Mount Olive, NC Lifestyle and More

This North Carolina Restaurant Transforms Into A Christmas Wonderland So Spectacular, Reservations Sell Out Months Ahead

Holiday reservations here can vanish in about 15 seconds. That is barely enough time for me to find my glasses, let alone remember a password and choose a dinner time. Some guests plan months ahead, waiting for the exact moment reservations open like Christmas dinner just became an Olympic event.

Raleigh News & Observer

3 Triangle restaurants earn big Michelin honors. Here's who is now in the guide

A sandwich shop, an intimate pasta bar and one of Raleigh’s buzziest restaurants. Three Triangle restaurants earned their way into the Michelin Guide Wednesday night, joining the ranks of the world’s most distinctive places to eat. They each earned “Bib Gourmand” honors: Ajja from Cheetie Kumar and Paul Siler; Ideal’s Sandwich & Grocery from Ian Bracken and Paul Chirico; and the Carrboro pasta spot Tesoro . The award is for high quality restaurants that inspectors believe represent exceptional value. But the Triangle missed out on a Star for the second year in a row. Counter- in Charlotte remains the state’s only one-star honoree. Michelin unveiled its updated guide for The American South during a ceremony in Nashville Wednesday night, honoring restaurants in seven Southern states, including North Carolina. With the Triangle's three new restaurants, there are now 22 local spots in the Guide. All 19 Triangle restaurants honored in 2025 retained their spots and distinctions. Michelin debuted the American South guide in 2025, its first regional guide, bringing the world’s most sought-after culinary honor to celebrated food cities like New Orleans and Charleston for the first time. The Michelin Guide has been around for a century, highlighting distinctive and exemplary

fastfoodclub.com

Step Inside This Old-School North Carolina Diner That’s Served Southern Comfort Food Since The 1930s

Downtown Raleigh keeps changing, with new towers, new coffee bars, and new menus popping up every year. One little dining room has stayed put through almost all of it, opening its doors back in the 1930s and never really looking back. It still serves the kind of Southern comfort food...

WRAL

19 Chihuahuas rescued from Willow Spring home; owner charged

Nearly 20 dogs were rescued from a Wake County home. Now the community is coming together to take care of the furry friends.

Wake County, NC · 17d

trianglegardener.com

Refreshing Your Triangle Yard: Mulch, Stone and Equipment

A new patio, a gravel path, a row of shrubs along the fence. Many Triangle homeowners can handle these projects themselves, and the deciding factor is often not skill but equipment. The right machine can turn several days of demanding work into a manageable weekend project. The wrong one, or none at all, can leave you with a sinking walkway and sore shoulders.

Wake Forest, NC · 17d

allamericanatlas.com

5 Best Restaurants in Raleigh, North Carolina You Need to Try Before Everyone Else Finds Them

Raleigh, North Carolina — a city where the pines lean into the sky, where red-brick warehouses and glass towers shimmer in the Carolina sun, where the laughter of students mingles with the wisdom of old-timers and the dreams of newcomers. Here, neighborhoods are stitched together by murals and memory, by the scent of barbecue and the hush of magnolias, by the pulse of bluegrass and the hum of innovation. Raleigh is a crossroads — of Southern tradition and global curiosity, of families who’ve called these streets home for generations and those drawn by the promise of something new.

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WRAL News

Triangle animal shelters celebrate "Dogtober" with reduced, free adoptions

October is National Adopt a Dog Month, an initiative that the American Humane society created back in 1981. The objective is to "inspire families to adopt a dog from a local shelter or rescue group." Many local shelters have nicknamed this month "Dogtober," in hopes to highlight the importance of...

