With gorgeous historic homes, long-standing sup spots, spirited bars and breweries, and more, the historic Five Points district just outside DTR boasts hip old-school Raleigh vibes.
We love Raleigh—obviously. And we love love. And giving thanks. So in honor of that trifecta—we are leaning into this sentimental time of year by spotlighting the places that make Raleigh uniquely what it is—and that fulfill us most. There is much chatter these days of all the ways Raleigh is changing—a lot of mudslinging, complaints we are losing our soul or (god forbid) becoming another Charlotte. As with all things, the critics are loud. But there is much to love about Raleigh. To spotlight, we asked myriad members of the community from all walks of life to tell us what place in Raleigh they go to to reset—their “secret Raleigh happy place,” if you will. From unpaved trails to train station lookouts to cow pastures, we were reminded beyond wonder exactly how wonderful Raleigh is.
“Lake Johnson on the unpaved trail side. It’s quiet, peaceful and beautiful—especially as the sun casts light through the trees at golden hour.” —Tyler Helikson, co-founder & CEO, Happy + Hale
“My secret Raleigh happy place is the Downtown Express Library. I love that, in a short walk across Downtown, I have access to all of the books in the Wake County Public Library System, as well as super-friendly librarians who are always willing to talk about books and lend a helping hand! (Hey, Diane! 👋)” —Jed Byrne, business development representative, WithersRavenel; editor, oakcitycre.com
“Inside the globe at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences is one of my secret happy places. It’s a perfect retreat, especially during bad weather days. It’s calm and peaceful inside—and the videos they show are always captivating.” —Ashton Mae Smith, sponsorships, Citrix; co-host, Podcast Raleigh
“For a good lift-me-up, I love strolling the State Farmers Market and taking in all the beauty NC agriculture has to offer throughout the various seasons, supporting our farmers, and marveling at the beautiful produce and plants. Fortunately for me, my husband is an amazing cook, so anything I end up purchasing inevitably ends up as something delicious.” —Liv Jorgenson Wiese, commercial broker, Maverick Partners Realty Services Inc.
“This isn’t a place per se, but it is a view that immediately lifts my spirits. It doesn’t matter how long or hard my day has been or what remains on my to-do list, I love driving down Hillsborough Street heading home and seeing the NC State cows. There’s just something about that idyllic pasture scene in the middle of a city that gives me joy. It is definitively Raleigh. I hope they never move them.” —Andrea Weigl, Sandbox Collaborative
“My son and I love using the Geocache app to hunt down treasures hidden along the the Neuse River Trail—either by bike or on foot. It provides adventure, as well as lots of sightseeing along this nature lovers tree-lined pathway that follows the Neuse River through Wake County.” —Sharon Delaney McCloud, director of corporate communications, UNC Health
“I love so much about Raleigh. It is the longest I have lived anywhere. My favorite spots are the special pond in our backyard and Gonza in North Raleigh. And my most special place is the arts organization where I work: Moonlight Stage Co. (Moonlight Arts and Entertainment). I’m surrounded by people and artists I love to be around.” —Estes Tarver, actor/director, Moonlight Stage Co.
“The Roast Grill. It’s simple; it’s small; it’s been there forever; it’s away from most everyone—and you still end up seeing folks you know.” —Gregg Sandreuter, commercial real estate, HM Partners
“My go-to secret Raleigh hangout spot is the Walnut Creek greenway. I love being able to walk from the farmers market into Downtown Raleigh!” —Lindsay Wrege, co-founder, 321 Coffee
“I love the Umstead Hotel & Spa. The service is top-notch, and the environment is lovely and serene. It gives you the sense that you have traveled far away from the responsibilities and stress of your daily grind, and I often escape there for an evening or a weekend.” —Jackie Ferguson, co-founder and Head of Content, The Diversity Movement
“As cheesy and obvious as it sounds because I work here, my happy place really is A Place at the Table. As soon as I walk in, I hear so much laughter across tables; I smell waffles and coffee being prepared from the awesome staff; and I immediately get to hear about people’s days and their ‘happy places.’” —Maggie Kane, founder, A Place at the Table
“Walking at the NC Museum of Art is one of my favorite places to go in Raleigh. There is something calming about the trails with wide-open space in the middle of the city and seeing the permanent outdoor art installations. The museum property also always offers a surprise or two with new art installations, making each trip special and unique.” —Irish Dunlap, chief marketing officer, rXperius
“I have lived in Raleigh my entire life, and, without a doubt, one of my favorite spots in the Triangle is the Green Hills County Park in North Raleigh. This park includes one of the highest points in Raleigh on the Top of the Hill Trail. Despite being surrounded by the city, the Top of the Hill Trail is the most quiet and peaceful location I have found in Raleigh that allows me to unplug and reset after a long week.” —Jacob Miles, BGE
“Videri Chocolate Factory’s back patio—cappuccino in hand—under the swaying bamboo and Japanese maple, their shadows dancing across Miriam Ruth’s colorful mural as the aroma of chocolate ebbs and flows. A real Raleigh nook.” –Paul Tuorto, designer & art director
