by Heidi Reid | Nov 30, 2023 | December 2023/January 2024, Eat
Four Raleigh food trucks to try this month
Cilantro
Add a little ~spice~ in your life by bellying up to this family-owned and -operated biz rolling out street-style Mexican fare. The menu feats all the classics your heart (and stomach!) desire—think burritos, tacos, quesadillas, nachos and corn masa empanadas. Naturally, you’re gonna wanna ask for a fresh sprinkling of cilantro on whatever dish you end up ordering. And be sure to save room for dessert… the caramel-filled churros are a must-order. Taco ’bout a sweet ending!
cilantromexicancuisine.com
Mike’s Nice Empanadas
“What’s in your pocket?” If it’s not one of these delish empanadas, you’re doing it wrong. The truck serves up four different types of authentic flavor bombs: The Boricua with ground beef and cheese, a cheesy chicken op, a birria empanada served with consommé, and a Monterey Jack cheese-stuffed number. Don’t sleep on the Philly cheesesteak egg rolls either—best enjoyed with the cult-favorite pink sauce. Pro tip: If the buffalo chicken empanada happens to be on the menu when you visit, you’re definitely gonna want to order it. How nice! mikeniceempanadas.com
Captain’s Gastro
It’s all Greek to us. … Inspired by cuisine from the Land of the Gods, this truck is run by two chefs, Elif & Mehmetcan Engin, who together tout 15 years of culinary experience whipping up Mediterranean– and Aegean-inspired dishes. Start your meal off with a fry basket (think of it like loaded Greek fries); then choose from a vibrant selection of bowls, plates, sandwiches and wraps. Round out your meal with the tahini baklava—because duh. captainsgastro.com
Blu Tee Spoon
Feeling blu? There’s nothing a burger can’t fix—and, bonus, these juicy gourmet patties are 100% plant-based. Founded by traveling registered nurse Teresa Sparks after she struggled to find good vegan ops in various cities, the mobile vegan burger destination serves up Southern comfort fast food with a twist. “Chick’n” fries, mac and cheese, and vegan wings are just some of the standouts on the menu, which changes daily, in addition to rotating burgs, natch. Get those spoons—and forks—up!
bluteespoon.square.site
by Heidi Reid | Nov 30, 2023 | December 2023/January 2024, Eat
This Triangle coffee shop is brewing up a new location.
Fresh brews in Northwest Raleigh: found (finally!). New World Cafe—a cozy cafe by day and worldly restaurant by night—has uprooted to a more spacious locale in Duraleigh Corners, complete with a full kitchen and drive-thru window. Going above and beyond a good cup of joe and breakfast nosh, the cafe (previously located in The Village at Townridge) is currently serving up beverages and a limited menu, but—come its spring grand opening—will convert to a casual restaurant at night, serving wine, beer and international small plates in a clean and minimalistic atmosphere.
“Our company mission is to provide the best coffee in the Triangle with the two best local roasters, Counter Culture and Black & White Coffee, along with good food options that customers enjoy,” says owner and operator Mike Zhu. “We strive to make the environment friendly and open to everyone. We just want everyone to be comfortable.” And how could you not be comfortable with day-to-night ops in a homey atmosphere?! Name a better perfectly blended cafe and eatery combo—we’ll wait. newworldcafes.com
by Anna Beth Adcock | Nov 30, 2023 | December 2023/January 2024, Do
Stay fit for cheap via these wallet-friendly workouts.
“I be up in the gym just working on my fitness…” New year, new you, new workout regimen?! The beginning of 2024 marks yet another round of fitness-related New Year’s resolutions that usually fall to the wayside come February—especially given gym memberships, workout classes and personal training sessions can be pretty pricey. Doesn’t exactly jibe with those 2024 budget goals, eh? But don’t sweat it (!). Here, we worked up an array of local exercise ops that’ll keep both you and your wallet in shape.
Greenway Walks/Runs
Two words: Raleigh’s greenway. Stretching 100+ miles around the city, these paved pathways allow you to explore the city on foot while amping up your heart rate, garnering a high step count and enjoying some good ole Vitamin D. Pro tip: Bring a pal or your pup along for company. Let’s cardi-go!
Run Clubs
Run better with buddies? Good news: Raleigh boasts a ream of run clubs perfect for all paces and schedules. Find many meetups around town offered by Fleet Feet in partnership with local breweries multiple nights per week. … Plus a post-jog drink? Yes, please!
