by Emma Brennan | Nov 18, 2021 | Do, November 2021
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… and there’s plenty of fun things to do around Raleigh to get in the holiday spirit.
11/18
HOLIDAY MARKETPLACE
It’s the most holly jolly time of the year to get ahead on all your holiday shopping (we’ve said it once and we’ll say it again… it’s never too early!). Mark off everyone on your shopping list through the many shops at the Village District—and get a $25 gift card when you spend $150 or more—and let the kiddos run down their own wish lists with Old Saint Nick himself. shopvillagedistrict.com
11/18–20
JASON MEWES
Stop everything. The man behind the vocal half of Jay and Silent Bob—aka “Oh, I’m Jay, and this is my hetero-lifemate Silent Bob”—of Kevin Smith cult classics fame (Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Clerks and more) brings the raunch to Goodnights for three nights in Raleigh. goodnightscomedy.com
11/18–21
25TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF TREES
Promising to light up your life… Christmas decorations, well, grow on trees at The Carolina Hotel’s Festival of Trees, where volunteer designers create amazing trees, wreaths, garlands, centerpieces, gift baskets and other handmade items that are auctioned off during a raffle. Money raised benefits children who have special developmental needs at Sandhills Children’s Center in Rockingham and Southern Pines—so, you’ll end up getting a gift for yourself and for children in need as well. festivaloftrees.org
11/18–21
UNIQUE DEPARTURES/INNOVATIVE VARIATIONS
Carolina Ballet takes a unique departure from its classical ballet repertoire through new ballets from Founding Artistic Director Robert Weiss, Principal Guest Choreographer Lynne Taylor-Corbett and Carolina Ballet’s Jenny Palmer—plus, don’t miss guest choreographer Mariana Oliveira’s critically acclaimed Pagliacci, which follows a clown’s tragic descent, for a show that’s sure to be on pointe. carolinaballet.com
11/18–12/11
CRABTREE ANGEL TREE
Seeking out ways to give back this season? Snag an Angel Tag from the Salvation Army Angel Tree at Crabtree Valley Mall and shop for Christmas gifts that are sure to bring a great big smile to an underprivileged child’s face somewhere. shopcrabtree.com
11/19
A’VERDE COCINA + TEQUILA LIBRARY POP-UP
Give your taste buds a sneak peek of chef Katsuji Tanabe’s menu at his upcoming modern Mexican restaurant A’Verde Cocina + Tequila Library in Cary at Vidrio. Be there or be square. averdecary.com
11/19
PINK FRIDAY AT ROSE & LEE CO.
Think pink! Apex’s Rose & Lee Co. is participating in the second annual Pink Friday small business shopping experience, a traditional spin on the traditional Black Friday shopping experience that emphasizes #ShopSmallFirst. Gear up for a weekend of holiday arrivals and giveaways for the first 100 shoppers both in store and online. roseandleeco.com
11/19–20
TREE LIGHTINGS
Get lit at tree lightings across town. In DTR, sip, shop, savor and support while you kick off the holiday season with Triangle Pop-Up and Downtown Raleigh Alliance for Downtown’s official tree lighting by Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin and the holiday pop-up market (Nov. 19)—P.S. we’ll be there! Start checking off your good list with curated selects of custom gifts and goodies by local artists and makers while getting in the spirit with live music, food, drinks and holiday fun. Next, head to Waverly Place for restaurant tastings, retail sales and promotions, stilt-walking, face-painting, live music, and a tree lighting countdown by yours truly—Santa Claus (“I know him!”). Over in North Hills Commons, get your holiday on with snow slopes, trackless train rides, a vendor village, kids’ crafts, a bounce house and a visit from the jolly ‘ole elf himself—not to mention the massive tree set aglow to the chorus of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.” In North Raleigh, get in your holiday feels as you stroll (and shop) through The Village while enjoying tunes before taking in the annual tree lighting ceremony at Lafayette Village (Nov. 20). downtownraleigh.org; waverlycary.com; visitnorthhills.com; lafayettevillageraleigh.com
