by Raleigh Magazine | Sep 20, 2023 | Do, September 2023
9/28
Five Points Comedy Night
A day without laughter is a day wasted—so get your giggles in at The Rialto with Raleigh’s finest stand-up comics and a drink in hand. There’s nothing cooler than comedy! etix.com
9/28
Jonas Brothers
“I just wanna play my music…” The Jo Bros are slated to burn it up at PNC (and quite possibly the year 3000—tbd). Either way, be sure to don your rEd DrEsSeS for the occasion! pncarena.com
9/28–10/1
La Veladora Anniversary Weekender
Let’s get this party started (!). La Veladora (the cozy mezcal cave/listening room in the back of William & Company) is celebrating its one-year anniversary with 15 DJs, drag artists, a live percussionist, tacos and tamales, and other special treats throughout the weekend. And, naturally, it’s gonna be a vibe. @willcobar
9/29
12th Annual Raleigh Blues Festival
There’s no need to be blue(s). Embrace raw lyrics and guitar-driven accompaniment in the form of musical melodies that tell a tale via myriad talents, including King George, Pokey Bear, Lenny Williams, Lebrado, Theodis Ealey and J-Wonn. martinmariettacenter.com
9/29
’70s Night Disco Party
Don your dancing shoes and bell-bottoms because Olde Raleigh Distillery is blowing the dust off its disco ball (!). Shake your groove thang into a night of drinks and disco so you can really become the ~dancing queen~. olderaleighdistillery.com
9/29
NC State vs. Louisville
Cardinal red is about to meet Raleigh red in a bloodbath under the lights at Carter-Finley. Go Pack! gopack.com
9/29
NC State Football Watch Party
Think and do—game day edition. Belly up to TheMixx and watch the Wolfpack eat bird for dinner with a drink in hand. bottlemixx.com
9/29–30
Intensity Rooftop Summer Sendoff
Go out with a bang this summer via a two-night romp of live music, food, drinks and dancing at Unscripted Durham’s outdoor rooftop. No summertime sadness here! eventbrite.com
9/30
Roshambo Autumn Artisan Market
The best part of fall? The cute decorations, of course. Stock up on decor, art, jewelry and accessories made by local artisans while being serenaded by live music at Transfer Co.’s autumn pop-up. facebook.com
9/30
Dram & Draught Second Anniversary
Dram roll please… Dram & Draught’s Durham location is turning two! Turn up at the daylong celebration feat. giveaways, live music and drinks. Cheers! dramanddraught.com
9/30
Gov’t Mule
Make like a river and Zen out to instrumental journeys and lyrics loaded with meaning and thoughts about life. May the endless parade march on… boothamphitheatre.com
9/30
Oktoberfest
It’s time to grab your lederhosen and braid your hair for a day of German food, fall brews, live music and the eighth annual wiener dog race (!). Guten tag, indeed. lafayettevillageraleigh.com
9/30
Old Dominion
Bad vibes? None found here. This country music crew has nabbed acclaim as ACM Group of the Year and CMA Vocal Group of the Year—making a night spent swaying to their songs and sounds a no-brainer. pncarena.com
9/30
Over the Edge
Feeling brave? Special Olympics North Carolina is once again taking its fundraiser to new heights. Watch participants bravely scamper down a Raleigh skyscraper in support of those with intellectual disabilities. sonc.net
9/30
Triangle Barkitecture
Put your paws together for furry friends and fundraising in Fenton via this pet design/architecture event benefiting Triangle Beagle Rescue and Friends of Wake County Animal Center. Can we get an oh, howl yeah?! aiatriangle.org
9/30
RaleighWRLD Festival
Raleigh, meet WRLD. Live music, food trucks and shopping collide in this all-ages summerfest where makers meet creators via curated events to promote connection and community at Dix Park’s Flowers Field. raleighwrld.com
9/30–10/1
Triangle Parade of Homes
Swap HGTV inspo for real-life inspo at this free annual self-guided tour of the area’s newest homes on the market—so you can find anything from your next floor plan to decor ideas. And so the parade begins! triangleparade.com
10/1
Skate and See
