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.
Just beat it! Channel your inner old soul and vibe to Ally J’s sultry and expressive R&B via Music on the Lawn at Heights House. heightshousenc.com
6/15 Lore
“Part smooth sailing, part careening chaos.” Change your tune and dive into the anarchic blues-grunge combo of Nashville-based duo Laura Reed and Laur Joamets via That Station’s Artist Notes at NC State’s Centennial Campus. Rock on! thatstation.net
6/15 Spaces for Queer Joy
Thursday—but make it gay and make it spark joy. Pop over to CAM Raleigh for this panel discussion with local DJs and event producers to chat the cruciality of having queer nightlife spaces for the LBGTQ+ community in Raleigh. camraleigh.org
6/16 Dierks Bentley: Gravel & Gold Tour
If you’re “a little found, a little don’t know where I am,” come a little closer to the road to gravel & gold as the country crooner kicks up some dirt at the Creek. walnutcreekamphitheatre.com
6/16 NiiTO x Johnathan Scales Fourchestra
Populate the “paper town” via the hometown stop of NiiTO’s 11-show tour. Let’s jam! thepourhousemusichall.com
6/16 Sacred Soul and Bluegrass Revue – Pinecone
Now that’s finger pickin’ good! Settle in for an evening evoking rural downhome NC tunes—think bluegrass, string band, quartet gospel and soulful rhythms reminiscent of Black churches across Eastern North Carolina. martinmariettacenter.com
6/16 The Token Straight Friend Ally Party
There’s always that one friend… Show your support for the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies via this Green Monkey Pride party. “Isn’t it time we celebrated our ally friends?!”greenmonkeyraleigh.com
6/16–17 The Southeastern Plant Symposium and Rare Plant Auction
One of the nation’s largest gatherings of plant lovers and experts is returning to Raleigh for two days of unbeleafable horticulture education and fellowship. You grow, girls (and boys)! jcra.ncsu.edu
6/16–18 Nate Jackson
Let the “laff tracks” commence. Join global comedy performer and Washington state native as he brings the sillies to the Goodnights stage. goodnightscomedy.com
Opens 6/17 Spiders: Fear to Fascination
Clear out the cobwebs! We’re giving eight thumbs up for the NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ immersive and entertaining spider exhibition descending onto the scene this week. naturalsciences.org
6/17 Cumulus: A Day Party
Have your head in the clouds? Then float on over and cumulonim-bust a move at this daytime dance party feat. electronic dance tunes. between2clouds.com
6/17 Father’s Day Market
Need a last-minute gift for dad? Roll up to this Father’s Day market filled with the most dad-esque items (think bourbon, candles, outdoor apparel and more). Alexa, put the Home Depot theme song on blast. olderaleighdistillery.com
6/17 Official Pride Bar Crawl
Color the town via this crawl through some of Raleigh’s best bars and nightclubs—plus cheers with discounted rainbow-themed drinks and dance the night away to local DJs. Better shake what your mama gave ya! eventbrite.com
All are welcome at Hartwell’s Pride market benefiting the LGBT Center of Raleigh that promises to be bigger and better than last year’s event thanks to 20+ local vendors, food trucks and more. We’re def coming out! hartwellraleigh.com
6/17 Raleigh Retro Gamers Summer Expo
Got game? Get outta control via this DTR expo feat. a slew of gaming vendors, live music, food trucks and more. Let’s play! raleighretrogamers.com
6/17 Rebelution Good Vibes Summer Tour 2023
“Fade away” into the good vibes that are sure to be in order from one of the most popular reggae rock music bands in the country. Feeling alright, indeed! redhatamphitheater.com
6/17–18 Goathouse Refuge Art Show
Feline fine! Help connect cats with loving families and join the local Pittsboro animal shelter for a two day art show featuring local painters, sculptures, jewelers and more. goathouserefuge.org
6/18 GAG Yacht Club Tea Dance
If you like big decks and you cannot lie, get down with your bad self at Johnson Street Yacht Club’s second tea dance—a long-held gay tradition originating in 1966 in New York’s Fire Island Pines at the now-famous Blue Whale bar—of the summer. Who’s got the tea? @jsyachtclub
