Hello Thursday.
March 28 2024
In NC, we’re no strangers to being first — looking at you, first successful airplane flight — and Shaw University in Downtown holds several historical “firsts” as well.
Shaw was the first historically Black university in the South + the first historically Black college in the country to open its doors to women.
"Estey Hall, Shaw University, Raleigh, N.C." in Durwood Barbour Collection of North Carolina Postcards (P077), North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Library, UNC-Chapel Hill
When women were admitted, the university constructed the first building in the US for the higher education of Black women — Estey Hall. Now the oldest building on campus, Estey Hall was built in 1874 as a dormitory.
Ella Baker, a prominent civil rights activist, used the building to form the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in 1960 — it became a major network for student participation in the Civil Rights Movement in the US.
For Dr. Valerie Ann Johnson, Shaw University’s Dean of the School of Arts, Sciences, and Humanities, buildings like Estey Hall are a link to where we’ve been.
“Even when we're rushing to go to a particular meeting or gathering, or in the quiet times, I'll go in and just look at the bones of the building,” the dean said. “I’m honored that I’m a beneficiary of the struggles that other people faced.”
Recent photo of Estey Hall | Screenshot via Shaw University campus map
The third floor of Estey Hall holds photographs of Shaw’s presidents — including current president Dr. Paulette Dillard.
Close to 150 years after Estey Hall first opened its doors to Black women, a Black woman is running the university from inside its walls.
“Many other Black women and men said we can be a viable part of this country, that we can be educated,” Dean Johnson said. “We’re going to have a place in this country, for our children and our children's children, and those children's children. I'm the one that they built this for.”
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Today
- Farm Stand | Wed., Sept. 22 | 4–7 p.m. | Downtown Raleigh, 800 N. Blount St. | Free | Support Raleigh City Farm and purchase fresh + local produce. 🥕
- Raleigh Rockers Breakdancing | Wed., Sept. 22 | 6–7 p.m. | Moore Square | Free | Watch the breakdancing group showcase their dance skills + learn new moves from the experts.
Thursday
- State Certification Session | Thurs., Sept. 23 | 2:30–4 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Minority business owners are invited to this informational session to learn about opportunities for exposure, increasing cash flow + more.
Friday
- Haunted History Walking Tour | Fri., Sept. 24 | 7:15–8:30 p.m. | Governor’s Mansion, 200 N Blount St. | Free+ | Kick off spooky season by taking this haunted tour of Raleigh’s historical landmarks. 👻
Saturday
- 3rd Annual Festa Italiana | Sat., Sept. 25 |11 a.m.–7 p.m. | Glenwood South District, 609 Tucker St. | Free | Celebrate Italian heritage at this street festival with food, entertainment + more. 🇮🇹
- Hops for Hope | Sat., Sept. 25 | 2–6 p.m. | Coastal Credit Union Midtown Park, 4011 Cardinal at North Hills St. | $30 | This local festival includes 31 local breweries who will be introducing new brews to benefit the nonprofit, Children’s Flight of Hope. 🍺
We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
Windows looking a little tired? It might be time to update them. New windows not only improve a house’s look, but also extend its life. The local experts at Renewal by Andersen share the benefits of new windows and why you shouldn’t skip over this type of home renovation.
Renewal by Andersen offers customers a broad palette of long-lasting window and door colors to choose from — including dark colors not often found with other brands | Photo provided
Here are 5 benefits of updating your windows:
1. Energy efficiency
In North Carolina, the average monthly residential electricity bill is ~$117. Windows are responsible for 25-30% of residential heat and cooling energy use. Investing in energy-efficient windows + doors can help reduce your energy consumption and your energy costs.
Renewal’s energy-efficient windows are designed to help keep the outside elements at bay so customers can enjoy a comfortable and affordable home temperature. They also offer various glass options with unique benefits for heating, cooling, visible light transfer, and UV reduction — all contributing to energy efficiency.
2. Curb appeal
Paint, siding, and light fixtures are common updates homeowners make to their home’s exterior. However, swapping out windows and doors can have a similar effect. Renewal’s custom shaping process allows techs to create windows to any shape, meaning they can match any home’s architectural style or define a new look.
Pro tip: Get a feel for what your home could look like by exploring window styles + color options ahead of your Renewal consultation. This will help give the design team a better picture of your vision for a final look. Ⓟ
Weather
- 78º | Thunderstorms | 80% chance of rain
Traffic
- Due to construction, part of Oberlin Road (north of the Village District) will be closing. The closure — set for approx. between Craig Street and Fairview Road — is scheduled to begin Mon., Sep. 27 + will continue over the next 4 months. 🚧(CBS 17)
Arts
- Raleigh Arts is looking for 3 new artists to create original artwork for the Bus Rapid Transit New Bern Corridor. Each qualified NC artist should create work that coincides with the themes of the projects. Apply by Sun., Oct. 10. 🎨
Coming Soon
- Panera Bread is planning to open a new location in Cary, adding to its ~20 Triangle restaurants. The new spot — located in the Harris Teeter-anchored Crescent Commons shopping center — is ~7,000 sqft + formerly housed Cary Towne Kitchen & Bar. 🥖(Triangle Business Journal)
Sports
- NC State faces their first ACC opponent Sat., Sept. 25 at 3:30 p.m. playing Clemson. The Wolfpack face the Tigers at home in Carter-Finley Stadium, where the team is 2-0 this season. Purchase tickets to watch the 2 teams, both with a 2-1 record, face off here. 🏈
- The outdoor Carolina Hurricanes game originally scheduled for earlier this year in Carter-Finley Stadium is back on, according to executive director of the Centennial Authority Jeff Merritt. The game, the NHL’s New Year’s Day Winter Classic, will be played in either December 2022 or January or February of 2023. 🏒(The News & Observer)
Active
- The SAS Championship 5K is happening Sat., Oct. 16 at 8 a.m. Runners, joggers, and walkers alike can compete together as you travel through Cary’s Prestonwood Country Club golf course. Registration here for the one-of-a-kind event — virtual option available. 🏃
Jobs
- The Raleigh Fire Dept. is looking to recruit new firefighters. Applications will be accepted from Mon., Nov. 1-Tues., Nov. 30. The 7-month long fire academy is scheduled to begin in April 2022. 🧑🚒
Ranked
- Niche ranked the NC School of Science and Math as the No. 2 best public high school in the US for the upcoming year. The school, which is a part of the UNC system + located in Durham, was ranked on a number of factors — including ratings from current students.
Biz
- NC-based Harris Teeter, with more than 50 stores located in the Triangle, will have higher prices this year. Kroger, Harris Teeter’s parent-company, has seen higher than usual inflation in some of its product categories. 📈(Triangle Business Journal)
Wellness
- Typical children’s vitamins are basically candy in disguise, with added sugar and gummy junk. Hiya is made with a blend of 12 organic fruits and veggies, 15 essential vitamins, and zero sugar. They’re also vegan and dairy-free. Bonus: Get 50% off your first purchase. Ⓟ
No, that image isn’t photoshopped — that was Raleigh’s skyline earlier this week on Mon., Sept. 20 experiencing a full harvest moon. The name comes from folklore telling of farmers working under the full moon light to bring in the fall harvest.
Today, Sept. 22 officially begins the first day of fall, right on time. We’re getting closer to revealing our new October events calendar, so if you’ve got exciting events happening next month, send them our way.
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RAL current: Carly is excited to try Taverna Agora for the first time + Laura is reminiscing on being in the Clemson student section for the infamous NC State vs. Clemson football game in 2016 (not as a Clemson student, but the enemy of my enemy is my friend).
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