10.17.2023

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Today’s Forecast

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

⚽ Eyes on the prize for the NC Courage

Cheer on the NC Courage during the NWSL Playoffs

North Carolina Courage players score after scoring a goal.

Cheer on the NC Courage + North Carolina FC at home this season. | Photo provided by the North Carolina Courage

Riding the high of its recent 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup Championship title, the NC Courage looks to hoist another trophy ahead of the NWSL playoffs this Sunday, Oct. 22 at WakeMed Soccer Park.

This is the first time since 2021 that the Courage will play in this single-elimination tournament which includes six teams in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and will ultimately determine the winner of the 2023 Ally NWSL Championship.

Kicking off on home turf at 7 p.m., the quarterfinal match against NJ/NY Gotham FC will settle who will play the Portland Thorns at the semifinal game at Providence Park in Portland on Sunday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.

Our No. 3 seeded home team sits on the heels of No. 1 seed San Diego Wave FC and No. 2 seed Portland Thorns FC.

The NWSL Playoff bracket. — Let’s go NC Courage!
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Screenshot via NWSL

But let’s talk hardware — the Courage has secured three NWSL Shields, two Challenge Cup Championships, and two NWSL Championships. Hoping to make this year a hat trick, the last time we were crowned champions was in 2019.

Paving the way is forward Kerolin, who is the second leading goal scorer in the NWSL with 10 goals and five assists, while the Courage holds down the No. 5 most goals in the league with 29 in total.

Other standouts to cheer on during the tournament are goalkeeper Casey Murphy, midfielders Denise O’Sullivan + Narumi Miura, and defenders Emily Fox + Kaleigh Kurtz.

Score tickets ($15+) for the quarterfinal, but if you can’t get loud for our home team in person, you can watch the game on CBS Sports Network.

The NWSL Championship will be aired from San Diego on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 8 p.m.

Events

Tuesday, Oct. 17

Write It: Poetry Club: Halloween Edition | Tuesday, Oct. 17 | 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Northeast Regional Library, 14401 Green Elm Ln., Raleigh | Free | Get your creative juices flowing with this Halloween edition of writing games.
Bands at Brookside Bodega | Tuesday, Oct. 17 | 5-8 p.m. | Brookside Bodega, 1000 Brookside Dr., Ste. 119, Raleigh | Free | Enjoy a performance by local artist Eric Forbis.

Wednesday, Oct. 18

Ardbeg Wee Beastie Sauce Boss Competition | Wednesday, Oct. 18 | 5-8 p.m. | Whiskey Kitchen, 201 West Martin St., Raleigh | Free | Join this downtown spot on the patio to watch this saucy competition and to get a taste of free barbecue and whiskey.
Beginner Calligraphy and Pumpkin Lettering | Wednesday, Oct. 18 | 5:30-7 p.m. | Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing, 201 S. Boylan Ave., Raleigh | $65 | Perfect your pretty lettering on faux pumpkins.
2023 Stop the Bleed | Wednesday, Oct. 18 | 6-7 p.m. | WakeMed Raleigh, Andrews Conference Center, 3024 New Bern Ave., Raleigh | Free | Learn how to control blood loss in this free hands-on course.

Thursday, Oct. 19

Raleigh Fashion Fest Fall ’23 | Thursday, Oct. 19 | 5-9 p.m. | Raleigh Iron Works, 1101 E. Whitaker Mill Rd., Raleigh | $0-$75 | Shop local boutiques and enjoy bites + bevs at this show benefiting local nonprofit The Women’s Center.
Pumpkin Carving | Thursday, Oct. 19 | 6-9 p.m. | The Raleigh Times Bar, 14 E. Hargett St., Raleigh | $10 | Grab a cold beer, carve a pumpkin, and enter your masterpiece into the bar’s contest for a chance to win a gift card.
RAYE: My 21st Century Blues World Tour | Thursday, Oct. 19 | 7 p.m. | The Ritz, 2820 Industrial Dr., Raleigh | $30-$80 | Sing along to popular songs like “Escapism.”

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Theater

Experience the forbidden love of “La Traviata” at North Carolina Opera

Images of the production of "La Traviata" at the North Carolina Opera.

Translating to ‘The Fallen Woman’, La Traviata is a tragic tale about Parisian courtesan, Violetta, who tries to leave the life she knows behind in an attempt to find true love. | Photos by Curtis Brown Photography

It’s all fun and games until love comes along. North Carolina Opera’s production of “La Traviata” tells the romantic + heartbreaking tale of courtesan Violetta and her forbidden love for aristocrat Alfredo in one of the greatest operas of all time.

See the passionate performances, stunning costumes, and magnificent music of Verdi on Friday, Oct. 27 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 29 at 2 p.m. at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium at Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts.

Get tickets to "La Traviata"

News Notes

Open

Transfer Co. Food Hall gained a new tenant: Meet Yatai. This now open global-inspired fish market + restaurant, headed by M Sushi Chef Magno Tapia, features multiple stalls to celebrate the different types of sea fare. Guests can look forward to enjoying dishes like Baja-style fish tacos, sushi, and ramen, plus specialty cocktails.

Coming Soon

Fashion-forward menswear store Beatniks will host its grand opening this Friday, Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Raleigh Iron Works. Score some street style pieces at this Raleigh-based store and say “hi” to owner and founder Luke Suggs.

