Little Free Library

APEX ~ If this picture doesn't say Quaint American Town, I'm not sure what would. This scene greets you on North Salem Street in the center of historic downtown Apex. This "Little Free Library" allows you to take a book if you return a book. I love its shingled roof, working glass doors and white picket fence - certainly nice touches. I'll be posting more shots of this railroad town in the coming days.

Tennis, anyone?

CARY ~ The Cary Tennis Park is impressive! That pretty much sums it up. It played a big part in enticing me down here in the first place. (Not that I’m all that good, but I love to play). It has 30 outdoor courts, a pro shop, locker rooms, and while you’re waiting for a game to wrap up, or just want to hang out, there’s a café downstairs with outdoor seating.

The courts are well maintained and the grounds are nicely landscaped. It’s no wonder the USTA named it as an “Outstanding Facility” back in 2006. You can book courts on your own time, sign up for public or private lessons, or participate in clinics or league play. There is no membership, but you can get a year-long pass if that’s what you prefer. Otherwise, you can just pay as you go.  

I’ve taken a few classes at the Center, and just being on the complex is half the enjoyment – especially on summer evenings after the sun has set, the day has cooled off a bit and the lights come on. Everyone on staff—from those that greet you at the front desk when you sign in, to the tennis instructors themselves—are all friendly. But if I’m being entirely honest, I have run into the occasional clique of catty female players. I’ve learned to avoid them however, by making sure I take coed classes or ones that take place after five o’clock when you’re bound to meet a more diverse crowd coming in after work.

A Girl Without a Team

RALEIGH ~ I admit it! Since moving to Raleigh, I have not yet pledged my allegiance to any one college sports team. And considering just how seriously folks take their sports here in North Carolina, that may be grounds for eviction. Here’s the dilemma. My Dad did graduate work at Duke University, but I live only a few miles from Carter Finely Stadium where North Carolina State University Football is played. I also live among its students.  And of course, there’s also University of North Carolina. SO who’s it gonna be? Blue Devils, Wolfpack, Tar Heels? I’m sure with time, one will rise to the top. But in the end, it must be one that stresses the importance of academics and a code of ethics both on and off the field. 

I was lucky enough to have a friend invite me to an NC State football game back in 2011. (Box seats no less). Not a bad way to enjoy the festivities. 

The Long Gray Stretch

RALEIGH ~ We're in the gray days of winter, and although the sun's out, I miss warm temperatures and the leaves on the trees. So I pulled this out from last Fall to remind me, or at least get me excited for, what's to come in the next few months. I hope this year to get out on one of these canoes to explore LAKE JOHNSON from a different perspective.

The Land of Milk and Honey

CHAPEL HILL ~ Southern Season is as close to the land of "milk and honey" as possible for the foodie in the family or party host. This place is both specialty food store and gift shop. The National Association for Specialty Food selected Southern Season as its Outstanding Retailer of the Year.

The 59,000 square feet of retail space is broken up into different sections—from flowers to candy, chocolate, cheese and meats. You can break up your visit and enjoy a cup of joe or have a sandwich made to order. There's a tasting bar in the back for wine and beer lovers and an ice cream parlor for kids of all ages.

Say "cheese!"

Kale is not only great in soup, but apparently, also in a floral arrangement.

Honestly, it's hard to wrap your head around just how big this place is. Hopefully, this gives you an idea. Southern Season offers more than 80,000 items in their store and on their website. 

It's getting hot in here. Did someone say, "Salsa!" Every day there are products you can taste before you buy.

This store is not only great for adults, but the little ones as well. Kids will go nuts here. 

I suggest they drop the "s" in the signage above, and just call this corner of the store, the Chocolate Bar.

As a graphic designer, I love the packaging almost as much as I love the products here.

If wine and beer are your thing, you have more than a few choices. I could only fit so much in each photo, but this should give you an idea of how much they offer.

I kept gravitating back to the floral department. I think this was my favorite place in the store. Was it the stunning colors, fresh scent or the unusual selection of exotic stems? There's a designer on staff assembling stunning arrangements for customers.

Southern Season has gifts for friends, family or yourself.

I love the displays that greet you around every corner. They DO know how to highlight their products in the best light. I visited during the holiday season, so you can only imagine the visual feast.

Le Creuset, in its rainbow of colors, is featured here—the largest selection I have ever seen in one place. Don't know how to cook? No problem. Southern Season offers classes. For a schedule, click here.

Candles and candy in every color.

Sweet tooth?

Every gadget you could ever want (or thought you needed) is here.

There's an area devoted to products made in North Carolina. Chef Vivian Howard from the PBS's Series, A Chef Life, has a wall devoted to her favorite holiday picks (not pictured).

