A trio of local breweries are tapping new locations.
If you thought the beer movement had kicked the keg—think again. While craft beer sales may be down slightly, the industry at large is, well, brewing. Sours alone—having risen steadily since 2020—maintain a supremacy projected to shine on this year, and giving a fruity, tart flavor profile that appeals to a range of palettes and translates to a growing selection and skyrocketing sales.
Never mind the happening hard cider or the emergence of the electrolyte beer market—already holding a $156.83 mill value and projected to hit $474.21 mill by the end of 2033 in the U.S. alone (and so you can finally hydrate and diedrate at the same time—stay tuned).
Tapping into that movement, Raleigh’s big three breweries are all leveling up and expanding their reach. For its part, despite closing its Raleigh Five Points “outpost for outlaws” at least temporarily (see p. 24), Lonerider broadened its base of beer-loving bandits with its expansion to the Bull City. Opening its new Lonerider Distillery and Taproom in Downtown Durham in June, the premium craft beer brand is pouring out its Wild West energy via pints and cocktails crafted from its award-winning spirits that promise to sate your wild side.
Also rolling across the border into the Bull City, Crank Arm Brewing Company announced its plans with Raleigh Magazine to spin out a second cycling/sip outpost. Beyond cheersing to 10 years at its anniversary celebration July 23, the buzzy brand is gearing up to open its hoppy new digs in Durham’s social district—dubbed The Bullpen—by the end of the year.
Situated in the ground floor of luxe Beckon Apartments, the taproom will serve up a 3,000-plus-square-foot indoor/outdoor space with rollup doors—all a mere ~20 steps from the highly anticipated Downtown Durham greenway trail. And, wait for it, in addition to its 24 taps (plus, seltzers, wine and ciders), the Durham digs will be pouring liquor thanks to updated ABC licensing laws.
“We’re very excited to become part of the community in Durham the way we have in Raleigh,” says Adam Eckhardt, who founded Crank Arm alongside trio of partners Michael Morris, Dylan Selinger and Bob High. “It’s a burgeoning city [with] a lot of folks moving here. It’s our sister city, and there’s an active cycling culture here.” Beyond pedaling up a buzz, look out for pop-ups, collabs with the local cycling community, weekly rides and run clubs that echo the MO of the OG Raleigh location.
And bottoming out the barrel of brewery fun, Trophy Brewing Co.—also feteing 10 years in 2023—is electrifying Five Points East with its planned sixth location (and second outside of DTR) in the iconic blue Electric Supply Co. building. Trophy’s sip spot is slated to untap in the burgeoning neighborhood in late 2024 next to Anisette Sweet Shop and three-time James Beard Award semifinalist chef Cheetie Kumar’s new restaurant Ajja.
“When we walked through the door, we knew immediately we had to do this,” says Trophy co-owner Chris Powers, who broke the news in an exclusive interview with Raleigh Magazine regarding the mammoth 23,000-square-foot building with 22-foot ceilings and a basement.
Beyond its eight to 10 taps in a Trophy Maywood-size brewery that will open first, the team plans to follow with a full-service restaurant feat. a Trophy Brewing & Pizza-esque menu. “With that space, it makes sense to brew there,” he adds. “And the basement could be a great rickhouse for Young Hearts. There’s so many possibilities.” Endless possibilities really for a “cask” of breweries exploding across the Triangle’s happening hoppy scene. loneriderbeer.com; crankarmbrewing.com; trophybrewing.com
Have an, ahem, ball and spin a new tune with this soulful singer-songwriter who uses music to reflect on his emotions, scars and circumstances. thatstation.net
Catch some comedic gold at Nickelpoint Brewing with a loaded lineup of local standup stars (Drew Harrison, Spencer Bland, Jordan Centry and Victoria Quiett). Let’s get laughing! nickelpointbrewing.com
6/30 KIDZ BOP Never Stop Live Tour
Trix are for kids… and so are tunes (!). And we can’t stop, won’t stop jammin’ out at Coastal Credit Union Music Park. Rock on—with the kiddos! walnutcreekamphitheatre.com
