LEED All-Suite Hotel in Downtown Raleigh With Rooftop Lounge
Residence Inn by Marriott® Raleigh Downtown is proud to be a Silver LEED Certified hotel that provides the ideal place to stay in Downtown Raleigh, an all-suite hotel that provides guests a place to relax and room to work. All guest suites include a kitchen, providing flexibility for short or long stays. A complimentary full breakfast, state-of-the-art fitness center, free wi-fi, and 40-inch HD TV all maximize your comfort while keeping you close to Raleigh’s dynamic downtown scene. Enjoy 10th & Terrace, the rooftop bar, and The Overlook, the hotel’s on-site restaurant, or walk to any of the amazing nationally acclaimed local restaurants; visit Raleigh’s unique downtown retail and shopping, take in the nightlife and craft breweries, museums, experience live performances at Red Hat Amphitheater and Duke Energy Performing Arts Center (aka Memorial Auditorium).
Please book by Friday, September 2, 2022, for the best availability. After this cutoff date passes, any requests for additional reservations at the discounted rate will be honored based on hotel availability. The discounted rates are available starting Wednesday, October 12, 2022, through Wednesday, October 19, 2022.
Book By Phone
Please call Lauren at 984-255-2285 and reference group code “JNW” to receive a discounted rate for the wedding block.
Three cheers to Dram & Draught founders Kevin Barrett and Drew Schenck for offering to host our wedding guests early on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, at 11 a.m. for a pre-wedding brunch cocktail! RSVP below if you’d like to drop in so we can let them know how many guests to expect.
Of the many things Johnnie Nobling and I have ventured into together this year, one of the things I’m most proud of is putting our name a piece of dirt together with a water view. 🏝🏖🌊😎 (As many of y’all know, Morehead City, Atlantic Beach, and Beaufort are our relaxing getaway destinations from Raleighwood.)
August 22-September 1, 2022, we have a little window where it’s not currently rented to others enjoying their own getaway, so if any of you would like to head to the coast for a few days at a special friends and family rate, send me a message before booking and let’s get you on the calendar at Bay Breeze Retreat!
PS: The internet is blazing fast (faster than in Raleigh, actually), so we’ve particularly set this place up as a great work from home spot… don’t be afraid to book a few weekdays!
Johnnie Bud and I hit the road Saturday morning for ~noon arrival to Van Gogh Exhibit Charlotte: The Immersive Experience and when I write “road” I Highway 64 and not I-40 because when you have the option to cruise the more comfortable and relaxed of westward bound routes, you should always choose it.
As a professional in the events space, I could not have been more pleased with the Van Gogh experience. From pre-arrival messaging (which answered all of the FAQs and more) to parking to staffing to photo ops to the exit, this Charlotte-based crew had it nailed. We enjoyed the preview of the history of the space (who knew that Charlotte was once home to a Ford Motor Company assembly plant that later become a site for missile development?!), the friendly bar service (what’s an immersive art exhibit without wine?), and the 90,000,000 pixels that span a 40-minute, 360-degree visual arts experience that is Van Gogh with a modern twist.
We purchased two basic tickets, $50 each, that allowed timed entry within a 20-minut window—a nice accommodation for social distancing measures that I hope will stay around as a new mainstay for event ticketing and guest flow. While it was by no means a low-cost art experience, the site itself clearly required a massive investment in upfit for the event and the abundance of well-trained, friendly staff were much appreciated. We lucked out in that our pre-show stroll landed us walking into the video portion of the day right during the closing credits so we grabbed two open chairs together and moments later, were experiencing the show in its full glory.
After departing the exhibit, we headed to Uptown Charlotte and checked in to our favorite boutique hotel in the city: The Dunhill Hotel. (Full Disclosure: The Dunhill is on our client roster at RMG+REG. I’d still stay here even if it wasn’t!)
About The Dunhill: “The Dunhill Hotel, located in Uptown Charlotte, is the city’s only historic and boutique hotel. Our location puts you within walking distance of art galleries, museums, the full spectrum of dining experiences, nightlife, shopping, and much more. Experience sophisticated, full-service accommodations enhanced by genuine Southern hospitality, an historic setting, and ideal location.”
