Bicycling in Raleigh has come a long way—with miles still to travel.
Riding in Raleigh can feel a little more pedal and gulp meets chain reaction and a little less woke spokes. Sure, the cap city is by no means a “bike city,” but cycling has long been gaining traction—and all the while Raleigh has been playing catchup to keep riders safe so they can cycle in stride. While the City of Oaks remains largely car-dependent, improved bike infrastructure—not to mention emerging district connections—continues to enhance resident mobility. And whether you cycle or not, as road warriors, it’s an issue that affects all of us daily—as the road is a shared space cyclists have had to make up plenty of ground on, with miles left to go.
The City of Raleigh has made strides for rides by adding approximately 53 miles of in-street bike infrastructure in the last five years alone. These efforts, in addition to a slew of other cycle infrastructure, have landed Raleigh in a unique position to have zero cyclist deaths in four out of the last five years, at a time when cyclist crashes are climbing across the state and nationwide. In NC, Charlotte claimed the No. 12 most dangerous U.S. city for cyclists in 2022 with 26.7 fatalities per 10K commuters annually, while the state saw 20.8 fatalities per 10K bike commuters. Exactly zero of those came on Raleigh’s city streets.
But our fair city still has a long way to go—especially when compared to the five U.S. cities (Austin, Denver, New Orleans, Pittsburgh and Providence) that hit the ground running with an unprecedented 335 miles of bike lanes built out in 24 months. Never mind what they’re doing in Europe.
BIKE RELATED INCIDENTS 2018–2022 • Deaths 1 (0 in 2022) • Disabling injuries 17 (3 in 2022) • Evident injuries 124 (23 in 2022) • Possible injuries 90 (11 in 2022) • No injuries 49 (13 in 2022)
*Data provided by Raleigh Police Department for City of Raleigh
As the city continues to play catchup to keep riders safe so they can cycle in stride, we take a look at where Raleigh stands.
Why Raleigh Wants to Be Biker-Friendly
“Biking in the City of Raleigh should be safe and accessible for all ages and abilities,” says Barbara Godwin, MPA, City of Raleigh Transportation Department micromobility coordinator. As the city continues to grow at warp speed, we’ll “continue to expand connectivity across the biking network, with safety and accessibility as the main priorities,” she adds.
Expanding Streets for All
In its efforts to make streets fit not just for cars, but for pedestrians and cyclists too, the city is paving the way for a functional and inclusive environment through its Complete Streets network. As part of the strategy, all street projects—think new construction, reconstruction, retrofits, repaving, rehabilitation or changes in pavement marking—undergo improvements to bike safety (conventional bike lanes, separated bike lanes, bike parking, etc.), in addition to other pedestrian safety improvements and transit infrastructure.
Cycology 101
To help minimize cost, the City of Raleigh and DOT use road-improvement projects (like resurfacing) as a strategy to integrate bike lanes and “update street configurations to match the Comprehensive Plan and the BikeRaleigh Plan,” says Godwin. Roads with poor pavement condition are resurfaced on an annual basis as part of the City’s Annual Resurfacing Program.
Why It Matters
Pedestrian and cycle traffic are essential in furthering the city’s attractiveness—not to mention its commitment to environmental stewardship, economic strength and social integrity. These biking infrastructures are just one step in the right direction for Raleigh to become a more bike-friendly city that all residents and visitors can enjoy regardless of whether they have a motor vehicle or not.
Bike Lane Breakdown
In 2022, the City of Raleigh added 10.3 more miles of bike infrastructure, according to the City of Raleigh Transportation Department, compared to 5.9 miles in 2018. As of today, DTR houses 11 miles of existing bike infrastructure.
Sore Spots
Perceived as a rolling threat by some, adding bike lanes to an existing street takes space, obviously, which can supplant parking spots businesses rely on for easy customer access. One such case, a proposal for bike lanes on already parking-sparse Person Street has seen quite a bit of pushback.
Who Pays for This?