We're out the door. If you want more information, or want to see the store in 360 degrees, check out the Southern Season's website. But I suggest taking a trip in person to find out why the late New York Times food critic Craig Claiborne described this place as, "wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling... a visual and gustatory delight!"

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

High Design in Chapel Hill

CHAPEL HILL ~ I try to visit several art museums and galleries every year. It's a chance to slow down, be still and reboot, creatively. I always wrap up these excursions with a visit to their accompanying gift shop. To be honest, it's often the highlight of my trip. One of my favorite shops is here, on the corner of Franklin and Columbia streets in the heart of Chapel Hill (UNC)—the Ackland Museum Store, an offshoot of (obviously) the Ackland Art Museum. 

The store is bright and airy. The walls, ceiling and shelving are all white—a blank canvas if you will—allowing the products to shine. Natural light streams in from two walls of windows. The store showcases the talent of local, national and international artisans and crafters.

A great range of products are sold here: wooden bowls and gift wrap to checkerboards and winter hats; plates, paper, prints and pottery; cups and cards; stationery and stoneware. And if that's still not enough, check out their everyday objects like tape dispensers and water bottles, which are all taken to a new (higher) level of design. Just because something is functional, doesn't mean it can't be beautiful! 

Some of the products here are whimsical. There are stuffed animals throughout the store, each with their own personality. Picture books, for both kids and adults, line cubby shelves; intricate painted deer heads (made from cardboard) emerge from walls; and delicate paper lanterns and slow moving mobiles hang from above. 

The curators of the store do a wonderful job seeking out unusual products made with impeccable craftsmanship. In a day and age where it seems everything is mass-produced, it is nice to be reminded of the talented artisans that live among us. The prices are reasonable as well. Everything in here gets high marks from me. I love this place! Go check it out.

For more information on the Ackland Museum Store, click here.

PHOTOS BY KELLEY ALBERT

A Day at the Vineyard - Muscadine Grapes in Zebulon

ZEBULON - No, I wasn't sipping wine at a vineyard on Friday morning, but rather picking grapes for the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. (More about them in a moment.) The kind farmer who opened his vineyard to us was there on site, helping us navigate the various fields, answering any questions we had, and offering his first-hand knowledge on all things Muscadine. 

We were there to "glean" the excess harvest after the commercial picks were done for the season. Picking in late October was quite an anomaly since harvests are known to wrap up in September. There was more than enough left on the vine though, enough to fill the back of a pickup truck. And with the help of a couple dozen volunteers, ages 5 to 55, we did just that. 

We picked the Nesbit variety when we were there. I had never tried ANY Muscadine grape before, I had only seen them in the grocery store. These were the color and size of black olives. There was definite discussion on how one goes about eating these fruits. I got a first-hand lesson in the field. The "guts' are similar in texture to an oyster or hard jello, semi-sweet and full of tiny seeds, which you need to filter out - like a watermelon. Most spit out the outer skin, which can be tough. The grapes are used in wine, juice and jams.

The Inter-faith Food Shuttle is a non-denominational, hunger-relief organization headquartered in Raleigh, NC. I checked them out online a couple years ago after seeing their box trucks all over town. Although I personally focus my energies on the gleaning aspect of the organization, they do so much more—from recovering millions of pounds of food that would have otherwise gone to waste, to educating and training individuals in the kitchen and on the farm. The following video explains all that the Food Shuttle does -- why and how -- much better than I ever could (Click here.) I couldn't be more honored to work with these folks. Not only are these good people, they are clearly making a big difference in the community. 

Find Your Cool!...in Durham

How does one approach a blog post about Durham, NC? The same way you approach the city itself. Carefully. With eyes open and with an open mind. I find I can't pin down a city's personality until I've met with it at least three or four times. (I should probably apply this same logic to meeting people, since my initial impressions have often been proved wrong).

I still have so much left to explore. The city has captured my attention for sure. It remains a mystery even after a half dozen visits. These photos were shot in downtown Durham, but do not include images from the famous Tobacco Campus and Durham Bulls Stadium. That will come at a later date.

Historic mills are being converted at a swift pace into posh condos, office space and commercial hubs. Brightleaf Square is one such hub (click here for more info).

The architecture of the Durham County Human Services buildling is in stark contrast to the historic brick tobacco mills all over town. It's a hint of what's to come in Durham.

Where the nine-to-fivers go, Monday through Friday.

Murals can be found all over town, highlighting its passion for baseball, its pride in racial diversity, or just replicating the advertising of yesteryear. 

And fish...Sometimes a blank wall calls for giant painted fish.

One does not need to make much of a leap to imagine what Durham looked like fifty or...

one hundred years ago...

...but block-by-block the city is being transformed into this current century.

I end this post with a photo of this one lone city block. If the painter Edward Hopper were alive today, perhaps he would find inspiration here. (Early Sunday Morning, 1930.) Perhaps he would even find "Durham Cool."