|
Happy Friday, Wilmington. In today’s edition: Cape Fear growth plans, UNCW tuition hike, an 18th century Christmas, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
|
📰 In the news
Blueprints for future growth: Cape Fear planning efforts include New Hanover County’s NHC Destination 2050 draft and Wilmington’s downtown plan, with comments open through Dec. 19. Pender County adopted Imagine Pender 2050 in November — see how you can weigh in.
Trustees consider price shifts: UNCW proposed a 3% tuition hike, including for in-state undergrads for the first time in a decade, plus 4% housing and 5% meal increases, with a vote scheduled for Friday — see the proposed cost increases.
Environmental trust on the line: Local officials have passed resolutions opposing Chemours’ Fayetteville expansion, citing PFAS risks, as state weighs permits. Chemours touts filtration upgrades and reduced emissions, while critics cite contamination and costly treatment — read the full story.
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.
Identity theft is up 25%: Last year, Americans lost $12.5 billion to ID theft & fraud, and the stories behind those numbers are brutal. My friend just told me his dad’s on his fourth replacement credit card. Other folks have woken up to empty bank accounts or their personal info dumped online after a breach. Aura catches these kinds of attacks early by monitoring for new accounts, weird money movements, leaked data, and other red flags so you’re alerted before things blow up — learn more about it here.
|
🫶 We got your back
Nostalgia meets nightlife: Cinch Billiards, from the team behind Underfront, has opened in a rehabbed 100-year-old former Christmas shop on Front Street. About 800 checked it out opening weekend. Expect a 45-foot handmade bar, four tournament-quality pool tables, arcade games, cozy art deco lounges, and river views, plus accessible cocktails and occasional DJs. Get all the details.
New literary destination: Bestselling author Wiley Cash and his wife, Mallory, are opening Floodplain Books in downtown Wilmington at 23 N. Front St., aiming for late summer or early fall 2026. The shop will host major touring authors in a 300-person venue and kick off online literary seminars Jan. 25. Get all the details.
Hair that behaves: When grown-out highlights are acting up, Twenty Nine Salon delivers precision cuts, balayage, Cezanne smoothing, and blowouts that make weekday mornings calmer. Want extra fullness? They offer tape-in extensions and bond-building treatments to strengthen strands and keep everything sleek.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I decided to take Hers’ online quiz. They recommended a Biotin + Minoxidil green-apple gummy for regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify who you are and a licensed provider signs off. Here’s the quiz if you want to check it out.
Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, their curated kits are worth a look.
|
📆 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.
Today
🕯️ A Light in the Darkest of Night @ Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site | Friday (12/12) at 4:00pm – Explore the candlelit ruins of St. Philips Church, decorated with holiday greenery. This free, self-guided experience invites quiet reflection, with optional stops at the visitor center and gift shop.
🚢 Holiday Lights River Cruise @ Wilmington Water Tours | Friday (12/12) at 7:00pm – Skip the Front Street parking ballet and cruise the Cape Fear instead. Settle into the enclosed catamaran as local musicians play, the city lights sparkle, and the bar pours festive cocktails, plus sweet treats. One cheerful hour, perfect for visiting family, and your patience.
This weekend
🏛️ Holiday Open House of the 18th Century @ Burgwin-Wright House & Gardens | Saturday (12/13) at 5:00pm – Take a breather from online shopping and wander downtown’s Burgwin-Wright House, decked in Colonial greenery, fruits, and flowers. Masonboro Parlor keeps it lively, costumed interpreters spill stories, kids get crafty, admission is free, donations appreciated, and bring a toy for Toys for Tots.
💀 Bring Out Yer Dead @ Reggie’s 42nd Street Tavern | Saturday (12/13) at 7:00pm – Craving a proper Dead fix without the cross-country tour? Raleigh’s Bring Out Yer Dead assembles top players to channel the long, elastic jams with uncanny authenticity, the harmonies, the noodly bliss, and yes, the vibe, minus the muddy field and parking lot chaos.
🎸 Seth Walker @ Live at Ted’s | Saturday (12/13) at 8:00pm – Think you could use a night where the blues lifts, not sinks, your mood? Seth Walker brings a warm, gospel-tinged Americana voice, nimble guitar, and a new don’t-worry groove, all for 25 bucks, come trade the news cycle for toe-taps, slow sways, and real songcraft.
🕯️ An 18th Century Christmas @ Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site | Sunday (12/14) at 1:00pm – Step back a couple hundred years and see how the colonists did Christmas—spoiler: fewer LED lights, way more charm. Sip on 18th-century-inspired treats, play old-school games, and craft Moravian paper stars like it’s 1775. The evening caps off with a candlelit service in the hauntingly beautiful ruins of St. Philips Anglican Church. It’s history, holiday magic, and candle-glow perfection all wrapped into one.
✨ The Brown Mountain Lightning Bugs @ Biggers Market | Sunday (12/14) at 4:00pm – Grab a seat and let The Brown Mountain Lightning Bugs remind you why folk(ish) still does the trick. This married duo from Winston-Salem blends classic rock chops, classical guitar finesse, and front-porch storytelling into original tunes. No smoke machines, just pickin’ and harmonies.
🎅 The Night Before Christmas| Sunday (12/14) at 4:00pm – Trade the frantic gift wrap scramble for a festive evening with live music, good food, and actual fellowship. Think cozy tunes, plates you did not cook, and conversation that beats shouting over a blender. Holiday spirit, minus the mall parking lot meltdown.
Next week
🧵 Island STEAM Club: Art Creations – Festive Felt Ornament @ New Hanover County Public Library – Pleasure Island | Tuesday (12/16) at 3:00pm – Think your kid’s glitter quota is maxed? Island STEAM Club’s Art Creations has them stitching a festive felt ornament, channeling all that energy into creativity, focus, and fine motor skills. Ages 6-12, part of the third Tuesday rotation, registration required, please only register participating children.
🎺 La Nueva Generación @ Wilson Center | Tuesday (12/16) at 7:30pm – If you like your holiday music with strings, brass, and actual talent, Latin Grammy-nominated Mariachi Herencia de México joins Leonardo Aguilar for a vibrant mariachi Christmas. Expect tradition polished for today, familiar carols with heat, and a proper night out.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
|
🎶 Live music & entertainment
|
🏠️ 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: Becky S Spivey (Landfall Realty, LLC)
Classic brick in Landfall near Eastwood Gate, with 5 beds, 5 baths, and a private backyard kissing a conservation area. A natural-gas heated saltwater pool and jacuzzi steal the show, while the updated kitchen flexes a Kitchen Aid double oven, 5-burner gas cooktop, double Bosch dishwashers, built-in microwave, and an island built for squads. Wet bar with ice maker, wine cooler, and twin pantries keeps the party humming.
Living room shows off a gas fireplace with Carrera marble surround. Large patio, screened porch, garage studio convertible to two-car parking, spa primary suite, encapsulated crawlspace, bonus room and dedicated office.
Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →
|
|
|
