Stretching its way across the Triangle, JETSET Pilates just opened a new studio in North Hills—and has another planned for Horseshoe at Hub RTP come spring. Jet over for full-body reformer classes set to DJ-curated jams. @jetsetpilates
Set to reform Raleigh fashion—and the convo around closet-conscious consumption—is sustainable womenswear brand Reformation, opening in North Hills in the first half of 2026 with trendy, eco-minded apparel. @reformation
Changing the tile game in Village District from the ground up, TileBar has officially bowed with a Gensler-designed showroom packed with interactive displays, design consultations and the latest product lines—promising to leave you absolutely floored. @tilebar
All that glitters is, in fact, in the display case. Sparkle on at Wilmington-founded REEDS Jewelers’ new Fenton locale, accessorizing the area with a 7,800-square-foot showroom feat. diamonds, fine jewelry and watches. @reedsjewelers
Get ready to serve face. Sephora’s North Hills outpost is set to open in February with its popular lineup of makeup, skincare, haircare and fragrances from a slew of fan-fave brands. @sephora
Things are heating up in Boylan Heights. … Enter mod Nordic spa Sauna House, whose second Triangle space is poised to redefine recovery with warm and cold pools, saunas, and massage services. Ready, set, steam! @saunahouseraleigh
Retail and recreation on the rocks just outside Raleigh
Bailey Cullen Photography
1Villa 19 Boutique – CARY From Dubai to your door comes Ashley Hendricks’ brand-new boutique boasting stylish resortwear and neutral essentials—perfect for elevating your everyday with a capsule wardrobe or taking your next vacay to a chic new level. Inspired by the successful businesswomen surrounding her, the fashionista strikes the perfect balance between luxe statements and bold staples via a collection that screams “effortlessly elegant” but whispers “totally affordable” (think: majority of styles under $125). The boutique prides itself in putting timelessness before trendiness, with lasting pieces that effortlessly transition between the seasons—plus shoes and accessories to finish your look. Catch you at the villa?! villanineteen.com
Brianca Williamson
2 Primrose Bar & Lounge – DURHAM Ditch your usual watering hole for this floral-filled lounge, where mixology is more than just a passion—it’s an art. From the Instagrammable floral wall and quirky paintings to the colorful wallpaper, it’s giving “garden party meets gallery”—with no shortage of selfie spots or cheeky ’tails to sip on. Becky With the Good Pear brings the heat with her spicy tequila-mezcal blend, while Midnight Confessions’ serves an espresso ’tini twist that promises to keep the convo going. Whether propped at the bar or in one of the cozy seating areas, drinking outside the box never felt so good. primrosedurham.com
iSmash
3 iSmash – WAKE FOREST Unleash your inner artist (or annihilator!) at the fast-growing rage room and splatter-paint experience crushing entertainment expectations—literally. Set in The Factory, local franchisee Aaron Wright provides an experience designed to suit any and all stress-relieving, milestone-celebrating, team-building or new adventure-seeking whims. Whether in search of a printer to smash or a canvas to splash, the space redefines quality time for families, friends, corporate teams and anyone in between. Smash, splatter, repeat. ismashusa.com
Sidetrack Bar & Lounge
4 Sidetrack Bar & Lounge – CHAPEL HILL All aboard your cozy neighborhood bar! Decked out with nostalgic board games and retro ’70s decor, this gem feels homier than your grandma’s living room. Taking the name for the nearby railroad lines, Amy and Rod Anderson invite the community to unwind with bottled classics, rotating local brews, staple cocktails (think mojitos, orange crushes and spritzes), weekly trivia and live music every weekend. Hungry? BYO food or catch the occasional food truck posted up outside. Whether you’re stopping in to see a familiar face, grab a round or play a lively card game, odds are you’re on the right track (wink, wink). @sidetrack__lounge
Yasmin Ali
5 La Recette Pâtisserie – DURHAM What started in a cozy apartment kitchen has blossomed into the Bull City’s go-to bakery for churning French, Algerian and Middle Eastern classics into craveworthy treats. From flaky pistachio croissants to savory shakshuka Danishes to inventive takes on baklava cheesecake—and even Algerian street-style stuffed pizza—this charming patisserie delivers serious flavor with every bite. Grab a seasonal latte, settle in and savor Durham’s sweet side. larecettepatisserie.com
As Ridgewood Shopping Center gets a fresh face-lift, one local creative is also decking it out with a brand-new work of art. Enter Charlotte-born, Raleigh-based Denise Hughes’ two towering oak tree silhouettes now “growing on the walls” beside Whole Foods and Drift—with a third set to sprout this fall.
An homage to the City of Oaks’ nickname and natural beauty, the brushstrokes also depict curious animals—think raccoons, birds, rabbits and dogs—as a “celebration of our shared roots, where nature and community intertwine,” says the artist, who worked alongside architects and in collaboration with studio mate artist Autumn Cobeland and photographer Simon Griffiths earlier this summer to breathe new life into the established spot.
