Renee Umsted
@reneeumsted.bsky.social
Service + retail reporter at The News & Observer. TCU alumna 🤠. Say hi: rumsted@newsobserver.com
Reposted by Renee Umsted
Three of NC’s four “Bib Gourmand” distinctions are in the Triangle.
19 Triangle restaurants in the new American South Michelin Guide: The breakdown
Three of NC’s four “Bib Gourmand” distinctions are in the Triangle.
bit.ly
November 3, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Three of NC’s four “Bib Gourmand” distinctions are in the Triangle.
In my latest for @newsobserver.com, I tell you how to order coffee like a Jonas brother. www.newsobserver.com/living/food-...
Jonas Brothers visit Durham’s Omie’s Coffee Shop before show
Ahead of their concert in Raleigh, a popular band visited a Triangle coffee shop. Here’s how they made it to the local business and which drinks they ordered.
www.newsobserver.com
October 30, 2025 at 6:03 PM
In my latest for @newsobserver.com, I tell you how to order coffee like a Jonas brother. www.newsobserver.com/living/food-...
Reposted by Renee Umsted
Raleigh’s No Kings protest this weekend isn’t downtown. Here’s why. Organizers cite downtown festivals and crowd size as reasons for holding Saturday's protest on Capital Boulevard, near Triangle Town Center. (Via @reneeumsted.bsky.social) www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a... #ncpol
Raleigh’s No Kings protest this weekend isn’t downtown. Here’s why
Many protests that happen in Raleigh are held downtown. But this one will be miles away from the State Capitol.
www.newsobserver.com
October 17, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Raleigh’s No Kings protest this weekend isn’t downtown. Here’s why. Organizers cite downtown festivals and crowd size as reasons for holding Saturday's protest on Capital Boulevard, near Triangle Town Center. (Via @reneeumsted.bsky.social) www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a... #ncpol
Yesterday, @newsobserver.com saw the inner workings of the giant pumpkin and watermelon competition at the N.C. State Fair. Here's what you missed: www.newsobserver.com/news/state/n...
Massive pumpkin sets new record at the NC State Fair. Here’s how much it weighs
It’s a great pumpkin indeed. For the third year in a row, pumpkins weighing more than a ton were entered in the “Super Bowl for giant growers.”
www.newsobserver.com
October 15, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Yesterday, @newsobserver.com saw the inner workings of the giant pumpkin and watermelon competition at the N.C. State Fair. Here's what you missed: www.newsobserver.com/news/state/n...
I had brisket for lunch this week. Here's how my visit to one of the Triangle's newest barbecue joints went. www.newsobserver.com/living/food-...
I visited a hot Triangle barbecue joint’s new location. Here’s how it went
Traditional North Carolina and Texas-style barbecue? They’ve got it. But tacos and sandos are also on the menu.
www.newsobserver.com
October 10, 2025 at 8:45 PM
I had brisket for lunch this week. Here's how my visit to one of the Triangle's newest barbecue joints went. www.newsobserver.com/living/food-...
We're asking readers: Which restaurants should Crabtree mall add?
The mall has openings for a couple of full-service restaurants. Tell us which ones you’d like to see there.
Which restaurant should replace Brio at Raleigh’s Crabtree Mall? Tell us
The mall has openings for a couple of full-service restaurants. Tell us which ones you’d like to see there.
bit.ly
October 8, 2025 at 2:34 PM
We're asking readers: Which restaurants should Crabtree mall add?
The Wake County ABC store in downtown Raleigh is now open. www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Downtown Raleigh is getting a new ABC liquor store soon. Here’s what we know
For the first time in 40 years, downtown Raleigh will have its own ABC store.
www.newsobserver.com
September 22, 2025 at 7:13 PM
The Wake County ABC store in downtown Raleigh is now open. www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Reposted by Renee Umsted
Inside Look at the new location of one of the Triangle's most unconventional -- and acclaimed -- barbecue brands. From @reneeumsted.bsky.social and @vizjourno.bsky.social.
Acclaimed Triangle barbecue joint brings ‘the spirit of leisure’ to Cary
The barbecue gods are looking favorably upon downtown Cary.
www.newsobserver.com
September 16, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Inside Look at the new location of one of the Triangle's most unconventional -- and acclaimed -- barbecue brands. From @reneeumsted.bsky.social and @vizjourno.bsky.social.
Riff ram
It’s hard to imagine Bill Belichick’s college debut going any worse than a 48-14 loss to TCU that saw the students fleeing before the third quarter was even halfway over.
