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Good afternoon, Raleigh. Why couldn't the couple get married at the library? 💍

It was all booked up. 📚

In today’s Raleigh Rundown:

• 7 fun things to do in Raleigh this weekend + live local music

• Takeout-only seafood restaurant coming to Raleigh

• Duke is the betting favorite for the Final Four

• Raliegh’s oldest profesional theater is shutting down

Let’s get to it. 🏃‍♂️

STORIES THIS WEEK

Takeout-only seafood restaurant coming to Raleigh 🦀

Dave Riley and Kristen Thompson-Riley, former fans turned franchisees of Topsail Steamer (a seafood company featured on "Shark Tank"), are opening the first Triangle-area location in Raleigh's Quail Corners Shopping Center this fall (corner of Falls of Neuse and Millbook Road). The 1,075-square-foot takeout-only store will offer ready-to-cook seafood steamer buckets containing shrimp, crab, corn, and potatoes that customers simply add water or beer to prepare at home.

The couple, who became regular customers at Topsail Beach's location before deciding to franchise, chose Raleigh for its demographic profile and see opportunities to partner with local breweries and sporting events while planning to expand with additional locations in the future.

New dessert shop opening in North Hills 🍫

Tifa Chocolate & Gelato, a California-based chain, is expanding to Raleigh's North Hills with a new 1,736-square-foot location in Captrust Tower, joining several other dessert-focused businesses in the area. Local franchisee Sean Dill has leased the space formerly occupied by Century 21 Real Estate, where Tifa will offer over a dozen gelato flavors, pastries, chocolate products, coffee and tea drinks, and specialty drinking chocolate, with an outdoor patio included.

The brand, which began in 2007 and currently has locations across California, Arizona, Texas and one existing North Carolina shop in Charlotte, will now have two shops in North Carolina.

Duke is the betting favorite for the Final Four 🏀

Duke enters the men's Final Four as the heavy betting favorite (+105) to win the national championship, leading a rare all-No. 1 seed field that includes Florida (+275), Houston (+450), and Auburn (+500). The Blue Devils have dominated the tournament with an average victory margin of 23.5 points and open as 4.5-point favorites against Houston in their semifinal matchup, while Florida is favored by 2.5 points over Auburn in the other game.

Most sportsbooks report Duke as their biggest liability after attracting more bets than any other school throughout the season. Duke is heading back to the Final Four for the 18th time, their first trip since 2022. They take on Houston on Saturday at 8:50 PM, with the winner headed to the national championship game on Monday.

Raliegh’s oldest profesional theater is shutting down 🎭

After more than 40 years, Raleigh's oldest professional theater, North Carolina Theatre, is shutting down permanently. Despite filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in February 2024 and having a plan confirmed in September, the theater failed to secure enough funds to remain sustainable.

NCT attempted to obtain state funding and negotiate a merger with another professional theater, but these efforts were unsuccessful. Following the completion of its conservatory program culminating in "Into the Woods" performances in early May, the theater will close its doors, with Theatre Raleigh taking over its Kennedy Space Center location.

WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND

LIVE LOCAL MUSIC THIS WEEKEND

🎶 Raleigh Live Music – Friday, April 4

• Dreamville Pre-Game Party @ Boxcar Bar+Arcade

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh DT @ Warehouse

  • Time: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

• Kevin Lee @ Slims Turtle Beer Co.

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Wakefield

  • Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

• Garret Cummings @ Brixx Wood Fired Pizza

  • Neighborhood: Cary W @ High House / Davis

  • Time: 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM

• NiTO @ The Raleigh Times Bar

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh DT @ Hargett / Fayetteville

