What we tried:

What not to miss:

• Online shopping: This family-owned wellness shop carefully packs each parcel from their online shop with a handwritten note + a surprise goodie.
• Cash back: Be sure to ask about the store’s 10% cash back program.
• Pet care: My dog, Tucker, even joined in on the shopping experience and came home with Honest Paws Roasted Peanut Butter Calming Bites. Honest Paws has a host of pet products that the store has stocked since the beginning.

• First Friday Market & Movie Night | Friday, Aug. 4 | 5-9 p.m. | Moore Square, 201 S. Blount St., Raleigh | Free | Join Pop Up Carolinas to snack on food truck fare, shop from local makers, play games, and watch “The Princess and the Frog” on the lawn.
• Eric Church: The Outsiders Revival Tour | Friday, Aug. 4 | 7:30 p.m. | Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, 3801 Rock Quarry Rd., Raleigh | $50-$350 | Sing along to hits from this country star like “Springsteen” and “Man Made a Bar.”

• Teens Sketch the Galleries | Saturday, Aug. 5 | 12-2 p.m. | North Carolina Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh | Free | Register your teen to follow prompts and spend time sketching in the galleries; for ages 13 to 18.
• Slightly Stoopid and Sublime with Rome wsg Atmosphere, The Movement | Saturday, Aug. 5 | 5 p.m. | Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, 3801 Rock Quarry Rd., Raleigh | $30-$100 | Vibe out with mellow tunes like “Closer to the Sun” and “What I Got” from these rock/reggae bands.
• Summer Movie on the Lawn - “Shrek” | Saturday, Aug. 5 | 5-8 p.m. | Dorothea Dix Park Flowers Field, 2105 Umstead Dr., Raleigh | Free | Dress as your favorite “Shrek” character and enjoy pre-movie activities, grab snacks from food trucks including The BBQ Lab, and watch the movie on the lawn.

• Barbie Brunch & Mixology | Sunday, Aug. 6 | 12-2 p.m. | Wine and Design, 510 W. Martin St., Raleigh | $79 | Enjoy a Barbie-themed brunch, make two fun cocktails, and pose inside of a life-sized Barbie box.
• Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Too $hort & More - H.S. Reunion Tour 2023 | Sunday, Aug. 6 | 6 p.m. | Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, 3801 Rock Quarry Rd., Raleigh | $55-$300 | Watch these rappers take the stage for a night filled with hip-hop hits like “Gin and Juice” and “Young, Wild & Free.”

• Cafe Carolina is closing its Village District location on Monday, Aug. 7 at 2 p.m. But don’t worry — after 20 years at this location, the cafe will move down the road to the former so•ca space on Clark Avenue. A timeline for the move has not yet been announced.

• Film Fest 919 is taking a gap year for its annual festival due to film industry strikes. In a press release, co-founder Carol Marshall said “we hope during this time to find the best way to serve the evolving needs of our NC film community.”

• The Wake County Animal Center is completely full and urgently needs adopters. For the first time in seven years, the center will begin euthanizing pets due to lack of space. There are ~220 homeless pets to choose from — long time animals currently have a no-cost adoption fee.

• First Friday. Tonight, downtown will be buzzing with Raleighites exploring art galleries, creator studios, and local businesses while they stay open late. Don’t miss events like a free mini bitters class at The Bittery — running every 30 minutes from 6 to 8 p.m. — and live music at The Raleigh Times Bar. Explore more First Friday activities.

• Activate Good is seeking volunteers for its 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance, honoring the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001. The individual volunteer sign up went live today and tomorrow, Aug. 5 is the last day to sign up as a group. The nonprofit hopes to have over 3,000 volunteers.

• Thursday, Aug. 10 is the last day to apply to be a vendor for the IBMA Bluegrass Live! Art Market on Sept. 29 and Sept. 30. Local artists and crafters that appeal to a music-loving audience are welcome to apply.

• Calling all Peloton fanatics. Viral cycle instructor, “Dancing with the Stars” finalist, and NC native Cody Rigsby will be at Quail Ridge Books for a meet and greet on Wednesday, Sept. 13. Tickets start at $27.50 and include a signed copy of his book “XOXO, CODY” and a professional photo with the star.

• CommercialSearch ranked Raleigh as the No. 9 best US city for hybrid workers. Our best scoring indicators are high-speed internet coverage, housing cost-to-income ratio, and our city contributes to digital infrastructure. The City of Oaks also has one of the lowest average commute times in the country.

• What’s the difference between DiamondGlow + HydraFacial? While both facial treatments effectively improve the overall health and appearance of the skin, each differs in their techniques and outcomes. Learn about the popular treatments that have taken the skincare industry by storm + find out which is right for you.*

• We’re hiring a Branded Copywriter. This team member will directly support the strategy, creation, and placement of branded content campaigns for 6AM City’s clients, including creating dynamic content (including written articles and social) within the 6AM tone and style. Learn more + apply.

• Good news and bad news — the bad news is we made a mistake in yesterday’s newsletter. The good news? NC voter IDs are available now — you don’t have to wait until election season. These IDs are free and available at your county elections office.