Major street improvement projects are included in the City’s Capital Improvement Program Budget, says Godwin. A 10-year financial plan, the CIP analyzes major facility needs, projects fiscal resources, establishes priorities, and develops schedules for the acquisition and construction of capital facilities.
Streets Slated for Improvement This Year
Upward of 50 street sections are slated to be resurfaced in 2023 as of now, as part of the City’s Annual Resurfacing Program. Of these, bike lane improvements and extensions are on deck for Oberlin Road (between Roberts Street and Glenwood Avenue, slated for fall completion) and Dunn Road (between Falls of Neuse Road and Falls Landing Drive).
Project Priorities
Projects are prioritized based on connectivity across the larger bike network via the BikeRaleigh Plan, in conjunction with larger capital projects and those routine maintenance projects (think resurfacing).
Bikeable Midtown
The City of Raleigh is also working to make Midtown more walkable—and bikeable—via the Walkable Midtown plan. Part of the plan includes a greenway connection and pedestrian bridge across the Beltline and a “Midtown Ring” full of protected spaces that also connects major Midtown destinations to nearby neighborhoods.
Bicycle Superhighway
In addition to plans for an improved network of bike lanes throughout Raleigh, the city is designing a 17-mile Triangle Bikeway from Raleigh to RTP. The “bicycle superhighway” will be located along I-40 and the NC54 corridor, and connect Raleigh, Cary, Morrisville, RTP, Durham and Chapel Hill.
Total Miles of Bike Infrastructure Completed Each Year
2018: 5.9 miles
2019:8.7 miles
2020: 8.4 miles
2021:19.8 miles
2022: 10.3 miles
Pedaling Partnership
No bike? No problem. Make your way around DTR via Raleigh’s bikeshare program, Cardinal Bikeshare (formerly Citrix Cycle), a partnership between the city and Corps Logistics LLC. The program temporarily paused in April for operations and maintenance of the system, but is targeted to reopen May 16, after which users will receive 60 days of free rides (!). There are currently 32 stations spread out around the Downtown core and Hillsborough Street. Kicking bikesharing further into gear, each Cardinal bike feats. an adjustable seat, basket, bell, and front and rear lights that automatically light up when you start pedaling. To boot, two-thirds of the fleet are electric-assist bikes, making getting up those hills a breeze. Ride like the wind! (photo courtesy of Visit Raleigh)
Greenway Connectivity
Raleigh currently has 117 miles of greenway trails within its Capital Area Greenway System—112 of which are physically connected throughout the city—which links locally to adjacent communities including Clayton, Knightdale, Wake Forest and Cary. The system also provides access to longer distance trails, giving Raleighites and visitors alike the opp to explore the state and Eastern Seaboard.
Neuse River Trail: 28 miles; part of the Mountains to Sea Trail which spans 1,175 miles from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks in NC
East Coast Greenway: 3,000 miles from Maine to Florida; utilizes segments of the Reedy Creek Trail, Rocky Branch Trail, and portions of the Walnut Creek Trail and Neuse River Trail
Big Branch Trail: Proposed 4 miles; funded through the Parks Bond; will connect Crabtree Creek Trail to Sandy Forks Road
Rolling Back in History
Rolling way back, the City first studied bike-related issues in efforts to advance cycling in the ’60s via City Council-appointed bicycle committees. From there, the Raleigh Bicycle and Bikeway Ordinance of 1974 was the first organized endeavor to generate policies and systems for designing and building bicycle facilities, with bicycle plans then produced in 1979, 1983 and 1991 (though the ’83 plan was not adopted).
Fast-forward to 2008, the City of Raleigh and the North Carolina Department of Transportation Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation began to establish a citywide comprehensive bicycle plan—a long overdue update to the 1991 version, especially given the city’s rapid growth and the likewise burgeoning interest in bike-friendly cities and their advantages (think gas prices, ecoliving, fitness fads).
