September 26, 2013 · 8:07 am

Weekend Picks! Sept 27-29th

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Weekend Picks for Sept 27-29th

As the we come to the end of September we are neck deep in incredible local festivals here in the Triangle. This weekend has something for everybody – from bluegrass to wrestling, to food trucks. Check out my weekend roundup of things to do in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill below for more information about this weekends top picks. The weather should be excellent this weekend so get outside and enjoy!

Friday September 27th

Wide Open Bluegrass Festival (Day 1) – Raleigh
There are two parts to the Bluegrass Festival. The first part is a ticketed event with headlining acts on the Convention Center and Ampitheater (view lineup here). The other half of Wide Open Bluegrass is a FREE street festival noon until 11:00PM Friday and Saturday. With three music stages, a youth talent stage, the North Carolina Whole Hog Barbecue State Championship, Dance Tent, and many more things to see, do and eat! For the FREE Street Fest band schedule check the link provided below.
http://www.wideopenbluegrass.com/music-schedule

Music on the Streets w/ The Bulltown Strutters – Carrboro
The “Music on the Streets” program is offered during the week leading up to the Carrboro Music Festival. This will be a week of free concerts in various locations throughout town. The concerts will have a “front porch” feel to them. People will be encouraged to hang out on the lawn, parking lot, and front porch to hear local bands perform. Each night will feature a different style of music from Jazz to Rock. On Friday, my band The Bulltown Strutters will be performing this Friday from 6-8pm in the Modern Fossil Parking Lot.
http://www.carrboromusicfestival.com/

Live Music at Sola Coffee w/ Chris Hendricks – North Raleigh
Sola Coffee regularly hosts live music each Friday & Saturday at 7:30pm. This Friday they play host to Chris Hendricks. I’ve had the honor of hearing Chris play before and he is a talent not to be missed.
http://solacoffee.com/

Meals on Wheels Food Truck Rodeo – Carrboro
Chapel Hill-Carrboro Meals on Wheels is having their second annual Food Truck Rodeo fundraiser on Friday. Come join them at the Carrboro Farmers Market location between 4:00-8:00 for some excellent food from  ten local food trucks! Steel String Brewery will also be there selling their locally crafted BEER!  There will be a silent auction, music, and bake sale and 10% of  food truck proceeds will be donated to Chapel Hill-Carrboro Meals on Wheels to help feed our homebound neighbors!
http://www.chcmow.org/food-truck-rodeo-sept-27th-2013/

Saturday September 28th

Carrboro Music Festival (Day 1)
Carrboro’s weekend  long, free festival featuring over 180 performing acts at 25 indoor and outdoor venues. In the space of a few hours within downtown Carrboro, a listener can hear Bluegrass, Folk, Jazz, Country, Rock & Roll, Classical, and World Music. This is Carrboro’s effort to showcase Triangle area performers and the varied musical styles they represent.
http://www.carrboromusicfestival.com/

Wide Open Bluegrass Festival (Day 2) – Raleigh
There are two parts to the Bluegrass Festival. The first part is a ticketed event with headlining acts on the Convention Center and Ampitheater (view lineup here). The other half of Wide Open Bluegrass is a FREE street festival noon until 11:00PM Friday and Saturday. With three music stages, a youth talent stage, the North Carolina Whole Hog Barbecue State Championship, Dance Tent, and many more things to see, do and eat! For the FREE Street Fest band schedule check the link provided below.
http://www.wideopenbluegrass.com/music-schedule

Food Truck Rodeo with Gouge Wrestling – Raleigh
Enjoy a night of beer, body slams, and food! GOUGE will present a night of highly entertaining sports entertainment featuring brawlers, luchadors, nice guys, vampires, cowboys, Roman conquerors, nerds, grapplers, sheiks, and Amish ruffians! Hank Sinatra will play in the ring at 6pm with wrestling to follow! Not a rasslin fan? Check out the great food from 7 local food trucks, locally brewed cold beer and a nice spring evening outdoors and some really cool art at Rebus as well.
https://www.facebook.com/events/267049096718513/

