The Festival Culture

Hurricane Season

Hurricane season is part of life in Wilmington, North Carolina — but it’s not always as dramatic as people imagine, and it’s definitely not something you can fully understand from a weather map. In this episode of Port City Living, Billy shares what hurricane season feels like from the perspective of someone who grew up here, lived through storms like Fran and Florence, and has watched the Wilmington area change over the years. This is a conversation about coastal living, local memory, storm anxiety, preparation without panic, and the strange rhythm of waiting, watching, wondering, and sometimes realizing the storm had other plans. If you’re new to Wilmington, thinking about moving to the coast, or just curious about what hurricane season is really like here, this episode offers a personal, honest look at living with hurricanes in southeastern North Carolina.

The Lake

There's a place in Wilmington you've almost certainly walked, jogged, or paddled around — and most people have no idea what they're really standing on. Before it became one of the most beloved green spaces in the city, it was a rice plantation worked by enslaved people. Over the years it's been a millpond, an amusement park, a small-town zoo, and the backdrop for one very wild night involving a runaway circus elephant. And that scenic five-mile road you love so much? It was built by men in chains during the Great Depression. In this episode, I dig into the layered, unfiltered history of Greenfield Lake — the beauty of it and the weight of it — and why this old millpond just might be the reason Wilmington still has a soul.

Gas Stations Everywhere - WTF Wilmington?

It started with a mediocre hotdog at a brand new Sheetz and a gas station literally across the street — and it got me thinking. Wilmington already has well over 130 gas stations across New Hanover County alone, from the big national chains to the mom and pop stores that have been part of this community for decades. And yet somehow, more keep coming. In this episode I dig into exactly what is being built right now across this city, why our explosive population growth has made us a prime target for billion dollar convenience store chains, the surprising truth about how little money these companies actually make on gas, why prices differ from one station to the next and whether that should change, what happens to the little guy when corporate money moves in, and the unexpected reason why electric vehicles are actually accelerating the gas station boom rather than slowing it down.  Check out my youtube channel and other fun stuff here:  https://linktr.ee/portcitylivingnc

The Art Scene

Wilmington has always had a creative soul — and in this episode I take you inside a thriving art scene that most people don't even know exists in their own backyard. I'll show you where to find it, why it matters, and make a passionate case for why supporting local artists is more important than ever as this city continues to grow and change.  https://cameronartmuseum.org/ https://www.artswilmington.org/ https://www.instagram.com/acmeartstudios/ https://www.theartworks.co/ Find my youtube channel and other fun things here:   https://linktr.ee/portcitylivingnc

An American Story: Minnie Evans

Born in 1892 with visions she couldn't explain, Minnie Evans spent decades as a gatekeeper at Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, North Carolina — painting dreams on scraps of paper and discarded window shades. Her work eventually captured the attention of the entire art world. Today her paintings hang in some of the most prestigious museums in the country. This is the story of one of Wilmington's most extraordinary souls — and why her legacy still matters.  https://high.org/exhibition/minnie-evans/ https://airliegardens.org/ https://linktr.ee/portcitylivingnc