by Lauren Kruchten | Jul 25, 2024 | 2024, Eat, July 2024/August 2024
Scott Crawford’s new concept at RDU has taken off.
Scott Crawford’s latest restaurant has opened at RDU, but it won’t feel like you’re at the airport at all. And, odds are, you might find yourself hoping for a delay to experience it.
Tailored to travelers while boasting the same top-notch hospitality for which Crawford’s restaurants are known (think Crawford and Son’s James Beard nod for Outstanding Hospitality!), Crawford’s Genuine—located in Terminal 2—will offer “that classic North Carolina dining experience, just like you would expect at one of our restaurants,” says the namesake chef. “We’ve put a lot of effort into the design, for instance, even creating an ‘outdoor patio.’”
The menu is also designed with travelers in mind, catering both to those who have time to waste between layovers and those hurrying to their gate.
“I’m not sure anyone realizes how much I love this type of casual-but-upscale bar and grill food,” he adds. “I’m really excited about our menu and what we’ll be offering at Crawford’s Genuine. It’s fun, delicious food, and has all the hallmarks of Crawford Hospitality’s attention to detail and refinement.”
Catering to an all-day affair, breakfast, lunch and dinner items are on offer, running the gamut from morning selects like sweet and savory bowls (think short rib and eggs, baked French toast, and yogurt with granola) to lunch/dinner fare like smoked chicken wings, crispy shrimp lettuce wraps, mushroom cavatelli and a classic smash burger, alongside additional apps, salads, sandwiches and entrees—to pair with cocktails, beer and wine.
And for victims of ridiculous connection times, Crawford’s Genuine will also have a dedicated grab-and-go case of prepared foods, as well as a dedicated counter for ordering from the to-go menu, which includes items like smoked trout dip, kale Caesar and a chicken salad sandwich.
“This new venture means a lot to our company and community,” emphasizes Crawford. “I’m especially thankful we have found a partner like Grove Bay Concessions for this project. We’re excited to reach a broader audience with our cooking and our brand. It’s an incredible opportunity to introduce visitors and residents to Crawford Hospitality. It’s also exciting—and an honor—for us to be elevating the food, beverage and overall hospitality at RDU Airport.”
by Heidi Reid | Jul 8, 2024 | 2024, Buzz, July 2024/August 2024
From locally owned restaurants and bars to direct destinations, here’s what’s rolling out at RDU.
If you’ve been browsing (or booking!) flights in between meetings at work, you’re not alone (shh, we won’t tell!). And RDU is taking notice. ICYMI, the airport set a new passenger traffic record in May thanks to over 1.4 million travelers (!) flying through—outpacing April by 10.5%. And the fastest-growing Top 50 airport in the U.S. isn’t slated to slow its roll anytime soon, with a constant rollout of new nonstop flights, runway updates and restaurant debuts keeping pace with frequent fliers.
Here, the lowdown on nonstop flights that have gone wheels up this year, plus deets on a slew of highly anticipated eateries to nosh at before embarking on your jet-setting dreams. Bon voyage!
New Nonstop Flights
Boston (BOS) | Frontier Airlines
Miami (MIA) | Frontier Airlines
New York (LGA) | Frontier Airlines
Tampa (TPA) | Frontier Airlines
Chicago-O’Hare (ORD) | Frontier Airlines
San Diego (SAN) | Breeze Airways
White Plains, New York (HPN) | Breeze Airways
Albany, New York (ALB) | Avelo Airlines
Milwaukee (MKE) | Frontier Airlines
Burlington, Vermont (BTV) | Breeze Airways
Syracuse, New York (SYR) | Breeze Airways
Portland, Maine (PWM) | Breeze Airways
Frankfurt, Germany (FRA) | Lufthansa
Panama City, Panama (PTY) | Copa Airlines
Mexico City, Mexico (MEX) | Aeromexico
New Food and Beverage Ops
Already Open
Beyu Caffe | Terminals 1 & 2, pre-security
Black & White Coffee Roasters | Terminal 2, Gate C1
Lonerider Brewery | Terminal 2, Gate C7
Coming Soon (fall 2024–spring 2025)
Adios! (by Oscar Diaz) | Terminal 2
Bobby’s Burgers (by Bobby Flay) | TBD
Bond Brothers Taproom and Kitchen | Terminal 2
Bongiorno & Son | Terminal 2
Butcher’s Burger & Bar | Terminal 2
Conniption Cocktails and Cuisine | Terminal 2, opening fall 2024
Crawford’s Genuine (by Scott Crawford) | Terminal 2, late August
Dunkin’ Donuts | Terminal 2
Guy’s Pizza Joint | Terminal 2
Half Moon Empanadas, Terminal 2
Raleigh Beer Garden | Terminal 1
by Raleigh Magazine | Apr 29, 2024 | Buzz, May 2024
Console yourselves—Raleigh ranks as a Top 5 Major Esports Event Host Destination from 2021 to 2023.