“They see me rolling…” Witness the transformation of the Conlon Family Skatepark via the unveiling of newly added art and features to take your shred to the next level. And don’t forget to grab bites, brews and merch from a lineup of local vendors after your skate sesh! skateraleigh.com
10/2
Wine Dinner with Copper Cane Wines
Ready to wine down? Sample five wine selects from Copper Cane’s portfolio along with a perfectly paired five-course menu prepared by The Willard’s chef Kyle Teears. Sip, sip, hooray! thewillardraleigh.com
10/3
Sayer McShane
Sayer what? Belly up for brews at blues at Brookside Bodega’s weekly music series. Rock on! brooksidebodega.com
10/4
Russell Howard
“Laughter is the lubricant that makes life livable.” Laugh along with this English comedian and television personality as he brings the funnies to Raleigh via his cheeky and charming wit. carolinatheatre.org
by Raleigh Magazine | Jul 26, 2023 | Do, July/August 2023
Through 7/30
Mary Poppins
Craving a spoonful of sugar? For plans that are “practically perfect in every way,” float on over to North Carolina Theatre’s magical musical —with returning star Kara Lindsay as Mary Poppins a la NCT’s Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s fame . How super-cali-fragil-istic-expi-ali-docious! martinmariettacenter.com
Through 8/28
Experience Art + Science at Dix Park
Bring artist Oliver Lewis’s immersive installation to life via viewer participation, light and shadows over at Dix Park. And that’s watts up. @raleigh_arts
7/27
Champagne & Friends
Good things come in twos, and this mantra remains true for booze and its buddies. Learn all about Champagne and its “friends” via this bubbly class. Cheers! vitishouse.com
7/27
Jingle in July
Let’s party like it’s 1993 (!). Kick it old school and celebrate 30 years of giving with Capital City Clauses at its ’90s-themed summer party. Drinking for a good clause? Count us in. capitalcityclauses.org
7/27
Season Ticket Open House
Take warning, Caniacs! Tour PNC arena (including the locker room!), secure your season tickets, and plan the perf gameday outfit with a discount at the team store to build up hype for hockey season. carolinahurricanes.formstack.com
7/27–30
GalaxyCon
Venture to new galaxies when you take a trip to this out-of-this-world fandom festival starring panelists, cosplayers, artists and creators celebrating sci-fi, anime and fantasy. How stellar! galaxycon.com
7/28
Foodie Fridays
We prefer our Friday evenings sun(flower) side up. Grab your friends and fam to wind the week down at Flowers Field with fare from Poblano’s Tacos and Sweet Treats, plus live music. dixpark.org
7/28
Taylor Swift Trivia Night
Think you know Miss Swift all too well? Speak now! Test your knowledge while painting an enchanted masterpiece and sippin’ on some wine. wineanddesign.com
7/28–30
Hockey Players of Color (HPOC) Movement
Break the ice with a diverse community of hockey players, ranging from youth to pros, at this three-day camp promoting improved accessibility of the sport. carolinahockey.org
7/29
Counting Crows
Accidentally in love? We’re counting down the days until these San Franciscan rockers venture to the City of Oaks for a jam sesh sure to transport us back to the ’90s. Ready to board the big yellow taxi? redhatamphitheater.com
7/29
Disability Pride Parade
Let your pride shine through! Make your way to Downtown Durham to celebrate Disability Pride Month in a sensory-friendly space. newsobserver.com
7/29
Honey Cask Finished Bourbon Batch 5 Release
This bourbon is the bee’s knees. Preview the first pour of the batch, a collab between Baxter’s Bee’s and Olde Raleigh Distillery, for tastes of a one-of-a-kind “vintage” honey unique to NC. Drink up! olderaleighdistillery.com
7/29
Kamasi Washington and Sun Ra Arkestra, with Dawn Richard: An Afrofuturist Concert
Support Black artists at the NCMA’s trifecta performance showcasing a wide range of talent celebrating Afrofuturism. visit.ncartmuseum.org
7/29
NC Courage vs. Orlando Pride
Craving kicks and giggles? Score some sick soccer plans to see our fave females face off the Pride. nccourage.com
7/30
Barndance
