The Triangle Explorer

March 19, 2015 · 7:12 am

Weekend Picks: March 20-22nd

New Section of Neuse River Greenway

This weekend looks to be a little cooler than this past Monday and Tuesday, but there are still plenty of ways to get out and enjoy the day. Here are a few quick picks of things to check out the weekend. Happy exploring!

Thursday March 19th

Pharmacy Bottle + Beverage Grand Opening
Downtown Cary has a new craft beer bottle shop! Pharmacy Bottle + Beverage opens Thursday March 19th at noon. It is located downtown Cary at 120 E. Chatham Street next to the Cary Theater. It features a unique tap room (cool white design and sleek layout) with a retail selection with wine & beer. https://www.facebook.com/pharmbottlebev/

Friday March 20th

Free Coffee Cupping at Counter Culture Coffee
Counter Culture Coffee will be holding their weekly FREE coffee cuppingat the training facility in Durham this Friday at 10am. The cuppings provide a great opportunity to learn more about the different flavors and profiles expressed by different coffee. The tasting is followed by a tour of the roasting facility. I’ve attended a cupping in the past and really enjoyed it. Here is my recap of the experience.

Full Steam Brewery “Fellowship of the IPA”
Starting Friday and lasting and all weekend long Fullsteam will host the “Fellowship of the IPA”, a celebration of rare and creative India Pale Ales. All brewed right here in North Carolina. They’ve been gathering 25 or so kegs and the pours will start at 2 pm on Friday and continue throughout the weekend. You can learn more about the event and see the full lineup of beers here.

Saturday March 21st

Sola PopUp Market
They were rained out last weekend so the PopUp Market was rescheduled for this Saturday 9am-1pm. Enjoy great coffee and local artisans selling their handcrafted wares. Symbology, Oak City Collective, Tierra Sol Studio, Bird & Beau, Lo & Behold, Badkatbeadworks, Hum Right Along, Johnna Elstob, Ella B, Grace Reclaimed, Relay Foods, Jess Sandford Ceramics, Urban Guerrilla 63, Gypsy Jule. https://www.facebook.com/events/940566305974380/

Ella’s Race
Are you looking for a 5K , 10K or 1 mile fun run this month and want to support a great cause in the process? Well lace up your running shoes for Ella’s Race on Saturday March 21, 2015 hosted by Chick-fil-A Capital Crossing and Falls Village in North Raleigh. The race will benefit The Cure Starts Now and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation to help pediatric research, aid, and support efforts for children with brain cancer & tumors.

Pittsboro Food Truck Rodeo
Historic downtown Pittsboro will be hosting several food trucks this Saturday 5-8pm at the Pittsboro Roadhouse. http://pittsbororoadhouse.com/pittsboro-food-truck-rodeos/

Sunday March 22nd

Explore the Neuse Greenway
A new section of the Neuse River Greenway was recently opened near Horseshoe Farm Park connecting the upper Neuse Greenway into one long uninterrupted stretch. It is now possible to travel from Falls Dam in North Raleigh to Clayton on 27.5 miles uninterrupted trail. You’ll encounter the newest section aroun mile 7 (pictured at the top of this post). Exploring the greenway is always a great way to spend a weekend afternoon. http://neuserivertrail.com/

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Filed under Events, Weekend Picks

Tagged as Coffee Cupping, Counter Culture Coffee, Fullsteam Brewery, Neuse Greenway, Sola PopUp, Things to do in Raleigh, Things to do inthe Triangle, Things to do this weekend

March 12, 2015 · 9:58 am

Weekend Pick: St. Patrick’s Day Celebration in Downtown Raleigh

Photo courtesy The Wake & District Pipe Band

This weekend my top pick is to check out the St. Patrick’s Day festivities in downtown Raleigh on Saturday. The St. Patrick’s Day parade is always a good time and there will be celebrations going on at the many Irish Pubs including multiple performances by the Wake & District Pipe Band. These are my suggestions for a fun St. Patrick’s Day in Raleigh. Erin go bragh!

Saturday March 14th

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/entertainment

Hibernian and Napper Tandy’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
Celebration along the 300 and 400 blocks of Glenwood Avenue from noon-11 p.m. Free until 4p.m. after that it’s $5. Live music, beer, and great food and local vendors through Shop Local Raleigh.

Tir Na Nog Annual Irish Street & Pub Party
This is an all day celebration along Moore square and Blount Street. The Pub will be open for full Irish breakfast & Bar starting at 9am. There will be tons of great food, beer, and music all day long and well into the night. See the full schedule and music lineup here.

Place to See The Wake & District Pipe Band Perform

Saturday the 14th
6:00 pm Tir Na Nog Irish Pub Raleigh
7:00 pm Trali Irish Pub
8:00 pm Hibernian Pub and Napper Tandys block party
10:00 pm Woody’s at City Market

Tuesday the 17th
6:00 pm The Piper’s Tavern
7:00 pm Hibernian Pub, North Raleigh
7:45pm Trali Irish Pub
8:30 Hibernian Pub and Napper Tandys
10:00 pm Woody’s at City Market

7:00 pm Bull McCabes Durham
8:00 pm RallyPoint Sport Grill
8:30 pm Hibernian Pub Cary
10:00 pm Woody’s at City Market

Picture of the Week: Arepa Culture Food Truck at Big Boss

Arepa Culture NC Food Truck

The weather is finally warming up and it’s time to get outside! This past Sunday I took advantage of the nice day and paid a visit to the Big Boss Run Club. While there I had the pleasure of trying the food from the Arepa Culture food truck for the first time after my run. The truck serves “Arepas”- a gluten free corn based flat bread formed into a patty that is grilled, split open and stuffed with a variety of ingredients. I enjoyed the “La Tica” which is an Arepa stuffed with shredded chicken, sauteed peppers & onions and melted cheese. It went great with a pint of Big Boss Angry Angel Kolsch.

