The Triangle Explorer

Trombone Player Terry Hsieh & his Quintet Play Beyu Cafe Friday Night
(Photo courtesy Terry Hsieh Music)

Here’s a quick guide to my top five things to check out this weekend. Have a suggestion for next week? Feel free to shoot me an email at triangleexplorer (at) gmail (dot) com, or leave a comment below. Happy Exploring!

Friday

Check out Google Fiber Space in Raleigh
The new Google’s Fiber Space opened in downtown Raleigh this week at 518 West Jones Street. A community event will take place there tonight as part of Raleigh’s First Friday monthly celebration. In honor of the local artist community and to kick off Black History Month, Google Fiber will unveil the latest addition to Raleigh’s mural scene, created by Victor Knight, III, as well as some of his other works. Music for the evening will be  provided by 9th Wonder. Event is free and open to the public.

Live Music w/ Trombonist Terry Hsieh at Beyu Cafe
I do love a good quintet, especially when it includes a terrific trombone and trumper player! Tonight trombonist Terry Hsieh returns to Beyu Caffe for an evening of historical, original and arranged music, featuring his quintet. He is joined by Al Strong on trumpet and flugelhorn, Tyler Leak on drums, Kenny Phelps-Mckeown on bass, and Russell Favret on guitar. Sets at 7 PM and 9 PM. Cover is $13

Saturday

PICNIC One Year Anniversary Celebration
PICNIC, a whole hog barbecue restaurant in Durham, will celebrate its one year anniversary this weekend with a pig pickin’ on Saturday with $4 Barbecue Sandwiches. There will also be live music from Counterclockwise String Band and $4 beers from Ponysaurus Brewing. Celebration kicks off at 11 a.m.

Krispy Kreme Challenge
This Saturday few thousand people try to run 5 miles and eat 12 donuts in under 1 hour as part of the 13th Annual Krispy Kreme Challenge. It’s always fun to go out and cheer them on along the course. Runners start at the N.C. State Belltower and then run to the Krispy Kreme on Peace Street – and back. You are sure to see some fun running costumes on display. Race begins at 8am.

Sunday

Super Bowl Parties
Sunday is all about watching the Super Bowl. I usually watch the game at home but if you are looking to go out to watch the game with friends while enjoying some great local beer I recommend catching it at Ponysaurus Brewery, Fullsteam Brewery, or Big Boss Brewery.

Euan Morton as Hedwig
(Photo by Joan Marcus)

On Tuesday my wife and I attended opening night of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” at the Durham Performing Arts Center. It was quite a different experience from the other musicals I have scene to date. It is put on as if it were an actual rock concert. In some ways it felt like a one-person show with the very talented Euan Morton playing the title role of Hedwig – a genderqueer rock singer who uses the “concert” to tell the audience her story filled with pain, rejection, and ultimately redemption. She is joined on stage by only one other character

It is a story that will take you to uncomfortable places at times. Its the tale of Hansel, a “slip of a boy” from East Berlin escapes from behind the Iron Curtain by becoming a woman and marrying an American soldier. The sex-change operation is botched as Hansel transforms into Hedwig with a scarred “angry inch” where his penis used to be. After escaping to America Hedwig is abandoned by his husband, but falls for another boy who, like Hedwig has musical aspirations. This relationship also ends painfully with Hedwig feeling abandoned and betrayed.

Hedwig’s tells her story through a monologue interspersed between musical numbers. Meanwhile all this takes place upon a stage that recycles a set depicting a war damaged scene from a fictional “hurt locker” performance that supposedly took the stage the night before. The carnage of the set is a reflection of Hedwig’s damaged past.

The only other character who shares the stage with Hedwig throughout the show is her assistant, back-up singer and husband, Yitzhak, played by Hannah Corneau. Yitzak is a former drag queen that has a toxic codependent relationship with Hedwig. Hedwig verbally abuses Yitzak throughout the evening, and it becomes clear that she is threatened by his natural talent, which she fears eclipses her own.

Like I said, this show is different. Throughout the performance Hedwig breaks down the “4th wall” of theater and speaks directly to the audience. At times even coming off the stage to interact with people in the front row of the theater. The performance is sprinkled with local flavor such as referencing Hedwig’s former lover performing next door at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. There are even a few jabs at local politics and House Bill 2 as Hedwig laments not being able to use the restroom since arriving in NC.

A few things you should know before heading into the show. It hits on some pretty mature topics. While I think these are important issues for society to talk about it may not be suitable for younger audiences. Also, it runs 90 minutes without an intermission. Again, the format is concert like and not your typical musical. The music is glam rock in nature. There is no pit band, the musicians are right there on the stage as part of the show and completing the concert like atmosphere. The show can be loud, bright, and even a bit shocking at times, as Hedwig becomes increasingly unhinged as the story progresses until a wonderful transformation as the shows end draws nears breathes a sense of hope, change and acceptance.

Morton and Corneau deliver powerful performances. I’ve never seen a production with just two characters on stage. It can’t be easy carrying the weight of a show like that, and they make it look effortless pouring themselves into their roles. This is a show that will make you think. Maybe about things you never even considered important before. It may not be a story everyone is ready to hear, but it is a story that our increasingly open society can’t afford to ignore if we all want to move forward recognizing the struggles some go through to achieve acceptance.

