Your library card unlocks a whole lot more than books.
Forget the season’s “It Girl” purse—the hottest accessory you can have is a library card. Gen Z and millennials are hitting the stacks at higher rates than their parents, and once you see what’s hiding behind that piece of plastic, it’s not hard to understand why.
Build your to-read list—without the receipts. First things first: The library has books, obv. The Wake County Public Libraries catalog boasts more than 174K searchable items—meaning your next BookTok impulse buy can cost you exactly $0.
Take the library to go. More earbuds and screens than bookmarks? Thousands of audiobooks and e-books put the collection in your pocket, while digital magazines and comics give your screen time a literary upgrade.
Borrow Wi-Fi—really. Wake County library cardholders can check out Chromebooks and mobile hot spots for up to seven days at participating branches—perfect for working remotely, studying in the park or getting online without shelling out for more tech.
Parlez-vous free? Skip the pricey language-learning apps and brush up on your bilingualism with Transparent Language, an online platform that meets library cardholders where they are.
Stop the subscriptions. Your card can cover movie night too—so you can skip the seven-day free trial you’ll inevitably forget to cancel. Hoopla and WCPL’s Films on Demand give cardholders streaming access to education videos and blockbuster films—think the likes of Clueless, Titanic and Catch MeIf You Can.
But wait, there’s more. Borrow a blood-pressure monitor, snag seeds for your garden, or sit down with a librarian for help with your job search or college application. Turns out, checking out is very much in.
Wedding bells are on the horizon for the Wolfpack. Two couples who once suited up as Mr. and Ms. Wuf mascots found their happily ever after while backing the Pack, and we checked in to see what’s in store for the lovebirds—er… wolves.
Savanna & ChandlerChase & Rachel
Former mascots Rachel Fenton and Chase Smith are set to tie the knot Dec. 5, but their Wolfpack days are far from behind them. Fenton is now in her second year as NC State’s mascot coach, with Smith still showing up at games as her No. 1 fan.
Meanwhile, Chandler Smith and Savanna Stone—who are also high school sweethearts—have put down roots in Raleigh. The pair purchased a home, and Stone is now a licensed clinical social worker. While a wedding celebration isn’t on the books yet, another big one is: Next September marks 10 years together. It turns out a mascot suit isn’t the worst place to find a plus-one—howl you need is love.
FTM Fashion Week returned for its 13th season, spotlighting Fashion Around the World.
NYC? Try Jacksonville. The NC city traded its everyday uniform for stilettos as FTM Fashion Week graced the coastal town Oct. 17. Now in its 13th season—with this year’s theme being “Fashion Around the World”—the chic celebration featured six designers, cultural performances and a runway intentionally built for everyone.
“I did not want to take New York’s Fashion Week and slap it on Jacksonville,” says producer and founder Latoya Scott. “We created Fashion Week with Jacksonville. It’s embedded in the community.”
The runway looked a little different than most. The oldest model is around 73, and the youngest designer around 11—already using the annual event to create and showcase her work.
FTM also works with Jacksonville’s Single Marine Program to scout volunteers, with some of the Marines trading volunteer duty for runway struts.
“We have all shapes, all sizes, all ages going down the runway,” Scott says. “The Marines typically come in, help, volunteer, and then the next thing we know they’re walking down the runway! They absolutely love it.”
This year’s theme pushed the show even further outside runway norms. “We have designers coming from all over… to showcase different cultural attire from different countries,” Scott says. “And then we also have cultural groups that will be showcasing their attire and some cultural type dances.”
The theme for this year’s show was partly inspired by Scott’s personal experiences. Her family is currently stationed in Okinawa, Japan, while she produces from overseas; a team in Jacksonville handled stateside happenings.
“We make sure that everyone is going to see fashion around the world, literally,” Scott says. “Fashion is everywhere. It connects multiple cultures, just as sports, music and food do.” While the event was runway-focused, she says its impact has stretched much further.
One designer, Michelle Collins-Windle, first came to FTM as a volunteer. Scott noticed what she was wearing, learned she had made it herself and convinced her to bring five pieces to the runway. The models wanted more, so Collins-Windle sent her daughter home to fetch roughly 30 more pieces.
Since then, the fashion visionary has worked globally with collaborators far beyond Jacksonville, including the jewelry designer behind the Black Panther films.
Other FTM participants have gone on to international modeling, Paris Fashion Week, film work and pageants. Scott recalls one model who first participated at 13 and is now an international model attending college.
“We’re not just producing a fashion show; we’re producing something that is long-lasting and will help with the growth of all the brands that are connected to it,” Scott says. That means deliberately putting more than designers and models in the room. Scott says FTM works to bring in buyers, magazines, local press and industry professionals who can help turn a runway appearance into something bigger.
After 13 seasons, Scott’s goal is still remarkably simple: bring people together, regardless of their race, background or religious beliefs, she says. In Jacksonville, apparently, all roads lead to the runway.
If the sauce is the boss, these three local concoctions run the show. From brunch tables to tailgates, backyard barbecues and fall weekends, NC’s latest saucy deliveries bring bold flavor by the bottle. Consider this your excuse to put a little more NC in your next pour, dip or drizzle.
Gold Hen Bloody Mary Mix
And the plot chickens. … A tailgate staple and a nonnegotiable brunch requirement, the bloody mary gets a local upgrade with Gold Hen. Loaded with horseradish and organic coconut sugar and packing just the right kick, this NC-made mix ups your bloody game. Just add vodka, pile on the olives—or whatever accoutrements your heart desires—and consider your game-day cocktail handled. goldhenbloodymary.com
Slobberin’ Sauce
The great NC barbecue debate is over, with Slobberin’ Sauce offering the best of both worlds. Refined and taste-tested for over 15 years by NC State professor Chris DePerno, the ~packed~ condiment marries Eastern NC’s signature vinegar tang with the rich tomato-forward flavor of Western NC-style barbecue. The sweetest part? The officially licensed NC State sauce sports the Wolfpack seal, with a portion of proceeds supporting student scholarships. drdsbbqsauces.com
Mama Maisa’s
Mama Maisa’s
Some family recipes are too hot to be kept secret. Rooted in a century-old Caribbean tradition, Raleigh-based Mama Maisa’s brings island flavor to the table, packing its bottles with 50% Scotch bonnet pepper mash, balanced with curry, mustard, garlic and onion for a heated kick that doesn’t sacrifice flavor. mamamaisas.com
What happens when acrylic paint meets Fiberglas resin, automotive cleaners, solvents and plaster? For local abstract artist and Bartosik Studios founder Chris Bartosik, the answer unfolds across the canvas, harnessing the materials’ unpredictable chemical reactions to produce one-of-a-kind works that raise eyebrows and demand attention.
