An iconic event returns to Raleigh this year, but with a new name and a new location.
Missed the PGA Championship? There’s a local op delivering a whole new way to par-tee (!). The Rex Hospital Open (formerly dubbed the Rex Classic) is debuting its new name—UNC Health Championship—and new location at the Raleigh Country Club this year June 1–4.
“The new name aligns with our brand, UNC Health,” says Alan M. Wolf, director of news and media relations for UNC Health. “We are the state’s health system, with facilities, providers and clinics across North Carolina. This type of fun family-friendly sporting event fits with our mission of improving the health and well-being of all North Carolinians. The UNC Health Championship presented by STITCH begins a new era of professional golf in Raleigh.”
To tee up some history… the championship’s roots date back to more than three decades, when Rex Hospital trustee Greg Poole Jr. began raising money for the hospital, with the help of LPGA pro-golfer Dianne Dailey. The tournament, which began as an LPGA event at North Ridge Country Club in 1988, is now among the top Korn Ferry Tour events in the country. How’s that for a hole-in-one?!
While the Rex Hospital Open has been held at the Country Club at Wakefield in North Raleigh for the past 18 years, the new location at recently renovated Raleigh Country Club brings a new set of challenges to competitors—with an enhanced viewing experience for spectators to boot. Not to mention proceeds will continue to benefit UNC Health and local community partners.
“We worked closely with our partners at McConnell Golf (owner of Wakefield and Raleigh Country Club) and the PGA Tour to identify the best venue for the new UNC Health Championship,” Wolf explains. “Designed by renowned architect Donald Ross and operated by McConnell Golf, Raleigh Country Club is ranked among the top 20 golf courses in North Carolina. Its proximity to Downtown Raleigh and a more central location in Wake County also provides greater accessibility for spectators from across the Triangle.”
To wit, there’s a lot at stake at this year’s tournament. The Korn Ferry Tour features 156 professional golfers converging from around the country and the world—both young, up-and-coming professionals striving to reach the PGA Tour as well as competitive, seasoned professionals that have lost their PGA Tour status and are vying to return.
Additionally, many players have local ties, including Ben Kohles, who grew up in Cary and has won two tournaments on the Korn Ferry Tour this year (translation: he is likely to make the PGA Tour next year!), and Ryan Gerard and Carter Jenkins, both of whom played golf at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Each day of the tournament offers additional entertainment for attendees (see below), and throughout the four-day event, Empire Eats will also be treating attendees to menu faves from The Pit, Raleigh Times, Gravy and Sitti. “The UNC Health Championship offers affordability, entertainment and accessibility—a prime opportunity to engage with tomorrow’s golf stars,” says Wolf.
“The setting is perfect for fans of all ages,” adds Wolf, “including those who may not know much about the game of golf but enjoy volunteering, socializing outdoors and supporting local charitable events.” Sounds pretty on par with a weekend well spent.
Photo courtesy of Brian Strickland
Tee-rific Activations
May 30: Kids Clinic—Kids 18 and under (and their parents) will have a unique opp to watch the player practice rounds on a closed course.
June 1: Local Love Day (presented by United Healthcare)—Various community partners will be at the fan area to share info about their programs and services.
June 2: Canes Day—All season ticket holders will gain free entry to the golf tournament.
June 3: Wear UNC Health Blue Day—Show support for health care workers, and stop by the UNC Health tent to meet some of the Tar Heel Paws and Furr Friends therapy dogs.
June 4: Heroes Day (presented by First Citizens)—Active military and fire and rescue personnel will gain free entry to the tournament.
Raleigh rolls out a slew of events to celebrate National Bike Month.
Wheels up! It’s National Bike Month, and Raleigh is kicking it into gear with a slew of happenings around town.
Sponsored and promoted by the League of American Bicyclists, National Bike Month, est. 1956, has been celebrated in communities countrywide ever since—with the City of Raleigh pedaling onboard for the past 15 years. Beyond getting to the cycology of the wheeliefab benefits worth taking a brake for, citywide monthlong events also tout the transportation triumphs of rolling around on two tires.
As a fast-growing community, Raleigh is experiencing more transportation issues than ever, so “it’s important for the City to promote Bike Month because biking and bike commuting are important for the long-term health and sustainability of our community,” says Andrea Epstein, senior communications liaison for the City of Raleigh’s Transportation Department. “The more people that start biking over driving, the better quality of life we create for everyone. By being a fervent supporter of Bike Month, the City proudly stands behind this vision, as well as providing cyclists of all levels and experience the information, tools and encouragement they need to be better cyclists, commuters and champions of cycling.”
