Warrenton, NC Lifestyle and More

You’ll Never Want To Leave This North Carolina Museum That Has A Restaurant For The Whole Family

Raleigh has been keeping a very good secret in plain sight, and that secret involves dinosaurs, butterflies, rooftop views, and a restaurant that makes leaving feel genuinely difficult. The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is the kind of place that earns a permanent spot on your list of favorite...

Raleigh, NC · 1d

Raleigh News & Observer

publisher · 100.7K followers

Durham animal shelter says alleged poor conditions don't reflect the shelter today

A former Durham County animal shelter employee posted graphic photos he said showed the shelter’s poor conditions to Facebook on Wednesday. The employee alleged that dogs were fed moldy food, animals were covered in feces, roaches were falling from the ceiling and dead animals were piled up or laid across the ground waiting to be cremated. The Animal Protection Society of Durham, the nonprofit that runs the shelter under a county contract of over $1 million, confirmed it was aware of posts from “a former employee who has expressed dissatisfaction with the organization” in a Thursday statement . But the APS wrote that the former employee’s photos did not reflect the conditions of the shelter now. The former employee has not worked at the shelter for over four months, and the “historical” photos were not from the final months of his employment, APS wrote. “That does not mean we are dismissing what these images show,” the APS wrote. “APS has faced significant challenges, and we have been open about the changes needed to address them.” Design work starting on new animal shelter The News & Observer has previously reported on the animal shelter’s challenges. In July 2025, The N&O tour

Durham County, NC · 2d

WRAL News

Durham County Animal Shelter responds to photos showing deplorable conditions

The Animal Protection Society of Durham has responded to pictures posted on social media showing the shelter in deplorable condition and alleging poor care. The shelter confirmed with WRAL News that the pictures do not reflect what it looks like now following months of changes. WRAL News is not sharing those photos due to their graphic nature.

Durham County, NC · 3d

Lovely Garden Roots

partner publisher · 15.4K followers

‘Leaf Removal Is Job #1' in November, a Durham County Master Gardener Says, While Dead Perennial Stems Should Stay Standing for Native Bees

Durham County Master Gardener Gary Crispell says leaf removal is job number one in November, while dead perennial stems should stay up for native bees.

Durham County, NC · 17h

caryspotlight.com

Cary Spotlight | New York Butcher Shoppe & Wine Bar

Host: Dr. Chris Coetzer, Founder of Cary Spotlight. Guest: Ralph Ruocco, Owner of New York Butcher Shoppe & Wine Bar. What if your neighborhood butcher shop was also a restaurant, specialty market, and wine bar? In this episode of Cary Spotlight Connect, Dr. Chris Coetzer welcomes Ralph Ruocco, owner and partner of the New York Butcher Shoppe & Wine Bar in Cary, North Carolina.

Cary, NC · 1d

Raleigh News & Observer

One of Raleigh's most influential restaurants will close after 13 years

One of Raleigh’s most distinct and influential restaurants will close this month after more than a decade of championing and celebrating vegetarian cuisine. Fiction Kitchen plans to close its doors for good on Saturday, Nov. 14, and will serve its final Sunday brunch on Nov. 8. “This was a very difficult decision and one full of tears, but we feel the time has come for us to sunset Fiction Kitchen,” owners Caroline Morrison and Siobhan Southern said in an Instagram post. Fiction Kitchen opened in 2013 on Davie Street in Downtown Raleigh. Serving an entirely vegan menu of comforting and seasonal favorites, Fiction Kitchen became a destination for vegetarians and omnivores alike, solidifying its spot as one of the city’s signature restaurants for a time. Its vegan pulled “pork” has been a sensation for years, collecting national write-ups from outlets like The Washington Post . View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Fiction Kitchen (@thefictionkitchen) In 2024, Fiction Kitchen closed its original location in Downtown Raleigh and relocated to the redeveloping Gateway Plaza shopping center, first as a pop-up and then in a new permanent space in 2025. The owners hoped the move would offer a fresh

Raleigh, NC · 4d

Raleigh News & Observer

Multiple coffee shops across Triangle will close or change in the coming months

On Monday, Nov. 2, a fire was reported at Village Coffeehouse in North Raleigh, prompting the business’ closure for until further notice, according to a post on the business’ social media . It’s the latest in a number of setbacks for coffee shops across the Triangle, which are experiencing struggles for a variety of reasons. In addition to the Village Coffeehouse fire, The Optimist Raleigh announced chapter 11 bankruptcy, Bad Brain Coffee Co. faces relocation and Parallax Coffee will close its Wendell location at the end of the year. On Monday, Oct. 26, Andrew Ward, owner of Optimist Raleigh, took to social media to share the news of the bankruptcy filing. “We will continue to operate normally going forward,” The Optimist said in a social media post. “Staff will be paid. Coffee and food will be served and nothing will change, especially in the interim. This process is just beginning, but the idea will always be to be here and protect this place and our staff.” In January 2025, The Optimist opened WRK by The Optimist on the first floor of North Hills’ The Exchange Raleigh before closing. Then Café Royale , a Parisian-inspired café and bar took over the

Raleigh, NC · 4d

takemetotn.com

12 North Carolina Animal Shelters And Sanctuaries Where Your Volunteer Hours Actually Matter

A free Saturday can turn into a tiger tour, a goat cuddle, or a dog walk that helps a shelter pup get noticed. North Carolina is full of rescues and sanctuaries that run on everyday people who show up and pitch in. From the Piedmont to the mountains to the...

