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Axios Raleigh
The combo of Dreamville and the Final Four, Raleigh prepares for a packed weekend
Raleigh is the hottest city in North Carolina this weekend with the arrival of J. Cole's Dreamville Festival.It's also arguably the epicenter of college basketball, with the N.C. State men's and women's teams making runs in their respective Final Fours.Why it matters: Nearly every hotel and Airbnb within a shout of Raleigh is booked, and local bars and restaurants are salivating at the huge uptick in visitors to the City of Oaks.Between the lines: The events' overlap could have one of the biggest economic impacts for the city in recent memory, on par with 2023's NHL outdoor series game at...
What to do this weekend in Raleigh if you're not going to Dreamville or watching the Wolfpack
With all the attention on Dreamville and the N.C. State Wolfpack, it is easy to miss the other events across the Triangle this weekend. Here's what else is happening: ⚾️ Celebrate the return of Durham Bulls baseball by going to its opening series against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp all weekend. 🥁 Watch "Black Panther" in Moore Square on Friday, featuring a live remixing of the soundtrack by the Shaolin Jazz group, local food trucks and vendors hosted by the Black Flea Market. 🎾 Take in professional pickleball at the Professional Pickleball Association Tour's stop at the Cary Tennis Center all...
Where to shop and eat at Raleigh Iron Works
Raleigh Iron Works, one of the biggest eat-live-work-play developments underway in the city in recent years, is beginning to fill with tenants. Why it matters: Built on top of a former Peden Steel facility, the development is adding hundreds of apartments and office and retail space north of downtown. Here's what has opened: Andia's Ice Cream, a local ice cream chain started in Cary. Brodeto, the new Croatian-inspired restaurant from Raleigh chef Scott Crawford.Beatniks, a men's clothing shop focused on street, surf, skate and outdoor brands.Eastcut Sandwich Bar, the first Raleigh location for the Durham-based sandwich shop.FX Fitness, a fitness...
Solidcore opens its first Raleigh studio in May in Iron Works
Solidcore, a popular Pilates-inspired reformer workout studio, opens its first Raleigh location at Iron Works in May. Why it matters: The boutique fitness studio comes at a time when low-impact movement is having a moment. The big picture: High-intensity workouts like Insanity and CrossFit were once all the rage. Now, people are swapping those burpees for bird dogs. Pilates was the most popular ClassPass workout of 2023, with booking reservations up 92% from 2022, Axios' Carly Mallenbaum reports.If you go: Solidcore membership starts at $89 a month for four classes. The unlimited membership is $239 a month. Location: 2201 Iron Works Dr., Suite 109.Sign up for Axios Raleigh for free.
Raleigh set a new record for tree pollen on April 1, smashing a previous record from 2010
Data: N.C. Division of Air Quality; Chart: Erin Davis/Axios VisualsRaleigh's pollen counts this past week hit record levels not seen in more than a decade, according to data collected by the state. Why it matters: Triangle residents might have to get used to worsening pollen seasons in the coming years. The big picture: Climate change and warmer springs are causing plants to produce higher concentrations of pollen for longer periods of time, Kelly Oten, an assistant professor and extension specialist at the N.C. State's College of Natural Resources, said last year. Spring allergy season is now starting about 20 days earlier compared to 1990, and pollen concentrations have grown 20% nationwide over the same period, the New York Times reported. Driving the news: The N.C. Division of Air Quality's pollen monitoring system reported tree pollen grain levels of 16,284 between 9am on March 31 and 9am on April 1. That blew away the previous record of 10,995 on April 6, 2010. The Division of Air Quality monitors pollen levels from a collection point in Raleigh between February and October. Sign up for Axios Raleigh for free.
The Triangle is one of the most innovative areas in the U.S., according to patent data
The greater Research Triangle is living up to its moniker, as it continued to have one of the highest concentrations of utility patents granted in 2022.Why it matters: The rate of new patents filed in a region can indicate how innovative its researchers, businesses and universities are. Caveat: Getting a patent is one thing; actually creating the proposed product or service is another, Axios' Shawna Chen, Alex Fitzpatrick and Kavya Beheraj report.That said, the number of patents granted is still a useful proxy for measuring something as quantitatively slippery as innovation.By the numbers: Both the Raleigh and Durham metro areas'...
