Cape Fear Living

09/17/2026

🥩 THE STEAK LIST: ORIGINS

A great steak is more than just a meal. It’s an experience—and at Origins, that experience begins with the beef.

For Executive Chef Marc Piscitello, the choice is the nine-ounce Petite Ribeye, cut from the central eye of the ribeye and served with Romanian-style gnocchi, mushroom fricassee, and whipped hotel butter. 🤤

But plenty is happening behind that beautiful plate.

🥩 1855 Black Angus Beef
🔥 Dry-aged for two days before it hits the grill
🔪 Butchered in-house
🍄 Mushroom fricassee with sherry, chicken jus & preserved truffle
🧈 Hotel butter made with butter, tallow, herbs & preserved lemon
🍷 Andrew Will Involuntary Commitment Bordeaux Blend by the glass
🥃 Barrel-aged Black Manhattan to round it all out

Chef Piscitello’s approach is as thoughtful as the steak itself—breaking down the traditional ribeye into the Petite Ribeye and Deckle, while finding creative ways to repurpose trim and make the most of every cut.

Nine ounces. Big flavour. Zero wasted potential. 🥩✨

Discover Origins in The Steak List: Six of Wilmington’s Finest Cuts in the bio link.

09/17/2026

We’re thrilled to congratulate Madison Sardon on having her beautiful photograph, “Sunset Surfer,” selected for the Cape Fear Living Photographer of the Year competition in the Life on Water Category!

Bathed in warm golden light, the image captures that fleeting moment when surfer and sea become silhouettes against the setting sun—a beautiful portrait of coastal life, freedom and the magic of the evening tide. 🌊☀️

👏 Congratulations, Madison, on this well-deserved recognition!

09/15/2026

WHERE MASSAGE MEETS MEANINGFUL WELLNESS ✨

Your body keeps the score. Stress. Tension. Inflammation. The things we carry without even realizing we’re carrying them.

At Shine On Massage, wellness isn’t an occasional indulgence—it’s part of taking care of yourself. 🌿

Located in Wilmington’s vibrant Cargo District, Shine On takes a therapeutic, anything-but-cookie-cutter approach to massage, tailoring every session to what your body needs. Think hot stones, hot towels and aromatherapy included, plus an earthy, tropical-inspired space that feels a little like the Swiss Family Robinson designed a spa. 🌴

And this fall, there’s even more reason to shine:
💆‍♀️ Massage + facial combos
🔥 Sauna + massage wellness sessions
✨ Reiki + activated stretching add-ons
🌿 New wellness services
💫 New LMBTs joining the team

🤍 Memberships starting at $75/month

Owner Cameron Martin believes regular massage can be a meaningful part of a wellness routine—not something you wait for until your body is running on empty.

Because you wouldn’t drive your car with one flat tire, an empty tank and the check-engine light flashing. 🚗💨 So why treat your body that way?

09/15/2026

We’re thrilled to congratulate Bailey Ocker on having “Anchored in Tranquility,” selected for the Cape Fear Living Photographer of the Year competition in the Life on Water Category!

With its soft, ethereal light, glassy water and beautifully minimalist composition, :Anchored in Tranquility" captures the quiet stillness and serenity of life on our coast. ⛵️✨

👏 Congratulations, Bailey, on this well-deserved recognition!

09/11/2026

TINY WELD: Where Creativity, Connection & a Little Magic Come Together ✨

What happens when permanent jewelry meets perfume, charms, piercings, sparkle and a whole lot of personality? 💫

You get Tiny Weld—one of the Cargo District’s most fun places to discover something completely you. 💎✨

From welded bracelets that mark friendships, milestones and memories to custom charm creations, personalized perfume and the newest Hair Flair Bar featuring sparkles + real feathers, every visit brings a little something unexpected. 🪩🪽

But owner Heather Procknal says Tiny Weld is about more than what you take home—it’s about the stories, connections and moments behind each creation. ❤️

Come for the permanent jewelry. Stay for the charms. Mix your own scent. Add some sparkle. Get a piercing. No rules—have fun.

And that’s exactly what makes Tiny Weld such a perfect fit for Wilmington’s creative Cargo District. 🛍️✨

📖 Read the full story on Cape Fear Living and discover why Tiny Weld is a place where creativity, connection and a little magic come together.

📸 Heather Procknal and Rocco |

09/11/2026

25 years later. We will never forget. 💙🇺🇸
#911

09/09/2026

SOME THINGS ARE BUILT TO LAST. 💫

Sixteen years after opening its doors, manna remains one of Wilmington’s constants.

No chasing trends. No shouting for attention. Just thoughtful food, a room that knows exactly what it is—and a story that keeps unfolding.

🍽️ We sat down with William Mellon to talk about manna, the making of Wilmington’s dining scene, the stories behind his restaurants, and why staying might be the hardest thing of all.

From French technique and Southern ingredients to family photographs, military pins, oysters, beef tenderloin—and the quiet art of creating places people return to.

THE ART OF STAYING: William Mellon, manna & the Making of Wilmington

✍️ Story by Colleen Thompson, Editor in Chief, Cape Fear Living

Read the full story: https://www.cape-fear-living.com/post/the-art-of-staying-william-mellon-manna-the-making-of-wilmington

🥂 Here’s to sixteen years—and counting.

manna

Sixteen years after opening its doors—celebrating the milestone on 3 November—William Mellon's downtown Wilmington restaurant remains one of the city's constants. Helmed in the kitchen by Carson Jewell, it continues to serve thoughtful, beautiful food without chasing trends or shouting for atten...

09/04/2026

We’re thrilled to congratulate Brooke Reading on having her beautiful photograph, “Morning Commute,” selected in the Life on Water Category of the Cape Fear Living Photographer of the Year!

This striking image beautifully captures a quiet moment of anticipation. A wonderful celebration of the connection between people and the coast. 🏄‍♀️✨

Congratulations, Brooke, on this well-deserved recognition! 🏆👏

# CapeFearLiving

09/03/2026

👨‍🍳🔥 MEET THE CHEF: NICK LINI OF G PRIME STEAK & CELLAR 🥩🦪

From the dish pit at 16 to Executive Chef at one of Wilmington’s premier dining destinations, Nick Lini has spent his life in the kitchen. 🍽️

A graduate of Cape Fear Community College’s culinary program, this coastal North Carolina native brings together his love of classic American steakhouse cuisine with the flavors of the coast. 🌊🥩

His current menu favorite? 🦀 The crab cake—made with a mousseline instead of breadcrumbs and paired with sweet corn remoulade and shaved fennel. 😋

And when it comes to local ingredients, Nick is all about fresh seafood and local oysters—especially broiled with Creole compound butter. 🦪🔥

Off the clock, you might find this chef catching a wave 🏄‍♂️ or enjoying his wife’s soul-warming kimchi jjigae with his family. ❤️

His advice for home cooks? 👇
✨ “The art of food is subjective—do what you like.”

Read the full Q&A and get to know the chef behind the kitchen at G PRIME Steak & Cellar! 🔗

09/03/2026

We’re thrilled to congratulate Joel Potter on having his beautiful photograph, “Morning Rhythm,” selected for the Cape Fear Living Photographer of the Year competition in the Landscape Category! 📸

With its warm morning light, gentle waves and graceful shorebirds reflected along the water’s edge, "Morning Rhythm" captures the quiet beauty and peaceful cadence of a new day on the coast. 🌊🐦✨

👏 Congratulations, Joel, on this well-deserved recognition!

Joel Potter