NC Junior Beef Round-Up (6/2/2012-6/3/2012)

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This is about the 2012 event, which I did not visit; the 2013 Beef Round-Up is on 6/1-2.

I’ve found that the website of the State Fairgrounds is a treasure trove of unique event, some agriculture related, and some not. This one is definitely about agriculture, more specifically about Beef. It is actually so much about beef and farming that I admittedly have a hard time even finding out what is going on. This much is clear: It is about beef (cows, calf, steer) and about ‘farm youth’ (I gather that includes an age range from 6-22.) Farm youth with show their skills and showmanship with their animals, and other “family activities that involve cattle…”

Their website is more or less a collection of perhaps somewhat cryptic word docs, so I recommend to just go out there over the weekend and see what is happening. Judging from previous excursions to agricultural events, this will be a hootenanny for sure. Starts at 7:30am, both Saturday and Sunday.

If you do go, PLEASE let me know how it was!

Music on the Porch (5/24/2012)

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Music on the Porch is another grass-roots project that makes downtown a great place to be. No major label, no national operator, not even a local bar trying to sell a few extra beers: Music on The Porch has grown from a neighborhood party to a nice and regular event the is now in its 4th season and is a 12-concert series this year. This is decidedly a family event, but responsible BYOB is the norm (for the adults of course!) Hitting the stage this weekend is Raleigh’s own Andy Coats & the Bank Walkers, playing “the genres in which so much rock is rooted: the blues and other roots based music”. Pack the kids and the picnic basket and head out to Mordecai Historic Park at 6pm. Pay a $5 donation upfront on their website to support this amazing event.Andy Coats & the Bank Walkers

Memorial Day and Marbles = Bubbles! (5/28/2012)

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Call me old school, but Thanksgiving is not about the turkey, and Memorial Day is not about the beach. I believe – no matter your political perspective – that teaching about the meaning behind our holidays is something we should aim for as parents. Now explaining that we give thanks for the harvest is understood at a very early age. But how do you explain the gruesome, complicated, heroic memory of the Civil and other wars to a little kid? Marbles has the answer: With Bubbles! And patriotic pinwheels! And a 21-soda geyser salute!  I do think that this gets something across, if only that there is a lot of red-white-and-blue and that this day is not like other days. You can save the discussion about veterans and flags on half-staff for later; if they are interested, it just might be because they have realized that this is a special day at a very early age.

Got to Be NC Festival (5/18-20/2012)

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I have a feeling that calling the good old “NC Ag Fest” a smaller version of the State Fair will offend some Agricultural Commissioners, but if you’ve never been, that is probably a good comparison. The Festival draws over 100,000 people, a lot, but also much less than the State Fair. There a rides and food stands, and anything you would expect to find on a farm: tractors, hogs, country music, and cows with big ass horns. (I’ve been told that ‘ass’ is appropriate when used for livestock…)

Specifically for the little ones I would point out the pig races, the petting zoo (with a porcupine?), and the antique tractors and cars. And maybe some of the tamer rides.
(if you follow the links, click Animal Encounters, Motorized Muscle, and Rides, respectively.)

Moving slightly outside the traditional scope of a farm, there will be a Roller Derby on Saturday and a BMX contest on Sunday. There are also country music concerts at night.

Support local agriculture and visit this annual event! It takes place out at the fairgrounds, and admission is free. (But rides, concerts and some other stuff require tickets.)

Pig Race at the Orange County Fair by szeke , used under the  CC BY-NC-SA license

Brick Magic Lego Festival (5/19-20/2012)

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Are you an AFOL building MOCs?* If so, you’ve probably already heard that Brick Magic is taking place this weekend. Brick Magic is probably best described as a Lego trade show; yes, kids are allowed to attend as well. If you haven’t discovered the subculture of adults playing with Legos, it is time to end the Dark Ages (among AFOLs, that is the time after you stopped playing with Legos until you start again) and join the fray.

The event is taking place at the Hilton North Raleigh (on Wake Forest Rd., just past the belt line) and is less geared towards the Duplo crowd; there is no age limit, but it focuses on the regular-sized Legos. There is an “open-play” room with 20,000 bricks, you can help build a 5ft-tall Star Wars Death Star, meet a mini-fig customizer, watch a robotics competition, or learn to make a brick movie.