6/18 Luau Party
Crank it up, y’all! … And crack open a cold one in a fun Hawaiian costume for a luau lounge party that’s sure to tropic like it’s hot.crankarmbrewing.com
6/18 Soul Food: The R&B Picnic
Grub on food that’s “good for the soul” (essentially, mouthwatering Southern fare) amid vibey aesthetics and smooth R&B sounds. Sounds like a perf picnic, indeed! boothamphitheatre.com
6/18 Summer Solstice Mala Event
It’s hot girl summer… and what better way to flex the occasion than an outdoor yoga sesh celebrating the official start of the hot season. To boot, there’s a live DJ and a complimentary blue beauty spritz included. Oh, let the mat-ness begin! doseyogaraleigh.com
6/20 Mad for Madtoms
Cat(fish) got your tongue? Meet the Carolina Madtom, a federally endangered tiny catfish native to NC and exclusively found in the Neuse River Basin. Just keep swimming! naturalsciences.org
Want the scoop? Moose Tracks is amping up the cool factor in the City of Oaks via 10,000 free (!) scoops of ice cream in DTR benefiting The Salvation Army of Wake County. How sweet! moosetracks.com
6/21 History at High Noon: Fifteen Hurricanes That Changed the Carolinas
Calling all storm chasers! Kick off hurricane season via some cloudy history with author and hurricane historian Jay Barnes. Ready to be rocked like a hurricane? ncmuseumofhistory.org
6/21 Live After 5
Get groovin’ for the third installment of DRA’s spring concert series feat. a handful of local performers, including Hard Tuck, Kate Rhudy, Joseph Terell, Chessa Rich and King Akira. See you after 5! downtownraleigh.org
6/21 Make Music Raleigh
Let’s make some sweet music. Roll up to streets, sidewalks and parks across the city for a samplin’ of sounds feat. Instrument Zoo, a preview of Raleigh’s Anniversary of Hip-Hop Music Celebration, World of Bluegrass festival and more. Play on! makemusicday.org
6/21 Summer Solstice Yoga
Breathe in, breathe out. Take advantage of the longest day of the year (aka the first day of summer!) with a sunrise yoga sesh at Flowers Field. dixpark.org
6/21–7/1 National Women’s Theatre Festival
There’s no need to feel upstaged. Grab a seat for this annual festival’s 8th season (!) feat. performances, workshops, community convos and other happenings all focused on females and other marginalized gender artists. The show must go on! womenstheatrefestival.com
Poised to grow some good is Produce Purpose, a new 501(c)(3) planting its roots in Raleigh. The sustainably focused org has entered into contract with William Peace University to carry out its mission of facing myriad social problems simultaneously—from special needs unemployment rates and climate change to arable farmland crises and campus nutrition issues.
“Produce Purpose provides desperately needed meaningful employment to people with special needs through on-campus hydroponic farming,” explains Executive Director Matthew Harvey. “In doing so, it promotes healthy nutrition for on-campus dining, a multitude of immersive learning opportunities for the academic curriculum, and appreciation for the special needs community within the greater campus culture.”
The nonprofit operates through hydroponic farms—essentially growing plants sans soil—which translates to hands-on tasks that lend well to the special needs community, whose work leads to fresh and healthy fare heading to campus dining halls and onto students’ plates. … Everybody wins!
For Harvey, this organization’s MO is personal—his brother Gregory has autism, leaving Harvey to be his eventual sole caregiver. So, Harvey operates the nonprofit with a goal of providing for his brother’s future, along with others in the special needs community.
Looking ahead, Produce Purpose plans to continue partnering with more schools throughout the Triangle. To boot, keep your eyes—and appetite!—out for the org’s first harvest this fall (fingers crossed for September).
“Produce Purpose is a true nonprofit that strives to make a profound impact not only on the lives of those with special needs and their families, but also all members of the William Peace University academic community,” says Harvey. “It is our hope that like-minded people who are committed to such important social issues will support this endeavor.”