“Hedwig and the Angry Inch” shows through this Sunday, February 5th at DPAC. For tickets visit https://www.dpacnc.com/events/detail/hedwig-the-angry-inch

Pie Pushers – Durham, NC

Each year I like to plan ahead and think about where I will get pizza and beer to enjoy during the Super Bowl. I know that creating a list of “great pizza” places can be very subjective since everyone has their own criteria and favorite styles, but there really are some great places in the Triangle no matter what your tastes are. With that in mind I conducted an informal twitter poll this week to find out where people like to get a good pie. Below is a quick list the most popular recommendations with a few of my own added to the mix (in no particular order).

I will however give a special nod to Pie Pushers as one of my personal favorites (pictured above). I visited their new Brick & Mortar location in Durham just this week.  I’m a huge fan of their NY Style slices and highly recommend checking them out if you are in Durham.

My 2017 list of places to get a great pie across the Triangle:

Raleigh
Trophy
Frank’s Pizza
Lilly’s
DeMo’s
Cristo’s

Wakefield / Wake Forest

Dante’s Italiano

Durham

Pie Pushers
Pizzeria Toro
Tre Forni

Chapel Hill
Capp’s Pizzeria

Carrboro

Pizzeria Mercato
Napoli Pizza (Wood-Fired Pizza Truck)

Cary

Patrick Jane’s (Gluten Free Options)
Ruckus

There are several great local races coming up this spring that I recommend looking into if you are working on achieving your 2017 running goals. Two things stand out about each of the races I mention below. First, they each take place along a closed road course, which I enjoy. I love training on the Greenway, but come race day I want to be out on the open street. Second, they support great causes and benefit local charities. No doubt there are other fine races out there, but these are four that have caught my eye and I recommend checking out.

Florence Forth Road Race – Saturday, March 4th (Durham)
This race is sponsored by local run store Bull City Running and offers both a 5k and 10k option. The course starts along the 9th Street area of Durham. The name of the race, FLORENCE FORTH, captures the spirit of the Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance, and its founders, Leslie, Will, and Laura McDow, who lost six-year old Florence on March 4, 2012, after a long battle with autoimmune encephalitis, which is a rare brain disease. Inspired by “March Fourth,” the “day that is also a command,” the McDow family heard a charge to “Florence Forth” in accelerating the search for a cure, providing care to affected families, and forming a community of collaboration and concern. To register visit https://florenceforth.org/.

Sola Hot Mini 5K – Saturday, March 11th (North Ralkeigh)
This year marks the 4th Annual Sola Hot Mini 5k. It is organized and hosted by the owners of Sola Coffee in North Raleigh as a way to help the community to come together and support our military Veterans. The race starts at the cafe’ off of Leadmine Road and features a nice road course through some beautiful surrounding neighborhoods. Performance t-shirts are guaranteed to all those registered by February 24th. Profits from the event will go to support Hope for Warriors of North Carolina. To register to walk, run or run/walk visit solahotmini5k.com. 

Ella’s Race – Saturday, March 18th (North Raleigh)
This race also offer both a 5k and 10k option. It is hosted by Chick-fil-A, Capital Crossing and Falls Village in North Raleigh. The race benefits The Cure Starts Now and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation to help pediatric research, aid, and support efforts for children with brain cancer & tumors. For more information and to register visit http://www.ellasrace.com/.

Tar Heel 10 Miler – Saturday, April 22nd (Chapel Hill)
A ten mile race is a great distance to train for especially if you are looking for something a bit longer than a 10k. A 10-miler is long enough that it is challenging yet not so far that you need months and months to prepare like you might with a full or half marathon. There is also a 4 mile option if you are looking for a shorter distance race. The Tar Heel 10 Miler benefits the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA’s We Build People Campaign. Save $5 off registration by using the code “TH10John“. Race website: http://tarheel10miler.com/

Over the weekend my friends and I checked out a new Bottle Shop & Bar in North Raleigh called Hoppy Endings. It’s a cool little neighborhood spot that opened just before Thanksgiving in the shopping center on the corner of Litchford and Harps Mill Road (Same shopping center as Lemongrass Thai). It’s locally owned and operated by a husband and wife team, Damian and Lydia Horne, who took the plunge and opened their own place after years of working at other local bars in the area.

The space is surprisingly roomy with more than a dozen stools at the bar and a couple of couches and community tables located by the windows near the entrance. They offer a nice selection of draft and bottle beers along with a robust selection of spirits including a large selection of bourbon, whiskey, and scotch. Best of all the prices are very reasonable. Most of the draft beers are $4, with many of the mixed drinks coming in around $6. They offer free Wifi and have two large flat screen TV’s front and center over the bar.

While you’re there make sure you check out the six packs of beer they have for sale. I noticed they had a pretty diverse selection including several coolers in the back where you can purchase individual bottles of beers and ciders. It was a well rounded selection beers for those of us who like to sample different offerings without investing in buying a full six-pack.

If you are looking for a fun local place to catch the Super Bowl next weekend, I would add this place to the list. It’s nice to see a welcoming local place like Hoppy Endings enter the North Raleigh scene. To stay up to date on the beers they offer on tap and upcoming events follow them on facebook.

Hoppy Endings
8320 Litchford Rd. Suite 106
Raleigh, North Carolina
website: https://hoppyendings.net/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hoppyendings/
instagram: @HoppyEndings1