September 2020

Hitting the open road with the windows down, music up, and breathtaking views framed by the windows and doors of your trendy conversion van might sound like a dream. The idyllic lifestyle is promoted on social media, where beautiful millennials showcase their picture-perfect van-dwelling lives. But what is it really like to travel across the…

Bill and Debbie Rudisill had the grandchildren on their minds when they started talking about building a house at the beach. The perfect piece of oceanfront property at the exact location the Rudisills had envisioned popped up, and in collaboration with Stone-Montgomery Construction and Gathered, the Rudisills brought back the classic, iconic Wrightsville Beach beach…

Some people are born with a special kind of magic, an innate spark that spreads like wildfire to everyone they meet. Edna Appleberry was one of those infectious people. She is not a household name, but she ought to be. Her efforts as a naturalist and a birder helped bring Wilmington fame as a natural…

The pure pigments that burst out of every corner of a Jeri Greenberg painting tell the story of a master immersed in her craft. The eyes and faces of her figures are arresting, the composition of each piece pulls the viewer deeper into its world, and even a crumpled sheet or teacup has a story…

Some hobbies require a significant upfront investment to acquire the necessary equipment. Not so with birding. There could not be a simpler start to a lifelong learning pastime than to just start observing the birds in your area. “Mom and I were in the backyard just this week and saw a bald eagle fly over…

Even with the surge of the coronavirus, people still want to venture outdoors. To make that happen, vacationers are flocking to recreational vehicles (RVs) in record numbers. Staying in an RV is a safer way to navigate the pandemic than flying somewhere and using a hotel. “Camping is a perfect vacation during COVID-19. It’s outdoors…

This spring, NASA’s Near-Earth Object Wide-field Survey Explorer mission detected a new comet. Dubbed NEOWISE for the origin of its discovery, it was visible during the month of July and then disappeared, not to be seen again for another 6,766 years. Kate LeCates documented the rare sight in a 10-second exposure from Fort Fisher on…

White chocolate Oreo candy bars.— Joel Zuiker Boiled peanuts, crab legs, chips and salsa.— Lisa Wayne Ice cream— Rhonda Jacobs Beef jerky.— Katelyn Benton Almond butter.— Valerie L. Robertson Clam dip, always clam dip. — Rufus Temple Massive quantities of pizza.— Kim Futrell Chicken Alfredo.— Jennifer Lopez Bananas or banana bread.— Sydney Jones White cheddar Cheez-Its.—…

Residents of the Cape Fear have more time on their hands than ever since the coronavirus forced the economy, schools, team sports and businesses deemed nonessential to shut down. With so many people dealing with business closures, facing a temporary hiatus or working remotely, all the kids doing remote learning, and social distancing making many…

It seems the annual Pier-2-Pier Swim Race is always facing challenges. A massive swarm of jellyfish drifted into swimmers mid-race a few years back. Hurricane Florence canceled the event two years ago. Hurricane Dorian nearly stopped it last year. Even though it’s now facing a pandemic, the event held in memory of Ryan Alea Young…