Rolling out on the ground floor of The Miles apartment building, the 27,000-square-foot old-school entertainment concept is sure to be the destination for a competitive night out with your crew or a fun-filled date night. Think duckpin bowling, pinball, pingpong, arcade games, patio pong and more, plus—fueling your game—extensive bev selections ranging cocktails, mocktails and beer.
“Having an entertainment anchor was a key point in developing the Seaboard Station neighborhood,” says Hoffman & Associates SVP of Development Rob Steward, “and Pins Mechanical perfectly complements the community-focused atmosphere we are fostering.” Sounds right up our alley!
The idea for the annual battle was born in 2015 by Robin Anders of NAI Tri Properties— also of the band LowBröw, which would perform at holiday office parties—and Brian Farmer of Lee & Associates. Together, the duo thought the event would be a great way to “combine our love for live music with our friendships in the commercial real estate industry, and give back to our local community at the same time,” says Anders. “No one else was doing this, and we had no guard rails to go by, but we bet big.”
And, so, the duo hosted the first Battle of the Broker Bands to benefit the Food Bank of NC at now-closed Southland Ballroom—and have been participants in their respective bands and active on the planning committee ever since.
“In the past two years, we’ve raised $66K for four amazing charities with the help of 28 donors, TRAOBA members and the entire brokerage community,” boasts TRAOBA board member Ginny Hager. To boot, the org has raised over $111,000 since the initial event.
At this year’s benevolent battle, APATT’s The Travelin’ Table food truck will be dishing out eats to fuel your rhythm as you cast your vote on the four bands (at least one member of which must be an active broker)—though “the real winner is the charities,” maintains Hager, adding: “It’s just a really good way for industry people that all work for different companies to come together for the greater good.” Rock on! traoba.org; lincolntheatre.com
“Battle of the Broker Bands is my absolute favorite networking event of the year. From performing with a band in 2019 to serving on the board from 2023 to 2024, this event has been instrumental in building valuable professional and personal relationships, all while having a ton of fun!” —Ginny Hager, TRAOBA board member
What to do and where to eat, drink and stay in Bull City
Raleigh’s sister city has got character—that’s a sure thing. Historic meets modern within the “cool, cultured and innovative” walkable municipality where its once-thriving tobacco industry is still very apparent among converted warehouses and brick-laden streets, now home to sought-after apartments, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, boutiques and more.
Brimming with inspiring spaces—not to mention parks, attractions, and a diverse arts and culture scene Durham is ideal for a day trip (pro tip: Take the train!) or overnight stay to take full advantage of its spirit(s) and fine hotels for a comforting home-away-from-home experience. So while you can’t do it all in Durham in just one day—or even weekend—luckily, there’s no reason you can’t go back time and time again. Here’s where to start.
DO
DPAC Raise the curtain on an entertaining night out via a slew of diverse performances at the largest performing arts center in the Carolinas. Upcoming shows this month include & Juliet, The Black Crowes, Charlie Wilson and Iliza Shlesinger—to name just a few—pleasing music and culture fans alike. dpacnc.com
MISSY LANE’S ASSEMBLY ROOM Ya like jazz? You’ll love getting down at this minority-owned live jazz club. The roster of live events keeps the party going on almost a nightly basis, whether it’s funk, hip-hop or soul artists—or album release parties, BYO vinyl nights and more. By day, grind away in the front room with a coffee and grab-and-go food. missylanes.com
GUGLHUPF Prost! A staple since 1998, this popular all-day bakery and restaurant is consistently crowded—and for good reason. An ode to its German roots, the bakery uses traditional European baking methods to produce an ever-rotating selection of baked goods, while the restaurant serves up contemporary southwestern German fare. P.S. The spacious garden patio is the place to be. guglhupf.com
Photo by Graham White
SERAPHINE NOLA fare gets a classy upgrade at brothers Brad and Graham Weddington’s Louisiana-inspired restaurant and bar in the American Tobacco Campus. Boasting a chic interior and pristine patio, the sultry spot specializes in traditional dishes like oysters, gumbo, peel-and-eat shrimp, and boudin sausage, which should absolutely be paired with a house cocktail—and an oyster shooter for the brave. Laissez les bons temps rouler! seraphinedurham.com
