The Loop — Monday, November 2, 2026

Wrightsville × Wilmington

The Loop

Monday, November 2, 2026

Monday Edition · 6 Min Read

Good morning, Wilmington.

In The Loop

Michelin's first Wilmington picks are already moving the needle for local restaurants — and the city's culinary reputation.

North Korea allegedly pulled off the biggest crypto heist in history, lifting $6.3 billion from Binance in a single attack.

DoorDash is buying Instacart for $17 billion, a deal that reshapes how Americans order groceries and could squeeze local delivery options.

Switchfoot plays Greenfield Lake Amphitheater on Saturday and a Navy Band concert at the Battleship rounds out a packed Veterans Day weekend.

Markets

Name

Value

Change

YTD

Nasdaq

25,436.998

-2.86%

+9.47%

S&P 500

7,580.07

-1.82%

+10.52%

Dow

51,770.31

-1.09%

+7.00%

10-Year Treasury

4.929

-1.20%

+17.72%

Bitcoin

77,992.82

-0.31%

-12.10%

Data provided by Yahoo Finance · Market data as of most recent close

It was a rough week across the board, with the Nasdaq taking the hardest hit as jittery tech earnings and a historic crypto heist spooked investors already nervous about AI spending payoffs. The 10-Year Treasury yield staying near 4.93% is keeping pressure on rate-sensitive sectors, and Bitcoin's year-to-date slide is a reminder that crypto's 2026 has been more trick than treat.

Beach Report · Wrightsville Beach

Mon

11/2

Tue

11/3

Wed

11/4

Thu

11/5

Fri

11/6

Sat

11/7

Sun

11/8

Wind

↙︎

15 mph

↙︎

14 mph

←︎

9 mph

↑︎

9 mph

↘︎

11 mph

↘︎

11 mph

↖︎

8 mph

Waves

3 ft

2.5 ft

3 ft

2.5 ft

6s E

6s ESE

8s ESE

9s ESE

High tide

12:46a
1:12p

1:49a
2:13p

2:53a
3:15p

3:52a
4:12p

4:45a
5:01p

5:31a
5:45p

6:14a
6:27p

Low tide

7:13a
8:09p

8:21a
9:01p

9:20a
9:47p

10:13a
10:32p

11:04a
11:15p

11:52a
11:58p

12:39p

Tides from NOAA · Wave and wind forecast from Open-Meteo · Forecasts change, check before you paddle out

Top Story

Michelin Came to Wilmington — and Restaurants Are Already Feeling It

The Michelin Guide made its first-ever recommendations in Wilmington, spotlighting two local restaurants in its American South coverage: Salita Pizza in the Cargo District and manna, the downtown fine-dining staple. Restaurateurs say the recognition is already translating into real business momentum, which tracks — a Michelin nod is one of the few culinary accolades that can move reservations overnight. For a city that has quietly built a legitimate food scene over the past decade, this is the kind of external validation that puts Wilmington on the map for visitors who plan trips around meals. It also raises the stakes for what comes next: once Michelin shows up, the expectation is that the scene keeps growing to meet the standard.

Quick Hits

A Wrightsville Beach Bridge Closes Nov. 30, for Months

Starting at 5 a.m. Nov. 30, West Salisbury Street (U.S. 74) will fully close between Pelican Drive and Lookout Harbor Way while NCDOT demolishes and rebuilds the bridge over Lees Cut. No cars or pedestrians will be allowed through, and the new bridge isn't expected to open until summer 2027. The date could shift depending on utility work. Closer in: the Heide Trask Drawbridge drops to one westbound lane Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., for inspections.

North Korea Just Pulled Off the Biggest Crypto Heist in History

Hackers allegedly linked to North Korea stole more than $6.3 billion from Binance in a single attack, forcing the exchange to halt trading and triggering $3.64 billion in net outflows when withdrawals resumed. It's the latest and largest in a string of high-profile crypto intrusions that have made this fall a genuinely alarming stretch for digital asset security.

Beach Parking Is Free Again

Paid parking season at Wrightsville Beach ended October 31, so parking is free through the end of February. Carolina Beach, Surf City, and Topsail Beach also wrapped up paid parking on October 31. Off-season beach days just got cheaper, but check posted signs, since some lots have their own rules. (read more)

Anthropic Filed for What Could Be the Biggest IPO Ever

Anthropic filed for an IPO that analysts say could value the company at up to $2 trillion — and its prospectus is unlike anything Wall Street has seen, disclosing that its own AI technology poses existential risks to humanity while simultaneously asking investors to fund its expansion. The filing also revealed that Anthropic's internal AI usage, valued at retail prices, now exceeds what it pays its entire employee base.

