May 5, 2026

Inside Faces of Raleigh: A Night Celebrating the People Shaping This City

An elevated evening of speakers, tastings, music, and connection in the heart of North Hills

Inside this recap: the moments, the makers, and the magic from the sold-out night that brought together Raleigh's most influential community leaders, creatives, and tastemakers under one roof.

Watch the full recap of Faces of Raleigh 2026.

There are nights you attend, and there are nights you remember. Faces of Raleigh was the second kind.

On April 29 at 1000 Social at The Exchange in North Hills, The Best of Raleigh, Midtown Magazine, and 5 West Magazine came together to host an evening built around the people who are quietly, persistently, and beautifully shaping Raleigh's culture, community, and future.

The event sold out. Both GA and VIP. And once you stepped inside, you understood why.

A Room Full of People Building This City

Walk through 1000 Social on the night of April 29 and you would have run into entrepreneurs, creatives, restaurant owners, designers, agents, founders, and the everyday Raleigh residents who follow them, support them, and root for them.

That was the whole point.

Faces of Raleigh was never meant to be a typical networking event. It was an intentional gathering of the people behind the brands, businesses, and stories that make this city feel like home, alongside the community that loves them. The energy in the room said everything. Conversations stretched longer than they should have. Strangers became friends over shared bites and shared zip codes. Familiar faces caught up across the bar, the photo wall, and the tasting tables.

This is what happens when you put the right people in the right room.

The Faces Spotlight

The centerpiece of the night was the speaker lineup, two voices representing different corners of what makes Raleigh, Raleigh.

Todd Saieed, CEO of DeWitt Carolinas, brings more than 25 years of construction and development experience to one of the fastest growing development companies in the Carolinas. Todd shared the story behind The Exchange and the meaning of the building's signature root feature, a nod to deep local roots and endless growth. The same idea, it turns out, that defined the entire night.

Patrick Shanahan, the visionary artist, filmmaker, and hospitality entrepreneur behind Watts & Ward, Peregrine, and Capulet Cocktail Club, delivered the moment of the night.

Patrick reminded the room that 250 years ago, right outside The Exchange at Isaac Hunter's Tavern, leaders gathered over drinks to decide that Raleigh would become the capital of North Carolina.

And here we were, doing the same thing, in the same place, 250 years later.

A room full of the people building Raleigh's next chapter, gathered over drinks, deciding what comes next. Same ground. Same spirit. Different century.

That is the kind of moment you cannot script.

Curated Food and Beverage Tastings

If you have ever wondered what it looks like when Raleigh's best food and beverage talent shows up under one roof, this was it.

The tastings were intentionally curated, small bites and sips from spots that represent the range and depth of what is happening in this food scene right now. Every plate told a story. Every glass came from a partner who has put years into building something meaningful here.

Tastings and pours from Brewery Bhavana, Trophy Brewing, Capulet Cocktail Club, Vitis House, Pour Sisters, Jake Smith Personal Chef, and Anida's Ice Cream carried the night from first sip to final bite.

This was not catering. This was a tasting menu of Raleigh, by Raleigh.

Music, Atmosphere, and the Vibe of the Night

The space felt designed, because it was. From the moment guests walked in, every corner of 1000 Social had been considered. Soft lighting. Florals from Atlantic Gardening. Live music courtesy of the North Carolina Opera. The kind of background hum that makes a room feel alive without ever feeling loud.

Mini golf from Putts Mobile Mini Golf tucked playfulness into the night. You could feel the difference at the door. This was an experience, not a program.

Portrait Moments and Photo Experiences

One of the signature touches of the night was the portrait setup, intentional photo moments that gave guests a way to capture the evening, mark the night, and leave with something more than a memory on their phone.

Captured beautifully by Eleven Twelve Photos and Jessie Peloso Photography, the photo wall became a gathering point on its own. Couples. Friend groups. Solo portraits. Business partners standing side by side for the first official photo of whatever they have been quietly building together.

Giving Back to the Community That Built This Night

A celebration of Raleigh would not be complete without giving back to it.

Because of every ticket sold, we donated $1,500 in proceeds to A Place at the Table, an organization doing meaningful work right here in our community.

That is what this night was really about. Not just gathering the people building Raleigh, but using the room to support the people taking care of it.

Connection, Community, and Celebration

If you ask ten people what their favorite part of the night was, you will probably get ten different answers. The speakers. The food. The music. A specific conversation. The portrait moment. The one introduction that turned into a coffee meeting the following week.

That is the mark of an event that worked.

Faces of Raleigh was never about a single moment. It was about the dozens of small ones, layered together, that made the night feel like a celebration of something bigger than itself. A celebration of this city. The people in it. The ones building it. The ones cheering them on.

Behind the Night

A night like this does not happen without the partners and friends who showed up to bring it to life.

Our deepest thanks to:

To our partners at Midtown Magazine and 5 West Magazine, our honorees, our speakers, our sponsors, and every single person who walked through the door, thank you for showing us what this city is made of.

Why It Matters

If you were in the room that night, you felt it. The energy. The connections. The kind of audience the best Triangle business is trying to reach, all in one place.

That room is who we put in front of our partners every single day, across our media, our events, our social channels, and our city-wide network of over 250,000 locals who trust Best of Raleigh to guide their lifestyle with the best places to eat, drink, shop, stay, and play.

If you want your business in front of this audience, through a feature, a partnership, a sponsorship at our next event, or a fully built campaign, we would love to talk before our 2026 partner spots fill up.

This city is paying attention. Let's make sure they are paying attention to you.

This is just the beginning.

Subscribe to The Best of Raleigh on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. New episodes twice a month, featuring the people and places that make this city one of the best places in the country to live, work, and explore.

For daily local finds, hidden gems, and things to do around the Triangle, follow @thebestofraleigh on Instagram.

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