Routes to Raleigh: Dashing from the West
(1) Starting Point: Los Angeles, California
Hollywood Boulevard. Shutterstock, 1 Mar 2016, https://bit.ly/lastockphoto.
To Do: The Broad, a contemporary art museum offering free general admission and an active program of rotating exhibitions.
To Eat: The Little Door, with a consistently rotating menu, The Little Door holds the title for the "Best Romantic Restaurant of LA." A Parisian-style restaurant with seasonal French fare, pastries, and fine wines.
To Drink: Bar Bohemian, a sleek, bright and breezy craft cocktail rooftop bar and lounge at Citizen Public Market.
(2) Albuquerque, New Mexico
To Stay: Painted Lady Bed & Brew, a twist on the traditional B&B concept. Built in 1881 as a brothel and saloon, The Painted Lady is rumored to be haunted, if you’re into that sort of thing.
To Do: Hike La Luz Trail to the top of South Sandia Peak for a beautiful view of the city. If the weather’s good, take the cable car back down to the bottom.
To Eat: Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm, technically a hotel, but their restaurant’s food is grown right on the property.
To Drink: Sip on local wines at Casa Rondeña Winery.
(3) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City Skyline Sunset. Pixels, 13 Apr 2019, https://bit.ly/okstockphoto.
To Stay: Colcord Hotel, housed in a historic building from the 1910s, the Colcord is a boutique hotel smack in the middle of the downtown scene.
To Do: Ride OKC’s Bike + Brews, a three-hour-long bike tour, with stops at five breweries and a few other notable city sites along the way.
To Eat: Grey Sweater, one of OKC's newest and most unique restaurant concepts.
To Drink: Elemental Coffee, a minimalist cafe with espresso and craft coffee drinks. Their beans are roasted in-house!
(4) Nashville, Tennessee
Spirit of Nashville Bus. Shutterstock, 15 Feb 2020, https://bit.ly/nashstockphoto.
To Stay: Kimpton Aertson Hotel, located in Nashville’s Midtown district next to the legendary, Music Row. Pet friendly!
To Do: You can’t go to Music City without hearing some live music. Go see a show at the Grand Ole Opry.
To Eat: Pinewood Social, a trendy restaurant, cozy coffee shop, craft cocktail bar, and a bowling alley. All in one!
To Drink: Yee-Haw Brewing Co., a dual distillery and brewery in Sobro that is a much-loved go-to.
(5) Asheville, North Carolina
To Stay: The Foundry Hotel Asheville, restored and resurrected an abandoned steel foundry.
To Do: Take a hike in the Pisgah National Forest.
To Eat: Jargon, located in historic West Asheville, Jargon is an intimate spot that offers modern American dishes along with craft cocktails.
To Drink: Capella on 9 takes rooftop drinking to the next level. Smack in the middle of downtown Asheville, Capella has a great cocktail program with phenomenal city views.
Welcome to Raleigh, West Coasters!
Routes to Raleigh: Dashing from the East
Woah! Another hypothetical road trip itinerary for our East Coast Dash Bash attendees. Find part one here, with part three to follow shortly!
Road Trip Itinerary. NYC to Raleigh, NC.
Read time: 5min
(1) Starting Point: New York, New York
Lower Manhattan - Chinatown. Getty, https://bit.ly/nycstockphoto.
To Do: Sleep No More, an award-winning, interactive theatrical experience. Follow a film-noir portrayal of Macbeth through a five-story 1930s hotel located in the Chelsea neighborhood.
To Eat: Juliana's, a neighborhood pizzeria serving new york-style pies. Pro-tip: if wandering over from Manhatten, take a stroll along the Brooklyn Bridge, as the restaurant is located just under it.
To Drink: Attaboy, a cocktail bar hidden in plain sight on an obscure bit of Eldridge Street. If you enjoy more of an intimate speakeasy vibe, this spot’s for you.
(2) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
To Stay: Lokal Hotel - Fishtown, a modern apartment-hotel in one of Philly’s hottest neighborhoods. Fishtown is home to some of the city’s most trendy restaurants, bars, shops, and cafes.
To Do: Philadelphia's Magic Gardens, a non-profit organization and gallery space on South Street. It is the largest work created by mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar to date. Covering an indoor and outdoor space equivalent to half a city block, the tiled passages weave over and underground.
To Eat: Reading Terminal Market, a huge indoor marketplace featuring some of Philly’s best local eateries. Comprised of dozens of stalls with a variety of food—homemade ice cream, donuts, cheesesteaks, whoopee pies, you name it.