Raleigh's Crawford & Son is a finalist for James Beard's outstanding hospitality award
Three North Carolina restaurants landed finalist nominations for the prestigious James Beard Awards — including one of Raleigh's favorite dining destinations. Why it matters: This year's awards nominations highlight the strong growth of Eastern North Carolina's culinary scene, from the buzz of Raleigh to a small town on the Pamlico River. Driving the news: Crawford & Son, one of Raleigh's most popular restaurants led by chef Scott Crawford, is a finalist for the James Beard's "Outstanding Hospitality" category. Crawford opened the Southern-inspired restaurant in late 2016.Dean Neff of downtown Wilmington's coastal-infused Seabird is a finalist for "Outstanding Chef."And Jamie Davis, of...
Dreamville had a large economic impact on Raleigh in 2023
The spending of roughly 100,000 Dreamville attendees last year had an economic impact of $122 million for Wake County, according to economic impact consulting firm AngelouEconomics.Why it matters: Dreamville has become one of the premier social events in the Triangle since it was started in Raleigh by North Carolina rapper J. Cole in 2019 — and it's become a serious economic driver for the city, too.Between the lines: The report from Angelou offers a fuller picture of Dreamville's affects on Wake County's economy — both within the festival and at restaurants, businesses and hotels throughout the county.A previous impact study found...
Here's what Raleigh will experience during the April 8 solar eclipse
Data: NASA; Map: Erin Davis/Axios VisualsNorth Carolina isn't on the path for a total eclipse on April 8 — but the Triangle will still experience the effects of a partial eclipse that day.What to expect: Around 79% of the sun will be obscured by the moon for the eyes of Triangle residents, per NASA — with the eclipse starting around 2pm and peaking at 3:15pm.The North Carolina town with the highest percentage (88.5%) of the sun to be eclipsed is Tapoco in Graham County, along the Tennessee border, according to Eclipse2024.org.Flashback: The 2017 eclipse just skirted North Carolina, with towns...
Here's what Raleigh will experience during the April 8 solar eclipse
Data: NASA; Map: Erin Davis/Axios VisualsNorth Carolina isn't on the path for a total eclipse on April 8 — but the Triangle will still experience the effects of a partial eclipse that day.What to expect: Around 79% of the sun will be obscured by the moon for the eyes of Triangle residents, per NASA — with the eclipse starting around 2pm and peaking at 3:15pm.The North Carolina town with the highest percentage (88.5%) of the sun to be eclipsed is Tapoco in Graham County, along the Tennessee border, according to Eclipse2024.org.Flashback: The 2017 eclipse just skirted North Carolina, with towns...
Raleigh 3+ bedroom homes: Boomers own more than millennials with kids
Data: Redfin; Chart: Axios VisualsEmpty nesters own more than a quarter of three-bed-plus homes in the Raleigh metro area, according to a recent Redfin report.Why it matters: Raleigh millennials wouldn't mind more space for their growing families.State of play: The problem for many younger families is that baby boomer homeowners don't have much motivation to sell, according to Redfin senior economist Sheharyar Bokhari.Boomers typically have low housing costs, and most of them "are only in their 60s, still young enough that they can take care of themselves and their home without help," Bokhari said in the report.Reality check: Seniors are still...
Long-awaited Topgolf in the Triangle will open April 12
The Triangle's long-awaited Topgolf will open on Friday, April 12, the company said in a release. Why it matters: Topgolf is a popular entertainment destination nationwide. Its Durham location has been years in the making. Construction began on the site at 4901 Page Road in 2021, but its completion was delayed. Between the lines: TopGolf earlier this year was hiring for 500 positions ahead of the opening. That's according to a post from the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce's vice president of economic development to LinkedIn.Background: Dallas-based Topgolf is known for creating an entertaining driving range experience with simulators plus food and drinks. Tom Dundon, the owner of the Carolina Hurricanes, was a large investor in the company. Topgolf's Durham location is part of a larger planned entertainment development, which will also include Andretti Indoor Karting & Games, The Triangle Business Journal reported. Sign up for Axios Raleigh for free.
