Lifestyle

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LIFESTYLE 2/23/25 4:12pm

Piedmont Shakespeare Company brings free professional theatre to Triad

By Megan Walsh

This summer, the Piedmont Shakespeare Company will open its inaugural season performing Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” across six locations in the Piedmont-Triad area. The company was created by Elon professors David McGraw, serving as executive director of the company, and Kim Shively, serving as a co-artistic director, alongside University of North Carolina School of the Arts professor Carl Forsman. It aims to bring free Shakespeare to people all over the Piedmont Triad region. On Feb. 15, the company announced auditions will be held on March 2 at Elon and March 9 at UNC School of the Arts.

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LIFESTYLE 2/18/25 8:31pm

’Health and Healing’ promotes health through intentional eating, cooking

By Monika Jurevicius

Elon community members sat around El Centro’s kitchen island for the Black History Month “Health and Healing” event Feb. 17. The Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education hosted the event with Elon Counseling Services to open the space to promote intentional eating habits with balanced meals. CREDE student coordinators facilitated the event by making “hidden” veggie mac and cheese, quinoa popcorn chicken and chocolate zucchini bread, while having discussions about health and wellbeing on campus. This was the CREDE’s fourth event in their Black History Month Calendar.

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LIFESTYLE 2/18/25 1:34pm

Rising rent prices force Persnickety Books to relocate

By Abigail Hines

Persnickety Books is leaving downtown Burlington and moving into a new location due to an increase in rent cost, according to co-owner of Persnickety Books Ian Baltutis. Persnickety Books will be temporarily closing at the end of this week and plans to reopen by the beginning of March. Baltutis purchased Persnickety Books in 2019 from its former owners. The new store, located at 703 E Davis St., is “comparable” in size to the space they’re in now but has a much different layout. Baltutis said he’s excited to see how Persnickety will change with the new space. 

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LIFESTYLE 2/15/25 2:45pm

Late Night Elon hosts Stuffed with Love event to close out Valentine's Day

By Alannah Klingsporn

Students packed Moseley Center on Feb.14 as Late Night Elon celebrated Valentine's Day with "Stuffed with Love." Briston Witt, a coordinator of Student Involvement who organizes Late Night Elon events, said the event was meant to bring people together for the holiday."As cliche as it sounds, I do think all we need is love. I think when you get back to the core of that, that is what is most important," Witt said. "I just wanted to create a space where students can come and celebrate that."

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LIFESTYLE 2/14/25 5:27pm

Elon University Truitt Center to host Ripple Conference, engage attendees through interfaith work

By Trista Panagakos

Elon University will be hosting the Ripple Conference, an annual interfaith and spirituality conference that includes people from across the country to meet in small breakout groups, hear from a keynote speaker and panel, and work on an art and service project. The conference will be held from Feb. 21 to 23, is the largest interfaith conference in the southeast and this will be its tenth year. This year the theme of the conference is the art of interfaith. This theme will explore the ways art is used by faith and religious communities and how that unifies the different spiritual communities.

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LIFESTYLE 2/10/25 9:31pm

Elon art exhibition highlights gender identity, representation

By Abigail Hobbs

Melissa Wilkinson introduced her art exhibition “Queens and Monsters” on Feb. 10 at Gallery 406 in Arts West. About 50 spectators watched as Wilkinson described her inspiration for the exhibit, which features celebrities, roller skates and classic ’80s motifs. The exhibition looks at gendered gaze, noting how the surveyors are typically masculine and the surveyed is feminine. Wilkinson said she wanted to change the dichotomy in this work. The exhibition will be displayed in Gallery 406 in Arts West until March 13.

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LIFESTYLE 2/9/25 2:56pm

Tiny Shelf hosts student performers to celebrate Black History Month

By Monika Jurevicius

Belk Library turned into a stage to celebrate Black musicians with student performers on Feb. 7 at its Tiny Shelf concert series. This was the second event in the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education’s Black History Month calendar, following the Black History Month Kickoff. Four groups were featured during the event, along with the CREDE testing audience members on Grammy Trivia focusing on Black musicians during transitions. The Tiny Shelf concert, inspired by NPR's Tiny Desk series, was hosted by Elon’s campus radio WSOE and the CREDE.

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LIFESTYLE 2/8/25 1:27pm

Local businesses play cupid’s helper for Valentine’s Day shoppers

By Megan Walsh

The bright petals of flowers and the sweet smells of fresh-baked desserts — just two common Valentine’s Day gifts that local businesses in Elon and Burlington are ready to serve up. As Valentine’s Day approaches, both Roxie’s Florist in Burlington and Cakes, etc. by Cindy in Elon are preparing for an increase in orders and purchases. Roxie’s Florist is already taking orders for students who are looking to purchase bouquets, and Cakes, etc. by Cindy will begin putting out Valentine’s treats and selling treat boxes this week.

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LIFESTYLE 2/8/25 10:38am

Asian-Pacific Student Association, Chinese Club, Truitt Center host the 9th annual Lunar New Year festival

By Kate Gray

Elon’s Asian-Pacific Student Association and Chinese Club kicked off the Lunar New Year on Feb. 7 with song and dance performances, a buffet of traditional food and snacks, and activities such as origami and calligraphy. The Lunar New Year is historically a time for renewal, reflection and connection with others. The holiday marks the beginning of a new year on the lunisolar calendar and is observed in many Asian countries. For some, APSA events like Lunar New Year are a way to connect to their heritage and bond with fellow Elon students.