Hay, there! Take a jaunt over to country music jamboree feat. “expert fiddling, dynamic lead guitar and on-the-money vocals.” May the honky tonkin’ commence! thepourhousemusichall.com
7/30
Sunday Meditation & Mimosas
Need some Zen? Indulge in a blissful art meditation, then follow that flow with a mimosa or mocktail. Name a better way to spend your Sunday—we’ll wait. bottlemixx.com
7/30
Porron Pool Party II
Porron yourself another drink and kick back with live music, wine cocktails and food from Mala Pata. Good vibes only! theraleighwineshop.com
8/1
Michael Daughtry
“Drive all night” with this NC-native singer-songwriter who ventures through jazz, folk and pop. brooksidebodega.com
8/1
Sam Smith
We see writing’s on the wall… and it’s telling us to see this breakthrough singer/songwriter slay the night away. Gimme (!). pncarena.com
8/2
Malbec & Empanadas
Can we get an empanad-yeah?! Sample wine and have a good time via this educational—and, most importantly—sip-sational class. vitishouse.com
by Raleigh Magazine | Jun 14, 2023 | Do, June 2023
6/15
Ally J
Just beat it! Channel your inner old soul and vibe to Ally J’s sultry and expressive R&B via Music on the Lawn at Heights House. heightshousenc.com
6/15
Lore
“Part smooth sailing, part careening chaos.” Change your tune and dive into the anarchic blues-grunge combo of Nashville-based duo Laura Reed and Laur Joamets via That Station’s Artist Notes at NC State’s Centennial Campus. Rock on! thatstation.net
6/15
Spaces for Queer Joy
Thursday—but make it gay and make it spark joy. Pop over to CAM Raleigh for this panel discussion with local DJs and event producers to chat the cruciality of having queer nightlife spaces for the LBGTQ+ community in Raleigh. camraleigh.org
6/16
Dierks Bentley: Gravel & Gold Tour
If you’re “a little found, a little don’t know where I am,” come a little closer to the road to gravel & gold as the country crooner kicks up some dirt at the Creek. walnutcreekamphitheatre.com
6/16
NiiTO x Johnathan Scales Fourchestra
Populate the “paper town” via the hometown stop of NiiTO’s 11-show tour. Let’s jam! thepourhousemusichall.com
6/16
Sacred Soul and Bluegrass Revue – Pinecone
Now that’s finger pickin’ good! Settle in for an evening evoking rural downhome NC tunes—think bluegrass, string band, quartet gospel and soulful rhythms reminiscent of Black churches across Eastern North Carolina. martinmariettacenter.com
6/16
The Token Straight Friend Ally Party
There’s always that one friend… Show your support for the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies via this Green Monkey Pride party. “Isn’t it time we celebrated our ally friends?!” greenmonkeyraleigh.com
6/16–17
The Southeastern Plant Symposium and Rare Plant Auction
One of the nation’s largest gatherings of plant lovers and experts is returning to Raleigh for two days of unbeleafable horticulture education and fellowship. You grow, girls (and boys)! jcra.ncsu.edu
6/16–18
Nate Jackson
Let the “laff tracks” commence. Join global comedy performer and Washington state native as he brings the sillies to the Goodnights stage. goodnightscomedy.com
Opens 6/17
Spiders: Fear to Fascination
Clear out the cobwebs! We’re giving eight thumbs up for the NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ immersive and entertaining spider exhibition descending onto the scene this week. naturalsciences.org
6/17
Cumulus: A Day Party
Have your head in the clouds? Then float on over and cumulonim-bust a move at this daytime dance party feat. electronic dance tunes. between2clouds.com
6/17
Father’s Day Market
Need a last-minute gift for dad? Roll up to this Father’s Day market filled with the most dad-esque items (think bourbon, candles, outdoor apparel and more). Alexa, put the Home Depot theme song on blast. olderaleighdistillery.com
6/17
Official Pride Bar Crawl
Color the town via this crawl through some of Raleigh’s best bars and nightclubs—plus cheers with discounted rainbow-themed drinks and dance the night away to local DJs. Better shake what your mama gave ya! eventbrite.com
6/17
Pride Market and Drag Show
