Kelly

Sean

Wes

Mike

Of all the bars/clubs in Raleigh, the bartenders at White Collar Crime are definitely some of the most talented. Even though every spot of the bar was filled with people, they don’t keep you waiting long for your next drink.

In addition to being extremely attentive, they are also skilled at flair, meaning they are good at juggling/balancing/flipping liquor bottles, bar tools, etc. during the course of preparing a cocktail for a guest. There aren’t many of these in Raleigh, but White Collar Crime has almost an entire staff skilled at this art.

The bartenders here are more than service workers tending guests, they are a performance that blended in seamlessly with the DJ and the crowd. While in sync with various buildups/breakdowns of dance tracks, they will throw a stack of napkins in to the air, or blow fireballs against the wall. It is really quite a performance.

This was the first time I’d ever been to white collar crime, and I must say I sorely regret not having been sooner.  The building itself has always intrigued me, as it has served as something else long ago, and you can see the history in the walls and windows. Outside is the unique identifier–the unmistakable blue thumbprint (sadly not pictured).

From the permorming artist bartenders on staff, to random bursts of napkins exploding in the air, a consistently packed crowd, to outdoor seating, and great DJs–this place has a lot going for it. This was probably one of the most memorable spots covered for this blog.

Every Wednesday you get to be the DJ–bring in your iPod with 5 tracks ready or use theirs loaded with 30,000.

319 W Davie St
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 828-0055
Get directions

Notice any repeating geometric forms?

This building is also known as The Wake Country Public Safety Center.

A plate near the sidewalk at the corner of East St and New Bern Avenue reads:

Eastern boundary of the original city of Raleigh. The original city plan, drawn by surveyor and legislator William Christmas in 1792 contained four hundred acres with North, South, East, and West Streets as the boundaries. Christmas’s plan called for New Bern Ave and the other streets leading towards Union Square to be 99 ft. wide, the rest of the streets to be 66 ft. wide. Raleigh grew slowly, and by 1891 the eastern boundary was one and one-half blocks east of here.

Raleigh Boy noted these original boundaries when commenting on the history of the Hillsboro(ugh) St. name.