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🚲 Get rollin’ for Bike Month in Raleigh

Get rollin’ for Bike Month in Raleigh

A large crowd of people on bikes lined down Fayetteville Street for Bike Month.

Grab your bike and a helmet for Crankarm’s Light Up The Night Ride. | Photo by @nateprez, provided by Crankarm Brewing

May is National Bike Month. Established in 1956, this initiative brings attention to and celebrates the benefits of bicycling. All month long, local bike shops and cycling communities are hosting fun events to encourage more people to ride in Raleigh.

Get your bike right

Before you roll out, make sure your bike is ready to go with a tune-up. Stop by Cycle Logic, Oak City Cycling, The Bike Guy, or The Bicycle Chain to make sure you’re ready to hit the road and trails. Plus, Oaks & Spokes has set up free Bike Repair Stations around the city for easy tune-ups and quick repairs.

You can even lend a hand with repairs. Raleigh Community Kickstand, sponsored by Oaks & Spokes, is a nonprofit resource that repairs bicycles and teaches maintenance skills for the Oak City Cares’ community during monthly pop-up events.

A gif of a large group riding bikes downtown to celebrate Bike Month. — This could be you rollin’ downtown this month.
|
Video by Caitlin Penna

Roll out to these events

After your bike is tuned, find your perfect bike community at these upcoming events.

Bike Bonanza | Friday, May 5 | 4-7 p.m. | Raleigh Union Station, 510 W. Martin St., Raleigh | Free | Commute Smart Raleigh is hosting this event featuring live music, bike advocate vendors, safety checks, a bike decoration station, and more.
Bike-in Movie | Thursday, May 11 | 6 p.m. | Oak City Cycling, 707 N. Person St., Raleigh | Free | Join this casual bike ride through Dix Park and meet back at the shop for a cycling-themed movie at 8 p.m.
Light up the Night Ride | Wednesday, May 24 | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | Crank Arm Brewing Company, 319 W. Davie St., Raleigh | Free | Throw some creative lights and decorations on your bike to participate in this flashy group ride through downtown; lights are required.

Bonus: On your next ride through downtown, stop by Exploris Middle School on Harrington Street to check out the newest bike mural by Durham muralist Mayanthi Jayawardena.

More Bike Month events

Asked

Who has the most creative bike rack in Raleigh?

A. Piggy racks at NOFO @ the Pig
B. Car-shaped rack beside The Optimist + Brookside Bodega
C. Cow, chicken, and fox racks outside of Beasley’s Chicken + Honey
D. NC-shaped bike rack in front of the NC State Capitol
E. Crank Arm Brewing’s bike-part rack

Bonus: Email Oaks and Spokes for a free bike parking consultation.

Click the link below to view each one and to vote for your favorite.

Wheelie cool bike racks

Events

Monday, May 1

Silent Book Club | Monday, May. 1 | 6:30-9 p.m. | Vault Craft Beer, 518 W. South St., Raleigh | Free | Anyone can join this group to read and enjoy a drink in companionable silence (there’s no assigned book).

Tuesday, May 2

Transforming Your Space with Art in Interior Design | Tuesday, May 2 | 5:30-8 p.m. | Gatsby’s Bar Raleigh, 6109 Maddry Oaks Ct., Raleigh | $30 | Learn from a designer how to enhance the individuality and functionality of your interior space; champagne and sweets will be provided.

Wednesday, May 3

Connect + Create: Soft Sculptures | Wednesday, May 3 | 6 p.m. | Dorothea Dix Park, 1030 Richardson Dr., Raleigh | Free | Learn how to reuse discarded water bottles to create colorful works of art.

Thursday, May 4

Grateful Dub | Thursday, May 4 | 7 p.m. | Lincoln Theatre, 126 E. Cabarrus St., Raleigh | $15-$25 | Listen to this reggae-infused tribute to The Grateful Dead with Wood Belly.

Friday, May 5

First Friday Market & Movie Night | Friday, May 5 | 5-9 p.m. | Moore Square, 201 S. Blount St., Raleigh | Free | Shop from local vendors, grab a snack from a food truck, and enjoy “Shang-Chi: The Legend of the Ten Rings” on the lawn.

Saturday, May 6

Punk Rock Flea Market | Saturday, May 6-Sunday, May 7 | Times vary | Rebus Works, 301-2 Kinsey St., Raleigh | Free | Shop local art, oddities, and records, and enjoy music, food, beer, and coffee at this pup- and family-friendly market.

