Get excited! Raleigh Magazine’s March issue drops March 1—and will be on stands around town and delivered to your doors and mailboxes! If you can’t wait until then, here’s a quick look at some of the stories we have in store. (Subscribe now or by March 5 to have the March issue delivered straight to your mailbox—with a peel-off label to boot… for a steal of just $10/year!)
Sending Spirits
Ever mailed liquor or beer? Or ordered some online to have shipped directly to your door? Brought more than 4 bottles of standard-size liquor and driven it over state lines? Welp—turns out you broke the law. We know. We were shocked too. … So, we took a deep dive into what you can and can’t do—and put on our investigative caps re: the wonderful land of spirits websites. You won’t want to miss this.
What’s the Deal with NIL?
Sam Howell
It’s March—and ’tis the season for sports! It has been less than a year since college athletes have been able to benefit from name image and likeness (NIL) opportunities. So, as we head into March Madness and the Big Dance—and dust off those brackets!—we take a look at the biggest players in local NIL opps (think name, image, likeness) and who’s inked deals across Tobacco Road.
Fenton’s Retail Remix
Mixed-use has always banked on retail. Until now. Fenton is flipping the script by putting food & bev first with a star-studded opening cast—including locals Mike Lee with M Sushi, Ford Fry with Superica, Scott Crawford with Crawford Brothers’ Steakhouse, Kevin Barrett and Drew Schenck with the latest Dram & Draught… among others.
Market Mayhem
The Eastern
Looks like growth comes with a price tag. Y’all—we have a $14,000-per-month penthouse in North Hills! So have we made it or have we lost our minds? … Depends on your perspective—and who you ask. We dive into the market mayhem—from the smoldering hot (and seemingly impossible at times) housing market to the rapidly rising rental market to room renting (it’s a thing!) to 2022 expert forecasts.
Go on a pantless run (really), drink a bottle of vino for National Drink Wine Day, channel your inner Shaun White, and more via these fun-filled events around Raleigh.
2/17 Drake Night on the Rooftop
Party like it’s 2010 with Drake-inspired cocktails and photo ops to celebrate Drizzy, while DJ KJB keeps the dance floor hot all night long. tinroofraleigh.com
2/17 NC State vs. Wake Women’s
Wake is gonna need a wake after the Wolfpack women kill ’em at Reynolds. gopack.com
2/18 National Drink Wine Day @ Transfer Co.
Get on Cloud Wine and celebrate National Drink Wine Day at Transfer Co. Food Hall with half-price on select wine-derful bottles.transfercofoodhall.com
2/18–19 Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto
They told him he could use any weapon he wanted—so he chose cannons. Take in Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with Chee-Yun on violin alongside the Douglas Boyd-conducted North Carolina Symphony—with Caroline Shaw’s Entr’acte and Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2 to boot.ncsymphony.org
2/18–20 Michael Colyar
“It’s 2 o’clock. Do you know where your testicles are?” The House Party III comedian (also famed for his roles on Black-ish and The Princess & The Frog, among a slew of others) is bringing his unique and hilarious brand of comedy to Goodnights.goodnightscomedy.com
2/19 Bazaar for Black History Month
Celebrate Black History Month at Transfer Co. Food Hall—while treating yourself to some retail therapy!—through an afternoon of Black-owned businesses and local vendors in the ballroom. transfercofoodhall.com
2/19 Cupid’s Undie Run
No pants, no problem. The nation’s largest pantless party and mile-ish run for charity is back in Raleigh! Brave the cold and pound the pavement to help raise awareness of neurofibromatosis (NF)—a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body—and fundraise for NF research through the Children’s Tumor Foundation. my.cupids.org
2/19 Flannels & Frost
Tired of being cooped up because of the cold weather? Head to Moore Square for s’mores, crafts, curling, inflatable axe throwing and snowboarding, and moore. Maybe you can even live out those olympic dreams (wink, wink). downtownraleigh.org
2/19 Great Backyard Bird Count
No angry birds here. Birders of all ages can enjoy birder workshops, a birding hike with Park Ranger Amber Williams, crafts, a touch table, hot chocolate, s’mores and fam-friendly games at this free im-peck-able event. capefearbg.org
