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Happy Halloween, Wilmington. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let Wilmington Brief serve up everything you need to know for the weekend ahead.
In today’s edition: Senior housing plan at Hillcrest, a free tree giveaway, Messy Hands kids art, and more.
Let’s get to it.
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Festival’s biggest year yet: Port City Blitz brings 52 rock bands to Wilmington Nov. 7-8 at Waterline Brewing, with Superchunk headlining Friday and sets from Green Jellÿ, Weedeater, Dead Cool, Hub City Stompers — see times and ticket info.
Promenade, childcare, green space: Wilmington Housing Authority unveiled mixed-use plans for Hillcrest with 536 units. Phase one brings affordable senior housing, backed by a $5.7 million grant, with construction slated to start June 2026 — see what’s planned for Hillcrest.
Community greening event: The Alliance for Cape Fear Trees will give away 1,400+ native trees at Wilmington’s Legion Stadium on Friday, Dec. 5, from noon to 5 p.m., with arborists offering planting advice — see where and when to go.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
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Hands-on play at the Children’s Museum of Wilmington
Wilmington parents, meet your rainy-day, energy-burn, curiosity-sparking trifecta. The Children’s Museum of Wilmington fills four levels and 17,000 square feet with smart, hands-on play that sneaks in learning.
Kids can captain a research vessel with ocean mammal sounds, test a flight simulator, and trace the water cycle in Wonders of Water.
Little shoppers make healthy choices at the Publix Market and retro Discovery Diner, while the dentist and Wellness Way exhibits demystify checkups. The Studio gets artsy, and the courtyard lets the wiggles out.
Rotating daily programs and sensory-friendly Sensory Sundays keep repeat visits fresh. Give your crew a hometown adventure at the Children’s Museum of Wilmington today.
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Advertising with us is as easy as it gets. Fill out this quick form and we’ll get you in an upcoming edition!
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🫶 We got your back
Sounds of the Port City: Wilmington International Airport is hosting ILM Rhythms and Tunes, a new live music series inside the terminal by the laurel oak sculpture. Afternoon sets run through November, giving travelers a taste of Wilmington’s arts scene and a warmer welcome home. Keep an ear out between flights. Check the full performance schedule.
Community unites against dementia: Walk to End Alzheimer’s returns to UNCW on Saturday, Nov. 1, to raise funds and awareness for care, support, and research. Registration opens at 9 a.m., with the opening ceremony and walk at 10 a.m., including the colorful Promise Garden. FOX Wilmington’s Gabe Ross hosts in memory of his father. Participants can register individually or join a team. Get all the details.
Breakfast, à la française: Local, family-run, and unabashedly French, Our Crêpes & More serves made-to-order sweet and savory crêpes, including vegan and buckwheat batters, all from scratch. Bring a bottle for DIY mimosas or wine; there’s no corkage fee, just simple, relaxed vibes that make weekday mornings feel like Paris.
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.
Break up with debt for good: These guys can help you cut ties, pay up to 30% less than you owe, and finally get some peace. This isn’t your average debt relief advice… it’s a financial fresh start, complete with a victory dance and happy cry or two when your balance hits zero.
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🤝 Introducing local deals (just for you)
We’re launching a brand new segment to bring you exclusive local offers from trusted businesses right here in Wilmington. Think of it as your inside pass to the best local finds, discounts, and experiences.
The kind only available to Wilmington Brief readers.
Know a local business you love? Send ’em this newsletter and encourage them to get involved.
Own, manage, or market a local business? We’d love to feature you here for free. The only catch? Your deal has to be genuinely valuable and exclusive to our readers.
Email us 👉 [email protected] to get started.
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📆 Around town this weekend
All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
Have an event to share? Submit it here for free →
Today
🧟 Zombie Fest @ The Eagle’s Dare | Friday (10/31) at 6:00pm – Wilmington’s undead are clocking in for a night of fright and rock ‘n’ roll mayhem. Zombie Fest is taking over The Eagle’s Dare with live music from The Phantom AD, spine-tingling vibes, and enough fake blood to alarm your laundry detergent. Costumes mandatory, inhibitions optional.
🎸 Tom Gossin Live @ Cloud 9 Rooftop Bar | Friday (10/31) at 6:00pm – Halloween Friday at Cloud 9 means cocktails, city views, and Tom Gossin live, no plastic fangs required. Skip the bar-crawl circus, head upstairs, and trade candy corn for cocktails and skyline views. Grown-up fun, finally.
