Vanessa Infanzon

Vanessa Infanzon

Contributing Writer

Vanessa Infanzon moved from New York to NC for college and never left. When she’s not writing, she’s paddle boarding at the Whitewater Center.

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Culture Charlotte chef Lisa Brooks was a finalist on the popular Food Network reality show "Chopped." One of our picks for NC-centric holiday gifts this year is a candlelit dinner prepared in your home by Chef Lisa. (Photo by James Ward)
Culture Have This Celebrity NC Chef Make A Meal Just for You, and Other NC-Centric Holiday Gifts This Year

Pottery, apparel, a candlelit dinner for two by Chef Lisa Brooks, and a Blue Ridge bike crawl: Mean it when you say 'shop local' and buy these North Carolina-made holiday gifts.

Vanessa Infanzon Vanessa Infanzon December 2, 2022 12:22 pm EST
Culture Armed with a chainsaw, Mountain Mike will carve you animals, superheroes, just about anything.
Culture Elk, Chainsaw Carving, and Building a Good Drum: Our Guide to NC’s Blue Ridge Craft Trails

A tour of western NC’s craft secrets, from Cherokee to the High Country.

Vanessa Infanzon Vanessa Infanzon December 1, 2022 1:48 pm EST
Culture This remarkable feast for the eyes is a wintry mashup of a margarita and a pina colada, with a bit of blue curacao for good measure. (Image via The Ginger Fox in Winston-Salem)
Culture The Perfect Holiday Drinks, As Selected By NC Bartenders and Mixologists

The best drink makers across the state, from Elizabeth City to Charlotte to Morganton, give their picks for the best cocoa, cocktails and smoothies to sip this holiday season.

Vanessa Infanzon Vanessa Infanzon November 23, 2022 1:56 pm EST
Culture Darlene Gabbard, a member of North Carolina's Lumbee Tribe, started making wine as a hobby, using apples and wild blackberries on her family farm. Now she's the owner of Native Vine Winery in Lexington. (Courtesy of Native Vine Winery)
Culture Meet the People Behind North Carolina’s Emerging Wine Scene

NC winemakers talk about their favorite wines and why they get so many visitors to the vineyard.

Vanessa Infanzon Vanessa Infanzon November 10, 2022 5:37 pm EST
Food and Drink Pimento cheese croissants at The Table. Photo courtesy NC Visitors Bureau
Food and Drink 11 Dining Spots You Don’t Want to Miss Next Time You’re in Downtown Asheboro

For many, traveling to the heart of North Carolina means only a visit to the North Carolina Zoo. Skipping Asheboro’s charming and walkable downtown is a mistake.

Vanessa Infanzon Vanessa Infanzon November 10, 2022 5:06 pm EST

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Brian Tyree Henry is a native of Fayetteville. Image via Michael Kovacs / Getty Images. Culture 40 Famous Actors and Actresses From North Carolina
Unspoken Tradition, a western NC bluegrass band, credits the Blue Ridge Music Trail with incubating their careers as well as other traditional bands in the area. (Image via Unspoken Tradition) Culture The Unbroken Chain: Rediscovering North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Music Trail
Photo via Sen. Lisa Grafstein / Graphic by Desiree Tapia for Cardinal & Pine Government Helps/Hurts Meet Your New North Carolina Lawmakers: State Sen. Lisa Grafstein of Raleigh
Containers of the medication used to end an early pregnancy sit on a table inside a Planned Parenthood clinic, Oct. 29, 2021, in Fairview Heights, Ill. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Healthcare NC Restricts Access to the FDA-Approved Abortion Pill. This Doctor Is Fighting Back.
Culture Shelby's inimitable Cozy School Bus rental.
Culture 11 Funky Places to Stay in North Carolina This Holiday Season

From a hobbit house to a hippie bus to a shipping container on the beach, NC’s hosts get creative with overnight accommodations.

Vanessa Infanzon Vanessa Infanzon November 10, 2022 5:04 pm EST
Culture Oak Island Lighthouse
Culture 12 Must-See North Carolina Attractions This Season That Are Free

These spots are perfect for a day trip.

Vanessa Infanzon Vanessa Infanzon November 3, 2022 3:12 pm EDT