The January 2026 Issue

From a historic bed and breakfast to exhibits and artifacts at local museums, get a full picture of the past within this Sandhills city.

From twigs and moss to spider silk and fur, every nest reminds us that beauty and belonging begin close to home.

A key thoroughfare through Hillsborough’s historic district has witnessed many changes over the decades, but dedicated locals play an active role in researching and remembering all of its past iterations.

Discover where to grab a bite, explore cultural attractions, and rest your head along Hillsborough’s famed street.

A long-forgotten series of recordings from 1925 puts a new spin on the beginnings of one of our most enduring music genres.

One writer’s fascination took him to another part of the world, and decades later, back to a familiar place.

In the depths of winter, what’s an angler to do? Settle in, tie a mess of flies, and dream of spring fishing.

Snow in North Carolina may be fleeting, but when it falls, the state settles into a peaceful pause.

From the stone that built Mount Airy, one man shapes a living story of community.

This new year, we wish you prosperity, good fortune, and, if you’re really lucky, plates full of field peas.

Simmer pillowy dumplings in a pot of field peas and veggies for a soul-warming meal on a cold winter’s eve.

In tight-knit Southern circles, recipes get around. The ones that impress find their place in community cookbooks, local encyclopedias of care and feeding.

Chef Lynn Wells loves old church cookbooks, with their spiral-bound collections of recipes shared by home cooks in communities across the state. In the midst of winter, she makes a classic chicken pot pie, where chicken and gravy cozy together between layers of buttery crust.

Serve this striking salad with tongs to scoop down to the bottom layer.

Chef Lynn Wells puts a spin on old-school Coca-Cola cake with a layer of marshmallows that melts into the cake as it bakes.

During the coldest months of the year, nature hunkers down and cuddles up — and we North Carolinians follow suit.

We talked to zookeepers and wildlife rehabilitators to find out how North Carolina’s furry, feathered, and scaled residents survive — and thrive — when the weather turns frosty.

In a cozy cottage in Wilmington, a team of bakers share their passion for bread — and pass on the old-world secrets to the perfect loaf.

From mountain reading nooks to coastal shelves, discover inviting — and sometimes unexpected — winter sanctuaries for your next story.

Travel back to historic events and find warmth in the words and faraway worlds dreamt of by these North Carolina authors.

The East Boone Listening Room transforms Betty’s Biscuits into a haven for music, memory, and connection.