There’s nothing better than relaxing under blue skies and snacking on tasty food with friends.
Warm and sunny days have arrived in the City of Oaks, and we’re spreading out our blankets to help you plan apicture-perfect picnic.
City Editors Cat + Anne enjoy a picnic planned by Southern Picnics. | Photo by RALtoday
🍇 Build your menu
Let’s talk charcuterie boards.
Alimentari at Left Bank, Transfer Co. Food Hall, 500 E. Davie St. | Fresh cuts of Italian meats + cheeses.
State Farmers Market, 1201 Agriculture St. | Local fruits, veggies, nuts, and cheeses.
Yellow Dog Bread Co., 219 E. Franklin St. | Pre-order bread, cookies, and other sweet and savory treats.
Raleigh Cheesy, 1460 Chapel Ridge Rd., Apex | Choose from extra small to large custom cheese boards. Mark your calendars: A Raleigh location is opening on July 1.
💐 Pick out the decor
Colorful blooms help set the scene for a pretty picnic — we love the bouquets at Fallon’s Flowers + Sola Coffee (from Split Acre Farm).
Don’t forget a blanket. Raleigh Denim Workshop has a unique quilt we’re eyeing.
Pick up some funky baskets + retro decorations from TrunkShow to complete your desired look.
Yes, cheese. We want this spread. | Photo by Raleigh Cheesy
🌳 Choose the perfect spot
Flowers Field, Dix Park, 2105 Umstead Dr. | Select a shady spot on 11 acres of open rolling lawn with a downtown skyline view.
JC Raulston Arboretum, 4415 Beryl Rd. | Choose a serene spot among8,000+ different types of plants. Read about the arboretum’s history here.
Museum Park, NCMA, 2110 Blue Ridge Rd. | Surround yourself with art and nature; cool off in the museum.
Raleigh Rose Garden, 301 Pogue St. | Sit among a variety of blooming roses, trees, and perennials.
🧺 Picnicking hacks
If you just want to show up, one of these planning companies will set the scene for you.
Southern Picnics | Elegant vintage picnics with a classic Americana charm.
Picnic Raleigh | Choose from a variety of themes like classic, luxury, and spooky.
Raleigh Picnic Co. | Themes include French Country, Whimsical Garden, and Boho.
Bonus: Don’t forget to grab sunscreen, bug spray, and a camera to capture the memories (you’ll thank us later).
Remember to use #RALtoday when you post your picnic pictures for a chance to be featured on our page.
Share this story with your BFFs, that special someone, or anyone who needs a relaxing afternoon outdoors.
Teens’ 5-Day Summer Series: The Academy Of Cuisine | Mon., June 20-Fri., June 24 | 4 p.m. | Sur La Table, 4421 Six Forks Rd. | $249 | Future restaurateurs ages 12-17 will learn to cook everything from pad thai to gnocchi to pie dough. 🍳
African Dance Class | Mon., June 20 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Hayti Heritage Center, 804 Old Fayetteville St., Durham | $10 | Join this energetic and culturally rich dance exploration led by dance professionals Toni Hall and Ivy Burch.
Tuesday
Understanding Digital Inclusion | Tues., June 21 | 6-7:30 p.m. | John Chavis Memorial Park, 505 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. | Learn about the importance of digital accessibility with keynote speaker, Cyndy Yu-Robinson.
Solstice Sunset Yoga | Tues., June 21 | 7:30-9 p.m. | Museum Park, NCMA | $13+ | Celebrate the longest day of the year with this community yoga class.
Flogging Molly | Tues., June 21 | 6 p.m. | Red Hat Amphitheater | $30+ | Watch this Celtic-punk band perform alongside The Interrupters. 🎤
Wednesday
Farm to Easel Workshop | Wed., June 22 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Raleigh City Farm, 800 N. Blount St. | $15 | Sketch botanical drawings in an outdoor space. 🎨
Wellness Wednesdays | Wed., June 22 | 6-7 p.m. | Coastal Credit Union Midtown Park, North Hills | $5 | BarreALLEY will lead a class for all fitness levels.