11/19–21
JURASSIC QUEST
Just when you thought dinosaurs were extinct… they’re heading to the Raleigh Convention Center for an interactive exhibit including over 80 lifelike dinosaurs, rides, shows, activities, bounce houses and more. jurassicquest.com
11/20
77TH ANNUAL ABC11 RALEIGH CHRISTMAS PARADE
Santa Claus is coming to town to help you sleigh your holiday with the 77th installment of the popular milelong Christmas parade, presented by Shop Local Raleigh. abc11.com
11/20
CLTURE + TRANSFER CO. FALL BAZAAR
Shopping, music, food and art—oh, my! Whether you’re looking to get a head start on your holiday gift list or just treat yo’self to some local offerings, you’re gonna wanna head to Transfer Co Food Hall for the first annual CLTure + Transfer Co. Fall Bazaar on Saturday, Nov. 20. transfercofoodhall.com
11/20
HOLIDAY CLOTHING DRIVE
Need a reason to finally sort through your closet? We’ve got it. Drop your new or gently used clothing at Crabtree Valley Mall to help underprivileged women in our community achieve their goals. shopcrabtree.com
11/20
NC STATE VS. SYRACUSE
Come pull for the Pack to beat the cute out of those Syracuties. gopack.com
11/20–21
DURHAM ART WALK HOLIDAY MARKET
Transition from harvest to holidays with Durham Arts Council’s free fam-friendly ho-ho-Holiday Market to kick off the season in Downtown Durham. Festive finds abound at this holiday-inspired art walk chock-full of ’tis-the-season makers, live music and more at easily strollable venues and world-class restos (plus food trucks) in Durham’s city center. durhamartwalk.com
11/20–12/8
ABC11 TOGETHER FOOD DRIVE
“Together, let’s put hope on the table.” Partner with ABC11 as they help restock the shelves at local food banks this season. abc11.com
11/21
BOXCAR’S THANKS FOR GIVING EVENT
“Feed the need” and have fun doing it with Boxcar’s Thanks for Giving Food Drive supporting the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC. theboxcarbar.com
11/22
PET NIGHTS WITH SANTA
Fido has a Christmas list too, ya know. Take your pet out on a night on the town to meet Santa, share a few barks and, of course, snag a picture-pawfect portrait. shopcrabtree.com
11/22
PINECONE BLUEGRASS JAM
Let’s all gather around and (circle) jam at Transfer Co. Food Hall. Meet new folks and share your enthusiasm for good food and good bluegrass. transfercofoodhall.com
by Emma Brennan | Nov 18, 2021 | Do, November 2021, Web Exclusive
WEB EXCLUSIVE Raleigh ice skating—NYC style. We’re getting major Big Apple vibes from this open-air DTR ice skating rink at Red Hat offering skyline views and a winter wonderland state of mind.
Let’s break the ice. Raleigh’s very own Rockefeller-esque ice skating rink is opening this Saturday, Nov. 20, at Red Hat Amphitheater in DTR, and as the chill master himself—Ice Cube, of course—would say, it “ain’t got no haters.” So if you were daydreaming of ice skating scenes a la Serendipity, Home Alone 2 and Elf, you’re in luck.
Figure-eight your way into the holidays with your eyes on the sky—quite literally, as the natural, open-air ice rink offers stunning views of the Raleigh skyline. Presented by UNC Health, THE RINK runs through Jan. 1, with special programming planned throughout—think a vendor village hosted by Shop Local Raleigh on Nov. 27 and DRA’s First Friday collab on Dec. 3.
“We’re thrilled to bring some festive holiday spirit to downtown Raleigh this year,” says Kerry Painter, director/GM of Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex. “This is the perfect opportunity to start a new holiday tradition as Red Hat Amphitheater is transformed into a dazzling winter wonderland.”
