Happy Tuesday, Raleigh. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let Raleigh Brief serve up everything you need to know for the week ahead.
📰 In the news
Local happenings: Scorching Triangle temperatures, Durham’s top ice cream spots chosen by readers, and Wake Tech’s new biomechatronics apprenticeship program — catch up here.
State-level stories: Former governor enters 2026 Senate race as middle class champion, regulators propose blue crab harvest cuts, and shelter dog Finley masters tricks awaiting adoption — see what else is brewing.
National headlines: Landmark trial shows lifestyle programs can rewind cognitive aging, the one ten thousandth spending rule, and shocking home prices in California — peruse the best of the rest.
Health: If you’ve struggled with weight loss, you’re not alone. Today’s GLP-1 medications (the same active ingredients found in Ozempic® and Wegovy®) are helping people manage cravings and build healthier habits. Hers makes it easy to get started, with a personalized plan and licensed providers – start your journey.
Highlights this week
- Shop pay-what-you-can local produce
- Exhibition honors Haiti’s vibrant artistic heritage
- Commissioners meet to discuss energy policy
- Sterling Law opens in downtown Apex
- Lawn looking rough? TruGreen’s 50% off
🫶 We got your back
Escape: You could stick around Raleigh forever but sometimes a dose of salt air, mountain peaks, or small-town charm is just a drive away. These day trip ideas prove adventure is on the map. No passports required.
Eats: Think you know local cuisine? Moravian cookies and fresh-foraged ramps will ruin every other dish for you. Dive into hidden flavors that prove there’s so much beyond BBQ.
Pub: Whether you’re looking to unwind after work, test your trivia chops, or finally master darts, My Way Tavern is your neighborhood go-to for good pints, friendly banter, and just enough questionable decisions to keep things interesting.
Finance: Most folks don’t realize you can roll over your 401k or IRA to invest in cryptocurrency… all with the same tax benefits as a traditional retirement account on top of the the potential upside. iTustCapital makes the entire process a breeze with $0 monthly fees and an incredibly simple setup process.
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📆 Around town this week
All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirey outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
This week
🇭🇹 Haiti As It Was @ Gallery C | Tuesday (7/29) at 11:00am – Charlene Newsom’s gallery is back at it with Haiti As It Was, showcasing late 20th and early 21st-century Haitian art. Think vibrant street scenes, folk sculptures, and colors so bold your living room will get jealous, no passport required.
🦋 Butterfly Walk @ Prairie Ridge | Thursday (7/31) at 10:00am – Prairie mornings mean chasing butterflies, not emails. We’ll gab about their mating rituals, brush up on our golden hairstreaks from our swallowtails, then hoof it past waist-high grasses. Closed-toed shoes, a water bottle, and a sense of wonder recommended; meet at the gate kiosk.
🎸 Raleigh Shop & Rock: Battle of the Bands @ Raleigh City Plaza | Friday (8/1) at 2:00pm – Downtown Raleigh transforms into a laid-back food-truck rodeo, pop-up artisan market, and free-for-all battle of the bands in City Plaza. Picture yourself juggling tacos, hand-poured candles, and head-banging to your neighbor’s garage act. Free admission.
🏛️ Downtown Raleigh Historian-Guided Tour @ Jimmy V’s | Friday (8/1) at 3:00pm – Forget Netflix. Don your walking shoes and hit downtown Raleigh with a historian who treats old hotels, plantations, skyscrapers, and mansions like reality TV. Expect grand architecture, local gossip, and tales that somehow never made it onto Wikipedia.
This weekend
🗓️ First Saturday Series @ Raleigh City Farm | Saturday (8/2) at 9:00am – Whether you’re into hands-on volunteer days or prefer grazing a pay-what-you-can farmstand with coffee in hand, roll by on the first Saturday of each month for farm tours, whimsical weed walks, and fresh picks. It’s basically grocery shopping with community karma.
🏰 Museum Untold Tour @ Downtown Raleigh | Saturday (8/2) at 2:00pm – Think you’ve discovered every T-Rex secret at our science museum? Join a ten-person insider stroll through dusty corridors, unearthing staff lore from buried fossils to a cheeky cat hidden in a mural. Then toast your newfound wisdom at the Daily Planet Café, drink on us.
🎤 Augustana @ Kings | Saturday (8/2) at 6:00pm – Augustana is cruising into downtown Raleigh’s Kings for a pop-rock singalong that’ll have you belting “Boston” like it’s 2004, with Dan Layus, his band, and a sneaky string-quartet twist. Dig out your air guitar and call it cultural enrichment.
🕵️ The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show @ Embassy Suites by Hilton Raleigh Crabtree | Saturday (8/2) at 6:00pm – If you’re craving a night where your filet bite is second to your sleuthing skills, Raleigh’s interactive murder mystery dinner fits the bill. Actors mingle incognito, the punchlines land harder than a lead pipe, and participation is non-negotiable.
🍷 Paint, Sip & Dip @ Georgia Tardy Art Studio | Sunday (8/3) at 1:00pm – Nothing beats painting South African Ndebele designs on clay pots while sipping your favorite vino, then slipping into a heated saltwater pool as your art dries. It’s the perfect marriage of creativity and leisure, with just enough cultured pretension to make your weekend proud.
💃 Love Never Fails Dance Party & Marketplace @ Tap Yard Raleigh | Sunday (8/3) at 2:00pm – This open-air dance party at Tap Yard doubles as a mini marketplace for all ages, with soul-soothing DJ sets and local artists peddling everything from funky prints to handmade candles. Grab a drink, bust a move, and pretend your dog isn’t judging your two-step.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 7/29 Mumford & Sons @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park – 7:30 pm
- 7/31 Thomas Rhett @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park – 7:30 pm
- 7/31 July Lineup @ Raleigh Times – 10:30 pm
- 8/1 Rebecca Frazier @ Page-Walker Arts & History Center – 6:30 pm
- 8/1 Tacarra Williams @ Goodnights – 7 pm
- 8/1 Michael Rowland @ Goodnights – 7:30 pm
- 8/1 Kash’d Out and more @ Pourhouse – 8 pm
- 8/1 Red Crown and more @ Wicked Witch – 9 pm
- 8/2 A.R. Rahman @ Lenovo Center – 7:30 pm
This house is wild
*This 👇 could be your listing. Hit us up if you’ve got a home (or 12) to sell.
Listed by: Christina Valkanoff (Christina Valkanoff Realty Group)
Moody hues, wide-plank floors, and a dramatic linear fireplace set the tone in this custom-built Southern Hills Estates stunner. The kitchen flexes Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, a scullery, and walk-in pantry, while the formal dining room connects through a butler’s pantry for seamless soirées. Automated window coverings, Control4 smart tech, and two hidden safe rooms add a layer of intrigue.
The walk-out basement is pure fun, with a theater (twinkle-light ceiling included), wet bar, game room, gym, and a pool laundry room. Outside, a heated saltwater pool, phantom screened porch, and fenced playground take full advantage of the massive, private cul-de-sac lot.
