Warmest wishes, City. We’re taking a pause on newsletters to spend time with our loved ones. We’ll see you back in your inboxes daily at 6 a.m., starting Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. In the meantime, peruse our City Guides presented by Coastal Credit Union.
14 gifts you can buy today
Treat your loved ones to fun, cozy, and personalized picks this holiday gifting season. | Graphic by 6AM City
Happy holidays, Raleigh. Here are 14 gift ideas you can still shop this holiday season:
December Promotion | 6 a.m. | TBC Locations, Piedmont | Free | Let’s sleigh this season — donate blood, unwrap a holiday sweatshirt + $30 in TBC Rewards this weekend.*
We recently stopped by to learn how their streamlined homebuying process with Daymark Realty makes it easier than ever to find and finance your dream space.
First stop: Financing
Our afternoon started at the St. Albans branch to meet with Sandra Braswell, a mortgage loan officer with 30+ years of local experience.
Not going to lie, we went in with next to no knowledge of loans and mortgages, but Sandra made it easy to understand our options and choose with confidence.
Everyone you need in one place
From there, we simply walked across the hall to meet with a member of the Daymark Realty team. Our convo was friendly, casual, and totally pressure-free.
They asked us about our favorite parts of Raleigh and were able to make specific property recommendations within our given budget (North Hills, here we come).
The Lumbee Tribe, NC’s largest Native American community, is set to become the 575th federally recognized tribe. Once recognized, the Lumbee would be among the largest recognized tribal communities in the country and eligible for federal funding. (Associated Press)
Sports
It’s bowling season. NC State football plays Memphis today in the Gasparilla Bowl at 2:30 p.m. See how CJ Bailey and the Wolfpack crew fares against the Tigers on ESPN.
Holiday
Sunday, Dec. 21 is the winter solstice and the beginning of Yule. It marks the shortest day of the year, but also means that the days are getting gradually longer. Look forward to a 7:22 a.m. sunrise on Monday.
Travel
Want to make sure your holiday travel takes off without a hitch? Check out our guide to RDU for a full food rundown + to find out just how early you should arrive to get through security. Bon voyage.
The Word
Merriam-Webster has announced its word of the year for 2025: Slop. It’s defined as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.” A trip to one of Raleigh’s art galleries will likely provide a higher quality experience.
Eat
Reader’s Digest released a list of the most popular chain restaurants in each state, and Texas Roadhouse took the No. 1 spot in NC. We’re always down for rolls and cinnamon butter, but Raleigh is also home to a strong lineup of locally owned spots worth supporting.
Announced
Meet The Brief: local business news, announcements, jobs, events, company blogs, podcasts, and deals — all in one tidy weekly newsletter. Think RALtoday, but strictly business content. Take ~2 minutes to share your thoughts and help us craft it. Only five industry-exclusive launch spots exist; email rjohnston@6amcity.com to snag one.
Arts
After selling out last year, “A Candlelight Christmas” with the NC Symphony returns tonight through Tuesday, Dec. 23. This beloved holiday tradition brings together warm candlelight, powerful brass, and the beauty of youth voices in harmony. Get your tix today.*
Seasonal
This Downtown Raleigh Gift Card makes last-minute giftingridiculously easy. It works at 60+ downtown destinations, so your lucky gift-getter can treat themselves to martinis, movie tix, tapas: everything. Wrap up your list on a high note.*
Real Estate
Thinking about a new home in the new year? Let us save you some scrolling: These contemporary Chapel Hill new-builds next to the Carolina Forest feature warm, inviting spaces with wide windows and plenty of room for hosting. Take a peek.*
Try This
What if your checking account did more than just hold money? 5.00% Annual Percentage Yield, concert presales, and Hurricanes tickets — Go Green Checking has it all.*
Seasonal
The holidays are about spending time with the ones you love. Celebrate the season together with a romantic weekend getaway to Winston-Salem, where love is rekindled with candlelit charm, enchanting strolls, and cozy fireside nights. Start planning your storybook stay.*
Shop
Nirvana awaits with this multi-shape vibrator that hits all the right spots. Reignite the fire of your most electrifying encounters with sublime sensations that intensify arousal. Get 35% off this award-winner today + an extra 15% off with code H4PPY15.*
Culture
🎄 Yule be the judge
The holidays are full of traditions we love — and a few we love to argue about. | Graphic by 6AM City
Holiday traditions evoke warm and fuzzy feelings of nostalgia, gratitude, and togetherness. But for all the joy that traditions inspire, they also tend to spark something else: very strong opinions.
This year, we’re stepping in to settle classic holiday hot takes. After all, the holidays wouldn’t be complete without a few friendly debates.
Real tree or fake tree?
Is cutting down a fresh spruce part of the magic, or does an artificial tree make more sense?
Big night out or stay home on New Year’s Eve?
Can a couch countdown by the television beat a sequin–filled night on the town?
Should you leave festive decorations up past the holiday?
When is it time to say goodbye to the garland?
Is eggnog festive and flavorful or absolutely foul?
Don’t get us started on whether it should be served warm or cold.
Do you still send and receive holiday cards?
Is this tradition fading or holding strong in your household?
Take the poll to put in your two cents — then stay tuned for the final results in an upcoming newsletter.
The Buy team here. We’ve recommended a lot of items this year, from home organization staples to wardrobe must-haves. Here are the top-shopped products:
Hi Raleigh! This is my last newsletter of the year before the holidays + traveling to visit family, and I wanted to wish all of you a very happy holidays and new year. By my count, I’ve written 183 newsletters this year, and I couldn’t do it without all of you. 2025 has been a lot of fun here in Raleigh, and I can’t wait to see what 2026 has in store for us.
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