Fun for everyone, this big city in a small city ice rink is a must-do this season. Have an ice day! redhatamphitheater.com/the-rink
by Emma Brennan | Nov 11, 2021 | Do, November 2021, Uncategorized
From rooftop yoga (!) at the new The Willard bar and lounge at AC Hotel Raleigh Downtown to art exhibits and more, there’s plenty of fun things to do in Raleigh this week.
11/11
ARTS ON THE HILL
Dix Park is strengthening community ties by showing off gifted filmmakers and poets in the Triangle at its Arts on the Hill series. dixpark.org
11/12
21MARBLES
It’s time for the adults to release their inner child and have their own night of fun at Marbles. Those 21 and up are invited to play in the museum, enjoy themed activities and adult bevvies, and dance the night away with a DJ. marbleskidsmuseum.org
11/12–12/16
COLLECTING MOMENTS EXHIBITION
Gain some perspective via this three-person exhibition at Charlotte Russell Contemporary presenting work inspired by everyday life, architecture and the surrounding landscape. charlotterussellcontemporary.com
11/13
BOUNDLESS AT CAMERON ART MUSEUM
Artist Stephen Hayes is uncovering local history and addressing race and racism with the first figurative sculpture in NC to honor the U.S. colored troops—to be unveiled this Saturday. cameronartmuseum.org
11/13
COLORED PENCILS WITH SHELBY SCATTERGOOD
As part of the NCMA’s Alphonse Mucha: Art Nouveau Visionary exhibit, Scattergood (whose work is highly reflective of Mucha’s) will host a virtual 90-minute demo in her own studio to teach basic colored-pencil drawing techniques such as pencil strokes, blending, highlighting and shadow. Color us intrigued. ncartmuseum.org
11/13
MYRA’S ANGELS FOUNDATION VIRTUAL 5K AND 10K RUN/WALK FUNDRAISER
Spread your wings by taking a walk—or run, if you’re into that—to benefit Myra’s Angel Foundation, a nonprofit org that provides homeless or foster children access to essentials via a bag of love. myrasangels.org
11/13
ROOFTOP YOGA AT THE WILLARD
Bend and stretch against a backdrop of the Raleigh skyline with this outdoor yoga flow sesh on the rooftop terrace of the recently opened The Willard bar and lounge—then namaste for a drink after, naturally. thewillardraleigh.com
11/13–14, weekly
THE RALEIGH MARKET
Boasting “the best flea in NC,” The Raleigh Market specializes in old and new alike with vibrant antiques and local handcrafted goods—all up for grabs every Saturday and Sunday at the fairgrounds. theraleighmarket.com
11/14
ARDBEG PRESENTS MONSTERS OF SMOKE TOUR
Sláinte! Ardbeg, the “ultimate single malt scotch whisky” from the Scottish Isle of Islay is being featured at Dram & Draught for its Monsters of Smoke Tour. Enjoy tastings, giveaways, photo ops and an Ardbeg featured cocktail. dramanddraught.com
11/14
COREPOWER YOGA
Free and feel-good yoga is on deck this Sunday as CorePower Yoga hosts a free class at the NCMA greenspace, all for the sake of providing warm meals to those in need via nonprofit Operation Turkey. So strengthening your core–and your core values. A win-win. corepoweryoga.com
11/14
NORTH CAROLINA OPERA: FIDELIO
Experience storytelling, freedom and justice—quite literally—with this politically powerful opera, presented by the NC Opera House featuring works by Beethoven. dukeenergycenterraleigh.com
11/16
GRATITUDE & BUBBLES
Feeling bubbly? Sip on Killjoy’s Gratitude & Bubbles Heartbreakers Club event. Heartbreakers can love the wine they’re with (aka attend) for free; Non-Heartbreakers can grab a ticket for $25—or you can always join the club to get in on all the fun on the regular. killjoy.com
11/17
STAND UP: A COMEDY EXPERIENCE
We all could use a good belly laugh. Good thing small-town boy Winston Hodges is stirring up big boy—and girl—laughs at Transfer Co. Food Hall this week. transfercofoodhall.com
11/17
STARGAZING AT THE WILLARD ROOFTOP
Meteor shower alert! Watch it live—along with views of a full moon—on The Willard rooftop. thewillardraleigh.com
by Emma Brennan | Nov 11, 2021 | November 2021, Web Exclusive
WEB EXCLUSIVE This Veterans Day, we’re saluting Raleigh veteran Mike Otis’ Battle Tested Craft Barbecue Sauce and his mission to support local veterans.