Gut check: The State Health Plan halted coverage of trending weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound—though officials are in talks with the companies who make them to negotiate another deal for coverage.
More money, more problems. SmartAsset recently reported you need to pull in a salary of $102,752 to live comfortably in Raleigh.
Inflation is (still) rising, with
consumer prices rising 3.5% in March, up from February’s 3.2%—derailing Fed’s plan to reduce interest rates in June and raising questions on whether cuts = economic slowdown.
by Lauren Kruchten | Oct 2, 2023 | Eat, October 2023
In honor of Durham Distillery’s 10-year anny, here’s 10 things to know.
He was a chemist, she did marketing—could a gin distillery be any more obvious? Fast-forward 10 years and the idea born on a fateful drive back from a weekend anniversary trip to Savannah is now celebrating a decade—and what started as a random business concept by husband-and-wife founders Melissa and Lee Katrincic has now burgeoned into one of the most successful gin companies in the country.
With several award-winning bottles under its belt—the most recent being the purple Conniption Kinship Gin (you can’t miss it)—the successful spirits are available in myriad markets, from New York to Georgia to Florida, with plans to expand even farther.
And of course there’s also the ever-popular Bull City cocktail lounge and bar, Corpse Reviver. But the ultimate goal? “If we do this right, I want Conniption to be seen in the next five to 10 years as the highest-quality American gin,” says Melissa. “I know it’s a really big reach, but I want Conniption to be to gin what Tito’s is to vodka for America.” Cheers to dreaming big.
1 The name “conniption” comes from Melissa’s Grandma Gertrude’s “Well, don’t have a conniption fit” saying
2 It’s been smooth sipping ever since Durham Distillery released its Conniption Cocktails, aka the first RTD cans in NC.
3 But wait, there’s more! The distillery doesn’t just produce gin—in addition to the RTD bevs, they also offer vodka and Damn Fine Liqueurs (chocolate, coffee, mocha).
4 Hats off. The distillery’s Conniption Navy Strength Gin has been named the best in the country in the Navy Strength category at the World Gin Awards for five years running.
5 A dream come true: Durham Distillery can be found at “The Most Magical Place on Earth,” specifically at the Space 220 Restaurant in Epcot.
6 Melissa is a trained gin judge for the American Distilling Institute competitions. “At this point, I’m pretty confident I’ve tried over 500 gins,” she says
7 Prepare for takeoff—Conniption Cocktails and Cuisine is opening in Terminal 2 at RDU Airport next year with full breakfast, lunch and dinner menus—plus draft cocktails, subzero martinis, slushies and more.
8 Conniption American Dry made a home run at Yankee Stadium over the summer.
9 Back by popular demand, the distillery is re-releasing a limited run of its 10-month-aged gin in High West bourbon barrels starting in October.
10 The American Dry is also in No. 1-selling cocktail at Midtown Manhattan’s glamorous cocktail lounge The Skylark.
by Raleigh Magazine | Jun 29, 2023 | Do, July/August 2023
Our local airport flies above and beyond.
Airplane mode: on. I’ve been to 15 airports on three continents during the last two years alone. I’ve dealt with delays, TSA traumas, disappointing dining options and airports that simply don’t pass the vibe check (cough, cough, O’Hare). I’ve also bopped through boujee travel pads touting nap rooms, capsule hotels, customer service robots, eye-catching artwork and droolworthy fare (s/o to the noodles at Narita
International Airport!).
Yet, as they say, distance makes the heart grow fonder. After all my travels, one airport continues to soar above the rest for me. *Cue the drumroll* … it’s none other than our local, lovable and what some might call little Raleigh-Durham International Airport (“though she be but little she is fierce,” and I’d even argue RDU’s smaller size adds to its appeal).
To wit, our airport has friendly TSA agents and local eateries boasting our city’s impressive foodie scene (La Farm Bakery! Char-Grill! Raleigh Brewing!), with more hometown eats and drinks on the way—think Conniption Cocktail Bar, Raleigh Beer Garden and Lonerider Brewing, to name but a few. And going the extra mile, RDU continues to extend its direct flight options. Translation: way less layover drama.
Then there’s the unbeatable vibe. Call me sentimental, but there’s no feeling quite like returning to Raleigh after a long flight and rolling my suitcase past the iconic Raleigh mural toward my pickup point. The whole airport gives off a warm ambiance—so much so that I would just visit for fun… and I have (don’t @ me).
Whether it was love at first flight or I’ve got my head in the clouds, RDU will forever be an airport standout in my heart. And I can’t wait to see how it keeps spreading its wings and flying higher in the future. Essentially, if I’m starting my travels from Raleigh… consider me ready for takeoff.
—Infatuated frequent flyer
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