“I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany.” The Ron Burgundy era is real—and books are having a moment.
But let’s be honest: You’re not always sitting down with a hardcover. Enter audiobooks—the overbooked, screen-fatigued multitasker’s dream, letting you clock pages on the commute, at the gym, cooking… even on the toilet.
While nothing replaces the texture (and smug “I’m kind of a big deal” satisfaction) of a classic tome, audiobook apps are the modern-day workaround for busy brains and tired eyes. And they’ve evolved. Think in some cases: multivoice narration, cinematic pacing and performances that hit more like a podcast-meets-movie moment (hey, Colleen Hoover’s Reminders of Him).
Yes, Audible still runs the show—but a wave of free and lower-cost ops means you can listen smarter, not just more. Case in point: The library’s Libby app, a sleeper hit with a deep bench of free titles—your only cost is a little patience (and those waitlists move faster than you’d expect).
Here, we break down which apps are worth downloading depending on your vibe, budget and how main character you’re feeling.
First look at updated renderings of Life Time Living at The Exchange Raleigh
Few projects in Raleigh have generated this level of sustained buzz—and now pushing it closer to fever pitch, Dewitt Carolinas just dropped a fresh look at what’s coming next.
New renderings of the upcoming Life Time Living tower and its adjoining athletic country club at The Exchange Raleigh offer the clearest picture yet of what’s poised to redefine luxury living in the Cap City—and anchor one of Midtown’s most ambitious live-work-play concepts to date.
“We’re confident this development will be a transformative addition to Midtown Raleigh, setting a new standard for living, wellness and community,” says Dewitt Carolinas President Steven Beattie.
Dewitt Carolinas
At a glance, it’s massive—like, redefining-the-category massive. And not just in size, but in ambition. The three level, ~80K-square-foot Life Time athletic country club anchors the base, with 261 luxury residences rising above it. And this isn’t just a gym topped out with apartments—it’s a fully integrated wellness ecosystem where everything from workouts to workdays to wind-downs lives under one roof.
Or, put simply—you never really have to leave. The headline flex? A sprawling Rooftop Beach Resort and Bistro—clocking in at roughly 39K square feet—layered with a resort-style pool deck, lounge seating, food and drink service, and skyline views baked in. Think less lap pool, more long weekend energy.
Elsewhere, the hits keep coming: a Sky Lounge with cocktail bar and fireplace; recovery zones, plus coworking, club room, game and social spaces that push well past your standard amenity list. Even the dog park, childcare and group fitness offerings are dialed up.
It’s the kind of stacking plan that reads more like a hotel—or a private club—than a traditional apartment building. The updated plans confirm just how layered the project is (see sidebar), but what stands out isn’t just the laundry list of upscale amenities—it’s the positioning.
Pitched as a “wellness-first” residential concept, Life Time Living bakes the athletic club membership right in—so your workout, office, social life and downtime all live in one place. And in today’s landscape, where flexibility is currency, that’s not accidental.
It also doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Sitting within The Exchange Raleigh’s broader push to function as its own ecosystem, it comes complete with a 4-acre activated park, greenway access, walkable retail and dining, and the luxe 1000 Social office building already in play.
All told, Raleigh has seen its share of luxury living—and wellness. But this is something altogether different. “The progress we’ve made on the Life Time Living project at The Exchange Raleigh is incredibly exciting,” says Beattie. “With permits approved, we are well-positioned to begin construction and bring this vision to life alongside our outstanding partners at Life Time.”
By merging high-end residential with a full-scale athletic country club—and layering in hospitality-level amenities—Life Time Living is betting on a version of Raleigh that’s more connected, more curated and, frankly, more elevated. And even if you’re not moving in, the message is clear: The city is.
Dewitt Carolinas
The Stack
Floors 1–3: Life Time Club
Club lobby + concierge
Life Time Cafe with all-day dining
Life Spa (hair, body, nails)
Full fitness floor (cardio, weights, training + recovery)
Group fitness studios (Pilates, yoga, cycling, Barre)
Coworking lounge
Kids Academy childcare + activities
Dog park
Floor 4: Resort-Style Amenity Floor
Coworking Lounge
Club Room + Club Kitchenette
Pool deck
Sports/golf simulator + game spaces (billiards, shuffleboard, cornhole)
Consider yourself booked and busy. As digital fatigue deepens and AI infiltrates our screen-saturated culture, the appetite for real-life connection has never been stronger. From major concerts and epic fests to theater, comedy, the arts and beyond, Raleigh’s calendar is stacked. Bookmark these bucket-list events through March 2027 worth clearing your cal for.
