In this Shoresides episode, host Nicolas Magrino takes listeners inside Wake N Bake Donuts, where fall flavors steal the spotlight. Owner Danny Tangredi shares how the Wilmington favorite celebrates the season with limited-edition creations like pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin glazed, and s’mores donuts — each crafted to capture the cozy taste of autumn. As the tourist crowds thin and cooler weather sets in, these fall-inspired treats keep locals coming back. Tangredi talks about the creativity behind the recipes, the rhythm of donut season on the Carolina coast, and what makes Wake N Bake a sweet staple in Wilmington’s community.

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When North Carolina summer turns to fall, an old tradition finds new life at the State Fair. In this episode, Shoresides talks with farmer Pat Short to learn about a tobacco stringing contest where participants bundle tobacco leaves onto sticks, in a process that's been an art here for generations.

Links and Resources:

North Carolina State Fair Tobacco Stringing Contest – NC Department of Agriculture blog post on the contest’s history and significancedeepfried.ncstatefair.orgdeepfried.ncstatefair.org

“From Field to Fair: the ‘Commissioner’s tobacco’ gets special treatment” – Article on how a dedicated tobacco crop is grown for the State Fair’s stringing contestblog.ncagr.govblog.ncagr.gov.

Ph.D. Student Maggie Short: Looping Back to Tobacco – NC State University story featuring Pat Short and his daughter on preserving tobacco heritagecals.ncsu.educals.ncsu.edu.

Annual State Fair tobacco looping contest press release – NCDA&CS press release (Oct 2025) with background on the contest and the tradition of tobacco curingncagr.govncagr.gov.

Deep Fried Blog – Tobacco barn turns 20 – State Fair blog describing the contest’s community atmosphere and champion teamsdeepfried.ncstatefair.orgdeepfried.ncstatefair.org.

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Join us as we take you inside the Polish Festival in Castle Hayne, North Carolina, an annual celebration of Polish heritage hosted by St. Stanislaus Catholic Church. Held every November, the festival is a vibrant gathering filled with authentic Polish cuisine, lively traditional music, and energetic dancing. In this episode, we capture the sights and sounds of the festival through interviews with attendees, conversations about what draws people to this cherished event, and live recordings of the music that brings the community together. Whether you’re a longtime festival-goer or hearing about it for the first time, this episode offers a rich glimpse into a beloved local tradition. The next festival is scheduled for Saturday, November 1, 2025, from 11 am to 5 pm.

Learn more at: ststanspolishfestival.org.

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