From rock bottom (“Holy crap was I broke,” she jokes) to rocks queen, meet your 2023 Best Bartender. Coming down to the wire—and a literal handful of votes—Watts & Ward bar wizard Kelly Lynch steals the coveted crown from last year’s winning mixologist Colby Kress. Whether whipping up White Negronis or slinging Miller Lites, the Connecticut native cut her teeth on the Charleston bar circuit at 18 (“so, to my previous employers in Charleston, who are definitely going to read this, yes… I was underage”—sounds like an SC problem) and joined the Watts crew in March 2018. “I took a few-year hiatus to explore other bartending opportunities and also decided to finally use my degrees,” she says of her record run. “Turns out law is not for me, so I came back to Watts in May 2023.” Clearly, Raleigh supports this choice. We’ll have what she’s pouring.
Fave drink to make? A Miller Lite (joking… sort of). Since participating in The Cocktail Classic, I now have a newfound love for making White Negronis.
Least fave to make?Tiki drinks (I’m allergic to pineapple.)
Your go-to drink order? A boilermaker
Your bartending backstory: I moved from New York to Charleston at 18. I was completely on my own—and holy crap was I broke. The only jobs I was able to get were hosting at a restaurant or fast food (you know—what 18YOs usually do for work). But, I had rent and a ton of new bills, and I knew from working in restaurants in New York just how much bartenders walk home with. So I walked into a dive bar in Charleston where I knew money was under the table, filled out an application and got a job as a bartender.
18?!: Confidence is key—and I have literally lived by the phrase ‘Fake it till you make it.’ I wish I could describe every bouncer’s face when I wore a 21st birthday sash on my 21st birthday walking into all the bars I had been going to for years (and some of them I even worked at).
When you’re not behind the bar? I write/produce my own music, and I’m a DJ! I’ve played at some of the more popular bars on Glenwood, and I’m known for DJing a lot of Taylor Swift-themed events.
Show you’re currently bingeing? Anything with Gordon Ramsay
In a past life? I was actually going to school for law. I did my undergraduate in San Diego and graduated with a major in psychology and a minor in cultural anthropology.
Advice to current/future bartenders? Don’t put ‘No No’ spicy bitters in a spray bottle. You will end up macing yourself and the entire bar.
Election year is upon us, and not only is it a big year for national politics, but local as well. While we won’t cast our ballots for mayor until Nov. 5, the race is already taking shape.
Although hopefuls have until July 19 to file, a number of candidates spanning diverse demographics have already thrown their hat in the ring—and many have been campaigning for the municipal role since last year. Why it matters? Baldwin’s 2022 victory came at the end of a tight race, edging out then challenger Dr. Terrance Ruth, who grabbed 41% of the vote.
This year, hot topics include zoning debates, Downtown safety, affordable housing, the RPD shortage, transportation, infrastructure and sustainability.
Corey Branch The city councilman of nine years is campaigning on an array of specific “deliverables,” such as securing funding for 2,000+ affordable housing units, widening Rock Quarry Road and providing residents free mental health services.
Delmonte Crawford The Civil Rights activist aims to end gentrification, provide affordable housing and win reparations for Black Foundational Americans (aka Freedmen) via his For the People platform.
Janet Cowell The former state treasurer and Raleigh councilwoman and current Dix Park Conservancy CEO announced her candidacy Jan. 22 and is campaigning on protecting the environment, diversifying housing options, increasing public safety, and planning and engaging the public in things such as rezoning for new infrastructure. The most recent to throw her hat in the ring, Cowell has already picked up endorsements from former Mayors Nancy McFarlane and Charles Meeker.
James Shaughnessy IV This William Peace University pre-law student has his sights set on building additional accessible housing options, cutting spending, revitalizing mental health and updating public transportation.
Paul Fitts This conservative candidate plans to crack down on crime and hopes to hire an additional 400 police officers—and this isn’t the first time he’s had his name on the ballot. The mortgage broker previously ran against then-mayor Nancy McFarlane in 2017.
Local elections are just as important, if not more important, than national, as local elected officials directly affect your day-to-day life. When you vote for a candidate, you are putting the future of your life, home, commute and job in their hands. So, be sure to study up and mark your cals to head to the polls for the general election Nov. 5! Stay tuned for updates as more candidates file.
Step back in time via an immersive dino exhibit debuting this month.
Put the Jurassic Park theme song on repeat and travel back to the dino era for a roaring good time at what CNN dubbed a “must-see attraction”: Dinos Alive: An Immersive Experience, debuting Feb. 8 at the Exhibition Hub Art Center. The engaging exhibit will include 80+ lifelike animatronic dinosaur models, immersive projection technology, virtual reality, theatrical lighting, elaborate scenery and hands-on activities for blossoming Ross mini-me’s (er, paleontologists) of all ages. Sounds simply T-riffic. Turn the page for dozens more best bets to fill your Feb cal. exhibitionhub.com
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.
