Category Archives: Outdoors

BugFest 2012 (9/15/2012)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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

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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.

Photo credit: (c) 2012 Brooke Hatala.

Paperhand Puppet Intervention (Aug 2012)

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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

Wild Water Wipe Out at Logan’s Trading Co. (7/14/2012)

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If you live around downtown Raleigh and have a house with yard, you’ve probably been to Logan’s Trading Company at Seaboard Station. Together with the ACE Hardware across the street, the are a good reason that you don’t need to go outside the beltline when searching for a hardware store. (Reminder: I’m not paid to write this. I  just mention stuff I like and find noteworthy.) Now it would seem that such a store does not need extra events to attract customers, and my guess is that they are doing it just for fun!

Nooo! -kidding by Hammonton Photography, used under the CC BY-NC licenseAnd fun it is: Every second Saturday of the month, Logan’s is hosting Wipe-Out, a family event featuring a Bouncy House Water Slide, water games, beach music and more.

Kids should wear their swimsuits under the clothes so they are ready for some wet action while the parents check out the rhododendron and hydrangea. When you’re done, head over to ACE Hardware (there’s always something you need from the hardware store) and don’t forget the free popcorn on the way out.

Logan’s Trading Co.: 707 Semart Drive, Raleigh, United States, 27604.
Wipe Out every second Saturday of the month from 11-4.

ACE Hardware: 802 Semart Drive, Raleigh, United States, 27604.
Cool stuff and Popcorn year round.

Spiderman at Adventure Landing (7/7/2012)

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Miniature Golf! Arcades! Go-Karts! You would think that kids (and discerning adults) don’t need an special reason to visit Adventure Landing. But this Saturday they give you just that, since they have invited Spiderman himself to visit! And if you ask nicely, you may even be able to get a picture taken with Mr. Spiderman.

Also, the new Spiderman Movie is now playing at Marbles on the IMAX screen.

Spiderman will be at Adventure Landing from 10am-2pm for “meet&greet” as well as photo opportunities.

Independence Day 2012

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Here some ideas to celebrate Independence Day:

Best fireworks for kids: First, if you can’t wait until tomorrow (or want the kids to see the fireworks and sleep in the next day), don’t be uppity and head out to Garner tonight. Their fireworks are earlier, the symphony is playing, and it is probably less crowded than “The ‘Works” in Raleigh tomorrow. Garner Independence Day Celebration, 5p-8p, July-3rd.

Best neighborhood parade: If you’re lucky enough to live in University Park, you have your very own Independence Day Parade right in your heighborhood. Firetrucks and Locopops; need I say more? University Park Independence Day Parade, 9:45am, July-4.

Best children’s parade: A bit out of the way, but specifically dubbed a children’s parade: Wake Forest Independence Day Children Parade, 10:30am, July-4.

Best parade that includes a splash-down from a fire truck: The Apex festivities include karaoke, inflatables and street performers in the morning and end with a parade and an opportunity to “cool off under the spray of the Apex Fire Department’s fire hose“. Town of Apex Olde Fashioned Fourth of July, activities 9a-12p, parade 12:00pm, July-4.

Best “let’s turn Independence Day into a three-day-festival”: As every year, Durham is hosting the Festival for the Eno with tons of activities. Festival for the Eno. Wed July-4, Sat. July-7, Sun. July-8.

And of course, there is also the Independence Day Celebration of the City of Raleigh which, following the overall trend, has moved from the fairgrounds to downtown and will take over Fayetteville Street and surrounding areas. Everything will be there, from a Reading of the Declaration of Independence to Arts Vendors to Circus to Music to Beer Tasting to, of course, at the end, Fireworks. This year, the Rotary Club will release 100 firefly lantern as a special treat at 9:30pm just before the fireworks. The ‘Works, 11am-10pm, July-4.

Also note that while the downtown museums (Science, History, Marbles) are open, the Art Museum is closed.

Fireworks Finish Up Raleigh Wide Open by abbyladybug, used under the CC BY-NC license