Plus, ABCCM’s Loaves & Fishes Food Drive is underway.
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The ultimate Raleigh road trip
Downtown Raleigh. Photo: @dyyymond_
Raleigh’s skyline is waiting for you.|Photo by @dyyymond_
Itching to get out of town, Ashevillians? Skip those pesky airport security lines and jump in your car for a road trip to Raleigh instead. From exploring world-class art at the NC Museum of Art to James Beard-recognized food — we’re spilling all the details on how to have an unforgettable time in the City of Oaks.

📍 Essential info

Drive time: ~4 hours

Year city was established: 1792

Est. population: 467,592

An elaborate and colorful floral arrangement sits in the center of an art gallery.

Every spring, the NCMA transforms with floral displays. | Photo by the North Carolina Museum of Art

Photo by the North Carolina Museum of Art


🎟️ Experience

Sip n’ Stroll Downtown

Raleigh established its first “social district” in 2022 (read: open containers are allowed in sections of downtown) where you can sip on beer, wine, and cocktails from local eateries and drinkeries while walking around downtown.

Videri Chocolate Factory, 327 W. Davie St., Raleigh

Grab some soft serve, a bonbon, or coffee from Black & White Coffee + walk through the factory for yourself. Watch the chocolate-making process in the back on a self-guided tour.

🍔 Eat

Death & Taxes, 105 W. Hargett St., Raleigh

Sit at the bar to watch the chef prepare your meal at this Ashley Christensen-helmed restaurant. Fun fact: Ashley attended NC State University before going on to win the James Beard Award for Outstanding Chef in 2019 (one of the top honors for a chef). She operates six food and beverage concepts in Raleigh.

🏨 Stay

Heights House Hotel, 308 S. Boylan Ave., Raleigh

This Italianate-style mansion was first built in 1858 and features a parlor that serves Italian charcuterie boards and craft cocktails like the Pesca Spritz (Sevilla Orange gin, peach lillet, lime, and spritz).

Wait a minute, Ashevillians. Before you head out the door, find the cheapest places to fill up your gas tank and stock up on road trip snacks using our guide. Also, bookmark this map so you have no trouble finding all of our recommendations while visiting Raleigh.
MORE RECS HERE
How much money did sports bettors wager between January and November of 2022? (Source: Forbes)

A. $10 billion
B. $31 billion
C. $54 billion
D. $68 billion
E. $83 billion
F. $103 billion

Congratulations to Wendy A. for winning a $50 gift card to our online shop, Six & Main. Did you know you could be our next winner? Answer this week’s survey questions for a chance to score a gift card!
ANSWER HERE
Greater Cayce West Columbia Chamber

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Monday, March 20
  • Settlers of Catan Tournament | Mon., Mar. 20 | 6-9 p.m. | Well Played Board Game Cafe, 162 Coxe Ave., Ste. 101, Asheville | $7 | Put your strategy skills to the test at this board game tournament.
  • Totally Rad Trivia | Mon., Mar. 20 - Mon., Apr. 17 | 6-8 p.m. | Taproom at Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Ste. 200, Asheville | Free | Impress your friends with your pop culture knowledge for the chance to win Highland Brewing gift cards.
  • UNC Asheville welcomes US Poet Laureate Ada Limón | Mon., Mar. 20 | 7-9 p.m. | Blue Ridge Room, Highsmith Student Union, 1 University Hts., Asheville | Free | Enjoy an evening of poetry with the United States’ 24th Poet Laureate Ada Limón.

