Photo of Raleigh Astronomy Club telescope at The Willard by Richard Barlow
STARGAZING EVENT. The Perseid meteor shower—active July 17–August 24—will produce its peak rate of meteors August 13. For a great local opportunity to see the showers, head over to Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh on Saturday, August 12, 9–11 p.m., when UNC’s Morehead Planetarium and Science Center will cohost a free skywatching event for the public with the Raleigh Astronomy Club and the Chapel Hill Astronomical Society. Reserve your spot here. Read “Cocktails and Constellations” in the July/August issue of Midtown to learn more about additional stargazing opportunities in the Triangle.
HIGH MARKS. A USA Today survey ranks Raleigh Beer Garden as the No. 3 beer garden in the country. The ranking is supported by beer experts and voters from around the country. Raleigh Beer Garden has more than 350 beers on tap, including 144 North Carolina beers on tap on the first floor.
DINING NEWS. Raleigh- and Cary-based Mediterranean restaurant Sassool hosts its fifth annual Hummus Mix Off on Saturday, August 19, 2–5 p.m. at the Raleigh location (9650 Strickland Road). The competition will feature recipes prepared by local foodies, influencers and bloggers that will be available for the public to sample. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online or at Sassool Raleigh on the day of the event.
Downtown Raleigh’s Vidrio restaurant recently welcomed Abel Leonardo Chiok Diaz as its new chef. Diaz brings more than 20 years of experience in international cuisine after honing his skills in establishments from around the world, including Australia and Peru. Most recently, he created innovative menus and managed kitchen operations as the executive chef at Taste Kitchen in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Check out the menu here.
Las Ramblas tapas bar at 141 Park at North Hills Street in Raleigh invites the local food and beverage community to dine at the restaurant for Monday Industry Night to receive a free dessert. Just mention the name of your restaurant to the Las Ramblas waitstaff in order to receive your free dessert. Also on Mondays, restaurant guests can enjoy a bottle of Spanish wine and a cheese board for $30.
Chef Victor Miranda has joined Good Day Good Night restaurant and bar as its new executive chef. The property is located at The Casso hotel in Raleigh. A new dinner menu will feature pan-roasted pork ribeye served with sweet potato puree, brown butter spaetzle, bacon, caramelized onions and spinach. The new offerings will also include pepitas-crusted salmon with avocado, Persian cucumbers, shaved red onion and heirloom tomatoes.
Bar Louie in Raleigh’s Brier Creek is offering five new dinner selections as part of its Savory Selections menu. The entrees are citrus grilled salmon, Monterey chicken, Cajun salmon and shrimp, New Orleans chicken and shrimp pasta and a beer-battered fish sandwich. The dinner menu items are served daily from 3–10 p.m. The restaurant is offering guests a free lunch entree for a limited time with the purchase of a new dinner entree beginning on Monday, August 14.
COMPASSIONATE KITS. Wake County Public Libraries is expanding its Memory Care Kits program, which uses books and activities to spark memories, create conversations and provide engaging interactions between people experiencing memory loss and their caregivers. Each Memory Care Kit includes a folder with activities, a small set of markers and six books—three for the caregiver and three for the person experiencing memory issues.
TEA AND POTTERY. Tea With Seagrove Potters is Saturday, August 12, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Cruise Seagrove’s countryside, discover handmade pottery, and sample teas from Carriage House Tea and pastries from the Table Farmhouse Bakery and Holly Hill Farm. Shops are located along North Carolina Pottery Highway 705 and adjoining roads.
FOR A GOOD CAUSE. SECU Foundation has awarded $800,000 in capacity building grants to 20 nonprofits across North Carolina. The funding provides each nonprofit with $40,000 and an approved consultant to help address organizational needs for future business goals and sustainability. SECU Foundation’s funding strategy aims to expand support to rural counties, historically marginalized populations and underserved communities.
Planet Fitness will award $5,000 college scholarships to four local Boys & Girls Club members at an awards ceremony at 325 South Wingate Street in Wake Forest today, August 7 at 12:15 p.m. The scholarship program recognizes high school teens who promote kindness, acceptance and inclusion in their communities. The recipients are Rmani H., Bradley H., and Timothy W. of Wake County, and Kaitlyn N. Of Sanford.
Perfectly Imperfect Pups rescue hosts its annual fundraiser, Love is Art, at The Royal (3801 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh) on Thursday, October 12 at 6 p.m. The event is an art auction with raffles, entertainment, drinks and food. Tickets are available online. Artists and businesses are welcome to donate to the auction.
