Making a big splash at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences is its brand-new Blue Whales exhibition produced by Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum. Shining a light on the largest animals ever—measuring up to 110 feet long, 400,000 pounds and powered by a heart the size of a small car—the installation feats. an enormous jaw-dropping skeleton and the world’s only blue whale heart model. Bringing the experience to life are immersive elements like the surround-sound “Whale Sound Chamber” and the fast-paced “License to Krill” game, where visitors dodge obstacles to capture krill. With insight into blue whale behaviors and their evolution, protection efforts, and scientific secrets, the limited-run showcase is bound to be a whale of a good time. Through Jan. 11, naturalsciences.org
Landing like a viral trend, e-scooters rolled into Raleigh in 2018—with no warning to city officials—instantly becoming all the rage. The pitch was simple: then just a buck to unlock, pennies per minute (read: $0.15) and skipping the sidewalk trek sans surge pricing or waiting on a ride. It practically sold itself.
While scooters are still a go-to, that pennies-per-minute ride has since scooted out of reach—with both Lime and Spin now charging $0.41/minute. Lime’s Jacob Tugendrajch says their base rate hasn’t changed since officially inking a deal with the city—one that includes a $7,500 annual permit and a 15-cent per-ride fee that helps fund programming like those colorful DTR corrals. Spin’s Austin Spademan, on the other hand, points to rising operational costs, insurance, and tariffs driving up prices for parts and replacements.
Still, two Raleigh riders recently scooted from Publix to The Avenue on Glenwood South—one on Spin; the other, Lime—and Spin came out nearly half the cost for the same distance and time. That said, both companies now offer ride passes with upfront costs but better value—ideal for daily commuters (see “Pass Perks”)—with a bonus no $1 unlock fee for either.
“The most livable cities have a variety of modes of transportation for different types of trip needs,” says City of Raleigh Active Transportation Planner Hannah Dos Santos, who also leads the micromobility program. “And so the program works toward enhancing the livability of Raleigh by allowing people to be creative with how they can get around—all the while also supporting the city’s climate goals.”
Photo courtesy of Lime
Raleigh’s micromobility gains are no small feat. In the past year alone, riders took nearly 362,000 scoots—and since the program launched, it’s helped cut an est. 100 metric tons of CO2 emissions, per Dos Santos. As micromobility evolves, new ops like seated scooters—recently launched in Durham—could hit Raleigh next. “That’s something we’re working with the city to figure out how to introduce into the ecosystem,” says Lime Senior Manager of Government Relations Carol Antunez.
Spademan hopes scooter companies can eventually pass city fees directly onto users to lower ride costs across the board, emphasizing: “To solve sustainability goals, we also need to reward people for following those right behaviors.” So, as Raleigh’s streets continue to shift, micromobility stands as a key player—offering flexibility, sustainability and a glimpse at how the city can move smarter, faster and greener.
The Warehouse District’s landmark Depot Historic District is getting a glow-up. Serving up a trackside transformation that promises to redefine the district—and DTR—LODEN Development’s ambitious plan reimagines the cobblestone parking lot between the railroad tracks and Davie Street into a vibrant work-play-stay mixed-use destination.
Anchored by an eight-story 170-room boutique hotel and rooftop bar with sweeping city vistas, the rail-front revamp serves lodgers and locals alike a veritable playground to the tune of 30K+ square feet of street-level retail, complete with microshops and pop-up experiences; more than an acre of outdoor gathering spaces; and 20K square feet of elevated office space.
With a world-class design team at the helm, the project—targeted for completion by 2028—pairs place-making with preservation, with design minds behind some of the city’s most notable builds steering this next-gen revival. Think David Baker Architects and Gensler on architectural design, McAdams and Site Collaborative shaping the built environment, and The Creative Office of Joshua Gajownik crafting the brand story. The result? A thoughtful fusion of legacy and liveliness—preserving the historic Depot while ushering the Warehouse District into its next era.
Rendering courtesy of LODEN/Gensler/David Baker Architects
And thanks to dual “front door” design and a network of interwoven pedestrian pathways, the revitalized district will serve as a seamless connector for Downtown districts and destinations, from the expanded Raleigh Convention Center and Red Hat Amphitheater to Glenwood South and up-and-coming West End—altogether linking “people, ideas and neighborhoods together,” says LODEN partner Henry Ward. “There’s real energy in this part of the city.”