In 2009, the City of Raleigh and NCDOT doubled down on upping Raleigh’s bike-friendly factor via the addition of bike commuting lanes Downtown and connected greenways across the city—and beyond. At the time, Raleigh had a mere 4 miles of commuter bike facilities. Laying the groundwork for the infrastructure we see still rolling out today, enter City of Raleigh’s 2009 Bicycle Transportation Plan, which outlined ways to increase mode share and safety for bicyclists in one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. From there, the still-active-today all-volunteer advisory board Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission was a recommendation of the BTP, says BPAC chair Nick Neptune, which focuses on implementation of relevant programs, policies, regulations and funding, as well as provides leadership and guidance on all things pedal and foot.
In 2012, local bicycle advocacy group Oaks & Spokes was born with an MO of “making the City of Oaks the City of Spokes” and since has made much headway on raising awareness by “building bike culture and advocating on behalf of our community.”
Fast-forward again to 2016, by which time Raleigh had rolled out some ~70 miles of commuter bike lanes, and the city adopted the 10-year BikeRaleigh plan—which was reprioritized in 2020—further emphasizing the city’s goal of “expanding Raleigh’s bikeway network and improving safety, comfort, convenience and accessibility for bicyclists of all ages and abilities,” according to the plan.
Cycle-Paths: Bike Popularity
39: Raleigh’s bike score out of 100, making it “somewhat bikeable”
Cycling infrastructure ups safety for all commuters. Across the country—and world—modern bike measures on roadways are assisting cyclists in navigating the streets.
Bike Signals: Curbing any confusion on when cyclists should stop and go at intersections, increasingly cities (think Austin, DC, Denver) use bicycle traffic lights with green-yellow-red bicycle stenciled lenses.
Bike Boulevards: In addition to lanes, intersection treatments, signals and cycle tracks, the National Association of City Transportation Officials’ Urban Bikeway Design Guide names bicycle boulevards among its innovative solutions, aka giving cyclists travel priority on low-traffic streets and discouraging through-trips by cars.
Underwater Bike Garage: Growing bike-dependent cities need somewhere to put all those bikes. So, across the pond, they’re going underground—even underwater (!). At the start of this year, the Netherlands debuted a massive underwater bike storage facility at Amsterdam Centraal Station. The first-of-its-kind structure took four years to build and holds ~7,000 bikes (and zero cars!). It even connects directly to the city’s metro and railway system. Also in the Netherlands is the world’s largest underground bicycle parking garage, clocking in at three stories with 12,600+ bike parking spaces.
The Green Wave: To curb cyclist injury and death and crashes in general, cities are joining the global “green wave”—aka retiming traffic lights so cyclists can literally roll through—to prioritize riders on two wheels and make city streets safer for all bikes. Also allowing motorists and cyclists alike to predict speed, the efforts, though, don’t come without pushback. In New York, drivers complain the move worsens traffic—and in Baltimore, a recent $4.5 million study to retime traffic lights is under fire.
New Radar Tech: No more running red lights. In 2018, Salt Lake City implemented 10 new traffic signals sensitive enough to be triggered by cyclists, allowing them the ease of not having to wait for a car to trigger a green light.
Raleigh Bike Lane Cheat Sheet
Sharrows: Sharing is caring. These street markings resembling a bicycle and two chevrons indicate where cyclists should position themselves to be visible to cars on the street—in turn reminding motorists to look out for bikes.
Buffered Bike Lanes: Demarcated by painted buffer lines between the bike lane and general travel lane or parked cars, these also signal motorists to share the road—and help cyclists avoid collisions with opening car doors.
