Check out the Five Points Short Film Festival to meet local filmmakers. | Photo by RALtoday
False fall is just about over, and there’s still plenty of fun to have before actual autumn comes to Oak City. Take a look at this week’s best events — and double check our Plan Ahead guide to plan the rest of your August before it slips away.
Five Points Short Film Festival | Thursday, Aug. 14 + Friday, Aug. 15 | 7 p.m. | The Rialto | $28 | Enjoy local filmmaking with other local cinephiles at this two-night film fest.
Special Event: Nicole Byer | Friday, Aug. 15-Sunday, Aug. 17 | Times vary | Goodnights Comedy Club | $35+ | You know this comedian from “Nailed It!” — laugh with her in person.
CaribMask | Saturday, Aug. 16 | 12-8 p.m. | City Plaza | Free | Carnival is coming to Raleigh — this festival is complete with vibrant costumes inspired by Rio de Janiero’s annual festivities, a parade, international artists, and Caribbean bites.
Katy Perry | Sunday, Aug. 17 | 7 p.m. | Lenovo Center | $55+ | This legendary pop star is bringing all her hits to Raleigh — you won’t want to miss her shoot across the sky, sky, sky.
Events
Events
Monday, Aug. 11
Brewery Trivia Night Mondays | 7-9 p.m. | Ponysaurus Brewing Co. Raleigh | Free | Grab your friends, a pint, and pizza to test your knowledge — arrive early to snag a table.
Downtown Raleigh Kids Bricks & Minifigs Treasure Hunt| All day | Bricks & Minifigs Downtown Raleigh | $23 | Use your treasure map to follow clues, solve puzzles, and crack codes on this unique 60-minute walking scavenger hunt for kids and families.
Mah Jongg Mondays | 10-11:30 a.m. | Cary Regional Library | Free | Drop in and learn more about this trending game.
Tuesday, Aug. 12
Angel’s Envy Cocktail Class | 6-8 p.m. | Dram and Draught | Free | This free cocktail class will have you creating perfect drinks with Angel’s Envy bourbon.
Modern Calligraphy for Beginners| 7-8:30 p.m. | PRESS Coffee Crepes & Cocktails | $65 | Craft perfect invitations, table settings, and more with this modern calligraphy class.
Wednesday, Aug. 13
Wednesday Night Music Bingo | 7-10 p.m. | Wolf & Porter | Free | Test your music knowledge for prizes like Wolfe & Porter gift certificates.
Delicious Pastries | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Wyntons World Cooking School, Cary | $85 | You’ll pat yourself on the back after making French pâte à choux, the basis for éclairs, cream puffs, profiteroles, and more.
📈 This new investment method delivered an 89,900% return
Presented by Pacaso
Austin Allison’s Pacaso has already earned $110 million+ in gross profit to date. | Image provided by Pacaso
VCs back startups for outsized returns. Regular people wait. But rule changes fixed that.
Take Revolut. In 2016, 433 people averaged a $2,370 stake. Today? That’s worth $1 million+, up 89,900%. No wonder 10,000+ people and the same VCs behind Uber and Venmo are taking the chance on Pacaso.
Founded by a former Zillow exec, they’ve earned $110 million+ in gross profit to date. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO. Invest for $2.90/share.†‡‡
Urban Pothos has closed its downtown location, citing safety and economic concerns. The store opened during the pandemic on West Peace Street and will still operate out of Raleigh Iron Works. (The News & Observer)
Mansion Monday
This week’s pick isn’t quite a mansion, but you’re gonna love it. This luxurious 31st floor PNC Plaza condo towers over DTR. Design accents like the art installation in the primary bedroom, the waterfall edge kitchen island, and a backlit quartz shower take it to the next level. See how much it costs.
Trending
“Hot Girl Summer” ruled in 2019. “Brat” summer took over in 2024. Now, this summer has been dubbed “brain rot summer” — a season with no viral anthem, no clear vibe, and scattered cultural chatter. If that makes you want to unplug entirely, touch grass at a local park. (Business Insider)
Kids
Today marks 159 years since the first public roller skating rink opened to the US public back in 1866. Thankfully, Oak City has a lot more options to keep the kiddos entertained these days. (WUN)
Travel
If you’ve been meaning to check Biltmore off your bucket list, consider this a sign: It was just named the top must-see attraction in NC. Already been? Try a staycation at one of these unique vacation rentals. (Money Talks News)
Stat
1.33%. That’s the percentage of income Raleighites should expect to spend on clothing, based on a study by WalletHub. This outfits Raleigh at No. 64 on the site’s list of cities where people spend the most to get dressed (when comparing the 100 largest US cities).
Drink
Cold brew, but make it sparkle. This fizzy, refreshing twist on your favorite pick-me-up is the perfect sip for hot days and slow mornings. Get the recipe + refresh your day.*
A Place at the Table offers good eats at a discounted rate for those who need it. | Photo provided by A Place at the Table
Looking for a tasty, local lunch spot that doesn’t break the bank? We’re here for you, Raleigh. Check out this list of 25+ places where a lunch for one costs $12 or less.
Fast and casual
A Place at the Table | This pay-what-you-can cafe offers homecooked meals for everyone, regardless of means.
Anise Pho | This spot has a lunch menu with everything below $12 — warm up with a bowl of pho.
MoJoe’s | Local favorites like the Ranchero and Southwestern burgers are priced below $12.
The Pizza Times | Enjoy a one-topping slice, salad, and drink meal for just $8.
Sandwiches and wraps
Berkeley Cafe | Try the turkey applejack sandwich with chips for $11 or the vegetarian super sprout sandwich for $10.
(ish) delicatessen | This deli has an old-school meets new-school vibe and serves classic sammies with a twist.
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.
I’ve been on the hunt for more home decor, and instead of turning to big box stores, my first stop is a vintage store. I’m partial to TrunkShow and Father & Son, but you can check out our full list of local vintage stores to get started.
Photo by RALtoday
‡‡Finance “investment method” disclaimer: This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the Nasdaq is subject to approvals. Comparisons to other companies are for informational purposes only and should not imply similar success. Under Regulation A+, a company has the ability to change its share price by up to 20%, without requalifying the offering with the SEC.
}})
}})
