Eye gaze tech frees an ALS patient, solar beach cleaning robot, fireworks by the sea & boardwalk blast, and more. 
Happy Tuesday, Wilmington. Hope you had a great holiday weekend! 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 week ahead.
📰 In the news
Local happenings: Eye gaze tech is giving an ALS patient freedom, Wilmington’s firefighters are getting trauma counseling, and a solar beach cleaning robot is sweeping litter — catch up here.
State-level stories: Rural mental health programs face funding cuts, the DMV lets you wait in your car until called, and Banner Elk promises affordable mountain escapes — see what else is brewing.
National headlines: Gen Z stashing three times more in their 401k, Neanderthals crushing bones into prehistoric grease, and a blazing interstellar comet streaking by Mars orbit — peruse the best of the rest.
Highlights this week
- Pitch your startup and get feedback
- Learn safety skills at Wilmington Safety School
- Volunteer in Pine Valley’s coastal demonstration gardens
- Drive-thru toy donations brighten hospitalized kids
- Join seniors for fitness at Maides Park
- Got debt? See if you qualify for relief
🫶 We got your back
Legal: Nobody plans to need a personal injury lawyer, but life has a way of throwing curveballs. When the unexpected happens, rest easy knowing you can turn to these trusted personal injury attorneys. They’ll go to bat for you (and handle all the paperwork) so you can get back to living your life.
Wellness: Ready to roll out your mat and find your flow? These yoga studios offer everything from heated sweat-your-buns-off classes to soothing restorative sessions for every level.
Money: Tired of big banks? Credit unions are known for offering more personalized service, better rates, and easy access to neighborly humans ready to help with whatever you need. Check out our favorites.
Community: Neighborhood shops and cafés do more than sling lattes and sell stuff—they’re the heartbeat of Wilmington. Every dollar you spend locally keeps it wonderfully weird and uniquely ours. Learn more about the connection here.
College: If your future graduate has zero credit history, co-signing their student loan gives them instant credibility for better rates and approval chances. The best part? CollegeAve simplifies the entire process and releases you from co-signer duty once your kiddo proves they can handle the payments.
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📆 Around town this week
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.
This week
🎤 Zaraoke Karaoke Night @ Barzarre – Beer | Wednesday (7/9) at 7:00pm – Need a midweek pick-me-up? Barzarre on Castle Street has wide-open karaoke every Wednesday, and trust me, nobody’s grading your pitch. Help yourself to a healthy dose of liquid courage from the full bar, then unleash your go-to anthem. It’s free, delightfully absurd, and way better than reruns at home.
🎩 No Sleeve’s Magic: Wilder West @ UNCW Kenan Auditorium | Thursday (7/10) at 10:30am – If you’ve ever dreamed of trading your morning latte for a rootin’ tootin’ rabbit out of a cowboy hat, this show’s your ticket. No Sleeves Magic saddles up with high-energy tricks, dry wit, and audience hijinks that’ll leave you grinning like a prairie dog.
🎆 Fireworks by the Sea & Boardwalk Blast @ Carolina Beach Boardwalk | Thursday (7/10) at 6:30pm – Swap the couch for sand and join Carolina Beach’s centennial Boardwalk celebration, where free Motown-to-rock concerts, Centennial-themed treats, and a fireworks spectacle over the ocean await. It’s basically your favorite reunion, minus forced small talk at the snack table. Even your most curmudgeonly neighbor will agree it beats Netflix reruns.
🎬 Filming Locations Tour @ Legion Stadium | Friday (7/11) at 12:00pm – Ready to finally play tourist in your own backyard? Grab your sunnies and your best cousin imitation for a guided stroll around Wilmington’s hottest set, alias Cousins Beach from The Summer I Turned Pretty. Expect insider stories, salty breeze, and zero paparazzi.
🎶 Underground Springhouse & Kendall Street Company @ Bowstring Burgers and Brewyard | Friday (7/11) at 7:00pm – Whether you’ve sworn off cover bands or secretly crave cosmic funk, this Virginia crew serves impromptu choreography, spontaneous crowd call-outs, and sax-sprinkled eclectic jams that might make even a seasoned local spill their IPA. Hydration’s optional, and laughs guaranteed.
