Category Archives: Events

Dave & Buster’s Grand Opening Today in Cary Towne Center!

DB Sign

Yesterday I had a sneak peek at the new Dave & Buster’s in Cary set to open its doors to the public today, November 6th at 11am.  This is the Triangle’s first D&B. It is conveniently located in Cary Towne Center and is easily accessible from all points in the Triangle from I-40. This location is one of the largest ever built measuring in at 29,900-square-feet and features a larger dining area, a 360 degree bar with tons of televisions and of course lots and lots of games!

The Bar Area

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The Bar area  located directly in the middle of all the activity with seating on all sides  with easy viewing of a tv no matter which way you are facing. The 360-degree bar is outfitted with a massive wall of TVs on each side, ample seating for more than 500 people and an amped-up sound system with the ability to show any game or sporting event you can imagine through DirecTV.

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Large-screen high-definition televisions complete the perfect setting for watching your favorite sporting events and shows. They even have the ability to turn up the sound for different games in different seating areas during special events. Their are also plans to host trivia competitions on certain evenings during the games where diners can “Watch & Win” and earn prizes and other discounts on their food orders

Food & Drink Menu

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Dave & Buster’s food menu offers American fare such as burgers, steaks, seafood, pasta, salads and more. Popular items include the Mountain O’Nachos, pretzel dogs, Black Jack BBQ chicken, bacon-wrapped beef medallions, the South Philly burger and the Lawnmower Salad.

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They also offers several signature cocktails like the Miami Ice Snow Cone, Cherry Berry Mojito and the Million Dollar Margarita and have a large selection of bottle beers with 10 beers on draft including North Carolina’s own Foothills beer.

Daily drink specials:
Monday: 1/2 price wine by the glass & $3 miller light drafts
Tuesday: 1/2 price Margaritas and 1/2 price Coronas, Dos Equis & Modelo
Wednesday: $3 domestic drafts & 1/2 price Walk the Planks
Thursday: 1/2 price Red Bull Cocktails
Friday: $2 Bud light pints & 1/2 price Jolley Ranchers
Sunday: $4 Bloody Mary’s & 1/2 price Cider Beers

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I can’t forget to mention the deserts too! I have a bit of a sweet tooth so I couldn’t help but sample their chocolate cake and bananas foster, both of which were delicious!

The Arcade

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Of Course the main attraction at Dave & Buster’s for kids and adults alike is the arcade with over 140 fun interactive games. In addition to some of the classic video games like Pac-Man, which have been revamped into exciting multi-palyer versions on massive jumbo screens, there are numerous games of skill and old favorites like Skee Ball and Air Hockey (a cool 4 player version!).

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Many of the games like “The Claw” provide a chance to win prizes or earn tickets towards prizes you can select in the prize redemption. The prize redemption area is stocked with everything from candy and plush stuffed animals to iPods and iPads.

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I grew up in the early 80’s where going to the arcade meant lugging around five pounds of quarters in your pocket. Well times have changed and playing games is a lot simpler at Dave & Buster’s. Players use plastic “Power Cards” that they add value to and simply swipe the card to activate the game you would like to play. The cards are rechargeable and can also be used to store the points earned towards the prizes available in the redemption area (points can be stored over multiple visits which is great).

College Student Discount
College students get $10 of FREE game play added to their power cards when they purchase $10 of game play simply by showing their official college I.D. at the time of purchase.

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I was thrilled to see the arcade had several Skee Ball games too and that these games used the classic wooden Skee Balls  just like the ones I remember at the boardwalk at the Jersey Shore where I grew up. I think this will be my “go to” game!

Private Parties

group space

In addition to the fun games, dining and bar area, Dave & Busters is outfitted with two private rooms that can be used separately or opened up to each other for private functions, meetings, or corporate events. The rooms feature State-of-the-art audio, visual and lighting systems, modular furniture and a mobile bar are available for private functions and can hold up to 60 people.

So, as you can see I was pretty impressed with this fun new addition to the Triangle and I think it will be well received by families and sports fans alike at this location in Cary. I look forward to going back soon to watch my Hokies play on the big screen!

Grand Opening Today! Wednesday, November 6th at 11am
Dave & Busters Cary location opens to the public today at 11am. For more information check out their website and follow them on twitter @DaveBustersCary.

