Each December, as the nights grow long, hundreds – if not thousands – of Moravian stars illuminate the darkness in Winston-Salem. This icon boasts 26 points casting light in every direction. The stars themselves initially gained popularity as a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem in German churches during the 1800s and came to Salem along with the area’s Moravian settlers. Today they serve as a beacon of light in Winston-Salem throughout the holiday season – and a unique fixture of the city’s heritage.
Split-rail fences don’t shout “keep out.” They lean, they shift, they invite. And in western North Carolina, they remind us that some lines are meant to hold, not harden.
Each May, spring climbs nearly 3,000 feet to the seat of Alleghany County. Here, as the rhododendrons blush, a beloved mountain town welcomes visitors with its food, art, and flourish of color and creativity.
Brief but delicious, soft-shell crab season is cherished by diners as well as the folks who work around the clock to put these native pinchers on our plates.
When it comes to poultry, the best is raised close to home.