All are welcome at Hartwell’s Pride market benefiting the LGBT Center of Raleigh that promises to be bigger and better than last year’s event thanks to 20+ local vendors, food trucks and more. We’re def coming out! hartwellraleigh.com
6/17
Raleigh Retro Gamers Summer Expo
Got game? Get outta control via this DTR expo feat. a slew of gaming vendors, live music, food trucks and more. Let’s play! raleighretrogamers.com
6/17
Rebelution Good Vibes Summer Tour 2023
“Fade away” into the good vibes that are sure to be in order from one of the most popular reggae rock music bands in the country. Feeling alright, indeed! redhatamphitheater.com
6/17–18
Goathouse Refuge Art Show
Feline fine! Help connect cats with loving families and join the local Pittsboro animal shelter for a two day art show featuring local painters, sculptures, jewelers and more. goathouserefuge.org
6/18
GAG Yacht Club Tea Dance
If you like big decks and you cannot lie, get down with your bad self at Johnson Street Yacht Club’s second tea dance—a long-held gay tradition originating in 1966 in New York’s Fire Island Pines at the now-famous Blue Whale bar—of the summer. Who’s got the tea? @jsyachtclub
6/18
Luau Party
Crank it up, y’all! … And crack open a cold one in a fun Hawaiian costume for a luau lounge party that’s sure to tropic like it’s hot. crankarmbrewing.com
6/18
Soul Food: The R&B Picnic
Grub on food that’s “good for the soul” (essentially, mouthwatering Southern fare) amid vibey aesthetics and smooth R&B sounds. Sounds like a perf picnic, indeed! boothamphitheatre.com
6/18
Summer Solstice Mala Event
It’s hot girl summer… and what better way to flex the occasion than an outdoor yoga sesh celebrating the official start of the hot season. To boot, there’s a live DJ and a complimentary blue beauty spritz included. Oh, let the mat-ness begin! doseyogaraleigh.com
6/20
Mad for Madtoms
Cat(fish) got your tongue? Meet the Carolina Madtom, a federally endangered tiny catfish native to NC and exclusively found in the Neuse River Basin. Just keep swimming! naturalsciences.org
6/20
Moose Tracks 10,000 Scoops Challenge
Want the scoop? Moose Tracks is amping up the cool factor in the City of Oaks via 10,000 free (!) scoops of ice cream in DTR benefiting The Salvation Army of Wake County. How sweet! moosetracks.com
6/21
History at High Noon: Fifteen Hurricanes That Changed the Carolinas
Calling all storm chasers! Kick off hurricane season via some cloudy history with author and hurricane historian Jay Barnes. Ready to be rocked like a hurricane? ncmuseumofhistory.org
6/21
Live After 5
Get groovin’ for the third installment of DRA’s spring concert series feat. a handful of local performers, including Hard Tuck, Kate Rhudy, Joseph Terell, Chessa Rich and King Akira. See you after 5! downtownraleigh.org
6/21
Make Music Raleigh
Let’s make some sweet music. Roll up to streets, sidewalks and parks across the city for a samplin’ of sounds feat. Instrument Zoo, a preview of Raleigh’s Anniversary of Hip-Hop Music Celebration, World of Bluegrass festival and more. Play on! makemusicday.org
6/21
Summer Solstice Yoga
Breathe in, breathe out. Take advantage of the longest day of the year (aka the first day of summer!) with a sunrise yoga sesh at Flowers Field. dixpark.org
6/21–7/1
National Women’s Theatre Festival
There’s no need to feel upstaged. Grab a seat for this annual festival’s 8th season (!) feat. performances, workshops, community convos and other happenings all focused on females and other marginalized gender artists. The show must go on! womenstheatrefestival.com
by Anna Beth Adcock | Jan 31, 2023 | Buzz, February 2023
If you’re all about making pour decisions, you’re gonna ace this quiz. … In honor of our Best Bars Issue, we rounded up some local booze trivia to help you get in the spirit of spirits so you can shoot your shot…
1. Downtown Raleigh’s first restaurant and distillery Young Hearts Distilling delivers stellar spirits and craft cocktails, NTM late-night bites, farm-to-table entrees and more. Which spirit(s) does the
distillery churn out?