Dave & Busters – Cary, NC
Cary Towne Center
1105 Walnut St., Suite E101
Cary, NC 27511 (map)
Sunday – Thursday: 11 a.m. to midnight
Friday – Saturday: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Website: http://www.daveandbusters.com

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Competition Dining Series “Final Fire” Battle of the Champions Tickets On Sale Today at 7pm!

Drawing Knives

The regional winners draw knives to determine the bracket for Final Fire 2013
(photo courtesy of Competition Dining)

Final Fire Returns to Raleigh!
The Got To Be NC Competition Dining Series returns to Raleigh in November for the “Final Fire” competition. Final Fire will conclude the statewide chef competition and determine NC’s champion. Reservations open Oct. 30 at 7 pm online here.

Location & Dates
The four competitive dinners will be hosted at Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel at 4100 Main at North Hills St., Raleigh (map)

The series begins on Nov. 20 and concludes on Nov. 23. The Got To Be NC Competition Dining Champions from Asheville, Wilmington, the Triad, the Triangle and Charlotte will compete.

“Final Fire” Chef Brackets

November 20th

  • Noble’s Grille, Winston-Salem (John Bobby) vs. Mimosa Grill, Charlotte (Jon Fortes)

November 21st

  • Flights at Renaissance Raleigh Hotel, Raleigh (Dean Thompson) vs. winner of Nov. 20

November 22nd

  • Persimmons Restaurant, New Bern (Gerry Fong) vs. Red Stag Grill, Asheville (Adam Hayes)

November 23rd

  • Battle between winner of Nov. 21 and Nov. 22

At stake in Final Fire is $4,000, a hand-forged set of knives from Charlotte-based Ironman Forge and a trip to Napa Valley, CA to the pro chef program at the CIA Greystone campus, compliments of Kikkoman. The runner-up receives $1,000.

Now in its second year, The Got To Be NC Competition Dining Series has become a statewide movement. Because all people are chefs, farmers, and diners, the event’s mission is to connect and celebrate this community with a dynamic, entertaining experience.

Sponsors include the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Pate Dawson-Southern Foods, OUR STATE Magazine, Certified Angus Beef®, Pepsi Bottling Ventures and Swisher Hygiene.

How it Works
Paying guests will savor each course in a blind tasting alongside a panel of culinary and celebrity judges in a series of four dinner competitions. Each evening, two restaurants “battle” it out side-by-side in a single elimination format. Guests savor a six-course menu (three dishes from each chef without knowing whose food they’re tasting) created around a “featured” ingredient. For each dinner, the ingredient will come from a North Carolina farmer or artisan producer. The featured ingredient is revealed to the chefs only an hour before they start cooking, and it must be used in each of the three courses.

Diners, alongside culinary and guest judges, will rate each dish and determine who moves on to the next round and who goes home.

Reservation Information
Event reservations cost $119 each excluding beverage, tax and service charge. Diners can attend as many dinners as they like. Reservations open online here on October 30 at 7 pm . Event organizers expect the finals to sell out in 24 hours so don’t wait!

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Rock ‘n’ Roll Raleigh Marathon & Half Training Update #1 and Discount Code!

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Training for my upcoming races has been going well. I was just out on the Neuse Greenway trail yesterday and completed my longest training run to date at 21 miles! It took me a little over 3 hours to complete but I felt strong and injury free. I do have a few races before the Rock ‘n’ Roll Raleigh Marathon and Half-Marathon on April 13, 2013, but I have my mind set on this particular race as I work towards my goal of a new personal record for the half marathon distance. I really want to beat my previous half marathon time of 1:53:52 and plan to make this happen at the Rock ‘n’ Roll race.

Training Update #1

Race Training Update #1
Over the past few months I have settled into a nice manageable training program to build a nice base and increase my endurance on longer distances. I typically run 3 times during the week followed by a long run on Saturday. My weekday runs are usually something along the lines of a 5 miler on Tuesday, an 8-9 miler on Wednesday, and then 5 miles on Thursday. I do the majority of my training runs on the Neuse Greenway Trail since I live so close to it and it provides a scenic course to run along the river. I take Friday off to rest then Saturday I do my long run which I slowly increase by 1 mile each week. I’ve also started riding a bike on Mondays to work out the kinks from my weekend long run and it has been doing wonders for my legs. I also have continued my strength training at my local gym, O2 Fitness, by attending at least one or two group exercise classes each week (typically BodyPump).

