This Triangle coffee shop is brewing up a new location.
Fresh brews in Northwest Raleigh: found (finally!). New World Cafe—a cozy cafe by day and worldly restaurant by night—has uprooted to a more spacious locale in Duraleigh Corners, complete with a full kitchen and drive-thru window. Going above and beyond a good cup of joe and breakfast nosh, the cafe (previously located in The Village at Townridge) is currently serving up beverages and a limited menu, but—come its spring grand opening—will convert to a casual restaurant at night, serving wine, beer and international small plates in a clean and minimalistic atmosphere.
“Our company mission is to provide the best coffee in the Triangle with the two best local roasters, Counter Culture and Black & White Coffee, along with good food options that customers enjoy,” says owner and operator Mike Zhu. “We strive to make the environment friendly and open to everyone. We just want everyone to be comfortable.” And how could you not be comfortable with day-to-night ops in a homey atmosphere?! Name a better perfectly blended cafe and eatery combo—we’ll wait. newworldcafes.com
Stay fit for cheap via these wallet-friendly workouts.
“I be up in the gym just working on my fitness…” New year, new you, new workout regimen?! The beginning of 2024 marks yet another round of fitness-related New Year’s resolutions that usually fall to the wayside come February—especially given gym memberships, workout classes and personal training sessions can be pretty pricey. Doesn’t exactly jibe with those 2024 budget goals, eh? But don’t sweat it (!). Here, we worked up an array of local exercise ops that’ll keep both you and your wallet in shape.
Greenway Walks/Runs Two words: Raleigh’s greenway. Stretching 100+ miles around the city, these paved pathways allow you to explore the city on foot while amping up your heart rate, garnering a high step count and enjoying some good ole Vitamin D. Pro tip: Bring a pal or your pup along for company. Let’s cardi-go!
Run Clubs Run better with buddies? Good news: Raleigh boasts a ream of run clubs perfect for all paces and schedules. Find many meetups around town offered by Fleet Feet in partnership with local breweries multiple nights per week. … Plus a post-jog drink? Yes, please!
Yoga at Dix Park Will bend for free fitness classes and stellar views. During the winter months, take your yoga practice inside The Chapel at Dix Park. And as the weather warms this spring, keep your eyes peeled for outdoor evening classes during golden hour. What’s more serene than a stretch sesh with our city skyline as a backdrop? Namaste, indeed.
Look for palm trees to sprout in the City of Oaks this winter as South Florida’s iconic Bal Harbour Shops debuts its first pop-up experience in North Hills.
Santa’s not the only one paying a special visit to Raleigh this holiday season. Miami-based luxury retail destination Bal Harbour Shops recently announced it will bring a sampling of its high-end brands and tropical, open-air vibes to North Hills later this month, the first stop on a multicity tour that also includes Greenville, SC.
The decision to debut the Bal Harbour Shops Access Pop-Up in Raleigh is especially exciting given it marks the first time the acclaimed brand has expanded beyond Miami.
“We chose Raleigh to launch this concept… because of its strong market fundamentals,” says Matthew Whitman Lazenby, president and chief executive officer of Whitman Family Development, the developer, owner and operator of Bal Harbour Shops. “In addition to being a Tar Heel myself (graduated in 2000), I’m the fourth generation in our family business where our mission is to ‘create unique, meaningful experiences and special places that endure.’ We’re looking to lean into that with this Raleigh pop-up.”
The eight-week event will feature a curated collection of designer boutiques—think Tiffany & Co., Balmain, Frette, Bonpoint, Assouline, James Perse and more—housed in 30 crisp white shipping containers custom-built and furnished to fashionably highlight each brand’s merchandise. Nearly all of the brands selected possess no physical storefront in our region, providing rare access for local shoppers.
But the 17,000-square-foot alfresco space will be much more than just a maze of portable pods. Expect covered walkways with fans, a retractable canopy, koi ponds, fountains, planters filled with lush greenery and even piped-in music that truly captures the feel of Bal Harbour Shops’ Zen-like setting in Miami. Guests will also be treated to a signature fine-dining restaurant, The Whitman—a nod to Bal Harbour Shop’s family-owned roots—which seats 150 people and features a full bar and lounge.
While many Raleighites are thrilled for the chic addition to Raleigh’s shopping scene this winter, others are concerned the buzzy pop-up will draw attention away from locally owned North Hills stores that need the business, as well as take up valuable parking space.
Bruce Liles, president and owner of local menswear purveyor Liles Clothing Studio—which sits across from the parking lot in North Hills’ Main District that will temporarily transform into the Bal Harbour Shops Access Pop-Up—hopes his small business’ commitment to excellent customer service will continue to shine through even as prominent luxury brands take the spotlight.