Tir Na Nog Irish Festival – Raleigh
Raleigh’s Irish Music Festival for 2013 is scheduled for Saturday, September 28 in downtown Raleigh at Moore Square, adjacent to the 200 block of S. Blount Street. The festival is free. It begins at 11AM and runs through 7PM. It will feature a diverse variety of entertainment for the whole family. Irish musicians, Irish bands, and Irish dancers will perform throughout the day. Children’s entertainment, and a wide variety of food and refreshments will be available as well.
https://www.facebook.com/events/354123411381955/

Fresh Roots Festival – Hillsborough
Kick off the fall season with the second annual Fresh Roots Festival featuring live music by yepROC Records artists. Join us Saturday, September 28for a celebration of Downtown Hillsborough shopping, dining, art, music and more!
http://www.freshrootsfestivals.org/

Rocktoberfest at Guglhupf – Durham
Now in its 4th year, Guglhupf’s family-friendly “Oktoberfest-with-a-twist” features live music, delicious German street food and specialty beer on tap! Originating in Munich, Germany in the early 1800’s, Oktoberfest is now celebrated around the world.
http://www.guglhupf.com/special_events/

Cask & Keg Fundraiser, Deep River Brewing Co. – Clayton
The great people at Deep River Brewing are coming together with the community for a fundraiser event to benefit an employee who was recently hurt in a car accident. This Saturday from 1-9pm the brewery will be hosting a KEG AND CASK TAPPING EVENT. They will have one-off casks on the bar and a variety of kegs donated by local breweries. Plus live music from the Carolina Island Boys 6-9pm. 100% of the proceeds from the casks and kegs will go to the employee to help them cover some of their basic expenses while they are out of work.
https://www.facebook.com/events/214969938664621/?ref=22

Sunday September 29th

Last Weekend of Raleigh Flea Market Before State Fair!
Seems like every year I forget about this. The Raleigh Flea Market closes after the last weekend of September to make way for the State Fair when it comes to town in October. Don’t worry, the flea market will come back in November, but get out there this weekend if you want to enjoy the market on a nice warm fall day. It is going to be beautiful this weekend!
http://www.raleighfleamarket.net/

Carrboro Music Festival (Day 2)
Carrboro’s weekend  long, free festival featuring over 180 performing acts at 25 indoor and outdoor venues. In the space of a few hours within downtown Carrboro, a listener can hear Bluegrass, Folk, Jazz, Country, Rock & Roll, Classical, and World Music.
http://www.carrboromusicfestival.com/

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September 24, 2013 · 12:38 pm

Coffee & Community – A Visit to Raleigh Coffee Company

Raleigh Coffee Company

Raleigh Coffee Company Roasting Facility

Did you know there is a great local coffee roaster located right here in North Raleigh? It’s called Raleigh Coffee Company and they are creating some excellent coffee roasts and making a big impact on the local coffee community here in the Triangle. I first tried their coffee this past winter through the Raleigh Coffee Club and have since become a big fan of their roasts. Overtime I started following them on their social media feeds through twitter and facebook and grew to appreciate how they both support the local community and strive to educate the consumer about coffee in a friendly and approachable way.

Raleigh Coffee Company

The Coffee Roaster

Raleigh Coffee Company’s roasting facility is tucked away in very cool nook behind the retail space of North Raleigh Meat House in the Quail Corners shopping center along Falls of Neuse Road. A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to stop by their headquarters and talk to Raleigh Coffee Company founder and owner Joe Bland. I went there hoping to learn more about the coffee he is roasting and his mission to bring great coffee to the community and foster the local coffee culture in the Triangle. I left there with my head filled with new coffee knowledge and feeling inspired by what this company represents.

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Raleigh Coffee Company Owner Joe Bland Roasting Coffee Beans

Joe started Raleigh Coffee Company back in 2012 after spending years home roasting and tweaking coffee profiles in his spare time. He initially sold his coffee through an online store, but as his customer base grew he obtained the space at the Meat House to roast out of to increase production to meet the increased demand. Since then he has already started selling his coffee at various retail locations and restaurants & cafes throughout the Triangle.

