RALEIGHWHATSUP

ART | Raleigh's Black Lives Matter Murals - A Collection

noreply@blogger.com (RaleighWhatsUp) — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 13:57:00 +0000

The Longleaf Hotel: Turning Over a New Leaf in Raleigh's Downtown Accommodations

noreply@blogger.com (RaleighWhatsUp) — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 22:50:00 +0000

The Longleaf Hotel is quite the mid century modern gem Raleigh needed. We have often commented on: 1. Raleigh needs boutique hotels in downtown. 2. we always come into Raleigh from the North and the broken down Days Inn was a sad way to arrive in downtown Raleigh. Now, we are so excited to be greeted by the newly renovated hotel, The Longleaf Hotel...welcoming us warmly from the northern gateway as we make our way from North Raleigh to downtown. The hotel is so ideally located with easy walks to many of Raleigh's great restaurants, shops and museums.

Originally a travelodge in the 1960's many of the hotel’s mid-century details have been rediscovered and restored and along with the mid century modern decor makes it very appealing and a fun space to relax. When we visited the lounge, we were greeted with friendly staff, great music vibes in the background and tasty drinks and bar snacks. The lounge is cozy and well lit with windows that peer out to the surprisingly large outside patio. The patio includes plenty of seating along with a couple of fire pits to keep warm on cooler days/nights.

We got a peek at the rooms and accommodations while we were there for a media event recently. They are cute and comfortable with very nice touches like gorgeous hand-dyed robes and throw pillows from local company Rise & Ramble. Bluetooth speakers, luxury bedding, Malin+Goetz bath products, stocked fridge, local snacks and coffee from amazing Counter Culture and Slingshot Coffee Co. Also spotted Videri Chocolate and Big Spoon Roaster products as well. There are a variety of room sizes to choose from as well from the two level hotel.

So many of Raleigh's best spots are close by and easy walking distance or a short ride. Take a look.

Perfect spot for a Staycation if you are from Raleigh or the general Triangle area or a great place to suggest to family/friends from out of town.

IT'S NOT FAR
THE LONGLEAF | HOTEL & LOUNGE | 300 N. DAWSON ST., RALEIGH, NC

(parking is available for hotel and lounge guests)

THE LONGLEAF LOUNGE

RETRO BAR SNACKS

WELCOMING LOBBY

ROOM VIEWS

HAD TO TEST IT OUT! MEDIA NIGHT EVENT WITH FUN FRIENDS!

RISE AND RAMBLE ROBES

RELAXING PATIO + FIRE PITS

IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS

COZY CORNERS

HAPPY HOUR VIBES

HELPFUL LOCAL TIPS

SLEEP WELL

EAT | DRINK | SLEEP

HOLIDAYS | Give the Gift of Membership at the NCMA

noreply@blogger.com (RaleighWhatsUp) — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 13:54:00 +0000

One of my favorite places to spend time is the NCMA. There are always new things to see and do there. We love summer concerts and movies, the amazing exhibits that the museum hosts, their wonderful museum store and gift shop, dining at Iris or just wandering around the galleries or the nature park.

I am super excited to partner with the museum to give away a membership this holiday season! Enter and get the details on my Instagram post @RaleighWhatsUp.

THE PERFECT GIFT
Giving a friend or family the gift of membership is giving them a gift that gives all year long!
The gift of membership includes an exclusive set of magnets with member-favorite works of art, a free cup of coffee at Sip, and of course, membership.

Below is all of the info of what membership includes! If you would like to order a membership as a gift orders must be made by Friday, December 13 for mail delivery, or picked up at NCMA by Sunday, December 22.

Gift will arrive 7-10 days after order is placed.

Membership for two adults living at the same address, including children 18 and under
Two free admissions for all ticketed exhibitions
50% discount on admission for additional visits to ticketed exhibitions for the cardholders
Two free admissions to all summer movies
Two discounted admission to all summer concerts, music-movie combos, indoor film series, and chamber music series
10% discount on purchases in the Museum Store and the online store
10% discount on cardholders’ meals in Iris restaurant
Preview, the Museum’s quarterly member calendar, mailed to your home
Invitations and discounted tickets to exhibition preview parties
Member price for special events
Advance sale of select exhibition and event tickets
Free or discounted admission to children’s programs, events, activities
Notices and announcements of Museum events, programs, and activities
Member e-newsletter
Member-only preview days and Member Mondays during large special exhibitions
Two personalized membership cards
Fully tax deductible

A Dual/Family (senior discount) is available for ages 65 and over (subtract $10 from Dual/Family membership).

For more info and to get details on the current exhibits, go to https://ncartmuseum.org/
Click here to order your membership gift.

Cameron Village: Power Through the Holidays at CorePower Yoga

noreply@blogger.com (RaleighWhatsUp) — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 16:40:00 +0000

The holiday season is literally on us starting this week as Thanksgiving arrives a little later this year and Christmas will arrive a little earlier. With all the holiday crazy, it's important to make sure you are carving (no pun intended) out time for yourself, to take a moment for you...body + spirit.

CorePower Yoga located in Cameron Village is a cozy local yoga studio in the heart of Cameron Village shopping center. They believe in the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of yoga—and provide a safe and judgment-free space to make yoga comfortable and accessible to everyone. CorePower instructors teach a variety of yoga styles for all levels—from beginners to more advanced yoga students. They teach meditation tips, posture alignment, and nutrition, and advocate for the yoga community at large.

Gift yourself a yoga membership.

Currently CorePower Yoga is offering a special holiday deal, making it a great time to gift yourself a membership. When you join CorePower Yoga you can use your membership at any location in the country. This includes all their local locations such as Cary, the brand new North Raleigh studio and soon to open, Chapel Hill.

Black Tag Membership is $49 for your first month - $89 every month after that. This sale ends in January and the prices will go back up. Black Tag Membership includes:

Unlimited Yoga
Special First Month Rate *
Free Workshops
Exclusive Retail Discounts
20% Off Teacher Training

Be sure to stop in and check out their great selection of yoga clothing and accessories and shop their Black Friday special from 11/29 - 12/2 where you can get 20% off full price retail and 50% off sale merchandise! I highlighted below a few favorite clothing and gift ideas. Also, grab some gift cards while they are 20% off (any amount can be applied). AND Dec 8th is the CorePower studio in Cameron Village 4th ANNIVERSARY and ALL classes will be FREE to all that day!

LOCATION: 435 Woodburn Road Raleigh, NC 27605 | HOURS: Mon - Sun: 6am - 8:30pm

This season do something for yourself. I'm learning that it's easy to literally give all your energy and time to others, especially in the busy holiday season, but unless you are doing something to refuel yourself, you can't give your best and we run ourselves down. I've personally found yoga to be one of the best all around ways to not just focus on fitness but to mentally recharge, set positive intentions + focus on being thankful and grateful which is really what the season is about. Happy Holidays, Raleigh!

"You cannot always control what goes on outside. But you can always control what goes on inside."

~ Wayne Dyer

Monthly Activities

Black Friday / Cyber Monday Specials!

#CVTRENDREPORT: I'm excited to partner again with Cameron Village this FALL to feature some of the great merchants in the Village and highlight some 2019 Fall trends and great "hidden gems". I love shopping, dining, drinking, exploring local and it's been an amazing opportunity to get to know these merchants, their stories and their passion for what they do!

Happy 70th birthday this Fall to the Shops at Cameron Village!

Cameron Village: Kale Me Crazy: Life Goals on a Napkin + Raleigh Soup Season

noreply@blogger.com (RaleighWhatsUp) — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 16:27:00 +0000

EAT WELL. MOVE DAILY. HYDRATE OFTEN.
SLEEP LOTS. LOVE YOUR BODY.
REPEAT for life!

Last week right there in front of me I literally saw the best life advice on a paper napkin from Kale Me Crazy! So basic, yet so relevant. Exactly all the healthy habits I need to be focusing harder on right now as life continues to go at a super busy pace and I learn to expect the unexpected, try to get through that endless checklist of to-do's, meet deadlines, all while trying to carve out some precious down time. It's all super hard to balance and a pretty common struggle these days for young and old alike.

Last week I had the best lunch at Kale Me Crazy in Cameron Village. They are a relatively new superfood cafe in the Village, nestled in between some of my other favorite shops like The Local Squirrel, Fifi's Consignment, Aillea, Glow Raleigh on the main drag in Cameron Village.

The convenient location of Kale Me Crazy makes it easy to stop in for a quick grab-and-go lunch or to sit and enjoy a meal or smoothie with a friend, workout buddy, etc.

You may be familiar with their amazing + super healthy smoothies and juices but did you know they also serve up salads, soups and toast??

Now that the weather is finally cooling down there's nothing more comforting in the Fall than good soup! I had the Moroccan Chickpea which was really satisfying. They make the soup in-house from fresh organic ingredients every couple days. There is always one of these four soups rotating on the menu:

Sweet Potato Carrot Ginger,
Moroccan Chickpea,
Black Bean and
Red Lentil.

Another favorite at Kale Me Crazy is their toast! They serve up delicious avocado toast and almond butter toast as well as a gorgeous sustainable smoked salmon toast with goat cheese and pickled onion, radish, scallions and dill. All toast is served on nutritious ezekiel bread.

Kale Me Crazy cares about our health and they make it easy to do good for your body without sacrificing flavor or time! If you haven't been, try them out soon and if you are a regular then you know what I'm talking about! Also, you can download their app for fast and easy take out!

And, remember to grab a napkin.

ADDRESS: 2018 CAMERON STREET, RALEIGH, NC
HOURS: MON - FRI: 7:00AM - 8:00PM | SAT: 9:00AM - 8:00PM | SUN: 9:00AM - 6:00PM

Have a Happy (and Healthy) Fall, Raleigh!

Happy 70th birthday this Fall to the Shops at Cameron Village!

