by Carlee Nilphai | Jul 15, 2025 | Do, July/August 2025
Explore the best dog-friendly restaurants and bars, parks, and hangouts in the City of Oaks.
Who let the dogs out… You should—because your four-legged bestie deserves to have a good doggone day out too. Plan an ~ulti-mutt~ experience with your pooch in and around Downtown Raleigh via our list of some of the best dog-friendly hot spots for those looking to get out of the doghouse.
Pet-Friendly Restaurants & Bars
Bowstring
Bowstring’s outdoor grassy area is the perf post for all your furry friends—they may even try to get in on a game of cornhole or sneak a bite of pizza (!). You can also bring ’em inside or on the covered patio while you grab a drink, play a game or tune into live tunes.
House of Hops
Whether it’s outside playing cornhole and cooling off with an ice cold beer or tucking inside to escape the heat (also with a beer, of course!), you and your four-legged friend(s) are always welcome at this House.
Raleigh Beer Garden
Hungry dog 🤝 RBG’s Hungry Dawgs menu. Feed Fido his pick of pup-tizers—from carrots and bacon to burgers—while you have your fill of your own hooman snacks paired with over 350 beers on tap.
State of Beer
Put your fur-baby in a great state with an outing at either SOB location (The Bend locale also offers a covered back patio and spacious backyard for roaming!). And those cult-fave sandos are reason enough to leave the house any time.
Tap Yard
Raleigh’s 1-acre beer garden is a hot spot for kids, families, lovers and doggos—think of it like an inclusive playground for all. Tap Yard also hosts trivia, live music, food trucks and other events to keep everyone entertained.
Vault Craft Beer
Raise the “woof”—literally—at this unique brew haven situated in a historic building formerly home to Raleigh’s first drive-thru bank. And for man’s best friend, they can cash in on the free dog treat box while hanging inside or out.
West Street Dog
Let your pup get out the zoomies and socialize with other canines while you enjoy some bevys at this indoor off-leash dog park with a full bar, also offering daycare, boarding and grooming services—plus Monday trivia.
Wolfe & Porter
More like *woof* and porter, are we right?! Post up on the patio or back deck to catch a game, listen to live music, or simply relax with your pal sitting happily at your feet.
Wye Hill
The only view better than the one at Wye Hill is of your happy pup enjoying a dog biscuit by your side as you enjoy the sun-soaked patio and sip on a brew or two. Not to mention it’s the perf perch to take a ’Gram snap for your pooch’s profile.
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Pet-Friendly Adventures
City Market
Dogs are welcome at most establishments at this historic hub in DTR. Fetch a good deal at cute shops, lap up a latte at Blackbird Books & Coffee, or lean into culture at an art gallery.
Dix Park Dog Park
For an un(fur)gettable day, look no further than one of Raleigh’s largest and most popular park. Its size-specific play space lets your dog play safely—so no worrying about your smaller pooches getting ruffed up by a bigger-boned fella.
Moore Square
Pause and reflect at Moore Square, surrounded by some of Raleigh’s best restaurants, bars, coffee shops and boutiques to fill up an outing. Order takeout and throw down a blanket for a chill hang, or head over to the fully-fenced dog park for some social time.
NCMA
Rover’s gonna love rovin’ the art museum’s Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park. Whether roaming the trails, propping up near the pond, sniffin’ the sculptures or basking in the sun on the Ellipse lawn, your pup’ll no doubt have the time of his/her life.
Oakwood Dog Park
Doggos of all shapes and sizes are welcome to run through the trees at this popular Historic Oakwood destination also featuring shade from the sun, a picnic shelter and softball fields.
Unleashed
Dogs need retail therapy too! Find all your pet needs—from treats and food to toys and accessories—to make your canine the envy of all. unleashedmutt.com/city-market
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by Carlee Nilphai | Feb 21, 2024 | Eat, February 2024
NC Craft Brewers Guild highlights two Raleigh faves in new series
Something exciting is brewing… The NC Craft Brewers Guild (NCCBG) recently announced a new film series dubbed NC BrewShots inviting craft beer enthusiasts across the state to ~hop~ behind the scenes of some of the state’s best breweries. The latest episode pedals into Raleigh’s popular Crank Arm Brewing—and an ep on Trophy Brewing is set to release in early March.
