📫This Week - Christmas Art Walks To The Sounds Of The Season! Check It All Out | And My Personal Recommendation IS...🧑‍🎄

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Hello friends!

It’s December 8th — officially National Lard Day. Time to come out of the pantry and admit the truth:

Everything is better with lard.

• Pie crust: butter is cute, lard wins county fairs.

• Biscuits: tall, flaky, borderline illegal levels of tender.

• Refried beans: one spoonful of lard and suddenly your beans have a PhD in comfort.

Tonight, fry something sinful or just whisper “thank you” to your tub of leaf lard. You’ve earned it.

See you out there in beautiful Wake,
Diane

PS: The yard sale section of our newsletter will be paused until spring, resuming when the weather improves and sales start up again.

—Philippians 4:6
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

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📍 Today’s Chuckle 📍

I’m white, I’m spreadable, and I make your biscuits rise taller than your ex’s ego. Butter thinks it’s me, but I’m pig-rich and proud. I turn pie crusts into flaky miracles and refried beans into a religious experience. What am I?

Lard, baby. Pure, unapologetic lard. (Accept no vegan substitutes.)

📍 Trivia 📍

Lard was McDonald’s secret weapon for French fries from 1940 until 1990. Those legendary fries everyone still cries about? Cooked in 93% beef tallow + 7% cottonseed oil (basically fancy lard). They only switched to vegetable oil after one guy in the 80s started the “cholesterol panic — and the world has never recovered.

🌶️Chubby’s Tacos-Monday’s are $3.00 Margaritas & Tuesday’s are $2.00 tacos🌶️ Visit the site.

All Aboard the Carolina Christmas Trains

Forget the mall. In North Carolina, the real holiday magic runs on rails.

Tweetsie Christmas (Blowing Rock) A glowing steam train loops three miles through a million twinkling lights in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Open-air cars, live carolers, Santa in his Gingerbread House, s’mores by the fire, and a Wild West Christmas show. Runs weekend evenings Nov–Dec. Bundle up and book early.

The Polar Express (Bryson City) Pajamas mandatory. Board the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad for a 90-minute trip to the “North Pole” with hot cocoa, dancing chefs, the story read aloud, and Santa himself handing every kid their first gift—a silver sleigh bell. Pure movie magic on real tracks.

Both sell out fast, feel like stepping into a snow globe, and remind even the grinchiest adults why this season matters.

Ditch the parking lot chaos. Let a whistle and some steam do the work. All aboard for the Carolinas’ best Christmas rides. 🎄🚂

👉Kids 10 and under eat FREE with the purchase of an adult entree at Amedeo’s Italian Restaurant. Check out “Kids Eat Free” below. 👈

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Don’t Miss These Festive Events in Wake County

🎄Explore creativity at the 33rd Annual Boylan Heights ArtWalk on December 8, starting at 12 PM. Stroll through local galleries, meet artists, and enjoy a day of art—full details!

🎄Experience the magic of the season with the NC Master Chorale’s Joy of the Season on December 9, featuring 170 voices in a breathtaking performance. Get your tickets and event details!

🎄Discover the Illuminate Art Walk in Downtown Raleigh, running through January. Explore 12 interactive installations scattered throughout the city—perfect for a family outing or evening stroll. See the full map and get information Downtown Raleigh.

🎄Get ready for an unforgettable night with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra at Lenovo Center on December 11, starting at 7 PM.

🎄Experience the magic of the holidays with the Carolina Ballet’s “The Nutcracker”, running December 11–24. Delight in this timeless story brought to life with stunning performances, music, and costumes. Reserve your seats and buy tickets at Wake News & Events.

🎄Celebrate the season at the Holiday Quarter Night Market on December 12th, featuring local vendors, festive treats, and holiday cheer. Enjoy live music, unique gifts, and a fun evening for the whole family. Find full details and plan your visit at Holiday Quarter Night Market.\

My Personal Recommendation for Today is…

If you’re looking for something truly magical this season, I highly recommend checking out Moonlight in the Garden at the JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh. Walking through the gardens at night, you’ll be surrounded by thousands of twinkling lights and glowing luminaries that turn every corner into a sparkling wonderland. There’s live music, delicious food, and cozy fire pits—perfect for a family night out or a romantic stroll. Some of my favorite spots are the illuminated water features and the glowing trees, which are absolutely perfect for photos.

Cost: Admission is usually around $15 per person, with discounts for children and members, but it’s always worth checking the Arboretum’s website for the most current pricing.

It’s honestly one of the most magical experiences in Raleigh during the holidays—definitely don’t miss it!

Zak Bevis Feeds the Homeless of Norwich With Quiet Dignity

In the chilly evenings of Norwich, England, long after most food trucks have closed, Zak Bevis — known to wrestling fans as “Zaket Potato” — parks his simple baked-potato truck near the city center. He isn’t there for business. He’s there for people who have nothing. Zak prepares steaming hot jacket potatoes stuffed with butter and cheese, wraps them carefully, and hands them out free of charge to anyone who needs a warm meal.

One night in early 2025, a passerby filmed Zak gently offering a meal to a woman who looked hesitant and embarrassed. Zak didn’t rush her or question her. He simply smiled, held out the food, and told her she deserved a hot dinner like anyone else. That clip went viral — not because Zak was seeking attention, but because people recognized pure, quiet goodness when they saw it. Since then, locals have stepped forward with donations and kind words, but Zak always says the same thing: “Everyone deserves warmth. Everyone deserves dignity.”

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."
— Galatians 6:9 (ESV)

55 Plus - The New Silver Standard

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🌶️Chilli’s restaurant gives seniors a break. Be sure to ask for your 10% discount if you are 55 or older🌶️ See more senior discounts below!

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Check out our online calendar for more events and local activities!📌

We strive to make sure that all information is accurate. However, we always recommend check all details with the event organizer.

There are so many events happening in and around Wake County, NC that we have gone to a seperate page to list events. Please click this button to view all of the area’s great events!👇

Sometimes, email servers can cut off parts of the newsletter, making it tricky to enjoy the full experience. For the best reading experience and to catch all the details, click here to view the entire newsletter!

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If your business event, or restaurant, is not on the list and you would like to be added, contact us at [email protected]