Office Talk with Raleigh Magazine

The Carolina Hurricanes brought the Stanley Cup back to Raleigh—but the impact may last far longer than the celebration. Publisher Gina Stephens and Editor-in-Chief Melissa Howsam unpack what the championship means for Raleigh's reputation, economy and future as a major sports destination. Plus: parade reactions, Cup trivia and why some believe the Canes just strengthened Raleigh's MLB case. Ralei...

Raleigh’s iconic “Hair Curler” is checking back in. Publisher Gina Stephens and Editor-in-Chief Melissa Howsam take listeners inside Hotel Indigo Raleigh, the highly anticipated transformation of the former Holiday Inn that nearly faced demolition. From the new 20th-floor cocktail bar to the stories hidden inside one of downtown’s most beloved landmarks, get an exclusive first look at one of Ralei...

If Raleigh roads feel increasingly stressful to navigate lately, you’re not imagining it. This week, we’re breaking down Raleigh’s newly identified most fatal intersections, why so many crashes happen in the same places and what the City’s long-term safety plan could mean for drivers, pedestrians and the future of Raleigh growth. Raleigh’s Most Dangerous Intersections Revealed Stay in the Know Get...

When does ‘grabbing a drink’ turn into genuinely belonging somewhere? This week, we’re talking regular culture—from third places and neighborhood hangs to the subtle moment you realize the bartender knows your order, your job and possibly your entire life story. What Makes a Regular? Stay in the Know Get Social Meet Our Sponsors: Swim Woodhouse Spa Raleigh Timber Pizza Get the issue to your door!...

Raleigh’s future isn’t just being built through apartments and development—it’s being shaped through parks, public art and spaces designed for people to gather. This week, we’re diving into NCMA’s massive new interactive installation, Raleigh’s historic Parks Bond projects and why public space suddenly feels more important than ever. New Reason to Touch Grass in Raleigh—Literally The Future of Ral...

Why did a story about dogs start an internet fight? This week, we’re diving into Raleigh’s evolving pet culture—from doodlemania and breeder debates to the real cost of dog ownership and the blurry line between dog-friendly and dog-everywhere. Adopt Don’t Shop: Raleigh’s Dog Culture Shift Stay in the Know Get Social Meet Our Sponsors: Swim Woodhouse Spa Raleigh Get the issue to your door! Subscrib...

The market’s moving—but not the way it used to. Listen in as Publisher Gina Stephens chats with Hodge & Kittrell Sotheby's International for an insider look at Raleigh real estate: what’s actually selling, whether we’re in a buyers vs. sellers market, which neighborhoods are heating up—and what today’s buyers really want. Plus: why timing is everything in Raleigh. In partnership with Hodge &am...

Raleigh’s burger battle is juicy, and Publisher Gina Stephens and Editor-in-Chief Melissa Howsam are dishing on Raleigh Mag’s Best Burgers. Warning: side effects may include immediate cravings. 2025 Best Burgers Good Content Lives Here Get social Meet Our Sponsors: Swim Woodhouse Spa Raleigh Timber Pizza This episode originally aired on May 6, 2025. Get the issue to your door! Subscribe Now

Across the board, one of Raleighites’ biggest complaints is transit—full stop. Already a highly car-dependent city, Raleigh is growing up and out quicker than our transit system and roadways can keep up, leaving residents with few ways to get around. More than 20 years in the making, the S-Line ultimately promises to level up transit to Wake Forest and beyond, eventually connecting Raleigh to Rich...

Music festivals across the Southeast are scaling up and selling out—some having the formula figured out for years. With Raleigh’s Hopscotch Music Fest officially on the horizon after months of uncertainty, we talk our favorite regional fetes—and what qualities keep them afloat.  Stay in the Know Get Social Meet Our Sponsors: Woodhouse Spa Raleigh Swim Crooked Hammock   Get the issue to your door!...

Raleigh’s next wave is here. Some make a living—others make a mission. Across the city, a cohort of savvy young Gen Xers and elder millennials are channeling their drive into something bigger: turning ideas into action and igniting the city’s next chapter in real time. Meet the people refusing to play it safe—and shaping what’s next for Raleigh.  Raleigh Magazine’s Firestarter 40s Stay in the Know...

When multiple major developments land at once, a neighborhood doesn’t just grow—it transforms. A once-overlooked stretch of Downtown Raleigh is quickly becoming the city’s next live-work-play hub, offering a real-time look at how modern neighborhoods are built—and how fast they can change. Stay in the Know Get Social Meet Our Sponsors: Swim Woodhouse Spa Raleigh Timber Pizza Get the issue to your...