NC State men's and women's basketball teams are headed to the Final Four
N.C. State's magical run continues after the Wolfpack men beat in-state rival Duke 76-64 Sunday in the Elite Eight. On the same day, the Wolfpack's women's team, led by superstar Aziaha James, also marched on to the Final Four, taking out Texas 76-66.Why it matters: It's the first time since 1983 that the Wolfpack's men's team has made the Final Four — the same year that an underdog N.C. State won the NCAA Tournament. It's also the first time ever that both its men's and women's programs are in the Final Four at the same time. The N.C. State Wolfpack...
Noting influence of AI on entry-level jobs, Triangle coding bootcamp shuts down
A Triangle coding bootcamp closed its doors despite having placed more than 400 graduates into tech jobs.One reason behind the decision: the rise of artificial intelligence.Why it matters: Generative AI programs are increasingly able to code at novice level, potentially changing how entry-level tech jobs are filled, GovTech reported last year.And AI is already causing certain tech job postings to shrink, the Wall Street Journal reported.Driving the news: Momentum Learning said last week it is permanently shutting its doors after a six-year run and placing 400 graduates in 120 different companies.Co-founder Jessica Mitsch Homes cited lagging worker demand and generative...
North Carolinians still go to religious services at a high rate
Data: Household Pulse Survey; Note: Adults who say they never attend or attend less than once a year; Map: Alice Feng/AxiosThe Bible Belt still firmly runs through North Carolina. Why it matters: More than three-quarters of Americans say religion's role in public life is shrinking, per a recent Pew Research Center survey — the highest level since the group first started tracking such sentiment in 2001.Yes, but: North Carolinians go to religious services — across varying faith groups — more regularly than the rest of the country.Among North Carolina adults, 43% say they never or seldom attend church or religious services....
Durham's convention center is among the smallest in the state. Is a bigger one needed?
Durham's tourism agency is calling for the city to invest in a new convention center as part of a sweeping plan to improve its downtown and visitor industry.Why it matters: The Triangle's downtowns are all seeking ways to reinvigorate themselves after the pandemic changed daily commuter and work patterns, causing daytime foot traffic to plummet. Driving the news: Discover Durham, which leads Durham's tourism efforts, unveiled a master plan earlier this month on improvements the city could make to its downtown to boost visitor spending in the Bull City over the next two decades. The plan calls for a new...
Take a peek: Brodeto will open in the Raleigh Iron Works development on Friday
Brodeto, the highly anticipated Croatian restaurant from Raleigh's James Beard-nominated chef Scott Crawford, opens Friday.Why it matters: Brodeto is the first of several new restaurants set to open by the acclaimed chef, whose restaurants Crawford & Son and Jolie are among the most popular in Raleigh.It is also the flagship restaurant for the recently finished Raleigh Iron Works development — which features hundreds of apartments and several restaurants, shops and offices. The Brodeto stew featuring fish, clams, mussels, prawns, octopus and grilled hearth bread. Photo: Courtesy of Jessica CrawfordDig in: Brodeto's menu explores dishes found throughout homes along the Adriatic Sea...
With three schools in Sweet 16, Triangle feels like center of college basketball world
N.C. State, UNC and Duke men's basketball teams are all in the Sweet 16 — the first time that's happened since 2015.Why it matters: The Triangle once again feels like the center of the college basketball universe — at least for the next few days.Driving the news: North Carolina's big basketball weekend kicks off tonight when No. 1 UNC faces No. 4 Alabama. N.C. State and Duke play tomorrow.The big picture: The three North Carolina schools' success in this year's tournament so far underscores the ACC's college basketball dominance."It speaks really well of the ACC," ESPN's Jay Bilas, a former Duke basketball...
Photos from Duke, UNC and N.C. State's triumphs in the NCAA Tournament
With all three Triangle ACC schools still competing for a trip to the Final Four, we combed the national Getty Images archives for photos from each of the Triangle's 13 national titles. Why it matters: The area's unique dominance in college basketball goes back more than 60 years. Here are some of the photos from championship runs of years' past:1957The Triangle's first NCAA Tournament championship came in the form of a massive upset, when UNC beat a Wilt Chamberlain-led Kansas.The Tar Heels beat the Jayhawks 54-53 in a game that went to triple overtime. UNC's Lennie Rosenbluth (left) sets up...
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