The go-to meal my mom made for our family was spaghetti. Is it because she had picky eaters (namely, me)? Probably. But now a bowl of noodles in any red sauce brings back a lovely wave of nostalgia. She wants to make lasagna for Thanksgiving, but when I saw Jaime Lawing’s recipe for “World’s Best Baked Spaghetti,” I realized that might be the compromise. Find Jaime’s and other celebratory dishes perfect for parties and large gatherings – including not one, but two desserts by Baker Street Cookies owner Keri Efird, who made the expertly designed cookies featured on our cover, table of contents and the two vignettes here – on page 40.
Food is comfort; it’s healing, both for the cook and the consumer. Cathy Kelly (pictured left), mom to our own Triangle Digital Partners President Rory Kelly Gillis, prepares a lunch for our staff that brings us together every other week. We all get to take a pause and reconnect over a thoughtfully crafted meal, complete with a main course and many sides, toppings, even something sweet. (Visit our website for a recipe handed down from Cathy’s mom, Cathy Rastelli Reed – trust us, you’ll be glad you tried her “Double Delicious Bars”!) “This is a labor of love,” Cathy says. “I do this because it makes me happy.”
It is a reminder to me that it is so important to take care of one another at all times of the year, but especially in this season. I was asked recently what I was most thankful for. And truly, it’s that I want for nothing. That I am comfortable. That I am safe. That I do not know poverty, famine or the atrocities of war firsthand. Are there still profound sadnesses in my life? Sure. Do I fall prey to doom scrolling and have my heart break time and again over images on my social media, on news channels? All the time. You donate here, sign a petition there, do what you can for the causes and organizations you believe in. You do what you can to help. In this issue, too, we feature a handful of folks who are doing just that for our community – volunteering their time, energy and resources into leaving Durham a little bit better than it was yesterday – beginning on page 80. (Speaking of, if you’d also like to give assistance to nonprofits locally, check out our “Big Give” profiles that begin on page 91.)
These dedicated souls are a reminder that there is still light in this world, and that is reason enough to celebrate. By lifting ourselves out of the darkness, we can fully appreciate and find joy in the blessings that life offers. – Executive Editor Amanda MacLaren
THE HOLIDAY ISSUE
40 There’ll Be Parties for Hosting
Foodies share go-to holiday dishes and desserts that are sure to impress every guest
48 Passing the Top Hat
A tale of tradition and transition as Ira David Wood III bequeaths the iconic role of Scrooge in Theatre in the Park’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ to his son, Ira David Wood IV
52 That Festive Feeling
Make merry with spirited celebrations around the Bull City
58 All Is Bright
A Colvard Farms renovation prioritizes cozy touches and family-friendly updates, creating a dreamy home for the holidays
WELLNESS
70 Mind, Body and Soul
Discover the path to your best self with guidance from experts
FEATURES
80 Hometown Helpers
These eight community members champion a ‘doing good in the neighborhood’ mentality
DURHAM INC.
104 Networking: Take No Bull Women’s Conference
106 Hot Shot: Jordan Fearrington
The Skanska project manager works to build a better Durham
108 Holidays Bring Glad Tidings for Durham Businesses
Local retailers and restaurateurs rev up for a bustling winter season
DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS
10 Go.See.Do.
Celebrate the season with wonderful winter events
20 Noted.
What we’ve heard around our city …
111 Engagement & Wedding
Tying the knot, Bull City-style
PEOPLE & PLACES
16 Durham Arts Council’s CenterFest
17 Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People’s Founder’s Day Banquet
18 Adam Dickinson Realty Group’s MeFine Foundation fundraiser
19 Museum of Durham History’s ‘Stranger Times’ exhibit opening
SPONSORED CONTENT
28 Faces of Durham
Celebrating the people behind our local businesses
90 Adopt-A-Pet
Visit the Animal Protection Society of Durham to find your new forever friend
91 The Big Give
Our area nonprofits, how they support the community and how you can get involved