Raleigh Coffee Company Equipment

Raleigh Coffee Company Equipment

It was great to hang out in this space surrounded by all the coffee equipment and get a better understanding of how a small local roaster operates. Joe was great and took time to explain to me the process he goes through to obtain quality beans and the nuances of working with the coffee roaster to get the timing and temperature just right to develop the desired flavor profile. But making great coffee is just part of the mission.

Pulling a Shot of Espresso

Pulling a Shot of Espresso

On the morning I stopped by Joe was roasting up some Ethiopia Yirgacheffe. This coffee can be described as complex with fruity notes. It is naturally processed coffee. Naturally processed coffees typically have heavier mouthfeel, lower acidity levels and intense, exotic flavor profiles. He also had some Tanzania coffee he had roasted the day before. The Tanzania is a bolder earthy coffee that makes a great espresso with bright notes of lemon and dark chocolate making for what Joe described as a multi-layered orange, lemon, and chocolate espresso shot.

Espresso & Pour Over Coffee

Espresso & Pour Over Coffee

Joe used some of these beans to create a pour over coffee as well as shots of espresso to demonstrate how the different methods highlighted the coffee differently. He also gave me a sample of the beans to experiment with at home and I made some incredible iced coffee with the Yirgacheffe using my AeroPress. In addition to the Tanzania and Yirgacheffee, Raleigh Coffee Company also roast coffee from Costa Rica, Guatemala, and even offers a Honduras decaf.

Pouring out some delicious Ethiopia Yergicheffe

Pouring out some delicious Ethiopia Yergicheffe

Raleigh Coffee Company is also very active in the community and spearhead different “Bean Projects” throughout the year. These projects are initiative designed to generate support for charitable causes through funding for inspiring ideas and needs locally, nationally, and globally.

In February Raleigh Coffee Company teamed up with Love Wins Ministries for a Valentines Day coffee and coffee bag special. $5 from each bag went to benefit the homelessness in Raleigh. This past June, Joe and his friends created Team RCC – a team of 20 athletes that competed in the Ironman Raleigh 70.3 triathlon. The team used the event to help raise money for the “We Build People” campaign for the Triangle YMCA to help fund scholarships, for kids of all ages, to attend a multi-sport summer camp.

Coffee Equipment

Coffee Equipment

There are also two future projects planned for later this year. This Fall Raleigh Coffee Company will serve coffee alongside some greatest local chefs in Raleigh at the American Cancer Society’s “Raleigh Roundup” event on October 19th at Marbles Museum. Then this winter they will have a Christmas Bean Project. A big initiative to help raise money for Help One Now. The funds will go towards a playground for a community in Haiti.

Raleigh Coffee Company

Raleigh Coffee Company

I truly enjoy the Triangle’s great local coffee scene and feel fortunate to have a great local roaster in our community like the one Joe has created with Raleigh Coffee Company. I highly recommend you pick up a bag of their beans or stop by one of the local cafes & restaurants serving their coffee and give it a try.

Raleigh Coffee Company

Raleigh Coffee Company

You can currently find Raleigh Coffee Company coffee being served at the Undergrounds Café in the NC Museum of History in downtown Raleigh, Grounds in downtown Cary, the Cowfish restaurant in North Hills, and the Village Deli in Wake Forest. Bags of their coffee beans can be purchased at The Meat House in Raleigh and Cary.

For more pictures from my visit my Raleigh Coffee Company check out my flickr photo album.

Raleigh Coffee Company
Website: www.raleighcoffeecompany.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RaleighCoffeeCompany
Twitter: @RaleighCoffeeCo

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September 20, 2013 · 8:08 am

Weekend Picks! September 20-22nd

centerfest

It has been a busy week, but here is a quick list of some fun things to check out this weekend in the Triangle. Links to more information about each event are provided below. The Wiener Dog Races at Lafayette Village and the “Barks & Recreation” event at North Hills sound particularly fun and are sure to be winners for dog lovers. Enjoy!

