Recently I got to have Chana Lynn, Founder of RaleighWhatsUp, on The Conversation Series Podcast and pick her mind on some of her favorite Raleigh spots and activities. I wanted to share all of those with you all and what Chana’s favorite thing about each is.
Chana’s Raleigh Recommendations
Favorite Local Business
So & So Books is an independent bookstore in downtown Raleigh featuring a thoughtfully curated selection of the owner’s favorite books in all the major genres.
Fueled by curiosity and the thrill of the hunt, they seek out makers with a story to tell and inspiration to share. They collect thoughtful, artful, uncommon goods for you and your nest from emerging and independent designers from North Carolina, across the country, and around the world. They carry jewelry, women’s and men’s clothing, leather goods, one-of-a-kind clothes for babies and kids, accessories, art, and treasures for you and every room in your home!
Unlikely Professionals speaks to anyone who believes in their vision to do the damn thing and make themselves proud no matter what the profession. While the clothing assortment trends for him, no doubt there is something here for everyone.
Whether you have a passion for all things plants or are simply looking to spruce up your space with stunning foliage, a trip to Urban Pothos Houseplant Shop will exceed your expectations. With a grand selection of potted plants, succulents, tropicals, and more, you’ll have an array of options to choose from so that you can discover a plant that speaks to you! From stunning alocasias to hardy snake plants, you’ll be sure to find something that will help turn your home into the live, green oasis of which you’ve always dreamed.
Favorite Dessert Spot
On the porch of a Piedmont farmhouse in North Carolina. That’s where it all started, beneath the watch of Granny’s two black wooden roosters. In the southern summers, the owner’s family would gather on Sundays for a day of rest and reconnection. And ice cream. As kids, they lived for that exact moment of approval when the slurry turned to scoops, their arms no longer fit for the churning, and the reward for their deeds became the epitome of happiness. The love, intrigue, and passion for ice cream has bloomed over the years, just like that hand-churned batch of fresh peaches and cream. Their awareness and appreciation for seasonal harvests and skilled purveyors is a nod to their shared history. The new neighbors are local farmers, brewers, bakers, chocolate makers, tea merchants, and food artisans.
Favorite Rooftop Bar
An upscale rooftop lounge with unmatched views of downtown Raleigh. The Willard is where those who grew up here and those who have adopted Raleigh as home can enjoy finely crafted food and drinks with a view of their city’s evolving landscape.
Favorite Pizza Spot
Oakwood Pizza Box is an instant-classic neighborhood pizza spot that all started with Anthony Guerra’s family, and a floor: battered, black-and-white checkered linoleum in an old office building. With a hyper-focused menu – choose between a classic cheese or white pizza, and add your favorite toppings – and simple, playful cocktails, this slice of nostalgia feels like it’s been a neighborhood favorite for ages.
Favorite Raleigh Event
Hopscotch Music Festival is an annual three-day music festival in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. With more than 120 bands, Hopscotch is known for adventurous lineups, memorable performances, and a fan-friendly atmosphere. From large outdoor main stages in Raleigh City Plaza and Red Hat Amphitheater to intimate club shows, the festival features the music of many genres—rock, hip-hop, metal, folk, electronic, experimental, and more—and its schedule highlights this diversity each year.
Favorite Coffee Shop
In March of 2012, John and Jeanne Luther opened the doors to Sola Coffee Cafe to love on this community, and since the start, their passion is to serve and welcome everyone into the Sola family through food and drink, and friendship.
Your neighborhood coffee house and local haunt. Opening a coffee shop has been the owner’s dream since they met in 2006, and when the opportunity came, they leaped headfirst without thinking. Who opens a business during a pandemic? They did. 2020 couldn’t have been any more unique and the support that they received from everyone, couldn’t have been any more welcome, surprising, amazing, humbling, flattering, and restorative.
Favorite Wine & Cheese Spot
Lindsay’s travels across the globe sparked her vision for Vita Vite – Raleigh’s beloved wine bar + art gallery – where her two passions for wine and art could intertwine. In 2015, Lindsay Rice founded Vita Vite Downtown followed by Vita Vite Midtown in 2018. Vita Vite has secured accolades such as Best Wine Bar, Best Place to Grab a Glass of Wine, and Best Place for a Girl’s Night Out. Vita Vite comes from the Italian words for “life” and “vine” – the idea that life revolves around wine and food, bringing people together in a common space of appreciation for the beautiful things that can enrich life.
I hope y’all enjoy these recommendations. If you are here in Raleigh, what are some of your recommendations? As always, thank y’all for stopping by and reading. I will see y’all back here next time.
