“Do well. Do good. Better Together” goes the MO of The Loading Dock’s first annual gala benefiting Gabi’s, a nonprofit org dedicated to employing individuals with special needs. theloadingdock.com
12/15 Hurricanes v. Kraken
The Canes will make waves to defeat the Seattle Kraken at PNC. nhl.com
12/15 Magic of Lights Vendor Night
Find the perfect Christmas gift for your loved ones this year at this holiday vendor market at Coastal Credit Union Music Park. magicoflights.com
12/15 Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet
Dreaming of sugar plums? This magical holiday tradition returns to Durham for its 50th anniversary. Expect puppet performances, amazing acrobatics, classy costumes and more. Let’s get crackin’! carolinatheatre.org
12/15 Wait Wait Stand-Up Tour
Featuring some of the funniest names from Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me, this stand-up set is sure to spur some belly laughs. dukeenergycenterraleigh.com
12/15–17 Rob Schneider
“You can do it!” The Waterboy’s Townie—aka famed funnyman Rob Schneider (also of Grown Ups, 50 First Dates and so many more)—is headed to Raleigh to stir up hilarity this holiday season. improv.com
12/15–18 Call of Duty League
Hey, ace. Watch professional gamers put their skills to the test at this Call of Duty tournament hosted at the Raleigh Convention Center. It’s time for a battle royale! callofdutyleague.com
12/16 Early Birds at Prairie Ridge
The early bird gets the worm… and spots the best birds, obv. BYO binoculars and get ready to bird out. #StaySquawkin naturalsciences.org
12/16–18 Shuler King
SC native Shuler King is taking a break from his main position as funeral director at his family’s funeral business (really) to bring the laughs to Goodnights, proving his career is anything but dead. goodnightscomedy.com
12/16–24 The Nutcracker
“Son of a nutcracker!” For an evening sure to be on pointe, see this classical Christmas performance with refreshed choreography by Artistic Director Zalman Raffael. dukeenergycenterraleigh.com
12/17 Ugly Sweater Holiday + Anniversary Party
It’s officially (ugly) sweater season! Don your tackiest or most outlandish Christmas sweater, sip on specialty cocktails and play all the arcade games at Boxcar this Saturday. … And if you’re feeling extra stylish, sign up for the ugly sweater contest—and may the ugliest, er–best dressed, win! theboxcarbar.com
12/17–18 Marbles Gingerbread Jamboree
Oh, ginger snap! Create a gingerbread house so tempting even Hansel and Gretel won’t be able to pass it up—then take it home to eat, natch. marbleskidsmuseum.org
12/17–18 The Raleigh Ringers Holiday Concerts
Ring in the holidays with The Raleigh Ringers during their annual holiday concerts feat. unique spins on sacred, secular and popular music—plus some rock ‘n’ roll. rr.org
12/18 Soccer Fan Fest
Got balls? Join a few fellow soccer—er, football!—fans at Moore Square to view the final FIFA World Cup match on the big screen. And with games, food trucks, a DJ and beer on the scene, it’s sure to reach all your viewing party #goals.raleighnc.gov
12/20 Hurricanes v. Devils
The devil is in the details–of losing. Take Warning! nhl.com
Recorded live at Helium locations and featuring clips of performances, stand-up specials and more, Helium Comedy Studios extends the family-owned entertainment provider’s reach into your comfort zone—literally—by bringing the live comedy club experience into your home… or wherever you want to stream.
“I’m telling you… Helium goes all out; they don’t spare anything,” says comedian Mat Alano Martin of the ambitious and crafty laugh house legends.
Marc Grossman, Helium co-owner, adds, “It was a clear opportunity for us to bolster great new talent as we already have the means to do so with our eight club facilities that are within the top 50 DMAs. The pandemic forced us to take a step back and consider how Helium could pivot and grow with the future of comedy by expanding our brand beyond live in-person performances.”
Helium COO and co-owner Brad Grossman—who flew into Raleigh for the sole purpose of chatting up Raleigh Magazine about the club’s future plans a few weeks ago—says that Helium Comedy Studios will only further the company’s goal by supporting and creating a platform for eclectic groups of up-and-coming talent. And in the Digital Age, this video and digital platform allows Helium to step into the streaming space—and reach a global audience.
