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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Meet The Adorable North Carolina Town That Inspired 'The Notebook'
Nicholas Sparks's adopted hometown of New Bern is a slice of coastal bliss. If you've ever read a Nicholas Sparks book (or seen a movie adaptation), you've likely fallen in love with a fictional character. We can't help but swoon over the chemistry between Will and Ronnie in The Last Song, or the tragic young love between Landon and Jamie in A Walk to Remember. And of course, we're forever in awe of the unbreakable bond between Noah and Allie in The Notebook. While the characters in Sparks's novels aren't real, many of the places where their love stories unfold are. Take for example, New Bern, North Carolina. Sparks's adopted hometown also happens to be the setting for some of his most popular novels. A Bend in the Road, The Return, The Wedding, and most notably The Notebook are all set in New Bern. Everything about New Bern, from its scenic setting on the Trent and Neuse Rivers to its centuries-old churches and historic downtown, make it the perfect backdrop for a Southern romance. The town of around 31,000 people in east North Carolina was founded in 1710, making it the second oldest town in the state. It's part of a region known as North Carolina's Inner Banks, which means while it's not quite on the ocean like neighboring Outer Banks towns, it's still decidedly part of the Carolina coast. Expect days to be filled with activities like standup paddle boarding, pontoon boat cruises, and waterfront dining. If you've ever wished to be transported inside one of Nicholas Sparks's novels, New Bern quite literally gives you the opportunity to live out your dreams. Here are the 15 best things to do in New Bern, North Carolina. Walk Around Union Point Park It doesn't get more picturesque than a golden hour walk at Union Point Park that ends with a sunset show under the park's iconic green-roofed gazebo. The six-acre site in historic downtown marks the convergence of the Neuse and Trent Rivers, and is a popular gathering space that includes two boat launches, grills, a playground, picnic tables, and a fishing pier. Shop At Downtown's Local Businesses Stroll the tree-shaded streets of historic downtown New Bern to find all kinds of treasures, from quirky antique stores and art galleries to artisan shops and boutiques housed in historic homes. The Black Cat Shoppe is a colorful spot for eclectic oddities and The Next Chapter Books & Art carries on the town's rich literary history that dates to 1783 when the state's first bookstore was opened in New Bern. Take A Self-Guided African American Heritage Tour Learn about Black history in New Bern and its surrounding regions by exploring its African American Heritage Trail. The trail is made up of 16 panels at 10 sites in the Craven Terrace and Dryborough neighborhoods that tell the stories of historical events, people, and places that pertain to Black history in New Bern. The entire trail covers 1.3 miles and takes around 30 minutes to complete. Visit Tryon Palace New Bern was once home to the state's capital building, and you can see a replica of it, plus historic homes and spectacular gardens at Tryon Palace, which was built in the 1760s as a home for the Royal British Governor when North Carolina was just a colony. A one-day pass to the site includes entry into the North Carolina History Center, a tour of the governor's mansion, and access to four historic homes and the complex's 21 acres of meticulously upkept gardens. 529 South Front Street, New Bern, NC 28562; 1-800-767-1560 Have A Drink At The Birthplace Of Pepsi One of New Bern's many claims to fame is that Pepsi was invented there in 1898. 100 years later, the town decided to honor the major milestone with a Birthplace of Pepsi historical site and experience in the heart of downtown. Free to the public, head inside to learn about the history of Pepsi, buy Pepsi-themed merchandise, and get an ice-cold Pepsi from the old-school soda fountain. 256 Middle St., New Bern, NC 28560; 252-636-5898 Have Breakfast At Baker's Kitchen This downtown eatery is beloved for breakfast thanks to two things, their Dutch Potatoes and their Butter Syrup. The creamy, rich, and cheesy potato dish is perfect alongside a short stack of pancakes smothered in their addictive butter syrup. The stuff is so good they've even bottled it for diners to take home. 227 Middle Street, New Bern, NC 28560; 252-637-0304 Enjoy Dinner At Cypress Hall After training at Johnson and Wales University in Charleston, South Carolina, Chef Ashley Moser returned home to open Cypress Hall Kitchen + Bar in New Bern. His menu focuses on seasonal, local, and fresh ingredients in New American dishes like ricotta gnudi with summer squash, asparagus, brown butter, and Parmesan or pork cheeks with rice grits, collards, smoked ham, lemon, and chive. 