14 May Musts
1. CUP ACTION | NHL Playoffs Take warning: This is our year. Playoff hockey just hits different—loud, fast and a little feral. Post up in red and black, rally towel ready, as the Canes storm their way to the Stanley Cup. May, Lenovo Center
2. ROARING ’20S | The Great Gatsby Flappers, tap in. The Jazz Age roars to life Broadway-style with Champagne-soaked parties, art deco glam and drama only Gatsby can deliver. Dress the part if you dare. May 5–10, DPAC
3.HOG WILD | Gettin’ Piggy With It Ham it up for a good cause at this backyard-style bash with BBQ, drinks, music and no shortage of Southern charm—all to benefit the Frankie Lemmon School. May 17, Maywood Hall & Garden
4. HIP-HOP HOORAY | Pitbull + Lil Jon Yeah, yeah! Absolute millennial party nostalgia on lock with zero chill as Mr. Worldwide and the King of Crunk drop every thumping club anthem you screamed in 2010. Turn down for what?! May 19, Walnut Creek
5. KICK IT | The Soccer Tournament Brackets, drama and big-prize stakes. Kick back as pros, legends and underdog squads battle it out for a shot at $1 mill in the “most exciting and highest stakes” 7-on-7 soccer tourney on Earth. May 27–June 1, WakeMed Soccer Park
6. CRANK THAT | Soulja Boy “Crank That” walked so TikTok dances could run. The viral rap pioneer brings The Drip Tour to Raleigh with early internet era hits and full throwback swagger. May 6, Lincoln Theatre
7. ART ATTACK | Artsplosure Paint the town as Fayetteville Street transforms into Raleigh’s biggest open-air gallery—packed with artists, makers, live music and creative flair everywhere you turn. May 16–17, DTR
8. HOMEGROWN | Got to Be NC Festival It’s gotta be NC. Think barbecue, local brews, rides and live tunes as farmers, makers and chefs show up and show out with the best of the Tar Heel State. Stretchy pants recommended. May 15–17, NC State Fairgrounds
Courtesy of Hopscotch.com
Festival Flex
Brewgaloo Mood: Beer fest, Raleigh style—local brews, live tunes and a street party that runs on hops. April 24–25
Animazement Mood: Anime cosplay spectacle meets fan convention energy—three days of panels, gaming, art and fandom overload. May 22–24
Raleigh Film & Art Festival Mood: Indie flicks, experimental art and global storytelling collide via filmmakers, screenings and creative energy. October
Hopscotch Music Festival Mood: Indie music discovery on overload—club hopping, surprise sets and buzzy bands taking over DTR stages. September
Artsplosure Mood: Downtown-turned-massive outdoor gallery—juried artists, live music, street food and sunshine. May 16–17
Courtesy of Visit Raleigh
Out! Raleigh Pride
Courtesy of Koka Booth
Godfrey courtesy of Raleigh Improv
Randy Feltface by Dylan Woodley
8 June Calendar Locks
1. AFTER 5 ENERGY | Live After 5 Your out-of-office just wrote itself. Clock out and turn up: DTR’s free summer concert series is so back—bringing live bands, cold bevs and city streets turned open-air dance parties. Dates TBA, DTR
2. LOUD & PROUD | Out! Raleigh Pride Friday (and Saturday)—but make it gay. Bring the glitter—and the love—to drag up all the revelry via tunes, vendors, beer garden, oodles of pride and drag (natch) taking over DTR. You betta werk! June 26–27, Fayetteville Street
3. YOUNG, DUMB & BROKE | Khalid “It’s always summer somewhere”—especially at Red Hat with “lovely” tracks and throwbacks turning the night into a starlit sing-along. June 6, Red Hat Amphitheater
4. SKY CINEMA | NCMA Movies on the Lawn Series Blankets down, pinkies up. ’Tis the season for flicks on the lawn—from cult classics to crowd faves—aka the city’s most scenic theater under the stars. Dates & location TBA
5. PIANO MAN | The Music of Billy Joel, Summerfest It’s 9 o’clock on a Saturday… cue the full-throated “sing us a song!” as NC Symphony belts the Piano Man’s hits under the stars. June 27, Koka Booth