Look out for Helium Comedy Studios’ upcoming content releases on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on YouTube, with a lineup to include Jeff Dye of Better Late Than Never, Jon Dore of Inside Amy Schumer, and Ben Gleib of Chelsea Lately, to name a few.
Get excited! Raleigh Magazine’s April issue drops April 1—and will be on stands around town and delivered to your doors and mailboxes! If you can’t wait until then, here’s a quick look at some of the stories we have in store. (Subscribe now or by April 5 to have the April issue delivered straight to your mailbox—with a peel-off label to boot… for a steal of just $10/year!)
Hot Tickets
Brewgaloo | Photo by RL Photography
If we learned anything in the last two years, it’s that life’s short (and unexpected)—so buy the damn tickets. If you thought 2021 was gonna be Raleigh gone wild before pandemic part II spoiled our plans… just wait for ’22. Events are back for real now—and bigger and better and cooler than ever. And people are amped up and willing to drop all the dollars. We give you a preview of your “hot ticket” year ahead. So get ready, Raleigh… it’s about to be lights out.
Give Peace a Chance
Raleigh Magazine gets the exclusive release on what’s coming to the intersection of Peace and Glenwood. … Dubbed The Yard, this hip new social hub (think shipping containers filled with bars and unique food concepts spread among abundant outdoor space with fire pits, games and the like) is bound to be your new fave DTR hangout spot.
How ‘bout Them Apples
Raleigh’s first cidery is opening this spring (!) and Raleigh Magazine got the exclusive first look inside. East Bower Cider Co.—opening inside the new East End Market and so named for its greenery-filled taproom—will fall somewhere between Bull City Cider’s more straightforward commercial operation and Botanist & Barrel’s experimental and wild-fermented approach.
Under the Gin-fluence
Libations 317
Not all gin & tonics are created equal. To fete National Gin & Tonic Day April 9, gin-lover and RM Publisher Gina Stephens gives the inside scoop on the top 5 gin & tonic twists in Raleigh you should be sipping now—with a bonus gin pick to boot. We’re calling it now: gin and tonics are going to be the drink of the summer!
From exhibits celebrating Black History Month to theatre performances to the annual Krispy Kreme Challenge, there’s lots of fun events going on in Raleigh this week.
Through 5/1 Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge, 1718
Arrrgh! Channel your inner Jack Sparrow, and get your pirate on with this deep-dive into the legend of Blackbeard and the Golden Age of Piracy, on view now at the North Carolina Museum of History. ncmuseumofhistory.org
Culture vultures are gonna want to make their way to Meredith Art Galleries’ newest exhibit, I Carry Them On My Back, Of Course!—presented by The Black on Black Project and funded in part by the Kenan Fund, and featuring artist Alexandria Clay’s body of work, which, “through a series of multimedia collages that construct ideal worlds, followed by an expanding practice in portraiture, aims to bring a specific, emotional trial to light, and to make known the invisible efforts that sustain her community.” gallery.meredith.edu
Feb., ongoing Free Workouts for American Heart Month
Join the City of Raleigh in celebration of American Heart Month with various Heart Health Month activities, including water exercise and park workouts. raleighnc.gov
Feb., ongoing Raleigh Comedy Bus Tour
Didja know that after Sir Walter died, his wife kept his head in a red velvet bag for almost 30 years? … All aboard this private on-demand comedy bus tour (so a feeltrip, if you will)—making fun of Raleigh’s history one joke at a time. BYOB (and wine). tobaccoroadtours.com
2/3 Doggy Date Night
Treat your fur baby to date night at Transfer Co. Food Hall for treats (Captain Cookies is offering pumpkin-peanut butter dog treats and Mama Crow’s will have a dog-friendly menu (!))—plus toys from local pet supply vendors. transfercofoodhall.com
2/3 NC State vs. Florida State
It’s the ladies lighting up Tobacco Road, y’all. Catch the Wolfpack women as they notch another W over the Noles.gopack.com
2/3–5 Esther Povitsky
“Hot for her name,” the self-deprecating deadpan funnywoman (aka “Little Esther”) brings her distinctly modern storytelling on the trials of being a 30-something in today’s world to Goodnights. goodnightscomedy.com
2/3 & 5, weekly Music Bingo
All the Bingo ladies (and gents) get your fix at Lonerider Brewing Company’s Wake Forest “hideout” Thursday (7–9pm) and Saturdays (9–11pm) for the February return of this tuneful weekly iteration of music bingo with music (obv), prizes and drink specials—and bragging rights, obv. loneriderbeer.com
2/3–5 Triangle Wine & Food Experience
