Plus, 40 years of land conservation
6AM City In-house

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The Raleigh Convention Center’s $425 million expansion
A rendering for possible plans to expand the Raleigh Convention Center.
Plans include relocating Red Hat Amphitheater. | Rendering by LMN Architects
The Raleigh Convention Center is expanding. Newly revealed plans — which still need to be approved and funded — include relocating Red Hat Amphitheater to make way for a two-square-block complex for meetings, events, and entertainment.

“An expansion of this magnitude takes years to plan and execute, so we need to be thinking about this now,“ said Dennis Edwards, president and CEO of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau, in a press release.

A rendering of the possible Raleigh Convention Center expansion.

A rendering of the what the RCC expansion could look like. | Rendering by LMN Architects

The project is expected to cost ~$425 million and will more than double the center’s current capacity by creating room for 20,000 more people. The expansion will add 500,000 sqft of meeting space, including ~30 additional breakout rooms. “Flex halls” of 50,000 sqft and 30,000 sqft will be added to host large events and breakout groups.

Red Hat Amphitheater will be moved slightly toward South Dawson Street and maintain roughly the same capacity. It will be incorporated into RCC’s outdoor entertainment space and be located next to the complex’s new outdoor stage.

The proposed project was designed my LMN Architects, a Seattle-based firm that helped with similar projects in Vancouver, Cleveland, Seattle, Columbus, and New Orleans.

Money for the project will come from local hospitality taxes collected by the Interlocal Fund, which the Board of Commissioners and City Council will vote to allocate on June 20.
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Air Experts

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Tuesday, Feb. 21
  • Bands at Brookside Bodega | Tuesday, Feb. 21 | Times vary | Brookside Bodega, 1000 Brookside Dr., Raleigh | Free | See Sayer McShane perform live and enjoy tasty bites and cold drafts.
  • Trivia Night | Tuesday, Feb. 21 | 6:30 p.m. | Riparian Provision Co., 1408 S. Saunders St., Raleigh | Free | Choose to play solo or as a team — no sign up required.
Wednesday, Feb. 22
  • Spayghetti & No Balls Dinner | Wednesday, Feb. 22 | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Marsh Creek Park Community Center, 3050 N. New Hope Rd., Raleigh | $5-$10 | Eat spaghetti to help local animals during National Spay and Neuter Awareness Month.
  • Wake Forest vs. NC State | Wednesday, Feb. 22 | 9 p.m. | PNC Arena, 1400 Edwards Mill Rd., Raleigh | $15-$45 | Cheer on the Wolfpack’s men’s basketball team.
Thursday, Feb. 23
  • Timely Connections Series | Thursday, Feb. 23 | 6-8 p.m. | City of Raleigh Museum, 220 Fayetteville St., Raleigh | Free | This session’s topic is “The Contested Legacies of Islam and Race in NC.”
  • Artist Happy Hour | Thursday, Feb. 23 | 6 p.m. | Artspace, 201 E. Davie St., Raleigh | Free | Local artists are invited to network and mingle with new artists in residence — registration is required.
Friday, Feb. 24
  • “Self Love” Paint Splatter Party | Friday, Feb. 24 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Joy Worthy Co., 131 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh | $65 | Celebrate Joy Worthy Co.'s anniversary with paint throwing.
Plan Ahead
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

Weather
  • 76º | Partly cloudy | 14% chance of rain ⛅
Development
  • A new Marriott hotel is being planned near Triangle Town Center. Site plans outline a four-story Residence Inn with 118 hotel rooms, located at 6300 Triangle Town Blvd. 🏨 (Triangle Business Journal)
Opening
  • Bombolo, a new concept by the duo behind Big Belly Que, is opening in Chapel Hill on Thursday, Feb. 23. The experimental, European-style bistro located at 764 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., will feature dishes like crispy pig ears, beef cheek rendang, and pastas made from scratch. 🍽️
Traffic
  • The NC Department of Transportation plans to resurface a five-mile section of the Beltline beginning this April. Expect lane closures between Lake Boone Trail and Wake Forest Road. (WRAL)
Festival
  • Brewgaloo is back on Friday, April 21 and Saturday, April 22. For two full days, craft beer from 100+ breweries will be flowing on Fayetteville Street. The annual event attracts more than 50,000 people each year. Sign up to volunteer. 🍻
DYK
  • Did you know that on every First Friday, Raleigh Parks screens a free movie in Moore Square? Check out the 2023 feature films here. “The Princess Bride” will be shown on Friday, March 3 at ~6:30 p.m. 🎥
Plan Ahead
  • DPAC recently announced its 2023-2024 Broadway season featuring hits like “The Lion King” and “Mamma Mia!” “MJ the Musical” — a thriller production featuring the music and moves of Michael Jackson — is up first in October. View the full lineup. 🎶
Cause
  • André Leon Talley’s personal collection sold for more than $3.5 million last week. Proceeds from the sale will benefit two historically Black churches: Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in Durham and Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York City.
Try This
Wellness
  • Stress less and save money? Count us in. A ritual membership from The NOW Massage allows Raleighites to save up to $70 on 50- or 80-minute massages once or twice a month. Explore membership options — and schedule some needed relaxation into your busy life. 💆*
Announced
  • Congrats to Jenna L., the winner of our Fit February Giveaway in partnership with Orangetheory Fitness. If you didn’t win, don’t sweat — your first class is always free, and there’s still time to score February’s deal (join with a friend and you’ll both get 50% off your first month). 🎉 *
Eat
  • Every dinner’s a party when the food tastes good. Home Chef’s meal kit delivery service takes the stress out of mealtimes with fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipe cards, delivered right to your door. Order your first box — for 75% off.*
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Celebrating 40 years of land conservation

The Triangle Land Conservancy celebrates 40 years
Swift Creek Bluffs Nature Preserve
Swift Creek Bluffs Nature Preserve is in Wake County. | Photo by @thomascleverdon
Did you know that the Triangle Land Conservancy has permanently conserved 23,000+ acres of land in the Triangle since its start in 1983? This year, the TLC is celebrating 40 years of protecting natural habitats and connecting people with nature.

Two of the TLC’s eight public nature preserves are in Wake County, including Bailey and Sarah Williamson Preserve (4409 Mial Plantation Rd., Raleigh) and Swift Creek Bluffs Nature Preserve (7800 Holly Springs Rd., Raleigh).

Celebrate the TLC — and the Year of the Trail — at one of these free upcoming group hikes:
  • Fairy Hike and Picnic | Saturday, March 4 | 2-3:30 p.m. | Brumley Family Nature Preserve, 3620 Old State Hwy. 10, Chapel Hill
  • Spring Wildflower Hike | Sunday, March 19 | 9:30-11 a.m. | Swift Creek Bluffs Nature Preserve, 7800 Holly Springs Rd., Raleigh
  • Spring Equinox Sunset Hike | Monday, March 20 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | White Pines Nature Preserve, 548 S. Rocky River Rd., Sanford
6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Anne.

Editor’s pick: Last weekend, I climbed aboard the Historic Raleigh Trolley for the Black History Tour. I learned so much in just one hour — I’d highly recommend signing up for one of the next tours on Sunday, April 16 or Sunday, June 18.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Every local should know these five Raleigh life hacks.
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Editorial: Cat George, Anne Tate, Erin McPherson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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