Friday September 20th
9th Annual Capital City BikeFest
http://www.capitalcitybikefest.com/

Saturday September 21st
Wiener Dog Races at Lafayette Village (Oktoberfest)
http://www.lafayettevillageraleigh.com/events/

Centerfest Durham
http://centerfest.durhamarts.org/

Clayton Harvest & Music Festival
http://www.claytonchamber.com/

Apex Jazz Festival
http://www.apexjazzfestival.com/

Chris Hendricks Performance at Peace University
http://www.peace.edu/news/university-news/2007.php

8th Annual Fall Harvest Celebration at Yates Mill Park
http://www.wakegov.com/parks/yatesmill/Pages/fallharvest.aspx

Sunday September 22nd
Midtown “Barks & Recreation
http://www.midtownbarksandrec.com/

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September 13, 2013 · 9:00 am

Weekend Picks! September 13-15th

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Weekend Picks! September 13-15th

There are so many fun things going on this weekend it is really hard to narrow it down to just handful of picks! My picks span from local beer in Wake Forest to a fashion show in downtown Raleigh to a pepper festival in Oxford and live music in Chapel Hill. No matter where you are in the Triangle this weekend there are great things going on!

Friday September 13th
Sparkcon – circusSpark Circus Under The Sea – Raleigh
Sparkcon is going on all weekend but this is my top pick for Friday night. Starting with circusSPARK showcase: Under the Sea Friday at City Plaza in Downtown Raleigh from 8-9p. This event is a showcase for all circus talents in the Triangle– clowns, magicians, jugglers, fire performers, hoop dancers, aerialists, unicyclists, mimes, make up artists, acrobats, belly dancers, stage hands, costume designers, balloon twisters, etc…
Info: website

Live Music at Motorco – Dirty Bourbon River Show – Durham
An awesome band playing is at Motorco in Durham tonight at 9pm! The Dirty Bourbon River Show is comprised of Noah Adams (vocals, piano, guitar, accordion, trumpet), Charles “Big Charlie” Skinner (vocals, trombone, wind toys), Matt “Slyfox” Thomas (vocals, tenor, bari and Mississippi saxophone, clarinet), Jimmy Williams (bass, sousaphone) and Dane “Bootsy” Schindler (drums). See website below for ticket information.
Info: website

North Hills Friday Night Tribute Music Series – Raleigh
Every Friday from September 6th through October 11th, Midtown Events will be hosting a block party from 7-9pm on Park Street at North Hills. This new series will pay tribute to some of your favorite music legends and is sure to have something for everyone! This Friday enjoy the tunes of Jimmy Buffet tribute band Coconut Groove.
Info: website


Saturday September 14th
Big Boss Brewery Tour – Raleigh
Guided by the staff of well-oiled brewers, tours of the brewery take place the second Saturday of each month at 2 p.m. The 30-minute tour takes you through the entire facility where you will learn about Big Boss’s beer-making process. And afterward you can try a few sample brews for $1 each (limit three). There are usually a handful of food trucks there as well. Please bring a valid ID. They must ID everyone!
Info: website

Friends of Wake County Animal Shelter Mega Adoption Event – Raleigh
Mega Adoption Event for the Wake County Animal Center Saturday Sept 14 and Sunday Sept 15th at the Capital Bld PetSmart (2800 Milbrook Road) . Come out from 10am-4pm to meet animals from the shelter who are up for adoption. The shelter has a goal of 100 Adoptions in 2 days!
Info: wesbite

Spakcon – fashionSpark Runway Show – Raleigh
fashionSPARK runway show!at City Plaza in Downtown Raleigh from 8-9:30 pm. Activities all day lead up to the fashion show with a Main Stage line-up of music, dance and theater, street painting on Fayetteville Street and an art bazaar in City Plaza. Fashion show and film to screen in the evening. Galleries featuring design, art and new media/digital work in multiple venues.
Info: website

