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New year, new news 🗞️

What can we answer for you about Raleigh in 2023?
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You ask, we’ll find the local answer. | Photo by @raleighisgrowing and @therdutoday
Happy (almost) New Year, Raleigh.

From the announcement of Downtown South’s new music venue to the groundbreaking of Dix Park’s Gipson Play Plaza, we’ve been proud to watch 2022 unfold in Raleigh. Which brings us to the question — what will 2023 have in store for the City of Oaks?

Care to influence the news cycle a bit? We want to know what questions you want answered in the new year. Curious about which concert tours have a Raleigh stop planned? Wondering what City Council is up to? What about skyline changes we might see next year? Or simply where to get a darn good cup of coffee?

Don’t be afraid to speak up, because the questions you asked us last year were some of our favorites to answer — including what’s being done with the circular Holiday Inn, where to find Raleigh’s best escape rooms, and how to support local female-owned businesses.

Submit your questions to influence the stories that hit your inbox in the new year, and stay tuned with us as we watch 2023 unfold.

What do you want to know about Raleigh next year?
I WANT TO KNOW...
Campbell University School of Law

Click here to have your event featured.

Tuesday, Dec. 20
  • Bands at Brookside Bodega | Tuesday, Dec. 20 | 5-8 p.m. | Brookside Bodega, 1000 Brookside Dr., Raleigh | Free | Listen to Bill Barney perform and enjoy tasty bites and brews.
  • The Dessertery | Tuesday, Dec. 20-Friday, Dec. 23 | Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. South St., Raleigh | $15-$25 | This holiday-themed cafe features a wide variety of desserts and a hot chocolate bar with 50+ toppings.
Wednesday, Dec. 21
  • The Motown Sound of Christmas | Wednesday, Dec. 21-Friday, Dec. 30 | 7:30 p.m. | Cary Arts Center, 101 Dry Ave., Cary | $20-$27 | Enjoy Motown music that celebrates the holidays.
  • Menorah Lighting | Wednesday, Dec. 21 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | Fenton Square, 21 Fenton Main St., Cary | Free | Join Fenton and Chabad of Cary for a menorah lighting on the fourth night of Chanukah — enjoy a carving of an ice menorah and celebratory Chanukah music.
Friday, Dec. 30
Saturday, Dec. 31
  • New Year’s Eve at The Willard Rooftop | Saturday, Dec. 31 | 8 p.m.-1 a.m. | The Willard Rooftop Lounge, 9 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh | $155 | Ring in 2023 with spectacular views of the downtown Raleigh fireworks.
We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS
6AM City In-house

Weather
  • 46º | Cloudy | 0% chance of rain
  • Predictions are calling for the coldest Christmas morning in decades in Raleigh, with temperatures in the low 20s. For context, the coldest recent Christmas was 32 degrees in 1989. ❄️ (WRAL)
Open
  • PBS Star and chef Vivian Howard has launched a smart refrigerator in Raleigh. Viv’s Fridge, now open at 211 E. Franklin St. outside of Wine Authorities, is stocked with holiday appetizers, entrees, sides, desserts, and gifts.
Community
  • Who run the world city? Girls. If you know a local woman shaping the future of the city, nominations for Raleigh Magazine’s Women Shaping the Future of Raleigh are open. The deadline to nominate is Monday, Jan. 16. 💼
Real Estate
  • Retail center Brentwood Square was sold for $12.25 million last week, a price tag nearly double the property’s assessed worth. The center, located at 2215 New Hope Church Rd., has an International Foods and Family Dollar. Read about why existing retail centers may be in high demand in the Triangle. (Triangle Business Journal)
  • Solis Hills’ idyllic location, in a serene walkable neighborhood ITB, neighbors Five Points, University Park + the Village District. In-home features like luxury plank flooring compliment community amenities like a resort-style pool. Bonus: Residents can receive their first full month free for move-ins between March 15-April 15, 2023.*
Tech
  • Applications are open for Venture Connect 2023, a capital conference for tech, biotech, food innovation, and agtech companies across the southeast. High growth startups are invited to apply for the chance to pitch their company onstage to investors and partners. Apply by Friday, Jan. 13.
Biz
  • This weekend, the Raleigh Convention Center welcomed The Call of Duty League’s World Championship Finals, an esports tournament (read more about esports here). Hosting esports tournaments is a strategic move by Visit Raleigh, with top competitions having a $20 million impact on local economies. (WRAL)
Cause
  • “White flag” status is in effect multiple nights this week in Wake County — meaning shelters will open to anyone without housing or a reliable heat source as temperatures dip. Help as a volunteer or donate items on St. John MCC’s Amazon wish list.
Featured
  • Ashley Christensen stans, check out Garden & Gun’s feature on 15 years of Poole’s Diner. Psst... craving mac and cheese after this read? Here’s an Ashley-original recipe for pimento mac and cheese custard. 🍽️
Sports
  • Calling all soccer fans: Season tickets for North Carolina FC’s 2023 season are now on sale. Fans who join or renew by Monday, Jan. 9, 2023 have the opportunity to win a jersey and be entered for an opportunity to join a road trip. Bonus: Prices start as low as $5 per match. ⚽ *
Learn
  • You know how to order coffee at Iris Coffee Lab. But can you order coffee in Italian? Babbel can help RALtoday readers learn how to order coffee (and other beverages) in Italian, so they’ll be ready for their next trip to Italy. Want to try it out? For a limited time, snag 55% off your subscription. ☕ *
Shop
  • Gifting local this season? Spoil your favorite Raleighite with The Big Box from Lowes Foods — think: cheese straws, praline pecans, boiled peanuts, and more.* 🎁
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5 hot cocoa destinations

5 Raleigh spots to get hot chocolate
A top-down shot of a matcha peppermint mocha latte with two candy canes forming a heart.
Here’s where to get your hot chocolate fix. | Photo by @lisaheegaard and @theoptimistraleigh
The secret to recreating the holiday movie moment of your dreams? Having a cup of hot chocolate in hand. Here are some of our favorite spots to grab hot cocoa around the Triangle:

🍫 Black & White Coffee, 327 W. Davie St. | Order a hot chocolate from this cafe inside Videri Chocolate Factory and choose whole, skim, or oat milk.

🍫 The Dessertery, Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. South St. | There are 50+ toppings for hot cocoa available at this seasonal sweets cafe.

🍫 Milklab, 526 N. West St. | Himalayan salt hot chocolate and a hot chocolate + Thai tea combo are on the menu.

🍫 Sola Coffee, 7705 Lead Mine Rd. | We believe in housemade chocolate made with steamed milk.

🍫 The Optimist, 1000 Brookside Dr. | Grab a classic hot chocolate or go crazy and order the peppermint and mocha matcha latte.
6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Sarah.

Editor’s pick: For the sake of celebrating other RALtoday stories and scoops over 2022, here are some of my favorites: eight spots to grab a hot dog and Raleigh’s unwritten rules. 🌭

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Here’s what Raleighites googled this year.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Cat George, Anne Tate, Sarah Leonhardt, Erin McPherson, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Charis Painter | Advertise with us.

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