Latest news with #UniversityofNorthCarolinaWilmington
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Six degrees of Wilmington? These big acts haven't played here, but we're still connected
These days, Wilmington is getting more big-name musical acts than ever before. From country stars like Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson to such well known pop artists as Teddy Swims and even "Weird Al" Yankovic, all have played Wilmington in the past couple of years. But when it comes to hosting the very biggest names in music, well, Wilmington isn't quite there yet. Still, we're closer to these names than it might seem, especially if one employs the famous "six of degrees of seperation" theory (aka Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon), which says that a person (or a town like, say, Wilmington) can connect with another person (like, say, Kevin Bacon) via a string of aquaintences that's no more than six steps long. We can connect Wilmington to Kevin Bacon in one step, for example: Bacon's never done a movie here, but he starred in the movie "Wild Things" with Neve Campbell, who made the fifth "Scream" movie in Wilmington. Let's put the theory to the test when it comes to big-name acts many would love to see in Wilmington. The biggest pop star in the world has never performed in Wilmington, but we can connect her to the Port City in one easy step. Swift has said her 2010 song "Innocent" is about an awards-show dust-up with rapper Kanye West, and West performed at the University of North Carolina Wilmington's Trask Coliseum back in 2006. One of the biggest rock stars of all time, Springsteen has never played Wilmington. But his 1993 song "Streets of Philadelphia" is the theme to the 1993 movie "Philadelphia" starring Tom Hanks. Hanks has never made a movie in Wilmington, but he was in 1998's "Saving Private Ryan" with Giovanni Ribisi, and Ribisi appears in 1996 Wilmington-shot film "The Grave," which made it into the Sundance Film Festival and helped launch the careers of Jonas and Joshua Pate ("Outer Banks"). That's two steps. Believe it or not, I can connect one of the biggest pop stars in the world to Wilmington in less than one step. Back when she was Beyoncé Knowles, the singer known for her "Cowboy Carter" album played the University of North Carolina Wilmington's Trask Coliseum with her singing group Destiny's Child on Oct. 2, 1999, according to a past issue of UNCW student newspaper The Seahawk. The Oscar- and Grammy-winning pop singer and actress Lady Gaga has never appeared in Wilmington. But on June 1, the mega star appeared on the fan event known as Netflix Tudum with Jenna Ortega, who starred in the Wilmington-shot horror movie "Scream" in 2022. So just one step. Filmington: Everything you need to know about Wilmington's starring role in new 'Scream' movie One of the biggest rappers in the business has yet to play Wilmington, but he's connected to the Port City in one step via an artist on this list: Beyoncé, who played Wilmington in 1999. Lamar's 2009 song "Beyoncé" pays homage to the pop star, and he also collaborated with Queen Bey on 2023 song "America Has a Problem." The iconic heavy metal band just played Charlotte in May, but they've never rocked a show in Wilmington. Metallica did, however, play with fellow metal act Pantera during the Monsters of Rock festival in Moscow in 1991, and Pantera played late, great Wilmington music venue The Mad Monk — the original Market Street location, before it burned down in 1991 — on Nov. 9, 1990, according to One step and done. This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Six degrees of Wilmington, NC: Connecting big-name acts to the area
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Rare whale spotted off Brunswick County coast