Shopping Sustainably at FiFi's Consignment Boutique in Cameron Village + 7 great FALL finds!

noreply@blogger.com (RaleighWhatsUp) — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 14:19:00 +0000

There's never been a better time to shop for clothing + accessories, secondhand. More and more we understand how important it is to reuse and recycle and shop sustainably for quality items. Shopping curated local consignment boutiques are a great (and fun!) way to find gorgeous, unique, quality clothing and accessories. Fifi's Consignment of Cameron Village is a standout consignment store in Raleigh, carrying seasonal designer and name-brand apparel and accessories, including handbags, jewelry, shoes, scarfs and much more!

Pre-owned clothing and accessories are not only attractive to customers because of the price, but also because of the sustainability. By choosing to shop consignment you help reduce the demand for "fast-fashion" which translates to saving water and materials used in the production process, and reducing tons of waste that comes from the process of manufacturing clothes. Shopping consignment and secondhand clothing reduces business for companies who may also be guilty of poor working conditions and failing to support worker's rights.

Located conveniently in Cameron Village, Fifi's is a fun place to shop with knowledgeable and friendly staff. New merchandise is arriving every day! They accept seasonal items year-round, no appointment is necessary. Not only is the selection fantastic at Fifi's, it's also really well organized and easy to shop.

When items are not sold, they are donated to local charities, putting those items back into the Raleigh community to support women's shelters, and other charities like Dress for Success, avoiding ending up in our landfills.

Fifi's is thoughtful about what they accept, taking quality reputable name brands versus fast trendy fashion brands. Secondhand shopping is trending up especially with younger shoppers today (it's the way my teenagers almost always shop!) and it's expected to continue to be a fast growing market.

There's nothing better than walking out of the store with something that's "new to you" purchased at a bargain price that can add a little spark to your Fall wardrobe, and knowing you've also helped the planet, one purse or pair of shoes at a time.

LOCATION: 2028 Cameron Street, Raleigh
HOURS: Monday - Saturday: 10am - 7pm, Sunday: 1pm - 5pm

I was at Fifi's Consignment in Cameron Village last week and I wanted to highlight 7 great fashion finds at the store!

1. Fifi's has great oversized bags / totes, perfect for FALL.

Tory Birch tote.

Dooney & Bourke vintage tote and clutch.

2. FALL is always bootie season! Check out these Doc Martens too!

Huge variety of booties at Fifi's! LOVE these black boots with the tiny fringe detailing.

3. Perfect for the college student! A cute sporty cap.

Sporty winter cap by Vince Camuto.

4. Oversized and polarized. Lots of great sunglasses for fun in the FALL sun.

RayBan, Quay and many other high end brands of sunglasses to chose from.

5. Sweater Weather + Blanket Scarves.

Chose from a big basket full of blanket scarves in every color!

6. Support local Raleigh artists by investing in handmade, local jewelry.

Beautiful handmade jewelry from Feather and Stone - @featherandstonenc

Feather and Stone ~ Amelia Lu Lynch

7. Add a cool new jacket to your FALL wardrobe!

Cute and colorful Burberry jacket is just perfect for Fall.

Mini backpack makes a great accessory to any outfit! Backpack by Francesco Biasia.

Super cute fitted and cropped jacket by Cynthia Steffe, sporty and smart!

Happy 70th birthday this Fall to the Shops at Cameron Village!
Join the festivities in OCTOBER!

Cameron Village: AILLEA Beauty Boutique - Clean Your Routine!

noreply@blogger.com (RaleighWhatsUp) — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 15:47:00 +0000

This Fall I've made the conscious decision to start the process of cleaning (and "greening up") my make up and skin/hair routine. Over the 10+ years I've developed a sensitivity (basically a complete intolerance) to many preservative/formaldehyde ingredients commonly used in most skin and hair products these days. Over the years I have had to carefully seek out products that don't include specific ingredients which lead to eczema and skin irritations.

Last week I got a wonderful facial at Aillea.
Aillea, a clean beauty boutique, is celebrating just over a year of being in Cameron Village. They make a promise to carry ONLY products that are free of parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals, endocrine disruptors or other toxic chemicals, and products that are not tested on animals. No exceptions. They offer over 50+ luxury clean cosmetic brands ranging from hair care, skincare, makeup, body care, nail care, and more. I'm aiming for better ingredients, better skin and hair with the added benefit of being more environmentally conscious and more knowledgeable about what I am potentially putting on my skin.

They have a skilled team of estheticians providing luxurious facials (along with makeup artists and knowledgeable beauty experts). Not only was the facial wonderfully relaxing, it was good to get some feedback on what my skin really needs and suggestions on some great "clean" products to help improve my skin. It's a great relief as well to shop in a place that I know I don't have to double check the ingredients in all the products or miss something and end up with a reaction from harmful ingredients. Aillea is also a friendly, beautiful store to shop, and always smells amazing!

Tuesdays in October, Aillea is offering 20 min facials for just $20! You can book it or walk in off the street and take a few minutes to clean, tone, massage and moisturize your face. It was WONDERFUL. We all deserve at least 20 minutes, don't we? Make time to stop in for a quick and wonderful facial!

ALSO...
Allure Magazine recently listed their picks for top clean beauty products of 2019 from Aillea and I wanted to share this list of top six items below, especially if you are looking to clean your routine! I am currently going through my everyday products and starting to replace as I can with more clean, sustainable items. These products can come with a higher price tag but since I'm also making an effort to minimize home and overall lifestyle in general, the goal is to buy less so if I have to pay more and get better results I'm going to give it a try!

Check out their monthly specials here!

HOURS: Monday-Saturday 10AM- 7PM, Sunday Noon - 5PM
ADDRESS: 2032 Cameron Street, Raleigh | PHONE: 919-747-9030

CLEAN YOUR ROUTINE!

TOP SIX BEST OF CLEAN BEAUTY AWARDS BY ALLURE 2019

1. Kjaer Weis Lip Gloss
Semi-sheer color lip gloss with intense hydration. CASTOR SEED OIL - Rich in moisturizing, conditioning essential fatty acids ROSEHIP SEED OIL - Excellent tissue regeneration properties; fights signs of aging SUNFLOWER SEED OIL - A high fatty-acid and Vitamin E content keeps lips protected from environmental stressors, while firming and tightening its appearance. Free of petroleums, parabens and silicones. Cruelty Free.

2. Kosas Tinted Face Oil
Light weight medium coverage, hydrating. 100% Cruelty Free, Vegan, Gluten-free. Free of Parabens, Silicones, Sulfates, Pthlatates, Mineral Oil, PEG, Petrolatum.

3. Highlight of the Day by Maya Chia
Ultra lightweight, easily absorbed highlighter serum. Ingredients: Supercritical Chia (Salvia hispanica) Seed Oil, Brassica Oleracea (Broccoli) Seed Oil, Coconut Alkanes (and) Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, *Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower Extract, *Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E) Non-GMO, Mica, Titanium Oxide,
(+/- Iron Oxide, Tin Oxide, +/-Boron Nitride, +/-Carmine) *2% Essential Oils.
*Organic Ingredients or Wildcrafted (when available).

4. Tata Harper Resurfacing Serum
This serum transforms dullness with a combination of 7 AHAs and BHAs that slough off dead skin cells to give you a healthy-looking glow. Antioxidants help fight the effects of free radicals that can diminish your glow and make you look older than you are. This lightweight formula restores radiance with 9 sources of glow, 9 sources of antioxidants, and 4 sources to smooth and soften skin texture.

5. Rahua Hydration Shampoo + Conditioner
Maximum moisture shampoo and conditioner transforms dull, dry and damaged hair.
Plant derived. All clean ingredients.

6. ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara
Lightweight and nourishing formula is made with a blend of organic bee and carnauba waxes to weightlessly condition each lash. A dual-sided brush allows you to define, lift and separate with precision. Gentle enough for sensitive eyes, Limitless Lash Mascara is complete with organic shea butter and fortifying arginine (keratin) to help boost and enhance lash condition in a classic black finish. Made with 25% organic ingredients for a formula that is 99% natural.

MOTHER / DAUGHTER DIY FACIALS AT AILLEA!

October events at Aillea

Happy 70th birthday this Fall to the Shops at Cameron Village! Be sure to stop by and join the planned festivities in OCTOBER!

Cameron Village: October Brews + Guilt-Free Dishes at Village Draft House

noreply@blogger.com (RaleighWhatsUp) — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 14:36:00 +0000

Despite the heat still sticking around, October is here and a visit to the local Village Draft House is in order, especially if you are looking for football, beer and patio (dog-friendly) dining in Cameron Village.

DRINK
Village Draft house hosts 100 beers on tap, one of a handful or less of local establishments in the Triangle with that many beers on draft and many of them NC local beers. We sampled a few brews last week and singled out a couple worth checking out this month. First was the fitting OKTOBERFEST beer, a combined effort from Bitburger Braugruppe a German brewery in collaboration with Sierra Nevada. Smooth and refreshing, this joint effort from the two breweries features a classified hop blend that has never been shared outside the German brewery walls. A second standout this month is the Code of Conduct New England style IPA from NC brewery Pitt Street in Greenville, a sweet and citrusy hazy IPA. I should also mention the clean and crisp Et Tu? Brut IPA is worth trying from local brewery Gizmo as well.

BEER FANS! SAVE THE DATE!
Wednesday, November 6, from 6-8pm, the Village Draft House will host a Release Party of Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout. A unique breakfast stout aged in bourbon barrels that previously housed maple syrup!

FOOD
If you are a Raleigh local and frequent Cameron Village often, you know that Village Draft House is a great spot for bar food, snacks, beer, football and patio dining. I wanted to highlight a few tasty (and surprising) dishes that lean on the side of healthier choices that you may not be aware are on their current menu.

Village Draft House features a Poke bowl made with 6oz wild caught Ahi Yellowfin tuna tossed in a poke sauce atop a salad base, tri-color couscous and quinoa blend, cucumber, carrots, red onion and crushed avocado! Then the whole bowl is drizzled in a boom boom sauce. It's a delicious, fresh and healthy option for lunch or dinner.

Another delicious dish is the Mojo Chipotle Chicken Bowl featuring a garden blend long grain and wild rice topped with black beans, their own mojo marinated chicken breast, corn, crushed avocado, pico de gallo, and tortilla strips with chipotle aioli on the side. BONUS TIP: Make sure to get a piece of cornbread along with your meal, its SO good I'd almost consider it dessert!