Development

Raleigh developer Atlas Stark and State Employees’ Credit Union are teaming up to seek a three- to 20-story rezone of 14.36 acres along Computer Drive and Six Forks Road. If approved, Atlas Stark plans to bring a new 20 story tower to North Hills with SECU residing on the first floor. (Triangle Business Journal)

Sports

The AP Top 25 preseason men’s college basketball rankings are in, and two Triangle teams made the list. The Duke Blue Devils will be the team to beat this season with it’s No. 2 ranking lead by its player of the year candidate Kyle Filipowsk, while the Tar Heels secured the No. 19 spot.

Announced

Can you hear the bluegrass? Pinecone released the lineup for its 2024 Down Home Concert series running from January to May 2024. The Dan Tyminski Band will start the series off on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024 at A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater. Presale tickets will be available on Nov. 1 at 10 a.m.

Community

The Wake County board of commissioners has banned new smoke or vape shops to open within 1,000 ft of schools, parks, greenways, and homes across the county. According to data provided by the Poe Center for Health Education, around 800 stores in Wake County sell tobacco products.

Watch

It’s much more than a fry bar. Raleigh’s Buena Papa Fry Bar will appear on ABC’s “Shark Tank” this Friday, Oct. 20. Tune in to ABC11 at 8 p.m. to watch these local restaurateurs take on the sharks.

Try This

ICYMI, we recently took a trip to Woodhouse Spa North Hills for a luxurious afternoon complete with a Body Balance Massage, Soothe + Hydrate Facial, and Himalayan salt therapy. Our personalized, resort-level experiences left us feeling serene and uplifted, and ready to book our next appointment. See what we loved most.*

Wellness

You’ve heard of collagen — but have you heard of collagen loading? Here’s how to use NativePath’s Grass-Fed Collagen to do it while it’s over 50% off.*

Asked

🍗 Who has the best chicken wings in Raleigh?

Who has the best chicken wings in Raleigh?

V Pizza's cryin' Hawaiian wings topped with a pineapple slice.

V Pizza’s cryin’ Hawaiian wings are made with honey, Calabrian pepper paste, roasted pineapple, brown sugar, and nutmeg, topped with fresh basil. | Photo provided by V Pizza

With the 2024 Super Bowl off on the horizon, we want to take your game day spread to the next level. We want to hear from you: Who has the best chicken wings in Raleigh?

We already told you where to go to watch NFL games, now it’s time to bring out your wet wipes to tell us your thoughts.

We will host three voting rounds within our newsletters and social channels to determine Raleigh’s best wings.

Vote for your favorites, and the eatery with more votes moves on.

Round two: The contestants

You let us know your thoughts, and now it’s time for us to deliver your picks for the best wings in Raleigh. These top 10 wing stops (no pun intended) along with flavorful sauces were mentioned by our readers a spicy amount of times.

The rules are simple: Voting ends this Wednesday, Oct. 25, and the top three contestants will move on to the final showdown. Let’s dig in.

High Park Bar & Grill | The wheels up barbecue sauce is a must-try — it’s a thick, tangy, and spicy family recipe.
Midwood Smokehouse | Enjoy a Carolina showdown between NC vinegar or SC mustard wings, and if you want something with a little kick, try Juan’s hot garlic buffalo.
Mojoe’s Burger Joint | Dip your Nashville hot dust and mango-habanero flats + drums into this downtown dive’s homemade and well-loved ranch dressing.
My Way Tavern | The raspberry chipotle wings are certainly something to write home about and have just the right mildly sweet flavor.

Touchdown Sports Bar tossed wings with carrots and celery. — Our readers raved about Touchdown Sports Bar’s tasty wing flavors like the honey Old Bay.
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Photo provided by Touchdown Sports Bar

Sharky’s | This sports bar makes a mean garlic Parmesan and Randy hot smoked wing sauce.
Soo Cafe | Our readers recommend the old fashioned sauce, which is a mix of gochujang and a garlic base.
The Flat Drum | Try unique flavors like spicy PB&J and maple bacon dry rub from this local food truck.
Touchdown Sports Bar | The clear favorites for this chicken hot spot are the honey Old Bay, West Coast, and classic hot wings.
V Pizza | An overwhelming number of Raleighites shared their love for the cryin’ Hawaiian and V signature wings, perfect to share over a pizza.
Woody’s at City Market | The habanero mango dry rub, slow burn, and kickin’ garlic grilled wings seem to be the stars of the show at this downtown sports bar.

Vote here for your favorite wings in Raleigh.

Round three: The finalists

Over 1,000 chicken fans cast their votes for the most fire wings in Raleigh, and the results are in. Here’s the top 3, according to our readers. Vote for the ultimate wingery; voting ends Tuesday, Oct. 31.

My Way Tavern | The raspberry chipotle wings are certainly something to write home about and have just the right mildly sweet flavor.
The Flat Drum | Try unique flavors like spicy PB&J and maple bacon dry rub from this local food truck.
Touchdown Sports Bar | The clear favorites for this chicken hot spot are the honey Old Bay, West Coast, and classic hot wings.

Drum roll please... our wing winner is...

Touchdown Sports Bar. With nearly 1,000 votes by our readers, this wingery received more than half. Congratulations to this neighborhood hangout and its fire wing selection. With 19 sauces to choose from, give this local biz a try at 3601 New Bern Ave.

Don't be a chicken, nominate your go-to

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The Wrap

Cat George in a black turtleneck sweater

Today’s edition by:
Cat

From the editor

I’m so excited to check out Beatniks this week. Luke Suggs’ style is truly unique, and I can’t wait to see how he has filled the space in Raleigh Iron Works. Between the Instagrammable walls he mentioned in our interview and his vision for fashion in Raleigh, I have a feeling that my fiance will be getting some new statement pieces very soon.

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