By Kyle Marie McMahon | Named after the “feel-good” chemical serotonin, Serotone Swim is built on the belief that when we feel supported—literally and figuratively—our entire presence changes.
Story by Samantha Carson | In the past, men coming into a barbershop might expect a simple haircut and shave, maybe a hot towel. Today, however, men’s attitudes have changed, and with them the services expected from barbershops. Self-care is not just a social media buzzword; men now associate their personal grooming with their sense…
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 unequaled in the Southeast. And it all started when a horticulturist from the wheat fields of Oklahoma came to Raleigh.
By Jennifer Primrose | At Leatherwood Mountains Resort in Ferguson, the High Country opens up—miles of horse and walking trails, and just enough quiet to remind you why you came to get away from the daily grind.
The transition to an empty nest is often framed as a period of loss—the loss of noise, the loss of frantic schedules, and, most commonly, the loss of square footage. But for Shane and Kerri Page, standing at the threshold of a new phase as their daughter, Zoe, prepared for college, the move from a…
By Jennifer Primrose | You think you know Myrtle Beach. The ocean. The boardwalk. The common rhythm of umbrellas, sunscreen, and sandy feet. But perspective changes everything, and at The Ellie Beach Resort, that shift happens the moment you walk onto the balcony.
From Murphy to Manteo, North Carolina is home to a variety of vibrant cities, each with its own unique charm. Whenever I travel across the state, I seek out places with gardens to enjoy. Here are just a few favorites.
Geocaching is a scavenger hunt for all ages. People around the world put items inside small containers called geocaches or caches and hide them for others to find using a set of coordinates. Caches can be hidden anywhere—I’ve found them everywhere from parking lots and public parks to deep in the woods, far from any…
Story by Sarah Merritt Ryan | The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Wake County has teamed up with the Wake County Public School System to begin piloting “Ending the Silence for Families” at 10 local schools. This crucial initiative provides parents and youth with the tools to recognize mental health warning signs…
Story by Kyle Marie McMahon | Five years ago, the Pimiento Tea Room in Holly Springs was a humble, grassroots beginning that perfectly foreshadowed what it would become: a place deeply rooted in hospitality, history, and community. Now, as they celebrate their fifth anniversary, the Griffiths have cemented their establishment not just as…
Story by Samantha Carson | The calendar flips to a new year, and with it comes the annual, silent promise: This time, I will exercise more. For many, that resolution leads straight to the intimidating, impersonal expanse of a big-box gym—a brightly lit battlefield of lonely treadmills and unused equipment. But the enthusiasm often dies.…
| By Dathan Kazsuk | When the air turns crisp and the leaves begin their slow, colorful descent, the call of the Blue Ridge Mountains becomes impossible to resist. Each year, North Carolinians flock to the western part of the state, eager to embrace the chill, the views, and the charm of small-town retreats. Whether…
| By Mario Boucher | In 1984, movie fans met a man with knives for hands and seemingly cute creatures that turned nasty in a hurry. The next year, Tony Wohlgemuth answered a teenage dare and turned a simple idea into a backyard nightmare that developed into the Spookywoods it is known as today. “At…
| By Kurt Dusterberg | For 13 seasons, he climbed the professional baseball ladder, often shuttling back and forth between Class AAA—the highest level of the minor leagues—and the major leagues. As a catcher with a strong bat, he found his way onto the big league rosters of six different teams from 2011 to 2019.…
| By Kurt Dusterberg | Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour spends most of his days living in the moment. For the past 37 years, his life has revolved around the National Hockey League’s schedule, where it takes 82 games across 6 months just to reach the playoffs. So it may come as a surprise that…
From Brunch to Bucket List
BY JENNIFER PRIMROSE | PHOTOS BY JESSICA BRATTON
In Holly Springs, something wildly unexpected has been happening, and we had to get to the bottom of it—a bloody mary revolution!
Enter Joshua Self, proprietor and manager at The Blind Pelican, who, alongside assistant bar manager Brianna Scott, has been turning heads with the…
Artist at Work
BY DOLLY R. SICKLES | PHOTOS BY JESSICA BRATTON
A registered nurse by training, Shalimar Waffa was on track to become a nurse anesthetist when she became pregnant with her daughter, Rowan, during the pandemic. “Rowan was my fourth pregnancy,” she says, “and a miracle baby.” Pregnancy gave her the perfect opportunity to step…
BY KURT DUSTERBERG
If you drive along NC Hwy 55 Bypass in Holly Springs on a summer evening, you might catch a familiar slice of Americana. On the east side of the highway, stadium lights splash across Ting Park, a modern baseball venue where the seats are often brimming with fans.
At first glance, the view gives…
What to know before you choose
BY SARAH MERRITT RYAN
When our son was 18 months old, my husband and I wanted him to learn to swim. We just chose the first swim school that came to mind—one that was reasonably close to our house. I assumed all swim schools were alike and that they were there…
By Dathan Kazsuk Let’s get one thing straight: There’s no shame in loving a good hot dog. Sure, it’s not caviar and an expensive bottle of French Champagne. It’s not a handcrafted sushi roll placed delicately on artisan rice. But when that frankfurter hits the grill, when the snap of that casing gives way to…
