In Short
One of the most unusual buildings in Raleigh--elliptic in shape with a quirky suspended roof--is also one of the city's most functional venues. The site gets one of its biggest workouts during the annual NC State Fair, when thousands of fairgoers crowd in to see concerts. Although national tours rarely stop here otherwise (preferring one of the Triangle's larger venues), Dorton Arena remains a popular location for trade shows and sports competitions.