Tuesday, March 21
  • Punch Bucket Lit: One Year Anniversary | Tue., Mar. 21 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Cellarest Beer Project, 395 Haywood Rd., Asheville | Free | Celebrate one year of literary readings with fiction writer Taylor Sykes and poet Eric Tran — attendees will have the chance to win free signed copies of the authors’ books.
Thursday, March 23
  • Old School Line Dancing | Thu., Mar. 23-Thu., Apr. 20 | 6:15-7:15 p.m. | Stephens-Lee Community Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave., Asheville | Free | Bust a move to all your favorite old school dances from back in the day.
Saturday, March 25
  • Community Acupuncture | Sat., Mar. 25 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Alchemy, 62 Clayton St., Asheville | $35-$75 | Swing by for a quick and convenient treatment with acupuncturist Dr. Wesley Braden — available on a sliding scale.
  • Groove at the Grove | Sat., Mar. 25 | 3-6 p.m. | Grove Street Community Center, 36 Grove St., Asheville | Free | Choose from 10 tables of games, including cards, board games + billiards.
  • Therapeutic Slow Flow Yoga | Sat., Mar. 25 | 10-11 a.m. | Mount Inspiration Apparel, 444 Haywood St., Asheville | $0-$15 | All bodies are welcome at this class, which explores meditation, breathwork, and movement.
Sunday, March 26
We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather
  • 50º | Sunny | 3% chance of rain
Civic
  • Mayor Esther Manheimer and the Asheville Vegan Society (AVS) acknowledge today, March 20, as Meat Out Day. The proclamation encourages all Ashevillians to explore the benefits and flavors of a plant-based diet. Need some inspo? Check out some of our favorite meatless eats.
Cause
  • ABCCM’s Loaves & Fishes Food Drive is underway throughout the month of March. The nonprofit has partnered with over 300 local churches to fight hunger in our communities by collecting food and donations. Want to help out? Drop off items at any of ABCCM’s Crisis Ministries, or make a donation.
Regional
  • Preservation work is underway to restore songstress Nina Simone’s childhood home in Polk County. Spearheaded by The African American Cultural Heritage Action fund at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, construction is slated to begin this fall with a possible opening date next year. (WLOS)
Try This
  • Local animal rescue, Shelter Dog Transport Alliance, will hold a fundraiser at Smoky Park Supper Club on Sunday, April 16 from 12-4 p.m. The family-friendly fundraiser will feature a silent auction and food truck eats. All proceeds go to support the volunteer-run nonprofit’s work of saving shelter animals.
Job
  • Passionate about storytelling + news, and have some serious Asheville pride? We’re hiring a City Editor to plan, write, edit, and publish the most relevant and engaging daily content about our city. See details + apply.
Edu
  • Are there subjects your high school student is considering studying in college, but they’d like to know more about it first? Here’s their chance to do so. Wake Forest University’s Online Immersion Program features exciting video lessons, created by Wake Forest professors, covering subjects like medicine, psychology, business, and law. Explore courses + sign up your child.*
Health
  • Hospice is about quality of life. When asked about their experience, families consistently share that they wish they had chosen hospice sooner. See how CarePartners Hospice can help families make the most of their time together. Learn more by calling (828) 255-0231.*
Drink
  • Got plans this Wednesday? For a limited time, The Lobster Trap is dedicating Wednesdays to wine. Dine in for half-priced bottles of select wines or stop by on Thursdays for half-priced Mussel Steam Bowls. Your taste buds will thank us.*
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Happy first day of Spring 🌱

Spring equinox in Asheville, NC
spring-equinox-custom-section.jpg
We’re ready for warmer temperatures and added daylight. | Photo via Pexels
Today marks the spring equinox (aka the first day of Spring). 🌷

Technically speaking, it’s the day that the sun crosses the Earth’s equator from the Southern Hemisphere into the Northern Hemisphere. The shift marks the astronomical start of spring and days will become “longer” because there will be more time between sunrise and sunset.

Looking to celebrate the season? Head to our events page to see community events happening this week and beyond. If you’re up for spending some time outside, our parks guide will point you in the right direction — whether it’s for a lunchtime stroll or an evening run.

If you’re in the mood for some spring cleaning, here are the essentials we recommend:

🧽 Mr. Clean Magic Erasers

💧 Microfiber cleaning cloths

🧹 Duster kit

🍓 Refrigerator organizer bins

🧼 Spinning scrubber brush

Bonus: Hire a cleaning professional to tidy up your humble abode.
6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Brook.

Editor’s pick: Happy first day of spring, Asheville. It’s also my middle dog Lamar’s fourth birthday. Anyone know of any folks out there making canine cakes? Please let me know.

Missed Friday’s newsletter? Find out about Guinness World Record holders right here in the mountains.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Laura Hackett, Brook Bolen, Erin McPherson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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