2012)

Posted on September 14, 2012 by daddyweekly

Every year in September, Centennial Plaza and surrounding areas turn into a crawly, fluttery, buzzing celebration of our dear friends, the insects. Everybody working with insects will be there, from the Franklin County Beekeepers to Alberti’s Flea Circus. Special guest this year: The mantids. (The picture above is from our own Boylan Heights backyard; parying mantis are not uncommon around here.)

The one attraction I haven’t been able to stomach in previous years, but may attempt this year is Cafe Insecta. If you have a funny feeling about what this might be, you’re right. We’re not talking about ladybug shaped cookies or spaghetti “worms”. We’re talking bugs. Real bugs. You eat them. The good news? Prepared by famous Raleigh chefs. Try Cricket Bruschetta, courtesy of Wilmoore Cafe. Or Peanut Bugger Crunch from buku. I dare you!

BugFest is on Saturday from 9am-7pm, and beyond grilled bugs, there are tons of other exciting activities and presentations.

Pops in the City: NC Symphony at the Red Hat Amphitheater (9/9/2012)

Posted on September 7, 2012 by daddyweekly

NCS Double Bass Section (c) NC Symphony

Most kids have a natural affinity to classical music that seems to eventually disappear as they discover Katy Perry and Justin Bieber. If your kids have not yet reached the Bieber stage, they will have a lovely opportunity this Sunday night: The NC Symphony is playing at the Amphitheater, and it will be a nice program of lively and light classical fare. (Copland, Strauss, some patriotic stuff – crowdpleasers, not Shostakovich).

For anything like this, where your kids may be either mesmerized until the end or may want to go jump around half way through, a large outdoors venue is perfect – my 2-year-old loves always loves an upbeat waltz by Strauss, but he wants to jump around to it; so not quite ready yet for Meymandi hall.

The NC symphony starts playing at 7:30p, but the gates open at 6p. I suggest you get there early, since it will fill up if the weather is nice. No ticket required. Seating is general admission, first-come, first-served.

NC Symphony, “Red Hat” amphitheater (did you hear that?), Sunday evening 6p doors, 7:30p-9p concert.

ShopScotch and Saturday Market (9/8/2012)

Posted on September 7, 2012 by daddyweekly

The Saturday Market @ Rebus Works

Do you remember the “City Utopias” of yesteryear, wacky prophecies of skyscrapers that house everything from a farm to entertainment to work to living, with people never venturing outside anymore? Well, the trend scouts and city planners didn’t think it would look quite like this, but Rebus Works’ Saturday Market is very close. Music, Art, Food – you can easily stay the whole day if you want.

Saturday Market is taking place as usual from 9am to 2pm. Starting at noon, everything starts morphing into ShopScotch, which will go from 12p to 5p. In addition to the veggie stands and food trucks of the Saturday market, there will be a large craft vendor gathering (look on their facebook page for details), five bands and more food trucks.

If your kids are not quite ready yet for a full-blown Hopscotch Day party, head to Rebus. “Come for breakfast, stay for lunch, stretch it to dinner!”

Kids Band “Sandbox” playing Fred Fletcher Park (9/2/2012)

Posted on August 31, 2012 by daddyweekly

Fourth of July has fireworks, Labor Day has Concerts in the Park. Right? The lovely weather of September makes it perfect to pack up a blanket and a small cooler and head out to Fred Fletcher Park. If you live downtown and this does not ring a bell, boy, you’ve missed something. Scenery-wise, Fletcher it is probably the nicest, and certainly less crowded than Pullen Park. It does not have a lot of playground equipment, other than a sandbox and swings. And speaking of a sandbox, that is also the name of the band that is playing at Fred Fletcher on Sunday night. Lawn chairs and coolers welcome, alcoholic contents not. Sandbox has a nice website that gives you an idea about their style.

What I like is that they play a combination of traditional children songs as well as their own work. Some of their songs can be previewed on their website.

Sunday, Sept-2, 6pm. Fred Fletcher Park (820 Clay Street, Raleigh NC 27605)

Firefly Frenzy at Crowder District Park (8/31/2012)

Posted on August 31, 2012 by daddyweekly

“Catch and Release Flyfishing”? No, catch and release firefly hunting. You can do it in your backyard, but you can also make the trip out to Crowder District Park, a short drive down to Ten-Ten-Road south of Raleigh.

You can see fireflies, catch them and learn more about them; the event is for kids of all ages, and costs $5 per family.

Pre-registration is encouraged! Since this is tonight, at least make sure you fill out the necessary form and bring it with you along with a check or exact change. It is unlikely, but there is the risk that you’ll be turned away as well.

