July 23, 2013 · 2:01 am

Parking Lot Party This Wednesday at Taylor’s Wine Shop in North Raleigh!

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Taylor’s Wine Shop ~ North Raleigh

Taylor’s Wine Shop & BP has been around for over 30 years and is an institution of North Raleigh. Long ago, the savvy owners realized the need to diversify and have developed a great little shop offering an impressive selection of wines, local and other craft beers, local coffee (including Larry’s Beans and Carrboro Coffee) and even sell locally made Escazu chocolate and Pleasant Bee Honey along with an assortment of other items like handmade jewelry and Faerie Made Soaps.  Of course, you can still pick up bait there for your fishing trip to Falls Lake as well.

If you’ve never been to Taylor’s this week is the perfect time to check them out. They are holding a huge wine and beer sale, as well as a Parking Lot Party Wednesday July 24th from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

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Inside Taylor’s

Event Details
The parking lot party will feature food from C.J.’s Street Food truck, free wine and beer tastings (including French Broad Brewing & Bottle Tree Beer Co.) and live music from local band Velvet Goldfish. A big tent will be set up out in the parking lot with the band playing underneath and attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs to relax and enjoy the outdoor live music. Beer tasting will take place outside with wine tasting going on inside the shop. In addition, there will be a Larry’s Beans Cold Brew Coffee Demo and a demonstration booth by Green City Bottles.

Along with the food and entertainment there will be great beer and wine sales going on inside the shop including 10% off 4-packs and 6-packs & 20% off cases of craft beer, 10% 1-5 bottles of wine, 15% off 12 or more bottles, and 20% off select cases of wine.

When: Wednesday July 24th from 5:30-8:30pm
Where: Taylor’s Wine Shop & BP – 1005, Six Forks Road (just north of I-540)

For more info about Taylor’s Wine Shop visit:
Taylor’s Website: http://www.taylorswineshop.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wineman.cash
Twitter: @TaylorsWineShop

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July 22, 2013 · 10:27 am

Grill Master Cook Off Competition at West 94th St. Pub in Durham This Saturday!!

Cook Off

From time to time I am asked to help judge at foodie events and I am very excited to be a judge this weekend at the “Grill Master Cook Off” taking place at the West 94th Street Pub in Durham this Saturday July 27th from 12-5pm. This family friendly competition will host seven local Grill Masters who plan to show off their grillin’ skills with Chicken and Corn on the Cob. Grillmasters will be competing for bragging rights and a prize package of a 3 day, 2 night trip for two to Las Vegas! Proceeds from this fun event benefit the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.

Event Details
Judging will begin at 3pm by four local “foodies”: John Huisman, aka Triangle Explorer, Kathy Hanrahan with WRAL “Out & About”, Matt Dees with Durham Magazine and Nancy Wykle with the Durham Herald Sun.

 Public tasting begins around 3:30pm. Public food tasting will be available to those who donate a minimum of 5 non-perishable canned food items or a monetary donation to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC.

Family Activities
Family fun activities are planned throughout the entire time of the event which will include, Live Music by Plan B Durham Band, Raffle prizes, Corn Hole games, Family Eating Contests; such as a Watermelon Eating Contest, Jello Eating Contest, Pie Eating Contest, etc.  Plan to bring your lawn chair, sample great food, enjoy family fun activities and see who will be crowned the Pub’s 1st Grill Master.

Prizes for Winner
Cook Off Competition winner will receive a 3 day, 2 night trip for two to Las Vegas.  If you would like to compete or for more information, contact Kerry Bryant at kbpaw_21@msn.com.

About West 94th Street Pub
The Pub opened in August of 1994 as a family owned business.  “Miss Sarah”, the owner had a vision of opening a “Cheers” like Pub in Southwest Durham.  The Pub’s success comes from a unique combination of good food & relationships that have been formed over the last 19 years. The Pub has been a local hang out for our “Pub Regulars” for many years.

They’re known for having the best Fish & Chips in Durham along with a staff who may not know your name, but know your face and drink of choice when you walk through our door.  Over the last seven years the Pub has become a venue to help raise money for several non-profit organizations.  We are proud to partner with the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina on this event.  We hope to raise funds as well as collect non-perishable items to benefit local families.

The Pub is located at 4711 Hope Valley Rd and open Monday-Friday, 11:00am-2:00am and Saturday-Sunday, 12noon-2:00am.  For more information or to get involved contact Kerry Bryant at 919-403-0025 or email kbpaw_21@msn.com.

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July 17, 2013 · 1:15 pm

Gluten & Allergen Free Wellness Event in Durham – August 17th

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The second annual Raleigh/Durham Gluten & Allergen Free Wellness Event will be held at the Durham Convention Center Saturday August 17 from 10am-4pm. The event is open to the community, and caters to those who avoid multiple allergens, such as gluten, dairy, soy, nuts, grains, etc. Admission is $10 per adult; kids 13 and under are free, and college students receive $3 off admission with student identification. Those who purchase their tickets online are automatically entered into a drawing for a gift basket from one of the event’s sponsors. You can purchase tickets online here.

Event Details
Many of the hottest and newest gluten-free foods, including products from more than 20 local vendors, will fill the exhibit hall. Sampling of gluten-free/allergen-free foods begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. with guest speakers and cooking demonstrations rounding out the day. Products will also be available for sale, so attendees should come prepared to take advantage of show prices.

