The Triangle Explorer

Aerial Cradle
(Photo by Martin Ollman)

I remember going to the circus with my mom back in the early 1980’s. There were clowns, tightrope acts, and of course elephants. I still have some vivid memories from the show. I think the circus is something that invokes a sense of nostalgia for all of us. This week I got to relive that magic when Circus 1903 opened at DPAC on Tuesday night.

Circus 1903 brings you back to the days of the traditional circus at the turn of the century. Think less flash and more skill and wonder. The show is broken down into a series of individual performances with each act no doubt the result of a lifetime of commitment honing the performers special skill.

The opening scene is set outside the circus tent with “The Flying Fins”, a threesome performing flips using a teeter-board; followed by the Cycling Cylone who rides a bicycle in using balance and positions you wouln’t believe. There is a comical sideshow scene that becomes a show stopper when a contortionist called the “Elastic Dislocation” stuns the crowd with the indescribable ways she bends her body as if it were rubber.

Circus 1903 Elephant Baby
(Photo by Mark Turner)

Of course there are elephants too (Queenie and Peanut) through the use of life-sized puppets, designed by Mervyn Millar and Tracy Waller for Significant Object, the company that created the puppets for “War Horse.”  The show does not try to hide that there are people inside these puppets, but somehow through their smooth movements and the magic of the stage your mind almost instantly begins to see them as real, and they are quite the site.

The real star of “Circus 1903” is its ringmaster, Willy Whipsnade, played by the magician David Williamson. He fits the bill will with a bushy white mustache, a booming voice and quick wit. He really steals the show in two different scenes were he invites children from the audience to the stage. The unpredictable nature and the comical interactions with Willy had the audience roaring.

Circus 1903 is a fun time for the whole family. Catch it now before they pull up the stakes and the Big Top leaves Durham.

“Circus 903” has performances at DPAC through Sunday, Oct. 1st. For tickets visit https://www.dpacnc.com/events/detail/circus-1903.

Meet some cool Pugs this Saturday at Jordan Lake Brewing in Cary

There is so much going on this weekend with the Wide Open Bluegrass Festival in downtown Raleigh, but even if bluegrass isn’t your thing there are many more options. Can you say Pug Parade? Here are my top picks this weekend:

Friday – September 29th

Night of 1,000 Pours at Counter Culture Coffee in Durham
Counter Culture will be hosting a Latte Art Throwdown this Friday at their Durham HQ in support of the Night of 1000 Pours event with all proceeds going to the Houston Food Bank and Feeding South Florida. Doors will open at 7 pm. Cost will be a sliding scale – $5 minimum – at the door, and $10 to compete. There will be beer and refreshments available. Location: 812 Mallard Ave, Durham.

Saturday – September 30th

Wide Open Bluegrass Festival in Downtown Raleigh
The Wide Open Bluegrass StreetFest, free to the public and held in downtown Raleigh along Fayetteville Street, will feature more than 100 bands, seven music stages, a dance tent, vendors, concessions and a special Youth Stage near the Convention Center that will feature performances and activities from the future stars of bluegrass, and organized by IBMA’s Youth Council. View the full schedule here.

Wake Forest Dance Festival
Wake Forest Dance Festival is presented by Wake Forest Arts in partnership and will bring a day of dance to the Triangle in an outdoor setting. The Festival is a one day, free and open to the public family friendly event at beautiful E. Carroll Joyner Park. The event will feature national and regional professional dancers, along with local rising advanced dance performers. 10am-6:30pm. You can view the schedule of events here.

Party w/ Pugs at Jordan Lake Brewery in Cary
Come out and enjoy an afternoon of pugs at Jordan Lake Brewery in Cary Saturday from 12-3pm! This event is free and kid friendly! They plan to have lots of great raffle items, silent auction items, a pug parade (weather permitting), and a costume contest. There will be a food truck for humans and a treat truck for dogs! All proceeds benefit Mid-Atlantic Pug Rescue so come out and show your support!

The Fly Birds at Sola Coffee in North Raleigh
Don’t want to head downtown for Bluegrass this weekend? That’s ok because Sola Coffee & Cafe is hosting The Fly Birds on Saturday night with music out on the back patio. Their unique vocals as well as original style of folk music is topped off with tasteful songwriting skills and a charming presence on stage. No Cover, music 7:30-9:30.

Sunday – October 1st

Downtown Cary Food Truck Rodeo
The fourth  and final Downtown Chowdown Food Truck Rodeo of the year brings music, food, drinks and lots of fun to Chatham Street between Harrison Avenue and Walker Street on Sunday from 12:30 to 5 p.m. More than 24 Triangle-area food trucks and vendors will set up shop. Leashed pets are allowed.

Reggae on the Rooftop at Unscripted Hotel in Durham
Sunday from 11am-3pm Selector B Steady & DJ Algoriddim return to Unscripted’s rooftop pool with an afternoon of old school reggae on wax! Come check the nice vibes and a great view of the city! 

The Durham Street Piano Player performs at Cocoa Cinnamon’s Lakewood location this Friday

Falls has arrived and we are in the thick of outdoor festival season here in the Triangle. Here are my top picks for the upcoming weekend. The weather looks great so make sure you get outside and explore!

Friday

Durham Street Piano Pop-Up at Cocoa Cinnamon 
Join Tom Merrigan, The Durham Street Piano Player at Cocoa Cinnamon’s new Lakewood location for great churros, drinks, and street piano fun on the front patio from 6-8pm this Friday! Cocoa Cinnamon will contribute $1 per paquete (combo of drink + 4 churros) sold from 5pm to 10pm toward Tom’s kickstarter campaign raise money toward the making of a full-length album of piano-lead rock’n’roll. 

