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Good morning, Wilmington! In today’s edition: A new international route takes off, Sam Jay brings the laughs, a floating lantern ceremony, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Community support for young patients: Local fire departments and law enforcement have donated 1,500 books to children at Betty Cameron Women and Children’s Hospital, with books going to the pediatrics unit, NICU, and outpatient families — see who donated and where.
Symptoms and expert guidance: CDC reports nationwide flu surge this season, and a Wilmington clinic is seeing dozens of patients a day as influenza A dominates. Staff urge testing, staying home, and flu shots — see what doctors recommend.
Regional connectivity gets a lift: Avelo Airlines has launched its first international route from Wilmington with twice-weekly nonstop flights to Punta Cana, using Boeing 737s, and is expected to boost tourism and the local economy — get all the details.
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.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since this month last year. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Local infrastructure improvements move forward: Wilmington has unveiled a refreshed bridge at Wallace Park, featuring new decking. The city is also handling minor concrete repairs near Grady Avenue and replacing hardware. Announced last week, the work is part of ongoing maintenance efforts. Read the full story.
Game on, Wilmington: When the group chat wants a rally, skip the court scramble and meet at Arrowhead Park, a laid-back spot with public pickleball courts and room to roam. Grab a few neighbors, call the kitchen, and turn a plain weeknight into friendly dinks and easy laughs.
Playtime sanity saver: For a low-stress energy dump that still feels intentional, the city-run indoor play space, Fit For Fun Center, offers slides, tunnels, ride-on toys, an art room with a calming sensory nook, and toddler corners. A clutch rainy-day backup plan when the wiggles win… and grownups need a breather.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now, you’ll get three free gifts, AND you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
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📆 Around town this week
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
🧘 Morning Vinyasa In The Stacks @ Burning Pages Bookstore | Monday (1/5) at 9:30 AM – Need a kinder start to Monday? Unroll your mat at Burning Pages for a slow-burn vinyasa between the romantasy shelves, equal parts grounding, bookish, and smugly local. Small class, all levels, five spots, and if you commit to the month, store credit awaits.
🤸 Ballet, Tap, & Tumbling for Preschool Girls & Boys @ The Dance Element | Monday (1/5) at 3:15 PM – If your tiny human pirouettes through the produce aisle, this is your sign. Weekly ballet, tap, and tumbling for ages 3 to 5 builds balance, confidence, and friendships, with a sprinkle of French. Bring them to try a class, risk-free.
🧶 Stitch and Bitch @ The Roasted Bookery | Tuesday (1/6) at 6:00 PM – Take a break and pop into an extra winter Stitch and B!tch, where cozy projects, chat, and yarn do the heavy lifting. New to knitting or crochet? Bring needles or hooks, they’ll get you started, all levels welcome, kids under 16 with an adult.
🎷 The Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble @ Cameron Art Museum | Thursday (1/8) at 7:00 PM – Skip the Netflix shuffle and head to CAM for the Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble, a high school band that swings harder than rush-hour on Oleander. Big band classics, fresh charts, and ridiculous talent. Grab dinner at CAM Café, then savor the bragging rights.
🎸 Rock the 90s: The Official 90’s Rock Tribute @ Bowstring – Bar & Live Music Venue | Friday (1/9) at 7:00 PM – Think you still remember every word to Nirvana and Matchbox Twenty? This 90s tribute cranks out the anthems, the hidden gems, and the guilty pleasures, with Code Red warming things up with big harmonies, and bigger hooks. Flannel optional, babysitter recommended.
😂 Sam Jay @ Dead Crow Comedy | Friday (1/9) at 7:00 PM – Dead Crow’s bringing in Sam Jay, the Emmy-nominated SNL alum and HBO troublemaker who actually has things to say, and the timing’s perfect for a grown-up night out. Expect sharp, fearless jokes, a tight room, and the kind of laugh you feel tomorrow.
🐃 Donna the Buffalo @ UNCW Kenan Auditorium | Friday (1/9) at 8:00 PM – Old-school roots heads, rejoice. Donna the Buffalo brings their well-traveled stew of Americana, folk, bluegrass, and zydeco to Wilmington, the kind of show where you end up two-stepping with a stranger and grinning like you meant to. Consider it cardio, with better music.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Wilmington report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 63°F – Low: 46°F – Precip: 1%
Sunny, with a high near 63. Southeast wind 2 to 6 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. Southwest wind around 2 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 69°F – Low: 52°F – Precip: 6%
Partly sunny, with a high near 69. Southwest wind 1 to 10 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.
This house is wild
This 1915 classic in historic Carolina Place pairs period charm with modern peace of mind. Brought fully up to code, it features new HVAC, heating, plumbing, and electrical, and the original character remains. One block to expansive Wallace Park and a 20 minute walk to Historic Downtown Wilmington. Just 3 miles to UNCW and 7 miles to Wrightsville Beach.
The porch seats ten with garden views, perfect for long conversations. A social garden flows to a 1,000 square foot deck and an attached one car garage with bonus storage. Behind the home, gated off street parking fits two more cars. A grilling firepit awaits, plus a catio off the kitchen.
Take a peek inside →
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