Did you know that Unlikely Professionals also has a bar? | Photo provided by Jessie Williams
This is part of our RALtoday Q+A series. Know someone we should interview? Nominate them here.
After walking through Edge of Urge or Unlikely Professionals, would you believe that the eclectic shops were an accident? Well, that’s how Jessie Williams, CEO, founder, and designer at Edge of Urge, describes her entrepreneurial journey.
Jessie opened her first Edge of Urge store in Wilmington, NC in 2002, followed by EOU Raleigh in 2014. Unlikely Professionals followed suit, opening its funky garage doors in 2019. Now, the unconventional boutique is celebrating its 20-year anniversary.
We asked Jessie eight questions about her ideal day in Raleigh, her eccentric style, and local leaders she’s following.
What were the last three things you did locally?
Raleigh City Farm; it has an awesome Farm Stand every Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. Escazu; June [Jessie’s daughter] and I love stopping in to get a little treat. Wonderpuff; they have so many fun and inventive flavors of cotton candy.
If you could choose one local restaurant to bring with you to a deserted island, which one would it be and why?
Garland [now closed] and Cheetie Kumar. Her food is so flavorful and I never feel guilty. And Cheetie is so talented and sweet.
Who are 2-3 other local leaders, artists, or influencers you’re inspired by?
Deana Nguyen from Feature Flora; [her store has] beautiful, drop dead, floral arrangements, with fun DIY events and pop-ups. Crystal from Nail Yeah!; she and her team are so incredibly talented. And Caroline and Siobhan from Fiction Kitchen; creativity and kindness for days. It’s one of the first restaurants I fell in love with when I moved to Raleigh.
Describe your perfect day in Raleigh.
I’m a huge fan of Burn Bootcamp. It’s so inclusive, fun, and judgment free. I love to start my day that way. And then maybe I’d go to Sola Coffee. I get a black coffee, avocado toast with salmon topped with an egg. Our daughter always gets a strawberry donut. We also love going to the flea market and enjoy having picnics in our backyard.
Want to know more of Jessie’s Raleigh faves or where she gets her funky decor in Unlikely Professionals? Click the button below to read the full interview.
North Hills Nights | Thurs., Sept. 29 | 5-9 p.m. | Coastal Credit Union Midtown Park, North Hills | $5 | Get down to music by Blairs West at this fall music series. 🎶
Tai Chi in the Park | Thurs., Sept. 29 | 6 p.m. | Flowers Field, Dix Park | Free | Find your balance + calm in a peaceful setting — all fitness levels are welcome.
Gardening in the South | Thurs., Sept. 29 | 7 p.m. | Quail Ridge Books, 4209-100 Lassiter Mill Rd. | Free | Authors Barbara Sullivan + Danesha Seth Carley will chat about their gardening guides. 📚
Friday
Bands at Brookside Bodega | Fri., Sept. 30 | 6-9 p.m. | Brookside Bodega, 1000 Brookside Dr. | Free | Listen to live music on the patio and enjoy tasty bites + brews.
Clue: On Stage | Fri., Sept. 30 | 7:30 p.m. | Cary Arts Center, 101 Dry Ave., Cary | $18+ | Enjoy the opening night of this hilarious farce-meets-murder mystery based on the 1985 Paramount movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game. 🔍
Saturday
Kooley High | Sat., Oct. 1 | The Pour House Music Hall, 224 S. Blount St. | 9 p.m. | $15+ | Watch this hip-hop group perform during their 10 Year Anniversary Show.
