2013)

Posted on January 25, 2013 by daddyweekly

Every year, the NC Museum of History celebrates African American Culture in its many facets. From R&B performances to craft demos and even acupuncture, everything that can trace its roots to the African continent is present.

The celebration takes place this Saturday from 10:30a to 4:30p at the NC Museum of History. For kids, there’s “a scavenger hunt, hands-on craft, and more”. On top of that, the vast selection of music performances, and the cooking demos will allow to adequately celebrate this years’ theme, Defining Freedom, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Thomas Day Statue 2 by Universal Pops, used under the CC BY-NC-SA license

Jack Tales: Appalachian Adventures! (Jan/Feb 2013)

Posted on January 18, 2013 by daddyweekly

Like last year, the teen theater ensemble Storytellers To Go is touring area libraries with their performance of old appalachian folk tales by acting, puppetry and interactive storytelling. We enjoyed their blackbeard play last year, and will try to catch this one as well. This weekend they are over in Knightdale, not too far out of the way, and their future appearances are listed below:

East Regional Library: Saturday January 19, 2:00pm
Cameron Village Regional Library: Saturday January 26, 3:00pm
Halle Cultural Arts Center Of Apex: Saturday February 2, 2:00pm
NC Museum of History, Museum Auditorium: Saturday February 9, 2:00pm
Southeast Regional Library: Saturday February 16, 2:00pm
West Regional Library: Saturday February 23, 2:00pm

Ironing Board Sam (1/12/2013)

Posted on January 11, 2013 by daddyweekly

I had a feeling that a musician performing at the Museum of History might be something special, but I was impressed when the top Youtube result when searching “Ironing Board Sam” yielded a video recording of a 1965 performance.

Ironing Board Sam was a successful performer 50 years ago, and appeared even on TV. He had ups and downs, and like so many Southern Musicians, did not earn or save nearly enough to live off of it. This is where the Music Maker Relief Foundation comes in, which provides elderly, often impoverished musicians another opportunity to record an album and have a decent living.

The Music Maker Relief Foundation (in Chapel Hill) does an awesome job giving these elderly artists another chance. How old is Ironing Board Sam? Well, a young Jimi Hendrix once played in his band, long before he was famous. That’s how old he is. And he performs this Sunday at 3pm at the NC Museum of History in downtown Raleigh.

Three Kings Day Parade (1/6/2013)

Posted on January 4, 2013 by daddyweekly

Reyes Magos Parade (c) Diamante Inc. (DSC01401)_square With Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa over (not to forget Winter Solstice and Festivus), the “holidays” and all their diverse festivities are slowly coming to an end… but one more is still due: Dia de los Reyes Magos (or Twelfth Night, or Dreikönigstag) is celebrated on Jan-6 in regions of the world with a strong Catholic influence (Spain, Mexico, Italy, parts of Germany and Switzerland) and marks the day when the Three Kings arrived at the birth place of Jesus. For kids in Spain or Mexico, this is actually the holiday, since gifts are given on Three Kings’ Day, and not on Christmas.

There are not many public celebrations of Three Kings Day around here, but one nice event that stands out is the Three Kings Day Parade at Cary’s Bond Park, which drew over 1,000 visitors last year. If you’re up for one last winter holiday head out there on Saturday from 1p-4p.

The image is from a previous parade and (c) Diamante Inc.

A concert for kids with the NC Symphony (1/5/2013)

Posted on December 28, 2012 by daddyweekly

Classical music for kids. While I don’t subscribe to the theory that listening to Classical Music makes kids smarter, I do believe that exposure to this art form is a good idea at any age. (Plus, will Symphony Orchestras still be around when our kids reach our age?)

So whichever reason you choose, plan on taking your kids to Meymandi Hall, ideally for one for the “Young People’s Concerts”. The first one was on Halloween, and the second one, Tales of Enchantment is scheduled for Saturday in a week, January-5, 2013. For this performance, the symphony is joined onstage by Enchantment Theatre Company, performing “puppetry, masked actors, magic, dance, and pantomime” to music from Maurice Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite.

Tickets are going fast, so I’m writing about this a wee bit early. There are two shows, at 1pm and at 4pm, and the recommended age is 4-12. (IF you can’t make it, a third (and different) concert is scheduled for March 9.

NC Symphony Conductor William Henry Curry

Winterfest on City Plaza (Winter 2012/2013)

Posted on November 30, 2012 by daddyweekly

After its first run in the 2009/2010 season, the “AT&T Raleigh Winterfest” has quickly become one of the signature downtown events of the winter season. Of course there is the ice-rink, complete with skate rental and a golf-cart with the necessary implements to turn it into a mini-Zamboni. But that’s not all:

On a few Sundays (this one included), SnowMyYard will build an artificial sledding hill, something that looked quite enticing last time. The website also talks about a 40-foot Ferris wheel, which will be new this year, and a carousel.

The ice-rink is typically open as follows, but check the schedule to make sure:
Monday: Closed; Tue/Wed/Thu: 4-9; Fri: 4-11; Sat: 11-11; Sun: 12-5
The season runs from Dec-1 through Jan-31.

This Saturday Dec-1, there will be a big kickoff event from 3p-9p. Live music, vendors, outdoors movie and general merrymaking will provide a joyful start of the season.

Don’t miss it! $8 for skating, watching the Zamboni from the sidelines is free.