To Drink: Elixr Coffee, a cafe on a small side street in the heart of Center City. The walls are covered in vibrant murals that change every few months. Elixr is known for its light roast, so if you like it dark, head elsewhere.
(3) Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore Inner Harbor Skyline. Getty, 3 Dec 2019, https://bit.ly/baltimorestockphoto.
To Stay: The Admiral Fell Inn, a historical inn in Fell’s Point made up of seven historic structures. The buildings’ past lives have included a rooming house for sailors during Fell’s Point’s rough-and-tumble days, a YMCA, and a bottling factory.
To Do: The Edgar Allan Poe House, for all of our spooky story fans. Check out where Poe launched his renowned career. Note that the house is small with tight winding staircases, so is unfortunately not 100% accessible.
To Eat: Woodbury Kitchen, a farm-to-table favorite that's well worth visiting for the restored space alone. Think old factory turned hip, rustic-chic.
To Drink: The Bluebird Cocktail Room, named one of “The South’s Best New Bars,” this literary-themed bar in Hampden features cocktails named after famous authors.
(4) Washington, D.C.
To Stay: Hotel Hive, DC's first micro-hotel. Located across the street from the George Washington University campus, Hive is a converted warehouse turned hotel space.
To Do: The Tidal Basin Loop, an easy 2.1-mile loop surrounded by cherry trees. The loop will take you past many monuments, including the Japanese Pagoda, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and the Washington Monument.
To Eat: Paying homage to French cafe culture, Le Diplomate is seriously boujee, and worth every penny. We will forever recommend their brunch.
To Drink: Located two blocks from the waterfront, Bluejacket is a microbrewery serving craft beers in a century-old former factory.
(5) Richmond, Virginia
Autumn on Monument. Getty, https://bit.ly/richmondstockphoto.
To Stay: Quirk Hotel Richmond, located in Downtown Richmond’s art and design district, Quirk is a boutique hotel located just two miles from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
To Do: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, one of the largest comprehensive art museums in the U.S. with more than 5,000 years of art from around the world.
To Eat: Rappahannock, an Industrial seafood spot nestled in the historic Grace St. corridor of downtown Richmond with offerings of an oyster bar, craft cocktails, and beer in airy digs.
To Drink: Charm School Social Club, a dual coffee and ice cream spot. ‘Nuff said.
Welcome to Raleigh, East Coasters!
Routes to Raleigh: Dashing from the North
Let’s say that, hypothetically, one or more of you fine folks would choose to road trip to our beautiful city for the Bash. Boy, do we have a (hypothetical) itinerary for you! Parts two and three to follow shortly.
Road Trip Itinerary. Vancouver, BC to Raleigh, NC.
Read time: 5min
(1) Starting Point: Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Financial District. Getty, https://bit.ly/vancouverstockphoto.
To Do: Stanley Park, an absolutely massive 1,000-acre urban park in Vancouver’s backyard. Head over in the morning and spend a few hours exploring the zoo, beaches, and aquarium.
To Eat: Kissa Tanto, tucked away in the upper story of a faded building in Chinatown you’ll find one of the city’s hottest supper clubs. Kissa Tanto fuses the flavors of Japan with the warmth of Italian cooking.
To Drink: The Diamond, a cocktail lounge in the heart of Gastown with an old soul. The Diamond is a cool, laid-back place to meet a friend for a cocktail and apps. Additional fun fact, it was given number 17 in a roundup of the top 50 bars in Canada.
(2) Seattle, Washington
To Stay: Ace Hotel Seattle, a boutique hotel set in former maritime workers' lodging. This trendy hotel in the Belltown district is a nine-minute walk from both Pike Place Market and Olympic Sculpture Park.
To Do: Pike Place Market, home to more than 200 artisans selling everything from homemade baked goods to hand-thrown ceramics.
To Eat: Pestle Rock, Serving up Thai cuisine in the heart of Ballard, Pestle Rock is a culinary gem. Most are used to the taste of Bangkok-style Thai food, think Pad Thai, but don’t come here looking for that. Pestle Rock specializes in Thai food from Isan, known for its pungent, spicy dishes.
To Drink: La Marzocco Cafe, a chic coffee shop slinging beans from around the world and bites from The London Plane.
(3) Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis Skyline at Dusk. Getty, https://bit.ly/minnstockphoto.
