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Restaurant Roundup
🍽️ Let’s try somewhere new
Smash Social Club will include murals by Durham artist Gabriel Eng-Goetz. | Photo by Stacey Sprenz
Looking for the next new restaurant hitting Oak City’s food scene? Check out these buzzy places to eat and drink in Raleigh — plus, some spots coming soon. Keep tabs on this list and bookmark it to stay ahead of the culinary curve.
November openings
Guthrie’s, 2907 Wake Forest Rd. | Fast food chicken
This Alabama fast food chain is famous for its golden brown chicken tenders + tangy dipping sauce.
Benchwarmers Bagels, Rockway, 1015 S. Saunders St. | Bagels
This local favorite’s second location is now open near Dix Park, and we’re excited for more gourmet bagels and top-notch breakfast bites.
Drift Coffee, 3151 Elion Dr., Ste. C, Durham | Cafe
Drift’s next location at Hub RTP is now open with all your favorites from the Wade Avenue location, like the bodega breakfast sandwich and chicken pesto bowl. Next up: Drift’s third local location at The Weld.
17th Annual Tree Lighting and Holiday Market (new location) | Nov. 21 | Snap pics with Santa, shop local vendors, and gasp at the lighting of the Raleigh Christmas Tree during this free Friday event.
13 Holiday Shows | Now through Dec. 23 | Look forward to a star-studded lineup of seasonal shows, including “The Nutcracker,” “Holiday Pops” with Cirque du Soleil + the NC Symphony, and so many more.
The Newsagent’s is set to open on Fayetteville Street this month after over a year of design + construction. Expect coffee, music, magazines, and memorabilia across from the YMCA. Keep reading this newsletter for more Fayetteville Street news. (Triangle Business Journal)
Ridgewood Shopping Center has a new look and is gaining a new tenant. Lucky Asian Fusion will join Whole Foods and Drift, and it’s owned by the same folks behind Wong’s Tacos at Crabtree. The Richmond, Virginia, Lucky Asian menu includes bento boxes, poke bowls, and superhero-themed sushi. (The News & Observer)
Civic
The City of Raleigh is sending letters to 10,000 locals who could receive $1,000. This “civic lottery” will award 40 Raleighites in exchange for help guiding Raleigh’s next comprehensive plan over six all-day Sunday sessions. Keep an eye on your mailbox. (The News & Observer)
Concert
Pop singer Meghan Trainor is bringing her tunes to the 919 on the Get In Girl Tour at Coastal Credit Union Music Park on June 27, 2026. Presale starts next Thursday, Nov. 20 — sign up to secure your seat.
Real Estate
Former UNC head football coach Mack Brown has sold his Chapel Hill home to best-selling author Janet Evanovich’s son. The $6 million home sold in less than a year, and Evanovich, author of “One for the Money,” and her husband moved to Chapel Hill in 2021. Check out the stunning home.
Raleighites
Two locals are behind new tech that will improve the lives of the hearing impaired with just one button. Alex and Marilyn Westner are behind Xander, auto-captioning glasses that don’t require internet, Bluetooth, or any other hard-to-use tech. Learn more about these promising glasses. (WUNC)
Try This
Coffee bar crawl, anyone? Use our guide to Raleigh’s coffee shops to track down the best seasonal sips in Oak City. If you love using our guides to explore the city, consider supporting us directly — think of it like buying us a coffee.
Edu
Elementary-age kiddos in your life? This upcoming Magnet Elementary Mini Fair helps parents explore the many pathways + programs (think: STEM, arts, global studies, etc.) within Wake County’s award-winning magnet schools. What to know before you go.*
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Wellness
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Fayetteville Street, AKA North Carolina’s Main Street, is closer to its new look after city council approved $1 million for the Fayetteville Street Streetscape Plan.
This plan includes a lot of changes, including more outdoor dining, public art, and a permanent performance space in City Plaza.
Simplify holiday hosting with when you get everything you need at the click of a button from Omaha Steaks. Choose from dozens of top-rated options like slow-cooked ham, premium, ready-to-cook turkey, grass-fed beef, and delicious sides like scalloped potatoes, sausage and cranberry stuffing, garlic mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole to make your perfect holiday meal.
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.
Speaking of new restaurants, my family and I went out to the new Al’s Burger Shack in Apex last weekend, and I had one of the best burgers in a while. You might have to wait a little longer than your typical fast food joint, but I promise it’s worth your time.
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