A writer finds seeds of contemplation in the gentle roar of two massive fireplaces at an iconic Asheville inn.
A Raleigh Neon Studio Perfects the Art of Light
Making neon signs is part art, part science. Since 1986, Nate Shaeffer has been bending glass to bring its special light to life.
The Snowmakers of Sugar Mountain Ski Resort
The white stuff that blankets North Carolina’s slopes during ski season may not be nature-made, but, as one writer discovers, it’s as real and beautiful as the flakes that fall in front yards across the state.
The Miracle of the Oil
When cultures collided in one family’s Raleigh kitchen, a new food tradition — part Jewish, part Southern Baptist — was born. Two treats served each year for Hanukkah — latkes and sufganiyot, or jelly doughnuts — got updates. The Jewish husband was mesmerized. The Southern wife had a secret.
Vacation State of Mind
The North Carolina coast is dotted with towns and cities, resorts and beach houses, where families return for annual getaways. These places are backdrops for memories, sometimes forged over generations. Yet vacationing — especially at the beach — is about more than just where you go.
Spinning Wheels at Wilson’s Whirligig Park
In North Carolina’s Coastal Plain, city skylines don’t require tall buildings — just revolving pieces of scrap metal and an otherworldly imagination.
The Morehead Planetarium’s Orrery Is Gone but Not Forgotten
Once upon a time, before CGI and interactive video screens, you could step into the vastness of space at the Morehead Planetarium in Chapel Hill and watch moons orbit planets and planets circle the sun.
An Ode to the Southern Rocker
Finding the right chair for the front porch is an essential part of living the good life in North Carolina. But it takes time, patience, and maybe a failure or two.
Seeking Peace in Sacred Spaces
We look for comfort within the walls of our spiritual homes — our churches and temples, our synagogues and mosques. One writer finds it in the stillness of three sanctuaries rising from the Triangle area, beckoning us to look up.