Big Boss Run Club

Big Boss Run Club

Run Clubs – A fun way to keep motivated!
A big part of my weekday training is participating in local run clubs. These aren’t training clubs in the traditional sense. They are actually social run clubs filled with runners of all levels who are looking to run with likeminded people and socilaize. Two of my favorite social run clubs are the Tuesday night Big Boss Run Club which meets at the Big Boss Brewery just outside of downtown and the Thursday night River Run Club which meets at DeMarco’s Restaurant & Bar in North Raleigh. I’ve met a lot of great people at both clubs and enjoy having people to run with and learning from some of the more experienced runners who are always ready to share their race experiences and training tips. It is also nice to support the great local businesses like Big Boss and DeMarco’s, both of which are awesome hosts to the runners.

Save $13 on Registration October 13th

Save $13 by Registering Today! (October 13th)
If you haven’t singed up for the race yet, you can take advantage of a special discount code when you register on the 13th of the month. Register today (October 13th) with the online code LUCKY13 to receive $13 off your next race entry. Visit the registration page here. In addition to saving $13 keep in mind that you’ll want to register soon to beat the 10/31 price increase.

Rock 'n' Roll Raleigh T-shirt

Rock ‘n’ Roll Raleigh T-shirt

Rock ‘n’ Roll Raleigh T-Shirt Giveaway!
The nice people behind Rock ‘n’ Roll Raleigh were nice enough to send me a few free t-shirts to giveaway on my blog. If you would like one drop me a line at TriangleExplorer at gmail dot com and I will try and coordinate a way to get one to you (possibly by catching up at one of the local run clubs!). Supplies are limited and shirts will be given away in the order I receive requests. If I get any additional shirts or swag items to giveaway I will announce it in future updates.

About the Rock ‘n’ Roll Raleigh Marathon & 1/2
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series is a little different from your typical marathon. This race combines a musically themed marathon and half-marathon with live entertainment. It has been described by some as “a 26.2-mile block party.”

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Raleigh marathon takes place April 13, 2014 and will feature bands positioned on stages along every mile of the scenic course throughout Raleigh, interspersed with cheerleaders & themed water stations. The running experience is topped off with a finish-line concert downtown featuring a major headline act.The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series has raised more than $283 million for charity in the last 16 years.

Discount Code for Rock ‘n’ Roll Raleigh Marathon & Half Marathon
Reminder: If you don’t take adavantage of the October 13th discount, you can continue to use the unique discount code I’ve been given to share with my Triangle Explorer readers. Save $10 by using the discount code “TRIEXPLORERAL10” when you Register online at the Rock’n’Roll Marathon website. This code will work as long as you register before April 6, 2014 and is good for both the full and half marathon.

More Information about Rock ‘n’ Roll Raleigh
Date of Race: Sunday April 13, 2014
Rock ‘n’ Roll Raleigh website: http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/raleigh
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RnRRaleighNC
Twitter: @RunRocknRoll

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Foodies Rejoice! Annual Pepper Festival – October 6th & TerraVita Food & Wine Event October 10-12th

PepperImage

If you’re a voracious local foodie, a supporter of North Carolina’s sustainable agriculture or just enjoy good music and a cold beer, don’t miss the 6th Annual Amazing Pittsboro Pepper Festival this Sunday, October 6th, from 3-7pm at Boulder Park in Briar Chapel, Chapel Hill.

The Pittsboro Pepper Festival aims to spread the superfood power of regional peppers while promoting local food, fun, and community. All proceeds from the Pittsboro Pepper Festival go toward sustainable agriculture education and research in the Piedmont of North Carolina through The Abundance Foundation and Piedmont Biofarm, both located at The Plant in Pittsboro.

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Photo courtesy of the Abundance Foundation

The festival features over 30 local chefs from Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Durham, Cary, Greensboro, Carrboro and Pittsboro who choose from a wide variety of heirloom local peppers (everything from sweet to hot!) to create their most creative pepper dish or drink to serve in person at the bustling festival.

Pepper Kings and Queens, kid’s activities, and a community of local food lovers, sustainable agriculture activists and sustainability educators will be a part of the event. Fun for the whole family includes a Vegetable Circus, hula-hoops, face painting, and the return of the legendary big bubbles on the green. Musical entertainment provided by Big Fat Gap, Loamlands, and Steph Stewart and the Boyfriends!

