Hey everyone!
How was the weekend? Hoping it was a rejuvenating one for you all.
I am just arriving back to Nashville after a weekend away in Pinehurst, NC. My parents and I drove out early Thursday morning to spend the next few days watching Peter play golf and enjoy the warmer climate. It was a long jaunt from Nashville but absolutely worth the car time.
Although seeing family was the icing on the cake, my favorite part of the trip was heading to Chapel Hill on Friday for my birthday! Pete was playing his first round of three, so mom and I knew we'd catch him later on in the weekend. Our main goal of the trip was to visit the UNC Historic Basketball Museum. Have any of you been? Whether you enjoy the sport of basketball or not, it is an incredible museum to visit. The museum holds the letters sent to Michael Jordan when he was being recruited by both UNC and Duke. One of the letters from Dean E. Smith outlines the skills Jordan needed to improve on before heading into his freshman year. Amazing.
The museum was one stop of many-- mom and I were pleasantly surprised by the rest of Chapel Hill as well! It's the quintessential college town, filled with affordable fare, art, a few fun sports bars, and gorgeous botanical gardens. Can you tell I miss the whole college thing?!
Our first stop in Chapel Hill was lunch at Kipos Greek Tavern. I've been craving authentic Greek food for months, so three cheers for mom! She found the perfect spot. We enjoyed mezza, tomato and feta on baguette, and Greek veggies. When I was studying abroad in London my junior year of college, we had the most amazing Greek cuisine. I blame you, London, for making me into a total food snob.
If you ever find yourself in Chapel Hill, I highly recommend checking out Kipos!
Before
After
From lunch we strolled around the main street of Chapel Hill to see what else we could happen upon. This included a group of goons wanting their picture taken. Hey guys.
The Ackland Art Museum, affiliated with the university, had the absolute best gift shop! Artists from Brooklyn, LA, Miami, Charlotte, etc. graced the walls with their modern pieces. I ended up purchasing a necklace from artist Zoe Comings. She hails from Austin, TX and incorporates porcelain into her jewelry making. Lately I've been intentionally adding it to my travel list to find a unique piece of art/jewelry instead of buying souvenirs.
From there we jumped on the Tarheel bandwagon and walked the UNC campus. With a student population of about 30,000, walking the campus is no small feat! It weaves and bobs throughout the entire city, the culmination of the campus ending at the basketball stadium (of course). If there's one thing I love about the south, it's the architecture. The red brick buildings and budding magnolias are nothing short of perfection.
Pictured above is The Old Well, the visual symbol of UNC-Chapel Hill. Everyone around us was taking pictures next to it, so mom and I hopped up there and did so as well. We had NO clue what it meant/what is was. HA!
Pete was able to sneak away from the team for a few hours later that night, so we all headed to dinner nearby the course. I love how going out to dinner together used to occur without a head turn, and now it's the most cherished time if we can get it. I felt so spoiled getting not one but two dinners with them!
Last but certainly not least...
YOU GUYS! My nana bought me the long-awaited Spiralizer. If you live in the Nashville area and want to be a guinea pig for my zucchini pad thai, I'm your girl.
Hope you all have a wonderful rest of your Tuesday! Sending love your way.
-A