Reflecting on day 91 of the venerable monks’ 2,300-mile journey.
Despite the blistering cold and impending winter storm, Saturday, Jan. 24, was a peaceful day in Raleigh as the Walk for Peace came through the city. As part of their 2,300-mile journey from Fort Worth, Texas, to DC, a group of Buddhist monks and their trusty four-legged companion Aloka held a Peace Gathering at the North Carolina State Capitol, marking day 91 of their honorable trek. Thousands of people—from both near and far—gathered Downtown to witness the spectacle, including Gov. Josh Stein and Mayor Janet Cowell, who proclaimed it Walk for Peace Day.
“Thousands of souls gathered as one, proving that when we choose connection over division, when we choose love over fear, something profound happens,” said the monks. “Thank you to everyone who came to Raleigh. Your presence, your courage to stand in the cold, your willingness to be part of this sacred gathering—it moved us deeply and reminded us why this journey matters. This was a day we will never forget.”
Relive the day via a collection of photos below. We wish the monks well on the rest of their journey!
There’s no place like home. Raleigh’s housing inventory has increased 54.5% YoY, marking the largest jump across all major U.S. cities
New year, new flights. A slew of nonstop destinations are joining the RDU lineup in 2026, including Dublin (March 4), Punta Cana (March 4), Montego Bay (March 5), Cancun (March 7) and San Diego (April 22). Better pack those bags!
NC’s own Morrisville life science and manufacturing campus Spark LS landed the largest manufacturing lease in the U.S. this year, rumored to be Millennium Print Group, a manufacturer of Pokémon cards.
Kiddos are getting a mandatory social media detox in Australia after the country banned use of the platforms by those under 16. Social companies have since revoked access to ~4.7 million accounts. Only time will tell which country joins them next…
RDU closed out 2025 with a bang, welcoming a total of 15.6 million passengers, up slightly from the previous year.
North Carolina ranked No. 22 in America’s Health Rankings’ 2025 annual report, citing such low prevalences of excessive drinking, frequent physical distress and adults using e-cigarettes. To health!
Don’t text. NC’s statewide public school cellphone ban went into effect, banning students from using their phones during instructional hours. In Wake County, phones must be silenced and put away.
Bye, Meta. Facebook’s parent company ended its lease at Durham’s American Tobacco Campus, which had previously planned to employ around 100 “enterprise engineers.”
TSA is getting real. Starting Feb. 1, airport passengers will be charged $45 if they don’t have a REAL ID, which will cover travel for 10 days. Better make those DMV appointments!
In other flight news, Avelo closed its RDU crew base, thus cutting the airport’s only nonstop flights to Albany, New York, and Grand Rapids, Michigan. Avelo’s Punta Cana flight was always cut, but Breeze will continue the service.
Swipe on this: Credit and debit card swipe fees hit a new record of $187.2 billion, led once again by Visa and Mastercard.
It’s giving The Lorax. … Wake County reportedly lost 11,000+ acres of tree canopy over the course of the last decade—more than double the size of Umstead State Park (!)—thanks to new homes and apartments being built.
WHAT’S NOT
Too cool for school? Enrollment in NC public schools has declined significantly since 2020, falling 5.2% to 1.35 million students, per the NC Department of Public Instruction.
St. Pierre’s wine + Vivian Howard’s snacks = the perfect pairing.
Renowned chef Vivian Howard’s distinguished fare has finally made its way to Raleigh by way of Anthony Guerra’s St. Pierre at Raleigh Iron Works. The NC-born TV host, author and restaurateur launched her highly anticipated snack menu at the wine shop and bar in November, offering the perf pairings for Guerra’s extensive wine collection.
“I’ve always been a big fan of Anthony’s—and this is a safe way to dip our toes into the Triangle market,” says Howard, whose impressive résumé boasts multiple restaurants across the state, cookbooks and Emmy-winning TV appearances. “Chef Charlotte Coman [of Howard’s Theodosia restaurant at The Sanderling Resort in OBX] and I have had so much fun putting this together.”