Lastly, if you are craving a burger, this one leans on the healthier side. The Village Draft House Grass Fed Burger, grass fed, grass finished (i.e., from cattle that ate nothing but grass and forage for their entire lives), ground beef (all natural raised without the use of antibiotics or hormones, free raised, and higher in Omega-3) with white cheddar served with a delicious tomato and cucumber salad on the side. This burger has amazing flavor!

Cooler weather IS on the way! Here's to Fall! Get out and enjoy food + drink on the patio at Village Draft House soon!

HOURS: Monday - Thursday: 11am - 12am, Friday - Saturday: 11am - 2am,
Sunday: 11am - 12am

ADDRESS: 428 Daniels Street, Raleigh
T (919) 833-1373

OKTOBEFEST Brew from Bitburger + Sierra Nevada on draft

Poke Bowl (and sweet cornbread)

New England Style IPA and Oktoberfest Beers

Mojo Chipotle Chicken Bowl

Grassfed Village Draft House Burger

Happy 70th birthday this Fall to the Shops at Cameron Village! Be sure to stop by and join the planned festivities in OCTOBER!

Late Summer Dishes from Chef Jason Smith at Cantina 18 in Cameron Village

noreply@blogger.com (RaleighWhatsUp) — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 21:39:00 +0000

FALL IS HERE?

Summer weather is persisting in Raleigh on this First week of Fall! Patio dining is something we seek out when the weather is warm but especially when it gets cool as the sun goes down. Hurry to Cantina 18 in Cameron Village where you can still enjoy favorite seasonal Summer ingredients while they last. They are currently featuring some tasty new dishes on their late Summer menu you don't want to miss before, like Summer, they're gone!

As most of you know, 18 Seaboard closed its doors this summer after a nearly 14 year long run in Seaboard Station. We miss the restaurant and Chef Jason Smith's amazing dishes there, but wanted to share that he is now spending more time over at Cantina 18 and creating new dishes there so if you are craving/missing your 18 Seaboard fix, make a visit to Cantina 18 and try one of his delicious new dishes, still using the freshest local catch, like the Swordfish with Stone Fruit & Heirloom Tomatoes. The local seafood and seasonal ingredients make this a must try in Cameron Village.

Other items we enjoyed were the seared tuna taco with grilled peach salsa, avocado and marinated red onion. Also worth noting is the seasonal side salad with cucumber, red onion and heirloom tomato salad.

Cantina 18 takes pride in sourcing all these ingredients from local NC Farms. Heirloom tomatoes come from Johnston County, Nectarines from Alexander County, Peaches from Anson County. Goat cheese is fresh from Holly Grove Farms in Wayne County and Swordfish, Yellowfin Tuna, and Wahoo from Carteret County.

Looking for a creative vegetarian option? Try Cantina 18's crispy buffalo cauliflower wrapped in lettuce. It's got kick and great flavor.

We love the guacamole at Cantina 18 (a personal favorite) and currently on the seasonal menu it is being served up with one of my favorite summer foods...sliced heirloom tomatoes!

Pair any of these dishes with a craft cocktail. Try the skinny margarita for a lighter take on the tasty margarita!

BONUS: Monday is $2 off featured margaritas! Stop by + Celebrate the First Day of FALL!

ADDRESS: 433 Daniels Street Raleigh | T (919) 835-9911
HOURS: Mon – Thurs: 11am – 10pm, Fri – Sat: 11am – 10pm, Sun: 11am – 10pm

Skinny Girl Margarita | Blanco Tequila | Triple Sec | Lime Juice | Agave Nectar

Seared Tuna Taco (Seasonal) | Grilled Peach Salsa, Avocado & Marinated Red Onions

Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower | Pickled red onion, smoked blue cheese, romaine & cilantro crema

Seasonal Side Salad | Cucumber, red onion & heirloom tomato salad

Seasonal Dish | Heirloom Tomato Goat Cheese Guacamole

Fresh NC local ingredients!

Swordfish, Stone Fruit & Heirloom Tomatoes | Fresh okra, roasted sunflower seeds, spiced peanuts,
peaches & nectarines, heirloom tomato vinaigrette.

Happy 70th birthday this Fall to the Shops at Cameron Village! Be sure to stop by and join the planned festivities in OCTOBER!

Pharmacy Café Owners Open New Farmhouse Café in Wendell Falls

noreply@blogger.com (RaleighWhatsUp) — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 20:52:00 +0000

Wendell Falls, one of the largest master-planned communities in the Triangle, is launching a new restaurant concept TODAY in partnership with Patrick Cowden and Daniel Whittaker, the co-owners of the Pharmacy Café in downtown Raleigh. Located in the Wendell Falls Farmhouse, the Farmhouse Café will feature creative, seasonal dishes, local vendors and a community-focused atmosphere built on sustainable practices.

The Farmhouse Café will serve breakfast, lunch and a “social menu” for the evening comprised of shareable, small plates designed to be paired with a glass of wine or craft beer. Guests will be able to enjoy a wide list of beverages – almost all locally derived – including gourmet coffees, craft beers, wines and specialties like prosecco and kombucha on tap. Chef Patrick will also host food-related events at the Farmhouse, such as foodie dinners, crawfish boils and wine tastings.

Last week we got to sample some of the delicious food offerings, including smørrebrød, a southern style take on these typically open face sandwiches (a Danish rye delicacy). We sampled wine and locally made kombucha and new sparkling spirit beverage SERCY by the owner of Mother Earth Brewing, all of which the cafe will be offering.

The Farmhouse Café opens today and will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Southeast’s first smørrebrød (featured here with salmon), a Danish rye delicacy.

smørrebrød on Boulted Rye, arugula, marinated peppers, olives + pesto butter.

Roasted beet humms smørrebrød with cucumber salad, feta, corichon butter, micro greens + toasted cashews

SERCY // New sparkling spirit beverage from Mother Earth Brewing

Exciting Eats, A Special kō•än Summer Pop-Up Series + Dining Al Fresco at so•ca in Cameron Village

noreply@blogger.com (RaleighWhatsUp) — Thu, 27 Jun 2019 21:27:00 +0000

Summertime in Raleigh means more opportunities for eating al fresco! Just in case you weren't already aware, so•ca has a fabulous patio with an abundance of outdoor seating. Much of it is covered which is nice for those NC summer rain storms that we know can pop-up anytime!

Not only is there an amazing outdoor patio for drinking and dining, there are some exciting (and maybe a little tiny adventurous) small plates on their menu that are perfect for expanding your culinary palates.

so•ca derives it’s name from several sources: a Peruvian word for sugarcane, a popular style of Caribbean music, and inspiration from a well known geographical divider, the Tropic of Cancer. Located just north of the Equator, this line of latitude divides many countries around the world. so•ca centers its focus on the islands and Americas south of this geographical border (south of the tropic of cancer).

This week I sampled three small plates at so•ca on the patio that were amazing in flavor and beautifully plated to look like works of art! I'm featuring those three plates in my blog post today as well as a colorful and tasty summer cocktail called the La Fiore Contessa.

JUST IN
Another great reason to visit so•ca in Cameron Village soon is a special pop-up they will be doing all summer long featuring their sister restaurant, kō•än opening in Cary this August!

kō•än pop-up at so•ca

kō•än, opening in Cary this August, plans to host a summer-long pop-up series at sister restaurant so•ca in Cameron Village. The pop-up features unique cocktails and small plates that diners can expect to find on the upcoming kō•än menu. Executive Chef Drew Smith and his talented team plan to launch the kō•än pop-up this Friday, June 28th at so•ca, located at 2130 Clark Ave, Raleigh. The regular menu will still be available at so•ca, along with the added kō•än pop-up items.

"The pop-up is a great way to showcase our upcoming menu at kō•än and allows for my team to have fun while being creative in the kitchen," states Executive Chef Drew Smith. He is working with Chef Eli Rodriguez’s talented team at so•ca, featuring craft cocktails by so•ca/kō•än beverage director, Tolson Kenney and pastries by Chef Amanda Haisley.

The limited kō•än menu at sister restaurant so•ca will change weekly each Friday through early August. The first weekly pop-up menu, starting tomorrow, features the following:

Small Plates: Charred Octopus | black rice, edamame, Chinese sausage, wonton and
Yakiton | shoyu glazed pork cheek, ginger ponzu, pickles, sesame.

Cocktail: Ume Spritz | Umeshu, Aperol, grapefruit, St. Germain, Crude ‘Sycophant’ Bitters, sparkling wine.

Weekly pop-up menus will be announced on social media on Thursdays through August, and diners are encouraged to visit so•ca to be the first to taste options from the kō•än menu.

See you on the patio soon!

HOURS: Monday – Thursday: 4pm – 10pm, Friday: 4pm – 12am, Saturday: 11am – 12am, Sunday: 10am – 10pm | LOCATION: 2130 Clark Avenue

Lots of great patio seating!

La Fiore Contessa | Bombay Sapphire, Lillet Blanc, strawberry, lemon, hibiscus, lavender,
Crude ‘Bitterless Marriage’

Peruvian Calamari Ceviche | grapefruit, mango, leche de tigre, cilantro

Causa de Beterraga | braised beet-potato mash, queso de cabra, avocado, aji mirasol

Charred Octopus Escabeche | butter bean puree, cherry tomatoes, lime, aromatics, hierbas

#CVTRENDREPORT: I'm excited to partner again with Cameron Village this SPRING to feature some of the great merchants in the Village and highlight some 2019 Spring/Summer trends and great "hidden gems". I love shopping, dining, drinking, exploring local and it's been an amazing opportunity to get to know these merchants, their stories and their passion for what they do!

THE WADE: Modern, Classic + Thoughtful Residential Living Coming Soon to Downtown Raleigh

noreply@blogger.com (RaleighWhatsUp) — Wed, 19 Jun 2019 20:19:00 +0000

This week I got a sneak peek at a new residential development going up in the heart of downtown Raleigh, THE WADE. It's exciting to see a new residential building so thoughtfully designed and ideally suited to its location. The classic architecture of The Wade, breathes in the history of Raleigh best buildings, placing itself in a stunning neighborhood, providing a unique options for downtown Raleigh living.