6. WAVING THROUGH A WINDOW | Dear Evan Hansen Pack the Kleenex—this one hits. The Broadway tearjerker unravels a story of anxiety, connection and finding your voice in the digital age. June 3–21, Theatre Raleigh
7 . FREEDOM FEST | Capital City Juneteenth Celebration Raleigh shows up big for this one. Let freedom ring with live beats, mobile bites, local makers and a whole lot of community pride celebrating Black culture and history. June 20, Dix Park
8. GO GOTH | Evanescence Wake me up inside! Early-2000s alt-rock drama drops full “Bring Me to Life” nostalgia and goth revival energy. Eyeliner optional—but strongly encouraged. June 17, Walnut Creek
Courtesy of Walnut Creek
Courtesy of Carter-Finley Stadium
10 Concerts Worth Queuing Up For
1. Paul Simon Vibe check: Hello darkness, my old friend. From “The Sound of Silence” to Graceland, Paul brings the poetry—fingerpicked guitars, quiet revelations and the kind of sly storytelling that makes an arena concert feel like an intimate campfire singalong. July 11, Walnut Creek
2. Wilco Vibe check: “California Stars” drifting through the DPAC rafters. Equal parts alt-country, art rock and Midwest melancholy, Jeff Tweedy and crew wander through their iconic indie catalog—striking a chord that’s both restless and right at home. July 11, DPAC
3. O.A.R. Vibe check: Everyone’s a star in this crazy game of poker. The jam-banders roll through three decades of feel-good anthems—joined by Gavin DeGraw and Lisa Loeb—for a nostalgia-packed summer night that hits just right. July 29, Red Hat Amp
4. Gladys Knight Vibe check: Powerhouse vocals drive that midnight train energy. The Empress of Soul delivers decades of timeless R&B—from “Midnight Train to Georgia” to “Neither One of Us”—one velvet note at a time, with a crowd hanging on every word. July 11, Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
5. 5 Seconds of Summer Vibe check: Youngblood energy. The Aussie pop-rock hitmakers bring arena-size hooks, screaming fans and a Gen Z–meets–millennial crossover reliving its pop-rock era at full volume. Aug. 14, Walnut Creek
6. Noah Kahan Vibe check: Stick season—but make it stadium. The folk-pop breakout star of the decade brings his viral catalog to Carter-Finley—small-town feelings and heart-on-sleeve anthems built for sending you on a shouting bender. July 25, Carter-Finley Stadium
7. Phish Vibe check: Psychedelic summer unlocked. The quintessential jam-band returns with improvisational epics, devoted fans and the kind of sprawling live sets that turn one night into a full-blown experience. Lawn seats, glow sticks and good vibes included. July 17, Walnut Creek
8. Death Cab for Cutie Vibe check: Straight out of a melancholy indie 2000s flick, “I will follow you into the dark.” Soul meets body via dreamy guitars, poetic lyrics and peak sad-core nostalgia—aka the soundtrack of your feelings. July 22, Walnut Creek
9. Jack Johnson Vibe check: Casual goes concert mode. Think banana pancakes and breezy guitars under the summer stars as the laid-back surf-folker strums easygoing hits—barefoot-on-the-lawn vibes practically required. Aug. 22, Walnut Creek
10. Simple Plan Vibe check: Your high-school playlist, live. The pop-punk vets behind “Perfect” and “I’m Just a Kid” deliver pure Warped Tour nostalgia—and plenty of shout-along angst to fuel your inner pop-punk kid. Aug. 15, Red Hat Amp
Trophy Brewing
RM Media Sponsor Events Worth The Ticket
May 29 Filotimo Foundation Gala Black-tie vibes with a big heart. The Filotimo Foundation Gala’s sophomore installment takes over The Angus Barn Pavilion with its Fly Us to the Moon theme—serving cocktails, connection and a powerful mission: raising vital funds to support adults living with cystic fibrosis. filotimofoundation.org
June 6 Run for Love 5K Run proud. Party louder. Trophy Brewing and Runologie’s rainbow-splashed 5K kicks off Raleigh Pride with a scenic dash through Dix Park benefiting the LGBT Center of Raleigh. Finish hard, then party harder with DJs, food trucks, Trophy beer and a drag-show afterparty. trophybrewing.com/run-for-love
