WEB EXCLUSIVE Calling all Caniacs! This playoff season is getting intense, with the Carolina Hurricanes currently in Round 2 against the Tampa Bay Lightning (TBL leads 1–0). Join your fellow Canes fans at these local sports bars to cheer on the home team. From family-friendly to adults-only bars, we’ve got a watch-party spot for every vibe. Check out the Hurricanes playoff schedule to see when to assemble your Bunch of Jerks to head out!
The official Canes playoff watch-party host, Carolina Ale House is the place to be during a hockey game. You can’t go wrong with grabbing a table here for the next game, with its over 50-plus TVs, extensive food menu and fun family-friendly atmosphere—as long as you’re prepared to cheer long and loud for our city’s fave team.
Nothing beats watching a Hurricanes game in a bar owned by a former Hurricanes player! Owners Bates Battaglia’s (former Hurricane) and Anthony Battaglia’s (former professional hockey player) newest addition to Glenwood South, Teets, is quickly becoming a popular spot to watch Canes games. Opened as a tribute to their grandfather and head of the Chicago Outfit, Sam “Teets” Battaglia, Teets has an extensive bar, lots of TVs and a giant projector ensuring you won’t miss any of the action.
When you’re located off of Hurricane Alley Way, of course Caniacs are going to gather with you on game day. As the closest resto to PNC Arena, at Backyard Bistro, even when the Canes aren’t in town, you can feel close to the action. On game days enjoy drink specials like $2.50 Storm Brews—the official beer of the Carolina Hurricanes—and $5 penalty shots!
Everyone’s favorite unofficial mascot will be cheering on the team from Ruckus Pizza in Mission Valley, so, naturally, you should too. Join Hamilton the Pig and a Bunch of Jerks in cheering on the Canes as they battle it out for the Stanley Cup. Ruckus Pizza has something for everyone: sushi, Philly’s, sandos and, of course, pizza. Grab a table and grab a slice, then get ready for the puck drop.
Located right across the street from Meredith College, Brickhouse is a sports lovers’ paradise. Great food, a full bar, fire pits, large TVs and pool tables for intermission entertainment make this pub the perfect spot for Caniacs to unite. Be sure to check out their daily drink specials for something fun to sip on.
Viridi Designs brings spaces to life with moss and botanical art.
Looking for something to spruce up your home? Let us plant one on ya. Viridi Designs’ stunning moss and botanical art installations bring interiors to life (literally) while incorporating some much-needed greenery into your space.
Local artist Cindy Douglas’ Viridi Designs grew out of the realization that everyone loves plants, but not everyone knows how to take care of them (guilty!). Armed with a master’s degree in horticulture, Douglas was immediately hooked on the trend of biophilic designs and bringing touches of nature inside. She figured moss was the perfect choice for her abstract art pieces, given its low-maintenance upkeep and versatility—not to mention its many variations in color and texture.
The best part? These beautiful living walls barely require you to lift a green thumb—no watering or pruning required. “Unbeleafable,” indeed. All you have to do is keep them out of direct sunlight, and you’ve got greenery that’ll last close to a decade.
The plant—aka “the new paint”—provided Douglas the unique opportunity to work in 3D to create eye-catching visions and texture for any space. Right now, curious types can peep one of her installed botanical installations at Margaux’s Restaurant through June.
Designed specifically for Margaux’s, the piece was born out of a fateful dinner convo. On a whim while dining at the restaurant with her husband, Douglas showed a photo of her art to their waiter, who passed it along to owner Steve Harowitz. And the rest, as they say, is history. Margaux’s is “really big on sponsoring the art community—especially newer artisans,” says Douglas. “They sponsor you, and you get to showcase your artwork.”
At the beginning of each project, Douglas likes to establish “the brand [and] what it is they’re looking for in [the] space.” From there, she can decide the nature of the piece and what the theme will be. Her project for Margaux’s revolved around the theme of woodland fantasy—bringing the whimsy of nature to life inside the restaurant. Once the overall idea is established, Douglas and her team begin storyboarding, keeping in mind “how it looks in nature” and how to bring “various spaces… to life.”
The entire process takes months to complete from beginning to end, but Douglas loves how rewarding it is once a commission is finished—and the one-of-a-kind designs add a riveting appeal. She’s a true “moss boss,” if you will.
And Douglas is just beginning to sow her seeds, with plans to continue growing her business—making a mark on as many Raleigh locales and homes as she can. “I am hoping the showcase inspires designers and office managers to see how Viridi Designs can bring spaces to life and enhance their customers and employee experience,” says Douglas. Grow on. virididesigns.com
WEB EXCLUSIVESupport the community by cracking open Lonerider’s newest release, Petal to the Metal.
