Features

Mrs. Claus Knows

Louie Bowen knows which one is the real Santa. But she isn’t telling. Not the families lining up at the mall on Thanksgiving weekend, not the daycare directors who book her every December, and certainly not Wake Living or its readers. A handful of very special people are in on the secret, she explains, and... Read More

Small Business Spotlight: Alter Scalp Spa

The goal at Alter Scalp Spa isn’t longer hair. It’s a longer exhale. “We always say we want people to feel like they’ve had a little mini vacation without having to leave town,” says Shelby Vaughn, who co-founded the spa with her sister, Ashley Chambers. “Like an exhale,” Ashley chimes in. “An exhale from their... Read More

2026 Gift Guide

Gifts She’ll Swoon Over 1. The gift of head-to-toe style — shoes, jewels, and accessories included — comes easily at LILYMAES boutique. 2. Offer a relaxing break from hectic holiday hosting with a watercolor travel tin and workbook featuring beautiful outlined designs from Swagger Boutique. 3. With a freshly brewed cuppa and a beautifully pristine... Read More

Pay It Forward: PORCH Cary

On the second Tuesday of every month, grocery bags start appearing on front porches in Cary’s Silvercreek neighborhood. What’s inside varies each month. In September, with school back in session, the bags were full of lunchbox snacks. In the late afternoon, Marcy Holland and her husband make the rounds to pick up the bags. The... Read More
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Now + Next

Out & About in Wake County: November/December 2026

Moonlight in the Gardens Fridays and Saturdays November 6–21 JC Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh jcra.ncsu.edu Not your typical lighting event, the illuminated displays within the Arboretum have been meticulously designed to showcase the plants in all their splendor. Enjoy live music, food truck fare, and cozy fire pits. $30 adults, $20 JCRA members and... Read More

We Tried It: 2026 Offerings from the NC State Fair

October in North Carolina means the temperatures are finally starting to drop, the leaves are thinking about changing colors, and the smell of hot deep fryers is is in the air within a mile radius of the State Fairgrounds. This year's fair opens October 15 and runs through the 25, giving you lots of time... Read More
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Food + Dining

Say Yes to Stanbury

The street sign was in the part of the scrapyard where the bricks, stones, and retired street signs end up. It was also where customers aren’t supposed to wander. Joseph Jeffers was in Wilmington that day, dropping off drums of contaminated soil from a wetland remediation job, when he found it. He liked the name.... Read More

Season’s Sips

Somewhere between the last slice of pie and the first round of board games, every holiday gathering arrives at the same question: what now? This year, we have an answer — dessert, served in a glass. For our festive cocktail feature, we partnered with Durham Distillery on a lineup of seasonal recipes crafted by Hospitality... Read More
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Home + Garden

Garden Adventurer: Poinsettia Care Essentials: Earth, Wind, and Fire

Earth, Wind, and Fire — besides being the classic, uber-cool band that makes just about anyone with a pulse jump up and trip the light funk-tastic, it is also a trifecta of helpful tips for you to provide the necessary care poinsettias need while they are decking the halls in your home this Christmas. So,... Read More

Backyard Bliss

Water. Fertilize. Mow. Weed. It’s a cycle common to many trying to keep their lawn lush with green grass. A cycle that can sometimes feel like a battle. Corinne Beirne thinks there’s a better way to love your landscaping. Better not just for our homes, but for our health as well. “If we could turn... Read More
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travel

Mountain Air

Vibrant towns, mountain landscapes, cascading waterfalls, and outdoor exploration — you can find it all in the North Carolina High Country. Destinations such as Asheville, Boone, and Blowing Rock often headline a visit to the Blue Ridge Mountains, but there’s a quieter alternative overflowing with small-town charm that deserves a place in the spotlight. The... Read More

Escape to Edenton

“Edenton’s waking up,” says Inner Banks Inn proprietor Susan Martin Cyr about the scenic town tucked into the Albemarle Sound and surrounded by water on three sides in the state’s northeastern region. While it has long been considered a historical gem, Edenton has also been what Susan “would call a sleeper.” But now, she says,... Read More
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