Village District mural emphasizes ~natural~ connection.
A quick flight to Village District—specifically the Cameron Street-facing wall running alongside Harris Teeter—reveals a new mural featuring an array of foliage and wildlife native to NC all sharing the same branch. “It’s a metaphor for the colorful growth that has occurred [here] and has made room for people to express themselves,” says muralist Sean Kernick. “It’s meant to speak directly to the area with the different native blossoms, birds and flowers.”
Essentially, the piece has already situated itself as a cardinal canvas of the district as it celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. “We’re bringing a lot of new art to the center to make the experience memorable for visitors,” says Regency Centers General Manager Brooke Conn, “and our first wave of installations includes the 2,000-plus-square-foot mural by Sean, who carefully curated the design to highlight Raleigh’s diverse landscape.”
Stay tuned for more art, murals and events planned throughout the year to celebrate the iconic shopping center and its community partners. Essentially, the mural is just one massive element of that celebration. And, as we know, nature’s pretty neat.
Fab ’fit ideas for the fashionable fundie undie runner
Have a case of the runs? For the 14th year running, kindhearted people around the country are dropping their drawers for Cupid’s Undie Run and jogging toward finding a cure for neurofibromatosis (a group of genetic conditions that lead to tumors growing on the body’s nerves) via supporting the Children’s Tumor Foundation. Starting at Durham’s Motorco Music Hall Feb. 17, participants can pregame with drinks and dancing before a mile-ish jog, then finish off the festivities with a dance party post-run.
Ready to (mostly) strip down in solidarity and support the cause? Here, your fun run outfit inspo—no side stitches allowed. See ya streakin’ across the start line? my.cupids.org
Heart Boxers Need a de-brief? Don some boxers covered in hearts—or another fun design!—to spread the joy. … We really love to see it!
Footie PJs Don’t sleep on this one. … Put your best foot forward—if you’re brave enough to get active in a onesie—and get joggin’ in a pair of jammies!
Knee Socks Fun socks 🤝 elite ’fit. Pick a pair of high-rise knee socks with a fun design to #slay your fun run. A sock star, indeed!
Tutus Stay *tutu* cool via a colorful skirt that will no doubt effortlessly elevate your stylish—and sweaty?—aesthetic.
Heart-Shaped Sunglasses Rose-colored lenses? We raise you a pair of heart-shaped sunglasses. Finish line’s so bright, you gotta wear shades.
Far East fare is taking our city—and country—by storm.
Asian food is having a moment. With new creative and elevated Far East concepts consistently popping up around the area in droves (see: Tamasha, SAAP, M Test Kitchen, and Heirloom’s new Asian-inspired dinner menu), along with thriving spots boasting years of seasoning—we see you, Brewery Bhavana (and its upcoming Fenton outpost), Bida Manda, Red Dragon, Sono and Five Star—the cuisine is writing a new name for itself.
Before this relatively recent boon of elevated Asian concepts, diners seeking a fancy meal might have elected for dinner at a steakhouse rather than the oft more casual Asian option, which typically conjures images of takeout boxes and casual surrounds. In essence, elevated restaurants have long lacked diversity in terms of menu and clientele. Until now. (This isn’t an attack on low-key Asian. In fact, I love all types of Asian fare, frequent unassuming hole-in-the-wall eateries and even resided in Bangkok for nearly a year where the tantalizing street fare and captivating casual-yet-quality eats abounded—hey, Jay Fai!)
But we can’t deny the shortage of local choices. Our city has long lacked elevated Asian options—aside from Raleigh’s inaugural Japanese sushi outpost, Kanki, serving patrons a full sit-down meal experience with a show since 1972, and the circa-1987 Imperial Garden Restaurant, touting a claim to fame as the Triangle’s OG authentic Chinese eatery.
Now, Far East cuisine seems to be shifting itself into a new era on the foodie scene across the country, with more and more sophisticated concepts popping up and piquing interest all over. This is something the talent behind Tamasha, Raleigh’s first elevated Indian restaurant, noticed and capitalized on through their just-opened concept.
“We feel like Raleigh is ready for a big city-type of restaurant with the glitz and bling you might see in Vegas,” shares Tina Vora on why she and her team decided to debut the luxe—and Michelin-chef helmed—North Hills spot. Adds partner Mike Kathrani: “[Indian food] is one of the most complex foods, and we have seen that the whole gamut of Indian food hasn’t yet been presented to America.”
To wit, the public is craving more and more authentic and diverse food options. “Demand is growing,” shares Sunny Lin, co-owner of MOFU Shoppe, which also nabbed the season six win of Food Network’s The Great Food Truck Race. “Maybe it’s because people have discovered Chinese food isn’t just orange chicken; Vietnamese food isn’t just pho; and Thai food isn’t just pad thai. Globalization is being reflected in people’s palates now.”
Echoing that sentiment is local culinary luminary Lon Bounsanga, who recently bowed Laotian restaurant SAAP. “Successful restaurants create room for more such restaurants,” says the longtime Bida Manda/Brewery Bhavana chef. “As the Asian restaurant scene evolves, smaller Asian countries are seeing their cuisine and culture showcased. Diners are learning that, although ingredients are shared, each cuisine has its own story.”
Translation, the broad cuisine category is (finally) getting the hype and hoopla it’s always deserved. Move over, steakhouses and boujee Italian restaurants—it’s Far East fare’s time to shine.
