Raleigh was mentioned as one of the most steady innovation hubs on the list. | Photo by RALtoday
Raleigh ranked No. 2 among innovative hubs embodying high talent density in a recent study of 20 southern cities conducted by CommercialCafe. The term “talent density” was coined by Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings and refers to successful results due to a high-quality performance culture — all of which Oak City is being recognized for.
With an overall score of 98.36, Raleigh shines in areas like employment, business environment, and education. The City of Oaks stands out with an above-average percentage of residents holding STEM degrees and a talent attraction rate of 29%.
Raleigh also boasts an average STEM graduation rate of 70% at its universities, and came in third overall for vocational STEM degree graduates with 3,241 awards given and 29,757 patents to the Raleigh’s name.
Asked
Asked
Which Triangle city ranked No. 4 on the innovation hub list?
Pottery Paint & Sip | 6-8 p.m. | Fortnight Brewing Company, Cary | $19+ | Grab a brew and choose a pottery item to personalize.
Community & Cocktails: An Evening of Music and Philanthropy | 7-9 p.m. | The Willard Rooftop | Price of purchase | Join an evening of community mingling and fundraising for Designed for Joy, featuring discounted cocktails and small plates.
Thursday, May 29
Wine Tasting | 5-7 p.m. | 10th & Terrace | Free | Secure your spot at this complimentary tasting and explore new sips.
Fish Four Ways Cooking Class | 6-8:30 p.m. | Home for Entertaining, Cary | $99 | Learn four ways to cook the season’s freshest catch from baking to pan-searing.
Midtown Beach Music | 6-9 p.m. | 4321 Lassiter at North Hills Ave. | $6 | Jam out to vibey music at North Hills; this week: Jim Quick & Coastline.
Friday, May 30
Cooking Class & Dining Experience | 7-9 p.m. | The Nest Raleigh | $96 | This interactive cooking class will feature a caprese salad, scratch-made pasta, and chocolate-dipped strawberries.
Friday, June 13
Museum Movie Night: Shrek | 5:30-10 p.m. | NC Museum of Natural Sciences | $3+ | Enjoy an evening of science stations, trivia (with prizes), and ogre-themed fun at this family-friendly movie night. $3 for members.*
The team at Richardson Private Wealth Advisors has been working with locals on their financial journeys for over three decades. | Photo by Jared Caldwell with New Depth Creations
Part of Ameriprise Financial Services, this event is free to attend — just RSVP ahead of time. (Can’t attend? Keep your eyes peeled for September and December sessions.)
Raleigh’s new bluegrass festival, Raleigh Wide Open, released its performer lineup and schedule of events for its upcoming event Oct. 3 and Oct. 4. The festival will be comprised of six stages across downtown, and announced performers include Cabin Creature, Sunny War, and more. Read more about the festival.
Sports
The Canes are returning to Raleigh tonight at 8 p.m. for Game 5 against the Florida Panthers at the Lenovo Center. The team beat the Panthers 3-0 on Monday and now has a record of 1-3, marking the Canes’ first Eastern Conference Finals win in 19 years. Tickets for tonight’s match are still available. (ESPN)
Development
The Town of Apex is planning a $13.5 million mobility hub that could include an Amtrak station. The proposed site near downtown would feature bus stops, e-bike docks, EV charging, and green space. The town is seeking funding for design from Wake Transit and grants with no set timeline for construction. (Triangle Business Journal)
Try This
The Run for Love 5K is this Saturday, May 31 at 9 a.m., and registration is still open. Taking place at Dorothea Dix Park, proceeds from the event will support Raleigh Pride + the LGBT Center of Raleigh.
Edu
These kids are the bee’s knees. Eight NC middle schoolers, including students from Raleigh, Cary, and Durham, will compete in the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee this week. Watch the quarterfinals + semifinals live today, May 28, and the finals tomorrow, May 29, at 8 p.m. (The News & Observer)
Community
In honor of National Safety Month, Raleigh’s Vision Zero team is hosting two sidewalk sessions in June to promote safer streets. Stop by Pullen Park on June 10 or Nash Square Park on June 18 to learn how to prevent crashes, support safe mobility, and help build a safer Raleigh.
Fun Fact
You can co-own a movie studio. Add Hollywood to your portfolio + join 50,000+ investors including Morgan Freeman with Legion M, the world’s first fan-owned movie studio.†‡*
Category
Read
Get ready for a summer of reading + fun
Wake County has 23 libraries. | Photo via Wake County Public Libraries, graphic by RALtoday
Wake County Public Libraries is leading readers of all kinds + ages to new adventures with its Color Our World reading program, running from Saturday, May 31, until Aug. 23. The program will kick off with a series of events across Wake County libraries, including Oberlin Regional Library’s dance party this Saturday, May 31 at 2 p.m. featuring a live DJ, face painting, and craft activities.
Each age group has a curated reading list, including ages zero to five, and elementary + teen readers. And of course, the libraries made sure to take care of adult readers as well. If you don’t see anything you like, no worries. Here’s how to participate in the summer-long program:
Read or listen to any book, recipe, online article, or graphic novel.
Complete the reading tracker that can be picked up at any Wake County library
Attend a library program
The Buy
This digital measuring spoon. Perfect for baking or any time you need a precise measurement, it features a battery-operated scale with multi-unit measuring.
Good morning, Raleigh. It looks like it’ll be a rainy week in Oak City, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. Check out some rainy day activities we put together for you. You can catch me either taking a yoga class or at Boxcar Bar + Arcade.
‡This is a paid advertisement for Legion M’s Regulation CF Offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.legionm.com.
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