Johnston County, NC · 19d

Raleigh News & Observer

National health franchise opens 2nd NC spot in Apex shopping center

A new superfood smoothie store has opened up in northwestern Apex’s Beaver Creek Crossings on Saturday, Oct. 10, adding to retail selections like Ulta Beauty and Five Below. Founded in 2017, national chain Grain & Berry has opened their second North Carolina location at 2017 Creekside Landing Drive, following an October 2025 opening at their first local site in Holly Springs. “We’re excited to bring Grain & Berry to Apex and offer our community healthy food options that don’t compromise on taste,” local franchisee Sudarshan Krish said in a press release. “Having been part of this community for more than 10 years, I’m especially excited to serve my neighbors and friends and introduce them to a brand I believe is a great fit for the area.” Grain & Berry menu Grain & Berry sells açaí bowls with assorted toppings, smoothies, juices, flatbreads, quesadillas, toasts, chopped salads, wraps, immunity shots and parfaits with a promise to be vegan and gluten-free. The franchise operates more than 35 locations in nine states with plans to open at least 60 new locations over the next few years, according to the press release. The made-to-order kitchen was founded with the idea to offer a health

Apex, NC · 17d

familydestinationsguide.com

This 10-Table North Carolina Steakhouse Serves Only Ribeye, And People Wait Hours To Get In

Somewhere in Wilson, North Carolina, there’s a steakhouse that looked at the entire concept of a menu and said, “Nah, we’re good.”. The Beefmastor Inn has exactly one thing to sell you, and somehow, that’s all it takes to fill every seat in the place and send people home talking about it for years.

Wilson, NC · 21d

Raleigh News & Observer

This concert was going to be the last at Red Hat as we know it. Now it's canceled

A concert was supposed to be the last one at a North Carolina entertainment venue — then came a big shakeup. Singer Victoria Monét announced she is canceling her upcoming show at Red Hat Amphitheater in downtown Raleigh. That means the venue, which is moving to make room for the nearby convention center, will have its final concert earlier than expected. Now, fellow R&B artist Steve Lacy will end an era at Red Hat when he hits the stage Friday, Oct. 23. Here’s what we know about changes for Red Hat and Monét’s canceled concert , including her offer to help Raleigh fans transfer their tickets to the Charlotte show. What’s happening to Red Hat? As of Wednesday, Oct. 21, Red Hat Amphitheater is located at 500 S. McDowell St. in Raleigh. This year, the outdoor venue’s lineup included artists from several genres, including Chance the Rapper and folk icon Bob Dylan. Now, Red Hat Amphitheater is preparing to wrap up the final season at its current spot. It will be moving one block across Lenoir Street to allow for the $387.5 million expansion of the Raleigh Convention Center, The News & Observer previously reported. The new concert venue is

Raleigh, NC · 18d

familyvacationsus.com

You Can Ride Giant Draft Horses Through The Hills At This One Of A Kind North Carolina Farm

Ever dreamed of riding a horse so enormous that climbing into the saddle feels like scaling a mountain?. At Dead Broke Farm in Raleigh, North Carolina, that dream becomes a wild countryside adventure!. These gentle giants take riders along wooded trails, across creeks, and over rolling hills, offering a horseback...

Raleigh, NC · 21d

Raleigh News & Observer

Early morning at the NC State Fair: The News & Observer's top photos this week

News & Observer photojournalist Robert Willett ventured out to the N.C. State Fair early one morning in search of the moments, color and patterns that he finds so well. Here’s a curated selection of images as seen through his amazing eye. The North Carolina State Fair ends Sunday, Oct. 25. This feature can be seen in Sunday’s newspaper, as well as in our online Edition. See it at eedition.newsobserver.com.

North Carolina · 16d

nctriangledining.com

Flowers Cottage Coffee and Park Bar: A Haven for Caffeine, Beer, and Ice Cream at Dix Park

As a long-time Raleigh resident, it’s been fun watching Dix Park slowly come to life. First came the wonderful Gipson Play area. Then came the Dambo trolls, and now finally, Flowers Cottage Coffee and Park Bar! While Dix Park already had the House of Many Porches for beverages, Flowers Cottage is a great resting spot and offers a city view on the west side of the park. Here’s why you should visit and what to expect!

