Plus, Lawrence Barbecue relocates and midtown's 20-story building.
 
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Today’s Forecast

97º | 20% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:45 a.m. | Sunset 7:45 p.m.

 

📈 Downtown Raleigh’s growth continues

Downtown Raleigh’s growth continues: 2024 State of Downtown annual report
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There’s so much to come for downtown and it’s nice to see a glance of where we’re headed. | Rendering provided by Downtown Raleigh Alliance
Downtown Raleigh Alliance released its annual State of Downtown report which details economic + housing trends, outlines the anticipated strategy for downtown Raleigh, and more. Let’s unpack the information + numbers for 2024 and see what’s next for the City of Oaks.

Downtown’s new strategy

Since the pandemic, Raleigh and beyond have faced the new reality of increased hybrid work and its impact to downtown’s foot traffic. New strategies to increase downtown activity include:
  • Energizing downtown by making street designs more flexible, and refreshing City Plaza and Fayetteville Street.
  • Diversifying retail opportunities by creating a specialized ecosystem for entrepreneurs and bringing regional + national brands.
  • Creating exceptional spaces by elevating art and adding more greenspaces.
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Knowing what’s going on in your community and the changes it’ll endure is comforting.

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Photo by RALtoday

Housing

Downtown Raleigh is experiencing continued significant growth. Since 2015, the area has gained 5,065 new residential units adding approx. 5,852 residents. The development boom continues with eight ongoing projects adding 1,607 units. A pending list of 25 additional projects could bring nearly 11,000 more people to Raleigh in the next five years.

Local biz

During the 2024 James Beard Awards, Raleigh’s culinary scene made waves with semifinalists like Bittersweet and Crawford and Son. Downtown is also buzzing with new + upcoming dining spots with 268 restaurants and bars currently open and 28 on the way, like Birdie’s Barroom and Kitchen and Homebody Yoga and Wellness.

Tourism + transit

From July 2023 to June 2024, downtown Raleigh welcomed 3.8 million unique visitors and hotel room occupancy averaged 69.8%. The local hotel scene is checking in with 1,652 existing rooms + 410 more currently under construction.

Transit is expanding with plans for 20 miles of Bus Rapid Transit, 121 miles of greenway trails for cycling and walking, and 69 nonstop flights from RDU.
 
Events
Thursday, Aug. 29
  • Line Dancing Boot Camp | Thursday, Aug. 29 | 7 p.m. | PBR Cary | $10 | Grab your boots and prepare to learn how to properly throw down the line dancing way.
  • Weekly Single Mingle | Thursday, Aug. 29 | 8 p.m. | Boxcar Bar and Arcade | Free | Connect with other singles while enjoying an upbeat atmosphere + arcade.
Friday, Aug. 30
  • Bog Bowl Workshop | Friday, Aug. 30 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Urban Pothos Houseplant Shop | $85 | Create your own bog bowl and learn about bog ecosystems with this hands-on workshop.
  • The Harry Show | Friday, Aug. 30 | 10 p.m. | ComedyWorx | $10-$12 | This party centers around a casual improv game that’ll have you cracking up.
Saturday, Aug. 31
  • Melivate Market | Saturday, Aug. 31 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | The Self Care Marketplace | Free | Browse this market and enjoy shopping, light bites, henna art + more.
  • Paint, Sip & Dip | Saturday, Aug. 31 | 1-4 p.m. | Georgia Tardy Art Studio | $55 | Get a multi-layered experience of painting art based on Ndebele culture, sipping your choice of bev, and taking a dip into a saltwater pool.
Sunday, Sept. 1
Thursday, Sept. 26
  • 2024 State of Midtown: Here We Grow Again | Thursday, Sept. 26 | 6-8 p.m. | 1000 Social at The Exchange | $60-$75 | Explore the stunning new office tower 1000 Social at The Exchange + celebrate the success of Midtown.*
Plan your long weekend
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Development
  • Raleigh’s City Council is considering a 20-story building project in midtown by Atlas Stark on Computer Drive. The proposal includes up to 2,100 apartments, with 10% designated as affordable housing. Though concerns about affordability and green space persist, a vote is expected on Tuesday, Sept. 3. (The News & Observer)
Eat
  • Lawrence Barbecue is relocating from Boxyard RTP to a new, larger venue in downtown Cary, set to open in the summer of 2025. The new 4,900-sqft restaurant at 150 E. Cedar St. will feature expanded offerings, including smoked meats, tacos, and a full bar. (The News & Observer)
Plan Ahead
  • RDU anticipates nearly 200,000 travelers from Friday, Aug. 30 to Monday, Sept. 2, a 13.5% increase over last year’s Labor Day weekend. To manage the surge, RDU is boosting staffing and advises travelers to check flight statuses, reserve parking in advance, and arrive early.
Edu
Environment
  • US Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland visited Raleigh’s future Smoky Hollow Park site, noting a stream under the asphalt. The park, funded with nearly $8.68 million, will restore Pigeon House Branch and add greenspace. Haaland’s visit also highlighted $845,000 for Raleigh’s Bailey Drive Gateway project. (The News & Observer)
Finance
  • Fall into savings (see what we did there?) with 18 months of 0% APR on balance transfers, plus no annual fee. Adding this card to our wallet feels as comfy as our favorite cardigan.*
Number
 
Holiday

Labor Day weekend fun

3 events to enjoy Labor Day weekend in Raleigh
RALtoday_STIRbrunch
Get a great brunch to fuel you before your weekend of Labor Day fun. | Photo provided by STIR
As summer’s final hurrah rolls in, Raleigh is ready to bid adieu to sunny days with a bang — or rather, a whole weekend of fun Labor Day weekend events.

3 Days of Brunch, STIR | Friday, Aug. 30-Sunday, Sept. 1 | Delight in a weekend-long brunch event at one of Midtown’s best eateries. Pro tip: Grab a mimosa jar for $18 + go on Sunday to enjoy a jazz session.

Downtown Raleigh Final Friday, Moore Square | Friday, Aug. 30 | Have a fun + free night out while enjoying a market, food trucks, and community cardio activities.

PJ Morton and Avery Sunshine concert, NCMA | Friday, Aug. 30 | Enjoy the sweet sounds of Grammy-winning singer PJ Morton and Avery Sunshine for a night of jazz, neo-soul, and R&B.
The Buy

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Shop Amazon's Labor Day sale
 
The Wrap
 
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Today’s edition by:
Danyale
From the editor
Now that the Paralympics have started, I’m looking forward to tuning in. I’m rooting for fellow Raleighites Hannah Aspden and Liana Mutia.
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