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Good afternoon, Raleigh. Why were the utensils stuck together?
They were spooning. 🥄
In today’s Raleigh Rundown:
10+ fun things to do in Raleigh this weekend + live local music
Billion-dollar RDU runway facing rising costs
New bathhouse coming to Raleigh
Popular frozen custard chain opening first Raleigh location
Let’s get to it. 🏃♂️
STORIES THIS WEEK
Billion-dollar runway project at RDU facing rising costs ✈️
Raleigh-Durham International Airport is moving forward with a $1.1 billion runway project, a critical investment to preserve West Coast and international flight service. The new 10,639-foot runway will replace the aging 10,000-foot one and is expected to be completed by June 2029.
Rising costs due to inflation and materials have nearly doubled the original estimate of $534 million. Only about 11% of the funding is coming from federal sources, with the rest expected through bond financing and state contributions. Airport CEO Mike Landguth emphasized the project’s importance for the region’s economic growth and global connectivity.
New bathhouse coming to Raleigh 🛁
Sauna House, a modern Nordic-style bathhouse, is opening in Raleigh this fall at 324 Dupont Circle, near Kane Realty’s West End development. Founded in Asheville, Sauna House offers guided hot-cold therapy cycles with saunas, cold plunges, and a warm outdoor pool. The Raleigh location will include both social and quiet saunas, private rental spaces, and a variety of nonalcoholic refreshments.
Franchisees James Grogan and Kady Brotherton are investing $2 million into the 8,500-square-foot space, with plans to employ 10–20 staff. The concept aims to provide an accessible, hospitality-driven wellness experience and could expand to more Raleigh locations in the future.
Andy’s Frozen Custard is opening in Raleigh 🍦
Raleigh’s midtown corridor near Costco and Wegmans is becoming a magnet for out-of-state restaurant chains. Andy’s Frozen Custard is currently under construction at 340 E. Six Forks Road, with a 1,650-square-foot building featuring an outdoor patio and walk-up service window.
The Missouri-based chain has over 170 locations nationwide and already operates in Morrisville and northeast Raleigh. Nearby, Guthrie’s and Whataburger are also entering the area, while local favorites like BB’s Crispy Chicken have recently closed. The mix of national chains and local newcomers like La Farm Bakery and JP’s Pastry is reshaping this high-traffic part of town.
Complete 540 project displacing Raleigh Rugby Football Club 🏉
The Raleigh Rugby Football Club has lost its longtime home on Poole Road in east Raleigh as the site was sold to the state for the Complete 540 highway project. Though the club received $2.5 million for the land, finding a new 40-acre site has been difficult due to rising prices and stiff competition from developers.
The club, which has about 300 members, is temporarily renting fields at local middle schools while continuing its search. Leaders hope to expand to four or five fields in the new facility, up from the original two. Meanwhile, construction for Phase 2 of Complete 540 is underway, with $82 million already spent on land acquisition.
WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND
🎡 Festivals & Family Fun
Got to Be NC Festival
📍 NC State Fairgrounds
🗓️ Friday–Sunday
🎟️ Free admission (rides and food extra)
🎉 Celebrate NC agriculture with carnival rides, live music, local vendors, and more.Spring Fling at Lafayette Village
📍 Lafayette Village
🗓️ Saturday, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
🎟️ Free
🌸 Family fun with local vendors, entertainment, and kids’ activities.Brier Creek Food Truck Festival
📍 Brier Creek Commons
🗓️ Sunday, May 18 | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
🎟️ Free admission
🚚 Enjoy a variety of food trucks, live music, games, and local vendors in a family-friendly atmosphere.
🎶 Concerts & Performances
The String Cheese Incident
📍 Red Hat Amphitheater
🎵 Friday, May 16 at 6:00 PM.Della Mae with Laurie Lewis
📍 Fletcher Opera Theater
🎻 Friday, May 16 at 7:30 PM.Mozart Requiem by Candlelight – NC Symphony
📍 Meymandi Concert Hall
🎼 Friday and Saturday, May 16–17 at 8:00 PM.Teddy Swims – I've Tried Everything But Therapy Tour
📍 Red Hat Amphitheater
🎤 Saturday, May 17 at 8:00 PM.Trivium + Bullet For My Valentine – The Poisoned Ascendancy Tour
📍 Red Hat Amphitheater
🎸 Sunday, May 18 at 6:00 PM.
🩰 Theater & Dance
Swan Lake – Carolina Ballet
📍 Memorial Auditorium
🦢 Performances throughout the weekend.CC & Co. Dance Company Recital
📍 Fletcher Opera Theater
💃 Saturday, May 17 at 5:00 PM; Sunday, May 18 at 11:30 AM and 5:00 PM.
🛍️ Markets & Pop-Ups
Pop-Up Raleigh
📍 Trophy Brewing on Maywood
🛍️ Saturday, May 17 from 12:00 PM–5:00 PM.Seaboard Station Community Market
📍 Seaboard Station
🛒 Saturday, May 17 from 9:00 AM–1:00 PM.Spring Fling at Lafayette Village
📍 Lafayette Village
🌸 Saturday, May 17 from 9:00 AM–1:00 PM.