Leland's Roads Are Getting Some Long-Overdue Love Starting This Week

Leland kicked off a multi-month project Monday to resurface approximately 5.5 miles of roads within town limits, part of the town's long-term roadway maintenance program. Work runs Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., so drivers in the area should expect delays and plan alternate routes.

National Story with a Local Angle

DoorDash Is Buying Instacart for $17 Billion — Local Restaurants and Grocers Should Pay Attention

DoorDash announced a deal to acquire Instacart for $17 billion, putting the country's biggest restaurant delivery app and its biggest grocery delivery app under one roof. For Wilmington's independent restaurants and grocers, that likely means fewer alternatives and less leverage when it comes to delivery fees and terms. If you own a local food business, that's a cost line worth watching.

What Else Is In The Loop

Dollar General Is in Hot Water Over Prices That Don't Match the Shelf Tags

Federal and state regulators have sued Dollar General after customers complained that prices rung up at the register were consistently higher than what was marked on shelves — a practice that disproportionately affects budget-conscious shoppers who rely on the discount chain. It's a rare enforcement action against a major retailer and one that could have broad implications for how discount stores price their goods.

OpenAI Wants You to Stop Calling Them Data Centers

OpenAI is planning a post-midterm policy push that includes rebranding its data center facilities as "AI compute campuses," arguing the new term better reflects the role of the infrastructure — and, not coincidentally, sounds a lot less like something a neighborhood association would oppose. It's a preview of how AI companies plan to manage public perception as they push to build more facilities across the country. (read more)

A Learjet Went Down Near Palm Beach, Killing All 9 on Board

A Learjet that had departed Austin and was bound for the Bahamas crashed near Palm Beach, Florida, killing all nine people on board. Video posted online showed the aircraft diving nose-first before impact.

Business Beat

A Wilmington Industrial Building Just Sold for Nearly $3.8 Million

An industrial building on U.S. 421 in the Wilmington area sold for nearly $3.8 million, according to WilmingtonBiz. Industrial property along the 421 corridor has remained a quiet but consistent bright spot in the local commercial market as demand for warehouse and distribution space holds steady.

One More Thing

A North Carolina Aquarium Just Welcomed Five Baby Otters

A North Carolina aquarium's otter family just got a lot louder: five pups were born recently, four males and one female, each weighing roughly the size of a medium lemon at birth. All five are healthy, growing, and bonding with their parents and older siblings, according to Coastal Review. Sometimes the news just hands you something good.

Weekend Events

ABBAMANIA at Thalian Hall

Thursday, Nov. 5, at Thalian Hall Center for Performing Arts in Wilmington — a full tribute concert experience for anyone who has ever unironically loved Dancing Queen. Tickets start at $54.

Cape Fear Kite Festival at Fort Fisher

Friday, Nov. 6, at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area in Kure Beach — a free-to-watch festival celebrating the art and sport of kite flying, with food and drink available for purchase. A solid excuse to get to the coast before the weather turns for good.

Creative Castle First Friday

Friday, Nov. 6, at multiple participating locations throughout Wilmington — the monthly arts district crawl is free to attend, with live music and gallery events spread across the Creative Castle neighborhood. A reliably fun way to kick off the weekend.

Switchfoot in Concert at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater

Saturday, Nov. 7, at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater in Wilmington — the veteran alt-rock band plays one of the best outdoor venues in the Cape Fear. General admission tickets are $51, and the setting alone is worth showing up early for.

Veterans Day Navy Band Concert on the Fantail — Battleship NORTH CAROLINA

Saturday, Nov. 7, aboard the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA in Wilmington — a free Navy Band concert held on the ship's fantail deck as part of Veterans Day weekend celebrations. Tickets are required even though the event is free, so grab them in advance.

Out to Sea NC Seafood Festival

Sunday, Nov. 8, at Seabird and other local Wilmington venues — a multi-venue seafood festival celebrating North Carolina's coastal food culture, with pricing that varies by event. A fitting send-off to what has been a packed week on the local events calendar.

Quote of the Week

“Well done is better than well said.”

— Benjamin Franklin

The Loop

Wilmington’s Morning Briefing

Thanks for reading. We’ll see you next Monday morning. If The Loop has been useful to you, share it with a neighbor — it means everything to us.

You’re receiving this email because you subscribed to The Loop.
Unsubscribe · theloopilm.com

The Loop · PO Box 10124 · Wilmington, NC 28404