To Stay: Alma Hotel, a 15-minute walk from the central downtown area, Alma is a beautiful, boho-styled boutique hotel. Bonus: the hotel’s restaurant sources its produce seasonally from local organic growers and makers.
To Do: Minneapolis Institute of Art, home to more than 90,000 art pieces, MIA is one of the largest art museums in the U.S.
To Eat: Named after two grandmothers, Sooki and Mimi is James Beard Award-Winning chef, Ann Kim's, newest restaurant located in the uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis.
To Drink: Meteor, in their own words, “An old ass bar with good ass drinks.” Enough said.
(4) Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin. iStock, https://bit.ly/madisonstockphoto.
To Stay: Graduate Madison, located just a block from the university’s campus, Graduate is set alongside Lake Mendota on historic Langdon Street, and just around the corner from Memorial Union Terrace.
To Do: Captial Farmers Market, if you happen to be there on a Saturday morning—on the drive back, perhaps—check out the Danes County Farmers Market around the capital building. There is a large variety of vendors; you can even eat breakfast combining the carts. Enjoy a picnic of your goodies on the capital grass!
To Eat: The Old Fashioned, paying tribute to all things Wisconsin. From cheese curds to 50 local beers on tap, they have it all.
To Drink: Showcasing new and innovative spirits from microdistilleries around the Midwest, The Robin Room is a cozy cocktail hangout in a retro space.
(5) Charleston, South Carolina
To Stay: Hotel Emeline, a trendy boutique hotel located in a restored estate from 1852. The hotel is a minute’s walk from the Charleston City Market and a mile from The Battery defensive seawall. Bonus, doggos welcome!
To Do: The Battery, a pedestrian-only walkway and park along Charleston’s waterfront. You’ll find Charleston’s famous Pineapple Fountain here. Pineapples are a symbol of welcoming in the south, and this fountain is one of the most visited sites in the city.
To Eat: Leon’s Oyster Shop, a relaxed seafood joint serving oysters, southern-style meals, and fried chicken in a cool space with a patio.
To Drink: Félix, a Parisian-inspired cocktail bar and small plates restaurant in the heart of Charleston.
Welcome to Raleigh, Northerners!
Things To Do In Raleigh, Part Two
We hear that good things come in pairs. You’ll have an entire weekend to romp around our city this September, make sure you do it like a true Raleigh local.
Find our first list here.
A list of cool Raleigh to do’s.
Read time: 10min
(1) Grab a bite…
Address:
413 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27603
Details:
“The Cortez is a fresh seafood and small plates experience with a freshly kept selection of tropical cocktails that draw on their food memories travels through the years and Mexican-American heritage.”
Address:
428 S McDowell St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Details:
“Poole'side Pies specializes in Neapolitan-style pizza. Cooked in their 6,000-pound, Marra Forni wood-fired oven, every Poole'side pizza is crafted using local flour, house-made mozzarella, and organic Bianco DiNapoli tomatoes. Yet while they're pretty serious about their pizza technique, their decor is all about the laid-back vacation vibes-an airy, swimming pool-themed space marked by sky blue banquettes and a 52-foot skylight. Pair it all with a refreshing spritz, or a pour from the Italian-heavy wine list.”
Address:
603 W Morgan St, Raleigh, NC 27603
Details:
“A contemporary, stylish eatery featuring easy-going international dishes, cocktails, and a relaxed vibe..”
Address:
222 S Blount St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Details:
“Bida Manda is a thoughtful gathering place celebrating the diverse food traditions and culture of Laos. The Sanskrit ceremonial term for father and mother, Bida Manda, was created out of the deep love and appreciation of food and its power to bring people together.”
Address:
411 W Morgan St, Raleigh, NC 27603
Details:
“Morgan Street Food Hall is a new lifestyle dining concept; not to be confused with a food court. It features local eateries and restaurants as well as local food retailers. Morgan Street Food Hall introduces the concept of cross meal ordering, where different meals are enjoyed in a shared seating area.”
Address:
315 Blake St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Details:
“A lively, new Japanese restaurant and sushi bar putting modern spins on Japanese classics. Stop in for creative sushi rolls, bento boxes, and other Japanese eats in modern surrounds.”
(2) Buy a round (or two)…
Address:
319 W Davie St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Details:
“Focusing on craft beer and cultivating an active lifestyle in the community, Crank Arm Brewing is a locally owned brewery in downtown Raleigh, NC.”