Everyone anticipates their 21st birthday, but for Mike Otis, it wasn’t finally being able to crack open a cold one that interested him, it was getting his dad’s (a WWII veteran) family barbecue recipe, which was passed down to his dad by his grandmother—and it was only when he turned 21 that he was “old enough to handle the recipe.”
In fact, Otis still has the recipe card that his dad tucked into his 21st birthday card, and it now serves as the backbone for his popular Battle Tested Craft Barbecue Sauce.
And as a couple who cares deeply about veteran lives and bringing awareness to veteran suicide, now Otis and his wife, Deardria, have partnered with Durham’s Stop Soldier Suicide—an organization helping PTSD veterans in the Triangle.
“It’s been about more than just making sauce, it’s about giving back to veteran, not-for-profit organizations,” says Otis. So, for every bottle of Battle Tested Craft Barbecue Sauce sold in NC, the company donates 5% of its profit to Stop Soldier Suicide.
A Desert Storm Air Force veteran himself, Otis added spices and his own signature flavor to the family barbecue sauce recipe—which, before bottling it, he dished out to friends and family who constantly encouraged him to market it. One friend even told him it was so good he could drink it… that’s when you know.
After some convincing—now about three years ago—the couple took a chance and dove head-first into the competitive billion-dollar barbecue sauce industry, set up a corporation, filed for trademarks, opened a state-of-the-art sauce production plant in Henderson… and the rest, as they say, is history.
Now with several awards and competition wins under their belt (first place at the Oxford Hot Sauce Festival and Pinehurst Barbecue Festival, to name just a couple), Otis and his wife are on a mission to support veterans.
by Emma Brennan | Nov 3, 2021 | Do, November 2021
Fall is officially in the air (it’s really cooling down out there!) and there’s plenty of things to do in Raleigh this week to celebrate.
THROUGH 11/7
TRIANGLE VEGAN RESTAURANT WEEK
No “missed-steak” here. Chew your way through the Triangle as local restaurants serve up inventive—and delicious—vegan dining options to celebrate plant-based eating. Forks up! triangleveganrestaurantweek.com
11/4
THE COMEDY EXPERIENCE
Jeremy Alder is brewing up laughter at Clouds Brewing this Thursday. Be there or be square. cloudsbrewing.com
11/5, ONGOING
CINEMA IN THE SQUARE
Rewrite the stars with Zac Efron and Zendaya in a showing of The Greatest Showman this Friday night. downtownraleigh.org
11/5
DAY OF THE DEAD ALTAR
Friends of the City of Raleigh Museum is hosting a Day of the Dead Altar to finalize the celebration of Día De Los Muertos. This year’s altar will honor the voices of women and those lost due to the pandemic. cityofraleighmuseum.org
11/5
FIRST FRIDAY
Dine out downtown—then get your culture on and gallery-hop through this month’s installment of Downtown Raleigh Alliance’s First Friday. downtownraleigh.org
11/5
SAN HOLO
“Lead Me Back” to The Ritz for another euphoric show from this alternative Dutch DJ and musician. ritzraleigh.com
11/5
STARTUP HOLIDAY MARKET
Ring in the holiday season with Raleigh Founded’s first annual holiday market for local startups. Connect with the Raleigh community as you sip on local beers and check off your holiday shopping list. raleighfounded.com
11/5–6
MYQ KAPLAN
The New York Times-dubbed “invigoratingly funny” Last Comic Standing finalist (aka Mike Kaplan) brings the laughs to Goodnights hot off his No. 1 debut comedy album, A.K.A. goodnightscomedy.com
11/5–7
DESI BANKS
