Bring It, Raleigh

Bring It, Raleigh

Why wish, just do. That directive discovered in the Free Expression Tunnel—aka an iconic graffitied pedestrian tunnel that runs under the railroad tracks on NC State’s campus—got us thinking. What’s Raleigh ready to do this year? Here, we take a look at the will-do’s of 2023 as we know them.

Wheels up! 

  • New Low-Fare Airlines and Direct Destinations
  • Blowing into the mix in February is Breeze, launching with five destinations: New Orleans; Hartford, CT; and Providence, RI—and adding Jacksonville, FL; and Columbus, OH, to its lineup May 18.
  • Keeping us “palm,” Avelo Airlines is adding to its roster of flights in February with service to six Florida cities: Orlando, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Sarasota, Palm Beach. 
  • Reykjavik extension, rejoice! Icelandair’s nonstop service to the Land of Fire and Ice has proven so popular with RDU flyers that the airline just announced it will start the season this March, rather than May.

Council Focus:

  • Affordable housing
  • Public safety
  • More reliable transit

Palate-Pleasers:

Developments Dropping:

On the Cal:

  • J. Cole’s Dreamville Fest returns to DTR April 1–2.
  • Tony Award-winning Sunset Boulevard is coming to NC Theatre this fall. 
  • Long-anticipated Dueling Dinosaurs exhibit finally drops at NC Museum of Natural Sciences,
    late 2023. Rawr!
Poppin’ Bubbly 

Poppin’ Bubbly 

Unwine at downtown Cary’s first Champagne and wine bar.

There’s no need to hide your resting b*tch face at the new RBF, Your Authentic Champagne Bar in Cary. … It’s in the name after all. Created to crush the patriarchy (!) and remind women they don’t always have to smile (IYKYK), RBF touts authenticity, sharing truth, and showing up for yourself and for others—over wine and cheese, natch. #GirlPower!

The wine bar—which will be opening in the Williams House in downtown Cary below a&bé Bridal and Bull City Ciderworks in the fall—begs you to celebrate your perfect authentic self with bubbles, wine, nonalcoholic libations and snacks with fun names (see: Having a Meltdown, aka grilled cheese bites; and I’m So Baked Right Now, a wine or Champagne flight paired with a customized cupcake flight). NTM the bruschetta named after influential women in owner Tiffany Welton’s life, or the monthly rotating charcuterie boards named after her ex-boyfriends (!). “Sometimes, we just need a cry, a laugh, maybe one more solid cry, and then a toast to the memories… the good and the bad ones,” says Welton. And, bonus, you can nominate one of your exes too!

Additionally, at RBF, Welton promotes a zero-tolerance policy on hate, and emphasizes inclusivity for everyone—regardless of gender identity, race, ethnicity, disability, age or sexuality. Plus, RBF will have a no-tipping model with menu pricing that reflects a living wage for employees. We’ll toast to all that.

So embrace the RBF (and that can mean resting b*tch face, resting beautiful face, resting bold face—whatever you want!)—then plan a night with your gal pals to share your stories… and cheers to a bright future of equality. rbf.wine