Keith Lee made his way to this local fave as part of his trip through the Carolinas. | Photo by A Place at the Table
In a recent TikTok, viral restaurant critic Keith Lee announced he’s coming to the Carolinas — and he just made a stop in Raleigh to one of our faves: pay-what-you-can cafe A Place at the Table. While visiting, Lee did some good of his own.
Lee gave the restaurant’s chicken and waffles with a spicy hot honey drizzle an eight out of ten and compared it to a high-end brunch entree. Plus, Lee paid it forward and gave graduating high schooler Zach and his mom a $1,000 scholarship.
“We got a couple calls today of people that said, “Hey, I heard about y’all, how does the pay-what-you-can work? What if I bring my family? I see, you can eat for free once a week.’ I thought that was really cool,” Maggie Kane, owner of A Place at the Table, told RALtoday.
Keep an eye on the food reviewer’s Carolina travels using our handy Keith Lee tracker, including your top recommendations for the viral foodie.
Midtown Beach Music | 6-9 p.m. | North Hills | $6 | Jam out to vibey music at North Hills; this week: The Chairmen of the Board.
Cake & Sip | 7-9 p.m. | The Hippo Wine Bar & Shop | $70 | Learn how to decorate cakes with a glass (or two) at this wine bar.
Science Café: Music of the Sandhills | 7-8 p.m. | Daily Planet Cafe | Free | Educate yourself on the science + history behind music in the Sandhills region of NC.
Friday, May 16
Nonalcoholic Cocktails and Healthy Bowls | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | 70 and Sunny, Smoky Hollow | Price of purchase | Zero-proof biz Umbrella Dry Bar will join this pop-up from Happy + Hale with nonalcoholic bevs.
Della Mae with Laurie Lewis and Alice Gerrard, Celebrating 100 Years | 7:30-10 p.m. | A.J. Fletcher Theater | $18+ | Celebrate 100 years of Hazel Dickens with an iconic bluegrass tribute by Della Mae, Laurie Lewis, and Alice Gerrard, her partner in the legendary duo Hazel & Alice.*
North Carolina Symphony — Mozart’s “Requiem” | Through Saturday, May 17 | 8 p.m. | Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts | $35+ | Enjoy this classical composer by candlelight.
Saturday, May 17
Hell Yeah I Have Bingo With Rusty | 3-4:30 p.m. | Libations 317 | Free | Green Monkey’s fave bingo night is back at a new location — win prizes at this local watering hole.
Lake Murray Country is packed with countless ways to play, from golf and outdoor recreation to world-class attractions. | Photos provided by Capital City Lake Murray Country
Dreaming of a getaway with lake views, outdoor fun, or city vibes? Whether you’re looking for adventure or a relaxing escape, the Capital City/Lake Murray Country region has it all. Think: sunrise paddles, rooftop cocktails, and cozy overnight stays.
Downtown Raleigh Alliance’s annual State of Downtown is set for Aug. 28 at the Martin Marietta Center. Expect insights into how our downtown district is doing and learn from movers + shakers that make Oak City what it is. Tickets open on June 2.
Biz
Nightlife businesses have reported a “notable level of mistrust” in the City of Raleigh, according to a report from the Responsible Hospitality Institute. Areas like Glenwood South were reported to have “quality of life” issues, and Fayetteville Street has seen less foot traffic. Read more about the report and city council’s next steps. (The News & Observer)
Eat
This Saturday marks the return of Wolfe & Porter’s annual Tiki Fest from 4 to 10 p.m. in Morgan West. Expect live music, food trucks, giveaways, and live-fire cooked proteins from Marc Russell, formerly of Longleaf Swine at the neighborhood spot.
Sports
The Lenovo Center isn’t just for hockey — Wolfpack head men’s basketball coach Will Wade is gearing up for a banner first year with transfers aplenty and big plans for the rebuild. Read the News & Observer’s exclusive conversation with the coach.
Community
Four bookmarks are hitting the shelves of Wake County Public Libraries, and they’re designed by local artists of all ages. You can pick up the vibrant bookmarks during the 2025 Summer Reading Program. Our favorite? Quincy Baynes’ winning bookmark for the 3- to 6-year-old competition that says “Color our world, read a book!”
Plan Ahead
We’re halfway through May — what fun have you had so far? If you’re like us, you’re always looking to fill out your calendar, and our May Plan Ahead can get the rest of the month squared away.
Try This
With a little planning, some prep work in the morning, and the help of a slow cooker, you can come home to tender, flavorful chicken tacos that are ready to eat when you are. Just add your favorite toppings.Get the recipe.*
Stat
50%. That’s how many dogs over the age of 10 will develop cancer in their lifetime. In addition to lots of tears, pet cancer care can cost you lots of money. Luckily,this pet insurance plan could reimburse you up to 90% on applicable pet care costs.*
Biz
What if building a house could be as simple as building a car? Boxabl is revolutionizing homebuilding by bringing assembly line technology to the outdated industry. Learn how(and how you can join the movement).†‡*
Category
Sports
🏒 Let’s go Canes!
The Canes are going for silver — the Stanley Cup, that is. | Photo by Josh Lavallee / Carolina Hurricanes
Tonight, the Carolina Hurricanes will face off against the Washington Capitals in round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs — and they’re up 3-1 and could secure the series. Here’s what to know before the puck drops in DC tonight.
The Canes secured their first win of the series in Game 1 at Washington in overtime and have yet to lose in the Lenovo Center this postseason after a 5-2 win in Game 4 on Monday. If the Canes lose tonight, they’ll come back to Carolina for Game 6 and have another chance to take the series.
If and when the Canes take the series, they’ll move on to the Eastern Conference Finals against either the Toronto Maple Leafs or the Florida Panthers — the winner of that series will go to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Summertime’s humidity + extra time in the sunshine can take a toll on your hair. Add these five essentials to your haircare routine to keep your locks nourished all season long:
After a quick evening deluge on Tuesday, I grabbed a pic of a double rainbow outside of Village Deli. And later that night, I caught a shooting star over Dix Park. I think that’s a sign?
‡This is a paid advertisement for BOXABL’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.boxabl.com. Reserving a Nasdaq ticker does not guarantee a future listing on Nasdaq or indicate that BOXABL meets any of Nasdaq’s listing criteria to do so.
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