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Editor’s Pick
🌱 Spring has sprung
Thomas Dambo builds his world-renowned trolls out of reclaimed wood, and the largest collection can be found at Dix Park. | Photo by RALtoday
Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, and pollen is about to do its thing to sinus tracts across Raleigh. Spring is officially here, and we’re coming up with a few bucket list activities we’re eyeing up for the season:
Explore Dix Park and meet all five trolls scattered throughout the historic greenspace.
From trees and wildflowers to the historic square, paintbrushes will be privy to special locations unique to participating artists during the festival. | Painting by Jo Ridge Kelley
Looking for a spectacular change of scenery? Explore Burnsville and Toe River Crafts invites artists to pack their paints + passion and participate in the community’s inaugural five-day plein air festival (happening Tuesday, May 12 through Saturday, May 16).
Is Duke moving on to the Sweet 16? Are all three women’s teams still going? Check your brackets for the women’s tournament and men’s tournament.
Mansion Monday
This stunning 6,900 sqft home off Wade Avenue has us falling in love. Think: A detached guest house, a bonus room with a bar, and a heated saltwater pool — and that’s just the big picture.
Edu
Meet Jennifer Walsh, William Peace University’s new president — she’s coming to Raleigh from Hawai‘i Pacific University for her new role.(The News & Observer)
Drink
More Raleighites might be grabbing a bar stool (and maybe a mocktail) instead of stocking the home bar. Liquor store sales in the US dipped roughly 5% last year while spending at bars rose 4%, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (NBC News)
List
Inc. Magazine’s 2026 Female Founders 500 list is out, and one business owner from Raleigh made the cut. The list highlights women leading companies and nonprofits across the US, including Mic Drop Workshop’s Jess Ekstrom — Read our chat with her.
Eat
Get a taste of Augusta National at home. Did you know you can order an official hosting kit with pimento cheese, egg salad, barbecue, and other classic Masters concessions? Plus, no need to recreate the Azalea Cocktail when you can get the real thing.
Trending
Soft-serve margaritas are the latest TikTok trend, and it seems they’re hard to find. I finally found a local spot that’s teasing them: Dos Taquitos. Know of another spot swirling out this trend? Reply to this email and let me know. (The Takeout)
Looking to get more eyes on your listing? Feature a property with a strategically-placed blurb right here in this section that guides readers straight to your listing. Try it out.
The Buy
Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. These five products offer easy + effective ways to level up your sleep hygiene for more restful nights.
🧴 Lather sore muscles with this magnesium lavender lotion to help ease tension + wind down before bed.
💤 Don’t let the sun or other bright lights interrupt your sleep thanks to these top-rated blackout curtains.
👁️ For even more light-blocking, try this breathable cotton eyemask that’s designed with cooling fabric.
🍬 Try these science-backed meltaway sleep mints that are crafted with melatonin and calming herbs.
🌜 Get this best-selling white noise machine to block out unwanted noises thanks to 20+ sound settings.
Happy Monday, Raleigh — I hope you had as much fun as I did watching March Madness this weekend. Psst... we have a great list of sports bars for your next watch.
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