07.17.2023

Today’s Forecast

94º | Partly cloudy | 0% chance of rain | Sunrise 6:39 a.m. | Sunset 7:56 p.m.

Food

How to make Crawford & Son’s savory popsicles

Two orange popsicles on a bed of ice and mint.

Make these elevated pops at home. | Photo by Jessica Crawford

Since 2020, Jordan Joseph has been the mastermind behind Crawford & Son’s elevated bar menu. Jordan turned the idea of an aperitivo, traditionally a pre-meal drink, into something a little more refreshing.

Served before your first course at Chef Scott Crawford’s historic Oakwood restaurant, stun your next dinner guests and learn how to make Jordan’s savory aperitivo popsicle from home.

This recipe makes around 10 pops, depending on your popsicle mold.

Watermelon aguachile ingredients*

Prepare this portion one day ahead.

1 quart chopped seedless watermelon
1 quart chopped heirloom tomato
4 Serrano chiles diced
1 jalapeño, diced
1/2 peeled cucumber, diced
1 bundle of cilantro (stems included)
1/2 cup torn mint leaves
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon citric acid
Zest of one lime
1 quart granulated sugar
1/2 pint champagne vinegar

Directions

Start by adding all of your watermelon aguachile ingredients in a large mixing bowl, leaving the sugar, water, and vinegar aside.

Follow by adding sugar to a mixing bowl. Using a pair of gloves, gently crush and toss the mixture with the sugar together letting the natural juices from the fruit and vegetables incorporate evenly. Add vinegar and water and continue to mix, crush, and incorporate evenly until all sugar is dissolved.

Store this mixture overnight in a sealed container.

The next day: Strain the mixture through a mesh sieve, and it’s ready to use.

Bonus: The leftover watermelon aguachile can be used for a variety of other purposes and will hold up in the fridge for at least one month.

“It could be used in a margarita or a splash of it in a ranch water cocktail with Topo Chico and a squeeze of lime is delicious,” Jordan told RALtoday.

Popsicle ingredients + directions

4 ounces Aperol
1 ounces mezcal
12 ounces aguachile*
6 ounces lemon juice
6 ounces water

Combine all ingredients to a pitcher and mix + distribute evenly into your popsicle molds.

Freeze overnight and serve with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of flaky Maldon salt. Really impress your guests and add fresh herbs such as mint, cilantro, or basil over a bed of ice for a nice addition to each bite. Enjoy!

Events

Monday, July 17

The Great Raleigh Clean Up Weekly Stroll | Monday, July 17 | 6-7 p.m. | Brookside Bodega, 1000 Brookside Dr., Ste. 119, Raleigh | Free | Join The Great Raleigh Clean Up for a three-mile stroll to pick up litter and beautify a Raleigh neighborhood.
Bingo Night at the Lounge | Monday, July 17 | 7-9 p.m. | The Long Leaf Hotel, 300 N. Dawson St., Raleigh | Free | Sip on craft cocktails and play bingo for a chance to win prizes.

Tuesday, July 18

YUNGBLUD: The World Tour | Tuesday, July 18 | 6:30 p.m. | Red Hat Amphitheater, 500 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh | $14-$60 | This alternative English singer is known for songs like “Parents” and “Original Me.”
Open Training: Wrexham AFC and Chelsea FC | Tuesday, July 18 | 5 p.m. | WakeMed Soccer Park, 101 Soccer Park Dr., Cary | $15-$150 | Watch players from Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s team Wrexham AFC and Premier League Chelsea FC practice before the big game on Wednesday, July 19.

Thursday, July 20

Rooftop Drink Up Mixer with RALtoday | Thursday, July 20 | 5-7 p.m. | The Willard Rooftop Lounge, 9 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh | Free | Mingle with City Editors Cat + Allie on the rooftop for a barbecue-inspired cocktail with pulled pork and jackfruit sliders.
LinkRaleigh | Thursday, July 20-Thursday, Sept. 21 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | City Club Raleigh, 150 Fayetteville St., 29th floor, Raleigh | Free | Enjoy professional networking and the chance to win a $100 gift card to City Club Raleigh’s restaurant, Grain, when you register with free networking app SKANZ beforehand and check in at the event.*

Friday, July 21

Sidewalk Clearance Sale | Friday, July 21-Saturday, July 22 | Times vary | Enza Home Furnishings and Mattress Gallery, 25 Long Shoals Rd., Arden | Free | Save up to 70% on select items for your living room, dining room, bedroom + office during Enza Home Furnishings and Mattress Gallery’s Sidewalk Clearance Sale.*

Let's make it a great week

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Community

Your ultimate guide to Raleigh has arrived

Fall in love with the city even more with our Ultimate City Guide. | Graphic by 6AM City

We all know that Raleigh is a special place with a never-ending supply of things to do, see, and experience. That got us thinking — we already spend our days helping you get the most out of our city. So what if we curated a collection of guides that will be updated and available anytime to help you navigate all our great city has to offer?

