https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh

Axios Raleigh, Raleigh, NC (2026)

01/16/2026

📆 HUGE CLOTHING MARKET: One of the largest vintage pop-up shops returns to Raleigh this weekend, Jan. 17-18.

🛍️ WHAT TO EXPECT: Over 170 different vintage vendors inside the Expo Center at the State Fairgrounds will have thousands of pieces from the 1920s to the 2010s.
- You’ll find items like clothing, vinyl, jewelry and vintage video games.
- There will also be local food trucks and a live DJ onsite.

🎟️ IF YOU GO: One-day tickets range from $12-$18 and a weekend pass is $21-$32. Children under 12 are free with a parent. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.

📍STOP BY: It’s from 12-7pm at 4285 Trinity Road.

01/07/2026

🍸 OPENING SOON: is a new cocktail lounge bar opening in downtown Raleigh on Feb. 14.

CONTEXT: The new bar is the latest expansion from Patrick Shanahan (), the local entrepreneur who operates several establishments throughout Raleigh, including the underground bar , the restaurant and the .

WHAT TO EXPECT: Rosebud’s 2,000-square-foot basement bar, which features 12 bar seats and 50 lounge seats, will feature a hi-fi sound system and an extensive vinyl record collection.
- It’ll be reminiscent of the jazz-listening bars popular in Japan, and it’ll offer an omakase-style menu that allows the bartender to craft a series of drinks tailored to the night’s mood.

📍 DETAILS: Find Rosebud at 103 E. Martin St, in the former Fox Liquor Bar space.

🔗 Click the link in bio to read about what inspired the name of the new cocktail bar and the other changes coming to that area

01/05/2026

👀 NEW LAWS: The start of 2026 has seen some wide-ranging new laws take effect in North Carolina.

WHY IT MATTERS: The legislation dips into the culture war over s*x and gender, creates new workforce pipelines and seeks to rein in prescription drug prices.

THE INTRIGUE: Only one of the new laws taking effect survived a veto from Democratic Gov. Josh Stein — H.B. 805.
- It made it easier to sue medical providers who perform gender transitions, banned state funds from being used for gender transition surgery, allowed students to opt out of school activities that conflict with their religious beliefs and let parents control which library books their kids check out.

🔗 Click the link in ’s bio to read the full list of 10 laws taking effect this year.

01/01/2026

🍽️ NOW OPEN: , a longtime favorite of the Wilmington area, is now open in downtown Raleigh.

🌮 WHAT TO EXPECT: The Mexican restaurant is best known for its fish tacos, fresh margaritas and handmade tortillas. It has a beach-inspired setting with an outdoor patio seating.

📍STOP BY: 20 Seaboard Ave. Suite B 110, near in the development.
- Open Sunday through Thursday 11am-9:30pm and Friday and Saturday 11am-10:30pm.

12/30/2025

⛸️ THINGS TO DO: ’s holiday outdoor ice skating rink in Cary is open now through February 8, 2026.

🤑 IF YOU GO: Skating sessions last 75 minutes and include skate rentals.
- General admission is $18 plus tax and a season pass is $90.
- Every Monday tickets are discounted to $15. Other discounted tickets for students and first responders are available for $15.

📍 STOP BY: Find Fenton Skate the Square at 21 Fenton Main St. in front of Paragon Theaters.
- Holiday hours vary with some skating times as early as 10am.

12/29/2025

🏆 BEST NEW RESTAURANTS: It’s been another year of growth for the Triangle’s restaurant scene. Here is a list of some of the best restaurants that opened in 2025:

🍽️ .molino in Raleigh
🥪 in North Hills
🥩 in Cary
🍸 in Raleigh
🌮 in Durham
🍣 in Raleigh
🍕 in Durham

🔗 Click the link in bio for our full list of the best new restaurants in the Triangle.

12/18/2025

🍛 NOW OPEN: , a restaurant known for its contemporary interpretation of Indian cuisine, is now open at in Research Triangle Park.

CONTEXT: This is the second location by James Beard-nominated chef , who also owns a small grocery store in RTP. Cheeni has another location in downtown Durham.

🇮🇳 WHAT TO EXPECT: Homestyle Indian cooking in addition to Indian-influenced classic cocktails, wines and house-made syrups.
- Waas’ daughter, Amy — a James Beard Award nominee for her work on The Bar Beej at — will contribute to the beverage direction at this new location.
- The 3,000-square-foot space also has a view of the Horseshoe courtyard, walkways and live music stage.

