A great American road trip called and this indie folk ensemble is responding with an eclectic blend of roots, rock and bluegrass. This is “gonna go our way!” livenation.com
9/19 Music on the Lawn
Grab a craft cocktail and bask in the kempt atmosphere of the Boylan Heights hotel as Peter and the Wolves serenade the grounds. heightshousenc.com
9/19–21 Connor Wood
If you smirked at his viral “Luckily I have purse…” bit, you’ll roll with laughter over the schemes the Venice-based comedian has planned for the City of Oaks. goodnightscomedy.com
9/20 Jelly Roll
Calling all “wild ones!” Roll on over to PNC Arena for the tatted Tennessee-bred singer’s Beautifully Broken Tour with openers Warren Zeiders and Alexandra Kay. pncarena.com
9/20–21 Symphonie Fantastique
Have your heartstrings pulled by the harmonies of Violin Concerto No. 1. Encore, merci beaucoup! martinmariettacenter.com
9/21 9 to 5K Challenge
Workin’ (or running/walking) 9 to 5? Form or join a team to book it through the workday via this 5K run and walk. And don’t forget to celebrate your success at the after-party with food, music and drinks. What a way to make a living, indeed. 9to5k.com
9/21 Concours Auto Show
Buckle up for the ride of your life at this Village District car show in partnership with Ride of your Life and Carolina Exotic Car Club and benefiting Ride of Your Life, which provides experiences blind, deaf and underserved youth through cars. Come for the array of unique automobiles, stay for the live tunes, coffee and doughnuts. @joincecc
9/21 Festa Italiana North Carolina
Feast your eyes and satisfy your stomach with live entertainment, family-friendly activities and cooking demonstrations at the sixth annual fest in Apex. Saluti! festanc.org
9/21 Food Truck Rodeo
This isn’t Raleigh’s first rodeo. Belly up to 50+ locally owned food trucks dishing up appetizers, dinner and desserts for every cuisine craving and curiosity. shoplocalraleigh.org
9/21 Lily Rose
Don’t feel sad in the summer! Settle in for the twangy tunes of the country-pop crooner who’s usually seen opening for the likes of Shania Twain and Sam Hunt and “knows her way around” a ballad. lincolntheatre.com
9/21 Mighty Giveback Fundraising Concert
Band together at Red Hat to help raise funds for mental health in the Triangle while swaying to tunes from Black Pumas, Cory Wong, Young Gun Silver Fox and DJ Terminator X. Talk about a mighty fine evening! bandtogethernc.org
9/21 Staind + Breaking Benjamin
The ’90s are so back, and these rockers from the decade’s greatest genre have “something to remind you.” Rock on! livenation.com
9/23 Alec Benjamin
Outrun karma by catching this “boy in the bubble” at The Ritz. livenation.com
9/24 Swift Night Out
It’s like the Eras Tour, but for a different kind of swiftie. Grab a bird-themed drink from the rooftop bar and gather to watch the chimney swifts in action as they start to swirl through the sky. thewillardraleigh.com
9/25 Dayglow
You’re sure to get a glow-up as the alternative artist serenades the city with his slow indie tunes. He could “run the world!” livenation.com
Hot girl summer, step aside—it’s a hot tomato summer this year. Think 10 days of local resto creative dishes feat. two Southern staples: Duke’s Mayo + tomatoes—from a housecured bacon BLT at Mandolin to Hummingbird’s shrimp po’body and tomato pie. Who’s ripe for the fan-fave Golden Tomato Award?! dukesmayo.com
Through 7/28 Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Chekhovian themes meet contemporary humor via Theatre Raleigh’s comedic masterpiece revolving around bickering siblings and a glamorous movie star. theatreraleigh.com
7/24–27 Pauly Shore
That’s so Totally Pauly! Join a ’90s-era actor/comedian as he takes the stage to bring on the “pauly-tics.” goodnightscomedy.com
7/25–28 GalaxyCon
Step into a galaxy of fun and fandom at the Raleigh Convention Center for a four-day fest flaunting more than your average comic-con—from meet-and-greets to cosplay competitions. To infinity and beyond! galaxycon.com
7/25–8/4 Our Town
“Goodbye, goodbye, world.” Walk with Emily Webb as she appreciates little pleasures within a cruel and beautiful Earth. raleighlittletheatre.org
7/26 West End Pop-Up
Pop by West End to scope out local vendors, live music, creative workshops and food trucks—NTM adult bevys to sip on while you shop. eventbrite.com