219 Middle Street, New Bern, NC 28560; 252-633-5909 Sample Smoked Meats At Harry's BBQ The South is known for its legendary barbecue, and North Carolina's specific variety brings a little something special even to that. If you want real deal smoked meats, Harry's is the place to go. Fill your platter with meats like pulled pork, sausage, ribs, and pastrami beef rib surrounded by classic Southern sides like corn pudding, potato salad, braised greens, hush puppies, and pit beans. 243 Craven St, New Bern, NC 28560; 252-631-2672 Book A Charming Stay Most folks fall head over heels in love with New Bern from the moment they arrive, but a stay in a bed and breakfast is always enough to seal the deal. The Aerie, located in downtown New Bern, is an impressive Italianate Victorian that dates to 1882. Each of its nine guest rooms and suites are uniquely decorated, but all offer modern amenities and plenty of Southern hospitality. Other worthy options include Hanna House Bed & Breakfast and modern boutique hotel The Harvey. Go Stand Up Paddle Boarding Take advantage of New Bern's coastal locale by renting a standup paddle board from Banx Watersports, which is perched on the water's edge. The company's private launch on Lawson Creek gives access to both the Trent and Neuse Rivers, so your paddling adventure is limitless. 1305 Country Club Road, New Bern NC 28562; 252-638-3000 Get A Treat At Bear City Fudge Company New Bern was named after the Swiss capital city of Bern, which is an old Germanic word for bear. As such, New Bern's unofficial nickname is Bear Town, and you can find painted statues of the animal all over town. Celebrate the mascot and satisfy your sweet tooth at Bear City Fudge Company, where you'll find a wonderland of confections and sweet treats that include homemade fudge, pralines, truffles, and ice cream. 236C Middle St., New Bern, NC, 28560; 252-636-1360 Cruise The Neuse On A Pontoon Boat See the beauty of New Bern by boat on one of four daily excursions that depart from the New Bern Grand Marina. During the 90-minute cruise along the Neuse River, a captain relays stories and facts about New Bern. All you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery. Daytime tours leave at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., and 2 p.m.; a sunset tour departs at 6:30 p.m. 101 Craven Street, New Bern, NC, 28560; 252-772-1876 See New Bern Through Nicholas Sparks's Eyes It's always cool to read about a place and then see it in person. If you've read A Bend In the Road, The Wedding, or The Notebook, you can have plenty of those page-to-real-life experiences in New Bern. The city's Walk to Remember tour points out 15 landmarks around town that are all mentioned in Sparks's novels. Places like Tryon Palace (mentioned in both A Bend in the Road and The Wedding), the Masonic Theater (The Notebook), and the famous Alfred Cunningham Bridge (The Notebook) are all on the list. Take A Historic Trolley Tour The best way to get an overview of the city is on a 90-minute historic trolley tour. Operating from March through December, the tours take passengers around downtown New Bern and to historic landmarks including New Bern Academy Museum, Cedar Grove Cemetery, and Christ Episcopal Church. While you ride, a historian will relay interesting details, historical narratives, and true stories about what you're seeing. 1311 N Craven St., New Bern, NC 28560; 252-637-7316 Enjoy A Waterfront Meal at Persimmons Views of the water abound in New Bern, and one of the best places to get a particularly great one is at Persimmons, which sits on the end of a short dock suspended over the Neuse River. The restaurant has been an integral part of New Bern's dining scene since opening in 2010. You can opt for a table on the back deck for panoramic views of the water, but even from inside, you'll experience similar stunning sights thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows. For dinner, seafood is certainly on the menu with options ranging from linguini and clams to shrimp and grits to jumbo lump crab cakes. Pair your meal with a craft cocktail like the effervescent Grapes of Wrath (Moscato, Campari, blood orange, soda), and you've got a night to remember. 100 Pollock St., New Bern, NC 28560; 252-514-0033 Read the original article on Southern Living Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
More plaintiffs expected in lawsuits alleging NC State ignored sex abuse