BrewShots interviews brewers on the background story of their brewery and the additional people behind the beer, in addition to how they interact with their communities, stimulate local economies, and provide a safe space for beer-lovers to get together.
The decision to feature Crank Arm and Trophy in the first season was a no-brainer, according to NCCBG Executive Director Lisa Parker and Events & Allied Programs Manager Shannon Taylor—and, surely, Raleighites can concur (hey, Raleigh’s Best Bars 2023 Best Brewery winners!).
“The stories of our Raleigh breweries are each unique and showcase their individual communities and the people within them,” Parker says of the breweries that will now make up the first three-part season of the project. “Their leadership within the Guild and their contributions to the craft beer community underscore the importance of these breweries in the greater Raleigh region and showcase their roles as stewards of North Carolina’s craft beer culture.”
Echoes Crank Arm co-founder and co-owner Adam Eckhardt: “It was a great opportunity to tell our story and show the people what we are all about. We hoped they could see that we support the community that supports us.”
While the spotlight on their businesses is a plus, owners expressed their desire to help with the larger goal of supporting the Guild’s mission to get NC’s name out in the world as a real player in the industry.
“I thought it was important to be a part of the BrewShots project to support the Guild and to help tell the story of Trophy,” says Trophy co-owner Chris Powers (and also the co-owner of State of Beer and Young Hearts Distilling). “[NCCBG] is always advocating for sensible legislation for our industry to help keep the NC brewery scene dynamic and continuing to grow. … There is an energetic and vibrant brewing culture here, and we want more people to know about it.”
The series’ first episode featured Clayton’s Deep River Brewing Company—and, looking ahead, seasons two through four (slated for 2024 production) will feature NCCBG-member breweries in Pender County, Greenville-Pitt County and Greensboro, with plans already underway for additional seasons in 2025. So, hoppy times indeed. Cheers!
by Carlee Nilphai | Dec 7, 2023 | Buzz, December 2023/January 2024
Queen’s Club latest event goes all in for local charities.
There’s no need to perfect your poker face when it comes to Queen’s Club. Win or lose, the women-only poker club is contributing to a great cause—with its latest event only upping the ante by giving back to the local community.
The group’s first annual All In Poker Tournament, Nov. 30, was structured so the first-, second- and third-place winners donated their pot to the charity of their choice. The benefiting charities included benevolent pay-what-can cafe A Place at the Table and Diaper Train, which provides access to diapers for Wake County families. By the end of the evening, the event raised a cool $14,000 pot (!).
“Our full dream finally came together through this inaugural tournament—and it was epic!” says co-founder Virgina Parker. “When you bring 70+ women together in one room to play poker with a purpose, it becomes quite the event.” And these ladies are all in.
Since 2016, Queen’s Club, boasting four clubs throughout NC, has been a safe and welcoming space for women to let their hair down and play poker—but the goal has always been beyond the deal. As a 501(c)(3) org, the club leverages the power of women through networking, connecting and playing poker to strengthen the Raleigh community—and the tournament only helps them to further that mission.
“Our intent is to host this tournament every year, along with our regular quarterly poker nights, and we would love to see the number of women coming together for their communities grow larger,” says Parker of the future of Queen’s Club. “The beauty of the women choosing their own nonprofits is it brings a very diverse collective of nonprofits to the table with the chance to win, in addition to the opportunity to be introduced for the first time to others in the club—whether that be a poker player or a dealer or a runner.”
So whether you’re a veteran poker player or just a beginner, you can bet an evening with Queen’s Club and its powerful group of women is going to make a difference. … Even if just for your poker face.
by Carlee Nilphai | Aug 31, 2023 | Do, July/August 2023
Make your last summer bash one to remember with a foam party.