“Our customers know we are unique in our market, and we feel we must continue to convey that,” he says. “To that end, we are coordinating with a group of locally owned North Hills businesses to highlight the value of shopping local and keeping the business within the community. After all, we will still be here long after the pop-up is gone, and we will continue to serve our customers as only a local merchant can. True luxury only exists with personalized service after the sale.”
And to those who might be tempted to avoid the shops in close proximity to the Bal Harbour pop-up for logistical reasons, Liles puts any worries to rest. “We would also like to remind customers we have curbside pickup and short-term parking in front of the store,” he offers.
“North Hills has also opened up the expanded parking deck with new access so there will be plentiful parking—all the more reason to come to North Hills and shop local. We look forward to serving our Raleigh community.”
The team behind the Bal Harbour Shops Access Pop-Up sees the activation as a boon to the North Hills neighborhood that will bring customers from far and wide to shop, dine and spend money at local businesses.
“As the Bal Harbour Shops Access Pop-Up was designed as an attraction for the luxury consumer, we anticipate customers will visit multiple times throughout the eight-week span, further demonstrating the benefits to North Hills as this will draw customers who already visit the location to travel more frequently and potentially stay for a longer duration of time in Raleigh,” Lazenby explains. “Similarly, we expect this pop-up will not only attract additional local shoppers to the area, but also draw tourists from neighboring—or even distant—locations to North Hills.”
“Similarly, we expect this pop-up will not only attract additional local shoppers to the area, but also draw tourists from neighboring—or even distant—locations to North Hills.”
As the pop-up’s public opening nears, shoppers are encouraged to check out its social media for sneak peeks of the space, plus announcements about additional brands joining the list of posh retailers. And stay tuned, as Lazenby hints there may be some exclusive-to-Raleigh moments throughout the eight-week run as well.
“In Raleigh, we are collaborating with a network of local community leaders,” he reveals. “Some of our calendar will include charitable events, performances with local musicians, weekend brunches and, of course, curated Bal Harbour Shops events.”
It’s clear that Raleigh is poppin’—and as the holidays kick off here in the City of Oaks, we can’t wait to see what else is in store. 4359 Six Forks Road (intersection of Six Forks and Lassiter Mills roads), balharbourshopspopup.com
You, cocktail in hand… concocted by Raleigh’s Best Bartender in tandem with a top-tier liquor label. Nope—not a boozy fantasy, but your very spirited reality when you join us at the inaugural The Cocktail Classic, presented by The Exchange Raleigh, Nov. 18, where our 10 Best Bartender nominees will be mixing it up against a backdrop of eats and beats. NTM ticket sales benefit both Raleigh-Durham USBG and Ben’s Friends, a support group for members of the food and beverage industry suffering from abuse or addiction. It’s sure to be the event of the season, so grab your tickets before they’re gone. cocktailclassicraleigh.com
This just in—subscriptions aren’t just for streaming services or magazines anymore (although we can think of at least one mag subscription you probably need—*wink wink*). If getting a package gives you the same high as Christmas morning, you’re gonna wanna get in on the subscription box trend, delivering blissful gifts monthly. Whether you’re a self-proclaimed fashionista, a cocktail connoisseur or a foodie, there’s a box out there for you. Here, we delve into four you’ll definitely want to try.
Shaker and Spoon Ready to shake it? Each box includes all the ingredients for 12 cocktails—syrups, bitters, garnishes, mixers and citrus—all you need to do is add the alcohol of your choosing. Recipe cards and how-to videos will take your home bartending skills next-level. Bottoms up! From $59/month, shakerandspoon.com
Lata Lat us introduce you to this NYC-based company founded by four friends who bonded over “the vermut”—aka a pre-meal event in Spain where friends and family share the likes of olives, tinned fish and vermouth, naturally (think of it like Italians’ aperitivo). Lata delivers that ideal to your doorstep, curating the fishiest picks of gourmet tinned seafood—NTM the coolest tins (!). Sorry, but fish definitely are food, not friends. From $29.99/month, lata.shop
Nuuly This box is ideal for anyone with an out-of-hand shopping addiction and a small closet (you are not alone). Instead of overspending on clothing you’ll only wear a few times, this retail resource ensures you’re dressed to the nines by sending six rental pieces handpicked by you every month. Featured brands include Anthropologie, Free People and Levi’s. Strut your (rental) stuff! $98/month, nuuly.com
Vinyl Me, Please Step aside, Spotify—there’s a new monthly music subscription in town. Choose your records from the staff’s monthly picks in genres like rock, hip-hop, classics, country and other essential categories. Or handpick your tunes from a deep-dive into the 250+ album selection featuring exclusive and colorful pressings of all genres and artists, from big names like Fiona Apple to local Raleigh bands such as Truth Club. Rock on! From $46/month, vinylmeplease.com
