Village District could be getting a little more, ahem, social. Aiming to add to the roster of approved social districts in the Triangle, the proposal first came before Raleigh City Council in mid-October, but was tabled to gather more resident feedback. Many people who live nearby have expressed concerns over security, strewn garbage and fear that “bad behavior” could spill over into the surrounding neighborhoods.
As of press time, a public hearing is being held Thursday, Nov. 14, and the issue is not expected to go before council again until January—with the hope that the social district will go into effect early 2025. Though some Village Districters are opposed to the social district, several businesses already plan to participate, including Postino, Cantina 18, Tazza Kitchen, Goodnights Comedy Club and Flying Biscuit Cafe—to name just a few.
“By designating Village District as a Sip n’ Stroll social district, we’d be able to increase pedestrian activity throughout the entire center to create a more connected and dynamic experience for shoppers,” emphasizes Regency Centers GM Brooke Conn.
Once (or if) the district earns social status, Village frequenters’ll will be able to sip, stroll and shop among the area’s participating establishments—plus in public gathering spaces within the proposed boundaries of Clark Avenue, Daniels Street, Smallwood Drive, Woodburn Road and Cameron Street—making your 2025 Village hangs more spirited and bright, indeed. shopvillagedistrict.com
Well good for you, you look happy and healthy. … And good for us that this Taylor Swift x Olivia Rodrigo DJ-run dance party is coming to The Pour House (!). Grab some face stickers, don your best red ’fit, and get ready to dance the night away to your fave pop tunes. 22andgood4u.com
8/11 Longleaf Hotel Takeover With Women’s Social Club
We’re all about women supporting women (and their small businesses!). Sip and socialize at this mixer event and hear from two inspiring female entrepreneurs/girl bosses. Who run the world?! thelongleafhotel.com
8/11 The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
“Imma bee, imma bee”… attending this Tony Award-winning musical comedy at the Raleigh Little Theatre that highlights six slightly interesting competitors. Sounds spell-binding.raleighlittletheatre.org
8/11 We Ate Dinosaurs: Getting to Know our Synapsid Ancestors
Before dinosaurs, there was another species who roamed the land and sea: synapsids, aka “proto-mammals.” Get schooled on these unusual creatures via this lecture by NCMNS paleontology curator Christian Kammerer as part of the museum’s Life Before Dinosaurs exhibit. naturalsciences.org
8/11–14 OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival
Grab a colorfulglimpse of today’s LGBTQ+ life and community at this four-day film festival featuring 106 short and 18 feature-length films from around the globe. carolinatheatre.org
8/12 Desert Terrarium Workshop
Learn how to create a mini desert environment in your home that doesn’t succ via Urban Pothos’ plant workshop. With a focus on cacti and succulents (plus guidance on design and care!), this event gets two green thumbs up. urbanpothoshouseplantshopnc.com
8/12 E.T. Movie Party
E.T. phone home… This heart-wrenching fan-fave sci-fi classic is turning 40 (feel old yet?)! Join the celebration at Marbles IMAX with a movie party, crafts and a chance to try your hand at creating an E.Tea Green Pineapple Smoothie. Sounds out-of-this-world. marbleskidsmuseum.org
8/12 Skywatching – Perseid Meteor Shower
Keep your eyes on the skies! Join Morehead Planetarium staff and Raleigh Astronomy Club volunteers for a viewing of the Perseid Meteor Shower through telescopes at Dix Park. Talk about a starry night! dixpark.org
From stage to screen to page (and he’s a bestselling author to boot), famed funny man D.L. Hughley brings his comic flair to Raleigh for a three-night run. improv.com
8/13 Cocktails & Cuisine Class: Gin Workout
Can we get three cheersfor a class that’ll up your cocktail game?! Learn how to mix three gin drinks—plus get tips on what fare pairs best with them—from The Willard’s skilled bartenders. thewillardraleigh.com
8/13 Keith Urban
Somebody like you is exactly who this country crooner wants to see at the Creek. walnutcreekamphitheatre.com
8/13 Meet the Pack
The Pack is back (!). … For the first time since 2019, Meet the Pack—an opp for fans and students to meet football players, grab an autograph and snag some sweet merch is returning. Oh, howl yeah! pncarena.com
8/14 Houseplant 101
Plant yourself in a class focused on helping you grow as a plant parent… you even get to pot a plant to take home! Unbe-leaf-able, indeed.copperlineplants.com
Oh, sweet! Filipino sweet shop Bad Oven is popping up at The Willard with its signature ube-flavored desserts to satisfy all your eager sweet tooths. thewillardraleigh.com
8/15 Social District Celebration Kickoff
Crank Arm is kicking off Raleigh’s first social district in the best way possible—a “Parade of Travelers” starting at 10:30am. (Um, yeah, you’re gonna wanna call in “sick” to work!) Make your way from Crank Arm to The Pour House and back with brews in hand, natch, and live tunes along the way. Now that’s a parade we can get behind! crankarmbrewing.com
8/17, 25 Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift
Sparks are gonna be flying at this intimate, candlelit event featuring a string quartet performing some of T. Swift’s most popular songs—think “Love Story,” “Enchanted,” “All Too Well” and “Lover”—at the historic Merrimon-Wynne House. feverup.com
We have a solution to ward off those Sunday scaries. … Simply skip work on Monday (Aug. 15) and join Crank Arm and The Pour House’s Social District Celebration Kickoff! In honor of Raleigh’s first social district, the two DTR establishments are gathering folks for a “Parade of Travelers.” Keep reading for what you need to know—and how you can join in on the fun.
