Welcome to our Spring + Summer issue of CIRCA Magazine … and to the beginning of our 25th year!

Reaching this point is something I don’t take lightly. For a quarter century, CIRCA has proudly shared the stories, people, businesses, and places that shape life in our communities. This area has grown tremendously over the years, but the pride our readers take in where they live, and the support you show for local businesses and neighbors, has remained constant.

To our longtime readers, thank you for continuing to welcome CIRCA into your homes. And to those picking up the magazine for the first time, I’m glad you’re here!

One of the things that has always guided this magazine is the rhythm of the seasons. Much of what we cover – food, homes, gardens, travel, style, health, community events, and more – naturally follows the way life changes throughout the year. As we enter our 25th year, we’ve made a few thoughtful updates to better reflect that rhythm. With this edition, we are combining our spring and summer coverage into one extended issue that will remain current from April through August, allowing the stories and ideas inside to carry naturally across the full warm weather season – from the first days of spring through the height of summer. After this transition issue, CIRCA will continue forward with clearly defined seasonal editions – Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer – each designed to reflect the experiences and lifestyle moments that shape those times of year.

You may also notice a slight design refresh throughout the magazine as part of this transition. Along with that, we’ve introduced new taglines that better reflect who we are today. For many years, our tagline was “Life in Wake Today.” As our readership and reach have expanded, we felt it was time for language that reflects the broader communities we serve. Our new taglines, “Inspiring Local Living” and “The Lifestyle Magazine Rooted in Our Community,” capture the heart of what CIRCA has always aimed to do. Today, our distribution reaches readers across Wake Forest, North Raleigh, Rolesville, Youngsville, and Franklinton, and it’s important that our brand reflects that.

Speaking of community, I want to offer a sincere thank you to the many local businesses that support CIRCA. Their partnership not only helps make this magazine possible, it also connects them directly with you, our readers. One of the things I’ve always appreciated about this magazine is the way it introduces readers to businesses they may not yet know, while giving local entrepreneurs a platform to share what they do with the people who live right here around them. When you support the businesses you see among these pages, you’re helping strengthen the same communities that make this magazine worth producing in the first place.

Inside this issue, you’ll find stories that reflect the brightness of the months ahead, a theme echoed in our citrus-inspired cover. From spring concerts and summer celebrations to ideas for food, home, gardens, travel, and personal well-being, these pages capture the flavors, colors, and experiences of the season. We explore vintage décor finding new life outdoors, Spanish tapas, sourdough baking, a classic Southern lemon chess pie, wine travel, and the growing world of ninja warrior training, along with emerging local musicians, a coastal getaway to Southport, the early history of downtown Wake Forest, and more.

Thank you for being part of the CIRCA community and for helping this magazine share the stories of the places we all call home. I look forward to continuing to bring you the stories, ideas, and local connections you’ve come to expect from us each season!