We asked top Tar Heel lawyers where they pictured themselves practicing — or just living — if it couldn’t be North Carolina.

Mike Easley always has been a charming fellow.

Business North Carolina celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, and it’s been almost that long — since the January 1983 issue — that we’ve been polling the pros, asking some of the state’s top stock pickers to select the North Carolina companies whose shares they think will be the best performers in the year ahead.

Pushing away overhanging vines, David Phillips muscles aside a rusty metal plate taller than he is and nearly as wide as his outstretched arms.

Business in North Carolina doesn’t get any bigger than in downtown Charlotte.

As the magnitude of the Republicans’ victory became apparent Nov. 2, Marc Basnight looked neither surprised nor angry.