Eating clean can feel like an uphill battle—even pantry staples like salt and seasonings can be suspect. Read: The average grocery store salts are laced with toxins and heavy metals, adding further challenge to the already-confusing pursuit of healthy habits.
It’s a problem Raleigh native Lydia Lange knows all too well. After being diagnosed with POTS—a blood circulation disorder that requires a high-sodium diet—she quickly discovered what a struggle it was to source clean, additive-free salt. So Lange and husband Denny decided to stop searching—and start making it themselves.
The result? Lange Salt Co., a newly launched biz serving up small-batch salts as pure as they are palatable. Off to a small but mighty start, the brand leveled up from the couple’s home kitchen into a production facility, where Denny—the sole saltmaker—preps every batch.
The process starts at a private spot on the Charleston coast, handpicked for its pristine water and easy access. From there, 700 gallons of seawater are hauled inland to Washington, GA, where Denny works through a five-step filtration process.
After countless seawater hauls, plenty of trial and error, and a breakthrough as briny as it is brilliant, Lange recalls the convo that followed: “‘OK, Denny, you’re not happy with your job, and this makes sense for my life.”
The payoff is already resonating with others on the hunt for additive-free salt. From local farmers-market foodies to big names like Ivy Odom and Bethenny Frankel, Lange Salt Co. is striking a chord.
Lange Salt Co.
“I think most people see sea salt and they automatically think, ‘Oh, you’re just buying the salt and blending it,’” says Denny. “But getting that in-person interaction and feedback of people being interested and excited to try the product… has been really incredible.”
That excitement has turned a kitchen experiment into a growing salt movement—one that’s quickly outpacing its humble beginnings. Lange Salt Co. is already seasoning tables nationwide—and the couple is just getting started. With quality as their North Star and new flavors on the horizon, Lydia and Denny are proving that salt can be clean, craveable—and anything but basic.langesalt.com
If you thought you had seen your last show at Raleigh’s historic Rialto—think again. Raising the curtain on the next chapter is Five Points Entertainment LLC—a group of community members who came together to save the theater, led by Raleigh native sports radio producer and host Hayes Permar, who grew up attending the storied space and has had his eye on it since the moment the news dropped that longtime beloved owner Bill Peebles was retiring.
“Raleigh owns the Rialto like Raleigh owns Char-Grill,” says Permar of the iconic theater. “Yes, it has an owner, but the smells, the sign… it’s all part of Raleigh.” … That actual owner is Stratford Properties LLC, managed by a longtime Raleigh resident Peebles since 1983, who selected Permar over a slew of would-be suitors and entered into a long-term lease with Permar May 8, which carries multiple options for extended renewals.
“It will be a treat to drive down Glenwood to see the marquee ‘alive’ again,” says Ragsdale Liggett PLLC Partner Bob Ramseur, speaking on behalf of his client Stratford Properties, on the heels of the new lease.
Tuning into the relevance and the history of the space, Permar promises to not only honor its past, but carry it into the future with new and exciting programs that will only stand to build on its legacy. Slated to resume events this summer, the revived Rialto, beyond showing flicks, naturally, will also bring live music back to the theater—think, for one, a jazz or bluegrass series—with an upgraded sound system.
“I am already working with Dave Rose of Deep South Entertainment about shows,” says Permar. For the podcast host himself, live podcasts are a likely play as well—“there are some traveling podcast shows that get a million listeners—certainly we can get 350 people to buy a ticket to listen live,” he says. “I could see us taping a Canes pregame podcast and then showing the game.”
But the space will, in many ways, be the same—including seating. “We’re not changing drastically,” says Permar, “not pulling the seats out. I think a live music venue with seating will set us apart.”
One significant and spirited change—a full bar, situated at the front of the venue that Permar hopes will draw people in for a hang on its own accord. “I like to think the Rialto lobby lounge will be a great place to hang out even if nothing is happening,” says Permar—“like a great bar with a really big TV screen!”
Beyond imbibing, Permar has no current plans for food beyond the usual, but hopes to link up with local restaurants and businesses. “I could see partnering with someone like my buddy Anthony [Guerra] at Oakwood Pizza Box and have pizza by the slice,” he says. Permar will also be inviting Rocky Horror Picture Show to return—“it’s three generations of talent that have made that special experience what it is”—and has huge plans for the holidays (stay tuned).
