Hi y'all.
I'm feeling a little nostalgic. Maybe it's because the wisteria and azaleas are in bloom, and those flowering plants always remind me of spring growing up in Florida.
The Bitter Southerner, another publication that supports stories of the New South, posted a photo essay on azaleas and the South, which made me feel a little less alone in my love of bursts of magenta, white and pale purple along our Raleigh streets.
If you celebrate Easter, there's a good chance you'll be getting dressed up and taking a photo in front of the azaleas this weekend, like I did growing up at my grandparents' house. If that's not your thing, I hope you take the time this week to see past the pollen to a season of bloom around Raleigh after a long and rainy winter.
Speaking of things coming to bloom, this is the first edition of the Raleigh Convergence in beta. I'd love to know your thoughts. Hit reply and tell me how this can be the best newsletter for a modern Raleigh.
To azaleas, Sarah Day
Publisher & Editor
(📸: Devin Desjarlais Photography)
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Support local. Support the Raleigh Convergence. Title sponsorships are now available at special launch pricing!
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#MakingRaleigh is a regular feature in the Raleigh Convergence highlighting the people and ideas creating modern Raleigh.
In the very first #MakingRaleigh, “creative doer” Chika Gujarathi talks about living a fulfilled life, her big pivot from her corporate finance job, how her identities of being Indian, American and being a mother shaped her journey.
You may recognize her work as the painted sidewalk maze mural in Nash Square, as a byline in national and local publications or, if you’re a parent, you may have seen her work as the creator of the whimsical and educational “Hello, Namaste,” Hindi books for young kids.
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Q&A edited for length and clarity.
Sarah Day: I checked out your past life and saw you did the corporate thing for more than a decade. Why did you decide to change to creative life?
Chika: When you’re younger and in college, the goal was: 'what can I do that will make me successful.' I picked the safest bet, business administration, and got a really good job in real estate when I started. I was in residential real estate, I did that for three years in Charlotte.
I was getting tired of it and I wanted to move out to a bigger city. I found a great job with Bank of America in D.C., and I carried on there for another five years (then moving to Chicago).
Then I found an amazing opportunity with Chase bank. This was a private sector and government partnership in creating better projects for the community and everyone worked together to create something good.
That was really the impetus to getting my focus back into a., things that mattered and b., looking at a community and seeing there are so many different organizations that can come together in a big way, and c., I knew I was going to be a mother, hopefully to more than one child.
It really was about, ‘what can I do that’s more meaningful if I’m going spend time away from my family?’ I wanted to be doing things that I loved. And at that same time, we started talking about moving from Chicago. Raleigh was picked based on my husband’s job. I was still on maternity leave from my second baby.
I told myself that if I didn’t do it now -- in a new city with new motivation, I’d be wandering around exploring anyway -- if I didn’t do it now, the comfort of a good job would never let it happen again.
Wonderful things started to happen right away. Raleigh was starting to get onto the national stage. My first gig was with U.S. News & World Report. I did a list of why Raleigh is a wonderful place to live. That ended up being a good step one for someone who didn’t have creative writing as a degree, who hadn’t done journalism but only had the desire … I was ready to put in the hard work.
That helped me pitch my stories or approach other organizations. Every time I thought ‘oh my god, who am I? No one knows me. If I go talk to them, they’re only going to laugh at me.’
But it turns out, nobody in Raleigh thinks like that. Everyone is so interested. Everyone welcomed me with open ears and arms.
Everytime I said ‘I have this idea, what do you think?’ it was nurtured and I was given the opportunity to work on it. That little gig and that little desire grew into getting more freelance work and more creative projects, building my confidence.
Sarah Day: We talked about you being a multi-hyphenate creative -- how do you describe what you do?
Chika: Even coming up with a tagline or a signature in my email, I couldn’t quite sum it up without sounding like I was bragging (laughs). At my core, I’m a “creative doer.”
Anywhere there’s creativity, I’m attracted to it. Whether it’s street art, whether it’s books, whether it’s a place that has sculptures, or a building, or a design. Even though I do all these little things, the one thing they share is that they have a creative aspect that inspires.
Sarah Day: You grew up in India.
Chika: I lived there until I was 16.
Sarah Day: Tell me about that, how does it play in with your identity now and here?
