Raleigh Magazine reveals the classic cocktail and liquor pairings for its Cocktail Classic.
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 up 10 riffs on classics (think Old-Fashioned, Negroni, martini) against a backdrop of tantalizing eats and beats. It’s sure to be the event of the season.
Now, to get us all in the, ahem, spirit, we reveal the 10 classic cocktails and premium liquors these master mixologists will be shaking up. Scoop the pairings below, and, if you haven’t yet, grab your tickets before they’re gone—then rock the vote and stay tuned for our February Best Bars Issue. Pro tip: Early bird ticket prices end Oct. 20. cocktailclassicraleigh.com
Law enforcement is implementing policies to increase safety in Glenwood South.
A month ago in our September issue, we reported on Glenwood South crime and chaos to mixed reviews—including community backlash accusing us of sensationalizing the issue. But there’s no question the district is experiencing disorder.
David Millette, general manager of Smoky Hollow’s Midwood Smokehouse and future father, died Sept. 1 as the result of injuries suffered from a brutal assault in Glenwood South the Saturday prior at the intersection of Glenwood and Johnson streets. Ruled a homicide, Millette’s tragic death served to draw further attention to the recent crime-riddled district.
Extensive measures are now in the works to mitigate crime and increase safety in the area. Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin shared with Raleigh Magazine plans for Raleigh Police Department to return to community policing—aka “walking the beat”—where officers make rounds on foot, both in Glenwood South and across Downtown. And to further increase street surveillance, RPD is buying bicycles to patrol problem areas.
Beyond modes of transit, on weekend nights, “the Raleigh Police Department has provided additional staffing in the Glenwood South area to support our patrol personnel,” says RPD Public Information Officer Lt. Jason Borneo. Now, 25 officers are fully dedicated to Glenwood South, while the street is blocked off to prevent through-traffic and street cruising. The road closure and high police presence encourage patrons to head home as soon as the bars close, preventing potential crime and excessive noise after 2am.
But with 91 current RPD openings, the increased police presence isn’t a long-term solution. “We’re a big city with a lot of people,” says Baldwin. “We have issues in every part of the city, and it’s not sustainable to continue to pull officers from other parts of the city to cover one area, so that’s why we are leaning into these unarmed security teams.” While the private security officers can’t make arrests, they can detain until police arrive.
Baldwin’s plans to bring in private security teams to surveil Downtown serves to put more eyes on the street in hopes of preventing crimes from escalating—or from happening at all. And this comes not a moment too soon as a shooting rattled Glenwood South at 1:42am, Saturday, Sept. 16. Three men were detained in connection to the shooting, two of whom were charged for concealed carry.
Ultimately, given Glenwood South’s station as Raleigh’s central hospitality district—responsible for $1.2+ billion in economic impact annually—leaders and citizens alike are united in a goal to restore stability to the palatable playground.
Crime by the Numbers:
In our September issue, we provided a snapshot of summer arrests and citations in Glenwood South from July 1–Aug. 6. Here, we worked with RPD for updated stats from Aug. 7–Sept. 4, as well as a year-over-year comparison for both timespans.
A trio of high-end hotels serves as a harbinger for Raleigh’s escalating rank as a top U.S. destination—for tourists, business travelers and locals alike.
A mere six years ago, Raleigh was void of the kind of high-end hotels that decorate—and define—such urban destinations as Atlanta and Chicago. But the tide is changing. Adding to the boutique birth beginning circa 2018 of such vibey resting spots as Guest House, The Casso, Longleaf Hotel and AC Hotel locales is a new wave of luxe lodgings well positioned for our booming tourism. In 2022, 17.8 million visitors flocked to our capital city—a ~13% leap over the year prior—and spent $3 billion, a near return to prepandemic levels.
With all eyes on Raleigh—from topping perennial Best Place to Live charts to drawing the likes of Apple and VinFast to scoring such globally reaching events as the massively successful Stadium Series—the hospitality industry is responding and upping our city’s appeal with a trio of luxe high-end hotels set to bow beginning in first quarter 2024.