Three more plaintiffs accusing NC State University of ignoring sexual abuse by a former sports trainer may join federal lawsuits that are once again moving forward. Since August 2022, three former male athletes have filed federal lawsuits accusing the university of not protecting them from Robert Murphy, a longtime director of sports medicine who plaintiffs say abused and harassed them. Murphy, who resigned in 2022, has never been criminally charged. A federal judge dismissed two of the lawsuits in 2023, one of which was revived in January after a successful appeal. During a June 18 hearing in a federal courthouse in New Bern, Kerry Sutton, the attorney representing the plaintiffs, said she plans to add three more plaintiffs. Any of these cases may face an uphill battle. NC State is vigorously challenging whether the plaintiffs have legal grounds to move forward, while stating that its defense in the case is independent of the university's stance against sexual exploitation on campus. 'Sexual misconduct of any kind is unacceptable, prohibited by NC State's policies, and in direct opposition to the mission, culture, and standards of the university,' the university wrote in a court filing seeking to have a case dismissed. NC State spokesperson Mick Kulikowski declined to comment for this story, saying the university doesn't comment on pending litigation. In August 2022 former soccer player Benjamin Locke filed a lawsuit against the university and others, contending campus officials failed to protect him from Murphy, who worked at State from 2012 to 2022. Locke said Murphy abused him during what were supposed to be healing training sessions, touching his genitals dozens of times. Murphy took advantage of his powers to decide when student athletes were well enough to play again, Locke's lawsuit states. The lawsuit contends campus athletic officials were grossly negligent for failing to take action after then men's soccer coach Kelly Findley reported his concerns about Murphy's behavior in 2016 to Senior Associate Athletic Director Sherard Clinkscales, the lawsuit states. The school's lack of action after the report violates Title IX, federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination at federally funded schools, the lawsuit states. Another former student, identified in court filings as John Doe, filed a lawsuit in February 2023 that alleged Murphy abused him twice under the guise of treating his injuries in 2015. A third identified as John Doe 2 filed a lawsuit in April 2023 that accused Murphy of touching a former athlete's genitals twice while the student attended State in 2020 and 2021. In September 2023, U.S. District Judge Louise Wood Flanagan dismissed the first John Doe lawsuit after challenges from NC State, including that John Doe's alleged abuse took place in 2015 and that the lawsuits don't say the university received alleged notice of the abuse, required for the plaintiffs to be successful in holding the university responsible, until 2016. Flanagan also dismissed the John Doe 2 case, agreeing with NC State's argument that Findley's alleged warning to Clinkscales about Murphy engaging 'in what he suspected was sexual grooming of male student athletes,' wasn't strong enough language to put the school on notice. But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit found in January that the statement did meet the legal standard. 'Findley's report specified wrongful conduct that was sex-based, current, and committed by an employee with authority over student athletes,' the court ruled. That sent the case back to North Carolina's eastern district court, allowing Benjamin Locke's and John Doe 2's cases to resume. At a June 18 hearing, Sutton, the plaintiffs' attorney, said she planned to combine the two active cases and potentially revive the first John Doe case, according to a transcript of the hearing. She also plans to add three more plaintiffs to the lawsuits, she stated in court. Sutton didn't provide any other details. NC State's lawyers have signaled they have more challenges to offer. That includes the university's claim that plaintiffs filed the lawsuits too late and that John Doe 2 shouldn't be allowed to stay anonymous. The school also continues to challenge the alleged warning of abuse, needed for the cases to move forward. In addition to saying the warning's language wasn't strong enough, the university is also expected to argue that the wrong person was told. The university argues that head soccer coach Findley reporting to associate athletic director Clinkscales, and soccer coaches allegedly knowing about the alleged grooming, didn't meet the legal standard of notifying the school of abuse. 'Neither the alleged notice to Clinkscales nor the alleged knowledge of the head and assistant soccer coaches of suspected grooming behaviors is sufficient to establish that an NC State official with the requisite authority to address discrimination and to institute corrective measures had actual knowledge of discrimination,' university attorneys argue in court documents. Virginia Bridges covers criminal justice in the Triangle and across North Carolina for The News & Observer. Her work is produced with financial support from the nonprofit The Just Trust. The N&O maintains full editorial control of its journalism. Read 1st suit accusing NC State of failing to protect soccer player from sexual abuse