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LIFESTYLE 2/7/25 4:24pm

“Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812” creates, fosters connection

By Megan Walsh

The lights go down, the room fills with the sound of the accordion as the stage begins to lighten and the melodic voices of the cast join in, telling the story of “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812.” The show, based on a section of Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace,” is Elon University’s winter musical, which is set to be performed Feb. 7 through Feb. 9 in McCrary Theatre. Featuring only one line of spoken dialogue, the show is almost completely portrayed through song.

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LIFESTYLE 2/6/25 3:40pm

Huemanity of People showcases inclusive excellence through storytelling

By Lilly Molina

The Huemanity of People is a storytelling project sponsored by the Office of Inclusive Excellence and Education. Its goal is to showcase the wide range of diversity that makes up Elon, according to Randy Williams, vice president of inclusive excellence and education. The project started with a blank wall. Williams said when the division of inclusive excellence and education emerged out of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were many empty walls within the second floor of the Powell Building where their offices are located.

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LIFESTYLE 2/6/25 9:12am

Elon encourages students to celebrate Black History Month at campus-wide events

By Trista Panagakos

As Black History Month begins, Elon’s Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education has planned nine events for students to celebrate and educate themselves about the month and their identity. The Black History Month celebrations will end Feb. 28 with the Black Solidarity Conference. Other events include a Black Table Talk about legacy on Feb. 12 and a Health and Hustle event meant to teach students how to eat healthy on a budget while also maintaining their mental health. The CREDE is bringing a Carnaval celebration to Elon, with steel pan performers Feb. 26. 

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LIFESTYLE 2/5/25 8:38pm

Ora Teahouse brings handcrafted, ethically-sourced tea to North Carolina cafes

By Liya Rike

Ora Teahouse, launched in 2020, offers handcrafted tea blends and sustainably sourced products from countries like Japan, China and India. Customers can order online for shipping or find its products in select North Carolina stores through local partnerships. With a background in baking, Trista Sanford, founder of Ora Teahouse, uses her skills in flavor profiles to create teas that engage with all senses. For Sanford, tea isn’t just a beverage; it’s a means of connection, care and empowerment. Despite its success, running Ora Teahouse hasn’t been without challenges. Sanford described funding as a common hurdle for small Black-owned businesses.

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LIFESTYLE 2/3/25 10:07pm

Black History Month Kickoff honors Black innovation, influence, legacy

By Monika Jurevicius

Black History Month kicked off at Elon University on Feb. 3 with a celebration of this year’s theme, “This Is How We Do It: Honoring Blackness Through Influence, Innovation, and Legacy.” The Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education organized the event, placing emphasis on Black individuals that have been at the forefront of shaping culture and leading in fields of innovation, creativity and social progress. Assistant Director of the CREDE Abdul-Malik Harrison began the event by explaining that the selected theme was an example of how “Black and brown people unite together to make something out of nothing.” 

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LIFESTYLE 2/2/25 8:30pm

Department of Performing Arts brings Eden to Elon in Paradise Lost

By Evan Cooper

Elon’s Department of Performing Arts concluded its production of “Paradise Lost,” adapted from John Milton’s epic poem by playwright Erin Shields, on Feb. 2. This was the department’s fifth performance of the school year and the second stage play of the 2024-2025 season, after “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.” The production was directed by professor of theatre Susanne Shawyer, with senior Grace Minton as assistant director. Minton said Shawyer’s direction is reflected in the show’s minimalist set, costumes and scene composition. 

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LIFESTYLE 2/2/25 1:37pm

Elon Music Department hosts the first Joseph Bologne International Piano Competition

By Kate Gray

The inaugural Joseph Bologne International Piano Competition was hosted by the Elon University Department of Music on Feb. 1 in Yeager Recital Hall. The competition honors 18th century composer, violinist and conductor Joseph Bologne, known for being one of the first artists of African descent to follow European classical style. Twelve high school students competed, with first place winner Benjamin Luo from Raleigh, North Carolina earning $1000. The event was inspired by the discovery of a lost manuscript in the French National Library by professor of music Douglas Jurs and Eden Brown ʼ07.

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LIFESTYLE 1/29/25 10:17pm

Photo gallery: Elon sorority bid day 2025

By Elon News Network

Loy Center was filled with enthusiasm as potential new sorority members "ran home" for bid day on Jan. 29. Bid day is the final day of Panhellenic recruitment when potential new members, or PNMs, are formerly invited to join a specific sorority chapter. Panhellenic recruitment started on Sunday, Jan. 26 when PNMs visited each sorority individually, and ended with bid day on Wednesday, Jan. 29.

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LIFESTYLE 1/17/25 1:09pm

Elon University’s production of ‘Paradise Lost’ navigates free will

By Sarah T. Moore

Elon University’s winter play, “Paradise Lost,” explores the story of Adam and Eve from Satan’s perspective.  The play is an adaptation of John Milton’s 1667 poem of the same name yet still remains “remarkably relevant,” according to freshman Carter Sindelar who plays Adam. With its theme of free will and interpretations of the characters, Sindelar said he hopes the production gets audience members to be intentional about their actions.

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LIFESTYLE 1/15/25 7:59am

Best Of 2025

By Elon News Network

Based on surveys of students, faculty, staff, and local residents, Best Of 2025 highlights the best food, local businesses, sports and more in the area, providing a curated guide to community favorites.

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LIFESTYLE 12/30/24 9:37am

A man and his coffee: Burlington family business born from love

By Nia Bedard

Jim Young fell in love with coffee when he was 18 in Germany. After joining the military in 1983, he shipped out to Germany during the Cold War. Before leaving, Young only thought about coffee when he made it every morning for his first sergeant in infantry school. After serving in the army, Young ran an electronics store selling home theater setups and stereo systems. Young stuck with this job for 28 years doing the same thing over and over. Until one day he stopped loving it. So, Young returned to his first love, coffee. 

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