PineCone is keeping busy with its event series, Raleigh Wide Open, and children’s summer camp. | Photo by Stacy Chandler
After more than a decade of twangin’ tunes in the City of Oaks, IBMA Bluegrass Live! packed up and landed in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The festival’s final Raleigh run was last September — and after the final bows, PineCone announced Raleigh Wide Open, a new iteration of a former Oak City bluegrass festival.
While Raleigh Wide Open is set to debut this fall, nonprofit PineCone is giving Raleigh a taste of bluegrass by way of a Down Home Concerts Series. Kicked off in January, the event series nods to Raleigh’s bluegrass legacy while mixing in gospel, funk, old-time, and blues — genres deeply rooted in the region.
Up next: Mark your calendars for Friday, May 16, when bluegrass band Della Mae, Laurie Lewis, and Alice Gerrard honor Hazel Dickens’ 100th birthday with a tribute show at A.J. Fletcher Theater. Plus, multi-instrumentalist Laura Boosinger will host an old-time banjo workshop on May 17 at John Chavis Memorial Park.
Asked
Asked
When will the first Raleigh Wide Open debut?
A. Sept. 7-8 B. Oct. 3-4 C. Nov. 11-12 D. Dec. 5-6
Night of Magic | 6-9 p.m. | Willow House | $13 | Enjoy a magical evening filled with activities, including face painting and card readings, with a variety of food trucks.
Saturday, April 26
Arts on the Block | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Artspace | Free | Hit the block at this local art center’s first block party filled with community, food, and art.
This is your chance to power up your home and your tech. | Image by 6AM City
Trust us, you’re going to want to plug in for this giveaway.
We’ve partnered with Tri Pointe Homes to host our tech-filled Apple of Our Eye Giveaway in celebration of Tredenham — a new townhome community that’s becoming the apple of homebuyers’ eyes thanks to modern two-story layouts, two-bay garages, and a prime location between Raleigh and Durham.
One lucky NC-based reader is going to win a basket of brand-new Apple gear valued at over $1,000:
📱 2025 iPad Air 11” (256 GB) – $699
🎧 AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) – $169
📍 AirTag 4-Pack – $79
✏️ Apple Pencil – $99
And entering the giveaway is easier than picking your favorite emoji: All you have to do is fill out this quick survey before Thursday, May 1 at noon.
Pro tip: Stick around ‘til the end of the survey to see how you can double your winning chances with a free bonus entry. Our randomly chosen winner will be announced on Tuesday, May 6.
La Taqueria by Katsuji, a new taco spot from “Top Chef” alum Katsuji Tanabe, is now open at Boxyard RTP. The menu features Mexico City-style tacos featuring locally sourced ingredients, plus cocktails and beer from Tanabe’s other restaurant, Flour & Barrel. Maybe we’ll stop by for lunch this week.(Axios Raleigh)
Coming Soon
Raleigh’s newest bar and lounge, Westwood, is opening tomorrow, April 25, at 518 W. Jones St. The lounge is open exclusively on Fridays + Saturdays starting at 8 p.m., welcoming ages 23 and up. Get a peek inside.
Development
Wake County is investing nearly $18 million in eight developments to create and preserve 644 affordable homes for low-income residents. Each project prioritizes long-term affordability and serves households earning 50% or less of the area median income. This effort exceeds the county’s annual goal and strengthens housing access.
Drink
Weldon Mills Distillery launched a limited-edition “Quarter Century” vodka bottle celebrating the Canes’ 25th anniversary while also honoring the team’s legacy and Weldon Mills’ NC roots. The special edition bottle is available for purchase at Weldon Mills Distillery’s Durham location and select ABC store locations in NC.
Announced
John Mulaney, a comedian and actor featured in Netflix originals like “Big Mouth,” added a second show at DPAC on Oct. 3. The additional show was added due to high demand, and tickets go on sale tomorrow, April 25.
Community
Nourishing Wake, a new program by Wake County, is delivering free, fresh, and locally sourced food twice a month to over 1,000 residents with chronic illnesses. Partnering with NourishedRx and local farms, the initiative uses a “food-as-medicine” approach, aiming to improve health outcomes while boosting the local food economy and addressing food insecurity.
Read
Looking for an informative, faith-based newsletter? The Pour Over delivers current events with a Christian perspective, perfect for staying informed. Subscribe to the newsletter to join the community.*
Number
$5,000. That’s how much your dog’s ACL surgery could cost if you don’t have pet insurance. With this plan, 90% of that could be reimbursed.*
The Word
Unlimited. As in, the limit does not exist when it comes to how many job listings you can post on the RALtoday Job Board. Get started today + watch the applications roll in. Psst — upgrade your job posting and it will be featured right here in the newsletter.
Shop
These cannabis gummies keep selling out — just one can get you feeling right within five minutes. Get 20% off with code FIRST20.†*
Correction
The luck of the Irish was not on our side. UNC will kick off its 2026 season, not 2025 season, in Dublin, Ireland against TCU on Aug. 29, 2026.
Biz
Biz
👀 Introducing ad bundles
Our bundles secure your business more advertising space for less. | Graphic by 6AM City
The newest addition to our self-service ad portal — our advertising marketplace with no long-term contracts — is bundles. We’ve put some of our most popular products into two different offerings — each with a savings of 20%. Here’s the rundown:
Branded Content Bundle: Three placements in our newsletter, including a 75-word article and two text ads in the News Notes section.
A smart bird feeder that auto-captures and identifies 10,000+ bird species. It features an HD camera with a wide angle lens and full color night vision, Wi-Fi connectivity that allows you to receive real-time messages when a bird is detected, and a sturdy, waterproof fabrication for long-term use.
When I first started at RALtoday, one of the first emails I replied to was from a reader asking if we knew of any jazz spots in Raleigh. I’m always eager to help, but I had a hard time finding what he was asking for at the time. Now, nearly a year later, every time I see a jazz event in Raleigh, I still think of that reader. If you see this, I hope you enjoy one of these upcoming jazz events at Moon Room, a lounge in Smoky Hollow.
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