In a nod to those efforts, this year, the city rolled out its largest bike mural yet—parked at Exploris Middle School—by local artivist Mayanthi Jayawardena, who installed the mural during April as “an inspiring and prominent welcome to cyclists entering downtown Raleigh,” says Epstein.
“The City’s participation grows every year,” adds Epstein, “and we offer as much support as possible to our community partners as they are producing events. We also look every year at developing new programs and activities to support our growing bike community.”
So, in support of National Bike Month, here are some off-the-chain ways to rack up some miles and #bikethere on National Ride A Bike Day May 7, or make the most of those two wheels at any of these local events all monthlong.
Ditch four wheels for two! Oaks and Spokes, in partnership with Safe Routes to School Wake County, is offering free planning services to Raleigh schools to participate in National Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day May 3 (or any other day in May). The event inspires kids and families to take an active route to school, and Wake County Schools that register early can get free prize kits.
As part of DRA’s First Friday, Raleigh Union Station Plaza will be hosting a Bike Bonanza feat. beats, popsicles from Raleigh Popsicle Co., a photo booth, plus plenty o’ other vendors worth rolling out for. To boot, AAA of the Carolinas will be handing out free bike helmets (!); Raleigh Riders will demonstrate tandem bike riding and recruit volunteers for greenway rides; Raleigh Bike Polo will demonstrate and educate visitors on the sport; and Oaks and Spokes will host a bike decoration station and free bike servicing. 4–7pm, 510 W. Martin St.
You can never be two-tired for this kid-friendly event hosted by the Marbles Kids Museum in partnership with Raleigh Police District’s Southeast District Community squad and Oaks and Spokes. The Bike Rodeo teaches young riders and would-be riders about bike safety while practicing their riding skills vai obstacle course, plus other activities including a Bike Bling Make Shop, bike swap, helmet fittings and maintenance checks. 9:30am–noon, 201 E. Hargett St.
The best way to see all of Raleigh’s stunning murals is by bike, natch. Ride along with Oaks & Spokes to see the city’s finest street art, beginning and ending at the “It Starts Here!”mural in Dix Park. Post-ride, stick around for a showing of fam-friendly flick Inside Out. 6pm, 801 Biggs Drive
Just brew it and head to the Exchange Plaza for a morning treat and coupon for a free cuppa joe from Left Hook Coffee—NTM a complimentary bike tuneup for all DTR employees. 10am–noon, 219 Fayetteville St.
Slow your roll via this casual fam-friendly ride with Oak City Cycling—a special Bike Month edition of its Third Thursday cruiser ride. 7pm, 707 N. Person St.
Switch up your commute by biking to and from work—with pit stops along the way upping the fun factor. En route, make a pit stop at Oak City Cycling for coffee and mini scones from Yellow Dog Bread Co.—and grab a minor bike adjustment if needed—or swing by Crank Arm after work for happy hour brews. Other pit stops include the Raleigh Municipal Building, Raleigh Union Station and Toole Design Group. Cheers to a more sustainable commute!
We’re all for sustainability in numbers. This tour takes riders through DTR’s most sustainable spots, from Moore Square Park to Raleigh Union Station to 301 Hillsborough (which features a beehive and bike room). Post-ride, the City of Raleigh Sustainability Team will provide an overview of its Community Climate Action Plan along with complimentary bevs. 4–6pm, 201 S. Blount St.
Motley crew meets motley hues with Oaks and Spokes and Crank Arm Brewing’s brightest bike ride of the year! Deck out your bike, helmet and clothes with lights and cruise around town before parking it at Crank Arm to enjoy some suds, natch. Bonus: 10% of beer sales will be donated to Oaks and Spokes. Stay flashy! 7pm, 319 W. Davie St.
More of the trail-riding type? Book it to Forest Ridge Park throughout May for a series of events: Celebrate International Women’s Mountain Biking Day May 6 with a guided mountain bike ride specifically for female riders; bring your kiddos May 13 for a Balance Bike Obstacle Course; go on an intro to mountain biking group ride May 20; or learn how to change flat tires, adjust gears and brakes, and perform general maintenance on bikes via the bike maintenance clinic also May 20.
The bike fun doesn’t have to end with the turn of the calendar page. Stay tuned in as Oaks and Spokes and So & So Books pulls up the kickstand on their inaugural book club, focusing on the cycling book Just Ride by Grant Petersen which hopes to inspire riders to focus on the simple joys of cycling. 719 N. Person St.