a. Gin
b. Vodka
c. Rum
d. All of the above
2. Downtown Zebulon’s Olde Raleigh Distillery’s MO is making “unforgettable and damn good whiskey.” Owner Brandon McCraney served in what branch of the military before immersing himself in the spirits industry?
a. Air Force
b. Navy
c. Marines
d. Army
3. Durham Distillery recently released a Conniption Kinship gin boasting a pretty purple hue that changes colors when mixed with citrus or tonics (magic or science?!). Which ingredient gives the drink its special color?
a. Lavender
b. Butterfly pea flower
c. Juniper
d. Licorice root
4. Let’s make one thing clear: Social House Vodka is NC ABC’s No. 1-selling craft vodka since its inception in 2017 (!). The Kinston-based distillery was originally built inside an old power plant beside the Neuse River in what year?
a. 1901
b. 1906
c. 1910
d. 1915
5. “Quality is not an act, it’s a habit.” Garner’s Aristotle Spirits—named after the Greek philosopher who suggested the possibility of spirit distillation and founded by former pharmaceutical chemist Jake Howland—offers how many award-winning small-batch craft spirits?
a. 2
b. 4
c. 7
d. 9
6. We’re nuts for the Scalabrino family’s Oak City Amaretto, which promises to elevate your cocktail experience via the best original Sicilian amaretto recipe concocted by which family member?
a. Grandma Scalabrino
b. Uncle Scalabrino
c. Grandpa Scalabrino
d. Aunt Scalabrino
7. Named after an old nickname for moonshine and located in “the Land of the Pines,” Pinetop Distillery operates as a true grain-to-glass distillery. What year did the business open its doors?
a. 2011
b. 2012
c. 2013
d. 2014
8. Channel the Wild West (*cue Will Smith song*) via Lonerider Spirits, made “by outlaws for outlaws.” Its Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Stout Cask Finish is finished in bourbon casks that once held which Lonerider beer?
a. Gunslinger
b. Cowboy in Black
c. Deadwood
d. Addie’s Revenge
9. TOPO Distillery in Chapel Hill is the only certified organic and fully local distillery situated in the South. In a tribute to UNC’s dub over Duke in April, the distillery released a limited offering of a whiskey titled 81–77 Victorious. How many of these specialty bottles were available for purchase?
