Features

Presenting the Wake Living Readers’ Choice Awards

Longleaf Swine Best New Restaurant When it comes to Best New Restaurant, Longleaf Swine, located in Raleigh’s historic Oakwood neighborhood, smoked the competition. Their award-winning offerings include traditional Eastern North Carolina whole-hog barbecue, Texas-style brisket and ribs, and culinary-focused sides and specials. “When you come to visit with us, you're stepping into a friend's house... Read More

Pay it Forward: Arts Access

When Carl Borriello lost his sight in his early 50s, he decided he wasn’t going to lose his independence. He reclaimed some of that independence through an avenue not typically associated with the visually impaired: the arts. When Borriello attends a movie at the North Carolina Museum of Art, takes in a theater performance, or... Read More

Small Business Spotlight: Rush Hour Karting

Do you have the need for speed? If so, Rush Hour Karting — owned by Adam and Tamer Saad — has everything you need to fuel your passion. “I was born and raised in Garner, NC,” said Adam Saad. “An actual native! My family is from Egypt, and they moved here a couple of years... Read More

Raven & Phoenyx

True to their names, Raven (#51) and Phoenyx (#88) Kimball like to fly — around the track, that is. Phoenyx, 15, and Raven, 20, both began their racing careers at Rush Hour Karting in Garner when they were still in elementary school. In 2020, Phoenyx’s need for speed expanded beyond the go-kart world and sent... Read More
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Food + Dining

Celebrated Spirits: Piglette Grisette (4.2%)

Sour, bring, and downright easy, grisettes are the traditional Belgian table beer for summer: low alcohol, easy to drink, but chock full of flavor. This version hits all the high notes, balancing a little tang with some bright lemongrass and nectarine nuances from the light Idaho 7 dry-hop. With all its gentle complexity, Piglette is... Read More

Celebrated Spirits: Mary Me

1 ounce Conniption Gin 1 ounce Aperol 0.5 ounce Simple syrup Dash Rizzo Rosemary / Grapefruit Bitters by Crude Bitters and Sodas 1 ounce club soda 2 ounces shaved ice Combine ingredients through bitters in a shaker. Shake. Strain over ice and top with club soda. Garnish with a dehydrated orange slice. About Tonbo: Tonbo... Read More
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Life + Style

Erica Chats: The Benefits of Daily Doses of Gratitude

Do you practice gratitude in your daily life? If not, you should. I know. Life is hard. But before you roll your eyes and turn the page, consider the effect embracing gratitude could have on your life. Research shows that gratitude leads to a happier, healthier life. But what exactly is gratitude, and why is... Read More

The Gatorbug Boutique

The story of The Gatorbug begins with family. In the early 2000s, family matriarch Patricia Bishop and her daughter, Dawn Carter, decided to start a small business selling women’s accessories and giftware. Instead of a traditional brick and mortar, they sold their merchandise at Junior League shows and holiday convention gift shows. Dawn’s niece, Sydney... Read More
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Home + Garden

Garden Adventurer: Strange Beauty: Pineapple Lilies

Pick any ornamental perennial for your flower garden, and it will certainly be unique in its own way. However, there are some plants that insist on being unique in their own strange way. The pineapple lily (Eucomis sp.) is a perfectly strange example. Soon after its bulbs are planted in the spring, long, weird, strap-like... Read More

Garden Adventurer: The Bodacious Crossvine

Have an ugly fence or wall in need of being dressed up? Trellis looking bare and bland? Like the idea of lounging under a canopy of living shade? Searching for a vertical landscape accent? If your answer is “yes” to any of these questions, I have a solution, but it might not be for the... Read More
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travel

Down the Road: Greensboro Science Center

Craving a wildlife fix? The North Carolina Zoo isn’t the only option! Just over an hour up the road, the Greensboro Science Center (GSC) is NC’s only dually accredited AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) and AAM (American Alliance of Museums) science attraction — an honor only 14 attractions in the nation can claim. In... Read More

Beautiful Beaufort by the Sea

When searching for the best way to describe Beaufort, South Carolina, two words immediately come to mind: hauntingly beautiful. The moss that drips from the trees, the gentle sway of the salt marsh, the shafts of sunlight streaming through the canopy of live oaks above. It’s almost as if you’ve stepped into a Nicholas Sparks... Read More
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On Trend

On Trend: Permanent Jewelry

As you might have seen on social media, permanent jewelry is having a moment — which is great news for those of us who have trouble keeping track of things (or simply crave a little permanence in our lives). “Permanent jewelry consists of gold-filled and sterling silver bracelets, rings, and necklaces that are custom fitted... Read More

On Trend: Eco-Friendly Outdoor Gear

If you're heading outdoors this time of year for a hike or camping trip, you likely already have a fondness for nature, and what better way to sustain it than by using ecofriendly gear from green-savvy companies? At Apex Outfitter and Board Co., office manager Chanel Bennett points to several brands that are popular with... Read More
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