Raleigh Winterfest ’09 by kmoliver, used under the CC BY-NC-ND license

Storybook Tales (11/3/2012)

Posted on November 2, 2012 by daddyweekly

Lydia Bevan performing Danse Allegresse, Raleigh Dance Theatre, spring 2011 (c) Robert Schantz

Raleigh Dance Theater is something like the “little sister” of the Carolina Ballet. A pre-professional, younger company (age 12-18), that provides Triangle dancers opportunities to perform on stage and catch a glimpse of what a professional career in ballet would look like.

Storybook Tales is a program that “will be sure to delight even the youngest audience members“, according to their press release. The performance lasts approx. 90 minutes, and consists of three pieces: Snow White, Rainbow Fish, based on Marcus Pfister’s beloved children’s book, and Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, based on the book by Kevin Henkes, and made possible in part by Target.

There will be three performances this weekend; Saturday at 12p and 4p and Sunday at 3p. Fletcher Opera Theater in Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts. $12 (online until 7p tonight!) or $15 at the door.

“Lydia Bevan performing Danse Allegrese, Raleigh Danse Theater, Spring 2011” (c) Robert Schantz

Sandbox, Michael Franti at Red Hat Amphitheater (10/20/2012)

Posted on October 19, 2012 by daddyweekly

The Red Hat Amphitheater is hosting (and PNC is sponsoring) a nice fall mini-festival this Saturday. Admission is FREE, so you might want to get there early. Weather forecast (clear, 70F) should be just warm enough to comfortably sit on a blanket; for running and tumbling around it is warm enough for sure. (But bring a warm jacket and hat; by the time Michael Franti hits the stage, the temperature will drop below 60 despite the funky reggae sound). But first things first – here the line-up:

2p (gates open)
3p Sandbox
4:30 Mommie
6:15 Diali Cissokho & Kaira Ba
8:00 Michael Franti & Spearhead
10:00 (end)

Sandbox is the band that I wrote about a few weeks back, when they were supposed to play in Fletcher Park. (A threat of rain cancelled that concert.)

Mommie is what happens when rock stars become dads: It is the kiddie music project of Doug McMillan of The Connells fame. Songs like “Dumptruck” or “Mama’s Pajamas” meander between Connells guitar pop and punk rock. Hear (and buy) their album on CD Baby.

Diali Cissokho & Kaira Ba are based in Durham and Orange County, but they sound like West Africa; indeed, Diali is from Senegal, while his bandmates grew up in places like Pittsboro or Saxapahaw. I didn’t know them until researching this article, but their music is beautiful.

Michael Franti & Spearhead, the headliner, will hit the stage at 8p (I hope we’ll last that long!) with their mix of funk, hip-hop and reggae. Like most, I only knew the up-beat “Say Hey! [I be gone today, but I be back around the way]”, but some previews on iTunes promise equally cheerful (and also politically conscious) music.

All in all, an outstanding way to end the festival season 2012!

The image is Michael Franti and Spearhead by Rich Anderson, used under the CC BY-SA license

International Festival of Raleigh (9/29/2012-10/1/2012)

Posted on September 28, 2012 by daddyweekly

Note: The title originally stated Fri-Sat; this was typo; the festival is through Sunday. Thanks to J. for alerting me!

If taking your kids out of school to travel the world for a year or so sounds crazy, here is your local, low-risk, short-term alternative: The International Festival that is held annually at the Convention Center in downtown Raleigh. More than 11% of Wake County’s population, which is over 100,000 people (including Yours truly) are foreign-born, and want to share their heritage with you. While not specifically directed (only) at children, there are at least three areas that are perfectly suited to give little one a taste and a glimpse of the world:

First, and perhaps the best kept secret, are the dance performances. In some cultures (think India, Brazil), dance plays a much more important role than here. Where American expats abroad may teach their children American history and children’s songs or cook out on 4th of July, expats from other countries living here may in turn teach their children traditional folkloric dances. On the main stage, there is a different group performing every 10-15 minutes. From a Teen African Drum Ensemble to Lebanese Belly Dancing or Korean Percussion, there is a wide variety of exciting performances, many of them by earnest teens and adorable children.

Food is of course another great cultural bridge, and there are Food booths from just about any ethnic cuisine you’ve heard of. Thai, Lebanese, Italian and Mexican of course, but also Dutch, Turkish or French. Dig in, and let the little ones sample the foods that taste so different from their everyday meals.

Third, the festival does have a genuine “kids corner”, with the usual face painting and balloon animals and storytelling, all with an international twist.

The festival is taking place Friday evening and all day Saturday and Sunday; tickets are $8 and kids under 6 are free! At this low price, it is worth dropping in for even an hour or so sometime over the weekend, and see what is happening.

Korean Dance by Dance Photographer – Brendan Lally, used under the CC BY license

Benson Mule Days (9/22/2012)

Posted on September 21, 2012 by daddyweekly

Not just Raleigh has its fall festivals. I suggest that after Hopscotch and SPARKcon, you head out for a somewhat different program at the Benson Mule Days. First, where is Benson? Have you ever noticed that going to and coming from the beach on I-40, the signs say you’re going to “Benson”, but then you actually never go through Benson? Well, for future reference, “Benson” is code for “the intersection of I-40 and I-95”. And Benson is also the location of the annual (63rd this year) Benson Mule Days.

A long weekend filled with small town fun, rides, parades, a rodeo and many four-legged animals, mules and others. Here is the website and their program.

The photo is Mule Riding Couple by Mangrove Mike, used under the CC BY license

The Daddy Weekly

Things to do with Kids in Raleigh, NC

Category Archives: Stage