🎤 Live Music with Regulation Larry @ Seven Mile Post | Friday (7/11) at 7:00pm – Regulation Larry is rolling into Seven Mile Post downtown with a free, 21+ set of rock, funk, and feel-good jams that’ll have your living room speakers filing for unemployment. Grab a cold drink, snag a patio seat, and pretend your middle-aged back isn’t plotting revenge. It’s the perfect Friday-night excuse for good company, better vibes, and a summer night you’ll actually remember.
This weekend
🕯️ Candlelight: Tribute to Fleetwood Mac @ The Elia | Saturday (7/12) at 6:45pm – A string quartet is stripping down Fleetwood Mac under candlelight at The Elia, turning every hit into an intimate, multi-sensory serenade. It’s like crashing your coolest friend’s living room—intimate, nostalgic, and entirely free of spilled beer. Dust off your wine glass, settle into your seat, and brace yourself for a misty-eyed singalong during “Landslide.”
💀 Shakey Graves: And the War Came – 10th Anniversary Tour @ Greenfield Lake Amphitheater | Saturday (7/12) at 7:00pm – It’s the 10th birthday party for ‘And The War Came,’ so imagine raw, foot-stomping Americana and a neat charity twist, one buck per ticket to Sweet Relief. Dust off your boots, and pretend you’re too cool to admit it still sounds incredible.
🌱 Disciple of The Garden @ Bowstring Burgers and Brewyard | Saturday (7/12) at 7:00pm – Dust off your flannel and head over for a night where scruffy rockers channel Cornell’s scream like they borrowed his vocal cords. Expect “Black Hole Sun,” “Like a Stone,” and maybe a tear or two from the chorus. Raw, loud, and oh-so-’90s.
🎷 Cory Luetjen & Traveling Blues Band @ The Rusty Nail | Saturday (7/12) at 8:00pm – A high-energy fusion of blues, funk, and beach music is rolling into town courtesy of Cory Luetjen & Traveling Blues Band. These road warriors rack up over 250 shows a year across NC, SC, TN, and VA, so they’ve perfected making your toes tap before you even finish your first drink. Picture chart-topping originals, crowd-pleasing covers, and their #1 hit Do It For Me all in one sweaty, foot-stomping party.
🪕 Back Yard Bluegrass Sundays | Sunday (7/13) at 3:00pm – Sunday Funday just took a detour into the backyard with Jones Smith’s bluegrass pickers strumming tunes and telling tall tales. Bring a cooler, your best two-step, and an ironclad alibi for dodging chores, because nothing beats live banjo, cold beer, and neighborhood gossip.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 7/10 Trivia Night @ Seven Mile Post – 6:30 pm
- 7/10 Kyle Garris @ Seven Mile Post – 7 pm
- 7/11 Jesse Stockton @ Cloud 9 – 7 pm
- 7/11 Regulation Larry @ Seven Mile Post – 7 pm
- 7/11 Underground Springhouse @ Bowstring Burgers – 7 pm
- 7/12 Bad Day Music & Arts Festival @ Brooklyn Arts District – 11 am
- 7/12 Railroad Earth @ Brooklyn Arts Center – 5:30 pm
- 7/12 Fleetwood Mac tribute @ Elia – 6:45 pm
- 7/12 Brown Dirt Cowboys @ Seven Mile Post – 7 pm
- 7/12 Juno @ Cloud 9 – 7 pm
This house is wild
*This 👇 could be your listing. Hit us up if you’ve got a home (or 12) to sell.
Listed by: Pinpoint Properties (Real Broker LLC)
This 1963 Forest Hills gem doesn’t shy away from showing off, starting with its living room’s wall of windows, dramatic stone fireplace, and a deck that surveys a private acre of lush backyard, creek, and its own storybook footbridge. The original hardwood floors have seen it all, while the kitchen keeps things retro with restored 1960s cabinetry that’s both nostalgic and surprisingly generous on storage.
Three bedrooms each get their own updated en-suite and walk-in closet, while a built-in office stands ready for work or naps. Skylights—even in the bathrooms—flood the place with sunshine, and the jacuzzi out back is basically an open invitation to relax. With an attached two-car garage, mature landscaping, and a history as a successful Airbnb, this home is equal parts style, comfort, and clever design.
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