Features

Small Business Spotlight: The Vintage Teapot

For two local British women, using vintage tea services to create beautiful tablescapes is anything but dated. It’s an enduring tradition for modern times and the focus of The Vintage Teapot, which serves the region from its base in Fuquay-Varina. The Vintage Teapot is stocked with rentable tableware items including teacups, saucers, and more, all... Read More

Made for Shade

“It’s amazing to think that the Shibumi Shade has changed beach culture, changed the way families go to the beach. … We never dreamed that Shibumis would become so popular.” That’s Dane Barnes, who, together with his brother, Scott, and their best friend, Alex Slater, founded Raleigh-based Shibumi Shade 10 years ago. Since the wind-powered... Read More

Local Lit

Our local literary landscape glimmers with gems. From a pacey YA fantasy thriller to a trial-by-fire culinary memoir, distinctive guidebook to enthralling mystery, area authors are making waves way beyond Wake. This selection of books published thus far in 2026 showcases some of the diverse voices and stories that define our region. Whether you pack... Read More

2026 Pet Parade

Pets are our companions, our live-in comedians, and our family members. What better way to connect with readers than asking them to show off their best buddies? Thank you to everyone who submitted their furry (and feathered!) friends. Warning: Excessive cuteness ahead!
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Now + Next

Mother’s Day Events

Start planning now to make this Mother's Day the most memorable one yet! Mom deserves to be spoiled, and these events provide an array of opportunities to do just that. Kentucky Derby–Inspired Brunch May 2, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Prestonwood Country Club Break out your fanciest hat and join local nonprofit Violet Love... Read More
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Food + Dining

Catch the Smoke: Lawrence Barbecue Settles in Cary

If you’ve never ordered raw oysters with your fresh sliced brisket, you’ve never eaten at Lawrence Barbecue. Of course, these aren’t just any oysters. Chef/owner Jake Wood, who admittedly would choose oysters as the one thing he would eat for the rest of his life, says these are “literally the best oysters I’ve ever had... Read More

Recipes from Readers: Cake in a Cloud

Cake in a Cloud came about by accident. I needed a quick dessert and didn’t have a lot of time to prepare. I had enjoyed a similar dessert years before, but I had forgotten exactly how it was made, nor did I remember all the ingredients, so I looked around my pantry and developed a... Read More
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Home + Garden

Garden Adventurer: Oakleaf Hydrangea: Graceful Pizzazz

When it comes to a woody ornamental with regional roots that is not only dependable but dependably pretty, oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) gets high marks in my book. Native to the Southeast, it has been brought out of the woods to charm gardeners with visual grace, and, yes, even a tad of pizzazz. Oakleaf hydrangea... Read More

Garden Adventurer: Voodoo Gardening

In the dying light of an early spring day last year, I was giving stubborn weeds in my garden their long-overdue last rites with a sling blade when something out of the corner of my eye froze me in my tracks. There, below a vitex tree with bare limbs that reached out like bony fingers,... Read More
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travel

Mountain Air

Vibrant towns, mountain landscapes, cascading waterfalls, and outdoor exploration — you can find it all in the North Carolina High Country. Destinations such as Asheville, Boone, and Blowing Rock often headline a visit to the Blue Ridge Mountains, but there’s a quieter alternative overflowing with small-town charm that deserves a place in the spotlight. The... Read More

Escape to Edenton

“Edenton’s waking up,” says Inner Banks Inn proprietor Susan Martin Cyr about the scenic town tucked into the Albemarle Sound and surrounded by water on three sides in the state’s northeastern region. While it has long been considered a historical gem, Edenton has also been what Susan “would call a sleeper.” But now, she says,... Read More
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