Oct. 11 Walk for Hope Raleigh rallies for research. Lace up for the Foundation of Hope’s 38th annual walk and festival at Angus Barn bringing the community together to support groundbreaking mental health research and treatment at UNC. walkforhope.com/events
November Trophy Trot Spoiler—we are the “run on Turkey Day” types—but, hey, we earn those T’giving carbs! Run, sip, repeat at Trophy Brewing’s festive annual race through Dix Park benefiting local charities—plus the real reward waiting at the finish line: Trophy beer and a post-run party. trophybrewing.com/trophy-trot
December Figgy Pudding Holiday spirit, amplified. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is still singing loud for all to hear—and this delightfully chaotic Moore Square caroling competition benefiting Wake Tech Community College is where the harmonies are big, the crowd is bigger and hot cocoa is practically mandatory. figgypuddingnc.org
Goodnights Comedy Club
NC State
9 September Standouts
1. Give Raleigh Philanthropy, but make it social. RaleighMag’s annual Give Raleigh campaign kicks off Sept. 1 with a launch party—followed by a month of pop-up happy hours across Raleigh’s Best Bars building buzz for the region’s biggest day of giving to help chip away at the housing crisis. September, giveraleigh.com
2. Hopscotch The city’s indie invasion. Hopscotch packs Raleigh’s clubs and stages with local standouts and national buzz bands for three days of genre-bending sets, late-night shows and sidewalk serendipity. September, DTR
3. NCSU vs. App State We were raised by the wolves. This down-home gridiron clash pits the Pack against the Mountaineers in a high-energy in-state battle of the ages that always brings the house down—tailgates, tension and bragging rights included. Sept. 26, Carter-Finley
4. Jaipur Literature Festival Book lovers, rejoice. The globally renowned lit fest lands in the Triangle with a caravan of thinkers, poets, storytellers and raconteurs for two days of big ideas, bold conversations and literary magic. Sept. 11–13, Meredith College + additional venues TBA
5. African American Cultural Festival DTR turns up the culture. One of the Southeast’s largest celebrations of Black art, music and heritage takes over the city core with live performances, art, food, family fun—and even puppetry. Sept. 5–6, DTR
6. BugFest Raleigh’s weirdest science party. Meet hissing cockroaches, post up for Stag Beetle Battles, cheer on the Roachingham 500 and explore 100+ exhibits celebrating the tiny creatures that keep our ecosystem buzzing. Yes, it’s creepy. Yes, it’s cool. Sept. 19, NCMNS
7. Hairspray You can’t stop the beat. Raleigh Little Theatre’s production of the beloved musical comedy brings Tracy Turnblad’s big dreams, bigger hair and irresistible ’60s soundtrack to the stage in this feel-good Broadway favorite. Aug. 28–Sept. 20, Cantey V. Sutton Theatre
8. Sommore The Queen holds court. Comedy legend Sommore—of The Queens of Comedy fame—brings her razor-sharp stand-up and fearless takes on life, love and relationships to Goodnights for a night of big laughs and bigger attitude. September, Goodnights Comedy Club
9. Fall Modapalooza Bus Tour Architecture nerds, assemble. This all-day NC Modernist tour whisks design lovers across Raleigh, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough to peek inside eight stunning private modernist homes—complete with coffee, lunch, snacks and a fleet of comfy buses. Basically a midcentury dream day. Sept. 19, house selections TBA
Courtesy of bandtogethernc.org
6 October Obsessions
Sure, the NC State Fair (Oct. 15–25) has rides, livestock and fried everything. But October’s cultural calendar runs deeper. Here are five events worth leaving the midway for.
1. Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival Bluegrass is so back. IBMA’s new fest fills Fayetteville Street with six stages of pickin’, fiddlin’ and foot-stompin’ sets from local legends and national acts—all free, all Downtown—plus a Kickoff Celebration at The Corner outdoor space at NC State’s Centennial Campus with music and food trucks. Oct. 1–3, DTR
2. Evil Dead: The Musical Groovy. And gory. This campy cult-classic horror spoof brings chainsaws, singing zombies and buckets of fake blood to Theatre in the Park—where front-row seats double as the infamous “splatter zone.” Oct. 1–4 & 8–11
3. Art for Hope Art with heart. This inspiring evening pairs powerful artwork with a powerful mission—raising funds to find a cure for pediatric cancer research while celebrating the resilience of the kids and families fighting it. Oct. 1, The Maxwell
4. Carmen Opera’s ultimate femme fatale. Bizet’s fiery classic brings smoldering drama, unforgettable melodies and one of opera’s most iconic heroines—and the passions around her. Oct. 16 & 18, Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
5. Moon Over Modernism Modernist magic, after dark. NCModernist’s annual benefit opens the doors to a stunning private home for cocktails, architecture and design lovers gathering under the moonlight to celebrate Raleigh’s modernist legacy. Oct. 17, location TBA
6. Band Together Band Together’s 25th anny celebration promises to be its biggest bash yet with summer shows, national acts and a blowout Oct. 10 Mighty Giveback concert—proof that live music and community impact still make the perfect duet.
The Ritz
Lincoln Theatre
In The House
When the outdoor stages go quiet, Raleigh’s indoor venues keep the amps cranked. From indie darlings to touring heavyweights, these rooms prove concert season doesn’t end—it just moves inside.
The Ritz Big room, big sound. The Ritz pulls in national touring acts across rock, hip-hop and electronic—think packed floors, booming speakers and the kind of crowd energy that turns weeknight shows into full-on mini fests.
Lincoln Theatre Historic bones, modern volume. Lincoln Theatre’s balcony views and tight crowd energy make it one of Raleigh’s most beloved stages, hosting everything from indie rock and punk to throwback tours and hip-hop legends.
The Pour House Where the jam bands live. Pulling in Americana, funk and psychedelic acts alongside local favorites, The Pour House pairs sweaty dance-floor sets downstairs with a record shop upstairs for crate-digging between shows.
Kings + Neptunes Indie cool central. Eclectic lineups span garage rock, experimental pop and underground punk at Kings, while basement bar Neptunes keeps the subterranean party going with late-night DJs and dance floors packed past midnight.
Joshua Dwight
Holiday Hits
NOVEMBER | DOWNTOWN TREE LIGHTING Consider the halls officially decked. Downtown flips the switch on its towering holiday tree, launching the season with twinkling lights, music, vendors, food trucks—basically full-on festive energy. DTR, location TBD
NOVEMBER | RALEIGH CHRISTMAS PARADE Santa’s warm-up lap. Marching bands, giant balloons and candy flying through the air—Raleigh’s perennial holiday parade returns with festive floats, bundled-up crowds and enough cheer to make even the Grinch crack a smile. DTR
NOV. 27–28 | CIRQUE HOLIDAY POPS Peak holiday spirit. Acrobats meet orchestra as the NC Symphony pairs seasonal classics with jaw-dropping cirque-style performances—equal parts holiday concert and gravity-defying spectacle. Meymandi Concert Hall
December | A CHRISTMAS CAROL Bah, humbug—until it isn’t. Theatre in the Park’s punny Raleigh tradition returns with Dickens’ ghost-filled redemption story, Victorian costumes and enough holiday spirit to thaw even Scrooge. Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
DEC. 10–24 | THE NUTCRACKER Enter the Sugarplum era. Sweet dreams take flight as Carolina Ballet’s lavish holiday production brings Tchaikovsky’s beloved score, dazzling costumes and magical storytelling to the stage in Raleigh’s quintessential December tradition. Land of Sweets optional, holiday magic guaranteed. Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
Cocktail Classic Courtesy of
Courtesy of Kevinnealon.com
8 Winter Worth-Its
1. THE MIX MASTER | The Cocktail Classic Raleigh’s Best Bartender nominees—one spirited showdown. Raleigh Mag’s annual party of the year brings the city’s top ’tenders and top-shelf labels together for a night of craft cocktails, elevated bites and friendly competition—with bragging rights very much on the line. Nov. 14, cocktailclassicraleigh.com