Chika: It is everything. It’s so hard to explain, and I think about this often. I tell my friends that I sometimes I feel like I don’t feel like I belong anywhere. Spending 16 years in India, I was born in ‘82, so almost all the ‘80s and early ‘90s, that India doesn’t exist anymore. Being a kid in India is vastly different than how it was when I was a kid.
I went to a private school, it was a small school where every teacher knew me. I was very nurtured. I did 11th and 12th grade, public high school in Charlotte. I was in the I.B. program, and that was a great distraction and that was a subgroup in the school. I never felt threatened, I never felt picked on. And I think that’s an anomaly. I feel like I almost escaped the ridicule that one goes through in general in being in high school and not being the popular kid.
Then came college, and that’s when I felt free, when I said ‘oh, this is what it means to be here, where you have the freedom to do a lot of things, to learn.’ I finally had a grasp of what the culture was about.
Now I feel America is very much a part of my identity, just like India was before, but the India that existed in my time doesn’t anymore. And I have this whole side of American culture that I know nothing about: certain music, certain shows, just street talk I guess. Sometimes I do feel a little lost, or maybe it’s just a feeling that you get from having your feet in two places at once, of ‘what is my true identity?’
It has helped having kids, because it kind of takes a lot of crap from your life because you just don’t have time for it. Now whatever time we do spend as a family it turns out I spend it equally doing things that are American and things that are Indian. At least that way I feel very content with where my life has led me.
Sarah Day: What does that look like in your life, spending half of your time doing Indian things and half American things?
Chika: It’s not a conscious break in the day or the month… we listen to a lot of Bollywood music. Alexa knows Bollywood music so it makes it infinitely easier just to say ‘Hey Alexa, play some Hindi music’ and my kids and I will dance to it. We’ll go watch a ballet show at Carolina Ballet but then Cary put out this Indian classical dance show. Cary will do all the festivals that India has. There are celebrations all around the Triangle. As just another thing to do, we end up going to these things.
That’s why community is so important, and living in a community that’s diverse is so important. I wake up on a Saturday and I have these options of going to something that reflects India. Especially in Raleigh, I don’t have to think about it, I just have to step out the door… from music to shows to exhibits to just eating a good Indian meal or go to an Indian grocery store.
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Chika's mural in Nash Square
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Sarah Day: Let’s talk about the Raleigh ArtsBeat mural. I took my 1-year-old...
Chika: It connects, right?
Sarah Day: Yeah, it does! What was your idea for that, how do you want people to engage with it?
Chika: I know when I’m walking down the street and I see something colorful, it instantly cheers my family up and we stop and we look, etc. I knew I wanted something to be colorful and I wanted it to be interactive, have a playful element. A place where people would bring their families, bring a picnic.
When I submitted I didn’t have a clear idea, but I submitted my portfolio. This is where luck comes in. Someone took a chance on someone who had never done a mural.
I would go (to the site) during all hours of the day, randomly, and see what people were there. A school would do recess in the park, and I knew it was a big Pokemon Go spot.
I liked the idea of a maze. There were a lot of trials, and I kept going back to the spot, to see what was fitting to the landscape. I decided on a triangle, and I made it bigger than the sketch I had, because I didn’t want people avoiding it.
The mixed colors at the three ends, that wasn’t part of the design. But as I was painting, so many adults would stop and say ‘what is this? What are you painting?’ I was very shocked, because I thought it was so natural to anyone who looked at it. It turns out it’s not.
I wanted to add an element. I have the pink arrow, that gets your attention if you’re looking at your phone and walking. Then there’s this jumble of something that looks like someone just spilled paint, so you’re looking at this like, ‘is this wet paint? Should I be stepping in it?’ then your eye travels up and then you have this amazing maze, which has primary colors that blend into secondary colors, so that’s a bit of education for kids. Then your head goes ‘oh, I get it.’ Maybe you will be playful and you’ll take me up on it.
Do you know someone #MakingRaleigh? Reply to this email with ideas!
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Cutting through the noise for the news Raleighites should know and ways to take action.
Tips or topics you're curious about? Tap reply or email raleighconvergence@gmail.com.
ON HOUSING...
In a growing city, affordable housing is an issue. Wake County could see 920 affordable rental units added to the market after Wake County leaders agreed to loan developers $12.6 million, reports the News & Observer. The news organization said it’s the largest to date, but the practice isn’t uncommon.
“Affordable-housing developers often need tax credits and local governments aid to cover the cost of subsidizing units. The $12.6 million would be repaid by the various developers over 20 to 40 years with low interest rates,” reporter Anna Johnson writes. It could move forward if the projects get tax credits from the NC Housing Finance Agency. Read more.