Local Vendors
Bella Monica Flatbread Company, Bone Suckin’ Sauce, Ginger Lemon Girl, Kalo Foods, The Celiac Cakery, Tonya’s Cookie Company, and Virtuous Living.

National vendors
Against the Grain Gourmet, Bakery on Main, Earth Balance, Kinnikinnick Foods, Living Without Magazine, Luce’s Gluten-Free Artisan Bread, New Planet Beer, and Simply Gluten Free Magazine. A complete list of participating vendors can be found on their website.

Lectures & Demonstrations
The event will also feature lectures from Brandy Wendler, Lisa Stimmer, Certified Gluten Practitioner, Certified Natural Gourmet Chef, and Certified Nutritionist, Wendy Perry, Taylor Miller, owner of Glutenway blog, and Debbie Jongkind, registered dietitian.

Cooking demonstrations are still being scheduled, but one will be taught by Chef Tracey Bloom of FreeCuisine.

Event Organizers & Sponsors
Organized by ECHO Event Solutions (ECHO), the event is sponsored by Udi’s Gluten Free, Glutino Food Group, Enjoy Life Foods, Bone Suckin’ Sauce, Earth Family, Gluten-Free Buyer’s Guide and Earth Fare. This is the second year for the gluten-free event in Raleigh/Durham, and a crowd of more than 1,000 is expected to attend.

A percentage of the proceeds from this year’s event will be donated to local gluten and allergen-free support efforts. The 2013 Raleigh/Durham Gluten & Allergen Free Wellness Event will be held at the Durham Convention Center. For more information visit the website at http://raleighglutenfreeexpo.blogspot.com/ and the event facebook page https://www.facebook.com/events/394177893993190/.

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July 17, 2013 · 12:51 pm

Shop Local Raleigh’s “Boutique Blowout” Event This Friday & Saturday!

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Join Shop Local Raleigh at the Hampton Inn Crabtree this Friday and Saturday (July 19th-20th) for “Boutique Blowout“, their boutique event of the summer! VIP tickets for Friday are $10 and regular tickets are $5 on Saturday.

VIP members will get first dibs on Friday, July 19th from 5pm-8pm to check out the boutiques’ selection! VIP members will also receive goody bags from our sponsors filled with special deals. The boutique sale will be available to the general public on Saturday, July 20th at 10am!

Stores include:
Peachy Keen, Simple Bliss, Clothes Hound, Frill, fab’rik, Galatea
Scout & Molly’s, Sophie and Mollies, Luscious Couture, Kristen’s Place
The Purple Polka Dot, Gingham & Posh, The Go Girl Shoppe

Food Trucks:
@AmericanMLTDWN
@SweetStaceyCake
@GreekGussys

Event Details:
Location: The Hampton Inn Crabtree – 3920 Arrow Drive, Raleigh, NC
Date/Time: Friday  5-8pm (VIP) and Saturday (10am-5pm)
Tickets: $10 VIP Friday then $5 Saturday

For even more details about what the event will be like check out this great post by Post Grad Raleigh “The Best Boutique Blowout Sale Ever”

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July 16, 2013 · 2:37 am

Pop-Up Ice Cream Parlour in Downtown Raleigh!

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You’ve probably heard by now that a cool Pop-Up Ice Cream Parlour has opened up in downtown Raleigh. It is located at 131 S. Wilmington Street just north of Hargett Street and right next to the restaurants Gravy and Sitti around the corner from Morning Times.

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Several of the people I follow on instagram have been posting fun pictures of the parlour so I decided to walk down there on my lunch break a few weeks ago and check it out. Being a “pop-up” style place means it is temporary and will only occupy the current spot until the end of August. Even though it is only temporary they have done a great job with place. It has lots of tables spaced out across the hardwood floor and great lighting. The parlour has a nice open feeling with huge windows at the front of the shop overlooking the busy sidewalk along Wilmington Street.

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The ice cream shop features locally produced ice cream. Right now the offer ice cream from two local producers but have plans to open their own creamery in the future to sell once they open their permanent location down the road. Given the temporary nature of the shop, the menu is surprisingly inclusive offer a wide range of flavors (14 regular flavors and 4 rotating ones). In addition to traditional ice cream by the scoop in a cup or cone they also have ice cream floats, sundaes and smoothies.

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I opted for a single scoop of the strawberry ice cream in a cone and it was fantastic. I live it when strawberry ice cream has large chunks of actual strawberries in it. I was pretty hungry since I hadn’t had lunch yet so I scarfed this cone down in record time, but I had the presence of mind to grab a picture before I made it disappear. Something I’m not always good at!

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I really enjoyed my visit to the Pop-Up Ice Cream Parlour and was glad I had the chance to visit. During subsequent visits downtown I’ve noticed they have been quite busy so it appears word has gotten around and people are enjoying access to great locally produced ice cream.

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Last week, the news and observer reported that the owner, Laura Suther, is planning to open a second Pop-Up location downtown at 6161 N. Person St. next door to PieBird. This second location is still being negotiated but the plan is to sell ice cream as well as some locally produced items like milk and eggs. The Person street location may become a year-round operation should it prove successful in that neighborhood. I think it will!

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While plans for the second location are being finalized you can continue to get your ice cream fix at the Wilmington Street Pop-Up Ice Cream Parlour through August 31st.

Pop-Up Ice Cream Parlour
131 S. Wilmington Street, Raleigh, NC (Open through August 31st)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PopUpIceCreamParlour
Twitter: @popupicecream

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