HOLIDAY WEEKEND. Looking for ways to celebrate Memorial Day weekend? Visit Raleigh’s Field of Honor, a moving display of more than 500 full-size American flags representing U.S. veterans and first responders. Catch a Carolina Mudcats game as the team takes on the Down East Wood Ducks Friday through Sunday. Support veteran-owned businesses such as Olde Raleigh Distillery, Devil-Dog® Dungarees, Brookside Bodega, Oak City Amaretto, Fine Art From Nature, IWatch Security, Larger Than Lemons and Smiths Smokehouse and Smoothies.
ART MARKET. Artsplosure returns to downtown Raleigh on Saturday, May 20 (11 a.m.–7 p.m.) and Sunday, May 22 (10 a.m.–6 p.m.). Explore the eclectic art market that features more than 175 juried fine artists and crafters exhibiting original works of art in 10 categories. All will be available for purchase, including painting, photography, pottery, jewelry, woodwork and more. The event will feature live music from emerging national and regional artists, along with free arts and crafts at Kidsplosure.
STIR will serve a Memorial Day brunch on Monday, May 30, 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m. The menu will feature agua fresca mimosas and made-from-scratch favorites, such as eggs Benedict and shrimp and grits.
Carolina Brewery’s Chapel Hill and Pittsboro restaurants will also serve a Memorial Day brunch on Monday, May 30, 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Reservations are available online. Lebanese-Mediterranean restaurant Sassool celebrates Memorial Day with side dishes suited for cookouts, including chicken salad and made-from-scratch hummus. The Patio at Unscripted Durham will offer live music by Tim Smith and Alexandra Valladares Friday and Saturday, along with tropical cocktails and poolside treats. The Casso, Raleigh, is offering a decadent brunch on its outdoor patio with live music Sunday, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
FOODIE NEWS. Il Falò, a new wood-fired Italian restaurant located at 3931 Macaw Street in Raleigh at the Westin Raleigh-Durham Airport hotel, has begun Monday-Saturday lunch service from 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m. The menu will feature wood-fired pizzas, soups, salads, pasta and sides. Sunday brunch is available from 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
The recently renovated Village Grill in North Raleigh’s Lafayette Village has reopened, rebranding itself as an American grill with a New Orleans twist. Village Grill will be open Wednesday–Sunday, 5–9 p.m.
SWEET TOOTH. Next Saturday, June 3, at 5 p.m., Raleigh Rolls will host a grand opening for its new location at 10750 Wakefield Commons Drive, Suite 105. The establishment is known for its rolled ice cream with mix-ins, such as fruits, candies, cookies and syrups.
Photo courtesy of Raleigh Rolls
COCKTAILS WITH BEN. Back by popular demand, Olde Raleigh Distillery in Zebulon will host Cocktails With Ben Saturday, May 27 at 6 p.m. Enjoy delicious cocktails and a rotating menu. Tickets are limited to 20 and can be ordered here.
BUTTERFLY FOREST. The “Living Conservatory at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences” reopens on Saturday, May 27. The popular exhibit, often referred to as the “Butterfly Room,” is modeled after a Central American forest and is filled with live animals. The two-toed sloth is a fan favorite, but the room also houses as many as 200 live butterflies, a tropical milk snake, five ornate wood turtles and a Brazilian black tarantula. The conservatory will be open through Sunday, September 3. Hours are Tuesday–Sunday, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 1–3 p.m.
THROWBACK CONCERT. Toad the Wet Sprocket comes to the Carolina Theater on Monday, June 12 at 8 p.m. The band is best known for its hits “All I Want,” “Something’s Always Wrong” and “Walk on the Ocean.” Marcy Playground will open the show. Tickets are available online.
KNIGTS + MAIDENS. The Carolina Renaissance Festival, which takes place Saturdays and Sundays September 30–November 19, is holding open auditions June 17 and 24, 9 a.m.–noon, for colorful personalities to bring to life the festival’s make-believe Village of Fairhaven. Opportunities are available for actors, street performers, cosplayers, historical reenactors, musicians, singers, dancers, variety acts and stagehands for ages 13 and older. Auditions will be held in Concord at the Cannon School, which is located at 5801 Poplar Tent Road. Register here.
LOCAL ENTERTAINERS. The One Eighties’ debut album “Minefields” will be released later this summer on August 18. The duo features local artists Daniel Cook and Autumn Brand, and the album features guest drummer Fred Eltringham and bassist Mark Hill. The song “Two Jet Planes” will be released Friday, July 7, ahead of the album release. The band was featured recently in Midtown magazine.
MAKING KIDS SMILE. Actress Ariana DeBose recently visited WakeMed Children’s Hospital locations in the Triangle in support of Starlight Children’s Foundation, to make toy deliveries to children on behalf of the organization. The toys are part of the nonprofit’s mission to deliver happiness to hospitalized kids. DeBose is best known for her performance as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s reimagining of “West Side Story,” for which she received an Academy Award. DeBose attended Wake Forest-Rolesville High School, and performed with CC & Co. Dance Complex and North Carolina Theatre.
Photo courtesy of Starlight Children’s Foundation
RISING STARS. Speaking of local stars, the 2023 Triangle Rising Stars winners were announced Thursday, May 18, at Durham Performing Arts Center. Lilly Pritchard of Heritage High School and Noah Colvin of Enloe High School were selected as the 2023 Best Actress and Best Actor. Both will advance to the national level to compete in the Jimmy Awards on June 26. This year’s Triangle Rising Stars competition was hosted by Clay Aiken, with special guest Tony Award winner Beth Leavel. Be sure to check out the May/June issue of Triangle Family magazine to learn more about the Triangle Rising Stars program.
TAKE A HIKE. The North Carolina Science Trail now includes 14 of the 42 state parks in North Carolina, with plans to add the remaining 28 over the next few months. Pick up a North Carolina State Parks passport at any state parks visitor centers and collect a stamp at each park.
FAMILY FUN. The North Carolina Museum of History will host a free Family Fun Fest on Saturday, June 3, noon–4 p.m. The event will feature crafts, music, storytelling and more. On Saturday, June 7, 7–10 p.m., parents and older children can enjoy a concert at the museum with award-winning trumpet player Al Strong.
ECO-FRIENDLY FINDS. Little Oak Collective will host the grand opening of its sustainable children’s consignment boutique at 233 Bickett Boulevard in Raleigh’s Five Points neighborhood June 2–3. The shop will offer trendy and affordable items that are also eco-friendly.
Photo courtesy of Little Oak Collective
INSPIRING DOCUMENTARY. Durham film company Fly Squirrel Films will host screenings of the documentary “Go On, Be Brave” at the Carolina Theatre of Durham on Saturday, June 17 at 7 p.m. and at The Cary theater on Wednesday, June 21 at 6:30 p.m. The film tells the story of Raleigh triathlete Andrea Lytle Peet, who has completed 50 marathons in 50 states while fighting the progressive neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
DISCOVER POE. The Poe Center for Health Education hosts Youth Afternoon at the UNC Health Championship on Tuesday, May 30, 4–6 p.m. Guests can take free shuttles from Raleigh Country Club to the Poe Center, which is three minutes away, to enjoy tours, activities and snacks. First Tee of the Triangle will present a free junior clinic at Raleigh Country Club’s driving range at 6 p.m.