Hopscotch is back—but its return isn’t automatic. As festivals across the country scale up, sell out or disappear entirely, keeping one rooted in Raleigh takes coordination, investment and buy-in from the entire city. From venue logistics to funding to audience support, we break down what it really takes to keep a music festival like Hopscotch here—and why that’s not something to take for granted....

Timing is everything. Shakespeare said it—and in this business, it’s the whole game. This month? We got burned. So we’re talking Will Wade—plus a few others who’ve torched our timing along the way. Stay in the Know Get Social Meet Our Sponsors: Swim Woodhouse Spa Raleigh Timber Pizza Get the issue to your door! Subscribe Now

Sticky floors, cheap pours and zero interest in being Instagrammable—dive bars are suddenly everywhere again. We unpack the culture behind Raleigh’s dive revival and map out how to crawl the city’s grittiest spots..  Inside Raleigh’s 40-Year-Old Dive Stay in the Know Get Social Meet Our Sponsors: Swim Inc Woodhouse Spa Raleigh Timber Pizza Get the issue to your door! Subscribe Now

Walking pads, cat butts and a pool-float presentation—Zoom meetings have gotten… weird. From executives presenting from pool floats to bosses dialing in from bathroom stalls, we unpack the wild world of remote-work camera chaos—and what it says about how workplace culture has changed. Unhinged Behavior: Remote Work Edition Do You Know How to Behave? Stay in the Know Get Social Meet Our Sponsors: S...

The Moore Square Bus Station is a lifeline for thousands of Raleigh residents—but Downtown stakeholders say its current model is outdated, unsafe and holding downtown back. We unpack the growing debate over whether Raleigh should relocate the transit hub and what the future of transit in the city could look like. Is It Time to Move Moore Square Bus Station? Stay in the Know Get Social Meet Our Spo...

Brunch in Raleigh isn’t just a meal—it’s a weekend ritual. Publisher Gina Stephens and Editor-in-Chief Melissa Howsam reveal Raleigh Magazine’s 10 Best Brunches right now, breaking down the spots that actually deliver on food, vibe and the all-important “worth the wait” factor. 10 Best Brunch Spots in Raleigh | RM Stay in the Know Get Social Meet Our Sponsors: Swim Inc Woodhouse Spa Raleigh Timber...

Air travel is a mess—and the proposed fix is… dressing nicer? Gina Stephens and Melissa Howsam unpack the Transportation Department’s new civility push and why blaming leggings, hoodies and passengers loses the plot—not to mention the very real REAL ID push that could make you miss your flight.  Is Decorum Dead? Stay in the Know Get Social Meet Our Sponsors: Swim Inc Woodhouse Spa Raleigh Timber P...

A university…for brides? Hang out with Raleigh Magazine as Publisher Gina Stephens chats with local mainstay Bailey’s Fine Jewelry about its free, immersive class for couples—designed to cut through the confusion, try on rings, and ask real questions before buying. In partnership with Bailey’s Fine Jewelry.

When parking becomes a barrier, people don’t fight it—they leave. Gina Stephens and Melissa Howsam dig into Raleigh’s looming parking debate, the revenue shortfall driving it, and why rolling back free parking or upping rates could hurt the very businesses downtown is trying to keep alive. Free DTR Parking Pays Off Stay in the Know Get Social Meet Our Sponsors: Timber Pizza Woodhouse Spa Raleigh V...

Overflowing bins. Illegal dumping. Grime spreading beyond downtown. Publisher Gina Stephens and Editor-in-Chief Melissa Howsam dig into months of reporting to ask the uncomfortable question Raleigh residents keep whispering: is the city getting messier—or are its systems quietly falling behind its growth? Trash Talk: City’s Growing Trash Troubles Stay in the Know Get Social Meet Our Sponsors: Timb...

The trophies have been handed out, the cocktails poured, and the industry showed up. Publisher Gina Stephens taps bar titan Matt Bettinger to break down Raleigh Magazine’s Best Bars—sharing standout winners, bartender of the year—plus the party, the afterparty and the people who make the scene hum. Meet Our Sponsors: Timber Pizza Woodhouse Spa Village Tavern Get the issue to your door! Subscribe N...

It’s an (un)Hinged world, and we’re just dating in it. After Raleigh landed 9th on a list of the worst large metros for finding love, Publisher Gina Stephens and Editor-in-Chief Melissa Howsam sat down to talk relationships. From dating apps and real-life connections to wins, disasters, and where to meet people beyond the apps, this is what dating actually looks like in Raleigh. Swipe Life: A Deep...

If alcohol consumption is at a 90-year low, why do Raleigh’s bars still feel busy—and better than ever? We spill on how drinking changed, who’s still going out and why the bar business is adapting. The Myth of the Dry Generation Stay in the Know Get Social Meet Our Sponsors: Timber Pizza Village Tavern Downtown Cary Get the issue to your door! Subscribe Now