Giving back to the community is now as easy as sipping a cold beer, as Lonerider Brewery is back with another installment of its Brew It Forward series. This time, the popular brewery is giving back to District C, a nonprofit that trains and empowers forward-thinking educators from high schools and higher-education institutions to solve real world problems for businesses with a beer perfect for springtime sipping.
Petal to the Metal is a rosé wheat beer brewed with sweet orange peel, hibiscus petals and white grape juice to give it just the right level of sweetness. Fruity and juicy, this beer is ideal for enjoying on a patio in the sun this season. A definite porch pounder.
According to a Gallup survey, only 11% of business leaders strongly agree that recent college grads have the skills and abilities needed to join the workforce (yikes). District C’s mission is to “revolutionize the internship” while providing students with opportunities that prepare them for working in the modern economy with diverse teams.
“Petal to the Metal proceeds will help provide equitable access to even more students who deserve and need this opportunity,” says District C co-founder Dan Gonzalez.
Philanthropy is a huge part of the Lonerider culture. CEO Sumit Vhora says that the brewery has always been a big proponent of empathy, education and entrepreneurship, and that District C’s mission exemplified those values. The collaboration was a perfect fit!
Petal to the Metal will drop Friday, May 28, and will be available at all three Lonerider Hideaway locations. The brew will be more widely available following the release, so be sure to check out your fave bottle shop for the cans for your next porch hang.
WEB EXCLUSIVEThese Raleigh- and NC-based Facebook groups are perfect for connecting with locals who are crazy passionate about their niche.
If you’re passionate about something, chances are, there’s a Facebook group for it. Finding fellow lovers of niche hobbies and interests has never been easier, and there’s no shortage of NC-based Facebook groups! From pet lovers to stand-up paddleboarders to retro gamers, there’s a community for everyone. We’ve rounded up a few unique and fun local Facebook groups that are definitely worth joining, no matter what you’re into.
Photo courtesy of Raleigh Plant People on Facebook
Looking to cultivate and grow your plant knowledge? Join the flourishing Raleigh Plant People Facebook group. Originally started as a community of plant experts, this page has grown to include novice plant parents and seasoned botanists alike. With posts about outdoor gardening, plant-care tips, plant swaps and plant identification, this group is perfect for anyone who needs a little more greenery in their life!
Soup is like a warm hug and who doesn’t want that kind of energy on their timeline?! Chicken noodle, gazpacho, split pea, clam chowder, pho, cold cucumber, gumbo—and the list goes on. … No matter the weather, this Facebook group serves up slurpable recipes, tasty soups from local restos, and some killer soup memes.
Everyone should join this group. Hear us out—this page is dedicated to correctly identifying the 37 different snake species found in North Carolina (six of which are venomous!). You’ll know which snakes to avoid and which to let roam free (nonvenomous snakes are extremely beneficial to our environment; they eat rodents and mice that might carry diseases and damage crops). But if they are venomous, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge of how to ID them and what to do.
This page is full of photos of everyone’s favorite current brews, so crack open a cold one and share the love. Connect with fellow amber aficionados and IPA lovers to find the best breweries, beer spots and new releases in Raleigh. Plus, engage in a little friendly fire on topics like: “Is seltzer beer?” or “How many IPAs are too many for one brewery?” Let the debating commence!
WEB EXCLUSIVECraving a candy apple or something fried on a stick? The Spring Food Fest is serving up all your Fair faves!
If you’re facing fair withdrawals—and let’s face it, who isn’t? (We’ve had a funnel cake craving since 2019)—don’t worry because the fair food you’ve been yearning for is finally making a comeback. In celebration of the halfway point to the 2021 NC State Fair (October 14-24), you’ll get to eat your heart out at the State Fair’s Spring Food Fest—three days of twenty vendors set up around the State Fairgrounds. And if you’re really ready for the State Fair to finally make its return come fall, head over to the NC State Fair ticket booth to purchase your tickets at the lowest price of the season. Now, read on for all the juicy (and fried, sweet and smoky…) details.
North Carolina State Fairgrounds (enter through Gate 9 off Trinity Road and park in the midway area; then follow the smell of food up the hill toward Dorton Arena!)
When?
May 21–23 (vendors will be open from 10am–9pm)
Why?
Because we all missed the 2020 NC State Fair and have now hit the halfway point to the 2021 NC State Fair—this will definitely be “Worth the Wait!”
How?
Admission is free! Payments will be made directly to the vendors. Some will accept credit cards, but most will be cash-only (an ATM is available on the east side of Dorton Arena).
Who?
Check out this list of participating vendors! Vendors are walk-up and take-out only, serving up a range of selects from Fair staples like candy apples and fried Oreos to more creative eats teriyaki chicken island noodles or oxtail.
