Raleigh Coffee Break! #NationalCoffeeDay

It happens to be #NATIONALCOFFEEDAY and since I love spending time with friends, family and clients in many of Raleigh's cozy and fabulous coffee venues, I pulled together a few random moments from the past year. Enjoy!



Sola Coffee Cafe



Morning Times



Slingshot Coffee



Sola Coffee Cafe



Morning Times



Jubala Village Coffee



Saxbys Coffee in North Hills



Jubala Village Coffee



Coquette Brasserie



Joule Coffee



Joe Van Gogh



Sola Coffee Cafe

 

Yellow Dog Bread Company



CAM - Creative Mornings RDU/Counter Culture Coffee



New World Cafe



Cup a Joe



Sola Coffee Cafe



Slingshot Iced Coffee



Jubala Village Coffee



Sola Coffee Cafe



Sola Coffee Cafe



BREW - Downtown Raleigh

RALEIGHWHATSUP: 3 Year Anniversary Today!

Today marks officially three  years since I sat down and posted my very first post to RaleighWhatsUp. What I find ironic is that my first post featured a concert at Red Hat Amphitheater with the band Better then Ezra. It was short and sweet but the start to something I was still trying to figure out, yet was compelled to do.

Last night we went to see Lorde at Red Hat Amphitheater. We took our teen daughters who were SO excited and happier then ever to get a chance to see one of their favorite musical artists.  Words can't express what seeing her and hearing her meant to the girls and watching them have a moment that they will remember forever is pretty darn magical (despite my guilt of having them out late on a school night!)

Raleigh has been host to SO MANY AMAZING musical performances lately it's a little unreal. Practically every week I see friends and local folks enjoying some of the coolest bands on the planet right now right here in Raleigh. We try to get to as many as we can.  I think the Red Hat venue is stunning and I like that it's not overwhelmingly large and I feel good bringing the girls there as well. The setting always seems to be admired by the musicians on the stage with their view being the city skyline and the shimmer wall.

I feel passionate about Raleigh and all the cool things that are continuing to happen to this city. I am so grateful to all the other local blogger folks that keep you updated, sharing their passion for Raleigh and the area as well. They have become great friends.

I hope to continue to provide you with more information on local events and how to support your local small businesses. I will continue to help small businesses. Whether it's a local brewery, coffee shop, boutique, restaurant or event, I feel strongly about getting people educated on how fantastic it is to shop/drink/eat local...putting your money back into our community and what it means to support these small business owners. They put their heart and souls into their businesses and not only do they want to share with you their offerings, but they also want to get to know YOU. I will say from personal experience it can make the difference in a day to be greeted when you walk into a local shop, like running into a good friend. I think that's part of why I still feel so strong about it even now, three years later.

Get out this weekend and enjoy what Raleigh has to offer! And thanks for continuing to support my efforts!

SEPTEMBER: New and What to Do in Raleigh

Hopefully cooler weather is around the corner as Summer makes it's last blast of hot steamy days. At least the kids are back in school and all is right in the world. ;-) I started thinking of all the things that are going on starting in September and there is no lack of things to do in Raleigh. I decided to make a list of ten things I'd LIKE to try and do this month. Here's the list.

1. HOPSCOTCH.
Hopscotch Music Festival, Raleigh's premiere music festival is celebrating its 5th Anniversary this September, 4-6. This year's lineup will feature over 140 bands over 3 days in downtown Raleigh. In addition to hearing lots of great innovative music, there will be big crowds and lots of things to see, do (and eat and drink!) during the festival. Venues include a large outdoor main stage in Raleigh City Plaza to smaller locations like Slim's, Lincoln Theatre, CAM, Pour House, The Hive, etc. I am especially excited to see this year's headliners, Spoon and St. Vincent! See you there!


2. BREW. 
My plan is to get there this week! I'm so excited about Brew opening.  Looks to be an inviting, stylish, comfortable coffee shop in Seaboard Station. They offer coffee and teas and will soon offer local craft beer as well. These guys are amazing and are the true experts in coffee. So excited for them and I know they will be a success. 


3. ACTIVATE GOOD'S 9/11 DAY OF SERVICE.
 I'm excited to share info about ActivateGood.org's 9/11 DAY OF SERVICE coming up soon in Raleigh. This is a full DAY and NIGHT opportunity to spend what is always a hard day to get through doing good for others. If you can participate during the day there is an entire day of activities that you can sign up and volunteer. The daytime service events/projects are at various times and locations from 7am-6pm. If you are available that evening, they are hosting an event at Raleigh's Red Hat Amphitheatre  where you can come down and help out with many projects and bring specific items to donate.  The evening event starts at 6pm for service projects, music, refreshments and Mayor Nancy McFarlane will speak.


4. WEEKEND. 

 The fabulous Slingshot folks have opened up their new location Weekend offering up their amazing coffee, and partnering with some great local artisans for additional items to sample, only available on the Weekend (hence the name!) from 8am to 2pm at 1420 Brookside Drive.

5. LORDE @ RED HAT AMPHITHEATER.
Taking the family to see Lorde on Thursday September 18 at Red Hat Amphitheater. My teenagers think she's pretty amazing and she is definitely a talented artist. We are hoping for some fabulous Raleigh weather that night! I just love being in this venue on a Summer night in the heart of downtown Raleigh.


6. ETHNOSH.
Every month the Ethnosh Raleigh group feature a different ethnic restaurant in the Triangle area. It's a great opportunity one Wednesday night a month to get out for a great dinner for only $5 and try something new and different. It's also a great chance to meet people and learn some culture and history of local restaurant owners and to hear their story. This month's meetup is at Mami Nora's in Morrisville on Wednesday September 10, starting at 6pm!

7.SPARKCON.
SPARKcon is a fantastic coming together of Raleigh's creative side, produced by the non-profit creativity incubator, Visual Art Exchange, in Raleigh NC.  This is the ninth year for SPARKcon. Things get started Sept. 11-14 in downtown Raleigh.

8. HEAD AND THE HEART @ NCMA.
Co-presented by Cat's Cradle, this fantastic indie folk-rock group will perform at the outdoor concert venue at the NC Art Museum.  The concert is Saturday, September 27 at 8 pm  with general admission tickets $24 ($19 Members),  $12 Youth 7–18, Children 6 and under free.  (Doors open at 6:30 pm)

9. NICKELPOINT BREWING.
One of Raleigh's newest breweries is open for business starting this Saturday, September 6th. Nickelpoint Brewing was started in 2013 and has found their home in the Five Points area of Raleigh. The taproom hours are Sunday - Thursday: Noon - 10:00pm and Friday - Saturday: Noon - Midnight.



10. TASTY 8'S GOURMET HOT DOG CO.
Newly opened Tasty 8's at121 Fayetteville Street, this place seems to be the "place to be" for lunch or anytime! There is often a line in front at their take-out window and they have very late night hours on the weekend. Love the innovative design of their storefront and it should be a great addition to Fayetteville Street.