May 2023

Eclectic style is multifaceted and difficult to pull off, but Wilmington homeowner and interior designer Paula Warren nailed it in this stunning renovation of the Miles Costin House. Paula and husband, Chan Warren, purchased the historic home on 5th Avenue in downtown Wilmington in 2020 and have spun it into a masterpiece. All 22 rooms…

This is the time when locals turn over the beaches we treasure all year long to visitors to enjoy for a few short months. As you prepare for the influx of visitors, we bring you the story of the Wilmington Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Unit. This unit was catapulted into the limelight in 2022 when…

A quick stroll through the busy streets of downtown Wilmington involves many sounds, but the most memorable might be the clip-clop of horses’ hooves. Comet, Crescent, Elton and Ranger, the Wilmington Police Department Mounted Unit’s equine officers, are frequently on patrol, maintaining crowd control — which can involve clearing sidewalks — and preventing fights from…

It started about six years ago in Mexico. A group of female abstract artists experimented with a week of communal painting at the Instituto de Allende in San Miguel de Allende. Artist and gallery owner Merry Calderoni hosted the group, which stayed at a bed and breakfast she owned with her husband, Ben. It was…

Derek Brunson stands inside the caged ring at the Ogden YMCA Activity Center, giving final instructions to fighters who are about to battle it out. The April 2023 event was an Ultimate Battle Grounds MMA (mixed martial arts) tournament. “Martial arts is about respect and discipline. It provides structure and confidence,” says Brunson, No. 9…

The job market is strong, unemployment is low, and the number of job openings are plentiful. This is especially true in the restaurant and hospitality industry, as it is not uncommon to see “Help Wanted” signs posted on windows and websites. Cape Fear Community College is helping prepare highly qualified applicants for such positions through…

Day 1 Up at 4 a.m., the hunter walked quietly through his dark kitchen and out the back door to his truck, careful not to disturb his family. It was the opening week of the spring gobbler season. He had permission to hunt on a friend’s farm and three days of vacation. He layered his…

Days are getting longer, temperatures are rising, and the beach is buzzing with more life on and off the water. Boat owners are “dusting off” their boats and getting out on the water for inaugural trips. If you’re a boater, the Cape Fear Sail & Power Squadron is a great organization to know as summer…