Avoid the wait and beat busy crowds with the local WhereT app.
Picture it: You finally drag yourself out of bed (those that get it, get it) to go out to eat or to get drinks with friends, only to be stuck standing around waiting to be seated. Or maybe you paid a cover to get in somewhere, but it’s overcrowded—or undercrowded!—and it kills the vibe. In short, going out can already be a headache—and it’s only made worse by situations like these.
Enter WhereT, “the app you don’t know you need until you do need it,” says CEO and co-founder Brandon Lewis. Based in Raleigh, the global app (available in 170 countries!) uses geofencing GPS technology to showcase real-time information on how busy local businesses are, so users know what to expect before they go—and plan the best time to visit.
The idea for WhereT naturally was born after Lewis got tired of arriving at places only to wait, or going to a barely bumping club. Seeking more venue transparency, he launched the app while still in college in 2022 with partner Patrick Loussaint and CTO Ridwan Faniyi to deliver an “innovative way for businesses to market to the consumers while streamlining that process,” he says.
WhereT also helps users arrange rides, order tickets or food, pay for parking and view online content directly through the app, whether for a restaurant, bar, club, store, event—even airports and the DMV office (!). And it’s a win for businesses as well, as by using WhereT they can cut associated commissions with companies like DoorDash and Grubhub while hopefully benefiting from additional clientele, Lewis explains.
To further market WhereT, Lewis launched a separate brain child, Busy Brew Lager, earlier this year in partnership with Lonerider Brewery owner Sumit Vohra, who also became somewhat of a mentor figure to the app founder. Another win-win, the brew offers a tasty sipper “crafted for every palate” and links directly to the WhereT app by a QR code on the can, making it “the only beer that has the technology behind it to market your venue as well,” maintains Lewis.
So, consider those excuses to not get out of bed nixed—and the perfect excuse to leave your house found. Hey, another win for all!
“Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth.” … Cue the applause because Raleigh was just named the No. 7 happiest city in the country by SmartAsset (!) thanks to our relatively high household earnings and life expectancy and low poverty and overcrowding rates—among other factors—as compared to the largest U.S. cities. Leaning into Raleigh as our happy place, shoutout to a handful of local ops that have us walking on sunshine this month. BRB, putting “Happy” by Pharrell Williams on repeat.
Scoop, there it is! You can’t not be chipper when slurping shakes and scoops from newly bowed The Yard.
Warm weather 🤝 patio beers. If you need us, we’ll be sippin’ and smilin’ away at one of our many local breweries.
Basking in the sun while taking in all the incredible art pieces at NCMA’s Museum Park is a top-tier activity for peak contentment.
North Carolina barbecue and spring/summer—name a better duo, we’ll wait. Eat your way to happiness—and, remember, a saucy smile will never go out of style.
Flower power! Stopping to smell the roses at the Rose Garden is always a good idea—and almost always guarantees joy.
NC Craft Brewers Guild highlights two Raleigh faves in new series
Something exciting is brewing… The NC Craft Brewers Guild (NCCBG) recently announced a new film series dubbed NC BrewShots inviting craft beer enthusiasts across the state to ~hop~ behind the scenes of some of the state’s best breweries. The latest episode pedals into Raleigh’s popular Crank Arm Brewing—and an ep on Trophy Brewing is set to release in early March.
BrewShots interviews brewers on the background story of their brewery and the additional people behind the beer, in addition to how they interact with their communities, stimulate local economies, and provide a safe space for beer-lovers to get together.
The decision to feature Crank Arm and Trophy in the first season was a no-brainer, according to NCCBG Executive Director Lisa Parker and Events & Allied Programs Manager Shannon Taylor—and, surely, Raleighites can concur (hey, Raleigh’s Best Bars 2023 Best Brewery winners!).
“The stories of our Raleigh breweries are each unique and showcase their individual communities and the people within them,” Parker says of the breweries that will now make up the first three-part season of the project. “Their leadership within the Guild and their contributions to the craft beer community underscore the importance of these breweries in the greater Raleigh region and showcase their roles as stewards of North Carolina’s craft beer culture.”
Echoes Crank Arm co-founder and co-owner Adam Eckhardt: “It was a great opportunity to tell our story and show the people what we are all about. We hoped they could see that we support the community that supports us.”
While the spotlight on their businesses is a plus, owners expressed their desire to help with the larger goal of supporting the Guild’s mission to get NC’s name out in the world as a real player in the industry.
“I thought it was important to be a part of the BrewShots project to support the Guild and to help tell the story of Trophy,” says Trophy co-owner Chris Powers (and also the co-owner of State of Beer and Young Hearts Distilling). “[NCCBG] is always advocating for sensible legislation for our industry to help keep the NC brewery scene dynamic and continuing to grow. … There is an energetic and vibrant brewing culture here, and we want more people to know about it.”
The series’ first episode featured Clayton’s Deep River Brewing Company—and, looking ahead, seasons two through four (slated for 2024 production) will feature NCCBG-member breweries in Pender County, Greenville-Pitt County and Greensboro, with plans already underway for additional seasons in 2025. So, hoppy times indeed. Cheers!
