Sazerac
Sazerac November 2026
INDIE SCENE
Since its founding, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts has been a launching pad for remarkable creative talent including seven-time Primetime Emmy-nominated cinematographer Chris Ellison. Ellison’s career in film was hardly a straight line. It had a few detours, a few odd jobs, then, eventually, a whole lot of jungle. Born and raised in North Carolina, Ellison moved from Raleigh to Rocky Mount after graduating from Rocky Mount Senior High School, eventually landing in Winston-Salem in 2006. His reason for moving? Music. Ellison was playing in a band, Sunset Greets the Moon, and soon found himself immersed in Winston-Salem’s arts scene. Apparently, one creative pursuit was not enough.
A few years after settling in Winston-Salem, Ellison toyed with graphic design. “I never really decided to do that. It was something that just happened to me,” he says. Eventually, all those creative side quests pointed him toward filmmaking. In 2015, Ellison enrolled at UNCSA, earning a dual degree in cinematography and creative producing. It was a major change, but one that arrived at exactly the right time. “I was at a point where I wanted to make some changes about my future and it all just lined up.”
After graduating, Ellison did what countless aspiring filmmakers have done before him: He headed west. “I packed up my station wagon and drove to Los Angeles,” he says — with his heading into the setting sun, a fitting and dramatic cinematic gesture. From there, Ellison worked his way up from assistant camera operator on sets to cinematographer on some of television’s most recognizable adventure programs, including The Amazing Race and Survivor. His work has earned multiple Primetime Emmy nominations, including two for outstanding cinematography for a reality program. He has also survived 12 seasons of Survivor, which means he has arguably spent enough time in the jungle to qualify as local wildlife. “I never really traveled much growing up, so this side of the industry has opened up another world that I never really got to see,” Ellison says. His filmmaking career expands beyond television screens. He directed and shot his own short film, Peach Bottom, proving that even after working on massive productions, there is still something satisfying about making personal projects. “It was a fun little exercise to just make something for myself,” he says.
From band practice in Winston-Salem to Emmy-nominated cinematography, Ellison’s story is a reminder that creative careers do not always follow a map. Sometimes, you just go in different directions and see where the road takes you.
— Joi Floyd
JOI DE VIVRE
Chef Joi-yardee: Dad is a man of many hats: a barber, Bigfoot conspiracy theorist and father to amazing children (myself included, obviously). But it’s his chef’s hat that stands proudest. Known for his delicious recipes, he honed his skills through family recipes and good old-fashioned trial and error. I know what you’re thinking: Joi, you must be an amazing cook as well. Well, I’d be a liar if I let you believe that — and my mother taught me better than to fib. I have been known to burn hot dogs, for goodness’ sake — you can’t be great at everything. That isn’t to say my dad didn’t try to teach me the brass tacks of cooking. He did, but it must have gone in one ear and out the other because, unfortunately, I retained very little of that information. I remember the many hours I would spend in the kitchen with my dad, whipping up dinner while my siblings sat at the kitchen table, praying for an edible meal. I even went as far as saying I wanted to be a chef in my younger years — let’s just say that dream is on the back burner, never to be revived. At the beginning of 2026, one of my New Year’s resolutions was to finally put my apartment kitchen to work. So, unfortunately for my roommates, I stuck to my goal this year. Starting from the bottom with different ramen recipes, I proudly report that I am able to make a full-blown spaghetti-and-garlic-bread dinner — a win in my cookbook. I’m far from the best, but I’m getting better, dish by dish. Could I be the next Gordon Ramsay? The haters, and maybe my roommates, will say no, but my stomach is satisfied. Though I’ve made good progress so far, I think I’ll refrain from troubling my family with any more experimental recipes — at least for this year. So as Thanksgiving marches in and the rest of the family prepares the feast, I’ll be sure to take my table-setting duty very seriously.
— Joi Floyd
ART TO HEART
“We as humans heal better when we’re in sacred spaces,” says Felicia Reed, a recognized fiber artist who travels the globe with a mission to bring people together through art and shared experiences. For Reed, art has the power to do more than simply inspire — it can help us heal and understand one another. She believes creative expression can create space for connection, conversation and transformation.
Her latest exhibition, PEACE, aims to create a sanctuary for community and unity. Through a thoughtfully curated collection of her own pieces plus juried artwork, Reed hopes to amplify a diverse range of voices while creating a sense of belonging for artists ranging from emerging to established. “I try to create exhibits that remove barriers, break glass ceilings and provide a place where everyone can be included and recognized,” Reed says.
“Art mediums can bring people together,” she says, “where biases can be removed, expressions can be provided, dialogue can be opened, inspiration can be received and understanding can come visually.” Through this kind of artistic transformation, Reed hopes to move humanity one step closer to unity, gathering people together in the sacred space she’s created with PEACE. Art invites us to pause, see the world through another person’s eyes, and discover something new in the process. As French artist Edgar Degas famously said, “Art is not what you see but what you make others see.”
Reed’s PEACE exhibit will be on view in the Central Gallery of Revolution Mill through Jan. 2, 2027. Come expecting meaningful dialogue and leave with a renewed appreciation for the power of art. Info: eventbrite.com/e/peace-art-exhibit-opening-reception-and-networking-tickets-1992674068781.
UNSOLICITED ADVICE
Change is inevitable, everyone and everything must evolve — except when it comes to Thanksgiving favorites. Altering the mashed potatoes or watergate salad is fine, but when it comes to the classics, let’s refrain from any modifications. There is no greater horror for us than sitting down to a plate of creamed-spinach casserole — don’t mess with Great-Grandma’s classic green bean casserole. But gone are the days where turkey shines brightest. Side dishes and desserts are the real stars, so we need to make sure they are decadent and exact each time. We’ve arranged a list of Thanksgiving eats that will definitely cause some family discourse if you happen to meddle with its secret formula.
You can experiment with a lot of different foods, but macaroni and cheese ain’t one of them. Health-conscious troopers look forward to reveling in its richness just this once, so, no, Aunt Sally, we don’t want to try your new veggie-style, dairy-free, gluten-free mac and cheese. Gooey and creamy is the only way to whip it up.
Chopped, glazed then baked, candied yams are an underrated sweet staple to our annual savory feast. There’s nothing like the sugary, sticky syrup from the yams inching its way into the aforementioned macaroni piled on your plate. We couldn’t imagine a feast without them.
A pumpkin pie slice and everything nice is a great way to end the seemingly endless feast. Passed down from generation to generation, it’s a dish not to be tampered with — Great-Great-Great-Grandmother says so.
P.S. Take all of this advice lightly. We just want you to make the best of this day full of gratitude and rejoicing without unnecessary food drama. As always, remember, Thanksgiving isn’t about what you take but about what you give. Spending time with friends and family? That’s the real main dish.
Window on the Past
Photograph Courtesy of Irving Park Art & Frame
Curated by Phillip Humphrey Musselwhite, this shadowbox is more than a collection of keepsakes — it’s a life story, carefully laid out and framed by Irving Park Art & Frame. Honoring his late father, James Earl Musselwhite, the piece brings together handwritten letters, military medals, rank patches and memorabilia from his formative years during World War II. Each artifact offers a glimpse into the man behind the memories, preserving not only where he served, but the lasting impression he left on the people around him.