Who ordered a knuckle sandwich? Join RockBox Fitness in studying the art of defense with a specialty six-week advanced striking workshop hosted by UFC veteran and MMA pro Marcus Davis. rockboxfitness.com
6/8 The Art of Queer Resistance
Not gonna hide my pride at this Artspace panel discussion as part of the Duane Cyrus-curated exhibit Maroon, Maroon, in partnership with Raleigh Pride, featuring LGBTQIA+ visual and performing artists chatting identity, how it informs creation, and how we can support queer visual and performing artists as a community. Aw, we love love. artspacenc.org
6/8 The Disco Biscuits
Channel the spins and the sparkles with “trance fusion” sounds from this Philadelphia jam band. Let’s (electronic) rock! lincolntheatre.com
6/8–18 Raleigh
Dead queens, an executioner, a court of vipers and a jealous king? Yes, please. Get schooled on our fair city’s namesake Sir Walter Raleigh via this poignant biography by Raleigh’s claim to fame Ira David Wood III himself. What will Raleigh’s fate be?! theatreinthepark.com
6/9–25 A Little Princess
Calling all royals! Catch this reinvented classic tale following the charming daughter of a captain navigate relationships and loss while maintaining her imagination and positive spirit. sweetteashakespeare.thundertix.com
6/10 Al Strong: Jazz Is My Religion
Tune in for some majazztic music and celebrate African American Music Appreciation Month with a unique jazz performance starring Grammy-nominated trumpet player and composer Al Strong. ncmuseumofhistory.org
6/10 Best of the Triangle Show
Bop with a slew of local bands ( 8-Track Minds, Vertigo and Garland Mason)—all three of which earned a finalist spot in the WRAL 2022 Voters’ Choice Awards. Let’s jam! lincolntheatre.com
6/10 Splash: Grand Opening of Reimagined Water Play
Water you doing? Play the day away with aqua-based activities such as sending boats speeding down the water table, casting a line in the fishing pond, manipulating movable jets of water and more. Ready to make a splash? marbleskidsmuseum.org
6/10 Summer Festival by Brookside Bodega and The Optimist
Join Brookside Bodega in celebrating the end of the school year and its one-year anniversary at the fun-filled fest. And with drinks provided by Raleigh Brewing Company and live music by Adam Lee Decker Trio and Oren Bailey, it’s sure to be a blast! brooksidebodega.com
6/11 Ricardo Arjona
Find Guatemalan singer-songwriter bringin’ his Latin American ballads to PNC. No problema, indeed. pncarena.com
Jam your face—plus, jam out to live music from Lake Chamberlain!—with delish fare via the creations of 17 local chefs and purveyors. And don’t miss the kids’ crafts, a petting zoo and silent auction (!). See ya at the farm! undertheoakcatering.com
6/11–8/31 Triangle Trivia Tournament
Test your smarts and join hammered trivia for the Triangle Trivia Tournament. Vie for a bid for the $1,000 grand prize at any of the 19 participating locations. It’s hammer time! hammeredtrivia.com
6/12–16 Juneteenth Jubilee
Honor African American culture with the city of Raleigh at the weeklong event celebrating tradition, history, art and more. raleighnc.gov
6/13 Charley Crockett
“The Man from Waco” is in town! Jam out to blues/country croonin’ with singer, guitarist and songwriter hailing from the great state of—you guessed it—Texas as he riffs at The Ritz. concerts.livenation.com
6/13 Dj Jay Tay
Get down with Dj Jay Tay at the Bodega’s weekly music series. And we be jammin’… brooksidebodega.com
6/13 Jacob Collier
Groove to the smooth tunes of this Grammy-winning up-and-coming artist—feat. on recent songs from the likes of Coldplay, SZA, Stormzy and Kehlani—“all night long.” ncartmuseum.org
6/14 Honor Juneteenth
“For we can only be human together.” Explore the history and legacy of Juneteenth with Dr. Spencer R. Crew and Professor Clarence J. Robinson at the North Carolina Museum of History. ncmuseumofhistory.org
6/14 Noah Kahan
Calling all busyheads! It’s #StickSeason in Raleigh—so channel those sad girl summer feels and vibe to folk/pop with this mellow musician. redhatamphitheater.com
6/14 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
Industrious coworking space to leave Wells Fargo building in DTR—Highwoods taking over with its own brand, The Commons.
Highwoods Properties can now add coworking alternative The Commons 150 Fayetteville to its Raleigh roster. In a super-strategic move, sources tell us Highwoods Properties has reached an agreement with Industrious to directly lease and operate the 27,000-square-foot coworking offices on the third floor of its 150 Fayetteville St. tower (aka Wells Fargo Capitol Center).
According to a current coworking tenant, “everything will remain the same, just new branding—so, same luxury coworking and great snacks”—NTM adaptable spaces via dedicated desks, private offices, shared common areas, conference rooms and thoughtful amenities Industrious has been known for. And bonus for Highwoods tenants, “as they build out all their buildings, if things aren’t quite ready for tenants, they can use The Commons,” he adds.
Photo courtesy of Industrious Raleigh
Highwoods purchased 150 Fayetteville in 2021 and has been making noticeable improvements to both the interior and exterior of the building along the 100 block of Fayetteville Street (including the Alexander Square parking deck) since its acquisition.
The Commons 150 Fayetteville bulks up Highwoods’ rich Raleigh portfolio of Class A office offerings, which will now include a full array of office and mixed-use options for businesses and entrepreneurs—from the flexibility of coworking offices and spec suites to the long-term stability of highly amenitized professional offices across its 45+ Triangle-wide buildings.