A routine bottlenose dolphin survey turned into a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Brunswick Community College students Bethany Berry and Vannessa Herold. Kim Jones, the dean of arts and sciences at Brunswick Community College, documented a rare and unexpected sighting of a humpback whale at the mouth of the Cape Fear River near Bald Head Island during a recent 2025 Saturday field trip. 'There was so much life in the area — baitfish, diving birds, dozens of dolphins — and then we saw it,' said Jones. 'A humpback whale surfaced just beyond Jaybird Shoal.' The students was participating in a collaborative research course with the University of North Carolina Wilmington ― HON-191: Research & Discovery, part of the Community College Undergraduate Research Experience, a Brunswick Community College-UNCW partnership. The sighting marks the first humpback whale that Jones has recorded in the Cape Fear River since April 2021. A follow-up trip of the recent 2025 trip confirmed the whale had remained in the area and was accompanied by a large pod of bottlenose dolphins and a dense school of menhaden. Sailing: What a Pender couple saw navigating a 6,300-mile boat cruise full of adventures Stay informed: Accessing local journalism is even easier with the StarNews app The surveys are part of a larger Community Collaborative Research Grant project titled 'Bottlenose Dolphin Distribution, Abundance and Health along the Brunswick County Coast/Cape Fear River Region.' The North Carolina Sea Grant sponsors the research, which gives students firsthand experience in marine science while contributing to vital regional data collection. Cheryl M. Whitaker covers community news for the StarNews. Reach her at This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Humpback whale spotted off Brunswick County, NC
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Binghamton's Gavin Walsh commits to NCAA Tournament team
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – One of the top talents for the Binghamton Bearcats basketball team a few weeks ago entered the transfer portal and has now announced via his 'X' account that he has made his decision as to where he'll head next. Gavin Walsh is heading to the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Walsh spent the last two seasons with the Bearcats, and this past season averaged an 11.3 points per game, and 10.9 rebounds per game double-double. He will now head to a Seahawks team coming fresh off a trip to their first NCAA Tournament since 2017. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Azalea Festival Highlights: Must-see photos, videos from the parade, street fair and more
The N.C. Azalea Festival has been in full swing since Wednesday, April 2, bringing a flurry of events and brightly colored fashions to the Port City. Unlike in some years, the azaleas started blooming just in time for the festival. From the queen's coronation to the parade, the festival has put the spotlight on Wilmington, with tens of thousands of people attending events. Here's a look at some of the highlights from this year's festival. During the Queen's Coronation on Wednesday, April 2, Bethany Joy Lenz was crowned Queen Azalea. Lenz, who's known for her role in "One Tree Hill" and lived in Wilmington for a decade, expressed her deep connection to the city and its influence on her creativity. More: Queen Azalea Bethany Joy Lenz accepts crown with gratitude, sincerity and honor The Celebrity Reception, which is a private event, took place on Thursday, April 3 at Cape Fear Country Club. It provided festival sponsors an opportunity to see and meet the queen, invited guests and other festival dignitaries. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the N.C. Azalea Festival Garden Tour at the Kenan House in Wilmington on Friday, April 4. The garden tour, which is sponsored by the Cape Fear Garden Club, is a self-guided tour that includes six private gardens, the University of North Carolina Wilmington's Kenan House and the Wise Alumni House, Airlie Gardens, and Rise Up Community Farm, a working vegetable farm whose volunteers raise healthy crops to fight food insecurity. It continues through Sunday, April 6. Azalea Garden Tour in Wilmington: What to know about tickets and the gardens After the Azalea Festival Garden Party on Friday, April 4 at Airlie Gardens, guests headed over to Bluewater Grill for the After Garden Get Down. The event included views of the Intracoastal Waterway, music, food and drinks. This year's parade on Saturday, April 5, saw the streets of downtown Wilmington lined with floats, marching bands, beauty queens and more. The street far offers something for everyone -- food, music, retail vendors and more. It takes place in downtown Wilmington, which has a variety of shopping and dining options, along with views of the Cape Fear River. It continues from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 6. NC Azalea Festival Street Fair: Here's what to know about bands, entertainment and parking Plenty of people gathered on the Riverwalk in downtown Wilmington on Saturday, April 5, to see a fireworks show along the Cape Fear River. This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Azalea Festival 2025 parade, street fair, queen's coronation highlights