For its millions upon millions, North Carolina got sold a Bill of goods
It’s hard to imagine Bill Belichick’s college debut going any worse than a 48-14 loss to TCU that saw the students fleeing before the third quarter was even halfway over.
bit.ly
September 2, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Riff ram
Reposted by Renee Umsted
A new entertainment complex in the Triangle has activities for all ages, including a mixed-reality playground, and serves food and drinks. Take a look inside.
This new Raleigh-area business has a ‘mixed-reality playground.’ See inside
A new entertainment complex in the Triangle has activities for all ages, including a mixed-reality playground, and serves food and drinks. Take a look inside.
bit.ly
August 21, 2025 at 7:40 PM
A new entertainment complex in the Triangle has activities for all ages, including a mixed-reality playground, and serves food and drinks. Take a look inside.
See what's in the works for Crabtree mall. www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Crabtree Valley revival: What a $60 million facelift will do for the aging mall
Raleigh's Crabtree Mall is undergoing a $60M transformation with sleek updates, aiming to increase occupancy and attract top-tier shopping brands.
www.newsobserver.com
August 21, 2025 at 7:48 PM
See what's in the works for Crabtree mall. www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
A @newsobserver.com photojournalist and I spent the past few months talking with and visiting North Carolina shrimpers and other commercial fishermen, who have been thrust into the spotlight recently.
Here's what we learned: www.newsobserver.com/news/state/n...
Here's what we learned: www.newsobserver.com/news/state/n...
A ban nearly crushed NC shrimpers. Why they embrace the life they fight to keep.
Shrimp trawling kills too many fish and damages marine habitats, critics say. Those who do the work say it’s a job and a culture worth preserving in North Carolina.
www.newsobserver.com
July 23, 2025 at 4:11 PM
A @newsobserver.com photojournalist and I spent the past few months talking with and visiting North Carolina shrimpers and other commercial fishermen, who have been thrust into the spotlight recently.
Here's what we learned: www.newsobserver.com/news/state/n...
Here's what we learned: www.newsobserver.com/news/state/n...
Want to go to the new Gipson Play Plaza at Dix Park? Here's what you need to know. www.newsobserver.com/raleigh-city...
Here’s a guide to the new Gipson Play Plaza at Raleigh’s Dix Park
The 18.5-acre addition includes playgrounds, a sand box, a sensory maze, a splash pad and more. Here’s what to know about visiting.
www.newsobserver.com
June 6, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Want to go to the new Gipson Play Plaza at Dix Park? Here's what you need to know. www.newsobserver.com/raleigh-city...
I went to the "grocery store" to ask people why they shop and sell there. www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Raleigh has the best ‘grocery store’ in NC, study says. It isn’t a grocery store
The new ranking analyzed thousands of stores in the 100 most populous cities in the U.S. And the best “grocery store” in North Carolina is in Raleigh.
www.newsobserver.com
May 29, 2025 at 9:22 PM
I went to the "grocery store" to ask people why they shop and sell there. www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Big news for us Texpats: www.newsobserver.com/living/food-...
A big Texas taco brand is opening in Raleigh, offering ‘bold, global flavors’
A big Texas taco brand looks to Raleigh as part of a nationwide expansion.
www.newsobserver.com
May 28, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Big news for us Texpats: www.newsobserver.com/living/food-...
Looking for a new place for outdoor dining? This restaurant, which opens soon, features a patio and a fire pit. www.newsobserver.com/living/food-...
Popular NC seafood restaurant expands to a 4th location in the Triangle
Serving fried platters and the Southern classic shrimp and grits, the restaurant will soon open in a new Triangle town.
www.newsobserver.com
May 14, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Looking for a new place for outdoor dining? This restaurant, which opens soon, features a patio and a fire pit. www.newsobserver.com/living/food-...
Reposted by Renee Umsted
"To be financially feasible, the restaurant needed to serve around eight to 10 more people each night, and there just wasn’t space to seat them." @reneeumsted.bsky.social on a Durham dining loss.
‘Pitch perfect’ restaurant in downtown Durham will close soon. Here’s when to go
Known for a rotating, chef-driven menu, the 36-seat dinner spot is saying goodbye.
www.newsobserver.com
May 13, 2025 at 8:22 PM
"To be financially feasible, the restaurant needed to serve around eight to 10 more people each night, and there just wasn’t space to seat them." @reneeumsted.bsky.social on a Durham dining loss.