North Carolina · 4d

raleighweekend.com

Enjoy Sunday’s Rooftop Drag Brunch with a Canned Food Drive and Legendary Queens

Nothing beats starting the day with dazzling costumes, powerhouse lip-syncs, and a side of bacon overlooking North Hills. On Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, Raleigh’s original drag brunch returns to the Level 7 rooftop for an afternoon of unmatched entertainment and community impact. The Crape Myrtle Festival team is bringing out a stellar lineup featuring Chloe Cassidy, Kayla LaShay, Alexandra Vittz, Portia Foxx, and Portia Dupree XL.

raleighweekend.com

Smoke and Shuck NC Oysters with Star Pitmasters at Raleigh Iron Works on Saturday

Few pairings capture North Carolina fall quite like briny half shells and rich, wood-fired barbecue. On Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, the Rawleigh Oyster Fest takes over Raleigh Iron Works from 1–5 p.m. for its annual Smoke & Shuck showdown. The lineup brings together six chef-and-grower duos—pairing Triangle favorites like Figulina, Seraphine, and Cucciolo Terrazza with coastal N.C. farms like Kinnakeet and Hold Fast—alongside four heavy-hitting pitmasters, including Nick Dampf and Katsuji Tanabe, plus plant-based dishes from Cuya Cocina’s Kevin Ruiz.

pbsnc.org

North Carolina Weekend

Celebrate the flavors of fall across North Carolina. Enjoy modern Chinese cuisine at The Majestic in Asheville, Thai favorites at Nai Thai 2 in Goldsboro and seasonal Italian cooking at Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro.

North Carolina · 4d

lifeonpawsandwheels.com

📻🐾 WPTF AM Radio Building in Cary, NC – Historic Art Deco Landmark That Inspired Stranger Things!

Simba and I visited the historic WPTF AM Radio Building in Cary, North Carolina, an incredible Art Deco-style radio transmitter station that helped inspire the fictional WSQK radio station in Netflix's Stranger Things! With its rounded corners, streamlined windows, vintage lettering, and towering broadcast antennas, this unusual building looks like something straight out of another era.

Cary, NC · 2d

raleighweekend.com

That Friday Glow: Stargazing, Hot Cider, and Illuminated Canopies at JC Raulston Arboretum

Few Raleigh traditions feel quite as perfect for trading the couch for a crisp evening stroll as one under an artfully lit garden canopy. Opening on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, the annual Moonlight in the Garden returns to JC Raulston Arboretum, transforming the nationally recognized plant collections into an evening wonderland. Stroll through winding pathways washed in colorful lighting, catch live music echoing through the gardens, and grab dinner from on-site food trucks before claiming a spot around the fire pits with hot apple cider.

Raleigh News & Observer

A new artisan ice cream shop has opened in Raleigh. Here's where to try it

The small-batch artisan ice cream shop Ladybug Creamery has officially opened at North Raleigh’s Glenwood Place. The creamery emphasizes quality ingredients without artificial flavors or colors. Their dairy, fruit and honey are sourced from North Carolina farms, as well as toppings that are “baked, boiled or roasted” in their own kitchen, according to their website . “First taste, first impression is everything,” the business said in a social media post. “We have been perfecting our recipes and tracking down the perfect local produce to bring a real farm-to-cone experience to the neighborhood.” Ladybug Creamery maintains a rotation of 12 flavors made daily in their location, each categorized under signatures, classics, international or seasonal. These tastes are subject to change, but their signatures — milk & honey, Turkish coffee, and pistachio — are always available, per the website . “Ladybug means: luck, hope, and new beginnings — the courage to move forward and make something meaningful in a new place,” the business said on its website . “That is the whole idea behind our Ladybug Creamery.” It’s led by Onur Yilmaz, a student of gastronomy and culinary arts. Yilmaz had years of experience in professional kitchens before “ice cream became the

Raleigh, NC · 2d

familydestinationsguide.com

People Wait Outside For Hours At This 10-Table North Carolina Steakhouse That Serves Only Ribeye

There are restaurants that give you options, and then there’s the Beefmastor Inn in Wilson, North Carolina, which looked at the whole idea of options and politely showed them the door. One cut of beef, one dining room, and a line out front that tells you everything you need...

Wilson, NC · 8d

jocoreport.com

Raleigh Market At State Fairgrounds Reopens Saturday

RALEIGH — After a monthlong break for the N.C. State Fair, the Raleigh Market will reopen Saturday, Nov. 7. The market is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays except during October, when the annual State Fair is held. The Raleigh Market is one of...

partner publisher · 2.4K followers

Axios Raleigh

From oysters to smashing pumpkins, what's happening this weekend

It's peak fall foliage this weekend in the Triangle, so there's no better time to get out and about. Here are the top things happening this weekend: 🦪 Celebrate the North Carolina coast with Rawleigh Oyster Fest at Raleigh Iron Works on Saturday. 🖼️ Check out the Durham Fringe Festival all weekend, a celebration of experimental art throughout downtown Durham. 🎸 Listen to music and eat well at BBQ Blues & Brews in Fuquay-Varina on Saturday. 🎭 Watch Tom Stoppard's famous play " Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead " at Raleigh Little Theatre. 🍜 Explore Chinese cuisines at Downtown Cary's Taste of China Festival on Saturday. 🕯️ Attend the 11th annual Death Faire at The Plant in Pittsboro on Saturday. 🎃 Make a mess on Saturday and Sunday at Steel String's Pumpkin Smash Party . 🎨 Support artists at the Fall Arts Fair at Fred Fletcher Park in Raleigh on Saturday. 🥕 Honor the humble root vegetable at the Carrboro Farmers' Market's Root Fest on Saturday.

travelmag.com