“The shopping center has been a landmark in Raleigh for almost 75 years, long before the city’s major growth took place,” she adds, “so bringing the center ‘back to its roots’ was the sensible choice.”
And it’s not the first time Hughes has left her mark around town. Calling Raleigh her forever home for almost 30 years, the multidisciplinary artist specializes in murals, oil painting and even underwater swim painting—plus upcycled assemblages that put her passion of taking garbage to gallery at the forefront. “My love of art lies with sustainability,” she emphasizes.
After discovering a devastating video about microplastics in our oceans, the artist took it upon herself to draft a program, take it to schools and let the community in on her junk-to-genius effort. “In today’s throwaway culture, I feel it’s even more important to realize the effects on our planet and oceans,” asserts Hughes, “and to emphasize that all of us can do our part to keep it clean.”
One such green-minded piece, made entirely out of upcycled plastic, is a large-scale portrait of Dolly Parton—one of Hughes’ favorite musicians. Working, ahem, “9 to 5” during the pandemic, she fabricated the Dolly artwork from her kids’ old toys and a mountain of buttons. Although the music legend famously abstains from purchasing self-portraits, she made an exception for this one—Legos, Barbie limbs and all—which now hangs in the foyer of her Nashville mansion.
Proving that almost any item can be made into a vibrant work of art, Hughes continues to deliver her strokes of genius across Raleigh—and beyond. Color us impressed. denisehughes.com
Shop, sweat and flex your way through a new class of retail + fitness spots.
Vintage Labrador
Sniff out some truly unique vintage and architectural salvage finds at Jersey-based Vintage Labrador’s relocated NC location in Five Points East, with treats and treasures from furniture and architectural accents to art and garden decor. @vintage_labrador
All that glitters… makes a great addition to your ’fit. Popping up at Boxyard RTP’s PopBox September through March is The Luster Lab, an experiential jewelry bar by Latina-owned NC-based Bezalel and Co. serving permanent jewelry, custom charms, engraving and more. @thelusterlab
Two wheels are better than four! The Bike Library’s permanent bike shop + cafe is now officially rolled out at Platform apartments offering coffee, pastries and pedals aplenty. @the.bike.library
Getting steamy on Raleigh’s West End, Asheville-based Sauna House is set to make its plunge near Homebody Yoga and The Bike Library this fall—pairing sauna and cold plunge to power muscle recovery and fire up circulation. @sauna_house
Ready, set, glam. Moxie Salon’s new Ridgewood Shopping Center locale is here to cover all your beauty needs—from blowouts and full hair services to makeup, tanning, lashes and brow lifts. @moxieraleighridgewoodnc
Labubu hunting? Look no further. Asian lifestyle store Ebisu is slinging popular Japanese-made goodies and snacks on Hillsborough Street—plus stationery, household goods, figurines and the like. @ebisu_raleigh
Hot on the heels of the 2023 Raleigh Westin, Cary-based CMC Hotels is now booking Hive House—a 45-suite boutique marrying sleek extended-stay comfort with design-forward flair. Exactly what *suite* dreams are made of. @hivehousecary
It’s been hot—will the rest of the summer be the same?
Summer 2025 is already bringing the steam bath to Raleigh—with the latest heat wave seeing the highest-recorded average June temperature ever at RDU Airport, resulting in the area feeling almost like one giant sauna.
With NC summer typically delivering hot and humid temps with a capital H, it leaves locals wondering how the rest of the season will pan out. And according to the Farmers’ Almanac, there’s no sign of the heat letting up. The trusted weather forecasting source foresees “hotter-than-normal” conditions and a generally dry climate across the country—with the exception of the lower lakes region—dubbing this one “scorcher of a summer.”
The Tarheel state, part of the Almanac’s Southeast region, can expect daily temperatures in the mid- to high-80s, with the “feels like” Fahrenheit reaching—or exceeding—100 degrees. For context, the national weather service labels a “feels like” temp of 103 or higher as dangerous, with prolonged exposure putting one at risk of heat exhaustion.
When it comes to July and August, both months will follow June’s lead with the possible exception of a tropical storm threat mid-July. To wit, with dew points creeping up to 68 degrees, the State Climate Office at NC State expects this to be one of the most humid summers in the past 20 years, worsened by DTR’s moisture-trapping infrastructure.
Outdoor laborers, green-thumbed gardeners and hot yoga addicts, take extra precaution—while the air is already heavy with humidity, it puts evaporating yours on the back burner.
Pro tips:
Avoid peak sun hours between 11am and 4pm.
Stick to the loose and light section of your wardrobe.
Embrace portable fans, handheld misters and, for the black leather car interior crowd, it might be time to grab that sunshade for your windshield.
Steer clear of excess alcohol, coffee, sugary drinks and, above all: hydrate or die-drate.
With temperatures breaking records (and a sweat), it appears this summer is shaping up to go neck and neck with the historic global temps of last year. And thanks to climate change, heat waves are becoming more frequent, intense and longer—and the temperature will continue to top its personal best. Be safe and stay cool, Raleigh!
