Plus, Mansion Monday koi pond, Rosh Hashanah + barbecue.
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Editor’s Pick

☕️ Pumpkins, apples, mochas, oh my!

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Take a sip of Oak City’s autumnal flavors | Photo by Jubala
You asked, and we’re delivering. Here are more seasonal flavors popping up at Raleigh’s fave coffee shops.

Willow House | Sample a wide variety of autumn drinks like the caramel apple chaider, Twist of a Mule, Sweater Weather, and a cozy campfire mocha.

Sir Walter | If the Smashing Pumpkins and Witching Hour lattes aren’t your thing, grab hot apple cider — or get it sparkling on draft.

Sola | Reader Kathy B. swears by this local fave’s pumpkin spice latte, and we think the only thing that can make it better is a dozen mini hot donuts.

Did we mention your favorite yet? If not, tell us the autumnal flavors you’re falling for, and you might see yourself mentioned in a future edition of RALtoday.

Events

Monday, Sept. 22

(Preseason) Carolina Hurricanes vs. Tampa Bay Lightning | 7 p.m. | Lenovo Center | $35+

Tuesday, Sept. 23

MT. JOY | 5 p.m. | Booth Amphitheatre, Cary | $50+

Tuesday Night Trivia | 7-10 p.m. | Wolfe & Porter | Free

The Marías — Submarine Tour | 7:30 p.m. | Red Hat Amphitheater | $40+

Wednesday, Sept. 24

Vance Joy | 6:30 p.m. | Booth Ampitheatre, Cary | $50+

Evelyn’s Book Club | 6:30-8 p.m. | City of Raleigh Museum | Free

Rilo Kiley With special guests The Mountain Goats | 7:30 p.m. | Red Hat Amphitheater | $40+

“What We Leave Behind” | Wednesday, Sept. 24-Sunday, Oct. 5 | Times vary | Theatre Raleigh | $33+

Thursday, Sept. 25

Jazz in the Square | 6-8 p.m. | Moore Square | Free
See our full events calendar
Feature your event here, or make a bigger splash
The Woodhouse Spas Raleigh

Try This

🅿️ Choose your downtown adventure with 2 hours of free parking

Presented by Downtown Raleigh Alliance
A rotating gif featuring: A crowd of people sitting on lawn chairs watching live music in a park in Raleigh, a Free Parking: 2 Hours street sign on a city street, A marble table with plates with a slice of cake and duck egg rolls and a cocktail, and 2 people holding cocktails up for a cheers.
Pro tip: The parking pilot program lets you enjoy a full evening without worry of rushing back to your car if you park in participating decks after 5 p.m. | Photos by RALtoday
Did you know you can park for free downtown in five select city-owned decks on weekdays?

We recently spent an evening enjoying our city parking stress-free thanks to the parking pilot program. With so much to eat, drink, and do, the parking pilot program makes a night out even easier (and more affordable).

Itching to make plans? Get inspiration from our Reel or discover more top picks for shopping, dining, and events.

Here’s everything we did within walking distance of our spot:

What to eat + drink

We had girl dinner at Brewery Bhavana: duck egg rolls, savory mooncakes, and a slice of cake, and sipped on the Matcha-San (think: matcha meets espresso martini).

What to do

We made it to Jazz in the Square for one of the last nights before Moore Square’s free concert series ends for the year on Oct. 2.

On the way back to the car, we strolled through City Market, browsed at Blackbird Books & Coffee, and stopped in Unleashed to pick up some goodies for our pets.
View our reel

News Notes

Mansion Monday

If we could describe this home with one word, it’d be inspired. We’re obsessed with this serene estate’s koi pond, Brazilian cherry floors, mahogany study, and more timeless details. Check the price tag for five beds, four baths, and 4.2 acres.

Holiday

Sundown tonight marks the beginning of Rosh Hashanah. The celebration runs until sundown on Wednesday, Sept. 24. Celebrate the new year tonight by attending a service at Temple Beth Or.

Read

What does it cost to live in Raleigh? Refinery29’s Money Diaries talked to a senior analyst living in Raleigh. Most of her week is spent hiking in the Dolomites, but it paints a picture of how locals get by in the 919.

Eat

Several barbecue spots in North Carolina landed on Southern Living’s ranking of the “Top 50 BBQ Joints in the South,” including Raleigh’s own Sam Jones BBQ. The local restaurant came in at No. 29 and was lauded for its old-timey cooking methods and unique cocktails.

Number

42,100. That’s the estimated number of farms in NC, according to a new study by Visual Capitalist. Support local growers and eat farm-to-table by shopping at one of Raleigh’s farmers markets this weekend.

Today Is

The autumnal equinox, which means fall will officially arrive at 2:19 p.m. The leaves may still be green for now, but when you’re ready to look for changing colors, we recommend hitting a local trail.

Family

$8,912. That’s how much a family of four can expect to spend on average for a seven-night trip to Walt Disney World, including meals, park tickets, and overnight accommodations on property. Vacation not in the cards this year? Budget-friendly family fun awaits with these Oak City activities. (NerdWallet)

Real Estate

Right down the road from Brier Creek + Research Triangle Park, this new-build community pairs resort-style amenities (think: pool, fitness center, dog park) with seriously stunning contemporary townhomes. Peek inside.*

Cause

Did you know? September is Hunger Action Month. The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina encourages the community to learn more about food insecurity and explore ways to help, including donating, volunteering, and advocating. Get started.*
Athleta’s Friends + Family Sale just dropped — find pieces that take you from early morning workouts to weekend coffee runs with 30% off the whole site (yes, everything).*


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City Guide

💌 It’s a date

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
Regardless, 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.
  • Hockey season is about to start, so head to Lenovo Center for a Carolina Hurricanes game + enjoy local food options from your seat.

If the way to their heart is through their stomach

  • Grab a bev at Dram & Draught, and if you get hungry, order a pie from Vic’s Pizzeria next door to enjoy at the bar.
  • Want an activity while you eat? Work together to grill + boil your dinner at KPOT with Korean barbecue and hot pot.

City Guides are presented by Coastal Credit Union.
More date night ideas

The Buy

The Bissell CrossWave Edge Wet/Dry Vacuum that’s $50 off for a limited time. Vacuuming and mopping separately is a thing of the past thanks to this new wet/dry vac that tackles multiple surfaces. Seamlessly remove debris and dirt from your floor while mopping to shiny perfection. Bonus: It has a self-cleaning feature.
Plus, it’s dog-approved

Games

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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

Answered

Do you have a 919 phone number?

About 74% of readers said they have a 919 phone number, and other readers have area codes from Tampa Bay, southern Colorado, upstate New York, and more.
Share your area code

The Wrap

Hey Raleigh — you see our Jobs section? We’ve got a whole site filled with jobs across the nation, but we’re not seeing many in Raleigh. If you’re hiring, I encourage you to include a listing on our site, and you might just see it in our newsletter.
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