Triangle 6th Best Place to Live in the U.S., Holiday Fun + Gift Guide, Honoring Veterans
RANKINGS. U.S. News analyzed the 150 most populous metro areas to find the best places to live and has ranked the “tri-city region (known as the Triangle)” No. 6 on its list. The ranking is based on the Triangle’s research/technology roots and collegiate rivalries, as well as its strong job growth and high quality of life. U.S. News also ranked the Triangle as the No. 1 best place to live in North Carolina, the No. 20 fastest growing area and the No. 22 best place to retire.
SportsTravel magazine has named Raleigh as Best Host City for 2022. The Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance and destination partners hosted the NCAA Men’s College Cup, NCAA Women’s Basketball First Four and First/Second Rounds and an NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Regional. North Carolina’s capital city has also hosted the NCAA Division II Baseball World Series and 12 NCHSAA state championships among its featured events.
Niche.com recently ranked the top public highs across North Carolina, as reported by the Triangle Business Journal, and named the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham No. 1. Raleigh Charter School came in at No. 3, Green Hope High School (Cary) at No. 4, William G. Enloe High School (Raleigh) at No .5, Panther Creek High School (Cary) at No. 6, Chapel Hill High School at No. 7 and East Chapel Hill High School at No. 8. The top 10 in Wake County included Raleigh Charter High School at No. 1, Green Hope High School at No. 2, Enloe Magnet High School (Raleigh) at No. 3, Panther Creek High School at No. 4, Wake STEM Early College (Raleigh) at No. 5, Wake Early College of Health and Sciences (Raleigh) at No. 6, Green Level High School (Cary) at No. 7, Triangle Math & Science Academy (Cary) at No. 8, Apex High School at No. 9 and Heritage High School (Wake Forest) at No. 10.
Niche.com has ranked Cary Academy as the No. 1 private high school school in North Carolina, and therefore also in Wake County. The top five for the state also includes Durham Academy at No. 2, Providence Day School (in Charlotte) at No 3, Asheville School at No. 4 and Charlotte Country Day School at No. 5. In Wake County, the top 5 include Ravenscroft School at No. 2, St. David’s School at No. 3, Saint Mary’s School at No. 4 and Cary Christian School at No. 5.
HOLIDAY FUN! Check out our Raleigh and Western Wake holiday fun roundups for 53 ways to celebrate the season. And while you’re at it, listen to our latest “Talk of the Triangle” podcast episode, which features the one and only Ira David Wood III. Wood stars as “Scrooge” in “A Christmas Carol,” which celebrates its 49th season this year.
SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP. Want to get an early start on your holiday shopping? Check out our holiday craft fair roundup for a comprehensive list of fairs around the Triangle. Here are some taking place this weekend: Visions of Sugarplums Holiday Art & Gift Show, (Raleigh) Thursday, November 3 and Friday, November 4, 9 a.m.–7 p.m. and Saturday, November 5, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.; Main Street Market by Cary Academy, Friday, November 4, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. and Saturday, November 5, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. (formerly Cary Academy Holiday Shoppe); Art & Gift Market, Apex United Methodist Church, Saturday, November 5, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.; Jolly Day Fair, Fuquay-Varina Evangel Church, Saturday, November 5, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. St. Andrew’s Holiday Craft Fair, St. Andrew Catholic Church (Apex), Saturday, November 5, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
The ABC11 Raleigh Christmas Parade will feature a pop-up market on Saturday, November 19, 8 a.m.–noon. Guests will have the opportunity to shop along the parade route. Vendor applications are available online.
We’ve got solutions for your holiday shopping list, as well. Check out Midtown and Cary Living’s 2022 Holiday Gift Guides, featuring more than 40 items from local businesses and boutiques. Many of these businesses give back to local nonprofits that are doing important work across the Triangle and beyond. Shop for unique home accessories, leather goods, custom jewelry and more.
HOLIDAY GETAWAY. Christmas at Biltmore begins Friday, November 4 and runs through Saturday, January 8, 2023. The holiday celebration tradition dates back more than 125 years when George Vanderbilt celebrated the first Christmas with family and friends in his new home. The 2022 holiday design celebrates the 200th birthday of Frederick Law Olmsted, the estate’s landscape architect. Biltmore’s floral designers will present a “Winter Landscapes” theme that brings the outdoors inside.
Amelia Island has partnered with Yankee Candle for a holiday getaway. Stop by Raleigh’s Crabtree Valley Mall location to check out the new winter scents, and enter for a chance to win a Victorian-style holiday for four during the island’s Dickens on Centre event December 8–11.