2/19 Live From the Studio: Ivana Beck
Channel your inner artist while getting schooled on the art of sculptural work through this virtual live studio visit with artist Ivana Milojevic Beck. ncartmuseum.org
2/19 TriangleRAD’s OutRun the Winter
Think a little less Ford vs. Ferrari and a little more burned paint, cracked dashes and mismatched body panels. Maybe even some sweet popup headlights (hey, Popup Zone). Rock your parachute pants or baggy flannels and bring ’80s/’90s swag for “Rad cred” in this totally rad ’80s and ’90s car show. @triangle_rad
2/19 Umphrey’s McGee
“It’s not us”… “it’s you.” Get ready Ralegih—the “zonkey” jam band is set to return to rock out the Ritz. ritzraleigh.com
2/19–20 Monster Jam
Fancy mayhem? You’re in luck. Backflipping, two-wheeling, high-flying 12,000-pound four-wheel racing machines take over PNC arena for two days of can’t-miss fam-friendly fun that promises to crushyour weekend. monsterjam.com
2/20 Harlem Quartet
Pluck this—the head-turning NY-based Harlem Quarter (billed as “one of the greatest string quartets”) performs in Raleigh as part of the NCMA’s Sights and Sounds Concert Series. ncartmuseum.org
2/23 Maud 2.23
If you see something, say something. Pound the pavement with Raleigh Brewing Run Club for change via this run by Together We Stand NC. Started in June 2020 in response to Ahmaud Arbery’s case, the org works to “build awareness to the daily plight of people of color… and remind people of all races what can happen in America on any given day,” says founder Tyrone Irby, who created this Maud 2.23 run in partnership with 22 NC breweries and running clubs. See you there. strongerandfasterdurham.com
2/23 NC State vs. Boston College
Fly home, Eagles. We’ll keep this W in Raleigh. gopack.com
Love—and sports!—is in the air! Here are 16 things to do in Raleigh for Valentine’s Day and Super Bowl weekend, and throughout the rest of the week.
Through 2/16 Fresh Air
If you’re looking for some “fresh air,” head to Charlotte Russell Contemporary to peep this two-person art exhibition before it ends! charlotterussellcontemporary.com.
2/10 Imagine Dragons
If you’re feeling radioactive, “all systems go” to PNC Arena for Imagine Dragons’ Mercury Tour. pncarena.com
2/10–12 Dancing in the Street: The Music of Motown
It ain’t just your imagination. Putting the heart and soul into your Valentine’s weekend, the NC Symphony and guest-star singers belt smash hits by the likes of Motown marvels like Marvin Gaye, The Four Tops, Lionel Richie, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder and, of course, The Temptations. ncsymphony.org
2/11 Ballet Hispánico
Fete 50 years of Ballet Hispánico with a night of powerful Latinx stories come to life through breathtaking dance by this world-renowned company via NC State LIVE’s popular spring program, open to the public. Live.arts.ncsu.edu
2/11 Crafty Galentine’s Party
No need to wine about being single on Valentine’s Day—Crafty’s won’t let you be alone. Celebrate your best gal pals with a wine flight and chocolates. craftybeerwinespirits.com
2/12 Cinch’s World’s Toughest Rodeo
It’s more than an 8-second ride! Tell everyone to “buck off” (had to) and make your way to PNC to peep some of the world’s toughest cowboys and cowgirls turn and burn in a heart-racing night of rodeo revelry. worldstoughestrodeo.com
2/12-13 Dino & Dragon Stroll
“Hold onto your butts!” Get up close and personal with totally lifelike and life-size dinos and dragons via North America’s only walk-up tour. We’re talking animatronics, sound technology (roar!), moving heads… you’ll think they’re alive. Hey, it promises to be rawr-some but as we learned fromJurassic Park, “if something chases you, run!” dinostroll.com
2/12 Drive-In Movie at Dix Park
Skip the movie theater and treat your special someone to a blast-from-the-past via a free drive-in movie showing of The Big Sick at Dorothea Dix Park. Keep it extra authentic with some grub from one of the on-site food trucks dishing everything from tacos to treats. dorotheadixpark.org
2/12 Galentine’s Day Concert
Jazz hands! … Jazz up your Valentine’s Day with NC Master Chorale’s concert featuring the music of pop and jazz divas at Transfer Co. Food Hall. Get it, girls! transfercofoodhall.com
2/12 Galentine’s Day in the Studio (Designed for Joy)