2. CAMPY CHAOS | Death Becomes Her The cult-classic dark comedy gets the Broadway treatment—immortality potions, glamorous feuds and over-the-top spectacle included. It’s fabulously twisted fun for theater lovers who prefer their musicals with a wicked sense of humor. Nov. 10–15, DPAC
3. INDIE COMEDY GOLD | Kyle Kinane Comedy nerds, you know. The gravel-voiced stand-up favorite delivers sharp, scruffy storytelling and existential absurdity that’s earned him cult status among comedy fans. Nov. 12–14, Goodnights Comedy Club
4. LEGEND STATUS | Kevin Nealon Dry wit, perfect timing. The longtime SNL cast member and Weeds scene-stealer brings decades of laid-back observational comedy to Raleigh—proof that complaining about getting older can still be hilarious. Nov. 20–22, Goodnights Comedy Club
5. UNFILTERED GENIUS | Maria Bamford Comedy’s lovable oddball. Bamford’s singular stand-up mixes absurd characters, fearless honesty and gloriously weird storytelling—equal parts hilarious and disarmingly real. Expect the unexpected. Dec. 5, Carolina Theatre
6. DRAGONS LIVE | How to Train Your Dragon Toothless takes flight. The NC Symphony performs John Powell’s soaring score live alongside the beloved animated adventure—turning Berk’s dragon-filled world into an epic big screen-meets-orchestra experience. Nov. 13–14, Meymandi Concert Hall
7. BALLET GLAM | Jewels All sparkle, no story necessary. Carolina Ballet stages Balanchine’s dazzling triptych—three distinct acts inspired by emeralds, rubies and diamonds, each showcasing a different style of classical dance. Nov. 19–22, Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
8. DIVA DRAMA | The Bodyguard And I… will always love this musical. Whitney Houston’s iconic hits power this romantic stage adaptation packed with big vocals, big drama and the ultimate power ballad finale. Dec. 8–13, DPAC
Art In Bloom Courtesy of NCMA
Courtesy of Triff/shutterstock.com
Courtesy of DPAC
8 2027 Culture Cravings
1. Art in Bloom Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking indeed—as NC Museum of Art’s cult-fave spring tradition tasks florists with transforming galleries into fragrant, color-soaked interpretations of artworks on view, turning the museum into Raleigh’s most photogenic mashup of petals and paint. March, NCMA
2. Giselle Ballet’s ultimate ghost story returns. Carolina Ballet stages the haunting romantic classic of love, betrayal and supernatural spirits swirling through moonlit forests and heartbreak—proof that some love stories, much like great choreography, never die.Feb. 4–14, Fletcher Opera Theater
3. The Little Mermaid Part of your world… but make it ballet. Carolina Ballet dives under the sea with Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved tale, transforming Ariel’s longing, adventure and romance into a sweeping dance spectacle with shimmering choreography. March 4–21, Fletcher Opera Theater
4. Wicked Glinda walked so Elphaba could fly—and so much happened before Dorothy dropped in all tornadic style. Broadway’s blockbuster returns with gravity-defying songs, jaw-dropping spectacle and the untold story behind Oz’s most unlikely friendship. March 31–April 18, DPAC
5. Gee’s Bend Art and activism intersect. Burning Coal’s repertory revival draws inspiration from the legendary Gee’s Bend quiltmakers—an evening of Southern history, creativity and resilience stitched together onstage. Feb. 4–21, Burning Coal Theatre
6. Turandot Consider it opera’s ultimate “can you solve my riddles?” moment. Puccini’s ruthless ice princess executes suitors who fail her tests—until one fearless stranger dares to prevail—set to sweeping drama and the immortal aria “Nessun Dorma.” Feb. 5 & 7, Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
7. Astronomy Days Eyes to the skies. The NC Museum of Natural Sciences turns its gaze skyward as scientists, telescopes and hands-on activities invite exploration of galaxies far, far away—no lightsaber required. Feb. 6–7 (tentative), NCMNS
8. Frozen Tales & Enchanted Trails Let it go into a world of snow-dusted magic and legendary quests. The NC Symphony brings music from Frozen, The Lord of the Rings and Narnia to life in a fantasy-packed concert spanning icy kingdoms, enchanted forests and epic adventures. Jan. 2, Meymandi Concert Hall
What the dive moment says about the culture we’re craving.