Foam fun: found. Looking for a trendy and fabulous way to commemorate the end of summer? Look no further than the “it” activity of summer—foam parties. Enter Foam Fabulous, Raleigh’s up-and-coming vendor lathering up something new and exciting for all ages—and guaranteed to earn you a rep for throwing a heck of a party.
Frothing from the mind of Nathan Morris, the co-founder leans on his decade of experience in the event biz amid his latest endeavor. “I’m always trying to create fun things for my kids and the neighborhood kids,” says the professional effervescent party planner, “and I happened upon a random video of a foam party—and it really stuck with me. I think a day or so later I decided if I was still thinking about it, it must be a hit!”
Blowing ahead with the idea, Morris and his wife, Ashley, quickly realized going with their gut would pay off big. “A few weeks later, we did our first Foam Fabulous party for the neighbors and our kids,” he recalls, “and we knew we had something really special that families would love.”
First-time foamer? “A Foam Fabulous party is the coolest, most unique way to celebrate an event,” explains Morris. “We pump out billions of bubbles from our industrial-size foam cannon and shoot them across the party space, stacking foam over 6 feet tall. It’s like a giant bubble bath without the water—and an instant spectacle.”
Keeping the good vibes going without bursting any bubbles, the foam festivals require zero host setup or cleanup. To boot, the foam is hypoallergenic, scent- and allergen-free, making it safe for kiddos and even pets.
Adding to its bubbling repertoire, Foam Fabulous also now offers Snow Fabulous and Bubble Fabulous parties as well—aka the same foam fun with bubbles or snow swapped in. Pop off!
by Carlee Nilphai | Jul 27, 2023 | Eat, July/August 2023
Umbrella Dry Bar showers the local community with a slew of sober soirees.
There ain’t no party like a sober party, ’cause a sober party don’t stop! … Local zero-proof cocktail biz Umbrella Dry Bar doesn’t only boast delish nonalcoholic drinks, it touts a batch of events and activities showcasing just how fun sober socializing can be.
The sip-sational enterprise began from a dream held by longtime Raleigh resident Meg Paradise of filling a gap in the market for the sober-curious. “I wanted to create a new option for people,” shares the founder. “Even though it’s specifically nonalcoholic, that’s not to say before or afterward you can’t have alcohol. There are some places that call themselves more of a sober bar, but I see it differently. I just call it a super-inclusive space.”
To expand that vision, Paradise leans into her local connections to host/co-host amazing events inviting people into a safe space where they can let loose—without the hangover (a win-win!). Umbrella has showered sober fun around Raleigh via its recurring appearances at Live After 5, plus its presence at an array of hip local happenings (think Raleigh Pride, FlowerFest, Brookside Bodega’s Summer Block Party, Ever After and Kidchella). And the zero-proof sippery has even begun to dip its toes into the world of private events by catering to baby showers, corporate events and more.
To boot, Umbrella’s permanent pop-up location at Norwood Gardens now hosts regular “weekend kickoff” parties, yoga classes, mocktail mixology/herbal medicine courses and Beyoncé/Barbie-themed dance parties.
And the ’Gramworthy alcohol-free haven cares about more than just brand awareness. For Paradise, it’s all about amping up accessibility to a healthier lifestyle for the community craving a sober social hub just as much as she does.
“I chose to create this because I want to be a customer,” elaborates Paradise. “I want it to exist, so I’m making it exist. It’s beautiful, it’s delicious and it’s good for your body—why wouldn’t you make that choice? Once people are in the space, we have a lot of repeats. I feel like there’s this collective consciousness that’s asking for it. We’re answering that call.”
As for the future forecast of Umbrella, the biz plans to debut a flagship location Downtown—and Paradise doesn’t plan to stop there. “I want to have places everywhere, all over America,” she explains. “I don’t want to be just the nonalcoholic version of a liquor store—I want to be more of a resource, more curated, and provide very specific content and customer service.” Shakin’ it up, indeed!
