Pig butt arum
by Tony Avent illustration by Ippy Patterson It’s not until you come face-to-face – or perhaps I should say nose-to-nose – with a pig butt arum that you realize it isn’t a grand horticultural April Fool’s prank. Indeed, I…
Author Archives: zonker
Spotlight: Rosé in the garden
by Jessie Ammons ‘Tis the season for garden parties. The Person Street District’s Wine Authorities will host a themed soirée May 23 to celebrate a favorite spring wine choice: rosé. Many people think it’s a sweet wine, says Craig Heffley, founder…
Julia Child, James Beard, Farrah Fawcett and me
by Dean McCord photographs by Catherine Nguyen The cocktail party. Ugh. As a partner in a fairly large law firm, I disdain few things more than the ritualistic cocktail party, having to make small talk with the next person you…
Local hotel heaven
by CC Parker Ending the day in one’s own bed is the highlight of “staycationing” for some people. But for many of us, bedding down somewhere new – but nearby – is another kind of fun. I first caught the…
A lily for the ages
by Tony Avent illustration by Ippy Patterson Since just before the war between the States, crinum lilies have been a popular staple in rural gardens throughout the deep Southeast – a far distance from their mostly native African origins….
The world of vanCollier
The hospital’s second floor – which once housed patients, a delivery room, and a nurses’ station – became home. by Liza Roberts photographs by Catherine Nguyen It takes a visionary to dream up things that don’t exist and make them real. It…
Dog days: A treasure
text and photograph by Juli Leonard Currituck, a 9-year-old Chesapeake Bay Retriever that works as a therapy dog, has a special kind of power. With his golden brown eyes, soft coat, and gentle nature, the dog has a soothing presence…
Spotlight: Walter welcomes William
by Jessie Ammons The Triangle’s robust theater scene is home to almost three dozen actively producing playhouses and venues. If you have a hard time choosing a production, maybe it’s easier to stick with a playwright. Wherefore: Shakespeare in Raleigh is…
Through the eyes of stylish locals
CHAPEL HILL Betty Kenan’s Chapel Hill is a place steeped in history and filled with culture. The longtime Triangle style setter and owner of refined women’s clothing boutique Fine Feathers, which she founded in 1976, shared some of her favorite…
The Guatemala connection: Raleighites making a difference across borders
by Marietta Stewart A funny thing happened on my way to a wedding in Guatemala. It was the end of the holiday season, and I craved a warm-weather vacation. Jess, a good friend from college, was to marry the love…
Tomatoes: While supplies last
by Kaitlyn Goalen photographs by Jillian Clark Labor Day starts the final countdown for my beleaguered tomato bed, each plant on the verge of crying uncle. So, this September I’m committing to the personal goal of eating as many tomatoes…
Arrive hungry
by Kaitlyn Goalen illustrations by Emily Brooks As soon as the weather warms, the wanderlust kicks in. Maybe it’s an evolutionary side effect, something about the biological need to migrate. Maybe it’s just the result of being cooped up all winter. Whatever…
Doing the right thing
As a 10-year-old, Jean Gordon Carter knew she wanted to be a lawyer: Glued to the legal dramas she watched on television, she would make her own impassioned summations to the TV jury. Carter still loves to read murder mysteries,…
Junior League of Raleigh: Leading and serving
by Todd Cohen photograph by Jillian Clark As a young girl growing up in Lumberton, Selene Brent never heard of the Junior League. But she did get deeply involved in giving back to the community, learning critical lessons about sharing and leadership…