Raleigh Wide Open
Hi {{ first name }}
As the year winds down, we’ve been sitting with everything 2025 brought us here in Raleigh—and honestly, it feels impossible (and unnecessary) to try and list it all.
Because this year wasn’t just about where we went or what opened.
It was about how it all felt.
We experienced Raleigh through outstanding restaurants and coffee shops, exciting new openings, community events that filled our calendar (and our hearts), and easy getaways that reminded us just how lucky we are to live where others vacation.
But the real highlight?
You.
The conversations on sidewalks.
The messages in our inbox.
The moments when someone stops us in the street to say, “Your guide helped us so much,” or “We finally tried that place you shared,” or “We decided to move here because of your content.”
Those words—those connections—are the golden thread that runs through everything we do.
They’re what carry us through the hard days.
They’re what remind us why we don’t quit.
They’re what keep us sharing, exploring, and loving this city out loud.
This year, we had the joy of showing Raleigh to visiting friends—watching them fall for the same lifestyle we did years ago. We helped newcomers imagine life here… and then walked alongside them as they settled in, found their neighborhoods, their coffee spots, their rhythm.
And while there are far too many moments to name, they all point to the same truth:
Raleigh isn’t just growing. It’s thriving because of the people who call it home.
Thank you for being part of this community.
Thank you for trusting us as your local guides.
Thank you for meeting us in curiosity, kindness, and joy.
We’re also so thankful for our partners, the local businesses we collaborate. We always choose those that we trust can elevate your life somehow and they enable us to continue to do what we do! It’s an ecosystem we are so grateful for.
We’re heading into the new year rested, reflective, and so excited to keep discovering Raleigh with you—one meal, one moment, one meaningful connection at a time.
We hope this inspires you to reflect on the year that was for you - the good that is there amongst those challenging times. May you bring more of that into your 2026! We’ll see you there!
Happy New Year {{first_name}} !
With so much gratitude,
Caroline & Craig
P.S. That golden thread you feel—the one that connects great food, beautiful places, meaningful conversations, and a sense of belonging? That’s Raleigh. And we’re just getting started.
Our Best of 2025: Raleigh (& Beyond)
There’s no way to capture everything we experienced this year—but these moments, meals, and places truly shaped our 2025.
Best Meals We’ll Still Be Thinking About
Some meals aren’t just good—they linger.
Figulina – A standout year for Italian lovers and one of the most exciting additions to Raleigh’s dining scene
Madre – Flavor, warmth, and a place that instantly felt like part of the neighborhood. Cross the street to the Moon Room jazz bar after and you have quite the date night!
Herons – A reminder of why this remains one of the Triangle’s most special dining experiences
Boatman’s Spirit Co - a unique trip to the Underworld with delicious Mediterranean food and craft cocktails
Food Trucks: Not Just a Fry Guy and the Drunken Noodles (best Thai we’ve had in Raleigh so far)
Coffee Shops That Became Part of Our Rhythm
Raleigh’s coffee scene kept us caffeinated and inspired all year.
Little Native Coffee Co.
Fount Coffee & Kitchen - just been nominated for 100 best cafes in the world!!
Willow House
Heirloom Brewshop
Iris Coffee Lab - just been nominated for 100 best cafes in the world!!!
Events & Moments That Made Raleigh Feel Alive
Packapalooza
These were the days we felt the pulse of the city most:
Packapalooza on Hillsborough Street - welcome back the Pack
Holiday celebrations across downtown Raleigh and North Hills
The new Raleigh Wide Open - a decent World of Bluegrass replacement
Hopscotch Music Festival - our first time and it won’t be our last
Kirby Derby - it doesn’t get more Raleigh unique
These are the moments that remind us: Raleigh shines when people gather.
Local Stores we can’t get enough of
Rose & Lee
Rose & Lee - helping me to look professional and stylish. LOVE this store!
Flourish Market - fantastic range of clothes and gifts and purpose
Unlikely Professionals - Keeping the male hipster of Raleigh looking good
Designed for Joy - my favorite non-profit with stylish handbags. So sad they will be closing this year.
New Openings We Loved Watching Come to Life
House of Capulet
Few things are more exciting than watching a city evolve in real time.
Sixty Vines – One of the most buzzed-about openings of the year
House of Capulet Cocktail Club – A date-night gem with serious personality
Good Graces - stylish, yet casual place to gather in North Hills Innovation District
Foxcroft Food & Wine Co - brunch, lunch and wine dinners. Done and loved them all.
Trophy Brewing at Five Points - another great neighborhood beer and pizza gathering spot
Gipson Play Plaza at Dix Park - I’m so jealous this was not around when my girls were playground age!
Experiences & Memories that linger
Biking the American Tobacco Trail from Durham to Cary with a winery stop in between!
Candle Making Class at Ky’s Candles with my sister and daughters
Smashing out our rage at iSmash, Wake Forest
Murder Mystery tea at the Littlest Tea Room
Hunting the Trolls in Dix Park
Couples Massage at Woodhouse Spa
Favorite Local Escapes
Sometimes the best reset is close to home.
The Umstead Hotel and Spa – Our go-to for rest, celebration, and perspective
Easy weekend getaways that reminded us why North Carolina is such a gift
Pinehurst - a treasured escape to a bubble
Halifax County - friendly surprises all round
Chapel Hill - 36 hours in one of our favorite towns
Selma - an easy train trip to delicious Boston style food and sophisticated cocktails.
Favorite Home Improvements
Orca Blue Clean Water System - improving the quality of the water in our home.
Automated Lutron Blinds from Budget Blinds. This is also our cat’s favorite. She waits every morning and evening to watch them go up and down. Watching her awe at it is my daily dose of awe and joy!
Travel Highlights (Because That’s Still Part of Us)
Hidden Valley Belize
Travel continues to shape how we see home.
Belize with our family – culture, adventure, and another country checked off the list
A week-long road trip through Nova Scotia – slow travel, coastal beauty, and deep connection
Achievements to celebrate
Interviewing former Australian Prime Minister and Australian Ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd. Never saw that one coming!
Becoming a finalist in the TBEX Content Creator Awards for Best Local Lens - an international recognition for This is Raleigh and how we elevate local community (Elevate was also my chosen word for the year!!!) WRAL Fox 50 interviewed us about it.
Learning how to play mahjong and actually winning a couple of rounds!!
Our weekly Whaddup Raleigh segment on G105 every Friday afternoon
Getting my US Citizenship - not official yet until the ceremony, but I am approved!
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