📍 STOP BY: 3151 Elion Dr., Suite 101. Open for lunch Wednesday through Sunday, 11am-2pm to start. Cheeni plans to expand hours in the coming months.

12/18/2025

🍽️ OPENING SOON: A new lunch spot called will open in a former Dog House hot dog stand in Durham on Thursday, Dec. 18.

CONTEXT: It’s the first restaurant run by chef Amanda Orser — who has worked in acclaimed kitchens like Magnolia Grill, and .

😋 DIG IN: The menu at LRB is built around a smoker that will be used to create the house-made pastrami and vegetarian-friendly celery root pastrami that forms the backbone of the menu.
- Other items include a smoked trout salad, an al pastor pork loin sandwich, confit chicken, roasted carrot soup, house-made potato chips, a brownie-cookie hybrid called a “barkie” and a miso-ginger Rice Krispie treat.
- On Thursdays, LRB will have a rotating hot dog special in honor of the building’s former tenant.

📍STOP BY: 2009 Guess Road. It’ll be open 11am-3pm Thursday through Monday.

12/18/2025

🍷 NOW OPEN: , a new rooftop restaurant, recently opened in North Hills.

✨ CONTEXT: The Raleigh opening marks the Texas-based chain’s second North Carolina location, following its 2023 debut in Charlotte.
- The Raleigh location has a bright dining room on the ground floor, and an open-air rooftop bar and lounge above.

🥂 WHAT TO EXPECT: About 60 varieties of wine, not from the bottle, but on tap. The menu includes hand-tossed pizzas, charcuterie boards, salads and a double Cabernet burger.
- Brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays until 3pm.

📍 STOP BY: 4000 Center at North Hills St. Open Monday through Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday 11am-11pm, Saturday 10am-11pm and Sunday 10am-9pm.

12/12/2025

🎅 HOLIDAY TOUR: The ’s mansion in Raleigh is all decked out for the holidays and welcoming visitors.

🏠 ZOOM IN: Since 1891, 30 governors and their families have lived in the Victorian downtown home, located at 200 N. Blount St.
- Inside you’ll spot Christmas trees sourced from the Appalachian mountains and a wide variety of holiday decor.

🕎 FUN FACT: is North Carolina’s first ever Jewish governor, and most rooms also have menorahs.
- The candles will begin to be lit on Sunday.

🗓️ IF YOU GO: Stop by Dec. 11-13. It’s free, and reservations aren’t needed.
- Hours are Friday 10am-5pm and Saturday 10am-5pm.

12/12/2025

🏓 NOW OPEN: , a new restaurant and entertainment spot in Raleigh’s Glenwood South neighborhood opened this week.

🍻 WHAT TO EXPECT: The new space, featuring games like ping-pong, darts and shuffleboard, is a big bet by the local restaurant group LM Restaurants, which closed an existing Carolina Ale House to make way for Smash at the epicenter of Raleigh’s most popular nightlife area.
- LM has 36 restaurants across the Southeast and is locally known for its Carolina Ale House chain and restaurants like and in Raleigh.

STATE OF PLAY: Amber Moshakos, president of LM Restaurants, said the company had been thinking about transitioning the Carolina Ale House in Glenwood South into an entertainment concept coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Moshakos said there’s been a clear rise in demand for more “eatertainment” or game-centric spaces to gather in recent years. All of Smash’s games are tech-infused.
- She said that if the company can prove Smash as a success in Raleigh, it could try to replicate it in other markets. “We are seeing if this has legs,” she told Axios.

📍 STOP BY: 500 Glenwood Ave. Open Monday through Thursday 4-11pm, Friday, 3pm-2am and Saturday, noon-2am and Sunday, noon-11pm.

12/11/2025

🍸 OPENING SOON: Italian inspired cocktail bar will open in Raleigh Dec. 16.

🍾 WHAT TO EXPECT: The new bar, from the owners behind and at .exchange.raleigh, will serve European spirit–driven cocktails — martinis, spritzes and non-alcoholic options — ranging from $12–$16.

✨ THE VIBE: The 2,700-square-foot space near North Hills seats 75 indoors with curtain-drawn booths and lounge seating. Named after Shakespeare’s Juliet of the House of Capulet, it’s designed with the feel of an Italian fashion house.

📍 WHAT’S NEXT: Capulet, located at 1000 Social St., Suite 110, will open its outdoor garden bar with extensive covered seating next summer.

Axios Raleigh

01/16/2026

01/07/2026

01/05/2026

01/01/2026

12/30/2025

12/29/2025

12/18/2025

12/18/2025

12/18/2025

12/12/2025

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12/11/2025

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