Get in that shopping state (!) of mind and “stand out for good” via Altar’d State, set to open a new locale in North Hills next summer stocking its signature picture-perfect dresses and ’fits. @altardstate
Life’s a peach indeed thanks to The Peach Truck’s local pop-ups rolling out boxes of ripe peaches, fuzzy fruit-themed gifts and a signature cookbook to put your fresh fruit to use (hey, charred peach margarita!). It doesn’t get sweeter than this. @thepeachtruck
Gents, short shorts are the garment to be sporting this summer (see: Paul Mescal). Stay stylin’ —or just embrace that “5 o’clock on a Friday” feeling—with the perfect cut at Crabtree’s newly opened Chubbies. @chubbies
Hotties do Pilates. Kick your vices and get in shape via Miami-based studio JETSET Pilates—soon to bow its first NC outpost in Smoky Hollow—with a full-body Reformer workout that will leave you beat… in the best way. @jetsetpilates
Woof, there it is! Treat Bark Obama to a trim, walk or pet sitter at Woofie’srecently opened Northwest Raleigh location repping resources from a mobile spa sesh to bed & biscuit overnight care. Bone appetit! @woofiesofnwraleigh
Unbox magical moments at Miniso, an uberpopular Chinese biz bringing color and nostalgia to Crabtree with accessories, toys and decor. Because “life is for fun!” @minisounitedstates
Reaching for new heights? Take your fitness goals next level—and flex your mind and spirit—with an authentic Heights Pilatesclass in the heart of Boylan Heights. @heightpilates
Fit check! RIW’s recently opened YoBa Studiotakes a new approach to functional fitness, offering Barre, yoga, strength training and cardio—because fun and effective workouts shouldn’t be a stretch (!). @yobastudio
Causing a ton of ~racquet~ (had to), paddle sports are bringing that big dink energy (read: soaring in popularity at a record clip) and pervading every facet of news and pop culture (and your social calendar)—from new court concepts aplenty (see p. 20) to Zendaya-led tennis blockbuster Challengers to the late-night circuit (see: The Tonight Show’s recent “racquet sport correspondent” swinging into the convo on paddle sport player stereotypes). Even Target now has a dedicated pickleball section (!).
Clearly, the pandemic-fueled fervor—never mind the grand-slam Zendaya effect—is still spinning. See some ~36 mill pickleball players alone picking up the paddle countrywide, NTM piqued interest in all-things paddle—think pingpong, tennis, squash, even padel—now serving at an all-time high.
Fit for everyone from retired collegiate tennis athletes to first-time dinkers, all kinds of people are all in on getting smashed. Here, which paddle serves you best.
Fans of yapping with a side of competition and less cardio (read: smaller court)→ Pickleball
Athleisure advocate who embraces a place where love means nothing and always wanted a reason to serve-scream → Tennis
Like to hit zingers, drink out of red Solo cups and love a good basement house party → Pingpong
From Europe, into chess and likes to go balls to the wall against opponents → Squash
Eyewear enthusiast or new to the paddle sports world → Racquetball
Goes too hard at the family field day or takes holidays across the pond →Badminton
Digs a foursome; on top of the upcoming trends or in-touch with what’s going on abroad → Padel
Thinks handball is a racket and enthusiastic about the lovechild of tennis, pickleball and racquetball → Paddle ball
There’s a self-proclaimed fairy “sprinkling seeds of perpetual joy” throughout Raleigh—and she’s enchanted to meet you. EnterSunny the Fun Fairy, who’s lighting up the lives of local women and children via her mission to empower others to “fly above life’s challenges.” The daughter of the late Eric Seidel, aka Recycle the Clown, Sunny is keeping the vibrant legacy of her father alive while helping others connect with their inner child.
“This is truly a divine calling on my life,” she shares. “I feel like I have something really special, and I want the people of Raleigh to know about it. The City of Oaks is an enchanting city, so a fairy fits in really nicely with what the city is doing.”
Whether she’s hosting soirees at her own bright and bodacious fairy garden in Morrisville, fluttering into homes around town, or making appearances at local events, Sunny is truly winging into her vocation to showcase life’s shimmer.
And further leaning into magical moments, the spirited sprite recently debuted a creatively curated coloring book, illustrated by Jesus Santana, fit for kids and kids-at-heart featuring some of her fave spots in Raleigh for discovering whimsy, light and joy. Bring on the pixie dust! Coloring book: Deco & So & So Books; sunnythefunfairy.com
Wake County is bringing expanded voter services to eight libraries.
It’s almost that time of year again—Election Day (it’ll be here before you know it!). A lot of regulations have changed in NC since the last election, and so Wake County wants to ensure voters understand the new norm. Thus, the Wake County Board of Elections is partnering with Wake County Libraries to offer accessible voter information at eight local libraries this summer. During the sessions, attendees can receive voter registration updates and election information—plus get an acceptable photo ID, which is now required to be shown before voting.
“We always strive to empower more people to vote in Wake County by making information and resources as accessible as possible,” says Board of Elections Director Olivia McCall. “This collaboration with the libraries is an excellent opportunity for us to provide accurate information and help residents better prepare for the upcoming elections.” Here, what you need to know before you go.
When?
Information sessions will take place Saturdays from 10am to 2pm June 22 through Aug 17, with the exception of July 6.
Where?
June 22, Duraleigh Road Community Library in Raleigh June 29, Fuquay Varina Community Library in Fuquay-Varina July 13, Southeast Regional Library in Garner July 20, Oberlin Regional Library in Raleigh July 27, West Regional Library in Cary Aug. 3, East Regional Library in Knightdale Aug. 10, Eva Perry Regional Library in Apex Aug. 17, Northeast Regional Library in Raleigh
When do I need to register by?
The registration deadline for the general election is Oct. 11, but you can still register at an Early voting site after the deadline. Early voting runs Oct. 17 through Nov. 2, and the general election is on Nov. 5.
City Council members will now serve four-year terms.
The election process for Raleigh City Council is facing a major change affecting how its members are elected—and how long they will hold their seats. Effective 2026, Council members will run for four-year terms—and, plot twist, the topic will not appear on the ballot this fall.
“If you put it on the ballot in a presidential year, it’s probably going to fail because it will be on the bottom and won’t get a lot of attention,” says Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin of the 5–2 council vote in May to double term lengths and stagger terms. “People say they support four-year terms and want more consistency and efficiency in government—I think this was the right way to do it.”
“People say they support four-year terms and want more consistency and efficiency in government. I think this was the right way to do it.”
—Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin
Everybody elected this November is serving a two-year term that will end in December 2026. Mayor, one at-large seat, and Districts A and B will run for four-year terms in 2026. The other at-large seat and districts C, D and E will run for two years in 2026 and run again in 2028 for four years, creating staggered four-year terms.
Raleigh’s transitioning model will join a handful of other NC cities such as Asheville, Durham and Greensboro—while also leaning into a nonpartisan primary process that would narrow the field to two candidates per open seat.
“We had started this process earlier—a task force made these recommendations,” says Baldwin. “But nothing happened, and I think the fact we started moving on this was very positive. There’s a lot of support for four-year terms, and being staggered allows people a voice—if they don’t like the way things are moving, they can send a message.”
What’s not happening? While adding three seats to the board was another hot-button topic during the most recent Council meeting—a motion initially pitched by council member Megan Patton—city leaders decided to table the expansion for now. Patton acknowledged, “It isn’t the right time” and cited lack of support as reasons to take the motion off the table for the time being. Ultimately, looks like it all boils down to more reasons to rock the vote come November.
