FOOD & DRINK

As temperatures warm, those who work with wildlife across the Cape Fear region say they’re seeing an uptick in calls and questions from local residents. The spring and summer is often the busiest season, said David Leonard with Coastal Carolina Wildlife Rehab. It’s the time of year when deer, rabbits and foxes have their young and alligators become more active.

Welcome to the weekly Port City Foodies newsletter brought to you by StarNews reporter Allison Ballard. And welcome to a great month for local foodies when spring turns to summer, the height of blueberry season comes, and when local restaurants are offering a host of fun food events. You can check out a few of them here. (Hint: If you like food truck rodeos, you’re in luck.) Here’s a look at some of the other news from the local restaurant scene, so you can stay in the know.

A 10-foot alligator was spotted in Southport Tuesday evening. The State Port Pilot reported that the gator was on Southport-Supply Road, until he tried to make a run for it across N.C. Highway 211. The State Port Pilot reported that someone flagged down one of Southport Police Department’s officers in...

CASWELL BEACH, NC (WWAY) — Sea turtle nesting season is continuing to become more active across the Cape Fear. A large loggerhead sea turtle crawled ashore Wednesday afternoon in Caswell Beach. She moved over part of the dune and began digging her chamber to lay her clutch of eggs....

Welcome to the weekly Brunswick Today newsletter brought to you by me, StarNews reporter Renee Spencer. Students and teachers across Brunswick County celebrated the end of the school year and the first days of summer vacation last week. Even if you weren’t enjoying a break from school, work or the morning drop-off line, we hope you took the time to do something fun. ...

🎉 Hey, party people! This weekend, get ready to put on your dancing shoes and hit the beach for the 37th Annual Carolina Beach Music Festival! 🏖️. With a history that dates back to the 1940s, this festival is the birthplace of "beach music" and has been transforming the southern soundscape for over eight decades. 🎶

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - Now that the unofficial start of summer has come and gone, I decided to take a little staycation and enjoy restaurants, the beach, and the warm, Southeastern North Carolina sunshine. Unfortunately this Memorial Day weekend didn’t provide much sunshine, but I was still able to get a wicked sunburn at the beach via a Jackson Pollock-like spray sunscreen job. I also got to enjoy the return of Dave Matthews Band to Wilmington, and check a number of restaurants off my list.

The owner of an iconic Wilmington restaurant that served as a gathering spot for the community for 56 years has died. Horace Lee “Whitey” Prevatte passed away at home on Sunday. He was 95. His silvery hair earned him the nickname Cotton Top at Clarkton High School in...

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) - Echo, an approximately 2-year-old domestic shorthair cat, is available for adoption from the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office Animal Shelter. According to his handlers, Echo is very sweet and easy going. He enjoys seafood-flavored dental treats and is polydactyl, meaning that he has...

If you need to evacuate and want to take your pets with you, several emergency management services will open emergency shelters at local schools if a hurricane should hit. New Hanover County ...

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - The Northside Food Co-Op has worked with many partner groups to bring a grocery store to the Northside of Wilmington. The group called Seven Roots has done projects like these all over the country. “So, figuring out what that mix is going to be, what is...

Bald Head Island Transportation has posted a list of frequently asked questions on its website after two education sessions on its new ticketing and reservation system. The transition to the new electronic system is planned for June 7, 2023. Education sessions will also be held by the Department of Public Safety on Thursday, June 22, and Thursday, June 29, for an introduction to the department's services and how to use fire extinguishers. The Village's Public Safety officers were busy issuing citations over Memorial Day weekend, so visitors should take steps to avoid getting citations, such as wearing a helmet when operating personal electric devices and registering all golf carts and electric vehicles. Visitors should also park their vehicles off the paved roads and not use fireworks or walk on the dunes.

Pender County Emergency Management seeks more users for free alert system. The new emergency alert system in Pender County is up and running just in time for hurricane season, but it will be used for more than just severe weather events. Local health department working to connect residents with financial...

In a brief list that covers Texas to Kentucky to Florida, a popular Wilmington bottle shop has been named among one of the region’s seven best beer bars by Garden & Gun magazine. Fermental, which reopened in Wilmington’s Cargo District last year, has earned a loyal fanbase over the...

The Southport Historical Society will make history come alive as you enjoy a relaxed self-guided, one-mile walk through charming Historic Southport. Transport your self back to the early days of this city while visiting churches and homes dating back to the 1800s, as well as landmarks like City Hall, the Old Brunswick Jail, Old Smithville Burial Grounds, and River Pilots Tower.

🍎🧁🍺 Calling all cider and cupcake lovers! 🎉. This weekend, get ready to indulge in a flavor explosion like no other! 🤤🌟. Join us for the Cider & Cupcake PEARing event at Bull City Ciderworks- Wilmington on June 3rd at 12:00 pm! 🗓️🕛

Gardens can be special places to their visitors and curators that offer refuge and solace. For me, a garden is an agreement between wildlife and people – wherein the agreement states that both parties can have their cake and eat it too if both parties agree to a little compromise.

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – The Carousel Center hosted a Child Sexual Abuse Awareness event on Wednesday night to educate parents about the everyday risks children face online. The event featured a documentary ‘Sextortion: The Hidden Pandemic,’ which was screened at DREAMS of Wilmington. Expert panelists, including SBI...

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – Longtime WECT broadcaster Wayne Jackson passed away at the age of 96 on Monday. Jackson started working at WECT, then known as WMFD, in 1954 — just months before Hurricane Hazel hit. Jackson was host of a 90-minute talk show called Relax with Jax...

The summer season begins deliciously with a bunch of food-and-drink events at restaurants and breweries in the Port City area. This month, you can find a total of three food truck rodeos, as well as events celebrating wine, blueberries and pride. If there’s another foodie event we should include, email aballard@gannett.com.  June 1: Brunswick Beer & Cider at 1313 Dickinson Drive in Leland is partnering with Brookelynn Premium Cigars for a Beer, Bourbon and Cigars event that begins...