Happy Friday, 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 the news

Local happenings: Social district expansion approved, hidden 1790s stonework unearthed downtown, and a fundraiser for a pro hockey arena — catch up here.

State-level stories: North Carolina A&T unveils its first aerospace engineering degree, governor declares a Tropical Storm Chantal emergency, and officials launch a bitcoin ATM fraud campaign — see what else is brewing.

National headlines: 24/7 social security access, dogs detect Parkinson’s, and a new method or reclaiming 98 percent of battery metals — peruse the best of the rest.

Highlights this week

• Craft recycled book art at Pine Valley
• Join NHC commissioners meeting in courthouse
• Find support with Compassionate Friends
• Drop in for free tech support
• Explore farmers and artisans Tuesday evening
• iTustCapital offers $0/mo crypto IRA accounts

🫶 We got your back

Drink: Forget gas station swill and drive-thru disappointment for your morning ritual. From baristas who remember your “usual” to pastry cases whispering sweet temptations, these nearby caffeine sanctuaries prove great coffee is about way more than just the beans.

Home: Before rain starts pouring through the attic and you panic-Google “roofers near me,” check out this list of trusted roofing pros to keep your home (and sanity) intact.

Beauty: Step up your self-care beyond face masks, hope-in-a-jar creams, and crossed fingers. These top-rated med spas offer doctor-backed treatments that actually deliver on their promises.

Family: Need screen-free fun for the littles? This guide to the coolest summer outdoor toys and on-the-go activities has you covered.

👀 Why just read it when you could be in it?

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📆 Around town this weekend

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirey outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

Today

🎶 Summer Concert Series reSOUL @ Airlie Gardens | Friday (7/18) at 6:00pm – Friday evening in the gardens means reSOUL is in town, turning the lawn into a ’70s disco, rock hall, and country fair rolled into one. Hear everything from Chaka Khan to Jimi Hendrix, with a shuttle so you skip sitting in traffic.

🦋 Butterfly Adventure @ Pine Valley Library | Friday (7/18) at 2:00pm – Think library visits are all dusty shelves and whisper wars? Pine Valley is turning dusty rows into a pollinator playground for kids 6 to 11 and their patient grown-ups, complete with an expert curator showing off live-winged marvels. Fresh air, zero electronics.

This weekend

🛠️ Workshop: Beginning Stained Glass@ Art in Bloom Gallery | Saturday (7/19) at 10:00am – Weekends at the gallery are for playing artist, not paying bills. All supplies are included, bring long pants and closed-toe shoes. In three hours, Marcy walks you through Tiffany foil basics, wrapping pre-cut glass in copper, soldering pieces into a keepsake you’ll want to display.

📻 Jack the Radio @ The Sandspur | Saturday (7/19) at 7:00pm – If your weekend needs a soundtrack beyond your neighbor’s lawn mower, catch Jack the Radio’s swampy Southern grooves right here in Raleigh. These roots-rock vets fuse blues, Americana, folk, and country into swampy ear candy, as seen on Modern Family, NASCAR, and AEW.

🌿 Of Good Nature @ Bourgie Nights | Saturday (7/19) at 9:00pm – Forget the usual bar playlist and slip off to a hidden Charlotte studio where Of Good Nature fuses soul, folk, and world beats with brass that’s practically flexing. Fronted by Cam Brown’s smooth vocals and David Hamilton Jr.’s drum flair, it’s music that gives back.

🏃 Relay Relay @ Biggers Market | Sunday (7/20) at 4:00pm – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to ditch the same-old playlist, this husband-and-wife indie-pop duo will have you swaying with vibey guitar riffs, dreamy synths, and harmonies tighter than your last Zoom call. Feel-good tunes, no filter, total local hero vibes.

🎭 Summer Midseason Preview Show @ Reggie’s 42nd Street Tavern | Sunday (7/20) at 4:30pm – Nothing says end-of-weekend like a basement-worthy guitar solo at Reggie’s, courtesy of local rock hopefuls. They’ll tackle grunge, hard rock, new wave, and modern anthems, all free and family-friendly, proof that air guitar skills never go out of style.

Next week

🎤 Open Mic Monday @ Barzarre | Monday (7/21) at 7:30pm – Shake off those Monday blues at Barzarre’s open-mic night, where polished jazz sets mingle with questionable kazoo solos, raunchy stand-up, and impromptu poetry slams. Signups kick off at 7, then grab a cheap brew and brace for ridiculously authentic entertainment until who-knows-when.

🛠️ Try It! Summer Workshops: Survival Superpowers @ Cape Fear Museum | Tuesday (7/22) at 2:00pm – Grab your adventure boots and dive into the incredible survival skills of Cape Fear’s most iconic animals and plants. Through hands-on games and crafty activities, you’ll uncover the secret superpowers that help wildlife thrive. Spaces are limited to the first 25 eager explorers—pre-registration is required, and museum admission’s included (members get in free!). Don’t miss your chance to flex those survival muscles this summer!

🌽 Tuesday Evening Farmers Market @ Tidal Creek Co-op Café | Tuesday (7/22) at 4:00pm – Tuesday evenings just got an upgrade with Wilmington’s inaugural Farmers Market lighting up the green. Think sun-ripened heirloom tomatoes, handcrafted ceramics, and that feeling of supporting the neighbor who actually knows what they’re doing. Come for the produce, stay for the small-town camaraderie.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 7/18 Bacon Grease Trio @ Ogden Tap Room – 8 pm
• 7/19 Jared Michael Cline @ Wrightsville Beach Brewery – 2 pm
• 7/19 Relay Relay @ Palate Bottle Shop – 3 pm
• 7/19 flipturn: The Burnout Days Tour @ Greenfield Lake Amphitheater – 7 pm
• 7/19 Soul-R Fusion @ Bottega Art & Wine – 7 pm
• 7/20 Southbound @ Sanctuary of Wilmington – 6 pm
• 7/21 Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit @ Wilson Center – 7:30 pm
• 7/22 Todd Rundgren @ Wilson Center – 7 pm

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).

*This 👇 could be your listing. Hit us up if you’ve got a home (or 12) to sell.

Listed by: John Newton (CENTURY 21 Champion Real Estate)

Classic brick curb appeal on the outside, all-out modern on the inside. Ten-foot ceilings, a chef’s kitchen with Wolf and Sub-Zero everything, and a double-sided gas fireplace that connects indoor and outdoor living spaces. The primary suite gets its own fireplace, spa-worthy bath, and a closet that’s basically its own room.

Upstairs, every guest bedroom has an ensuite, plus there’s a bonus room, kitchenette, and a second laundry for good measure. The roof is Fortified, the details are dialed in, and there’s even a third floor waiting for its glow-up.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →