Raleigh local publishes timeless guidebook on 100 things to do in Raleigh.
If you’ve been reading Raleigh Mag for a while, then you know we’re you’re daily go-to guide for things to do around the City of Oaks (NTM where to dine, what to do, what’s in the news, etc.).
But if you’re looking to boost your Raleigh bucket list in the form of a book, providing even more fodder for your cal is recently released 100 Things to Do in Raleigh Before You Die. The book is the latest locale (get it, Raleigh!) in local author Alli Hurley’s popular 100 Things to Do Before You Die series (having covered the likes of Charleston and Pittsburgh, among other fun-filled cities).
A Raleigh native, Hurley watched the City of Oaks’ ever-changing landscape evolve—even getting the unique opp to reexperience it upon returning after a hiatus. “I got to see Raleigh with a bit of fresh eyes,” she says—from tasting craft beer at Brewgaloo to paddling on Lake Johnson (two Raleigh musts!).
“When you live in a place, you don’t really act like a tourist,” she says, nodding to places she visited on school field trips, for example, but wouldn’t have otherwise considered returning to as an adult—and who wouldn’t want to relive those nostalgic childhood mems?!
Divvied up into five major categories (food & drink, music & entertainment, sports & recreation, culture & history, and shopping & fashion), the trusty tome also highlights spots other guidebooks may overlook—and even includes suggested itineraries and insider’s tips on your old faves. Plus, having lived in other cities, Hurley was able to truly spotlight the special charm that Raleigh offers.
“I would say Raleigh is unique in that it has very similar opportunities, if not better ones, than big cities—but you never feel like you’re compromising your quality of life,” she says. “Maybe it’s not London, but it’s like, the more you live here, the more charming it becomes.”
Save the date for Hurley’s book signing at NOFO on Saturday, June 4. Hey, just rack it up as the 101st thing to do in Raleigh (!). Quail Ridge Books, Barnes & Noble, Target, Amazon & online.
From exhibits celebrating Black History Month to theatre performances to the annual Krispy Kreme Challenge, there’s lots of fun events going on in Raleigh this week.
Through 5/1 Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge, 1718
Arrrgh! Channel your inner Jack Sparrow, and get your pirate on with this deep-dive into the legend of Blackbeard and the Golden Age of Piracy, on view now at the North Carolina Museum of History. ncmuseumofhistory.org
Culture vultures are gonna want to make their way to Meredith Art Galleries’ newest exhibit, I Carry Them On My Back, Of Course!—presented by The Black on Black Project and funded in part by the Kenan Fund, and featuring artist Alexandria Clay’s body of work, which, “through a series of multimedia collages that construct ideal worlds, followed by an expanding practice in portraiture, aims to bring a specific, emotional trial to light, and to make known the invisible efforts that sustain her community.” gallery.meredith.edu
Feb., ongoing Free Workouts for American Heart Month
Join the City of Raleigh in celebration of American Heart Month with various Heart Health Month activities, including water exercise and park workouts. raleighnc.gov
Feb., ongoing Raleigh Comedy Bus Tour
Didja know that after Sir Walter died, his wife kept his head in a red velvet bag for almost 30 years? … All aboard this private on-demand comedy bus tour (so a feeltrip, if you will)—making fun of Raleigh’s history one joke at a time. BYOB (and wine). tobaccoroadtours.com
2/3 Doggy Date Night
Treat your fur baby to date night at Transfer Co. Food Hall for treats (Captain Cookies is offering pumpkin-peanut butter dog treats and Mama Crow’s will have a dog-friendly menu (!))—plus toys from local pet supply vendors. transfercofoodhall.com
2/3 NC State vs. Florida State
It’s the ladies lighting up Tobacco Road, y’all. Catch the Wolfpack women as they notch another W over the Noles.gopack.com
2/3–5 Esther Povitsky
“Hot for her name,” the self-deprecating deadpan funnywoman (aka “Little Esther”) brings her distinctly modern storytelling on the trials of being a 30-something in today’s world to Goodnights. goodnightscomedy.com
2/3 & 5, weekly Music Bingo
All the Bingo ladies (and gents) get your fix at Lonerider Brewing Company’s Wake Forest “hideout” Thursday (7–9pm) and Saturdays (9–11pm) for the February return of this tuneful weekly iteration of music bingo with music (obv), prizes and drink specials—and bragging rights, obv. loneriderbeer.com
2/3–5 Triangle Wine & Food Experience
You’re the wine that I want. Sip back, relax and get uncorked at this annual TWFE premier wine and food event to benefit the Frankie Lemmon School & Developmental Center. Pouring one on for charity? Twist our arms… trianglewinefood.org
2/3–20 Romeo & Juliet
If you’re wondering wherefore art thou Romeo, find him with his beloved Juliet in this highly acclaimed Carolina Ballet rendition of the Shakespeare epic tragedy of doomed young lovers—think dramatic sword fights, breathtaking dance, stunning costumes and lush scenery—led by artistic director Robert Weiss and set to Prokofiev’s magnificent score. carolinaballet.com
2/4 Afrolatinidad: The History of Salsa From Africa to the World
Celebrate Black History Month with The Diamante Arts & Cultural Center by learning about the importance of music and dance. diamanteartsculturalcenter.org
2/4 First Friday: The Black & White Affair (@ the sheraton hotel raleigh)
It’s finally Friday! Immerse yourself in art and music in downtown Raleigh to unwind from your long week. downtownraleigh.org
2/4–5, weekly (Friday/Saturday) Raleigh Pub Crawl/Haunted Adventure Tour
Can’t decide where to get weekend drinks? No problem! The Tobacco Road Tours’ Raleigh Pub Crawl and Haunted Adventure will have you drinking the best beer while exploring the haunted side of Raleigh. visitraleigh.com
2/4–5 Margaret Cho
Cho brings her raunchy (and riotous) brand of comedy to four must-see shows at Raleigh Improv. improv.com
2/4–20 Greater Tuna
“One of the best times you can have sitting down!” Tuna, Texas, population 2 is comprised completely by the zany duo that is Ira David Wood IV and David Henderson in this Theatre in the Park tour-de-farce of two actors, 20 characters and infinite laughs. theatreinthepark.com
2/5 Gardening in the South
Get your green thumbs ready for spring via this lecture at JC Raulston Arboretum—sponsored by Leaf & Limb—in which Leanne Kenealy Atkins and horticulturist and NC State professor/director of the horticultural substrates laboratory Brian Jackson Ph.D. discusses potting media options for successful container gardens. leaflimb.com
2/5 Krispy Kreme Challenge
Will run for doughnuts! 2,400 calories, 12 doughnuts, 5 miles, 1 hour. ’Tis the story of this 18th annual Raleigh running tradition from NCSU’s Memorial Belltower through historic DTR to Krispy Kreme (where runners pause to down a dozen doughnuts) and back—this year taking place virtually. Nearly 5,500 people plodded the pavement in 2020 for pillowy perfect treats and bragging rights of their physical and gastric prowess, simultaneously adding to the now cumulative total donation to UNC Children’s Hospital of a whopping $1.6 million. See, doughnuts are good for you. Can you stomach it? krispykremechallenge.com
Jump into “a world where many worlds fit” as Las Cafeteras remixes Afro-Mexican beats, Son Jarocho rhythms and hip-hop to create a magnetic sound and undeniable energy via NC State LIVE’s popular spring program, open to the public. live.arts.ncsu.edu/spring-2022
2/5 Lunar New Year Celebration & Market
Happy New Year (take two)! Triangle Pop-Up is hosting a Lunar New Year celebration and market this Saturday at Big Boss Brewing featuring two AAPI-owned food trucks and a group of AAPI stand-up comedians on the main stage. trianglepopup.com
2/5 NC State vs. Notre Dame
Look for the Wolfpack to beat the luck outta the Irish. gopack.com
2/5 Lyrical Variations
Shift happens. Take one half-step at a time over to the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle’s UpClose Chamber Music Series event of the season, Lyrical Variations, featuring the acclaimed Verona Quartet and special guest cellist Caroline Stinson at Durham Arts Council’s PSI Theatre, featuring Bartok’s String Quartet No. 3 and Schubert’s Cello Quintet in C Major. thecot.org
2/6 Kay Yow Celebration Run/Walk
“When life kicks you, let it kick you forward.” Propel yourself in the fight against all cancers affecting women as you lace up for this annual run/walk.kayyow.com
2/6 Valentine’s Drag Brunch
Mimosas, brunch and drag queens! Head over to Heyday Brewing for its debut Valentine’s Drag Brunch. Yasss, queen! carolinadragbrunch.simpletix.com
2/7 Play4Kay Game
In this seventh annual #Play4Kay game, the Wolfpack women’ll take the sting outta the GA Tech Yellow Jackets while they honor Kay Yow and help punch cancer in the mouth. gopack.com
2/9 NC State vs. Wake Forest
Go Deacs… back to Winston with a loss that is. gopack.com
From yoga classes, art and culture events to beer dinners and brunch, there’s plenty of fun things to do in Raleigh this week!
Through 2/13 ART
Celebrate Black History Month via thisBurning Coal Theatre Company’s upcoming production of the Tony Award-winning classic comedy by Yasmina Reza featuring an all-Black cast. burningcoal.org
Through 2/27 Dix Park Pop-Up Museum
Immerse yourself in the layered history of Dix Park and profiles of NC Black architects and builders via two inspiring history exhibits, Plantation to Parkand We Built This, respectively, at Dix Park’s first-ever Pop-up Museum. dixpark.org
Through 1/30 Astronomy Days
The Raleigh Astronomy Club is here to help you see the big picture—of the universe! The club’s virtual Astronomy Days at the science museum explores everything from rockets, exoplanets and telescopes to crafts and activities. naturalsciences.org
Through 3/1 Breathe, Back to Life
Get a behind-the-scenes look at artist JP Jermaine Powell’s influences, global travel experiences and relationship with his local community through this 28-piece exhibit featuring JP’s artwork and photography at Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. dukeenergycenterraleigh.com
1/27 American Spiritual Ensemble
In the Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, let the soul-stirring voices of American Spiritual Ensemble move you as they evoke the power, faith and beauty of the American Negro spiritual via NC State LIVE’s popular spring program, open to the public. live.arts.ncsu.edu
1/27 Lonerider at Five Points Beer Dinner
You know what they say, beauty is in the eye of the beer holder! Head to Lonerider at Five Points to enjoy a four-course dinner curated by Lonerider’s executive chef Ron West Jr. loneriderbeer.com
1/28–29
Gianmarco Sorsei
Be prepared to laugh out loud when NY-based comedian and actor Gianmarco Soresi (his first comedy special, Shelf Life, was nominated for three NY Emmy Awards) takes the stage at Goodnights Comedy Club. goodnightscomedy.com
1/28, 30 La Bohème
Have yet to live out your bohemian life fantasies? Lucky for you, it’s not too late to follow your dreams vicariously through Giacomo Puccini’s story of young love and loss in Paris presented by NC Opera. ncopera.org
1/29 Black People, Green Planet: Environmental Justice.
Virtually immerse yourself in African American culture through the NC Museum of History and NC African American Heritage’s 21st annual cultural celebration. nc-aacc.com
Namaste in the flow through Soul Yoga—whose mission is to “introduce a fresh experience to the yoga scene through vibrant, energetic classes that are hip yet soulful”—at CAM. camraleigh.org
1/30 Brunch at Killjoy
Beat the Sunday scaries with $3 mimosas at Killjoy! The popular DTR bar is launching brunch on Jan. 30, which—in addition to the $3 mimosas—will include $13 Champagne bottles, a live DJ and small plates. killjoycocktail.com
2/2 NC State vs. Syracuse
Time to beat the cute out of those ’cuties… gopack.com
2/2 Tequila Tasting
One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor? Hey, what doesn’t tequila makes you stronger, so muscle up to Midtown Grille’s tasting. themidtowngrille.com
Pop art fans are gonna want to head to LaMantia Gallery to peep this retrospective collection of 100+ works by iconic artist Peter Max (official artist of the Grammys and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame!), celebrating America, the pop art movement, music and artistic vision.
What a “beautiful” way to spend an evening! Bands Home Again and JT Express join together for a tribute performance dedicated to celebrated pop-rock icon Carole King and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer James Taylor, respectively, for a nostalgic performance. “How sweet it is.”
The funnyman behind the “most downloaded podcast” (The Adam Carolla Show)—and radio personality, comedian, actor to boot—is here to prove how funny he can be without having anything prepared by saying “challenge accepted” to spinning on-the-spot audience ideas into honest-to-goodness hilarity. Now this is something you have to see for yourself.
It isn’t “September,” but that doesn’t mean you can’t give a little love to one of the “Shining Stars” of the ’70s. Grab your tickets now to pay tribute to one of the most well-known bands of the baby boomer generation and beyond.
New power trio: tunes + live painting + vino! Carolina-born singer-songwriter Shenette Swann brings her soulful message of strength and self-empowerment to DTR, joined by jazz trio Thrio. Xavier Carlos ART live-paints as she performs, and each adult ticket scores you two glasses of wine.
Politics these days are a joke. No, seriously. With expertly perceptive commentary and witty wisecracks, D.L. Hughley dives headfirst into current controversial topics that are sure to get audiences talking.
Colonel Mustard in the kitchen with the candlestick. Grab your seat as Carolina Youth Theatre presents this classic whodunit, Clue(High School Edition) based on the famed 1985 Hasbro board game-inspired hit mystery flick.
