People and Orgs to @Follow First
Follow, bookmark and/or subscribe to these sites to get plugged into Raleigh goings-on quickly.
RALToday: Sign up for their free weekday hyper-local email newsletter with news and happenings. Definitely has a Millennial/Gen Z vibe but all Gens will find something to like here. Nice monthly plan-ahead events calendar.
The News & Observer: Raleigh’s daily newspaper since the 1800s is available in print and digital editions. One of the first newspapers in the world to launch an online version way back in 1994 and has won three Pulitzer Prizes so it’s got game. App available. If you want more comprehensive business news, then Triangle Business Journal will be your jam.
WRAL TV: Highest-rated television news org in the Triangle and your go-to when very bad weather is nigh. You can watch it old-school on the TV, of course, or follow @WRAL, @NCCapitol, @wralsportsfan, @WRALTechWire, @WRALoutandabout and @wralweather. It’s NBC-affiliated so if that is not your preference there’s also ABC11 EyewitnessNews, CBS17, Fox50, Univision, PBS and others we’ve probably missed. Find the one you love and download their app.
Wake County Public Schools: For new Raleighites with children, this site is your new Best Friend Forever (or at least until they graduate high school).
Visit Raleigh: This is the GOAT of Raleigh events, restaurants, museums, festivals, hotels, things to do and more. Created for tourists by the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors bureau it has morphed into something helpful to every Raleighite with interactive features that make it easy to find things near you. They also have a Visitor Info Center at 500 Fayetteville St. in downtown Raleigh.
GO Raleigh: If you’re looking for info on the city’s bus system, you’ll find it all at Go Raleigh. Raleigh isn’t known for its mass transportation yet and it’s a big topic of conversation with new plans in the works. Gotcha electric scooters and Citrix bicycles are currently available for rent to get around downtown.
Triangle On the Cheap: Who doesn’t love freebies, discounts and deals? From world-class museums to kids’ activities to concerts and more, there’s lots of free and low-cost stuff to do in the Triangle and writer Jody Mace covers it all. A great site to explore when you’re bored and funds are low or when you’re looking to keep kids entertained.
Downtown Raleigh Alliance: This is Parks and Recreation’s Leslie Knope in organization form (and we mean that in the best way). Relentlessly positive, extremely proud of Raleigh and ready to help anyone and everyone who wants to live, work or play in Downtown Raleigh (DTR). If you plan to do anything…ever…in downtown, go ahead and follow/bookmark them now and explore their website. (Select DRA Programs for some cool things to check out like the map of all public art downtown.) The site also shows every parking option available in downtown – download the Passport Parking App to pay for street parking online.
Triangle Food Blog: Raleigh native and Triangle Food Group Owner Sean Lennard’s blog will tell you each week which restaurants are coming (anticipation!), opening (yay!) and closing (sob!) in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. If you’re looking for a place to eat right now, check out the Foodie section of Visit Raleigh where you can search for restaurants by cuisine, location and price.
City of Raleigh: As city websites go this one is pretty comprehensive and easy to navigate. Enter your address on the Services page and it will tell you your voting district, City Council representative, trash and leaf collection days (if you’re a homeowner), police district and more. Scroll through the 10 pages of Services – from Arts Programs to Starting a Business and lots of other things you wouldn’t have expected on a city website. There’s also this Resident Resources page on the Wake County website.
More Local News Suggestions
INDY Week: The INDY offers “fiercely independent journalism” to readers for free at their website and in a weekly paper you’ll find at newsstands throughout the Triangle. Offers six free e-newsletters ranging from morning headlines to weekend events to field guides.
Nextdoor.com: Some people love it, some hate it because the convos can get ugly sometimes. But if you want to know what’s happening in your neighborhood and what contractors your neighbors recommend, it’s worth a look.
Triangle Business Journal: Your source for all news related to business, banking, real estate, development, retail and more in the Triangle. Print and digital versions; free and paid content. Daily and breaking news emails.
WRAL TechWire: The place for all things tech in the Triangle.
WUNC 91.5 North Carolina Public Radio: “Providing fact-based news that helps keep you informed and eases fear of the unknown.” (That seems like a big goal, but you go!)
More Raleigh Food + Travel + Lifestyle Suggestions
DTRaleigh The Raleigh Connoisseur: Leo Suarez is passionate about Downtown Raleigh and his blog follows the developments and planning taking place in that area. Includes an online (and irl) community of DTR fans who celebrate and criticize the decisions and happenings taking place downtown.
Experience Raleigh: Raleigh native and world traveler Susan Murphy runs this popular Instagram site discovering, celebrating, and experiencing Raleigh.
NC Eat and Play: This comprehensive site, founded by Megan Nichols, helps locals “discover great food and activities for sensible budgets and everyday play.” Celebrates Raleigh and North Carolina sports and events.
Raleigh Magazine: The go-to local magazine covering everything from dining and drinks to arts and entertainment to news, lifestyle and travel. You can subscribe for home delivery or pick it up free around town. Other local free/subscription magazines include Cary Living covering life in Cary, Morrisville, Apex, Fuquay-Varina and Holly Springs; Midtown Magazine covering the “second downtown” of the Midtown/North Hills area; 919 Magazine covering happenings in the 919, Wake Living covering all of Wake County and Walter Magazine covering the “Art and Soul” of Raleigh community, arts and culture.
This Is Raleigh: Australians Caz and Craig Makepeace went through a decade of hell and moved heaven and earth to relocate to Raleigh because they LOVE it here. (This is a very exuberant brand!) Cool drone videos, interesting local interviews, a podcast and an admirable content pace considering they also run the award-winning ytravelblog.com.
Podcast Suggestions
Consider following Talk of the Triangle, Office Talk with Raleigh Magazine, Podcast Raleigh and Under the Dome on whichever podcast service you favor. Then, check out this list of 40 podcasts and this list of 20 podcasts all made in the Triangle to find more that might match your interests.