Get a glimpse of Gipson Play Plaza’s layout and features. | Photos via Dorothea Dix Park
The highly anticipated Gipson Play Plaza is making its debut in June, celebrating with a weekend of events. After breaking ground in 2022, the 18-acre outdoor destination is almost ready to welcome adventurers.
So, mark your calendar for a good time and head to Dix Park to attend the ribbon cutting on Friday, June 6, at 4 p.m. Plus, come back for a weekend-long celebration on Saturday, June 7 + Sunday, June 8 to break in the new playground and other amenities. Expect live music, family activities, interactive entertainment, food trucks, and an immersive light experience in the evening.
Gipson will be the largest adventure playground in the Southeast and will feature attractions like a sensory maze, a jumbo swing, a garden, and a grab-and-go market. The market will be stocked with products ranging from casual bites to beer + wine provided by local vendors.
Asked
Asked
What’s the length of the signature swing at the plaza?
Coffee & Crochet | 4-7 p.m. | Blackbird Books & Coffee | Free | Bring your current crochet craft to this weekly session and get a discounted bev.
Pay-What-You-Can Farmstand | 4-7 p.m. | Raleigh City Farm | Price-of-purchase | Get produce like strawberries, tomato bouquets, blueberries, and more at this local seasonal market.
Connect + Create: Custom Sneakers | 6-7:30 p.m. | Dorothea Dix Park | Free | Bring your own shoes to create a signature pairwith paints and gems.
Thursday, May 1
Midtown Beach Music | 6-9 p.m. | Midtown Park | $5+ | Get into the beach zone with live music by The ToneZ, lounging on the lawn, and bites from various food trucks.
Oak City Salsa | 6:30-9 p.m. | Transfer Co. Ballroom | Free | Get into the groove of salsa at this workshop built for all levels.
Seasonal Whimsical Workshop | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | TG Floristry | $60 | Join this hands-on workshop to merge floral design with seasonal blooms + sustainability.
The Power of Words | 6:30-8 p.m. | The Mocha Room, Apex | Free | Mix and mingle with local authors and entrepreneurs at this locally owned coffee shop.
Friday, May 2
Sushi Workshop at Edit Beer | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Edit Beer Brewery Co. | $52 | Indulge in the craft of sushi while learning various techniques with different ingredients.
Friday, May 9
Artisphere presented by Prisma Health | Friday, May 9-Sunday, May 11 | Hours vary | Main Street, Greenville, SC | Free | Enjoy a weekend in Greenville, SC, filled with live music, demos, street performers, hands-on workshops, local eats, and art from 140 vendors.*
The New Bern Avenue BRT project faces more delays after two failed bids. The City of Raleigh is now breaking construction into phases to attract more contractors, pushing completion to 2030. Once finished, it will be Raleigh’s first rapid transit line, featuring dedicated lanes, pre-paid boarding, and 10 modern stations. (The News & Observer)
Sports
Last night, the Canes took on the New Jersey Devils in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on home ice at the Lenovo Center. Was the storm surge enough?Take a look at how the team performed on the ice and if they’re advancing in the playoffs.
Community
A proposed 30-story tower near Raleigh’s Glenwood-Brooklyn has drawn mixed reactions over zoning and scale. During a neighborhood meeting on Wednesday, April 23, developers pledged height limits of 20 to 30 stories and a $1.2 million donation to affordable housing. (Raleigh Magazine)
Try This
The second annual Raleigh Historic Bike Ride this Saturday, May 3, starting at Nash Square. This four-mile guided ride highlights sites from Raleigh’s new LGBTQIA+ Historic Context Study, including Sir Walter Hotel and Legends Nightclub. Join the fun by bringing your bike + a helmet, or by using a free scooter or e-bike.
Outdoors
Stop by Raleigh’s Yard Waste Center through Saturday, May 10, and grab some free organic and leaf mulch with no appointment needed while supplies last. Residents and businesses can pick up mulch during business hours with their own truck or trailer.
Development
Commercial real estate agency CityPlat plans to transform West Raleigh’s long-vacant Kmart into a mixed-use hub with shops, recreation, and housing. The 12-acre site will be redeveloped in phases, connecting key districts and aligning with the upcoming bus rapid transit. (Raleigh Magazine)
Eat
Get ready to eat up. Perry’s Steakhouse is celebrating Flashback Friday this Friday, May 2, by offering its signature pork chop for just 79 cents to the first 100 dine-in guests lined up by 10:30 a.m. The nostalgic deal honors the restaurant’s 1979 founding and includes sides and fresh bread.
Good things come to those who wait click. That’s why we curate our newsletter with only the best positive content in our community for our thousands of engaged subscribers. Ready to reach them with your message? Leverage our self-service ad portal to get your ad live in just two days.
Pro Tip
Subscribe to 1440’s free newsletter to get unbiased global news delivered straight to your inbox every day. The concise, five-minute read covers topics of culture, business, sports, politics + more.*
Travel
Mapping out your summer travel plans? Perfect timing: Snag this travel credit card’s rare, limited-time welcome bonus to fuel your adventures — whether it’s luxuriating at a resort that could be seen in “The White Lotus,” or city-hopping to visit friends + fam.*
Category
Eat
🍽️ New spots are a foodies best friend
Peregrine is near WRK x The Optimist. | Renderings provided by JNK Public Relations
Some people make to-do lists — we make to-dine lists. Grab your forks as we dig right in to a few standouts, new + coming soon.
Located in the heart of Smoky Hollow, this new eatery serves specialty cocktails and main entrees like Mediterranean chicken piccata, topped with sundried tomato tapenade.
This contemporary eatery, founded by chef Saif Rahman + Patrick Shanahan, is the flagship restaurant in 1000 Social, and its menu is a blend of NC cuisine and South Asian dishes.
This locally owned and operated sports bar is expanding with another Raleigh location and is a family-friendly and kid-friendly eatery that serves made-to-order bites like the Chicago beef sandwich + the bourbon street chicken.
Foodies can expect fresh and handcrafted dishes featuring offerings including pizza, pasta, and gluten-free + vegan options.
The Buy
The viral beauty essential you’re most eager to try out:
💤 Laneige’s sleeping mask is worn overnight, so you can wake up with bouncier, firmer, less fine-lined skin.
🪮 With over 22,000 reviews, K18 hair mask is a trending favorite for a reason — the patented biotech treatment reverses hair damage in four minutes
🌊 Looking for a luxury moisturizer? Tatcha The Water Cream melts into skin with a refreshing water-burst of silky hydration.
👀 Clinique High Impact Mascara was recently named one of the 65 best beauty products of 2025 by Vogue — try burgundy shade Black Honey.
🌈 A TikTok favorite, Tarte colored clay undereye corrector uses color science to neutralize dark undereye circles.
Fun fact: I love water, marine life included. Imagine my surprise and excitement when I saw that the NC Museum of Natural Sciences is bringing a special blue whale exhibition in June — I’m literally bubbling over with anticipation.
^This content is created by our Client Success Team.
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