Forks up! Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week is back July 24 through Aug. 3, shining a light on some of the city’s best eateries and tempting diners to try out new-to-them spots or return to their faves for special deals, prix fixe menus and experimental dishes. And no matter what you’re craving, odds are it’s on the list, with diversified ops ranging from Southern comfort and contemporary American to Asian, Italian, Mexican and more—plus new-this-year drink and dessert ops. See the full list of participating restaurants below, and click here for all the specific offerings.
Join Designed for Joy in celebrating an amazing feat of hiring nearly 90 women with over $200,000 in living wages earned in the last five years! The occasion, taking place at the NCMA, will feature Designed for Joy success stories, a silent auction, three catered stations with beer and wine, and more. #GirlPower! designedforjoy.com
9/29 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards
The biggest night in bluegrass music is back to honor pioneers in the genre—with performances by some of bluegrass’ best, of course. worldofbluegrass.org
9/29 Malbec and Empanadas
Wine not enjoy Thirsty Thursday with a side of empanadas while learning about Argentinian wines at Vitis House?! vitishouse.com
9/29 Ranky Tanky
Get funky (Ranky Tanky = a Gullah phrase for “get funky”) with this Grammy-winning band who’s teaming up with soulful songstress Lisa Fischer for a performance that both heals and rocks the house. rankytanky.com
9/29 Wine and Brew Walk
Hey, brew. Wanna take a hot girl walk for a good cause? Lace up and head to Waverly place for a scenic stroll to support the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, then sip on a glass of sparkling wine and shop from more than a dozen local vendors. Walk on! kayyow.com
9/29 Videri Chocolate Tasting & A Night at the Theatre
Calling all chocoholics and culture vultures! This one-of-a-kind event combines a Videri chocolate tasting with a premier showing of A Great Big Wooly Mammoth Thawing From the Ice. How sweet! viderichocolatefactory.com
9/29–10/1 Adam Ray
Immigrant star Adam Ray (who also recently received praise for his role as Jay Leno in Hulu’s Pam & Tommy) trades the big screen for the Raleigh Improv stage to bless Raleighites with his stand-up. improv.com
9/29–10/1 Akaash Singh
Indian-born, Texas-raised funny man Akaash Singh is fast becoming a household name with a can’t-miss hilarious take on growing up brown in America. goodnightscomedy.com
9/30 COIN
Flip a coin. If it’s tails, go to The Ritz. If it’s heads, well… you should probably still go to The Ritz—it’s a win-win! ritzraleigh.com
9/30–10/1 IBMA Bluegrass Live!
The largest free (!) urban bluegrass festival in the world returns to Raleigh (now taking palace indoors due to weather) featuring IBMA- and Grammy Award-winning legends and emerging acts—no strings attached. worldofbluegrass.org
9/30–10/1 Triangle Oktoberfest
Allow us to share some danke news. Booth Amphitheatre is celebrating its eighth annual Oktoberfest, complete with beer (natch), brats and wiener dog races. Make sure to dress to the neins (translation: don your best lederhosen!). boothamphitheatre.com
9/30–10/16 Let the Right One In
Sink your teeth into this sinister play featuring a mysterious next-door neighbor, a lonely teenager and a string of chilling murders. Spooky! theatreinthepark.com
10/1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers
Skate over to PNC to see the Panthers take on the Canes. Ice, ice, baby. nhl.com
10/1 Gods & Goddesses Night at Flask Cocktail Bar
Bring your inner gods and goddesses out for this themed night at Flask, which is debuting a new cocktail menu dubbed Ungodly Nectars, “inspired by ancient mythology and indulgent temptations.” It’s gonna be legendary! facebook.com/flaskcocktailbar
10/1 JB Smoove: Physical Therapy Tour
Curb Your Enthusiasm, because standup comedy king and notable Netflix star JB Smoove is setting his sights on the City of Oaks. That’s how we dooz it… carolinatheatre.org
10/1 NC-Style Whole Hog Pig Pickin’
Sending all the hogs and kisses to Clouds Brewing for its traditional NC-style pig pickin’—and on NC State game day to boot! Nosh on slow-smoked pork—and traditional sides like mac ’n’ cheese, baked beans and corn, natch—while watching the Pack take on the Tigers. cloudsbrewing.com
10/1 The Over The Edge Fundraiser