Known for “activating underused spaces with intentional design and community-focused features,” LODEN will fold in a mix of layered green spaces, a public plaza and pedestrian-friendly corridors to create a true urban gathering ground. Local and regional retailers will also get in on the action, helping draw in not just hotel guests and office tenants, but neighbors, day-trippers and the afterwork crowd alike.
Gensler’s Raleigh footprint also runs deep—contributing to such major projects as Bandwidth’s global HQ, the mixed-use Bloc[83] Tower II, 400H, and the upcoming transformation of the Lenovo Center.
The bold vision for this iconic district is the latest in a wave of adaptive reuse shaping Raleigh’s urban story—honoring what was, while making room for what’s next. It’s development that preserves character without stalling progress. And with projects like The Depot, the city’s past and future don’t just coexist—they elevate each other. Keep your eyes to the sky.
Red Hot & Blue is smokin’ out a new location in Raleigh
Feeling *blue* aboutRed Hot & Blue’s exodus? Well, prepare to take a trip down memory lane, as the cherished chain is making a comeback with its new hot spot in the former Quail Corners Shopping Center service station opening June 23. Oh, the nostalgia!
“Red Hot & Blue has been in Raleigh for over 25 years, and we have made it better than ever with a focus on BBQ and Southern hospitality,” says CEO Adam Bradley. “We are looking forward to bringing it back to North Raleigh with our new location.”
The brand plans to renovate and upfit the building with ample covered patios and artificial turf via games like cornhole, football and soccer beer pong (yes, it’s a thing—think kicking a soccer ball into a large tub). And, rest assured, you’ll still be able to feel the blues via live bands.
Also staying true to its roots, equal-opportunity ’cue will quash all pit wars—from Carolina pulled pork and Texas brisket to Memphis pit chicken and Syracuse sausage—showcased by visible smokers and cut-to-order meats. And, naturally, they all pair perfectly with a slew of traditional Southern sides like mac and cheese, hush puppies, coleslaw, and potato salad.
With the new outpost also comes updated order ops via a counter-service-style dubbed “BBQ theater” offered to in-person guests—NTM drive-thru, delivery and catering to boot. … And in even more hot news, six additional NC locations are already in the works. Get ready to pig out! redhotandblue.com
Local TikTok star Grandma C shares her Raleigh faves.
“Hey, everybody, it’s Grandma C!” You’ve likely stumbled upon the endearing Carol Chapman on TikTok, known for her videos tasting popular food and drinks—not to mention her fan-fave “Fun Drink Friday” creations.
Based in Raleigh, she became a viral sensation following a fateful review of Sabrina Carpenter’s limited-edition Brown Sugar Shakin’ Espresso at Dunkin’ after the “Espresso” singer herself commented on the video (!), skyrocketing her follower count and making her a breakout grandma star on the social platform.
“I found out, at that time, she was handling her own PR,” recalls Chapman, who joined TikTok toward the end of COVID after which one of her granddaughters encouraged her to start an account. Now, at 51K+ followers and counting, she’s on the radar of countless brands who regularly send her products to review and feature on her page. And as a bona fide foodie, she’s got opinions. Here, we chatted up the fun-loving content creator to scout some of her local faves.
Photo courtesy of Carol Chapman
Fave Raleigh restaurant:Seasons 52—we go there for every one of my daughters’ and daughters-in-law’s birthdays. I love Angus Barn too. My good friend and I have been with our husbands every New Year’s Eve for 42 years. Her husband passed away, then mine passed away—and now it’s just the two of us.
Must-have pick you’ve reviewed: I’m a real coffee drinker, and I drink coffee all the time—so my favorite TikToks would be all the different kinds of coffee products I’ve tried. Of course the espresso one. … I’ve been a Dunkin’ fan for years.
Go-to Dunkin’ order: Coolatta
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life: It has to be chicken.
Old-faithful food to cook: Pasta is my favorite—I like carbonara, and I make that quite a bit.
Standout sip: I’m a milkshake person. I go to Sonic, Chick-fil-A. At Christmastime, I like the peppermint milkshake at Chick-fil-A. I like cookies & cream as well.
Ideal foodie day in Raleigh: Breakfast: New York Bagels & Deli on Falls of Neuse Road Lunch: Chick-fil-A Dinner: Bonefish Grill or Seasons 52 Dessert: Burney’s Sweets & More’s filled croissants
