While grabbing bagels with my daughter at Big Dom’s a small white teapot caught my eye on the shelves of chance entertaining ware. It was a $10 “fancy” pitcher perfect for 3-year-old hands to pour pink lemonade. She loves it.
I’m dreaming of a holiday season with little moments like this.
You’re probably getting a lot of emails with stuff to buy or dozens of holiday events to attend.
This isn’t that! But it is a few ways to find or give joy with an intentional and obsessively local perspective.
(PS: I’m not paid for any of these features — consider this the non-Amazon affiliate disclaimer)
And after you read the list, reply with your own! I’d love to hear your local faves. —Sarah Day
NOT A GIFT GUIDE GUIDE
12 ways of Christmas-ing locally
Unplug from the holiday overload, embrace intentional gifting and joy-filled local experiences and festive strolls.
1: Boylan Heights Artwalk. I love an excuse to ramble through this early 1900s-1920s neighborhood near Downtown Raleigh’s core. The Artwalk is 12-5 p.m. this Sunday. Some recommended stops: Funky programming and art at neighborhood market Rebus Works, live music, coffee and Berto’s Chimis at nearby Hartwell.
2: Yellow Dog Christmas goodies. The friendly bustle of Christmas order pickup at this little bakery is a sweet tradition within itself for me. This year pre-orders are through Dec. 20, and I’m leaning eggnog cheesecake or cinnamon crumb cake.
3: Illuminate Art Walk. A free self-guided tour of glowing art displays in Downtown Raleigh. Grab a drink of some sort (it’s social district friendly) and go Friday-Jan. 6.
4: Local hot chocolate from Jolie’s Champagne window. Scott Crawford’s French restaurant will offer local chocolatier Videri Hot Chocolate with a Peppermint Marshmallow from its window, 5-10 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays. Maybe for a stroll around another festive and historic neighborhood, Oakwood?
5: Shop in Christmas-y Downtown Cary. Gather Goods Co. has quality home, garden and self-care goods for gifting your crunchy cousin, a perennial hostess, avid birder, etc. Get your Cary enthusiast friend some Cary-branded gear, NC Scout bags or candles at Good Day Cary. Local stickers and other gifts made by creatives with different abilities are for sale at Esteamed Coffee. Gift vinyl from Hunky Dory Cary’s selection and grab a beer while you’re at it.
6: Go ice skating. Pick an outdoor rink: The Rink at Red Hat Amphitheater ($15) if you’re looking for a fuller experience in Downtown Raleigh, Fenton Skate the Square in Cary ($18), or a smaller free rink at Downtown Cary Park. DTCP also has Toddler Time on the rink some Tuesday mornings for kids under 6.
7: The best local peppermint bark. Ben Smith of The Apothecary’s Kitchen in Cary makes these festively-packaged treats of dark and white chocolate infused with peppermint and sprinkled with organic candy cane bits. It’s stocked a few places around town.
8: Miracle at The Haymaker. Of all the pop-up Christmas bars, this is the OG and a solid bet. But secret’s out, so plan your friends’ holiday meetup for a weeknight if you can. I’d recommend the Stocking Stuffer or Snowball Old Fashioned.
9: Shop local first in Raleigh, too. For everyone on your list. All kinds of gifts, including for kids at Edge of Urge (Person Street, DTR). For the street/surf/skate/sneaker person, Beatniks (Raleigh Iron Works). For the plant parent, Urban Pothos (Raleigh Iron Works). Gifts that also benefit the people who made them, The Flourish Market (Raleigh Iron Works).
10: And don’t give Amazon more of your money. Shop at So & So Books on Person Street in Downtown Raleigh or Quail Ridge Books in North Hills. Get recommendations from the humans who work there!
11: Unplug. The advice from local parents shared in last week’s families newsletter holds true for us all. It helps to get off the grid literally in nature or figuratively from expectations.
12: Be a kid. This can mean joining in on the “snowball” fight at the top of the hour if you’re at Holiday Express with your kids, seeing a holiday classic at Cary Theater, attending a candlelight Christmas Eve service or the NCMA’s Winter Lantern Walk. There are dozens more ways to find wonder in this place we call home.
COMMUNITY + NEWS
Free tacos and other headlines
🌮 Little Rey’s newest outpost at Raleigh Iron Works from celebrity chef Ford Fry is opening Monday but they’re having an opening party Saturday starting at 5 p.m. with street-style tacos, smoked chicken wings and soft serve on the house and drinks for purchase. [details]
🥤 The Bomb Bar, with superfood smoothies that aim to be a whole meal versus a snack is open at Gateway Plaza in Raleigh.
🚓 Public safety: Raleigh’s police chief Estella Patterson will retire in March. [Axios]
🌇 City Club Raleigh will close after New Year’s Eve, a law office will expand into the space. [N&O]
🍺 Beach House by Tiki Brewing is now open in Downtown Cary at E. Chatham and Hunter streets. In other tiki news, Ark Royal on Glenwood South has closed. [TBJ]
⛳ Indoor golf season: Golf Golf Golf in Downtown Raleigh is the latest indoor golfing facility to open around town. It’s leaning into memberships with a golf club and lounge ethos.
A PLANNER’S PLANNER
To do list for December + January
How to make the most of your time in Raleigh + Cary in a curated list from hot reservations to hot tickets.
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