Aca-suce me? It’s only the best day of the year. Grab your gals and paint the town in this lovely Designed for Joy event featuring the Ladies in Red (aka NCSU’s premier all-female a cappella), a Bouquet Bar hosted by local Trader Joe’s stores, and more—all to support work for women in crisis in Raleigh. Yup, it’s going to be aca-awesome. designedforjoy.com
2/13, ongoing Pretty in Pink Scavenger Hunt
Grab your girlfriends for Search in the City’s Pretty in Pink Scavenger Hunt. Whether you’re looking for a fun way to celebrate Valentine’s day or you just want to explore downtown Raleigh, this is sure to be a hunt for fun. searchinthecity.co
2/13 Galentine’s Drag Brunch
Two words: Drag Brunch. Grab your gals for waffles (with lots of whipped cream a la Leslie Knope of course) and a show at Young Hearts Distilling. trophybrewing.com/young-hearts-distilling
2/13 Super Bowl LVI
Is it the Packers year? The Brady Bowl? We can’t predict the winner but we can predict the best places to tune into the big game—or how to max out your watch party. raleighmag.com
2/13 Variaciones Concertantes
Immerse yourself in music inspired by the atmosphere of Argentina through Alberto Ginastera’s Variaciones Concertantes at Carolina Theatre. carolinatheatre.org
2/14 Vegan Brews ’n’ BBQ
National Football Hangover Day andValentine’s Day collide with Meatless Monday—and what better way to celebrate (or drown your sorrows) than vegan brews ’n’ Q at Big Boss? bigbossbrewing.com
2/16 Dillon Francis and Young Gravy
Hop on the gravy train for Dillon Francis and Young Gravy’s Sugar, Spice and Everything Ice Tour at the Ritz. ritzraleigh.com
Best Bars—snapped! For the fourth year running, Raleigh Magazine readers voted on the city’s best bars—from speakeasy to rooftop to dive and more. And on Jan. 31, our 2021 50 Best Bars winners were revealed as the Raleigh Mag team hosted the bar winners to a night of nips, sips and kudos. Held this year at hip Best New Bar The Avenue on Glenwood South, our fourth annual Best Bars Party was sponsored by esteemed local food & bev purveyor United Restaurant Group. The spirited awards sesh was followed by an afterparty at four-time Best Overall Bar winner (and Best Whiskey Bar 2021) Dram & Draught. Here’s a look! Cheers!
If you’re a fan of simple, natural ingredients, good juju comes in the form of a just announced Good JuJu Herbal x Madewellpartnership! Making it easier to score products “made well,” the Raleigh-based organic handmade skincare brand for sensitive skin can now be found on Madewell’s Hometown Heroes shop online—and available to ship worldwide (!). madewell.com
Get a whiff of this: Hot on the market are these woman-owned local handmade, handpoured, handcrafted small-batch ZZP Apothecary candles with killer fragrances and witty labels that’ll draw you like a moth to a flame. zzpapothecary.com
Helping keep that New Year’s resolution in check… Fuquay-Varina’s The Healthy Spot offers a ton of, well, healthy options for you to continue reaching your goals and feeling good via its delicious sugar-free loaded teas and protein shakes in a plethora of yummy flavors. Clean drinking never looked so good! 961 E. Broad St., Fuquay-Varina
Run to Runologie for its new collab with Nike Run Club and local artist Adam Peele featuring running tanks inspired by Peele’s favorite color palette and love of flora. Just do it… (had to).1614 Automotive Way
Ditch the expensive lululemon and spring for Serendib’s activewearline that’s all about bringing the vibrance, fun and culture back into fitness. With colorful leggings, sports bras, yoga shorts, sweatpants and more, you’ll actually enjoy hitting the gym for once. serendibcreative.com/serendibapparel
“I be up in the gym just working on my fitness…” Now you can be like Fergie and get those gains at Bucked Up Fitness, which offers cardio equipment, free weights and various other machines. Originally started as a supplement brand, this will be Bucked Up’s first gym. 280 Towerview Court, Cary
New you, who dis?! Be the best version of yourself through Restore Hyper Wellness, a modern wellness center offering cryotherapy, red light therapy, IV drip therapy, HydraFacials and so much more in the Village District. 2038 Clark Ave.
If you were contemplating whether or not to treat yo’self to a massage, now’s the time. The NOW Massage’s new Brier Creek location offers a plethora of rejuvenating and relaxing table massages and enhancements to melt alllll your stress away. 7930 Skyland Ridge Parkway
