Those big black boxes popping up around Downtown are a big win for Raleigh.
Making good on the promise that not all who wander are lost are the newly installed digital wayfinding kiosks in DTR. Like your own adventure concierge, IKE Smart City kiosks are complete with interactive multilingual touch screens to activate the pedestrian experience.
Need a proximal bite or bev? Check. Retail fix or a place to rest your head? Yup. Event finds? You bet. Real-time transit info? In progress. Addiction recovery services, safe shelter, critical social services resources and emergency call system (plus future real-time emergency messaging from the city)? Indeed. Even a built-in photo booth (selfie, who?). Have a need or craving? Essentially these big black boxes you see popping up around Downtown—and already utilized in 16 U.S. cities—have you covered.
“In 2016, I was on a ski trip to Denver [and] used an IKE kiosk to help me determine when the train was coming,” said Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin at the mid-November ribbon-cutting ceremony. “It helped me pick out a restaurant for dinner, and it also showed some of the fun things going on in Larimer Square—which we all decided, yeah, let’s walk over there and see what’s happening. … And I said to myself, ‘Why can’t we have this in Raleigh?’ And lo and behold [IKE] was looking at Raleigh. And that’s when the conversation started.”
With over 3.5 million unique visitors to DTR and a core bustling with locally owned retailers (~90%) and restaurants (~80%), our storefronts are essential to the Raleigh experience, said Downtown Raleigh Alliance President Bill King in his ribbon-cutting speech. “One of our challenges is businesses are scattered around and not always easy to navigate,” he added, and “we want to make sure Downtown is the best experience it can be. Bringing digital wayfinding is a critical tool to helping our many visitors, residents and workers be able to support and patronize our locally owned businesses and give Raleigh this distinct feel of community and home.”
But this super-cool city communication platform is about so much more than where to stay and play. “It’s not just about entertainment—it’s also about social services,” said Baldwin. “It’s about helping people find that bus. It’s about true communication on so many levels. It’s taken seven years, but the fact of the matter is: IKE’s here and that’s exciting.” And in case you weren’t already convinced, Baldwin maintains, “Raleigh is cool now.”
“Breaking through the tremendous amount of noise and information can be difficult, but these help us to do so in a way that can better support DTR.” —Bill King, President, DRA
Navigating the Navigation
Users of IKE’s interactive touch screen kiosk will be presented with multiple applications covering everything from activities and events to arts and culture spots to shops and restaurants/bars to places to stay—as well as social service resources (think shelters and the like).
► Browse through the options or use the search bar to find exactly what you’re looking for (like, say, the name of a specific hotel). ► Each kiosk is based on proximity, so the closest spots to the IKE you’re using will appear first. ► Once you select your destination, the kiosk will provide options on how to get there, whether by public transit, scooter or on foot. ► IKE will then provide a QR code you can scan to get the directions directly on your phone.
You, cocktail in hand… concocted by Raleigh’s Best Bartender in tandem with a top-tier liquor label. Nope—not a boozy fantasy, but your very spirited reality when you join us at the inaugural The Cocktail Classic, presented by The Exchange Raleigh, Nov. 18, where our 10 Best Bartender nominees will be mixing it up against a backdrop of eats and beats. NTM ticket sales benefit both Raleigh-Durham USBG and Ben’s Friends, a support group for members of the food and beverage industry suffering from abuse or addiction. It’s sure to be the event of the season, so grab your tickets before they’re gone. cocktailclassicraleigh.com
Picture this—you’re standing under a massive tent aglow by chandelier in DTR against a setting sun, classic cocktail in hand—spun by one of the city’s top mixologists. It’s not a boozy fantasy—it’s your reality as soon as you buy one of the 200 limited tickets for Raleigh Magazine’s premiere The Cocktail Classic event. And you are not going to want to miss this. In partnership with Killjoy, the tented affair will unfold Nov. 18 as our cast of 10 Best Bartender nominees post up at 10 separate bars showcasing their twists on a classic cocktail (think Old-Fashioned, Negroni, martini) in tandem with a top-shelf liquor brand. The layered experience serving unlimited ’tails, tastes and tunes will weave through the entire space into Killjoy where you can reserve a front-row seat at the bar to watch your favorite bartender in action. And if that’s not enough, stick around for the themed afterparty at Killjoy (stay tuned). Exclusive 21+ private event, 5–9pm, unlimited food and drink, early bird tickets until Oct. 1, $125, cocktailclassicraleigh.com; group ticket packages call 919.307.3047
Spy Raleigh Magazine’s Best Bartender nominees—then vote.
