05.22.2023

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Today’s Forecast

51º | Cloudy | 0% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:25 a.m. | Sunset 5:17 p.m.

👟 Andrea’s journey: 50 marathons in 50 states

50 marathons in 50 states: Raleighite with ALS makes history

Andrea surrounded by supporters at the finish line of her last, and 50th, race in Alaska. | Photo by Shannon Murphy

Meet Andrea Lytle Peet: a Raleighite, triathlete, and the first person with ALS to complete 50 marathons in 50 states. An incredible marathon accomplishment on its own, Andrea’s feat was done while she fought the progressive neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, most commonly known as ALS.

Andrea was diagnosed with ALS in 2014 at the age of 33. In eight months, this healthy athlete went from completing a 70.3-mile half Ironman to walking with a cane.

After the diagnosis, doctors had told her that there was “no use” in exercising, but Andrea and her husband, David, strongly disapproved of this mindset. They were determined to prove physicians — and themselves — wrong. And they did just that.

Born and raised in Raleigh, Andrea has moved around a bit with David, but her diagnosis ultimately brought her back to the City of Oaks in 2016 to be with family.

The couple bought a recumbent trike for Andrea to participate in what she thought would be her last triathlon. Maybe it was the runner’s high once she reached the finish line, but this one “last” race led Andrea to her journey of finishing a marathon in all 50 states.

The mean survival time with ALS is two to five years. It has been nearly nine years since Andrea’s diagnosis. The power couple now spends time focusing on their nonprofit Team Drea Foundation and promoting their upcoming documentary “Go On, Be Brave” by Durham-based independent film company Fly Squirrel Films.

Andrea + David graciously welcomed us into their home to share Andrea’s resilient journey. We chatted about her favorite race memories, tattoos, the documentary, and good eats.

How can Raleighites get involved in supporting the end of ALS?

Learn more and support the Team Drea Foundation. Grab tickets to the hometown premier of Andrea’s documentary “Go On, Be Brave” at The Carolina Theatre of Durham on June 17. The Visit Sola is hosting its 10th annual Hot Mini 5K to raise money to end ALS on September 16.

David embracing Andrea after a race. — David is Andrea’s biggest fan.
|
Photo provided by Andrea Lytle Peet

Click the link below for the couple’s favorite Raleigh spots and to learn why Andrea has eight swallow tattoos.

4 more questions with Andrea + David

Events

Monday, May 22

PineCone Open Bluegrass Jam | Monday, May 22 | 7-9 p.m. | Transfer Co. Food Hall, 500 E. Davie St., Raleigh | Free | Bring an instrument — or your voice — to join this “circle jam” where musicians play together.
Easter Island Live | Monday, May 22 | 7-9:30 p.m. | The Long Leaf Hotel, 300 N. Dawson St., Raleigh | Free | Grab a cocktail from the lounge bar and listen to this ambient pop group perform live with Slow Teeth.

Tuesday, May 23

How to survive the ChatGPT invasion | Tuesday, May 23 | 6:45-8:15 p.m. | William B. Umstead Park, Crabtree Shelter #1, 8801 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh | Free | Mathematician Po-Shen Loh will speak to local families interested in STEM, innovation, and education.
Harry Potter Book Trivia | Tuesday, May 23 | 7 p.m. | Leesville Tap Room, 13200 Strickland Rd., Raleigh | Free | All wizards, witches, and muggles are invited to test their knowledge of these fantasy novels.

Wednesday, May 24

Paint with Kreativityyy | Wednesday, May 24 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | The Haymaker, 555 Fayetteville St., Ste. 115, Raleigh | $42 | Enjoy an evening of painting and sipping on spirits; all materials will be provided.
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.
Live Music Lounge | Wednesday, May 24 | 7-10 p.m. | Whitaker & Atlantic, 1053 E. Whitaker Mill Rd., Raleigh | Free | Enjoy this New Orleans speakeasy-inspired lounge filled with jazz, blues, and soulful melodies, along with snacks and innovative cocktails.

Thursday, May 25

Movies in the Garden: Transformers | Thursday, May 25 | Raleigh Little Theater, 301 Pogue St., Raleigh | Pay-what-you-can | Watch this action-packed film on the lawn and grab a snack or brew from food trucks Chick-N-Que, JAM Soft Serve Ice Cream, and Raleigh Brewing Company.