Saturday 10-5 and Sunday from 10-4; tickets are $12 and $8 (under 16). Hilton North Raleigh, 3415 Wake Forest Road.

*Adult Fan Of Lego building My Own Creations (custom designs instead of sets).

PLAY!040 by Citta di Modena, used under the CC BY-NC-SA license

Artsplosure/Kidsplosure (5/19-20, 2012)

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Update: I added links to all the performers here.

Another annual event is taking place this weekend: Artsplosure. Centered around Moore Square, but with locations throughout downtown, this is a festival that celebrates the visual and performing arts. Art exhibits, three stages and of course the necessary food and drink offerings. For Kids, there is Kidsplosure, featuring three kinds of craft activities (weaving, paper flowers, and headbands). A dedicated stage brings music, theatre and acrobatics. The website unfortunately does not link to the acts. Taylor Slay, Acroentertainment and the NC theatre will certainly excite the kids. There are also some kids ensembles/band performing Jazz, classical and rock music. Kidsplosure takes place on Moore Square on the side towards Marbles. Art booths can be found around Moore Square and Blount Street, and there is an “Impressionist Garden” on City Plaza.

Learning to Work the New “Yo-Yo” (from Artsplosure 2007) by abbyladybug, used under the  CC BY-NC license

Mother’s Day – Two Quick Outings (5/13/12)

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Opinions differ about how Mother’s Day is best celebrated: Dad takes care of kids, and Mom has a relaxing Sunday? Or the family spends time together celebrating their beloved mother?

Both versions can work, and the two events below fit that program; they are “quick and easy outings”, that to keep the kids occupied while mama is at the spa. Or they can be family outings that keep everybody together without being too stressful for the parents.

One option is the Mother’s May Day Hike at Yates Mill park. A one-hour stroll (11am-12pm) around the lake, with a focus on baby animals and their mama in this park.

The second option is Open Bounce at Pump It Up, the indoor party place with the inflatable bouncy houses. (From noon – 2pm, a short drive out to Brier Creek. I recommend buying advanced tickets for that day, you can get them on their website.)

Both event are early in the day, and leave plenty of time to come home and cook a yummy dinner for mommy!

Mother’s Day – Last Minute Gifts (Sat 5/12/12)

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Yes, it is definitely Mother’s Day this Sunday, May-13.
No gift today? No problem!
No gift on Sunday? Big problem!

For some unique gift ideas that are NOT Made in China, let’s head to our local markets:

First I’d like to mention the Saturday Market which has become a Boylan Heights institution during its first season last year. They have food and drinks, some of it “giftable” (not the tacos though), but there are also some crafts available.

For a much wider selection of crafty gifts, go to the Designer’s Downtown Market. It has moved to the parking lot next to the Clarion (that would be the big round hotel) on Hillsborough and Dawson.

Finally, if that does not help either, head on over to Sadlack’s Heroes Arts and Crafts Sale. Among others, Johnny Swank has announced that he will be there, and you’ll never be wrong with one of his NC-themed T-Shirts.  However, it will be entirely up to you to explain to your wife how you headed out to buy her a gift and ended up at Sadlack’s Heroes!

Saturday Market: 9 am – 2 pm (Dupont Circle & Kinsey Street)
Designer’s Downtown Market: 9 am – 3 pm (Hillsborough Street & Dawson Street)
Sadlack’s Heroes Arts and Crafts Sale: noon – 6 pm (2116 HIllsborough)

First Friday: Circus and Art (5/4/2012)

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CircusSPARK Parade

CircusSPARK Parade

This is another First Friday where the warehouse district is drawing all (our) attention. You may hesitate to bring your children to a “PBR-inspired art show”, especially once you realize that it doesn’t stand for Parents Best Reasoning, but simply Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Fire Performance

Fire Performance (CircusSPARK)

But read on. The PBaRt event on Martin street also features several street performances. First on, at 6:30 and 8:00 is Cirque de Vol, the newly opened/opening Aerial Acrobatics Studio in Hue. (Note: They have circus camp and kids yoga!) Finally, if your kids last until 8:30 they can see a fire performance by the CircusSpark team.

In addition to the abundant regular food options in the area, Baguettaboutit will be at CAM and Klausie’s Pizza at PBaRt.