St. Pierre, which debuted with much fanfare in September, has quickly become a go-to among Oak City’s robust class of wine bars, offering bottles from the world over—think Italy, France and California—for both the vino newcomer and bona fide wine connoisseur. Now, Howard’s snack menu only elevates the selection even more, tempting patrons to sit and stay for awhile longer over a bite to eat.
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Named after Howard’s Frenchie Tina, the menu features savory light bites like smoked oysters served with roasted garlic mayo and pork rinds, pickled shrimp with crostini, and marinated mushrooms and tomatoes—plus caviar jars coupled with creme fraiche and potato chips and a handful of cheese balls (think the Pepperoni “Pizza” rolled in sesame seeds and pepperoni chips). On the sweeter side, find ricotta cookies and chocolate and buttermilk budinos.
Straying from the typical charcuterie vino pairing, Howard’s bites at St. Pierre prove fun, satiable and out-of-the-box (in the best way)—ideal for a pre- or post-dinner bite or just a casual snack sesh. And, so, in the words of the local hospitality maven: “Go get your snack on!”
And we’ll all drift on OK at recently bowed DRIFT at Horseshoe at Hub RTP, thanks to the coastal-inspired cafe’s new in-house coffee roasting program and nourishing breakfast/brunch/lunch eats like sandwiches, burritos, salads and bowls. P.S. A second Raleigh location is also coming to The Weld development just south of Downtown (!).
Give it up for Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern! The longtime Raleigh staple was named one of Tripadvisor’s 10 best restaurants in the U.S.
Slice, slice, baby! V Pizza sister concept Veloce Italian Market is now open in the City Plaza jewel box formerly occupied by Happy + Hale. The new concept slings pizzas, paninis, wings and provisions (think: pizza kits, housemade vodka sauce, dry pasta, fried chicken cutlets and more), plus a grab-and-go section of sandos and salads.
Veloce
A hole in one for bagel lovers: Benchwarmers’ Rockway outpost is now open, slinging the same freshly baked bagels, bagel sandos and java we all know and love—this time out of a light-filled indoor/outdoor space.
Chow 🤝 ciao. Fan-fave casual Urban Food Group spot shuttered its Creedmoor Road doors after 15 years following unsuccessful lease negotiations with the landlord.
It’s brunch o’clock at Foxcroft Food & Wine, where spirited mimosa flights and spritzes join forces with classics like shakshuka and hash brown quiche—plus chicken & waffle or smoked salmon boards (!).
New space, who dis? The Merchant’s on the move. The sultry DTR speakeasy has opened its new haunt on East Hargett Street in the former Architect bar spot.
Levant Bistro is so back—the OG Lafayette Village cult fave is reviving its Lebanese flavors and housemade pastries this spring on Six Forks Road (near Vinnie’s Steakhouse).
Old-school spirit, new-school hang: Grog Alley is in the works next door to the new Merchant digs, boasting 1800s tavern vibes, hidden patio, gourmet grilled cheese (!), live music and trivia.
A little buzz is brewing at Dix Park’s historic Flowers Cottage, percolating into a new coffee shop with an extended deck, covered outdoor hangout and all the park-day vibes.
Pinkies up! Raleigh’s next wine-fueled hang has arrived as Sixty Vines pours into North Hills Main District, uncorking 60 vinos on tap and bites—from build-your-own charcuterie boards to handtossed pizzas, burgers, meat and seafood entrees, and desserts.
Sixty Vines
Game on, Raleigh. Massive Olé Sports Bar & Lounge is lighting up South West Street in the rising West End District with a wraparound bar, TVs galore, pool tables, arcade games, outdoor hangs and food truck eats.
Mami’s chickens are crossing the road—to Salvage Yard, where a new spot will hatch early 2026. Till then, hit up the Wake Forest Road outpost to get your fix.
Pouring up all-day sips behind Johnson Street Yacht Club in DTR is Vino Wine Bar, specializing in Black & White Coffee by day and Euro wines by night—plus charcuterie and fresh paninis.