Separated Bike Lanes (aka Cycle Tracks): In a culture all about setting barriers, bike lanes are no exception. Adding a huge safety net to the standard bike lane are cycle tracks, complete with some sort of physical barrier—curbs, concrete, planters, even parked cars. The move is a boon for all motorists. Raleigh implemented a trio of these in 2020 via flexible delineators on Crabtree Boulevard (between high-traffic corridor North Raleigh and Capital boulevards), and sections of Morgan Street (between Dawson Street and New Bern Avenue) and Lineberry Drive (between Sierra and Trailwood drives)—which rolled out safer and speedier rides for all road warriors. Upcoming streets under consideration for cycle tracks include:
South State Street, between Peterson Street and Bunche Drive
Faircloth Road, between Wade Avenue and Clark Avenue/Hillsborough Street
West Street, between North and Peace Street
Bike Safety Stats—How Raleigh, NC cities and the state stack up
NC ranks 42 out of 50 in safety (20.8 fatalities per 10K commuters)
Raleigh notably ranked 10th safest city for cyclists in 2021
NC ranks 45 out of 50 in ridership (.18% of commuters biking to work)
NC ranks 10 out of 50 in spending ($4.32 per capita FHWA spending on biking and walking)
Ready to up your Wordle game? Dictionary.com is adding some new words to its repertoire—and they’re really relatable, like “deadass.” The word outlet has blessed us with 300+ new words (!) and ~1,200 updated definitions for existing words to stay in step with “the ever-changing English language.”
And don’t think you’ll find just any random phrase on the site (they have standards, ya know). Words are only added if they fit the following criteria: The word is used by a lot of people in mostly the same way; it’s likely to stick around; and it’s useful for a general audience. And we love that bedwetting, selective outrage, hellscape and trauma dumping have all achieved that high honor.
So whether or not you would characterize yourself as “woke” with words, we rec you brush up your vocab and let your Gen Z friends know you’re still in the loop (read: not cheugy). Grab your flashcards—school is now in session on some of the latest slang.dictionary.com
Bedwetting: noun [bed-wet-ing] An emotional overreaction to events, especially major ones
Cakeism: noun [keyk-iz-uhm] As some might say, “you can’t have your cake and eat it too.” Well, this term—meaning to enjoy the benefits of two mutually exclusive decisions—disagrees.
Hellscape: noun [hel-skeyp] This one might define itself… somewhere or something hopeless and unbearable
Nearlywed: noun [neer-lee-wed] Booed up roommates with no plans to marry now (or ever)
Superdodger: noun [soo-per-doj-er] If you still haven’t caught COVID, this is you.
Trauma dumping: noun [traw-muh-duhm-ping] Dropping your emotional baggage on an unprepared friend or acquaintance
Woke: adjective [wohk] Knowing what’s up in the world of liberal progressive thought—essentially being open-minded
“If you only get one great love, New York may just be mine.” So says Sex & the City’s Carrie Bradshaw of her longest relationship and most unconditional love—New York City.
Sentiment seconded. I returned to the city this summer after a decade and was once again swept away by its utter New York-ness—at once the same and strikingly new—lending me the experience of simultaneously traipsing it like a tourist who’d never been merged with an old soul returning again.
Whether meandering the Meatpacking District and Chelsea Market; parking it at the plethora of primo parks (Washington, Brooklyn Bridge, Central, Bryant); biking the Brooklyn Bridge or West Side Highway; boat-touring out to Lady Liberty; getting your culture on (MoMA, Whitney, The Met); or shopping, natch (SoHo, West Village or Broadway)—there’s no shortage of to-do’s in the city so nice they named it twice.
But New York is so much more than Broadway or shopping or trudging Times Square (if that’s your thing—just don’t go expecting a flash mob a la Friends With Benefits). So, here’s an itinerary worth flying for. Because “in New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of, there’s nothing you can’t do.”
