• Woodburning class | Wednesday, May 31 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Joy Worthy Co., 131 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh | $65 | Create a unique charcuterie board or kitchen spoon set with a local artist from Dee’s Burnt Trees.
• Stargazing | Wednesday, May 31 | 8-10 p.m. | The Willard Rooftop Lounge, 9 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh | Free | Enjoy celestial-inspired cocktails and join the Raleigh Astronomy Club to take in views of the starry skies.

• Hidden History of Raleigh’s LGBTQIA+ Community | Thursday, Jun. 1 | 7-8 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Learn about the sites, struggles, and triumphs that built the foundation of Raleigh’s LGBTQ+ community.

• Museum Park Tour | Friday, Jun. 2 | 9:30 a.m. | NCMA, 2110 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh | Free | Register for this two-mile guided art-and-nature-filled tour.
• First Friday Market & Free Movie Night | Friday, Jun. 2 | 5-9 p.m. | Moore Square, 201 S. Blount St., Raleigh | Free | Stroll through the market, grab a snack from a food truck, and watch “Mamma Mia” on the big screen.
• Go Fish Scavenger Hunt | Friday, Jun. 2 | 7:30-9 p.m. | Nash Square, 200 S. McDowell St., Raleigh | $0-$32 | Compete to win prizes from local businesses during this nautical-themed hunt through the city.
• Friday Fluff: Pride Kick Off Drag Show | Friday, Jun. 2 | 8-11:59 p.m. | Ruby Deluxe, 415 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh | Free | Kick off pride month with Marsha Mellows’ fabulous drag performance.

• Ever After: Fairy Tales, Food, and Flowers | Saturday, Jun. 3 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Fred Fletcher Park, 876 Washington St., Raleigh | Free | Shop plants and produce from local nurseries, meet fairy-tale characters, and explore food vendors.
• International Children’s Day | Saturday, Jun. 3 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | City of Raleigh Museum, 220 Fayetteville St., Raleigh | Free | Kid-friendly performers will be entertaining all day with puppets, dancing, folk stories, and more.

• Disney & Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins | Tuesday, July 25-Sunday, July 30 | 7:30-10 p.m. | Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. South St., Raleigh | $35-$95 | Everyone’s favorite nanny takes the stage on this supercalafragilisticexpialidocious adventure — secure your tickets today for this “practically perfect in every way” event of the summer.*

Outdoor excursions

• Experience the natural wonders of Congaree National Park on foot or by water. With 25+ miles of hiking trails and 2.4 miles of boardwalk, there are many ways to explore the Congaree wilderness, including guided canoe tours.
• At night, the Purple Martins take flight. Each summer the skies over Bomb Island on Lake Murray come to life as the Purple Martins arrive for their summer vacation. The best way to see this phenomenon? Book a boat tour. Pro tip: The number of birds peaks in mid- to late July.

Explore indoors

• Housed in the historic 1893 Columbia Mill textile building, the South Carolina State Museum tells the history of the state through traveling museum exhibits, permanent collections, and educational programs. (Planning a date night? Check out Friday Night Laser Nights for classic rock and stunning visuals.)
• Named one of the top 10 zoos in the country by TripAdvisor, the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is home to 2,000+ magnificent animals and houses one of the nation’s most beautiful and inspiring botanical gardens.

• The first Union Station (also called Union Depot) is for sale. Located near Nash Square at 224 S. Dawson St., the two-story office building currently houses Legal Aid of North Carolina and has an assessed value of approx. $5.9 million. The nonprofit firm plans to move to an office off of Rock Quarry Road. (Triangle Business Journal)

• Café Carolina and Bakery is moving up the street to take over So•Ca’s old space under the Berkshire Village District Apartments. The cafe will close shop later this summer with a grand reopening date set for Saturday, Sept. 1.

• Are you interested in increasing the supply of Accessory Dwelling Units in our community? Bring your ideas to the Raleigh ADU Pitchfest at Junction West in the Warehouse District on Wednesday, June 14. Businesses will present their solutions from 2-6 p.m. Reserve a spot.

• Sign up to help create another mile of unpaved trial at Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site in Four Oaks — a ~50 minute drive from downtown — on Saturday, June 3. Volunteers will help clear a new path to expand the Mountains-to-Sea-Trail. After all, it is the Year of the Trial in NC.

• Isaiah Henry, an 11-year-old student at Durham’s Grady A. Brown Elementary School, competed in the Scripps National Spelling Bee yesterday. Though our local bee is not moving on to the semifinals, Isaiah is sure to be the buzz around town.

• Scotty McCreery of Garner, Betty Davis of Durham, and Loudon Wainwright III of Chapel Hill are among the NC Music Hall of Fame 2023 inductees. The class, comprised of six musicians, will be inducted at a ceremony on October 19 at Mooresville Performing Arts Center. (The News & Observer)

• Raleigh ranked No. 9 on CoworkingCafe’s 2023 list of the Best Places for Pets & Their Owners. Our city stood out for having a high number of pet care establishments and for its large number of pet-related occupations (we’re talking 4,100 jobs). Dog parents: Take a peek at our dog-friendly business guide.

• We’re teaming up with Park West Village to give one lucky Raleighite the chance to win $200 worth of gift cards to Park West Village hot spots, including $100 to Trader Joe’s, $50 to Red Hot & Blue, and $50 to B&B Theatres. Enter to win now through Thursday, June 1 at midnight.*

• North Hills’ spring + summer schedule is packed with community events like Midtown Beach Music, Wine Walk, Midtown Farmers Market, NH Kids, and more. See how we recently spent a day in North Hills and which events we’ve bookmarked for the upcoming season.*

• Watch amateurs and celebrities play golf with Korn Ferry professionals in a three-day competition full of fun at the BMW Charity Pro-Am June 5–11 in Greenville, SC. See the schedule of events, roster of celebrities, and purchase tickets.*

• Trinity Academy is hiring a part-time Lower School Music Teacher for Transitional Kindergarten-first grade. The Music Teacher is an important part of supporting the school’s established music program, which incorporates musical instruction and enjoyment for TK-6th grade students. Learn more + apply.*

• Which Vrbo Vacation Home of the Year is most your style? Maybe it’s the mountain views and woodsiness at this Big Sky cabin. Or maybe it’s a Hamptons holiday at this breathtaking retreat. If vacation means heat, spas, and golf courses, check out this Palm Springs poolside property.*

• Refinance rates are skyrocketing. But home equity rates remain relatively low — which means that now is a great time to borrow against your home. Calculate your payment.*