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sean

58 articles published

People & Profiles

Holly Springs Celebrates the Holidays

Holly Springs Celebrates the Holidays BY JENNIFER AXNESS Holly Springs comes alive each holiday season with a variety of activities that offer something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for town-wide, family-friendly celebrations, a lively holiday farmer’s market or cheerful musical performances, this guide highlights some of the best ways to experience the Holly Springs holiday…

November 3, 20240Comments Bysean

Features Food Local Business

Having Their Cake—and Selling It Too

The often-maligned fruitcake has a loyal following thanks to a family business with a just-right recipe. BY KURT DUSTERBERG No matter how you approach Southern Supreme Fruitcake & More on your drive, you encounter long stretches of rambling countryside. This section of southwestern Chatham County is the kind of deep country where many roads are identified by…

November 1, 20240Comments Bysean

Features Nonprofit People & Profiles

Combating homelessness in Wake County—one family at a time

The Carying Place BY CAITLIN WHEELER | PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE CARYING PLACE Every January, Wake County conducts a “point in time count” to determine the number of its people experiencing homelessness. Since some homeless families do not stay in shelters and encampments, an accurate figure can be hard to pin down. “It’s really hard to figure…

November 1, 20240Comments Bysean

This Year’s Diamond Award Winners

Voting has begun for the 2025 BEST OF WESTERN WAKE and BEST OF RALEIGH Diamond Awards! Click here to vote for the Best of Western Wake 2025 Click here to vote for the Best of Raleigh 2025 Edit Text Editor Readers throughout the community voted for their favorite businesses, services and venues. Now, we are excited to…

September 3, 20240Comments Bysean

Features Local Sightseeing

Fun in the Sun on Jordan Lake

PICTURED ABOVE: A family enjoys a canoeing adventure on Jordan Lake. Photo courtesy of the Town of Cary. Camping, swimming and boating are great ways to spend warm summer days in Western Wake. BY DOLLY R. SICKLES North Carolina has 41 parks in its state parks system, along with 10 national park sites and four…

June 30, 20240Comments Bysean

Features Travel

Historic Resorts and Nostalgic Beaches Along the NC Coast

PICTURED ABOVE: Beach homes in popular Outer Banks vacation spot, Avon, NC. Photo by stock.adobe.com - Kyle. Beach Fun Back in the Day: NC Seaside Vacations a Century Ago. BY ERIC MEDLIN This summer, millions of people are taking at least one trip to visit the beaches of North Carolina. These visitors come from all 50 states and dozens of countries…

June 30, 20240Comments Bysean

Fashion Local Business

Style: Living in Color

This summer's looks embrace a vibrant fusion of retro aesthetics. BY SOFIA LUJAN STYLING | PHOTOS BY JESSICA BRATTON Breathable fabrics like linen offer cool comfort, while an emphasis on sustainable materials soothes the conscience. Bold, eye-catching patterns—reminiscent of the '60s and '70s—add a playful twist to classic silhouettes. Accessory trends lean towards oversized sunglasses, statement earrings and…

June 30, 20240Comments Bysean

Performing Arts

Showcasing the Next Generation of Artists

BY KYLE MARIE McMAHON | PHOTOS COURTESY OF KYLE MARIE McMAHON No matter where their art journey takes them, young artists deserve to be uplifted and supported. And The Fine Arts League of Cary (FALC) did just that when they hosted their annual Teen Exhibition last week in the Frankie G. Weems Gallery at Meredith…

May 22, 20240Comments Bysean

Performing Arts

Kaleidoscope: Paul Hrusovsky

Artistic Technique in “Sails” BY CHARLOTTE RUSSELL For Chapel Hill–based painter Paul Hrusovsky, each new work poses a fresh challenge. Laying out the composition in his mind, he intuitively applies acrylic paint to the canvas. Acrylic paint is his preferred medium because it dries quickly and allows him to move swiftly, grasping the subject’s energy, as…

May 2, 20240Comments Bysean

Sharing Love, Blending Cultures

BY KATIE DIXON For the team at Gonza Tacos y Tequila, the work centers on love. This is made evident by the family environment fostered in the kitchen, leading to long tenures for team members—chef Andy Maldonado and kitchen manager Tony Aldama have so far clocked eight and nine years, respectively, with the company. It’s also…