⚽ Sports
North Carolina FC vs. Oakland Roots SC – Community Night
📍 WakeMed Soccer Park
⚽ Friday, May 16 at 7:00 PM.NC Courage vs. Chicago Red Stars – Star Wars Night
📍 WakeMed Soccer Park
🌌 Saturday, May 17 at 5:00 PM.
🧠 Other Notable Events
Adult Nights: Game On!
📍 North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
🎮 Friday, May 16 from 6:30 PM–10:00 PM.Phenom Hoops Live
📍 Raleigh Convention Center
🏀 Youth basketball tournament running May 16–18.
LIVE LOCAL MUSIC THIS WEEKEND
🎶 Raleigh Live Music – Friday, May 16
Chairmen of the Board @ Midtown Park
Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ North Hills
Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PMTom Neuhauser @ Raleigh Brewing Arboretum
Neighborhood: Raleigh W @ NC State / Hillsborough
Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PMHeather Rogers @ O'Malley's Pub & Restaurant
Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Quimby
Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PMCuttin Grass Bluegrass @ Larry's Coffee House & Music
Neighborhood: Raleigh NW @ Beryl
Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PMBenji Hughes @ Wicked Witch
Neighborhood: Raleigh DT @ East Cabarrus
Time: 8:00 PM – 11:00 PMKaraoke w/ DJ DC Price @ The Corner Tavern & Grill
Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Maynard / High House
Time: 8:00 PM – 11:00 PMAshley Robinson @ The Blue Note Grill
Neighborhood: Raleigh DT @ Historic DAP
Time: 9:00 PM – 11:59 PMBrodie Camosh & The Undies @ Jessie’s Honkytonk
Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ River Creek
Time: 10:00 PM – 11:59 PMDJ Handsome Robb @ The Cardinal Bar
Neighborhood: Raleigh DT @ Glenwood South
Time: 10:00 PM – 11:59 PMGatsby’s Unplugged – Open Mic @ Gatsby’s Bar Raleigh
Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Millbrook
Time: 7:30 PM – 10:30 PMNate Williams @ Shakey Ray’s Tavern
Neighborhood: Raleigh NE @ Sunset Hills
Time: 9:00 PM – 11:59 PMRaleigh Assassins @ Aviator Pizzeria & BeerShop
Neighborhood: Raleigh W @ Duraliegh
Time: 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
🎶 Raleigh Live Music – Saturday, May 17
Sarah Kates @ Brickyard Bar & Grill
Neighborhood: Raleigh DT @ Glenwood South
Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PMJake T and the Sluggah Shack Oyster Bar
Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Six Forks / Sawmill
Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PMAshley Robinson @ The Blue Note Grill
Neighborhood: Raleigh DT @ Historic DAP
Time: 9:00 PM – 11:59 PMRaleigh Assassins @ Aviator Pizzeria & BeerShop
Neighborhood: Raleigh W @ Duraliegh
Time: 9:00 PM – 11:00 PMDJ Handsome Robb @ The Cardinal Bar
Neighborhood: Raleigh DT @ Glenwood South
Time: 10:00 PM – 11:59 PMLocal DJs & Vinyl Vibes @ Whiskey Rose
Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Six Forks / Sawmill
Time: 10:00 PM – 11:59 PMKyle Mullins Band @ Uncle Jessie’s Honkytonk
Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ River Creek
Time: 10:00 PM – 11:59 PMMcBomBo Trio @ The Vibe Coffee & Cocktail Bar
Neighborhood: Raleigh NE @ Millbrook
Time: 10:00 PM – 11:59 PMMathew Grey @ The Cardinal
Neighborhood: Raleigh DT @ Glenwood South
Time: 10:30 PM – 11:59 PM
RETRO PIC OF THE WEEK
Crabtree Valley Mall Chick-fil-A is seen here one day before the mall's grand opening, August 1, 1972. This was the 16th mall-based location opened by founder S. Truett Cathy. The mall officially opened on August 2, 1972, at 10:14 am--14 minutes late.
During opening ceremonies, Raleigh Mayor Pro-Tem Clarence Lightner recalled that the area the mall now occupies, "used to be a good place to gig frogs and shoot rabbits."
WEEKEND WEATHER
Friday
94 🌡️ 73 | ⛈️ | 30%
Saturday
93 🌡️ 66 | ⛈️ | 30%
Sunday
89 🌡️ 65 | 🌤️ | 0%
LOCAL SPORTS
Hockey 🏒
The Carolina Hurricanes hold a 3-1 series lead over the Washington Capitals in round two of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Hurricanes take on the Capitals tonight in Washington. With a win tonight, they will win the series and move on to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Thursday: Carolina Hurricanes @ Washington Capitals | 7 PM (Game 5)
Saturday: Carolina Hurricanes VS Washington Capitals | 6 PM (Game 6 - If necessary)
Baseball ⚾️
The Durham Bulls are playing away games this weekend:
Friday, May 16: at Nashville Sounds, 7:35 PM
Saturday, May 17: at Nashville Sounds, 7:35 PM
Sunday, May 18: at Nashville Sounds, 2:05 PM
THANKS!
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