6/30 Omari Dillard
Get strung along by a soul violinist (plus a live band!) summoning soothing sultry sounds and renditions of a slew of R&B classics. Bows up and out! martinmariettacenter.com
Let’s get #goated. Get down with your baa-d self at Spring Haven Farm for live tunes, food truck fare, games (ax throwing, archery, shooting and more!). Plus, mix and mingle with baby goats and other farm animals. Hey, whatever floats your goat. springhaven.farm
7/1–31 Scavenger Hunt
But for real, where’s Waldo? Quail Ridge Books and Shop Local Raleigh are teaming up for a summer scav all month long. Pursue local small shops for Waldo, with the winner taking home bragging rights and a prize. Sleuthing skills: on. quailridgebooks.com
7/1, Saturdays Midtown Farmers Market
How spud-tacular! Find this proud-to-be “producers-only” farmers market touting local, sustainable and family-farmed foods. Keepin’ it fresh, indeed.visitnorthhills.com
7/1 Cornhusk Critters
It’s corn (!)… huskin’. Drop by the NC Museum of History to create your own cornhusk doll or critter. Let’s get shuckin’! ncmuseumofhistory.org
7/1 NC Courage vs. Houston Dash
Nab your tix to see our fave fearless females kick some balls—er, butt—out on the pitch. Let’s go lionesses! nccourage.com
7/1 Patriotic Pet Parade
Grab your furry friend for a good old-fashioned patriotic (and pawsome!) parade and costume contest with categories like most patriotic, most creative, best owner and pet twinning ’fit, and cutest. How pup-fect. theraleighmarket.com
7/1 The Taste of Raleigh
Craving the perfect bite? Turn those taste buds on high alert via some of the best Raleigh’s food scene has to offer—from food trucks and caterers to personal chefs and bakeries. Bon appetit! thetasteofraleigh.com
7/2 Don Toliver
Pack your cardigans (iykyk) for this rapper’s Love Sick tour stop in the City of Oaks. redhatamphitheater.com
7/4 Barenaked Ladies If I had a million dollars, we wouldn’t have to eat Kraft dinner—but we would! … We’d just eat more. So, buy yourself a green dress (but not a real green dress—that’s cruel) and rock out for “The Last Summer on Earth” because it (hasn’t) all been done. redhatamphitheater.com
7/4 Dix Park Fireworks
Happy birthday, America! Nosh on a lineup of food truck fare and watch the fireworks for a summer night sure to go out with a bang (!). dixpark.org
7/4 Independence Day Celebration
“Cause baby you’re a firework…” Celebrate the good ’ol USA with tunes from the North Carolina Symphony and Cary Town Band out on the lawn. #Merica. boothamphitheatre.com
7/4–9 Carolina Mudcats vs. Fayetteville Woodpeckers
Let’s play ball! Hit your week outta the park with a game of baseball sure to knock your socks off. milb.com
A local athlete is returning home with a silver medal from the 2023 Special Olympics.
We’re flipping out (!) over our very own Raleighite and Special Olympics athlete, Erin Cagle, who jetted to to Germany’s cap city and repped the USA in the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 in late June. After competing in an array of events—including vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise, plus the all-around competition—Cagle is coming home with a silver medal in vaulting (!) plus a slew of other placements worth noting (4th in the all-around competition, 5th in balance beam and uneven bars and 7th in floor).
And this wasn’t her first rodeo, either. The 43-year old artistic gymnast has been competing in the Special Olympics since 2008. (Fun fact: She also dabbles in Alpine skiing and tennis!).
“I like gymnastics because it keeps me strong and healthy,” Cagle said in an interview with SONC. “I like it when I am more flexible. I have a few favorites; I like the floor exercises and the balance beam.”
To prep, Cagle trained twice a week at Sonshine Gymnastics in Holly Springs with her coach, Brenda Candland and the constant support of her dad.
“It’s always been a lot of fun for me,” said Cagle’s father, Greg, of his daughter’s athletic endeavors. “I get a lot of enjoyment from watching her compete. This whole idea of competing for her country in the Special Olympics World Games, it just couldn’t get any better than that.”
