Triangle Rock Club’s new Salvage Yard location is now open near Raleigh Iron Works, offering 40,000 square feet of bouldering, climbing, yoga, cardio, and strength spaces. Country star Keith Urban will perform in Raleigh on May 31, 2025, at Coastal Credit Union Music Park, with tickets available starting Thursday, December 12. NC State football is set to face East Carolina University in the Military Bowl in Annapolis, Maryland, on Saturday, December 28, aiming for its first bowl win since 2017 after three consecutive victories over ECU. In a surprising move, six-time Super Bowl Champion Bill Belichick has been named the next coach of UNC football, with a $30 million contract over three years, despite having no collegiate coaching experience.

In education news, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges has revoked Saint Augustine University’s accreditation due to unresolved financial issues, although progress has been acknowledged. The school plans to return in February to demonstrate financial improvements. On the development front, a historic building near 400H in downtown Raleigh will be transformed into Garden West, featuring two to three restaurants with 10,000 square feet of outdoor seating by fall 2025. Meanwhile, a former gas station in downtown Cary will become Lloyd’s Full Service, a restaurant opening in 2025 from the team behind The Durham and Mayton Inn hotels.

Dix Park Conservancy has hired Ruffin Hall as its new CEO following the departure of Janet Cowell, who is pursuing the Raleigh mayoral office. In retail news, Amazon is now selling cars in Raleigh through Amazon Autos, available in 48 metro areas. Pierro’s Italian Bistro has opened in Glenwood South, offering an upscale dining experience with a sommelier, while Chef Scott Crawford’s new Crawford Brothers Steakhouse in Fenton is now taking reservations for its upscale menu featuring house dry-aged beef and an extensive wine selection. Dick’s House of Sport is coming to Durham’s Southpoint Mall with immersive experiences like a climbing wall and golf pro shop, although the opening date is yet to be announced.

WakeMed has been recognized as one of the best hospitals for maternity care by U.S. News & World Report, excelling in areas like newborn complications and cesarean section rates. However, the NC Theatre in Raleigh faces an uncertain future after filing for bankruptcy in February. While focusing on its education conservatory and planning a spring production of Into the Woods, financial struggles leave its summer programming and overall future in question.