  • Time: 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM

• Oakwood Aer @ Scooter's Bar & Grill

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Atlantic / Millbrook

  • Time: 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM

• Outlaw Bit @ Korner Pocket Sports Bar & Grille

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Capital / I-540

  • Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

• The Rogues @ Saints & Scholars Pub

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Spring Forest / Falls

  • Time: 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM

• Gatsby's Unplugged - Open Mic @ Gatsby's Bar Raleigh

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Millbrook

  • Time: 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM

• Raleigh Assassins @ Weldon Mills Distillery

  • Neighborhood: Durham DT

  • Time: 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM

• Dallas Teteus w/ Sugar and The Bumps @ Tsp Yard Raleigh

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Iron Works

  • Time: 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM

• Vibe After Nine @ O'Malley's Pub & Restaurant

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh NW @ Duraleigh

  • Time: 8:00 PM - 11:30 PM

• Necromancy Soc. Dr. Manic Dave Industrie @ Chapel of Bones

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh SW @ Maywood/Lk/Whir

  • Time: 8:00 PM - 11:55 PM

• Good Luck Club Dance Party @ The Pour House Music Hall

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh DT @ City Market

  • Time: 9:00 PM - 11:55 PM

• Magic Fingers @ Hero's Pub & Sandwich Shop

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Six Forks / Sawmill

  • Time: 9:00 PM - 11:55 PM

• Against The Odds @ Wild Wing Café

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh NW @ Brier Creek NE

  • Time: 10:00 PM - 11:59 PM

🎶 Raleigh Live Music – Saturday, April 5

• LLV Mabob Theatre: Dance Improv Contests @ Martin Marietta Ctr Performing Arts

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh DT / Memorial Auditorium

  • Time: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

• Hunter Grant Music @ Tecovas

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ North Hills

  • Time: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

• Groove Me - 80s Day Party @ Missy Lane's Assembly Room

  • Neighborhood: Durham DT

  • Time: 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

• Kevin Flinn @ Slims Turtle Beer Co.

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Wakefield

  • Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

• Wednesday 13, Stitched Up Heart, Dead Rabbits, & I Ya Toyah @ Chapel of Bones

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh SW @ Maywood/Lk/Whir

  • Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

• Proton Jones @ Brixx Wood Fired Pizza

  • Neighborhood: Cary W @ High House / Davis

  • Time: 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM

• Jared Place @ Brixx Wood Fired Pizza - Raleigh

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ FallsOfNeuse / I-540

  • Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

• Skye Fortenbery @ The Wandering Moose Tavern

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Lynn / Creedmoor

  • Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

• Heavy Weather @ Saints & Scholars Pub

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Spring Forest / Falls

  • Time: 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM

• Raleigh Assassins @ Tonic Bar & Social Club

  • Neighborhood: Wake Forest DT

  • Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

• NC Master Chorus - Tales of Enchantment @ Martin Marietta Ctr Performing Arts

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh DT / Memorial Auditorium

  • Time: 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM

• 80s Second Chance Prom @ Lincoln Theatre

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh DT @ City Market

  • Time: 8:00 PM - 11:55 PM

• Stealing Tonight @ The Avenue Raleigh

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh DT @ Glenwood S

  • Time: 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM

• Downpour @ Korner Pocket Sports Bar & Grille

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Capital / I-540

  • Time: 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM

• Colors presents: R&B only 21+ @ The Rialto

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Five Points

  • Time: 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM

• For A Dollar @ Tsp Yard Raleigh

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Iron Works

  • Time: 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM

• Live Band Karaoke @ Rubies on Five Points

  • Neighborhood: Durham DT

  • Time: 9:00 PM - 11:55 PM

• Kudzu Drew @ Slim's Dive Bar

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh NW @ Duraleigh

  • Time: 9:00 PM - 11:55 PM

• 464 @ Hero's Pub & Sandwich Shop

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Six Forks / Sawmill

  • Time: 10:00 PM - 11:55 PM

• Story Charlemagne @ Wild Wing Café

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh NW @ Brier Creek NE

  • Time: 10:00 PM - 11:55 PM

RETRO PIC OF THE WEEK

Ariel view of downtown looking north. February 1986.

The muddy track twisting through the middle of the frame is the McDowell/Dawson Street extension - seen here in progress.

Today, it remains our most scenic gateway into downtown.

WEEKEND WEATHER

Friday

90 🌡️ 66 | 🌤️ | 0%

Saturday

89 🌡️ 68 | 🌤️ | 0%

Sunday

87 🌡️ 63 | ⛈️ | 40%

LOCAL SPORTS

Hockey 🏒

• Friday: Carolina Hurricanes @ Detriot Red Wings | 7 PM

• Saturday: Carolina Hurricanes @ Boston Bruins | 7 PM

Baseball ⚾️

• Thursday: Sugar Land Space Cowboys @ Durham Bulls | 6:35 PM

• Friday: Sugar Land Space Cowboys @ Durham Bulls | 6:35 PM

• Saturday: Sugar Land Space Cowboys @ Durham Bulls | 6:35 PM

• Sunday: Sugar Land Space Cowboys @ Durham Bulls | 1:05 PM

Men’s College Basketball 🏀

Duke takes on Houston in the Final Four this Saturday at 8:50 PM. The winner heads to the national championship game on Monday.

Click here for an up-to-date tournament bracket, scores, and game times.

THANKS!

Thanks for reading the Raleigh Rundown today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who likes shoes. 👟

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