DoRaleighDoRaleigh Weekly News Brief – Openings, Travel Updates, Local Eats, and Holiday News
🛍️ Opening
Gorjana, the Southern California jewelry brand known for its everyday mix-and-match pieces, will open its first Raleigh location in North Hills next to True Food Kitchen. Expect a bright, Laguna Beach–inspired storefront. We’ll share the opening date as soon as it’s announced.
☕ Coming Soon
Drift Coffee is joining The Weld, a new development near Dix Park, becoming its first retail tenant. The café will bring favorites from its Wade Avenue location into a nearly 1,500 sq. ft. space when it opens next summer. (Raleigh Magazine)
✈️ Travel
RDU is not among the 40 U.S. airports facing federal flight reductions, but some delays may still occur due to nationwide scheduling impacts. It might be a good time to consider Amtrak for regional travel. (PBS)
🩺 Health
COVID-19 vaccine appointments are now open at five Wake County clinics, including the Wake County Public Health Center and Departure Regional Center. Residents can book appointments online.
🎁 Holiday
The City of Raleigh’s Elf Squad Toy Drive is underway, collecting new and unwrapped toys for children from newborn to age 13. Donations are accepted at community centers and partner sites through Dec. 10.
📚 Announced
Liberation Station, Raleigh’s trailblazing children’s bookstore, will celebrate its grand reopening on Dec. 29 at its new Hill Street home in East Raleigh.
🎸 Concert
Guns N’ Roses will rock Carter-Finley Stadium on July 23, 2026 as part of their international tour. Presale signups open Wednesday, Dec. 3 — get ready for “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and “November Rain.”
🦃 Seasonal
Gov. Josh Stein pardoned Krispy and Kreme, two very lucky turkeys who will now live at Naylor Farms in Fuquay-Varina. Fun fact: 2022’s pardoned turkeys, Chocolate and Chip, still live at NC State. (ABC 12)
🐶 Closed
The Moore Square dog park has been closed since August, but a completely redesigned dog space is expected by January 2026. Until then, Raleigh has plenty of other pup-friendly spots to explore.
🎨 Arts
A tiny Italian “museum” perched over 7,500 ft in the Alps requires a six-hour hike just to reach — and it contains no art at all, just one panoramic window. Luckily, Raleigh’s museums are much easier to access.
🍕 Open
Trophy Brewing has officially opened its massive new Five Points taproom, located in the iconic blue warehouse near Ajja. Expect specialty pizzas, fresh salads, and signature Trophy brews across 22,000 sq. ft.
🐓 State
Two eastern NC chickens — Gobble and Waddle — were pardoned by the president this week and are headed to NC State to join Chocolate and Chip. According to the White House, Gobble loves Bojangles biscuits, while Waddle prefers Cook Out Cheerwine floats. (N&O)
🏈 Sports
NC State faces UNC this Saturday at Carter-Finley, with the Wolfpack eyeing a fifth straight rivalry win. Preview what both teams are bringing to the field. (N&O)
🏢 Biz
North Carolina is giving Apple four more years to meet hiring and investment goals for its promised RTP campus. The 2021 incentive package — worth up to $845 million — remains unclaimed as Apple has yet to begin the $552M hub. (N&O)
🍜 Eat
Saigon Kitchen is now open on Blount Street in the former Mofu Shoppe space, serving pho, banh mi, rice bowls, and other Vietnamese favorites.
🍔 Travel
Celebrity chef Bobby Flay has opened Bobby’s Burgers in RDU Terminal 2 across from Dunkin’. The Crunchburger—topped with potato chips—is already catching travelers’ attention.
📖 Read
The 2025 National Book Award winners have been announced across fiction, nonfiction, poetry, YA, and translated literature. Whether you read indoors or out, now’s a great time to pick up something new. (NPR)
🕊️ History
On Dec. 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus—a defining moment in the Civil Rights Movement. Explore more local and national history at Raleigh’s museums. (National Constitution Center)
🌳 Outdoors
A new 59-acre county park—Kellam-Wyatt Park—is coming to the Raleigh-Knightdale border in 2027. Residents can expect extensive walking trails, one of the most requested amenities. (WUNC)
🦃 State
North Carolina continues to lead the nation in turkey production, edging out Minnesota in pounds raised. And yes, the presidentially pardoned turkeys were raised right here. (WUNC)
☕ Open
Haraz Coffee House, a Yemeni-style café, is now open on Western Boulevard and serving until 11 p.m. Try the Saffron Adeni tea or the Jubani spiced coffee. (Axios Raleigh)
🍽️ Eat
North Hills’ modern Indian restaurant Tamasha has been named one of Esquire’s Best New Restaurants of 2025 — after also being listed among the most beautiful dining spaces. (N&O)
✈️ Travel
Breeze Airways is adjusting its RDU routes, swapping its LAX flight for a new service to Orange County, CA, and adding flights to Stewart, NY; Bangor, ME; and Vero Beach, FL next year. (TBJ)
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Christian Alvarez
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