Category Archives: Weekend Picks

April 28, 2016 · 3:06 pm

Weekend Picks: April 29th – May 1st

 

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The Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo is Sunday 1-6pm

This weekend is packed with events from food truck rodeos to free outdoor music. Here are a few fun things going down the next few days that caught my eye. Happy exploring!

Lobster Food Truck at Wine & Beer 101 – Friday
Cousins Maine Lobster food truck will make Wine and Beer 101 Raleigh it’s 2nd stop on their 1st Anniversary Weekend Celebration! Founder Sabin Lomac of Cousins Maine Lobster as Seen on Shark Tank will be here so come meet and chat with him.

Midtown Farmers Market Iron Chef –Saturday
Chefs from North Hills compete to be the Midtown Farmers’ Market Iron Chef. Just like the popular TV show, a secret ingredient will be revealed the morning of, Chefs have limited resources and time to create two dishes for judging. Chefs from: Midtown Grille, Mura, and Sur La Table. Challenge runs from 9am-11:30am.

Counter Culture Grand Opening – Saturday
Counter Culture Coffee has moved to Downtown Durham and you are invited to tour the new facility, taste our coffee, learn about home brewing, and check out their pop-up store. Grand Opening Celebration 10am-4pm this Saturday at 812 Mallard Ave.

Bull City Ciderworks Exit Party – Saturday
April 30th will be Bull City Ciderworks’ final day of operation at the South Elizabeth Street location. Stop by one last time on Saturday to enjoy a pint of cider, food trucks, and the East Durham Pie Company PopUp Slice shop. 

North Hills Midtown Music Festival – Saturday
Enjoy free live music in Midtown park at the 2nd Annual Midtown Music Fest from 2-9pm this Saturday. There will be four bans throughout the day along with food trucks and craft beer and wine for purchase.

Cary Spring Daze Arts & Crafts Festival – Saturday
Spring Daze features over 180 North Carolina artists, entertainment on four stages, delicious festival food and Cary’s annual Earth Day Celebration. Event is held in Cary’s Bond Park from 9am to 5pm.

Six Sundays Music in Wake Forest – Sunday
Free live music at E. Carroll Joyner Park in Wake Forest from 5-7pm. This week’s performer is the EG Peters band featuring beach music and tunes from the 60’s & 70’s.

Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo – Sunday
The first downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo of 2016 takes place this Sunday from 1-6pm. There will be over 50 trucks and local craft beer for sale along Fayettville Street. 

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March 29, 2016 · 7:53 am

Weekend Picks: April 1st – 3rd

Cedar Creek
This weekend marks the start of April and North Carolina Beer Month so there are plenty of craft beer related activities to check out in the next few days. Another favorite of mine this time of year is the Cedar Creek Pottery & Glass Festival in nearby Creedmoor. Also, happy to pass along that new Cocoa Cinnamon location in Durham is now open on Sundays and the Honeysuckle Tea House in Chapel Hill is now open for the 2016 season. Here are the rest of my top picks for the weekend:

Friday – April 1st

Casks on Fools at Crank Arm Brewery
At least 20 breweries are joining with Crank Arm to celebrate the kick off of NC Beer Month by bringing a signature cask. Portion of proceeds goes to NC Brewers Guild & NC Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1719903001577740/

Cedar Creek Glass & Pottery Festival
The glass and potter festival at Cedar Creek in Creedmoor runs Friday-Sunday. Includes demos, workshops, local vendors and daily food trucks.
http://www.cedarcreekgallery.com/

Saturday – April 2nd

Bond Brothers Beer Grand Opening in Cary
Celebrate the grand opening of the highly anticipated new brewery in Downtown Cary. Festivities include live music from local touring artists, Chatham County Line and Diamond Creek! Local food truck favorites attending include: The Humble Pig, Pie Pushers, Chirba Chirba, Heavy Metal Grillers, CJ’s Street Food, and Sweet Traditions. There will be new releases of Bond Brothers beer, special collaboration beers, plus raffles and more!
https://www.facebook.com/events/192433221118013/

LoneRider Beer Showdown
Lonerider Brewing Company presents a day of beer, bands and other great entertainment with a portion of proceeds going to benefit the Lung Cancer Initiative NC.
http://www.loneridershowdown.beer/

Tour De Brew
What better way to solve a world crisis (lack of clean water) than spending a day with friends exploring new breweries, joining one of the bike rides, or just hanging out at the Tour de Brew party?
www.tourdebrew.org

Sunday – April 3rd

Free Coffee from Allegro Coffee Bus
Keep an eye out for the Allegro Coffee Bus this at the Durham Whole Foods. The bus is a restored vintage 1951 bus that’s been outfitted as a mobile coffee bar and they will be in Durham Sunday from 2-5pm giving out free coffee and tea drinks.

