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City Guide

💌 It’s date night

A bustling restaurant's bar with a mural of a heron above liquor bottles.
If the way to your date’s heart is through the stomach, give Figulina a taste. | Photo by Jeff Bramwell
Whether you’ve met “the one” or are hoping to impress someone new, we’ve got 50+ local date night ideas that are legen — wait for it — dary.

For the ones who want a night out on the town

  • Prove your sense of humor with a trip to Goodnights Comedy Club for a stand-up show from local and national comedians.
  • For a more upscale occasion, get dressed up to visit the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts for a show by NC Opera.

If you want an “old fashioned”-style date

  • Wear your best to Death and Taxes, a wood-fired kitchen run by Raleigh Chef Ashley Christensen. Pro tip: Reserve a seat at the kitchen counter to watch the chefs at work.
  • Want Paris vibes on a Raleigh budget? Spend the day shopping + eating through Lafayette Village, including Simply Crepes, Jubala Coffee, and countless boutiques.

City Guides are presented by Coastal Credit Union.
48 great dates

Asked

What’s your go-to activity for a memorable date?

A. Romantic candlelit dinner
B. Cozy movie night at home
C. Adventurous outdoor activity
D. Other
Show us a good time

Events

Thursday, July 17

Nate Bargatze: Big Dumb Eyes World Tour | Thursday, July 17 + Friday, July 18 | 7 p.m. | Lenovo Center | $76+ | You know this comedian from his Netflix specials and “Saturday Night Live” appearances — don’t miss him live.

Summer Sidewalk Sale | Starts at 10 a.m. | North Hills | Free | Elevate your window shopping plans by heading to your favorite designer brands during this annual sale + enter to win a $500 shopping spree.

Friday, July 18

Big Time Rush | 7 p.m. | Walnut Creek Amphitheatre | $30+ | You know this boyband from songs like “Boyfriend” and “Worldwide” and the Nickelodeon show — see them live in Raleigh.

North Carolina FC vs. Indy Eleven | 7:30 p.m. | WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary | $16+ | The men’s soccer team will kick it against the Indy Eleven — plus, its Luchador Night, celebrating Mexican wrestling.

Saturday, July 19

Dinner and a Movie | 5-7:30 p.m. | North Carolina Museum of Art | Price of purchase | Catch “Birdboy: The Forgotten Children,” a Spanish adult animated movie with a perfectly paired dinner + bev.

Kaiology 2.0: Pop Divas Show | 9-11 p.m. | The Longleaf Hotel | No cover | The Triangle’s top drag performers will assemble for a night of pop music fun.
See our full events calendar
Click here to have your event featured.

Travel

Beat the heat at Beech Mountain

Presented by Beech Mountain
A man and a woman sit side by side on a rock with their back to the camera, looking out over rolling mountain views.
Hikers enjoying the view from Emerald Outback at Beech Mountain. | Photo courtesy Todd Bush
We’re officially in the dog days of Carolina summer. If you need a break from the heat + humidity, Beech Mountain is just a quick trip west and has average daily temps below 80 degrees, with nights in the 50s.

Escape to this mile-high Blue Ridge destination for:

Book a cool getaway

News Notes

Sports

The Hurricanes’ 2025-2026 schedule has dropped, and the season starts on Oct. 9 against the New Jersey Devils from home. If you’re looking for a particularly good matchup, the Canes will face off against the back-to-back Stanley Cup champs, the Florida Panthers, four times. Tickets will be on sale soon.

Weather

As temps continue to climb in the Triangle, Wake County’s cooling stations are open to all residents. Local libraries, health centers, and regional centers are open for keeping cool — check online for every location’s hours.

Eat

Local legend Stanbury will double its footprint by absorbing Escazu Chocolate’s space after the sweet shop moved to Gateway Plaza. The team will expand the kitchen and create a cocktail bar for those waiting at the reservation-free eatery. (Triangle Business Journal)

Try This

Today is the kickoff to Duke’s Hot Tomato Summer, when 35+ local restaurants showcase Duke’s Mayo and summer tomatoes on their menus until Sunday, July 27. We’re headed straight to Beasley’s for the Heirloom B’sLT made with NC heirloom tomatoes, crispy chicken skin, and Duke’s tomato ranch.

Traffic

A new pedestrian bridge is coming to Cary, and a portion of Northwest Cary Parkway near North Cary Park will be closed starting Monday for its installation. This project is part of the Shaping Cary’s Tomorrow bond from 2019, and roads will reopen in about a week.

Coming Soon

A new sports bar is coming to downtown Durham, and it’s backed by owners of some venerable Bull City spots. E.O’s Athletic Club comes from the owners of Kingfisher and Queeny’s and will show at least 50% women’s sports on its TVs and will be modeled after ‘70s-style Northeast sports bars. Count us in. (The News & Observer)

Raleighite

Emmy nominations are out, and we think local actress + “Severance” breakout star Sarah Bock was snubbed. Read our conversation with Bock about her role as Miss Huang on the hit TV show’s sophomore season. (AP News)

Giveaway

Symphony fans, rejoice: We’ve partnered with the North Carolina Symphony to give away two season tickets for the upcoming Classical Season (think: stellar seats at all 14 concerts, including Beethoven, Mozart + more). Enter to win this $1,600+ prize before Wednesday, July 23 at noon.*
Village District’s annual Summer Sidewalk Sale is back this weekend for three days of name-brand and local steals. Shop deals up to 75% off from Friday, July 18 through Sunday, July 20.*

Home

Imagine stepping into a sleek, modern shower and not tripping over a peeling tub. HomeBuddy can match you with a local pro for a spa-worthy remodel — get a free estimate.*

Wellness

Shaped to arouse the whole you, this FDA-registered vibrating ring adjusts to your unique shape to support arousal, natural lubrication, and overall intimate wellness. (For the 77% of our readers who are women, consider this part of your self-care toolkit.) Bonus: Save 30%.*

Shop

Love Costco? Buy a lot of meat? Then you should invest in this simple tool mentioned in No. 9 on this list of 11 must-know Costco hacks.*

Jobs of the Week

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The Buy

Save hundreds when you shop Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale for top deals on apparel, home, beauty, and more. We’re adding these five to our cart before they sell out:

👗 This Sam Edelman minidress is marked down to under $80.
🥘 Save over $120 on Le Creuset’s Traditional 4.5-Quart Enamel Cast Iron Oval Dutch Oven.
👖 Get these high-rise wide-leg jeans for under $60.
🛏️ Score over 30% off this UGG throw blanket.
👞 These top-rated Cole Haan sneakers are $50 off.
More great deals this way

Games

Games-Section Header-V2_Green.png
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
Let the games begin

The Wrap

From Allie

Good morning, Raleigh! I’m so happy to be back — I spent last week exploring Ireland, including Dublin, the Ring of Kerry, Galway, and Belfast, Northern Ireland. After my time in the Emerald Isle, I’ve become a bit of a Guinness aficionado, and you’ll find me reliving my trip at Hibernian with fish + chips and a pint.
RAL_CliffsofMoher_JULY2025

The Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland’s most iconic views.

Photo by RALtoday

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