You’re the wine that I want. Sip back, relax and get uncorked at this annual TWFE premier wine and food event to benefit the Frankie Lemmon School & Developmental Center. Pouring one on for charity? Twist our arms… trianglewinefood.org
2/3–20 Romeo & Juliet
If you’re wondering wherefore art thou Romeo, find him with his beloved Juliet in this highly acclaimed Carolina Ballet rendition of the Shakespeare epic tragedy of doomed young lovers—think dramatic sword fights, breathtaking dance, stunning costumes and lush scenery—led by artistic director Robert Weiss and set to Prokofiev’s magnificent score. carolinaballet.com
2/4 Afrolatinidad: The History of Salsa From Africa to the World
Celebrate Black History Month with The Diamante Arts & Cultural Center by learning about the importance of music and dance. diamanteartsculturalcenter.org
2/4 First Friday: The Black & White Affair (@ the sheraton hotel raleigh)
It’s finally Friday! Immerse yourself in art and music in downtown Raleigh to unwind from your long week. downtownraleigh.org
2/4–5, weekly (Friday/Saturday) Raleigh Pub Crawl/Haunted Adventure Tour
Can’t decide where to get weekend drinks? No problem! The Tobacco Road Tours’ Raleigh Pub Crawl and Haunted Adventure will have you drinking the best beer while exploring the haunted side of Raleigh. visitraleigh.com
2/4–5 Margaret Cho
Cho brings her raunchy (and riotous) brand of comedy to four must-see shows at Raleigh Improv. improv.com
2/4–20 Greater Tuna
“One of the best times you can have sitting down!” Tuna, Texas, population 2 is comprised completely by the zany duo that is Ira David Wood IV and David Henderson in this Theatre in the Park tour-de-farce of two actors, 20 characters and infinite laughs. theatreinthepark.com
2/5 Gardening in the South
Get your green thumbs ready for spring via this lecture at JC Raulston Arboretum—sponsored by Leaf & Limb—in which Leanne Kenealy Atkins and horticulturist and NC State professor/director of the horticultural substrates laboratory Brian Jackson Ph.D. discusses potting media options for successful container gardens. leaflimb.com
2/5 Krispy Kreme Challenge
Will run for doughnuts! 2,400 calories, 12 doughnuts, 5 miles, 1 hour. ’Tis the story of this 18th annual Raleigh running tradition from NCSU’s Memorial Belltower through historic DTR to Krispy Kreme (where runners pause to down a dozen doughnuts) and back—this year taking place virtually. Nearly 5,500 people plodded the pavement in 2020 for pillowy perfect treats and bragging rights of their physical and gastric prowess, simultaneously adding to the now cumulative total donation to UNC Children’s Hospital of a whopping $1.6 million. See, doughnuts are good for you. Can you stomach it? krispykremechallenge.com
Jump into “a world where many worlds fit” as Las Cafeteras remixes Afro-Mexican beats, Son Jarocho rhythms and hip-hop to create a magnetic sound and undeniable energy via NC State LIVE’s popular spring program, open to the public. live.arts.ncsu.edu/spring-2022
2/5 Lunar New Year Celebration & Market
Happy New Year (take two)! Triangle Pop-Up is hosting a Lunar New Year celebration and market this Saturday at Big Boss Brewing featuring two AAPI-owned food trucks and a group of AAPI stand-up comedians on the main stage. trianglepopup.com
2/5 NC State vs. Notre Dame
Look for the Wolfpack to beat the luck outta the Irish. gopack.com
2/5 Lyrical Variations
Shift happens. Take one half-step at a time over to the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle’s UpClose Chamber Music Series event of the season, Lyrical Variations, featuring the acclaimed Verona Quartet and special guest cellist Caroline Stinson at Durham Arts Council’s PSI Theatre, featuring Bartok’s String Quartet No. 3 and Schubert’s Cello Quintet in C Major. thecot.org
2/6 Kay Yow Celebration Run/Walk
“When life kicks you, let it kick you forward.” Propel yourself in the fight against all cancers affecting women as you lace up for this annual run/walk.kayyow.com
2/6 Valentine’s Drag Brunch
Mimosas, brunch and drag queens! Head over to Heyday Brewing for its debut Valentine’s Drag Brunch. Yasss, queen! carolinadragbrunch.simpletix.com
2/7 Play4Kay Game
In this seventh annual #Play4Kay game, the Wolfpack women’ll take the sting outta the GA Tech Yellow Jackets while they honor Kay Yow and help punch cancer in the mouth. gopack.com
2/9 NC State vs. Wake Forest
Go Deacs… back to Winston with a loss that is. gopack.com
Pop art fans are gonna want to head to LaMantia Gallery to peep this retrospective collection of 100+ works by iconic artist Peter Max (official artist of the Grammys and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame!), celebrating America, the pop art movement, music and artistic vision.