Come for the comedic genius, stay for the hilariously relatable digital sketches and characters—remember Parlay, Lil Johnny and Grandma Reese? improv.com
11/5–14
DTR RESTAURANT WEEK
We hope you’re hungry, Raleigh! Downtown Raleigh Alliance’s 2021 Restaurant Week kicks off on First Friday and challenges you to dine at as many local Downtown restos as you can throughout the week. Peep DRA’s site for participating eateries and more info. downtownraleigh.org
11/5–14
LADY DAY
NC Theatre welcomes Angela Robinson as Billie Holiday in the production Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill. nctheatre.com
11/6
BEN FOLDS
Folds brings his self-dubbed solo piano and orchestral performance “In Actual Person Live for Real Tour” to Memorial Auditorium. We are “the luckiest,” indeed. dukeenergycenterraleigh.com
11/6
CRAFTY’S 8TH BIRTHDAY
Celebrate good times, come on! Party it up with local musicians; 20 craft beer, wine and spirits vendors; and food trucks for Crafty Beer, Wine & Spirits’ 8th anniversary celebration. craftybeerwinespirits.com
11/6
DRAM RALEIGH ANNIVERSARY PARTY
Cheers to five years of your fave neighborhood bar, Dram & Draught, via drinks specials, swag and live tunes. The party kicks off till noon and lasts until 2am (!). See you there! dramanddraught.com
11/6
MONSTER DRAWING RALLY
Witness firsthand the creation of art from Jason Whitman, Sherry Di Filippo, Rebekah Evans and Paul Friedrich at the North Carolina Museum of Art’s annual Monster Drawing Rally at the Market. ncartmuseum.org
11/6–7
79TH ANNUAL NC GOURD ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL
Oh, my gourd! The 79th annual North Carolina Gourd Arts and Crafts Festival will feature gourds from around the globe, workshops and competitions, plus vendors of all the gourdy goods, from dried gourds and gourd seeds to gourd crafts, books, T-shirts and crafting supplies. There’s even a free gourd crafting table for kids. ncgourdsociety.org
11/7
ALLEY CATS & ALES
The cool cats are cracking open cold ones at Raleigh Brewing Company for its fifth annual fundraiser to benefit the Alley Cats and Angels medical fund. alleycatsandangels.org
11/7
FALL FEST AT BOWSTRING
All the fall things—think football, live music, Triangle Pop-Up, leaves crunching—are in order at Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard’s Fall Fest. bowstringbrewyard.com
11/7
HOT GIRL AUTUMN POP-UP MARKET WITH PUPPIES
Who let the dogs out? Dogwood Bar & Eatery is hosting a pop-up market benefiting Saving Grace Pups. Cuddle cute pups and shop at vendors such as State of Myne, Oak City Yoga and High Maintenance Hippie for a warm and fuzzy (the pooches and the hazy hooches!) Sunday funday. dogwoodraleigh.com
11/9
CHEVELLE
Wind and deep-dish pizza aren’t the only good things coming out of Illinois. Add Chicago alt-rock trio Chevelle to that list—and then catch them onstage at the Ritz. ritzraleigh.com
11/9
CONNECT AND CREATE: MICRO ZINES
Calling all future Raleigh Mag writers and designers! Learn how to share stories through magazines as you create your own in the Chapel at Dix Park. dixpark.org
11/9
NC STATE VS. BUCKNELL
Court is back in session, y’all. Prepare for a “packed” house as fans return to PNC for the Pack’s home opener. gopack.com
11/10
RALEIGH NIGHT MARKET
Vendors, music and food trucks—oh, my! Check out Downtown’s newest and coolest district, Smoky Hollow, and shop local to your heart’s content. raleighnightmarket.com
11/10
WINE TASTING
Wine and dine on fall wines—just in time for Thanksgiving—and charcuterie with Patrick Greene of Johnson Brothers-Mutual at Glenwood Social Club. glenwoodsocialclub.com