“My absolute favorite spot to reset is the Union Station lookout. It’s a pretty quiet spot where you can catch trains coming in and pulling out of Downtown Raleigh. Normally, there aren’t many people there, and walking through beautiful Union Station on the way to the deck is a good way to clear your head.” —Chris Powers, co-owner, Trophy Brewing | Young Hearts Distilling | State of Beer
“My happy place in Raleigh is the picnic tables at Greystone Village Shopping Center. In this little corner of the shopping center on nice days, there are so many options. I can grab a drink from Bottle Rev and fire up the laptop. My wife and I can take the kids to Two Roosters Ice Cream and let them run around. On date nights, we can grab sushi from Kai (and, then, yes, of course, Two Roosters after). And we can’t forget Gonza for the Mexican flag enchiladas and chicken tinga nachos. I always leave happy and full!” —Jason Gillikin, podcast executive producer, Earfluence
“My Raleigh happy place is Blake Street. The cobblestone and string lights make any day a good day there, and it has some of the friendliest shop owners (Copperline Plant Co.) and best food around (City Market Sushi)!” —Cristi Diaz, engineering intern, BGE
“The view from Boylan Bridge is iconic to Raleigh. As the seasons change and Raleigh grows, this is the view I come back to every time. You can see the cranes, our original skyline transforming, the trains coming and going—you can really see all of it in one stance. #raleighisgrowing.” —Karly Wilson, creative director, @raleighisgrowing
“TheRaleigh Rose Garden. It’s just a great place to relax, enjoy the quiet and even picnic. Even in the fall, I’ll go there to read or walk. It’s so peaceful and restful during any season.” —Kristen Schrum
“My favorite spot isOld Reedy Creek Road Trailhead at Lake Crabtree! It’s a great start to the greenway and has some of the best sunsets over the lake.” —Sean Junqueira, photographer, Trivantage
“Two Roosters ice cream. I enjoy trying their monthly rotating and unique flavors! —Abby Lampe, aka “Cheese Queen,” North Carolina State University alum ’22
“I love to run and walk in Pullen Parkbecause it’s one of the best places to see the changing seasons. During the summer, the wildflowers and the sunflowers are in full bloom. In the fall, the leaves change and create this rich tapestry of colors around the lake. And when we are so lucky to get snowfall, it perfectly complements the park and its quiet beauty.” —Amanda Lamb, WRAL reporter and podcast host
“For me, I lovewalking from my house to different places in and around downtown. My favorite walk is to go from my house in Five Points to theYMCA on Hillsborough. I like to pass through Fletcher Park, stop at a few points to relax and watch the activity in the park, then walk up Park Drive to the Y. I have my headphones on, and it is a great way to see people and feel the pace of the city.” —Stephen Mangano, executive VP, Team Health
“My boys and I love to walk thetrails at Historic Yates Mill County Park, orYates Mill Pond as we’ve always called it. The trails are gorgeous and a great place to catch up-close glimpses of snakes, herons, turtles, even eagles now and then, and other critters in the spring and summer. The different trail lengths are also great if you’re on a timeline or new to hiking or have little ones. It’s a great escape.” —Kurt Meyer, marketing director, Logan’s Garden Shop
“Oakwood Cemetery—a fascinating and beautiful cemetery that feels reverent and alive at the same time. They do a great job welcoming the community and presenting our history while respecting those who rest there.” —Matt Smith, vice president, Wake Tech
“One of my favorite Raleigh spots is thegreenway over by the Bain Water Treatment Plant in the Caraleigh neighborhood. There is an extended boardwalk that hovers over a wetland—it’s always so green and lush, and feels like a secret oasis so close to the city. The best time to visit is right after a big rainstorm. You’re bound to see turtles and deer and tons of other critters! Be careful if you’re on a bike though—the boardwalk can get pretty slippery!” —Anna Grace FitzGerald, owner, Copperline Plant Co.
“My secret place is Laurel Hills Park, specifically the basketball court outside. I grew up at that park—a lot of good memories playing basketball in the summers—and it has now become the place I visit early in the morning just to be alone, shoot some free-throws, and think. I’m older now, so I can’t run around with the teens, but it does take me back to those times, which is soothing…” —Johnny Hackett Jr., CEO, The Black Dollar Corp.
Here’s where to celebrate Negroni Week (Sept. 12–18) in the Triangle. Bottom’s up!
Drinking for a cause? Count us in! Negroni Week (Sept. 12–18)—a nationwide fundraiser organized by Campari and Imbibe magazine that celebrates the drink itself while raising money for charitable organizations across the world—is back, and a host of Triangle bars and restaurants are offering traditional and specialty drinks to celebrate the cause. Here’s where to grab a ’tail this week!
Whether you’re a fan of the classic Negroni or are looking for a modern spin, The Willard’s gotcha covered. Head to the rooftop lounge for its barrel-aged Negroni or try the New-groni, a unique concoction of Conniption American Dry Gin, Nonino Amaro, Hoodoo chicory liqueur and coffee bitters. To boot, a portion of proceeds from both drinks will be donated to Slow Food to give direct support to those in hospitality. Cheers to that!