Admission
$30 in advance, $35 at the gate. Kids under 12 get in free!To purchase tickets and get more information please visit the festival website.

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photo courtesy the Abundance Foundation

About the Abundance Foundation
The Abundance Foundation is empowering the Piedmont on sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and local economy through DIY workshops, community-building events, and by actively engaging youth.

Terralogo

TerraVITA Food & Wine Event, named one of the “10 Southern Food Festivals You Need to Taste” by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, has earned its reputation as a premier culinary event in the Southeast because it highlights local and sustainable food and beverages of superior quality. This October, TerraVITA returns for its fourth year, offering a series of educational and tasting events featuring renowned North Carolina chefs, artisans and makers of top local and sustainable wines, microbrews, coffee and spirits. Tickets are still available for the Grand Tasting on the Green and a few other select events, visit  www.TerraVITAevent.com for ticket availability.

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TerraVITA Grand Tasting Event 2011
(photo courtesy of TerraVITA)

Oct. 12, Grand Tasting on the Green
TerraVITA culminates on Saturday, Oct. 12 with the Grand Tasting on the Green. Seriously delicious food from exceptional restaurants across North Carolina will be offered alongside more than 100 sustainably-produced beverages from around the globe. Returning favorites include On The Square in Tarboro, French Broad Chocolate Lounge in Asheville, Herons Restaurant from The Umstead Hotel & Spa in Cary, and Chef & The Farmer in Kinston; new restaurants and rising stars include Ashten’s in Southern Pines, Little Hen in Holly Springs, Spring House in Winston Salem, and Cameo 1900 in Wilmington. Organic coffee producers, biodynamic, organically-grown and natural wines, and a dozen sustainably-produced microbrews and local distilleries will also be on site for sipping and sampling. Live music and a silent and live auction benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (www.cff.org) will take place under the Grand Tasting Tent at Southern Village.

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(photo courtesy of TerraVITA)

As in years past, TerraVITA has set the additional goal of producing a zero waste event by employing the intensive use of compostable and recyclable goods and recycling nearly all of the waste produced at the event.

Sponsors of TerraVITA include Chapel Hill Orange County Visitors Bureau, The Local Palate, North Carolina Department of Agriculture, Mitre Agency, TOPO Great Room & Distillery, PNC Bank, The Siena Hotel, Our State magazine, Locals Seafood, Edible Piedmont, and Orange County Waste Management, and more.

For more information, please visit www.TerraVITAevent.com

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Casktoberfest at Big Boss Brewing Co. ~ October 3, 2013

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The folks at Big Boss Brewing Co. in Raleigh are assembling over 30 cask conditioned ales for the Third Annual Casktoberfest Celebration this Thursday October 3rd. Brewers and staff at Big Boss Brewing have put together another stellar beer line up.  For the 2013 edition of Casktoberfest Big Boss has put together the company’s largest selection of firkins for the one night event including a set of two “Uber-Firkins” containing 55 gallons of beer each.

The first 20 casks have been announced on the event website:  http://www.casktoberfest.com/bung/

Casktoberfest is the Big Boss way of honoring two significant brewing cultures in one event:  National Cask Ale Week in the United Kingdom and Oktoberfest in Munich. This year they are also using the celebration as a way to benefit and bring attention to the North Carolina Mountains to Seal Trail!

With Casktoberfest you’ll experience a uniquely American approach to these world traditions and offer a variety of cask conditioned brews in a festive, beer-hall atmosphere complete with German cuisine provided by our neighbors at Catering Works.

Location:
Big Boss Brewing Company / 1249 Wicker Drive / Raleigh NC 27604

About Big Boss Brewing Co
Big Boss was formed as a collaboration between Geoff Lamb, a UNC graduate, who returned to North Carolina in 2006 to join forces with Brewmaster, Brad Wynn. Big Boss produces a lineup of year round beers like Bad Penny Brown Ale, High Roller Indian Pale Ale, and 12 seasonal beers including the ever popular Harvest Time Pumpkin Ale.

About The Friends Of The Mountains To Sea Trail
FMST is the growing group of citizens and volunteers who support North Carolina’s longest marked footpath.  The trail passes through 37 counties and is nearly 1,000 miles long.  Volunteers  work all over North Carolina, building and maintaining the trail, encouraging communities to create new sections of trail, and helping people hike it. http://www.ncmst.org

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