’Tis the season to be jolly—and getting our spirits high this season is our cast of 2023 Best Bartender nominees. These top 10 ’tenders have no doubt earned their bar shakers—but only one will earn the crown. You be the judge.
As part of our annual Best Bars Issue in February, one of these crafty cocktailiers from our highly curated cast will take 2022 Bartender of the Year Colby Kress’ trophy (the highly coveted prize gets passed to the champ a la Stanley Cup). Voting for Best Bartender (and Best Bars across a range of categories) is open through Dec. 15. Meet these top mixologists—and get a taste of their talent—on Nov. 18 as the noms mix up 10 riffs on classics (think Old-Fashioned, Negroni, martini) in tandem with a top-shelf liquor brand at our inaugural Cocktail Classic presented by The Exchange Raleigh at Killjoy. The grand tented layered affair will serve up unlimited ’tails, tastes and tunes weaving through the entire space into Killjoy, where you can reserve a front-row seat at the bar to watch your favorite bartender in action—not to mention a themed afterparty on-site.
Grab your tickets before they’re gone and raise a glass to the city’s best bartenders of 2023—then rock the vote and stay tuned for our February Best Bars Issue. cocktailclassicraleigh.com
One Rule: Spread the love across the bar community! You cannot repeat the same bar more than three times. If the same bar is voted on in more than three categories, the entire vote will be disqualified. Voting closes at midnight on Dec. 15, 2023.
Reese Hailey, Aunty Betty’s: Tom Collins + Cathead Honeysuckle Vodka
Connor Cooke, Clockwork: Old-Fashioned + Southern Star Bourbon
Christian Gibbs, The Haymaker: Daiquiri + Outer Banks Distillery Silver Rum
Serena Thurston, Dram & Draught: Mint Julep + Woodford Reserve
Ian Murray, Foundation: Gold Rush + Cook’s Mill Whiskey
Zoe Palmer, Fox Liquor Bar: Penicillin + Johnnie Walker Scotch
Will Bryant, The Parlor at Heights House: Margarita + Adictivo Tequila
Kelly Lynch, Watts & Ward: Negroni + Sutler’s Gin
Ingrid Folkers, Whiskey Kitchen: Cosmopolitan + Deep Eddy Vodka
Clovis LaCour, William & Company: Gin Martini + Durham Distillery Conniption Gin
From “on the fringe” to “in fashion,” the flouncy look remains on trend this fall—adding a lil pizazz, from clutches to earrings and more. So whether you’re embracing your inner boho, your ’20s flapper feels or those ’70s vibes, fringe-forward selects make for a killer ’fit.
Fringe Seed Bead Hoops “Don’t crowd my entrance!” This gem of an earring is giving New York socialite meets ’20s crystal-spangled flapper beads—and we are here for it. Shop the Trend: Deco
Sierra Fringe Jacket Add some frill to your ’fit and take that basic white tee and jeans next level with this Show Me Your MuMu cream faux suede jacket. Pair with fringe boots… then just try not to shimmy those tassels… Shop the Trend: Voda Boutique
Bowery Quilted Shoulder Small Black Fringe Bag the boho trend with this comfy-classic-cool quilted everyday “it” bag with adjustable crossbody strap or detachable chain strap—so you can take the look from day to night. Shop the Trend: Main & Taylor
Black Leather Fringe Sneaker Kick up the, ahem, fringe kicks trend with these cult-fave Italian calfskin leather Esseutesse fashion sneaks handmade in—where else—Italy for that effortlessly cool slip-on Euro vibe. Shop the Trend: Monkee’s
Cashmere Fringe Shawl Shawls can be sexy—hear us out. Fringe tops the list for fall trends, and a befrilled cashmere shawl makes the perf grab-and-go pairing to warm up any basic fall tee—literally. Shop the Trend: Uniquities