Raw grit. Sticky floors. The sense that time stopped somewhere around 1997—long before lingering open tabs and rapid-fire notifications.
Sure, dive bars have always held a particular place in American drinking culture—but now, perhaps more than ever, they’re having a moment. In a world of curated cocktail menus, QR codes and the ’Grammable aesthetic, the dive offers something increasingly rare: friction.
No dress code. No craft manifesto. No $18 concoction that requires the menu Cliff’s Notes. Just cheap pours, loud jukeboxes (or bands), and people who pulled up for exactly what it is.
“When I was growing up, the dive bar was never your first choice—it was your last,” says Raleigh dive king Jason Howard (Cardinal, plus former Pink Boot, The Atlantic Lounge, Brooklyn Heights). “A place you could always count on somebody being there. Drinks were cheap, the room was smoky, and you had to have a pretty sizable set to even go in for fear of a tussle.”
These days, he says, the term gets tossed around. “You hang an old classic rock album or a few Polaroids and—pow!—you call yourself a dive bar!”
But calling yourself a dive does not a dive make. As the anti-aesthetic gains traction, a niche category has emerged: the neo-dive (aka post-dives).
Read: bars that borrow the look and looseness of dive culture while keeping the polish of a cocktail bar—built for patrons who want the essence of a dive, but still crave a craft pour. Think Raleigh’s Le Dive: gritty, kitschy lighting (complete with disco ball) plus cheap beer energy—with house ’tails squarely in the mix.
Which raises the obvious question: Can you manufacture grit? In short, hard no. “The moniker has to be earned,” says Howard. “Through loyalty from your patrons, time and unwillingness to conform to any one identity. It takes time—a long time.” Case in point? “Slim’s, The Goat,” he adds. “Those are dive bars.”
True dives are not where you’d go for that espresso tini or three-day infused artful ’tail with a bratty name you can’t wait to post on Insta. It’s brass tacks bar culture: accidental, old, cheap—no frills, bare bones. Just gritty enough to make you want to light a smoke, shoot a game of pool, throw on a leather jacket or hop on a chopper.
And maybe that’s the point. In a culture thriving on the shine, dives still offer something unfiltered. It’s not just nostalgia—it’s relief. We’re craving authenticity and friction again—and dive bars deliver it.
Too many clothes—nothing to wear? So goes the daily struggle: standing in your closet, pre-annoyed, rifling through a pile of “this won’t work” with a side of “I can’t justify buying another thing” guilt. Rinse, wash, repeat.
Of all the AI hacks worth computing, data dressing may just be the move. Think of it as a digital stylist with no commission—or Cher’s virtual dressing program a la Clueless. Read: swapping wasted buys and decision fatigue for practical solutions with—wait for it—what you already own.
Before you tune out, closet coding isn’t some futuristic Ponzi scheme—and no, AI isn’t about to purge your wardrobe. Instead, tools like ChatGPT and other styling apps or wardrobe trackers can take stock of what you already have to build outfits and plan necessary purchases.
Like AI’ing your fridge to avoid a Hunger Games-style grocery run, it doesn’t require laborious hours of charting. You just snap a pic of your closet (for the hoarders, make sure all items are visible) and it does the rest.
The result: less overconsumption, fewer impulse buys, more intentional style—and way less morning brainpower. Ultimately, AI’s a tool, not taste. It won’t replace personal style—but it can sharpen it. The best looks still start with knowing yourself. And that’s a rinse, wash, repeat we can get behind.
How to AI Your Closet – Upload photos of what you actually own – Give context: workdays, weekends, nights out – Ask for outfit combos (or packing lists) – Ask what to buy based on gaps—not trends – Use it to pack smarter or build wardrobes