M TEMPURA They say everything tastes better fried, and at this popular M Restaurants outpost helmed by Top Chef finalist Savannah Miller, it’s no exception. Tempura—aka lightly battered and deep-fried seafood/vegetables—is, naturally, the name of the game here, with three tasting experiences on offer to snack through. To really immerse yourself, snag a seat at the “bar” and opt for the Kaiseki feat. the likes of shrimp toast, blue crab, crudo and sashimi. m-restaurants.com
Photo courtesy of M Tempura
DRINK
THE VELVET HIPPO Sit and stay awhile at this sun-soaked rooftop lounge founded by five women and named after pit bull type dogs—aka velvet hippos. With its whimsical yet elevated ambiance, complete with an indoor/outdoor bar, greenery and string lights, there’s never not an excuse to kick back for a bevy (and obv your barker is invited)—not to mention events like music trivia bingo, dance parties and Latin night upping the fun factor. velvethippodurham.com
CORPSE REVIVER Durham Distillery’s cocktail bar is a vibe—period. Like a lounge you’d find Gatsby sipping in, the gorgeous space features design elements similar to its liquor bottles, ample booths and velvet chairs to cozy up in, plus a patio answering your fall musings. The signature Corpse Reviver No. 2 is an obvious cocktail choice, but you can’t go wrong with any of the martinis and other bevs feat. the distillery’s award-winning gins. durhamdistillery.com
Photo courtesy of Corpse Reviver
THE ACCORDION CLUB If a laid-back hang is what you’re in search of, look no further. The pitch-perfect dive is everything you could ever want in a neighborhood watering hole: cheap drinks, friendly yet sassy bartenders, pool, darts and hot dogs (just because). And if the moody atmosphere gets to be too much, you can always escape to the back patio for some sun and fresh air. Talk about the best of both worlds. @accordionclub
STAY
THE DURHAM HOTEL This midcentury-mod hotel offers the best of all worlds, whether you’re a slow traveler looking to take advantage of the Raleigh Denim blankets and fresh Counter Culture Coffee delivered each morning, or are all about exploring the on-site restaurant and rooftop bar before gallivanting to nearby hot spots like Alley Twenty Six, Carolina Theatre and Mateo. Think of it as a choose-your-own adventure. thedurham.com
Photo by Travis Dove
21C MUSEUM HOTEL Art museum meet hotel. Downtown Durham’s boutique stay is nothing short of extraordinary, what with its 10,500-square-foot exhibition space, rejuvenating spa and innovative restaurant/bar Counting House. But with the reimagined historic Hill Building’s art deco decor and preserved elements—don’t miss an opp to lounge in the original bank vault—you’re in for a stimulating stay no matter what. 21cmuseumhotels.com
UNSCRIPTED DURHAM Going with the flow is the name of the game here. The former home of the iconic circa-1960s Jack Tar Hotel boasts a contemporary colorful design and vibrant energy—especially at the destination-worthy lively outdoor rooftop. The poolside paradise offers tropicalesque cocktails and bites while playing host to a constant lineup of events, from DJ-fueled parties to free yoga. unscriptedhotels.com
Slated to break ground next year and deliver in 2027, the full-on athletic resort is not just “like having apartments over retail,” maintains Dewitt Carolinas Executive VP Steven Beattie—“it’s much more intricate than that.” Think a three-level 80,000-square-foot luxury Life Time Athletic Club, almost an acre-size amenity deck (one of the largest in NC) and 270 branded multifamily living units—to name just a few highlights.
“It is really set up so, if you’re working from home, you literally don’t have to leave this space,” maintains Beattie. He envisions a day-in-the-life of a resident remote worker as, say, waking up, hitting a workout at the athletic club (solo or with a trainer), getting a smoothie from the Life Time Cafe, dropping off kids at the day care, then grinding it out in one of the coworking spaces.
“It’s the differentiator we were looking for as our first multifamily concept here in Raleigh,” ,” adds Beattie—“something that goes beyond a quartz countertop and a nice clubroom. What can we do to deliver a product that aligns with the brand of The Exchange and something that Raleigh has never seen before? This is something that defines a lifestyle, not just a place where you live. … It really is an all-encompassing healthy way of living.”
The integrated Life Time project has been highly successful in only four other markets: Boston; Coral Gables, Florida; Las Vegas; and Stamford, Connecticut—with Raleigh being just one of a few future locations in the works.