North Carolina Hot Sauce Festival – Oxford
The NC Hot Sauce Contest brings thousands of people to downtown Oxford to interact with friends, merchants, fans, artisans and vendors.   North Carolina’s finest hot sauces and  barbeque sauces, along with breweries and wineries spice up the blends and texture of downtown’s historical streets. Enter the NC Pepper Eating Contest. Watch as Artist Dan Nelson creates our Festival on Canvas.  NC Hot Sauces and Barbecue Sauces, all will be competing for the title of North Carolina’s Best!!!!!!!
Info: website

Live Music at The Bar – Beauty Operators – Durham
Great music and fun with an all ladies band playing rock, blues, and funk this Friday at “The Bar” in Durham 8-10pm w/$5 cover.
Info: website

Sunday September 15th
White Street Brewing 1st Anniversary Celebration – Wake Forest
Wake Forest’s White Street Brewery Celebrates its one year Anniversary Sunday September 15th! Noon-9pm There will be a full day of live music, food trucks, raffles & prize give-aways and much more! Alivia’s and Red, Hot, & Blue food trucks, Lumpy’s ice cream. Music by Todd Harris, The Andy Coats Trio, and The Will McBride Group. 96.1FM broadcasting live from 12-2pm and giving away prizes every 5 min for an hour. $3.00 pints (most beers) and $6 growler fills all day! All About Beer Magazine on site to give away World Beerfest tickets and a subscription to the magazine.
Info: website

Sundays at Six Music Series – Chapel Hill
FREE Sunday evening concerts, beginning each week at 6 pm at Southern Village in Chapel Hill.  Guests are invited to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating, and to bring a picnic, or purchase food from any of the Southern Village food establishments. All performances are free, and will be held on the stage at the Village Green in Southern Village.This Sunday’s performer is  Bluegrass Battleship.
Info: website

Magnificent Mile Race – Raleigh
The 8th annual Magnificent Mile Race will be held in Raleigh, NC on Sunday, September 15, 2012 to benefit the Spastic Paraplegia Foundation.The Magnificent Mile features a men’s and women’s competitive mile, a recreational mile, and two kids’ races. The race begins at 2 pm at 330 Hillsborough Street. The Magnificent Mile is part of the fall portion of the Second Empire Grand-Prix Series. Food courtesy of The Q Shack and Whole Foods, as well as face-painting, a bouncy house, a mobile video-gaming van,  and great door prizes.
Info: website

 

Looking ahead to October
Pepper Festival in Chapel Hill on  October 6th!

pepper

Make sure you save the date and get your tickets today for the 6th annual Pepper Festival. It is a celebration of sustainable agriculture, farmers, renewable energy, and the creativity of the Piedmont’s chefs, brewers and artisans! Live Music by Big Fat Gap, Loamlands, and Steph Stewart and the Boyfriends!  Cash bar with pepper-infused beers, wines, and liquors!  Interactive exhibits & kids’ funzone with face-painting, giant bubbles, circus performers!

When
Sunday, October 6th, 3-7pm at Boulder Park in Briar Chapel, Chapel Hill, NC
 
Tickets
$25 before Sept 13 at midnight, $30 after Sept 13, $35 at the gate.  Kids under 12 get in free! With your ticket you get an endless supply of pepper-themed dishes from some of the Piedmont’s best chefs and food artisans, made with locally-sourced pepper varieties! You can buy tickets here. For more details about the Pepper Festival website.

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September 12, 2013 · 10:01 am

Sparkcon Kicks Off Today in Raleigh!

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If you are looking for something to do the next few days look no further than downtown Raleigh. SPARKcon, the Triangle’s annual creative explosion, September 12–15th, will assemble 2,000+ artists, performers and other creative folks for 200+ shows and exhibits on Fayetteville Street, City Plaza and beyond.