USA Today
14-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Build-to-rent: A new housing trend is growing in North Carolina
Build-to-rent: A new housing trend is growing in North Carolina As the demand for housing remains strong in North Carolina and development continues across Wilmington, one trend is gaining momentum both locally and statewide: build-to-rent communities. The Wilmington area is home to more than 4,000 build-to-rent units, with nearly 2,600 in the leasing stage, according to a 2024 build-to-rent market report from Berkadia, a national multifamily real estate investment firm. "Wilmington is a growing market with a really healthy university and a really healthy airport and great employment and (it's) an attractive place where people want to live," Caleb Troop, senior managing director of Berkadia, said. "That's why we're continuing to see these prop up." What is a build-to-rent community? A build-to-rent community is a residential development featuring professionally managed single-family homes or townhomes, either attached or detached, often with garages and backyards. Frequently, the amenities of build-to-rent communities are the same as offered at a traditional apartment complex, featuring dog parks, a pool, a clubhouse, a gym, and more, Troop said. Though, the units themselves and the outlay of the community differs. "Build-to-rent can mean different things and can look different, but it typically is less dense, more suburban, (and) more rural than infill," Troop said. "Typically, (it) is a little bit quieter (with a) lower unit count (and) feels more like a suburban residential community." What's driving the demand? While the rise of build-to-rent communities was largely triggered by the Great Recession in 2008, the COVID-19 pandemic further shifted demand, prompting a surge in supply to meet it. Within the last three to five years, the build-to-rent trend migrated across the sunbelt from the west coast into the southeast, Troop said. "It really kind of caught on over here in a ... post-COVID world where people wanted a little bit more breathing room, wanted a little bit more privacy (and) wanted some more square footage because they were working from home," Troop said. "Renters were using their homes more, still wanted to be renters, but wanted a larger space, more storage, a garage, etcetera." Real estate trends: What will be trending for luxury real estate in 2025? This report tells you The pandemic also boosted population growth in the southeast, Dr. Mouhcine Guettabi, Wilmington's regional economist and associate professor of economics at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, previously told the StarNews. The migration of people into Wilmington, coupled with the availability of relatively affordable land compared to other major metro areas along the Eastern Seaboard make Wilmington a prime market for build-to-rent developments, Troop said. While more people are renters by choice, high interest rates are also pushing many to rent instead of buy. When asked about the impact of build-to-rent communities on homeownership opportunities in the area, Troop said he doesn't view it as a negative. "If the demand weren't there, these developers wouldn't be building them," Troop said. "If the demand for rental communities ... dries up, some of these might be converted to for-sale communities, and that's one of the beauties about the build-to-rent space." How many build-to-rent communities are located in the Wilmington-area? Berkadia provided a list of build-to-rent communities located across Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties: New Hanover County Seaboard at Sidbury Station - 6105 Dichondra Drive, Wilmington. 113 single-family units built in 2023. - 6105 Dichondra Drive, Wilmington. 113 single-family units built in 2023. Pinnacle Townhomes - 8764 Sandy Ridge Loop, Wilmington. 60 townhomes built in 2022. - 8764 Sandy Ridge Loop, Wilmington. 60 townhomes built in 2022. The Townhomes at Beau Rivage - 100 Beau Rivage Drive, Wilmington. 120 townhomes built in 2018. - 100 Beau Rivage Drive, Wilmington. 120 townhomes built in 2018. Villas at Echo Farms - 309 Saint Annes Moor, Wilmington. 