How one couple’s innovative side hustle became all the buzz for kids, parents and brew lovers alike.
What do you get when you combine a power couple with invaluable skills and a passion for entrepreneurship + a novel idea combining an indoor play space for children and cafe for their parents? Meet Libby and Mark Azzarello’s Bumble Brews. A side gig-turned-unexpected success story, Bumble Brews—which serves to entertain both kiddos ages 6 months to 6 years and adults with buzzy brews (think coffee + beer and wine)—now boasts two locations in Cary and Raleigh, the latter of which opened Dec. 1.
Libby, a residential real estate agent, and Mark, a former corporate professional, embarked on this entrepreneurial journey in December 2022. “My husband always wanted to pursue entrepreneurship,” shares Libby, reflecting on the early days of their venture.
Assisted by a franchise coach who helped them fine-tune their aspirations, the couple was originally working on different ideas—until they met Bumble Brews original owners Blair and Brendan Byrnside.
“We used to take our daughter to the Cary location and loved the combination Blair dreamed up of a safe and fun place to play, but also incorporating our love for coffee and local beer,” reflects Libby. “It appealed to me for the creativity and children part, and Mark for the beer and coffee.”
Libby, self-dubbed as the “food, beverage and entertainment” connoisseur of their marriage, and Mark, the “operations and logistics”-focused half of the partnership, found their perfect match in Bumble Brews. In September, Mark took a bold step by leaving his full-time job to dedicate more time to the business. Libby continues to practice residential real estate, cleverly integrating her work into the play cafe.
“I’m excited to tie real estate into Bumble Brews, and I’ve shifted a lot of marketing to help moms and families connect with each other,” she says. “Some of our guests have asked me to be their real estate agent, so it’s been nice to see an organic growth to my full-time business.”
In addition to serving great brews and providing a fun space for kids, Bumble Brews has become a hub for community gatherings and casual coffee meetups. The full cafe is buzzing with a range of local beer, wine, cider and Champagne selects. And it’s not just for parents.
“One of our most asked questions is ‘Can I visit and purchase coffee if I don’t have a kid?’, and I always tell people, ‘Yes!’” maintains Libby. “You don’t have to be a parent to enjoy our coffee shop. The Raleigh location is positioned underneath an apartment building, so sometimes people just want to grab a coffee.”
With their joint vision, Libby and Mark Azzarello aimed to create a space that was not only female-friendly, but also a comfortable hangout for dads. “The whole industry is more female-leading because you’re working with moms, but we wanted to create a space where dads felt comfortable,” Libby explains.
Additionally, Bumble Brews’ party room offers a blank canvas for guests to curate their own theme with decorations to bring the space to life. If planning an event, guests can book the open-play area, the party room or the entire space.
Another unique feature of the Raleigh location is the consignment bookshelf where local authors can display their books. “We want to support as many local authors as we can,” says Libby.
While managing a business on top of a full-time job can be challenging, Libby attributes much of the success to their supportive network and encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to leverage others’ strengths to avoid burnout.“I am surrounded by experts and people who want to help. It’s hard as a business owner, when you’re used to being independent, to lean on other people,” she shares. “But my friends told me, when I ask for specific help, I’m giving them a gift.”
Reflecting on their journey, Libby shares a candid insight: “We’re building the plane as we fly it—we’re learning as we go.” As they continue to navigate the intricacies of entrepreneurship, the Azzarellos are not just brewing up a successful business, but a community where families can connect, relax and have fun.
“These two years have not only been an opportunity for us to flex our creative muscle, but to be a part of a reawakening of Downtown Raleigh,” says co-founder Chris Powers. “Every bottle we create is a testament of commitment to creativity, quality and desire to share memorable experiences with our local community.”
Untapping even more reason to celebrate, Young Hearts recently dropped a handful of new summer sippers, including its first ready-to-drink vodka soda (!), a limoncello that’ll transport you straight to the Italian countryside, a blueberry liqueur (no summer blues here), and a seasonal summer gin (the seasonal fruit medley of your dreams—aka pineapple, passionfruit, peach and strawberry). And just in time for peach season, keep your eyes peeled for the distillery’s peach brandy, brandy barrel-aged whiskey, and peach amaretto/nocino coming soon.
Naturally, Young Hearts’ spirits pair best with its ever-evolving comfort food dishes spotlighting ingredients sourced from local producers. In celebration of its anniversary, this month’s menu features new tempting tastes like a fried chicken sammy piled high with pickled cabbage, chili crisp, cucumber, and a soy ginger sauce; shrimp and grits with Fox Farm mushrooms and housemade bacon; and a creamy macaroni and cheese topped with bread crumbs—plus more grub to come. And from fare to flair, Young Hearts has a thrilling lineup of events for its anny month to get the party started. Strut over to Drag Brunch feat. DJ Gay Agenda, or catch a wave to Surfer Day and raise a toast to the Cloud Surfer Modern IPA—both taking place Aug. 26. … Cheers to two years—and many more to come!
