You can’t go wrong with a friend date filled with flowers. | Photo by TG Floristry
Small Business Saturday, an initiative dedicated to celebrating and supporting small and locally owned businesses + the impact they have in our communities, is on Saturday, Nov. 30.
The day falls between two of the biggest shopping days of the year — Black Friday and Cyber Monday — and has become an annual shopping tradition for many since its establishment by American Express in 2010.
If you’re looking to join in on the festivities this year, check out our list of some of City Editor Allie + Danyale’s favorite small businesses in town — and some extra suggestions from our followers.
TG Floristry|Shop some of Raleigh’s best blooms from this locally owned spot that offers arrangements ranging from seasonal bouquets to luxurious rose ensembles. Plus, this flower shop offers various themed workshops to pique interests of all kinds.
Edge of Urge | If there’s one place I shop for holiday gifts, it’s Edge of Urge. This shop has an expansive and high quality array of fun items ranging from pop culture references and cute stuffed animals to trendy self-care items and novelty lighters. Plus, its neighbors like So & So Books, Wine Authorities, and Unlikely Professionals mean you can knock out your holiday shopping in one fell swoop.
Karaoke at Tin Roof | 8 p.m.-2 a.m. | Tin Roof | Free | Sing your heart out to your favorite tunes.
Thursday, Nov. 28
Drop-In Improv Class | 7-9 p.m. | Raleigh Founded — North Street | $20 | Drop into this multi-level class to learn the basics of improv through play, expression + much more.
Professionals share insights and build connections, enhancing their productivity with practical tools for focused work and effective time management. | Photo courtesy Ash Wright Photography
Stop watching your workday slip away. Created by HubSpot and ClickUp, this productivity system is used by the top 1% of performers in the professional world.
The system provides practical tools like custom-designed progress tracking templates, science-backed focus techniques, and a unique project hours calculator to eliminate wasted time.
Unlike other productivity systems that focus on theory, this kit offers ready-to-use templates and frameworks for immediate implementation. (Perfect for both in-office and remote workers, it’s designed to streamline productivity, without unnecessary extras.)
Mack Brown has been fired as UNC’s head football coach. Brown coached the Tar Heels from 1988 to 1997 and returned to Chapel Hill in 2019. The coach will lead his final regular season game this Saturday, Nov. 30 against NC State. UNC has a 6-5 record this season. (The News & Observer)
Coming Soon
Village Juice & Kitchen will open its first Raleigh location in March 2025 at Glenwood Place. Known for plant-based meals + juices, the menu includes salads, bowls, wraps, and smoothies. Village Juice plans to open more locations in the Triangle through licensing and franchise opportunities. (Triangle Business Journal)
Plan Ahead
Celebrate the holidays at Moore Square on Saturday, Dec. 7 with festive fun, including a caroling competition, food trucks, craft beer, and mulled wine. Kids can enjoy games, and Santa will be there from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event supports the Wake Tech Foundation’s Fostering Bright Futures Program.
Cause
Wake County’s Register of Deeds is hosting a toy drive from Monday, Dec. 2 to Friday, Dec. 20, supporting the Helping Hand Mission. The drive honors Todd Isaac, a 9/11 victim, and Sawyer Sharp, a child who died from cancer. Donations can be dropped off at the Helping Hand of Mission or the Register of Deeds office.
Edu
Wake County is celebrating 20 years of its Feed the Bin recycling program, involving 203 schools. Students collect paper, plastics, and cans for recycling, diverting waste from landfills. A recent study showed 87% of the materials collected were paper, with just 1.5% being non-recyclable. Way to go, kiddos!
Health
Looking for an oral surgeon in Raleigh? Dr. Gregory Taylor at Vista Oral Surgery and Implants is pre-booking consultations for the new year. Join the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, Jan. 6 to tour the space and meet the team.*
Seasonal
Shop, celebrate, and savor the holiday season with the help of Downtown Raleigh Alliance’s Holiday Hub, a complete guide to all things festive in the 919. Find where to shop unique gifts at local businesses, or explore twinkling lights while sipping a seasonal cocktail. Plan your holidays.*
You know how awesome your business is, but do our 62,000+ readers? Visit our self-service ad portal to learn how RALtoday can help connect your business with our local audience — no long-term contract required.
Finance
Did you know some credit cards can actually help you get out of debt faster? (Yes, it sounds peppermint-mocha nuts. But it’s true.) The secret: Find a credit card with a “0% intro APR” period for balance transfers. Here are hands down some of the best.*
Category
Number
🧳 The more, the merrier
RDU offers 48 nonstop destinations. | Photo courtesy of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority
400,000. That’s how many passengers RDU expects for Thanksgiving travel amid a record-breaking 18.3 million flyers nationwide.
Save this guide for yourself or someone you know who’s traveling through RDU this holiday season.
Parking, shuttles, and rideshare
All of RDU’s parking lots and garages offer hourly and per-day parking:
Economy | $3/hour, $11/day | Two lots with a free, 24-hour shuttle service to the terminals; great for long-term parking.
Express | $4/hour, $16/day | A mid-priced option with a free, 24-hour shuttle to the terminals.
Central | $5/hour, $20/day | Located in the garage between Terminals 1 or 2, within a short walking distance to both.
Nonstop flights
Raleigh offers over 60 nonstop destinations — 41 domestic that fly to five US regions, plus eight international flights to seven countries. Here are 30+ nonstop flights to 13 nearby locations.
A really good pickleball paddle — it’s rated 4.8 stars and is 62% off for early Black Friday. Notable features include: a larger sweet spot on the paddle + a handle with sweat-wicking ventilation for an anti-slip grip.
I’m going to an ugly sweater mixer next week, and I’m on the hunt looking for something to wear. All of the traditional ugly sweaters I’ve seen are far too basic, so, I’m thinking about making my own. Tell me, what’s your idea of an ugly sweater? I need to get this right.