The image is firefly 0877 by art farmer, used under the CC BY-SA license

Brooke Hatala playing Pullen Park, New King Rippers playing Mordecai Park (8/25/2012)

Posted on August 24, 2012 by daddyweekly

Ok, if you haven’t heard of singer-songwriter Brooke Hatala yet, don’t feel bad. Most of her career still lies ahead of her; after all, she is only 11 years old. That said, you should meet her while you can, because before you know it you will need a VIP backstage pass to get close to this young musician!

Brooke is based in Cary, and she will be performing live at Pullen Park tomorrow (Saturday) night 8p-9p. Watch some of her videos on YouTube to get a first impression – then head out to celebrate the end of summer. I usually avoid Pullen on the weekends and leave it to people driving in from everywhere. But the overcast weather is often a good deterrent, and I want to hear how Brooke sounds live.

If Jazz is more your thing, you ‘big night’ is tonight. The New King Rippers, a jazz combo is playing Music On The Porch at Mordecai Park. You can preview them on YouTube as well.

Via credit: I heard about Brooke Hatala via WRAL.com.

Winston-Salem Air Show 2012

Posted on August 24, 2012 by daddyweekly

Ok, it is not Oshkosh, and it is not in downtown Raleigh. But if you don’t want to drive 1,000 miles and still see more than the WRAL-TV helicopter, the Winston-Salem Air Show may just be the perfect compromise.

About 2 hours each way, this day trip promises a day of “planes, trucks, and automobiles” (no trains, sorry.) Taking place both Saturday and Sunday, with partially overlapping schedules, a day trip is probably sufficient. Saturday or Sunday, you choose.

Apart from the usual stagger wing antique planes and fighter jet fly-overs, this Air Show also has some surface vehicle like a jet-engine powered school bus, and well, the Turbo Toilet: someone said, “now why don’t I mount a Boeing jet engine on a port-a-potty and fart around the nation’s airshows?” Yeah, why don’t you.

In addition to the static displays, there is also a kids’ zone, live music and much more. The show hours are 10a-5p both Sunday and Saturday.

1932 Waco UEC cabin biplane by Armchair Aviator, used under the CC BY license

Iceplex Raleigh: So cool (2012)

Posted on August 17, 2012 by daddyweekly

What would be a better place to escape summer than an Olympic sized sheet of ice? Prepared, clean, smooth ice. Judging from yelp reviews, Iceplex seems to have quality ice, definitely one of the key factors for an ice skating rink. Iceplex is also where kids and adult hockey leagues meet and where you can send your youngens to become world-class figure skaters.

This Saturday, Iceplex opens the doors for everybody who would like to find out more – or just cool off. The Open House is from 1:00 – 4:15; it is $2 to get in. (I always thought that “Open House” means no admission, but I guess that is not the case.)

The Open House will include a hockey and a figure skating exhibition; sign-up for the fall season is just around the corner and classes (ages 3 and up) start after Labor Day.

IcePlex is just outside the beltline. From downtown, take Capital Blvd. and (soon after crossing 440) turn right onto Brentwood and go about a quarter mile.

www.iceplex.com

Image credit: the family that skates together… by angela7dream, used under the CC BY-NC license

Family Fun Day at Artspace (8/18/2012)

Posted on August 17, 2012 by daddyweekly

Labor Day is approaching, and summer camps are coming to an end. Among them, the Summer Arts Program at ArtSpace. Since art is made to be seen, the program (week-long half-day classes for over 600 kids) ends with a large exhibition.

Family Fun Day is the conclusion of the the exhibition (and the summer program). See what the kids have created this summer, and look what your own kids are drawn towards. Acrylic painting? Clay? Large sculptures? Keep in mind for next year’s classes, and perhaps their work will be on display in 2013.

painting time by Ernst Vikne, used under the CC BY-SA license

Paperhand Puppet Intervention (Aug 2012)

Posted on August 10, 2012 by daddyweekly

Every year, Paperhand Puppet Intervention puts together a magical, inspiring, frightening, enlightening show with some of the biggest puppets around. While typical theatre puppets are smaller than humans, these are large scale, some of them towering over their tiny human operators. The show takes place at the Chapel Hill Forest Theater, a nice wooden setting. Bringing a blanket and picnic is encouraged.

Today is the 2012 premiere – maybe wait a day or a week, and beat the premiere crowds. They are playing every weekend for a month, and then perform one more weekend at NC museum of art. The program usually starts at 6:20 p.m. and runs until about 8 p.m., but there are several matinees on Saturday at 2:20 p.m. as well.

Paperhand Puppet Intervention has exact play times and information.

The picture is an older photo of Paperhand Puppet Intervention by BellaBim, used under the CC-BY license

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Things to do with Kids in Raleigh, NC

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