Where to treat yo’self and better your health around Raleigh’s budding retail spots.
When in doubt, sweat it out. Perspire Sauna Studio is bringing its signature science-backed infrared and red-light therapy to Raleigh this year. Can you handle the heat?! @perspiresaunastudio
Go sports! Edge Athletic Company’s new cutting-edge indoor facility is leveling up training for soccer, sports performance, strength, speed and beyond for kiddos to pro athletes and everyone in between. @the_edge_raleigh
A treasure trove of unique locally crafted items—think cards, books and more—await at the NC Museum of History’s spring-slated museum shop on Glenwood Avenue. @ncmuseumhistory
Courtesy of NC Museum of History
Shifting gears from its shipping container outpost at Lake Raleigh, The Bike Library is opening a permanent outpost at Platform Apartments—serving up bike rentals and repairs, plus coffee and a bar. @the.bike.library
Bend and stretch in anticipation of luxury athleisure and wellness brand Alo Yogadebuting in the North Hills Main District this summer next to Bartaco. @aloyoga
Marking the end of an era, Logan’s Garden Shop relocated from its ~34-year home at Seaboard Station to the North Carolina State Farmers Market garden center. @logantrd
Home is where the best thrifted goods are. Enter Honed Home, recently opened inside Heights House feat. a curated selection of vintage furniture, decor, jewelry and other novelties. @honedhomenc
Courtesy of Honed Home
Get in the ~mood~ for nail salon Mood Raleigh to open at Platform Apartments this summer, bringing with it an elevated approach to nail artistry and design + premium products. @moodraleigh
A feast for the eyes and the senses, Peregrine released a first look at its forthcoming 1000 Social space, slated to soar this spring. The brainchild of dynamic duo artist/filmmaker Patrick Shanahan and NCRLA-celebrated chef Saif Rahman, the highly anticipated behemoth 4,000-square-foot resto evokes an “ancient-meets-modern” aesthetic.
Rendering by Mauer Architecture, courtesy of Peregrine
Rendering by Mauer Architecture, courtesy of Peregrine
Rendering by Mauer Architecture, courtesy of Peregrine
Designed by first-time restaurateur Shanahan in collaboration with Maurer Architecture, the vibe perfectly complements Rahman’s globally inspired fare. Think standout features like a full-height glass facade, a 10-seat private dining room with floor-to-ceiling courtyard views, handcrafted lighting, handplastered Roman clay walls and Moroccan tadelakt finishes—to name but a few.
“I taught myself these techniques while renovating my own home and found there is a beauty to the imperfect nature of plaster,” says Shanahan of the application. “I fell in love with the look, as well as the process.” The result? A bold, textured space that speaks the same language as the menu: raw, refined, unapologetic—and anything but ordinary. @peregrineraleigh
No, you’re not dreaming—after five epic years, J. Cole is putting his era-defining Dreamville Festival to rest. On April 5–6, the rapper will link up with a host of hip-hop and R&B music greats—not to mention local small businesses, artisans, vendors, muralists and community organizations—for one final fest.
“Watching people from all over the world and all walks of life gather here each year has been one of the most fulfilling chapters of our journey,” J. Cole said in an Instagram post via Dreamville. “Whether it’s the day-one fans or the newcomers, each reunion has been unforgettable.”
This year’s ~dreamy~ lineup includes top-tier artists like Lil Wayne, GloRilla, 21 Savage, Wale and Ludacris—and who knows what other surprises might be in store. Hey, the sky’s the limit! dreamvillefest.com
*Editor’s note: On Thursday, April 3, the City of Raleigh announced a new four-year musical festival under the Dreamville label, name currently TBD. Find more info here.
Six Forks at a standstill? The long-planned expansion of one of Raleigh’s most heavily trafficked thoroughfares just hit a massive roadblock with the projected spend soaring from $56.1M to $93.5M, driven by rising construction costs and a thriving real estate market. Originally part of the city’s 2017 $206.7 million transportation bond, that hefty price tag pushes the project way over the originally allocated $60M budget.
“We could reallocate the funds to another transportation project,” says At-Large Raleigh City Councilor Jonathan Melton, “but typically, in the past, we’ve used the remaining funds to advance the project and get it ‘shovel ready.’ Then we identify options for construction. I’m willing to consider all options to make sure this project is delivered to the community; they’ve been waiting a long time.” Next month, city staff will deliver next steps to City Council. Stay tuned on whether the city will move forward or hit the brakes.
Sweets lovers, gear up for gelato, chocolate, pastries and more.
There’s people who like ice cream, and then there’s local Sean Dill, a bona fide ice cream lover who’s opening the first Raleigh locale of Tifa Chocolate & Gelato in the Captrust Tower in North Hills this August. After spending his childhood making homemade ice cream with his family using the old-school ice and salt bucket method, Dill always joked ice cream was going to be his retirement plan.
Now, after buying his own professional-grade ice cream maker during COVID and later leaving his job in health care occupational management, the frozen dessert connoisseur is making that dream a reality via Tifa.
When I was in grad school getting my MBA, I had a professor say, ‘If you want to make people happy you don’t go into management, you sell ice cream,’” recalls Dill. “That’s really stuck with me—and having spent seven years in operational management, I can confirm at least half of that statement.”
Dill and his wife were introduced to the Tifa family and immediately hit it off, eventually signing with the franchise in June of last year. He says the Raleigh locale—complete with indoor and outdoor seating on a loungey mezzanine—is one of multiple stores he plans to open in the greater Raleigh-Durham market. “I don’t think there’s any better place we could’ve picked for our first location than North Hills,” he emphasizes.
Like all Tifa establishments, the City of Oaks outpost will feature a dozen standard flavors of gelato—think your staples like vanilla, chocolate, and cookies & cream—plus 11 other rotating and seasonal ops churned out of a gelato machine built-to-order in Italy. Additionally, the menu will boast its own signature flavor, which Dill is still fine-tuning.
Photo courtesy of Tifa
Photo courtesy of Tifa
Photo courtesy of Tifa
Confections fans will also be able to relish in artisan chocolates, cookies, desserts and “any type of pastry you could think of when you sit down for coffee,” says Dill, who hopes to source those from as many local suppliers as possible. With rise, grind and unwind in mind (read: 10am to 7pm), locals, Captrust office regulars and North Hills neighbors can hit pause on the grind with espresso, tea—or a well-earned sugar fix.
Dill’s main mission, though? Crafting a community staple where all walks of life—friends, family, etc.—can gather, connect and vibe. “You never see anybody unhappy at an ice cream shop,” he says. “It’s just a place filled with joy and happiness—and the idea of being a real part of that is really exciting.” Naturally, Raleigh could not be more excited too. @tifaraleighnc
Fun fact: Gelato is whisked with less air, producing a smoother scoop than traditional ice cream. It also has fewer calories, less sugar and lower fat content.