Plan your May

Click here to have your event featured.

Beauty

💆‍♀️ 3 benefits of a Gua Sha enhancement

Two rose quartz Gua Sha tools propped against a stone.

Other enhancements include deep tissue, hemp Calm Balm, scalp renewal, herbal heat therapy + more. | Photo provided by The NOW Massage

You’ve probably seen Gua Sha offered during facials, but did you know the Chinese medicine technique is traditionally used in body care?

Gua Sha lightly brushes targeted muscles to:

Release tension + knots
Increase circulation
Reduce inflammation

It’s also now offered as a massage enhancement at The NOW Massage. The “S” and “U”-shaped rose quartz tools allow massage therapists to focus treatment on areas that are especially tight + tense. The result? Next-level recovery and full-body relaxation. Sign us up.*

Give Gua Sha a go

News Notes

Sports

The Canes clinched the series in game six of Round 1 in the Stanley Cup playoffs against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on Friday, April 28. The Hurricanes will move on to Round 2 for the third-consecutive season to play the winners in the series between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils.

Announced

The NC Restaurant and Lodging Association announced its culinary and mixology competitors for the seventh-annual NCRLA Chef Showdown. More than 20 Triangle chefs and mixologists will compete in the preliminary rounds Monday, May 8 through Monday, June 26 to try to qualify for the grand finale on Monday, August 14 at the Angus Barn.

Community

Hurricane season is right around the corner (June 1 to November 30), and Wake County wants to make sure you’re prepared. Now through Saturday, May 6, residents are encouraged to update emergency plans and supply kits for National Hurricane Preparedness Week.

Asked

Calling all small business owners. The City’s Community and Small Business Development Division is seeking feedback from businesses with 50 employees or less to identify best practices and to help create partnerships. The survey closes Friday, May 19.

Eat

Planning a family cookout — or a kid’s birthday party? These s’mores cups are perfect for pint-sized party-goers, and they’re easy to make. Pro tip: Top with gummy worms (and let the adults dig in too).*

Shop

H&M recently unveiled its new open concept at Crabtree. The newly rebuilt store incorporates neutral colors + materials and embodies a natural look with plants and greenery, while architectural columns and mirrors add depth. Bonus: There’s upgraded fitting rooms. Visit the remodeled store on the lower level, near Crabtree’s Center Court.*

Number

14 days. That’s how long you have until Mother’s Day. The good news? That gives you just enough time to order a gift from Quince — a brand offering high-end and sustainable products at affordable prices. Think: European linen shorts, silk slip dresses, cashmere crewnecks + Italian leather totes. Shop now.

Eat

🌎 Where we’re dining for Eat the World Week

Where we’re dining for Eat the World Week in Raleigh

City Market Sushi offers creative rolls, bento boxes, and Japanese fare. | Photo by RALtoday

The Downtown Raleigh Alliance is encouraging locals to explore downtown Raleigh’s global food scene with Eat the World Week, happening Monday, May 1-Friday, May 5.

During the initiative, post a photo of yourself eating international food from a downtown spot and tag @downtownraleighalliance on Instagram to be entered to win prizes.

Here are some suggestions from your City Editors:

City Editor Cat’s picks

Some of my go-to spots for downtown international fare are Cortez for Mexican-American small plates like smoked and loaded NC papas, City Market Sushi for specialty rolls, and Opa! Raleigh — located in Morgan Street Food Hall — for Greek kebabs.

City Editor Anne’s picks

It’s so hard to choose, but if I had to pick some downtown favorites, I’d go with Centro Mexican Restaurant, Mulino Italian Kitchen & Bar (they’re reopening Tuesday, May 2), and O-Ku. Oh, and for dessert, I’d pick up some treats from Mon Macaron.

Pro tip: Use this downtown dining page to sort restaurants by categories like Mexican + Latin American, Indian, and more.

The Wrap

Cat George in a black turtleneck sweater

Today’s edition by:
Cat

From the editor

My dad is a P.E. teacher at an elementary school in VA and during the COVID-19 pandemic, I helped him make a few videos to help his kids stay active at home. Do you know some kiddos that need to brush-up on bike safety before hitting the streets? Check out this video my dad made of the ABCs of bike safety.

Missed Friday’s newsletter? Find out what’s up with the new Raleigh flag.

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