Features

Small Business Spotlight: Sweet Talk Cafe

“It’s the people we bring together and the memories that take shape within our space,” says Sweet Talk Cafe owner Jasmine Lim about what makes her business the talk of the town of Apex.

Inspired by the large pot of Vietnamese coffee her parents brewed every morning, and by the bright aroma that filled the... Read More

Erica Chats: Rethinking Food

Hey there, fellow foodie! Let me take you on a little journey through my recent culinary transformation.

I’ve always had a sweet tooth and a love affair with food, but life threw a bit of a curveball when my mom was diagnosed with cancer. Suddenly, food became more than just delicious — it was about... Read More

Pay It Forward: Raleigh City Farm

“Good dirt” is what it’s all about at Raleigh City Farm — a nonprofit urban farm that cultivates a healthier community by reconnecting people with wholesome food production … and one another.

In 2011, a vacant 1.2-acre lot on the corner of Blount and Franklin streets in downtown Raleigh was turned into workable farmland capable... Read More

Her Garden Grows

“It’s a very sappy, sad story,” prefaces Cayla Morris as she begins to recount the origins of Polly’s Petal Patch, her you-pick flower farm located in Fuquay-Varina.

“Polly” references Cayla’s grandmother, with whom she enjoyed a very close relationship all her life. Polly loved flowers, so Cayla and her father, Philip Morris, sent her a... Read More

Now & Next

Things to Do: August 2025

1. The Soul Picnic 2025 brings community and culture out to party! This vibrant festival celebrates the rich tapestry of soul music and features talented artists, DJs, and bands that will have attendees grooving. Delicious cuisine from local vendors, craft beverages, and engaging activities for all ages will be offered, and the welcoming atmosphere and... Read More

Christmas in July Arts & Crafts Fair

The Searstone Retirement Community is celebrating Christmas in July with a festive arts and crafts fair!

Drop by Saturday, July 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to shop works from more than 25 talented Searstone residents and local artists from around Cary. Each artist will be showcasing and selling their handmade creations.

Featured artists... Read More

Food & Dining

Irregardless of Time

Archival photos courtesy of Irregardless

In 1975 three friends transformed an abandoned storefront near Raleigh’s Central Prison into the city’s first vegetarian café. The menu — featuring whatever healthy, fresh, and hopefully organic foods they could get — was handwritten on blackboard. The vibe at Irregardless Café — as you can maybe guess from the... Read More

Liquid Assets: Beekeeper Honey Wheat Ale

Gizmo President and Co-Founder Bryan Williams created this brew during his homebrewing days, even serving it at his wedding. Today, it’s one of the brewery’s flagship beers, made with a simple recipe of wheat, barley, honey malt, “just enough hops to balance it out,” and 50 pounds of honey.

About Gizmo Brew Works

Gizmo’s... Read More

Home & Garden

Garden Adventurer: Spinach Planting Time!

As the full scorch of summer begins to subside by the middle to end of this month, I bear what’s left of the heat and humidity to start a spinach patch.

Whoa! Isn’t spinach a cool-season crop? It sure is, but this nutritious, delicious veggie germinates and matures faster in warm soil.

Interested? Well, before... Read More

Garden Adventurer: Catmint: A Purr-fect Perennial

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a plant well known to kitty owners who like to see their feline friends get goofy. But a close cousin, catmint (Nepeta faassenii), packs a visual pop that can have gardeners purring with delight.

Unlike catnip, which shows modest flower displays and tends to be weedy, catmint generally behaves — typical... Read More