Where?
Raleigh’s Fayetteville Street Social District—starts/ends at Crank Arm
When?
Monday, Aug. 15, from 10:30am to 3pm
Who?
Crank Arm, The Pour House, and you and all your friends!
What’s the plan?
The journey begins at Crank Arm, where paraders can grab a brew to carry as they make their way over to The Pour House (drinking in the street—what a concept!) with a New Orleans-style second-line party band playing tunes along the way. After a beverage and a little record shopping, it’s back to Crank Arm for lunch from Corner Boys BBQ. Now who said drinking on a Monday morning wasn’t allowed? RSVP here.
ICYMI, Raleigh is getting its first social district (!). And Raleigh is super thrilled about it—a game-changer for the area and just the first step in making Fayetteville Street more attractive to bars, restaurants and consumers, and bringing more foot traffic to the area. The pilot program gives the city a chance to gather feedback and assess what is and isn’t working—and could lead to additional social districts throughout the city. But beyond all the brouhaha are a slew of lingering questions about the rules, what areas are included in the district, etc., so we talked to Raleigh City Council Member Jonathan Melton to get to the bottom of it all. Read on for what you need to know. Then, we’ll see you on the streets—designated to-go cup in hand, natch—starting Aug. 15!
What is a social district?
Specified areas where “people just walk around with a glass of wine or a beer, going into a store, sitting on a bench, etc.,” says Melton.
Where will Raleigh’s first social district be?
Fayetteville Street District—specifically Fayetteville Street from Capitol Building to Duke Energy Center, including Red Hat Amphitheater and City Market (borders = South, Blount, Morgan, Dawson), plus Warehouse District from Dawson to Union Station.
What are the rules?
The social district is effective seven days a week, from the hours of 11am–10pm.
You will only be able to carry a max 16 oz. designated cup (you cannot carry around a cup from home).
No glass is allowed.
You cannot bring a cup from one business to another.
Cups must be recycled upon exiting the district.
What’s included?
Several bars and restaurants are included in the designated social district, as well as Red Hat Amphitheater and Duke Energy Center. “An idea for the social district is that folks could go to dinner before a show, get a drink to go, and then walk down to the venue and finish the beverage before entering inside,” says Melton.
Why aren’t parks included?
Moore Square and Nash Square are NOT included in the social district at this time, based on city staff’s recommendation, says Melton. “I think they preferred we take an incremental approach to the social district and avoid areas that might be conducive to folks trying to bring their own alcohol into the social district, which isn’t allowed under the state law,” he expands. “Moore Square also already has its own ABC permit associated with the Square Burger on site. It’s a pilot program though, so we will continue to gather feedback and examine the boundaries over the next few months.” According to Melton, the city would have to construct a barrier to separate Square Burger from the rest of the park due to social district rules and the permit.
Move over Fayetteville Street—Midtown could be Raleigh’s first social district.
In the words of Natasha Bedingfield, we’re “so close you can almost taste it.” … “It” being the refreshing mixed drink or beer you’ll be sipping as you mill around Raleigh’s first social district. The question yet to be answered though is: Where will that social district be?
ICYMI, back in September, Gov. Roy Cooper signed House Bill 890 into law, making it legal for cities and counties to create social districts as of Oct. 1. Now, the city attorney is working to hammer out the details of what one in Raleigh would require—and, once decided, the city will begin the process of choosing a location.
So far, several ideas have been raised. City Council, for example, is discussing the possibility of Fayetteville Street in its Economic Development & Innovation Committee.
“Other cities have their social districts up and running. I think the biggest one is Greensboro,” says Council Member Jonathan Melton, who chairs the committee. “It’s really just people walking around on a Saturday with a glass of wine or a beer, going into a store, sitting on a bench… and so that’s sort of the environment I hope that we’re able to cultivate—some vibrancy, some support for the small businesses along that corridor, and just an atmosphere of folks wanting to get together safely and enjoy the city.”
While Fayetteville Street could be a great start, it will be challenging to approve because several landlords will have to buy in on the idea, a reality that has given other districts with a single landlord—like Smoky Hollow and North Hills (owned by Kane Realty Corporation)—the inkling they could be the premiere social district. Glenwood South is also vying for that distinction.
And while we don’t have an (Ever)clear view of the future, rest assured, we will all soon be raising our booze-filled, appropriately marked to-go containers to the opening of Raleigh’s first social district. Cheers to that!
