Nearly 1,100 students attend Shaw. | Photo by Terrence Jones Photography
...especially if you’re a student at Shaw University. Classes begin today at the first historically Black institution of higher education in the South. But how much do you know about the university?
When was it founded?
Shaw is one of the oldest HBCUs in the nation + was founded by Baptist missionary Henry Martin Tupper in 1865. After founding Shaw, Tupper became an instructor and an administrator, and was even the pastor of a church next door.
A few firsts
Shaw is not only the first HBCU in the South, it has collected quite a few other firsts as well.
Summer Story Time at the Museum | 10:30-11 a.m. | NC Museum of Natural Sciences | Free | Kids can enjoy a free story time — and they might meet an animal ambassador, too.
Cigar + Bourbon Night | 6-9 p.m. | Moon Runners Saloon, Garner | Free entry | Unwind with a curated pour of bourbon and a cigar alongside other aficionados.
Jazz in the Square | 8 p.m. | Moore Square | Free | Jam to local jazz by Patrick McGrew Trio and Também.
Friday, Aug. 15
Speed Puzzling Night | 6:30 p.m. | Raleigh Brewing Company | Free | How fast can you solve a 500-piece puzzle with up to four of your best puzzlers? Find out + win a prize as the fastest puzzling team.
Bop To The Top — 18+ | 7:15 p.m. | The Ritz | $31+ | Dance all night to classic songs from Disney Channel Original Movies + shows like “High School Musical” and “Hannah Montana.”
Beach Floyd — The Pink Floyd Experience | 8 p.m. | Lincoln Theatre | $17+ | This tribute band will play all the hits from “The Dark Side of the Moon” and “Wish You Were Here.”
Tropical storm ERin could cause 1-3 inches of rainfall through tomorrow, resulting from the off-coast tropical storm Erin + localized storms and gusts. Check out our flood zones guide for areas and roads to avoid during heavy rain in Raleigh. (ABC11)
Plan Ahead
Advanced tickets for the NC State Fair are on sale now through Oct. 16. Adult prices start at $10, with additional discounts for groups, youth, military, and older adults. Children under 5 can enter for free. Pro tip: Unlimited ride wrist bands are available for $30. (ABC11)
Shop
Canada-based clothing retailer Aritzia will open its second NC location in the Streets at Southpoint in Durham. Looking for some new stores closer to home? This fall, Anthropologie-owned brand Maeve will open its first-ever brick-and-mortar store in Village District + Fall Back Vintage will take a one-year residency at Raleigh Iron Works, plus four new brands are moving into Fenton. (The News & Observer)
Sports
CBS Sports released their preseason rankings + NC State came in a No. 55. Duke (No. 37) + UNC (No. 54) both ranked ahead of the Wolfpack, as did other ACC schools — including Clemson (No. 4) and Georgia Tech (No. 33).
Outdoors
You ever walk around and wonder to yourself, “What kind of tree is that?” Yeah, us too. The City of Raleigh is hosting a seasonal tree ID workshop that teaches participants to readily recognize trees based on their bark, leaves, branching patterns, etc. The class will be held Sunday, Sept. 7 at Forest Ridge Park, 2-5 p.m. Fees are $10 per person.
Development
An industrial park is headed for Garner. Construction is set to kick off in September, beginning with two buildings along I-40. Who will take over these buildings? Potentially companies in manufacturing, logistics, and homebuilding. (Triangle Business Journal)
Stat
So far, this month has been the coolest August for Raleigh on record. It’s also the second wettest August RDU has seen so far, with five inches of rain already fallen + more expected. (ABC 11)
Community
One man’s trash is another man’s DIY skate park. After the City of Durham donated skate park materials from Wheels to the Scrap Exchange, a new nonprofit organization is using those materials to create a skate park at Lakewood Shopping Center. The park is set to feature the first public mini ramp in Durham. (INDY Week)
Tech
See that little robot painting the field lines at Wallace Wade Stadium? Its name is Sergei — a tablet-controlled Turf Tank purchased by Duke ~5 years ago. Sergei helps to ensure lines are painted to perfection, saving time and paint. Earlier this year NC State also updated its lease on a Turf Tank through April 2028 + UNC purchased one of its own. (The News & Observer)
Read
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The Buy
This summer, make every weekend count with Groupon. Score up to 70% off chef-curated experiences, wine tastings, riveting tours + attractions, spa days that melt the dress away, and more.
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 may live in Boston now — and I may have even pulled out a powdered wig since I moved here — but you know Raleigh holds a special place in my heart.
Over the past year, I’ve discovered a few similarities between America’s birthplace and my own.
Boston is home to the country’s oldest public school (Boston Latin School, f. 1635) + the Triangle claims the oldest public university (UNC, f. 1789).
Boston is known for its preservation of Colonial and Federalist architecture, but you can still find a few remaining examples in the City of Oaks too — check out the Joel Lane Museum House and Haywood Hall, both downtown.
While Boston gets a lot of the hype for its famous Tea Party, North Carolinians also opposed the Tea Act of 1773 through agreements that banned trading with Britain.
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