Whether you’re feeling Almost Famous or in need of a little Christmas, there’s no shortage of brand-new (and OG) hot entertainment—from the Radio City Rockettes to Broadway to Billy Joel’s Madison Square Garden series. Dealer’s choice: Kick up your feet, belt “New York State of Mind” (how fitting) or hang with your fave hexad of Manhattan besties in just-bowed Friends—The Musical Parody. Could it be any more perfect? broadway.com
If you really wanna take your “NY minute” next level, head into the sky (literally) for an out-of-this-world experience overlooking Manhattan midair (read: floating 100 stories in the sky). And if you need a little liquid courage or just wanna sip Champagne in the sky (who wouldn’t), take your drinks and dining to new heights at Peak. Insider tip: The elevator up is its own unexpected adventure. And while you’re there, the “triumph of culture, commerce and cuisine” that is Hudson Yards is worth a gander. edgenyc.com; peaknyc.com; hudsonyardsnewyork.com
“I knew you, your heartbeat on The High Line, once in 20 lifetimes.” If it’s a T Swift lyric, you know it’s iconic. “Two stories tall and thousands of stories deep,” the walkable oasis built on a historic freight rail above the streets of the West Side runs from Hudson Yards to the Meatpacking District. Pro tip: After you take it to The Edge (literally), ground yourself with a walk down The High Line to The High Line Hotel for a cuppa (trust me)—or take it all the way to Gansevoort Street and stroll the Whitney. thehighline.org;thehighlinehotel.com
Ciao, bella! Amazing Italian isn’t hard to find in NY—especially in this neighborhood (hey, Don Angie, Via Carota). But this bilevel small plate/vino haven raises the bar with its ample bar seating (!) and its come-as-you-are approachability. It’s a total vibe. lartusi.com
Easily the Rolls-Royce of “rolls rice,” this, well, sanctuary atop the Sanctuary Hotel is a veritable garden masterpiece. Heated and covered from the elements—yet without losing that alfresco feel—the terrace elevates your senses through a palatable journey of modern Japanese cuisine and creative craft cocktails. Japanese whiskey fans will find the Spicy Toki pretty neat. sushilab.com
If you’re looking for the best tacos in town, it’s a wrap. Free up some time from fine dining with some damn fine tacos (locals call it the best tacos in the city)—then walk them off with a stroll through Chelsea Market.lostacos1.com
This approachable contemporary American neighborhood staple serves up three meals a day across its handful of NYC locations. Our rec: some Sunday Funday wild blueberry waffles and hair of the dog at the Central Park South spot for primo people-watching just steps from the park (natch), Carnegie Hall, MoMA and Rockefeller Center. sarabethsrestaurants.com
Heaven and hell collide in this Hell’s Kitchen respite. A short hop to Broadway and Theatre Row, this gem of a jewel-box setting is a must-stop retreat for theatergoers (and all humans, honestly). While you can’t go wrong with any of the seasonally inspired meals, on my recent visit to the city, it easily ranked amongst the best brunches I’ve ever had—from scene to service to sips to sustenance. Pro tip: The Broadway-themed cocktails and parklets are unparalleled. 44andx.com
Farm and city merge with intention in this Chelsea “Cookshop” across from The High Line Hotel answering the call of chef and James Beard 2022 Outstanding Restaurateur semifinalist Marc Meyer’s “longstanding desire to… incorporate the range of ingredients in the Northeast.” Think: animals, agriculture, artisanal cheese and more. We’ll have one of everything—but especially brunch. cookshopny.com
Right this way for drinks, eats and good vibes. This February 2022-launched swank sip spot situated in a four-story townhouse at Rockefeller Center was reimagined in the spirit of the former famed bar housed here (Hurley’s—known for iconic regulars Johnny Carson, Jack Kerouac, David Letterman and decades of SNL vets) by nightlife veterans and celeb investors. Already dubbed one of Eater’s hottest new cocktail bars of 2022, the new spot with a storied legacy is helping redefine Midtown as a place Manhattanites want to hang. NBD.pebblebarnyc.com