7/26 Staglin Family Vineyard Wine Dinner at Nanas
Wine down from the week via chef Matt Kelly’s special four-course dinner paired with wines from the beloved Staglin Family Vineyard. Cheers! nanasrockwood.com
7/26 Dirty Heads
Everything you’re looking for… can be found via this hip-hop/reggae/rock band as they take on Walnut Creek. livenation.com
7/27 Shipp Dating Mixer
Hot girl summer is almost over. 💔 Get that roster prepped for cuffing season with a night of speed dating in partnership with Umbrella Dry Bar and GLOW Fitness. @joinshipp
7/27 Sam Hunt
Raleigh is hard to forget… so this country music crooner has made his way back for more at Walnut Creek. Time for a house party! livenation.com
7/27 Taste of Soul NC
Talk about a good-for-the-soul event. Savor, shake and shop the soul of NC via food trucks, live music and vendors at City Plaza—just be sure to come on an empty stomach. tasteofsoulnc.com
7/27 Brit Floyd
Spend your time on the “dark side of the moon” so this tribute to the artistry of Pink Floyd doesn’t have to “wish you were here.” boothamphitheatre.com
7/27–28 Monster Jam
Prepare yourself for some mean, green (and other colored) monster truck machines! Support our resident undertaker Grave Digger as it rolls alongside Zombie, Megalodon, ThunderROARus, Monster Mutt and others. pncarena.com
7/27–28 North Carolina Pet Expo
Bark up the *right* tree with a doggy stunt show, grooming, shopping and adoption opps at this annual expo for furry and feathered friends. Paws for applause—and awws! ncstatefair.org
7/28 2024 Summer Concert Series
Summer days are drifting away, so make the most of them by swaying along with the Tune Swingers at Fred Fletcher Park. Don’t forget a blanket or chair! raleighnc.gov
7/28 The Wonder Years
Dismantle summer with this wondrous pop-punk six-piece at The Ritz. … They won’t let you cave in. livenation.com
7/28 New Kids On The Block
Please do go, girl (or boy!) to jam out with these “still kids” as they embark on their Magic Summer tour at the Creek. “Old school love,” indeed! livenation.com
7/30 blink-182 with Pierce the Veil
Blink and you might miss it. … It’s truly “all the small things” as this ’90s-era band brings its throwback classics to the PNC stage. pncarena.com
7/30–8/4 Mudcats vs. RiverDogs
RiverDogs are gonna be sent howling home. milb.com
Here we go again! Unleash your inner dancing queen and tag along with Sophie as she tries to reveal who her real father is in this emotional yet feel-good musical based on ABBA’s smash hits that promises to be the time of your life. dpacnc.com
7/31 The Band CAMINO
Good times are taking shape at The Ritz as this indie rock band shreds the stage. livenation.com
7/31 Live After 5
Celebrate the women who took the music scene by storm via live tunes from Kate Rhudy and Blue Cactus on Fayetteville Street as you sip, stroll and enjoy an all-around “electrifying evening.” downtownraleigh.org
Prepare for a triple-threat jazz bill. Tap your feet along to the chart-topping jazz and R&B saxophone player’s 18th studio album, along with tunes from Grammy-nominated artists Kenny Lattimore & Maysa Leak. ncartmuseum.org
7/11–13 Kelsey Cook
What do you get when your parents are an international yo-yo champion and a professional foosball player? Wrists of fury and an ability to turn any situation into comedic gold. goodnightscomedy.com
7/12 Sebastian Maniscalco
“It ain’t right” not to laugh at this comic who uses physical humor and digs at society (think inflation prices, the “social media circus” and lack of manners) to earn well-deserved chuckles about the struggles we all face. pncarena.com
7/12–14 Affion Crockett
City of Oaks, meet the king of impressions. From mimicking anyone from his mom to his schoolteacher to Scarface, this comedic powerhouse will no doubt charm you with his facial expressions and impersonations. improv.com
7/13 Alice Gerrard
Celebrate 90 trips around the sun with this “prolific songwriter and keeper of traditional tunes” as she performs her first album in over 10 years. martinmariettacenter.com
7/13, 27 Cocktails & Cuisine Class
Test your bartender brains and let freedom ring through a patriotic cocktail demonstration—then enjoy the fruits of your labor paired with festive food. Let freedom ring! thewillardraleigh.com
7/13 Totally Tubular Festival