Negronis and tapas—name a better duo, we’ll wait. Belly up to the bar for Spanish small plates and your pick of a classic Negroni, boulevardier or a Negroni/sangria mashup (!)—or try them all… no judgment. Cheers!
You won’t be bitter about fan-fave cocktail x coffee bar Bittersweet’s Negroni Week celebration Sept. 14–19 with a special menu feat. a “starter Negroni” and—for the Negroni lovers!—a build-your-own op with exciting gins and unique flavor-infused vermouths. NTM a portion of proceeds will go toward Raleigh Pride and Planned Parenthood (!). Sweet, indeed.
Where better to celebrate one of the most iconic cocktails than at an iconic Raleigh bar?! Hit up Dram all week long for special variations, with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the Slow Food foundation.
Given that Negronis are traditionally an Italian drink, we’re pretty confident that Mother & Sons’ Negroni Week offerings are gonna be top notch—and they’ll be donating a portion of sales to Saving Grace (!). Choose from three classic cocktails, or mix it up with one bartender Samantha Hamrick’s special creations—think the In the Limelight with Conniption navy strength gin, Campari, Mommenpop lime vermouth and lime. Oh, mother!
It’s no secret that the Raleigh restaurant industry has been rocked in recent years. And while we all desperately try to put the pandemic in the rearview, “we’re still dead in the middle of it,” says Nofo owner Jean Martin. Hence the sometimes slow or seemingly subpar service—and the empty tables that come with a wait (insider tip: tables can’t be seated if a restaurant is short-staffed, or if a server would be double-sat). Add to that supply chain issues—NTM the residual loss of forced closures—and, well, you’d pretty much want to be anybody but a restaurant owner. While these restaurateurs have endless empathy for their customers, they are also understandably beyond frustrated. To cover the gap, they and their staff members are working ungodly hours to feed and entertain us—and, yet, the public remains peeved. Now, add in soaring prices, and “customers feel like they are getting less for more—less service and less food on the plate for more money,” says Martin. “And we want to do everything we can to cater to the customer.” So, as lovers of the hospitality industry (NTM of hardworking people and truth), we wanted to dedicate space in our Best Restaurants Issue to some of our area’s top hospitality vets in the hopes diners will allow time and grace to these industry vets as they get back on their feet.
Why is staffing so hard?
“The biggest thing is lack of employees. It hurts everything about our business. Guests expect a certain level of service, but there simply are not enough servers working. People need to start understanding that things are not back to normal, and they will most likely never get back to where they once were. Not only are we having difficulties getting qualified people to work, but everything has gone up in price since COVID. We have specials on a regular basis to help ease the pinch on everyone’s wallets. … We are doing our part to help as much as possible, but we still have to feed our families, so we have to charge accordingly.”
–Marilyn Peraza, co-owner, 13 Tacos & Taps
“No one wants to work since COVID. Those who say they do are looking for ridiculous pay without earning it. People know businesses are hurting right now—not just restaurants—and they come in and do whatever they want because they know you need them. Many were handed so much money from the government for doing nothing and now expect it from employers. I don’t think it has to do with sudden closures because it wasn’t just restaurants—many businesses closed suddenly. It’s about getting something for nothing. Our servers make very good money—$20 to $30/hour in tips, plus a small hourly wage—but that doesn’t seem to be enough.”
–Anonymous restaurant owner
“To be honest, I have no idea where all the people are. I know a good amount switched professions, but that is definitely not all. I think it is a combination of a lot of things: laziness, switching professions, taking ‘under-the-table’ jobs and collecting unemployment, tired of the industry, etc.”
–Anonymous restaurant owner
“Not enough people are looking for jobs in this industry. Pay is at an all-time high, up 30 to 40% in some positions, but openings remain. The industry has overworked and underpaid a good portion of their staff for years and that, combined with so many other opportunities for work that may be less stressful both physically and mentally, are the main source of the labor problem. We are lucky enough to have a more understanding customer base than some when it comes to limiting our hours of operation. We are trying to take care of our customers, and—just as importantly—our loyal employees who have stuck with us through these difficult times.”
–Chef Dan Gray, Nofo Cafe
“Staffing is beyond ridiculous. I have never in any city and any restaurant had such issues with staffing. It is crazy—and it isn’t just restaurants. Almost all businesses are dealing with the same thing. It’s like Thanos snapped a finger or something.”
–Michael Lee, chef/owner, M Restaurants
“For one thing, we are still feeling the ripple effects of COVID. In a span of a few days time, our entire industry was shut down. Unfortunately, while many other industries have pivoted, there’s no ability to work remotely when you’re running the floor of a food & beverage establishment. During the pandemic, many people figured out other ways they could make a living or other things they were passionate about and simply have not returned to hospitality.”
Time fries when you’re having fun. And what’s more fun than National French Fry Day?! From handcut fries to crispy shoestring fries to malted or truffled, those snack-worthy potatoes come in thousands of mouthwatering varieties. If you’re a fries fan, this day is the perfect time to mix it up and try something new, or just to celebrate with your trusty fave. Here’s some of our local picks.