To boot, Philip Blount (of Mecklenburg County) nabbed the gold medal in shot put and placed 5th in the 100m and 6th in the 4×100 meter relay. And sports-seeking spectators could also catch Special Olympics USA reps competing in watchworthy events such as badminton, cycling, kayaking, field hockey, swimming, sailing, volleyball and more. Gold stars all around! sonc.net
Make a scene at the eighth annual festival featuring workshops, performances and industry conservations supporting women and other underrepresented genders in theater. Props! womenstheatrefestival.com
6/22 Beyond Water Screening
Water you even doing if not attending the screening of this docu highlighting the value of clean water at Marbles’ IMAX Theatre?! Let’s flow! eventbrite.com
6/22 Folds of Honor
Hey, Bud(weiser)! Feast your eyes on the famed Budweiser Clydesdales at the weekly Midtown Beach Music Series while celebrating Folds of Honor, a nonprofit org focused on helping families of fallen/disabled U.S. service members obtain educational opportunities. Can we get a yay and a neigh?! foldsofhonor.org
If combining fashion and philanthropy while supporting women emerging from vulnerable situations is something right up your alley, join local nonprofit Designed For Joy at a porch party feat. their vibrant leather bags and jewelry. Let’s flaunt fashion for a good cause! designedforjoy.com
6/22 Properly Planting Perennials & Veggies
Just growing your green thumb? This event’s for you. Learn all the basics of gardening, from the best mulch and soil to how to plant and install your outdoor vegetation. It’s time to veg out (!). logantrd.com
6/22 Reimagining Blackness
Make yourself an ally at Artspace and take in the curated exhibit, Maroon while expanding your understanding of Black identity via a lineup of guest panelists from multiple art backgrounds highlighting what it means to be Black and queer. artspacenc.org
6/22 The Ries Brothers
There’s no need to be blue(s). Check this musical duo hailing from the Sunshine State for beats blending rock, blues, funk and reggae. thepourhousemusichall.com
6/23–25 The Pink Hulk: One Woman’s Journey to Find the Superhero Within
Tough gals wear pink. Find Manhattan-based solo show artist Valerie David telling her story of hope and inspiration throughout her battle (and success in beating!) cancer not once, not twice, but three times (!)—plus enjoy an audience talkback after the show. So strong, indeed. womenstheatrefestival.com
6/23–25 Village District Sidewalk Sale
Stroll and shop this way! Spend the weekend shopping at all your fave Village District retail spots for sales on sales on sales. facebook.com
6/23 GAG Presents Girls Room Pride
I’d U-Haul with you. … Post up at Junction West with the girls for this queer women nonbinary-focused party with four queer DJs droppin’ beats hosted by local queer party organizer GAG in partnership with Charlotte-based Girls Room for a party created and curated by queer women as a safe place for all. raleighpridenc.com
6/23 My Brother, My Brother and Me
Dishing live advice are three brothers, Justin, Travis and Griffin McElroy, of the My Brother, My Brother and Me podcast, whose modern wisdom and advice will surely help you out of any pickle. Don’t be shy! martinmariettacenter.com
6/23 PineCone People’s Square Dance
Don’t be a square… or maybe do (!). Lace up those groovin’ shoes and dance the night away at Transfer Co. Food Hall. May the dancing commence! pinecone.app.neoncrm.com
6/23 Raleigh Burlesque Sweet 16 Anniversary Show
“It’s burlesque!” Celebrate 16 years of burlesque with legendary local dancers at Lincoln Theater via a swanky black-tie event including raffles, cocktails, exclusive VIP gifts and kitschy decor. Dance is how we do it! lincolntheatre.com
6/23 TR in Concert Series
Kick off the premiere of Theatre Raleigh’s newest series with two-time Tony award winner Norbert Leo Butz. The series features Broadway stars as well as Raleigh performers.Ready to break a leg?! theatreraleigh.my.salesforce-sites.com
6/23 Turning RedOutdoor Movie
You just red our mind! Grab some popcorn and, ahem, turn in at the North Carolina Museum of Art for their outdoor screening of Pixar’s Turning Red. ncartmuseum.org
6/24 Botanist and Barrel 6th Birthday
She’s so six-y! Cheers to six years of Botanist and Barrel with wine, popsicles, food truck fare from chef Ade’s Beninese food truck, and live tunes. botanistandbarrel.com
6/24 GAG, Queen
We’re all born naked and the rest is drag. … This one’s for the dancing queens. Post partying at Out! Raleigh Pride, werk it over to The Ritz as Raleigh Pride and Live Nation go all out for their biggest party with a GAG-hosted drag queen dance extravaganza—followed by a steady flow of Raleigh-based drag queen performances. Slay! livenation.com
6/24 NC Hops Fest
Feeling hoptimistic? Get a taste of North Carolina’s best brews at the third annual Hops Fest at the NC State Fairgrounds feat. ciders, beers, live music and vendors. Cheers! shoplocalraleigh.org
6/24 Out! Raleigh Pride
We’re here, we’re queer—and we’re ready to get loud and proud and paint Raleigh rainbow-colored for the 11th installment of Out! Raleigh Pride, the inclusive fam-friendly fest that promotes acceptance and diversity via a fun-filled day on Fayetteville Street with scores of live entertainment, artists, vendors, activities, a KidsZone—and bites and brews—all to benefit the LGBT Center of Raleigh. Pride is for everyone! outraleigh.com
6/24 PrideFest 2023
Be loud, be proud and embrace diversity and inclusion at this year’s Fayetteville PrideFest. And celebrate the LGBTQ+ community right with vendors, live entertainment, food and art displays. fayettevillepride.org
6/24 Sorcerers Soiree
Feeling spellbound? Hop on your broom and fly on over for a few rounds of magical trivia, craft vendors and delish eats from a slew of food trucks. tapyardraleigh.com
6/24 Summerfest: Harry Potter vs. Star Wars
In a battle of wands vs. light sabers, who will reign supreme? You be the judge as NC Symphony performs ballads from two of the biggest film franchises. “Do or do not, there is no try…” ncsymphony.org
6/24 Vinyl & Vino
Willing to dig for vinyl? Grab a glass of vino complements of Chatham Hill Winery and sort through thousands of CDs, LPs and more. Please don’t stop the music! theraleighmarket.com
6/25 Brunch at The Casso
On Sundays we brunch! Belly up to The Casso for a Sunday funday that’ll fill your belly with sourdough French toast, grilled corn, petitas eggs, mimosas and more. thecassoraleigh.com
6/25 Let’s Have a Kiki!
