by Anna Beth Adcock | Feb 28, 2022 | Do, March 2022
1. Apéritif
DURHAM
There’s no need to wine when you can make a quick trip over to the Bull City for a glass of vino and some delectable desserts. More than a hundred labels await, so perfect chance to nosh on a chocolate tart, munch on a macaron (or two!) or lighten your mood with a lemon custard in a made-from-scratch shortbread crust while you mull it over. NTM the craft cocktails, cold brews, shareable desserts and small plates—the perf recipe for your next glam GNO or date night. Because some things are too sweet not to share. aperitifnc.com
2. Jetplane Coffee
DURHAM
This self-proclaimed “restaurant disguised as a coffee shop” made the move from pop-ups around town—where coffee was served from a portable coffee cart fashioned from an airline service cart—into its first brick-and-mortar location with a vision to be a safe space for people to come enjoy some good ol’ java. With a menu of modern diner-style comfort food (plus an incredible banh mi that may just be the best in Durham), fan-favorite baked goodies (cinnamon stacks, anyone?) and coffee brewed with local beans, this approachable cafe operates based on a simple statement: quality, dignity, service. So jet on over to the Bull City for your next lunch date or unwind with a gluten-free muffin and a cuppa joe on a slow Saturday morning. Sounds fa-brew-lous to us. jetplanecoffee.com
3. Carpenter Wine Cellar
MORRISVILLE
Hey, brew. Get ready to go beer-serk over Carpenter Wine Cellar’s extensive assortment of vino and brew selections. With pro tips from its team of dedicated wine and beer specialists, patrons can uncork an array of choices fit for any budget, including limited-editions and seasonal offerings. Did we mention there are over a dozen drinks on tap? Pale ales, IPAs, sour beers, pilsners and stouts—oh, my! BRB, we’re going to work on our six-pack. carpenterwinecellar.com
4. Atlas
CARRBORO
Introducing Atlas, your new friendly neighborhood bar—a place that you’d be happy to go to regularly… whether after work, on the weekend or for any occasion in between. Stocked with a bevy of books, curated art and an assemblage of items from all over the world, Atlas’ atmosphere will remind you of your cool—somewhat crazy—aunt’s house, minus all the family drama, says owner Kevin Callaghan. This worldly and aesthetic bar invites patrons to connect—and then keep coming back again and again—via a heavy emphasis on creative cocktails, a curated wine and beer menu, and expert employees. So, navigate yourself over to a seat at Atlas—no passport required. atlascarrboro.com
5. Bluebird
CHAPEL HILL
Ooh la la. You’ll want to say oui to everything on acclaimed chef and UNC alumnus Brandon Sharp’s (of Hawthorne & Wood fame) new French-inspired menu at Bluebird, opening this spring. Located in Meadowmont Village, the French-bistro style restaurant features classic dishes like salade lyonnaise, sole Véronique, and roast chicken with black truffle—plus a variety of French wines, ciders and cocktails. The outdoor veranda is the perfect perch for brunch, lunch or dinner (or just a glass of vino!) a la Emily in Paris. Bon appetit! bluebirdnc.com
Looking for more sip spots? Check out our recent Five Outside: Bar Edition.
by Anna Beth Adcock | Feb 28, 2022 | Do, March 2022
After successful launches in seven cities, Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience is making its way to the City of Oaks.
“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together”—so said art phenom Vincent van Gogh—and nowhere is that more apparent than Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, making its highly anticipated debut in Raleigh in late April after successful launches in Atlanta, Dallas, New York, Miami, Philadelphia, DC and Boston. If you ever fancied the feeling of stepping into a painting, you absolutely must gogh immerse yourself into the prolific painter’s works—including a one-of-a-kind 360-degree virtual reality multisensory exhibit that’ll guide you through “A Day in the Life of the Artist in Arles” (think a 20,000-square-foot light and sound spectacle casting two-story projections of the likes of van Gogh’s most famed works—“Vincent’s Bedroom in Arles” [natch], “Starry Night,” “Wheatfield With Crows” and more). And if you’re feeling inspired, make sure to visit the drawing studio to put some of van Gogh’s techniques to the test by creating an artistic masterpiece of your own. A “starry night” indeed. Tickets on sale now via Fever’s marketplace, from $32.20 for adults, from $19.10 for children, Pleasant Valley Promenade, vangoghexpo.com
by Anna Beth Adcock | Feb 21, 2022 | February 2022, Web Exclusive
WEB EXCLUSIVE In prep for National Margarita Day Feb. 22, we’ve rounded up some of the best spots to grab a sip (or several) of our favorite margaritas in town. Marg our words, these margs are worth a shot. We know how we’re spending our Taco Tuesday…
Tap into your tequila fancy with your choice of triple sec and tequila mixed with 13 Tacos and Taps’ signature marg mix. And make sure to pair with the delish taco while you’re at it. It’s in the name!
