Angus Barn
Hi {{ first name | Raleigh Lover}}!
We’re rolling right out of that cozy, quiet Thanksgiving cocoon and straight into another very merry weekend in Raleigh! The holiday season has officially hit its stride, and there is SO much joy waiting around every corner.
We’ll be out checking off a few festive bucket-list favorites with Craig’s parents, who just arrived from Australia. On the agenda: A Christmas Carol, the Downtown Cary Tree Lighting, one of my absolute favorites—the Boylan Heights ArtWalk—and a charming holiday afternoon tea at The Carolina Inn.
Maybe it’s our British colony roots, but Australians love a good afternoon tea. I’m crossing my fingers for authentic scones with clotted cream—don’t tease me with whipped cream, Carolina. IYKYK.
I hope the chilly snap doesn’t convince you to hibernate. Raleigh shines brightest this time of year, and there’s far too much magic outside your front door to miss.
And before we bundle up and head out to all of this weekend’s fun… today is a big day for me personally: my U.S. Citizenship interview.
After holding our green cards for five years, we’re finally eligible to become citizens. I’ve been studying (flashcards and all!) and feeling as ready as I can be. Thankfully, I already knew a lot about U.S. history and government from my former life as a teacher—and from our years of travels across this beautiful country—but let’s be honest, it’s still a little nerve-wracking when you know what’s at stake.
Wish me luck! And yes—we’re still able to keep our Australian citizenship, which feels like the greatest privilege: belonging to two countries we deeply love… that is, if I pass the test!
Wherever this weekend finds you, I hope it’s filled with sparkle, warmth, and a whole lot of Raleigh joy.
Caroline
P.S. If you missed our interview on WARL, you can see it here.
💖 FAVORITE FINDS
Angus Barn dinner: Finally, we ate at Angus Barn! We took Craig’s parents there for his mum’s birthday. It was a delightful experience made even better by the incredible decorations.
Duke Chorale Holiday Concert with Durham School of the Arts at Duke Chapel. What a special event this was. Put it on your list for next year!
Illuminate Art Walk We had a preview last night of this annual event in Raleigh. The main feature this year - Trumpet Gardens is a whimsical and interactive music and light show. We will update our post with photos later today.
Williams House Coffee & Taproom: This cozy cafe / taproom is new to Downtown Cary. Perfect for gathering with friends or working remotely. The coffee wasn’t too bad either!
Butter chicken curry from Curry in a Hurry in Morgan St Food Hall - wow so spicy and tasty
Apex Lake: A lovely walk around Apex Lake with Craig’s parents
Willow House
Duke Chapel
Trumpet Flowers
Apex Lake
⭐DID YOU HEAR?
Seems like NC State were the better team this year on the football field and the Pantry Bowl! Congratulations to Feed the Pack Food Pantry which received the most gifts at the Pantry Bowl. 3,575 gifts were received for a total of $358,271.30 for both school's pantries. What a way to support our local community! Please continue to support the pack with their Food Pantry throughout the year! Learn more here.
Our partner, Woodhouse Spa has a special free gift with a purchase of a holiday gift card. Free gift includes scented candles and luxurious robe.
Coastal Credit Union Music Park have announced they’ll now start charging for parking. Cost of living keeps on rising! You can contribute your thoughts by clicking the Facebook image below!
Unlikely Professionals will be closing their N Person St district store at the end of the year. We're sad to hear this as it's so cool. They will still have their Makers Alley space though so support them!
The Raleigh Convention Center caught on fire this week - thankfully with minimal damage compared to what it could have been. But it's enough to have caused a few cancellations while they make the repairs.
Urban Olive has opened in Transfer Co Food Hall. Enjoy their tasty Mediterranean flavors!
🖋 ON THE BLOG
📆THIS WEEKEND
You may like…
FRI - SUN The iconic Theatre In The Park Presents A Christmas Carol at the Martin Marietta Center. We love this annual holiday tradition and find it quite funny with a few Raleigh jokes thrown in.
FRI: First Friday is on Downtown Raleigh with a holiday theme. Pair it with the Illuminate Art Walk which starts tonight! Here is our guide with the evening’s events.
SAT: One of our favorite tree lighting experiences is happening at Downtown Cary Park with fun activities all day – including a snowball fight – with a holiday market, food trucks, and community performances. I love the illuminated art installations throughout the park and lining the downtown Cary streets as well as the miniature Christmas trees.
SUN: The Boylan Heights Art Walk is one of our favorite annual events for its neighborly vibe. Walk the streets to see local artisans work on the porches of historic homes! Great for shopping and community connection.
SAT: Jolly Raleigh Holiday Market is on at Raleigh Iron Works - another great opportunity to shop for Christmas and support local artisans and businesses. There’ll also be food trucks, kids crafting stations, face painting, and pictures with Santa.
More ideas 👇
🗣JOIN THE CONVERSATION
The social posts that have everyone talking (click image to join)
Need a Raleigh Realtor?
No need to spend all your resources trying to find a knowledgeable and trustworthy realtor who puts customer care first! We have partnerships with savvy and experienced, local realtors who can help you find your perfect property (or sell the one you have!) allowing you to focus on the more important aspects of your move. You'll also get personal access to us to help you with questions on life in Raleigh! Reply to this email or click the button 👇
If you find our newsletter helpful, please share it with people you know. We’ve created a referral program with a few rewards to say thank you! 👇