Stop the world to catch the new wave via this ’80s event’s radical lineup—think Thomas Dolby, Modern English, Men Without Hats, The Romantics and Bow Wow Wow. The future’s open wide! totallytubularfestival.com
7/13 Nirvani
“Come as you are” to commemorate the band who changed the scope of the rock scene forever, with a little help from Smashing Pumpkins tribute band the Siamese Dreamers. So many songs about Courtney Love all in one night. pourhouseraleigh.com
7/14 The Gathering Co. x Junction West Summer Open House
Snack on a sweet treat (hey, Tepuy Donuts!) in the sun and mingle with like-minded peers while shopping the likes of Hygge Jewelry, Bowerbird Flowers & Apothecary and other local vendors. It feels like summer! @junctionwestnc
7/14 Summertime UNCORKED
It’s wine night for the organic girlies (and guys). Sip and stroll around Barcelona Wine Bar as they uncork 30 organic wines from its bottle list and pair with tapas and paella. It’s giving Euro summer. eventbrite.com
7/15–21 DTR Retail Week
Who’s ready to shop (local) till they drop?! Browse the goods of local businesses—think Copperline Plant Co., Curate Raleigh and Blackbird Books & Coffee—to earn freebies and discounts all week long. @dtrindependentshops
7/17 Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Chekhov’s gun, a cherry orchard, a family home and a voodoo doll equals the perfect recipe for modern-day disaster and avant-garde entertainment. theatreraleigh.com
7/17 Photography Workshop
Take a picture—it’ll last longer! Amp up those photography skills with tips and tricks for composition, capturing light and shadow, and working camera settings to catch that money shot. Oh, snap! dixpark.org
Find fiber artist/print maker extraordinaire Claire Kiester debuting her solo art exhibition, Tasty, at the Sertoma Art Center—with a reception taking place May 27. Let’s get this party arted! clairekiester.com
5/1–31 “Exploring Color: Introducing New Vibrant Works of Cassie Adams
Well, color us intrigued. Experience the aura of Cassie Adams’ artwork—consisting of a one-of-a-kind combo of detailed photographs and digital handmade drawings made with a lineup of mediums: pencil, marker, pastel and oil crayon. We’re totally blended by the light. galleryc.net
5/3, weekly Wellness Wednesdays
Put “Fitness” by Lizzo in the queue. Work up a sweat via a slew of fitness classes catering to different interests, ages and body types for just $5 a class. Let’s cardi-go! visitnorthhills.com
5/4 Grateful Dub
Merging the music of The Grateful Dead with reggae is this tribute band shredding the stage for a night of rock, soul and beats. lincolntheatre.com
5/4–6 Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Hey, jedis! Space out to the symphonic sounds of Star Wars—just stay away from the dark side. And may the force be with you… ncsymphony.org
5/4, 18 LIVE@Lake Raleigh
All about that lake life? NC State’s free outdoor concert series returns to Lake Raleigh once again, serving up all the singin’ and swayin’ vibes. See you by the water! live.arts.ncsu.edu
5/4, Thursdays Midtown Beach Music Series
“Wasted away again in Margaritaville”—er, North Hills! Answering the call of summertime is this highly anticipated annual beach music concert series feat. the likes of Liquid Pleasure, Spare Change and The Embers—taking place at Coastal Credit Union Midtown Park every Thursday evening through June. BYO beach chair. visitnorthhills.com
Opens 5/5 ‘Pour Me Another’ Exhibit
Drunk history is the best kind of history. … Grab a gulp of the good stuff and sip your way through the story of our state as told through the beer, wine and spirit industries’ evolution over the years. Ale yeah for education! cityofraleighmuseum.org
5/5 Nirvani: A Nirvana Tribute Experience
“Come as you are” for this alternative Raleigh-based band’s show that’s sure to slay. thepourhousemusichall.com
5/6 2023 Team Raleigh Memorial Bicycle Ride
Ready to ride? Send off over 50 law enforcement officers representing agencies from around NC, Texas and Virginia before they roll out to DC in honor of all officers that have perished in the line of duty. bike2dc.com
5/6 Fest in the West
Howdy, partner! Take a blast to the past with food trucks, drinks from local breweries, live tunes, activities for the tots and a pie-eating contest. Empty plates, full bellies, can’t lose (!). festinthewest.com
5/6 Free Comic Book Day 2023