That’s just what we’ve done. Say hello to RALtoday’s City Guide, your ultimate digital destination for the best ways to get out there and learn about the city you love.

We’ve broken the guides into three categories:

LIVE — Schools, neighborhoods, and unwritten rules of the city
WORK — Top industries, startups, and great spots to work outside
PLAY — Parks, festivals, hikes, and date nights

That just scratches the surface. We’ve got guides to local Airbnb and Vrbo rentals, navigating the airport, volunteer opportunities around town, and even where you and your pooch can grab a drink together.

Ready to get to know your city even better? Check out the link below. And if there’s a guide you’d love to see, send us a suggestion because this list of guides will just keep growing.

Oh, and one more thing. For all you marketing folks out there, we have one exclusive sponsorship available. We will feature your brand next to everywhere the guides appear in the newsletter, website, and social media. It’s an opportunity that won’t last long, so drop us a line.

Start exploring now

News Notes

Opening

Doggy bakery Hause of Dogs is coming to Smoky Hollow with a new name. Formerly Salty Paws, Hause of Dogs will serve up treats for your pups with the same experience and the same ownership. Construction has continued without a hitch, and the grand opening is slated for mid-August.

Coming Soon

Winston-Salem’s Incendiary Brewing is bringing its craft beer to Raleigh’s Bloc (83) later this year. The downtown 2,300-sqft taproom will offer specialty IPAs along with other craft brews and a private patio. Incendiary estimates a late summer or early fall opening. Psst... in case you missed it 6AMCity is launching WStoday this summer. (The News & Observer)

Traffic

A new traffic pattern called a diverging diamond is coming to the Jones Sausage Road interchange with Interstate 40. Contractors begin road work on the project this week. The criss-crossing traffic pattern which eliminates left turns across traffic, will be the second in the Triangle and is slated to be finished by October. (The News & Observer)

Sports

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is kicking off this week. Mark your calendar for the live viewing of the USA vs. Vietnam match at Moore Square this Friday, July 21. And brush up on which NC Courage players to cheer on during the Cup. (WUNC)

Biz

According to the US Census, Raleigh and Charlotte are leading the state in new business applications. Raleigh saw 18 applications per 1,000 residents with 22,165 total applications in 2022. The Southeast is booming with startups, which tracks considering CNBC recently named NC as the “Top State” for business in 2023. (Axios Raleigh)

Cause

S.O.S — it’s time to Save Our Summer with The Blood Connection. Blood centers usually struggle to collect enough during the summer months, with July being the hardest. For helping the blood supply, donors receive $60 in rewards (drives may vary). Learn more + donate.*

Shop

On our wish list: the NETVUE Smart Bird Feeder. It identifies bird species + captures live, high-quality footage you can save or share from your phone.*

Finance

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.*

Drink Up

🍸 Meet the bev manager behind the pops

Meet Crawford & Son’s Beverage Manager Jordan Joseph

If you’ve eaten at Crawford & Son, you might recognize this face. | Photo by Jessica Crawford

Crawford & Son’s seasoned beverage manager Jordan Joseph has been in the hospitality industry since he was 14-years-old. His experience behind the bar coheres with his creativity in concocting interesting and flavorful cocktails, spirits, and food pairings like his savory aperitivo popsicles.

After a stint of management positions in Chapel Hill and Charlotte, Jordan moved back to Raleigh in 2016 to work general and beverage management at Gallo Pelón Mezcaleria, a mezcal-focused cocktail bar above Centro.

He joined Scott Crawford’s Oakwood neighborhood restaurant Crawford & Son in 2020 as the beverage manager.

One of his favorite ingredients to experiment with is agave. “I have an affinity for agave spirits and have traveled to Mexico a lot,” Jordan said. “I think they produce some of the most complex cocktails.” He also loves working with chili and fun savory flavor combinations.

Click the link below to find out Jordan’s favorite local hangouts and what’s next for the Crawford team.