December 2020

It has often been said and stated and even written into stone: the kitchen is the heart of the home. And yet with a sprinkle of inspiration, a pinch of imagination and a nose for nostalgia, it’s possible to take a short journey back in time and see that it is the hearth — once…

Every year at Thanksgiving, restaurateur Ash Aziz feeds the homeless at his restaurant on Front Street. This year, the plan was modified for safety to take away containers and only outdoor seating, but the food rivaled a feast fit for a king.  Homeless shelters and food programs are adjusting to meet increased challenges during the…

Evenings full of turkey or ham, mashed potatoes, asparagus, stuffing and cranberry sauce will always be considered the classically Christmas meal. However, holiday mornings can offer an even more quintessentially nostalgic meal. Biscuits, cinnamon rolls and pastries, sausage, hash brown or grits, casseroles, eggs Benedict or bagels and lox — whatever the spread includes, a…

Christmas is going to be different this year. Concerts, plays and festivals have been canceled, and many of the events that usually characterize the holiday season just won’t work amid a pandemic. While there’s nothing wrong with mourning the traditions we must set aside, we can also take the opportunity to simplify what is usually…

David Starbuck and wife, Michelle, were in Alaska on a fly-fishing trip, waiting on shore for their ride. As the boat to pick them up rounded the corner and came into view, all the passengers on board pointed at the Starbucks and screamed, “Bear!” A rather large grizzly was walking their way and the only…

The famous lyrics from Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” might immediately come to mind when viewing the whimsical sculptures that dominate the downtown skyline in Wilson, North Carolina. After viewing the approximately 30 sculptures — popularly called whirligigs — that make up the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park, it definitely seems like a worthwhile question. A more intriguing…

With the installation of 100 large-scale photographs on office buildings and storefronts for the sixth edition of the Eyes on Main Street photo festival, historic downtown has transitioned into an outdoor art gallery. The nearly 200-day event runs from Oct. 31, 2020 to May 16, 2021. It runs for about a mile and encompasses nine…

Planning a wedding is no easy feat. It can take months to put together. There are so many details that go into creating an unforgettable day that will propel a couple into their new life together. But what happens when a pandemic jeopardizes that planning? While many couples have opted to postpone their weddings, others…

The year started off great for the local film industry and is finishing on a high note after a pandemic-related dip. “2019 was the best year we had in five years. The momentum from that was strong through January and February, and then COVID hit and everything came to a grinding halt,” says Johnny Griffin,…

In its many shapes and forms, water acts as a source of strength, relaxation, inspiration, and even activism. Starting in early December, Wrightsville Beach Museum, in partnership with the North Carolina Humanities Council, will host “Water/Ways,” a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian. The purpose is to celebrate and explore the relationship of water to a…