The Wade is a five-story luxury condominium building consisting of 29 residences and is located at the corner of St Mary’s Street and Wade Avenue, in historic Hayes Barton. The location is perfect for downtown living, with close proximity to shops, restaurants, arts and parks. Residents can enjoy short walks along tree-lined streets to nearby Cameron Village or Five Points.

The Wade is inspired by classic pre-war residential architecture but enjoys modern upscale interiors, including 10' ceilings, and bright, naturally lit open floor plans. Each home includes a covered patio and the building will feature a beautifully landscaped rooftop terrace with expansive views stretching from North Hills to downtown Raleigh. A beautiful lounge/ Owners Retreat area will greet owners and guests on the main floor and the building also has a dedicated fitness room. The grounds will host lush landscaping, including a rose garden and pocket park under the canopy of mature oak trees, providing plenty of shade and privacy.

With 60% of the building already sold out, the project is on schedule for an Early Fall completion date. I'm looking forward to going back when everything is done to see the homes and building complete. I've included a few 'in progress' pictures from my visit this week.

Go to 620wade.com for more info and to contact the sales office.

Rendering of covered porch.

Rendering of living space with fireplace and built in bookshelves.

Rendering of kitchen.

Location is key to so many great places and things to do in downtown Raleigh!

Thank you Beacon Street for the invite to tour the residences as they are in development and look forward to seeing them when the building and grounds are complete!

10 Awesome Last Minute Father's Day Gifts + Attention Paddlesports People! Get to Great Outdoor Provision Co at Cameron Village

noreply@blogger.com (RaleighWhatsUp) — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 14:15:00 +0000

Great Outdoor Provision Co. is a specialty outdoor retailer based in North Carolina founded in 1972. GOPC is filled with gear and clothing for life outside, Great Outdoor Provision Co. is committed to personalized retail encouraging consumers to try on, get fitted, compare and contrast, touch and feel products, and interact with staff who know and go outdoors!

We have enjoyed shopping for gear and outdoor items for many years now in Cameron Village. The staff is always friendly an very knowledgeable in all things outdoors. It got me thinking this is the perfect place for awesome Father's Day gifts and today I'm sharing my top ten gifts for Dad on the blog.
They will even gift wrap your purchase for FREE!

Another bit of great info I'm sharing today... if you are interested in paddlesports this Summer GOPC has an event June 20th where you can test "drive" a boat of your choice at Lake Crabtree Park. Just RSVP and let them know what boat you are interested in trying out.

LOCATION: 2017 Cameron Street Raleigh
HOURS: Monday - Friday: 10am - 9pm, Saturday: 9am - 6pm, Sunday: 12pm - 6pm
TRIANGLE BOAT DEMO: email gopc401@greatoutdoorprovision.com with the boats you are interested in.

10 FABULOUS LAST MINUTE FATHER'S DAY GIFTS FROM
GREAT OUTDOOR PROVISION COMPANY!

1. Get Dad who needs a break an Eno.

2. YETI coolers and tumblers are a fantastic and useful gift for thirsty and hungry Dad.

3. OLD GUYS RULE t-shirts and caps are great for fun Dad.

4. PATAGONIA makes amazing gourmet provisions for outdoor dining Dad.

5. Get dad a chair that ROCKS, literally! Check out the GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker.

6. Guaranteed to love this, a utility belt for dad that works for everything from ARCADE.

7. Traveling + safety Dad needs a SECRID RFID secure minimalist wallet that protects from digital pickpocketing and identity theft!

8. Hawaiian shirts are all the rage and HOWLER BROTHERS has some great hats and shirts.

9. Fabulous flip flops from OLUKAI for Dad who loves the beach.

10. Environmentally aware dad will love the HYDROFLASK!

Great Outdoors Provision Company is the one-stop shop for all things paddlesports. From SUP's to Fishing boats, they've got everything you need including life jackets and accessories including all the proper equipment you need to transport your boat!

If you are new to the sport or looking to buy a boat of any shape or size, mark your calendars for June 20th for an opportunity to try out the boat you are interested in! Just RSVP to gopc401@greatoutdoorprovision.com or call them at (919) 833-1741 and let them know what type of boat you are interested in demoing. They will have the boats available at Lake Crabtree County Park on June 20, 4-7pm. This is a great way to try out the boat you are interested on the water!

#CVTRENDREPORT: I'm excited to partner again with Cameron Village this SPRING to feature some of the great merchants in the Village and highlight some 2019 Spring trends and great "hidden gems". I love shopping, dining, drinking, exploring local and it's been an amazing opportunity to get to know these merchants, their stories and their passion for what they do!

Gift Giving! Some of my Favorite Gifts from The Local Squirrel - Cameron Village

noreply@blogger.com (RaleighWhatsUp) — Wed, 29 May 2019 16:08:00 +0000

May and June are probably the busiest months for gift giving second to December! It's a time of high school and college graduations, baby and bridal showers, engagements, weddings, Father's Day, Mother's Day, birthdays and more!

The Local Squirrel is your destination for all things gift. Whether it’s a present for yourself or a friend, they carry a curated selection of jewelry, home goods, and small accessories. Proprietor Rachael Riddle, a Raleigh native, is excited to showcase her collection of local and national vendors to Cameron Village. You’re sure to always find that unique something you didn’t know you needed.

I decided to stop by and snap a few photos of some of my favorite gift ideas from The Local Squirrel in Cameron Village. Rachael has amazing taste and finds unique and almost always locally made gifts that are just perfect for all the gift giving occasions this time of year. Her boutique features everything from locally made art, jewelry and home wares to really unique, quality and meaningful gifts for the new bride, graduate, new mother, baby and more. Her store is SO cute and easy to shop. There's an adorable room on the side of her shop, dedicated to all things newborn baby 1 year and under. You can find really unique and clever baby gifts, clothing, art and lots of adorable items for the nursery.

She's also curated a great collection of items in her shop from books to bar ware to specialty pieces like handmade art, candles and jewelry. The range of items in her store is wide while keeping it creatively organized and easy to shop. If you are like me, you can spend a lot of time here with so many great things to shop and discover!

Stop by The Local Squirrel soon and get all your special gifting needs done here (can be gift wrapped too!) and also be proud you are supporting great local Raleigh businesses and artists!

HOURS: Monday-Saturday: 10:00am - 6:00pm, Sunday: 1-5pm
LOCATION: 2014 Cameron Street, Raleigh PHONE: 919-610-3400

FUN UPCOMING IN-STORE EVENT: Pet Portrait + Prosecco with Julia Hall McQueen on June 15 from 10-11am. Tickets are for sale here https://www.juliahallmcqueenart.com/product-page/pet-painting-and-prosecco. Customers will learn watercolor techniques to watercolor their own Pet Portrait hand illustrated by Julia Hall McQueen. There will bubbly and each participant gets a $10 Local Squirrel Gift Certificate with their ticket purchase!

ALSO: Rachael is currently seeking local Raleigh artists to feature their work in her store! If you are an artist interested in showcasing your work, Follow her to see artwork and DM her on Instagram @thelocalsquirrel.

SOME OF MY #RWUFAV GIFT IDEAS

THE COLLEGE/ HIGH SCHOOL GRAD.

Handmade by a talented Meredith College student, she's got lots of local colleges represented!

Locally made leather goods.

WEDDING + ENGAGEMENT GIFTS.

FATHER'S DAY.

BABY SHOWERS + NEW BABY GIFTS.

BRIDAL GIFTS.

These exquisite accessory bags make a great gift!

FUN + UNIQUE BIRTHDAY/SPECIAL OCCASION GIFTS.

EXPLORE | You've got to SEE Wilson NC This Summer!

noreply@blogger.com (RaleighWhatsUp) — Tue, 14 May 2019 12:50:00 +0000

Eyes on Main Street Outdoor Photo Festival

Once heralded as “The World’s Greatest Tobacco Market,” Wilson, NC is now a thriving (and artsy) city of almost 50,000 people. During the heyday of the tobacco market in the late 1800's to early 1900's, it was home to prosperous farmers and businessmen and had one of the most beautiful residential areas along Nash Street, in North Carolina. Now the historic downtown district, features many historically-preserved buildings that are successful restaurants, businesses and shops. The city plays host to a burgeoning arts community. A unique whirligig park is located in the center of town filled with massive, wind-driven, kinetic sculptures designed and constructed by renowned folk artist, Vollis Simpson. Eyes on Main Street, an outdoor photo festival, celebrates its fifth year in Wilson this Spring and Summer through August 4.

Never having been to the town of Wilson, NC, I was intrigued by an invite to attend the Outdoor Photo Festival that was kicking off April 27, called EYES ON MAIN STREET in the heart of historic downtown. Wilson is approximately 46 miles away, an easy drive from Raleigh.

EYES ON MAIN STREET
Eyes on Main Street is celebrating its fifth year and runs for 100 days in the Spring/Summer. The festival kicked off in late April and runs through August 4th. The main streets of Wilson (Nash Street and Tarboro Street) are transformed into a vibrant outdoor gallery of large-scale photographs.

100 prominent photographers from 45 countries feature their photos on 100 storefront windows over 100 days.

Arriving Saturday morning I attended one of the special lectures that was being presented for the grand opening weekend by one of the participating photographers, Robert Nickelsberg. Bob worked as a TIME magazine contract photographer for nearly thirty years, specializing in political and cultural change in developing countries. The crowd consisted mainly of American and International photographers that were participating in the event and they were in town to celebrate the kickoff weekend of the festival, many traveling to Wilson from different far away corners of the world.

After the lecture, I got outside and started walking the main streets of historic Wilson, excited to view the large scale photographs on display. These stunning photos are framed by historic building facades, old windows, brick walls and historic storefronts, some in good shape, some still in need of restoration. Either way, they provide a unique and creative setting for the large photos in the exhibit.

Turning the street corner and taking in the real fabric of the historic city block used to showcase these large photos taken from all over the world creates a unique experience for a photo exhibit, and makes it easy to view at a relaxing pace. I loved walking the streets at my own pace and see new and interesting photos everywhere. Historic Wilson is an ideal setting since the festival theme is the interpretation of main street and culture by the photographers. Each photo, framed by different buildings, telling different stories.

