Lazy days filled with sun, surf and sandcastles. Evenings spent thrilling on spinning, stomach-dropping carnival rides and indulging in cotton candy and funnel cakes. These are the things memories are made of, and for many families, both local and out-of-state, those memories are made at Carolina Beach.   Last year, due to COVID, Carolina Beach visitors had to do wi ...

"Now Hiring” signs dot the commercial landscape these days. After many months of a COVID-plagued economy that forced companies to furlough or lay off employees, a return to economic opportunities surely should be good news.   Many small businesses, however, find their rebound constrained by a lack of workers.   The hospitality industry is having a ...

The racing community, from fun runs to endurance events such as Ironman, has a significant impact on the Wilmington economy.   While restaurants and hotels have felt the effects of many of these events being canceled due to the pandemic, so have local nonprofit organizations that depend on them as part of their overall budgets.   The Ironman 70.3 North Caroli ...

The region is both a top destination and has shown growth potential when it comes to 2021 summer vacation travel bookings, according to a recent report by AirDNA and HomeToGo. Carolina Beach is listed as one of the top-booked destinations in the country, with North Carolina as one of the top 10 booked states on HomeToGo. Other top-booked spots in the state are Nags Head ...

More than a year after closing its doors to the public due to a worldwide pandemic, Cape Fear Community College’s Wilson Center welcomed guests back for a performance in April.   “The energy was amazing. It was electric. There was just so much joy, with everyone just so happy walking in and getting to see a performance,” Shane Fernando, CFCC’ ...

More than 40,000 eateries across the country have applied already for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund’s $28.6 billion in grant money, according to a report Tuesday in the restaurant trade journal FSR Magazine. Potential applicants had to register with the SBA by last Friday to qualify for an application when the program opened at noon Monday.   The RRF i ...

The area running from Southport to Navassa offers a host of historical and environmental gems that area leaders want the public to be able to access easily, gain from educationally and enjoy physically. A proposed trail to commemorate the legacy of the Gullah Geechee people in Brunswick County is part of a larger effort to bring more cultural and recreational opportunities ...

The Leland Tourism Development Authority (LTDA) is encouraging local tourism-related businesses and organizations impacted by COVID-19 to apply for its grant program, designed to assist with the marketing and promotion of projects and initiatives that attract visitors to the town of Leland.   Funding for LTDA’s grants is provided through occupancy taxes collec ...

The Pleasure Island chamber recently announced changes to the organization that include a new name, rebranding, a new logo and new tagline to better reflect its role as both a chamber and visitors center.   The rebranding, logo and tagline are set to be introduced this month. The new moniker is Pleasure Island Chamber & Visitors Center.   With the new nam ...

Two local movie theaters are gearing up to reopen after the COVID-19 pandemic shut them down last March. The theater that anchors Mayfaire Town Center in Wilmington could be welcoming back moviegoers in May. Another Wilmington movie theater, The Pointe 14 at The Pointe at Barclay, could reopen April 23. Regal Mayfaire & IMAX is listed as one of the Rega ...