Bonus: Fariview Garden Garden Center – FREE Classes

Fairview Garden Center, one of the largest garden centers in the Triangle, will be hosting a series of free classes throughout the months of March, April and May with the goal of empowering local community members to take charge of their family’s nutrition and learn to enjoy the act of gardening.

Do you really know where our food comes from? Are you inspired by your neighbor’s garden and want to start your own? This series will cover these topics and more. All classes will be taught by Fairview’s owner and certified horticulturist, Brad Rollins and his wife Heather every Saturday at the garden center located at 8422 Holly Springs Road in Raleigh. Saturday classes are followed by a mini food truck rodeo featuring two local, gourmet food trucks each day. Classes are free to attend and are open to the general public.

Upcoming classes include:

March 31 – Greenhouse Safari for the Kids
April 2 – Easy Edibles
April 17 and May 14 – Container Gardening
May 7 – Big Color, Easy Plants
May 21 – Organic Gardening

To see the full list of upcoming events or to register for free, visit http://fairviewgardencenter.com/about/classes-events/.

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March 11, 2016 · 4:18 pm

Weekend Picks: March 11th-13th

PicnicDurham

Looking for something to do this weekend? There are plenty of fun events going on the next few days, from parades and live music to checking out the new PICNIC in Durham for some whole hog barbecue. Here are my top picks for the weekend of March 11th through the 13th. I’ve also included a few tips for places to grab a slice of pie on Monday 3.14 – also known as “Pi Day”.

Friday – March 11th

Art in the Evening at NC Museum of Art
Sidecar Social Club returns to the NC Museum of Art for a night of jazz music and art. The museum’s “Art in the Evening” series is free and open to the public. Music begins around 5:30pm and goes until 8pm. If you need dinner plans check out the Iris restaurant inside the museum. Reservations encouraged.

Saturday – March 12th

Raleigh St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The parade kicks off at 10am, starting at Lane Street and making its way down Wilmington, Fayetteville and Salisbury Streets (parade route). There will also be lots of activities for the kids along with live music and dancing on two stages located in City Plaza and Martin Street (music schedule). For more information visit http://www.raleighstpats.org

Sunday – March 13th

PICNIC welcomes John Shelton Reed
PICNIC, North Carolina’s newest whole hog barbecue joint, welcomes John Shelton Reed on March 13th to celebrate BARBECUE: A Savor the South Cookbook. Guests are invited to meet John Shelton Reed at PICNIC in Durham on Sunday, March 13th from 2pm to 4pm. PICNIC’s barbecue – and all the fixin’s – will be served, as well as snacks, desserts, and wine and beer on draft. (A cash bar will be open as well.) Flyleaf Books will be on-hand selling signed copies of BARBECUE for $20. Tickets for $30 may be purchased at http://peatix.com/event/149864/view.

Durham Food Truck Rodeo
50+ food trucks, local craft beer and live music in Durham Central Park from 12-4pm. For a full list of trucks visit the event website here. As always, get there early to avoid the lines.

Bonus: Monday March 14th is “Pi Day”
Pi (Greek letter “π”) is the symbol used in mathematics to represent a constant — the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter, which is approximately 3.14159. In Celebration of Pi Day on Monday 3.14 Bean Traders and Scratch  in Durham will both offer pie by the slice for $3.14 all day. Also, the East Durham Pie Company  and The Parlour in Durham will team up to offer ice cream and pie (also for $3.14 a slice) from 3:14pm to 10pm. If you are looking for pizza pie check out the 12″ pie special for $5 at Farina in Raleigh’s Lafayette Village.

 

 

 

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March 3, 2016 · 3:20 pm

Weekend Picks: March 4-6th

Pie

Photo courtesy: East Durham Pie Company

It’s hard to believe it is already March. I don’t know where the time has gone, but the good news is things start picking up now that warmer weather is just around the corner. You can view my full list of upcoming spring events and festivals here. In the meantime, here are a few suggestions of fun things to check out for the weekend of March 4th through the 6th.

Friday – March 4th

First Friday in Raleigh
It’s a new month which means another great chance to check First Friday in downtown Raleigh. I recommend stopping by Brew Coffee to for music drinks. Also visit the inaugural First Friday event at Devolve Moto on Glenwood Avenue. Live painting of custom helmets, and Brooklyn Brewery Beer for $3. The market on Hargett Street in front of The Morning Times is always a lot of fun as well. Events typically run 6-9pm.

Saturday – March 5th

Salsa Dancing at Old Havana Sandwich Shop
Every first Saturday of the month in Old Havana in Durham. Enjoy delicious Cuban food, great music and salsa dancing. RuedaRDU holds a beginner lesson at 7:45pm and  the dancing goes until 10pm. $5 cover.

Patchwork Market at Fullsteam Brewery in Durham
The Patchwork Market is a monthly market with makers and vintage vendors. The market is held the first Saturday of the each month from 12-4 PM at Fullsteam Brewery in Downtown Durham. Local makers and vintage vendors will come together to create a unique shopping experience with a diverse selection of high quality and original goods.

Public House at the Cookery in Durham (UNC v Duke)
This Saturday at The Cookery in Durham catch the Duke vs. UNC basketball game on a 15 foot HD big screen starting at 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. DUKE vs. UNC starts at 6:30 p.m. Free and open to the public! Pie Pushers food truck will be on site selling pizza and spicy, dry-rubbed wings, and other snacks. The Sweeter Side will be serving dessert, including their French macarons, tarts, and more! Beer, wine, and cocktails will be available for purchase.

Sunday – March 6th

PopUp Slice Shop at Bull City Ciderworks
East Durham Pie Company will be at Bull City Ciderworks in Durham on Sunday selling slices of their delicious pies from 2-6pm (or until the pies runs out). Be the first to try their new Cider Apple Pie made with cider from Bull City Ciderworks and NC apples. Slices of their Dark Chocolate Pie and Coconut Sweet Potato Pie will also be available. Get there early to enjoy the pie!

 

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February 5, 2016 · 12:38 pm

Weekend Picks: February 5th-7th

KrispyKremeTrombone

Krispy Kreme Challenge
(Photo courtesy @BeerAndRacing)

The month of February is starting off with a busy weekend. Here are my top picks of things to check out for the weekend of February 5th through the 7th.

Friday

Olympic Trials Send off at Runologie
Meet Raleigh’s 2016 United States Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifiers this Friday, February 5th at Runologie. Sir Walter Running will co-host a First Friday reception/send off, which will be held from 6-8 pm, with a “Question and Answer” panel with the athletes starting at 7pm. Trophy Brewing will provide beverages and Pat Price will have his Prefon (Peach) Saison to sample. Details here.

Artist Opening for Ben Night Art at Rebus Works in Raleigh
Rebus Works is proud to present new works by artist Ben Knight. Join them and Knight for his First Friday Raleigh opening of unique, vibrant paintings on Friday, February 5 from 6 to 9pm. Please note Knight’s work will be on display for First Friday and during the The Saturday Market at Rebus Works only. They will also have beer from Fullsteam Brewery and the Cockadoodlemoo Truck. Details here.

Saturday

Krispy Kreme Challenge
The Krispy Kreme Challenge starts at 8:30am Saturday with a 2.5 mile run from the NC State Bell Tower on Hillsborough Street to the Krispy Kreme store at the intersection of Peace & Person Street in downtown Raleigh. Once there runners eat a dozen original glazed Krispy Kreme donuts and then run 2.5 miles back to the Bell Tower – all in under one hour. Come out and cheer on the runners!

Patchwork Market at Fullsteam
The Patchwork Market is a monthly market with makers and vintage vendors. The market is held the first Saturday of the each month from 12-4 PM at Fullsteam Brewery in Durham. Local makers and vintage vendors will come together to create a unique shopping experience with a diverse selection of high quality and original goods.

Beauty Operators & Bulltown Strutters Play Motorco 
Mardi Gras is next Tuesday, but on Saturday Night The Beauty Operators & Bulltown Strutters kick things off with “Samedi Gras“. Samedi is the Fat Saturday, if you will, on the Saturday before the big Mardi Gras celebration. Music starts at 8pm w/ $10 cover.

Sunday

Big Boss Run Club
My Favorite brewery supported run club meets all winter long at Big Boss Brewery each Sunday at noon. Multiple distance options and all runners are welcome. This weekend they will have the Arepa Culture Food Truck. An Ambassador from the All American Marathon will also be on hand to share news about the upcoming race in Fayetteville on April 3rd. 

Super Bowl Sunday at Breweries
Check out my post from yesterday sharing my pics of five great local breweries hosting Super Bowl Parties.

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