by Elana Etten

I just wanted cilantro.

That's it. One little bunch of green herbs to finish off some tacos. I walked into Wegmans last Thursday afternoon with a singular mission—grab cilantro, maybe some limes, and get home before the cold snap hit.

What I walked into was a scene from a disaster movie.

The produce section looked like locusts had swept through. No romaine. No butter lettuce. No spring mix. Not a single shred of anything green and leafy anywhere in sight. I stood there, frozen (pun intended), watching a woman clutch the last bag of baby spinach like it was a winning lottery ticket.

I found myself thinking: Who is eating all this salad during a snowstorm?

Because here's the thing. I'm the daughter of a military family that retired down east, which means I consider myself a Southern girl with Northern roots. I can appreciate a good sweet tea and a homemade biscuit as much as anyone who grew up here. But I have to admit—after all these years—I still don't fully understand the Milk and Bread Phenomenon.

You know the one. The minute local meteorologists utter the word "snow," people descend upon grocery stores like they're preparing for the apocalypse. Bread flies off the shelves. Milk? Gone. And apparently now, vegetables.

The vegetables threw me.

In my mind, if I'm snowed in for two days, I'm making chili. Maybe some soup. Possibly eating cereal directly from the box while watching Netflix. I am not making a delicate farm-to-table salad that requires fresh produce.

But there I was, standing in the barren wasteland of the Wegmans produce aisle, wondering if Chapel Hill had suddenly become the world's most health-conscious disaster preppers. Did everyone simultaneously decide that being iced in was the perfect time to finally commit to eating more greens?

I never found my cilantro.

The lime situation wasn't great either.

Eventually, I grabbed some jarred salsa, a bag of tortilla chips (also picked over, but I got the last one), and called it a day. The tacos would survive without their fresh herb garnish. I would survive.

And now, of course, we're staring down the barrel of another potential winter system this weekend. Which means if you need lettuce, I'd suggest going right now. Today. Before the forecast gets any more specific and the panic shopping begins anew.

I'll be over here, accepting that my tacos may never know the taste of fresh cilantro again.

Stay warm, Chapel Hill.

What are y'all making with all that milk and bread? Hit reply and enlighten this confused military brat.

P.S. If you spotted an even stranger empty shelf this week, I need to hear about it. I'm convinced someone out there panic-bought all the tahini.

(Check venues for weather updates!)

Saturday's expected snow could impact events. Check venue websites and social media before heading out!

THURSDAY, JAN. 29 🎵 Johnny Sunrise and the Clouds – Cat's Cradle Back Room, 8 PM Tickets: catscradle.com ✂️ Himalayan Fried Chicken & Bar Ribbon Cutting – Chapel Hill Chamber event Info: carolinachamber.org

FRIDAY, JAN. 30 🤠 Chapel Hill Alt-Country Show – Cat's Cradle Back Room, 8 PM Davie Circle, The Jackson Slater Band, Bill Moore & His Secret Admirers, Yakamashii Tickets: catscradle.com 🎸 Josh Ritter – Haw River Ballroom, Saxapahaw, 8 PM Tickets: hawriverballroom.com

SATURDAY, JAN. 31 🎸 Josh Ritter – Haw River Ballroom, Saxapahaw, 8 PM (Night 2) Tickets: hawriverballroom.com 🤘 Mega Colossus, Mortal Man, Archaos – Cat's Cradle Back Room, 9 PM Tickets: catscradle.com

SUNDAY, FEB. 1 🎻 Bronwyn Keith-Hynes + Sugaree String Society – Cat's Cradle, 8 PM Tickets: catscradle.com 🎶 Candi Jenkins – Cat's Cradle Back Room, 8 PM Tickets: catscradle.com 🎼 A Little Night Music – Memorial Hall, 3 PM Carolina Performing Arts

MONDAY, FEB. 2 🏀 UNC vs. Syracuse – Dean Smith Center, 7:00 PM First 2,500 students get bucket hats! ⚠️ TRAFFIC WARNING: Expect heavy congestion on Manning Drive, Skipper Bowles Drive, and surrounding campus roads 1-2 hours before tip-off and after the game. Plan alternate routes or arrive early. Tickets: goheels.com 🎵 Friendship + Natalie Jane Hill – Cat's Cradle Back Room, 8 PM Tickets: catscradle.com

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 4 🎸 Matt Pryor – Cat's Cradle Back Room, 7:30 PM Tickets: catscradle.com

THURSDAY, FEB. 5 🎵 Bad Bad Hats + Smut – Cat's Cradle Back Room, 8 PM Tickets: catscradle.com 🎶 Fancy Gap + Lua Flora – Cat's Cradle, 8 PM Tickets: catscradle.com

FRIDAY, FEB. 6 🎸 Tobacco Road + Fudge – Cat's Cradle Back Room, 8 PM Tickets: catscradle.com

