Ready to trade a heavily trafficked morning commute for a fresh air-fueled bike ride? After years of research and preparation, the Triangle Bikeway is (finally) getting ready to roll. The 16-foot-wide multiuse path that will snake through Wake County and beyond will ultimately serve up a total 10-mile stretch—beginning at the bridge at the NC Museum of Art and curbing at Research Triangle Park.
Already 30% complete, the Bikeway’s Phase I design is now in proposal stage as Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization plans to select the design team for the remaining 70% within the next month.* Once selected, the design and grant application should take ~12 to 18 months. Ultimately totaling three phases, the project is slated to keep rolling out expansions over the next several years, eventually connecting Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill—with the aim of federal grants funding 80% of the cost.
“It’s going to be globally iconic… and transformational for the region,” says CAMPO Executive Board Member Sig Hutchinson of the upcoming path. “It’s exactly the kind of thing our demographic wants to be able to get to work, turning the worst part of their day—a morning commute on I-40—into the best part of their day [while] getting some exercise outside in a beautiful corridor.”
The initial transformational concept, a joint effort by Raleigh and Durham’s metropolitan planning organizations, proposed collaborating toward the creation of a 27-mile trail. Still in the works, this partnership may take place farther down the road, beginning with Raleigh’s preliminary design phase and culminating in Durham’s commitment to see the project through.
While the final Bikeway won’t be ready to roll for four to five years, it’s no doubt paving the future for the kind of upgrades Raleighites are hungry for—and is an absolute game changer for the Triangle. So, gear up, Raleigh—it’s almost time to put the pedal to the metal.
Courtesy of 2020 Triangle Bikeway Study, courtesy of DCHC, CAMPO, McAdams.
The buzz around membership clubs is at an all-time high (hey, Soho House!), and one Raleigh dining and lifestyle community is cashing in on the trend while ensuring its members are well-satiated—both socially and when it comes to grub. Enter City Club Raleigh’s just-launched City Exchange, a fulfilling twist on traditional club dues in which members’ $225 monthly fee equates to dining credits.
“This new model is conducive to increased member engagement, and reinvigorates the vibrancy and energy of the member and guest experience,” says General Manager Liz Miller. Thus, becoming a member doesn’t just get you next-level networking, but business lunches, date nights, happy hours and everything in between. Talk about keeping that cal full!
And City Club Raleigh’s swanky digs—located high above Fayetteville Street—make for a pretty swell space to host. Part of the nationwide Invited Network, the club features an expansive ballroom, a restaurant, and a bar and lounge boasting exceptional views of DTR—with tasty breakfast, lunch, late lunch, dinner and beverage menus to boot.
Looking to build up your network? City Club Raleigh also offers a range of events—from chef’s table experiences to professional development workshops to mixers and off-site field trips. “Invited is a community, first and foremost, and this atmosphere of community and meaningful connection is the cornerstone of every venue,” adds Miller. And, so, a polished new way to work, dine and recline is here. invitedclubs.com
And straight from the depths of your fever dream as you look to live out all your Caniacs passions, now you can eat, sleep and breathe in the chaos via The Burnzie Bowl—aka wild and wonderful defenseman Brent Burns’ fire collab with Happy + Hale. Spoiler alert: It’s what victory tastes like. So, essentially, if you really wanna feel the burn and can’t spring for Playoffs tickets, now at least you can throw on your No. 8 jersey and fork into the hype. This is (hopefully) our year!happyandhale.com; nhl.com
You’ll definitely feel the ~burn~ via the fun, vibrant and wild Burnzie Bowl—on offer April 3 through June 30 at Happy + Hale—stacked with winning ingredients like BBQ steak, bacon, Brussels sprouts, onions, peppers, dill slaw, brown rice, arugula, scallions and chipotle BBQ sauce.
We got the chance to sneak a peek (and taste!) of the delish seafoodcentric menu + coastally inspired libations (the leathered quartzite bar is an absolute beaut—and she’s got texture!) at Raleigh’s new Adriatic Sea-inspired sensation. Swipe to see a few of our faves—but be warned: It’ll make you hungry!
Election year is upon us, and it’s a big one for local politics. While we don’t cast our ballots for mayor until Nov. 5, the race is already well underway, with six hopefuls spanning diverse demographics declaring candidacy to date (candidates can officially file July 1).
Hot topics driving the voter conversation this year include Downtown safety, rezoning, affordable housing, the RPD shortage, transportation, infrastructure and sustainability. So, naturally, 2024’s candidates are ignited by a deep desire to effect change in Raleigh.
“Things in the city have gotten personal,” first-time candidate Janet Cowell confided to Raleigh Magazine in an exclusive interview. “There seems to be a lot of personal acrimony and division, between citizens, [and between] citizens and Council—a lot of animosity. The whole tenor of the actions seems tense, and it’s making it difficult to get work done. There is a lot of power in reflective listening and making people feel heard.”
Second-time mayoral candidate Dr. Terrance Ruth has thrown his hat back in the ring to address what he sees as the city’s pressing challenges and opportunities. “We need to pivot and make different decisions,” he told RM. “We’re experiencing growing pains of all the significant—good, but significant—growth our city has seen. There’s growing food insecurity, financial insecurity and home insecurity to change.”
For her part, Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin remains undeclared as she prioritizes governing. “We have to focus on governing and making decisions—and keep politics out of it as long as possible,” Baldwin told RM, also intimating to expect her announcement in April. Even before Baldwin’s decision, the race for the seat is hotly contested. And for these candidates—and our city—much is on the line. And, clearly, it’s personal.
As this race should be for each of us. Ultimately, local elections are just as important, if not more important, than national elections, as local officials directly affect our day-to-day lives—from how we live to what the city we live in looks like to how safe it is. And this year’s decision will directly impact our trajectory for years to come.
“I feel ready; I feel now is the time,” says the District C city councilman of nine years. The Raleigh native is campaigning on an array of specific “deliverables,” such as securing funding for 2,000+ affordable housing units, widening Rock Quarry Road and providing residents free mental health services.
“We need authentic relationships because that’s what the fabric of local politics is,” says the former state treasurer and Raleigh councilwoman and current Dix Park Conservancy CEO of her run. Cowell has already picked up endorsements from former Mayors Nancy McFarlane and Charles Meeker, and is campaigning on protecting the environment, diversifying housing options, increasing public safety and engaging the public in things such as rezoning for new infrastructure.
“We’re living in a time that requires a different way of thinking to deal with the growing challenges—challenges our city hasn’t seen in years,” says the second-time mayoral candidate. A NCSU professor and former president of the Justice Love Foundation, Ruth’s candidacy is anchored in three core principles: security, representation and change—emphasizing the need for authentic leadership and innovative solutions.
This self-proclaimed conservative candidate plans to crack down on crime and hopes to hire an additional 400 police officers. And this isn’t the first time the sole partisan candidate had his name on the ballot—the mortgage broker previously ran against then-mayor Nancy McFarlane in 2017.
The Civil Rights activist aims to end gentrification, provide affordable housing and win reparations for Black Foundational Americans (aka Freedmen) via his For the People platform.
This William Peace University pre-law student has his sights set on building additional accessible housing options, reducing the budget, revitalizing mental health and updating public transportation.
