Hey, I'm from Greensboro but I might can help you out a little. Raleigh is a fun place to be; there's a lot going on.
I couldn't begin to tell you about nails... sorry. But I would say that a Waffle House is always a good choice for after-bars munching in North Carolina.
Have you been to the mall yet? Crabtree Valley is SUCH a good mall (one of the better ones in NC, at least). Also if you are into shopping, head to Durham/Chapel Hill and go to The Streets at SouthPoint. BEST PLACE TO SHOP EVER.
Also, WhiteDaisy128 (I think that's it) is a DG at State, so you might want to PM her