Clean up your (skincare) act with Anne’s Apothecary’s clean, eco-friendly beauty products.
Searching for a clean conscience? Look no further than Anne’s Apothecary, a Black female-owned skincare brand that offers 100% clean, eco-friendly skincare products in a recently opened (gorgeous!) DTR brick-and-mortar—with upcoming workshops and demos to boot (think learning how to make natural lipstick, tinctures, therapy oil, candles and more).
Founder Anne Lawoyin’s retail storefront comes after years of hard work and myriad local farmers market appearances—not to mention the national acclaim her in-house, handcrafted formulations received from the likes of Elle, Brides and Prevention.
But if you ask Lawoyin, she’ll tell you she’s always been a maker. Prior to immigrating to Raleigh from Nigeria in 2008, she regularly made natural skincare products. “It’s a process that I find incredibly therapeutic,” she says.
“If I have a choice to control what I put on my skin, I’ll choose [products] that have been as minimally processed as possible.”
—Anne Lawoyin
But it wasn’t until the nurse-turned-natural beauty philosopher’s mother was diagnosed with cancer in 2014 that she became concerned about her exposure to unknown toxins in the environment and in the products she used. That’s when Lawoyin once again turned to making natural, plant-based skincare products—not only as a way to cope, but also to provide clean products to others.
Lawoyin also believes that killing animals for beauty is a vain concept… thus her focus on plant-based ingredients. To wit, she employs plenty of plant extracts—such as licorice, which she says is great for hyperpigmentation—to help enrich her products, ranging from acne spot therapy and aloe gel to aromatherapy soap to botanical hand and body lotion.
So the next time you’re in need of a little self-care Sunday, Anne’s Apothecary has you covered from head to toe. annesapothecary.com
Two Raleigh locals are crafting a community of creatives through crafting studio Craft Habit.
Taylor Lee and Sarah Ferguson admittedly have hot glue running in their veins. As co-founders of Craft Habit, a local crafting studio that offers classes and more, the creative duo is intent on sharing their passion for all things crafting with other Raleighites.
For two locals who could have gone anywhere to start Craft Habit, it was the community that made Raleigh the ideal spot for their crafty clubhouse—a 2016-established pop-up-turned-brick-and-mortar that laid retail roots in Gateway Plaza in July 2018—not to mention there was a hole in the market after Cynthia Deis closed her locally loved bead and craft supply store Ornamentea (Deis later came on as a consultant for Craft Habit).
“People I knew from high school were starting businesses, and the business community was really welcoming,” says Ferguson. “Locals also want to support local businesses, so that inspired me. We knew the community was going to be there for us.”
Since then, Craft Habit has ingrained itself into Raleigh’s community via events held regularly that all Raleighites—whether they’re avid crafters or just want something fun and unique to do with their friends—are invited to attend.
Take the craft store’s Crafty Happy Hour for example, which pairs libations from Mordecai Beverage Co.—Craft Habit’s Gateway Plaza neighbor—with a simple craft (upcoming dates are Nov. 5 and Dec. 3). Or Community Crafternoons (Nov. 19 and Dec. 17), which invites the public to have a say in which crafts to make. And then there’s Craft Habit’s annual Handmade Gift Bonanza (Nov. 26–28), where a bevy of craft projects (soy candles are new this year!) will be available to make for holiday gift-giving—and who doesn’t love a sentimental handmade gift?!
These events are all part of Craft Habit’s core community vibe and Lee and Ferguson’s mission to introduce new crafts to locals. While they mostly offer introductory classes, they hope to build an audience for intermediate and advanced classes as well.
“Craft Habit is for people who are interested in crafting but who don’t feel crafty,” says Ferguson. “We want people to come in and nerd out about crafting, while making new friends.”
Lee and Ferguson are also involved in the Raleigh community outside of Craft Habit. For instance, they have held several sewing bees through the Sewing Acts of Kindness program to create items like reusable grocery bags for a Thanksgiving food pantry and cancer port pillows for local hospitals. So just like the community was there for them upon opening, now this couple of crafty creators is there for the Raleigh community.
While Craft Habit has grown leaps and bounds through word of mouth, Ferguson says that the location in Gateway Plaza has been one of the main draws for crowds. “Over the past three years, the whole center has changed,” she says. “Now there’s a co-working space, a bakery, a brewery and green space. As more businesses go in, we get more eyes on us.” Get your craft on at crafthabitraleigh.com.