This weekend
🌱 Tree Giveaway with Alliance for Cape Fear Trees @ Leland Cultural Arts Center | Saturday (11/1) at 9:00am – Your yard called, it wants a native makeover. Swing by the Leland Cultural Arts Center for 800 free, climate-ready native trees, two per household, first come, first served, with arborists ready to match you with the right live oak, maple, magnolia, or serviceberry.
🎃 The Great Pumpkin Blowout @ Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site | Saturday (11/1) at 11:00am – Take a break from pumpkin spice and actually blow one up at the Great Pumpkin Blowout. BYOP, $10 per pumpkin; bring your own to safely participate in the explosive fun. Less carving, bigger boom, bigger grin, and free to watch.
🏛️ Latimer House Night Tour @ Latimer House | Saturday (11/1) at 8:00pm – Nothing beats a night lit by 19th-century gaslight, especially when someone else handles the matches. Wander the Latimer House for a glow-up the Victorians meant, with stories on how it worked, who used it, and why the lurid shimmer mattered. Leave the flashlight at home.
🎤 Jamie deRoy @ Thalian Hall | Sunday (11/2) at 2:00pm – Whether you’ve collected Playbills for decades or just like your music with a martini, Jamie deRoy delivers cabaret, comedy, and Broadway polish without the midtown elbow wars. She curates a rotating roster of stage and song pros, so expect intimacy, smart laughs, and real talent.
🎤 J Candeed @ Flytrap Brewing | Sunday (11/2) at 3:00pm – Whether you cut your teeth on bluegrass or just appreciate a good toe-tapper, J Candeed blends hill-country blues, traditional bluegrass, and a psychedelic groove into one optimistic swirl. Mandola up front, kick and snare drum in tow. Delightfully weird, joyful, and surprisingly danceable.
Next week
🧘 Gentle Yoga @ Cameron Art Museum | Tuesday (11/4) at 9:00am – Trade your morning scroll for some soul. Stretch, breathe, and reset surrounded by ever-changing art at CAM’s gentle yoga session. It’s a chill, all-level flow—mat or chair, your choice—with a side of calm to kick off your week. Bonus: your donation helps fund museum scholarships.
🎨 Messy Hands @ Pleasure Island Programming Room, Pleasure Island | Tuesday (11/4) at 10:15am – Pleasure Island Library is hosting Messy Hands, a child-driven art romp for ages 2 to 5. Think paint, glue, and process over perfection, with a required grown-up in tow. Dress everyone in play clothes, bring patience, and register ahead, because spots disappear fast.
📿 Friendship Bracelets @ Northeast Regional Library | Tuesday (11/4) at 4:00pm – Got a 9 to 12 year old who could use a screen break? Northeast Library’s Makerspace is teaching bracelet-making techniques, a little camp nostalgia with fine motor skills disguised as fun. Hands-on creativity, new pals, and brag-worthy bracelets, but you will need to register.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 10/31 Machine Gun @ SeaWitch Cafe – 8 pm
- 10/31 Churchyard Ghost @ The Palm Room – 10 pm
- 11/4 Stu Cru Jamaru @ The Bend – 7 pm
- 11/6 Thrio @ Cameron Art Museum – 7 pm
- 11/7 Port City Blitz Festival @ Waterline Brewing – 5 pm
- 11/7 Joey Harkum and more @ The Reel Cafe – 7 pm
- 11/7 Joseph Terrell and more @ Live at Ted’s – 8 pm
- 11/8 Spider Bucket @ Reggies 42nd Street Tavern – 3 pm
- 11/9 The Gentlemen’s Quartet @ Music on Market – 3 pm
- 11/9 Jordan St. Cyr @ Northside Church – 7 pm
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🏠️ Price is right – Wilmington edition
How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).
Listed by: Austin Kenyon (Intracoastal Realty Corp)
On Figure 8 Island, this 4-bed, 3-bath oceanfront sits on 0.61 acres with a grandfathered setback, nudging it seaward for front row Atlantic views from wraparound decks. High, wide dunes bolster storm resilience, HOA conservation across the street preserves quiet. Dual garages, a lower level guest suite, and an airy upstairs showcase the panorama.
July 2025 survey confirms a strong dune line and stable vegetation, keeping full buildability. Kersting Architecture sketched a 4,900 square foot custom plan. Recent Beach Rd S sales at $12.5M and $13.9M set the pace, and Yacht Club membership is application based.
Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →
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