Address:
201 W Martin St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Details:
“A chef's barroom and restaurant. One part Whiskey bar, one part world-class Southern kitchen born in downtown Raleigh, NC.”
Address:
222 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27603
Details:
“A place where you can find farm-to-table creations with the Latin American roots of their chef’s, mind-blowing cocktails. Their menu is designed to share, providing a unique and affordable experience full of good memorable moments.”
Address:
330 West Davie Street, Raleigh, NC 27601
Details:
“Located in Raleigh’s famous downtown Warehouse District, this bar and arcade is home to hundreds of arcade-style games, including 70+ classic and modern arcade cabinets, over a dozen pinball machines, and 175+ console games. They have a full liquor bar with 24 rotating craft drafts.
Address:
614 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27603
Details:
“A rustic-chic bar offering 350+ beers on tap and modern comfort fare in a bi-level space with a patio. Fun Fact: they’re in the Guinness World Records for having the largest selection of draft beers available in a single restaurant.”
Address:
616 St Marys St, Raleigh, NC 27605
Details:
“Cocktails, hookah, and apps. Enough said.”
(3) Have a sweet tooth..?
Address:
327 W Davie St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Details:
“An artisan chocolatier offering self-guided tours, plus a cafe for chocolate bars, bonbons, and espresso.”
Address:
104 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27603
Details:
“A cozy, stylish bakery whipping up bespoke cakes, cupcakes, pastries, and espresso drinks.
Address:
2261 New Hope Church Rd, Raleigh, NC 27604
Details:
“La Horchateria was created to bring traditional Latin sweets with an American twist to the city of Raleigh. We recommend the mini concha ice cream sandwich and the churro sundae.”
Address:
3801 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27607
Details:
“A hip coffeehouse with baked goods, local art exhibits, and open-mike nights.”
Address:
500 E Davie St STE 107, Raleigh, NC 27601
Details:
“Benchwarmers Bagels makes great bagels using fresh-milled, pre-fermented heirloom grains, extended fermentation, and a wood-fired oven. Their spiced honey cream cheese is both literally and figuratively FIRE.”
(4) Get out there…
Address:
4601 Avent Ferry Rd, Raleigh, NC 27606
Details:
“Lake Johnson is a recreation area with 5.4 miles of trails around a lake, along with boat rentals, picnic areas, and fishing hubs.”
Address:
223 S West St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Details:
“A hidden gem in Raleigh, known for the best skyline views! Not only is it free to visit the Dillion, but you can also bring your own food and drinks (as long as no event is going on). Find the entrance right next to Barcelona Wine Bar’s patio. Take the elevator up to the 9th floor, walk through the public lobby, and enjoy the views.
Address:
8801 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27617
Details:
“A state park that covers 5,599 acres nestled between the cities of Raleigh, Cary, and Durham. If you’re a hiker, trail runner, bicyclist, or equestrian, this is your place.”
Explore Downtown Raleigh
Details:
“Downtown Raleigh has tons of free things to do and see! This includes murals, museums, a free tour at the Capital, and Glenwood Sout.
If you’re looking for a good place to take a souvenir flick, some of our favorite city murals are:
407 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27601
201 E Davie St, Raleigh, NC 27601
428 S McDowell St, Raleigh, NC 27601
310 S Harrington St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Find the full list of public art spots here.
Address:
126 E. Cabarrus St. Raleigh, NC
Details:
“If variety is the spice of life, then the Lincoln Theatre is serving up a lot of spice. This music venue hosts everything from local artists to cover bands. The tiered space guarantees you’ll be able to see the stage while having plenty of room to dance.”
(5) Shop local…
Address:
2402 Clark Ave, Raleigh, NC 27607
Details:
“Minimalist gold and brass jewelry, handmade by Sophie Wiseman-Floyd in Raleigh, NC.”
Address:
501 E Davie St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Details:
“North Carolina’s First Cocktail Bitters Company, established in 2012. Their cocktail bitters and shrub syrup concentrates are hand-crafted in small batches from 100% maceration in organic, non-GMO alcohol, with no glycerin, chemicals, or dyes. Glass pots or wood barrels are used exclusively in the storage and aging of their products.”
Address:
719 N Person St, Raleigh, NC 27604
Details:
“A small, independent bookstore in downtown Raleigh.”
Address:
18 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27603
Details:
“Raleigh Vintage specializes in quality vintage clothing, home goods, and natural apothecary. They offer vintage for a modern, sustainable lifestyle.”