Let me be perfectly queer… there’s no better way to slay Sunday Funday than for this love-out-loud dance party at Cuya feat. themed cocktails, guests from the drag community, and DJs. To boot, a portion of all proceeds from Let’s Have a Kiki! Drag Is NOT a Crime will go to the ACLU’s Drag Defense Fund. @cuyaraleigh
It’s not easy being green. Whether you’re a plant-based eater, health conscious or simply “veggie curious,” this fest is sure to produce some wholesome and healthy fun that can’t be beet. trianglevegfest.com
Change your clock to island time and enjoy a boozy Caribbean-themed cuisine at Plates feat. rums from Outer Banks Distilling. Ready to rum-ble? plateskitchen.com
6/28 Whitaker & Atlantic Live Music Lounge
Ya like jazz? Join in on this recurring jazz series for sultry sounds, cocktails and eats complements of Hummingbird. Give us some sax. whitakerandatlantic.com
Barbecue, strawberries, cake—oh, my! Like with most holidays, fab food and bevs are at the center of Juneteenth (June 19). From delicious fall-off-the-bone ribs to red beans and rice to red velvet cake to hibiscus sweet tea, the fare surrounding this cultural celebration never disappoints. And in case you didn’t notice, all of the aforementioned foods are red—and with good reason.
According to Unpeeled Journal, the tradition of eating red foods on Juneteenth is possibly linked to the enslaved West African tribes Yoruba and Kongo, who were brought to Texas in the 19th century. In these cultures, the color red symbolizes spiritual power and transformation. Hey, we’ll nosh to that! Here, the rundown on Juneteenth dishes and where to dine around town to honor the freedom of African Americans in the U.S.
Soul food is, ahem, good for the soul! Naturally, you should load up on seafood dinners (catfish, flounder, shrimp, etc.) and/or soul food selects like chicken gizzards, BBQ chicken, beef ribs and more.
If your taste buds are hurtin’ for a jerkin’ this Juneteenth, Lee’s Kitchen won’t disappoint. Try out the food truck’s BBQ chicken and baby back ribs boasting a flavorful Jamaican twist.
If you’re in search of strawberry cake or red velvet cake, look no further than this local bakery touting “heavenly goodness in every bite.” Sign us up!
Sharing is caring—and this uberpopular DTR restaurant and lounge is known for dishes that can be shared among friends and family. We rec the NY strip steak, smoke lamb ribs or cast iron picanha—or heck, all three!
You’re gonna wanna belly up to Fat Boys Kitchen’s recently opened brick-and-mortar for an array of flavorful fare, from burgers and sandwiches to seafood platters and boils to seafood and chicken gumbos. Just be sure to save room for the red velvet cake (!).
Birthday cakes, cupcakes, wedding cakes… You name it, Bestow Baked Goods can bake it. Choose from its many types of red cakes, or create one of your own. Bakers gonna bake!
It’s bon! First and foremost, order the red beans and rice. And don’t sleep on the rice bowls, fritay bowls or handhelds either from this traditional Haitian cuisine food truck rollin’ its way around town.
With a variety of flavors and creations, this ice cream shop takes your average scoops to the next level. Ask for the strawberry cheesecake milkshake—and thank us later.