What a “beautiful” way to spend an evening! Bands Home Again and JT Express join together for a tribute performance dedicated to celebrated pop-rock icon Carole King and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer James Taylor, respectively, for a nostalgic performance. “How sweet it is.”
The funnyman behind the “most downloaded podcast” (The Adam Carolla Show)—and radio personality, comedian, actor to boot—is here to prove how funny he can be without having anything prepared by saying “challenge accepted” to spinning on-the-spot audience ideas into honest-to-goodness hilarity. Now this is something you have to see for yourself.
It isn’t “September,” but that doesn’t mean you can’t give a little love to one of the “Shining Stars” of the ’70s. Grab your tickets now to pay tribute to one of the most well-known bands of the baby boomer generation and beyond.
New power trio: tunes + live painting + vino! Carolina-born singer-songwriter Shenette Swann brings her soulful message of strength and self-empowerment to DTR, joined by jazz trio Thrio. Xavier Carlos ART live-paints as she performs, and each adult ticket scores you two glasses of wine.
Politics these days are a joke. No, seriously. With expertly perceptive commentary and witty wisecracks, D.L. Hughley dives headfirst into current controversial topics that are sure to get audiences talking.
Colonel Mustard in the kitchen with the candlestick. Grab your seat as Carolina Youth Theatre presents this classic whodunit, Clue(High School Edition) based on the famed 1985 Hasbro board game-inspired hit mystery flick.
Ride the rollercoaster of love through Raleigh Little Theatre’s production of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It, in which main character Rosalind disguises herself as a man to teach her love interest how to woo her. Juicy!
Country girls (and boys) shake it for best-selling country music artist Luke Bryan as he lights up Walnut Creek during his Proud to Be Right Here tour. That’s “my kind of night” indeed.
Duck, duck, splash! Join the Rotary Club of Wakefield for the third annual Super Duper Duck Splash at WRAL Soccer Park. Adopt a rubber duck to race (or float) to the finish line in a splashing fundraiser benefiting youth nonprofit initiatives in the community.
You know that feeling of floating—and then disaster strikes: layoffs, loss, breakups. The butterfly effect of life isn’t in the surviving—but in the choosing. This first musical by Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown examines those moments of decision in an ever-changing world via a powerful collection of songs in this must-see production at Memorial Auditorium.
The stars will align when award-winning violinist and dancer Lindsey Stirling (with appearances on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Kelly and Ryan, Dancing With the Stars and America’s Got Talent) takes stage at Red Hat Amphitheater as part of her Artemis Tour promoting her fifth album, Artemis, alongside special guest Kiesza.
Everyone’s favorite nerd/comedian/musician/writer/actor—he’s starred in myriad ’90s/early-’00s TV shows and movies (think New Girl and Seinfeld)—will be in town to produce a few of his fan-favorite self-deprecating ha-has and awkwardly relatable views.
There’s nothing to wine about as you sample red, white and sparkling wine while strolling and shopping through Waverly Place. Along with a Waverly Place Wine Walk Passport (we’re talking endless vino sips!), a $25 donation benefits Kay Yow Cancer Fund—so a win-win.
Brothers and Dancing With the Stars alums Maks and Val are twirling into Raleigh to debut their intimate Stripped Down Tour, a unique and heartwarming family-friendly experience packed with dancing, personal storytelling and world-class showmanship.