One of my favorite photos in the exhibit was taken by a photographer William Klein (who just turned 91 in April). His photo is also the largest featured in the exhibit and it can be viewed on the side of an old warehouse just literally on the other side of the Wilson railway tracks. I absolutely loved walking around the town and snapping my own photos on a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon. If you love photography, this is a fantastic place to exercise your creativity and snap your own photos (very instagram-worthy !).

HOW DID THIS FESTIVAL START?
Jerome De Perlinghi, a renowned photojournalist whose work has appeared in the New York Times and Washington Post, (check out his stunning portrait series!), spearheads this epic event. He is a Belgian born photographer who moved to Wilson years ago and created the Eyes On Main Street photo festival. The exhibit is co-curated by Ghadah Alrawi and Carol Johnson and the theme focuses on the idea of "Main Street, a Crossroad of Cultures" and the photos exhibited feature the individual photographers' interpretations of the interweaving of cultures and geography through photography. The participating photographers are an equally balanced number of male and female photographers displaying work. This year is the fifth year of the festival and the addition of more exhibits running at the same time makes Historic Downtown Wilson literally a crossroads for photography.

I sat down with Jerome on opening day and he was excited about this year's festival and he shared with me about all the positive energy that the festival brings into the city and how it is helping with the rejuvenation of the downtown historic center by bringing more and more people to Wilson every year to participate or see the festival. This event is part of the exciting things happening in historic Wilson that is contributing to Wilson's art scene, creating more opportunities for businesses to open and is breathing new life into Wilson. All of these things make for a fun day trip or overnight from cities like Raleigh, Cary and Durham.

Jerome De Perlinghi, Director & Curator of Eyes on Main Street

ADDITIONAL EXHIBITS THIS YEAR
This year they have added additional exhibits enriching the festival for visitors with more photography, art and creativity on display. These exhibits include the Children's Photography Program that features more than 100 photos taken by local children learning photography, many for the first time in their lives using a real camera. There is also a large scale outdoor Children's Photo Gallery that includes 70 large scale photographs on the corner of South Street and Goldsboro Street an across from the Whirligig Park.

The Artist in Residence program/studio which is fast becoming popular for photographers from all around the world, looking to work on a personal project in which they stay in town for a month with a focus on Wilson for their portfolio or photo project.

Another more contemporary exhibit this year is in its own gallery, Eyes on Australia, a look at Contemporary Photography in Australia, curated by Lucy Stranger and includes all female photographers.

Opening of Children's Gallery

Children's Outdoor Photography Gallery

Local student art beautifying the walkways between streets

FOOD & DRINK
There are several different places to eat and drink in Historic Downtown Wilson. Wilson is famous for BBQ and also hosts a variety of restaurants, breweries, and wine shops as well. We enjoyed a great sandwich and coffee at Tig's Courtyard.

While visiting Wilson, make time for a beer at 217 Brew Works in the heart of historic downtown. It is ideally located next to the outside children's gallery and the famous Whirligig park is directly across from the brewery. The park also hosts the Farmer's Market over the Spring/Summer months Wednesday through Saturday, 8-1pm.

Tig's Courtyard

217 Brew Works

Farmers Market at Whirligig Park

WHIRLIGIG PARK
You can’t go to Wilson without seeing the famous Whirligig Park with 31 spinning, shining whirligig installations. The Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park & Museum opened in the heart of downtown historic Wilson in 2017. The two-acre park features the largest collection of the 50-foot installations in the world! There is a lot of scheduled events for the summer.

Gig in the Park concerts take place this Spring including The Connells, May 16

The Whirligig Park will be hosting a Wedding Showcase May 21, 6-8pm

Wedding Showcase May 21 6-8 pm at the Whirligig Park-Free to attend

WILSON IS ARTSY
Wilson is a great town for families with young children. There are plenty of kid friendly activities in the heart of historic downtown, including parks, museums, children's art galleries, ice cream shops and the Whirligig Park. If you enjoy art and photography, plan a relaxing day trip to Wilson to explore the Eyes On Main Street exhibit this Summer, and take in the outdoor and indoor galleries, antique shops, restaurants, breweries and much more!

I enjoyed my day trip to Wilson and will be back this summer with the family.
Get to Wilson...Lots of great photo ops for sure ;-)

RWU | Eyes on Main Street | Historic Downtown Wilson
Photo collection by RaleighWhatsUp

For more about my visit check out my Instastories @RaleighWhatsUp

For more WILSON info check out:

Wilson NC Visitor Center | Eyes On Main Street | Historic Downtown Wilson

Tazza Kitchen: the Perfect Spot in Cameron Village for Celebrating this Spring

noreply@blogger.com (RaleighWhatsUp) — Fri, 10 May 2019 20:57:00 +0000

With Spring in full swing there are lots of things to celebrate in the months of May and June. Mother's Day, high school and college graduation celebrations, anniversaries, weddings, engagements, new babies, Father's Day and birthdays!

May and June are busy months for celebrating so many life moments and milestones! If you are looking for a great spot, I would suggest considering Tazza Kitchen in Cameron Village for Spring celebrations, if you haven't already. Tazza Kitchen is a high energy eatery centered on made from scratch wood fired brick oven cooking, using thoughtfully sourced ingredients in their dishes and drinks, and serving up unique quality hand crafted beverages.

This Spring Tazza is featuring some new items on the menu that are definitely worth ordering. The food and drink menu rotates seasonally (look for Summer items in mid-June!) and incorporates fresh, seasonal ingredients, sourced locally as much as possible.

Spotlighted today are some of the new spring dishes that feature seasonal vegetables and are also available gluten-free. There are so many great flavors in these three dishes. Two of them can be ordered as starters, snacks or sides and the third is a main dish. Tazza also specializes in tasty tacos, salads and pizzas. I also love the crab cakes (not featured here in the blog, but absolutely delicious).

Raleigh's cocktail culture is as vibrant as ever.

At Tazza Kitchen, well-crafted cocktails are made by experienced bartenders (thank you Mara!) who pay attention to every detail that makes a cocktail GREAT...creative quality ingredients, fresh squeezed juices, well thought out garnishes, quality ice, appropriate glassware, it's all there! Dining is available inside and outside and at the bar. Even if you are just celebrating making it through the week or making brunch or Sunday Funday plans, celebrate this season with a delicious dish and a fancy drink (or two) at Tazza!

Make those celebration plans!
Try these amazing new dishes + drinks while they're available!

HOURS: LUNCH Tue-Sat / 11:30a-2:30p | DINNER Sun-Mon / 4:30-9:00p,
Tue-Thu / 4:30-10:00p, Fri-Sat / 4:30-11:00p | BRUNCH Sunday / 10:30a-3:00p
BAR BITES Mon-Thu / 4:30-6:30p

LOCATION: 432 Woodburn Road, Raleigh, NC | (919) 835-9463

beautiful + delicious new spring cocktails on the menu at Tazza Kitchen!

THE NIGHTBIRD / sombra mezcal, el jimador blanco tequila, aperol, domaine de canton ginger liqueur, grapefruit, lime, honey, smoked salt

PICNIC & CHILL? / plantation dark rum, old forester bourbon, zucca rabarbaro, st. germain, pineapple, lemon, raspberry

GARDEN PARTY / cathead honeysuckle vodka, beefeater gin, hibiscus tea, lemon, rosewater, lavender bitters

CANDIDLY YOURS / aquavit, plantation pineapple rum, lime, blood orange cordial, tiki bitters

BRICK OVEN CARROTS / whipped goat cheese, lemon, thyme

BRICK OVEN CAULIFLOWER / mint, red onion, grana padano

BRICK OVEN SALMON / tricolor potato, parsnip, carrot, dill labneh

Happy + Hale & Chef Ashley Christensen Present THE POOLE’SIDE SALAD benefitting NextStep Raleigh

noreply@blogger.com (RaleighWhatsUp) — Mon, 06 May 2019 12:01:00 +0000

In December of 2017 Happy + Hale launched its ﬁrst menu collaboration, the Bida Bowl, with Van and Vanvisa Nolintha of Bida Manda. For 12 months Happy + Hale served a Laotian inspired red coconut curry dish in all four locations. The collaboration was a large success, raising nearly $6000 for the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle.

Happy + Hale is proud to announce its second menu collaboration, in partnership with James Beard award winning chef, Ashley Christensen, and soon-to-be-opened Pooleside Pie. The Pooleside Salad will be launching in all Happy + Hale locations on Thursday, May 16th, 2019. The collaboration is scheduled to last 90 days, but may be extended based on various success metrics and guest feedback.

For the Pooleside Salad collaboration, Ashley has chosen NextStep Raleigh as the contribution partner and .50 for each bowl and all proceeds from each limited edition T-Shirt sold will be donated. Next Step Fitness is an internationally recognized non-proﬁt that makes life-changing rehab and ﬁtness accessible and aﬀordable to individuals living with paralysis. The Raleigh location was started by the family of Michael Thor, Co-Owner of Whiskey Kitchen in Downtown Raleigh. On November 20, 2015, ﬁve minutes from his home in Raleigh, North Carolina, a car merged into Michael while he was on his motorcycle, sending him head ﬁrst into a utility pole. He suﬀered a multitude of injuries, including six broken ribs, a completely shattered right elbow, a collapsed lung and a fractured spine at the C2 level causing an incomplete spinal cord injury. This rehab center in Raleigh will allow Michael and the many other paralyzed individuals in the area to beneﬁt from aggressive activity-based therapy and the creation of a community to provide social outlets and activities with a holistic approach to recovery.

Happy + Hale will be hosting an invite-only launch event with Ashley at Bridge Club on Thursday, May 16th and will be giving away tickets online at happyandhale.com/enter-to-win. Winners will be emailed Friday, May 10th.

