For a pair of empty nesters, abundance under the tree — and a careful choreography of ribbons and wrapping paper — keeps the magic of Christmas morning alive all season long.
From Elizabeth Hudson: Christmas Presence
Our editor in chief remembers the handmade, heartfelt holiday decorations that her parents would lovingly put up each year — and how, over time, that same love has carried her mother through the Christmas season.
From Elizabeth Hudson: A Silent Salute
From triumphant proclamations of freedom to the quiet reverence at memorials, our editor in chief considers the military influence that can be found all across our state.
Cook-Off Hero
Called to compete in the neighborhood chili contest, a father-and-son team rise to the occasion.
Wild at Heart
A High Country restaurant has made a name for itself by tapping into the wild side of fine dining. Inside the stone walls of The Gamekeeper, an avowed outdoorsman finds a connection to flavors past.
The Witching Hour
For young North Carolinians, learning the haunted history of our state — whether in a classroom or around a campfire — is a rite of passage.
From Elizabeth Hudson: Going Up
Our editor in chief reflects on how views from above — whether from the heights of a college football stadium or a scenic mountain overlook — inspire a deep sense of wonder and connection to the landscape below.
Off the Map
Like its former residents — farmers and moonshiners, all fiercely independent — The Harricanes stands apart. In defiance of the fast-growing cities around it, the region has mostly returned to nature, a steadfast reminder of a vanishing landscape.
From Elizabeth Hudson: (School) Spirit of ’76
Our editor in chief remembers the excitement of the first day of school and how the same sights and sounds of her childhood — trays clattering in the lunchroom, sneakers squeaking against the floor — remain in North Carolina schools.
