The What’s Up, Wake podcast debuted on March 4, 2025, with “Recipe for Success: Cooking up Conversations with Scott Crawford.” Over the ensuing year, host Melissa Wistehuff has sat down with dozens of people who shape the Western Wake community, from politicians and performers to business owners and nonprofit leaders.
To celebrate the first anniversary,... Read More
Samantha’s Jewelry Best Jewelry Store
Samantha Babcock creates jewelry that stands out.
“I want our jewelry to get reactions like, “Oh wow, where did you get that? Who did that for you, because I’ve never seen anything like that,’” she says.
From her namesake shop on Fuquay-Varina’s Broad Street, Samantha has crafted, repurposed, and sold... Read More
Massengill Design-Build Best Custom Home Builder/Home Renovation Specialist
As a full-service home builder, Massengill Design-Build continues to witness the incredible growth in Southern Wake County. Constructing homes in Fuquay since 1986, Massengill’s current active neighborhoods include Forest Bluff Estates, Bentwinds Bluffs, and Carriage Farm. Their detail-oriented process coupled with thoughtful floorplans and quality execution impresses... Read More
McWally’s Best Place for a Fun Night Out & Best Place for Family Fun
Since its opening last year, McWally’s quickly emerged as a top destination for celebrations, gathering, and family fun, with 20 bowling lanes, laser tag, arcade games, and a mixed-reality Valo arena. Plus, there’s food, drinks, and big-screen TVs aplenty throughout the... Read More
Truman White doesn’t consider himself a chef.
“I’m just a cook,” the easygoing Alabama native says with an understated smile.
This straightforward self-appraisal reveals the humble yet workmanlike approach the restaurant proprietor brings to his new namesake eatery in downtown Fuquay.
Guests come early and often to get their fill of everything from breakfast bowls... Read More
An absolute family favorite! The hardest part is peeling and chopping the apples.
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons firmly packed light brown sugar ¾ cup white sugar 4 teaspoons cinnamon, divided ¾ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon ground ginger ¾ cup vegetable oil 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking... Read More
Next Gen Entrepreneur Day March 14, 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. Fuquay-Varina Chamber of Commerce, 121 N. Main St.
Young entrepreneurs gather to market and network at the Fuquay-Varina Chamber of Commerce’s second annual Next Gen Entrepreneur Day. Participants will engage in activities focused on marketing and customer service. The public is invited to shop... Read More
Celebrate the season of love with a partner, friend, or yourself! Valentine Card Printmaking Workshop February 7, noon to 3 p.m.
Learn printmaking techniques to craft your own hand-printed cards in a beginner-friendly workshop at the Holly Springs Cultural Center. Materials are included, but bring an apron. $29 Holly Springs residents, $44 non-residents.... Read More
March is a deeply unserious month in North Carolina. The weather wakes up every day and chooses violence, sports-ball fans are foaming at the mouth, the pollening begins, and the swimsuit section at Target is about to get hit harder than the curb at Starbucks. For reasons historians will someday study (no they won’t), this... Read More
Through window painting and wall murals, Rachel Cornett infuses energy and beauty into the streets of Fuquay-Varina. She embellished her first window, at Puerto Rican restaurant The Meeting Corner, in 2016. This winter Rachel painted 27 windows with seasonal designs throughout Fuquay-Varina for the Fuquay Festive initiative.
Getting started: When covid happened, I saw how... Read More
“Edenton’s waking up,” says Inner Banks Inn proprietor Susan Martin Cyr about the scenic town tucked into the Albermarle Sound and surrounded by water on three sides in the state’s northeastern region. While it has long been considered a historical gem, Edenton has also been what Susan “would call a sleeper.” But now, she says,... Read More
Vibrant towns, mountain landscapes, cascading waterfalls, and outdoor exploration — you can find it all in the North Carolina High Country. Destinations such as Asheville, Boone, and Blowing Rock often headline a visit to the Blue Ridge Mountains, but there’s a quieter alternative overflowing with small-town charm that deserves a place in the spotlight.
The... Read More