For more information on the collaboration please visit www.happyandhale.com/ashley

NextStep Fitness | Photo credit: Paul Mehaﬀey @paulmehaﬀey

New Focus at Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken at Cameron Village

noreply@blogger.com (RaleighWhatsUp) — Wed, 01 May 2019 13:13:00 +0000

The pollen is nearly gone and fabulous weather is finally here! Time to grab breakfast or lunch 'to go' at Cameron Village Rise Biscuits & Righteous Chicken and enjoy some delicious food outside, especially before it gets really hot in Raleigh!

Notice something different? Cameron Village Rise Biscuits and Donuts recently officially became Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken. The new name and logo reflect the evolution of Rise from a single biscuit and donut shop to a new focus on delivering the best biscuits and its own “Righteous Chicken” for breakfast and lunch every day.

The updated concept focuses on Rise’s Southern Biscuits, Righteous Chicken, sweet treats and local coffee from Counter Culture. Rise makes their flaky, buttermilk biscuits every 30 minutes from NC-milled flour and 100% butter and fills them with savory ingredients ranging from crispy bacon and country sausage to fried green tomatoes and Righteous Chicken.

With the new concept, Rise also introduced cheddar and sweet potato specialty biscuits, available as an alternative to their classic buttermilk. And what makes the chicken Righteous? It’s tenderized, brined in buttermilk, fried to perfection and then served on a biscuit or as strips with your choice of toppings and sauces.

The re-branding began with updates to the menu that focus on innovative savory and sweet biscuit recipes, as well as biscuits and gravy topped with everything from crispy pork belly to veggie sausage and mushrooms. Donuts will still be available but their focus is now more on a sweet glazed blueberry biscuit, a flaky strawberry biscuit and cinnamon pecan biscuit rolls, with several more creative and fun biscuit-centric dessert items to come!

Last week we grabbed three fun Biscuit and Gravy boxes and the Righteous Chicken Box 'to go' and enjoyed a lovely lunch outdoors!

Which Came First? // Biscuit, country gravy, righteous chicken, fried egg, cheddar cheese and scallions.
Tree Hugger // Biscuit, country gravy, veggie sausage, and sauteed mushrooms. *Vegetarian
Belly Up // Biscuit, country gravy, crispy pork belly served "over the top", cheddar cheese and scallions.
Righteous Chicken Box // Four righteous chicken strips, served with Rise fries, biscuit and dipping sauce of your choice! *House Specialty

LOCATION: 530 Daniels St Raleigh | PHONE: (984) 200-6966 | HOURS: Open Daily 7am - 2pm

Three biscuit options ~ Cheddar, Sweet Potato and Buttermilk!

Made Fresh to Order

Which Came First? Righteous Chicken & Egg on Biscuit with Gravy

Tree Hugger - Biscuit, country gravy, veggie sausage, and sauteed mushrooms. Vegetarian.

Which Came First? Chicken and Egg

Righteous Chicken Box
Four Righteous Chicken Strips, Rise Seasoned Fries, Biscuit + your choice of Dipping Sauce!

Belly Up

Tree Hugger

Spring Refresh with Nest Interiors

noreply@blogger.com (RaleighWhatsUp) — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 14:53:00 +0000

Looking for a Spring Refresh for your home? Now that Spring is officially here, I always like to do a bit of a refresh at home, whether it's a new set of pillows for the couch, a new chair, artwork or lighting, its nice to change it up a bit from the Fall/Winter months. Last week I visited Nest Interiors in Cameron Village for the first time. They opened about six months ago and are new to the Cameron Village area (you may know their sister store, located in the heart of Wilmington). Nest is stunning inside and full of so many gorgeous contemporary furniture pieces as well as everything from light fixtures, wallpaper, gifts, jewelry, pillows, books, tables, dishware, and much more!

A premier provider of interior design and decorating services for over 7 years, Nest offers an eclectic mix of furniture, accessories and gifts at the store as well as offering full service interior design assistance to their customers. At the back of the store you can meet with an Interior Designer to discuss decorating services and they will even come to your home (first hour is complimentary!) The store’s cozy, home-like atmosphere is worth walking through and there is something for everyone here. It's the perfect place to shop for furniture and accessories to bring in that fresh Spring look.

Another great thing about NC-owned Nest is their beautiful furniture offerings are made in Hickory, NC. They are all about North Carolina and keeping it local.

I loved walking through the store and spent quite a bit of time looking at everything. There are so many beautiful items here. Keep them in mind for gift giving, bridal showers, even Mother's Day! I decided after browsing the store to feature five easy ways to add a little Spring Refresh to your living space, featuring my favorite finds currently in the store.

The Nest team are friendly and helpful so be sure to stop by and see this gorgeous store soon!

LOCATION: 446 Daniels Street Raleigh
HOURS: Mon-Sat: 10 AM-6 PM, Sun: 12 PM-5 PM

Five Easy Ways
to Add a Little
Spring Refresh to
Your Living Space

1. LIGHTING.
Beautiful lighting fixtures can be a great way to update any room. Nest has several chandeliers as well as lamps that add a great update to any room.

2. A NEW ACCENT PIECE.

I absolutely loved this chair! This chair caught my eye and would make for a great accent to add to a bedroom nook or extra seating in a living room space or home office. It's comfortable and easy to accessorize as well.

This chair was probably one of the most comfortable chairs I have ever sat in!
It even rocked a little, but that back cushion was dreamy!

3. COFFEE TABLE BOOKS.

This is probably one of my favorite ways to update and freshen a room. I am always adding new hardback beautiful coffee table books to my living room spaces and kitchen as well. I absolutely LOVE all the books they sell here and its a quick and easy way to update and freshen up any room.

4. PILLOWS!

So many great pillows here at Nest. And they are not just beautiful but comfortable as well. Pick a pattern or color to add new life to any room.

5. PICTURE FRAMES + TRAYS

I've been taking old photos that are in dated frames and adding new life to them with a new updated, trendy frame. Nest has several beautiful frames that are perfect for freshening your space. They are also perfect to give as wedding, graduation or shower gifts. Mother's Day too! I also love adding a beautiful tray to a coffee table and use it to highlight special items from trips, candles, books and more.

ADDITIONAL FAVORITES

ALSO: Nest will be participating in the upcoming VIP Shopper's Crawl happening in Cameron Village on April 30th! Be sure to stop by Nest for specials!

Roadtrip to Bodega

noreply@blogger.com (RaleighWhatsUp) — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 17:16:00 +0000

Last Wednesday night, we ventured out of the North Raleigh suburbs to have dinner at Bodega Tapas, Wine, and Rum. Located on the southern end of White Street in Historic Wake Forest in the former Backfins restaurant, Bodega just recently opened in February. If you are familiar with Driftwood Southern Kitchen in Lafayette Village in North Raleigh, Chef Nunzio Scordo from Driftwood brings his new concept to Wake Forest. The menu boasts an eclectic range of cold and hot small plates with influences from around the world. Bodega also offers a nice selection of wine by the glass and bottle, sangria as well as classic and unique cocktails.

The restaurant is rustic, cozy and inviting. Parking is available just steps away. We arrived early and over the next hour the entire place filled up including the bar area. We had a friendly and helpful server and we loved the half price wine bottle special on Wednesday night (and half off cocktails on Thursday!). We left happy and full after four tapas plates and dessert! I'm looking forward to coming back again soon and trying more of the small plate options.

Thank you Bodega for a wonderful night!

Rustic, cozy interior

Jim Barry Lodge Hill Shiraz from Australia. Wednesday 1/2 price wine bottles!

CHEESE BOARD
Manchego, comte, cana de cabra cheese served with fig cake, strawberry, and quince spread

PARISIENNE GNOCCHI
Porcini cream, Taleggio cheese

LAMB MEATBALLS
Green olive salsa, greek yogurt

FINGERLING POTATOES
Crispy chorizo, crushed garlic, aioli

RUSTIC PEAR TART
Buttermilk ice cream

LOCATION
110 South White Street Wake Forest, NC 27587

KITCHEN HOURS

Closed Mon, Tues | Wed, Thurs 4:30pm-9:00pm | Fri, Sat 4:30-9:30pm | Sun 11:30am-8:00pm

yes @ THE LIBRARY

noreply@blogger.com (RaleighWhatsUp) — Thu, 28 Feb 2019 14:09:00 +0000

BOOKS.

They are one of my favorite things. I’ve always loved books, even in this modern fast-paced world. As much as I love social media and all things digital, I still prefer to slow down with a book in hand.

We moved to Raleigh 18 years ago after living in Australia for a few years, bringing along a new baby girl and settling down in North Raleigh. As we got to know our new city and started making friends, I connected with other preschool moms and we found that going to Wake County Public Libraries was a wonderful way to spend our mornings or afternoons. We would check out all kinds of exciting books and go to the storytime events at several of the nearby branches. The girls would run around, pick out all the books that they wanted, and we would literally check out huge stacks of colorful, interesting books that caught their eye. They loved it!

*Wake County Public Libraries offers baby, toddler, preschool and family storytime sessions at many local branches, just check their schedule online for times!

As time went by, several of our favorite library locations transformed. With stunning renovations done to the existing buildings, the library spaces became much more inviting, modern and light. I would often plan to stop at a branch nearby while working or running errands, seeking books of all kinds — parenting advice, travel guides and quick cooking meals for the family. The libraries have always had such great up-to-date resources and I continued to check out stacks of books, this time for myself. When we made some plans to travel to Italy with the family one summer, I reserved the latest Rick Steves book, a proven valuable resource!

Over the years the library near us became a great place for the girls to research school projects, stock up on the latest Junie B. Jones or meet up with a chemistry tutor. I love the convenient drive-thru drop-offs and the fact that I can specify where to pick up my requested books, or drop off books at any convenient branch

Now the girls are in college (or headed there soon) and I find myself dropping by for my own purposes, browsing the aisles for what’s new and interesting. You will likely find me in the cookbook, social media/tech and how to organize (spark joy!) sections.

Leesville Community Library

Cameron Village Library

North Regional Branch

The story of my life is at the library.

The library is such a valuable, amazing + FREE resource to all of us here in Wake County and, if you aren’t taking advantage of what it has to offer, I would encourage you to go. Whether you have children or not, whether you’re young or old, there's definitely something for everyone. Did you make new year’s resolutions or start new hobbies or goals? Don't let them slip! Go grab some motivation with the latest books on fitness, health, diet, gardens, cooking, remodeling and more.

