Edible flowers are back in vogue, gracing the covers of glossy food magazines, and adding panache to restaurant entrees. Today’s flower cookery revival is defined less by “glam” than the move toward local and sustainable food options, consumers growing their own fresh produce, and more adventurous cooking ingredients. Flowers add color, texture and vibrancy to any dish, not to mention enlivened conversation.

John Carbone, 49, started wearing his uniform – khakis, an oxford shirt and dock shoes – when he was a medical school resident. He’s still wearing it, and adds a navy blazer to “dress it up.” But Carbone’s uniform doesn’t work when he’s at the governor’s office or General Assembly or meeting with senior administrators, all part of being the director of mental health services for the state Division of Prisons. “I need a ‘look’ that speaks of authority and professionalism, and yet doesn’t stand out like a sore thumb,” he wrote. “I can use all the help I can get!”

Living alone with a disease that gradually strips people of the ability to know when they need help brings special safety concerns, and loved ones on the sideline agonize over when to step in.

When Jennifer Holmes was growing up, she was always decorating her bedroom, doing something to reflect whatever interested her at the time. But now she's the mother of two girls, a 3-year-old and an 11-month-old, so her design eye is focused on beautiful yet practical solutions.

A Catawba County pastor's sermon in which he called for gays and lesbians to be placed in a form of concentration camp has spurred a protest planned at the church this Sunday.

Dear Mr. Dad: In last week's column you complained that advertising ignores dads. As I understand it, moms make most purchasing decisions. Wouldn't advertising to men alienate women? And why should advertisers spend money pitching to people who don't buy anything?

Get a taste of what keepers of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse have been able to experience since the 19th century – “seeing the beam of light reaching out to sea and the reflection of the moon on the ocean” – during a lighthouse tour after dark.