The sky’s the limit for this fundraiser… literally. Raising funds to support Special Olympics North Carolina you’ll find participants rappelling off a 30-story skyscraper. We’re on the edge of our seats for this one! overthedgeglobal.com
10/1 Road to Joy Album Release Party
It’s about the journey rather than the destination, right?! Hop on the Road to Joy with folk artist J Candeed to sing and sway the night away. hartwellraleigh.com
10/1 Yoga at Altered State
A Zen evening with yoga and beer doesn’t have to be a stretch. Get a little bendy then enjoy an Altered State brew to keep the flow going. Om, yeah! alteredstatebrewing.com
10/1–16, weekends Triangle Parade of Homes
Swap HGTV inspo for real-life inspo at this free annual three-weekend self-guided tour of the area’s newest homes on the market—so you can find anything from your next floor plan to decor ideas to your next addy. triangleparade.com
10/2 Chef Saif Rahman Pop-Up Dinner at Cheeni Indian Food Emporium
Turning all naan believers is Vidrio Executive Chef Saif Rahman, who will be cooking up the foods of his homeland, Bangladesh, at Cheeni. Think black-eyed peas pakora, green papaya salad, Tandoori-spiced salmon, raita and more. cheeniraleigh.com
10/2 Goat Yoga
Goat this. Hit up Crank Arm Brewing for a yoga sesh featuring baby goats, followed by a brew (or two)—whatever floats your goat (had to)! crankarmbrewing.com
10/2 Manon Lescaut
The first smash hit opera by Giacomo Puccini, this passionate love story (girl meets boy, they fall in love, run away to Paris together, etc., etc.) is sure to hit a high note. ncopera.org
10/2 Official Bluegrass Brunch
No need to feel blue—the Official IBMA Bluegrass Brunch, a collab between Transfer Co. Ballroom, Artsplosure and bluegrass artist Tray Wellington, is back! Get ready to jam out and nosh out. transfercofoodhall.com
10/2 Panic! At the Disco
Don’t panic (had to). We’ve got “high hopes” for Panic! At the Disco’s PNC performance during their Viva Las Vengeance tour. pncarena.com
10/2 Walk Together RDU
Take another step against child abuse and neglect at this EndCAN walk on NC State’s Centennial Campus. charity.pledgeit.org
10/3 Death Cab for Cutie
We’ll follow Death Cab for Cutie into the dark—and to Red Hat for their 2022 Raleigh tour stop. redhatamphitheater.com
10/3 Lucy Dacus
Break hearts and take names via Lucy Dacus’ “music for hot people” at The Ritz. We “triple dog dare” you… livenation.com
10/3–6 Dashi Omakase Series
Miso happy for the return of Japanese chef Satoshi Katakura’s annual four-night dinner series featuring a collaborative five-course menu. You’re not gonna wanna miss it! dashiramen.com
10/3-10/9 Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week
Grab your stretchy pants and clear your cal, Raleigh! Downtown Raleigh Alliance’s 2022 Restaurant Week is back in full effect with a roster of can’t-miss restos—including a strong selection of locally owned and farm-t0-table hot spots. Time to dig in and support local! Stay tuned for a full list of participating eateries + more info. downtownraleigh.org
10/3, weekly Yoga in the Park
Stretch your limits on Saturdays with free yoga at Dix Park. Yogatta be there! dixpark.org
10/4 Splatterfix Blood Drive
Don’t be vein… give some blood at Carolina Theatre’s blood drive. It’s sure to be A-positive experience! redcrossblood.org
10/5 Katherine Blanford
From her tales of the horrors of brunch to the funnies of her previous career corralling kids (AKA nannying), chart-climbing “human golden retriever” and comedian Katherine Blanford is a must-see. goodnightscomedy.com
It’s been a tough year for locally owned restaurants, with many forced to close their doors—some permanently. That’s why this year’s Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week, hosted in partnership with the Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA), is the perfect time to show local restaurants some love when they need it most. So come out and bring the family for a socially distanced meal downtown; you’ll be showing the local economy some much-needed support while, as ever with Restaurant Week, getting delightfully wined and dined.
When
The DRA’s Downtown Raleigh Restaurant week will take place from October 2 until October 11.
What
Unlike past restaurant weeks, when restaurants created specific fixed price menus, the DRA this year is leaving offerings solely up to the restaurants. Some will offer their regular menus, some will do the fixed price dishes and others will feature special desserts. All the more reason to find out what each of your favorites is up to!