Plan an event-packed week

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Eat

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A Carolina Crate box from Lowes Foods being carried on a man's shoulder through a field of crops

Subscribing to The Carolina Crate helps support farms in the Carolinas. | Photo provided by Lowes Foods

Looking for a way to support local farms and farmers? Here’s one: Subscribe to a CSA (read: Community Supported Agriculture) box, like The Carolina Crate from Lowes Foods, filled every week with an assortment of fresh, local fruits and vegetables.

Each crate feeds a household of 2 to 4 people and contains 6 to 8 varieties of produce selected based on what’s at its peak each week. You can’t request what you receive — and that’s part of the fun. Subscribers also receive a weekly email with recipe ideas and info about the farms they have supported.

Subscriptions for this summer are open now.*

Learn more and sign up

News Notes

Opening

Here’s the scoop: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams will open in the Village District Thursday, May 25. The scoop shop, located beside Kale Me Crazy, will offer creative flavors like Goat Cheese with Red Cherries + Boston Cream Pie.

Development

The Village District filed permits to replace the shuttered K&W Cafeteria with Curio Collection by Hilton Hotel. The luxury, one-of-a-kind stay will feature a parking deck to serve both the shopping center and the hotel. (Raleigh Magazine)

Festival

It’s here. Hopscotch released a killer lineup last Friday, including Pavement, Denzel Curry, and Japanese Breakfast. The music-filled weekend — held Thursday, Sept. 7 through Saturday, Sept. 9 — features more than 80 artists performing across eight downtown venues. Limited quantities of 3-day GA and VIP passes are available.

Coming Soon

Raleigh Rolls is rollin’ out a new location at Wakefield Commons (10750 Wakefield Commons Dr.) on Saturday, June 3. The inventive ice cream spot will offer rolled ice cream in flavors like Benelux Biscoffee + Grandma’s Nanner Puddin’.

Travel

RDU Airport will be getting a slew of updates. Last week, the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority board allocated $22 million for terminal improvements. Included in the cost: the addition of Scott Crawford’s restaurant Crawford’s Genuine and the replacement of older restrooms. (Triangle Business Journal)

Giveaway

We’re teaming up with the North Carolina Theatre to give Raleighites the chance to win two premium seats for the ‘23/’24 season kicking off in December, plus a family four-pack of tickets to Mary Poppins on July 25 ($1,214 value). Enter to win now through Thursday, May 25.*

The Word

Délicieuses. Start using it in conversation in three weeks.*

Eat

Fancy a Glasshouse Kitchen hookup? We know how you can get $20 off dinner — with an Offline membership, the social club that gives you money off two local restaurants each month. Hello, smoked bone marrow and Funghi pizza. Sign up with code “RALTODAY.”*

Finance

$200 welcome bonus — check. Unlimited cash back — check. 0% interest into 2024 — check. This card checks all our boxes.*

Ranked

Raleigh and Durham earn 🔝 rankings

Raleigh and Durham rank third for best places to live in the US

A large park overlooking Raleigh's skyline.

Raleigh’s greenspace + parks are often praised in rankings. | Photo by RALtoday

Raleigh and Durham tied for the No. 3 ranking on US News & World Report’s Best Places to Live list. The media company studied 150 of the most densely populated metro areas in the US to determine the most desirable places to reside.

The two cities stood out for having strong job growth, young + friendly residents (that’s us), and beautiful green spaces. Raleigh + Durham also have a lower crime rate than similar sized cities.

Our rating for resident’s quality of life? On a 10-point scale, we scored a 7.2.

Raleigh and Durham also ranked as the No. 1 best places to live in NC, No. 13 best places to live for quality of life, and No. 29 best places to retire.

Hey, Raleigh. You’re No. 1 in our eyes.

The Wrap

Cat George in a black turtleneck sweater

Today’s edition by:
Cat

From the editor

Getting to chat with Andrea and David was so refreshing. Andrea + I bonded over our swallow tattoos and Sola coffee. As David spoke kindly about her, she couldn’t help but smile ear-to-ear, and vice versa.

I can’t wait to watch their story unfold on the big screen at the hometown showing of “Go On, Be Brave” at The Carolina Theatre of Durham on Saturday, June 17.

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