North Carolina FC vs. Union Omaha | Sat., Oct. 1 | WakeMed Soccer Park, 101 Soccer Park Dr., Cary | 7 p.m. | $15+ | Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month as North Carolina takes on Omaha. *
Sunday
Cemetarium Workshop | Sun., Oct. 2 | Hartwell, 620 W. South St. | 6-7 p.m. | $45 | Make a spooky terrarium with this class led by Urban Pothos. 🪴
We have amonthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
For tickets to local and regional events, check out our 6AM Tickets resale marketplace.*
This is spec-taco-lar news. Taco Bamba, an out-of-the-box taqueria out of DC, is launching a shop in Raleigh’s Ridgewood Shopping Center next year. The taco spot will serve creative + classic dishes like Spicy ‘Shroom tacos and the Wario Lopez (a crispy eggplant filled quesadilla). 🌮 (The News & Observer)
Arts
Don’t miss the IBMA Bluegrass Live!public art installation in front of the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. The piece by Raleigh artist Jane Cheek is composed of 500+ hand-painted clear and mirrored mylar circles and can be viewed now-Sun., Oct 2.
Seasonal
Capital Club 16 is hosting its 13th annual Oktoberfest party on Fri., Oct. 14. Starting at 6 p.m., the restaurant + bar will be charging $10 at the door and the celebration will include Bavarian food, beer, and oompah. Reservations are not required. 🍻
Cause
The Carolina Theatre is hosting a Splatterflix Blood Drive with the American Red Cross on Tues., Oct. 4. Participants who donate will receive a $5 e-gift card to the merchant of their choice along with buttery popcorn or a refreshment with their next movie screening. Schedule an appointment.
We want to make sure that you’re catching all the sports coverage you need to join the conversation. As the fall season gets going, tell uswhat kind of sports content you want to see in RALtoday.By completing the survey, you’ll be entered in a drawing for a chance to win team-branded swag up to $100 in value.
Job
Do you love Dix Park and event planning? The park is hiring a part-time Event and Facility Specialist to support logistics + operations for the Chapel’s event center. Applications are open now through Wed., Oct. 19. Learn more + apply.
Try This
Make a custom leather belt with solid brass hardware at Unlikely Professionals’Belts + Beers Workshop on Thurs., Oct. 6. Materials, instruction, and beer are included in the $100 price.
Plan Ahead
WRAL Nights of Lights is back this November and December with new, exclusive experiences like igloo options and a Holiday Outpost. This drive-thru light show at Dix Park is complete with local art installations, illuminated trees, and holiday light displays. Tickets go on saletomorrow, Sept. 30. 🎄
Community
Exclusive birthday deals, shoutouts on our member wall, insider information from our team, discounts from our online shop — that’s just a few of the perks you get when you join the RALtoday Membership Program. Learn more + sign upfor this new way to support local journalism. 💻
Travel
The perfect fall getaway does exist, and it looks like this modern mountain cabin in Virginia wine country. This chalet-style rental offers three bedrooms and one bath, and did we mention there’s a huge deck?*
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Try out a dish from Plates Neighborhood Kitchen’s $40 three-course menu. | Photo by @mdmchef + @plateskitchen
Whether you’re looking to discover a new dish or support Raleigh’s food scene, Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Weekhas you covered. The culinary celebration kicks off on Mon., Oct. 3 and runs through Sun., Oct. 9.
Presented by the Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA), the 20+ participating eateries are offering various meal deals from three-course prix-fixe dinners to lunch specials aplenty.
The DRA will be adding more offers to its website throughout the week — be sure to check out the full list of eateries. Here are a few three-course prix-fixe dinners we’re excited about:
Oak City Meatball Shoppe | 180 E. Davie St. | $20 per person | Pro tip: Add on a half off bottle of wine to your dinner.
Irregardless Cafe | 901 W. Morgan St. | $35 per person | Try this: The vegan chorizo cheese dip with tortilla chips for an appetizer and the Morgan Street Chicken for the main course.
The Pit | 328 W. Davie St. | $40 per person | Try this: Fried mac n’ cheese for the first course and the Carolina Classic Combo for the second course.
Pro tip: Make a reservation now at one (or multiple, we’re not judging) of the participating restaurants to secure your dinner deal.
THE WRAP
Today’s issue was written by Cat.
Editor’s pick: Did you know that today is National Coffee Day? I will be celebrating accordingly by stopping at 321 Coffee for a half-price cold brew. ☕
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