Get inspired and go to your local library! #YesAtTheLibrary

North Regional Branch

How do you get your library card? It's super easy!
If you live or own property in Wake County, there is no charge for a library card. A Wake County Public Libraries card allows you to check out materials from any of their 20+ libraries, use library computers, and access electronic resources and downloadable books. Just pop by any location with a photo ID and proof of your address!

Cameron Village Library

Too busy to pick books to read?
Let a librarian do it for you! If you are 16 or older, fill out the brief form online, and they will prepare a bag of three books for you to pick up at a regional library.

Are you part of a book club or wanting to start one?
Wake County Public Libraries have book club kits you can check out for your meetings!

Got a Harry Potter fan?
We LOVE all things Harry Potter! The libraries offer programs for teens in grades 6-10. This month there will be a battle of the fans where teens arrive ready to represent their favorite series — Harry Potter or Percy Jackson and the Olympians — in a trivia contest based on the books. Winning team gets the prize!

Books with Brian.
Children in grades K-5 and their families are invited to join the library for literacy activities. Children can come practice their reading skills with hands on games and activities to reinforce literacy skills with certified therapy dogs from the local organization See Spot Read. Readers of all levels welcome.

Book Donations
Finally, one of my favorite events of the year is the annual book sale. You can donate used books to the library and if they don't get circulated into the collections, they will go to the book sale to raise money for new books. The 2019 WCPL Annual Book Sale is scheduled for May 2-5, 2019, and will be held at Exposition Center at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds.

Cameron Village Library

North Regional Branch

Leesville Community Library

CurEat Raleigh Scavenger Hunt!

noreply@blogger.com (RaleighWhatsUp) — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 18:56:00 +0000

Discover Raleigh through a scavenger hunt style event
to benefit the
Inter-Faith Food Shuttle

Are you familiar with CurEat? If not, it’s super easy to download the app and start discovering the best in local independent dining. You can start discovering all the new places by checking out CurEaters and create restaurant lists to share with friends and family. Bookmarking the places you’d like to eat on your travels is another great way to use the app. CurEat is based right here in Raleigh.

RALEIGH SCAVENGER HUNT FOR A GOOD CAUSE + A GREAT PRIZE!
This is such a FUN event happening in Raleigh, March 30th! The CurEat Raleigh Scavenger Hunt, will send thirteen teams (4 people on each team) running around Raleigh competing to solve riddles that will lead them to the After-Party at Transfer Co. Food Hall.

SIGN MY TEAM UP NOW!
Each team is tasked with raising $1500 for the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle Agriculture Education Program.
The goal is to raise $30,000.

The team to solve all the riddles first wins...a 3 day, 2 night trip to NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE!

Barista Parlor - Germantown - NASHVILLE

To sign up to compete you need 4 people/$100 each person, per team. That $100 includes:

Each team member gets automatic entry into the awesome after-party at Transfer Co. Food Hall.
You will get a treat at each spot.
$100 goes toward your team's fundraising goal, which means each team starts out at $400.
Proceeds go to Inter-Faith Food Shuttle Agriculture Education Program.

Can't do the Scavenger Hunt? Grab a ticket to the After-Party at Transfer Co. Food Hall. Tickets are on sale to the public now. $65 advance/$75 door. Includes:

BBQ from Sam Jones
Sides from Longleaf Swine BBQ
Two drink tickets
Live music from Raleigh/Nashville artist James Davy and Raleigh singer/songwriter Zach Wiley
Stem Ciders tasting
Cocktail from Copper & Kings

***************
Hey Raleigh, we just spent the weekend in Nashville! It's an amazing city for foodies and music fans! Here are a few highlights from this past weekend! Check out more awesome Nashville food + drink favorites on my RWU Nashville Favs CurEat list!

Milk & Honey in the Gulch

Barista Parlor - Germantown

Slim + Husky's - historic North Nashville

Grimey's Records

Henrietta Red - Germantown

We saw Dawes at the Ryman this weekend!

High Class Hillbilly

Butchertown Hall - Germantown

Jefferson Street Murals

Kille Brew Coffee - Gulch

Bearded Iris Brewing

The Grilled Cheeserie Food Truck at the 3 Year Birthday Celebration this weekend!

O-Ku Raleigh at the Dillon Now Offers Lunch

noreply@blogger.com (RaleighWhatsUp) — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 20:59:00 +0000

O-Ku Raleigh is open at The Dillon in downtown Raleigh’s Warehouse District and as of this week, is officially serving lunch along with dinner.

We were excited to try O-Ku for lunch last Friday. It was our first time there and it was amazing. We ordered Sashimi and Maki for our experienced sushi eaters and for the novice (like myself), I ordered the Bento Box. The Bento Box is served with miso soup and I chose the Dillon Shrimp option that came with steamed rice, california roll and the shrimp with sweet chili sauce and crushed peanut. Plenty of food for lunch. We had a house salad that came with shaved cabbage, cherry tomato, cucumber, mixed greens and a carrot-ginger dressing. The sashimi included a generous chef's choice of eight fresh, delicious pieces of fish. The Sake-Ikura dish had a nice spicy aioli sauce over fresh salmon, avocado, ikura, lemon and crispy onion for a nice crunch.

The Raleigh Warehouse district has so much to see and do and is still in the process of several new businesses opening soon (including Weaver Street Market across the street). O-Ku is a great restaurant option while out and about in the area or for celebrating a special occasion. O-Ku is gorgeous and spacious with a nice bar for drinks. We are looking forward to getting back for another meal soon.

"O-Ku Sushi Raleigh celebrates authentic Asian cuisine with a southern approach, providing a dining experience that focuses on unique ingredients and sophisticated presentations. From petite plates to sushi specialties to contemporary robata-style dishes, executive chef Richard Fong showcases the freshest fish from the world’s finest markets in areas such as Norway, Scotland, Hawaii and New Zealand, as well as local sustainable sources.

*Along with lunch and dinner, O-Ku offers half price sushi rolls for happy hour 5-7pm, Mon, Wed + Fri

HOUSE SALAD

MISO SOUP

SASHIMI

SAKE-IKURA

CALIFORNIA ROLL

DILLON SHRIMP + SEAWEED SALAD

HOURS
Lunch Hours: Monday through Friday: 11am - 2pm.
Dinner Hours: Sunday through Wednesday: 5-10pm | Thursday through Saturday: 5-11pm

LOCATION:
At the Dillon, 411 W Hargett Street Raleigh, NC 27603

NEW at Tazza Kitchen in Cameron Village: Fabulous New Seasonal Dishes + Tasty Winter Solstice Cocktails

noreply@blogger.com (RaleighWhatsUp) — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 17:56:00 +0000

Tazza Kitchen offers a delicious seasonal menu highlighting ingredients sourced from dozens of farmers and food artisans, wood-fired cooking, and influences from Southern Italy and Baja California.

Tazza Kitchen is one of my favorite places to dine in Raleigh and it's a great spot to take a break and share drinks, brunch, lunch or dinner when you are out in the Village getting your holiday shopping done! They've just added some amazing appetizer and main dishes to their menu, as well as a new Winter Cocktail menu that will be available December 21, the first day of Winter. I got a sneak peek of some of these dishes and wanted to share some new favorites!

APPETIZER FAVORITES

Winter is the perfect time for enjoying warm flavorful root vegetable dishes. When its cold outside there are plenty of fresh seasonal vegetables available all winter long like broccoli and brussel sprouts. The perfect start to a meal at Tazza Kitchen in Cameron Village is the Broccoli with calabrian chilies, roasted garlic, and young asiago. Another favorite is the Brussel Sprouts. I didn't used to like Brussel Sprouts but now I'm a huge fan! This roasted brussel sprout dish is served with bacon jam, smokey tomato puree, calabrian chile and pickled mustard seed and both are great for sharing.

Broccoli + Brussel Sprout Starters

FABULOUS NEW MAINS

Tazza Kitchen has just added several new main dishes to their winter menu. We were lucky to get to sample several and they were fantastic. I feel like Tazza Kitchen does a great job of making really flavorful dishes. Even a simple cheeseburger is so full of flavor, cooked just right and served with their delicious dijonnaise sauce.

CHEESEBURGER + FRIES

Painted Hills beef, sharp cheddar, lettuce, tomato, dijonnaise, locally baked roll, and served with a simple salad or french fries (the fries are fantastic!)

BRICK OVEN SALMON

Perfectly cooked salmon with za'atar spices, charred marinated vegetables, and

whipped labneh yogurt.

ROASTED SPAGHETTI SQUASH

Perfect winter dish! Beautifully presented and delicious with black garlic, farro, peperonata, toasted pine nuts, grana padano, and fresh herbs. SO GOOD!

PORK BOLOGNESE

If I could put a Gold Star on this dish I would! This was our favorite dish we tried. There is SO MUCH FLAVOR. Perfect comfort food. Campanelle pasta, beef, veal & pork cheek, black pepper, granapadano and fresh parsley.

NEW WINES BY THE BOTTLE
Tazza Kitchen has also just added three new fantastic Italian wines you can order
by the bottle to their wine menu for the Winter.

Barbaresco, Castello di Neive, 2015 | Rosso di Montalcino, Altesino 2015 Toscana |

Franciacorta, Ronco Calino Brut NV, Lombardia

WINTER SOLSTICE
Celebrate the season with new craft cocktails

Tazza Kitchen will be introducing several new craft cocktails to their menu on December 21. They have amazing talent behind the bar, creating amazing new drinks for creative cocktail lovers! Here are a couple to try:

BOLD MOVE

White Rum, Batavia Arrack, Absinthe, Lime, Raspberry

SPIRIT ANIMAL

Scotch, Mezcal, Yellow Chartreuse, Black Tea, Lemon, Sage

PINK RABBIT

Copper + Kings Brandy, Aperol, Red Wine, Spiced Cranberry, Cherry, Bitters, Egg White

LOOKING FOR A CLEVER GIFT IDEA?

