Get the Blues (In a Good Way!) at the 13th Annual Raleigh Blues Festival
A night of soul, storytelling, and six-string magic.
Shannon
February 17, 2025
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The Blues is back, baby! The 13th Annual Raleigh Blues Festival is rolling into town on Friday, February 21 at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts. Expect a night of heart-wrenching lyrics, soul-stirring guitar riffs, and performances from blues heavyweights like Tucka, Pokey Bear, West Love, J-Wonn, Theodis Ealey, and the Live in the Flesh Band. If you love music with feeling, you don’t want to miss this.
Not sponsored—we just have excellent taste in music. 🎸 (Just so you know: Sponsored content in our newsletter is always marked with “*”).
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The 919 Deal Drop:
🔥 Don’t miss this delicious date night deal at The Mecca Restaurant!
Get The Mecca’s Newlywed Special—2 entrées, 1 sweet treat, and a bottle of bubbly—all for just $50!
📍Where: The Mecca Restaurant
Have a phenomenal deal you'd like to share with 10,000+ people in the Triangle? Email [email protected]. It’s FREE to share a deal, but it has to be something really useful to our community.
Raleigh Real Estate:
🏡 FOR SALE UNDER $400K: 3 BEDROOMS | 2 BATHROOMS | 1,320 SQ FT | 9,583 SQ FT LOT | $319,900
This adorable ranch home near Downtown Raleigh boasts a stylish custom kitchen, beautiful wide plank flooring, plush carpet, designer paint, and modern upgrades throughout—ready for you to move in and enjoy! Take a look here →
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Raleigh Overtime:
🍴 FOODIE FIND: Coquette’s FRIED BRUSSELS SPROUTS are a crispy, flavor-packed delight featuring golden-browned sprouts tossed with smoky bacon lardons, sweet pearl onions, and a bright orange sherry vinaigrette, all brought together with a creamy touch of crème fraîche for the perfect balance of richness and acidity.
🐾 FOR ADOPTION: SEAHORSE | CAT | 1 YR | FEMALE
This laid-back, FIV-positive cat is deserving of a second chance and can live happily with other cats, thriving in a loving home with regular health care and a good diet. Check her out here →
🛍️ GARAGE SALE: Head over to SAINT ANDREW PARISH CENTER on FEB 22 at 8AM for gently used items like clothing, furniture, kitchenware, tools, electronics, and more. Donations are accepted on Friday, February 21, from 9am to 6pm. More details here →
Local Vocals:
🎸 This Week: THE GONE GHOSTS
The Gone Ghosts is an Alt-Country Americana/Rock band from Carrboro, NC, formed by Dave Hedeman and Dillon Partin, blending soulful songwriting with a dynamic sound alongside bandmates Justin Bowlin, Scott Jones, Crenshaw Pentecostal, and Van Meter. | Alt Country/Rock | Raleigh Slim’s | Feb 21, 9PM | $10 | Get tickets here!
🎤 Plan Ahead: KATY PERRY
This concert promises to be an exciting event, featuring her signature mix of catchy hits, stunning visuals, and a lively atmosphere that will have fans singing along and dancing from start to finish. | Pop | Lenovo Center | Aug 17, 7PM | Get tickets here!
Raleigh Reads:
🍳 All-Time Favorite Recipes from North Carolina Cooks is packed with 161 recipes, covering hearty casseroles, mouthwatering desserts, and NC trivia.*
🥾 Best Hikes Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill features 40 family-friendly hikes within an hour of the Triangle, including hidden trails.*
🚗 North Carolina Day Trips includes 170 must-visit destinations, organized by theme.*
💦 North Carolina Waterfalls reveals hundreds of must-see waterfalls, plus hiking directions and beauty ratings.*
🔍 Raleigh's Great Scavenger Hunt Adventure uncovers 50 must-see spots and hidden gems.*
🏆 Finally, this one has nothing to do with Raleigh (it’s about happiness) but it’s currently #1 on Amazon, so we thought you’d like to check it out.*
Raleigh Grocery Deals (and Restock Reminders):
🧻 Restock reminder: Use these links to get great deals on paper towels, toilet paper, batteries, trash bags, dishwasher pods, tissues, laundry detergent, and flossers. You never want to run out of essentials.*
✨ Splurge: Nothing has saved us more money in the long run than a garage freezer. We stock up at the Wake Forest Road Trader Joe’s and load the freezer up. Get a garage freezer here.*
🛒 Harris Teeter savings: Fresh Foods Market Whole Subs, $6.99 each!
🦁 Food Lion savings: LaMarca Sparkling Wine, $16.99 each. Cheers!
Oak City Job Openings:
🤝 LOCAL JOB: HOBBY LOBBY is seeking RETAIL ASSOCIATES.
As a Retail Associate at Hobby Lobby, you'll assist customers, stock merchandise, maintain store displays, and ensure a clean and organized shopping environment while providing friendly customer service. More details here →
💼 LOCAL JOB: BEST BUY is seeking a GEEK SQUAD AGENT.
As a Geek Squad Agent at Best Buy, you'll assist customers with tech support, troubleshoot and repair devices, provide service updates, and ensure a positive experience through expert knowledge and clear communication. More details here →
✏️ ProofreadingServices.com – Get a crystal clear resume and stand out in the job market.
📢 Are you looking to hire? Email [email protected] and we’ll send your job out to the community.
The Hookup:
📖 Grandkids.com – Preserve cherished memories by turning your parent’s or grandparent’s life story into a beautifully written book.
🛠️ HomeRemodeling.com – Compare bids from top remodelers and get the best quality, service, and price for your home project.
🥃 This beautiful Raleigh glass is etched with a map of downtown. Drink your Cheerwine with pride*
🗺️ Travel back to 1872 with this vintage Raleigh map reproduction.*
🕯️ This North Carolina-scented candle (yes, you read that right) claims to smell like our great state. You tell us.*
Raleigh Hidden Gem:
Oak Steakhouse does a Beef Wellington that’s next-level. Perfectly cooked beef, flaky pastry, and rich flavors that make it worth the splurge. But you have to get there right when they open because they sell out fast (people in the know drive from all over the state).
—Olivia, a Raleigh.com reader
Have a Raleigh tip or hidden gem? Email [email protected] and we might feature it.
Love Free Stuff?
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