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” says the legendary theater’s new landlord. “The owner has kept it the way it is [because of] what it is to the Five Points community. She and Bill both wanted to make sure the new operator was someone committed to keeping it going.”
And that commitment is exactly what landed Permar the responsibility of Rialto’s future. “Our client received an overwhelming number of inquiries regarding the space when Bill Peebles announced his retirement,” says Ramseur. “It was extremely important for our client to help preserve the character of the Five Points neighborhood, however—and Hayes brought us a proposal that most aligned with our vision for the space and the neighborhood. His proposal was intriguing in that his business model not only paid tribute to Raleigh, the cinema, entertainment, and the importance of community and neighborhood, but it incorporates exciting new elements that will make the Rialto one of the most unique destination venues in the Triangle area.”
The news is also a boon for the block—and a big win for the neighborhood and OG Raleigh. “For the first time in I don’t know how long,” says Permar, “all four businesses on this block will be open: Lonerider Brewery, Uncle Jessie’s Honkytonk, Loop [coming soon] and the Rialto.” For a city changing at warp speed, it’s refreshing—even a relief—to see this block maintain its character and legacy in lieu of redevelopment.
Now, it’s time to get to work. “Rialto 101 started today,” joked Permar on the night the ink dried on the lease. “Bill is teaching me the knobs and dials. … He owns everything in the theater—everything from the art on the walls to the movie projector. He created a great foundation for 30 years. I have a lot to learn, but I’m so excited.”
Ramseur echoes the sentiment: “We believe Bill will be a great resource for Hayes as he starts his new venture, but he will not be involved in the new business.” … Clearly, a tutelage that will pay off for all of us for a long time.
And in terms of longevity: “We cannot comment on the specific terms of the deal, but, suffice it to say, it will be operating as the Rialto Theatre for a long time,” says Ramseur. “Our client is thrilled for Hayes and is excited that a Raleigh native will continue the tradition of the Rialto. The Rialto has long been a haven for independent films and regional music, but, more importantly, it has been a longtime gathering space for our community. We are thrilled Hayes intends to pass that tradition on to future generations of Raleigh citizens.”
For his part, Hayes is humbled… “I don’t know what it says [about me], but every person I’ve told what I’m doing with the Rialto has said, ‘you’re the perfect person to do this.’ … At almost every step along the way, I was sure it was the right decision,” he says. “I’m honored to move the theater into its next endeavor and lead it.”
We chat up renowned producer and Raleigh native David Burris about his new Netflix reboot of The Mole.
Into unscripted adventure and mystery? It’s time to add a new show to your watchlist. Uberpopular unscripted TV show The Moleis getting a reboot, slated to hit Netflix on Oct. 7 (!)—and to boot, one of the executive producers behind the show is Raleigh native David Burris, who previously spearheaded production of several wildly successful series and films (think CBS’ Survivor, Ultimate Ninja Challenge and The World Made Straight). Burris’ latest endeavor expertly blends suspense, adventure and brain teasers into one unbelievably bingeable show. With both Burris and Netflix prioritizing storytelling, cinematic presentation and strong characters, fans are sure to be on the edge of their seats all season long.
Raleigh Magazine recently chatted with Burris to get the scoop on The Mole, its creative/production process and why being from Raleigh rocks (natch!). No bad streams here…
Let’s dig in. Give us the lowdown on The Mole reboot.
The Mole is a tried and true competition adventure format. It’s sort of the classic dynamic of what I like most about unscripted reality television, which is taking ordinary people and putting them in extraordinary situations. It becomes part adventure and part sociological experiment. In this particular situation, we’ve got 12 Americans traveling all over Australia and engaging in adventure challenges to win money. You’ll watch contestants scale a cliffside mountain or see them robbing a bank in the outback—and if they succeed in the challenge, they win cash. Of course, the twist is that someone else is there who has a different mission entirely—to sabotage the efforts of their ‘teammates.’ For those that aren’t the mole, their goal is to accumulate cash by doing well in these high-adventure challenges and to figure out the identity of the mole so they can keep playing the game.
We’ve gotta know… how do you cast a mole?
Once we decided on our 12 competitors, we started to think about basic strategies of deception, manipulation, believability and someone who was intelligent enough to pretend to be trustworthy—but not actually be trustworthy. And we all agreed as producers and with the gang over at Netflix about who we thought should be the mole.
