising combination of tomato tori paitan, arugula, chicken katsu and mozzarella.
This Tomahawk (bone-in) pork chop is tender and packed with flavor. Served with corn and apple succotash, zucchini, butter beans and tomato vinaigrette, it’s the queso fresco that adds the perfect finishing touch.
A decadent take on the traditional duo with juicy fried chicken breasts, buckwheat waffles, braised greens, sautéed mushrooms and an innovative bacon-mushroom emulsion.
Chef Scott Crawford’s take on traditional Southern fried chicken is made sophisticated—and delicious—with a flavorful herb crust, velvety creamed corn and charred pepper au jus.
A colorful dish of shredded green papaya, tomatoes, nuts and spicy tamarind cradled in red cabbage and topped with your choice of meat, vegetables or fish.
This show-stopping dish features a thick crust, heaps of creamy mashed potatoes, peas, chicken and an addictive pot pie filling, complete with star-shaped crust cutouts.
This tantalizing dish is made for bold foodies. A base of corona beans and arugula add color and texture to perfectly charred octopus tentacles, finished with a tangy chorizo vinaigrette.
Perhaps not the healthiest option, but definitely worth it! Driftwood’s Chicken Fried Chicken is made utterly delectable with creamy mashed potatoes and savory sausage gravy.
This delicious French delicacy features tender, melt-in-your-mouth beef short ribs served with flavorful bacon mushrooms, creamy mashed potatoes and local vegetables.
If you’re dining at Sono, it’s wise to entrust yourself to the chef. Keep it deliciously simple with thin slices of the freshest fish served over pressed rice.
For comforting shrimp and grits that oozes Southern charm, look no further than NOFO; it’s a flavorful combo of bacon, mushrooms, garlic butter, green onions and pepperjack grits.
A large, thick tenderloin sliced into brilliantly juicy pieces, Angus Barn’s Chateaubriand is a dish worth celebrating. Served with seasonal vegetables and a selection of chef’s sauces.
A juicy cut of beef, some say it’s the best ribeye in town. Served with bruschetta, Sophia cheese, salsa verde, tomatoes, basil shallots, sherry vinaigrette, it’s definitely among the most unique.
Mexican Flag
Gonza Tacos y Tequila 7713 Lead Mine Road, Suite 39; 2100 Hillsborough Street gonzatacosytequila.com
This festive dish consists of a trio of chicken, steak and pinto bean enchiladas, individually topped with green tomatillo salsa, chile de arbol sauce and Mexican cream.
10 Best Starters
These tasty small plates of hot cheese, crispy veggies and yes, even more seafood, had us hankering for more.
