The Raleigh Convention Center is also gearing up for a $400,000+ expansion. | Photo by the Raleigh Convention Center
The Raleigh Convention Center is reopening this week — following the Dec. 1 roof fire — for corporate events and a volleyball tournament featuring 250+ teams from across the East Coast.
As work wraps up, two lanes of McDowell Street between Lenoir and Cabarrus will be closed from tomorrow, Jan. 15 to Sunday, Jan. 18 to make room for a crane removing equipment from the roof.
The first public event following the fire will be the Downtown Raleigh Home Show Friday, Jan. 23 through Sunday, Jan. 25 — tickets start at $10.
Pairing international artists with our local orchestra and chorus, this iconic classic brings Puccini’s powerful score to life with a world-class production quality rivaling stages in New York and Milan.
It’s the perfect chance to dress your best, snap stylish photos in Memorial Auditorium, and check off one of the most famous operas ever written from your cultural bucket list — all at a surprisingly approachable price point.
All Pullen Park playgrounds + attractions will be closed from Feb. 2 through March 31 to make room for Lake Howell shoreline improvements. Check out dozens more local parks to get your kids’ playground fix.
Travel
Jet setting without a REAL ID? Starting Feb 1., RDU will charge a $45 identity verification fee. This fee covers TSA ConfirmID, a new identity verification system, which covers a 10-day travel period, so you won’t need to pay it on your way back if it’s within that time period.
Open
Tsaōcaa + NanXiang Express are now open on Hillsborough Street next door to Chex Grill & Wings. Expect piping hot soup dumplings and chilled bubble teas at this Asian spot.
Eat
The owners of local Indian chain Lime & Lemon are partnering with chef Sujan Sarkar, known for the Michelin-starred Indienne in Chicago, for a fine-dining Indian restaurant in Chapel Hill called Ayra. Expect a tasting menu, and a la carte menu, and Indian-inspired cocktails when it opens this spring. (The News & Observer)
Asked
Tomorrow is National Bagel Day, and we’re working on a roundup of the best bagels in town. We don’t want to miss your favorite, so email us your go-to bagel shop, and you might just see it in tomorrow’s RALtoday newsletter.
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Restaurant Roundup
🍽️ Raleigh’s getting tastier
One word to describe Capulet Cocktail Club: Opulent. | Photo by Mark Terry
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.
January openings
Barking Dog, 201 Park at North Hills St. | Dog-friendly cafe
This new eatery is perfect to sit and stay at, promising a neighborhood vibe and dog-friendly atmosphere.
December openings
Capulet Cocktail Club, 1000 Social St., Ste. 110 | Upscale cocktail bar
Midtown’s first dedicated cocktail bar, opens its palatial doors with Renaissance grandeur and Italian spirits at the forefront.
Sixty Vines, North Hills | Wine bar
This Dallas-based wine bar and restaurant’s two-story eatery is now open as part of the office building One North Hills, serving plenty of wine on tap, top-notch brunch, and a patio space on both floors.
Bragworthy deals from local restaurants, spas, salons, gyms, and more. If one of your resolutions in 2026 is to spend less + save more, Groupon is your No. 1 resource. Uncover up to 70% in savings on experiences right in your own backyard.
I always find myself getting hungry updating our Restaurant Roundup, so I grabbed a bowl of pho from the new Saigon Kitchen at lunch, and it was fantastic. You know I’m a soup lover, and this might be my new favorite pho in town.
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