Saturday

Carrboro Music Festival (Saturday & Sunday)
The Carrboro Music Festival is an effort to host a FREE two-day event that showcase Triangle-area performers and the varied musical styles they represent.  All of the performers donate their talents to foster a strong sense of community and to reveal their talents to a wider audience.  This weekend long event features 200 acts on 29 different stages across Carrboro. Visit the event website for the full schedule of performers.

Sunday

Pepper Festival in Chapel Hill
PepperFest is a celebration of sustainable agriculture, farmers, and the creativity of the Piedmont’s top chefs, brewers and artisans. This pepper themed festival is one of the largest chef competitions in North Carolina. You can expect to find numerous pepper-themed dishes, local beer, family activities, a kid chef competition live music. It happens at Briar Chapel’s Great Meadow Park in Chapel Hill. Tickets are $25.

A new coffee spot to visit while you are out and about…
If you happen to be in Carrboro this weekend for the music festival I recommend a visit to the new location for Gray Squirrel Coffee. They just relocated into the space at 300 East Main Street!

Circus 1903 Elephant (Photo by Mark Turner)

It’s been a long time since I have been the the circus, but next week I will get my chance to relive that sense of wonder at “Circus 1903″ playing at the Durham Performing Arts Center September 26th through October 1st. Now this show is no ordinary circus, it is a thrilling turn of the century big top spectacular harking back to old-fashioned circus arts such as knife-throwing, hand to hand acrobatics and aerial ballet. This is a circus re-imagined from the producers of the world’s biggest magic show, The Illusionists and the award winning puppeteers from War Horse. 

The show is unique in that it takes aspects of the traditional circus and adds a fresh, innovative and humane spin on them. One magical change is the use of carefully constructed and realistic puppets in place of actual animals. The elephants featured in Circus 1903 are puppets, brought to life by the talented team at Significant Object (the award-winning puppeteers from War Horse). 

The Hammer Guys (Photo by Mark Turner)

The show also features a talented case of real circus stars. They are hand-selected from all around the world with 15 different countries represented in the cast. It is a team of incredible artists and athletes with many coming from multi-generational circus families from all over the world.

I spoke with Petter Vatermark, one of The “hammer” guys and teeter board experts touring with the show as part of the trio of wonderful tumblers know as the “The Flying Fins”. “It’s an incredible family friendly show that appeals to a wide audience. Everyone from families bringing their grandchildren to a special exciting date night,” said Vatermark. “The elephants are a big draw and capture people’s imaginations, but it is truly an exciting evening from start to finish with wonderful acts that focuses on the outstanding talent of the artists and features the amazing creatures brought to life before your eyes through magic of puppetry.”

This show sounds like something fun and different to experience at the theater. With sensational puppetry, an exciting musical score and a cast of amazing skilled performers bringing exciting circus acts from all four corners of the world to Durham, this show is sure to remind people why they love the circus in the first place. I can’t wait to check it out!

“Circus 1903” has performances at DPAC Tuesday Sept. 26th through Sunday, Oct. 1st. For tickets visit https://www.dpacnc.com/events/detail/circus-1903.

Curtis Eller performs at Mystery Brewing in Hillsborough this Friday

So this weekend there are several big events going on celebrating art, music and fashion. In Raleigh I recommend checking out the weekend long SPARKcon. Over in Durham there is Centerfest. And down in Apex you will find a day full of music at the Apex Music Festival. In addition to those big events here are the rest of my weekend picks:

Friday – September 15th

Curtis Eller performs at Mystery Brewing Public House
Singer songwriter and banjo player Curtis Eller is resuming his residency at Mystery Brewing Public House in Hillsborough with a solo performance this Friday at 8:30pm. No cover.

Thomas Ryant performs at The Bullpen in Durham
Thomas Rhyant is a gospel singer and musical troubadour, using music to tell stories of those who came before him. With his tasteful guitar style and stunningly wide-ranging voice and enigmatic backing band, Rhyant brings joy to audiences while keeping the history of soul music alive. Music starts at 8:30pm at The Bullpen. No Cover.

Saturday – September 16th

Durham Farmer’s Market
The market takes place each Saturday through November at Durham Central Park, but I especially enjoy visiting during this time of year. In addition to producers and other vendors, there are usually several great local food trucks serving brunch and lunch items. I recommend hitting the market and then exploring Durham. A top pick while in Durham is always a visit to Cocoa Cinnamon!

Sunday -September 17th

Midtown Bluegrass at North Hills
Just in time to get you warmed up for this year’s Wide Open Bluegrass, two of this year’s official International Bluegrass Music Association Bluegrass Ramble showcase bands will close out this year’s Midtown Bluegrass Series. Get a sneak preview of what’s in store this year with Colorado-based bandThe Railsplitters (4:30-6 pm) and North Carolina’s own Fireside Collective (3-4 pm). The afternoon will begin with a facilitated youth jam with local musicians Lynda and Jamie Dawson.

A new coffee spot to visit while you are out and about…

If you are ever up in Youngsville (just 10 minutes north of Wake Forest) be sure to check out the cool Packhouse Coffee Company drive-thru coffee hut set up just off the main drag downtown. They serve locally roasted Red Rooster coffee and have a full menu of coffee, espresso drinks as well as frappes.