10.31.2023

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Today’s Forecast

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

🌳 Coming soon: Even more parks to explore

6 parks: New and coming soon to Raleigh

A rendering of the playground shelter at Beech Bluff County Park.

Plans for Beech Bluff County Park include a playground + shelter, agricultural building, multi-use lawn, and a native prairie. | Photo via City of Raleigh

With more than 200 parks in Raleigh, we want to shine a light on a recently completed downtown space and five more parks coming soon to the City of Oaks and beyond.

NC Freedom Park | Now open

This one-acre green space honoring Black North Carolinian heritage is grounded by its awe-inspiring Beacon of Freedom. Constructed between downtown government buildings on Wilmington Street, this is the first park in NC dedicated to commemorating the Black struggle for freedom.

A rendering of Downtown Cary Park's The Bark Bar with dogs running around. — The Bark Bar overlooks Barkyard, a pup play space with water features, tunnels, “fallen” logs, and natural shade.
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Photo via Town of Cary

Downtown Cary Park | Opening November 19

This centrally located park has a total of seven acres and has been in the making for 20 years. The park’s ribbon cutting ceremony will feature synchronized light shows, live performances, a Bandit Flight Team flyover, and more.

This urban development is sprawling with amenities like an elevated grab-and-go cafe, The Bark Bar — an open pavilion offering beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks adjacent to the dog park — botanical gardens, artful play structures, and plenty of space to unwind.

Beech Bluff County Park | Expected completion: Spring 2024

Located on 300 acres in the southeast corner of Wake County, the $20 million project will include hiking trails, gardens, playgrounds, and teaching opportunities like a wildlife viewing platform. The space comprises several parcels of land including undeveloped forests, floodplains, wetlands, and stream channels.

Watch this video update from September.

Gipson Play Plaza rendering. — One of the many play areas that will be at Gipson Play Plaza.
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Rendering courtesy of the City of Raleigh and Dix Park

Gipson Play Plaza | Expected completion: 2025

This 18.5-acre public space for all ages is a part of Dix Park’s Master Plan to further develop the 308-acre park. Once complete, this massive project will include a play area with a swing terrace, a sensory maze, water play mountain + an adventure playground.

There will also be attractions like works of art, fountains, and gardens. Plus, the historic House of Many Porches will be repurposed to house a cafe featuring sweet treats and healthy foods. Check out the construction live feed.

Click the link below to explore two more parks coming soon.

Neuse River Park + Smoky Hollow Park

Asked

Which project are you most excited to explore?

A. NC Freedom Park
B. Downtown Cary Park
C. Beech Bluff County Park
D. Gipson Play Plaza
E. Neuse River Park
F. Smoky Hollow Park

Our pick? All of them.

Events

Tuesday, Oct. 31

Saxsquatch with Future Residents | Tuesday, Oct. 31 | 7 p.m. | The Pour House Music Hall, 224 S. Blount St., Raleigh | $20-$25 | Watch this musician perform cover songs on the saxophone in a Bigfoot costume.
Goodnights Presents: Roast of Halloween Villains | Tuesday, Oct. 31 | 7:30 p.m. | Goodnights Comedy Club, 401 Woodburn Rd., Raleigh | $7-$28 | Get spooked by these comedians dressed as horror characters and their ability to roast each other.
Halloween Party with DJ Mary | Tuesday, Oct. 31 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | The Green Monkey, 215 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh | Free | Celebrate Halloween with tunes by DJ Mary, snacks, and the chance to win prizes at this downtown spot.

Wednesday, Nov. 1

SOJA with Special Guests Hirie and Mihali | Wednesday, Nov. 1 | 10 a.m. | Lincoln Theatre, 126 E. Cabarrus St., Raleigh | $40-$45 | Chill out with this Grammy-award winning reggae band as they perform hits like “I Don’t Wanna Wait.”
Raleigh Night Market | Wednesday, Nov. 1 | Times vary | City Market, 306 Parham St., Raleigh | Free | Shop locally made goods, enjoy live music and entertainment, grab bites from food trucks, and a drink from the bar.
Mount Olive vs. NC State (exh.) | Wednesday, Nov. 1 | 7 p.m. | PNC Arena, 1400 Edwards Mill Rd., Raleigh | Free | Kick off the Pack’s men’s basketball season with this exhibition game against Mount Olive.

