New Calendars? Old History? We've got it! - June 25th

Good morning Raleigh! Happy Wednesday. We’re starting off today with 3 updates:

1) EVERYONE can now access the webpage version of the community events calendar! No upgrades, no membership, nothing. Totally free, updated weekly — Access it here.

2) A nod to the Small Talk section at the bottom, as it is getting some new content going forward… scroll down to learn about The Raleigh Underground!

3) And finally… I am just one dude trying to write about cool stuff. I need your help!

🥇 BEST WAY → Message me on Instagram @theraleighwoodinbox!

🥈 GOOD WAY → Use our BRAND NEW event submission form.

🥉 DECENT WAY → Shoot me the info via an email or reply.

I simply cannot be everywhere all at once but with all of you, maybe WE can be. So thanks ahead of time for the help, let’s get into it.

Wednesday - 25th

• Catch Unhinged Coffee & other local vendors at the Moore Square Midweek Market every week from 4-7PM — info here.

• It wouldn’t be June without a RuPaul’s Drag Race Trivia night! Boxcar hosts this event from 8-11PM, winners will get prizes & everyone has a chance at free swag — details.

• Cary/Raleigh: Jack Smith Park has their Summer Vibes event at 6PM, a family friendly event with live music from AG Peters, a Jamaican Food Truck, & Bond Brothers! — info.

Thursday - 26th

• Supporting upcoming stars, ComedyWorx is hosting an improv jam with their youth troupe and members of the community — starts at 6PM, entry is free for everyone!

• Sunset Social at The Bend is back again! Starting at 4PM (and running through Sunset) this market is hosted monthly and includes live music, local artisans, food and drink from State of Beer and The Bend, and more in the outdoor space downtown: ☀️

Friday - 27th

• The Acorn City 160 NASCAR Regional takes place this Friday at Wake County Speedway (just 15 minutes south of Downtown). Gates open at 6PM, races at 8:30PM — tickets.

• The Heights House is hosting a gallery night featuring Shelbi Seisman from 5-8PM on Friday. She will be mingling with guests and hosting a silent auction — info here.

• The Gregg Museum is hosting a picnic blanket summer music event with Barefoot Manner on Friday at 7PM, event is FREE — details.

We host live events with Raleigh locals and good vibes. If you're reading this newsletter but not showing up, you're missing one of the best parts!

Saturday - 28th

• Portal Pop-Up is here! From 12-5PM check out this community day of local artists and rising talent as 25+ local vendors are showcased at this new venue, info below: ☀️

• Just an update, the NC Courage do not have any July games due to summer international games, in which they will play Tigres Femenil from Mexico on July 9th. They won their previous game at home, 2-1 and resume the regular season in August.

• NC FC Soccer play away for the ongoing USL Cup in Louisville at 8PM, watch on ESPN+.

• Saxapahaw: Looking to get outta town this weekend? Saturdays in Saxapahaw is back with their 5PM Market, 6PM show, and FREE admission — details here.

• The Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo returns! From the same people that bring you Brewgaloo (and frankly most of these events) come out for the largest food truck selection in town, starting at 12, running through 6PM — event info.

Sunday - 29th

• Looking for a Sunday food, drink, and co-work stop? Check out Le Dive Bar for a great way to get out of the sun and get some work done, or check out their booze window! ☀️

• Sunday is the last day to check out Shakespeare’s Hamlet at the Theatre next to Pullen Park — see full dates and times for THIS week at the link here.

Monday - 30th

• Lunch Break Food Trucks are back! Stop by Moore Square between 11AM and 2PM to check out up to three trucks every Monday & Tuesday — schedule here.

• If you didn’t already have the aviators out for the Sun, bring them out for Top Gun! Playing the original movie on the big screen at The Rialto, movie at 7PM — tickets.

Tuesday - 1st (somehow… it’s already July)

• Fuquay-Varina: Celebrate Independence Day (a bit early) with concerts, food trucks, splash pads, and fireworks from 6-9PM on Main St in Fuquay — event info.

• Zebulon: The Carolina Mudcats return home to play the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, home series runs through Thursday — tickets.

Looking for a way to support the inbox?

Did you make it out to any events last week?

We ran into a few familiar faces over at The Hartwell for the Vintage + Vinyl Market on Sunday and Raleigh Pride on Saturday!

Non-Profit News

• The Ripe for Revival Mobile Market program has a full suite of stops this week, check out their locations around NC (ending in Raleigh) to stop by for local produce and more.

• A Place at The Table was closed part of last week but they are back open again through the weekend as normal again, stop by for a pay what you can meal and support local.

Artist of The Week: Turnabout Players & VGM Jazz Jams

We’re in a music mood this week, so this weeks artist is actually quite a few! The Turnabout Players lead the Triangle Video Game Music Jams and both have shows locally every few weeks.

Check out the VGM Instagram page and their link here for discord, sheet music, & more.

Show of The Week: The Pour House | Friday, June 27th

The weeks featured show is home to our Meetup event Friday! Featuring SOPHIA, Weekend Friends, & The Band Solstice. Grab your tickets at the link here and check out the event for directions, where to park, and more. Hope to see you there!

Want to be featured artist, show, or venue? — Get in touch here!

Builds & New Opens

• The Common Market, a deli, cafe, bar, bottle shop, and oddities store, is opening a new location in Seaboard Station in 2026. Check out a possible render down below:

• The Art House (or what is left after the arson near Moore Square) has found a new home! They have not announced a new location just yet but they will be updating their Instagram soon with details as they are made public.

• RJTR Design Firm from Atlanta, shared the first rendered video look of a new luxury tower over in North Hills, check out the video here of this new location called The Strand.

City Civics & Bills

• During the heat wave and into summer, if you have city trash bins, be sure to get those out the night before as collection happens much earlier in the morning when its cool out.

• The Raleigh Union Bus Station is ready for public use! The ribbon cutting will take place July 25th at 10AM, keep track of the final updates and event on their page here.

• Miss your chance to influence Fayetteville St Downtown? Ask a planner with this local session where you can learn more about the process — details.

The Village Subway

Do you know about the Raleigh Underground?

Sources vary on the exact start but it seems to have been originally constructed to be a bomb shelter during the Cold War. After, this underground complex that runs beneath the Village District was turned into the home of 30+ music venues, night clubs, & shops.

The venue opened with an entrance like a NYC Subway Station and the area itself was modeled after the Atlanta Underground. Goodnight Raleigh, via Player’s Retreat confirmed acts like Doc Watson, Huey Lewis, 38 Special, Joan Jett, Iggy Pop, and The Ramones, all played in this underground setting during its short run in the 70s/80s.

While the entire venue was shut down in 1984 for a lack of foot traffic, fire code concerns, and parking issues there were a few attempts to revive it. The last effort unfortunately stalled out in 2019.

Today, this entire area sits where The Fresh Market & Village Library does and from what I can tell it’s simply used for storage, with many areas left abandoned (as seen below) but thanks to YouTube we can enjoy gems like this REM show from 1982 still at least.

I’ve been thinking about making this above history/fun fact section a second email during the week, what do you all think about that?

See you next Wednesday!

— Mason at The Raleighwood Inbox