62 townhomes built in 2023. - 309 Saint Annes Moor, Wilmington. 62 townhomes built in 2023. The Cottages at Riverlights - 406 Ledbury Road, Wilmington. 279 cottage-style units built in 2024. - 406 Ledbury Road, Wilmington. 279 cottage-style units built in 2024. Banyan Silo Ridge - 24 Winnow Walk, Wilmington. 299 single-family units built in 2025. - 24 Winnow Walk, Wilmington. 299 single-family units built in 2025. Hamlet Barclay West - 3152 S. 17th Street, Wilmington. 280 single-family units under construction. - 3152 S. 17th Street, Wilmington. 280 single-family units under construction. The Hamlet at Barclay West II - 3152 S. 17th Street, Wilmington. 280 single-family units under construction. Brunswick County Heartsease at Shallotte - 500 Seaforth Street, Shallotte. 83 cottage-style units built in 2022. - 500 Seaforth Street, Shallotte. 83 cottage-style units built in 2022. The Pines at Highland Forest Townhomes - 56 Highland Forest Circle, Shallotte. 58 townhomes built in 2016. - 56 Highland Forest Circle, Shallotte. 58 townhomes built in 2016. Leland Station - 7521 Leland Station Drive, Leland. 120 townhomes built in 2020. - 7521 Leland Station Drive, Leland. 120 townhomes built in 2020. Jackey's Ridge - 9102 Pine Notch Road, Leland. 59 single-family units built in 2023. - 9102 Pine Notch Road, Leland. 59 single-family units built in 2023. Encore at Westgate - 2626 Goose Island Drive, Leland. 240 townhomes built in 2024. - 2626 Goose Island Drive, Leland. 240 townhomes built in 2024. The Landing at Stone Chimney - 107 Little Doe Place SW, Supply. 121 single-family units built in 2024. - 107 Little Doe Place SW, Supply. 121 single-family units built in 2024. Bountiful Village - No address provided. Leland. 35 townhomes built in 2023. - No address provided. Leland. 35 townhomes built in 2023. Summer Bay Villas - W Gate Drive, Leland. 79 townhomes built in 2023. - W Gate Drive, Leland. 79 townhomes built in 2023. Beckington Townhomes - 1000 Old Fayetteville Road, Leland. 132 townhomes built in 2023. - 1000 Old Fayetteville Road, Leland. 132 townhomes built in 2023. Isabella Courts - No address provided. Leland. 169 townhomes built in 2023. - No address provided. Leland. 169 townhomes built in 2023. Carolina Crossing - 1909 Boynton Way, Bolivia. 249 townhomes built in 2023. - 1909 Boynton Way, Bolivia. 249 townhomes built in 2023. Cape Cottages - 2909Shoals Point Way, Leland. 315 cottage-style units built in 2023. - 2909Shoals Point Way, Leland. 315 cottage-style units built in 2023. Hawthorne Waterside Cottages - 7111 Rock Fish Lane SE, Leland. 159 cottage-style units built in 2022. - 7111 Rock Fish Lane SE, Leland. 159 cottage-style units built in 2022. Egret Landing - 3021 Siskin Drive NW, Calabash. 198 townhomes built in 2024. - 3021 Siskin Drive NW, Calabash. 198 townhomes built in 2024. Arboretum at Brunswick Village - 4118 Hobblebush Drive, Leland. 104 townhomes under construction. - 4118 Hobblebush Drive, Leland. 104 townhomes under construction. Leland Townhomes - 10000 Old Fayetteville Road, Leland. 254 townhomes under construction. - 10000 Old Fayetteville Road, Leland. 254 townhomes under construction. Overlook at Jackey's Creek - 2708 Tulip Street, Leland. 67 single-family units under construction. Pender County The Reserve at Blake Farm - 127 Edison Avenue, Wilmington. 240 townhomes built in 2022. Looking ahead While Wilmington's overall build-to-rent unit count is comparable to Raleigh's, it has about 1,000 more units currently in the leasing stage, according to the market report. "The governmental leadership in Wilmington ... (has) seen the obvious demand and need for additional housing, whether that's for sale or rent, and they've been accepting within certain boundaries ... so it's made it a bit easier for developers and builders to come in and meet the demand that's already there," Troop said. Though, Wilmington has approximately 600 fewer build-to-rent units currently under construction compared to Raleigh. Troop said the development of build-to-rent communities in Wilmington will likely peak in the next five years, with new deliveries tapering off as a result of slower-than-expected rent growth, increased construction costs post-COVID, labor shortages, tariff concerns, and more. "We'll see what the future holds as it relates to some of those factors like inflation and rent growth and interest rates," Troop said.
