Category Archives: Stage

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

Alloy Orchestra’s Not for Kids Only (7/28/2012)

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As our children probably grow up with interactive apps and games and movies that are at least 3D, they probably decry a regular movie theater experience as old school. Well, here’s your chance to show them what old school really is: Movies. Silent movies. In Black and White! And just like in the roaring twenties, the movies will be accompanied by live performers, and this is where the uniqueness comes in: Not some random piano player, but Alloy Orchestra, declared by film critic Roger Ebert to be “The best in the world at accompanying silent film.” They are performing at the NC Museum of Art, and there is special kids’ performance in the afternoon.

I previewed some of the movies they list in their program (they are all on Youtube), and Alloy Orchestra has a couple of excerpts on their website. I recommend you preview and decide if this is a fit for your kids – at any rate, the live music performance will make this an exciting experience. The 2pm program lasts about an hour, and is indoors.

NC Museum of Art, $12 for adults, $6 for 3-12. Tickets still available. Saturday, 2pm.

The image is Buster Keaton (obtained from the library of congress).

Pilobolus Children’s Matinee (7/7/2012)

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One of my passions that few people would guess is Contemporary Dance; I even took Modern Dance classes for a while (yes, yes, decades ago). There is probably no dance company better suited to get a young audience excited about dance performance than Pilobolus.

Pilobolus are regulars at the American Dance Festival, and performing this weekend at DPAC in Durham. On Saturday at 1pm, they are giving a special Children’s Matinee. Tickets are still available, and if your youngens are old enough to sit still for a while, they will be mesmerized by their magical movements and transformations.

Tickets and more information available here.

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

 

Jazz in the Park (and more) at Oak View Park (6/9/2012)

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Oak View Park, a few minutes East of downtown, is “a 19th-century historic farmstead with a mission to interpret North Carolina’s agricultural heritage and rural history” and a destination in its own right. This Saturday afternoon, a visit is even more worthwhile because they have partnered with the Shaw University radio station WSHA to create “Jazz in the Park”.

Jazz may not be the type of music your kids hear at home every day, and something new in their ears can never hurt. (Speaking of “ears” and “hurt”: The reason I prefer outdoors concerts with kids is that you have much more control over sound levels by just staying away from the speakers, which is not always possible indoors.) Plus, Jazz performers with their shiny instruments and (usually) classy attire always fascinate kids.

Once you’re done with Jazz, stay for the agricultural exhibits, pet the Nubian goats or take stroll to the fishing pond.

The park is by the Poole Rd. exit of the beltline. The concert is from 12-3.

The photo is Googa Mooga by JP-Flanigan, used under the  CC BY-NC-SA license

Elmo is coming! Sesame Street Live (6/1/2012-6/3/2012)

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Who doesn’t love charming and cute little Elmo. “E-E-Elmo is coming to Raleigh! Hee hee hee ha ha ha!” Sesame Street Live brings the well known characters from Sesame Street to a stage near you, and they will be at the PNC Arena this weekend.

The show is “Elmo’s Super Heroes” (with “fun lessons on healthy habits” that will “turn your children in super heroes, too”) and shows start at the following times:

Friday, Jun-1: 10:30am
Friday, Jun-1: 7:00pm
Saturday, Jun-2: 10:30am
Saturday, Jun-2: 2:00pm
Saturday, Jun-2: 5:30pm
Sunday, Jun-3: 2:00pm

Tickets (from about $20-$40) are available at ticketmaster. Helpful information for parents can be found here.