May 2, 20240Comments Bysean

Cape Fear Distillery: A Little Bit of Everything

From an art and memorabilia collection to a winery, a mini spa and a petting zoo—to, yes, a distillery—Cape Fear Distillery offers visitors an eclectic, multifaceted experience. BY DAVE DROSCHAK An affinity for collecting autographs, unique art and Hollywood memorabilia began innocently for Alex Munroe with a challenge from his older brothers. Six years old…

May 1, 20240Comments Bysean

Features History Performing Arts

If You Build It, They Will Come

North Carolina plays a leading role in film and television content production. BY MARIO BOUCHER North Carolina may not be Hollywood East, but film and television production here contributes significantly to the state’s economy. With productions using diverse landscapes and architectural styles for movies, television series and reality shows, locations across the state have been…

May 1, 20240Comments Bysean

Features History Home & Garden

The Lost Community of Crabtree Creek

Umstead Park’s ruins tell a story of North Carolina’s rural history. BY ERIC MEDLIN William B. Umstead State Park is one of the most-visited state parks in North Carolina. According to the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the park had over a million visitors in 2021. A large percentage of these visitors…

May 1, 20240Comments Bysean

Features Food People & Profiles

Cheetie Kumar: Rock Star Chef

You name it and James Beard Award–Nominated Chef Cheetie Kumar has probably done it. BY ELLIOT ACOSTA Between her time as an critically acclaimed chef, a restaurant owner, an entrepreneur, an independent restaurant advocate and a musician, Chef Cheetie Kumar has become celebrated throughout the City of Oaks as a multifaceted tour de force. But…

May 1, 20240Comments Bysean

Features Local Business

From Snug to Sumptious

PICTURED ABOVE: The exterior patio of The Mayton Inn in Cary looks out over Cary’s Downtown Park. The Mayton has built a strong relationship with the much-celebrated new park, which is already a Cary community centerpiece. It’s the details that set apart these North Carolina boutique hotel experiences. BY KURT DUSTERBERG Not all hotel experiences…

May 1, 20240Comments Bysean

Features Home & Garden Local Business People & Profiles

Harvesting Change

Harvesting Change The impact of female farmers on local communities BY KRISTEN SCHRUM A new kind of farm is flourishing in Wake County under the care of its women farmers. These pastoral pioneers sow more than just seeds in the soil; they cultivate a community conscious of the richness that comes with shopping locally and embracing…

March 1, 20240Comments Bysean

Features Home & Garden

The Art of Intimate Tabletop Settings

Honoring Moments with Savor + Fete: The Art of Intimate Tabletop Settings BY KRISTEN SCHRUM | PHOTOS COURTESY OF SAVOR + FETE In the heart of every memorable gathering is a table—a silent witness to laughter, stories, confessions and toasts. At the dining table, bread is broken, wine is poured and the essence of connection is…

March 1, 20240Comments Bysean

Features Home & Garden

Universal Design

Universal Design Where attractiveness meets accessibility—for everyone BY SAMANTHA GRATTON | PHOTOS COURTESY OF PARAGON BUILDING GROUP AND LAUREY GLENN When you arrive at Paragon Building Group’s showcase home in Pittsboro, the first thing you see is a stately house with a large set of steps leading to a beautiful front porch. You drive up a…

March 1, 20240Comments Bysean

Features Home & Garden

Personal Sanctuaries

Personal Sanctuaries Crafting identity in a Jamison Park house BY KRISTEN SCHRUM | PHOTOS COURTESY OF ABIGAIL JACKSON PHOTOGRAPHY AIn a world where the line between home and life blur more with each passing day, interior design has evolved into more than just aesthetics—it’s about creating a space that reflects the souls of those who inhabit it. Kristyn…

March 1, 20240Comments Bysean

Family & Education Features

North Carolina online academic programs gain popularity

Going—Virtual—to School North Carolina online academic programs gain popularity BY JANICE LEWINE When Alex Kocsis was in third grade, the onset of the COVID pandemic forced him and countless students across the country into a remote learning environment to stem the infection rate. Teachers quickly pivoted to creating effective experiences for their students, who adjusted to…

December 31, 20230Comments Bysean

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