Ride the rollercoaster of love through Raleigh Little Theatre’s production of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It, in which main character Rosalind disguises herself as a man to teach her love interest how to woo her. Juicy!
Country girls (and boys) shake it for best-selling country music artist Luke Bryan as he lights up Walnut Creek during his Proud to Be Right Here tour. That’s “my kind of night” indeed.
Duck, duck, splash! Join the Rotary Club of Wakefield for the third annual Super Duper Duck Splash at WRAL Soccer Park. Adopt a rubber duck to race (or float) to the finish line in a splashing fundraiser benefiting youth nonprofit initiatives in the community.
You know that feeling of floating—and then disaster strikes: layoffs, loss, breakups. The butterfly effect of life isn’t in the surviving—but in the choosing. This first musical by Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown examines those moments of decision in an ever-changing world via a powerful collection of songs in this must-see production at Memorial Auditorium.
The stars will align when award-winning violinist and dancer Lindsey Stirling (with appearances on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Kelly and Ryan, Dancing With the Stars and America’s Got Talent) takes stage at Red Hat Amphitheater as part of her Artemis Tour promoting her fifth album, Artemis, alongside special guest Kiesza.
Everyone’s favorite nerd/comedian/musician/writer/actor—he’s starred in myriad ’90s/early-’00s TV shows and movies (think New Girl and Seinfeld)—will be in town to produce a few of his fan-favorite self-deprecating ha-has and awkwardly relatable views.
There’s nothing to wine about as you sample red, white and sparkling wine while strolling and shopping through Waverly Place. Along with a Waverly Place Wine Walk Passport (we’re talking endless vino sips!), a $25 donation benefits Kay Yow Cancer Fund—so a win-win.
Brothers and Dancing With the Stars alums Maks and Val are twirling into Raleigh to debut their intimate Stripped Down Tour, a unique and heartwarming family-friendly experience packed with dancing, personal storytelling and world-class showmanship.
The fifth annual photography festival kicked off in April in historic downtown Wilson and viewing is open to the public through the summer. Take a stroll down Nash Street and the 100 block of Tarboro Street and take in vibrant, large-scale photographs from 100 different photographers, including 45 from different countries around the world. The theme of this year’s festival is “Main Street: A Crossroad of Cultures,” with a goal of cultivating cross-cultural understanding through photography. For 100 days, 100 photographs will be on display in 100 storefront windows around downtown Wilson and visitors can follow the exhibit as it links east and west Wilson into one large, shared community.eyesonmainstreetwilson.com
Taste 2019
June 26-30, Durham
In celebration of Durham’s 150th anniversary this year, Taste will feature six culinary events spotlighting the area’s cherished food and beverage community. The signature event of this four-day celebration is the Grand Taste Experience, featuring more than 30 dishes from some of the best chefs in the area. On Wednesday, a beer garden tent will serve up craft brews, while Thursday will feature a wine garden with a variety of wines available from around the world to try.tastetheevent.com
Cha House
Chapel Hill
This Asian-style tea house is one of the cutest, most cozy spots to get your tea fix in the Triangle. The Taiwanese owners source ingredients directly from Asia to produce craft teas and a variety of Asian-inspired snacks. Choose from loose-leaf blends, boba teas, matcha or signature offerings like the Cream Cheese Taro Brûlée made with torched brown sugar, cream cheese and sweet taro root. Served with Taiwanese popcorn chicken or green onion pancakes, we couldn’t blame you for accidentally spending a whole day at Cha House. chahouseusa.com
Pizzeria Mercato
Carrboro
Pizzeria Mercato claims to be the spot where “Italy meets the South,” with a menu that utilizes local ingredients sourced from the Carrboro Farmers Market in traditional Italian-style dishes. Their Neapolitan-inspired pizza is the main attraction, which boasts classic Italian toppings like fior di latte, guanciale – a cured meat prepared from pork jowl, anchovies and oregano. When the mood for pizza doesn’t strike, they also offer handmade pasta dishes, fresh salads and a variety of Italian appetizers, as well as to-die-for cannolis and gelato for dessert. pizzeriamercatonc.com
NC Symphony Presents: A Space Spectacular
June 1, Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary
This performance is going to be out of this world! In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing, the North Carolina Symphony, led by conductor Keitaro Harada, will perform music from space-inspired movies like “Star Wars,” orchestral suites such as Gustav’s Holst’s “The Planets,” and more. Costumed characters from the 501st Legion, an international fanbase dedicated to dressing like the “Star Wars” villains, will be available to meet and take pictures with fans. boothamphitheatre.com