Slated to open first is one of Hilton’s newest and most innovative lifestyle brands, the thoughtfully designed Tempo by Hilton Raleigh Downtown, only its second U.S. outpost. “We couldn’t have chosen a better city than Raleigh for the brand’s second locale,” says Seraj Patel, VP of Greensboro-based CN Hotels, which owns the property.
“Raleigh has garnered an impressive list of accolades in recent years, including being named one of the top three hottest job markets in America by The Wall Street Journal, as well as one of the biggest boomtowns in America,” he adds. “We are excited to add to the city’s growth and build on that reputation by bringing a new, stylish and contemporary lifestyle hotel to the Downtown area.”
Elevating the allure with the Triangle’s tallest lounge and bar, Urban Oak promises to please the palate, while a lobby cafe will keep travelers grounded—from breakfast and coffee to spirited and zero-proof evening cocktails and small plates.
And adding to the rest-and-rejuvenate DTR roster, highly esteemed global boutique hotel brand Kimpton, known for its sophisticated mod art deco-meets-classic luxe design, is slated to bow in late 2025, marking the brand’s fourth NC property. Part of the IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Luxury & Lifestyle Collection portfolio and owned by Tidal Real Estate Partners, the vibey stayover spaces will span the first six floors of a 20-story mixed-use building that will include high-end residences and replace the historic-yet-infamous (read: iconic but not ideal to maneuver) round Holiday Inn on Hillsborough Street.
“We’ve had great success with our Kimptons in North Carolina,” says Mike DeFrino, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants’ CEO, “and we look forward to offering Raleigh as a new destination in our portfolio. We think our design-led brand and welcoming, innovative restaurants and bars will really resonate with the city’s locals and visitors alike.”
From retreat to revive, the luxe accommodations will be accompanied by three unique restaurant and bar concepts, including a rooftop bar and lounge. “Downtown Raleigh has long awaited a luxury hotel experience like Kimpton delivers,” adds Mick Walsdorf, CEO of Tidal Real Estate Partners. “The amenities, restaurants and event spaces will raise the bar for hotel properties in Downtown and establish the Kimpton as a sought-after destination. Our continued investments in Downtown Raleigh reflects our confidence and commitment to this market.”
Rounding out the trio is the area’s first Curio Collection by Hilton Hotel grab: Oberlin Hotel, which broke ground this summer. Leaning into the brand’s MO of boasting a global portfolio of handpicked hotels “for the curious,” with “no two Curio experiences the same,” the hotel is uniquely Raleigh. Situated in the now-defunct K&W locale, family-owned Winston-Salem-based Quality Oil Company LLC’s unique boutique concept at once takes Raleigh’s sojourn selects next level while upping Village District’s hip factor via its first hotel.
Slated for 2025 completion and standing seven stories, the Oberlin serves up 153 well-appointed guest rooms, including presidential suites. Guests and locals alike can sate morning-to-night cravings via a lobby-level market-style cafe dishing breakfast, plus a spacious lounge and full cocktail bar. Or take to the large courtyard, complete with a covered patio featuring a soundstage for live tunes, beverage service and event catering. And taking the experience to new heights, a signature high-end restaurant and rooftop bar, also open to the public, will showcase spectacular DTR vistas.
“Oberlin Hotel’s arrival to Village District is not only a great addition to our existing lineup, but also an overall benefit to the corridor,” said Chris Widmayer, senior VP of investments at Regency Centers. “This center is the beating heart of the market and now has a fantastic overnight option that helps make Village District a true 18-hour destination.”
Tempo by Hilton Raleigh Downtown | 260 W. Davie St.
126 rooms
Dual-brand Homewood, 134 suites with kitchen, totaling 260 rooms
Peloton-equipped wellness rooms
Lobby cafe
Urban Oak rooftop bar & restaurant
The Oberlin | Village District
153 guest rooms
Presidential suites
Courtyard with soundstage
Cafe, cocktail bar & meeting spaces
Rooftop bar & restaurant
Kimpton | 320 Hillsborough St.
