Experience the Best of Western Wake
5 West magazine is devoted to exploring and celebrating life in Cary, Morrisville, Apex, Fuquay-Varina and Holly Springs. This area repeatedly ranks among the top regions in the country to live or work, to find a home or start a business, to raise a family or retire. 5 West is dedicated to covering the topics readers care about – from hometown stories and community spotlights to fashion, food and local trends. Published six times a year, 5 West helps readers enjoy the good life that Western Wake County has to offer.
Fall Fashion: Dressed up, dialed in, and ready for wherever the season leads
Fall style doesn’t have to mean choosing between polished and practical. To create these looks, we brought together men’s and women’s pieces from some of the city’s standout local vendors.
As the Triangle continues to grow, the Parade of Homes offers a rare look inside the houses, communities, and design ideas defining the future of the region
For home lovers, design enthusiasts, and anyone who loves to peek inside a beautifully built house, the Triangle Parade of Homes is one of the region’s most anticipated annual events. What began decades ago as a showcase for local builders has grown into North Carolina’s…
The Drink Less, Drink Better Era
By Taylor Bowler | Puerto Rico native Doreen Colondres has built a career around making food and wine feel approachable, joyful, and deeply connected to culture.
How a café in downtown Raleigh feeds our hunger for human connection
By Amanda Lamb | In this column, I’ll focus on stories about people that are shrinking the space between us—people who have consciously decided to meaningfully connect in a digital age. It takes effort, but it’s worth it. I promise.
How Chef Michael Lee turned early food memories into a thriving restaurant group across the Triangle
By Dathan Kazsuk | Long before M Sushi became one of the Triangle’s most talked-about restaurants, and before Durham became the center of…
The local bakeshops that are skipping the hype and sticking to what works
By Deanna Martinez | In a world filled with towering milkshakes, glitter-drenched cupcakes, and desserts designed more for Instagram feeds than plates, some…
A conversation with jewelry designer Kenda Kistenmacher
By Sofia Lujan | Kenda Kistenmacher is the founder and designer behind the Raleigh-based jewelry brand Kenda Kist—a collection of hand-forged, everyday fine…
Raleigh Salon Earns National Honor for Giving Back
Bacio Salon in north Raleigh earns national recognition for work that goes beyond cuts, color, and everyday beauty-industry glamour.
12 Summer Travel Must-Haves for Families With Kids
By Sarah Seward | Sarah Seward of Drool & Co in north Raleigh shares practical travel items worth packing for summer trips with…
How to Keep Pets Safe During a Move to Cary
By Kate DeLuca | As Raleigh welcomes more new residents, FidoAlert shares why moving day can be risky for pets and how to…
Strategic steps to stretch your pantry and your dollar
By Grace Barker | Setting aside less than an hour a week to research and organize can strategically fill your cart with items…
Wine-spiration in the Blue Ridge Mountains
By Matt Weiss | A High Hampton wine experience in Cashiers resets one writer’s palate with inspired pairings, expert guidance, and three unforgettable…
A local PT’s guide to longevity on the links
By Sonali Sethi, PT, DPT | A golf swing needs as much power as it does precision, and both are impacted by how…
Serotone Swim is Redefining the Culture of Swimwear
By Kyle Marie McMahon | Named after the “feel-good” chemical serotonin, Serotone Swim is built on the belief that when we feel supported—literally…
How self-care has affected approaches to men’s grooming
Story by Samantha Carson | In the past, men coming into a barbershop might expect a simple haircut and shave, maybe a hot towel. Today,…
JC Raulston Arboretum celebrates five decades of diversifying the Southeast landscape
Story by Beverly Hurley | What was once Raleigh’s best-kept secret is today recognized as one of the nation’s premier arboretums, with a plant collection…
A Weekend at Leatherwood Mountains Resort
By Jennifer Primrose | At Leatherwood Mountains Resort in Ferguson, the High Country opens up—miles of horse and walking trails, and just enough…
How Personal Style Shapes Your Living Space
By Rachel Danielle | This exercise shows how you are already creating and showing up for your vision and how you can pull…
Lifeguard certification through the YMCA
By Dolly R. Sickles | A national lifeguard shortage means that your local pool this summer is likely to have shortened hours because there…
The Rise of Private Training in Youth Sports
By Kurt Dusterberg | Dan Gill has coached softball for more than 15 years. After years as head coach at Apex Friendship HS, he…