Timing was really on our side this weekend, netting us an early check in to drop our stuff, grab an Uber, and head out to progressively eat and drink our way back to the hotel later in the evening. Our next destination: The Crunkleton! A Chapel Hill whiskey bar favorite of ours, Gary Crunkleton opened his Charlotte outpost just a year a ago with one major difference… a full restaurant attached. Johnnie and I enjoyed a few proper mid-day cocktails, Beignets, and Avocado Toast (for one, JB isn’t quite on that veg level yet) because once again, we lucked into two seats at the bar just before the kitchen was closing for a mid-day break. Named among Garden & Gun’s “40 Best Southern Bars”, get yourself to Chapel Hill or Charlotte for a sip or two and you’ll see why for yourself!
While waiting for our next Uber to arrive, we stuck our head into Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find… a real deal comic book shop. We weren’t treated to any surprise visits by the cast of The Big Bang Theory but it is still so cool to find unique, independent retailers like this alive and well.
Back in the Uber, we were Charlotte Beer Garden bound for a round then walked to Stir—two more concepts with Triangle-based variations. (It’s nice to be able to support our friends in the hospitality industry when we’re out and about, no matter where we roam. But if you are looking for decidedly Charlotte destinations, these are not for you.) Our final outpost of the evening prior to our return to The Dunhill was for a round of drinks at The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte, where Johnnie was hoping to catch one of his favorite local bartenders. (Said bartender didn’t happen to be on-shift during our visit, the first and only missed timing of our whole weekend adventure!)
Our return to the hotel was an opportunity to share another round of drinks at The Dunhill’s lobby bar which offers dinner service from The Asbury. We shared a few small plates and were even able to talk to brief guests stopping in on their Haunted Charlotte walking tour! The hotel originally opened in 1929 so it has its fair share of ghost stories but I’ll let you save those for your next visit rather than spoiling the surprises for you. ?
Thanks to a great night’s sleep, we were up and at ’em in time for brunch at The Asbury. If you dine here and don’t give yourself the chance to take home leftovers, you’re missing out. The Southern fare lives up to its reputation and the portions are generous. Located next door to Discovery Place, we had no agenda for Sunday so we grabbed two tickets so we could explore the current Apollo exhibit and got lost in even more immersion for the better part of two hours. (I left my phone charging in the car, so alas, no pics here.)
Our drive back to Raleighwood was a windows down, music cranked up kind of perfect. We remembered seeing a scenic overlook stop near Uwharrie Forest and paused for just a bit to enjoy the sunshine and snap a pic. (That’s one of our goals this year—to better document our best days. ? We didn’t do too bad this weekend!)
About halfway through our ride home we were ready for a late lunch. Knowing Asheboro was about 15 minutes ahead, Johnnie hopped on Yelp and found an “Open Now” listing for The Flying Pig Food and Spirits where we sat on a covered patio and enjoyed a casual Sunday late lunch. We strolled around Downtown Asheboro which has lots of new live and businesses coming soon, a place that we’ve earmarked for another overnight visit soon… perhaps after a visit to the Zoo!
A glass of wine on the porch at Lumina Wine & Beer capped off our weekend adventure and soon after, we were back at home in Raleighwood, relaxing and ready to take on this week.
I hope this travel guide inspires you to hit the road in NC this fall and enjoy exploring like a local… cheers, y’all!
In these final days of Christmas shopping I was thinking about those hard-to-shop-for loved ones in my life and I found myself asking, “what’s the best purchase you’ve made this year that someone else might enjoy, too?” (I think this might be a new tradition for me that sticks! We’ll see come next holiday gift-giving season…)
Truth be told, I’ve had one of these at my office for years, simply for making hot tea in the mornings. But using it for the ultimate life hack that it is preparing hot water for any use? It had never dawned on me prior to Jamie’s efficient meal prep teachings. Major lightbulb moment. Thanks, Jamie! ?
Thanks to Jamie’s musings, I was encouraged to order another kettle for home use and snatched one up on Prime Day. Remarkably, it was the only thing I purchased on Prime Day! How’s that for personal restraint in the “Needless Spending” category? ?
“Chefman” is the brand I have at my office that I believe was purchased at Best Buy years ago, at least five plus, and that thing still cranks out hot water on the regular.