They have several other Arepa offerings including ones with pulled pork bbq, shredded beef, chicken salad and avocado, and a caprese with fresh mozzarella, tomato pesto and olive oil. It’s a great truck and I suggest checking them out if you are on the hunt for a great Arepa or the next time you are looking to try something new. Arepa Culture is very good about letting people know where they will be parked each day by posting their location on social media. You can follow them on twitter, facebook, and instagram to keep tabs on where they will be next.

This was the last Sunday run with the Big Boss Run Club as they transition back to Tuesday night runs at the brewery starting Tuesday March 17th at 7pm. I highly recommend you check it out if you are looking for a fun social run club. It’s free and open to runners of all abilities. Routes offered include 3 and 5 mile options. After each weekly run there is usually a beer special offered by Big Boss with a select beer for just $3 a pint. Food trucks are regular visitors to the club as well.

Cheers to warmer weather!

Weekend Picks: March 6-8th

Brushstroke Studio & Gallery ~ 520 N. West Street, Raleigh

With spring just around the corner the weekend calendar is beginning to fill up with events around the Triangle. Here are a few things I think are worth checking out this weekend. Happy exploring!

Friday March 6th

First Friday Art in Downtown Raleigh
First Friday is a free self-guided tour of downtown’s cutting edge cultural hot spots. Local art galleries, art studios, alternative art venues, and museums stay open late the first Friday of every month to welcome thousands of art-seeking enthusiasts downtown. I suggest checking out Artspace, and CAM Raleigh. I also recommend stopping by Brushstroke Studio which will feature photos by Felicia Perry. The American Meltdown Food Truck will be parked at the studio and free beer from Raleigh Brewing will be available. 6-9pm.
http://www.godowntownraleigh.com/first-friday-raleigh

Live Music at Sola Coffee
World class guitar duo Bo Lankenau and Russ Corvey return to Sola Friday night 7:30-9:30pm! No Cover.
http://www.solacoffee.com/new-events/

Saturday March 7th

The Cookery Public House
Sympathy for the Deli will have a special barbecue buffet in the Front Room, along with snacks on the truck. Parlour ice cream truck be serving ice cream! The Duke vs. UNC basketball game on the 15 foot HD big screen, great beer, wine and cocktails. 6-11pm
https://www.facebook.com/events/404166229760588/

Nog Run Club Run Green 8K and Kilt Run
7th annual running of the St. Paddy’s Run Green 8K with attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the Largest Kilt Run with a short 200 meter run prior to the 8K! 2pm downtwown Raleigh.
http://www.nogrunclub.com/stpaddys/

Patchwork Mini Market at Fullsteam Brewery
New monthly market with makers and vintage vendors. The market will be held the first Saturday of the each month from 12-4 PM at Fullsteam Brewery in Durham.
https://www.facebook.com/TheDurhamPatchworkMiniMarket

Sunday March 8th

Durham Food Truck Rodeo
50+ Trucks at Durham Central Park 12-4pm. Live music by PitchBlak Brass Band
http://durhamcentralpark.org/events/food-truck-rodeo-info/

Big Boss Run Club
All runners welcome. Meet at the brewery 1pm for group run with 3 & 5 mile options. Afterward enjoy a pint at the brewery and food truck Taco Grande.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/bigbossrunclub/

Midtown Grille “Tour of Spain” Dinner Recap

Midtown Grille – “Tour of Spain” Dinner

Back in January I had the pleasure of attending a special “Tour of Spain” dinner at Midtown Grille in Raleigh. The dinner featured a 7 course meal created by Chef Benjamin Harris that paired Spanish tapas dishes with carefully selected Spanish wines. I’ve been to Midtown before, but this was my first visit with Chef Harris at the helm in the kitchen and Max Trujillo as Manger and Sommelier. I was already a fan of Midtown but found myself even more impressed after this latest visit with how they continue to elevate their game in the Triangle food scene.

Midtown has a quaint but casual atmosphere and a creative menu that features regionally inspired dishes. It is the type of place I feel comfortable recommending to people looking to celebrate a special occasion or just a casual night out with friends to enjoy great food and drinks. They are open for lunch and dinner and recently began offering brunch on weekends. They have a beautiful dining room and bar area including a private dining area that is perfect for special events.

The “Tour of Spain” dinner was held with 20 or so guests seated in the private dining area of the restaurant. Before each course was served Chef Harris would spend a few minutes explaining the dish to guests and Max, the Sommelier, would provide details about the wine pairing and talk about the region of Spain the wines originated from. Everything was delicious and it made for a wonderful evening out with my wife.

Below is a quick visual recap of the “Tour Spain” dishes served. These photos were taken by the talented Felicia Perry. I appreciate Felicia allowing me to use her pictures as they truly capture the essence of the Chef Harris’ creations. Felicia specializes in photogrpahic services and marketing assests for the food, restaurant and hospitality industries. You can view her portfolio and and learn about the services she offers at http://www.feliciaperryphotography.com/.