SATURDAY, FEB. 7 🏀 UNC vs. DUKE – Dean Smith Center, 6:30 PM LED wristbands for fans + Stripe Out (blue or white shirt on every seat)! ⚠️ TRAFFIC WARNING: This is THE rivalry game—expect MAJOR traffic and parking delays throughout Chapel Hill, especially on Manning Drive, South Road, and MLK Jr. Blvd. Downtown parking fills up fast. Arrive at least 2 hours early or consider Park & Ride options. Post-game traffic will be intense. Tickets: goheels.com 🎤 Jonah Kagen – Cat's Cradle, 8 PM (SOLD OUT) 🎷 No Cocker: Mad Dogs & Englishmen Tribute – Cat's Cradle Back Room, 8 PM Tickets: catscradle.com

THE FOLLOWING WEEK (Feb 9 – 11)

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: COMING UP

ONGOING 🏛️ "Community" Exhibition – Hillsborough Gallery of Arts (through Jan 25) Work from 16 local artists celebrating what binds us together 🏛️ Homes for the Holidays Gingerbread Displays – Downtown Hillsborough (through Feb 5)

SUNDAY, MARCH 8

Rose & Roses Soiree: The Power of Five | Graduate by Hilton, 311 W. Franklin St. | 5–8 PM | $50/one, $85/two | Cocktail attire | Benefiting Monet Richardson Community Foundation | secure.qgiv.com/event/mrcfa

If the ice storm threw a wrench in your plans to catch the Carrboro Film Fest last weekend, you're in luck. The 20th annual festival has been rescheduled to February 27 through March 1 at the Drakeford Library Complex in downtown Carrboro. Same great lineup, just a month later. Festival Director Bryan Reklis made the call to prioritize safety over screenings—and honestly, good on them. Twenty years of celebrating local and independent film deserve a proper audience, not a handful of brave souls who white-knuckled it down icy roads. Circle those new dates.

UNC'S CAROLINA NORTH IS FINALLY HAPPENING

After nearly 20 years of "someday," UNC is moving forward with Carolina North—a 230-acre development on the old Horace Williams Airport site along MLK Boulevard. The Board of Trustees just approved $8 million for planning, with groundbreaking expected in summer 2027.

What's coming? Student housing (2,200+ beds), research facilities, retail, dining, and green space connected to the Carolina North Forest trails. Chancellor Lee Roberts called it "both an opportunity and an obligation," given NC's explosive population growth.

The elephant in the room? Whether the Smith Center might relocate there. Roy Williams and Tyler Hansbrough have already recorded videos lobbying to keep basketball on campus. No decision yet, but expect strong opinions from Tar Heel fans everywhere.

This is the biggest expansion since UNC laid the cornerstone of Old East in 1793. Let that sink in.

THE WALK FOR PEACE CAME THROUGH—AND KEPT GOING THROUGH THE ICE

You may have seen the Buddhist monks on social media or heard they were headed our way. Last week, the 19 monks on their 2,300-mile Walk for Peace passed through Chatham County, drawing hundreds of onlookers along Highway 64 toward Pittsboro.

Chapel Hill resident Lin Oo, who migrated from Myanmar during the pandemic, was among those who greeted them. "We are people who love peace. Every people love peace," he said. "The world needs peace."

And then? They kept walking. Through the ice storm. In 21-degree weather. On frozen roads.

By Saturday, they'd reached the NC State Capitol, where Governor Josh Stein joined them and proclaimed January 24 as Walk for Peace Day—making North Carolina the first state where the governor personally welcomed them.

The monks are now headed toward Virginia and expect to reach Washington, D.C. by mid-February, where they'll ask Congress to recognize Buddha's day of birth as a federal holiday. You can follow their journey (and their rescue dog Aloka, who has his own fan following) on their Facebook page.

PITTSBORO UPDATES

A few things are happening in Chatham:

Lewis Freeman Park groundbreaking postponed — The ceremony was scheduled for January 24, but was pushed due to winter weather. New date TBD. Keep an eye out if you've been following this park project.

WCOM turns 20 — One of North Carolina's first low-power FM stations is celebrating two decades of volunteer DJs broadcasting diverse viewpoints, news, and cultural programming out of Carrboro. If you haven't tuned in, it's worth a listen at 103.5 FM.

New County Manager — Bryan Thompson has officially stepped into the role of Chatham County Manager, with a focus on managing the county's rapid growth and infrastructure needs. Big shoes, busy county.

HILLSBOROUGH: JURY DELIBERATES IN ORANGE COUNTY DOUBLE MURDER TRIAL

This one is heavy.

The trial of Issiah Ross, charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the 2022 deaths of 18-year-old Devin Clark and 14-year-old Lyric Woods, has moved to jury deliberations. The case has gripped Orange County for over three years—two teenagers killed in rural Orange County, a community searching for answers.

Ross took the stand in his own defense, and the closing arguments wrapped last week. The defense argued the shootings weren't premeditated and claimed self-defense; the prosecution says otherwise.

There are no winners here, as the defense attorney noted. Just a community waiting for a verdict—and two families who have been waiting far longer.

Chapel Hill Insider is your weekly guide to the people, places, and stories that make our community special. Know someone we should feature? Have a story tip? Reply to this email.

Big news: Ed King's beloved hand-drawn Chapel Hill Cartoon Map is now available digitally! In partnership with the original artist, we've brought this charming map—capturing every quirky corner and beloved business in our town—into the digital age.

Until next time,

Be in the know!