Let’s get graphic! Find local comic book biz Capitol Comics celebrating free comic books all day (!) and tons of other items on sale for this annual effort to bring new readers into the fold. Happy reading! capitolcomicsnc.com
5/5–7 Herbfest 2023
Chive, laugh, love via a homegrown fest feat. live music, painting and all the herbs your heart desires. C’mon… cumin and stay awhile. herbfest.net
5/5–7 Spring Garden Party
Are you a succa for spring? Celebrate the fab fair weather with a stroll in the garden feat. amazing art displays, walks and talks with the experts—and bring home a plant baby or two from the greenhouse. Here comes the sun… flowers! jlbg.org
5/5–7 Vietri Spring Warehouse Sale
Ciao, bella! Nab handcrafted Italian tableware and home decor (dinnerware, flatware, glassware, garden products) via this semi-annual sale touting exclusively imported Italian treasures that are slightly flawed or discontinued. Sale, yeah! vietri.com
5/5–21 My Wonderful Birthday Suit
Rainbows, moonbeams and magic—oh, my! Unwrap this wholesome story of friendships in question with the lesson of “it’s what’s on the inside that truly makes us special.” Aw! raleighlittletheatre.org
5/6 Get Your Rear in Gear
It’s time to kick colon cancer to the curb. Put your running shoes on for a 5K jaunt through a giant inflatable colon—yes, really—and help support colon cancer screenings. Ready to run? donate.coloncancercoalition.org
5/6 Hands-on History: Sew a Stitch
We’re in stitches. Fine tune your sewing skills with tailor Andy Sterlen and explore examples of historic clothes after completing your masterpiece. Sew far, sew good. ncmuseumofhistory.org
5/6 Spring Movie on the Lawn
Mental health awareness and movies? Say no more. Stream Inside Out and have a ball with fam-friendly activities for an evening sure to amp up those endorphins. dixpark.org
I pink I can! Lace up to save the tatas and raise funds for Susan G. Komen—the world’s leading nonprofit breast cancer org… and help punch cancer in the mouth. komen.org
5/6, Saturdays Midtown Farmers’ Market
How spud-tacular! Find this proud-to-be “producers-only” farmers market touting local, sustainable and family-farmed foods. So fresh. visitnorthhills.com
5/6–7 MineVention
Do you even build? Make your way to this Minecraft convention filled with build battles, costume contests, meet and greets, and more. Go ahead… get your game on. minevention.com
5/7 Indoor Yoga at the Chapel
What better way to spend self-care Sunday than an inside stretch sesh centered on community and connection. Let’s lean into being our best selves! dixpark.org
5/7 Kevin James
“Safety never takes a holiday.” … Don’t miss this comedy king (of queens!) making his way to Raleigh for a night of funnies. Grown-ups, only.livenation.com
5/7 Maria Bamford
“Weakness” is this revered experimental comedian’s brand—and she owns it. The voiceover star—known for roles in Big Mouth, BoJack Horseman and Bob’s Burgers—is sure to make you weak in the knees with laughter during her one-night stint in Raleigh. goodnightscomedy.com
5/7 Olivia Jean
Chew on this musician’s “bubblegum garage” sounds sprinkled with experimentation and creativity. Ready to rock out?thepourhousemusichall.com
5/10 Champagne & Friends
Life is the bubbles! School yourself on the background and prestige of Champagne and a slew of other sparkling wines with your buds and chef Doreen Colondres. Plus, learn the correct way to open, pour and pair your bubbly bevs. Cheers! vitishouse.com
5/10 DTR Plant Week: Paint a Pot
Care for a craft-ernoon? Celebrate #DTRPlantWeek by painting your own planter—and bring home a new plant baby to boot (!). We give it two green thumbs up. copperlineplants.com
5/10 Lizzo
Are you ready to be loved? Don’t know… but we’re ready to show some love to our flute playin’, self-love singin’ queen. “It’s About Damn Time,” indeed. pncarena.com
5/10 Triangle Businesses for Good Summit: The Future Workforce
Dolla make ya holla? Connect with community and learn about corporate social responsibility and what they’re looking for in future employers. Yay learning! invitedclubs.com
5/10, bi-monthly Whitaker & Atlantic Live Music Lounge
Ya like jazz? Join in on this recurring jazz series for sultry sounds, cocktails and eats complements of Hummingbird. Give us some sax.whitakerandatlantic.com
It’s time to can everything you thought you knew about ready-to-drink and Tiki cocktails.