Tazza Kitchen has gift cards for purchase in any amount. This is a great gift for the foodie, cocktail lover, coworkers, friends, or family! Tazza Kitchen in Cameron Village is the perfect spot for creatively delicious food + drink!
*From now until 12/31/2018 receive a $20 bonus certificate when you spend $100 in gift cards, redeemable from 1/2/2019-2/7/2019 at Tazza Kitchen!

Hope you get out and try some of these amazing new dishes + drinks this season!

HOURS: LUNCH Tue-Sat / 11:30a-2:30p | DINNER Sun-Mon / 4:30-9:00p, Tue-Thu / 4:30-10:00p, Fri-Sat / 4:30-11:00p | BRUNCH Sunday / 10:30a-3:00p | BAR BITES Mon-Thu / 4:30-6:30p
LOCATION: 432 Woodburn Road, Raleigh, NC 27605 (919) 835-9463

#CVTRENDREPORT: I'm excited to partner again with Cameron Village this FALL to feature some of the great merchants in the Village and highlight some 2018 Fall trends and great "hidden gems". I love shopping, dining, drinking, exploring local and it's been an amazing opportunity to get to know these merchants, their stories and their passion for what they do!

Kale Me Crazy - Grand Opening in Cameron Village Today!

noreply@blogger.com (RaleighWhatsUp) — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 15:42:00 +0000

GREEN DREAM SMOOTHIE

Today's the day! Kale Me Crazy in Cameron Village is officially open and serving FREE SMOOTHIES from 4-8pm*. Come by and help welcome Jeff and his team to the Cameron Village community.
*just show them you follow them on Instagram @KaleMeCrazy

I've needed a Kale Me Crazy in my life. With a busy work schedule, teenagers, and the holiday season upon us, it's easy to get caught up in the fast pace of life with no time for a meal or eating something healthy while we run to that next meeting, pick up the kids, or prep for the holidays. Days can fly by fast and unfortunately we don't always make the best decisions about what we eat.

Enter Kale Me Crazy. Their food is SUPER healthy SUPER delicious and SUPER easy to grab and keep going. Whether it is a Recovery Smoothie or a Quinoa or Poke Bowl to go, it's great to have this fast and easy healthy super food cafe option in Raleigh at Cameron Village. You can download the app and even order ahead to make the pick up even faster and easier. It's also conveniently located near CorePower Yoga and Flywheel Sports and cycle bars and the new Crunch Fitness gym coming soon, so it's ideal for grabbing something healthy and refreshing after you work out.

This week we got an early #sneakpeek and sampled several of the salads, poke bowl, wraps and toast. I have to say a standout was the smoked salmon toast. Its not something i would usually gravitate to first but after eating it, I am already planning when I can get back to have it again! The new shop is located at 2018 Cameron Street in Cameron Village tucked in near The Local Squirrel and GLOW, a new and fabulous athleisure wear store. The new cafe is bright, fresh and easy to grab something to go, eat at the main counter or park yourself at the window seat in the sunlight.

THEIR MISSION: We believe in real food and that everyone deserves access to real food. We provide a variety of quick and nutritious options to customers. The demand for healthy food is on rise and we are determined to meet that demand.

Another cool thing Kale Me Crazy offers are the juice cleanses and shots. Pop in for a quick detox and energizing Painkiller shot or if you are feeling a cold coming on try a Wellness shot and get a few to take with you for later. The cold pressed juice is made fresh and comes in a variety of flavors that are delicious and they offer detox/cleanse packages as well. Kale Me Crazy recommends their 3-Day Juice Cleanse for all seasons. This option packs an excellent combination of fruit based juices and green juices to start your cleanse off in the right direction. Kale Me Crazy makes cleansing delicious and convenient whether you’re a first-timer or juicing veteran. If you have questions, they can help.

BE SURE TO SWING BY TODAY, GRAB A FREE SMOOTHIE AND WELCOME JEFF AND HIS TEAM TO CAMERON VILLAGE!
Sun 9am -6pm, M-F 7am - 8pm, Sat 9am - 8pm
2018 Cameron Street, Cameron Village

BOWLS + SALADS

SMOKED SALMON SALAD

TURKEY WRAP

POKE BOWL WITH WILD CAUGHT TUNA

SMOKED SALMON TOAST

AVOCADO TOAST

RECOVERY SMOOTHIE

RALEIGHWHATSUP

ART | Raleigh's Black Lives Matter Murals - A Collection

The Longleaf Hotel: Turning Over a New Leaf in Raleigh's Downtown Accommodations

HOLIDAYS | Give the Gift of Membership at the NCMA

For more info and to get details on the current exhibits, go to https://ncartmuseum.org/Click here to order your membership gift.

Cameron Village: Power Through the Holidays at CorePower Yoga

Gift yourself a yoga membership.

"You cannot always control what goes on outside. But you can always control what goes on inside."

Happy 70th birthday this Fall to the Shops at Cameron Village!

Cameron Village: Kale Me Crazy: Life Goals on a Napkin + Raleigh Soup Season

EAT WELL. MOVE DAILY. HYDRATE OFTEN.SLEEP LOTS. LOVE YOUR BODY.REPEAT for life!

Have a Happy (and Healthy) Fall, Raleigh!

Happy 70th birthday this Fall to the Shops at Cameron Village!

Shopping Sustainably at FiFi's Consignment Boutique in Cameron Village + 7 great FALL finds!

I was at Fifi's Consignment in Cameron Village last week and I wanted to highlight 7 great fashion finds at the store!

Happy 70th birthday this Fall to the Shops at Cameron Village! Join the festivities in OCTOBER!

Cameron Village: AILLEA Beauty Boutique - Clean Your Routine!

Check out their monthly specials here!

Happy 70th birthday this Fall to the Shops at Cameron Village! Be sure to stop by and join the planned festivities in OCTOBER!

Cameron Village: October Brews + Guilt-Free Dishes at Village Draft House

Despite the heat still sticking around, October is here and a visit to the local Village Draft House is in order, especially if you are looking for football, beer and patio (dog-friendly) dining in Cameron Village.

Cooler weather IS on the way! Here's to Fall! Get out and enjoy food + drink on the patio at Village Draft House soon!

Happy 70th birthday this Fall to the Shops at Cameron Village! Be sure to stop by and join the planned festivities in OCTOBER!

Late Summer Dishes from Chef Jason Smith at Cantina 18 in Cameron Village

FALL IS HERE?

Happy 70th birthday this Fall to the Shops at Cameron Village! Be sure to stop by and join the planned festivities in OCTOBER!

Pharmacy Café Owners Open New Farmhouse Café in Wendell Falls

The Farmhouse Café opens today and will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Exciting Eats, A Special kō•än Summer Pop-Up Series + Dining Al Fresco at so•ca in Cameron Village

See you on the patio soon!

THE WADE: Modern, Classic + Thoughtful Residential Living Coming Soon to Downtown Raleigh

Go to 620wade.com for more info and to contact the sales office.

10 Awesome Last Minute Father's Day Gifts + Attention Paddlesports People! Get to Great Outdoor Provision Co at Cameron Village

10 FABULOUS LAST MINUTE FATHER'S DAY GIFTS FROM GREAT OUTDOOR PROVISION COMPANY!

Gift Giving! Some of my Favorite Gifts from The Local Squirrel - Cameron Village

SOME OF MY #RWUFAV GIFT IDEAS

EXPLORE | You've got to SEE Wilson NC This Summer!

Eyes on Main Street Outdoor Photo Festival

100 prominent photographers from 45 countries feature their photos on 100 storefront windows over 100 days.

Gig in the Park concerts take place this Spring including The Connells, May 16

The Whirligig Park will be hosting a Wedding Showcase May 21, 6-8pm

I enjoyed my day trip to Wilson and will be back this summer with the family.Get to Wilson...Lots of great photo ops for sure ;-)

RWU | Eyes on Main Street | Historic Downtown Wilson

For more about my visit check out my Instastories @RaleighWhatsUp

For more WILSON info check out:

Wilson NC Visitor Center | Eyes On Main Street | Historic Downtown Wilson

Tazza Kitchen: the Perfect Spot in Cameron Village for Celebrating this Spring

With Spring in full swing there are lots of things to celebrate in the months of May and June. Mother's Day, high school and college graduation celebrations, anniversaries, weddings, engagements, new babies, Father's Day and birthdays!

Raleigh's cocktail culture is as vibrant as ever.

Happy + Hale & Chef Ashley Christensen Present THE POOLE’SIDE SALAD benefitting NextStep Raleigh

New Focus at Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken at Cameron Village

Last week we grabbed three fun Biscuit and Gravy boxes and the Righteous Chicken Box 'to go' and enjoyed a lovely lunch outdoors!

Spring Refresh with Nest Interiors

Five Easy Ways to Add a Little Spring Refresh to Your Living Space

Roadtrip to Bodega

Thank you Bodega for a wonderful night!

yes @ THE LIBRARY

BOOKS.

The story of my life is at the library.

CurEat Raleigh Scavenger Hunt!

O-Ku Raleigh at the Dillon Now Offers Lunch

NEW at Tazza Kitchen in Cameron Village: Fabulous New Seasonal Dishes + Tasty Winter Solstice Cocktails

Tazza Kitchen offers a delicious seasonal menu highlighting ingredients sourced from dozens of farmers and food artisans, wood-fired cooking, and influences from Southern Italy and Baja California.

Kale Me Crazy - Grand Opening in Cameron Village Today!

For more info and to get details on the current exhibits, go to https://ncartmuseum.org/
Click here to order your membership gift.

EAT WELL. MOVE DAILY. HYDRATE OFTEN.
SLEEP LOTS. LOVE YOUR BODY.
REPEAT for life!

Happy 70th birthday this Fall to the Shops at Cameron Village!
Join the festivities in OCTOBER!

10 FABULOUS LAST MINUTE FATHER'S DAY GIFTS FROM
GREAT OUTDOOR PROVISION COMPANY!

I enjoyed my day trip to Wilson and will be back this summer with the family.
Get to Wilson...Lots of great photo ops for sure ;-)

Five Easy Ways
to Add a Little
Spring Refresh to
Your Living Space