Make sure to visit Jose and Sons for a fresh-squeezed citrus margarita tower (plus some excellent Mexican food!) with your squad. This margarita tower’s reputation precedes it, and we can’t imagine a better way to celebrate National Margarita Day.
The drink menu at William and Company goes on and on and on(za), making it hard to choose just one. But don’t get too shaken up and add an Onza marg to your order!
Sip on a housemade marg in a colorful, casual setting at Chido Taco. We might just have to order two (or three, or four…)!
Eat, drink (tequila) and be happy at Hummingbird’s welcoming hub—built for enjoying drinks and New Orleans-inspired cuisine with your friends or SO. Now that’s a good time you can’t pass up.
Bop over to Virgil’s for margs with a sour spin and seasonal fruit. Oh, and the lime on your drink totally counts as a nutritious choice, BTW.
Tequila is literally in the restaurant name, making this go-to Mexican spot a no-brainer. Take advantage of dozens of tequila choices at Gonza—because margs are always the answer.
Take marg tequila frozen or on the rocks at Dos Taquitos! Keep calm, and tequila on.
by Anna Beth Adcock | Jan 30, 2022 | Buzz, December 2021/January 2022, Web Exclusive
WEB EXCLUSIVE Console yourself. William Peace University is leveling up, opening its new esports and gaming lab for students to work… and play!
Here’s news sure to make every gamer grin… video gaming is growing in popularity, and even universities are taking notice. We gave you the scoop over the summer about William Peace University’s two newest bachelor programs: Interactive Design and ESports, and Gaming Administration that launched last fall. Now, the school is opening its very own esports and gaming lab.
The lab includes gaming desktops, comfy gaming chairs and two large wall monitors. Each gaming station is equipped with its own set of headphones, an RGB keyboard and a pro-level controller.
The university’s Esports and Gaming Administration and Interactive Design majors will use the lab, along with WPU’s two esports teams, Rocket League and Valorant. Both teams are prepping to regularly compete this semester.
“I am absolutely ecstatic to launch the lab and provide a top-notch experience for our students,” said Roger Christman, department chair of Communications and Simulation & Game Design. “At WPU, we believe in immersive learning—learning by doing. This lab enables our students to dig in and create games, play them, and learn about the industry with the latest technology. I’m so thrilled to see our students getting this amazing education and experience.”
Clearly positioning themselves at the head of the class, Peace is at the forefront of a gaming and esports revolution. As we’ve covered, the gaming industry continues to grow exponentially. In fact, a recent Forbes ranking now places Raleigh as the second-hottest area in the U.S. for tech jobs, calling it an emerging frontrunner in the esports gaming community. And doubling down on our position in the esports economy, if you will, the latest two-year state budget passed included $28 million for esports ventures and $10 million to help bring more esports events to NC.
Essentially, the gaming industry in North Carolina—and Raleigh in particular—is getting out of control… in the best way possible. And to that we say, game on.
by Anna Beth Adcock | Jan 25, 2022 | December 2021/January 2022, Web Exclusive
WEB EXCLUSIVE During our fave Golden Girl’s would-be 100th birthday, donations rang in from all over the country to support the Wake County Animal Center.
Betty White once attributed her long life to not eating her greens, but we think it might also have something to do with her affinity for pups.
A nationwide fundraising effort to honor the comedian’s legacy (and her love for animals), the #BettyWhiteChallenge went viral on Facebook this month, raising millions of dollars for shelters around the country.
On Jan. 17 (Betty’s birthday!), $16,000 in donations poured from all over the country for our very own Wake County Animal Center. In total, $22,052 was donated by 600-plus people since the fundraiser’s announcement. Many of the donors included people who have already adopted from the shelter to add furry children to their families.
The #BettyWhiteChallenge reached more than 30,000 people on Wake County’s various social media outlets and led to around 1,000 visits to the Animal Center’s donation webpage.
Commented one donor, Amanda Fulcher, on Facebook: “[I’m] happy to have donated in memory of Betty and in honor of our Izzy who we adopted from you in 2009. She will be celebrating her 13th birthday this spring.”
Wake County Animal Center is the only open admission shelter in the county that takes in stray, abandoned and surrendered pets. Last year, the shelter took in over 8,000 animals, adopting out nearly 3,500 pets and finding foster homes for 1,700. The shelter also helped reunite more than 1,000 animals with their owners and placed another 2,000 animals with partnership organizations throughout North Carolina.
“We want to thank everyone so much for all the donations,” says Animal Services Director Dr. Jennifer Federico. “This is an amazing outpouring of support for our shelter. Our community has always been generous, but this exceeded all our expectations.”
Still want to donate to the doggos? There’s always room for more support: You can make a monetary donation, sponsor a pet adoption fee, volunteer, be a foster dog parent, or swing by to donate dog food or other needed items. The options are paws-itively endless. Fur-real. wakegov.com