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kevin Williamson's Twisted Family Past Inspired Netflix's Hottest Show
Netflix's latest breakout hit isn't just a gripping drama. It's a personal reckoning. The Waterfront, which rocketed to the platform's #1 spot within days of its June 19 debut, delivers high-stakes family drama, dark secrets, and Southern gothic atmosphere. But what sets it apart from other prestige dramas is its foundation in real life. The series follows the Buckleys, a once-powerful family in fictional Havenport, North Carolina, who built their fortune on the local fishing industry. Now, they're barely holding on. Patriarch Harlan is recovering from a series of heart attacks. His son Cane is struggling to salvage the family's restaurant empire, while his daughter Bree fights her way back from addiction, custody loss, and a risky romance that could detonate the family's already fragile legacy. But The Waterfront isn't just a fictional saga. It's rooted in creator Kevin Williamson's own childhood in New Bern, North Carolina. Best known for Scream and Dawson's Creek, Williamson drew directly from his own family's past, including the shocking decision his father made in the 1980s: turning to drug smuggling when the fishing economy dried up. "They didn't just arrest my dad," Williamson told Time. "They arrested a whole bunch of people. It was part of a cartel. They were the low men in the operation." Williamson said he always planned to tell this story, but waited out of respect. "I always told my dad I was going to write the story," he said. "He said, 'Wait until I'm dead.'" Now, decades later, The Waterfront delivers that long-awaited dramatization, infused with small-town power plays, generational damage, and themes of survival. Critics have compared the show to Yellowstone, but with a sharper emotional edge and a distinctly Southern flavor. It's been talked about as a bingeable family soap that is a bold blend of fact and fiction. The cast includes Maria Bello, Rafael L. Silva, Danielle Campbell, Humberly González, and Topher Grace in a surprising guest role. All eight episodes are now available to stream on Netflix, and early buzz suggests a second season is likely. If you're looking for a summer binge that's steeped in both grit and authenticity, The Waterfront might be your next obsession. Just don't be surprised if it leaves you wondering how much of the drama is real and how much Williamson still hasn't Williamson's Twisted Family Past Inspired Netflix's Hottest Show first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 24, 2025
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Juneteenth events begin in New Bern
NEW BERN, N.C. (WNCT) –Juneteenth events are kicking off across Eastern North Carolina this weekend. Friday night, June 13, 2025, artists and many others gathered un New Bern for a night of showcasing talents. 'We've come, we come a long way and we traveled a lot of roads to get to where we are today,' Artist Diamond Campbell said. 'So, we really have to make sure that we continue to show the world who we are and a really good way to do that is through our art.' Campbell has multiple pieces showcased for the Juneteenth Artwalk. She said the art is a way to show expression through hard work. 'The black culture and hip-hop culture is something that I was raised up,' Campbell said. 'So, it's a part of me and most definitely have to make sure that I demonstrated it in my art and express it in my art. But, the Queen is definitely the most special one for me because it's the essence of me. It's who I see myself as.' Campbell said the process to create a piece of art is a step-by-step one. 'Sometimes, I can meditate on a piece for a day and complete it in my mind before I begin, and then from there, it generally takes me about two or three days to complete a piece,' she said. Some of her artwork is also for sale at the Craven Arts Council. For more information on the New Bern Juneteenth events, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Yahoo
Man arrested after leading police on chase in Craven County
BRIDGETON, N.C. (WNCT) — A man was arrested after Bridgeton Police officers tried to stop him on his motorcycle for a traffic offense on June 4, 2025. The driver, Shayne Hayes, 39, led officers on a chase into New Bern but the chase was stopped due to Hayes' driving and being a danger to the public, officers said. Warrants were then taken out for Hayes' arrest on felony fleeing to elude arrest and numerous traffic violations. Officers went to Hayes' home on Yarmouth Road Saturday, June 7th to serve the warrants and they said Hayes ran away into the neighborhood and hid from them. He was eventually found and taken into custody. Hayes was also charged with resisting, obstructing and delaying arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia. Hayes was jailed in the Craven County Jail without bond. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