We have amonthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
Meet laundry’s new power couple. | Photo provided by Dirty Labs
Here’s the dirt. Traditional laundry detergents are packed with harmful chemicals (think: dyes, sulfates + even microplastics) that are harmful to humans and the environment. That’s why Dirty Labsis changing the game with their nature-inspired, scientifically-driven detergent, which is:
Non-toxic and free from carcinogens and hormone-disrupting chemicals
Biodegradable, and comes in eco-friendly packaging
Hyper-efficient, thanks to Dirty Labs’ enzyme-driven cleaning technology
After delayed openings due to a lifeguard shortage across the city, two more public pools, the Biltmore and Longview, opened last weekend. Now, three of the four seasonal city pools are in operation + will maintain a Friday-Sunday schedule. 🏊 (CBS17)
Civic
Head to the polls on Tues.,July 26 to vote in the second primary election for the Wake County sheriff Democratic nomination. View the candidate lists + learn more about the upcoming election here. 🗳️
Community
Sam Jones BBQ (502 W. Lenoir St.) is bringing back its monthly live music series, “Whole Hog Holler,” starting on Sun., June 26. Grab a plate of your favorite barbecue and enjoy bluegrass music from the Diamond Creek band. The series will be every fourth Sunday of the summer from 4-7 p.m. 🎶
Watch
Movies on the Lawn will return to Dix Park on Sat., July 16 with a free screening of Moana at 7 p.m. Set up blankets or low beach chairs at the Big Field — you can order from the food trucks on site or bring your own snacks and beverages (beer and wine are permitted). RSVP here.
Festival
The third annual Falling for Local festival will be held on Sat., Oct. 15 at Dix Park. Showcase your business at this autumn event featuring live music, local makers + vendors, NC craft beer, food trucks, hay rides, and a free pumpkin patch. Submit an application here. 🍂
Job
A nightsemester at the museum. Applications for the NC Museum of History’sfall 2022 internship program are due by 5 p.m. on Fri., July 1. Internships range from curation and conservation to marketing and editorial. View the application here.
Dix Park is hiring a full-time events manager to plan and execute the park’s outdoor events. Apply by Fri., June 24 + learn more here.
Trending
American Idol star + NC native Clay Aiken is selling his North Raleigh home for $980,000. The 4,277-sqft house has three bedrooms, four bathrooms, a private pool + basketball court. Check out the listing here.
Plan Ahead
Tickets are now on sale for State of Downtown Raleigh. This program celebrates downtown individuals, businesses, and organizations + provides an in-depth market analysis and trend report of Raleigh’s Central Business District. The event will be held on Wed., Aug. 31 at the Raleigh Convention Center.
Number
$1,000. That’s how much you could win when you take our brief survey. Tell us what you think about the RALtoday newsletter + be entered to win $1,000 cash. Take the survey.
Sports
The U.S. Open will return to Pinehurst in 2024. Want to stay in the know about ticket opportunities and how to enhance your U.S. Open experience?Sign up for the Victory Club, the only official fan club of the U.S. Open. Bonus: It’s free to join. ⛳*
Learn
Hola, Raleigh. If you’re ready to brush up on that high school Spanish, do it the effective (and fun) way with Babbel. Babbel’s speech recognition technology will even help you nail your pronunciation and accentfrom the get-go. Bonus: Get 60% off your subscription — for a limited time only.*
A health message from our sponsor
“Many of the so-called ‘health foods’ in our diets actually contain a harmful toxin. The good news is, avoiding this toxin is very simple — you just have to know which foods contain it.” *
Content marked with a * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.
Players from the NC Courage and North Carolina FC designed a Juneteenth clothing collection to commemorate the day that marks the end of institutional slavery in the US (June 19).
The teams are also auctioning off a pair of custom Air Force 1 shoes — designed + painted with the Juneteenth colors by player Jorian Baucom.
Reminder: Juneteenth is a federal holiday, so expect closures today.
#DYK that your photos and quotes could be featured in our newsletter?
Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.