a. 7,500
b. 8,177
c. 9,177
d. 10,000
Answers: 1. D; 2. A; 3. B; 4. B; 5. C; 6. A; 7. D; 8. C; 9. B
by Raleigh Magazine | Aug 3, 2022 | Do, July 2022/August 2022
8/4
LANY
Calling all sad bois and girls. LANY is bringing its heart-wrenching tunes to Red Hat for a night of, well, tears probably—both the happy and sad kind. redhatamphitheater.com
8/4–6
Ian Bagg
You just know Canadian comedian Ian Bagg has some funny stories to tell. He moved to NYC to live in a youth hostel; winded up on the Late Night With Conan O’Brien (among others); and—fun fact—is the only known comic to have worked for famed director/producer Judd Apatow and not become a multibillionaire. So, yeah, you can assume his show at Raleigh Improv is going to be one for the books. improv.com
8/5
Christmas in August
Christmas is coming early this year at Burial with its Other Half collab can takeover/tap release/Christmas in August party! Head to the taproom for holiday-inspired slushees (um, genius for cooling off while maintaining the holiday spirit!), a DJ spinning ’80s and ’90s NYC hip-hop, an exclusive DTR T-Shirt release, and brews from Burial and Other Half, natch. Ho, ho, ho, indeed. burialbeer.com
8/5
Five for Fighting
Five for Fighting’s Grammy-nominated John Ondrasik is going to be Raleigh’s very own “Superman” for the night—and you won’t wanna miss it. dukeenergycenterraleigh.com
8/5
Oak City Arsenal Season Opener
Raleigh’s premier Arsenal supporters club is posting up at Lonerider for the season, with the season opener kicking things off with a bang—think an open beer tab (up to $300!), free pizza, and fresh Oak City Arsenal shirts and stickers available for purchase. COYG! @oakcityarsenal
8/5–6
Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival
Time to go hog wild on 60+ beers, 40+ bourbons, BBQ and bluegrass galore—plus allll the fixins, local vendors and more. Talk about a smoke show. cary.beerandbourbon.com
8/5–21
The Father
See the world through the eyes of a man with dementia via this sobering and emotionally intense Theatre in the Park production starring Ira David Wood III in the leading role. theatreinthepark.com
8/6
RaleighWRLD Festival
It’s a Raleigh world and we’re all just living in it. Come out to Dix Park for a fun-filled festival with food trucks, vendors, live music and performances, giveaways, community donation drives, and more. raleighwrld.co
8/6
Sweat Then Sip
Wye Hill is raising the barre (and the actual bar!) with a 45-minute Pure Barre class, followed by brunch and signature mimosas—NTM, an incredible view of Downtown. Yoganna wanna grab a ticket! wyehill.com
8/6–7
NC Pet Expo
NC’s ulti-mutt pet expo at the State Fairgrounds is the pet lovers’ place to be. The pawty includes a pet costume contest, small dog race, animal food drive, pet fashion show and more. ncpetexpo.com
8/7
Black Representation in the Arts: Building Momentum for Lasting Change Panel Discussion
Join CAM Raleigh for a panel discussion about Black representation in the arts, including talks about the role of art in injustice and healing—with panelists including Stephen Hayes, Clarence Heyward, Allen Mask, Natasha Powell-Walker and Lakea Shepard. camraleigh.org
8/7
Vendor Open House
Olde Raleigh Distillery is turning its house into a home for local vendors across the Triangle specializing in rentals, music, photography, catering and more to showcase their creative offerings. And the creative juices will be flowing indeed, as each ticket includes a craft cocktail! olderaleighdistillery.com
8/9–14
On Your Feet!
In the famed words of Chandler Bing, “either that or Gloria Estefan was right and, eventually, the rhythm is going to get you.” Get on your feet for the inspiring true story of Cubans Gloria and Emilio Estefan’s rise from humble beginnings to international sensations against the heart-pounding beats of the Miami Sound Machine. dukeenergycenterraleigh.com
8/10–31, ongoing
Alley Twenty Six Whiskey Wednesdays
Pour your heart out at Alley Twenty Six each Wednesday, where a different unique bottle of whiskey will be served at a break-even price. Try a Barrell Private Release “Peach Cobbler” on Aug. 10, or a Smooth Ambler Old Scout Single Barrel Rye “Dietz Hometown Treatz” on Aug. 17. alleytwentysix.com
8/10
Cookie Decorating Class with Oakwood Cookie Co.
Enjoy sweet skyline views and sip on some vino while you decorate summer-themed cookies—with the help of cookie extraordinaire Taylor Whitworth of Oakwood Cookie Co., of course—that are almost too pretty to eat… almost. thewillardraleigh.com
8/10
REO Speedwagon
We “can’t fight this feeling” that you should go to Walnut Creek to see REO Speedwagon perform their hit tunes live. livenation.com
8/10, ongoing
Noon Tunes
Celebrate “high noon” with Noon Tunes at City Plaza—featuring local musician Elora Dash—while you enjoy lunch outside. downtownraleigh.org
