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City Guide
Get a pizza the action
Have The Pizza Times cater your next event with tasty slices. | Photo provided by The Pizza Times
Move aside, Thanksgiving, the best holiday of the year just arrived. Today is National Pizza Day, a chance to celebrate one of the world’s most popular foods no matter the shape or size.
We’ve pie-oneered a list of 47 places to grab pizza in Raleigh that are definitely worth the dough.
Benchwarmer’s Bagels
Thursdays through Saturdays are pizza nights at this bagel shop — savor inventive yet unpretentious specials that are different every time.
Piccola Italia
Order a New York-style hand-tossed pie in the Village District or a Sicilian pizza — these take 90 minutes to make, so ordering ahead is recommended.
Cristo’s Ristorante & Pizzeria
Choose between traditional, Grandma-style square, or a thick crust Sicilian pizza at this laidback spot.
Il Falò
Il Falò means bonfire in Italian — it makes sense that the pizzas are fire with unique toppings like angus strip.
Chow Pizza Bar
Pick any specialty pizza — from the Veg Head to the Spicy Hawaiian — and make it gluten free at this north Raleigh hangout.
2026 Blessing of the Fleet & Seafood Festival | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, Mount Pleasant, SC | Free | Pay tribute to Mount Pleasant’s local shrimping and fishing industry with a family-friendly boat parade and ceremonial blessing of the fleet, live music, a craft show, seafood samplings, and more.*
Northern Italy is currently hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics, but did you know, the region is seeing a real estate boom? It turns out gorgeous landscapes, world-class food, and rich cultural history are appealing to homebuyers. Shocker. There’s no need to travel — Raleigh has European-inspired elegance of its own. (Wall Street Journal)
Seasonal
Winter isn’t done with us yet. Punxsutawney Phil spotted his shadow on Groundhog Day, forecasting six more weeks of cold weather. We’ll cope the best way we know how: bundling up and digging into a comforting bowl from a local soup spot. (The Weather Channel)
Watch
After outfitting a dozen grizzly bears with cameras, researchers are gaining insight into their lives in Alaska’s remote wilderness. Comparing the footage between the life of an Alaskan grizzly and our pets’ cushy experience at a local dog-friendly business, temperature-controlled and all, would be eye-opening for Fido. (AP News)
Holiday
Valentine’s Day is almost here, and we’re seeing deals and specials pop up around the city. Here’s one that caught our eye. Dram and Draught is bringing back its espresso martini flight starting today, and running through the end of the weekend.
Ranked
Folks in Raleigh are not the best at pinching their pennies, according to a new WalletHub ranking. The City of Oaks ranks No. 124 out of 182 in the list of cities with the best budgeters. It’s easy to buck that trend with one of these lunch deals.
Kids
Move over, Labubu, there’s a new trending toy in town. A crying horse with an upside-down snout — the result of a factory mix-up — is the latest plushie obsession in China and beyond. If the craze continues, expect to spot a few at Raleigh’s kid-friendly spots. (The New York Times)
Community
This Valentine’s Day, put your heart into local journalism by supporting RALtoday. Your contributions will go directly toward creating more of the local stories you love, expanding our coverage, and ensuring we can remain a free resource for all. Give a little love to local news.
Number
240,000+. That’s how many active job listings you can find on our Job Board. Explore openings in healthcare, education, manufacturing, and beyond. Roles for all experience levels are hiring now. Find a new gig for 2026.
Home
Stop settling for gutter guards that barely work and still leave you climbing a ladder every month to clear debris. LeafGuard’s award-winning, one-piece system is designed to make clogs impossible. For a limited time, our readers can get 75% off installation plus an extra $200 off. Get a free assessment.*
Featured Deal
Explore an introduction to psychedelic therapy and how it can help depression or anxiety. Pre-order your book today, February 9, and get bonus access to a live online summit with Michael Pollan, Gabor Maté, Melissa Etheridge, and more.*
The Buy
Searching for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift? Surprise loved ones with these gifts that can arrive by the end of the week.
Remind them how you feel with a little sign to say I love you that’s the perfect size for desks and night stands.
You can never go wrong with soft, fuzzy socks that make every step feel like you’re walking on clouds.
The perfect gift for any book lover, a three-month Audible membership is under $50 + provides access to thousands of audiobooks.
Spark spontaneity with this set of scratch off date ideas that’s been featured in US Weekly, Cosmopolitan, and more.
This top-rated hand massager can ease sore hands with five intensity levels + two heat settings.
It’s been short and sweet, Raleigh. Thanks for having me in your inbox for these past few newsletters — I hope to be back soon.
Remember: A date night can be enjoyed in any company. I hope you find something kind to do for your partner, your pals, or yourself this upcoming Valentine’s Day.
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