CHANGES AT THE DMV. The North Carolina Department of Transportation has announced Department of Motor Vehicle schedule changes. Driver license offices now serve only walk-in customers from noon through close on weekdays. Appointments are now available only in the mornings and can be scheduled up to 90 days in advance. Forty offices now open an hour early, beginning at 7 a.m. The 16 busiest offices in the state will also have Saturday walk-in hours from 8 a.m.–noon through Saturday, August 26.
SIDEWALK SALE. The Village District Sidewalk Sale (2068 Clark Avenue, Raleigh) is set for Friday, June 23 through Sunday, June 25. The event runs 10 a.m.–6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 1 p.m.–6 p.m. on Sunday. Shop at Bailey’s Fine Jewelry, Uniquities, Onward Reserve, Alton Lane, Madison, If It’s Paper, Charlotte’s, Nest Interiors and more.
NEW BOOTS. Western bootmaker Tecovas will open a Raleigh location on Friday, June 23 at the North Hills shopping center (4158 Main at North Hills Street, Suite 110). The store will carry boots, bags, apparel and accessories. Tecovas will host a grand opening event June 23–24 featuring with live music, cocktails, complimentary boot shines, and free giveaways. The first 50 folks to arrive on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday get a free Tecovas canvas tote, custom Tecovas YETI Mug and koozie. There will be live music by Wayward Blues Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., and specialty cocktails available Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Store hours are Monday–Saturday 10 a.m.–8 p.m. and Sundays, noon–6 p.m.
KIDZ BOP. The “KIDZ BOP Never Stop Live Tour” introduces Jackson, Kiya, Shila and Tyler, who will perform pop hits like “Anti-Hero,” “About That Time,” “Sunroof” and “Late Night Talking” at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek Friday, June 30 at 7 p.m. Fans can expect to hear songs from the latest KIDZ Bop album, “KIDZ BOP 2023.” Purchase tickets at Live Nation.
TOP RANKING. Raleigh–Durham is ranked No. 3 in the country and No. 1 in North Carolina by US News and World Report in its annual Best Places to Live rankings for 2023-24. The rankings came out in May. Cities were chosen based on quality of life, job market, housing affordability and cost of living. The Triangle scored highest in the quality of life category for access to museums, theaters, a thriving restaurant scene and parks and greenways, as well as college and professional sports teams. Green Bay, Wisconsin topped the list, followed by Huntsville, Alabama.
INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS. Salute the red, white and blue as Independence Day celebrations and fireworks light up the Triangle. Check out our round-up of Fourth of July events, listed alphabetically by town. Before you head out, be sure to check the websites for the events to ensure they are still taking place.
VINYL & VINO. The Raleigh Market will host a Vinyl & Vino event on Saturday, June 24, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Thousands of LPs, CDs, and 45s will be on sale along with a complimentary wine tasting with Chatham Hill Winery. The event includes a DJ spinning vinyl records, vintage clothing, crafts vendors and more. The event is pet-friendly and includes free parking and free admission.
WINE CLASSES. Vitis House has several upcoming classes scheduled. It’s Champagne and Friends on Thursday, July 27, followed by Malbec and Empanadas on Wednesday, August 2. Then it’s Wine 101 on Thursday, August 17. Classes cost $99 and run roughly 90 minutes. Vitis House also hosts private events.
INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS. Salute the red, white and blue as Independence Day celebrations and fireworks light up the Triangle. Check out our round-up of Fourth of July events, listed alphabetically by town. Before you head out, be sure to check the websites for the events to ensure they are still taking place.
SPIDY SENSES. Venture into the amazing world of spiders at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ “Spiders: Fear to Fascination,” which opened June 17. Witness the superb skills of these amazing arthropods for yourself.
BE A NATURALIST. The 2023 North Carolina Moth Week takes place Saturday, July 22 through Sunday, July 30. To participate, turn on some light to attract moth species. Take photos of as many species as you can find with the iNaturalist smartphone app or use a camera. Submit your observations through the iNaturalist website or app, available for Android and Apple. All observations must be uploaded to iNaturalist by August 7.
FREE ADMISSION. Bank of America, Merrill and Bank of America Private Bank cardholders can receive free general admission to Marbles Kids Museum (201 East Hargett Street, Raleigh) on Saturday, July 1 and Sunday, July 2. Through Museums on Us, Bank of America provides its cardholders with free access to artistic and cultural experiences during the first full weekend of every month.
MAKING HISTORY. Young historians from across the state gathered for the North Carolina Museum of History’s 2023 Tar Heel Junior Historian Association annual convention in April. The all-day event featured learning experiences designed to understand North Carolina’s history and to recognize the junior historians for their impactful historical work on projects. The group is made up of clubs across the state, with members in grades 4–12.
BEATLES TRIBUTE. If you missed seeing the Beatles perform live during the ’60s, here’s your second chance. “Abbey Road – A Tribute to the Beatles” comes to Fletcher Opera Theater at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, July 16 at 7 p.m. The show is part of a 125-city tour of the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Tickets are available online.
HEALTHY SUMMER. The Poe Center (224 Sunnybrook Avenue, Raleigh) hosts a Healthy Habits Camp for rising 1st–5th graders from Monday, June 27–Friday, June 30 and Monday, July 17–Friday, July 21. The camp runs 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. and is free for eligible families. Completing an online application is required. Daily activities include health education, games and crafts.