A lack of affordable housing is one contributor to homelessness, but another challenge for people experiencing homelessness is the fragmentation of services. People dealing with the challenge of homelessness often have the time-consuming process of going from service to service to find what help is available. That’s why the Oak City Multiservices Center, which opened last week could be a huge help for our neighbors who need assistance. Because it puts multiple services under one roof, it saves time and transportation. The address is 1430 S. Wilmington St. in Raleigh. Homelessness affects at least 5,500 people in Raleigh per year. Read more.
ON GETTING AROUND...
The public transportation plans of today will shape our city's future.
Podcast Raleigh has an interview with Jeff Mann, the president of GoTriangle, the regional public transportation authority, which goes through what's next in detail, but a quick breakdown of what's next for Raleigh public transit via the GoTriangle federal funding app (spoiler alert: they got it!)
Building Raleigh Union Station, which includes a passenger train line that stops in other parts of the Triangle, including Cary and Durham, was just the first part of the plan.
Phase II (which is helped by a $20 million federal infrastructure grant) includes:
- a bus facility across the street from Raleigh Union Station,
- a bus rapid transit system (or BRT, which in this case would mean dedicated lanes for this faster, more efficient bus service),
- a commuter rail using some of the existing Amtrak rail that would connect Garner, downtown Raleigh, NC State, Cary, Morrisville, RTP and Durham (including taking the train to the airport!) more frequently throughout the day and evening,
- expanded overall bus service and rural, on-demand service,
- a mixed-use community with affordable housing component,
- and public space option. More info and proposed maps here
And btw: “multimodal” just means projects that factor in many transportation methods: bikes, buses, trains and yes, even cars.
SPEAKING OF PARKING...
There are proposed changes to downtown and Glenwood South parking, and the Downtown Raleigh Alliance is holding stakeholder meetings Tuesday and Wednesday.
City staff will be in attendance to listen, too.
On Tuesday, there are two sessions (one at 10 a.m., one at 6 p.m.) for downtown parking. On Wednesday, there are two sessions (also at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.) specifically about Glenwood South. RSVP here with the Downtown Raleigh Alliance.
HOW TO HELP DURHAM...
How common is a gas leak like the tragic event in Durham? In the last 20 years, there have been 44 incidents but no deaths before the event and explosion that killed a Durham coffee shop owner, Kong Lee, the News & Observer reports.
His children posted a tribute to their dad on the Kaffeinate Instagram, and since the family lost their only source of income, they asked for help as they figure out what’s next. You can contribute here.
ON RENTING YOUR PLACE FOR DREAMVILLE 2020....
AirBnB and mobile retail: Mark May 7 as a big day at the Raleigh City Council. Homestays (think being able to rent your home through AirBnB or VRBO) and mobile retail are on the agenda. Tell the city council what you think over the next few weeks before then.
IT'S LIKE THE GREENWAY... BUT WITH WATER.
A survey is now open for feedback on how you would like to use the Neuse River for recreation.
From the city site: "The Neuse River Blueway Plan will be a comprehensive vision for conservation and water-based recreation, which will inspire residents and visitors of the Triangle to get outdoors, reconnect with Raleigh's largest river and explore everything that the Neuse has to offer.
The online survey is intended to collect information about canoe launch improvements, potential new launch sites, program and recreational opportunities and gather input about how patrons experience the Neuse River." Take the survey and read more here.
ON SOCIAL JUSTICE...
Rape loopholes could be closed with a couple of state bills. North Carolina is the only state where consent can’t be withdrawn after beginning a sex act. “And while the law says sex with an incapacitated person is rape, a court precedent more than a decade old says the law doesn’t apply if the victim caused his or her own incapacitation through drinking or drug use,” the Carolina Public Press says.
#BlackMamasMatter: Mothers in the U.S. are dying at rates higher than any other developed country, and the CDC says 60% of the deaths can be prevented. Black mothers are two times more likely to lose an infant to premature birth and three to four times more likely to die of pregnancy-related issues than white mothers. Rep. Alma Adams, of High Point, co-led the formation of a Black Maternal Health Caucus with Rep. Lauren Underwood to seek solutions, and more lawmakers are signing on to make it a priority, The Hill reports.
HOT TICKETS...
