Good morning, Raleigh. ☀️ Our city has some pretty picturesque spots, but when it comes to naming the landmark that best represents our city — what comes to mind?
We all know the typical spots: NC State’s belltower, the PNC building, Boylan Bridge… but what about the places you always take your out-of-town friends to see and say, “This is Raleigh?”
We asked youon Instagram which iconic images best evoke the spirit of #RaleighNCand then ranked them based on your votes. Drumroll please…
Photo by Raleigh Convention Center
5. Boylan Bridge Boasting one of the best views of the city, Boylan Bridge connects historic neighborhood Boylan Heights with the Western edge of the Warehouse District and is a scenic destination for those wanting to take in a full view of the downtown skyline. The bridge was one of the first built to span the old North Carolina railroad.
4. Sir Walter Raleigh statue Dedicated in 1976, the 11-foot bronze figure of our city’s namesake was created by Bruno Lucchesi, a world-renowned Italian-American sculptor. It’s not unusual to see the figure dressed up according to certain holidays, events, or seasons — including Pride month.
3. Memorial Belltower at NC State Completed in 1937 (the cornerstone was first laid in 1921), the belltower was initially built to honor NC State alumni who died in WWI. The 115-foot monument is made from 1,400 tons of granite + is located at the intersection of Hillsborough Street and Pullen Road.
2. The First Night Acorn Weighing in at 1,250 pounds, the copper sculpture designed by David Benson is lowered annually over Fayetteville Street to ring in the New Year. In the meantime, it lives on a permanent pedestal near the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts.
1. Cree Shimmer Wall at Raleigh Convention Center The 210-foot public art piece from local sculptor Thomas Sayre is made from ~80,000 aluminum panels depicting a giant oak tree. The image shifts in the breeze and with changing sunlight patterns + is backlit at night by colored LED bulbs that change seasonally. The installation faces McDowell Street, which sees approximately 20,000 vehicles enter downtown each day.
Use the links below to share this list with your biggest Raleighwood fans + that friend you’ve been trying to convince to move here.
Coronavirus
○ For the first time in more than a week, hospitalizations in NC due to the COVID-19 virus were lower yesterday than the day before — down by ~40 cases. Approximately 1,425 new cases were reported. (CBS 17)
○ The NC Department of Health and Human Services has received $1.5 million in federal funding from FEMA to expand the Hope4NC program — which provides citizens across our state with access to mental health support during times of crisis. The funding will provide additional resources for the the existing helpline + support the creation of a COVID-19 specific counseling program. Call 1-877-587-3463 if you need mental health assistance.
○ ICYMI: The Count on Me NC training program helps local restaurants ensure that dining rooms meet CDC social distancing requirements + sanitation recommendations during the state’s reopening period. Participating establishments receive a certification and supporting marketing materials to help communicate with customers.
Hey, there. Looking for today’s #MustDo events? In accordance with the
CDC’s recommendations regarding public gatherings, we have decided to postpone public event coverage for the time being. We look forward to bringing you Raleigh’s #MustDo events soon (until then, feel free to submit your virtual events
here).
The initiative has raised $11,000 since April — and with a mask requirement going into effect for Raleigh last Friday — now’s the perfect time to order your mask and help a pup in need. 🐶
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News Notes
Weather ○91º | Isolated thunderstorms | 30%chance of rain 🌩️
NowOpen ○ Unscripted Durham has reopened with additional sanitation and cleaning + social distancing measures in place. The hotel hosted two events over the weekend to celebrate. We’ll keep you posted with more details as upcoming events are announced. 🍹 ○ Transfer Co. Food Hallreopened its interior space last week. Tables have been rearranged to accommodate social distancing recommendations+ face masks are requested to be worn by customers when passing through. See the announcement here.
Dish ○ Want the scoop on which restaurants have reopened their dining rooms? Check out WRAL’s list of Foodie News to get the latest updates + see what opened over the weekend. 🍽️
Travel ○ RDU has postponed several major expansion projects in response to decreased air travel. Airport officials estimate that by the end of 2024, passenger traffic will still be 20% lower than before the COVID-19 outbreak. Stalled projects include the addition of new gates + expansions to the rental car facility. ✈️ (The News & Observer)
Edu ○ The UNC Board of Governors met on Friday and unanimously approved Peter Hans as the new university system president. Mr. Hans previously served as the NC Community College system president, beginning in May 2018. 🎓 (WRAL) ○ Last week, Wake County Schools renamed Daniels Middle School — named for former N&O publisher Josephus Daniels — to Oberlin Middle School. Click here to learn more. (The News & Observer)
Featured ○ The Raleigh Wine Shop was included among Wine Enthusiast’s list of America’s 50 Best Wine Retailers. The magazine celebrated this local purveyor for going above and beyond in online and virtual wine education. 🍷
We cover the most important news and events happening in the city each and every day. Check out our newsletter archive to see what you may have missed.
#RALtalk diaries, day 13: Editors’ thoughts and what just popped into our head — Erin is craving a day at Wrightsville beach + Trevor is realizing that he needs to re-learn how to interact with humans again.
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