179 guest rooms
~20 suites
Complimentary bikes
Meeting & event space
3 restaurant & bar concepts, including rooftop bar & lounge
Five Points as a traffic circle in 1948. Bonus for trivia buffs: The church was actually destroyed by fire in September 1962, leaving only a damaged Education Building. A vote to rebuild by the Deacons—as well as the congregation at a service held at the Rialto (formerly Colony Theater) resurrected the sanctuary.
Looks like some things really do come full circle. In our summer issue, upon reporting the City of Raleigh’s plans to possibly reconfigure the ever-perilous—and difficult to maneuver—Five Points intersection to a roundabout, we learned that intersection began as a temporary traffic circle in 1948, before becoming “permanent” in 1953.
In this historic photo of where Glenwood Avenue, Glenn Avenue, West Whitaker Mill Avenue and Fairview Road meet, you’ll no doubt recognize the familiar architectural beacon that has long championed the intersection, Hayes Barton Baptist Church.
The OG traffic circle was constructed in a mere three hours (!) out of sandbags and plywood to quell “frequent traffic tangles at the intersection,” according to archives. The more permanent circle constructed of cinder blocks with earthen infill was implemented a few weeks to follow, in place until 1954, when the electronically controlled traffic signals were added to the intersection.
Now, perhaps bringing the intersection full circle, the City of Raleigh is reviewing plans to reinstate a roundabout. City Council has held two previous meetings (October 2022 and May 2023), with a third scheduled for early 2024 after further city engagement with NCDOT, per a City of Raleigh spokesperson on the project. As of now, none of the proposed circle configurations lead in terms of which the city will push forward with.
Regardless of the configuration, some long-standing businesses welcome the roundabout’s return. “I have a big picture of the old traffic circle hanging near the bar,” says Bloomsbury Bistro chef/owner Stephen Koster. “The idea to ‘reinstall’ a roundabout is great, and I am a proponent—always have been. It helps control the flow and will slow drivers down, which is what the area needs. People resist change, but change is the only constant in life and this makes perfect sense for the intersection.” Or, in this case, a potentially welcome “change” that brings it all back around again.
The Sriracha shortage is real—but this will get you through.
Gaps in grocery shelves. Empty Amazon carts. When it comes to Sriracha, merchants seem to be answering Snoop’s call to “drop it like it’s hot.” And it’s all become a hot mess for Sriracha lovers.
Thanks to the all-too-real ongoing shortage, the cult-classic green-capped Huy Fong Foods hot chile sauce is either impossible to find or excessively overpriced (read ~$50 on Amazon for a lone bottle as of press time—if available at all)—leaving us to fend for ourselves in a lawless land of hot sauce bandits and imposters. Looking at you, Texas Pete “Sriracha”… and never looking again, ick.
And lest you think I’m just some ordinary trendy condiment consumer, I’ve long heralded nicknames like “sauce slut”—and even “Sriracha” as a regular at Sono for my penchant to consume large quantities and plaster the tangy topper on, well, everything. So this is personal—and we decided to fight fire with a fiery fix.
Since those rooster-emblazoned fan fave bottles don’t look to be free-flowing anytime soon—enter climate change debate, but even hot-climate-thriving peppers have their limits—we chatted up MOFU Shoppe for their hot take, as the local shop has turned to mirroring the sauce for consumers looking to blaze up the bland life.
“Our sauce profile is more tangy than sweet,” says chef Jade Ward—“but that’s mainly to offset the richness and sweetness of our twice-cooked pork belly dish.” And if you’re looking to satisfy your Sriracha craving without the kitchen time, “Flying Goose Brand and Grand Mountain Sriracha sauce are comparable,” adds Ward. “More kick, less sweet!” #Fire.
MOFU Sriracha at Home
• 1 lb. fresno peppers (whatever degree of spiciness you’d like—preferably red peppers for color; optional red jalapenos, red Thai chiles) • 1/2 cup water • 10 cloves garlic • 4 oz. brown sugar • 2 oz. white sugar • 2 tsp. salt • 1/2 cup white vinegar • 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
Deseed/destem the pepper (for heat preference); chop peppers and smash garlic. Then combine all ingredients into a pot. Let simmer on medium-low for 20 minutes. Optional: Add more/less vinegar or water to taste and consistency. Blend all ingredients.