Order up! La Farm on Glenwood South is leveling up with added seating and a full cafe menu made for on-site sipping, snacking and savoring.
Fast-food is having a moment in Raleigh—and we’ve got moves like Jaggers. … The Texas Roadhouse spinoff is setting up shop on Glenwood in the long-shuttered Mami’s Latin Style Rotisserie Chicken with a drive-thru dishing burgers, chicken sandwiches, tenders, salads and shakes.
Raleigh, meet your maker—of pizza. After nearly 40 years, Godfather’s Pizza is back on Glenwood (across from Pleasant Valley Promenade), slicing that “pizza you can’t refuse” with its signature thick crust and throwback faves.
Godfather’s Pizza
Say what?! Cult-classic Texas-based Whataburger is taking over the former Applebee’s on Six Forks Road by Midtown East—joining 10 NC locations, with more on the way in Garner and Wake Forest.
Let’s taco ’bout it: Cook Out sister concept Taco Roos—known for casual quesadillas, burritos, nachos and more—is replacing the Subway on Western Boulevard.
Pour it up at Foxhole Coffee, Gussie’s new morning cafe slinging breakfast classics, craft coffees/ espressos and seasonal standouts.
It’s giving big scoop energy. Andy’s Frozen Custard is adding a second Raleigh spot on Six Forks Road—serving Concretes, Jackhammers, sundaes and banana splits on repeat.
Brew-tiful news: Jubala’s DTR space is now percolating on the daily with an expanded coffee and food lineup—think breakfast burritos, new sandos and salads, plus the signature pours you love.
When life gives you Lime & Lemon… go to Apex. The Indian Grill & Bar is back in the limelight with samosas, chana masala, tikka masala, cocktails and more.
Quiet luxury? Loud arrival. Rimal Coffeehouse opens soon in Raleigh with refined design and elevated sips.
Cluck, yeah. Cult-fave chicken-finger chain Guthrie’s has opened a new locale on Wake Forest Road across from Wegmans—marking its third NC outpost to open this year. And those tenders, sandos and crinkle-cut fries are just as irresistible as they look.
Guthrie’s
Cary’s in its clean-girl era. Mahana Fresh is serving its Florida-born bowls, smoothies and desserts to town—keeping it fresh, literally.
A new AI-powered school is changing the way Raleigh students learn.
A game-changingapproach to learning is landing in the City of Oaks. Enter Alpha School, an AI-powered private school opening a K–5 campus in North Raleigh come January, building on its fleet of sites across the country, including Austin, Miami, LA, DC and Dallas, with a Charlotte location on deck.
Before you get hung up on the “AI” of it all, Alpha’s model is far from screen-obsessed. Students spend just ~two hours on core academics each morning via adaptive tech—broken into 25-minute bursts—before shifting into screen-free, collaborative afternoons spent building life skills. Think public speaking, entrepreneurship, coding, science labs and passion projects—all led by coach-style Guides.
“We’ve been known as the ‘screentime school’—but that’s just not true,” says a school spokesperson, noting two hours of screens is standard in today’s classrooms. The difference? Alpha’s tech delivers 1:1 lessons crafted to each child’s learning strengths and preferences. So visual learners learn visually, audio learners lean into sound—and students with ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, etc. benefit from adaptive pacing and targeted support.
While digital tools drive the core academics, connection is crucial to the school’s philosophy. Guides form real bonds with students through daily engagement like Morning Launch, aka creative prompts and activities to kick-start interaction.
And the afternoons are where Alpha truly breaks the mold. Students dive into 24 life skills designed to equip them for the ever-evolving world—starting early and building confidence along the way.
The school credits its model with students learning twice as fast as their peers—and actually enjoying and looking forward to school. Plus: no homework, no grades and no traditional pressure.
While Alpha School’s Raleigh campus currently only hosts 25 K–5th-graders, annual expansion is typical, with one or two grades and new buildings added based on interest and demand. So, if growth follows the national trend, this learning model could very well reshape what “going to school” looks like—here and across the country. alpha.school
