Honoring the Past, Building a Future
Every now and then, revitalization stops being an abstract hope and becomes something you can touch. My daughter and son-in-law took me to dinner in Rocky Mount, my first visit to a fairly new restaurant called Lilyann’s Steakhouse. I walked in curious. I left deeply moved. Lilyann’s is 'grown-up' in the best sense of the … Continue reading Lilyann’s Steakhouse: More Than A Meal
I hope you’ve spent time with Yalem, either at The Prime Smokehouse or at NABS Deli and Coffee Shop. She has now released a new cookbook. Part of Yalem’s worldview is that we are all tied to something larger. Her culinary journey, from Ethiopia to everywhere life has taken her, has taught her that no … Continue reading Rocky Mount’s Beautiful Lady: Yalem Kiros’s New Cook Book
The Prosecutors Summation to the Jury. It is not easy to hold two truths at once. That OIC has brought real good to this community: yes. That the tutoring programs, the workforce training, the wraparound services have helped people climb out of hardship: yes again. But it is also true that when council members sit … Continue reading The Prosecutors Summation: OIC and the Question of Public Trust
Congratulations to Brandon and Travis, and everyone who contributed to this fantastic achievement! The same wonderful owners, the same great food, and the same attentive staff have now found a new home with ample parking and seating. The interior design, which I’d describe as delightfully 'fun'. The bar area is so inviting you might just … Continue reading From Vision to Reality: Welcoming Barley & Burger to Its New Home Doors Open Today!
This beautiful photograph from Larema Coffee House’s social media has quickly become my new favorite image capturing the art of preservation. Morning light streams softly into this thoughtfully repurposed bank, bringing the past and present into a shared glow. When I visit Larema, I imagine the whispers of the building’s history—customers cashing checks, parents setting … Continue reading Larema Coffee House: A Beacon of Preservation in Downtown Rocky Mount
Main Street Rocky Mount 