“Everything is just f*cking terrible… help is on the way.” Serving up self-care in a can to help you ward off any summer-bummer vibes—it’s time to run—er, rum toward the first ready-to-drink boozy tropical rum bev of its kind, Tikican. An intentionally experiential sip, these locally concocted revolutionary “sunny drinks for shady times” are crafted for “wherever you are, anywhere you’d rather be and—let’s face it—the places you may never go,” so you can just un-can island time any time.
Packed with reverie—plus a pretty hefty ABV (each drink is a double!)— these drinks’ll transport you from the depths of despair to existential paradise by spreading the true spirit of Tiki that could before only be found bellied up to a bar in, say, the Caribbean for a handcrafted umbrella-dotted cocktail.
The brainchild of longtime local besties Dave Burris (the creative), Karl Amelchenko (the lawyer) and Andrew Shetler (who excels at Excel and pharm sales)—aka The Low Spirits—the twisted trio bonded over alcohol (how’s that for good libations?), cynicism and a shared inappropriate sense of humor.
Dreamt up during a pool drinking sesh (natch) riffing on existential crises, these island-inspired concoctions crafted from smooth rum and fresh fruit serve as a liquid antidote to escape everyday misery—think Instagram’s grim appeal as a self-esteem crusher or the agony of heartbreak (cue “call me up again just to break me like a promise…”)—whether grabbing them pantless from the fridge or from under your desk (no judgment). So, whether you’re lounging on a sunny beach, your yacht (yeah, right) or downing a cocktail can outside the local Waffle House amid a mental breakdown on a Tuesday afternoon—too specific?—this baby’s got range to bring brightness to the darkness of the everyday for all life’s highs and lows.
“A daiquiri DeLorean sending you back to a simpler time,” Tikican is more than a cocktail—it’s a “timeshare to your happy place,” says Burris, “a shining beacon of booze in a dark and stormy world… here to cater your pity party, so when sinking feelings flood in, you can just open a small-batch escape hatch.”
The solution to #SadGirlSummer via a jailbreak of chained (or dead inside) emotions to transport to Tiki time, Tikican revolutionizes the RTD market—“because let’s be honest, what currently passes for portable barely passes for potable”—with a recipe of surreality and science. Till now, most wildly popular RTDs serve two-ingredient sippers—think vodka/sodas, G&Ts—instead of a multi-ingredient cocktail. “But we’re realizing why,” says Shetler, “because it’s a pain in the ass and expensive as shit”—and, obv, worth it.
“What the world needs is a good stiff drink. … And, luckily, misery loves Tikican—now at hand for any day that ends in Y—and every day that ends in ‘Why God, why.’”
The product of a lot of time and expertise—and thanks to lime juice, nitro dosing, pasteurization (hey, science), Tiki is a unicorn in the form of four authentic flavors: true Tiki OG Mai Tai, French Quarter-fave Hurricane, a squeeze of the Keys Floridita and—“strong enough to raise the dead, or merely the dead inside”—there’s the deadly medley Zombie, aka “a bender without the blender.”
Each a taste of the islands, what’s inside is truly sip science, given Tiki cocktails’ famously complex composition—req. elaborate ingredients, a paragon of patience few possess and PhD-level mixology skills. But these aren’t some White Claw wannabes—and no premade mixers or malt-based imposters. “An open marriage between modern craft and Tiki tradition, each recipe was tested, retested, then tested again because we just really like drinking,” says Amelchenko. “Don’t thank us. Our livers are the real heroes here.”
Ultimately, serving up an uncommon escape in practical packaging, the drinks are “good and strong so you don’t have to be,” says Burris. Now here to tropic like it’s hot, Tikican is pulling the tab first in your fave bars, restaurants and ABC stores this month, followed by a “rapid and ruthless takeover of country and world,” he adds. Hey, if you’re losin’, you might as well be boozin’. tikican.com
Zombie Gold rum, lime, grapefruit, falernum, cinnamon, Pernod, grenadine, orange bitters • Pairs best with “cold pizza, despair, existential angst, walking very slowly, micromanagement”
Hurricane Gold rum, guava juice, orange liqueur, apple brandy, lime juice • Pairs best with “Po’boys, lapses in judgment, pretending to understand jazz, actual hurricanes, lingering regret”
Floridita Silver rum, lime juice, grapefruit, and maraschino liqueur • Pairs best with “ceviche, reading Hemingway in a hammock, squandered youth, shame, a parrot on your shoulder”
Mai Tai Gold rum, lime juice, orange liqueur, orgeat, mint • Pairs best with “peel-and-eat shrimp, steel drum solos, Elvis impersonation, limbo, second marriages”