If you’re a fan of exclusivity—or are feeling a smidge starstruck—this secluded unmarked sip spot in an unassuming old Brownstone serves up classic cocktails, speakeasy vibes–and Broadway star-spotting post-show. Reservations strongly encouraged. barcentrale.nyc
Rooftop Bars
’Tis the season for freezin’. At Igloo Bar, put on a warm red coat and make your way up to the 230 Fifth rooftop for a boozy hot cocoa—or whatever spirit keeps you warm. The ever-apropos igloo reopened Nov. 15—just in time for your winter-wonderland wishes to come true, including daily rooftop light shows and views for days. … Or get high on views of the Empire State Building and New Year’s Ball 30 stories up in the heart of Times Square at upscale all-seasons The Skylark. 230-fifth.com; theskylarknyc.com
Speakeasies
Hooch, there it is. There’s no shortage of speakeasies in the city that never sleeps. Travel through time, pinkies out, fancy drink in hand in Gramercy’s upscale speakeasy Dear Irving with its time-traveling theme, natch. Or channel Fitzgerald a la Roaring ’20s and jazz up your juice-joint-hop at Garfunkel’s on the Lower East Side. For underground vibes, get snug with handcrafted sips at LB (Little Branch)—aka a low-lit subterranean West Village nest hidden down a flight of stairs featured on World’s Best Bars (!). @lbbarnyc
Voting is still open for Raleigh Magazine’s Best Bars—including the first-ever highly competitive Best Bartender Award! For our annual Best Bars Issue, vote for your favorite bars across a range of categories (Overall, Sports, Whiskey and more), including Best Overall—and, new this year, cast your vote for the best in-town ’tender from a cast of highly curated crafty nominees. No doubt all 16 have earned their stirring stripes—but which one takes the top spirited award? The choice is yours. Voting for Best Bartender (and Best Bars) ends Dec. 15. Go have a drink—or 16—raise a glass to the city’s best bartenders of 2022, and rock the vote. Then stay tuned for our February Best Bars Issue. Rock(s) on.
“My favorite to make for people is the 4:1 martini with blanc vermouth instead of dry. Using blanc vermouth adds body and balance to a drink usually restricted to being a super-dry booze-bomb or just a glass full of olive brine (not to say I don’t like both of those too). My preference is 2 oz. Nikka Coffey gin, .5 oz Yzaguirre blanco reserva, and eucalyptus bitters with a lime twist.”
Preddy, Bittersweet, @bittersweetraleigh
“Any classic cocktail I can talk them into substituting a gin for really. Like a Perfect Manhattan made with No. 209 Chardonnay-Barrel Rested gin. I feel like classic cocktails are often overlooked. When people come into Bittersweet thinking they don’t like gin, I want to change their minds… and I’ve got a 100% success rate.”
Colby Kress, Dram & Draught, @dramanddraught; @colorblindchameleon3
“A classic Negroni (1 part gin, 1 part sweet vermouth, 1 part Campari)… I enjoy the Negroni because it is simple, well balanced and you can get one at pretty much any bar you go too. It is also one of the first cocktails I learned how to make when I first started bartending so it has a special place in my heart.”
Daniel “Rico” Tallarico, Flask Cocktail Bar, @flaskcocktailbar
The Flask Old-Fashioned
Kyle Hankin, Foundation, @foundation_bar
“I love making people a proper martini because they’re incredible: 1 part dry vermouth, 2 parts gin, 1 dash orange bitters, 1 pinch of salt—as cold as you can stir it, lemon twist.”
Taylor Sullivan, The Haymaker, @haymakerraleigh
“The Devil in a Blue Dress (2 oz. tequila, .5 oz. lemon, 1 oz. simple, .5 oz. Blue Curacao, 5 drops Remedy Cocktail Company chocolate chili bitters, an egg white): I’ve always loved using egg whites in drinks. It has a way of blending all of the flavors and enriching the texture.”
Kat Binkley, Killjoy, @killjoycocktail
“Any sort of fun whiskey sour made traditional style with egg white! It’s super-rewarding to convince someone to have an open mind and ‘just try it.’ They end up loving it every time! Lately I’ve been doing a blood orange variation called Orange You Something with a spiced blood orange reduction I make in our kitchen.”
“Hanky Panky (gin, sweet vermouth and fernet Branca): “[I love] the simplicity and versatility of pairing vermouths and gins, highlighting different nuanced flavors within both—and the fernet rinse provides aromatics that let the depth of flavor stand out.”