Festival Hours
Friday 5:30pm – 11pm
Saturday 11am – 11pm
Sunday 12pm – 4pm

Festival Location:
Downtown Raleigh, Fayetteville St area and 17+ local venues

SPARKcon2012 circus_photo by Makeda Sanford

Photo by Makeda Sanford

Kick Off: ideaSPARK Pecha Kucha Night (Idea Slam) Raleigh Volume 15
(pre-registration required)
Thursday, September 12, 2013 at Contemporary Art Museum (CAM ) in Raleigh’s Warehouse District.
Time: 6:40 to 8:40p (doors open at 5:40)

Friday Showcase: circusSPARK showcase: Under the Sea
Friday, September 13, 2013 at City Plaza in Downtown Raleigh
Time: 8-9p

Saturday Showcase: fashionSPARK runway show!
Saturday, September 14 at City Plaza in Downtown Raleigh
Time: 8-9:30 p

Saturday Highlights: A Main Stage line-up of music, dance and theater, street painting on Fayetteville Street and an art bazaar in City Plaza. Fashion show and film to screen in the evening. Galleries featuring design, art and new media/digital work in multiple venues.

Sunday Highlights: The bazaar continues, the music stage will present a full day’s lineup and the circus will take over a block of Fayetteville Street. View the finished Street Paintings.

A full schedule is on SPARKcon.com & available on an iPhone app.

SPARKcon2012 general_photo by Mary Kay Kennedy

photo by Mary Kay Kennedy

artSPARK: 700 streetpainters on Fayetteville Street, art galleries in downtown venues including Visual Art Exchange (VAE), installations featuring three local artists in the Fish Market Gallery and a mural at the Contemporary Art Museum (CAM Raleigh) entitled What are Your Roots? All weekend.

bazaarSPARK: On-the-street bazaar of 50 local crafters and designers selling their latest handmade wares. Saturday and Sunday.

circusSPARK: Acrobats, aerialists, face-painters, fire dancers, jugglers and more perform, parade and host interactive workshops. All weekend. Showcase Friday at 8pm on City Plaza.

comedySPARK: A book release party, Clean Stand UP, Stand Up showcase and a swearing competition. All weekend.

geekSPARK: A showcase for the creative use of new and interactive media and technology featuring a showcases of digital motion, a games, open source as well as interactive events including robots, a city model, Godzilla and more on Fayetteville Street and CAM Raleigh. All weekend.

danceSPARK: Dance performances and workshops showcasing a wide variety of local dancers and styles. All weekend.

designSPARK: An interactive map project Our City, Your Design on Fayetteville Street, a green fuel showcase, studio tours, architecture walking tours. All weekend.

fashionSPARK: Runway show, featuring 10 local fashion, accessory and green designers in the largest annual fashion show in the Triangle. Saturday at 8p, on City Plaza. A jewelry Trunk show on Friday @ VAE.

filmSPARK: Local filmmakers present their work through shorts screenings, a 48-Hour film challenge and a panel discussion on local resources. Saturday and Sunday.

ideaSPARK: Community-oriented presentations from a variety of community leaders, artists, and entrepreneurs in a fast-paced format. Showcase Saturday night at CAM. Smaller idea sharing events all weekend.

musicSPARK: Over 55 acts performing throughout the weekend on four outdoor stages. musicSPARK mainEVENT: Friday, September 13th, 9p at Kings Barcade

poetrySPARK: Local poets, professional and amateur, featured in readings, workshops and panel discussions. All weekend.

tastySPARK: A food truck rodeo on E. Martin. All weekend.

theatreSPARK: A full day of theatre performances by local theatre groups, including NC Theatre and Burning Coal Theatre on Saturday in City Plaza Pop-up theatre all weekend.

About VAE and SPARKcon
Visual Art Exchange produces SPARKcon to celebrate and highlight diverse creative efforts in the Triangle and is a part of the VAE mission to support and provide opportunities for artists and connect the community to the arts. This festival gives an unusual opportunity for the community to be directly involved with a public art / performance art project in downtown Raleigh. SPARKcon is unique because it is an event fully developed by artists and the creative community, who are encouraged to use their creative talent and insight to produce their own engaging and inspiring programs. SPARKcon was founded in 2006 by Aly and Beth Khalifa.

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