Where
Almost all of downtown Raleigh’s restaurants are participating this season, featuring everything from pasta to burgers and tacos to seafood. There’s something for everyone, so there’s no excuse not to partake! Additionally, on both Saturdays during restaurant week (October 3 and 10), the 200 and 300 blocks of Fayetteville Street will be closed to traffic from 5 to 9 p.m. to allow picnic tables and art to be placed along the streets, providing more room for people to come out and dine, socially distanced. Diners can also choose to order takeout or buy gift cards to use later on.
Why
The DRA hopes Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week will boost support of local restaurants as the city attempts to reopen in the wake of COVID-19. This year’s Restaurant Week will also keep safety and health precautions at the forefront and in accordance with the governor’s orders.
Right now, all large events in Raleigh have been cancelled, postponed or suspended and it’s hard to imagine life getting back to normal—but it will. Our list of the city’s best events is a mix of Raleigh’s oldest and newest, events where you can give back and a couple that only happen once in a lifetime. Don’t worry, once life returns to normal, we fully expect these events to still be on the calendar.
Band Together NC, an organization that brings the community and nonprofits together through live music is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Band Together will celebrate the milestone with a big community concert honoring all of its partners from the last 20 years.
A great opportunity to indulge your palate and find a new favorite restaurant, this week-long event offers diners the chance to grab great lunches for $5-$10 and three-course, prix fixe dinners for either $20 or $30.
The Black Crowes are reuniting for a tour this year. The Robinson brothers haven’t played a show since 2013, but, luckily for fans, time seems to have healed all wounds and reported rifts. The tour will hit the Carolinas with dates scheduled for PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte on Friday, July 3 and Coastal Credit Union Music Park in Raleigh on Saturday, July 4.
Once again topping USA Today’s list as one of the biggest and best beer festivals in the country, Brewgaloo is North Carolina’s largest craft beer festival, celebrating everything local—local beer, local food trucks and local vendors. The Saturday festival includes a Friday night block party.
Election Day 11/3/2020
It’s a privilege, a right and a responsibility to cast your ballot for many offices but especially for the President of the United States. Please, read up on the issues; decide for yourself who will lead our country best and cast your ballot in service of the direction you’d like to see our country go. And, of course, don’t forget to cast a vote for who you’d like to represent you in Congress, in the U.S. Senate and in dozens of other state and local offices.
One of the Southeast’s premier arts festivals, Artsplosure celebrates fine visual art and live music. More than 80,000 people roam the streets of downtown Raleigh, viewing work in different mediums from more than 180 artists for free.
Evening of Hope is a who’s who of Raleigh, an annual gala benefiting The Foundation of Hope for Research & Treatment of Mental Illness. The gala includes dinner with wine pairings at the Pavilion at the Angus Barn. This year’s speaker, country music singer LeAnn Rimes, talks about her battles with depression and anxiety.
Raleigh’s hometown race and the city’s 14th annual City of Oaks Marathon will offer distance races for everyone. Lace up your running shoes for the full marathon, a half marathon, a marathon relay, the Old Reliable 10K, the Acorn 5K or a mile with the kids. Afterwards, relax at the post-race party with live music and free beer.
Hopscotch returns to venues all over downtown Raleigh for the energetic music festival’s eighth straight year. More than 450 bands will perform for 60,000 fans; look for the festival lineup soon and get those wristbands early, because shows tend to sell out fast.
While the kickoff for North Hills’ 13th season will likely be postponed to later in the summer, this is definitely a summertime must-do event. The series offers the best of Beach Music on warm summer nights and features shag dancing, a storied, time-honored tradition in the South.
Alanis Morisette is celebrating the 25th anniversary of her breakthrough album “Jagged Little Pill” with a tour. Morisette will play in Charlotte on June 21 and in Raleigh on June 23 at Coastal Credit Union Music Park.
The largest free urban bluegrass festival in the world returns to Raleigh with eight stages of IBMA and GRAMMY Award winners, emerging artists, and traditional bluegrass tunes. The Main Stage at Red Hat Amphitheater is a fundraiser for the IBMA Trust Fund, a nonprofit that supports bluegrass music professionals.
Get ready for fried foods of all of all kinds, gigantic pumpkins, exhilarating carnival rides, live performances and more at the annual N.C. State Fair. The event draws in 11 million visitors every year and is the largest event in the state of North Carolina.