Nas & Mary J. Blige are co-headlining a tour
This is not a drill. Tickets go on sale Friday morning at 10 on Live Nation for the July 25th concert at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek. (h/t Jed Gant)
Raleigh native David Sedaris is coming to Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts on Dec. 1. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, but local bookstore Quail Ridge Books shared a pre-sale code here to get in early.
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Upcoming ways to find community, give back and celebrate what’s happening in Raleigh.
THURSDAY: Entrepreneurs: WTF is a B Corp? The event by Bunker Brews at The Loading Dock will talk about this business structure and entrepreneurs (or aspiring entrepreneurs!) can network. (there are tons of other groups for meetups in tech that TechWire published)
FRIDAY: Passover begins Friday evening, and the Chabad Young Professionals Passover Seder is a way for young Jewish Raleighites to connect for the celebration.
SATURDAY: Barbecue + bluegrass + charity = ‘Cuegrass. Starts at noon. Tickets.
SATURDAY: If it’s for charity, it’s worth your kids’ sugar high, right? The City of Oaks Foundation Charity Easter Egg hunt at Joslin Garden is a fun option that helps children living in homeless shelters attend a week of summer camp with the $10 ticket. A huge list of Easter egg hunts is here on the WRAL Go Ask Mom blog.
SATURDAY: The first Yoga at the Farm at the Raleigh City Farm. 10-11 a.m. A portion of the proceeds benefits the urban farm.
SATURDAY: Pop-up Raleigh, a maker market at Trophy on Maywood, returns with its larger spring market with vendors outdoors. There will be food trucks and of course beer. 12-5 p.m.
SUNDAY: Ancillary Fermentation is popping up from 6-9 p.m. with a bubbles theme at the former Q Shack in North Hills, and it will include balloons, boba, bubbly wines, ASMR (it's a whole genre on YouTube/Instagram), bubble gum and DJ StoneZone. Address: 4120 Main at North Hills St., Raleigh, NC 27609.
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Share your story!
Were you born here? Came for college and stayed? Moved for love, a job, opportunity? There are many reasons why we’re in Raleigh, but was there a moment for you that made this place from a stop on the journey to your real hometown?
Our first Conversation is all about the draw — or staying power — of our growing city and the ways we define home. How did you end up here? Reply and tell us. We'll share some of the responses in future newsletters.
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Local business classifieds
No one likes crappy ads. Let's have useful ones instead! This is the paid section for local business messages. We keep 'em cheap for local businesses and useful for the readers. Read more here and submit your own.
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(📸: Crude Bitters)
Each week we'll feature something to do/see/eat/drink supporting local.
This week: Mix up a tiki drink using Crude Bitters' new Tiki 500.
The man credited with the tiki drink movement, Ernest Gantt (who later legally changed his name to Donn Beach) said "if you can't get to paradise, I'll bring it to you." If vacation is a mindset, making a tiki cocktail is a quick ticket to somewhere tropical.
Crude Bitters is releasing its fifth tiki bitters with toasted coconut, pineapple and allspice flavors and celebrating it with a kickoff this weekend in Downtown Raleigh. Their shop is the pink building across the street from Transfer food hall. Details here.
"I love rum and will sip on that by itself. I also enjoy the depth of flavor you get from a well-made tiki drink," Craig Rudewicz of Crude Bitters wrote to the Raleigh Convergence.
"We started making a tiki bitters five years ago because we wanted to contribute to that depth of flavor. There are not many "tropical" flavors of bitters, so I thought we should change that."
Previous tiki flavors included:
1. Banana
2. "Tiki Two-Two" (Roasted Pineapple and Vanilla)
3. "Tiki Threeki" (Toasted Coconut and Burnt Pineapple)
4. "QuarTiki" (Toasted Almond, Pineapple, Allspice)
" 'Tiki 500' is our fifth iteration of our tiki bitters, and the final winner of our race to the perfect tiki bitters," Craig says. "Tiki drinks, and bitters, should be playful and fun but have a great flavor."
Here's a tiki recipe to try with Tiki 500:
Royal Bermuda Yacht Club
(a daiquiri variation):
In a shaker with ice, add
- 2 oz aged rum
- .5 oz falernum
- .25 oz Cointraeu
- .75 oz fresh lime juice
Shake well and strain into a rocks glass (or elaborate tiki mug) over crushed ice. Add 8-10 drops Crude Coconut-Pineapple-Allspice bitters to top.
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Thanks for reading this week!
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