There are two(lots of) versions on Amazon currently and truth be told, I can’t tell the difference between the $29.99 version and the $45.00 version so… caveat emptor! (“Buyer Beware”) If we’re being honest, both are probably just fine. Go ahead and spend that $15.01 elsewhere, honey.
Now priced at $24.00, the AmazonBasics version was $21.99 before and marked down to $17.59 on Prime Day so I snatched it up for the Casa de Chaos. I wish I had gotten one for the beach, too, at that price! Le sigh…
Don’t Forget the “Why”
If giving an electric water kettle feels even more impersonal than a coffee maker (unless it’s a Keurig® or a Nespresso® – now that is love) I mildly worry about that, too, so I’ll be sure to include a little note about WHY I love this device, how it’s made my life easier this past year, and maybe some goodies to enjoy with it (tea, dehydrated noms, etc.) and a link to catch up on Jamie Oliver’s 15-Minute Meals!
So, friends, what’s been the best thing you’ve bought this year?
Let me know in the comments!
PS: I used Amazon affiliate links in this post. If you buy something as a result of my recommendation, they might reward me with a small commission. Thanks in advance for supporting my writing!
I like to cook in the morning while tackling my inbox so that when the whole day gets mucked up it at least started on a high note. ?
?: Skinny Double Chocolate Banana Muffins
???: Joyful Healthy Eats Skinny Double Chocolate Banana Muffins (Warning: The pop-up and video ads over incredibly overwhelming. Do yourself a favor and do something else while the page loads and you make your way to recipe section.)
Recipe Notes
I found the mix to be really dry – too dry for easily putting spooning into the cupcake tin. It was probably because one of my bananas wasn’t overly ripe and partly also because I was being lazy and just put everything into the mixing bowl together. My solution? 1/3 cup Almond Breeze Almondmilk Nog (veg-friendly Egg Nog) that was in my fridge. Likely: Not very skinny. Also Likely: Didn’t care at 8 a.m. ? #StillTasty #MostlySkinny
Sidebar
I leave my phone in another room when I’m focusing on morning to-dos. If this leaves you, like me, wondering HTF do you get to your “Google Home Shopping List” on an internet browser instead of the app… here’s the new destination: https://shoppinglist.google.com. You’re welcome. 😉
Hey, y’all! I’ve missed blogging immensely and I get these long, philosophical thoughts on marketing at the worst times. You know, those busy weeks where you don’t have an hour to commit to writing a good blog post. (Shoutout to you professional writers making a go of it!)
To help find the happy medium, I’ve decided to start putting some of these thoughts to video so I can get them out in a relatively quicker fashion. Will readers still find these posts helpful? I’m not sure, let me know if you’re down with converting from “reader” to “viewer”. Because after all, I’m a marketer… which means I’m curious what you think!
Long story short, here’s my first go of things… a quick take on how I think Netflix won, but then subsequently lost, the email marketing game with a witch named “Sabrina”:
On our drive back to Raleigh from Asheville this morning, we stopped at the Kernersville Sheetz off I40 (exit 201) and spotted one of the nicest gas station patios ever. Also, I recognize this might be the first and last time I write “gas station patio”. ?♀️
Hat tip to the geniuses who came up with a handy supply of dog goodies too – a nice amenity for those of us who often travel with furry co-pilots. (Miss you, Delta Dog! Mama will be home soon. ?) Bonus points for putting it next to the wine. It’s like they know me!
The Banks Grill in Morehead City, NC, is a hidden breakfast and lunch gem that we stumbled upon thanks to Yelp.
It’s “Soon-to-be-Famous” Jumbo Cinnamon Roll, covered in ooey, gooey pecan praline sauce is a generous sweet starter that is easily shared by two or more diners and priced less than $4.00.
When it arrived at our table I imagined it being too rich for the two of us to finish, taking half home or later, but it was so light that we devoured it in mere minutes.
Tucked away in the Lowes Foods shopping center on Highway 70 coming into MHC, stop in for breakfast and be sure to order this tasty treat that deserves every bit of fame it’s destined for… Be prepared to wait a few minutes on weekend mornings, though. There’s ample outside seating to enjoy the wait! ?
Opening times vary between 7-7:30 a.m., closing at 2 p.m., Wendesday through Monday. Closed Tuesdays.