School us on your role in the production process.
I’m what they call a showrunner—it’s sort of like the director for the whole series. I’m essentially in charge of creative decisions, like ensuring the creative vision for the show is maintained, the story structure is cogent, that the arcs of the characters are coming out and the right questions are asked during interviews. Basically, I oversee that everything going into the creative soup of the series is also in line with our intentions; from setting up the structure of the show, the cast, where challenges will take place and what the twists will be… and it all has to line up logistically—basically, the marriage of creative and practical.
What are your tricks for survivingthe unexpected aspects of filming?
I consider myself fortunate to have been through the ringer quite a bit. After 10 years on Survivor dealing with typhoons, getting chased by elephants and dealing with a leopard stalking a camp, I’ve built up an ability to stay focused and maintain the creative course while insane unpredictable things happen every single day. It’s all unscripted and you have no idea what’s going to happen, so you have to be prepared for whatever comes down the pike. After Survivor, I’ve learned to be ready for anything, to maintain my calm and more than anything else, to take the challenges as one of the fun parts of television, rather than one of the pains in the ass of making television and just going with it.
How have your Raleigh roots contributed to your creative career?
I was born in Durham, grew up in Raleigh and was educated in Chapel Hill—so I’m a real Triangle baby. I still have a house in Raleigh and spend a good bit of the year there when I’m not working elsewhere. I think Raleigh is one of the coolest midsize cities in the country, if not the planet. It’s a wonderful combination of things that make the South great without a lot of the things that make the South not so great.
What do you think sets Raleigh apart?
It’s a creative and friendly place and a lot of really creative individuals have come out of the Triangle community. My theory as it stands currently is that it’s an open, progressive and supportive community that allows a creative individual to believe they can see their dreams come true and that it’s worth pursuing them, whether that’s to be a huge rock star or a Beard Award-winning chef. People have the space to fail and say ‘that didn’t work, let me try again’—largely because of how valued the education system is there, which is a cornerstone for creatives. Education is all about working at it, making mistakes, learning from those mistakes and then carrying on. That’s my theory on why coming from the Triangle area is a good thing and why it’s produced so many super-talented creative people.
And why should people press play on The Mole?
If you’re looking for a bit of escapism and want to watch people do adventurous things in exotic locales, you’re going to get that watching The Mole. The cinematography is beautiful and the things the contestants have to do are fascinating, engaging and interesting. It’s like a perfect combo of fun, high adventure television and intellectual processing, keeping your brain engaged almost to an addicting level.
*Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Raleigh’s native “bachelor” gives Raleigh Mag the inside scoop on his new book and life after The Bachelor.
Despite being on TV for almost three months for season 25 of The Bachelor, man-of-the-hour Matt James feels there’s a lot people don’t know about him. Like the fact that he’s from Raleigh (!), attended and played football for Wake Forest University, or that he started a nonprofit org in NYC called ABC Food Tours that empowers students by providing experiences across diverse cultures and career opportunities.
And as for what’s been going on in his life after the show, the internet is full of… uncertainty. Here to reveal all—to the whole world—is James himself, whose new book, First Impressions, comes out May 3.
“I think a lot of people who watch the show watch it in this tunnel,” said James in an exclusive interview with Raleigh Magazine. “They hear something; they watch something on TV; and what they take in is their truth. And it’s dangerous because oftentimes things aren’t as they appear or as they seem. And that was definitely the case with my relationship and my experience on the show.”
It took James a while to agree to be on the show in the first place. He was working in commercial real estate at the time—his dream job—and he didn’t want to invest his time in something that would take him away from it. However, James says he was inspired by how his former roommate and The Bacheloretteseason 15 contestant Tyler Cameron changed for the better after being on the show—so he ultimately chose to take that leap of faith.
Now, James hopes that First Impressions will give people, well, a new “first impression,” if you will, of who he really is as a person. “I felt like this book was a chance for me to control that narrative and really give people a doorway into my life, my experiences, why I do the things I do, why I operate the way I do, and just a more holistic view of my life,” James said. “That’s really what I was hoping to do with this book and I feel like I did. I’m really excited to share that with everybody.”
By the Numbers:
29: Age when he went on The Bachelor
Graduated in 2015 from Wake Forest University (with a bachelor’s degree in economics)
May 3: The day his book First Impressions comes out