Heirloom photo by Anna Phommavong
Flavor Profiles by Region
Asian food cannot be grouped into a single category—each region offers vastly rich and diverse flavors, dishes and styles. Here, a quick (noncomprehensive!) breakdown of a few Asian cuisine categories.
▪ Chinese: Salty, spicy, sour, sweet and bitter. Think: soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, garlic and scallion flavors ▪ Japanese: Artistic, exact textures and temperatures, and savory. Think: seafood, tempura, ramen, miso soup ▪ Korean: Flavorful, fiery and fermented. Think: kimchi, Korean BBQ, chile powder and sesame ▪ Southeast Asian: Salty, sweet, spicy, sour and fresh—all in perfect balance. Think: tropical fruits, veggies, lemongrass, Thai basil and lime ▪ South Asian: Spicy, creamy and full of flavor. Think: turmeric, lentils, peas, beans and curry leaves
How the Oakwood24 run/walk started—and continues—to race toward positive change in partnership with Healing Transitions.
Running for 24 hours may seem like… a lot. But Oakwood24, a 24-hour run/walk in Oakwood Cemetery from Dec. 22 to 23, supports a great cause worth the shin splints: long-term addiction recovery via Healing Transitions.
Not feeling a daylong jaunt? Rest assured, you don’t have to go big or go home. Participants can opt to run or stroll in six- or 12-hour timed challenges instead. NTM new this year are 12- and 24-hour relays, allowing small teams of people to participate together. … After all, teamwork makes the dream work!
Jumping back to the starting line, the run found its beginnings in 2018 with Raleigh resident Jon Frey, who struggled with alcoholism and drug abuse for years before eventually ending up at Healing Transitions. Now, the Oakwood24 founder credits the healing org for playing a huge part in his recovery.
“I found myself at a jumping off point where I was either going to drink myself to death or I was going to get some help,” reflects Frey. “I made the decision to get help in August 2016, and I went through Healing Transitions’ yearlong program.”
While in the program, Frey craved activity, as his years of alcohol and substance abuse had taken a toll on his physical health. He got involved with the fitness group F3, where he met friend and mentor Charlie Engle. Soon after, the pair began regularly running together. Engle, an ultralong-distance runner, encouraged Frey to join him on a small 24-hour fundraiser run in Clinton, NC, once he finished his time at Healing Transitions.
“I went down there with him and did this small lap race, and I ended up running 100 miles—and that got me hooked,” says Frey of the start of his love affair with running.
Frey soon began looking for ways to give back to Healing Transitions, and one of the first things that came to mind was a 24-hour run to raise money for the nonprofit. Frey organized the first run amid the backdrop of the historic Oakwood Cemetery due to its low traffic, scenery and elevation changes, which positioned it as an ideal spot to run mile after mile… after mile.
As far as support, Frey asked people to contribute per-mile donations, thus raising $30,000—$40,000 via that first run alone. Flash-forward and Oakwood24 is now entering its sixth year, so far raising a whooping $500,000+ for Healing Transitions.
“There’s a competitive side to it, but we also have people who just come out and hang around the bonfire or walk—or run five or six laps with me,” shares Frey. “It’s really become a community event.” … Ready to lace up your sneaks in support of a good cause?
Are you bready for it? Rise to the occasion and flaunt your familiarity with the NC baking scene—from our state’s oldest bakery to local bread so good it’s earning national attention. Stop loafing around and get to it!
Let’s get baked. Established in 1807, Winston-Salem’s Winkler Bakery is likely the oldest bakery in the state—and maybe the country (!). Which OG cookie recipe is the beloved bakery still whipping up since its start ~200 years ago?
a. Chocolate chip
b. Oatmeal
c. Gingerbread
d. Snickerdoodle
Baking is a fine art. Which Raleigh higher education institution boasts a Baking & Pastry Arts program?
“Grown and ground in the South,” Western NC’s Carolina Ground Flour sources the majority of its grain from large-scale organic growers around the state and other regional locales such as Virginia and Georgia. But what country is the organization’s mill from?
a. Germany
b. Italy
c. Norway
d. Austria
Step into Hayes Barton Cafe & Dessertery for fine food and feel-good simplicity—NTM delish desserts! Which cake is the most popular (read: most sold) at the Five Points eatery?
a. Lemon blueberry
b. Coconut
c. Chocolate Heath bar
d. Red velvet
Local baker Andrew Ullom is now at the helm of his own uberpopular operation, Union Special, which first bowed in 2019. Under which celebrity chef did he previously amass experience as executive pastry chef?
What’s up, dog? Yellow Dog Bread Company creates delish culinary creations and, ahem, golden community. What farm animals did owners/husband-and-wife duo Tanya and Matthew Andrews once acquire to provide a certain dairy product for their recipes?
a. Goats
b. Cows
c. Chickens
d. Pigs
Bolt to Boulted Bread for a lineup of delish loaves and premier pastries at its recently relocated Boylan Heights locale. Earning national attention, the DTR bake shop once received a shoutout from which renowned publication?
Orange County-based farm Red Tail Grains specializes in growing heritage and modern grains for local bakeries, breweries and consumers. Two of its crops this year, NuEast Hard Red Winter Wheat and Appalachian White Wheat, are bred by which NC university?