The retailer is planning to open 20 new stores across the U.S. this year, and six of them will be in North Carolina.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
A furniture chain will make its NC debut this year with 6 new stores
The company is expecting to open 20 new stores across the United States this year. Two of them will be in the Triangle.
www.newsobserver.com
May 12, 2025 at 4:52 PM
The retailer is planning to open 20 new stores across the U.S. this year, and six of them will be in North Carolina.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Reposted by Renee Umsted
🧵 The News & Observer + The Charlotte Observer were honored as a Pulitzer Prize finalist for their joint coverage of Hurricane Helene + the aftermath in NC. The Associated Press + The Washington Post were also finalists.
www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a...
www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a...
N&O, Charlotte Observer named Pulitzer Prize finalists for Helene coverage
The Associated Press and The Washington Post were also finalists in the category.
www.newsobserver.com
May 5, 2025 at 8:59 PM
🧵 The News & Observer + The Charlotte Observer were honored as a Pulitzer Prize finalist for their joint coverage of Hurricane Helene + the aftermath in NC. The Associated Press + The Washington Post were also finalists.
www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a...
www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a...
Reposted by Renee Umsted
Breaking: Gregg Popovich will no longer be head coach of the Spurs and is transitioning full-time to team president, sources told Shams Charania.
He is the NBA’s all-time winningest coach and winner of five NBA titles.
He is the NBA’s all-time winningest coach and winner of five NBA titles.
May 2, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Breaking: Gregg Popovich will no longer be head coach of the Spurs and is transitioning full-time to team president, sources told Shams Charania.
He is the NBA’s all-time winningest coach and winner of five NBA titles.
He is the NBA’s all-time winningest coach and winner of five NBA titles.
An opening date for the new Publix in Rolesville has been announced.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
A new Publix grocery store opens soon in the Triangle. When you can shop
The 46,791-square-foot store is the latest Triangle location for the Florida-based grocer.
www.newsobserver.com
May 2, 2025 at 4:09 PM
An opening date for the new Publix in Rolesville has been announced.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Reposted by Renee Umsted
NEW: UNC basketball player Zayden High was suspended last semester after the university found him responsible for sexual exploitation.
Despite sanctions barring him from athletics, he kept access to facilities & has been around the team at least once. www.newsobserver.com/news/local/e...
Despite sanctions barring him from athletics, he kept access to facilities & has been around the team at least once. www.newsobserver.com/news/local/e...
UNC basketball player Zayden High suspended for sexual misconduct; kept team perks
High filmed a fellow student without consent during a sexual encounter, according to the student, additional sources and documentation obtained by The N&O.
www.newsobserver.com
May 1, 2025 at 6:05 PM
NEW: UNC basketball player Zayden High was suspended last semester after the university found him responsible for sexual exploitation.
Despite sanctions barring him from athletics, he kept access to facilities & has been around the team at least once. www.newsobserver.com/news/local/e...
Despite sanctions barring him from athletics, he kept access to facilities & has been around the team at least once. www.newsobserver.com/news/local/e...
You might be seeing photos of well-dressed high schoolers carrying small bouquets this spring. No, they're not all getting married. It's just for the prom. www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
NC proms look a little different this year, and the change is costing more
The latest trend for a night under the stars is blooming among Triangle prom-goers.
www.newsobserver.com
May 1, 2025 at 2:01 PM
You might be seeing photos of well-dressed high schoolers carrying small bouquets this spring. No, they're not all getting married. It's just for the prom. www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
We're expecting several stores to open at The Streets at Southpoint this year, including these two. Catch up on what's coming to the Durham mall in 2025.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
2 new stores are opening soon at The Streets at Southpoint in Durham
The toy and apparel brands, neither new to the Triangle, are the latest tenants to join the popular shopping center. Here’s when they’ll open.
www.newsobserver.com
April 23, 2025 at 3:25 PM
We're expecting several stores to open at The Streets at Southpoint this year, including these two. Catch up on what's coming to the Durham mall in 2025.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
What's new at University Place? @tammygrubb.bsky.social has the latest. www.newsobserver.com/news/local/c...
Chapel Hill’s mall is gone, but local shops are finding a place beside national brands
Over two years of construction to remove one end of the mall and add more buildings around a public lawn just wrapped up.
www.newsobserver.com
April 17, 2025 at 3:28 PM
What's new at University Place? @tammygrubb.bsky.social has the latest. www.newsobserver.com/news/local/c...