100+ events to choose from

Click here to have your event featured.

Home

Is your home ready for fall? These 4 checks will tell you.

Don’t let an easily-resolvable issue get in the way of you + your family enjoying a beautiful fall season. | Photo provided by Air Experts

Fall is nearly here, which means now is the perfect time to get your home ready to keep you cozy. Here are four fall must-do repairs + seasonal maintenance tips from the Air Experts:

Change your air filters (they should be changed at least every other month in the fall).
Schedule your yearly heating system tune-up.
Change the batteries in your smoke + carbon monoxide detectors.
Check for warm airflow from your vents when your unit is on.

Want to leave the prep to the pros?

Schedule a fall tune up

News Notes

Opening

Nationwide made-to-order burger chain Shake Shack will open in Village District on Thursday, Nov. 9. Head to the corner of Clark Avenue and Woodburn Road next Thursday for an opening celebration with Broughton High School Dance Team and Drumline at 11 a.m.

Coming Soon

Dalhouse, a children’s boutique by NC native Caitlyn Scott, will open in Five Points near Crafty Beer, Wine & Spirits with its grand opening set for Saturday, Nov. 18. The European-style boutique will carry children’s fashion brands from around the world and special gifts + heirloom pieces.

Arts

Gregg Museum of Art & Design is inviting the public to attend its opening reception for “BLOW UP II: Inflatable Contemporary Art” this Saturday, Nov. 4. Museum-goers can help celebrate these larger-than-life sculptures made from everyday materials with the Raleigh Bubble Man and Dusty Donuts at this outdoor event.

Try This

Trunkshow is hosting a Fall Market this Sunday, Nov. 5 from 10 to 4 p.m. Score vintage finds and homemade treasures while listening to a DJ spin tunes and sipping on cold beer. There will also be food trucks supplying tasty bites.

Plan Ahead

Today might be Halloween, but we are already thinking about holiday shopping. Triangle Pop Up is opening its Triangle Pop-Up Holiday Shop tomorrow, Nov. 1 at Raleigh Iron Works. Only open until Dec. 24, this storefront is the perfect place to shop local this season — it will be filled with candles, jewelry, clothing, and more by local makers.

Ranked

Raleigh recently ranked No. 1 on WalletHub’s list of the Best Cities for Veterans to Live. After comparing 100 of the most populated US cities, the list was determined by key factors like employment, economy, quality of life, and health. The City of Oaks exceeded in retiree-friendliness and veteran income.

Fun Fact

Do you speak French? Many in Raleigh do, it turns out. That’s because it’s the most spoken language after English and Spanish, both in Raleigh and throughout NC. Might be a good time to brush up on your French.

Beauty

Looking for an unbelievably close shave? Try Meridian Trimmers, engineered to empower individuals of all genders to achieve flawless grooming. Get 15% off a one-time purchase with code “6AM.”*

Holiday

🎃 *Knock, knock* “trick or treat!”

Pro tips for trick-or-treating in the City of Oaks

City Editors Allie (left) and Cat (right) are in the Halloween spirit. | Photo by RALtoday

The time has come... happy Halloween to all who celebrate. Before night falls, festive Raleighites will be adorned with masks, embellished outfits, and Barbie costumes galore to parade around in while trick-or-treating.

While the City of Raleigh doesn’t specify hours, the time to trick or treat is typically between 6 and 8 p.m.

Here are a few pro tips to keep you and your little one safe:

Use flashlights, reflective tape, or glow sticks for added visibility
Make sure any makeup used is nontoxic
Trick or treat in a group or with an adult
Inspect all candy before consuming
Use caution when crossing streets + intersections
Dress warm — temperatures are expected to get down to 36° tonight
Have a spooky good time

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The Wrap

Cat George in a black turtleneck sweater

Today’s edition by:
Cat

From the editor

I spent the majority of my Sunday at Sports & Social last weekend. If you haven’t been to this massive sports bar in Fenton, then add it to your list. Along with every football game streaming on the 42 ft media wall, there are plenty of games like skee ball and basketball hoops to keep you entertained.

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