It’s time again for pool days, beach weekends and laying out in the sun, which means you’re probably in need of some updated swim gear. This season, we’re loving bold, bright colored swimsuits paired with patterned cover-ups that are guaranteed to get you noticed even on the most crowded beach, as well as structured sunnies and cool totes big enough to fit all the necessities.
1. Mudpie Brandi tassel poncho, $52; For Your Convenience
What an exciting ride it was. Coach Rod Brind’Amour’s first season leading the Carolina Hurricanes defied expectations as he guided the team through three action-packed rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs. These Raleigh sportscasters had a front row seat to all the action and here, they recount the most noteworthy ‘Canes moments that will surely live on, even though our beloved bunch of jerks is no longer playing for the Cup. To the players, we say thanks for all the memories!
Mark Armstrong, ABC 11
The best moment for me remains the buildup to Game 3 of the Capitals series. The parking lots filled once again with tailgaters, the anticipation and excitement so palpable. Once inside, the wall of sound as Canes fans unleashed 10 years’ worth of dedication and frustration into the air. It was like a great burden was lifted from an entire fan base and franchise. That the game wound up 5-0 and everyone got to party for two and half hours was pretty great as well.
Todd “Gibby” Gibson, CBS 17
To me, the most exciting thing has come off the ice, just seeing the pure joy on the faces of Canes fans. With each home win the team is attracting more and more fans and that is great to see. I’m hoping this run fuels the youth movement to the game in our area like it did back in 2006. As a reporter I’ve covered national championship games, a Super Bowl, multiple US Opens, and the Stanley Cup playoffs rates up there with any of those. This is the Hurricanes’ time to once again become relevant and the ride has been a fun one.
Mary Dunleavy, WRAL
My favorite moment was Game 3 against the Capitals. It was the first time the Hurricanes returned to home ice during the playoffs. My ears were ringing PNC was so loud. Fans were screaming in my ear and I didn’t care because I knew Raleigh was rallying around the Canes. It’s been a fun ride ever since. My favorite thing to ask the players about is home ice advantage. Raleigh definitely came to play this year.
Jeff Jones, CBS 17
Following the Hurricanes this season has been filled with memorable moments—this team really is one of the closest groups I’ve ever covered. They have told me time and time how much they genuinely like each other, and you can see that in the way they play—that quality helped them overachieve late in the season.
Another awesome aspect of covering this team has been watching the community rally. To be around 19,000 screaming fans in PNC Arena is an amazing experience, and the team’s success created that—well, their success and Hamilton the Pig.
I believe the entire state is excited about what the future holds for this team, and I’m excited to tell their stories to our community.
Arran Andersen, CBS17
No NHL venue can hold a candle to PNC Arena in the postseason. However, my most exciting moment came inside the CBS17 studio. I was anchoring the night the Hurricanes and Capitals met in Game 7. The game went to Double OT, which meant it wasn’t over when I started my sportscast. I was reading highlights, while our News Team, was gathered in the Weather Center watching the game. They kept me posted and I promised our viewers an update.
Brock McGinn scored. I heard a roar from our control room and my producer told me, through my ear piece, that the Canes had won. I honestly don’t know what came out of my mouth, but I’ll never forget the reaction from fans gathered at a watch party in Glenwood South. We immediately took a live shot of their celebration.
In the middle of the mayhem and madness our photographer zoomed in on a father and son hugging, while crying tears of joy. It was an incredible moment. At that point there was no need for words, their raw emotion said it all. To this day I get goosebumps thinking about it.
Jeff Gravley, WRAL
Being in the playoff atmosphere at PNC Arena just makes me smile. I have missed the unique experience of being surrounded by towel-waving fans who raise such a ruckus that my ears hurt and the hair stands up on the back of my neck. If you attend a game and don’t get chills, something is wrong. You don’t have to be a hockey fan to enjoy the vibes generated by a Carolina Hurricanes playoff run.
Joe Mazur, ABC 11
The most exciting moment for me so far was covering Game 7 in Washington. There is nothing like the drama of a playoff Game 7 seven in any sport. In hockey you can feel the massive amount of energy in the building and it’s on another level. You’re concentrating on the action and holding your breath knowing that any play can be the difference in the season continuing or ending. Man, how I missed that edge-of-your-seat excitement.
Dustin Slemp is a creative director and consultant who works with a variety of businesses on their branding, graphic design, interior design and overall aesthetics.
Hometown: I grew up right outside of Wake Forest in a small town called Creedmoor.
Your neighborhood: I live in The Dillon in the Warehouse District. I’ve been here for a little over a year and love it. It’s exciting to be in a part of this city that is growing so quickly and watching it all happen from your doorstep.
