Help keep Raleigh parks clean via decorative stickers.
It can be easy being green—and urging Raleighites to help our green spaces stick around is Clean Advertising & Design’s recently launched Clean Parks Project. Giving Mother Nature some well-deserved attention, the campaign features creatively designed collectible stickers depicting identifiable features from a handful of parks in the City of Oaks—think Moore Square, John Chavis Memorial Park and Pullen Park—with all proceeds going directly toward the upkeep of these areas.
Inspired by parks they frequent proximal to their Boylan Heights office—think Dix, Fred Fletcher and Lenoir Street Park—Clean’s team sought to “adopt” the latter. “Working with the city parks department, we revitalized and beautified it for the community,” recalls Clean Designer Jon Parker.
That success led to a eureka moment—supporting local parks using their graphic design talents, says Parker. The campaign encourages parkgoers to deck out anything from bumpers to bottles in an attempt to rep the city’s primo picnic areas, nature walks, trails, etc., and support park maintenance.
Adds Head of Agency Lee Davis, “Our goal is to raise awareness of all of the wonderful parks here in Raleigh and to raise funds to support keeping them clean for all to enjoy.” As the project preaches, life without parks is definitely unimaginable. Amen to that! cleanparksproject.com
Order up! NCRLA spotlights the vast menu of employment opportunities within NC’s hospitality industry.
A driving force for the state’s economy, NC’s hospitality industry makes up a whopping 9% (or ~450,000 employees) of the workforce—but staffing remains a struggle post-pandemic. Enter the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Serving Careers campaign.
To highlight the distinctive and advantageous characteristics of a career in hospitality, the campaign aims to connect and attract people seeking opportunities in the industry via stories from real NC employees. And, clearly, NC’ers are inspired, as the campaign has already netted 300,000 applications (!) since its October launch—and momentum keeps growing.
“Every story showcases how unique a career in hospitality can be,” says NCRLA President and CEO Lynn Minges. And with over 20,000 restaurants and hotels across NC, industry career paths and opportunities are widely diversified and accessible.
The campaign’s website stresses that “hospitality is what you make it,” and “it doesn’t matter what school you went to, what kind of car you drive, or what streaming apps you’ve got. We simply want you to come as you are—and know that who you are is exactly right for the job.”
So while you may overlook that barista, waitress or bellboy, know that the importance of these seemingly small positions pull a big weight—and come with a massive amount of respect and responsibility. And who knows? It just might be your turn to “find your next adventure.”
No partner? No problem. Gift yourself these local experiences and goodies for V-Day.
Get ready to treat yo’self this Valentine’s Day. Boo’d up or not, nothing feels better than receiving some TLC from the person who understands you best. Here, a handful of ways to celebrate yourself this V-Day—because in this modern-day fairy tale, Cinderella doesn’t need a prince to have a ball. Amen!
A Massage at The NOW Massage Knead a release? Now is the perfect time. This rejuvenation haven offers a serene sanctuary ideal for peak relaxation with a variety of massages and enhancements on the menu. So if a soothing self-care date is up your alley, this will be sure to rub you the right way (!).
Solo Wine + Charcuterie Date at Vita Vite Nothing says self-love like a little wine-and-dine alone time. Cozy up over sips and snacks—aka the perfect pairing for some well-deserved R&R. And don’t forget to ~canvass~ the gallery of local art and other goods for an additional gift to take home.
Wine Class at Vitis House Vinophiles, this one’s for you! If you’re looking to unbottle facts about Spain’s delicious wine culture, look no further. Get lost in the wide world of romantic reds via the Feb. 9 class, or have chef-owner Doreen Colondres guide you through smelling and tasting like a true somm via a Sensory 101 course Feb. 16.
Concert Outing Keep your beats up this lovestruck season by taking yourself out for a laugh or dance sesh. LANY will be crooning at The Ritz Feb. 13 and 14, while Lincoln Theatre has three different shows from Feb. 9 to 11.
Comedy Show Like laughing more than singing? Indulge yourself in some quality entertainment by attending shows at Goodnights Comedy Club or Raleigh Improv. What is the day of love without a little laughter?! Go for “couples therapy” at Goodnights Feb. 13, or chuckle along to comedian, actor and writer Drew Morgan’s “constant state of existential crisis” Feb. 14 at Improv.
Take Yourself on a Personal Shopping Spree Ball on a budget this V-Day at some of your favorite local shops by setting a limit for yourself and going on a spending spree (Deco and Edge of Urge are two of our faves). After all, there’s nothing a little retail therapy can’t fix!
Gift Yourself Flowers and Chocolates As Miley Cyrus says, you can buy yourself flowers (#preach). Let your self-love reach full bloom via a floral arrangement from Fallon’s Flowers. And if you have a sweet tooth, Videri Chocolate Factory or Escazú Chocolates promise to curb your craving. Videri even offers self-guided tours to see where the delicious magic happens. It’s giving Willy Wonka…
Grab a Takeout Pizza The ultimate form of self-care? Pizza, obviously. Grab a pie from Oakwood Pizza Box, Trophy Brewing & Pizza, Lilly’s Pizza or any of your other fave local spots, and chow down on your couch while bingeing movies and TV shows. Ah, it doesn’t get much better than this!