“I’m glad they chose Raleigh; we think it’ll be well-received here,” Beattie says of the highly anticipated development, which will join The Exchange’s existing 1000 Social office tower. “Some of those other markets… they are huge metros. The fact they put Raleigh as the next flag they want to build is great.”
In order to better showcase the full range of the Life Time athletic club/residential offerings, The Exchange created a detailed stacking plan that shows exactly what each floor of the building will contain. Below, what to expect as the future of how developments can be reimagined unfolds. theexchangeraleigh.com
700-space dedicated parking deck for residents/club members—“above and beyond what the market provides for luxury spaces,” emphasizes Beattie
~1-acre amenity deck feat. two pools, cabanas, pickleball courts & a bistro catered to afternoon cocktails
LEVEL 1 – Life Time club feat. spa, locker rooms, residential/club lobby and concierge, plus open-to-the-public sit-down Life Time Cafe dishing breakfast, lunch and dinner with such healthy ops as nutritious shakes, smoothies, avocado toast, sandwiches, salads, bowls, snacks & full barista
LEVEL 2 – Life Time club offering cardio equipment, free weights, resistance-training, and stretching & recovery areas; plus personal training
LEVEL 3 – Life Time club feat. coworking lounge, child care, plus group fitness rooms with dedicated classes for Pilates, yoga, cycling, Barre, etc.
LEVEL 4: Live Time Living residents’ amenities spaces including clubroom & kitchen, dedicated coworking space, and private roof terrace
LEVELS 5–18: Luxury studio, 1- & 2-bedroom units with the likes of rain showers + separate soaking tubs, floating vanities, gas ranges and center island in the kitchen, built-in drop zones & work stations
LEVEL 19: Penthouses + indoor/outdoor sky lounge with two balconies—one more intimate & the other designed for groups a la sunset cocktail lounge feat. transparent fireplace and soft living room seating + a catering kitchen overlooking The Exchange’s central park
POV: Your great night out is ruined by a screaming, crying child—whether you don’t have any or paid to keep yours at home. Never mind the mess they may leave in their wake. That’s precisely the driving force behind the controversial emerging restaurant trend: Banning kids.
After New Jersey’s Nettie’s House of Spaghetti’s ban on kids under age 10 went viral last year to global guffaw—taking a cue from Singapore restaurant Angie’s Oyster Bar & Grill’s surcharge for disruptive children added in 2022—restaurants across the country have enacted similar rules.
Brooklyn Italian restaurant Bar Louise has maintained its adults-only MO since bowing in the spring, while Indian fusion restaurant Andaaz, also in New Jersey, banned kids under 5 after 4pm from the get-go, among others.
Locally, a few establishments have—despite the controversy—brazenly jumped on the bandwagon. And for ZincHouse Winery and Brewery, it’s “the best decision we’ve made to date,” emphasizes co-owner Kimberly Tenoever of the 21+ age-restriction policy they implemented after their first year in business.
She explains the decision came in response to a laundry list of unruly child behaviors that, beyond affecting the guest experience, also led to incurred labor and repairs: think sliding down the marble staircase, chalking certain areas of the property, climbing electrical light poles, jumping in the fountain, throwing rocks at the ducks and chickens—to name but a few.
“We discovered early this was not our vision for ZincHouse, as we would have no option but to provide additional supervisory duties in order to keep our farm safe, enjoyable and from turning into an uncontrollable playground,” adds Tenoever. Read: It’s a winery—not a child care facility.
Relatively new-on-the-scene North Hills Indian sensation Tamasha has a similar mindset, having already established a “no kids under 5” sanction—though the restaurant does allow exceptions on a case-by-case basis.
“In an effort to uphold the high standards of service and ambiance our discerning clientele expect and deserve, we offer a child-free dining setting,” maintains co-owners Tina Vora and Mike Kathrani—“and we have found this policy enhances the overall dining experience for all our guests, allowing them to fully savor the moment and create lasting memories.”
Despite the initial backlash following Nettie’s bold ban, the spaghetti house may have actually blazed the trail for a new era in dining. While there’s plenty of discourse around the bans, Tenoever notes ZincHouse’s reviews have been mostly positive—and the couple has even been approached by several other drinking establishments looking for insight for putting similar policies in place. So, is child-free the future of dining? Better have a babysitter on call just in case.
