Plus, Raleigh's hidden gems.
 
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82º | 0% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7 a.m. | Sunset 7:37 p.m.
 

🥊 A knockout coffee shop

Left Hook Coffee packs a punch in new space
A woman stands behind the counter of Left Hook Coffee. An earthy mural is behind her.
Meet Kristin Kulik, the brains behind Left Hook Coffee. | Photo by RALtoday
If you followed our 2024 coffee bracket, you might have noticed a new name in the ring. Left Hook Coffee recently opened in the cafe space of Gussie’s at 927 W. Morgan St., serving unique bevs made with its own small-batch roasted beans and top-notch service.

“The amount of support that we’ve gotten in Raleigh is just incredible,” owner and operator Kristin Kulik told RALtoday. “Even people from Durham and neighboring towns have been following and rooting for us. It’s just been great.”

Kulik had previously set up shop in Rebus Works, and joined local events as a pop-up. Kulik said she heard about Gussie’s from Instagram and reached out offering coffee samples. Soon after, Gussie’s offered Left Hook the cafe space, and Kulik opened business mid February.

Kulik explained the meaning behind Left Hook’s boxing-inspired name and the striking photo from the shop’s bean bags.

“Those left hooks are few and far between where you lose a friend, you lose your job, whatever it is,” Kulik said. “Nothing can really prepare you for that, so we wind up gauging our life in those left hooks where it shapes us for the better or worse and we learn from it.”

To top it all off, the boxer facing away from the camera on Left Hook’s 12 ounce bags is Kulik’s grandfather Helmut, a German boxer. Kulik said this is a callback to the familiar connection coffee brings and what Left Hook is all about.

If you’re looking for some must-try menu items, we recommend the bright but strong cold brew, an espresso tonic, or the house-made chai made with fresh cracked spices and a sprinkle of rose petals. Plus, don’t miss baked goods from Bitten Bakery and occasional egg sandwiches courtesy of Gussie’s.

Left Hook Coffee is open Wednesday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the back space of Gussie’s.
 
Events
Monday, April 1
  • Yoga in the Park | Monday, April 1 | 5:30 p.m. | Dorothea Dix Park, 1030 Richardson Dr., Raleigh | Free | Enjoy the nature and tranquility of Dix Park with a yoga class to increase strength and flexibility.
  • Gardening to Attract & Support Wildlife | Monday, April 1 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | JC Raulston Arboretum, 4415 Beryl Rd., Raleigh | $300-$350 | Join this eight week class to learn how to care for local wildlife through gardening.
Tuesday, April 2
Wednesday, April 3
Thursday, April 4
More to do this week
Click here to have your event featured.
HomeTrust Bank
 
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🚌 Travel smart to win big this April
Two women on a bus looking at one of their phones and smiling.
Track all of your smart trips in April to earn the most points (and the grand prize). | Photo courtesy of GoTriangle
Celebrate Earth Day every day during GoTriangle’s Around the World Challenge, happening Monday, April 1-Tuesday, April 30.

It’s simple: track your smart travel in Share the Ride NC to earn points + help the region collectively log 24,000 miles — the circumference of the globe.

Smart travel includes:
  • Riding the bus
  • Biking
  • Walking
  • Rolling (skating and scooting)
  • Carpooling
  • Vanpooling
The globetrotters who log the most miles in each smart category will win a pair of AirPods.
Learn more + join the challenge
News Notes
Sports
  • The Pack just keeps dancing. The NC State women’s and men’s teams are both headed to the Final Four after a women’s win over Texas and men’s over Tobacco Road opponent Duke. The women will play South Carolina Friday, April 5 and the men will face off against Purdue on Saturday, April 6. (ESPN)
Try This
  • If you couldn’t nab tickets to see SZA, J. Cole, and more at Dreamville, you can still attend local free events throughout the week featuring yoga with EarthGang, a pop-up shop, and Dreamville Public Access, an all-day event with panels and keynotes discussing the music industry — RSVP links are coming soon.
Open
  • Morelia is now open in Smoky Hollow. This spot serves gourmet ice cream paletas — a Mexican treat similar to popsicles — and we’re eyeing the waffle burrito and s’mores varieties.
Coming Soon
  • Ponysaurus Brewing will open soon in Raleigh Iron Works, and we got a sneak peek. With brews coming from Durham, we especially loved the Margherita pizza and can’t wait to enjoy craft beers + espresso martini slushies in the impressive space.
Development
  • Seaboard Station will welcome two new eateries to its lineup: Omakase by Kai will be a fine dining eatery with chef-selected sashimi and nigiri, and Palm Berries will bring acai bowls and fresh flavors to the upcoming development. These new tenants will join the previously announced Biscuit Belly and The Yard Milkshake Bar.
Plan Ahead
  • Don’t forget. Our Earth Day Extravaganza is less than three weeks away, and our list of vendors keeps growing. Shop local, zero-waste, and eco-friendly vendors at our market with folks like Fillaree, Little Oak Collective, and plenty more.
Wellness
  • Designed with conversation in mind, these game-changing hearing aids feature crystal-clear sound in a sleek, discreet design. Enjoy clear speech with minimum background distractions — even in the noisiest environments. Join 385,000+ happy customers and start your 45-day, no-risk trial today.*
 
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💎 The 919’s hidden gems

Raleigh’s most iconic landmarks
A copper acorn.
You probably don’t recognize this acorn. | Photo by RALtoday
As City Editors, we pride ourselves on being Raleigh insiders who know everything about the 919, including what’s off the beaten path. Here’s just a few places you might not have heard of.

Giant Acorn, City Plaza, 201 S. Blount St. | Standing at 10 feet tall and 1,250 pounds, this copper acorn was commissioned for Raleigh’s bicentennial celebration in 1992 and is now dropped at midnight to ring in the new year, City of Oaks style.

Memorial Belltower, 2011 Hillsborough St. | Did you know? This 115-foot tower is hidden on NC State’s campus. The belltower was recently renovated to include a 55-bell carillon and to restore the Shrine Room honoring NC State alumni killed in WWI.

PNC Arena, 1400 Edwards Mill Rd. | Most people don’t know this one. This arena houses NC State basketball games and Carolina Hurricanes matches — sometimes on the same day.
9 more secret spots
The Buy
The Song of Everything Book to celebrate National Poetry Month. This poetic journey takes an adventure through South Carolina’s State Parks.
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The Wrap
 
Allie Remhof

Today’s edition by:
Allie
From the editor
OK, so maybe you knew about those landmarks. Happy April Fools’ Day!

This weekend, my boyfriend and I went to the recently reopened Nanas in Durham before seeing Pat Metheny at the Carolina Theatre. Our favorite bites included the oxtail mezzaluna, the NC chicken, and the decadent hazelnut tiramisu — plus, you can’t beat the chic atmosphere playing indie rock.
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