From your favorite films with surprising NC connections to some outrageous real estate headlines to Raleigh’s famous cocktail, you all love to read about — and celebrate — the storied people and places that make Raleigh tick. Here are our 10 most-clicked online stories from 2022.
by Addie Ladner
New Real Estate Developments Coming to Raleigh
These days it’s nearly impossible to keep track of all that’s changing in Raleigh. On April 1, we broke five of the most exciting projects in the works. Just make sure you read to the bottom…
10+ Triangle Natives Who Have Made it Big on Broadway and in Hollywood
The Raleigh-Durham area isn’t that big, but we’ve like to think we punch above our weight class in terms of our arts scene. And these Triangle natives who’ve made it big on Broadway and in Hollywood — from Euphoria’s Hunter Schafer to Hamilton’s Ariana Debose — prove it! Read on to see if you recognize any of these performers’ names and learn what they love most about home.
Feet in the Sand: The Woman who Saved Jockey’s Ridge
Learn about the late matriarch, Carolista Baum’s charge to save massive dunes started with standing in front of a bulldozer and ended with the state acquiring the land and turning it into what is now the most visited state park.
Where to Get Breakfast in Downtown Raleigh
With businesses, conventions, and court cases back in-person, we were excited to see energy back in downtown Raleigh. The WALTER offices are right on Fayetteville Street, and we make a point of taking daily walks to get a good cup of coffee — both a treat for us, and our way of doing our part to support our local businesses. From to-go coffee and pastries to a sit-down morning meal we shared these spots that offer breakfast near Fayetteville Street.
Rest & Restore at These Historic North Carolina Bed and Breakfasts
From a pre-Civil War farmhouse in the country to a sprawling, Gatsby-era stone estate in the mountains, North Carolina offers stays that don’t just invite you to another region — they transport you to another era. In each of these bed-and-breakfasts, the owners have curated an authentic travel experience, often with local art, hand-selected linens, and heirloom furnishings in your bedroom. Delicious breakfast and hot coffee are on the morning menu alongside conversation with your hosts and other guests, the perfect opportunity to plan your visit with a personal touch. As you start thinking about 2023 escapes, consider these five historic bed-and-breakfasts and inns across our state.
10 Iconic Movies you Might Not Know Were Filmed in North Carolina
Did you know that more than 2,000 movies and television shows have been filmed in the Old North State, and they’ve generated over $6 billion in production revenue? (And no — not all of them are based on Nicholas Sparks novels.) With our mix of great mountains, wide open spaces, beaches, and retro neighborhoods, North Carolina has a lot to offer for movie sets. See if you recognize these parts of the Old North State while you watch these 10 pieces of classic movies filmed either partially or entirely in North Carolina.
I Took the Direct Flight from Raleigh to the Bahamas and Here’s How It Went
The new flight to Grand Bahama is the seventh international route out of RDU. In November, writer Rachel Simon headed over to RDU and boarded a 1 ½-hour flight to the island of Grand Bahama. This wouldn’t have been a particularly notable trip, save for the fact that it was the inaugural flight on the new nonstop route from Raleigh to Freeport from Bahamasair—and the seventh international route offered by RDU overall. To both Raleighites and Bahamians, the launch of the twice-weekly flight was a cause for major celebration, and Simono was lucky enough to be smack in the middle of the event.
A Diva is Born: Dipping a Toe into Raleigh’s Drag Scene
What does it take to become a drag queen? A quirky character, knockout look, signature moves — and guts writer Billy Warden learned this year.
Make A Cherry Bounce — Raleigh’s Official Cocktail
Signature drinks live across the world: the Pimm’s Cup in London, New Orleans’ Sazerac, the Mint Julep in Kentucky. Here, it’s the Cherry Bounce, a boozy, sweet-yet-tart concoction made from preserved fruit that was a favorite at Isaac Hunter’s Tavern on Fayetteville Street in the late 1700s. Local lore says the Cherry Bounce may have been instrumental in the selection of Raleigh as our state capital city, as bartender Hunter served the potent beverage to commissioners on decision night. We revisited this classic story for WALTER’s 10 year anniversary.
20 Raleigh Hidden Gems and Long-Standing Restaurants Worth Supporting
Raleigh attracts celebrity chefs and restaurateurs from all over the world — but let’s not forget about the spots that have been here for decades! This story continues to be a top-read post year after year. While the pandemic shuttered some long-time favorites, folks like to make an effort to support the no-frills old-school joints in hopes they will be around for many decades more.
This story originally appeared in December 2022 on waltermagazine.com