Sports
Not to make a big dill… but public sports opportunities abound around the City of Oaks. Get your Troy Bolton on at one of Raleigh’s many indoor/outdoor basketball courts; take a hit at the hype of the popular-as-ever pickleball (she is the moment) at Method Community Park and North Hills Park; or #stayserving volleyball style at Jaycee Park and Green Road Park. Talk about ballin’ on a budget.
Yoga at Dix Park
Will bend for free fitness classes and stellar views. During the winter months, take your yoga practice inside The Chapel at Dix Park. And as the weather warms this spring, keep your eyes peeled for outdoor evening classes during golden hour. What’s more serene than a stretch sesh with our city skyline as a backdrop? Namaste, indeed.
by Melissa Howsam | Nov 30, 2023 | December 2023/January 2024, Real Estate & Home
It’s all about the mems in this festive kitchen nook given new life by a pop of color via interior designer Grey Joyner’s ~colorful~ vision, updating the room’s original all-white trim and pastel embroidered cafe curtains to create a crisp, clean feel via high-gloss oil paint in a vibrant turquoise hue that craftily matches the serging on the rug. “Color, to me, brings a space a new life,” says the interiors pro. “A lot of people who come into this room call it a ‘jewelry box’—and that’s exactly what I wanted to achieve here… a place that is special and where many memories will be created.” ’Tis the season. Here, we tap Joyner for intel on how to emulate the look. greyjoyner.com
Designer’s Tips
Gloss It Up
High-gloss paint on trim creates a crisp, clean feel—and, bonus, dries harder and ages better for well-lived-in homes (aka kids & dogs banging into doors). Pro tip: Apply to ceilings in quaint spaces to “enlarge” the space.
Holiday Hues
Pair pink and turquoise with touches of red and green, respectively, for a festive feel, like those red berries with a pink bow, or the green ornaments with turquoise velvet ribbon.
Texture Treasure
A mix of textures can up the festive factor. From velvet and silk ribbon to raffia place mats, they all create interest and make a room a true work of art.
Source the Look
TRIM
SW 7618 Deep Sea Dive, Fine Paints of Europe, Spectrum Paint
CHANDELIER
Pulse, Corbett Lighting, Wilkinson Supply Co.
CHAIRS
Dayna side chair, Ballard Designs
CURTAIN
Fabric by Manuel Canovas Print Dara, custommade by designer Grey Joyner’s workroom
DISHES
Bamboo Touch dinner plates, Two’s Company, Charlotte’s
GLASSWARE
Find similar at Hunt & Gather
PLACE MATS
Quintessentials
PLANTS
Find similar at Logan’s Garden Shop
RUG
Akita in Casa Blanca, Adara Limited, Eatmans Carpets & Interiors
WALLPAPER
Scalamandre
WINE
Ridgewood Wine & Beer
WINE GLASSES
Estelle, NOFO
WREATH, TABLE TREE + DECOR
Heather Louise Finch, The Finch Forest
by Anna Beth Adcock | Nov 30, 2023 | December 2023/January 2024, Stuff
Raleigh-based designer debuts on Tamron Hall Show.
Ready, set, strut! Raleigh local and up-and-coming fashion designer Rachel Stevens recently jet-setted to the Big Apple to showcase her savvy for creating cute and curated looks on the Tamron Hall Show’s “Up & Coming Designer” series. Talk about a big break!
Named Rachel Ellen Stevens—with her design process found on Insta as Style by Stevens—the burgeoning fashion enterprise features clothing that mixes up classic silhouettes, plus displays fab ’fits ranging from soft and sweet to wild and funky (check out the caterpillar-inspired ensemble Tamron wore on the show). To wit, Stevens notes much of her inspiration comes from her imagination and nature, two aspects extremely apparent in her creations—think handsewn roses and cloud-themed dresses.
“I pull from my life and different experiences,” she shares. “I really enjoy nature. I live in the outskirts of Raleigh in this cute little neighborhood with a lot of forests around. … The collection I made this summer was inspired by the whimsical charms of the neighborhood with birds, roses, ferns and little plants around.”
The 26-year-old fashionista first began dabbling in the design world as a child making outfits for her stuffed animals and sketching out various styles. After pursuing apparel design and merchandising studies at Appalachian State University—and following a brief hiatus due to pain from hours bent over her work in the studio (occupational hazard)—Stevens now spends much of her time perfecting her detailed *lewks* from her home base in the City of Oaks.
Up next, find the talented young designer introducing her new romanticized collection anticipated to hit the runways in the spring— with a multidimensional couture collection also in the works. … How clothes-minded! @stylebystevens