REGISTER NOW. Spots are limited for the Willard Cocktails & Cuisine Class from 2–3:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 12. Bartenders will teach participants how to make three rye whiskey cocktails. Guests will enjoy each cocktail plus two dishes from the kitchen. The cost is $50 per person. You can also register for Willard Rooftop Yoga with Oak City Yoga, which will be held from 10–11 a.m. on Sunday, November 13. The $15 class fee includes a mimosa you can enjoy afterward.
WINNING HOMES. The Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County announced more than 40 winning entries for the 2022 Parade of Homes event in October. Gold winners included Lennar’s “Carson II,” Herring Homes’ “Parker,” Garman Homes’ “Double Dutch,” McKee Homes’ “Promenade 2020,” David Weekly Homes’ “The Northwind,” Garman Homes’ “Purpose,” Triple A Homes “Black Tie Affair,” Brandywine Homes’ “The Fairview,” Homes by Dickerson’s “Lagniappe Rose,” Satterwhite Construction’s “The Southern Grace,” Wilks Builder’s “The Watering Hole,” Exeter Building Company’s “Inverness,” Bluestone Builders’ “The Pool House at the Lake,” Homescapes Builders’ “Late Night Jam Sesh” and Raleigh Custom Homes’ “Connie’s North Hills Camelot,” which earned three perfect scores.
VETERANS DAY. The Wake County Veterans Council will host the 2022 North Carolina Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony Sunday, November 5, in downtown Raleigh. The parade is expected to begin at 9 a.m. at W. Lenoir Street and move up Fayetteville Street to the Capitol building. It will feature more than 80 groups from various veterans’ organizations, several high school Junior ROTC units, and other military and veteran-related groups.
The 2022 Orange County Veterans Day Celebration takes place in Chapel Hill at Southern Human Services Center at 2501 Homestead Drive on Friday, November 11 at 11 a.m. UNC-Chapel Hill will participate in the joint ceremony with all of the university’s ROTC programs represented. The event is free.
DREAM ON. J. Cole, and his Dreamville team announced Wednesday that the Dreamville Festival will officially return next spring to Raleigh on Saturday, April 1, and Sunday, April 2, 2023. A special ticket presale will also soon be available for Dreamville fans who sign up for the official festival email or text newsletter at dreamvillefest.com.
FOR A GOOD CAUSE. Merz Aesthetics hosted Dress For Success Triangle clients and leadership to unveil a mobile Confidence Boutique on Thursday, October 27. The service provides suiting, leadership and job training in underserved communities. Merz Aesthetics employees made donations of professional handbags and apparel.
SAFE Haven For Cats hosts SAFE Haven After Dark on Saturday, November 5, 6–9 p.m. Visit the adoptable cats looking for homes, or consider donating or volunteering at the shelter.
The Wake County Animal Center exceeded its adoption floor capacity and needs the community to consider adoption to help care for nearly 200 animals. The center is offering reduced adoption fees for dogs and cats 8 years and older. Senior dogs are available for $25, with name-your-price rates for cats.
The Sizzling Shakespearean Shakedown fundraiser takes place at Burning Coal Theater’s Murphey School Auditorium on Saturday, November 5 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available online and include a live auction, wine, beer, hors d’oeuvres and dessert. Auction items include deluxe accommodations for two for six nights in Costa Rica, with airfare included.
The Triangle-based nonprofit, Children’s Flight of Hope, is raffling off a rare collection of top-shelf bourbon, valued at $20,000, to raise money for its mission: providing air transportation to young patients and their families who need specialized medical care that might otherwise be out of reach due to financial challenges. Participants may purchase raffle tickets at $100 each or 11 for $1,000. The winner will be picked randomly Friday, November 4, at 9:30 p.m. during the organization’s annual Denim & Diamonds fundraiser event.
Journeys employees partnered with Can’d Aid in October to build and donate 1,400 skateboards. The groups gifted the skateboard to more than 70 children’s organizations to encourage outdoor play. The two groups have donated more than 3,000 bikes and skateboards to youth in underserved communities.
Activate Good hosts Family Volunteer Day at Marbles Kids Museum’s Venture Hall on Saturday, November 19. Families can sign up for one of two shifts, either 10 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. Caregivers and kids will make cards for bone marrow transplant patients, pack kits for farmworkers and prepare tree seeds for distribution. Each year, the event is held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving as a way to kick off the holiday season. Marbles Kids Museum will also be receiving a work of art by artist Alexandra Nechita, as part of a partnership between LaMantia Gallery and Road Show Company, on Friday, November 4. The work, titled “Untitled,” will become part of the museum’s permanent collection.
NEW SIPS. Biggby Coffee has opened in Raleigh at 5424 Six Forks Road. During the shop’s opening week, Biggby Coffee celebrated with a one-day 50% off food offer, and another day in which 50% of sales were donated to the Pretty In Pink Foundation. The store offers coffees, teas, lattes, smoothies and more.