Raleigh, NC · 16d

Raleigh News & Observer

Soiled containers, undated food: Durham restaurant gets ‘B' grade

The News & Observer publishes a weekly roundup of restaurant sanitation scores to keep you up-to-date on the health grades at Triangle dining spots. Sanitation scores and their corresponding letter grades are used in North Carolina to assess restaurants’ adherence to rules and standards intended to mitigate and prevent the spread of food-borne illnesses. You’ve likely seen sanitation grade cards at restaurants you’ve visited, and The N&O previously explained what those scores mean and how they’re calculated . Here are sanitation scores in Triangle counties from Oct. 13-19. Wake County sanitation scores The Wake County inspection management system shows 68 restaurant inspections were completed Oct. 13-19. All received an A grade. Durham County sanitation scores The Durham County inspection management system shows 36 restaurant inspections were completed Oct. 13-19. One restaurant received a B grade (a score of at least 80 but lower than 90): Thai 55 (2223 NC 54, Suite Q, Durham) received a score of 84 on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The restaurant was in violation of 19 standards. Violations include several cooked and opened foods did not have dates, several containers that labeled as clean were visibility soiled and dishes dried with cloth, among other violations. The restaurant

Durham County, NC · 19d

Raleigh News & Observer

No soap, roaches & food at wrong temps: 8 Triangle restaurants reinspected

Eight Triangle restaurants were inspected last month, all improving their scores after receiving B and C grades. State law requires health departments to inspect restaurants up to four times a year to assess their overall risk factors that contribute to foodborne illnesses. You’ve likely seen sanitation grade cards at restaurants you’ve visited, and The News & Observer previously explained what those scores mean and how they’re calculated. The N&O reviewed restaurants with less than an A grade in September and that were reinspected. All Johnston County restaurants received an A score in September. Wake County The following Wake County restaurants were reinspected: Jumbo China (101 Ronald Drive, Suite 1625, Raleigh) received a score of 95.5 on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Earlier in the month the restaurant received a score of 88.5 after inspectors found food held at improper temperatures in the walk-in cooler and handwashing sinks with no soap, among other violations. Shaw University Cafeteria (118 E. South St., Raleigh) received a score of 96.5 on Monday, Sept. 21. Earlier in the month the school received a score of 88 after inspectors found food not held at proper temperatures and kitchen walls with holes, peeling paint and missing tiles, among other

Durham County, NC · 20d

waltermagazine.com

Thanksgiving 2026 in Raleigh: 15+ Spots for Pre-Order Feasts, Sides and Pies

From fully catered turkey dinners and classic sides to show-stopping pies, these Raleigh restaurants, bakeries and bottle shops are taking Thanksgiving 2026 pre-orders. Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, which means it’s time to start thinking about the menu. Instead of spending your entire holiday trapped in the kitchen, you can lean on Raleigh’s vibrant culinary scene to do the heavy lifting. We’ve rounded up some of the area’s best restaurants, bakeries and bottle shops offering Thanksgiving pre-orders this year. Whether you want to skip cooking entirely with a fully catered turkey dinner or simply elevate your table with artisan sides, custom appetizers and bakery-made pies and desserts, these local spots have you covered. It’s the perfect way to support your favorite neighborhood chefs while guaranteeing a stress-free, delicious feast.

Raleigh, NC · 18d

hoodline.com

FoodeesFest Brings 40+ Food Trucks to North Raleigh

More than 40 gourmet food trucks, along with craft and artisan vendors, are set to roll into the parking lot near Macy's and the Commons at Triangle Town Center for a three-day run starting Friday, October 30. FoodeesFest, the touring food truck and craft festival, is bringing its food and craft vendors to North Raleigh, and admission is free for the entire weekend.

Raleigh, NC · 18d

Raleigh News & Observer