State Farm will present a $20,000 grant to Tuesday’s Children at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Tuesday, August 15. The contribution will cover the North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia regions, providing career resources, financial literacy workshops, and family engagement programs for families of fallen military service members. A 6 p.m. presentation will be made prior to the Durham Bulls game.
The Frankie Lemmon School & Developmental Center’s 2023 Summer Auction is live for online bidding. The public can bid on concert tickets, fine wines and more. Bidding continues through Tuesday, August 15 at noon. The child development center welcomes children ages 2–6 with and without disabilities.
Student athletes are invited to attend College Planning for the Student-Athlete, hosted by Advantage College Planning on Saturday, August 13 at 7 p.m. The virtual event will cover the following topics: the value of playing sports in college, how to prepare a balanced college list, a recruiting process overview and college athletics options.
Upper Room Women’s Ministry at 3300 Idlewood Village Drive in Raleigh will host a free Community Day on Saturday, August 12, 9 a.m.–1 p.m., in the parking lot. The ministry will provide free groceries and have back-to-school giveaways, along with free health screenings and a fitness fair. Kids can enjoy bounce houses and giveaways.
Dr. Olu Oyegunwa, the founder of O2 Dental Group, will offer free dental treatments on Saturday, August 12, 7 a.m.–3 p.m. The clinic will be held at 5321 Tin Roof Way, Suite 102, in Raleigh. Dr. Oyegunwa’s office will provide dental treatments including extractions, fillings and oral hygiene for any adult or child in need of dental pain relief who is experiencing financial hardship.
Brookside Bodega will partner with Brewery Bhavana to raise money for Children’s Flight of Hope on Thursday, August 10. Brookside Bodega will serve several Brewery Bhavana beers on tap that day, with 20% of sales to be donated to the nonprofit, which provides flights to specialized medical care that might otherwise be financially out of reach for families with sick children.
Activate Good is seeking community partners for this year’s 9/11 Day of Service. The Raleigh nonprofit is looking for help with garden maintenance, donation sorting, painting and more. Group pre-registration forms are available for companies, classes, families or groups. For more information, email .
KICK-OFF TO KINDERGARTEN. Speaking of going back to school, registration is underway for Kick-off to Kindergarten at Marbles Kids Museum on Saturday, August 19, 9 a.m–5 p.m. The event will include typical school-day events such as circle time, music and PE. Kids can take a ride on a school bus, practice lunch line and more.
FOOTBALL PARTY. Boxcar Bar + Arcade will host a Throwback Party in honor of the NFL preseason Saturday, August 12 from noon–11 p.m. Dress in your best throwback jersey or sports attire to score four free game tokens at the door.
GOING UP. Kane Realty Corporation is introducing a mixed-use project called Rockway Raleigh, located directly across Lake Wheeler Road from Dorothea Dix Park and alongside the Rocky Branch Trail. The Rockway Residences will feature 335 mid-rise apartments with best-in-class unit finishes and amenities such as work-from-home spaces, a large pool with a sundeck, and a rooftop lounge. The space is expected to open for residents in mid-2024.
ON STAGE. Burning Coal Theatre Company will kick off its 27th season with “Arcadia,” running October 12–29. The comedy by five-time Tony Award–winner Tom Stoppard tells the story of a math genius in 1809 and present-day researchers try to solve a mystery. Ticket prices range from $5–30, including student discounts and weeknight pricing. Subscribers to the full season will receive a 25% discount.
MUSIC SCENE. Oak City Music Collective continues its Tuesday night International Jazz Open Jam series with Peter Lamb and The Wolves at Neptunes Parlour in Raleigh on Tuesday, August 15, 8–11 p.m. The free series celebrates Black American music, jazz and other variations heard around the world. Performed in an open-jam format, the headliner will kick off the night for other local musicians.
Unscripted Durham is bringing music to The Patio this summer from Friday–Sunday, 1–5 p.m. The upcoming weekend features DJ Complex (Friday, August 11), DJ Fable (Saturday, August 12) and DJ Special K (Sunday, August 13). Enjoy a poolside ambiance along with tropical cocktails and tasty treats.
HIP HOP, HOORAY! The Friends of the City of Raleigh Museum nonprofit will host the 50th Anniversary of the Hip Hop Sneaker Ball on Saturday, August 12 with events beginning at 10 a.m. Activities include performances by Terminator X, formerly of Public Enemy, and DJ Skillz. The all-day celebration will include events that explore Raleigh’s connection to the genre dating to 1973. Tickets are available online.
