Vibes are on high at the long-awaited Madre—now officially open in Smoky Hollow. Helmed by powerhouse trio Tyler Helikson, Brad Shoff and Celina Salinas, the Mediterranean oasis serves up small plates and community via a space intentionally designed for “serendipitous friend-making,” says Helikson. An homage to mothers (hence Madre)—with a lean into the coastal Mediterranean region that inspired it—the elevated cool come-as-you-are concept is the first locally owned restaurant of this scale to open Downtown since 2017 (think Vidrio, Brewery Bhavana). And with it comes the next era of modern dining—and exactly what Raleigh needs right now: a space intentionally designed for all walks of life for any occasion, from the experience to the ambiance to the bites and bevs. madreraleigh.com
From business and bourbon to mental health and median income to just plain ole random facts that’ll keep you looking smart at the bar and in the boardroom, Raleigh and NC are trending in all sectors.
20+ million Italian and Japanese cuisines ranked most popular worldwide—racking up 20+ million tags each on Instagram—with pizza and BBQ bringing home the bacon for top trending meals.
Best Unemployment rate among state capitals in 2023
70%+ New U.S. grads are craving in-person connection post-Zoom-U and prefer a hybrid work arrangement. They’re also reportedly not “chasing big-name companies” in lieu of stability.
16Developments under construction in DTR, with more residential units under construction or recently completed than any time in its history, serving up 2,032 residential units, 408 hotel rooms, 144,410 sq. ft. of office space and 206,542 sq. ft. of retail upon completion
No. 10 Raleigh’s rank for large U.S. cities among grads looking to put down roots, while Durham and Cary ranked 3rd and 7th among midsize cities, respectively
69% Historic shift: America’s millennials rep the largest homeowner generation. But Raleigh bucks the national trend, despite a 73% rise in millennial ownership locally in the last five years. Why? Thanks to big siblings Gen X (aka the forgotten generation)—who is the largest generation of homeowners in Raleigh, with a 48% jump over the same timeframe, and a 69% increase in ownership.
Drop it like it’s hot as Raleigh fetes the 50th anny of hip-hop.
“Ain’t nuttin’ but a G thang, baby.” This August, as we take to the streets to throw down some beats in some pumped-up kicks, Raleigh joins communities across the nation honoring the 50th anny of hip-hop. Traced back to a back-to-school party in a Bronx apartment rec room on Aug. 11, 1973, DJ Kool Herc is credited by many for dropping the first beats from which hip-hop was born.
Serving up a solid yes to Missy Elliott’s “DJ, please pick up your phone, I’m on the request line… Is it worth it?”: Hip-hop has shaped our music culture—and our everyday culture—in ways beyond measure for the past five decades. Answering the call to “work it,” hip-hop doesn’t just drop the beat, but it unites us. Kicking off with a February Grammy celebration that brought back some of the genre’s greatest—from Run DMC and LL Cool J to Dr. Dre to Flavor Flav to Missy herself via a deep roster of some of the genre’s legends—the story of hip-hop is the story of modern America point-blank.
To “explore Raleigh’s connection to the genre that has made a global cultural impact since 1973,” says City of Raleigh Assistant Director of Museums Megan Raby, you can fete the 50th by dancing in the streets—literally—Aug. 12. The cast of events, presented by the Friends of COR Museum in partnership with the City of Raleigh, will feat. a daylong street party, classic car show, live beats honoring local hip-hop pioneers, performances from big names like Terminator X and Toosii—plus the op to don your best kicks (see opposite page for inspo) and peep yourself on the Jumbotron as Raleigh rolls out the red carpet for the Sneaker Ball. cityofraleighmuseum.org
Turn Down For What Aug. 12
10am–noon: COR Museum showcases local scholar and industry expert lectures + roundtables on how hip-hop has shaped Raleigh culture.
Noon–4pm: Roll out for the Hip-Hop Car Show feat. classic cars.
Noon–4pm: Take to Fayetteville Street for a free fam-friendly Hip-Hop Family Village with a DJ House, DJ for Kids class (w/ DJ Monika Underhill), break dancers & performers, hip-hop karaoke (!), graffiti public art, and vendors—NTM hip-hop photos on the Jumbotron and a COR Museum roundtable discussion with early Triangle hip-hop pioneers.
6–7pm: Show up and show out for the Hip Hop Sneaker Ball Red Carpet Experience at Raleigh Union Station complete with jam-packed moments for music lovers with hot performances, standout outfits and historic hip-hop reunions.
6–10pm: La di da di, we like to party. Kick it at RUS for the Hip Hop Sneaker Ball with legendary DJs, performers, photo booth, VIP area (+ booth/bottle experience), a hip-hop archive display and more.
Just Kick It
It’s Sneaker SZN! Get pumped—and grab your pumped-up kicks—for the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop Sneaker Ball. … Sneakerheads, this summer’s for you.
Jera Laceup Lub, Bianca Wash/Dust, $280, Rangoni Firenze
Jordan 3 Retro UNC (2020), $525, Courtside
Nike Dunk Low, Hyper Pink (women’s), $190, One of One
Jordan 4 Retro Thunder (2023), $235, Southside Soles
Golden Goose, Super-Star Perm-Noos low-top sneaker (women’s), $595, Nordstrom
Nike Air Force 1 Low Retro, Yellow Jewel, $130, Social Status
Essentials to tote with you while you leave your worries behind.
Not all who wander are lost—especially if your bags are packed with these of-the-moment must-have travel essentials. From noise-canceling Airpods (we see your crying baby and raise you a binge-watch of The Bear season two) to a sleep mask equipped with Bluetooth (yes, you are living in 2030), these trendy toteworthies promise to keep you comfortable on the road away from home.
“It” Bag
Don’t be a tourist; be a traveler and pack it all in this summer’s “it” Béis bags, designed and created by “it” girl Shay Mitchell.
Whether you’re trapped in a middle seat between a couple reaching over you (ish happens) or lucky enough to grab the backseat on a road trip, these pods transport you to your destination unbothered.
Pocket the $5 you woulda spent on overpriced airport water and spring for that latte instead—or put it toward a morning mimosa if you’re going wheels up (no judgment). Pro tip: Upgrade that Hydro Flask to this space-saving freezer-safe flat A6 Memo bottle.
Not just good for the plane or car, but for wherever the road may take you—unwired. Strong and snappy—but slim and sleek—this Anker 633 MagGo also feats a kickstand so you can go from single-handed selfie mode to hands-free views.
Sometimes it’s less about the journey and more about the destination—and getting there (or back) well-rested (hey, red eyes and hangovers). Enter this LC-dolida adjustable—and washable!—plush memory foam sleep mask-meets-Bluetooth 5.0 tech stereo sound headphones with 10 hours of playtime. Wheels up—eyes shut.
For the cold-natured or the “wake me up when we get there” types, it’s giving sleepytime vibes—and we’re here for it. This E Marie travel snuggler is so soft it curled up on Oprah’s Favorite Things, and, wait for it, doubles as a scarf or shawl. Felt cute—might snuggle longer.
Sometimes the best vacation is a staycation. So if you’re looking to go offline for the weekend, here’s how to stay and play in Raleigh this summer—and beyond. Bonus: Staycation calories still don’t count.
