The August 2025 Issue

Asheville is an open book for literature lovers. Read on to see where to visit, shop, and, of course, read around the Land of the Sky.

From Roanoke Rapids past Raven Rock, a natural divide has long guided water, wildlife, and people — and it’s still shaping North Carolina today.

In 1944, a Jewish refugee from Berlin started a summer camp near Blowing Rock, nurturing a generation of boys in an idyllic world of nature, music, art, theater, and literature.

Like the ones in the fictitious village she made famous, helping hands and warm hearts shaped a Foothills writer’s journey to becoming one of North Carolina’s most prolific authors.

In the High Country, a guitarist has carried on the region’s musical identity by teaching students the rich traditions of Appalachian music for five decades.

In Johnston County, some who till the soil still know the value of plowing with a mule.

At a Martin County coliseum, all ages gather for horse shows and rodeos, tractor pulls and motocross, underscoring the enduring relevance of North Carolina agriculture.

Small-town charm meets big-time talent in West Jefferson, an Ashe County community known for art and creativity.

One food writer’s love affair with tomatoes was a slow burn, building summer by summer until, finally, she brought them home.

The trick is to taste the tomato mixture and adjust the seasoning to enhance the pure tomato essence rather than overshadow it. Some tomato varieties need a little sweetness for balance, while others benefit from acidity. All tomatoes, however, love salt.

On a farm in Bahama, one chef learned to appreciate the art of barbecue and the culinary community that always leaves her feeling full and inspired.

For Chef Lynn Wells, summer means grilling season. Light the charcoal and follow along as she shares one of her favorite recipes to cook over open fire.

Tart apples add earthy sweetness to this creamy, crunchy slaw.

Peak summer fruits bake into a luscious, jammy filling that gets covered with a brown sugar and cinnamon crumble topping.

In the middle of a long day of farming, hunting, or fishing, North Carolinians looking for a filling meal count on country stores to get the job done.

At a gas station turned grill, town and gown gather to make memories, collect stories, and build friendships over Chapel Hill’s signature sandwich.

At a stately Queen Anne in downtown Canton, diners enjoy lunchtime favorites among pieces of the town’s enduring history — including the house itself.

During the first half of the 20th century, workers in North Carolina’s textile mills found respite in dope wagons — mobile carts stocked with relief.

Everyone in New Hanover County knows the name Winnie: The late wartime welder was a real-life Rosie the Riveter who went on to feed the Port City.

Across nearly a century of service, The Mecca Restaurant has established itself as a lunchtime staple in our state capital. Meet the family behind the famed eatery — and the regular who’s preserving its legacy.

In downtown Hendersonville, a sandwich shop has become a gathering place that has fed neighbors, families, and friendships for generations.

During one collector’s elementary years, it didn’t matter what his parents packed inside his lunch box. Back in the day, the real prize was on the outside.

For decades, Denise Doyle was one half of a legendary diner duo. Now she’s busting out new moves.