Address:
14 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27603
Details:
“If you're dipping your toe in the vinyl pool or looking to complete your collection, this is the place for you. Sound Off carries a large stock of 12" LPs, 7" singles, and an always-changing selection of vintage receivers, amps, speakers, and turntables.”
Address:
1818 Oberlin Rd #103, Raleigh, NC 27608
Details:
“Cap the day off with a cap’. Idle Hour is a boutique coffee shop serving delicious coffee and sandwiches.”
An Open Letter to Dash Bash Attendees
dash: from two to twelve and everything in between.
Let’s roll back the clock to 2015. The Supreme Court affirmed same-sex marriages. We found water on Mars. Australians FINALLY gained access to Netflix. And with all of the other life-changing milestones…dash was born.
It was an unseasonably cool summer evening when dash was first conceived. A few beers led to an honest conversation about motion design and the direction that co-founders, Mack Garrison and Cory Livengood, wanted to take with their lives. They had met five years prior while working at a content marketing agency in Raleigh, NC--an agency they had both just left.
Cory, a Senior Animator, is self-taught and proud of it. His background in stage and film production at North Carolina State University gave him a knack for solving problems. This, along with his easy-going and charismatic personality, makes him a great fit for a motion design company that demands critical thinking and a cool head.
Mack, a Raleigh native, is an optimist and dreamer. He found his creative direction studying at North Carolina State University’s College of Design where he fell in love with animation and motion graphics. As an Animator and Creative Director, he has been exposed to a myriad of concepts—this allows him the ability to clearly articulate direction for a wide range of clients and creatives alike.
Cory Livengood and Mack Garrison
The Bash to end all bashes.
So, what were two (recently) freelance creatives to do? Hop on a plane to NYC and attend their very first Motion Design conference, of course! These conferences highlight some of the most unique and interesting work being created within the industry, but it wasn’t the recognizable names or the incredible projects being exhibited that struck them. It was how welcoming everyone was; Big wigs of the creative world chatting it up with two “Average Joes” from Raleigh--lending advice and genuinely wanting to hear their story. The positive experiences really stuck with them. It had made an industry that had once felt so massive a little less intimidating and more familial.
Fast forward again to 2021. Mack and Cory have now surrounded themselves with a team of passionate, hardworking folks who are dedicated to sharing their creations. This October 15th will mark dash’s sixth birthday, and we’ll be celebrating in style at The Dash Bash on September 23rd and 24th. Why a Motion Design festival you may ask? The studio would not have been half as successful without the connections and wisdom gained from hangout opportunities such as F5, OFF fest, and Blend. It’s now our time to give back to the community that has given so much to us.
Offering the festival in an atypical environment is a nod to the city that we love so much. Because let’s not beat around the bush, Raleigh isn’t exactly an LA or a Chicago. What it is, however, is a perfect example of one of the many changes happening within our industry. Modern technology is beginning to break down many of the barriers of the Motion Design world. It’s no longer a requirement to live within those larger markets to make a name for yourself.
Dylan Carrow, Mack Garrison, Cory Livengood, Meg Snyder, and Meryn Hayes
Continuing on.
Our intentions for this fall’s festival are not only to take the long-overdue time to reconnect with the community that we have been isolated from this past year and a half but also to raise our group consciousness. We spoke of change. Change is good. Change is growth. Change is constant. This industry has begun to change for the better, but we would be remiss to not acknowledge why it has been made necessary in the first place.
Present-day Motion Design is a multi-directional world of possibilities. Rising students today have the unique opportunity to choose from a number of career paths: 3D motion graphics, publications, UX, branding, sometimes work that completely resists definition or categorization. So yes, this field has an incredibly diverse range of professional foci, but the industry itself has historically (and presently) not been as inclusive when it comes to who is doing the creating. Motion Design as a profession cannot survive if it doesn’t represent the audience it’s meant to target. With Black Lives Matter, the Me Too Movement, and other social justice initiatives, it’s time we self-assess our own industry to acknowledge both the good and bad happenstances. While things are steadily changing, it’s time we recognize that as a whole, Motion Design has been lacking in diversity. Particularly when it comes to leadership positions. As a result, the Dash Bash is prioritizing a diverse range of speakers and topics to be discussed. It’s time we diverge from the traditional vision of what it means to be a leader in creative. It’s time to show exactly where this industry is heading. We’re excited, we hope you all are as well. See ya’ll in September!
The full dash crew