Rebekah Hayes, The Longleaf Lounge, @thelongleaflounge
“I love mixing my Negroni-adjacent cocktail, Suspiria (named after my favorite horror flick). It’s made up of Del Maguey Vida mezcal, Cynar, Carpano Antica and some drops of a Hellfire habanero shrub. It’s a well balanced, sweet, bitter, fiery, little thing that will keep your taste buds on their toes!”
Cynthia Valverde, The Merchant, @themerchantnc
“The Negroni is a classic cocktail and along with it being a delicious libation, it’s my favorite—but also a favorite of one of the most influential luminaries in my eyes, Anthony Bourdain! As he would say, the drink will ‘hit you like a freight train after four or five.’ It is an easy drink to make, and to make well!”
Brad Froeschle, The Raleigh Times, @raleightimesbar
“Old-Fashioned (bourbon, bitters, simple syrup and orange peel): I like the simplicity, the process and, of course, I love bourbon!!”
Taylor Martinez, Vidrio, @vidrioraleigh
“My favorite cocktail to make for guests is a gimlet. It’s a classic cocktail with only three ingredients (2 oz. gin, 1 oz. lime, .75 oz. simple; shaken and double-strained, and served in a coupe with an expressed lime twist), but the type of gin you pick is the fun part. There are so many botanicals to choose from, and each is its own experience.”
Jacob Morey, Watts & Ward, @wattsandward
“Last Word (gin, lime juice, luxardo maraschino liqueur, green Chartreuse): Gin has been taking over in terms of popularity. The Last Word cocktail has everything from sweet to herbal to citrusy taste to make even non-gin drinkers wanna try this cocktail out. It’s by far my favorite gin cocktail and my go-to drink to make for guests.”
Johnny Berry, Whiskey Kitchen, @whiskey.kitchen
“The Scofflaw: Prohibition era cocktail that has historical context and is so universally balanced that I can give it to established whiskey drinkers and beginners, and both can appreciate it for its character and approachability.”
Mike Saunders, William & Company (Willco), @willcobar
“Onza margarita—a mezcal-based cocktail in which you can taste every component, from the sweetness of the dill, tart of the lime and the saltiness of the salted agave. It’s my favorite cocktail to mix and talk about.”
Zac Rogerson, Wye Hill Brewing, @wyehill
“Clear Eyes Can’t Lose: It’s my clarified milk punch. There are 19 different ingredients, including two types of rum, bourbon, brandy, pineapples, star anise, and coffee beans. I love making this cocktail because it takes five days to make the base, and three to four hours to clarify. But once the cocktail is done, all you have to do is stir on ice and serve!”
A close look at the Downtown Raleigh developments currently underway.
It’s no doubt exciting to be living in a city on the rise—literally. News of the next big building breaking ground or major project coming down the pipeline breaks seemingly daily, inundating us with tower announcements, floor numbers, random addresses and renderings. Which is also wildly overwhelming to keep up with—or try to envision what the ever-evolving cityscape will look like in the coming year or two or five. Enter your first real visualization of Downtown’s future skyline. Raleigh Magazine’s team recently sat front and center at Downtown Raleigh Alliance’s annual State of Downtown event during which DRA unveiled the above then-unlabeled image as representative of the ~$4.8 billion of projects planned, proposed or under construction in DTR as of now. Our awe was immediately followed by a need to align each building image with its respective project and placement (no small feat), yielding what is now Downtown Raleigh’s first true labeled map of how our skyline will take shape via a range of hotels, office buildings, retail and residential builds (or mixed-use combinations). Said one stakeholder of the illustration: “Maybe we’re finally going to get there, finally going to have some of those iconic destinations that are cool to have—ones that warrant the ‘best place to live’ accolades and give us that wow-factor that other big urban destinations have long had.”
For more on the city of Raleigh’s upcoming developments click here.