What you love most about Raleigh: The excitement for change and growth. There are so many people doing cool things and Raleigh is great at rallying behind a new idea.
Currently reading: “The Celluloid Closet.” It’s a study of the portrayal of homosexual characters in film, from silent movies to the ‘80s. So far, so interesting.
Currently listening to: Nao, Blanco White, and always Florence and the Machine. My gym playlist is basically just the “Homecoming” album by Beyoncé.
Style influencers: My style influencers are a bit random. I value the boldness and creativity of David Bowie and Freddie Mercury. The casual cool of Pharell Williams. The classic effortlessness of James Dean.
Local go-to shop: I’m a sucker for vintage so I constantly pop into Father & Son to see what they have. My favorite store that recently has vamped up their men’s offerings is Edge of Urge. Vintage leather jackets, the softest tees and I can always find something I’ve never seen before.
Go-to piece: I have two. 1) Any of my Dad’s vintage concert tees that he gave me in high school. 2) A basic Calvin Klein white tee cuffed up. When in doubt, keep it classic.
Favorite bling: I have a snake gold chain necklace from a designer based out of Wilmington that I haven’t taken off since I got it. The brand is Shelton Metal—really great custom pieces that I want to layer up and never stop.
Travel dream: Tokyo.
How you stay fit: I have a killer personal trainer named Stuart Smith out of Knuckle Up boxing studio. He mixes up our regular workouts with boxing and it’s the best workout I’ve ever had. Highly recommend him and Knuckle Up if you’re looking to try something new.
Favorite drink: Hands-down favorite drink is called Bad Guys Wear Black from The Haymaker. It’s a mix of bourbon, burnt sugar, maraschino liqueur, bitters and an orange twist. Perfection.
Style secret: Do you. If you put something on and you love it, wear it. I buy and wear clothes that make me happy and feel good. Personal style is one of the first things that attracts me to someone. I say get weird and own the way you want to present yourself to the world. Nothing looks better on someone than confidence.
Moment/event in your life that inspired your style: I’m a bit of an alien in my family when it comes to style or caring about fashion. Being a little boy growing up in the country, there aren’t a lot of opportunities to be exposed to that world. It wasn’t until I went to college and got the chance to be a buyer at Edge of Urge in Wilmington that I got to travel to NYC with the owner, Jessie Williams, buying clothes for the store and seeing so many unique takes on “fashion.” She gave me that opportunity to see that there were other people out there embracing their own vibe and that propelled me to be even more authentically myself through clothing.
SPONSORED CONTENT BY OPENDOOR Summer is here in Raleigh, and with it, the busiest home buying and selling season of the year. Most cities see an uptick in moves between May and August, which makes sense for a number of reasons — who wants to move in the winter, or relocate a family mid-school year?
Whether you’re seriously considering buying or selling this season, or just testing the waters, knowledge is power.
Knowing the value of your current home helps you understand what you can afford in your next home. Knowing where buyer interest is high, helps you better price your home from the start. So where is demand the hottest here in Raleigh right now? Local real estate company Opendoor crunched the numbers from the first few months of 2019, down to the zip code level, to show the areas that are seeing the highest interest with potential buyers.
So who’s getting the most foot traffic? The Heritage area (27587) comes in at #1 with potential buyers. Preston (27513), Summerdale (27526), Highland Creek (27616), and Wakefield (27614) round out the top 5.
Opendoor prides itself in providing a simpler way to buy, sell or even trade in a home here in the Raleigh-Durham area. For sellers, you can get an all cash offer on your eligible home in 24 hours. No listing, no showings, no leaving for open houses. For buyers, every for-sale Opendoor home is available 7 days a week from 6am-9pm, no appointment necessary. Simply use the Opendoor app as your key at the front door for a self-guided tour.
Sounds a lot easier than the grinding, uncertain real estate process we’ve come to know. How would you rather spend your summer months: prepping your home for sale, keeping it picture perfect as though its unlived in, leaving at a moment’s notice for an open house, waiting for an offer, and hoping it doesn’t fall through? Or selling to Opendoor on your timeline so you can get into your new home and relax on your new patio?
Get an offer on your existing home today at Opendoor.com or download the Opendoor app to browse available listings in your neighborhood.
Opendoor House App
Opendoor Data Methodology: Top ZIP codes are defined as those that saw the most interest and actual in-home visits from prospective buyers during the first three months of 2019, without adjusting for the size of the ZIP code. Home shoppers who visit a listed Opendoor home unlock the front door with our app, providing anonymous insights like volume of visits and home buyer interest in particular ZIP codes.
